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India closed in on a rare Test win in conditions that required courage, skill and some luck, but one hit too many to the batsmen forced the umpires to take the players off the field with South Africa 17 for 1 chasing an improbable 241

The Report by Sidharth Monga in Johannesburg26-Jan-2018
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
On their most glorious day of cricket on this tour of South Africa, India closed in on a rare Test win in conditions that required courage, skill and some luck. One blow too many to the batsmen, though, forced the umpires to take the players off the field with South Africa 17 for 1 chasing an improbable 241. Deliberation over the fate of the match ensued, with the match officials meeting each other and the team captains, but eventually it was decided the game would go ahead as scheduled on day four.South Africa were supposed to bat for 65 minutes before stumps, but the day’s play did not get that far after Dean Elgar was struck on the grille of his helmet by a short, steeply rising ball from Jasprit Bumrah. It was the fourth time Elgar had been hit on the body in his brief innings.Elgar passes concussion test

South Africa opener Dean Elgar has passed a concussion test after he was struck on the grille of the helmet on the third day. Elgar, however, will be assessed again before he takes the field on the fourth morning.
Elgar was struck in the ninth over of South Africa’s chase of 241, when Jasprit Bumrah dropped one short around the batsman’s off-stump. The incident forced the umpires to take the players off 19 minutes before the scheduled close. South Africa were 17 for 1.

In the post-match press conference, India manager Sunil Subramaniam said India had no complaints about the pitch, contending that it had behaved the same way on all three days, and that they would want the game to continue.This may have had a lot to do with the match situation, engineered by some brilliant batting. Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and M Vijay batted out of their skins, putting behind them the blows they took from the inconsistent and exaggerated bounce, going through periods of excessive seam movement, putting every scoring opportunity away. The lower order, led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar with a composed 33 and Mohammed Shami with a whirlwind 27, then all but put the matter beyond South Africa.Vijay was hit five times in the first session, Kohli wore one length ball on his glove, and by the time Rahane was hit on his bare back elbow India were in such a good position that Rahane sent back the physio, who had been kept busy earlier. India didn’t want to risk giving a suggestion that this pitch was dangerous; they were desperate to win, they didn’t mind a bruised rib or finger, and probably didn’t imagine or think of worse.Before you talk about padding and arm guards and helmets, you must watch a net session and watch from up close these Test cricketers face bouncers chucked at them by the sidearm. It takes half a second to leave the bowler’s hand and reach the batsman. Facing accurate short-pitched fast bowling on true pitches or in the nets is hard enough; here the bounce was unpredictable. Sometimes it jumped off a length, and also seamed back in, leaving the batsmen nowhere to go. Umpires chatted often, looking worriedly at some of the good-length areas, and a piece or two of the pitch that had come off.India were not bothered. They had their eye on the prize. They began the day effectively 42 for 1, having lost only their pinch-hitter Parthiv Patel. Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel took out KL Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara in the first five overs of the day, and South Africa sensed an opportunity. Then, Vijay and Kohli did what Pujara and Kohli did in the first innings.BCCIWhat a day it was for India to find the Vijay that had gone missing in the first five innings of this series. The pitch has usually been at its worst in the first hour of each day; on the third day it was also dangerous. Vijay bore most of the brunt. However, his judgement didn’t waver. This was a proper dig-in: he left judiciously, drove only when the ball was too full, and was always on the lookout for a single. He scored 25 off 127 balls, but he weathered the new ball and the pitch. The pitch was never going to get flat, but he made the job of those following him a little easier.Kohli, at the other end, got into better positions to attack. There was one drive ball in the whole first hour, and Kohli nailed the drive for four. That hour produced just 18 runs and two wickets. His reaction to counter the excessive seam movement was to get as far forward as possible, never mind the high pace of bowlers other than Philander. What Kohli did was exceptional because he scored at a rate of more than three an over.For the bowlers, there was a difficulty too: it seamed too much, and the ball often missed the edges. Like with India’s change bowlers in the second hour of day two, the half-volleys began to arrive, and Kohli was in no mood to miss any. It eventually took a big seaming delivery from Kagiso Rabada to snake past Kohli’s inside edge and hit the top of off stump. Rabada had earlier bowled Vijay with a yorker than proved to be the last ball before lunch.The most impressive part of Kohli’s innings, though, was his leaving outside off stump, which he didn’t do enough of in Cape Town. He didn’t follow with his hands balls that seamed away. If he did on the odd occasion, he went back and looked at the imaginary line he had given himself to stay in, to not play outside of.Just like the leave, Kohli might have wished he had incorporated Rahane into his plans in Cape Town and Bhuvneshwar in Centurion. Rahane’s counterattack at the other end was nothing short of sensational. Just like in Melbourne in 2014-15, Rahane was there by his captain when South Africa began to bowl better to him. A flurry of boundaries either side of Kohli’s dismissal took him to 27 off 25 at one point.Rahane drove on the up, waved off help when hit, ran like a gazelle, cut over the infield, and shepherded Bhuvneshwar. This must have been a bittersweet partnership for Kohli: it was swiftly taking the Test away from South Africa, but it was taking only a dead rubber away after the duo at the crease had been left out of the last Test. what if Rahane had played earlier?After Rahane finally fell to a strangle down the leg side, Mohammed Shami swung his bat wildly, hitting the first six of the match, then the second, and taking India to an extremely comfortable position. Even before Elgar began taking body blows, South Africa hit themselves hard in the solar plexus through dropped catches of Bhuvneshwar and Rahane in successive overs.

