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Self-belief and a productive maiden stint with Delhi this domestic season have paved the way for the 34-year-old allrounder to return to the India women squad after nearly six years

Annesha Ghosh20-Feb-2018Rumeli Dhar is marking her run-up for her second spell.Her opening spell of gentle medium-pace has been anything but gentle. Nine of her 12 deliveries so far haven’t been scored off. The two batsmen she dismissed couldn’t score any either. Her 2 for 3 has left Maharashtra five down inside eight overs, and the national selectors buzzing.Rumeli is running in to begin her second spell. She has two more overs left at the Sachin Tendulkar Gymakhana, on the eve of Republic Day.About this time two days ago, the striker, Anuja Patil, had been named in India’s T20 squad for the South Africa tour. She had not played an international in 14 months; Rumeli had last represented India in 2012.Anuja is one run better off than the two batsmen who have fallen to Rumeli. She has warded off a similar fate by not offering a shot for the first two outswingers outside off. The third, on off stump, draws a front-foot defence. There seems little that Anuja is doing wrong, except her bat comes down late on this incoming ball.Rumeli has begun her second spell.She flattens Anuja’s middle stump and has Jaya Sharma, the Delhi selector, on her feet. As the Delhi fielders sprint towards Rumeli, throwing high-fives in the air, Jaya, a team-mate of Rumeli in 43 of her 97 international appearances, hollers.”” (what wonders you’re achieving, Rumi)Maharashtra are six down for 23, and Rumeli is sauntering towards the long-on boundary. Even before she puts her cap on, she’s greeted with banter from one of the national selectors: “Good Lord, this girl is going to cause us some headache soon!”Rumeli fires a reply:”Not if you believe I’ve got what it takes to make it back.”

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You may be tempted to ask Rumeli what happens to a destiny unfulfilled.She’ll probably acknowledge your acknowledgement first. After all, not many may have heard of Rumeli, let alone remember her as someone considered – by team-mates, contemporaries and opponents alike – as one of India’s best allrounders. Once the surprise at your unexpected recognition of her has been dealt with, Rumeli may consider venturing into an answer.”Explode.”For a 34-year-old India women cricketer dwelling far from media interest or public knowledge for the past six years, the response may not come across as wholly appropriate. However, it won’t be totally out of sync with what Rumeli has done in the domestic circuit this season: explode, onto the pads of Smriti Mandhana, through the prolific scoring of Jemimah Rodrigues, across the near two-season unbeaten T20 streak of Mithali Raj’s domestic side, Railways, and into the national squad after a near-six-year hiatus.Annesha Ghosh”I believe I still have a lot left in me to give to cricket, to my country,” Rumeli told ESPNcricinfo of her aspirations of a national comeback following the T20 against Maharashtra last month. “The kind of person I am, I don’t think I’m giving up until I play and perform for India again. I don’t know if it’ll happen here [in India, during the upcoming home season] or elsewhere, but I will keep at it.”Rumeli flying to South Africa, with a couple of days’ notice from the BCCI, as a replacement for the injured Jhulan Goswami, has a ring of incredulity about it. The last time Rumeli played a T20I, she accomplished the rare feat of opening both the batting and the bowling for India, the latter with Goswami, also a former Air India and Bengal team-mate. Rumeli and Goswami are the only two India captains from the state.

