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Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies this year will comprise five ODIs and two Twenty20 internationals but no Tests, because of the difficulty in finding a window for a full tour

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Apr-2013Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies this year will comprise five ODIs and two Twenty20 internationals but no Tests, because of the difficulty in finding a window for a full tour. The dates for the tour have not yet been finalised.”The Pakistan issue, it’s fair to say that we haven’t completely concluded negotiations or the final dates, but we’re confident that will be done shortly,” WICB chief executive Michael Muirhead said in Port-of-Spain. “It won’t be a Test series anymore; we’re going to be focussing on five ODIs and two T20s. We have just not finalised with Pakistan, them signing off on the schedule we have been provided.”The WICB president Dave Cameron said he was not happy about the absence of Tests but there was little that could be done. “I don’t think we are satisfied,” Cameron said. “But circumstances have dictated for this year that that’s what we’re able to put in, and hopefully we’re going to able to build on that next year.”Pakistan were originally scheduled to play two Tests, five ODIs and two Twenty20s in the Caribbean in June and July, but West Indies planned a tri-series involving India and Sri Lanka, which shortened the window. The WICB had asked the PCB if their tour could be rescheduled to August. That, however, interfered with Pakistan’s plan to host India and to play out the Zimbabwe series that was postponed last year.

Peter Siddle has flown home from Australia’s tour of the West Indies and James Pattinson will follow him at the conclusion of the second Test

Daniel Brettig in Port-of-Spain19-Apr-2012Peter Siddle has flown home from Australia’s tour of the West Indies and James Pattinson will follow him at the conclusion of the second Test in Trinidad after both were ruled out of the third Test, due to begin in Dominica on Monday.Pattinson and Siddle, team-mates for club, state and country, have both complained of back trouble in the past week. Siddle’s was at first described as “back stiffness” and emerged as he played in the first Test in Barbados, quickly ruling him out of the second.He and the rested Ryan Harris were replaced as fast bowlers for the second match by Pattinson, who was playing his first Test since he suffered a foot stress injury during the second Test against India at the SCG in January. However Pattinson struggled for rhythm and left the field on the third afternoon following a throw from the outfield.Siddle was not considered for Australia’s ODI team following his Test match success against India as the national selectors wished to retain his full and aggressive style for the game’s longest form, while also keeping him fresher physically. Australia’s captain Michael Clarke said the loss of Siddle and Pattinson would be difficult to cover, but was glad Harris had been left in reserve alongside Mitchell Starc.”Disappointing we lose two very good bowlers,” Clarke said. “But Mitchell Starc comes into contention now as one of our fast bowlers or we have the option to play two spinners again. Ryan Harris freshens up, doesn’t play this Test and he’s fresh and ready to go for the next Test. We’ve still got some options, it’s just about looking at conditions when we get there and see what our best attack is.”Clarke said Pattinson had shown no signs of discomfort until he threw while off balance in the field and immediately complained of back stiffness. “No back issues until he did that,” Clarke said. “I walked up to him and asked how you going and he said ‘I’m a little bit stiff’, told him to go and see the physio and it didn’t get much better from there. He was still stiff the next morning, had a scan and we didn’t get the results until late last night.”Got those results and the decision was made this morning on what his plans were because it’s more positive than negative. Obviously it’s disappointing that he’s not going to be available for the third Test but the reality is, if he’s not going to be fit for the third Test, our best option for both him and Peter is to put them on a plane and get them home and get them stuck into treatment ASAP so they’re fit for our next tour.”Australia’s physio on tour, Kevin Sims, said Siddle’s scans had shown a “low back bone stress injury” while Pattinson’s “acute low back pain” will require further diagnosis on his return to Australia.”Peter Siddle developed some back soreness late in the first Test against the West Indies and scans conducted in Trinidad showed the early signs of a low back bone stress injury,” Sims said. “He was subsequently ruled out of the second Test.”After further consultation we feel that to prevent this injury developing any further it is in Peter’s best interest for him to return to Australia to rest and for appropriate physiotherapy to ensure he is fully fit when next selected for Australian duties.”James Pattinson had an episode of acute low back pain after fielding and throwing awkwardly late on day three of the second Test. We have since monitored his condition over the last couple of days and the initial investigations suggest that while the injury is not serious there is insufficient time for him to recover to play in the third Test match.”As such, we have today made the decision for James to return to Australia to prevent this injury developing any further and for him to receive the appropriate medical and physiotherapy management.”Neither bowler will be replaced on tour, leaving Ben Hilfenhaus, Harris and Starc as Australia’s only available pacemen for the third Test.