Nottingham Forest have not completed the same havoc-wreaking transfer window that followed the promotion to the Premier League last year, but Steve Cooper's outfit are poised for a busy finish to the summer market.

Who are Nottingham Forest going to sign?

According to the Guardian, Nottingham Forest are closing in on a deal for Chelsea ace Callum Hudson-Odoi, who are poised to beat Fulham to the 22-year-old's signature.

The England international was touted as one of Europe's most prodigious talents when he burst onto the scene, but an Achilles injury has had a ruinous effect on his progress.

The Evening Standard previously claimed that Chelsea were demanding £8m for the winger, which could prove to be a considerable coup if he rekindles his former form at the City Ground.

How good is Callum Hudson-Odoi?

It's been a turbulent ride for Hudson-Odoi, who was subject to a loan offer with a £70m obligation to buy from long-reigning German champions Bayern Munich in 2020.

Chelsea rejected the lucrative approach, though will likely be kissing their teeth now, with the £180k-per-week ace poised to join the Tricky Trees for roughly 10% of that former proposal for the "monster of a talent", as was once proclaimed by reporter Nizaar Kinsella.

The three-cap forward still maintains some impressive base qualities despite the rocky road traversed over the past few years, ranking among the top 9% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 16% for progressive passes and the top 13% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.

Such metrics highlight a tendency to receive the ball from deep in the left channel and blend both crisp, forward-thinking passing with a slickness in barrelling forward himself, once hailed as "amazingly talented" by scout Jacek Kulig.

Such "fantastic" natural ability, as has been said by Frank Lampard, maintained over the duration of his loan spell with Bayer Leverkusen last term, hints at a return to flourishing fortunes in the future, with the left winger just needing to unearth a cutting edge to his craft.

One sure-fire way to present Hudson-Odoi with the perfect opportunity to thrive at last would be for Cooper to ensure Nuno Tavares unearths a connection with the Chelsea man down the left channel, with the left-back set to join the club from Arsenal in a £2m loan deal with a £12m buy option.

Tavares signed for the Gunners in a deal worth around £8m in 2021, making 28 appearances across the 2021/22 campaign before being loaned out to French side Marseille last summer.

Tavares forged 31 displays in Ligue 1 and scored six goals, showcasing his attacking qualities while completing 79% of his passes and averaging 1.8 tackles per game.

As per FBref, the Portuguese wideman ranks among the top 16% of full-backs for goals, the top 1% for total shots taken, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 3% for successful take-ons per 90, highlighting his prowess as a high-octane vehicle and prompting praise from Marseille boss Igor Tudor for his "extraordinary explosiveness".

With two bundles of energy down the left flank, Forest's attacking integrity could hit a whole new level, likely to send City Ground into rapture with such an exciting duality of talent.

With Cooper making the requisite moves to ensure Nottingham Forest are not plagued with a virulent bout of second-season-syndrome, enhancing the squad with moves for Tavares and Hudson-Odoi could be the way forward, and the club now need to wrap both deals up swiftly.

Ange Postecoglou made a number of impressive additions for Celtic during his two-year spell at Parkhead and right-back Alistair Johnston is proving himself to be one of them.

The Australian head coach, who has since moved on to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, was unable to unearth a host of gems for the Bhoys; including the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Jota, Matt O'Riley, and Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Brendan Rodgers is now tasked with carrying on the talented tactician's work and will hope that his nine new signings have similar success at Paradise.

Nat Phillips, Paulo Bernardo, Maik Nawrocki, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Hyun-jun Yang, Hyeok-kyu Kwon, Marco Tilio, Odin Thiago Holm, and Luis Palma all came through the door this summer to bolster the squad, either permanently or on loan.

The Hoops and Rodgers will be hoping that they can progress in the same way that Johnston has in his short time in Scotland as the superb defender has been a fantastic signing so far and there could be more to come from him.

The Canada international produced an excellent display against Rangers in the Old Firm clash on Sunday in what was just his second Scottish Premiership appearance of the season.

