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India must use their growing power in world cricket to keep the game on the right path rather than becoming obsessed with short-term issues like code-of-conduct hearings, according to James Sutherland, Cricket Australia’s chief executive

Brydon Coverdale06-Nov-2008
India’s reluctance to accept the one-match ban imposed on Gautam Gambhir was a concern for James Sutherland © AFP
India must use its growing power in world cricket to keep the game on the right path rather than becoming obsessed with short-term issues like code-of-conduct hearings, James Sutherland, Cricket Australia’s chief executive, has said. He said there was little the rest of the cricketing world could do to match India’s power, so Indian administrators needed to take greater responsibility for the game’s welfare.Sutherland was speaking in Melbourne in the lead-up to the Nagpur Test, before India confirmed that their starting line-up would not include Gautam Gambhir, who was suspended for one Test for elbowing Shane Watson. It was unclear whether Gambhir was in the side or out of it – even India’s captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, on the day before the match, said he was “almost sure” he wouldn’t be playing.Sutherland said it was clear India viewed such behavioural issues differently from Australia.”They tend to look at these sorts of issues and code of conduct decisions in a different sort of light,” Sutherland said. “We have seen in the last probably five years, at least four times where they have tried some sort of approach to appeal and, where the appeal hasn’t been successful, taken it to another level.”In January, India were seriously considering whether to continue with their tour of Australia after Harbhajan Singh was suspended for allegedly racially abusing Andrew Symonds – a ban that was later overturned on appeal. And in 2001, India refused to accept Virender Sehwag’s suspension and named him for a Test against South Africa. The match was stripped of its Test status when the teams agreed to lock the match referee Mike Denness out of the stadium.Sutherland said “you can always argue” that India had too much power over the sport and compared their influence in the ICC with the role the United States plays in the United Nations. However, he felt the other cricketing countries could do little but accept the status quo.”The power that India has is obviously connected a lot to the financial contribution that they make to the game,” he said. “Something like 70% of cricket revenue is generated out of India and to that end it means that I think they have, in recent times, come to realise that with that they can influence more than perhaps they have done in the past.”With that ability to influence obviously comes power and, as someone once told me, with wealth comes responsibility. That’s something that ideally you would like to see India continue to take a leadership role in helping the game to be better rather than focusing on taking these sorts of issues that we’re talking about today, with Gambhir, down the wrong path.”

An update has emerged on Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara, regarding Leeds’ interest in his services.

What’s the talk?

According to GiveMeSport, Leeds United have identified Rangers central midfielder Glen Kamara as a potential target this month.

The report claims that the Whites are keen on a deal for the Finland international, who is reportedly valued in the region of £10m.

Bielsa would love him

Victor Orta must sanction a deal for Kamara before the end of the transfer window. He could be a terrific addition to Marcelo Bielsa’s midfield and couldbe the ideal replacement for Mateusz Klich in the starting XI.

The Poland international averaged a fairly dismal WhoScored rating of 6.51 in the Premier League last season, which suggests that Leeds could land an upgrade on his position with a new signing. He started 28 league matches and did contribute with four goals and five assists, but his rating shows that he was unable to consistently deliver quality performances.

Kamara, meanwhile, enjoyed an excellent season with Rangers last term. He averaged a WhoScored rating of 6.90 in 28 Scottish Premiership appearances and a score of 6.90 in 10 Europa League starts. This shows that he was able to turn up week-in-week-out and put in superb displays on the pitch, domestically and in Europe.

Of course, he was playing in a Rangers side that we dominating games more often than not, but his performances were very, very consistent, and that’s what managers want from their players.

His former manager at Dundee United, Neil McCann, hailed him as a special talent and said that he is receptive to taking instructions from his coaches.

He said: “He isn’t a big, physical lad but he’s made of iron and really strong. I knew immediately that he could handle the ball under pressure and not give it away, so he was perfect.

McCann added: “He’s a special talent. He’s lightning-quick but he doesn’t show it. He’s a player who takes instruction well.”

