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England’s players have a better understanding of the conditions they may face in the first Test on Thursday, after their two-day warm-up finished in a draw

Mohammad Isam in Chittagong17-Oct-2016England XI 256 (Duckett 60, Tanveer 4-52) drew with BCB XI 294 (Mazid 106, Shanto 72, Ansari 4-68)
Scorecard In the Chittagong twilight at the end of their second two-day warm-up game at the MA Aziz Stadium, the England players crossed the small roundabout between the ground and their hotel with a better understanding and practical experience of the conditions they may face in the first Test on Thursday.The visitors batted for 74.2 overs on the day with most of their regulars and hopefuls getting a fair hit in a match setting. Ben Duckett’s 101-ball 60 was as attractive to watch as it was important for England’s perpetration. A place in the Test team can’t still be guaranteed but four fifties on a tour of the sub-continent is hard to ignore in a selection meeting.Haseeb Hameed also staked his claim through his long stay in the middle, having batted for more than four hours in two stints. He made 57 off 125 balls, but fought through phases against both pace and spin.Gary Ballance also spent quality time in the middle, batting for nearly two hours while Joe Root and Ben Stokes would also be reasonably happy with their time at the crease. But it was a missed chance for Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali in particular, as both batsmen have been short of runs on this tour so far.The takeaway for the home side was how Taskin Ahmed started and finished the day. He hurried Hameed, hitting him twice too, and ended England’s innings with a beautiful yorker to Gareth Batty.Legspinner Tanveer Haider took four wickets, thus also putting his name in the hat for the selectors. He has been asked to stay back in Chittagong to train with the Bangladesh team, rather than rejoin Rangpur Division, his first-class team in the NCL.Meanwhile, England have been boosted by the return of their captain, Alastair Cook, to the squad, following the birth over the weekend of his second child.Cook made two hundreds on England’s last tour of Bangladesh in 2009-10, and made sure that he will be ready for the first Test by flying out with the ODI squad ahead of his daughter’s birth.”I think you’d be a bit worried if it was someone who was less experienced, I suppose, and hadn’t experienced these conditions before and spent time in the middle because that’s important,” said Cook’s team-mate, Steven Finn, after the close of play on Sunday.”The amount of cricket that Cooky’s played in the subcontinent, I think he’ll fit back in seamlessly.”

Manchester City are edging closer to a deal for Mateo Kovacic, with reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano reporting that personal terms between the club and the player have been agreed.

Who are Manchester City signing this summer?

The midfielder has once more been a frequent first-team player for Chelsea this season but he isn't starting as many games for the Blues as he once was. When the player first arrived at Stamford Bridge, he was handed 32 league outings with 21 of those coming as starts. In the 2022/23 campaign however, Kovacic was afforded only 27 league games and 17 starts, as Chelsea finished in the bottom half of the Premier League.

It didn't stop the Croatian from producing the goods though, with the central player managing one goal and two assists along the way. He also ranked highly for his passing ability, with his rate of 70.24 passes per 90 putting him within the top eight percent of players in his position amongst the 'Top Five' big leagues in Europe. He also registered 7.93 progressive passes per 90 – putting him in the top nine percent for that figure too.

Despite not featuring as much, Kovacic remains an intelligent player then that likes to sling the ball around the field and to use his ability in finding teammates to help his side get further up the field. It's led to interest in his services from Manchester City ahead of the transfer window and it appears that a deal is getting closer to completion.

That's because reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that personal terms have been agreed over a move – and that the player himself wants to leave the Blues to move the Etihad Stadium. Whilst a deal is therefore nearly done, the fee over a deal has not yet been agreed. Romano though has stated that the figure is likely to be something that is discussed and agreed once City have played in their Champions League final. With CIES Football Observatory valuing the midfielder at 30 million Euros (£25m), that fee might not be too high of an amount if that is anything to go off.

Speaking on the deal, Romano said: "Mateo Kovacić has now agreed personal terms with Manchester City after advanced talks already revealed last week. Kovacić wants the move, next step has to be between clubs as Chelsea and City will discuss fee after the UCL final. Chelsea, open to sell Kovacic."

Would Kovacic be a good signing for Man City?

