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Paul Collingwood will warm up for his England return with a Pro40 match for Durham on Sunday after the ECB freed him for extra match practice ahead of Tuesday’s second ODI against South Africa

Cricinfo staff23-Aug-2008
Paul Collingwood is set to be in coloured clothing again… although firstly for Durham © Getty Images
Paul Collingwood will warm up for his England return with a Pro40 match for Durham on Sunday after the ECB freed him for extra match practice ahead of Tuesday’s second ODI against South Africa. It will be Collingwood’s first ODI since being banned at the end of June for four matches for a slow over-rate when captain against New Zealand and his first since ceding the leadership.Friday’s opening ODI at Headingley was the last of the four matches he was banned for and now he should feature in Durham’s Division One match against Worcestershire at New Road. Since his ban he has managed three limited overs matches for Durham, scoring 36, an unbeaten 78 and 8.Alastair Cook, who was omitted from Friday’s team, has also been made available for his county Essex, along with Ravi Bopara. While Bopara played in England’s 20-run win he did not bat. Essex’s Division Two tie is against Glamorgan at Colchester.

Paris-Saint Germain and Everton may not reach an agreement for Moise Kean, Saturday’s print edition of L’Equipe (via Sport Witness) suggests. 

The lowdown

After scoring only two league goals following a £24.75million move from Juventus, Kean was loaned to PSG last season.

He rediscovered his form in the French capital, scoring 16 goals in all competitions to finish as the second-top scorer for the Champions League semifinalists (via BBC Sport).

Thomas Tuchel, PSG manager until Christmas, described Kean as ‘courageous’ and ‘fearless’.

The Italian featured in both of Everton’s recent pre-season matches in the United States, scoring what proved to be the winner against Mexican outfit Pumas UNAM.

The latest

The French paper reports that PSG have been in talks trying to strike another loan agreement with Everton, but ‘without success’.

While they don’t rule out a return to the Parc des Princes, they do indicate that the move is now in significant doubt.

The verdict

PSG isn’t the only potential route out of Goodison Park for Kean. Tuttosport have claimed that Juventus are considering an attempt to bring him back to Turin.

But he looks to have his heart set on rejoining Mauricio Pochettino’s side. French journalist Saber Desfarges claimed he was growing ‘impatient’ as he waited for a return to be arranged.

Some Everton fans may be open to the idea of keeping Kean, whose confidence may now be significantly higher after a successful campaign in Paris. The concern, though, is whether he would carry the disappointment of missing out on a move into the new season, possibly bringing negativity into the squad and dressing room.

It feels like we could see some more twists and turns in this one yet.

In other news, fans were buzzing over this transfer update. 

A round-up from the latest Championship matches where rain wipes out play across most of the country

Cricinfo staff05-Sep-2008Division Two3rd dayThe most play possible around the country was at Lord’s, but that isn’t saying much, as Middlesex and Gloucestershire managed 11 overs writes . For much of the day it looked as though this match would go the same way as all the others – and on any other ground it would have – but at around 4pm the skies brightened, the drainage system worked its magic and there was even a glimmer of sun. Eventually players and umpires appeared at 5pm and Middlesex made the attacking gesture of declaring with their overnight lead of 95. They should have had an early breakthrough when Kadeer Ali was missed on 4, at second slip by Murali Kartik, off Alan Richardson. Other than that, though, Ali and William Porterfield progressed with relative ease given the bowler-friendly conditions. Richardson and Tim Murtagh bowled a touch short and wide and there was just time for one over of spin before more rain forced the players off with five overs unbowled.4th dayThe division’s top two sides, Worcestershire and Warwickshire had to settle for a draw at New Road The stalemate leaves Worcestershire 16 points clear at the top, even though they were docked two points for a slow over-rate, while Warwickshire have a 13-point cushion to Essex in third.Derbyshire and Glamorgan went the same way, with no action possible at Derby, meaning Dan Redfern missed the chance to score his maiden first-class century having reached 69 on the third evening.Division OneDurham were denied the chance for further batting points when rain wiped out the third day against Lancashire at Chester-le-Street.The top-of-the-table clash between Nottinghamshire and Somerset couldn’t advance, either, because of the miserable weather at Trent Bridge .And it was a similar story at Scarborough where Sussex, not for the first time this season, couldn’t build on a strong position against Yorkshire with the home side struggling on 133 for 7.2nd dayThe only play possible in the first division was at Canterbury where Kent managed 13 balls to the Surrey openers before the rain arrived. Scott Newman and Chris Murtagh survived but neither opened their account.