These comments from McCann will delight Bielsa as it highlights the midfielder’s ability to beat the press whilst also being willing to improve. The Argentine coach would love to have a player who is prepared to take on advice to improve himself or do a specific job on the pitch, which is why the former Marseille boss would surely love to have Kamara if Leeds were able to get him to Elland Road this summer.

Orta must get a deal over the line for the Finnish enforcer in the coming weeks. It could improve Leeds’ chances of being able to compete in the top half of the table, as he would surely improve their midfield options if he comes in.

AND in other news, “He’s not good enough” – Exclusive: Palmer drops verdict on LUFC target after £30m claim…

Sheffield United are said to be favouring sending Daniel Jebbison out on loan to Belgian side Beerschot, according to The Sun.

What’s the story?

Jebbison caught the eye with some impressive showings towards the end of the 2020/21 season with United, as he featured after their relegation from the Premier League was confirmed.

The youngster scored on his first-team debut against Everton at Goodison Park and will have been hoping to build on that moving forwards into the new league campaign.

However, the Blades are seemingly set to send him out on loan for this season, with the likes of Doncaster, Burton Albion and Sunderland being reportedly interested in landing his signature.

The Sun claim that Sheff United are reportedly keen to send him out on loan to Belgian side Beerschot, instead of the Black Cats, where he could have gained valuable experience in English football at a senior level.

‘Shining light’

Jebbison is still only 18, and had an average Whoscored rating of 6.43 from the four appearances he made for United last term, as they dropped out of the top-flight after a disappointing season.

Speaking in an interview in the 2020/21 season (quotes sourced from Yorkshire Live), Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards issued high praise for Jebbison, and labelled him as ‘the shining light’.

“I really like the look of him. He just gets in the right areas, and they needed that with all the negativity that’s gone on at the club.

“You want to bounce back straight away, and you want to go to the end of the season with positivity. They’re playing for pride, and he’s the shining light.”

The forward is early into his senior career and you have to trust Slavisa Jokanovic’s judgement with this transfer update on Jebbison’s future.

The Blades already have a number of strong options in a similar position, and so you can understand Jokanovic’s decision on the 18-year-old moving forwards in the summer transfer window.

It’s refreshing to see him looking at sending Jebbison out on loan, as he could easily have him playing Under-23s football once again, but it looks as though he’ll be furthering his development with a move elsewhere before the transfer window closes.

However, it is surprising to see United looking to send him out on loan to Beerschot instead of Sunderland, who are likely to be able to offer him regular game time in English football.

English football is known for playing at a high intensity, compared to other leagues around Europe. Therefore, it has come as an eye-opener to see the Blades looking at sending him on loan to Beerschot, instead of a club in England.

The Black Cats are still searching for a replacement for Charlie Wyke, with the forward opting to pursue a move to Wigan Athletic instead. So, you would have imagined that Lee Johnson’s side would have been able to offer Jebbison regular game time in senior football. It’s surprising that United are choosing to send the youngster abroad rather than to another English side.

AND in other news…Sheffield United look set swoop for this Championship star…

Southampton were linked with a move for Tottenham Hotspur youngster Japhet Tanganga in January, and with the defender now reportedly available on loan, Ralph Hasenhuttl should bring him to St Mary’s.

What’s the word?

According to Sky Sports, Spurs are keen to loan out the 22-year-old, with both Southampton and Burnley having shown an interest in him previously, which suggests that those on the Saints board will be keeping a close eye on his situation with the north London club.

The report suggests that while Galatasaray have made a loan approach for the Spurs academy graduate, he would prefer a loan move to a Premier League club, which certainly opens the door to a switch to St Mary’s.

Southampton have enjoyed success in loaning players from Spurs in the past, as Kyle Walker-Peters established himself as a regular in Hasenhuttl’s side during his loan spell at the club in the 2019/20 season, which convinced the Austrian to make the defender’s move permanent last summer.

Would Tanganga be a good signing?

Although Tanganga cannot boast much top-flight experience, with just 12 Premier League appearances to his name, he could be a solid backup option for Hasenhuttl to have in defence next season.

The Englishman has featured at centre-back, right-back and left-back in his senior career thus far, so he could comfortably cover for Walker-Peters and new signing Romain Perraud in the full-back positions, an area where Southampton desperately need to add some depth ahead of the new season.