How did Alistair Johnston perform against Rangers?

He lined up at right-back for the big league match at the weekend and played a key role in the 1-0 win over their rivals with a strong defensive performance.

As per Sofascore, Johnston won seven of his 11 physical contests throughout the match and made five tackles alongside two clearances against the speedy Rabbi Matondo, who posed a threat on the counter with his immense pace.

The Hoops star stuck to his task against the former Manchester City starlet and none of his teammates managed to make as many tackles as him on the day, with Matt O'Riley's four challenges being the closest, showing that the exceptional enforcer was a brick wall in defence for the Northern Irish boss.

He has become accustomed to putting in fantastic performances at the back for Celtic over the last nine months, which has been reflected in his market valuation.

Postecoglou hit the jackpot with the 24-year-old as his value has soared since making the move to Parkhead in January, thanks to his excellent displays on the pitch.

How much was Alistair Johnston worth at CF Montreal?

At the time of his switch from the MLS in January of this year, Football Transfers estimated Johnston's Expected Transfer Value (xTV) at €1.7m (£1.4m) after his form for Montreal throughout 2022.

The strong defence, who was once described as a "warrior" by international teammate Kamal Miller, made 35 MLS appearances over the course of the year and averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.93.

He showcased his attacking quality with four goals and seven 'big chances' created, alongside one key pass per match from a right-back position, which proved that the Canadian could burst forward to make things happen at the top end of the pitch.

The 24-year-old did not shy away from his defensive duties as he made 2.4 tackles and interceptions per match and a 50% duel success rate, more than holding his own in physical battles.

What is Alistair Johnston's market value now?

Johnston has spent nine months in Scotland since those performances in the MLS for Montreal and his form for Celtic has caused his market value to soar.

FootballTransfers currently rate his xTV at €5m (£4.2m), meaning that his valuation has rocketed up by roughly 194% in less than a year at Parkhead.

The Hoops number two has seen his stock rise primarily because he has he delivered consistently impressive appearances for Postecoglou during the second half of last season.

Why is he worth that much?

He hit the ground running in the Scottish Premiership and proved himself to be capable of catching the eye week-in-week-out at right-back.

Johnston averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.20 across 14 league starts for the club last term, which was the sixth-best score within the squad and the third-best of any current Hoops player now that Josip Juranovic, Jota, and Carl Starfelt have all moved on.

This shows that the former MLS star was one of the team's outstanding performers despite having never played a minute of football in Europe prior to 2023, indicating that he adapted quickly to his new surroundings and did not need a period to settle in.

The Celtic hotshot caught the eye with his contributions at both ends of the pitch. Going forward, the former Nashville talent created five 'big chances' for his teammates and produced 1.2 key passes per game as he provided a consistent attacking threat from full-back to break down the opposition's defence.

To put those numbers into context, Anthony Ralston, who is his competition for a place in the side at right-back, only created one 'big chance' in 16 league appearances for the Scottish giants last season. Clearly, Johnston is able to offer considerably more than the academy graduate at the top end of the field.

Defensively, the Canada international, who started three games at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar for his country, made 2.7 tackles and interceptions per match and won 52% of his duels, as per Sofascore, compared to Ralston's two tackles and interceptions per game for the Hoops.

These numbers suggest that Johnston is a better option than the Scottish defender at right-back as a result of his ability in and out of possession. Indeed, he can win possession back more frequently whilst also being able to create better opportunities for his teammates to score from.

His Premiership form has also been an improvement on his performances for Montreal in the MLS and that is why his soaring market value is justified. The young stopper has truly developed his game and improved as not just a defender but as an attacker.

At the age of 24, the marauding ace also has plenty of time left to grow further and increase his market value even more. For that reason, Postecoglou hit the jackpot with this signing in January.

Johnston has already made himself a valuable asset to Celtic and now has the potential to earn the club a significant payday in the future if his positive progression continues over the months and years to come.

“To the team, he brings so much more than runs, he brings AB de Villiers. The AB de Villiers factor, let’s put it that way,” Chris Morris said ahead of the pink ODI in Johannesburg

