Guyana 245 for 8 (Sarwan 104*) lead Windward Islands 189 by 56 runs ScorecardAn unbeaten 104 from Ramnaresh Sarwan, the Guyana captain, gave them a crucial first-innings lead of 56 as they finished the second day of their Carib Beer match at 245 for 8 against Windward Islands at St Georges in Grenada.Responding to Windwards’ first innings score of 189, Steven Jacobs and Narsingh Deonarine took the score to 50 when a sudden collapse saw Guyana losing three wickets for just two runs. Sarwan and Travis Dowlin then took the score to 102, adding 50 for the fifth wicket.Guyana were in further trouble at 143 for 8 but Sarwan and Rayon Griffith built a crucial 96-run partnership for the ninth wicket. Griffith scored five boundaries in his innings of 36, before holing out to Daren Sammy at midwicket off Jean Paul. Sarwan, dropped on 61 by Junior Murray, the wicketkeeper, reached his 20th first-class century off 222 balls, scoring 12 boundaries and a six. Rawl Lewis and Kenroy Peters took three wickets each for Windwards.
The Supreme Court has allowed the Indian board to keep its autonomy but yesterday’s ruling has not helped resolve the dispute over the telecast rights which has plagued Indian cricket for more than five months. While the working committee of the BCCI is likely to meet on February 6 to discuss the telecast-rights issue, Zee Telefilms, which had contested the BCCI’s decision to cancel its bid of Rs14000million (approx US$320million) for the rights to televise Indian cricket for the next four years, is certain to take the matter to Bombay High Court.The Supreme Court dismissed Zee’s public-interest litigation against the BCCI on the grounds that the board wasn’t a “state”. However, it allowed Zee to contest BCCI’s decision under article 226 at the High Court.A Press Trust of India report quoted a Zee Telefilms spokesman as saying: “The writ petition has been dismissed under article 32 of the Constitution but is maintainable under article 226 before the High Court.” He added that Zee would be approaching the High Court as soon as possible after consulting with its legal team.Zee, which plans to launch its own sports channel later this year – their lack of pedigree in sports telecasting was one of the bones of contention when the bidding process started – had argued that since the BCCI picked and controlled the team which represented India at international events, its actions were subject to the same clauses that governed the functioning of the “state”.
Hampshire Second XI coach Tony Middleton will be looking for his young Academy side to reproduce their Time game form in limited-overs cricket when the ECB Southern Electric Premier League returns to its 50-over format tomorrow.The Academy team clinched the Time pennant when they ended BAT’s long unbeaten record last weekend.It was the Young Hawks’ fifth win in eight Time matches and enabled the county youngsters to pip BAT to the pennant by three points."It was a tremendous achievement by the lads, who won five of their eight matches by playing some very positive cricket, particularly against Havant and BAT recently," praised Middleton.The Young Hawks haven’t fared as well in the limited-overs game, but Middleton says : "It’s all part of their cricketing education to play the different formats of the game."They are in the habit of winning now and I’m hopeful it will continue."If the Academy complete the double over Bournemouth – they recorded a fine 83-run win at Chapel Gate in June – they could step up the pressure on BAT at the top.Bournemouth are unlikely to relish a return trip to the Rose Bowl, just four days after suffering an agonising SEC Cup defeat against Havant in midweek.Chasing Havant’s modest 121-7, Bournemouth cruised to 75-0 … only to finish nine runs short in the end.BAT will expect to strength their position overall with a win at Calmore Sports, who have been cast 31 points adrift at the bottom after losing ten of their 12 matches.They were routed by a massive 209 runs at Southern Gardens in June – the day when Dan Goldstraw returned a season’s best 8-29.BAT will be strengthened by the return of Damian Shirazi tomorrow, while Calmore will be looking to reproduce the spirited performance they produced at Liphook & Ripsley last week.Chris Sketchley is back for Bashley (Rydal),who entertain struggling Portsmouth at the BCG.Bashley lie fourth in the log, compared with second-to-bottom Portsmouth, whose announced title challenge has not quite materialised.Cambridge-bound Bevis Moynan is out of the Havant team, which celebrated an improbable Contracting Cup success on Tuesday night.But Steve Snell, Chris Wright and Matt Cox, who missed the final, will all be back against Liphook & Ripsley at Havant Park.The South Wilts-Andover derby will be preceded by the unveiling of an Honours Board in the Lower Bemerton clubhouse in memory of Gordon Gay, the Salisbury club’s late chairman and president, who died last summer.Jason Laney returns to the South Wilts line up alongside Hampshire’s James Tomlinson, while Chris Travers makes his Andover debut.
