A round-up of the State Championship matches between March 20 and 24, 2009

Cricinfo staff24-Mar-2009Peter Ingram scored an outstanding final-innings hundred to lead Central Districts to the State Championship final with a three-wicket win over Canterbury after they were set a target of 448 at Pukekura Park. Ingram scored 166 to ensure his team would take on league leaders Auckland in the final.Ingram and his opening partner Jamie How laid the platform for the successful chase with a first-wicket stand of 159. How scored 93 before he was caught by Hamish Bennett off debutant Martin Kain but Ingram found another steady partner in George Worker, who scored 55. They put on a century stand for the second wicket and Central Districts were well placed to push for a win when Worker fell with the score on 274. But they suffered a blip thereafter, losing two wickets quickly, but Timothy Weston scored a brisk 89 not out to ensure victory. It was only the eighth time that a team had chased over 400 in New Zealand.The prospects of a Central Districts win had seemed remote given the way the first three days had gone. Johann Myburgh starred in Canterbury’s first innings, scoring 199 before he was unfortunately run out, and half-centuries from three other batsmen led them to 493. Michael Mason was Central Districts best bowler, taking 5 for 83.Central Districts’ position became worse after a first-innings collapse resulted in Canterbury taking a lead of 278. They were bowled out for 215 with Bennett and Leighton Burtt taking 4 for 48 apiece. None of the batsmen apart from Ewen Thompson, who blasted 51 off 28 balls, made a significant contribution.Myburgh scored another century in Canterbury’s second innings and shared a third-wicket partnership of 156 with Michael Papps, who scored 63. Canterbury declared soon after Myburgh reached his hundred with a lead of 447. They would have scarcely imagined that it would not prove enough.A strong collective batting performance and a devastating spell from Daryl Tuffey helped Auckland beat Northern Districts by an innings and 16 runs at the Eden Park Outer Oval.Led by Kane Williamson’s 111 off 144 balls Northern Districts put up a reasonable 306 even though no other batsman went past 40. But that effort was overshadowed by Auckland’s batsmen who scored heavily and shut Northern Districts out of the contest.Anaru Kitchen and Colin de Grandhomme scored hundreds and Richard Jones and Reece Young made half-centuries as Auckland amassed 540. Joseph Yovich and Brian Aldridge took four and three wickets respectively but both conceded more than 100 runs.Tuffey wrecked the Northern Districts top order when they batted a second time, reducing them to 13 for 3 in the 13th over. They tried to recover through a fourth-wicket stand of 132 between Michael Parlane and Williamson, who scored 85 off 108 balls in the second innings. But after that partnership was broken by Lance Shaw with the score on 145, Tuffey took three more wickets to bowl out Northern Districts for 218.Wellington took points for a first-innings lead after their match against Otago ended in a draw at Basin Reserve. Rain ensured no play was possible on the final day.Jeetan Patel took 5 for 65 to help restrict Otago to 270 in their first innings. They made a sound start, with openers Craig Cumming and Aaron Redmond adding 122, but slipped to 185 for 6 after Luke Woodcock made the initial breakthrough. Redmond’s 76 off 93 balls was Otago’s top score while Leighton Morgan also made 64.Wellington were in deep trouble during their first innings and hopes of a first-innings lead were distant when they slipped to 98 for 6. However Chris Nevin and Dewayne Bowden scored half-centuries to get the innings back on track. They added 148 for the seventh wicket after which Patel chipped in with a quick 44 to give Wellington the lead. They declared on 325 for 9 with a lead of 55.Otago batted splendidly in the second innings, reaching 257 for 2 at the end of the third day. Cumming scored a century and was well supported by Greg Todd who scored an unbeaten 94. But rain washed out the fourth day, giving Otago no points in the contest.