Sidharth Monga in Johannesburg09-Feb-2018Apart from the New Year’s Test, which was delayed this year, the pink ODI is the biggest occasion in South Africa’s cricket calendar. A sold-out Bullring turns up primarily in pink to increase awareness for a cause. For the six pink ODIs to date, someone from South Africa has stood up with a special performance. AB de Villiers did so against West Indies in 2015, scoring the fastest ODI century. He is finally back for South Africa after a three-match layoff because of injury. South Africa are banking on a mix of the return of a special player and a special occasion to galvanise them into giving a special performance to keep the series alive.”Jeepers, AB is AB,” Chris Morris said when asked of the implications of de Villiers’ return. “Apart from what he brings on the field, it’s what he brings off the field. He brings that calmness, he brings that experience. To have a world-class player come back and play for South Africa is a special, special occasion. It’s a special moment for me, for me I quite enjoy sharing the field with him. It’s a special occasion every time I walk on to the field with AB because to me he is – if not the best – one of the best players in the world and one of the best players to ever play for South Africa. But to the team, he brings so much more than runs, he brings AB de Villiers. The AB de Villiers factor, let’s put it that way.”South Africa’s big problem in the series has been their inability to play spin. India’s two wristspinners – Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal – have taken 21 wickets between them in three matches at an average of 9, an economy rate of 3.63 and a strike rate of a wicket every 15 balls.Getty ImagesJP Duminy admitted after the loss in Cape Town that the batsmen are not picking the wristspinners out of the hand, and are also struggling against the pace and lengths they have been bowling. Morris hopes the batsmen will set it right with the video work they have been doing, but also believes the return of de Villiers will also bring knowledge on how to face them.”Look AB has always got inputs; doesn’t matter if it’s spin, seam, behind the back,” Morris said. “It doesn’t matter what inputs he’s got, it’s always good. I’m sure AB will have a few pointers for the guys on how to handle spin and how to play spin, maybe a few different attacking options but like I said, it doesn’t matter what advice because he’s got advice for everything and it’s always solid. When AB talks, you listen because it’s always helpful.”Coming back with such messiah-like expectations can be difficult for de Villiers. “At the moment we are all under pressure, put it that way,” Morris said when asked if there would be extra pressure on de Villiers. “We are 3-0 down in the series; what more pressure do you need? If AB is coming in, I don’t think he is feeling any added pressure. He is just going to come in and be AB de Villiers. I think AB de Villiers being AB de Villiers is a very dangerous player.”It’s exciting to see how he’s going to come out tomorrow but there’s no added pressure. Every single guy in the team is feeling pressure. We know we’ve under performed, we know the way we’ve lost hasn’t been good. I think we are all dying to put on a good performance tomorrow, and to show that we can really play this game and what we are capable of.”Like India took heart from their unbeaten record in Tests at Wanderers before they won the third Test, Morris looks at their pink-day record with optimism. “I keep harping on how special an occasion it is,” Morris said. “It’s really good. My first pink day, we saw I got some runs, won the game. Last year Dwaine Pretorious came in and got a four-fer and won the game for us as well. So you know it’s a special time, I think … I always joke about that … when people go and play at Lord’s, they put on special performances because you are playing at the home of cricket. Tomorrow is such a massive day for South Africa. People arrive for the occasion and they turn it on for the occasion. We have had a good run in the last couple of years for the pink day, and hopefully we can do the same tomorrow but would be quite nice to see a youngster put his hand up tomorrow and win the game for us tomorrow.”

Glasgow Rangers have secured back to back wins for only the second time this season following their 1-0 victory over Real Betis in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

Although it was disappointing missing out on a place in the Champions League group stages following an aggregate defeat to PSV Eindhoven, perhaps dropping down to the Europa League could be a blessing in disguise for Michael Beale.

Last season, the Light Blues put in a truly dreadful display in Europe’s premier club competition, losing all six of their matches while conceding 22 goals in the process, and they now hold the record for the worst group stage team ever.

Along with a better chance of European football after Christmas, the Europa League could also offer some opportunities to the young talent in the squad, especially if the Gers secure qualification early.

Talents such as Leon King, Adam Devine, Cole McKinnon, Aaron Lyall and Kieran Wright all made the matchday squad against Betis and while the first two have experienced first-team football of late, it won't be long before the latter three all gain an opportunity.

Beale has an interesting crop of youngsters in his midst currently and if he develops them correctly, there are a couple of future first team stars ready to blossom.

One of the brightest talents is currently spending the season on loan to Hearts as he aims to secure regular senior football, and he could turn into a key player for the Gers in the near future if he continues to improve.

When did Alex Lowry make his debut for Rangers?

In a Scottish Cup tie against Stirling Albion back in January 2022, Ianis Hagi suffered a knee injury and was replaced by Lowry barely halfway through the first half as Giovanni van Bronckhorst looked to give some young players a chance.

He scored on his debut not long after emerging from the bench and at that moment, it appeared as though the Light Blues had found a heir apparent to Barry Ferguson, the former captain who had once come through the ranks to make his debut under Walter Smith in 1997 and turned into an icon.

Lowry is perhaps more forward-thinking than Ferguson, yet their qualities in the midfield are unparalleled and Van Bronckhorst lauded praise on the player shortly after making his debut.

