Sean Abbott and Peter Nevill had an unbeaten 130-run eighth-wicket stand to give them a 139-run lead against Queensland
ESPNcricinfo staff15-Mar-2018<ScorecardA blistering 87 from Nic Maddinson put New South Wales in control of the Sheffield Shield clash in Wollongong.Maddinson smashed 11 fours and two sixes in his 63-ball innings, which helped the Blues pass the Bulls' first-innings total with five wickets in hand.Sean Abbott and Peter Nevill then combined for an unbeaten 130-run stand for the eighth wicket. Abbott moved to 79 not out at stumps while Nevill was 52 at the close of play.Mitchell Swepson picked up three wickets for the Bulls but conceded more than five runs an over. Mark Steketee nabbed both openers in quick succession in the morning session.
Life without Harry Kane has started brightly as far as Tottenham Hotspur are concerned, with new boss Ange Postecoglou already ensuring that the England skipper is something of a distant memory, following his move to Bayern Munich last month.
The Lilywhites have made a strong start to the campaign despite not actually acquiring a direct replacement for the 30-year-old goal machine, although there will likely come a time in the not-too-distant future when a successor to the club's record scorer will have to be found.
Whether it is an emerging academy star – such as teen sensation, Will Lankshear – or a high-profile, big-money addition, at some stage sooner rather than later someone will have to live with the burden of attempting to emulate Kane's heroics.
Harry Kane
To be constantly likened to or compared with such an elite figure is likely to be more of a curse than a blessing for any player, however, with one current Spurs dud having only recently fallen by the wayside despite prior comparisons to another legendary Tottenham icon – Gareth Bale.
Currently on the sidelines with yet another injury blow, it is fair to say that one-time wonderkid Ryan Sessegnon has not lived up to the hype at N17 to date, with those prior whispers that the heir to Bale had been found now looking rather foolish.
Why did Tottenham sign Ryan Sessegnon?
The once-promising wideman had caught the eye after bursting onto the scene for fellow London club, Fulham, making his first-team debut for the Cottagers at the tender age of just 16 as an indication of how highly-regarded he was at the time.
The Roehampton-born speedster – who, like Bale, can operate at left-back or in an advanced attacking berth – had captured the interest of the Premier League's elite following his standout showings in the second tier, enjoying a particularly remarkable 2017/18 season.
Despite having still been a teenager at the time, Sessegnon proved integral in helping the Craven Cottage outfit to secure promotion, netting 15 times and providing six assists in 46 Championship appearances, prior to adding another three goal involvements in the playoffs.
It was at that time that the murmurings regarding the 'next Bale' began to surface, with then-teammate Matt Targett having made the comparison between the two wing wizards in February 2018:
"He’s going to have a great future in front of him,” said Targett, as reported by the Independent. "He’s a massive threat and to score over ten goals already in the Championship for any midfielder that’s good, but he’s 17. It’s a massive achievement and he’s got a massive future in front of him. He’s definitely right up there with the likes of Luke Shaw, Gareth Bale, you could even put."
The end to that stellar season also earned the youngster lofty praise from manager Slavisa Jokanovic, with the one-time Watford boss describing the precocious talent as "a mix between Marcelo and Bale".
Such hype was followed by a respectable first season in England's top flight as Sessegnon contributed two goals and six assists in 35 league games, prior to those at Spurs having come calling…
How much did Tottenham pay for Ryan Sessegnon?
The buzz around the 5 foot 10 whiz had ensured that the Lilywhites weren't alone in their interest, with rivals Manchester United believed to have made contact regarding a possible move for the wideman in the summer of 2019, while Serie A giants Juventus were also said to be keen at the time.
Despite that growing list of suitors, it was Spurs and Mauricio Pochettino who eventually won the race in that same window, forking out a reported fee of around £25m.
That appeared something of a bargain considering figures of closer to £50m had been suggested prior to that, with Sessegnon quickly raising the excitement levels after scoring on his first Champions League start away to Bayern Munich.
Such an introduction onto the European stage unsurprisingly had supporters dreaming that an heir to Bale had finally been found, with the Welshman memorably announcing himself to the wider world after scoring a hat-trick against Inter Milan back in 2010.
Described as a "massive asset" by pundit Noel Whelan amid that promising start to the 2019/20 campaign, Sessegnon had also talked up the likeness to the ex-Real Madrid star, having stated in January 2020:
"I think [the comparisons are] definitely a confident boost. [Bale] was one of the players that I looked up to when I was younger, especially when he was at Southampton bombing up on the wing."He has attributes that I want to add to my game. In terms of attacking intent, the mentality to get in behind on the left flank and dribble with the ball, I'm trying to add a little bit of that into my game."If I could ever become as great as he has become it would be a massive achievement. I'm so far off at the moment."
