New Zealand are determined to sort out the loss of wickets in bunches that have marred the side’s one-day performances this year

Lynn McConnell13-Feb-2002
SkipperFleming
Photo Reuters
New Zealand are determined to sort out the loss of wickets in bunches that have marred the side’s one-day performances this year.Speaking after the four-wicket win in the National Bank Series opener against England, New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said: “We’ve been losing too many wickets through the middle but we are down the track to rectifying it, certainly talking wise and identifying it wise, action wise is the next thing, and we’ve got four more games to do it.”The consequences of not addressing the problem was the loss of more games than were won. New Zealand had survived in this game, but the trend was there and they had got away with it this time.Rectifying it involved getting a start in an innings and then building partnerships.”Partnerships are crucial. In successful sides most games that are won will have successful partnerships, that’s what we need,” he said.Fleming admitted to wondering if the England collapse was going to be mirrored in New Zealand’s batting when Darren Gough picked up four wickets in two overs.Any team getting on a roll like that could be dangerous and hovering in the background was the fact he had two inexperienced players still to bat.But Andre Adams was encouraged to go out and hit the ball hard, and it had paid off.”We had two courses of action, one was to try and limp through, and the other was to be positive.”Adams was “a free spirit” and was encouraged to play accordingly.There was sometimes a high risk in what he did but his hand-eye co-ordination was so good that New Zealand wanted to make use of his ability to change the game quite quickly.

MatériaMais Notícias

Vasco e Fluminense fizeram, neste domingo, o primeiro clássico do Campeonato Carioca deste ano. Logo na primeira rodada, o Tricolor atropelou o Cruz-Maltino no Estádio Nilton Santos e venceu por 3 a 0. Henrique Dourado e os equatorianos Orejuela e Sornoza foram os destaques. Pelo Vasco, Guilherme Costa se salvou, enquanto Julio dos Santos, Henrique, Eder Luis e Escudero foram os piores. Confira as notas abaixo.

VASCO
5,5
Martin Silva
Conseguiu fazer defesas importantes para evitar uma derrota ainda maior. Não teve culpa nos gols sofridos.

4,0
Madson
Surpresa na titularidade, não impôs o ritmo necessário para a posição e ainda errou em algumas tentativas de passe.

4,0
Rodrigo
Errou no posicionamento nos gols. Não conseguiu sair bem com a bola nas investidas ofensivas da equipe.

5,0
Luan
Foi um pouco melhor em relação ao seu companheiro de posição. Entretanto, falhou nas saídas com velocidade.

3,5
Henrique
Não apresentou segurança nas descidas pela esquerda e ainda não conseguiu segurar os adversários quando iam pelo seu lado.

2,0
Julio dos Santos
Parecia que nem entrou em campo. Pecou muito na marcação e não fez bem a ligação da defesa para o ataque.

4,5
Andrezinho
Em uma semana polêmica na vida pessoal, até pensou um pouco no meio de campo. Mas sem objetividade.

4,0
Eder Luis
Não foi bem na finalização, um dos pontos que esperava-se seu destaque. Ainda mostrou lentidão ao se posicionar.

4,0
Escudero
O meia argentino não foi bem ao carregar a responsabilidade de ajudar a criação. Bem substituído no intervalo.

5,0
Nenê
Apresentou irritação ao ver as tentativas frustradas no setor ofensivo da equipe. Não mostrou brilho na criação dos lances.

5,0
Thalles
Até foi disposto na busca pelas jogadas para levar perigo ao time adversário, mas falhava no momento de mandar para o gol.

6,0
Guilherme Costa
O melhor do jogo. Ao entrar, melhorou o meio de campo e fez a equipe chegar um pouco com perigo no gol adversário.

5,0
Éderson
Entrou para melhorar os lances de finalização, mas sem sucesso. Precisa treinar mais este fundamento.

4,5
Técnico: Cristovão Borges
O treinador ainda não tem todo o elenco à disposição – o que minimiza sua “culpa” na derrota. Porém, pecou nas substituições.