Auckland 7 4 1 02 0 35 1.199 3464/92 3830/122 Central Dist 7 4 0 03 0 31 1.166 4154/97 3931/107 Wellington 7 2 0 05 0 22 1.492 3313/67 3315/100 Northern Dis 7 1 4 02 0 10 0.785 3714/126 3565/95 Otago 7 0 2 05 0 6 0.786 3578/113 3265/81 Canterbury 7 0 4 03 0 4 0.841 3683/115 4000/105

Everton have always produced a steady stream of impressive youngsters down the years, and the next superstar produced in their academy could be ready to come off the conveyor belt.

The likes of Wayne Rooney, Leon Osman and Ross Barkley have all been nurtured in the Toffees’ youth system before going on to carve out impressive careers in the senior ranks.

And now versatile forward Charlie Whitaker could be the next name to join that illustrious list of local lads to wear the famous blue of Everton.

Whitaker joined the Merseyside outfit from Blackburn Rovers aged just 12, but the teenager really started catching the eye with his impressive performances last term.

In the final game of 2020/21, Whitaker bagged a hat-trick in a 4-0 thrashing of Southampton to take his tally to five goals and two assists in just four starts since being handed his full U23s debut by manager David Unsworth.

The youth team boss lauded the attacking talent in an interview with the Liverpool ECHO shortly after, saying: “I’ve watched Charlie for a number of years, and we always knew he had the quality in flashes.

“He has played out wide, he has played up-front….but we have tried to play him as a second striker, not a number 10, a second-striker because his game is naturally dropping into spaces where you want a number 10.

“We have tried to get someone up there with him, and he has been sensational. He is a great trainer, great to work with, and a great lad.”

Despite his promising performances in several positions, the youth team coach was determined not to get too carried away with Whitaker’s contributions since making the step up from U18’s level, though.

Unsworth continued: “I have really enjoyed the last few months working with him! I really have. He does the hardest thing in the game, which is score goals, and he makes it look really easy.

“For the size of him, he is good in the air, he is brave, we just need him to link play, and the future is bright for him. I’m not getting over-excited, because you can’t, it is too early. But the signs are very, very good.”

And Whitaker has picked up where he left off last season in the opening weeks of the current campaign, bagging four goals and providing one assist in just nine appearances.

With Richarlison heavily linked with a move away from Everton over the summer, manager Rafa Benitez could unearth the Brazilian’s natural heir in the shape of 18-year-old Whitaker, someone who can play in a wide array of positions just like their energetic number 7.

However, whether he provides him with the opportunity to showcase his talent in the senior setup remains to be seen.

And, in other news…”Still uncertainty” – Patrick Boyland drops Everton update that should concern fans 

Brad Haddin was part of the Australian squad which lost the Ashes 2-1 in 2005 but was left out of the team which wiped out England 5-0 in the following series

