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The last 10 months have been agonising for Everton star Seamus Coleman as he has had to recover from a serious injury.

The 29-year-old broke his right leg in two places while playing for the Republic of Ireland in March 2017.

Since then, the Everton star has been working his way back to fitness, and it seems as though he is edging closer to a return to competitive action.

The Irishman made an appearance for the Under-23s on Tuesday night, but it is unclear when he will be welcomed into Sam Allardyce’s squad.

As expected, plenty of fans were delighted by the news that Coleman is building up his fitness.

Others suggested that Coleman should be used to fill the left-back void, which so many supporters are keen for a new player to take on.

Leighton Baines is currently on the treatment table, but at the age of 33, it is time for Everton to start looking for a replacement.

Cuco Martina has been positioned at left-back during his teammates’s absence, but the 28-year-old has failed to impress.

The role is not entirely suited to the Dutchman given that he is predominantly right-footed.

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Coleman has played as a right-back throughout his career, but despite this, some fans want him to switch positions if a new player is not bought by the end of the month.

Manchester United lack fighting spirit under David Moyes, according to former Red Devils goalkeeper Roy Carroll, reports Sky Sports.

Carroll watched his current Olympiakos teammates inflict a damaging 2-0 defeat on his former club in the Champions League last week, and believes the current crop of United stars have been shirking responsibility since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson.

“(The first-leg win) was a shock for a lot of press people but the players knew themselves they had a chance,” the 36-year-old said.

“We watched a lot of Premier League games this season and knew United had not been performing. On the night when I was watching it live from the stands, I’ve never seen a Manchester United team like it.

“They’ve got good players but they had no hunger, no fight in the team so it was a shock in that way but not a shock the way we played. The goals we got were well deserved.

“At the end of the day you can be a good player but you have to give 100 per cent and give everything.

“For me Manchester United didn’t give that and looked like they had no hunger and fight for the game.

“I don’t know if they thought they would get an easy game but no professional should go into a football match and think that.”

United have struggled all season under Moyes, and Carroll – who spent four years at Old Trafford between 2001 and 2005 – reckons the players have slacked off following the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson.

“They might have slacked off since Sir Alex left, it’s football,” he added.

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“People have their routines. You can’t do that in the Premier League. It’s a big league with top and bottom teams fighting for points and you have to be prepared every game.”

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Stoke winger Matthew Etherington has stated that team-mates Peter Crouch and Ryan Shawcross should be in the England squad.

The pair have impressed for the Potters this season but the midfielder feels that Roy Hodgson will not pick the pair as they play at the Britannia Stadium and not one of the bigger clubs.

“There is no doubt Crouchie should be in the squad. His England record is second none, and he has been scoring regularly for us,” The Daily Mail quote Etherington as saying.

“His goals have been amazing, and he brings others into the game. He’s priceless for us, end of story.

“With John Terry finishing, Ryan should be in the frame as well. But it does seem that if you play for Stoke, there is a certain stigma attached to it.

“Crouchie should be in, and Ryan should definitely be looked at, after performing consistently and helping us keep clean sheets. But it isn’t happening, and it is frustrating. It’s a puzzle, without a doubt.

“It says it all, really, that no-one was here today. The England manager says he is going to pick players on merit.

“He should follow his word. I don’t want to come across as “we are Stoke and everyone hates us” but Crouchie is a given and Ryan should be getting a mention.

“We are light on centre-forwards, and it’s difficult to know what more Crouchie can do than score 15 goals last season and another five so far this time. It’s the same with Ryan.

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“He and Robert Huth have to be one of the best partnerships in the country, and if he keeps performing to such a high level, he must be in with a shout,” he concluded.

England play San Marino and Poland in World Cup qualifiers in October.