FLUMINENSE
7,0
DIEGO CAVALIERI
Mostrou certa insegurança nas bolas aéreas e rebatidas, mas apareceu bem, com ótimas defesas, nos melhores momentos do Vasco.

6,5
LUCAS
Foi bastante acionado no ataque, especilamente no primeiro tempo. No entanto, seus cruzamentos foram todos cortados pela defesa rival.

7,0
RENATO CHAVES
Mesmo que tenha apelado para as faltas em alguns lances, levou vantagem sobre os atacantes adversários.

7,5
HENRIQUE
Atuação segura do capitão do Fluminense, que foi superior demais na bola aérea. Thalles não encontrou espaço.

6,5
LÉO
Na linha de defesa do Fluminense, foi de longe o mais exigido, com Madson e Eder Luís atacando por ali. Discreto demais no ataque.

8,0
OREJUELA
Qualidade no passe e movimentação impressionante nos 90 minutos. Foi posicionado por Abel a frente dos zagueiros e foi bem demais.

7,0
DOUGLAS
Atuou como um meia, com liberdade para chegar à área do Vasco. Não foi por falta de tentativa, mas não encaixou os lances. Atuação regular.

8,0
SORNOZA
Mostrou qualidade, mas ainda precisa de mais entrosamento. No mais brilhante de seus lances, fez grande jogada e deu o passe para Dourado.

7,0
SCARPA
Voltou da Seleção e mostrou que pode funcionar muito bem ao lado de Sornoza. Ontem, pecou no passe final e desperdiçou algumas chances.

7,5
WELLINGTON
Mostrou oportunismo ao abrir o placar e ajudou demais na marcação. Teve chance de matar o jogo na etapa final, mas pecou na finalização.

8,5
HENRIQUE DOURADO
Aposta de Abel Braga, fez seu melhor jogo no clube. Participou do primeiro gol, fez o segundo e brigou demais com os zagueiros.

7,0
LUIZ FERNANDO
Fez sua estreia pelo Fluminense. Foi colocado por Abel Braga para proteger a área de Diego Cavalieri e cumpriu sua função.

6,5
RENATO
Entrou no lugar de Lucas na etapa final. Com o Vasco em cima, o lateral-direito fez seu papel e não comprometeu na marcação.

7,5
MARCOS JUNIOR
Entrou já nos minutos finais e selou a vitória. Após tabelar com Scarpa, teve tranquilidade para encobrir Martin Silva.

8,5
ABEL BRAGA
Preocupação antes do jogo, a dupla Douglas e Orejuela funcionou muito bem. A aposta em Dourado e as substituições também deram certo.

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Many Rangers fans have been left to laud a piece of news involving Alfredo Morelos.

The Colombia international has been called up for his country in a 28-man squad for the Copa America, and the Gers sent their congratulations to him via a quoted tweet.

Morelos only has six senior international caps to his name, and this will be his first ever Copa America having not made the squad in 2019 (Transfermarkt), something that will feel extra special to him.

There is no doubt that the striker fully deserves it, coming off the back of a title-winning season in Glasgow, scoring no fewer than 17 goals and making a further 13 assists in 44 games in total over all competitions (Transfermarkt).

Rangers fans on Morelos call-up

These members of the Ibrox faithful lauded the news as it was shared on Twitter, with one claiming that they were ‘buzzing’ while another even went as far as to call it ‘fantastic’:

“Yaaaaas!!! Does this not start next week?”

Credit: @MrGaryValentine

“So pleased for him”

Credit: @Beesh24240265

“Fantastic chuffed for him”

Credit: @Mcoobab

“You love to see it”

Credit: @LeeKane77

“Go on Alfie. Buzzing for him”

Credit: @jasonlamont72

“Class”

Credit: @DKeith0904

In other news, find out what SPFL development has left Gers livid here!

MatériaMais Notícias

O Botafogo joga sua vida na Libertadores na próxima quarta-feira, em Santiago, no Chile, contra o Colo-Colo. Qualquer empate garante a classificação alvinegra para a próxima etapa da competição. E os torcedores do Glorioso vivem a expectativa para o confronto. Por isso, o LANCE! resolveu listar sete motivos para acreditar na classificação dos comandados de Jair Ventura nesta quarta. Veja na galeria de fotos acima.