The midfielder has already won Croatian League titles and a La Liga with Real Madrid but has yet to add a Premier League crown to his silverware cupboard. With the Blues sliding down the table, a move to Man City may allow him to be in with a chance of finally securing that prize.

If they do manage to add him, then Pep Guardiola's side would be getting themselves a player well capable of fitting into their midfield. Whilst the 29-year-old is an adept passer as previously stated, he is also good at driving the ball forward himself – as shown by his carries into the final third rate of 2.13 per 90 – and is well capable of popping up with a shot or goal. With a rate of 1 goal per shot on target – amongst the top three percent in his area – he is an accurate shooter when he does have a pop at goal and isn't afraid to drive forward. He ticks plenty of boxes for City then.

Steve Magoffin celebrated a 10-wicket haul for the fourth time in his career but he could end up on the losing side with Worcestershire favourites to see off a Sussex run chase in teir bid to finish runners-up in Division Two

ECB Reporters Network13-Sep-2016
ScorecardSteve Magoffin finished with 10 wickets in the match•Getty Images

Steve Magoffin celebrated a ten-wicket match haul for the fourth time in his Sussex career but Worcestershire are favourites to beat them and improve their chances of claiming runners-up spot in Division Two of the Specsavers County Championship.Magoffin followed his first innings 5 for 38 by taking 5 for 32 from 15 overs as Worcestershire were dismissed for 198 in their second innings on another day of rich entertainment in which 17 wickets fell and 390 runs were scored.It has left Sussex with a victory target of 272 on a pitch still offering plenty of assistance to the seam bowlers and they suffered a big blow in the final over of the day when Chris Nash was leg before to Joe Leach. They will resume on 13 for 1, still needing 259 to win.Worcestershire had claimed a crucial first innings lead of 77 but Magoffin had them in trouble immediately when Daryl Mitchell was caught at cover off a leading edge from the first ball of the innings.Magoffin ‘best in division’

Mark Davis, Sussex coach: “Steve Magoffin bowled magnificently again on a pitch where you can score runs quite quickly. In the last few games he has been absolutely fantastic for us and here he got great support from the other seamers, particularly David Wiese. It was great to see Chris Jordan and Jofra Archer batting so intelligently. CJ is a bit of a mentor to Jofra and it showed – their partnership might turn out to be absolutely crucial.”
Matt Mason, Worcestershire assistant coach: “Our batsmen think Steve Magoffin is the best new-ball bowler in the division and he showed it again, I thought he was magnificent for them.

Magoffin struck again in this second over when Chris Nash pulled off a superb diving catch at second slip to remove Brett D’Oliveira. Magoffin has now claimed the wickets of 22 opening batsmen this season – the best record in the country – but Worcestershire rallied thanks to a stand of 68 between Tom Fell and Joe Clarke.Throughout the game, though, wickets have fallen in clusters and it happened again when three fell in the space of 18 balls. Wiese picked up Clarke (35) when he mis-timed a drive to extra cover before George Rhodes (6) was leg before offering no shot in the South African’s next over.Tom Kohler-Cadmore was leg before to Jofra Archer to register his fourth successive duck and leave his side 76 for 5 but once again Fell led a recovery, this time with Ben Cox. Together they added 113 in 24 overs with left-arm spinner Danny Briggs targeted as he had been in the first innings. Cox struck him down the ground for two sixes while Fell pushed on after being dropped by Nash on 57.Magoffin was summoned back into the attack and immediately made the breakthrough when Fell, trying to cut, was surprised by extra bounce and edged behind for 85, made from 126 balls with 12 fours.In his next over a full-length delivery was too good for Cox (56) and Magoffin completed his five-for when he yorked Miguel Cummins.Wiese gave him excellent support, picking up the last two wickets to finish with 4 for 18, his best figures for the county.Worcestershire would have been in an even better position had Chris Jordan not led some spirited resistance by Sussex’s lower order earlier in the day.From a parlous 71 for 7 he helped the last three wickets put on 158 of which his own contribution was an unbeaten 57. An enterprising stand of 97 with Archer ensured Sussex avoided the follow-on but it was their fellow Barbadian Cummins who stole the show.The Worcestershire paceman finished with figures of 7 for 84 after picking up four more wickets in a high-quality display down the slope on a pitch offering him plenty of encouragement.