Alex Brown04-May-2009Ashes revenge has not been discussed in the Australian dressing room for several seasons now. When Ricky Ponting’s men reversed the gloom of ’05 to the euphoria of 5-0 in the return series, Australia’s senior players successfully filled the urn-shaped hole in their lives and allowed the likes of Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Justin Langer to head into retirement content and complete.Brad Haddin, however, has not been so fortunate. As Adam Gilchrist’s understudy in 2005, Haddin vividly recalls the pain and despondency in the Australian dressing room after the defeat at Trent Bridge; a result that handed England a decisive 2-1 series lead. He was subsequently overlooked for the ensuing series in Australia – back-up wicketkeepers are a luxury seldom afforded to squads within their own county – resulting in a sense of unfinished business ahead of this year’s tour of England.”The only time I’ve been involved in an Ashes series, we tasted defeat,” Haddin told Cricinfo. “As exciting as it was to experience all the hype in 2005, it was still a pretty disappointing tour in a lot of ways. The memories are still strong from that tour. Some of the other guys had a chance to be part of the next Ashes series that we won 5-0, but I wasn’t in that squad.”I was lucky and unfortunate in 2005. Being in the squad, I was able to experience all the hype and excitement of being in England in a very competitive Ashes series. The way the country responded, and seeing those 20,000 people shut out of Old Trafford and still trying to get a look, was something I won’t forget. But having said that I remember the feeling in the change-rooms in Trent Bridge after we’d pretty much lost the Ashes. It was a sombre and uncomfortable place to be. I don’t want to have to experience that again.”Haddin’s rise from the periphery to the nucleus of the national team has been both rapid and dramatic. Twelve months have not passed since his Test debut at Sabina Park, yet Haddin has already assumed senior status within Ricky Ponting’s re-emerging Test side and is likely to be remunerated accordingly when Cricket Australia’s 25-man contract list is released next week.So high is the esteem in which he is held by national selectors, Haddin stands poised to lead Australia for the second time in a Twenty20 international (against Pakistan in Dubai on Thursday), placing him second in line for the captaincy behind Michael Clarke. Haddin has also been handed the added responsibility of opening the innings in the 50-over format.Those close to the team credit Haddin with imbuing Australia’s rookie players with a sense of “old school” toughness in this period of transition – the casual observer could probably deduce as much from the frequency and tenacity of his appeals. And while his glovework remains solid, if not flawless, his batting is of great importance to the Australians in all three forms of the game.”I’m lucky that in my career with NSW I’ve had the opportunity to bat from one-to-seven in the one-dayers, and I’ve had a bit of success in all those spots,” he said. “If someone like Shaun Marsh goes down and I get the call up the order, then that’s fine with me. That might add a little to the workload but, put it this way, I was happy we batted second in the (second one-day international against Pakistan) when it was 42 degrees out in the middle.”Perhaps most remarkable of all Haddin’s accomplishments over the past 12 months has been his durability. Since the beginning of Australia’s tour of the West Indies last year, he has played in all 15 of Australia’s Tests (scoring 901 runs at 37.54 with 56 dismissals), 24 of 28 one-day internationals (a broken finger sidelined him for the final four games of the series in the Caribbean) and three of six Twenty20 matches. While Ponting, Mitchell Johnson and Michael Hussey were rested from the limited overs tour of the UAE ahead of a gruelling 2009 campaign, which includes the World Twenty20, the Ashes and the Champions Trophy, Haddin has played on, subscribing to Dennis Lillee’s old mantra of never giving a sucker an even break.”I actually don’t have any niggles, and my hands are good,” he said. “Life is a lot easier when your hands aren’t barking at you. I put it down to the fact that I have been training my body for this for years. This is the reason you run all those laps and lift all those weights. I might not have been playing international cricket for a long time, but I feel like I have been conditioning my body for it for years.”Ask me in 12 months if I’m feeling this fresh, and the answer might be a bit different. But I’m feeling pretty good, and I think [the World Twenty20] will be an exciting thing to be a part of, especially with it being in England and the Ashes being around the corner.”

Australia’s opening bowler Emma Sampson has shocked the cricket world by retiring at the age of 23. She plans to go travelling for an unspecified amount of time and confirmed it was not related to Australia’s under-par World Cup campaign.Sampson, who has no immediate plans to come back to cricket, said that even though the World Twenty20 was around the corner – with all its promise of increased exposure – and then the Ashes, her heart wasn’t in it at the moment.”I decided to retire because I am going to travel and work overseas for an unknown period of time,” she told Cricinfo as she watched the World Cup final at North Sydney Oval. Asked if she would consider coming back, she said: “I’m not going to say yes or no because I’m not really sure. I’d been thinking about it for a little while. Obviously I was hoping to finish this tour on a pretty big high. But that’s okay, I still had a good time on tour.”Looking relaxed and content with her decision, she added: “I don’t want to go on playing just because I don’t think my heart will be in it just as much as the rest of the girls. So the best thing for me and the team was to retire now.”Sampson has played in the Ashes and against all of the top women’s sides and has no regrets about calling time on her career which included 30 ODIs, a Test and five Twenty20s. Her best analysis was 5 for 30 against New Zealand in 2008.Leonie Coleman had also retired, although her action is less surprising, given that she is 30. Coleman has had few chances this World Cup, with Jodie Fields preferred as the wicketkeeper. Coleman played 24 ODIs with 23 victims.”It’s always a surprise I think,” Sampson said of Coleman’s decision. “She’s had a good career.”