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A resident of Delhi for the past 15 years, Rumeli, employed with the Northern Railways since 2003, hasn’t staggered her way back to the consciousness of the selectors. Nor has she taken giant leaps towards it. As her father Anup emphasises, Rumeli has tiptoed her way back into reckoning with self-belief and consistency in domestic cricket.”In the past six years, I’ve never seen her wallow in self-pity,” Anup says. “Never. She’s not that type. In fact, you won’t find many a girl as determined as Rumeli. (Gosh, she’s one heck of an obstinate girl). Even when she has had minor [shoulder and knee] injuries along the way, she worked diligently with her physio and overcame all of that. I think it is her stubbornness that’s kept her going all these years. Oh, and the love of the game, too.”Anup narrates how Rumeli had cultivated the habit of giving away her equipment to talented young boys and girls around Delhi’s Kishanganj area, where the Dhars live, and those across other cities. “Recently, when she was away [travelling for inter-state tournaments], she rang up and ordered me to courier a few bats to some underprivileged girls in Odisha she believes has the potential to play higher-level cricket.” (You’ve got to get it couriered right away), she would mandate over the phone. And then, some other day, it would be some boy in Barrackpore [in Kolkata] or someone in Paharganj [in Delhi], or Jaipur. Stubbornness and passion for cricket, and cricket alone. That is all of Rumeli you’ll ever know.”Rumeli’s mother Gauri emphasises the importance of her daughter’s decision to play for Delhi for the first time this season, having previously spent the past four years – two each – with Rajasthan and Assam. While Anup had shifted base to Delhi in 2009, the mother and daughter have been constant companions to each other since they moved home in 2003.”Call it God’s grace or Rumeli’s destiny… She’s lived here almost half her life, and that her performance, Delhi’s [title] win and her recall has coincided with one another is something we, as parents, can only be grateful for,” Gauri says.In her maiden stint with Delhi, Rumeli scored 335 runs, took 16 wickets and eight catches across the two limited-overs senior domestic tournaments this season. It was particularly during Delhi’s maiden T20-title-winning campaign that her all-round contributions shone through. The pick of them was her 4 for 14 against Maharashtra, which included 15 dots.

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Annesha GhoshFor all the conservativeness the India women’s selection committee is known for, Rumeli’s recall, ironically, comes at a time when it has shown clear intent towards blooding youngsters. The four debuts handed in the T20I series-opener against South Africa aside, there is one precedent that could have served as a template of sorts for the selectors to back Rumeli.Remember how Punam Raut was excluded from the team for the limited-overs series against West Indies and the Women’s World Cup Qualifier even as India tried out several youngsters in the top order during the Qualifiers? Remember how Raut thrust her way back into contention, only three months before the World Cup, and ended up finding herself in the heady heights of the World Cup final? If the worth of the Raut punt is anything to go by, Rumeli’s recall is an even bolder, even more open-minded move to back an old hand.Even beyond that, as Anju Jain, Rumeli’s former India team-mate and Assam coach, believes, the allrounder’s return “could be seen as a glimmer of hope”, a validation for the uncapped players and internationals waiting in the wings.”You have to attribute it to her perseverance and will power,” Anju, who was among the first to to receive a call from Rumeli about her recall, says. “When Rumi decided to play for Assam, I remember asking her, ?” (Are you sure you want to play here?) She said yes, but an even firmer reply followed: ‘You know what my ultimate goal is, right? Play for India again, play another World Cup.”The question of whether Rumeli’s second coming materialises in South Africa – where she last played in 2005, when India made it to a World Cup final for the first time – or during the forthcoming home series against Australia – the opposition she faced when she last played for India – or England – against whom she struck the highest score by an India debutant in a T20I to give the side its first ever win in the format – will soon have its answer. But no matter what the opposition is, the buzz around Rumeli is unlikely to fizzle out soon.

Cheteshwar Pujara resists with 49* but youthful team are picked apart by Division leaders