Manager
Games
Goals
Assists
Ryan Mason
7
6
Jose Mourinho
27
10
3
Andre Villas-Boas
44
26
14
Harry Redknapp
137
27
39
Juande Ramos
13
0
1
Martin Jol
9
3
1
Total
237
72
58
As the Englishman stated in that final line, he was still 'so far off' emulating the one-time Southampton gem, however, with that still looking like the case today…
What has gone wrong for Ryan Sessegnon at Tottenham?
There may be a sense of what might have been had Pochettino remained in charge to help guide the emerging sensation, although with Jose Mourinho appointed in late 2019, Sessegnon's hopes of regular game time were inhibited, as he subsequently joined Bundesliga side Hoffenheim for the 2020/21 season.
Following his return from Germany it has largely been a tale of woe for the £55k-per-week asset, with injuries restricting him to just 15 and 17 league appearances across the last two seasons, respectively.
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Ryan Sessegnon.
When the 23-year-old – who has scored just three times and chipped in with only four assists in 56 games in all competitions for the club – has featured he has also hardly set the world alight, with Spurs insider John Wenham brutally describing him as "a Championship player" earlier this year, while going on to add:
"We bought him as this kid with great potential and all of the attributes. I was so excited when we got him, he was exactly the signing I wanted the club to make. But you can have hindsight and you can be allowed to be wrong about things. I was absolutely wrong about Sessegnon.
"He has no pace. Ever since he had his hamstring injury he doesn’t take players on. What is the point of setting your team up to benefit from attacking wing-backs if you have a wing-back who can’t beat a man, has no pace, has no strength and cannot deliver a cross?"
It is then fair to say that the struggling dud – who is yet to feature this season due to injury – has come nowhere close to making the same impact as Bale, with the latter man having only been a year older when he sealed his £85m move to Madrid in 2013.
While it may be too soon to completely write off Sessegnon, he has certainly not built on his strong first impression, with it yet to be seen what his future will be at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – if he has one at all that is.
With three balls to go on the fourth day, Trent Boult was coming to the end of an exacting final burst with the pink ball under lights
Andrew McGlashan in Auckland25-Mar-2018Another unconverted half-century for Joe Root. This time with added pain.With three balls to go on the fourth day at Eden Park, Trent Boult was coming to the end of an exacting final burst with the pink ball under lights. Almost every delivery had demanded attention from the batsmen. From round the wicket, he sent down a short-of-a-length ball which climbed and smacked into Root’s right glove.Wringing his hand, he immediately moved to the side of the pitch and the physio was quickly on. The glove came off and the right index finger, now throbbing red, was prodded and pulled as Root winched. Eventually, as the clock moved towards the close-of-play at 9.30pm, Root prepared to face again.Boult delivered shorter, this time angled into the rib cage. Root tried to jump inside the line but he couldn’t get out of the way. The ball brushed the glove through to BJ Watling. As one the New Zealanders roared.A disconsolate Root, now in pain in more ways than one, trudged, head down, back to the dressing room and had not emerged by the time Stuart Broad was speaking to the cameras.”I’ve not seen him – I think he’s still sat in the toilet,” Broad said. “We were watching from the viewing area, he came straight in and put his bat down and went straight into the back room. He’s probably doing a few breathing techniques to calm himself down at the minute.”Could Root have retired hurt, let the pain settle, and ensured he lived to fight another day? Craig Overton was padded up as nightwatchman. He may not have seen out two deliveries, but having Root for the final day may have been a price worth paying.”We mentioned it,” Broad said, “but when a bloke has been out there for 120 balls on 50, he’d have been backing himself to see off those last two balls. Trent Boult has got a bouncer bang on. I think it was a really good short ball, at the left shoulder.”That’s a really tricky one to deal with. Maybe I’m in the bowler’s union, but you’ve got to credit him sometimes – good bouncer to rap a batter on the finger, and then a good follow-up – well bowled. It was a real shame to lose Joe to the last ball of the day. We all felt it, after he’d played so brilliantly as well.”Boult’s plan to Root paid off and the wicket perhaps also owed something to Kane Williamson’s declaration. New Zealand could have called an end to their innings earlier than they did – and the ultimate judgement on the timing has to wait until the final day – but they had factored in still wanting a reasonably hard ball late in the day under lights.Pull out 10-15 overs earlier and Root would have been facing a 60-over old ball. Instead, Boult was able to get enough bounce from the 47-over one to dismiss England’s best batsman. If day-night Test cricket continues to evolve, such thinking may become more common place in declarations.”We wanted the ball to be nice and hard under lights so we could hopefully get the bounce and kiss off the wicket that Trent did, so it was nice that the planning came through,” Henry Nicholls explained. “The wicket of Joe tonight is huge so credit to the guys, the way they put them under pressure in that last half an hour.”With eight wickets in hand and Root at the wicket, the draw would have been a far more realistic prospect for England. Still, they can look back at not-too-distant history for inspiration. Five years ago on this ground they began the final day four down and saved the game thanks to one of Matt Prior’s finest innings, a tail that refused to budge, Broad’s 77-ball 6 and Monty Panesar’s dive for the line. They batted 143 overs; when this innings began 148 were left in the match. This time, runs could also be a factor.”We’ll need a hero tomorrow,” Broad said. “Five years ago, Matt Prior was the hero with a hundred, and someone’s got that chance tomorrow. I’d prefer not to bat … but we’ll wait and see.”If you’d said at 27 for 9 there was a chance of drawing the game we’d have bitten your hand off. Obviously the rain has helped a lot. But there’s a chance, and we’ve just got to make sure we’re good enough to do it.”