He would also arguably be an upgrade on current backup options Yan Valery and Moussa Djenepo, considering that the Frenchman struggled for game-time on loan at Birmingham City last term whilst the Malian winger is far from a natural at left-back but has been forced to feature there in pre-season.

[freshpress-quiz id=“594431”]

Therefore, now that the “amazing” Tanganga is seemingly available for loan, Martin Semmens should definitely consider bringing him to Southampton this summer.

In other news… Hasenhuttl dealt potential blow with “outstanding” Saints beast

Shoaib Akhtar has been included for Pakistan’s national Twenty20 tournament, which starts on October 4 in Lahore

Cricinfo staff19-Sep-2008Shoaib Akhtar has been included for Pakistan’s national Twenty20 tournament, which starts on October 4 in Lahore, after he was issued an ultimatum by the Pakistan Cricket Board to pay an outstanding fine of Rs 7 million (approx US$105,000). The PCB today announced its 15-member squads for all 13 participating teams, with Shoaib representing Islamabad Leopards.The PCB slapped Shoaib, 33, with the fine last month after he criticised the PCB over its failure to award him a central contract. He was initially banned by the PCB for five years, but the sentence had been reduced to 18 months by an appellate tribunal in June.The ban had restricted him from playing in and for Pakistan but he was given permission to play in England. He’s currently on a short stint with Surrey. He has also been included in the preliminary 20-man squad for next month’s Canada Cup Four Nation Twenty20 tournament.A notable exclusion is the batsman Younis Khan, who was granted permission from the PCB to represent South Australia as their overseas player in their domestic season, which starts next month.The tournament will be staged between October 4-8 at the Bagh-e-Jinnah and Lahore City Cricket Association Grounds. It will serve as a selection trial for the series in Canada, Pakistan’s first international assignment after the recent Asia Cup. The Champions Trophy, scheduled between September 12-28, was postponed due to security issues.For the full list of squads, click here.

West Ham manager David Moyes likes Brentford defender Rico Henry, journalist Jack Rosser has told Football FanCast.

Currently, Moyes has Aaron Cresswell and Arthur Masuaku to choose from when it comes to the left-back position.

However, the latter is sometimes used further forward, while he has also had a few injury problems during his time with West Ham, so the Hammers could perhaps do with a new left-back coming in.

According to Rosser, that is something they have been looking at, with Henry one name in particular that has caught Moyes’ attention.

“It’s somewhere they’ve always liked to strengthen,” the Evening Standard reporter said. “They’ve looked at a few left-backs in the past and Moyes likes Rico Henry at Brentford, but he’s not alone in that.”

Henry played a huge role in Brentford’s promotion-winning campaign last term.

The 24-year-old made 30 league starts as the Bees went on to beat Swansea City in the Championship play-off final at Wembley to earn a place in English football’s top flight.

Given that, Brentford will not want to sell the Englishman this summer. However, West Ham look in need of a left-back, so they should at least try test the water with a bid for Rico.

As per L’Equipe, Tottenham have held talks to sign Marcus Thuram from Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach.

The Lowdown: Season approaching

With Nuno Espirito Santo now in charge at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Spurs can now properly look ahead to the 2021/22 campaign.

However, if they want to compete towards the top end of the table after a seventh-placed finish last term, they must make some transfer headway soon – they are yet to make a single new signing this summer.

The Latest: Spurs eye Thuram

As per this report from L’Equipe, Spurs have held talks to sign France international Thuram.

Serie A duo Roma and Napoli have both also been linked with a move for the 23-year-old winger. whose father Lilian was a legend of French football.

The Verdict: Top talent

Thuram would no doubt be a quality signing for Spurs if they could get him through the door. Since making the move to Monchengladbach, he has managed 25 goals and 21 assists in 79 appearances (Transfermarkt).

His time there has not been without controversy – he received a six-game ban after spitting at Hoffenheim’s Stefan Posch last season (The Guardian) – but he has generally been a success in Germany. Indeed. he appeared for France at Euro 2020 off the back of his displays at club level.

