Preview of the match between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai

The Preview by Devashish Fuloria27-Apr-2013Match factsSunday, April 28, 2013
Start time 1600 (1030 GMT)MS Dhoni will be key with his ability to hit slower bowlers with ease•BCCI

Big PictureKolkata Knight Riders were within touching distance of Chennai Super Kings just a week ago when the two met in Kolkata. Now, Super Kings are second on the table and are cruising ahead, while Knight Riders are still struggling to take off. They are seventh on the table at the halfway stage and need a massive turnaround in the remaining matches to finish in the top four. It will have to start in Chepauk, Super Kings’ fortress that teams are increasingly finding hard to breach.With the solid presence of Michael Hussey at the top, Super Kings’ powerful batsmen are being laid ideal platforms in every game. MS Dhoni, Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja are not being pressurised to resurrect innings and when they start attacking, they are not the easiest to stop. Their bowling, however, can sometimes be slightly vulnerable and the line-up lacks a top-quality pacer up front.Knight Riders could focus on these supposed frailties, but they have plenty of their own. Yusuf Pathan’s spot in the side is both a mystery and an embarrassment and makes one wonder about the depth of patience the management have, because as an investment, he is not making any sense. Then, apart from their big three, no one really has shown any consistency for the team to rely upon. In Chennai, the focus will again be on their bowlers and their ability to counter the local batting threat. Since the game is in Chennai, the offspinner Sachithra Senanayake will have to sit out this game due to the ban on Sri Lankan players.Form guideChennai Super Kings: WWWWL
Kolkata Knight Riders: WLLLW
Players to watchIn Super Kings’ last match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, MS Dhoni raised the game against a tough opposition. He single-handedly neutralised the Dale Steyn threat and bailed his team out. He is one of the few batsmen who can change gears without warning and especially thrives against slower bowlers, mysterious or not.Jacques Kallis, one of Knight Riders’ marquee players, bowled and batted with energy against Kings XI Punjab, showing no signs of the injury that had put his participation in doubt. He picked up two valuable wickets and scored a well-planned 37 just when the team needed it. Knight Riders will have one thing less to worry if he can lend similar all-round prowess in future matches,Stats and trivia Suresh Raina is one short of becoming the second batsman to hit 100 sixes in the IPL. Dwayne Bravo and Sunil Narine have both taken 14 wickets this season. But whereas Narine bowls at an economy rate of 5.65, Bravo is expensive at 8.47Quotes”If we keep on winning, we will be in the top half. We have the belief.”

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Todo jogador possui uma competição preferida alegando ter boas recordações, e com Alemão Teixeira não é diferente. Recém-contratado pelo Figueirense, o lateral-direito defendia o Paraná ano passado e a equipe estava sendo eliminada até os 46 minutos da segunda etapa, até que o defensor acertou um chute no ângulo, empatando a partida com o URT e garantindo a classificação.

– Foi uma partida muito difícil. Nós não conseguíamos o resultado uma vez que o adversário se fechou e nós não furávamos a defesa deles, mas graças a Deus no final pude fazer aquele gol e conquistarmos a classificação. Com certeza foi o gol mais importante da minha carreira, um gol que valeu R$ 1 milhão de reais não tem como esquecer (risos) – brincou.

Além da competição ser favorável, Alemão ainda tem pela frente o Rio de Janeiro. Estado que atuou em 2016 pelo Botafogo, teve boa e que, nesta quarta, verá a sua equipe enfrentar o Boavista, às 20h30, pela Copa do Brasil.

– Me sinto feliz em pisar no Rio de Janeiro novamente, onde além de ter um êxito, fiz amigos que levo pra vida inteira. Mas não acho que isso pesa a favor.

Contratado para brigar a posição com Kauê, atualmente improvisado na posição, Alemão garante estar em condições de jogo, mas pede paciência por ainda não ter estreado este ano:

– Não sei se iniciarei como titular, mas estou à disposição desde a última rodada do campeonato catarinense. Me sinto preparado, claro que pode vir a faltar algo pois se trataria do primeiro jogo meu na temporada. Tem que ser inteligente para não se desgastar à toa e conseguir jogar regularmente durante os 90 minutos se caso surgir a oportunidade.