By Gareth McKnight

Ollie Pope confirmed as England captain for three-match Test series against Sri Lanka

Vithushan Ehantharajah13-Aug-2024Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the rest of the summer after scans on Tuesday revealed England men’s Test captain has torn his left hamstring.Stokes sustained the injury playing in the Hundred for Northern Superchargers against Manchester Originals on Sunday. Called through for a quick single early in Superchargers’ chase, he pulled up injured on completing the run, before falling to the floor and clutching his left leg. He had to be helped on the field and returned to the team dugout with crutches.A scan on Tuesday revealed the extent of the damage, with Stokes now unable to play any part in the upcoming three-match Test series against Sri Lanka which begins in Manchester on August 21. It means Ollie Pope, Stokes’ vice-captain for over a year, will assume full captaincy duties for the series. He was subsequently withdrawn from London Spirit’s squad for their final Hundred match against Northern Superchargers on Tuesday evening.Related

• Ben Stokes: Criticism of Ollie Pope reflects 'English culture towards sport'

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• That was the Hundred that was, as tough season finds an adequate climax

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• Jamie Smith open to being England's No. 6 in Ben Stokes' absence

The ECB said in a statement that Stokes is aiming to return for England’s winter Test tour of Pakistan, which will start in Multan on October 7. Zak Crawley, who is missing the Sri Lanka series with a finger injury, is also targeting the Pakistan tour for his return.England have decided not to name a replacement for Stokes in their squad to face Sri Lanka. In his absence, Jordan Cox will come into contention to make his Test debut as a specialist batter at No. 6. Alternatively, they could change the balance of the team by moving Jamie Smith and Chris Woakes up to No. 6 and 7 respectively, and select an additional seamer in Matthew Potts or Olly Stone.Ollie Pope will captain England against Sri Lanka•Getty Images

Stokes is expected to join the rest of the squad in Manchester this weekend, as originally planned, and it is understood he will try to be with the team for every day of the series, which includes two Tests in London.At the same time, England will hope Pope embraces his temporary promotion, having been made Stokes’ deputy in 2023 with a view to giving him more responsibility to harness his leadership potential. His promotion to No. 3 came on similar grounds, which has largely been a success, averaging 44.63 in that position, with five centuries.Pope’s captaincy experience is limited to a single first-class match, leading Surrey against Glamorgan in September 2021, though he did take the reins for their 2024 Vitality Blast campaign with regular skipper Chris Jordan away with England at the T20 World Cup.He has previously captained England XIs in warm-up matches in the UAE ahead of the 2022 Pakistan tour and in New Zealand at the start of 2023, after Stokes opted to sit out of both.

The Gujarat Titans captain also praised his team-mates for their match-winning performance against Lucknow Super Giants after only a day’s rest

ESPNcricinfo staff07-May-2023Hardik Pandya has hailed Rashid Khan’s athletic outfield catch to dismiss Kyle Mayers that broke Lucknow Super Giants’ strong opening stand as a “match-changing” effort, after Gujarat Titans prevailed by 56 runs in Ahmedabad.Chasing 228, Mayers had powered to 48 off 31 balls in a partnership of 88 with Quinton de Kock in just 8.1 overs. Then, he top-edged a pull over square leg off a Mohit Sharma slower ball. Rashid came sprinting in, running diagonally from fine leg, then slid and dived to take the catch to his right after making a last-minute adjustment.Super Giants lost momentum after losing Mayers and scored only 33 runs between overs 9 and 14, leaving them with too much to do in the last six.Related