Gladbach midfielder Zakaria even called him “phenomenal” (via bulinews.com), and Thuram seems a quality player who could be a danger for Spurs in the Premier League. Valued at £31.5m by Transfermarkt, he would not come cheap, but Daniel Levy must speculate to accumulate if he wants Tottenham to be truly successful.

In other news, Tottenham have entered the race to sign this Ligue 1 ace.

South Africa’s coach, Mickey Arthur, believes that his side could well find themselves facing Andrew Flintoff when they take on England in the first Test at Lord’s a week on Thursday

Andrew Miller at Taunton01-Jul-2008
Andrew Flintoff: his recall would be a gamble, but worth taking, according to South Africa’s coach © Getty Images
South Africa’s coach, Mickey Arthur, believes that his side could well find themselves facing Andrew Flintoff when they take on England in the first Test at Lord’s a week on Thursday, even though he concedes that it would require a gamble from the selectors to pick him.Arthur was speaking at Taunton where South Africa’s first warm-up game drifted to a draw on the final afternoon. Had the South African dressing-room contained a television, they would have been able to watch a fired-up Flintoff taking on Sussex for Lancashire at Hove, where he bowled with great pace and hostility, and was only denied the wicket of Chris Adams when the third umpire decided that an edge to slip had not carried.His bowling form presents England with a dilemma, because for all that the trio of Ryan Sidebottom, Stuart Broad and James Anderson have impressed in recent months against New Zealand, none of them provides the attack with the same 90mph cutting edge of a fully-fit Flintoff. With South Africa set to field two out-and-out pace bowlers in Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, plus the enduring hostility of Makhaya Ntini, the temptation to fight fire with fire is all the greater.England’s selectors met today, and are set to unveil their squad on Thursday, along with a 30-man preliminary party for the Champions Trophy in September, and Arthur was more than willing to stir the pot ahead of the series. “If I had a Flintoff I’d have him back,” he said. “I think Andrew gives their attack a different flavour. He’s got that bustling pace so it would be tempting to play him if he’s fighting fit.”It might be a gamble, but Peter [Moores] knows what he’s doing,” said Arthur. “He’ll assess the risk, because if you’ve got a quality player like him available, you certainly want to pick him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he came straight back … I think he strengthens England.”Though Flintoff’s pace and skill is not in question, there are two big question marks hanging over his game. The first is the ability of his troublesome left ankle to withstand 25 overs in an innings, the prerequisite for a bowler in a four-man attack. The other is the current state of his batting – he managed only 6 in the current match at Hove, and has now gone 114 innings in all forms of the game without hitting a century.”I wouldn’t want to be selecting the side, because I’m not sure you can bank on him coming straight back and giving the amount of overs a Broad or an Anderson would,” said Arthur. “He really has to take the place of one of the top six. [The selectors] have got to weigh it up because I’m not quite sure they’ll get the balance right there.”Arthur’s willingness to speculate on England’s selection issues reflected the confidence and satisfaction he was able to take out of South Africa’s first foray of their tour. Aside from Mark Boucher, every single member of the top seven managed a lengthy spell in the middle over their three days in Taunton, and the bowlers all enjoyed a useful workout as well.Off the field, Graeme Smith made encouraging progress in his recuperation from his hamstring tear, while Jacques Kallis has already been passed fit for the four-day warm-up match against Middlesex at Uxbridge on Friday, after recovering well from a bruised elbow. “I think we got everything we wanted out of the game,” said Arthur. “In fact I don’t think we could have scripted it better.On the first afternoon, Somerset’s captain, Andrew Caddick, had hit out at the flat-pitch policy that had condemned his bowlers to a long and fruitless toil in the first innings, and Arthur was being slightly tongue-in-cheek when he thanked Somerset for their outstanding hospitality. Even so, if there was one quibble he could take from their three days in Taunton, it was the failure of his pace attack to step up their intensity on the final afternoon.”The one thing we probably lacked a little was we wanted to build our bowlers up,” he said, “but we’ve got another four-day game before the Test so we didn’t want to overbowl them either. We probably get better intensity in two-day warm-ups because you bat for one day, bowl for one day, and then the third day tends to drag on a little bit, but we’re very happy with where we’re at. Our focus is on July 10, and everything we do is leading up to that day.”