The batsman, who formerly led Kolkata Knight Riders but was released ahead of the upcoming season, was bought by Daredevils for INR 2.8 crore at the auction
ESPNcricinfo staff07-Mar-20183:23
‘Batting is my primary job; captaining an added responsibility’ – Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir will return to the IPL franchise based in his home city of Delhi as their captain ahead of the 2018 season.”It is a huge honour to once again captain DD,” Gambhir said on his return to Daredevils, who had bought him for INR 2.8 crore (USD 437,500 approx.) at the auction in January. “To get this responsibility is a way for me to give back to the sport in the city. I firmly believe that with the players currently involved we have the makings of a very good side. The potential of this group of players is immense, and it is now up to us to turn that potential into consistent performances. It is also going to be great to work in unison with Ricky [Ponting, the Daredevils coach], an absolute champion himself.”Gautam Gambhir was appointed captain of Delhi Daredevils•Delhi DaredevilsPonting was full of praise for the new captain. “Gauti has been a leader for a very long time,” he said. “He has always proven himself to be one of the top leaders during his stint with other sides in the IPL. He has a big personality, but it is the drive behind the outward confidence, which I think will inspire the rest of the team. He has the respect of the dressing room, and the franchise is proud to have him as our captain.”When he left Daredevils after 2010 – having led them that year – Gambhir was named Kolkata Knight Riders captain and led them to two IPL titles in seven years. Though he played only three seasons for Daredevils, Gambhir maintained an affinity for the side. Last year, even before any decisions on player retention were made, Gambhir had said he wanted to finish with a stint at Daredevils.”I think my heart is still with Delhi,” Gambhir said in 2017. “I played for three years for Delhi. Somewhere, deep within my heart, I’d love to finish with Delhi. Though I am the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, and would want them to win it for the third time, but since I’m a Delhi boy too, I obviously want Delhi Daredevils to do well as well.”
Former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou left behind a strong legacy at Parkhead after enjoying a successful two years of work in the transfer market.
Who were Postecoglou's biggest signings at Celtic?
The ex-Hoops head coach, who departed Paradise to join Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur earlier this year, had a fantastic record with his signings as he brought in a host of superb talent.
Ange's most expensive signings
Fee paid
Jota
£13.8m
Cameron Carter-Vickers
£5.9m
Kyogo Furuhashi
£4.6m
Carl Starfelt
£4.2m
Alexandro Bernabei
£3.7m
Fees via Transfermarkt.
Jota, Kyogo Furuhashi, Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Matt O'Riley are just a few of the many superb additions that were made during the Australian tactician's tenure with the Scottish giants.
One player, in particular, whom the club and Postecoglou struck gold on was right-back Josip Juranovic as they ended up making a significant profit on the talented defender.
How much did Celtic pay for Josip Juranovic?
The Hoops reportedly paid a fee of £2.5m to sign the full-back from Polish side Legia Warsaw in the summer of 2021, which was the manager's first window in charge of the side.
Postecoglou moved to sign the then-26-year-old ace after a move failed to materialise for Antwerp right-back Aurelio Buta, who was a target for the club at the time.
The Portuguese dynamo stayed with the Belgian side for another year and ended up joining Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt on a free transfer in 2022.
Buta had averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.74 across 25 Pro League matches and produced zero goals and four assists for Antwerp during the 2020/21 campaign, before a record of zero goals and three assists in 17 Belgian top-flight games the following season. A move, then, was well dodged.
Former Antwerp right-back Aurelio Buta.
Juranovic, on the other hand, came into the 2021 window off the back of one goal and eight assists in 26 league matches for Legia Warsaw, which came after he began his career with Hajduk Split and racked up 165 competitive first-team appearances in his home country.
His creative quality from right-back seemingly caught Postecoglou's eye and the Australian green-lit a £2.5m swoop for the defender to bolster his options at the back instead of a deal for Buta, who had not shown as much quality at the top end of the pitch.
How did Juranovic perform for Celtic?
It turned out to be an inspired piece of business by the former Bhoys boss as Juranovic went on to enjoy a phenomenal 18 months at Parkhead.
He delivered consistently brilliant performances week-in-week-out in the Scottish Premiership and proved himself to be an outstanding option for the head coach.
Former Celtic defender Josip Juranovic.