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Hardik said that Rashid’s catch was the game-changer at a time when his team was under pressure. “The way the game changed after that… at one point of time at the eighth or ninth over we were even-stevens but that catch just changed the momentum and we were able to squeeze in a couple of tight overs,” he said after the match. “And after that I think they were chasing the game more than us.”We started controlling the game. Before that they were taking [us] on and we had to chase the game and make sure that we don’t concede as many runs and let them get into the game. So I think that catch was match-changing.””I think we both were driving at 100 kilometers per hour as a team but I think that bump in their innings cost them the game and got us back in the game.”Hardik also praised his team-mates for producing a match-winning performance after only one day’s rest. Titans’ last game was on Friday night and their match against Super Giants was the afternoon game on Sunday.”I don’t think I can ask anything better from the boys, Hardik said. “Especially, playing after one day’s gap and playing an afternoon game, the boys showed up and how.”Mohit, who gave Titans that vital first wicket, finished with 4 for 29, his best figures in the IPL since 2014. He has 12 wickets in eight matches in IPL 2023 with an economy rate of 6.96 despite bowling many of his overs at the death.”We keep discussing how to go about it, especially once the ball gets a little old how we can mix it up,” Mohit told broadcasters after the game. “And if I get the chance with a new ball, then what can I do with it. Today it was a day game so I knew that the wicket could get a little drier and be on the slower side so how we can mix it up in those conditions, that’s the kind of stuff I discuss with Shami.”I have practiced the knuckle ball, but I have a slight injury on my fingers so it’s not holding, so I am not able to bowl the knuckle ball. But I am using back-of-the-hand deliveries. When it’s the second innings and there’s a bit of dew, I can’t pitch it up too much, I have to bowl it away from the batter. So I am trying to stay as far from the batter’s range as possible.”I keep talking with Ashu Pa [Nehra] off the field. We talk a lot about bowling, what kind of balls I can bowl to different batters. Especially how we can mix up the length ball,” Mohit said. “He keeps saying that it shouldn’t be too short. It should be around top of off.”The win against Super Giants was Titans’ eighth victory in 11 games, giving them a three-point lead over Chennai Super Kings at the top of the table.

On a Karachi pitch that is showing signs of deterioration, Australia have amassed 505 for 8

Tristan Lavalette13-Mar-2022Captain Pat Cummins resisted declaring late on day two of the second Test with Australia preferring grinding a weary Pakistan into the ground, as they passed 500 in their first innings on a Karachi pitch showing signs of deterioration.Australia reached the close in a commanding position at 505 for 8 with Mitchell Starc 28 not out and Cummins yet to score. Starc and Alex Carey batted almost through the entire final session in an attempt to break the back of Pakistan, who have spent two whole days in the field but in-form openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq were surely relieved not to have faced a tricky period before stumps.Cummins is set to face scrutiny for not sending Pakistan in late on the day although Australia gave a clear indication they want to bat just once in this pivotal match in a belief the pitch will deteriorate further. Australia batted their highest number of overs in an innings in Asia since 1956, but inconsistent bounce and sharp turn was evident later in the day.Carey fell for 93 just before stumps and agonisingly short of his maiden century after batting fluently to energise an otherwise dull final session, where everyone was seemingly waiting for Australia’s declaration but it never came.Australia’s indefatigable innings was dominated by Usman Khawaja’s brilliant 160 off 369 balls as he fell just short of his highest Test score of 174 against New Zealand at the Gabba in 2015. His 11th Test century – and first in the country of his birth – was marked by unwavering concentration, but he could only score 33 runs off 103 balls on day two underlining the changing nature of the pitch.Khawaja’s innings ended midway through the second session when he was bowled by a cracker of a delivery from offspinner Sajid Khan, who produced drift and sharp turn to hit the top of off stump.After a memorable first innings in the city his family hails from, the 35-year-old departed to a standing ovation from a boisterous crowd having become the first Australian Test centurion in Pakistan since Mark Waugh’s 117 in Peshawar in 1998.Alex Carey fell seven short of a maiden Test century•AFP/Getty Images