Many Southampton fans shared their delight as the club revealed their new away kit for the upcoming 2021/22 season.

The new campaign is almost upon us. For the Saints, they will be looking to improve on their rather disappointing 15th-placed finish in the Premier League last term. They will get their league season underway against Everton at St Mary’s on Saturday 14 August.

Usually at this point in the campaign, all of the kits for the new season will have been released by the 20 clubs in the top flight. However, the Saints were yet to reveal their away kit for the new campaign until Wednesday morning, but it seems to have been worth the wait for many of the club’s fans who loved the “stunning” new offering – a predominantly yellow shirt with blue sleeves from new kit suppliers Hummel.

The kit was shared on Southampton’s official Twitter channel and it attracted plenty of attention from supporters. These fans took to the social media platform to share their thoughts on the new shirt.

Let’s see what these Saints fans had to say

“Well worth the wait…..stunning!”

Credit: @DesKnight08

“Oh that’s a beauty. 3 great kits for the season.”

Credit: @Chi_Saintsfan

“Simple, but effective. I love the detailing at the lower part of the shirt, it’s subtle but beautiful”

Credit: @thomasc85505893

“Actually class from the club, fair play”

Credit: @ScottishSexyMan

“Love it. Love yellow. Love the graphic. Love the idea. Love Saints. But you have to laugh at, ‘to highlight the importance of looking after our environment’ when we release new kits across the board every single year”

Credit: @JamesClarkRoss

“Hummel don’t know how to make a bad kit. What a beautiful sight”

Credit: @salisuszn

In other news, Southampton are interested in signing this Ligue 1 defender.

Shahid Karim has claimed several discrepancies in the procedure followed by the IPL in conducting dope tests on his client Mohammad Asif

Cricinfo staff15-Oct-2008
Shahid Karim told the IPL tribunal that Mohammad Asif could be cleared on technical grounds © AFP
Shahid Karim, the lawyer representing Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif in the IPL doping hearings, will focus on several discrepancies in the procedure followed by the IPL in conducting dope tests to defend his client. The IPL drugs tribunal conducted a preliminary hearing in Mumbai on Saturday but adjourned the hearing to November, after Karim addressed his objections to them.”There were certain things on which the IPL had gone wrong so the entire day was consumed in this in the hearing,” Karim told . “We scored a few points and made it known to the tribunal that there were serious discrepancies that had crept in.”The IPL announced in July that Asif, who played for the Delhi Daredevils, had tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone during its first season earlier this year. His B sample was also positive but the level was different to the first sample. The second sample had a nandrolone concentration of 5.4 nanograms per millilitre of urine while the first had 6.2 nanograms.Based on these facts, Karim was confident his client will be given the benefit of the doubt. “I am very hopeful that he will come clear,” Karim said. “He will come out clean because we have serious objections to this entire procedure which I can’t disclose fully for various reasons now.”At the hearing Karim argued that due to these discrepancies, Asif should be cleared on technical grounds. “If that is not done, then we have been told to present our evidence, medical experts and also the other side on the next date of hearing so that the entire proceedings of the inquiry can be wound up probably at the next hearing in November.”Asif was earlier banned for one year by a Pakistan Cricket Board tribunal after testing positive for nandrolone during the 2006 Champions Trophy. The punishment was overturned a month later on appeal. He is currently suspended by the PCB till the IPL completes its inquiry.Also, in June this year, Asif was detained for 19 days at Dubai airport for possessing an illegal substance. The PCB has completed its investigation into the matter, but a final verdict is pending. He was accompanied at the last hearing by Karim and sports medicine expert Dr Michael Graham.