He said: “I think the first training session he joined (the first team) he was a bit nervous. You could tell. He was making a lot of mistakes actually in things he can do well.

“You could see he can control the ball well, he can pass it. But at first he made many mistakes in that.

“But after he was a little bit more settled and you saw his confidence coming back. You could see the Alex you see now on the pitch with moments where he’s very dangerous and very energetic and creating dangerous chances.”

Ferguson also gushed over the teenager at the time, saying: "I've seen the young kid play, and he has the potential to be a proper Rangers player.

"He is still young, he still needs to get his head down, work hard and keep his feet on the ground – and if he does that Rangers will have a real player on their hands.”

How has Alex Lowry performed at Hearts?

Although he was expected to kick on during the 2022/23 term, a knee injury stalled his progress and he only made seven appearances for the senior team throughout the whole season.

The 20-year-old did sparkle for the B side when playing for them however, netting ten goals across just 11 appearances, but it was evident that he belonged in the senior setup and needed a clear run of matches.

Beale sent him out on loan to Hearts during the summer and the Gorgie outfit represent an ideal chance for the starlet to play at the highest level in the Premiership, learning under former Gers forward Steven Naismith in the process.

Lowry has already made more appearances for the Tynecastle side this term compared to Rangers last season, and it’s not even October yet.

He has started three league matches and has already begun to catch the eye, averaging 1.5 key passes per game along with succeeding with two dribbles per game and his attacking talents have clearly been on show in Edinburgh.

He was hailed by Aaron Fraser back in August, who said: “After a pretty grim first half, Hearts stepped up a gear when it mattered and secured a massive win on the opening day. Alex Lowry completely changed the game when he came on, what a player he is! Great to see Oda pick up where he left off last season.”

There hasn’t been a midfielder to emerge and become a regular in the first team from the academy since Ferguson nearly a quarter of a century on and this is something that needs remedying sooner rather than later.

Charlie Adam and John Fleck showed glimpses of potential during their early years, but soon faded away to England while Billy Gilmour may have made it to the starting XI had he not been snatched by Chelsea back in 2017 when he was only 15.

Ferguson won all there was to win while at the Gers during his two trophy-laden spells, and he had everything. The Scot could dictate the play from the midfield, controlling possession with ease, while he was also partial to getting forward regularly, chipping in with the odd goal and was even the club's top scorer during the 2002/03 season, netting 18 times.

Lowry is similar to Ferguson in that he has all the required attributes to be a star for the Gers over the next few years, the question is, can he impress enough at Hearts to stake his claim next term?

Only time will tell, but the initial signs are extremely promising and the Light Blues should be making the most of having a talent such as Lowry, as they don’t come along too often, that’s for sure.

England, meanwhile, are hoping to recover quickly after losing their last two matches back-to-back

The Preview by Annesha Ghosh30-Mar-2018Big PictureIf the Ashes-retaining campaign had been “a good starting point” for Australia to stage a turnaround after relinquishing their world titles in both limited-overs formats, captain Meg Lanning’s return to international cricket now awaits commemoration in the form of a double series triumph.A T20 series victory for the first time in nearly three years beckons Australia, soon after their 3-0 ODI series win against India. Barring the eight-wicket loss against England, in Lanning’s absence, Australia have looked menacing in their approach and application, with their batting and bowling units syncing perfectly.Heather Knight’s England, on the other hand, would be wary after suffering two successive defeats in as many days ahead of the final. Having razed down both their opponents in their first two games, fielding all their three debutants on tour, they found themselves restricted to 96 in their last encounter against Australia, and yielded to India for 107 on Thursday.England are likely, therefore, to return to a more tested combination, featuring old hand Jenny Gunn, who became the first cricketer to play 100 T20Is, on March 25.Form guideAustraliaWWLWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
England LLWWWIn the spotlightMuch of England’s fortunes on Saturday will rest on their most prolific run-getter in this tournament. That it was the same batsman, Danielle Wyatt, who also scripted the side’s come-from-behind, points-levelling Ashes campaign in November will not be lost on Australia. Apart from Wyatt’s maiden international ton, which trumped Beth Mooney’s 70-ball 117 at the Manuka Oval, Australia will do well to also bear in mind her demolition of India six days ago.To outdo their fiercest rivals a second time this series, Australia will require the sharp-shooting skills of their only bowler to claim a hat-trick, Megan Schutt, who jointly leads the tournament wickets chart with six scalps. With a little aid off the pitch, Schutt’s change-ups, especially her cutters, can fox anyone. She will hope to have the support of the left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen, who has been the stingiest bowler – among those who have bowled 14 overs or more – in this tournament.Team newsBeth Mooney, who missed Australia’s last game with a mild abdominal strain, briefly trained in the nets on Friday and is likely to be available for selection. Rachael Haynes, however, missed training due to illness.Australia (possible): 1 Alyssa Healy (wk), 2 Beth Mooney, 3 Meg Lanning (capt), 4 Ellyse Perry, 5 Elyse Villani, 6 Ashleigh Gardner, 7 Rachael Haynes/Nicola Carey, 8 Delissa Kimmince, 9 Jess Jonassen, 10 Megan Schutt 11 Amanda-Jade WellingtonEngland quick bowler Anya Shrubsole is out of contention as she continues to recover from a shoulder injury.England (possible): 1 Danielle Wyatt, 2 Amy Jones (wk), 3 Tammy Beaumont, 4 Natalie Sciver, 5 Heather Knight (capt), 6 Fran Wilson, 7 Jenny Gunn, 8 Alice Davidson-Richards, 9 Natasha Farrant, 10 Danielle Hazell, 11 Sophie Ecclestone/Alex HartleyPitch and conditionsThe tracks at Brabourne Stadium have been so flat that three of the 10 highest women’s T20I totals were amassed over the past week. However, if the same track as the one on which England played back-to-back matches against Australia and India is to be used, the sluggishness of the surface should keep the spinners interested. In that case, a low-scoring contest cannot be ruled out.Stats and trivia England opener Danielle Wyatt needs 29 runs to surpass her Indian counterpart Smriti Mandhana as the leading run-scorer in the series. Australia’s last series victory in T20Is came in August 2015, when they consigned Ireland to a 3-0 clean sweep.Quotes”Been a while since we got a T20I series win. If we get over the line tomorrow, the girls will be really pleased about that.”
“Two defeats is not ideal but T20 is a very fickle game, it changes very quickly. Looking to turn it around and put in a good performance.”