ECB Reporters Network28-Jul-2022Nottinghamshire 240 and 301 (Hameed 94, James 56, Robinson 5-60) beat Sussex 143 (Paterson 5-43, Pattinson 5-56) and 142 (Pujara 49*, Paterson 3-14, Pattinson 3-47) by 256 runsNottinghamshire wrapped up a 256-run over Sussex with almost a day and a half to spare to consolidate their place at the top of Division Two in the LV=Insurance County Championship ahead of the September run-in.Bowled out for 301 in their second innings soon after the start of the third day, giving Sussex a target of 399 to pull off the least likely outcome, Nottinghamshire shot out their youthful opponents for 142 in 47.3 overs.Overseas fast bowlers Dane Paterson (three for 14) and James Pattinson (three for 47) each raised their individual hauls to eight wickets in the match.Without a number of players through injury and illness, Sussex realistically needed Indian Test star Cheteshwar Pujara to post a substantial score to give them any chance of taking the match into a fourth day. He finished unbeaten on 49 but no one could stay with him to build a partnership.To compound their woes, Sussex left Trent Bridge with no points, their three bowling bonus points from the first innings cancelled out by a three-point deduction for a slow over-rate. Nine wickets in the match for England’s Ollie Robinson on his return from a back injury and other issues therefore counted for nothing.With two of their remaining matches at home – against Leicestershire and Durham – and a visit to struggling Worcestershire in their other fixture, Nottinghamshire now look odds-on to seal promotion.Bowling with a new ball after Wednesday’s play ended with the first one exactly 80 overs old, Sussex at least needed only 25 deliveries with it to see off the Nottinghamshire tail.Brad Currie bowled Liam Patterson-White with one that kept a touch low before Robinson had a tentative Luke Fletcher leg before and dismissed Pattinson via a miscue to cover.Robinson finished with five for 60, enough to move him ahead of Henry Crocombe as Sussex’s leading wicket-taker on 17 at 15.64, despite this being only his third match of the Division Two campaign.It left Sussex with a mighty task by anyone’s standards, let alone a team with six players aged 21 or under.Tom Clark, almost run out without scoring, edged behind in Fletcher’s third over, but Ali Orr, who came into this match with almost 650 first-class runs for the season, made another good impression.For a while it looked as though he might be the one to help Pujara make Nottinghamshire work for their win until he ran into a snorter from Pattinson that he could only fend away from his head, the ball looping off his glove for short-leg Ben Slater to claim the catch.Fynn Hudson-Prentice – at 26 one of the senior Sussex batters – was at least with Pujara at lunch, but he departed a couple of overs later, nicking to the keeper as Paterson found some movement on a pitch still giving the bowlers something to work with.Oli Carter perished to a poor shot, caught behind down the leg side off Fletcher, before Pattinson saw off the two 18-year-olds in consecutive overs as James Coles reprised Carter’s mode of dismissal and Archie Lenham, who had stuck around stubbornly for a brave 31 in the first innings, perished to his third ball as the Australian quick zipped one through to send stumps flying in all directions.Robinson fell to a leading edge off the medium pace of Steven Mullaney, caught at mid-off, where the ever-popular Fletcher delighted both his team-mates and his fan club in the Radcliffe Road stand by throwing his not-inconsiderable frame to his right to take a diving catch.Sussex’s abject afternoon continued when Pujara changed his mind about scrambling a single to midwicket off the final ball of a Patterson-White over, leaving Ari Kavelas stranded as Lyndon James made a direct hit with his throw in, before Paterson wrapped up the win at 3.25pm as Currie followed Sean Hunt back to the pavilion as a second lbw in consecutive overs.

Manchester United are keen on signing a £58 million full back loved by Ruben Amorim this month, and a new report reveals the transfer could now pick up steam.

Man Utd transfer news

It was made clear before this transfer window opened that signing players this month may be a struggle for the Red Devils. However, that has not stopped the speculation, as United continue to be linked with players from England and abroad, with the possibility of cashing in on unwanted squad members aiding their chase for new faces.

Man Utd eye cheaper version of Gyokeres who's "very similar" for just £29m

The Red Devils have their eye on a player Ruben Amorim knows well.

1 ByBrett Worthington Jan 13, 2025

A story emerged last week that stated United and Juventus were in discussions over a possible swap deal involving Dusan Vlahovic and Joshua Zirkzee. The Premier League side are keen on signing the Serbia international, and the Turin giants want to sign Zirkzee and offer him a fresh start back in Italy.

A fresh development has since emerged, with it being reported that those talks are now at an advanced stage. Both sides are showing a willingness to complete the move, with the Serbian viewed as an upgrade for the Red Devils in attack.

Vlahovic is not the only forward on United’s radar, as a report from Spain has revealed that the Red Devils are interested in signing Conrad Harder from Sporting CP as a “plan B” to Viktor Gyokeres. Lisbon wants around £29 million to sell Harder, whose flexibility in attack makes him a real asset, and he is known to Amorim, as he was the one that brought him to Sporting in the summer.

Man Utd want to accelerate transfer talks to sign £54m ace

Signing a new striker is not the only addition Amorim wants, as a new left-back is also on the shopping list, and according to Caught Offside, Manchester United want to accelerate transfer talks for Nuno Mendes.

