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The former Australia captain has backed day-night Tests and suggested some unorthodox tweaks to revive interest in one-dayers

Cricinfo staff05-Apr-2010Steve Waugh, the former Australia captain, has backed day-night Tests and suggested some unorthodox tweaks to revive interest in one-dayers.”I would have loved to play day-night Test cricket,” Waugh said, speaking to Harsha Bhogle on Cricinfo’s Opening Up interview show. “I think it is exciting, brings another dimension to the game.”People want a bit of change, they want that excitement. Why not bring that into Test cricket? We have got it in Twenty20s. Let’s get a pink ball in and play a day-night Test if it is possible.”Waugh said the concept needed to be thought through, however, since it wouldn’t work everywhere. “Obviously in England it is not really possible because it doesn’t get dark till 10 o’clock in summer. Maybe in the subcontinent the dew might make it impossible. So you’ve got to have common sense around it as well.”Waugh was optimistic about the future of Test cricket. “Quality always survives,” he said. “As a cricketer I think you’ve got to be true to yourself. Why did you take up the game? To fulfill your potential, and you can’t do that by playing Twenty20 because you can’t bat for a whole day and you can’t bowl 30 overs. And as a cricketer I think it wouldn’t be that satisfying if I couldn’t get out there and technically, mentally and physically challenge myself against the best players in the world over five days.”Waugh said a way to spruce up one-day cricket, especially the middle overs, could be to convert fours to sixes and sixes to nines to get the batsmen to play more shots. “Maybe the bowlers won’t be too happy, but on the positive side, they have more chances of getting wickets when the batsmen are attacking them.”He was also in favour of giving the bowlers more incentives to restore balance in the game. As a member of the MCC’s World Cricket Committee, he said he had discussed some radical ideas to that end. “We talked about the possibility of getting the seams a bit larger, even increasing the number of seams to eight.”The biggest change, Waugh said, between the time he played and the present was in the physiques of the players. “In our days you looked at the gym, but you never went in there. These days the guys are big, it’s all about power and speed in Twenty20 cricket. They are hitting the ball long because they are much stronger.”Waugh, who started out as an allrounder in the mid-80s before maturing into a gritty middle-order batsman and the captain who presided over an Australia side that conquered all in its path, said the present was the best time in the sport’s history to be a top-order batsman in Tests, since so many fast bowlers were breaking down and opting out of the format.Though players are stronger, Waugh said there are more instances of injuries today because diagnosis is available more easily. “You’ve got a million people around the side. As soon as you get an inkling, you are off to the MRI scan, which will pick up a strain. Fifteen years ago they probably would have played with those strains. But now, as soon as it’s diagnosed everyone’s got a responsibility, so they say you’ve got to have 10 days off to recover.”The full interview is here.

Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips wouldn’t turn down the chance to join Manchester United, according to former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor.

The Lowdown: Phillips’ future unclear

The 26-year-old is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury but that doesn’t stop talk surrounding his future from doing the rounds.

Phillips’ current Leeds deal expires in the summer of 2024 but there has been little hint of him extending his stay at the club he has been at since 2010.

Instead, the England midfielder has been linked with a move away from Elland Road a number of times, suggesting his future could lie elsewhere.

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The Latest: Pundit says Man United move could happen

Phillips has been tipped to join Leeds’ rivals in a controversial move, and speaking to Football Insider, Agbonlahor said he believes a deal could happen:

“Phillips will go wherever is good for him and wherever is good for his career. Those rivalries are silly. I know Leeds and Man United have history but it’s not like it’s Leeds and Bradford or Aston Villa and Birmingham City.

“It’s not enough to stop him from playing Champions League football and playing at a big club like Manchester United.

“I’m 100 per cent sure he would still make that move if an offer is accepted. It’s not a rivalry that I think should stop a player from making the move. Eric Cantona did it, so I don’t think it will stop a player from moving.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-28/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Would be controversial

Phillips is adored by Whites supporters and it would take a lot to change that, even if he did decide that a move away next summer makes sense.