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New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond is to play for Warwickshire in August

Lynn McConnell02-Jul-2002New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond is to play for Warwickshire in August.Bond, who secured another five-wicket bag today, his second of the two-Test series against the West Indies and the second of his brief Test career, is to replace South African Shaun Pollock while he takes part in an international tri-series for his country.After a four-month lay-off Bond was keen to maintain the momentum he has gained since returning for the West Indies tour to bridge the gap of non-activity New Zealand faces before it plays in the ICC Champions Trophy tournament in Sri Lanka in September.His contract involves him playing three four-day matches in the County Championship and one one-day match in the Norwich Union League.In his six Test matches since making his debut against Australia in November last year, Bond has taken 26 wickets at 25.19.New Zealand Cricket operations manager John Reid said: “New Zealand Cricket has agreed to allow Shane the opportunity to play some cricket for Warwickshire because we believe it will provide him with excellent preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka in September.”The TelstraClear Black Caps first match in the ICC Champions Trophy is against Australia in Colombo on September 15.”This is a knock-out tournament. We must win that first match if we are to progress so we want Shane to be in the best possible condition for that match,” said Reid. “After a four month injury lay-off he needs to maintain the momentum he has developed during the current tour of the West Indies.Bond’s manager, Geoff Allott, supported New Zealand Cricket’s decision: “As the West Indies series has progressed Shane has started to find his rhythm again and, in terms of his preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy, he will benefit far more from match-play for Warwickshire than he would back in New Zealand where his preparation would be restricted to indoor net bowling.”Bond will return to New Zealand after the West Indies tour and the New Zealand Cricket medical team will be conducting a thorough assessment of his physical fitness, before confirming his availability for Warwickshire.”Shane’s re-introduction to cricket after his foot injury has been well managed and we want to ensure this continues,” said Reid.Under his contract with Warwickshire, Bond will have a managed workload where he will be restricted to bowling a maximum of 20 overs per day.

A major update has emerged on about Rangers target midfielder Billy Gilmour and it’s not great news for Steven Gerrard, who was keen to entice the Scottish star to Ibrox.

What’s the talk?

According to The Guardian, Rangers are set to miss out on a deal for Billy Gilmour as the Scotland international is closing in on a transfer to Norwich from Chelsea. Gilmour is poised to join the Canaries on a season-long loan deal, with a medical ready to take place after his period of isolation ends next week.

The BBC reported earlier this week that Rangers are interested in bringing Gilmour back to the club on loan. Although, their report did state that Gilmour would prefer to join a Premier League club over moving back to Scotland.

Rangers boss Steven Gerrard once lavished praise on the “fabulous” Gilmour after Rangers were linked with a move for him previously. He said:

“I think he’s pretty settled at Chelsea. Fabulous little player but there’s been no contact.”

Gerrard will be gutted

Steven Gerrard will be gutted by this news as it appears to rule out any chance Rangers have of signing Gilmour for the upcoming season.

With Norwich seemingly on the verge of wrapping up a swoop for Gilmour, Rangers may now need to look elsewhere for midfield recruits.

The Rangers boss is clearly a fan of the midfielder, given his comments on Gilmour. Gerrard labeled him as a fabulous player and this suggests that the former Liverpool man would have loved to have him at Ibrox next season, which is why he will be frustrated by Norwich seemingly winning the race for his signature.

However, it is difficult to blame Gilmour for wanting to play regular football at Premier League level, where Chelsea can gauge how good he is in the same division that they compete in, as it could give him a chance to show Thomas Tuchel that he belongs in the Blues’ first-team in the future.

The £43k-per-week dynamo has caught the eye recently with Man of the Match awards for Chelsea and Scotland, with the midfielder winning the award on his Premier League, FA Cup and European Championships debuts.

This shows that he has the quality on the pitch to warrant the hype and it highlights why he would have been an excellent signing for Rangers.

