Boeta Dippenaar has been elected as the president of the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) at its annual general meeting in Johannesburg.”I feel privileged that the players have elected me as the president of our players association” Dippenaar said. “The player voice is very important in the game and we feel that SACA plays a big part in this. Our involvement in shaping things now can only make it better for those players who will follow us in the future.”Ahmed Amla, who was elected vice-president, said: “We are hoping to build on the good work already done by SACA and to do this by working within the spirit of the game. To be elected by fellow players is an honour and I will do my best to make a contribution.”Justin Ontong and Gerald Dros were also elected as members of the executive committee. Gerald Dros, who retired as a professional cricketer at the beginning of last season, was re-elected having already served on the committee for a number of years.”It’s good to see the players elect such a strong executive committee” said Tony Irish, Chief Executive Officer of SACA. “The re-election of Dros gives the executive committee some continuity while Boeta, Ahmed and Justin are among the most respected cricketers in the country. I’m looking forward to working with these players. SACA plays a vital role in collectively representing the players in the Proteas and in each of the franchise teams. We intend to continue to take the players association from strength to strength”.
Chaos reigned supreme at Bangalore’s Chinnaswamy Stadium on Monday. The day before the Afro-Asia Twenty20 game there were few signs of an impending intercontinental battle; the promised press conference got cancelled; half of the Asian team haven’t arrived yet and one look at the African team sheet indicated they could be lambs thrown to the wolves.On paper it’s a major mismatch: A bunch of eager-eyed, almost anonymous Africans face up to a team of Asian giants starring Shahid Afridi, among others. However, the nature of the Twenty20 game offers hope. So believes Gulam Bodi, the vice-captain of the African squad. “It’s Twenty20 cricket after all and funny things happen there,” Bodi told Cricinfo. “To be honest, we are playing as men against men. We are not playing any names. We will go out there and put our ability to the best utility.”His bullishness is shared by Morne Morkel, the tall fast bowler from South Africa who ripped apart the Indian line-up in a tour game in Potchefstroom last year. “Yes, there are big players like Afridi but the basics of the game still remain the same. If we can get it in the right areas, anything can happen.”Morkel can also take heart from the pitch, which from the grassy surface looks as if it will offer bounce and pace. The KSCA have roped in the services of curators Blair Christiansen and Bede O’Connell, from the New Zealand Turf Institute, to oversee the preparation of the two pitches.Christiansen, who was approached a month ago by the authorities, has been at work here for the past 11 days. “We have changed the soil type from the traditional mixture of red soil and local soil”, he said while explaining the work done. “We have changed it to high clay content and put more grass on the track to allow the pace to come off the grass rather than the soil.”Given that it’s a virgin track, will it be a disadvantage? “Yes, a little”, he conceded. “But then there has always to be a first. I don’t see any major hiccups. The pitch should play to expectations.”Pitch apart, the Africans could benefit from any sign of complacency or overconfidence among their opponents. Whether it’s the the chaotic organizing process or general laxity many of the squad hadn’t landed in Bangalore till Monday evening. They will have a nets session on the match-day morning and head straight into the game. Roger Binny, the coach of the Asian team, appeared relaxed. “It’s just a one-off Twenty-20 game”, he said, “the real thing is the one-day internationals after that.”His offhand statement mirrored the enthusiasm – or lack of it – among Bangalore’s cricket-loving public. The turnout for tomorrow’s match isn’t expected to break any records – not even after the KSCA’s offer of a free ticket along with every one bought for Wednesday’s one-day international.Bodi sees more stakes in it than that. “It’s not about going out there and having a blast. We have played a lot of Twenty20 back home. The basics still remain the same. There is no use going bang-bang-bang. The first six-seven overs you play around, keeping wickets in hand and then you hit the accelerator. A score of even 180 is possible.”Bodi, who was born in Gujarat before emigrating to South Africa 17 years ago, spoke of the pride among his team-mates. “There is a good vibe in the team, it’s a great honour and privilege for us to be here. We just landed this morning and the boys are tired but they are still very enthusiastic about playing the big stars.”They have a point to prove, they are eager to play in front of the big crowds and take this great experience back home. There are a few youngsters in the team but they aren’t daunted. All of us are just looking to go out there and play our best cricket.”It’s that basic instinct that offers the best shot at a competitive game tomorrow. The weather could be a problem – this is the time of evening showers – and the curators are concerned. “We have covered the pitch and rain has done no damage so far. We can only hope we won’t have any further rain”, said Christiansen. At every level, this match operates on a wing and a prayer.
