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A side strain has cut short Tino Best’s contract with Lashings World XI, and he is expected to return home to Barbados

Cricinfo staff12-Jul-2008
Tino Best has been advised a minimum of six weeks’ rest © The Nation
A side strain has cut short Tino Best’s contract with Lashings World XI, and he is expected to return home to Barbados.Best, who played 12 Tests for West Indies between 2004 and 2006, has signed up the Indian Cricket League (ICL), which has not been recognised by the ICC. He picked up the injury during Lashings’ match against South Northumberland last Wednesday, and missed two games in order to recuperate.However, the injury is more serious than initially thought, and Best has decided to go back home for treatment and rehabilitation. According to the club’s website, he has been advised a minimum of six weeks’ rest.Best told the he was aiming to recover in time for the ICL tournament later this year. “I need to be in the best of health and shape to go back to India, as Twenty20 cricket is very tough and demanding, especially for a fast bowler,” he said. “This is seven years that I haven’t been at home during the summer, and while it will allow me to be in Barbados at Crop-Over time (a five-week summer festival), my first priority is ensuring that I get the right treatment and necessary rest to recuperate.”Best joined the ICL earlier this year, which at present rules out any possibility of playing for West Indies.

Crystal Palace are interested in a move for Chelsea midfielder Trevoh Chalobah [L’Equipe via Football League World].

The Lowdown: Patrick Vieira begins new era at Crystal Palace

Wasting no time since his arrival in South East London, new Eagles boss Patrick Vieira will be determined to compensate for his side’s loss of 22 players to expiring contracts last month [The Sun].

Making inroads in regards to their summer recruitment, Palace have unveiled four new recruits in the form of Remi Matthews, Marc Guehi, Michael Olise and Jacob Montes [Transfermarkt].

Now, Vieira’s men look like they are in the hunt for another young talent following recent developments.

The Latest: Crystal Palace interested in Chalobah

Crystal Palace are keen on 22-year-old Chalobah as they look to bolster their depth in the middle of the park [L’Equipe via Football League World].

Last term, the former England Under-21 impressed on a loan spell with Ligue 1 side FC Lorient, however he has never mustered a single senior appearance at his parent club.

West Bromwich Albion and Watford are also said to be keen on bringing in the 6 foot 3 ace [L’Equipe via Football League World].

The Verdict: Versatile Chalobah would be an astute addition

Capable of also plying his trade confidently in defence, Chalobah would represent an astute signing by the Crystal Palace hierarchy as they progress towards a transitional 2021/22 campaign.

Enjoying a solid time of things in France, the Sierra-Leone born utility man registered four goal contributions in 30 outings for his former club; two goals and two assists [Transfermarkt].

Furthermore, the enforcer demonstrated an acute awareness to danger across the year, managing an average of 2.4 interceptions per game [WhoScored].

Once labelled as ‘fabulous’ by former Ipswich Town manager Paul Lambert, Crystal Palace should look to tie up a deal to bring the talent to SE25 before the Premier League campaign gets under way [TWTD].

In other news, Crystal Palace fans react to an exciting transfer rumour.

Queens Park Rangers are set to seal a deal to bring Moses Odubajo to the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by West London Sport, who claim that the recently released Sheffield Wednesday right-back is currently in training with QPR, ahead of potentially sealing a move to the club this summer.

It is claimed that Mark Warburton will make a move to sign the 27-year-old as Todd Kane’s replacement, as long as the former England U20 international can prove his fitness in pre-season training.

Finally, it is reported that one of the primary reasons QPR view Odubajo as a useful addition is because of the fact he can also operate on the left-hand side of the backline.

Fans should be worried

While Odubajo is a player that Warburton will know extremely well, with the defender having featured 49 times for the 58-year-old at Brentford, there are a number of reasons as to why his potential signings should worry QPR fans.

Firstly, as mentioned earlier, the right-back has had a number of injury problems in recent seasons, having suffered a “serious hamstring tear” with Wednesday earlier this year, as well as having been sidelined for a whopping 798 days between June 2016 and September 2018 with a knee injury.