The XXXX Queensland Bulls will confront a full-strength NSW Blues teamin the top of the table ING Cup match at the Sydney Cricket Ground onSunday.The Queensland selectors today named the same team that defeatedVictoria in their most recent ING Cup match, with Test players MatthewHayden and Andy Bichel returning to the squad.NSW will field a team that consists almost entirely of internationals,with only in-form pace bowler Stuart Clark yet to represent his country.For Queensland, Clinton Perren, James Hopes and Nathan Hauritz fit intothat category although Hopes and Hauritz have represented Australia inYouth internationals.NSW and Queensland share the lead in the ING Cup with NSW two pointsahead of Queensland in the Pura Cup competition.Meanwhile pace bowler Joe Dawes hopes to make his return from a kneeinjury in the Brisbane XXXX First Grade competition this weekend in abid to make his Bulls comeback in the Pura Cup match against NSW at theGabba next week. The Pura Cup match starts on Sunday, November 25 andwill be a “Dollar Day" promotion.Dawes aborted his planned comeback for the Pura Cup match against theWestern Warriors when he reported residual soreness in his knee afterbowling for Valley and the Queensland medical staff elected to rest himfurther.XXXX QUEENSLAND BULLS v NSW, ING Cup, SCG, Sunday: Stuart Law (c),Matthew Hayden, Jimmy Maher, Martin Love, Clinton Perren, AndrewSymonds, Wade Seccombe, Andy Bichel, James Hopes, Ashley Noffke, MichaelKasprowicz, Nathan Hauritz.NSW: Mark Waugh, Michael Slater, Michael Bevan, Mark Higgs, Shane Lee,Steve Waugh (c), Brad Haddin, Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Stuart MacGill,Stuart Clark, Glenn McGrath.
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsA flirtatious Ashes series which has often been seductive without delivering much in the way of long-term commitment, so much so that the urn might have been sponsored by Ashley Madison, lent its loyalties for the final time to Australia as they claimed the fifth Investec Test by an innings and 46 runs.There has been much to enjoy over the five Tests in a series watched by capacity crowds – and lovers of Test cricket will delight in that – but history is likely to judge this hit-and-miss series one of the more insubstantial affairs between two teams possessing striking inconsistencies – loved for their skill, unlikely to be hailed for their resilience.Alastair Cook, England’s captain, will make light of that, content that after a 5-0 whitewash in Australia the Ashes have been regained. “I honestly believe this is a highly-talented group of players,” he said. “Being underdogs helped us and allowed us to play with a bit of freedom. It has been a very different Ashes series: two-and-a-half day Test matches with one side getting on top and the other unable to respond, but I am very proud of the lads.”As if to reveal this trait, all five matches have been one-sided. There has been entertainment a plenty but little tension. As well as this victory margin – an innings and 46 runs, Australia found further consolation in London when they won by 405 runs at Lord’s. England dominated by 169 runs in Cardiff, eight wickets at Edgbaston and an innings and 78 at Trent Bridge. The ability to fight back in adversity has been strangely lacking. It has not been a series to be holding tickets for the final day.Rain delayed Australia for nearly three hours on the fourth day – not many batsmen on either side can claim to have done that to bowlers during this series – before Peter Siddle, appearing in the final Test like a battle-hardened guest star from a more sober age, took the last two wickets to finish with 4 for 35 and 6 for 67 in the match.England’s winning margin was clipped to 3-2 and properly so. Stuart Broad, the leading wicket-taker in the series, is followed by four Australians. Joe Root is the only England batsman in the top four run-makers.But England won some decisive passages of play, not just Stuart Broad with eight wickets on a heady first morning at Trent Bridge, but also the man who pipped him for the Man of the Series award, Joe Root, who struck centuries at Cardiff and Trent Bridge. The citation from Australia’s coach, Darren Lehmann, praised: “Outstanding knocks in bowler-friendly conditions at key moments.”Chris Rogers, one player whose resilence could be taken for granted, was Australia’s Man of the Series. It has been hard work: the wickets have been tough and England have bowled pretty well,” he said. “I am a very proud Australian but it’s quite fitting for me that I get to finish up in England,. England has been pretty good to me.”Pitches at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge shamelessly played to England strengths. England, although they are far from being a strong Test side, can be an exciting one and they can be grateful to have regained popularity and come away with the spoils. Considering the disenchantment that surrounded English cricket after a feeble World Cup challenge, the director of England cricket, Andrew Strauss will more than settle for that.Michael Clarke, although saddled with an Ashes record of five defeats in seven, at least retired knowing that for his farewell appearance the dressing room had responded to his leadership. “But this was not about me,” he said. “It was about the need to show determination. We are very proud of the result, although Alastair and England deserve a lot of credit.”England still trailed by 129 when they resumed their second innings at 203 for 6. Mark Wood’s appearance as a nightwatchman on Saturday evening had appeared dubious even for those who are not automatically critical of the tactic. Any policy that pushes Moeen Ali down to No. 9, where his involvement can be curtailed in the space of two balls, surely does not have logic on its side, especially considering the prospect that he will be used as an opening batsman against Pakistan in the UAE in October.Since it was pointed out that the umpires have excelled in this series, with 31 of the first 32 reviews falling in their favour (the umpire’s call margin of error helps in this of course), the figures have been slightly tarnished by several reversed decisions for Kumar Dharmasena, the latest being when Australia successfully overturned his refusal of Siddle’s lbw appeal against Wood, DRS showing the ball going on to hit leg stump.The recent introduction of the system where the third umpire’s instructions can be heard on TV and radio has added to the understanding of, and trust in, the system. India’s continued resistance is perverse.Jos Buttler’s disappointing Ashes campaign then came to rest when three overs later he drove Mitchell Marsh weakly to mid-off. Had Moeen’s edge of Siddle carried to slip before he had scored, Australia might well have beaten the rain.Instead, much fidgeting ensured before Siddle bowled Broad with the second ball of the resumption, defeating an intended blow down the ground, and then found the edge as Moeen attempted a back-foot force.