Brett Lee believes he is now a craftier bowler than at any time in his career, but despite being 34 he is not willing to compromise his speed

Brydon Coverdale in Bangalore10-Mar-2011Brett Lee believes he is now a craftier bowler than at any time in his career, but despite being 34 he is not willing to compromise his speed. Australia’s captain, Ricky Ponting, last week described Lee as the glue that held Australia’s World Cup attack together, although he has only three wickets from three games, while the spoils have been greater for Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson.But that is no reflection on how Lee has bowled. He has been accurate and miserly, and is enjoying being the leader of the attack, having spent more than a year out of Australia’s side due to injuries throughout 2009 and 2010. He could have been forgiven for reducing his pace in an effort to prolong his career, but Lee is confident he has plenty of speed left in his armoury.”I’m still out to bowl fast,” Lee said. “I said about six months ago that if I couldn’t hit that 150kph mark I wouldn’t want to be playing cricket, which is the truth. I do thrive on speed. I enjoy the pace, I enjoy seeing the stumps fly. That’s the exciting part of cricket.”However, on the slower pitches of the subcontinent, which Lee knows well, having made “40 or 50″ trips to India over the years, he has found some variations that help him when the pace off the pitch doesn’t. And it has worked – Ponting believes Lee is bowling as well as he ever has, even if the wickets have gone to the other fast men.”[I’m] more likely to be a bit more cagey as a bowler now, a bit smarter,” Lee said. “As batsmen are working on new shots, lap sweeps, reverse lap sweeps, we as bowlers have to be evolving as well – slower-ball bumpers, wide-line yorkers, those type of things. It’s just about fine-tuning your trade and being a bit smarter when you bowl.”Lee has given up first-class cricket to concentrate on lengthening his career in the shorter formats and since his return to the ODI side in January, he has taken 14 wickets at 25.28. His role in the World Cup attack is to be the steadiest of the three pace bowlers, and he said although all three of them could hit 150kph, they each offered Ponting something different.”If you look at the way we’ve bowled collectively as a group, we’ve bowled very well as a pace unit,” Lee said. “What we’ve got is we actually complement each other. People might think that we’re three guys that can bowl 150kph and we’re all playing the same role, but we’re completely different.”We’ve got Mitch that does what he does first change, we’ve got Taity that can fire the ball in in the first couple of overs. I try and do what I do at the top and try and lead from example. It might look as though we’ve got three guys that are bowling similar stuff but it is quite different. We’ve got a great balance in the side with Shane Watson as well, he’s been bowling well, and Jason Krejza.”The Australians have two wins and a no-result from their three games so far, but could jump to the top of the Group A table if they beat Kenya and Canada as expected in Bangalore this Sunday and Wednesday. Michael Hussey has joined the squad and will be available for the Kenya game, while the standby fast bowler Dirk Nannes is expected to fly in early next week.

MCC have departed for their seven-match tour of the USA.

Cricinfo staff15-Mar-2010MCC have departed for their seven-match tour of the USA. The tour starts in California on March 17 before heading east to Florida, culminating in two matches at Central Broward – the new national cricket stadium – against USA and a West Indies XI.The 16-man squad is captained by Michael Foster, the former Australia Under-19 batsman, and includes Matthew Friedlander, who has played for both Northamptonshire in England and Boland in South Africa, and actor Torquil Deacon.MCC’s first match is against the Southern Californian Cricket Association (SCCA) at Woodley CC in Los Angeles. They play two more games at Woodley – against the South West Region of the SCCA, and the Hollywood All-Stars on March 19 and 20 – before moving on to San Jose to play the North West Region and North West Region Under-19s. They then travel to Cupertino, just outside San Jose, to run a coaching session, before flying east to Miami.”North America has great cricket history – USA and Canada played the first ever international match back in the 1840s – and we hope it’s got a bright future too,” said John Stephenson, MCC’s head of cricket. “MCC believes the USA is a massive potential growth area for the game and we’re delighted to do our part to encourage interest in California and Florida.”MCC teams have been regular visitors to the USA, having toured five times in the past twenty years, most recently in 2004.