Michael Vaughan has admitted that, although far from quitting the one-day game, he may have to do so in the future to continue playing at the highest level.”A lot of people are trying to make that decision for me,” he told BBC Radio Five Live. “The most important thing for me is to just get back playing cricket and then there are decisions I will probably have to make. I love playing cricket and while I am given the opportunity to play both forms of the game, I would love to continue.”But in the future if a stage comes whereby missing out on one form of the game will prolong my cricket for a few years then of course that decision will be made. But until I get back playing cricket with all the work I’m doing now it is very difficult to say what I’m going to do. I’ve just got to work hard and make sure I get back and play and then I’ll make a few decisions.”Vaughan, who is preparing for the three-Test series against Sri Lanka starting next month,has suffered a miserable winter with injuries. Most recently being forced out of the Test series in India with a knee problem. He was given an ultra-sound injection in his right knee on which he had undergone surgery in December before being ruled out of the series, which England drew 1-1. Although Vaughan has suffered various injuries as well as illness, he has had a series of knee problems since he first tweaked his right knee in the warm-up to the second Test against Australia in November 2002. He wrenched it in May 2004 before suffering cartilage damage in November last year while in Pakistan.Andrew Flintoff took over the captaincy in India and Vaughan acknowledged there were alternatives if he decides to quit. “Freddie did a tremendous job. It was a very difficult position he was put in with so many senior players leaving. And that is part of trying to build a good team. When the captain does go eventually – because you are not going to be captain forever – the team should continue and play good cricket. It should not be a massive loss that you have lost a captain but hopefully that is in the long-term future.”
Simon Katich has warned his team-mates to prepare for some Adam Gilchrist-style treatment if Kevin Pietersen fulfils his potential during Australia’s tour of England. Pietersen is still waiting for his Test debut, but Katich said he was capable of turning a game in a couple of hours.Australia will get their first look at Pietersen in the Twenty20 international at Southampton on June 13, but Katich has spent time with him as a batting partner at Hampshire. Katich, who is involved in a pre-Ashes training camp in Brisbane, said Pietersen was a formidable stroke-maker whose shots when firing were too big for any ground.”It’s hard to put someone in Gilly’s category because he’s got the record that speaks for itself,” Katich told AAP. “KP’s only 24 and he’s a lot younger and more inexperienced. But he’s got something about him that says this guy’s going to be a dangerous cricketer.”Ian Bell was preferred to Pietersen in the Tests against Bangladesh, but after averaging 139.5 in 11 ODIs Pietersen is a certainty to play in the two one-day tournaments before the Ashes series. Katich said if Pietersen performed well he would expect him to be involved in the five Tests.”It wouldn’t surprise me if he plays, just knowing the type of character he is and how crucial he could be in that he can turn a game in the space of a couple of hours,” Katich said. “He’s done that in the one-day game, and someone who plays like that in Test cricket can try and dominate our bowling.”Katich said England were a more balanced outfit than when he played one Test on the 2001 tour, but he predicted Shane Warne, the Hampshire captain, would again cause a lot of problems. “Shane’s been bowling very well and as the game wears on in England – on day three, day four, day five – the wicket will certainly turn,” he said. “The fact we’re playing later in the summer is an advantage to him because generally the weather improves.”