A number of Liverpool supporters have been showing their admiration for Virgil van Dijk after he scored for the Netherlands on Monday evening.

Jurgen Klopp’s men return to Premier League action this weekend, having not played since the thrilling 2-2 draw at home to Manchester City.

The Reds make the trip to Watford on Saturday lunchtime, looking to avenge the shock 3-0 defeat at Vicarage Road in the title-winning 2019/20 season.

[freshpress-quiz id=“375258″]

One player who could be vital for the Reds is Van Dijk, who has made an impressive return to the team since suffering a cruciate ligament injury a year ago this coming weekend.

The 30-year-old was in action for the Netherlands on Monday night and found the back of the net in their 6-0 win at home to Gibraltar, as highlighted by Liverpool’s official Twitter channel.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-6/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Liverpool fans show love for Van Dijk

These Reds fans took to Twitter to heap praise on Van Dijk in the process, with some hoping for a repeat on Saturday when the Premier League resumes.

“Best in the world”

Credit: @thormiwa_04

“He is back”

Credit: @yeni_sow

“That iconic celebration”

Credit: @Lfcqueen21

“Now he’s gonna do it against Watford”

Credit: @Leonfraser2114

“What a signing”

Credit: @LFCAidan_

“We needed that! Confidence builder”

Credit: @keepmoremoney

In other news, some Liverpool fans are unhappy with a transfer rumour that has emerged. Read more here.

Newcastle United could sign former Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey on a free transfer in the January window amid speculation linking him with a move in the summer.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent weeks and months had suggested that the Magpies had made an enquiry for the Wales international as they looked to revamp their midfield, with Steve Bruce having sounded out Ramsey’s availability for a move away from Juventus.

Now, Alan Nixon has claimed that the Bianconeri are ready to let the midfielder go on a free transfer in the January window, with Newcastle, West Ham and Everton all keen on signing him.

Fans would love him

After reports initially emerged of Newcastle’s interest in Ramsey, Dean Windass threw his backing behind a potential move for the 30-year-old. Speaking exclusively to FFC, he said: “Newcastle would suit him. Why wouldn’t he go there? It all changes, the supporters coming back, get your career back on track. He will play in that attacking midfield role.”

Arsene Wenger raved about the Welshman’s ability to get into the box and find himself on the end of moves, saying: “In my head, Ramsey was going to be a player between 10 and 15 goals a year. He is a Frank Lampard type. He is (about) getting in the box and he has a huge capacity to run. Physically, he has a combination of stamina, power and his capacity to repeat high intensity is certainly the best in the league.”

Described as an “outstanding technician”, Ramsey would offer that same knack of getting into the box at the right times and scoring those poacher-type goals.

In fact, Lampard himself wrote in a column for The Evening Standard about the 74-goal star: “It will probably come as no surprise to people that I like Ramsey. Like me, he makes late runs in the penalty area and he showed that with aplomb for the second goal at AC Milan last week.”

If Ramsey could complete a shock switch to St James’ Park, then as Steve Howey says, “fans would absolutely love him”. That ability and knack of arriving late in the box to score some goals would ease the burden on the likes of Joe Willock and Allan Saint-Maximin, and give them another attacking threat.

Meanwhile, Newcastle are eyeing this Championship star…

Arsenal welcome Premier League rivals Spurs to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon for the first north London derby of the season.

Mikel Arteta’s side have bounced back to winning ways after a tricky start to the campaign saw them lose their first three games in a row.

The Gunners boss will no doubt have some big decisions to make, and one player who the Spaniard should seriously consider starting is Gabriel Martinelli.