Four years after leaving Signal Iduna Park, the American is back for a huge Champions League match as a key player for the Rossoneri

The prodigal son is returning. Well, at least one of them. Borussia Dortmund have had a whole bunch of prodigal sons over the last few years, perhaps more than any other club. Erling Haaland, Ousmane Dembele, Jude Bellingham, Jadon Sancho… it's a wild list.

This story, though, is about Christian Pulisic. Once a rising star at Dortmund, now a key figure at AC Milan. And, on Wednesday, Pulisic will return to Signal Iduna Park four years after he initially left the club in search of a next step.

That step came at Chelsea, but it was one full of highs and lows. It was one that produced a Champions League trophy, but it's also one that saw Pulisic's career stop and start more times than he can count. Despite the team's success, Pulisic's career at Chelsea never quite went the way everyone expected it to.

And that leads us here. Now a star with AC Milan, Pulisic is beginning to look like the player many knew he could be when he left Dortmund all those years ago, and he could play a key role as his current and former employers prepare for an absolutely humongous Champions League clash.

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  A boy arrives

  It feels hard to believe, but it's been nearly nine years since Pulisic first signed with Borussia Dortmund. Much has changed in that time, and that was the aim of it all when Pulisic first moved to Germany at age 16. The goal wasn't to follow the typical path set out for him in American soccer; it was to blaze a new trail and become the new face of the U.S. men's national team.

  That process began in Dortmund and, in some ways, it began faster than many could have expected. Less than a year after arriving, Pulisic was tossed into the first team, making his debut after the Bundesliga's winter break. He never looked back from that moment, becoming something of a regular for Dortmund in the coming years.

  We know how it all went: 127 appearances, 19 goals and a DFB-Pokal later, Pulisic had proven himself at one of Germany's biggest clubs. He was also beginning to prove himself as an American soccer star, the phoenix to emerge from the ashes of the 2018 World Cup failure to lead a new generation that, ultimately, proved itself in 2022.

  In January 2019, though, it was confirmed that Pulisic would be moving on, as he agreed to a deal to move to Chelsea the following summer for a record-breaking £58 million (€64m/$73m) transfer fee. In the process, he became the most expensive American player ever and Dortmund's second-biggest sale, behind only Dembele.

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  Ups and downs at Chelsea

  If there was a word to describe Pulisic's life at Chelsea, and the Blues in general over the last few years, it would be 'inconsistent'. There were highs, of course, especially early on. Brought in to replace Eden Hazard, Pulisic showed glimpses of being able to do just that, notably during the club's run to the 2020-21 Champions League.

  Pulisic, however, never locked down a regular spot on the field and, by the end, was buried behind a plethora of other big-money attacking signings. There was never really a period where Pulisic got the consistent run of games needed, whether due to injury, managerial changes or overall Chelsea chaos.

  By the end, all involved were ready to move on. Chelsea had spent big on new attackers, and there's no end in sight to that pursuit. Pulisic, meanwhile, clearly needed a fresh start. So, after four seasons, 26 goals and three trophies, Pulisic said goodbye to Stamford Bridge and hello to San Siro.

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  Lifeline in Milan

  By joining Milan, Pulisic didn't have to take a step backwards. No, this was a step sideways and, depending on how you look at it, maybe a step forward.

  Milan are in the Champions League, after all. They were semi-finalists last season and Serie A champions the year before. For years, Italy's giants were relatively dormant, but over the last few campaigns, they've shown signs of life.

  This summer, with stars like Sandro Tonali and Brahim Diaz on the way out, the club went out and added a few new pieces. Samuel Chukwueze was one, as was Pulisic's USMNT team-mate Yunus Musah. However, the American winger was the big one, signed for a reported €20 million (£17m/$22m). Thus far, that move has looked like a stroke of genius for both Milan and Pulisic.

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  Life in Italy (so far)

  Serie A has been a good landing spot for Pulisic. He scored in his first two appearances, netting against Bologna and Torino in a pair of wins to start the season. There was a bit of a blip after the international break, but Pulisic was back among the goals on Saturday, scoring the opener in a 2-0 win over Lazio.