ScorecardFile photo: Upul Tharanga’s century helped rescue Rest of Sri Lanka after initial some setbacks•AFP

Rest of Sri Lanka snuck home with two balls to spare and three wickets in hand against SLC Combined, to score their third win in as many matches in the List A tri-series in Pallekele. Upul Tharanga held Rest of Sri Lanka’s innings together through a top order collapse, hitting 102 from 121 balls, before Dilruwan Perera and Rangana Herath combined to propel their side to victory in the late overs. SLC Combined had made 258 for 8 from their 50 overs, thanks largely to Kaushal Silva’s 99 and Jehan Mubarak’s 54.Having sent SLC Combined in to bat, Rest of Sri Lanka made two early breakthroughs through offspinner Perera and Nuwan Kulasekara, before Silva and Mubarak forged a 109-run partnership that arrested the slide. Sachithra Serasinghe joined Silva in the middle after Chanaka Welegedara had dismissed Mubarak in the 28th over, and the pair added a further 63 before Serasinghe fell for 38. Dilhara Lokuhettige provided the late-innings impetus, hitting two fours and a six in his 29-ball 35, that took his side beyond 250 after Kulasekara had Silva caught behind, one run short of a century, in the 48th over. Kulasekara collected the best figures of the bowlers again, taking 3 for 45 from his 10.Seam bowlers Dilhara Lokuhettige and Isuru Udana combined to take five top order wickets in Rest of Sri Lanka’s chase, but Tharanga eventually found a resolute partner in Chamara Kapugedara, and the pair put on 95 after their side had been reduced to 80 for 4. Tharanga’s hundred featured 12 fours and one six, but he was dismissed soon after reaching it. That wicket, and Kapugedara’s soon after, left Rest of Sri Lanka at 188 for 6 in the 41st over, with 61 runs still required, but Perera and Herath, surged towards the target, after coming together in the 44th over, and hit 54 runs in six overs to secure the win. Lokuhettige took 3 for 38 from his 10 overs.Rest of Sri Lanka play Sri Lanka A in the next match on Friday.

On the eve of the Indian team’s departure to England for the Champions Trophy – their first assignment after a controversial IPL – MS Dhoni was barred by the BCCI-appointed media manager, RN Baba, from answering any question related to the alleged corruption issues in the league.Each time a question about the controversy was put forth during the 14-minute interaction, Baba intervened. It appeared as though Baba, who is from the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, was under strict instructions to not let the captain respond to any query that was remotely concerned with the controversy.Before the start of the press conference, Baba had announced that the interaction was “strictly pertaining to Champions Trophy and no other questions will be answered”. But considering the number of arrests that have been made in the last couple of weeks, including those of four first-class cricketers, the questions had to be asked.Four times Dhoni was asked to share his views on the alleged corruption issue. ‘What do you have to say about spot-fixing? Has there been an impact on players going into the Champions Trophy?’ ‘As the leader of the Indian cricket fraternity, why isn’t that we’ve not heard from you so far?’ ‘Can you guarantee Indian cricket fans that during the Champions Trophy, there will be no mischief on the field?’ ‘Do you know Vindoo Dara Singh personally?’Baba waited for each question to be completed before fending it off by saying, “next question, please.” Almost on every occasion, Dhoni’s face turned blank. Only once did he react with his trademark grin.This was in stark contrast to a usual Dhoni press conference that often ends up as a light-hearted interaction. But considering that Indian cricket is going through one of its most tumultuous phases that’s resulted in arrests of players, bookies, film actors and the BCCI president’s son-in-law, everyone who had congregated at a five-star hotel next to Mumbai’s international airport knew this was not going to be the usual freewheeling chat.Dhoni had evaded questions during the last week of the IPL at least three times, even skipping what used be a mandatory pre-match press conference for captains on the eve of the final. However, with the Indian team set to depart for England for participating in the last edition of the Champions Trophy, he had to face the media on Tuesday evening.Finally, a seasoned journalist diplomatically asked Dhoni whether the team would enter the Champions Trophy with an extra sense of responsibility – the last question of the interaction.”As cricketers, we always have that extra sense of responsibility with us,” Dhoni said. “It is our job to bring people into the arena and to encourage the youngsters who aspire to take up (cricket) as a livelihood and as professional cricketers. There is a responsibility on us and hopefully we can fulfill it to our potential.”