The Croatia international averaged a sublime Sofascore rating of 7.21 across 26 league outings during the 2021/22 campaign as he was deployed as a right-back and at left-back, which also highlighted his useful versatility to be able to play on either flank as a defender.
His attacking prowess was not on full display as he only chipped in with three goals and one assist. However, the talented full-back did create four 'big chances' and provided 1.3 key passes per game for his teammates – the joint-most of any full-back within the squad.
This shows that he was able to consistently split open the opposition's defence with his passing and crossing ability. However, they let him down with their finishing as he finished the season with just one assist.
Juranovic wasn't just a threat going forward, as he performed admirably at the back too, showcasing his defensive ability with 2.2 tackles and interceptions combined per match and a duel success rate of 56%, as per Sofascore.
The 28-year-old followed that up with a terrific start to the 2022/23 campaign as he averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.22 across ten Premiership outings, which was the fourth-best score within the team. This shows that he was one of the top performers at the club and vital to the team on the pitch.
He created 1.4 chances per match for his teammates – the fourth-highest within the squad – and made 2.5 tackles and interceptions per clash to go along with a duel success rate of 59%.
How much did Celtic sell Juranovic for?
His impressive displays for the Hoops eventually led to a transfer to Bundesliga side Union Berlin in January of this year for a reported fee of up to £10m.
This meant that Celtic made a £7.5m profit on the Croatia international as his market value rocketed up by 300% from the initial £2.5m they paid Legia Warsaw in 2021, just 18 months prior to his move to Germany.
Former Celtic star Josip Juranovic.
Juranovic's performances at the World Cup for his country at the end of 2022 may have also played a part in the move as he impressed in Qatar, with former France centre-back William Gallas hailing him as "unbelievable".
The 28-year-old full-back won an eye-catching 76% of his duels on the ground during the tournament, proving that he dominated the opposition on the deck when it came to his defensive work.
His displays indicated that he was able to produce on the biggest stage against the best teams in a high-pressure environment, something that likely persuaded Union Berlin to swoop for him.
Where is Buta now?
Buta, on the other hand, is still with Frankfurt after his debut season in Germany last term. He averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.92 across 18 outings as the Portuguese defender provided one key pass per game for his teammates and lost 55% of his duels.
These statistics suggest that Celtic dodged a bullet by missing out on the former Antwerp star as his performances were considerably worse than Juranovic's were for the Hoops.
This is also reflected in his market value as FootballTransfers currently rates Buta's Expected Transfer Value (xTV) at €5.9m (£5m), whereas they place the Union Berlin star's xTV at €10.1m (£9.5m).
Postecoglou clearly struck gold by securing a deal for Juranovic as the Scottish giants got 18 months of fantastic service out of the defender before they were able to cash in on him for a big profit.
Meanwhile, their other target has not developed as much as the Croatian talent and, based on the evidence of his form at Frankfurt, would not have been as much of a success at Parkhead.
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers is keen to strengthen his forward line before the end of the window and has identified a striker with a notable connection to the Scottish giants as a potential arrival, according to recent reports.
What's the latest news involving Celtic?
The Hoops are expected to be embroiled in some late-window drama as Rodgers looks to integrate some further quality into his squad before the close of play in the market.
As per The Daily Record, Benfica youngster Paulo Bernardo has been told that he is free to leave the Portuguese giants on loan this campaign after being informed he is not part of Roger Schmidt's plans at the club and the Hoops have emerged as suitors to take him on a loan basis.
The report claims that Bernardo has a £90 million buy-out clause in his Benfica contract; however, club chiefs would be willing to negotiate a more reasonable option to buy in any prospective loan agreement, though clubs in Spain and Italy are also monitoring the 21-year-old.
Meanwhile, according to The Scottish Sun, Celtic have rebuffed an approach from Championship side Leeds United for Denmark Under-21 international Matt O'Riley.
Leeds United could return to the table with another offer before Friday's transfer deadline; nevertheless, Celtic are keen to keep hold of the midfielder, who has also attracted further interest from Serie A outfit Bologna.
Honduras international Luis Palma has also jetted into Glasgow to complete his move to Celtic from Aris Thessaloniki for a fee in the region of £3.5 million, as per Football Scotland.
Another attacker could join Palma, however, Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph has delivered an update claiming that Celtic are now not expected to pursue Brondby striker Mathias Kvistgaarden, explaining on X:
"After making initial enquiries, it's looking unlikely that Celtic will pursue Brondby forward Mathias Kvistgaarden further in this window. They’d like to strengthen CF options but it is not a position of priority at the moment. Luis Palma can also play in this position."
Who else could Celtic sign?
Celtic completed summer signings
Player
Fee
Previous club
Gustaf Lagerbielke
£3 million
Elfsborg
Kwon Hyeok-kyu
£1 million
Busan IPark
Marco Tilio
£1.5 million
Melbourne City
Odin Thiago Holm
Undisclosed
Valerenga
Maik Nawrocki
£4.3 million
Legia Warsaw
Yang Hyun-jun
£2 million
Gangwon FC
All fees courtesy of Sky Sports News
Sky Sports reporter Joseph has also issued another update involving Celtic's pursuit of a striker, stating on X that Sydney van Hooijdonk is on the Parkhead radar.