Aston Villa want to sign Pau Torres this summer, with Unai Emery personally trying to convince the Villarreal centre-back to join, according to recent reports from Spain.

What's the latest Aston Villa transfer news?

Villa are keen on strengthening at centre-back in the upcoming transfer window, despite the fact Diego Carlos is set to play a "big part" next season, according to transfer insider Dean Jones, and they have set their sights on a number of key targets.

According to reports from Italy, the Villans have started to move for AS Roma's Roger Ibanez, with the Italian club said to value the defender at around €35m – €40m (£30-£35m), amid interest from a number of Premier League clubs.

Back in May, it was reported that Emery was considering a move for Barcelona's Andreas Christensen, and the Dane is not the only target from La Liga, as Torres has been heavily linked with a move in recent weeks.

According to reports from Spain (via Sport Witness), Emery is now personally trying to convince the Villarreal defender about a move to Villa Park, hoping that he will be enticed by becoming a part of the "ambitious project."

The Spaniard has a €60m (£51m) release clause included in his contract, although this is unlikely to be triggered as he has just one year remaining on his current deal, which means the two parties will need to negotiate.

Given his contract situation, the 26-year-old is one of the main players that Villarreal could choose to cash in on this summer, but they do intend to offer him a contract.

Who is Pau Torres?

It would be a big decision if the Spain international were to decide to leave this summer, as barring a loan spell with Malaga, he has played for Villarreal for his entire professional career, having come through the youth ranks at his hometown club.

It is no wonder Villa are so keen on signing the 6 foot 3 colossus, however, as he is a very impressive modern-day centre-back, as highlighted by how composed he is on the ball, ranking in the 98th percentile for successful take-ons, and the 96th for progressive passes.

With a 7.06 average Sofascore rating in La Liga this season, Torres is ranked as Villarreal's fourth-best performing player, while he has also been hailed as "fantastic" by Owen Hargreaves, indicating he could be an excellent signing for Aston Villa.

يرتبط نادي ليفربول الإنجليزي بتشابي ألونسو المدير الفني لفريق باير ليفركوزن الألماني، لخلافة المدرب الحالي يورجن كلوب.

وأعلن كلوب في وقت سابق رحيله عن ليفربول بنهاية الموسم الجاري، وبرز اسم تشابي على رأس المرشحين لخلافته في تدريب ليفربول.

وبحسب صحيفة “ميرور” البريطانية، اتخذ ليفربول خطوة هامة في مشوار مفاوضاته مع تشابي لتدريب الفريق.

ويوضح التقرير أن ليفربول أرسل أحد كشافيه لمشاهدة مباراة بايرن ميونخ وباير ليفركوزن في الدوري الألماني قبل أيام، لمتابعة تشابي.

اقرأ أيضًا | موقف أرنولد من المشاركة في مباراة ليفربول وتشيلسي بنهائي كأس كاراباو

ونجح تشابي ألونسو في قيادة باير ليفركوزن للفوز بثلاثية نظيفة أمام بايرن ميونخ في إطار مباريات الدوري الألماني.

ويتصدر ليفركوزن ترتيب الدوري الألماني متقدمًا بفارق 5 نقاط عن بايرن ميونخ أقرب ملاحقيه في الجدول.

وقبل أيام أكد سيمون رولفس، المدير الرياضي لباير ليفركوزن، على استمرار تشابي ألونسو في منصبه خلال الموسم المقبل.

وقال رولفس في تصريحاته: “متأكد من استمرار تشابي ألونسو، أولًا العقد مستمر حتى 2026، وثانيًا هو يشعر بالراحة مع النادي”.