Secondly, when the right-back has fit enough to feature in games, he has not exactly demonstrated fantastic form, earning an average SofaScore match rating of 6.66 over his 18 Championship appearances for Wednesday last season – ranking him as the club’s joint 11th-worst performer in the second tier – as well as a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.45 in 2019/20 and 6.65 in 2018/19.

Finally, with the man Steve Bruce dubbed a “terrific” player earning a considerable £7.5k-per-week at Sheffield Wednesday, if the defender demands a similar wage upon signing for QPR, it would be a rather hefty salary to pay for a player who is by no means guaranteed to feature on a regular basis for the club.

As such, it would very much appear as if there would be better options for the Rs to pursue in their hunt for a right-back this summer, with signing the rather unreliable Odubajo potentially being a big mistake on the part of the QPR boss.

In other news: Fresh QPR transfer update emerges on “unbelievable” £8k-p/w gem, fans surely buzzing

Southampton’s hopes of signing Adam Armstrong this summer have taken a blow after Watford joined the race to sign the Blackburn Rovers forward.

What’s the word?

The Saints have been regularly linked with the 24-year-old throughout the summer and looked to be in pole position to bring him to St Mary’s, with recent reports suggesting that Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side could make an offer of cash plus Michael Obafemi for the former Newcastle man.

However, The Sun have now claimed that Watford have registered an interest in Armstrong and could offer a similar deal to Southampton, with Andre Gray potentially heading to Ewood Park as part of the transfer.

It is is no surprise to see him attracting so much interest this summer, as he hit 28 goals in the Championship last season, while his contract at Ewood Park is set to expire next year, so it seems inevitable that he will earn a move to the Premier League.

Could Southampton lose out on Armstrong?

Given that Gray is a proven goalscorer in the Championship, with 46 goals in the second tier in his career so far, Tony Mowbray’s side may well prefer the experienced 30-year-old over Obafemi, given that the Southampton youngster has just five goals in his senior career.

Therefore, if the two Premier League clubs offer the same amount of cash and these players, it would not be a surprise to see Blackburn accept the bid from the Hornets ahead of Southampton, which may require the Saints to rethink their offer.

Although the south coast club hold the advantage of being a more established Premier League side than Watford, their wretched form in the second half of last season suggests that they could well find themselves in the same relegation battle as Xisco Munoz’s men during the 2021/22 campaign, so it could be a difficult choice for Armstrong to make.

The Saints have reportedly seen a bid for the “explosive” striker rejected, so with the news that Watford are also showing a keen interest in Armstrong, Southampton vice-chairman Martin Semmens must work quickly in order to bring the striker to St Mary’s.

In other news… Saints heading for transfer disaster with “outstanding” beast, fans will be fuming

Rumoured Celtic target Siriki Dembele is favouring a move to Scotland, according to The Peterborough Telegraph.

The Lowdown: Dembele links

The Hoops were first linked with a move for Dembele last November along with a number of English sides.

Reports in March claimed Celtic were still keen on the forward, who now has 12 months remaining on his Posh deal.

Dembele, on £2,600-a-week with the Championship side, scored 11 goals and registered 12 assists in 42 League One last season, helping Peterborough earn promotion to the second tier.

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The Latest: Scotland switch

According to The Peterborough Telegraph, Dembele is still thought to favour a move to Scotland. They credit Celtic, Rangers, Fulham, Nottingham Forest and West Brom with an interest in the versatile forward.

The 24-year-old, who has started pre-season in ‘sparkling’ form, is set to feature against Chelsea on the weekend.

Dembele’s younger brother, Karamoko, has turned out under new Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou and scored in the 2-1 win over Charlton last weekend.

The Verdict: A shrewd move?

Dembele is valued at £1.08m by Transfermarkt and is now into the final 12 months of his Peterborough deal, so a move to Parkhead could be a shrewd one by the Hoops.