"Bologna striker Sydney van Hooijdonk is another player who has been on Celtic’s radar this summer. His future still remains uncertain. @SkySportDe are reporting that Wolfsburg have made initial contact for the 23-year-old, who is the son of Hoops icon Pierre van Hooijdonk."
In his senior career, Van Hooijdonk, once described as "prolific" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, has netted 49 goals in 130 appearances across all competitions across spells at NAC Breda, SC Heerenveen and his current employers Bologna, as per Transfermarkt.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.
Of course, Pierre van Hooijdonk, who is Sydney's father, played for Celtic on 92 occasions, netting 56 goals in the process and was a fan favourite at Parkhead, with arguably his most notable strike coming in the 1995 Scottish Cup final against Airdrieonians, where the Hoops recorded a 1-0 victory to end a six-year trophy drought.
Whether a deal between Celtic and Van Hooijdonk can be thrashed out over the coming days will remain to be seen; however, the 23-year-old pitching up at the scene of his father's former glories could definitely be one of the more poetic stories of the window.
With a seven-wicket win, New Zealand took a 1-0 lead on a surface that wasn’t altogether straightforward for T20 cricket
The Report by Danyal Rasool22-Jan-2018 Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsGetty ImagesIf one team is vastly superior to the other at each stage of a game, chances are that the upper hand will show, in any format. That was the rather obvious – yet harsh – lesson all those hoping for a more competitive T20I series between New Zealand and Pakistan were taught as New Zealand crushed Pakistan by seven wickets at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington.Pakistan’s top-order batting crumbled in the first ten overs as they were reduced to 38 for 6, with Tim Southee, Seth Rance and Mitchell Santner wreaking havoc. The forlorn 105 they put up was all too comfortable for New Zealand, who coasted home with 4.1 overs to spare despite the loss of two early wickets.Pakistan were put into bat and found themselves under pressure straightaway. As skillful as New Zealand’s bowling was, Pakistan did orchestrate their own their downfall in no small way.Fakhar Zaman and Umar Amin were positive, but gifted their wickets by hoicking across the line. It was an ugly start, with the top four batsmen – all left handers – swiftly putting paid to the idea of left-handed batsmen being elegant. Zaman, Amin, Mohammad Nawaz and Haris Sohail all played abysmal shots, making it far too easy for a home side currently not dependent on anyone’s largesse.Southee, captaining in place of the injured Kane Williamson, led the attack with an accurate opening spell. He was well supported by Rance, whose extra burst of pace troubled Pakistan’s top order. But the pick of the bowlers was Santner, who took two wickets to rip the heart out of Pakistan’s middle order, and ensured there would be no rearguard.Sarfraz Ahmed attempted a sweep to a flighted delivery well outside off, finding himself comically off balance outside the crease, with Glenn Phillips able to effect an easy stumping. Next ball, he tossed another one to Shadab, who edged it behind. Pakistan were now 38 for 6, headed towards another humiliation.Hasan Ali came out and had a few swings, managing the art of T20 batting far better than all who came before him. He hit three of Pakistan’s four sixes in a breezy 23, while Babar Azam, who top scored with 41, added a final-over flurry to take Pakistan to three figures.New Zealand’s chase was largely uneventful, though it did begin shakily. Martin Guptill and Phillips fell in the first four overs, and with the score reading 14 for 2 after four overs, Pakistan would have hoped to turn the game into a low-scoring scrap. However, Colin Munro showed why he’s the top-ranked T20I batsman, steadying the ship and putting to rest any thoughts of a Pakistan renaissance.A 49-run partnership with Tom Bruce set the hosts back on course, before he and Ross Taylor knocked off the remaining 49 runs without the loss of another wicket. That number was a theme, with Munro himself left stranded on 49 as a wide ball denied him the chance to become just the third player to score four successive T20I half-centuries. Still, it was a minor disappointment compared to the worries Pakistan nurse at the moment.