The 22-year-old, who has been described as “very exciting,” emerged on United’s radar in December, as he is a player that Amorim knows very well from his time at Sporting CP. United want to sign a new left wing-back, as injuries to Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia in recent times have left them short in that position, and it still remains an issue for the United boss now.

This report states that the Red Devils remain in talks over a deal to sign Mendes, but they face stiff competition from Real Madrid and arch-rivals Manchester City, who are also monitoring his situation.

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It is reported that United are the team that is most advanced in their interest, although they are yet to make a breakthrough in terms of agreeing to a transfer, as PSG hold out for €65 million, which is roughly £54 million.

Amorim sees Mendes as the ideal signing for the left wing-back role, and the fact that the defender has refused to sign a new contract with PSG could help the Red Devils secure a transfer. The Portuguese’s contract is valid until 2026, so if United make an offer near the £54 million PSG want, then surely a deal can be made this month, but it will be tight for the Premier League outfit and may depend on shifting current players first.

With the 14-game regular season completed among the 18 counties, here is a look back at some of the highlights

Andrew McGlashan04-Jul-2022Tim David (Lancashire)
David produced numerous displays of his now well-known middle-order prowess, being particularly impressive in the first half of the group stage. He made 60 off just 25 balls to transform a stuttering innings against Worcestershire then unfurled 66 off 32 balls, including six sixes, in a high-scoring Roses encounter against Yorkshire which his team clung on to win. With Lancashire in the knockouts he has more chance to make a decisive impression amid the ongoing debate about how he fits into the Australia T20I side ahead of the World Cup.Nathan Ellis (Hampshire)
The wickets don’t stand out for Ellis, but his economy rate does. Conceding just 7.01 runs per over made him the most economical frontline quick bowler during the group stage. Missed a few matches with a groin niggle that probably prevented him being called into the injury-hit Australia squad in Sri Lanka.Chris Green (Middlesex)
A handy all-round tournament for Green, after he ended up replacing Mujeeb Ur Rahman throughout, in another Middlesex T20 season that fell flat. Had a good outing against Kent at Lord’s where he took 2 for 18 off his four overs in one of the team’s four victories and made two 40+ scores although both came in defeats.Hayden Kerr (Derbyshire)
Another part of Kerr’s rapid development over recent months after signing an all-formats deal with Derbyshire to replace Suranga Lakmal. Although the economy was on the high side, he chipped in with wickets throughout to the extent he ended the group stage as the team’s third-highest wicket-taker. Derbyshire have reached the quarter-finals so his tournament isn’t over yet.Chris Lynn (Northamptonshire)

The star performer among the Australia contingent, Lynn let his bat do the talking after his departure from Brisbane Heat and speculation as to whether he will be picked up by another BBL club. On all bar one occasion that he reached double figures he went on to score at least a fifty. That included a 106 off 66 balls against Leicestershire and 113 off 57 deliveries against Worcestershire but his pyrotechnics were not enough for Northants to progress.Ben McDermott is among those who will be part of the quarter-finals•Getty ImagesBen McDermott (Hampshire)
A middling group stage for McDermott but he may have come out from a run of five-single scores just in time for the quarter-finals after making 50 and 30 in his last three knocks. Enjoyed a solid run earlier in the tournament which included a ferocious 83 off 30 balls against Middlesex.Michael Neser (Glamorgan)
Reliability from Neser in a campaign where Glamorgan couldn’t find consistency. He claimed three three-wicket hauls, including a career-best 3 for 13 against Essex. He was also the team’s most economical bowler.T20 Blast quarter-finals