Just four games into the season, Liverpool have already suffered some frustrating absences, with the likes of Thiago Alcantara and Ibrahima Konate absent through injury, whilst Virgil van Dijk is currently serving a two-game ban following his red card against Newcastle United.

Even without those key men, however, the Reds have remained unbeaten, only dropping points in their opening day draw against Chelsea. Their current run includes a dramatic victory over Newcastle, as well as a comfortable win over Unai Emery's Aston Villa side, representing what has been a solid start for Jurgen Klopp and co.

Their injury blows are only mounting, though, with the latest absentee set to remain on the sidelines for two months, according to reports.

What's the latest Liverpool injury news?

As things stand, Liverpool look set to be without both Van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold for their clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers in their first game back in the Premier League after the international break. Van Dijk, of course, will be out through suspension, whilst Alexander-Arnold could still be missing through a hamstring injury.

It's at moments like this that Liverpool could do with a back-up right-back to fill in for Alexander-Arnold, allowing Joe Gomez to play in his natural centre-back role in the process. The Reds thought they had that in the form of Calvin Ramsay, who joined last summer, but the youngster has been unfortunate with injuries all throughout his time at Anfield.

Now, according to Jack Lusby, Ramsay has suffered another injury blow, which is set to rule him out for a couple of months. His latest setback has even resulted in a return to AXA Training Centre at Liverpool, disrupting his loan spell at Preston North End.

"Calvin Ramsay facing 'another couple of months' out with the injury setback suffered at Preston in August."

Perhaps summarising just how many issues he has had with maintaining his fitness, Ramsay's last competitive game came in November of 2022. The young Scot has been incredibly unfortunate since making the move to Anfield.

Has Calvin Ramsay played for Liverpool?

Ramsay more than earned his big move to Liverpool last summer after winning the Scottish Football Writers' Young Player of the Year award in the season prior to his Anfield switch.

So, it's clear that he arrived with plenty of potential, perhaps even ready to learn from fellow right-back Alexander-Arnold, and eventually challenge for his role. That was supposed to be the plan, at least. But that idea has been torn apart by Ramsay's consistent injury problems.

In total, the 20-year-old has missed 104 days through injury at Liverpool, featuring just twice in what has been a disastrous spell. For context as to how unfortunate this number is, during his entire time at Aberdeen, Ramsay missed just 65 days, with seven of those coming through illness.

Klopp will be well aware of just how unlucky the defender has been, and has been full of praise for his 2022/23 signing in the past, saying, via BBC Sport: "Everything we heard about him was that he is a fantastic boy. And what a player he is – what he did for Aberdeen last year, absolutely exceptional.

“In his age group and you know the things we need from a full-back, he is as close as it gets to the things we want and is still a kid. So we really expect a lot from him in the long term."