Hamish Marshall’s fourth championship century of the season – his 22nd for his county – and an unbeaten 58 from David Payne enabled Gloucestershire to gain an advantage in Cardiff

ECB Reporters Network07-Sep-2016
ScorecardHamish Marshall’s hundred put Gloucestershire in control•Getty Images

Hamish Marshall’s fourth championship century of the season – his 22nd for his county- and an unbeaten 58 from David Payne enabled Gloucestershire to gain a lead of 127, with two wickets remaining, by the close of the second day in Cardiff.With Payne and Josh Shaw having already shared an unbroken partnership of 56 for the ninth wicket, Glamorgan have much to do if they are to avoid losing their seventh championship game of a disappointing season.Marshall returns to New Zealand at the end of the season after spending 11 years in the West Country and, although he did give a difficult chance to wicketkeeper Mark Wallace on 40, he rescued Gloucestershire after they had earlier slumped to 38 for 3. He also found a staunch ally in George Hankins, the 19-year-old England U-19 batsman who stayed with Marshall for 47 overs to share a partnership of 120 for the fourth wicket.Resuming at their overnight score of 62 for 3, Marshall and Hankins batted throughout the morning session, and were not separated until 20 minutes after lunch when Hankins feathered a catch to the wicketkeeper off Graham Wagg. Hankins was at the crease for three-and-a-quarter hours for 43, and struck only five boundaries, but he was the perfect foil for Marshall, and with more experience at county level he will only prosper.Despite adding 56 with Marshall for the fifth wicket, Phil Mustard was never at ease, and when Michael Hogan took the new ball, Mustard soon edged to slip. Marshall’s innings ended in Hogan’s next over, when he was adjudged lbw, and was either unhappy with the decision or disappointed with himself as he took some time to drag himself away from the crease.Craig Miles and David Payne then strengthened their team’s position with a stand of 60 for the eighth wicket, although Wallace missed a stumping off Kieran Carlson with Payne on 20. Shortly afterwards Carlson was rewarded when Miles, who made 34, chipped a low catch to Wagg at short midwicket, but Payne further frustrated Glamorgan by reaching fifty shortly before the close.Although Payne and Josh Shaw scored slowly, their approach were certainly justified with the game only at the half way stage.Marshall, who scored his second century in three games, said: “It’s always nice to get into a run of form, especially on a good pitch, but the game has a long way to go and we would ideally like to get a big lead and put Glamorgan under some scoreboard pressure”.He also praised George Hankins, saying: “He has a big future, is never overawed and just gets on with it.”

Journalist Alasdair Gold has slammed the Tottenham Hotspur board for the "bewildering" decision not to try and appoint Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager.

Did Levy try to hire Pochettino again?

In the last few days, it has been confirmed that the former Spurs boss will be joining London rivals Chelsea this summer.

As per Sky Sports News, the 51-year-old Argentine will arrive as the Blues' new head coach on a two-year deal, with the option of a further year.

It will no doubt be strange for many Tottenham fans to see a man once so loved, now in the dugout of another Premier League team – who also happens to be one of their club's biggest rivals.

And what will hurt even more is the fact that they too are in need of hiring a new manager and yet Daniel Levy and the board didn't even approach Pochettino about a possible return to north London.

While speaking on his YouTube channel, Gold confirmed that it's true, "he was never sounded out" and then suggested it was a baffling decision.

He said (4:45): “I've seen people saying, you know, blaming it all on Levy, the club ENIC, whoever you want to call it, the board… for not ever making that phone call to him, which it is bewildering that he was never sounded out, definitely.

"But there you go…”

Why do Spurs fans love Pochettino?

It's no secret that a large section of the Tottenham Hotspur fanbase would have loved to see their former coach return this summer.

Indeed, earlier on in the season, during an unconvincing win over Brighton & Hove Albion, the home crowd was heard loudly singing Pochettino's name.

The Argentine was sacked back in 2019 without winning a trophy but led the side to a Champions League final and brought an attacking brand of football to the club that was appreciated by the fans.

Indeed, journalist Graham Hunter has told Chelsea supporters to expect a team that loves "possession of the ball" and is "always attacking, playing to win – not to draw."

With that in mind – and the small fact that Tottenham haven't been able to find a manager who actually wants to join – it does seem odd that Levy and co have not seriously considered  speaking to Pochettino about a possible return.

All in all, it seems as though Spurs' loss will be Chelsea's gain as he now arrives back in the Premier League while his former side remain directionless for the time being.