July 6: Surrey vs Yorkshire – The Oval

July 7: Birmingham vs Hampshire- Edgbaston

July 8: Lancashire vs Essex – Old Trafford

July 9: Somerset v Derbyshire – Taunton

Daniel Sams (Essex)
There were moments of impact for Sams, not least his astonishing 71 off just 24 balls against Sussex in a high-scoring game at Chelmsford. It was the first time since his unbeaten 98 against Melbourne Renegades in the last BBL season that he had reached 20. His bowling economy would sometimes blow out, but he took 2 for 22 off his four overs against Kent to set up a win, and his season-best of 3 for 20 came in the final group match after Essex had plundered an eye-watching 254 for 5 against Glamorgan. The sort of player who could win a knockout match.Peter Siddle (Somerset)
A useful contribution from Siddle as Somerset reached the knockouts which included an important performance against Gloucestershire to help secure victory. He also came within a delivery of pulling a game out of the fire when he almost denied Surrey with three wickets in his final over, but his last ball was sent to the boundary.AJ Tye (Durham)
Another good bag of T20 wickets for Tye and he finished the group stage tied fourth overall despite only playing 10 matches. Took an important 3 for 29 against Lancashire in what became low-scoring scrap (he was there at the end with the bat, too) then bagged 5 for 38 against Leicestershire but that came in a defeat.Other Australians who have appeared this seasonJason Behrendorff (Middlesex), Hilton Cartwright (Derbyshire), Dan Christian (Nottinghamshire), Aaron Hardie (Surrey), Matthew Kelly (Northamptonshire), Marnus Labuschagne (Glamorgan) James Pattinson (Nottinghamshire), Josh Phillippe (Sussex), Ashton Turner (Durham)

Newcastle and Tottenham are planning a pre-season friendly in South Korea following the success of their post-season clash in Australia last summer.

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Newcastle and Spurs will face off againSet to meet in South KoreaSpurs will also take on Arsenal in pre-seasonFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The two Premier League clubs met for a bizarre friendly in Melbourne just days after the 2023-24 season ended last summer and reports say the two powerhouses will meet again in the summer, this time in South Korea.

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Fans will undoubtedly flock to Seoul to get a glimpse of Spurs captain Heung-Min Son and a bumper 60,000 crowd is expected to fill the World Cup Stadium if the game does go ahead. The match also provides a huge financial opportunity for both clubs, with merchandise and other events sure to bring in cash for the Magpies as well.

WHAT THE FANS SAID

After the drama Down Under in 2024, fans have had a mixed reaction to the news that the two teams could meet again.

@Jlsmithyido pointed to a potential money-grabbing scheme, saying: "Always about the money."

@cfcnewton added: "Injuries players knackered don’t count when it comes to money."

@blower_keith added: "Greed ,concentrate on getting a team that can challenge and a manager that can motivate."

Newcastle fan @Bob_Helpful saw the funny side of the meeting, poking fun at Spurs, saying: "Shouldn’t we be trying to play elite opposition?"

And @DickShort14 questioned why the Magpies could not play a Saudi Pro League side, posting: "We should play a top Saudi team with a prize of a billion pounds for the winner."

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DID YOU KNOW?

Newcastle have only lost to Tottenham once in their last six meetings, winning both Premier League meetings this season as Eddie Howe's side chase Champions League football.

Wayne Rooney was sacked just 25 games into his reign at Plymouth, but the Manchester United is still considered to have been a “great appointment”.

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Appointed in the summer of 2024Left role before end of the yearPreviously flopped at BirminghamFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Ex-England captain Rooney agreed to a mutual parting of ways at Home Park late in 2024, with it becoming painfully clear that change in the dugout was required. He had overseen a forgettable slump to the foot of the Championship table.

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Said failings came on the back of an 83-day tenure at Birmingham, with NFL legend Tom Brady and the rest of the Blues’ board getting a big coaching call wrong at St Andrew’s. Rooney now sees his coaching reputation left in tatters, with a return to punditry being made while mulling over what to do next.

DID YOU KNOW?

Plymouth have stated that Rooney’s appointment was never intended to be a PR exercise, despite a documentary series being lined up at one stage, and maintain that he was the best man for the job after carrying out a wide-ranging search for their new boss.

GettyWHAT EFL PUNDIT SAID

EFL pundit Lee Hendrie can see why that decision was made, telling : “Plymouth’s CEO suggested that Wayne Rooney was the best candidate when he was appointed – does it surprise me? No, not really. I think, at the time, I felt that Wayne’s obviously wanted to continue in his managerial career, which he did under the Plymouth ownership.