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced its decision to send a three-man team to Pakistan in the first week of February to assess the security arrangements for India’s tour in March. Jagmohan Dalmiya, talking about this delegation, said, “we have to rely on specialists.”The only security specialist among the three people named, though, is Yasovardhan Azad, an inspector general of police for VIP security, who has been nominated by the ministry of home affairs. The other two members of the delegation are Ratnakar Shetty, BCCI’s joint secretary, and Amrit Mathur, the director, communications.
The young cricketers who are part of the Academy at the County Ground in Taunton may have been away for a few days over the Christmas period, but during their time away will most certainly have kept in touch with coaches Mark Garaway and Kevin Shine.Thanks to the generosity of the Somerset Wyverns each of the eleven young players now has the use of a hand held computer.For sometime now the Wyverns have donated funds to the club to help with the development of young players, but this year their money has been used specifically to fund the Personal Data Assistants that each of the Academy members have been given to use.Academy Director Mark Garaway told: "We are very grateful to the Somerset Wyverns for their generosity. Both Kevin Shine and myself have worked with these hand help computers for a while now and they do make a difference and they will most certainly help the young players."He continued: "We can put all the information that we want the players to have into the computers and it’s there for them as and when they need to use it, as well as us being able to keep in touch easily."Somerset coach Kevin Shine told me: "These computers have an infra-red capability. Each session that we have with the players we can put the information onto their computers rather than just tell them and it’s there for them to use."The coach continued: "We can also monitor their progress and keep in regular touch so that we can all be clear about what we are doing."
Mumbai failed to deliver the knock out punch to Baroda, as Baroda managed tohold out Mumbai to a Draw in the West Zone Ranji match at MIG, Bandra onTuesday. Baroda ended the day at 360 for nine off 112 overs chasing a target of464. The hosts took away five points and the visitors fought hard for theirthree.Mumbai began the day needing nine wickets for an outright victory and Barodaneeded to survive 90 overs. The latter doing the same on a match saving inningsby stumper Mongia. Nayan Mongia proved the hero of the day battling for 203minutes for his unbeaten 41 runs. He played 117 balls with seven hits to thefence. Mongia and Valmik Buch added 48 runs off 12.3 overs for a crucial eighthwicket partnership. Buch lost his nerve in the 107th over and called for a nonexisting single, Mongia sent him back but it was too late as an accurate throwfrom Paras Mhambrey caught him short of his ground.Zaheer Khan joined Mongia at the fall of Buch’s wicket. He hung around for 3.4overs and looked to save the game. Mumbai bowlers toiled the whole day but wereunable top get the break throughs. The turning point of the match was providedby Sachin Tendulkar who bowled the second last over of the day. He cleaned outZaheer on the first ball, turning the tables around for Mumbai. It became aquestion of getting one wicket for Mumbai and surviving eleven balls for Baroda.Last man Sukhbir Singh held his nerve and Mongia saw the last over through toguide Baroda to a draw.Earlier in the day, Baroda resuming on 75 for one at the start on play on thelast day were comfortably placed at 249 for five off 79 overs at the teainterval. Opener Connor Williams played a patient and sensible innings. Hescored 81 off 193 balls. One drop Himanshu Jadhav was the other steadycontributor to the Baroda score card.Jadhav’s 41 came off 110 balls. Tushar Arothe chipped in with 59 off 100 balls.Ajit Agarkar had figures of three for 66, Robin Morris was the pick of thebowlers bagging four for 64 in the second innings. Morris ended with matchfigures of eight for 91.Sachin Tendulkar was awarded the Man of the Match award by MCA president ManoharJoshi at the prize distribution ceremony.