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has dropped a worrying injury update on Kyogo Furuhashi.
What’s the latest?
In recent comments cited by the Daily Record, the 56-year-old Bhoys boss appeared to backtrack on recent comments made regarding the centre-forward’s recovery from a hamstring injury, in which the Greek-Australian coach claimed that the 27-year-old “won’t be far off” making a return to first-team action.
However, in his latest injury update, Postecoglou appeared to contradict this claim, stating that “Kyogo is nowhere near it [making a return to training].”
Fans will be devastated
Considering just how much Kyogo has revolutionised the Celtic attack since his £4.6m move to Parkhead last summer, the news that the striker is still some way off making a return to first-team football is sure to have left Bhoys fans devastated – particularly after Postecoglou’s initial update on the forward.
Indeed, over his 14 Premiership outings this season, the £4.95m-rated centre-forward has been in remarkable form for the Hoops, having bagged eight goals, registered two assists and created four big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 2.1 shots and making 1.1 key passes per game.
These returns have seen the £18k-per-week Japan international average a highly impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.03 in the league, however, the centre-forward has also been in fine goalscoring form over his 12 appearances in the domestic and European cup competitions, scoring a further eight goals and providing three assists – taking his total haul to 16 goals and five assists in just 26 games.
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As such, it is clear for all to see that the fact that Kyogo looks set to remain on the sidelines for the near future will come as a huge blow to Celtic’s hopes of going on to reclaim their Premiership crown this season – with failure to do so being an outcome that would undoubtedly leave everyone involved with the Bhoys gutted.
In other news: £621k in the bank: Celtic dodged a January transfer bullet on “perfect” £27k-p/w flop
QPR defender Anton Ferdinand has revealed that he has completed his statement to the FA regarding the alleged incident of racism committed by John Terry just over a week ago.
The Chelsea defender was accused by the Loftus Road man of insulting him due to his race in the 1-0 victory for Rangers on 23rd October, and many involved in the game have been calling for action against the England international.
Despite maintaining his innocence, Terry is under investigation by the FA currently, and Ferdinand has confirmed that he has given evidence against the veteran central defender.
“Today (Monday 31st October 2011) I finalised my statement with the Football Association with regards to the incident that occurred last Sunday at Loftus Road in our Barclays Premier League fixture against Chelsea,” read Ferdinand’s statement.
“I have very strong feelings on the matter, but in the interests of fairness and not wishing to prejudice what I am sure will be a very thorough inquiry by the FA, this will be my last comment on the subject until the enquiry is concluded.
“I would like to thank the club, Tony Fernandes, Amit Bhatia, Neil Warnock, the supporters and my fellow professionals for their unwavering support,” he concluded.
The FA will review Ferdinand’s story of events, and Terry can expect to be questioned over the incident in the not too distant future.
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Schalke have announced that coach Felix Magath will leave the Bundesliga club with immediate effect.Magath, 57, had been widely tipped for the exit owing to the team’s disappointing form in the league this season.A championship-winning coach with Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich, Magath was due to meet with club officials at an extraordinary session of the supervisory board on Wednesday, but chose not to attend. The club later confirmed that he had been removed from the post, but a replacement is yet to be announced.”Schalke have very good reasons to part company with Felix Magath,” chairman Clemens Tonnies said.”We will not communicate these reasons as a legal battle now awaits us. We’re very disappointed about the departure of Felix, but we feel this is the best solution for Schalke.”Earlier, Magath’s lawyer Ralf Hoecker revealed the reasons behind his client’s refusal to attend the meeting. “Mr Magath won’t attend Wednesday’s board meeting as he feels participating doesn’t make any sense,” Ralf Hoecker said.”Mr Magath only received a minimal and incomplete agenda of the meeting on Tuesday. He needs to be well prepared if he is to debate about important subjects.”Magath, who arrived at the Veltins-Arena in July 2009, guided the team to a second-place finish in his first season in charge, but leaves with the team 10th in the Bundesliga table. They have reached the final of the DFB Pokal and the quarter-finals of the Champions League.A Germany international midfielder, Magath spent the majority of his playing career with Hamburg before coaching the club. He has also taken charge of Nuremburg, Werder Bremen, Frankfurt and Stuttgart.