  The goals are good, particularly for a player that will take every chance to boost his confidence after years in and out of the Chelsea XI. But that's just one part of all of this; the other is how he's getting them.

  For the first time in a while, Pulisic has been able to bring his USMNT swagger to the club level. He's playing with purpose, not fear, as he continues to create danger for Milan. He already has a relationship with Olivier Giroud from Chelsea, and with Rafael Leao drawing plenty of eyeballs on the other wing, Pulisic has been free to do what he does best. His most recent goal came via a Leao cross, ensuring that he heads into this Champions League reunion in good form.

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A linha de montagem para tornar o Vasco mais impetuoso passa também por uma segurança defensiva. Nos dois jogos-treinos sob o comando de Ramon Menezes, a equipe cruz-maltina não só ganhou uma postura mais incisiva, como também indicou que tentará ser incansável na luta pela posse de bola.

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Durante a goleada por 5 a 0 sobre o Macaé, a pressão na saída de bola foi crucial para gerar boas investidas. Gabriel Pec e Lucas Santos foram alguns dos jogadores que aproveitaram hesitações do setor defensivo adversário e abriram caminhos para gols cruz-maltinos.

O novo estilo da equipe é visto com bons olhos entre os jogadores.

– O Ramon vem pedindo uma reação rápida para a gente. Temos de ficar atentos nesta pressão pós-perda e não gerarmos contra-ataques. Em alguns dos nossos gols, nós conseguimos recuperar a bola no campo adversário. Claro que não dá para marcar forte nos 90 minutos, mas vamos “morder” o adversário e pegar a bola o mais rápido possível – declarou Yago Pikachu.

O camisa 22 também deu uma pista de como será a cara do “novo” Vasco.

– Vamos propor o jogo e tentar não abrir espaço para contra-ataques. Assim, vamos gerar mais oportunidades para a gente – disse.

Pikachu também detalhou como deve ser o seu papel quando o Cruz-Maltino precisar conter o ímpeto do adversário.

– Principalmente na minha posição, se eu perder uma bola vai ter espaço para o cara atacar. Por isso, o Ramon vem conversando com os volantes, pedido para que o Fellipe Bastos ou Raul “segurem” um pouco para que eu tenha essa cobertura. Se acontecer de eu perder a bola, também já pressiono – disse.

Porém, o jogador de 28 anos reconheceu que haverá desafios mais fortes à solidez do Vasco.

– Claro que em alguns momentos do jogo contra um adversário mais qualificado, eles vão avançar. Mas me cobro bastante principalmente nesse lado defensivo, pois exige muito de um lateral. Vamos trabalhar muito diariamente para que esses erros não aconteçam e a gente fique o máximo de tempo com a bola – completou.

Gradativamente, a postura reativa vai saindo de cena em São Januário. É hora de entrar em campo a ansiedade de garantir segurança para que o Cruz-Maltino avance.

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Já 100% quanto às suas condições físicas, Lázaro esteve no Maracanã no último sábado. Integrado aos profissionais desde janeiro, a joia comemorou o título da Taça Guanabara, após vitória sobre o Boavista por 2 a 1, no gramado, onde esteve para receber a medalha de campeão.

Lázaro ainda alterna entre treinos no grupo de cima e no sub-20 – que atualmente conta com atletas que não foram disputar a Libertadores Sub-20, no Paraguai. O jovem, aliás, só não está no torneio continental pois havia dúvidas quanto à sua recuperação.

E oLANCE! conversou com o meia-atacante de 17 anos a respeito da recuperação de um procedimentopara corrigir uma lesão no menisco.

– A minha recuperação foi bastante tranquila, rápida, tanto quanto eu estou na base ou profissional trato bem, faço fortalecimento para retornar cada vez mais forte. Tenho sempre que manter os pés no chão e aproveitar essa oportunidade que eu estou tendo, mas ainda tem muito pela frente. Preciso seguir meu trabalho para atuar na melhor maneira.

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Camisa 20: no site oficial, Lázaro consta no elenco profissional

Lázaro também respondeu sobre a relação com Jorge Jesus, que eventualmente tem conversas particulares e corre com o garoto ao retor do gramado, e a ansiedade de estrear pelos profissionais – motivado por uma taça levantada num Maracanã lotado.