Quite how England respond to their Lord’s thrashing remains to be seen, but for Michael Clarke there was no screaming and shouting after Australia’s opening defeat in Cardiff as he instead trusted his players to answer their own questions: he could not have hoped for a more emphatic outcome.When Josh Hazlewood bowled James Anderson well before the Lord’s clock had struck 5pm on Sunday afternoon, Australia completed an overwhelming 405-run victory to level the Investec Ashes at 1-1. Given the way Australia themselves were out-performed in Cardiff it was a remarkable turnaround – not just a victory but an evisceration.”We didn’t talk too much about Cardiff, once we left that changing room our focus was turning up here and making sure we played some of our best cricket,” Clarke told . “We knew we didn’t play our best, but today the boys up there can look themselves in the mirror and know they played some pretty good cricket”Couldn’t have asked for a better performance from every single player, the way the boys batted – Smith, Rogers, Davey Warner – and the intent through the second innings was outstanding then the execution from the bowlers.”Australia made two changes for this Test. They were forced to hand Peter Nevill a debut after Brad Haddin withdrew for personal reasons and the gloveman responded with seven catches and a jaunty maiden innings. The selectors also decided to ditch Shane Watson for Mitchell Marsh and the allrounder claimed three top-order wickets to help the frontline bowlers dismantle England.”Marshy played really well, his intent shows how much of a team player he is,” Clarke said. “He got two crucial wickets in the first innings, didn’t get a long bowl in the second dig but did a great job as well. Credit to the selectors for going with their gut, it was hard on Watto who has been a fantastic player for us but that’s the advantage we’ve got with the squad.”The eye-catching bowling on the fourth day came from Mitchell Johnson who rattled England with his pace – reviving memories of what happened in Australia – but Clarke devolved questions about any reopening of scars.”That’s probably a question for Mitchell Johnson or the England batsmen. He’s such a great athlete that he can bowl long spells or I can ask him to bowl short spells – it’s about assessing the wicket and the game. Credit to the rest of the attack, too, because the way they operated allowed Mitch to do that.”
It was difficult not to be heartened by the courage and resilience shown by Ruben Amorim’s makeshift Manchester United side on Friday evening, with the hosts clinging on to secure a vital 1-0 win over Newcastle United.
Wave after wave of Magpies attacks were repelled even amid a carousel of changes in the Red Devils’ backline, with 19-year-old Ayden Heaven scooping the man of the match gong following his standout display as the only ever-present in that defensive unit.
The teenager’s task was no doubt made all the more difficult considering the woes of those ahead of him, with United’s string of attack-minded absences leaving them with little in the way of an out ball in that battling second-half.
How Amorim’s side could have done with the pace and power of a figure like Antoine Semenyo to drag them back up the pitch, with the Ghanaian’s blistering ball-carrying speed having been so evident in the 4-4 thriller with Bournemouth not too long ago.
Unfortunately, it looks increasingly likely that the 25-year-old will be heading elsewhere next month, with INEOS and United perhaps turning their attention to a suitable alternative instead.
Man Utd hold talks over Semenyo alternative
A summer that saw both Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo snapped up from Premier League rivals might also have seen Semenyo follow suit, albeit with United believed to have been put off by the ex-Bristol City man’s £70m plus price tag.
Heading into the looming January window, those at Old Trafford seemingly revived that interest following suggestions that calls were being made last week, with the in-form forward available for a fee of £65m, owing to his upcoming release clause.
Frustratingly for United and other top-flight rivals, it looks to be Manchester City who will ultimately win the race for his signature, with Semenyo reportedly choosing the Etihad as his preferred destination for 2026, as per David Ornstein.
With that in mind, Amorim and co might well be shifting their focus, with TEAMtalk reporting that the club have ‘joined the chase’ for RB Leipzig sensation, Yan Diomande.
As per the report, United are the final member of the traditional ‘big six’ to have registered their interest in the 19-year-old, with INEOS having already held talks with the teenager’s camp in recent weeks.
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The piece does note that any potential move would likely have to be a summer one, however, with prior speculation suggesting he could be available for a fee of around £87m.
Why Diomande is so "similar" to Semenyo
It was evident again on Friday evening that a handful of absentees can leave United looking so desperately short at the top end of the pitch, with the hosts ending the game with Patrick Dorgu on one flank and Diogo Dalot on the other as the two most advanced wide options.