He can play as a left-winger, centre-forward and an attacking midfielder so would provide Postecoglou with plenty of versatility, as well as some impressive end product based on his numbers this season.

A move could also help younger brother Karamoko commit his future in Glasgow, as he is also into the final 12 months of his Hoops contract.

To us, this seems like a win-win all round for Celtic if they can get a deal over the line, adding depth and goals to their forward ranks while potentially changing the younger Dembele’s path too.

In other news: Hoops willing to pay £5m for another winger following Abada deal.

According to a report by Viola News, West Ham United have ‘asked for information’ over recent weeks in an enquiry to sign colossal Fiorentina goalkeeper Bartlomiej Dragowski.

The Lowdown: Hammers searching for a shot stopper?

Despite reports indicating that manager David Moyes’ summer priorities are a new striker, new centre-half and permanent deal for Lingard (Claret & Hugh), West Ham have also been touted to bolster other positions.

One of those is in between the sticks, with current number one Lukasz Fabianski arguably approaching the end of his West Ham career despite recently signing a one-year extension in east London.

The Hammers could be on the lookout for a new shot stopper as his possible heir this summer and the club have already been linked to the likes of Sam Johnstone.

The Latest: West Ham enquiry now made for Dragowski

As per local Florence outlet Viola News, the Irons have now made an enquiry to sign Dragowski amid the search for a possible new keeper.

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Indeed, West Ham have apparently asked for information in recent weeks but are not the only club looking into a possible deal for the 23-year-old.

They face stiff competition from the Premier League with Tottenham, Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers all placing Dragowski on their radar.

The 6 foot 3 powerhouse started 36 matches for Fiorentina over the 2020/2021 Serie A campaign, keeping eight clean sheets in that time (Transfermarkt).

The Verdict: Promising but not a priority…

Drawgowski comes as a decent prospect in the goalkeeping department, having made his international debut already at just 23 and playing at a consistently in a top league throughout 20/21.

However, given West Ham’s considerable lack of depth going forward, with star striker Michail Antonio in and out of the side due to reoccurring fitness issues, the Irons have bigger priorities.

A permanent deal for Lingard and new centre-forward should sit top of the pile when it comes to West Ham’s transfer agenda.

The east Londoners should also be monitoring new centre-backs ahead of new keepers, especially given the club’s decision not to renew Fabian Balbuena’s current deal.

Fabianski’s extended stay means West Ham can bide their time in search of a new keeper, but the same cannot be said for other positions in Moyes’ squad.

In other news: ‘Have started negotiations’…Journalist makes exciting West Ham transfer claim, find out more here.

Former Leeds United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny has hailed a touching gesture from Luke Ayling towards his Whites teammate Kalvin Phillips.

The Lowdown: Phillips prepares for Euro 2020 duty

Phillips is currently on England duty, hoping to make his mark in a major tournament by taking his club form with him onto the international stage.

Leeds fans will be desperate for the 25-year-old to impress, but his teammates are no different, especially in Ayling’s case.

The right-back has bought an England shirt with Phillips’ name on it, in what is a lovely gesture that outlines how close the pair are.

The Latest: Kenny discusses Ayling gesture

Speaking to Football Insider, Kenny spoke glowingly about Ayling, lauding the Leeds hero for his efforts:

“I thought this was great. It shows the togetherness in the dressing room. They are close them two and I’m sure Ayling will be wearing that shirt while the Euros are on.

“It would be funny if you were in a beer garden watching the game and you saw that, wouldn’t it?”

The Verdict: Unrivalled team spirit

This perfectly sums up the team spirit that Marcelo Bielsa has created at Elland Road, with players genuinely desperate for their teammates to do well.

That togetherness has played a huge part in Leeds’ success in recent years, with their willingness to fight for each other and run until the final whistle arguably the best in the Premier League.

The fact that Ayling is clearly so happy for Phillips, despite not getting selceted to play at the Euros himself, speaks volumes about him as a person and about the unity in the Leeds squad.

In other news, one pundit is keen on Leeds signing a British midfielder this summer. Find out who it is here. 