– Relação com Mister é muito boa, todos sabem que ele é um excelente profissional. Ele sempre deposita confiança no jogador, e não é à toa que é um grande treinador – disse, emendando:

– Sempre bate (ansiedade). Na hora que entrei e vi esse estádio lotado, já fico imaginando na hora de fazer gol, de tudo. Tenho que ter cabeça e tranquilidade para não ficar nervoso quando tiver a primeira chance.

É possível que Lázaro ganhe minutagem na Taça Rio. Internamente, com a saída de Reinier, é visto como a principal joia a ser lapidada.

FALA, JORGE JESUS!

Recentemente, quando Lázaro deixou a fase de transição com o grupo profissionais para inteirar um treino da equipe sub-20, Jorge Jesus falou sobre prepará-lo de perto ao longo da temporada.

– A base do Flamengo é muito boa e nós temos que ajudar a desenvolver esse talento. Há dois ou três jogadores vão ficar com a gente o ano todo, inclusive o Lázaro – comentou o Mister.

Rising Pune Supergiants batsman Faf du Plessis has been ruled out of the remainder of the IPL with a broken finger

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Apr-2016Rising Pune Supergiants batsman Faf du Plessis has been ruled out of the remainder of the IPL with a broken finger. Du Plessis tweeted the news on Thursday.

And so my Ipl tournament unfortunately comes to and end.Broken finger and out for 6 weeks.Thanx India and @RPSupergiants it's been fun.

— Faf Du Plessis (@faf1307) April 28, 2016

Du Plessis is Supergiants’ second-highest run-scorer with 206 runs at an average of 34.33 in six matches. He scored consecutive fifties against Gujarat Lions and Kings XI Punjab, both of which came in losing causes.This is the second injury blow for the franchise, in their debut season, after England batsman Kevin Pietersen was ruled out earlier this week with a calf issue.If the injury does keep du Plessis out of action for six weeks, as he tweeted, that also makes him doubtful for the start of South Africa’s tri-series in the West Indies, which starts on June 3 and also includes the hosts and Australia.

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Vitinho vinha sendo muito questionado e vaiado nos últimos jogos, mas brilhou na vitória sobre o Atlético-MG. Nesta quinta-feira, o atacante fez um gol e ainda deu duas assistências e saiu aplaudido do Maracanã. Após o duelo, o lateral Rafinha comentou sobre as vaias ao jogador e relatou que ninguém está 100% em todos os jogos.

– A gente não gosta que aconteça. Temos que entender que nem todo dia todo mundo está 100%. Nós, jogadores, não somos máquinas.Ele é um grande jogador, mostrou a qualidade que tem. Espero que a torcida vibre com a gente até o final – disse à Rádio Tupi.

TABELA
Veja e simule a classificação do Campeonato Brasileiro

O Flamengo chegou a 55 pontos e abriu oito de vantagem para o Santos, segundo colocado do Brasileiro. O próximo adversário será Athletico-PR, às 16h, na Arena da Baixada.

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Western Australia’s middle order gave their innings stability after a slow, shaky start against Queensland on the first day in Brisbane

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Mar-2015
ScorecardFile Photo – Shaun Marsh brought up his third fifty of the season•Associated Press

Western Australia’s middle order pulled things back after they got off to a slow and shaky start against Queensland on the first day at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane. Shaun Marsh and wicketkeeper Sam Whiteman were both unbeaten on 61 and 66 respectively, taking the score to 4 for 225 at stumps.WA’s top three batsmen started off very slowly, scoring at just over a run per over till the 30th over, as Queensland did not allow their first four partnerships to flourish for too long.James Hopes broke the opening stand early in the day when he trapped Marcus Harris leg before for 2 in the seventh over. Legspinner Cameron Boyce then had Cameron Bancroft leg before, reducing the visitors to 2 for 40 in the 30th over.Michael Klinger, the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer, batted for 110 deliveries to make 28 before being caught by Michael Philipson off Mark Stekeete’s bowling. WA’s captain Adam Voges got the scoreboard ticking with Marsh before Peter George had him caught behind for a 90-ball 42 which featured seven fours.Whiteman and Marsh stabilised the innings and stitched an 120-run unbeaten stand for the fifth wicket. Hopes, Stekeete, Boyce and George picked up one wicket each.