Anil Kumble has said he is confident of recovering from a shoulder injury in time for the second Test against Australia which begins on October 17 in Mohali

Cricinfo staff13-Oct-2008
Anil Kumble: “It would have been nice if I had picked up wickets, maybe we would have won the Test match” © Getty Images
Anil Kumble has said he is confident of recovering from a shoulder injury in time for the second Test against Australia which begins on October 17 in Mohali.”The shoulder is feeling better,” Kumble said. “There are three more days before the next Test so we’ll monitor it closely.”Kumble performed poorly in the first Test, at the start of which he indicated it would be his final game in Bangalore. He bowled 43 overs in the first innings without a wicket before a shoulder injury restricted his bowling to eight overs in the second. It was only the third occasion that Kumble had gone wicketless in a Test and the first time in India. He also dropped two catches off his own bowling.”It would have been nice if I had picked up wickets, maybe we would have won the Test match,” Kumble said. “Without me putting my hand up, the other bowlers have certainly played their parts. I think, as captain, I’ve played my part. One bad game doesn’t make you a bad player.”India were under pressure for the majority of the first Test. They conceded a first-innings lead of 70 to Australia and had to bat the final day to ensure a draw. Kumble, however, was pleased with the performance.”For the first Test of the series, all of us have had a reasonable game,” he said. “The batsmen are pretty confident going into the next game. As a team we are confident of winning the series.”He also added that the result might have been different had he won the toss. “The wicket has changed. The Bangalore pitch was very different 10 years ago,” he said. “The pitch cracks up as the game progresses which is not ideal if you lose the toss. I think things would have been slightly different had we won the toss and batted first.”

David Norris has failed to rule out Leeds signing another goalkeeper – and exclusively told Football FanCast that Ben Foster would be perfect.

Following Kiko Casilla’s loan move to Elche, the Elland Road outfit needed to bring in a replacement to provide back-up for number one Ilian Meslier.

Casilla made just three Premier League appearances last term and opted to move to Spain to get regular game-time, with Frenchman Meslier enjoying an impressive first full year in south Yorkshire.

Leeds have since bought in young Norweigan stopper Kristoffer Klaesson to step up in the Spaniard’s absence.

However, Meslier and Klaesson have a combined age of 41, meaning their goalkeeping department is currently extremely inexperienced.

With that in mind, Norris would be open to the idea of the possibility of Leeds bringing Ben Foster to Elland Road.

Foster recently won promotion back to the Premier League with Watford, but a finger injury sustained back in January saw the ex-England goalkeeper lose his place to Daniel Bachmann, who is in line to continue his position as first-choice heading into the new season.

Asked whether Bielsa could add another stopper to his squad, Norris exclusively told FFC:

“It just depends on if the keepers come in and want to play or if they’re happy to fight for a place.

“Ben Foster has got the experience, another good pro, I have heard him speak well. Good team player, squad player, good person to have around the changing room, so someone like that would be perfect, it just depends on what he wants to do.”

Allrounder Johann Louw has been added to South Africa’s ODI squad ahead of the home series against Kenya and Bangladesh