“And yes, you know, Wayne comes with a massive expectation as it's not and like you just turn up and you're playing against Plymouth, you've got the Rooney factor that's always been around his career and obviously his managerial career. But I do think it was, at the time, I think it was a great appointment for the football club.

“Unfortunately, it just didn't work out for Wayne as has been that way at Birmingham City when he went in there. There's timing, and sometimes I think you have to look at what he did at Derby, which I thought was excellent. Maybe some people would have said it was a free hit, but he’s still got to manage them players, and that's the thing. I do feel that it was right time for him when he was going into Plymouth.”

Tottenham Hotspur have now opened talks over a move for an “excellent” defender this month, according to a report.

Spurs in need of a defender

Tottenham find themselves in an injury crisis at the moment, particularly in defence, with Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, Ben Davies and Micky van de Ven all currently on the treatment table. As such, Spurs have started looking at potential new signings for the January transfer window, holding internal talks over a move for Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite.

Discussions have also taken place over a move for Crystal Palace left-back Tyrick Mitchell, with Ange Postecoglou keen to bolster his backline, which has leaked far too many goals so far this season.

Tottenham Hotspur’s upcoming Premier League fixtures

Date

Newcastle United (h)

January 4th

Arsenal (a)

January 15th

Everton (a)

January 19th

Leicester City (h)

January 26th

Brentford (a)

February 2nd

Last month, Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov emerged as a target for the Lilywhites, and there has now been a promising new update on their pursuit, which indicates that progress has been made in recent days.

According to a report from The Boot Room, Tottenham have now opened talks with Lens over a deal for Khusanov, having identified the defender as a suitable target for the January transfer window.

However, there may be competition for Khusanov’s signature from Premier League rivals Newcastle United, who have also commenced talks over a deal, so the Lilywhites may have to move quickly.

Leeds United have also made contact to discuss a deal, but the Uzbekistan international is said to be unconvinced that a move to the Championship would be a good career move. Postecoglou is said to be keen to bring in at least one new defender this month, with the Lens defender, who is valued at around £25m by his current club, now becoming a major target.

Khusanov impressing in Ligue 1

The 20-year-old is ranked as one of Lens’ best-performing players in Ligue 1 so far this season, and it is clear to see why so many English teams are in the race for his signature. Journalist Coralie Salle lauded the starlet as “excellent” back in October, while also describing him as fast, powerful and a good receiver of the ball.

Tottenham make January approach to sign £149,000-per-week Barcelona star

The Lilywhites could secure a bargain.

2 ByEmilio Galantini Dec 31, 2024

One of the youngster’s best attributes is his interceptions, ranking in the 99th percentile on that metric per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers, while also placing in the 77th percentile for tackles and the 75th for clearances.

Amid the injury crisis at N17, it is clear that Postecoglou will need to bring in a new defender in January if he is going to get Spurs’ season back on track, and Khusanov is showing signs he could be a long-term success at the club.

As such, Tottenham should try to get the move done as quickly as possible, in order to avoid Newcastle getting a deal done first.

“He has taken his role as the senior pro very seriously and it shows on the field”

Mohammad Isam28-Jun-2022The fast bowlers showing the ability to take wickets from slow pitches was the biggest gain for West Indies from their 2-0 win over Bangladesh, according to head coach Phil Simmons.Alzarri Joseph was the series’ top wicket-taker while Kemar Roach became only the sixth West Indies bowler to take 250 wickets during the series. Kyle Mayers and Jayden Seales contributed with regular wickets while Anderson Phillip made an impressive debut in St Lucia.Related