Eyebrows were raised after tea as Carey and Starc resisted the temptation of throwing the bat to ensure the match went through the motions. That’s been a familiar sensation during this historic series.Australia just kept batting as Carey, who had been somewhat under pressure due to patchy glove work and batting, effectively reverse-swept his way to his second Test half-century of his career.An increasingly confident Carey powered to his highest score in what should be a tonic ahead of an important stint behind the stumps. While he capitalised on Australia’s strong platform, middle-order batters Travis Head and Cameron Green missed out after being dismissed during a lively second session where the match appeared to be moving only for that to prove fool’s gold after a laborious final session.Pakistan toiled amid oppressive conditions in their Karachi fortress. They did attempt a fightback in the second session with spinners Sajid and Nauman Ali conjuring sharp turn on a pitch showing the first signs of encouragement for bowlers seven days into the series, the first between the teams in Pakistan since 1998.Sajid bounced back with variations in pace and flight after notably struggling on day one where he pursued a defensive line of bowling before and after tea. The 28-year-old did a lot of heavy lifting and finished with 2 for 151 from 54 overs.Shaheen Shah Afridi couldn’t rouse the same energy he memorably produced during the tame draw in Rawalpindi apart from a lethal spell of reverse swing in the second session that was repeatedly thwarted by Khawaja’s stout bat.Pakistan’s flagging bowlers were understandably weary by the time they took the third new ball, which only made scoring easier for Carey and Starc who finally started upping the ante.In what felt like an eternity ago, Australia resumed day two at 251 for 3 and nightwatchman Nathan Lyon stole the show in the first hour with a breezy 38 to frustrate Pakistan’s bowlers hoping for early inroads. But he fell short of a maiden Test half-century after being comprehensively bowled by Faheem Ashraf in Pakistan’s only success in the morning session.Lyon’s unexpected cameo provided a rare source of entertainment in another hard grind of a day during this slow-moving series.

No suggestions of an increased quota, but focus on including more black African players in the national sides

Firdose Moonda12-Oct-2020Cricket South Africa (CSA) intends to outline the implementation of a more aggressive transformation policy to parliament, if they are allowed to present their plans to the sports portfolio committee on Tuesday. The meeting comes a week after CSA were hauled over the coals by the same committee for failure to present the forensic report they used to fire former CEO Thabang Moroe.At a two-hour meeting last week, in which no other matter was discussed, CSA committed to furnishing the committee with a copy of the report by Friday. The deadline was met, though the version of the report CSA sent contained redactions, and discussion over the report are expected to take up most of the meeting time tomorrow. However, if the meeting moves past the report, CSA may have the opportunity to unveil its Social Justice and Nation Building (SJN) agenda.Among CSA’s proposals is an emphasis on ensuring “that more black players, particularly black African players are included in national teams on a sustainable basis,” and major changes to the way cricket is governed at franchise and provincial level, to ensure greater representation of black women. Beginning in December this year, CSA would like all its affiliates to make new appointments according to affirmative action requirements, and will fine those who do not.”It will become part of the membership requirements that the executive management teams of unions and the boards become predominantly black with a heavy focus on black female members in these critical positions. The intention is to identify at least 10 black female candidates. The onus will be placed on Affiliates to address the current status of non- transformed positions especially in CEO and Executive positions. Failure by the Unions to do this will result in financial penalties,” CSA’s presentation reads.Similarly, CSA have committed to filling the independent director vacancy on its board, which resulted from the resignation of Steve Cornelius in August “by a black female, preferably with skills in media and marketing”. The position is expected to be filled by the end of November, before the rescheduled AGM which will take place on December 5.On the playing field, the presentation notes that “the number of selections for whites’ dwarfs (54%) the numbers for any of the black demographic, with the players of Indian descent and Coloured players, making up an equal 12% selection in any of the 15 matches played,” over the last year. It notes that selection was particularly skewed in fifty-over cricket primarily because of the consistent inclusion of four players. “It is particularly within the ODI format where the selection frequency is predominantly in favour of white players. These numbers are boosted by the consistency in selection of (Quinton) de Kock, (Rassie) van der Dussen, (Faf) du Plessis and (David) Miller.”While the presentation does not say there will be an increased quota (currently the national team is required to field six players of colour, of which at least two must be black African, on average over the course of a season), it does state that there will be no target reduction and that the direction of cricket, the coaches and selectors will have to adhere to transformation key performance areas, which will be part of their contracts. CSA exceeded their 2018-19 transformation target, with the 2019-20 data yet to be released, but have also come under fire from the sports minister, Nathi Mthethwa, for failing to have people of colour in senior roles.Since then, CSA have committed to applying a preference for consultants of colour and now appear to be taking the policy further. The presentation also mentions addressing the salary difference between the men’s and women’s teams and confirms a cash injection of R10 million (US$604, 575) for the SJN project, which could offer reparations to players who were discriminated against in the past. In August CSA named Advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza as their SJN ombudsman and they intend to begin hearing at provinces in January 2021. The ombudsman will also independently present to parliament and the sports minister.