With no Amad and Mbeumo to call upon, and having allowed the likes of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho to depart, Amorim appears in real need of an extra spark – something to ignite his side in the final third.
Semenyo, with nine goals to his name already this season in the Premier League, would surely have done just that, although young Diomande might just be the next best thing, even if the Red Devils have to wait until next summer.
Indeed, in the view of The Athletic’s Seb Stafford-Bloor, the pair are “physically similar”, with Diomande possessing “all the same skill and touch” as his senior counterpart.
That likeness can no doubt be seen in their recent goalscoring hot streaks in 2025/26 to date, with the Leipzig starlet – who is currently on AFCON duty – scoring six goals in the Bundesliga thus far, alongside providing two assists.
Like Semenyo too, there is a real two-footed quality to the £87m youngster, with Diomande having scored four of those with his right and two with his left, as per Sofascore.
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The most notable attribute that the Ivorian possesses is his fleet-footed dribbling prowess, ranking in the top 1% of wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, as well as in the top 3% for progressive carries per 90.
Diomande – 25/26 Bundesliga stats
Stat (per 90)
Diomande
Non-penalty goals
0.61
Assists
0.20
Shot-creating actions
4.66
Pass completion
81.3%
Progressive passes
4.05
Progressive carries
6.28
Successful take-ons
4.26
Prog passes received
7.91
Tackles
1.32
Interceptions
0.71
Stats via FBref
Not only an outlet in attack, Diomande also chips in defensively from his wide berth, ranking in the top 3% for interceptions and the top 11% for tackles per 90, with it no surprise that journalist Bence Bocsak hailed him as a “generational talent”.
Semenyo, for comparison, has his own strengths in a defensive sense too, ranking in the top 3% for both blocks and aerial duels won per 90, across the last 365 days.
Of course, it is the latter man who is hot property in the Premier League right now, yet if United are keen to seek out a more long-term, high-potential alternative, then Diomande could well be the man.
Worse than Sesko: £105k-per-week dud should never play for Man Utd again
Manchester United’s flaws were exposed even amid Boxing Day’s battling win over Newcastle United.
Bill Brown, who has died aged 95, epitomised the Australian cricket ethos and was an invaluable role model for the younger generations of Test cricketers, according to Steve Waugh. It was during the Waugh era that Australia’s players embraced the team’s history and Brown was called on to present baggy green caps to modern stars Adam Gilchrist and Michael Hussey.”I reckon that if one person could have their picture beside the baggy green cap to illustrate what it stood for, it should be Bill,” Waugh told the . “Bill was the man who my generation really looked up to. I say that all the time at corporate functions.”For us he was the embodiment of everything great about the baggy green cap. He had everything – strength, great ethics, character and wonderful stories from the past and yet still had great respect for the modern game.”The remarkable thing about him was he was so sharp. You never had to repeat anything. Nothing got past him. You felt as if you were talking to a 30-year-old. He was always putting himself down. He used to say his best shot was a leg glance and that he was just the guy who used to bat at the other end [to champions like Don Bradman].”Gilchrist said cricketers of the past decade adored Brown’s willingness to keep up with the game and appreciate the newer generation of Australian Test representatives. “He was just so respectful of the modern players,” Gilchrist said. “You never heard Bill complaining about modern bat weights or covered wickets.”Sam Loxton, who is now one of only four surviving members of the 1948 Invincibles touring squad, said Brown was a good friend. “Bill was a great fellow and a terrific player,” Loxton said. “He was always fun to be with.”Creagh O’Connor, the chairman of Cricket Australia, said Brown would be remembered as a first-rate batsman of the 1930s and 1940s. “Bill was a fine cricketer, good enough to carry his bat while making a double century at Lord’s,” O’Connor said. “But those of us who had the good fortune to meet and know him in more recent years will also remember him with great affection as an impish wit and good-humoured servant of the game, always ready to lend his assistance.”