The Brazilian has been on the fringes of things for the north Londoners so far this season, but he did make the starting line-up against AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup in midweek, drawing the foul for Alexandre Lacazette’s penalty.

He showed the kind of speed and directness which could really cause Spurs’ defence problems, and his teammate Pablo Mari is a big fan of his ability and potential.

The 28-year-old said: “He has exploded on to the scene and is showing that he’s a great player with a lot of talent. Martinelli has shown he is a bit different to any other player in terms of his ability. He has great vision and there’s real talent there in terms of his dribbling and his ability to choose the right play.

“His decision-making is improving all the time. Martinelli still has a lot more to show but he has incredible talent and I think gradually he’ll keep developing and become a top player.”

After watching him score a decisive goal in Arsenal’s victory over Crystal Palace at the end of last season, former Gunners boss Freddie Ljungberg said: “He’s very special and he’s a lovely boy as well. You hear how he speaks, of course he’s disappointed he’s not starting, it’s been a while.

“He does so well and all he is saying is that he is always ready when he (Arteta) wants me and it’s a dream for a manager to have.”

His work-rate and desire to hunt the ball down relentlessly would be appreciated in a derby clash, and having him in a front three alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bukayo Saka could leave Nuno Espirito Santo’s defence quaking in their boots.

The £26m-rated starlet could terrify Spurs with his pace and skill this afternoon.

Meanwhile, Arsenal are eyeing Aubameyang’s successor in this La Liga star…

West Ham United advanced into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup after they defeated Manchester United  – and one name arguably stole the show.

Just a few days ago, the Irons suffered an agonising defeat to the Red Devils in the Premier League but here, David Moyes’ side were out for redemption in what was a rare victory at Old Trafford.

There were plenty of standout performers, with the likes of Issa Diop, ‘Man of the Match’ Craig Dawson and Alphonse Areola getting plenty of credit from supporters and press on social media.

But it was another player making his Hammers debut that looked top class against some big names.

Czech Republic midfielder Alex Kral joined the east Londoners on loan from Spartak Moscow, joining his international teammates Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal at the club, and he excelled in his first-ever competitive appearance.

The 23-year-old, who is valued at €15m (£13m) by CIES Football Observatory, was quite literally all over the pitch as he looked to fill the void left behind by his colossal countryman and Declan Rice.

Kral did his defensive duties astutely as he recorded a game-high five tackles and three interceptions, as per SofaScore. He also made two clearances and won a total of eight duels.

Indeed, this massively helped in the absence of the usual first-choice duo as Soucek averages 3.4 tackles per league outing and Rice averages 2.2 interceptions per outing, via WhoScored. He effectively did the job of both next to club captain Mark Noble, who undoubtedly made his job easier.

Further up the pitch, the 25-cap international provided one key pass, one successful dribble and a total of 47 touches, as per SofaScore.

“Loaning Alex Král with an option to buy at £12m looks like more smart business from West Ham,” claimed BBC Sport contributor Premier League Panel. “Superb defensive work vs Man Utd, as he constantly tracked runners in between the lines & made vital interventions (8 tackles/interceptions). Quality option to rotate with Rice & Soucek.”

And as football.london’s Tom Clark wrote in his post-match ratings, Kral ‘showed a willingness to get forward and broke into the Manchester United box on a number of occasions.’

Both reviews only reinforce the fact that Kral was an industrious presence at either end of the pitch on Wednesday night.

It was certainly an impressive debut from Kral and he has now surely given Moyes plenty to think about heading into their upcoming fixtures across the Premier League and Europa League.

AND in other news, Moyes’ big West Ham transfer clanger highlighted as David Ornstein transfer claim emerges…

عبر أحمد سامي مدافع فريق بيراميدز عن سعادته بالتسجيل وهز شباك المقاولون العرب ومنح الفريق 3 نقاط غالية في مشوار الدوري الممتاز.