Bowler was sent home in June for breaching ICC code; now, team manager suspended over cover-up of the same incident

Nagraj Gollapudi and Jarrod Kimber06-Jul-2019It has emerged that Aftab Alam, the Afghanistan fast bowler, was sent back home from the World Cup following allegations of serious misbehaviour with a female guest at the Southampton hotel the team was staying in.At the time, the ICC had said that Alam was being sent back under “exceptional circumstances”, but the Afghanistan Cricket Board later confirmed that it was for a “breach of ICC’s disciplinary code of conduct”. That, ESPNcricinfo understands, wasn’t the only occasion when Alam ran into trouble during the tournament – he was removed by the security from a hospitality suite during the India-Pakistan game in Manchester too.While pulling up Alam, the ACB also suspended team manager Naved Sayem, while asking the board’s disciplinary committee to conduct a probe into the Alam hotel incident and submit its report within a week. Alam was suspended as soon as the ACB decided to remove him from the World Cup squad – made official on June 27.ALSO READ: Afghanistan have hit a bump on their happy roadThe latest development came at the ACB’s annual general meeting, held in Kabul, today. “The disciplinary committee has already been assigned to carry out the investigation in the Alam incident and asked to submit the report in a week,” Atif Mashal, an ACB board member, told ESPNcricinfo.Mashal said Sayem was found guilty of not reporting the incident “properly”. “He was found to hide things from the ACB. That is why it was decided to suspend him and investigate. As for the player (Alam), we will formalise the sanction against him once the disciplinary committee submits its report.”It is understood that the ICC’s anti-corruption unit (ACU) has concluded its investigation on Alam, finding him guilty of inappropriate behaviour, and has sent its report to the ACB to take action against the player.Alam’s last game in the World Cup was on June 22, against India, when Afghanistan fell short in their chase of India’s 224 for 8 by 11 runs. He took a wicket and was then bowled for a duck. Incidentally, the team hotel where the alleged incident took place is inside Hampshire Bowl, where the Afghanistan squad was staying for their group matches against India and Bangladesh.It is believed that the ACU got the Afghanistan squad to assemble at the team hotel in Southampton on June 23 morning, but Alam wasn’t present. He wasn’t in his room either, and it emerged that he was with a relative in London. Alam is understood to have returned later in the day, but Phil Simmons, Afghanistan’s head coach, suspended him for two matches for not being present at the ACU meeting. Alam was told he could not even participate in the practice sessions for those games.In the earlier game between India and Pakistan at Old Trafford, Alam turned up at the game unannounced and requested VIP access for himself and his friends. Using his player’s accreditation pass, he made his way to one of the hospitality rooms and then refused to leave. When security was summoned, his friends left but Alam stayed. Eventually, however, security was called and he was removed.Action against senior ACB officials too
In an unconnected development, two senior ACB officials – acting chief executive Asadullah Khan and Dawlat Ahmadzai, former chief selector – who were found guilty of separate offences, are also going to be investigated by a panel comprising three board members, Mashal confirmed, saying that a “serious” decision had been taken on that front too.Asadullah has been charged with breaching the ACB constitution and policies on various decisions he took after taking charge recently. Ahmadzai was pulled up for taking controversial decisions in squad selection for the World Cup. Ahmadzai, who was shifted to the junior selection panel midway into the World Cup, took controversial decision to replace Ashgar Afghan as the ODI captain with Gulbadin Naib, while also removing Afghan from the leadership of the Test and T20I teams.”A three-member committee comprising board members will conduct the investigation for the various breaches (by Asadullah and Ahmadzai),” Mashal said.