Pakistan have made significant gains in the next FTP schedule – they will now play at least 121 games, up from the 104 that were allocated to them last week
Osman Samiuddin19-Dec-2017The PCB made considerable gains in its scheduling for a new Future Tours Programme (FTP) during a workshop held in Singapore earlier this month. Last week ESPNcricinfo reported on a version of the FTP that Full Members took into the workshop, held on December 7 and 8.By the end of the meeting members produced an updated FTP in which there were minor adjustments to the total commitments of most members. The biggest gains from that meeting, however, were for the PCB. The earlier FTP showed 104 internationals scheduled for Pakistan between May 2019 and May 2023. The updated version has them playing 121 internationals – they have two Tests, five ODIs and 10 T20Is more than in the earlier FTP.That total puts them on a more even footing with countries such as Australia (123), Bangladesh (124), South Africa (122) and New Zealand (119). It is not yet clear who the extra matches have been arranged against. The FTP will likely undergo further tweaks – though not significant ones – as members aim to present a final version at an ICC board meeting in February.Not included in the PCB’s totals is a bilateral arrangement with Cricket West Indies (CWI), which will mean more limited-overs games in the four-year period. The PCB is also thought to be involved in discussions with members for limited-overs tri-series in the next cycle.Add to that Asia Cup matches (which are not included in the FTP total) plus the obligatory ICC tournaments and they could end up not far below the number of internationals they are scheduled to end with in the current FTP (from May 2014 to May 2019): 183. There is also the pending matter of 19 matches against India, from an earlier agreement, the fate of which rests on an ICC dispute resolution process.The PCB will play 30 Tests in the new FTP, a number that officials say could have been higher had there not been three ICC tournaments in the cycle that run through the Pakistan home season, as well as an expanded six-week window for the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The World T20 in Australia in 2020 is scheduled for October-November that year, as is the Champions Trophy in India the following year (though neither tournament, traditionally, lasts that long), and the 2023 World Cup in India is across February-March. In fact, the latter will require a shifting of the PSL window for that year, likely to be brought forward.In any case, the PCB has been eager to emphasise that its engagements in the new FTP will be about quality of contest rather than quantity. Opponents have been classified on the basis of the value they provide to a broadcast deal – by the PCB’s working, 46% of their total home games in the next FTP will be against high-value opponents (Australia, South Africa, England and Bangladesh), 30% against mid-value opponents such as New Zealand and West Indies and the remaining against low-value teams such as Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Ireland and Afghanistan. Nearly half of Pakistan’s away matches, it calculates, are against high-value opponents.Once a version of the FTP is approved at the February meetings, it will go through a vote at the ICC’s annual general meeting in June.The four-year FTP is built around two cycles of a two-year Test league, with nine teams in it. Each team is required to play six series over two years, with the top-two sides meeting in a Test championship final in June 2021.The calendar also includes a two-year ODI league of 13 teams, which will lead into qualification for the 2023 World Cup. The Test league starts with the new FTP in May 2019, but the ODI league begins the following year (because of pre-existing commitments between sides that run from the current FTP into the start of the new one).
Everton are on the lookout for a new striker – something you can say for just about every transfer window. The Toffees have always had a problem one way or another when it comes to their men leading the line.
Perhaps they're just not good enough? Perhaps they were amazing two seasons ago, but then fell off a cliff?
Or maybe, they've produced one of the most exciting young strikers to come around in some time, only for a club competing at the top to break a transfer record to sign them before Everton have even seen their best? That's somehow happened twice.
Although, things could soon change, as a man under the name of Che Adams appears to be closing in on a move to Goodison.
It's been a strange list of strikers in the Premier League era for Everton, then – a mix of incredible skill, massive underperformance and unreal young talent.
Here are Football FanCast's picks for the 10 very best for the Toffees since 1992 (also, we're not counting Tim Cahill as a striker, even if sometimes played there. Just wanted to get that out of the way.).
10 Francis Jeffers
Francis Jeffers is one of the two players Everton never saw the best of – but they got a glimpse of it. He made his debut as a 16-year-old and found himself in a fairly prominent role the year he turned 18.
The Toffees controversially sold Duncan Ferguson in 1998/99 but the teenage Jeffers stepped up with six goals in 15 games.
Another six goals followed the next season and Jeffers then averaged a goal every other game the season that he turned 20. The problem there was that he only played 12 games after injuries.
He was exciting enough, though, that Arsenal jumped in to sign the striker – but injuries stopped him from ever developing properly.
A return to Everton came in 2003/04, but Jeffers failed to score in 18 Premier League games. He never recaptured his form as a youngster, where he comfortably looked like one of the best young strikers around.
9 Louis Saha
Louis Saha didn't quite set the world alight at Fulham, but he did have at least one season where he was a truly top player. The 2009/10 season, Saha's second with Everton, saw him score 13 top-flight goals and crack the top ten goalscorers for the season.
That tally was the highest Saha ever managed in the Premier League – and more than he'd grabbed in a season for Manchester United. It's just a shame it didn't last – the Frenchman grabbed seven in the following campaign and just one in 18 the year after that.
But for a short time, Saha was a bright light in Everton's attack.
8 Nikica Jelavic
What is an amazing five months of football worth? Everton snapped up Nikica Jelavic on deadline day in January 2012 and he transformed their season.
Pre-Jelavic, Everton struggled. They'd lost 10 games and no one could actually score goals. Post-Jelavic, they lost just twice and stormed up the table on the back of seven and nine-game unbeaten runs.
That was principally on the back of Jelavic, who scored nine Premier League goals in 13 games. That was enough not just to finish as top scorer for the Toffees, but double the amount that any other player got.