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It had a big impact on Bangladesh, who got bowled out for less than 250 in all four innings in the Test series, losing both games by big margins.”The first (Test) wicket wasn’t conducive to fast bowling but we got them out for low scores,” Simmons said. “In this Test match, to get them bowled out on the first day on a comparatively slow wicket, gave us the driver’s seat. The fast bowlers deserve a lot of credit. We have worked hard in the two series, and come out victorious. This one maybe wasn’t as hard as the first one, the important thing is that at the end of the day, the W is behind the two Tests. We won 2-0 in Bangladesh in 2021 as well. You have to take all those things, and sit back and enjoy it.”Simmons was happy with Roach in particular helping out the young pace attack. Roach, who debuted in 2009, had a series to remember for reaching the 250-wicket milestone. He was lauded by West Indies greats Curtly Ambrose and Michael Holding, whose tally he crossed during the St Lucia Test.”(Roach) is helping the fast bowlers to mature quicker. I think he has an exceptional influence on all the young fast bowlers. He has taken his role as the senior pro very seriously. It shows on the field. You can see him talking to them, who are trying to do the right things all the time. I think his influence has been massive to these young fast bowlers.”Mayers, too, emerged as an all-round factor for the first time in his short Test career. He contributed mainly with the ball in Antigua, before hitting his second Test century in St Lucia, a backs-to-the-wall counterattack.”He brings in the wicket-taking factor. He is not express, but he puts the ball in the right areas. If he bats normally, he scores quickly in all three formats. I have to get him to understand that he needs to bat normally. Once we get that, he is going to be a force to be reckoned with.”Phillip also had a good first outing but Simmons felt that nerves got the better of him at times. “I think he had a good debut. Two wickets earlier on, but he got a bit of cramps. It comes with all the nervousness that comes with your first Test match. If you are not nervous, something is wrong.”He was nervous, and it didn’t help him. He bowled well in both the innings. He did what the captain wanted him to do.”

Cristiano Ronaldo slammed a reporter for disrespect as he accused the media of spreading negativity around the Portuguese team.

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Ronaldo slams journalistAccuses media of spreading negativityPortugal face Denmark on Sunday nightFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱AFPWHAT HAPPENED?

The former European champions are on the verge of exiting the Nations League at the quarter-final stage after they suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Denmark in the first leg of their tie. Manchester United star Rasmas Hojlund netted a late winning goal as the Danes stunned the Selecao. Ronaldo was left frustrated with his team's defeat and subsequently claimed that too much negativity was being spread about the Portugal side.

AdvertisementWHAT CRISTIANO RONALDO SAID

Speaking to reporters, the 40-year-old said: "I think the team is playing well except for one or another game, which is part of football. I believe the team has maintained an excellent level, in my opinion. One thing is for you to have your point of view; I have mine.

"The demand you place on me, the best generations are always the ones that win. “In my point of view, there are golden generations, there are silver generations, there are bronze generations. It’s whatever you want."

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The Al-Nassr star then slammed a reporter for being disrespectful as he added: "They are the ones that win, the ones that rally the troops and manage to win more than they lose in battles. I feel there is a certain negativity surrounding the national team. I have seen the press conferences in recent days, I don’t like it. I don’t like it.

"Even some of the questions you ask, I think it’s a lack of respect as well when someone asks a question, I will give you my answer, but don’t ask me a question and then look at the computer, you should be looking at me in the eye. I say it and I’ll continue to say it. I’m sure that I will leave the Alvalade with my head held high and I want my teammates and all the Portuguese people to leave the same way, regardless of the result."

AFPWHAT NEXT FOR PORTUGAL?

Ronaldo and Co will get an opportunity to overturn the one-goal deficit when they host Denmark in the second leg of their quarter-final clash on Sunday at Jose Alvalade Stadium.

Cheap dismissal of Joe Root can’t dent progress, as young-old partnership holds firm