تحدث أحمد محمود لاعب فريق الجونة عن المباراة التي جمعتهما اليوم أمام المصري في الدوري، موضحًا حقيقة رغبة الزمالك في عودته خلال الانتقالات الشتوية الماضية.

وانتهت مباراة المصري والجونة بالتعادل 2-2 في إطار لقاءات الجولة الثانية عشر من الدوري المصري، الذي استأنف نشاطه بعد توقفه بالفترة الأخيرة بسبب مشاركة منتخب مصر في كأس أمم إفريقيا.

وقال أحمد محمود في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة “أون تايم سبورتس”: “الحمد لله على الأداء، لسنا سعداء بالنتيجة لأننا كنا الأفضل ونستحق الفوز، اجتهدنا ولكن التعادل أفضل من الخسارة”.

طالع | علاء عبد العال: فقدنا نقطتين أمام المصري.. وأشكر لاعبي الجونة

وأكمل: “بين الشوطين كنا نعلم أن فريق المصري سيضغط علينا، وكنا نريد أن تمر أول ربع ساعة وبعد ذلك كل شيء سيكون سهلاً، وعلاء عبد العال طلب منا ألا نتراجع وندافع، وضغطنا من البداية وسجلنا الهدف الثاني”.

وبسؤاله هل حدث تواصل من الزمالك لعودتك في يناير الماضي؟، أوضح: “أي لاعب له الشرف في التواجد ضمن منظومة الزمالك، نعم تواصلوا مع إدارة الجونة من أجل أن أعود في يناير لكن الإدارة هنا تمسكت بي”.

وتابع: “إدارة الجونة أبلغتني أنني سأستمر معهم لنهاية الموسم، وأنا لم أتكلم لأنهم أصحاب فضل علي، ولا يجب أن أدخل معهم في أي صدام”.

وأتم: “بالتأكيد أتمنى العودة للزمالك هذا شيء مؤكد، لكن أيضًا الجونة يحتاجني وطلبوا مني الاستمرار لنهاية الموسم، وبعد ذلك سأعود للأبيض”.

A day that began with the acclamation due to a new young champion ended in a somewhat mystifying draw

Paul Edwards at Old Trafford16-Aug-2016
ScorecardHaseeb Hameed continued to notch up the landmarks in a memorable season•Getty Images