Missing out on Gilmour will be a blow for Rangers and Gerrard will be disappointed that the club have been unable to snap him up ahead of Norwich.

AND in other news, Wilson must seal Rangers swoop for “flying” £80k-p/w dynamo after major admission…

Leicester City’s transfer plans have been dealt a big blow ahead of the upcoming window as Borussia Monchengladbach name their price for Jonas Hofmann.

What’s the story?

The German outfit’s sporting director Max Eberl has been discussing the much sought-after 28-year-old and revealed that a summer exit is on the cards, but only at €40m (£34.5m) or more.

“We live in a time when you can’t rule anything out,” Eberl told Bild am Sonntag (via bulinews.com).

“We certainly don’t want to sell Jonas. But if at some point a club is offering 40 million euros for Jonas, we can’t say we’re not interested.”

Rodgers will be gutted

Previous reports have claimed that Hofmann would be available for around £14m over the coming months, so to hear that his actual price tag is around £20m more than previously expected will surely leave Brendan Rodgers feeling gutted.

It’s believed that the former Liverpool and Celtic boss wants to strengthen out wide to add cover for Harvey Barnes ahead of next season. A serious knee injury cut the England international’s campaign short in 2020/21, and the lack of natural replacements saw Ricardo Pereira and Ayoze Perez playing out of position in the final weeks of the season.

However, with two years left to run on his contract, an abundance of potential suitors, and Gladbach in no desperate need to sell, it appears that Hofman will only be departing the Bundesliga side for a premium price.

The Germany international was one of the club’s standout performers in the 2020/21 campaign, bagging eight goals and providing an impressive 13 assists in all competitions, but it’s not the first time he’s caught the eye.

“He’s been one of our outstanding players, one of the winners of the season. He’s been playing brilliantly,” said former Gladbach coach Dieter Hecking back in 2019

Continental giants such as Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur are also credited with an interest in Hofmann, further reducing the Foxes’ chances of securing the 28-year-old.

If Rodgers wants his Leicester side to finally break into the Premier League’s top four next term, then it looks like he may have to do so without one of his main transfer targets.

In other news… Massive transfer revelation revealed over “magnificent” £18m gem, fans will be buzzing 

Manchester City fans want to sign Leeds United winger Raphinha after they were linked with a move for the Brazilian.

With the 2020/21 campaign now over, City will now be looking ahead to the next term as they look to build upon the success of this season. They won both the Premier League and the League Cup, but their defeat to Chelsea in the Champions League final means there is still room for improvement.

As such, this summer could be a busy one at the Etihad Stadium in terms of transfers and, according to Gianluigi Longari, City are interested in signing £22.5m-valued Raphinha (Transfermarkt).

Signed by Leeds from Rennes last year, he scored six goals and provided nine assists in 30 games in his debut Premier League term (Transfermarkt).

The news was shared on Twitter by @City_Xtra, and it attracted plenty of attention from the club’s supporters. They took to the social media platform to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about the Raphinha news below

“Get him I’m on my knees”

Credit: @Ph1lFodenFC

“Sign him!”

Credit: @mkbashir9

“he’s so so good”

Credit: @McfcNathan0

“Anything for Sterling to go”

Credit: @9320LEWIS

“Replace Jesus or Sterling with him”

Credit: @Blue_Llou

“We have to get anything that will convert KDB and Zinchenko’s passes.”

Credit: @uBalaclava_

In other news, Man City fans are livid at this transfer report.