Cricinfo staff28-Oct-2008
Dale Steyn is likely to play the Twenty20 international against Bangladesh on November 5 © Getty Images
Allrounder Johann Louw has been added to South Africa’s ODI squad ahead of the home series against Kenya and Bangladesh, which starts with the first ODI against Kenya on October 31 at Bloemfontein.”It was originally our intention only to add a 14th player to the squad as a replacement for Ryan McLaren after the Kenya matches,” acting national selection convener Gerald Majola said. “But the fact of the matter is that neither Graeme Smith nor Dale Steyn is likely to play against Kenya which would leave us with only 11 players.” In the absence of Smith, offspinner Johan Botha will captain the side.McLaren had to opt out after Kent refused to release him from his Kolpak contract, Smith is suffering from a tennis elbow and Steyn had been hit by a mystery virus – he has since recovered from the illness. South Africa coach Mickey Arthur said: “I have been most impressed by Johann’s commitment, training ethos and skills level during the two days of our training camp to date and I am delighted to have him in the squad.”Louw has played 115 List A games, both in South Africa as well for counties in England, and has picked up over 1000 runs and 150 wickets. He played for Northamptonshire in 2008, which followed a successful 2007-08 season at home with the Dolphins. Louw finished as his team’s leading wicket-taker in the four-day, one-day and Pro20 (Twenty20) competitions, with 77 scalps at 16.68. In 12 one-dayers, he took 24 wickets at average of 14.62 and economy-rate of 3.92.A release from Cricket South Africa said Steyn bowled in the nets at the De Beers Diamond Oval on Tuesday. However, Arthur felt he was operating only at 60% and expected the fast bowler to return for the one-off Twenty20 international against Bangladesh on November 5.Majola, CSA’s chief executive, will continue in his selection role till the recently-appointed Mike Procter takes charge from December 1 after fulfilling his duties as an ICC match referee.

Celtic’s win in midweek signalled Ange Postecoglou’s first in competitive fixtures as the new Hoops boss.

It has been a long time coming but their attack was firing on all cylinders as the Bhoys finally discovered some confidence.

They will now return to play in front of their home fans at Parkhead on Sunday afternoon, needing to pick up their first three points of the campaign.

They will face Dundee at Paradise but will Postecoglou decide to make any changes to the side that beat Jablonec in the Czech Republic?

We’re tipping the Australian to make two adjustments to the starting XI this weekend.

The first change is in defence where we hope to see Stephen Welsh feature alongside Carl Starfelt in the middle of the backline.

Celtic ran out comfortable 4-2 winners a few days ago but their defence still left plenty to be desired with Nir Bitton scoring an unfortunate own goal.

He’s been in questionable form this term so we’re predicting him to be dropped.

The other change comes in the final third where Ryan Christie replaces David Turnbull in attacking midfield.

The Scot was the club’s Player of the Season for 2020/21 but hasn’t scored a single goal this term or assisted a strike for his teammates.

Christie, on the other hand, has been a rejuvenated figure and scored a wonderfully timed header against Jablonec a few days ago.

Odsonne Edouard remains on the bench which gives Kyogo Furuhashi another chance to impress. He scored with an excellent finish in midweek and was a threat all game long with his clever movement.

Postecoglou continues to place faith in Anthony Ralston while Ismaila Soro has another opportunity to prove his worth in the middle of the park before James McCarthy finds full fitness.

AND in other news, Celtic eye swoop for £60k-p/w beast who’s “different class”, he’s an upgrade on Bitton…

Bangladesh’s visit to West Indies has been pushed back to the end of June after the hosts agreed to tour England in April and May

Cricinfo staff05-Dec-2008Bangladesh’s visit to West Indies has been pushed back to the end of June after the hosts agreed to tour England in April and May.The tour was originally set to take place in April, following England’s visit to the Caribbean, but both boards are happy about the new schedule which sees the trip start on June 30, following the World Twenty20 in England and a short visit by India for a one-day series.”It was a win-win situation for us,” Gazi Ashraf Hossain, the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s chief cricket operations officer told the agency. “West Indies were looking for a window to play in England, and we were also not very interested to play in April, so we both mutually agreed to shift the series to July.”The change of dates also means that Bangladesh players will be free to take up any IPL contracts they already hold or that might come their way.The tour of West Indies will include two Tests, three ODIs and a Twenty20 International spread over St. Vincent, Grenada, Dominica, and St. Kitts.