يلتقي فريق ليفربول مساء اليوم الثلاثاء مع خصمه فريق مانشستر يونايتد، في إطار منافسات بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي.

ويستضيف ملعب الأنفيلد مباراة الفريقين، المؤجلة من الجولة الثلاثين من البريميرليج، موسم 2021/22.

وكانت مباراة الدور الأول بين الفريقين، على ملعب الأولد ترافورد، قد انتهت بهزيمة قاسية للشياطين الحمر بخمسة أهداف دون رد.

ويحتل ليفربول حاليًا المركز الثاني في جدول الدوري الإنجليزي برصيد 73 نقطة، بفارق نقطة عن مانشستر سيتي المتصدر، بينما يتواجد مانشستر يونايتد في المركز الخامس برصيد 54 نقطة. موعد مباراة ليفربول ومانشستر يونايتد

من المقرر أن تنطلق المباراة في تمام الساعة التاسعة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، العاشرة بتوقيت السعودية.

مباشر بالفيديو | مباراة ليفربول ومانشستر يونايتد في الدوري الإنجليزي.. إعلان التشكيلين القناة الناقلة لمباراة ليفربول ومانشستر يونايتد

تُذاع المباراة عبر قناة beIN Sports 1 HD Premium.

يمكنكم مطالعة مواعيد ونتائج جميع المباريات لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنا.

According to a report by Calciomercato, amid Fabio Paratici’s impending appointment as new Tottenham Hotspur sporting director, he already has an eye for Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci.

The Lowdown: Paratici and Spurs…

The 48-year-old was heavily linked to joining Spurs amid the botched talks with former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte last week, but unlike his fellow Italian, Paratici will be moving to north London.

This boardroom change will see Tottenham return to the sporting director model with powers more delegated below chairman Daniel Levy (The Athletic).

As such, there have been no shortage of rumours linking Spurs with a host of Juventus players.

The Latest: Paratici wants Bonucci…

Backing previous claims, Calciomercato have now also insisted that the chief could swoop for Bonucci this summer as Tottenham plan to shore up a problem position in centre-half.

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The 102-cap Italy legend is certainly a big name and it is stated that signing him ‘can become a goal’ for Spurs amid the arrival of Paratici.

The report claims that Tottenham have often played with the three-man defence and hints at that also being a motivator behind the interest.

The Verdict: Quick fix…

Bonucci, as well as being a big name, has attracted praise from Tottenham favourites in the past.

Harry Redknapp once spoke of his admiration for the player in an interview with BetSafe (via The Sport Review), calling him a ‘warrior’ and ‘top class’.

Recently called up to Roberto Mancini’s Italy squad for the Euros, Bonucci arguably still has the quality to play at the highest level.

However, given he is now 34-years-old, it is also debatable that he will soon decline and Tottenham need a more long term solution.

On a reported salary of £180,000-per-week, Paratici and Spurs may be better off looking elsewhere.

In other news: Spurs could swoop for this ‘genius’ boss called the ‘very best’ in world football, find out more here.