David Hopps20-May-2022Yorkshire 269 for 4 (Lyth 118*, Brook 82) lead Warwickshire 244 (Burgess 96, Patterson 3-43) by 25 runsAnybody who witnessed last week’s Roses match, and reflected upon the favourites to win the Championship season, would feel that it was a strange old world if Yorkshire were to find themselves ahead of Lancashire when the first raft of fixtures ends on Sunday evening.Yet that is a potential outcome after Lancashire, dominant in the Roses match and strongly fancied to take their first title since 2011, suffered a first-innings collapse against Essex at Old Trafford and Yorkshire moved into a position of strength against last year’s winners, Warwickshire.Strong first-innings batting performances have been at the heart of Yorkshire’s season and they remained wedded to the task at Headingley, driven to 269 for 4, and a lead of 25 when rain caused a premature halt 17 overs early, by the England call-up Harry Brook and a batter whose England days have passed and who now must stave off retirement as long as he can, Adam Lyth. New and old in harness in a fourth-wicket stand of 159 in 43 overs that began cagily but gradually took the game away from Warwickshire with deceptive ease.It is a rare occasion when the dismissal of Joe Root, who was out for 8 when he edged a late-swing delivery from Henry Brookes to the wicketkeeper, leads to such a positive outcome.It was a poignant stand in many ways (this is new Yorkshire after all, where hearts are open and emotion encouraged), because Brook’s uncomplicated ambition dovetailed with Lyth’s more complex determination to keep his career on the rails. He has been a loyal and skilful pro, but he had 140 runs at 18 in a season of high scores and on the first day had brought groans from the crowd with two dropped slip catches, and had been stung enough to respond.For nearly six hours, including an hour on the first evening, he set his season to rights. It was a player who knows him best, Will Rhodes, once of the same parish, who restrained him most, also the left-arm spin of Danny Briggs, but otherwise he milked the offside with relish whenever the opportunity presented itself.Whereas Brook’s innings are an outpouring of talent, Lyth was a worthy old pro, buckling down. He just avoided falling at short leg, off Briggs, on 87, and after his century was achieved, he was nearly run out on two occasions by Alex Davies as fatigue took hold. The rain which fell at 5.30pm must have felt blissful as it fell upon his forehead. He dedicated his innings to his wife, Lily, who has suffered a year of illness but who is reportedly over the worst. Life still happens outside the confines of professional sport.Brook has only failed to reach 50 once this season, and he had 82 to his name when he edged an excellent outswinger from Oliver Hannon-Dalby to first slip. He is a much less fretful figure than he was this time last year, which is a bit of a shame for those who self-indulgently like to see a bit of eccentricity in their cricketers, but a proof of his growing maturity. A Test debut will not be long delayed. As Lyth remarked: “Nobody is hitting the ball better than Harry”.Brook is the leading scorer in Division One with 840 runs at a remarkable average of 140. With his departure, probably went another season – this one of six games and benign surfaces – where nobody has seriously challenged Graeme Hick’s 1000 runs by the end of May, last achieved in 1988. Ben Compton (like his cousin Nick before him) has also come within wondering distance, but the feat is now distant enough to be dubbed by Wisden as one of the “quaintest pursuits” in English cricket. Shift the Championship to later in the season, where it should reside, and it may never be mentioned again.He has doubtless played more soundly this season; there were more play-and-misses here than he has been accustomed to as the ball continued to swing. He goes to Lord’s for the first Test in the knowledge that he will be the batter omitted, but he has a new management team to impress at close quarters and, anyway, he is only a calf strain away from a Test debut.Yorkshire’s season of batting consistency is entirely out of character with recent seasons and all the more creditable considering the racism debate that sullied the club in the close season (and that, if you care to scratch the surface, still exists). Lord Kamlesh Patel is a temporary chairman and does not really have the time, or indeed the circumstances, to continue for much longer. Darren Gough, still based in the south, probably remains an equally short-term hit as director of cricket. The appointment of a full-time chief executive remains in abeyance. And occasional tensions rear their head – a life member was reportedly barred from the ground this week after a contretemps with racist overtones and emails are still circulating about the minutiae of AGM legality that are best left unread. People really do need to attend to their courgettes.The ECB’s inquiry is also proving to be as slow as was Yorkshire’s and, as much as the county deserves to know if it will face a points penalty – players and coaches have a right to know if they are pressing for the title or avoiding relegation – decisions that should be made quickly for the good of the game are nearly always made slowly because somewhere, on behalf of someone, the lawyers are taking their shilling. Charges might be laid within a few weeks, although charging a new set-up committed to change for the perceived failures of the regime no longer in power would seem to possess dubious logic.That Yorkshire are holding body and soul together during all this is a tribute to their coaching staff, led by Ottis Gibson, their captain Steve Patterson, whose maturity in the face of adversity has never been more needed, and a playing staff who have got on with the job. They have only won once this season. It is not the done thing for a Yorkshire Championship crowd to cheer, but if they win again, and move above Lancashire in the table (still quite an ask against the draw specialists of Division One) during such a testing season, then the optimism and resilience of youth deserves commendation from every corner.