As one of the most competitive ICC tournaments in recent times comes to a close, we take a look at four big talking points from the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Mar-2018The Associates can compete with Test teamsThere were three victories and one tie for Associates over Test teams in the tournament. Scotland beat Afghanistan and tied their group game against Zimbabwe; Hong Kong upset Afghanistan in the group stages; and then UAE, ranked 14th in the ICC ODI rankings, beat Zimbabwe in a crunch Super Six game, knocking them out of the tournament. The tournament was more competitive than many expected, with 13 victories for lower-ranked teams against higher-ranked ones and every team winning at least one game.

In regards to previous tweet. Here is the Cycle of Parity in a basic infographic form that anyone else could have done if they were bothered. #WCQ #Parity #Cricket #WorldCup #ICCAreYouWatching? pic.twitter.com/LR3Vo5hhtt

— Daniel Beswick (@DGBeswick1) March 21, 2018

This meant there were no easy rides to the World Cup. Before the tournament, West Indies were heavy favourites to qualify, with Zimbabwe and Afghanistan expected to duel for the second qualifying spot. But West Indies were left staring at an early exit when they fell behind in a tight Super Six game against Scotland – they eventually won by five runs on the DLS method. Afghanistan just about made it to the Super Six round after two losses to Associates in the group stages. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s tie against Scotland and shock loss to UAE left them out of the World Cup for the first time since their first appearance in 1983.Nepal’s win over PNG and Hong Kong’s loss to Netherlands secured them ODI status•ESPNcricinfo LtdNepal’s remarkable rise culminates in ODI statusAs recently as 2010, Nepal were playing in the sixth tier of world cricket. In less than a decade, they have risen to become one of 16 teams with official ODI status. They made the final step in the World Cup Qualifier, beating Hong Kong to finish fourth in their group and then Papua New Guinea in a playoff match to guarantee an eighth-place finish and with it ODI status. They will now be an ODI team until at least 2022, and while this does not guarantee fixtures against Full Members, it is a remarkable achievement.Crowds prove cricket is still alive in ZimbabweIt has been 15 years since Zimbabwe hosted a major ICC tournament, and there has been a steady decline in their cricket since, causing concern over the future of the sport there. But the crowds throughout the World Cup Qualifiers ranged from encouraging to vociferous, especially when the home side was in action. Attendances were so good, tournament organizers were forced to move a crucial game between Zimbabwe and Scotland from the smaller Bulawayo Athletic Club to the better-equipped Queens Sports Club. They were rewarded with a thrilling tie.

Amazing crowd, amazing #ProudlyZimbabwean #Zimbabwe people! Thank you #ZIMvUAE #cwcq #CWCQ18 pic.twitter.com/2IcFFaO5BG

— Merna Cremer (@MernaCremer767) March 22, 2018

With a number of games not being televised, fans took to social media to give a sense of the atmosphere at the grounds during Zimbabwe’s games. Merna Cremer, wife of Zimbabwean captain Graeme Cremer, became a minor celebrity among cricket fans when she live-tweeted scores from the Scotland game during a long powercut at the ground, a period when nobody, not even the ICC, had updates to share.Playing conditions come under scrutinySince not every game was being televised, the ICC decided not to implement the DRS during the tournament, despite there being World Cup spots at stake. Scotland were left bemused after two crucial decisions went against them and played a significant role in their narrowly missing out on qualification.Another questionable move was not having reserve days for any of the matches. The tournament was played in the middle of Zimbabwe’s wet season, and both the West Indies-Scotland and Zimbabwe-UAE Super Six games were affected by rain. Interestingly, Scotland had qualified for the 2015 World Cup after winning a crucial Super Six game on a reserve day, but were denied by the lack of one this time around. The ICC’s decision to cut the number of teams in the World Cup from 14 to 10 had already caused disgruntlement among lower-ranked teams and Associates, and that this tournament did not have some of the playing conditions other ICC events do only heightened that ire.

Toby Roland-Jones was only able to bowl five overs on the opening as he left the field with some back soreness