When will it end?The depressing sequence of inevitable West Indies defeats was extendedto No. 5 yesterday after South Africa taught them a lesson in how todefend a seemingly modest total.Utilising conditions that were friendly for bowlers, South Africadisplayed the tenacity that have made them one of internationalcricket’s most feared teams.For once, the West Indies appeared to have a genuine chance of winningafter they restricted the visitors to 190 in mainly overcastconditions at a packed Queen’s Park Oval.The South Africans, however, admirably defended the type of totals theWest Indies could not in previous matches to the extent that they wonby a relatively comfortable margin of 53 runs.They bowled straight for the most part, produced a few wicket-takingdeliveries and fielded with their customary efficiency in spite of thedistractions over the recent revelations of marijuana use by some oftheir team members.West Indies’ response to the target was encouraging for a period. Theypassed 100 with three wickets down, but as the asking rate keptincreasing, so too did the fall of wickets and the last seven fell for29.By the time they were all out for 137, many fans were already on theirway home.It was the West Indies’ fourth lowest total at the ground, but Hooperrefused to blame the pitch.It wasn’t the best track that we played on in the six games, but itwasn’t poor by any means, he said.The ball kept a bit low but South Africa worked and got 190 on it andwe struggled to even get 150. I don’t think you can blame the wicket,but it wasn’t the best One-Day wicket.Instead, the West Indies captain was singing a familiar tune.It’s disappointing to set games up and then not being able to finishthem off, Hooper said. We can’t drop in the towel and get negative anddisillusioned. We’ve got to keep working hard and try to rectify theareas which are giving us problems.West Indies found the pitch even more challenging than South Africadid and it took them the better part of four overs for their firstrun, courtesy of a no-ball from debutant Andre Nel which ShivnarineChanderpaul edged to the ‘keeper.Nel did get his just reward when Daren Ganga edged a beauty to firstslip.It made way for Brian Lara, who immediately raised the tempo instroking 41 off 63 balls. The Prince of Port-of-Spain was just aboutgetting into top stride when a combination of his misjudgment andJonty Rhodes’ typically outstanding fielding silenced a crowd of morethan 20 000.Lara pulled Justin Kemp through mid-wicket and mid-on off successiveballs and 11 were taken from the 26th over when he and ShivnarineChanderpaul were indecisive over a single to point. Lara virtuallygave up and he was well short of his crease when Rhodes’ direct throwhit the stumps at the bowler’s end.Struggling ChanderpaulChanderpaul (27 off 84 balls) never came to terms with the surface orthe bowling and most of the spectators were relieved when left-armunorthodox spinner Paul Adams spun one away from him for Mark Boucherto complete the stumping.The match was still in the balance at 108 for three in the 38th overbut Nel delivered telling blows in consecutive balls by dismissingHooper and Ricardo Powell. Even if the pitch was not the easiest forbatting, the West Indies bowlers should still be given credit fortheir control after Hooper asked South Africa’s new-look XI to batfirst on a strip with an extra tinge of grass.With the exception of a third-wicket stand of 92 in 21.5 overs betweenNeil McKenzie and Kemp, South Africa, who made four changes from theline-up that wrapped up the series three days earlier, struggledagainst an attack in which almost everyone played his part.The leg-breaks of Dinanath Ramnarine were expensive after he came onat the half-way stage, but Cameron Cuffy, Corey Collymore, KerryJeremy, along with the off-spin combination of Hooper and MarlonSamuels each chipped in with two wickets apiece.Cuffy and Collymore, in for his first match of the series, applied theearly pressure to the extent that the first ten overs produced only 20runs.By then, Cuffy’s sharp break-back had accounted for Herschelle Gibbs,whose run-scoring and off-field activities have commanded just as muchattention in recent days.The tall Vincentian removed Boeta Dippenaar after he laboured 37 ballsfor seven runs. Cuffy’s inward movement earned him a lbw verdictbefore South Africa recovered through the aggression of Kemp and themore measured strokeplay of McKenzie, who showed little effects fromthe hamstring injury that sidelined him for the previous four matches.Especially strong off the pads, McKenzie counted eight of SouthAfrica’s 14 boundaries in an innings of 73 off 117 balls. He was theone who looked likely to boost the total to over 200, but Collymorekept him scoreless for three balls in the 41st over before removinghim with the help of a diving catch by wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs.Before McKenzie went, Hooper tightened West Indies’ grip with adouble-strike in successive overs. The victims were the dangerousKemp, whose 46 included a stunning six over long-on off Jeremy, andJacques Kallis, bowled between bat and pad attempting a nondescriptshot.The West Indies captain was again tight throughout his ten overs andwhen Samuels replaced him after 40 overs, he was just as effective inclaiming the wickets of Pollock and Paul Adams.Jeremy, under the microscope after he was not given a single ball inBarbados, conceded 28 runs from his first six overs, but came back totake two wickets in a commendable second spell.