UNAM Pumas have hinted that West Ham United are winning the race to sign winger Pablo Barrera.
Everton and Espanyol are also being linked with the 23-year-old who made three substitute appearances for Mexico during this summer's World Cup in South Africa.
Reports in Mexico claim that the best offer is from the Hammers, although the Pumas' director of sport Mario Trejo is refusing to confirm any deal just yet.
He said:"We don't want to be making announcements when it's not the correct moment. When everything is OK we will make an announcement. It's very possible that between Thursday and Friday we will have something more serious to say.
"If there is an important announcement to be made, the president will be in charge of letting everyone know.
"I must admit that after analysing the offers of Espanyol, West Ham and Everton, there is one that has convinced us more than the rest.
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"We can't talk too much about it because then everything gets complicated and, as we are very near to reaching an agreement, we don't want to spoil the negotiations."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
The focus will once again be on under pressure Blackburn boss Steve Kean as he welcomes Tottenham to Ewood Park looking who are eager to stretch their unbeaten run to six games.
Rovers are bottom of the table and have failed to win in their last three since beating Arsenal 4-3 last month and the pressure continues to rise with supporters planning more protests over Kean’s place in the dugout. The club are bottom of the table and looking clueless out on the field and were lucky to take a point away from Loftus Road in last week’s draw with QPR. Despite the dire performances the clubs owners have yet to act as they continue to stand by the man they appointed to replace Sam Allardyce 10 months ago. His summer signings have failed to add anything to the squad with much sought after striker David Goodwillie failing to score in the Premier League this season. Kean fought tooth and nail to sign him from Dundee United but he has get to even have a shot on target in six appearances. At the other end the defence is far from watertight despite the presence of Christopher Samba and Ryan Nelsen. Paul Robinson has seen the goals fly in seeing the ball hit his net 18 times already this season which isn’t a surprise considering Rovers haven’t kept a clean sheet since April. They’ve only beaten Spurs twice in their last 15 meetings so it would be surprising if the vociferous protests against Kean are silenced with a victory.
Harry Redknapp’s side should come out of this fixture unscathed and with a fifth win from their last six games. That run of form earned the Spurs boss Septembers manager of the month award . They had won four on the trot prior to last week’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle at St James’ Park and were only pegged back by a late Shola Ameobi goal. Spurs have been lethal in front of goal during their unbeaten run scoring 12 times with Rafael van der Vaart scoring their opening goal in the last three fixtures. The Dutchman has a rather impressive strike rate hitting the net every 166 minutes in the league and he will be the man Spurs will look to get them off and running at Ewood Park. His link up with Emmanuel Adebayor up front may be broken up though with Jermain Defoe pushing for a start after he came off the bench to score their second goal against Newcastle. That could mean Jake Livermore drops out and Van Der Vaart is stuck out wide. Defoe has been in good goalscoring form in the current campaign hitting five goals this season and forming a devastating understanding with Adebayor. The omens are good for Spurs going into this fixture having done the double over Rovers last season.
Key Players
Christopher Samba – A towering presence the Rovers rearguard he will be key to shutting out Adebayor, Defoe and/or Van Der Vaart. The skipper scored the equaliser at QPR last week but will need to be at his defensive best against a Spurs side who have been scoring goals for fun in recent weeks.
Luka Modric – Despite being unable to exert his influence last week at Newcastle the Croatian is the creative hub of Tottenham’s midfield. His movement and link-up play should be too much for Blackburn to handle and don’t be surprised if he ends up getting on the scoresheet on Sunday.
Prediction: 1-3
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Christopher Samba scored the Rovers’ only goal of the game. The 6 foot 4 inch defender has contributed 16 clearances and 7 interception Blackburn striker David Hoilett is their top ranked player in 99th place and the young Canadian averaged a speed of 5.49mph Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor may fancy his chance at adding to his three goals so far this season against the league’s second most costly defence. Adebayor’s goals have come from 14 attempts at goal and 71% on target. The striker has also been helping out team mates, averaging a pass in his opponent’s half every 4 minutes 35 seconds. Fellow Spurs striker Jermain Defoe scored his third goal of the season, and has been due a goal having has 17 attempts on target so far this season, the third highest in the league