The in-form Pope made an unbeaten 158 before Yorkshire lost three early wickets

ECB Reporters Network12-May-20181:59

County round-up: Clarke century rattles champions Essex

ScorecardSurrey batsman Ollie Pope hit a career-best 158 not out before rain ruined the second day of their Specsavers County Championship match against Yorkshire at the Kia Oval.The 20-year-old’s third Championship century, in only his tenth first-class game, helped Surrey make 414.They then reduced Yorkshire to 40 for 3 before rain arrived at 12.50pm.With steady drizzle falling all afternoon and no prospect of an improvement in the conditions, umpires Martin Saggers and David Millns abandoned the day’s play at 4.30pm.Pope, 20, added a further 27 runs in the morning with Surrey’s tail as their last three wickets fell in six overs.His eighth-wicket stand of 82 in 14 overs with Conor McKerr, who contributed a career-best 28 was ended when McKerr edged Tim Bresnan’s outswinger to second slip. Adam Lyth parried the ball and Chet Pujara took the catch at first slip.Jade Dernbach went for his shots from the start, lofting Steven Patterson over mid-off for four before bringing up Surrey’s 400 by carving the incredulous Bresnan high over backward point for six.On 14 Dernbach drove a slower ball from Patterson to Joe Root at mid-on and last man Amar Virdi was well taken at third slip by Jack Leaning, diving to his right, for a single. Pope’s innings lasted five and a-quarter-hours and he his 27 fours from 224 balls faced while Bresnan and Patterson finished with three wickets apiece.Yorkshire, who last lost this fixture 18 years ago, were in immediate trouble when they replied.Alex Lees, brought into the side after skipper Gary Ballance pulled out through illness, edged his first ball – the second of the innings – from Dernbach and caught at second slip by Dean Elgar.Lyth was squared up by Sam Curran in the fourth over to make Yorkshire 7 for 2 and Curran picked up his second wicket when Pujara was held low down at second slip by Scott Borthwick for 17. The Indian opener waited for confirmation that the ball had carried before departing.When the players came off Yorkshire captain Joe Root was 14 and Harry Brook 1 not out.

Fifties from Joe Burns and Marnus Labuschagne then led Queensland’s response, bringing them to within 19 runs of Tasmania’s first-innings total

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Mar-2017
ScorecardFile photo – Luke Feldman picked up three of Tasmania’s first six wickets•Getty Images

Queensland’s strong seam attack bowled out Tasmania for 150 before the Bulls pushed to within 19 of the Tigers’ total on day one of the Sheffield Shield match at Bellerive Oval in Hobart.Peter George, Luke Feldman, Cameron Gannon and Jack Wildermuth shared the wickets between them after the acting captain Joe Burns won the toss and sent the last-placed Tigers in to bat. The Bulls need to win this match to keep pace with the Bushrangers and the Redbacks at the top of the Shield table.Tasmania slipped as low as 6 for 61 as the new Dukes ball darted about a well-grassed surface, before Tim Paine and the former Bulls allrounder Simon Milenko mounted a minor rearguard action, adding 68 for the seventh wicket. Even so, the visitors were delighted to roll the hosts for 150 and be batting well before the tea break.Peter Forrest was out for a duck at the start of Queensland’s reply, but Burns was able to lead his side into more comfortable territory. Marnus Labuschagne offered useful support, and he will resume in the company of Sam Heazlett on the second morning.