But once again, it just didn't last. Jelavic scored just seven in 37 appearances in the following campaign and then failed to score in nine games before being loaned out to Hull City midway through 2013/14.
Still, Jelavic looked sensational for a period, reaching heights that few Everton strikers have managed since 1992.
7 Wayne Rooney
In terms of his peak, Wayne Rooney is light yearsahead of every other player on this list. He's one of the greatest Premier League players and simply one of the best English football has ever produced.
Only, Everton never saw that peak. They'd have Rooney twice – first as a youngster who was right on the brink of exploding into a world-class player, then again once he'd passed his peak and regressed to being slightly worse than when they'd sold him.
In between, he did all of the winning trophies and being sensational stuff.
But that's not to say Rooney wasn't fantastic at Everton. He scored a world-class goal at 16, scoring six times that year. Then he'd bag nine Premier League goals as he turned 18. That was enough for Manchester United to absolutely smash the record transfer fee for a teenager by paying Everton £30m to sign Rooney.
As a result, Everton produced one of the best we've seen, knew that's what they had, and never actually reaped the rewards. It's difficult to think of another example of that.
Even without playing any of his peak years at Everton, though, Rooney still managed 25 Premier League goals in under 100 games. That alone makes him one of the most prolific the Toffees have had. But it could have been so much more.
6 Yakubu
For one season, Everton fed the Yak as much as they could, and he really did score. He bagged 15 goals in the 2007/08 campaign – only two strikers have managed more in a Premier League season for the Toffees.
In fact, only four players bettered that in the league that year, with Yakubu scoring more than Carlos Tevez or Wayne Rooney managed for Manchester United.
As with many others on this list, Yakubu's on this list because of one season. He'd play another two and a half seasons with Everton, but scored only nine in that time – partly because of injuries.
For a spell, though, Yakubu's tally of 15 in 29 games was the best of any Everton player in the Premier League. In fact, it wouldn't be matched for another six years. So even if the consistency wasn't there, that fact alone places him well on this list.
5 Paul Rideout
Paul Rideout's Everton career was fairly poor – save for one season. He scored only three times in his first season, six the year after that. His final full season was only for another six goals.
But then there was that middle one. Rideout scored 14 times in 29 league games back in 1994/95 – a tally no Everton player would beat until 2008. Honestly, though, that's just a sidenote.
It's perhaps cheating a little bit on a Premier League list, but the FA Cup was the real story. Everton won the cup that season and it remains the last time they won a major trophy.
Not only did Rideout start that game, but he scored the winner as they beat Manchester United 1-0. For that stat alone, you can argue that he should top this entire list.
4 Kevin Campbell
Kevin Campbell spent five and a half years as a permanent player at Goodison Park, but his most important time came in a three-month spell as a loan player. That spell is legitimately one of the most important of any Everton player ever.
The club were battling relegation that season and looked to be heading down. Then they brought Campbell back to England from Trabzonspor and he immediately caught fire.
Eight games, nine goals. Six in his first three. He arrived in March and finished as their top scorer, both home and away. An unreal spell and one that lifted Everton away from relegation trouble. Without Campbell, that likely doesn't happen.
He never reached those heights again, but did twice hit double-digits in Premier League seasons. His 45 goals in the top flight is only bettered by four Toffees – three of whom are above him on this list, and the other is Tim Cahill.
So for longevity and that incredible three-month spell, Campbell gets FFC's vote for Everton's fourth-best. Those who witnessed that 1997/98 season may just want him higher, though.
Doesn't time fly? Dominic Calvert-Lewin is now 26 and entering the prime of his career – it's quite devastating that there's so much uncertainty, then.
Calvert-Lewin hasn't played even half of Everton's Premier League games in either of the last two seasons. Last time out, he scored just twice all year, with only five before that. Again, it's devastating.
That's because the 2020/21 season saw Calvert-Lewin score 16 times. That was the most of any Everton player since 2017 and only one has managed more than that in a Premier League campaign.
The fact that came after a 13-goal season was a sign that the forward was only improving and would go on to score even more in 2021/22. Then the injuries struck.
If Calvert-Lewin was fit, there's little doubt that Everton wouldn't have faced the struggles of the last two years. He currently sits fourth in the Toffees' all-time Premier League scorers list – if not for injuries, there's every chance he'd have reached the top spot by now.
We'll see what the future holds. As things stand, Calvert-Lewin looks at home in the third here, but there is the potential for more to come.
2 Duncan Ferguson
Yes, in terms of loyalty, connection with the fans and the club, longevity, and overall status, Duncan Ferguson tops this list. The only reason he doesn't is because No 1's numbers are a complete anomaly.
But Ferguson is unquestionably Everton's most iconic striker of the Premier League era.
He arrived in the 1994/95 season, scoring seven top-flight goals and immediately connecting with the club. The forward even came off the bench in the 1995 FA Cup final, so he was there as they won their most recent trophy.