Newcastle United star Allan Saint-Maximin may be tempted by a move to Everton because he could ‘push for Europe’ at Goodison Park.

That’s according to former Sheffield United and Leeds goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, speaking to Football Insider.

The lowdown

The Mirror reported earlier in July that Everton would swoop for Saint-Maximin as a replacement for Richarlison if the Brazilian was lured to Real Madrid.

They claimed Newcastle would demand £60million to part with a player who scored three goals and provided four assists last season.

That would represent a huge profit on the £16.5million they initially paid to bring him in from OGC Nice in 2019.

Everton, who finished 10th in last season’s Premier League, are now managed by former Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez following the departure of Carlo Ancelotti.

The latest

Kenny expressed a concern that Newcastle would not be able to match Saint-Maximin’s ambitions.

And he predicted that Benitez’s prior relationship with Newcastle would give Everton an upper hand in any battle for his signature.

“Newcastle are a massive club but for me, they look like they are a team that’s just struggling to stay up every year,” he said.

“I’m sure Saint-Maximin wants to be pushing for Europe with a team like Everton. What a player he is.

“If Everton are interested then, with Benitez’s link with Newcastle, I’m sure it could be an option for him,” he continued.

“I’m sure they’ll be looking to go one step further and challenge again for Europe this season.”

The verdict

Look no further than the game against Burnley, when he came off the bench to engineer a season-defining turnaround by scoring one and making another, for an illustration of Saint-Maximin’s worth to Newcastle.

They must fight off any interest until the fate of their proposed takeover is clear. If it fails, it would probably worth be selling and reinvesting that huge sum of money.

But if it succeeds, Newcastle should be assembling a Europe-chasing squad of their own built around Saint-Maximin, who’s still only 24 years old.

In other news, John Barnes has issued this huge claim on Newcastle’s takeover.

If Steve Waugh scores a century in the third Test against England he canjoin the elite company of David Boon, Mark Taylor, Mark Waugh and RickyPonting

David Wiseman28-Nov-2002If Steve Waugh scores a century in the third Test against England he canjoin the elite company of David Boon, Mark Taylor, Mark Waugh and RickyPonting.The group consists of those players who have scored a Test century on everyground in Australia.Ponting only became a member recently when he made 123 in the first inningsof the first Test at the Gabba.You could even argue that Sunil Gavaskar belongs to the club. He neverscored a hundred at Bellerive Oval but then again, he never played a Testthere. Gavaskar scored centuries on all the mainland grounds in Australia.Waugh has come close before. Very close.Ninety-one against the West Indies in 1988 which would have been his first Testcentury.He was on 96 against New Zealand in 1997 until Shayne O’Connor bowled him.And the infamous 99 not out against England in 1995.The injured Craig McDermott was batting last and with the aid of a runnerwho happened to be Mark Waugh. Confusion at the crease saw Steve Waughbecame the second player stranded on 99 at the WACA. The first beingGeoffrey Boycott in 1979All this talk of Steve Waugh and hundreds is ironic given how much pressurehe was under to score his first. Forty-one innings came and went before his firstone.Since then, the hundreds haven’t stopped. He has one against every Testcountry Australia has played against. He has one batting at Nos 3,5,6and 7. He has had at least one every year since 1993.His 28 hundreds are the second most for Australia, one behind Sir DonaldBradman’s 29. His total is the fourth highest in history behind Bradman, Sachin Tendulkarand Gavaskar.If Waugh could snag a hundred in the fourth innings of the game in Perth, itwould be his first three-figure score in the fourth innings of a match. Heonly averages 24 in the fourth innings with his only half century, the 67 hemanaged against New Zealand at the WACA last year.Waugh won’t be too worried one way or another about making a century at theWACA to complete the set.He has plenty of other milestones coming his way to worry about.*213 runs to bring up 10,000 Test runs*52 runs for 3000 Test runs against England*Two more Test wins for most wins by an Australian captain*Four more Tests for the most appearances.But the only statistic Waugh will worry about is three more wins for the 5-0drubbing of England.