كشفت تقارير صحفية تركية، أن نادي بشكتاش، تلقى عرضًا جديدًا لضم مهاجمه الدولي الكونغولي جاكسون موليكا، خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية المقبلة.

وارتبط اسم موليكا في الميركاتو الشتوي الماضي بإمكانية الانضمام إلى الأهلي، ولكن نادي بشكتاش رفض التفريط في المهاجم الإفريقي نظرًا لاحتياجه لخدماته حتى نهاية الموسم.

عرض الأهلي في يناير الحصول على موليكا مقابل 2.5 مليون دولار، لكن بشكتاش كان يريد الحصول على 4 أو 5 ملايين يورو بعد تعاقده مع اللاعب بداية الموسم من ستاندرد دو لييج مقابل 3 ملايين و350 ألف يورو.

صحيفة “فاناتيك” التركية، أكدت أن الأهلي قدم عرضًا جديدًا بقيمة 4 ملايين يورو لجاكسون موليكا، ولكن إدارة نادي بشكتاش رفضت العرض وطلبت 6 ملايين يورو.

بينما صحيفة “SportsDigitale” التركية، أكدت أن الريان القطري دخل ضمن الصراع على ضم جاكسون موليكا، وعرض 3.5 مليون يورو للتعاقد مع اللاعب، وفي مفاوضات مستمرة حتى الآن مع النادي التركي.

بالإضافة إلى ذلك، أكدت صحيفة “العين” التركية، أن هناك اهتمامًا كبيرًا أيضًا من نادي لوهافر الفرنسي، لضم اللاعب خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية.

التقارير التركية أعادت فتح ملف موليكا والأهلي، بعدما كان قد انتهى في يناير الماضي، وحتى الآن لا يزال بطل إفريقيا يسعى للاستفادة من خدمات صاحب الـ23 عامًا.

موليكا لديه عقد مع بشكتاش حتى 2027، وكان قد شارك في الموسم الماضي خلال 32 مباراة وسجل 6 أهداف وصنع هدفًا.

Shane Watson has likened his new opening partnership with Chris Rogers to the union with Simon Katich that represented the most productive phase of his career

Daniel Brettig at New Road02-Jul-2013Only one innings into his Ashes opening partnership with Chris Rogers, Shane Watson has likened it to the union with Simon Katich that represented the most productive phase of his career. Punishing in power and unimpeachably correct in technique, Watson felt so assured in his strokeplay with Rogers at the other end that he coshed a century before lunch against Worcestershire, ultimately finishing with 109.Watson also said that Rogers had proved a valuable ally in the middle, offering advice on English climes and also gee-ups whenever he felt the allrounder might have been flagging in concentration. Having never batted with Rogers before, it was not difficult to imagine Watson wondering why it had taken so long. Whatever the reasons, both can now make up for lost time in the Investec Ashes.”It’s great to be able to bat with Chris, it was my first experience of batting with him and we had a good start.” Watson said. “He’s certainly a very experienced and knowledgable cricketer and to be able to bat with him he certainly kept me going and just through how he’s able to sum up conditions and continue to provide his knowledge while we’re out batting.”I thought he gave me a few really good pointers out there, especially early on, with him understanding the English conditions even better than I do. My combination with Simon Katich in the past was maybe along similar sorts of lines so it was really nice to be able to get a good partnership going the first time we got a chance to bat together.”Batting alongside Katich in 15 Tests from mid-2009 to late 2010, Watson compiled his two Test centuries and a host of other sizeable scores, before injury and the start of Michael Clarke’s captaincy conspired to bring an end to Katich’s international career. Watson opened with Phillip Hughes before shifting down the order, but coveted the position now returned to him by the new coach, Darren Lehmann.”It brings out the best in my personality … it really does get me up and going,” Watson said. “Every time I go out to open the batting I know I’m going out to face a brand new ball and it’s always going to be doing something whether it’s swing or seam. The bowlers are also at their freshest as well. It certainly gets my blood going and gets my mind switched on immediately as well.”That switching on appeared to happen the moment he walked out to bat first at Taunton last week, a swift 90 followed up by an even more brazen display at New Road. While the preceding six months had been largely barren for Watson as a first-class player, he said the period had helped him develop a few elements of his batting and may now be reaping the benefits.”I felt like over the past six months, even though in Test cricket especially I haven’t been able to score the runs that I’ve wanted, the things I’ve been working on with my batting have been coming together,” he said. “I just hadn’t been able to put them into practice.”I definitely feel like in my game I’ve been able to iron out a few of the issues I’ve had over the previous year or so. You never know, it’s not going to guarantee me success, that’s for sure, but I feel batting-wise I’m in a really good place.”