To start the new season with a farewell to one of my trustiest team-mates is sad. Gus Fraser has been a great servant to Middlesex and England. I’ve grown up with him really – in the Middlesex dressing room – and we’ve both sworn and cursed at a few batters over the years! But life goes on – it’s a wonderful opportunity that’s opened up for him, and I wish him all the best in his new job as cricket correspondent of The Independent.It’s a good decision to give the captaincy to Andrew Strauss. He’s learned a lot with the Academy over the winter, and I’ve no doubt he’ll rise to the challenge. We’re a young side – but last season we did much better than many of the pundits expected, and in the end we could well have won the Division Two title if we hadn’t fallen away a bit at the end. It could well be a foundation for bigger things to come.The batting has potential, with the likes of Ben Hutton and Ed Joyce, and Sven Koenig, the South African left-hander, looks like a real acquisition. He’s compact, composed, plays straight and knows his game. And Stephen Nikitaras’ left-arm seam bowling should give our attack some extra bite. Later in the season we’ll be boosted by the Pakistani all-rounder Abdul Razzaq. He’s a tremendous signing, especially for one-day cricket where he bats aggressively and bowls useful medium pace. Before he arrives the tall Queenslander, Ashley Noffke, is certain to play a leading role.In fact, it`s such a young side that I feel I’m getting old! I’m very responsible now, giving bowling talks to the rest of the team! But I’m still enjoying it, and I’ve still got goals to aim at, mainly Middlesex’s promotion to Division One of the Frizzell County Championship.Overall, the competition looks very open. For the Division One title I like the look of Sussex – they’ve got a strong seam attack, and after winning the Second Division title last year, who’s to say that they can’t go all the way? Last season, all three promoted teams went straight back down again, and I don’t think that will happen to Sussex. I’d prefer a slight change to the format – although I’m in favour of promotion and relegation, I think three up, three down is harsh on the third team that goes down. Surrey and Yorkshire have both got to be fair bets for the main prize as well – Surrey with their strength in depth, and Yorkshire, holders of course, with their seam bowling.As for us, we’re make the trip north to Chester-le-Street for the Friday opener – let’s hope it doesn’t snow!

More punishment from Jimmy Maher and Martin Love was followed by a long-awaited fightback as New South Wales finally produced some answers for Queensland in an otherwise one-sided Pura Cup match between the teams here in Sydney today.

Claire Killeen02-Mar-2002More punishment from Jimmy Maher and Martin Love was followed by a long-awaited fightback as New South Wales finally produced some answers for Queensland in an otherwise one-sided Pura Cup match between the teams here in Sydney today.By stumps on the second day, a good start to the Blues’ first innings had seen the home team reach a mark of 0/95 in reply to Queensland’s mammoth 4/528.New South Wales has already tried five different opening batting combinations this season. The sixth brought it more joy:Matthew Phelps (48*) and Corey Richards (42*) playing with conviction as they launched the reply. Phelps benefited fromdropped catches by Stuart Law and Brendan Nash, and Richards survived a confident lbw appeal from the bowling of AshleyNoffke (0/20), but the duo were otherwise untroubled as the Blues’ innings began.Phelps’ score was 15 when Law, at short mid on, was slow to react and was forced to unsuccessfully grasp one-handed at a ballthat had ballooned toward mid wicket at gentle pace off inside edge and pad to a Joe Dawes (0/13) delivery.Nash’s chance at short leg – with Phelps at 46 – was lower to the ground and significantly more difficult.And another half-chance went begging when a frustrated Noffke failed to convince umpire Simon Taufel of the merits of an lbwappeal against Richards with the right hander’s score at 32.It still remained Queensland’s day, however.Though Maher (198) and Love (184) each fell despairingly short of double centuries before Law declared the visitors’ inningsclosed in the shadows of tea, the opening two sessions again belonged to the Bulls. The pair’s methodical 294-run partnershipwas an all-time Queensland record for the second wicket against New South Wales and helped ease the Bulls into a position fromwhich outright defeat seems an impossibility.Resuming at the overnight score of 1/325 and with their own partnership resting at 191, each of the two players again dominatedthe NSW bowlers as play re-commenced. They availed themselves of almost every opportunity to score and the Blues werebarely given so much as a whiff of a chance until a lapse in concentration finally saw Maher – just two runs short of his seconddouble-century of the season – cut off the top edge to a juggling Phelps in the gully.Love fell in the following session – and also to paceman Stuart Clark (3/106) – when wicketkeeper Brad Haddin divedspectacularly to his right to make a one-handed interception of an outside edged off drive.But, by then, both had made an indelible impression in plying their trade on a placid pitch. They must each remain a genuinechance of being included in the soon-to-be-named Australian one-day squad to tour South Africa and Zimbabwe.