ECB Reporters Network20-Apr-2018
ScorecardSouth African fast bowler Hardus Viljoen rescued Derbyshire with the bat on a keenly contested opening day of the Division Two match against Middlesex at Derby.Viljoen scored his first fifty for the county as the home side recovered from 167 for 7 to 265 and then reduced Middlesex to 45 for 3 at the close.Ravi Rampaul and Duanne Olivier claimed their maiden wickets for Derbyshire as Max Holden and Robbie White went cheaply before Viljoen removed Hilton Cartwright.Middlesex were a bowler down for much of the day with Toby Roland-Jones managing just five overs in the morning before leaving the field with some back soreness. He was ruled out of the Ashes last year due to a stress fracture of his back.Head coach Richard Scott said: “We will assess him overnight and then a recovery session in the morning and then see how he pulls up tomorrow. If he’s still stiff in his back tomorrow we’ll have to have further investigation.”I thought Viljoen played well but again we’ve been more disciplined than that in the past and it’s unusual for us to go for four an over. But with a bowler down in Toby to bowl them out for 265 you take.”Despite bright sunshine, it was no great surprise after so much recent rain that Middlesex elected to bowl but their seamers, with the exception of Tim Murtagh, lacked consistency before lunch.Murtagh had Luis Reece brilliantly caught by Ollie Rayner at second slip in the seventh over but Ben Slater and Wayne Madsen played well until Slater left one from Harris that moved in to take the off stump.Cartwright had Alex Hughes caught behind off the last ball of the morning but it had still been a good session for Derbyshire although the picture quickly changed after lunch.Billy Godleman drove a cut Harris for consecutive fours but was beaten by some late movement and Madsen was defeated by Murtagh’s inswing before Gary Wilson mistimed a pull to midwicket.But Viljoen and Tony Palladino grew in confidence against an attack without Roland-Jones. Viljoen became increasingly assertive and raced to his first half century for Derbyshire by dispatching Rayner for three sixes from five balls before Harris claimed his fourth wicket when Palladino was caught at second slip on the stroke of tea.Helm was hooked by Viljoen for a fourth six but the paceman wrapped up the innings off consecutive balls courtesy of two more catches by Rayner.Derbyshire’s total looked even more competitive when Holden edged a loose drive at Ravi Rampaul and the quality of Derbyshire’s bowling forced Sam Robson and White to fight for survival before Olivier claimed his first wicket for the county.Only 22 runs were scored in 13 overs, 11 of them extras, and the pressure told when White followed one that swung away to be taken at third slip.Robson was determined to see his side through to stumps but Cartwright was lured into edging a drive to second slip as Derbyshire ended the day on top.

Liverpool came from a goal behind to record a 3-1 victory against Leicester City in the EFL Cup last night as Jurgen Klopp maintains his team's unbeaten record this season.

Having made ten changes from the weekend win over West Ham United – with only Curtis Jones retaining his place in the starting XI – and despite dominating the first half, they headed into the break a goal down.

The panic button wasn’t pushed however as goals from Cody Gakpo, Dominik Szoboszlai and Diogo Jota secured passage into the fourth round and the mood at Anfield has certainly lifted following the malaise of last term.

There were a few shining lights for Klopp, with Gakpo showcasing his excellent talents during the game.

How did Cody Gakpo perform against Leicester?

The Dutchman has enjoyed a solid start to life on Merseyside, scoring seven goals and grabbing three assists during the second half of last term, and he already has one Premier League goal this season.

Against the Foxes he was at his magnificent best, however. The forward received the highest Sofascore rating across both teams for his performance (8.2) while he also scored the equaliser for the Reds.

Gakpo took seven shots in total during his spell on the pitch, showcasing how dangerous he really is when in the mood while also hitting the woodwork and missing a big chance.

He even won nine of his 15 ground duels while making four tackles throughout the tie, demonstrating his impressive physicality, and proving that he wanted to win the ball back often.

Gakpo was class, but Ryan Gravenberch also enjoyed a solid display, one which could spark his revival under Klopp.

How did Ryan Gravenberch perform against Leicester?

Journalist Bence Bocsak lauded his performance last night, saying: “Just like against LASK, he also created the most chances (4) against Leicester as well while he was on the pitch.

“Looks like a man reborn under Klopp, and he's only just getting started. Liverpool has a really exciting midfielder on their hands.”

Indeed, the former Bayern Munich starlet played 65 minutes and took 33 touches during that period, succeeding with 100% of his dribble attempts, and delivering one accurate cross. Those aren't amazing numbers, sure, but his performance extended far beyond the statistics.

Having struggled massively for game time at the German side last term, it would have been understandable for the Dutchman to take time to get up to speed with the English game, yet he managed three key passes against the Championship side and even provided a wonderful assist for Gakpo’s effort.

This was a marvellous performance, one that showcased his ability to get about the pitch and produce creativity from a central area.

The 21-year-old notably displayed his excellent footwork in order to set up his compatriot and was praised by journalist Neil Jones for his work in Gakpo's goal, saying: “Made in the Netherlands. Gravenberch with a lovely feint to beat two defenders and then a nice pass into Gakpo, who turns sharply and rifles into the bottom corner.”

It hasn’t taken the £150k-per-week man long to settle in and another promising performance last night will give the youngster confidence that he can put last season's torrid stint in Munich behind him and really kick on under Klopp. Having registered two assists already since joining, the early signs are indeed there that the Dutchman could be a man reborn at Anfield.

The 3-1 win over the Foxes maintains Liverpool’s unbeaten start, and they travel to London to face Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend in what is looking like a mouthwatering clash. Gravenberch will hope he gets another opportunity to showcase his talents then.