Ferguson would have back-to-back seasons with double-digit goals in 1997 and 1998. He'd have likely done so again in 1999 if not for his bizarre sale to Newcastle United.
Fortunately, he'd return to the club he never wanted to leave in 2000 and play another six seasons with Everton.
It's not just the goals, either. Ferguson was an archetypal target man, capable of bullying any defence in the league. He chipped in with goals, but his overall play was simply much more, and the fact he held a high level at Everton and stuck around for 10 seasons makes him a standout on this list.
So Ferguson is the people's No 1 – no doubt about that. He just can't quite match what this next man managed in an Everton shirt…
1 Romelu Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku arrived at Everton in 2013 on loan from Chelsea. It was a weird time for the club – David Moyes had left for Manchester United after a long spell in charge. Roberto Martinez was getting his chance and change was afoot.
The Belgian immediately showed how good he was. 15 goals came in that loan season, matching Yakubu's tally for the most of any Everton player in the Premier League. They liked what they saw and paid a club-record £28m to sign him from Chelsea permanently.
A 10-goal season followed, which was a little disappointing, but then things really took off. Lukaku scored 18 in 2015/16 to set a new record for the club. Then he really took things to another level – 25 goals in one season.
That matched Harry Kane's Golden Boot tally of the previous year, but fell four short of the Tottenham star for that campaign.
These numbers are a complete anomaly. The tally of 25 is seven more than the next highest an Everton player has ever managed in the Premier League – and that player was also Lukaku.
In fact, it's as many in one season as Rooney, Yakubu, Marouane Fellaini and Tomasz Radzinski managed in their Everton careers.
So in terms of being the 'best', Lukaku is quite clearly the No 1 choice. It's just a shame he left when he did – another couple of seasons with Everton and we'd have seen some even more amazing numbers, no doubt.
The Committee of Administrators has instructed the BCCI to call an emergency special general body meeting to discuss three specific issues
Nagraj Gollapudi15-Nov-2017The Committee of Administrators (CoA) has instructed the BCCI to call an emergency special general body meeting (SGM) to discuss three specific issues. The three issues pertain to: settlement dispute concerning the former IPL franchise Kochi Tuskers Kerala, the new Future Tours Programme (FTP), which will comprise the Test championship and ODI league, and the inclusion of Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) back into the BCCI fold after it was suspended once Lalit Modi was elected its president in 2014.It is understood the CoA’s decision came on the back of a request from BCCI secretary Amitabh Choudhary, who felt the members needed to be briefed about the three issues as otherwise no decision could be taken without the consent of the members, the state associations.In the e-mail, which was sent on Tuesday to the top three BCCI office bearers, the CoA asked CK Khanna (acting board president) to send the SGM alert to all the board members by Thursday. The committee also asked Khanna to point out to the members that the SGM would be attended by only eligible office bearers of the state associations. The CoA also made it clear that Rahul Johri, the BCCI chief executive officer, would be attending the meeting.As per the BCCI’s existing constitution, the president can call for the SGM with a 21-day notice period. However, only the president has the power to reduce the notice period to 10 days and the CoA asked Khanna to do the same. In case Khanna failed to send the notice by Thursday, the CoA asked Choudhary to send the notice alert. But if Choudhary does end up sending the notice, then he would need to give a 21-day alert as per the rules.Of the three issues on the SGM agenda, the FTP and Kochi are the most significant points. This October, at the ICC Board meeting in Auckland, the BCCI along with the other boards gave its in-principle nod to the Test championship and ODI league structures.The Test championship is scheduled to commence immediately after the 2019 World Cup and will run for two years culminating in a final in 2021 between the top two teams. The first ODI league, featuring the game’s top 13 limited-overs nations, will commence in 2020-21, running for two years leading into the 2023 World Cup, before converting into a three-year league in each cycle beyond that.The finer points of both leagues, including the week-by-week schedule, are likely to be discussed by the member boards at the ICC’s next scheduling workshop in Singapore in December. Without the approval of the BCCI general body, no decision can be taken by Johri, who will be attending the workshop.As for Kochi issue, the BCCI needs to decide whether and how much it should pay the owners of the franchise, whose agreement was terminated in 2011, two seasons after it came into existence. The BCCI had also encashed the bank guarantee of INR 153.34 crores at the time of termination, which the owners contested in the court. The court asked the matter to be settled via arbitration.In 2016, the Kochi owners won the arbitration case, which said that the BCCI would not only refund the bank guarantee amount encashed by them, but also pay an additional INR 384.83 crore towards compensation for termination of the franchise.Subsequently, the BCCI’s attempts to resolve the issue amicably failed as the Kochi owners wanted a compensation upwards of INR 1000 crore. During the SGM in May, Choudhary told the members that the BCCI would negotiate a settlement soon.In October, the IPL governing council resolved that the BCCI was left with no choice but to pay the compensation. Hence, the CoA now wants the members to take a collective call on the subject.