طالع.. فيديو | أحمد سامي يسجل هدف بيراميدز الأول أمام المقاولون العرب

وأشار سامي في تصريحات بعد المباراة إلى أن المواجهة كانت صعبة للغاية، والانتصار كان مهما خاصة بعد الخسارة الأخيرة، وبيراميدز يطمع لمواصلة الانتصارات حتى آخر لحظة في الدوري.

ونوه أن اللاعبين يعانون من إجهاد كبير بسبب توالي المواجهات في الدوري خاصة وأنه لا يوجد فاصل زمني بين المباراة والأخرى، ومن الضروري مواصلة المشوار حتى النهاية واللاعبون تعاهدوا على الفوز ومواصلة المسيرة، ولا يعلم أحد ماذا سيحدث في المستقبل وكل شيء وارد في كرة القدم.

طالع.. رمضان صبحي والسعيد يغيبان عن مباراة بيراميدز القادمة في الدوري

وأكد أن مواجهة المحلة المقبلة صعبة للغاية في ظل وضع الفريق المنافس الذي يلعب على أرضه ووسط جماهيره، ويحتاج للانتصار من أجل الخروج من دوامة الهبوط ولكن في النهاية بيراميدز هدفه الفوز وحصد النقاط الثلاث في جميع المواجهات المقبلة.

Spurs need to get back to winning ways later this evening after a trio of tough results in the Premier League.

Nuno Santo and his side welcome Slovenian champions NS Mura to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the UEFA Europa Conference League group stages, where they opened the competition with a 2-2 draw at Stade Rennes two weeks ago.

The north London outfit have suffered three straight heavy defeats in the English top-flight and now according to some reports, the Portuguese head coach is under mounting pressure to turn things around on the pitch.

That means he cannot take today’s opposition lightly, despite the obvious difference in quality.

Last time out, Spurs crashed to a 3-1 defeat in the north London derby and after admitting that he got his team selection so badly wrong, Nuno will need to get it spot on this time around.

Dele Alli’s outing against the Gunners lasted just 45 minutes as he was hooked at the break, with the Lilywhites down by three goals. It was a rather damning statement from Nuno and one that could carry into tonight’s encounter.

Despite starting every single Premier League game since the arrival of the ex-Wolves boss in the summer, truth be told, the English midfielder has looked some way off hitting his former heights.

Spurs are amongst the worst teams when it comes to the final third – they rank last for average number shots per game (9.3), joint-bottom for big chances created (4) and second last for expected goals (5.47 xG).

It’s clear that there is something wrong with the makeup of Nuno’s midfield and attack.

Alli once delivered ten assists, also averaging 1.8 key passes per game, during the 2017/18 campaign, via WhoScored.

Such form had former players like club legend Darren Anderton comparing him to Paul Scholes and Steven Gerrard, even dubbing him a “freak of a talent” who was a “joy to watch.”

Things quickly turned sour under Jose Mourinho but he’s now been given a proper chance to impress – but he hasn’t taken it and you could argue that his presence is holding Spurs back at the moment.

He is yet to register an assist or key pass from his six starts in the top-flight, meaning he could be one of the many reasons behind their creative struggles up top.

The £27m-rated star, who is still only 25, has been out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad since their third-place playoff win over Denmark in the UEFA Nations League back in June 2019, over two years ago.

A bitter disappointment for someone who had clinched 37 caps by that point in his career – now he’s at a crossroads.

By comparison, Giovani Lo Celso has managed just the one league start but is averaging a squad-high 2.8 key passes per 90 minutes, which suggests he may well be the better option, should he be gifted a proper run in the side.

It may only be NS Mura tonight but Alli should be dropped as Nuno needs to search for a solution ahead of a crunch match with Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.

He must be ruthless and not start the struggling midfielder today.

AND in other news, Paratici masterclass: Spurs eyeing 31-cap “absolute monster”, he’s a huge Dier upgrade…