A day that began with the acclamation due to a new young champion ended with many spectators questioning the tactical judgement of the current champions after the 269th Roses match had ended in a somewhat mystifying draw at Old Trafford. However, since cricket is, above all, a team game, let us leave the glittering talent of Haseeb Hameed for later consideration and proceed immediately to the issues that were puzzling some spectators as they left the ground on Tuesday evening.The facts are these and it is important to keep a tight grip on them: in the morning session Lancashire scored 162 runs in 23 overs before declaring on 232 for 3. That closure challenged Yorkshire to score 367 in 71 overs to win the game and thereby close the gap on  Middlesex to 15 points, with Andrew Gale’s team having a game in hand on the leaders.Although Adam Lyth was dropped in the gully by Alviro Petersen when he had made 3, he and Alex Lees batted in untroubled fashion for the entire afternoon session and Yorkshire were 148 for 0 off 41 overs at tea. At that point the visitors needed 219 off 30 overs, an asking rate of 7.3 runs an over. Demanding? Most certainly, but nothing that this Yorkshire side is not used to tackling in an era of T20 cricket.This is not T20, though, and that needs to be borne in mind when considering Yorkshire’s decisions. Bowlers can bowl higher and wider than they can in the short-form game and they can bowl as many overs as needed. Moreover, fields can be set more or less as a skipper wishes: nine men on the boundary if you like. This was also, of course, a fourth day wicket, although the ease with which Lees and Lyth added 188 runs in 52 overs suggested that it was hardly littered with unexploded bombs.All the same, with absolutely nothing to lose but a few wickets in an attempt to secure what would have been a most wonderful victory Yorkshire agreed the draw when they required 179 runs off 19 overs with all their wickets to spend. Fifty years ago such a decision may have seemed explicable although it is doubtful whether Brian Close would have opted against having a gamble. After all, who turns down a free lottery ticket, even if the odds are massively stacked against winning? Yorkshire, one thought, might at least have given it a go.Their first team coach, Jason Gillespie, took a different view. “Chasing was in the back of our minds. We thought we’d assess at tea, which we did. We thought ‘let’s keeping batting and we’ll get feedback from Lythy and Leesy’ he said. “They are the two lads who were out there. Their feedback was that with the deteriorating pitch, it would be a big challenge for them to go for it, let alone a new batter coming in. If it was 40 or 50 fewer runs, absolutely we’d have had a crack.”There were a couple of those moments where we thought ‘come on, we can do this’. Leesy and Lythy are always very much if push comes to shove, they want to take the attacking option. But both their feedback was the same. They felt that the pitch was deteriorating.”Perhaps unsurprisingly, Lancashire’s director of cricket, Ashley Giles, took a slightly different view. “We were a little bit nervous on the balcony,” he admitted. “When they got to that position with none down we perhaps thought they might have gone on a little bit longer. But that’s their decision and nothing to do with us. We are happy to come out if it with a strong draw against a very good team.”And perhaps no one wearing the red rose was happier in his humble, self-effacing fashion on Tuesday evening than Hameed, who, when he reached a century off the ball immediately before Lancashire’s declaration, became the youngest batsman in the history English first-class cricket to score two centuries in a match.There is going to be ballyhoo and there is going to be hype. That was almost certain well before half-past twelve when Hameed pushed Adil Rashid to cover point for the single which made him the first Lancashire batsman to score two centuries in a Roses match and only the third batsman from either side to do so. Percy Holmes, in 1920, and Ted Lester, in 1948, were the others. Once Hameed had joined them, however, a tide of remarkable statistics continued to flow in, proclaiming the emergence of one of the most talented opening batsmen the English game has seen, at least since the emergence of Alastair Cook.When he reached 70 in this innings, Hameed became the youngest Lancashire player to make a thousand runs in a Championship season. He is also the first teenage opener from any county to make four centuries in a Championship season. And he hasn’t stopped breaking records yet. In fact, he has only just begun.So the glare of national publicity will soon be turned on the head of this 19-year-old Boltonian who wants nothing more from life than to be allowed to pursue his vocation as a professional cricketer. Fortunately, one senses that despite his inexperience, Hameed is well able to cope with all the attention that will come his way. Amid all the questions and doubts that surrounded this day’s cricket, that much is certain. It is a comforting thought on a strange evening.

Newcastle United will be looking to play their part in the Premier League title race as they face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium today.

The Magpies lost 1-0 to Liverpool last time out and now come up against the reigning champions away from home. A win for the Toon will hand the Reds a major boost in their pursuit of the title and improve their own chances of finishing in the top half.

Eddie Howe’s men had won four consecutive games prior to their clash with Jurgen Klopp’s side and will be hoping to resurrect that form for this meeting with Pep Guardiola.

One player that the 44-year-old must brutally axe from the starting XI is Joe Willock after his disappointing display last week.

Howe must axe Willock

Freddie Ljungberg previously dubbed the midfielder as “passive”, and that is exactly what he was against Liverpool. As per SofaScore, the 22-year-old lost four of his seven duels and only completed seven passes in his 67 minutes on the pitch. He also had just 19 touches and failed in 100% of his attempted dribbles. 

In the Premier League this season, he has lost 60% of his aerial battles and 52% of his individual duels. This shows that he has been a lightweight throughout the campaign as he has failed to outmuscle the opposition on a regular basis.

His lack of strength in the middle of the park means that he can be a passenger in games, as he is unable to hold his own weight against teams who use their physique to their advantage. This is why the £80k-per-week dud must be dropped for today’s match, as he would likely be dominated by the Manchester City players.

Rodri has won 69% of his aerial battles and 56% of his duels overall in the top flight. This suggests that the Spaniard will be able to dominate Willock if it comes down to a physical confrontation between the two in the middle of the pitch.

The ex-Arsenal man has also not done enough in possession to make up for his weak play off the ball. He has scored two goals and failed to provide a single assist this season, which means that he has not made enough of an impact in the final third to warrant a start for this particular match-up when his lack of strength could be his downfall.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Bruno: Howe must land NUFC swoop for £17.1m gem who “radiates calmness”…