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Principal jogador do elenco do São Paulo, Hernanes protagonizou um momento profético em sua conta no Instagram. Após o fim do treino desta manhã, no CT da Barra Funda, o meio-campista fez uma analogia entre quatro coisas distintas.

– Existem quatro coisas na vida que só servem quando se abrem: um livro, um guarda-chuva, a mente e a passada. Começamos a abrir a passada por aqui, porque quando a gente acha que está fazendo a coisa certa, mas coisas podem dar certo. Mas quando estamos fazendo a coisa certa, ela tem que dar certo. E vai dar certo. Vamos sorrir – profetizou o craque do Tricolor.

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O Profeta está recuperado de uma tendinite na perna direita e está fazendo alguns trabalhos específicos para recuperar sua melhor forma física. O camisa 15 treinou com o elenco na última quarta e também nesta quinta e deve ir a campo no domingo, quando o São Paulo mede forças com o Bragantino, pela 9ª rodada do Campeonato Paulista.

Em crise, o Tricolor precisa voltar a vencer para afastar a pressão que ronda o CT da Barra Funda. O time foi eliminado de forma precoce da Copa Libertadores e está fora da zona de classificação para o mata-mata do estadual. Hernanes, a principal contratação para a temporada, é uma das esperanças da torcida de dias melhores.

Joe Root will open the batting alongside Alastair Cook during England’s Ashes warm-up against Essex

George Dobell24-Jun-2013

England have given the clearest indication yet that Joe Root, rather than Nick Compton, will open the batting with Alastair Cook during the Ashes. Root will move up the order for the warm-up match against Essex beginning on Sunday, with Compton omitted from the squad and Geoff Miller, the national selector, describing Root as “currently the best opening partner” for Cook.Compton has paid the price for a disappointing series against New Zealand in May. He looked devoid of confidence in scoring 39 runs in four innings while, in the second Test at Headingley, Root and Jonny Bairstow batted with admirable freedom in posting a partnership of 124 for the fifth wicket.Root has continued to impress in almost every scenario with which he has been confronted. He has shown a welcome adaptability in limited-overs and Test cricket and, while it might be considered something of a risk to promote him to the top of the order for the first time in an Ashes Test, he has played most of his county cricket as an opening batsman at Yorkshire. The England management have recognised his calm temperament and skill and see him as a big part of the team’s future in all formats.”We believe Joe Root is currently the best opening partner for Alastair Cook and he will open the batting against Essex,” Miller said. “Joe has performed well for Yorkshire at the top of the order earlier this season and during his international career so far has proven to be very adaptable in all three formats and relished the challenge of international cricket.”The ECB have announced a 14-man squad to play Essex, including Graeme Swann, who suffered a calf problem during the ICC Champions Trophy, and Kevin Pietersen for what will be only his second first-class appearance since England’s tour of New Zealand in March. Boyd Rankin, the former Ireland fast bowler, has also been called up ahead of Chris Tremlett, after being added to both of England’s limited-overs squads in the last month.Compton might consider himself unfortunate to miss out. It is only four Tests since he was celebrating back-to-back centuries in the first two Tests in New Zealand in March while he responded to the challenge ‘go back to county cricket and score some runs’ by making 166 in his first innings back in Championship cricket against a strong Durham attack. The next highest score in the innings was 42.He remains available for Somerset’s tourist game against Australia from Wednesday – his 30th birthday – but it is now highly unlikely that he will feature in the first Investec Ashes Test which starts on July 10. England will use the Essex game not just for match practice, but to discuss plans and merge as a team. Compton’s omission is a clear indication that the selectors have decided to move on. While continuity of selection has been a feature of England’s success in recent years, the England management can still be ruthless when they deem it necessary.The emergence of Bairstow is just as relevant to Compton’s demotion as Root’s elevation. Bairstow has been on the fringes of the side for some time and has impressed in his limited opportunities. He scored 149 in the final Test against South Africa in 2012 (95 in the first innings and 54 in the second) as well the impressive innings of 64 against New Zealand in Leeds. While Compton is admired for his fortitude and determination, Bairstow is seen as having the greater potential and the wider range of strokes with which to accelerate and hurt opposition bowling attacks. Aged 23, he also has greater scope for the future.”This match is a vital part of our preparations for the Investec Ashes after a period of limited overs cricket for a large number of the squad,” Miller said. “We have a very exciting two months of Test cricket coming up and it is important that we start well at Chelmsford next week. Kevin Pietersen has had no complications following his recent return to cricket after a knee injury which is pleasing and Graeme Swann is recovering well from a calf injury.”An England spokesman confirmed that the match against Essex will be a first-class encounter and so feature just 11 players on each team. The spokesman also confirmed that there are no plans to boost the Essex side with reinforcements. Essex, who currently occupy a mid-table position in Division Two of the County Championship, were recently bowled out for just 20 by Lancashire.England squad: Alastair Cook (capt), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, Graham Onions, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Boyd Rankin, Joe Root, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott

The appeal into the sanctions imposed upon Danish Kaneria and Mervyn Westfield will be held in London on Tuesday.Kaneria was banned for life by an ECB disciplinary panel in June 2012 after he was found guilty of corruption. Kaneria subsequently lost his appeal against the decision in April of this year. The current appeal is to contest the length of the ban and the costs of £100,000 that he is required to pay. Kaneria will not be present but will be represented by lawyers.Westfield was jailed for four months in February 2012 after pleading guilty to a charge of accepting or obtaining corrupt payments. He admitted agreeing to concede a set number of runs from an over in a 2009 Pro40 match for Essex against Durham and named Kaneria, who is Pakistan’s most successful spinner in Tests, as the facilitator. Kaneria has continued to dispute his involvement in the episode.As well as serving time in prison, Westfield was given a five-year suspension from the game, although he can play club cricket after three. He has, however, complained about his lack of support and initially refused to appear as a witness for the ECB at Kaneria’s appeal.Westfield’s absence could have undermined the ECB’s case – with Kaneria’s legal team threatening to pursue damages – and he was eventually forced to comply after a high-court order. It is believed Westfield is requesting some leniency with a view to returning to club cricket early and arguing that his decision to plead guilty in the original court case should be taken into account.Because of an agreement between boards affiliated to the ICC, the ECB ban applied to Kaneria is effective throughout world cricket.

Chris Tremlett, Monty Panesar and Ben Stokes joined up with England’s squad for practice at Lord’s ahead of the second Test

George Dobell16-Jul-2013

If Steven Finn required any reminder that his place in the England side was in jeopardy, he received it with the sight of Chris Tremlett joining the England squad for training at Lord’s on Tuesday.While Tremlett has not been called into the England squad, his appearance did underline his continuing interest to the selectors and was another step towards a potential return. Tremlett last played for England in the UAE in January 2012 but was forced home from that tour through injury. Since then he has twice undergone surgery and, after a modest start to the season with Surrey, has just started to bowl at something approaching his best form.Finn endured a chastening final day of the Trent Bridge Test. Trusted to bowl only 10 overs in Australia’s second innings – that is three fewer than James Anderson bowled in one spell on the final day – Finn was hit out of the attack in two overs on Sunday and missed a tricky, but potentially crucial, chance in the field.Monty Panesar, the Sussex left-arm spinner, and Ben Stokes, the Durham allrounder, also trained with the England squad on Tuesday, with Tremlett bowling Jonathan Trott in the nets. The nephew of Bermuda’s Dwayne Leverock, Kamau, who is currently playing with Horsham, was also involved.It might be wrong to read too much into the appearance of any of the three players. None of them are currently required by their county sides while others jostling for England places, the likes of Warwickshire’s Boyd Rankin and Kent’s James Tredwell, are currently involved in games. It was also an optional net, with only Finn, of the England bowlers utilised at Trent Bridge, opting to bowl.