Moving to Old Trafford would test fans’ resolve, however, given the rivalry between the two clubs, so the hope is that the midfielder would realise that and go elsewhere.

Alan Smith traded Leeds for the Red Devils back in 2004, though, having been loved in a similar way to Phillips, so it would be naive to rule out the same thing happening again.

The ideal scenario is that Phillips stays put for many years but it would be hard to begrudge him a transfer to a Champions League-playing club, considering he is England’s current Player of the Year.

In other news, a journalist has backed Leeds to make a move for one Premier League player. Find out who it is here.

The men’s World Twenty20 final is a match-up of long-standing adversaries and so is the women’s

Andrew McGlashan in Barbados15-May-2010The men’s World Twenty20 final is a match-up of long-standing adversaries and so is the women’s. As either Paul Collingwood or Michael Clarke will be swigging the champagne, Australia and New Zealand will be slugging it out for their silverware and both captains have called on the supporters to stay around at the Kensington Oval and see what the women’s game offers.Last year in England the semis and final were held before the men’s encounters, which worked superbly as good-sized crowds arrived early to watch. This time, largely due to TV scheduling issues, they will play second and could have a lot to live up to after the likes of David Warner, Kevin Pietersen and Shaun Tait have held centre stage.”The men’s game might be the highlight for some, but for us it’s this one that matters,” Aimee Watkins, the New Zealand captain, said. “Hopefully some will hang around and will be able to see what women’s cricket has to offer as it’s improved a lot in the last 18 months.”Alex Blackwell, Australia’s skipper, believes this tournament has continued to raise the bar. “With the standard of cricket all the teams have played means it will be a great match,” she said. “Whoever decides to stay around after the men’s final, I’m sure they’ll see some brilliant hitting and fielding. The standard of women’s cricket has improved and is actually a very good game to watch at the moment.”One aspect where the game has clearly progressed, and has benefited from Twenty20, is in the striking power of the players. Earlier in the tournament, West Indian Deandra Dottin hit a hundred from 37 deliveries as the hosts created a surprise by securing a semi-final berth as they dumped out defending champions England.In the knockout match between New Zealand and West Indies Sara McGlashan crashed her way to 84 off 55 balls with six fours and two sixes. “Our key has been our power hitting, especially in the semi-final when we put on quite a few towards the end of the innings,” Watkins said. “That’s our gameplan, to have a solid base for the final overs. I think we added about 120 in the last 12 overs against West Indies and it’s one of our strengths.”Blackwell thinks that Twenty20 is helping the women’s product expand beyond the traditionally strong nations. “It has evolved our game,” Blackwell said. “Twenty20 cricket is a big part of our programme now and we are all looking at improving ourselves in that format. Women’s cricket has strengthened very quickly over the last few years and to see West Indies come through as they did was fantastic.”On Sunday the two finalists will only be thinking of themselves. Australia against New Zealand in any sport is a grudge match. Earlier this year the sides shared results on either end of scale with New Zealand taking the Twenty20s 5-0 while Australia finished the ODIs with an 8-0 advantage.”We’ve had a good rivalry over the past 30-40 years,” Watkins said. “It makes it special to have a final between New Zealand and Australia and just adds that little edge considering we know each other so well and each other’s games inside out.Blackwell added: “It’s really fitting that it’s the two form teams going into the final and it will be an excellent match. It will be very hard fought.”

Steven Gerrard has told Aston Villa supporters to ‘be excited’ as the January transfer window gets underway. 

Speaking ahead of his side’s trip to Brentford on Sunday, the manager outlined the club’s plans, saying: “We’ve identified where we need some support and help and the targets that we are trying to bring in. If we manage to execute those targets in this window, I think the fans can be excited.”

Who might Gerrard target in January?

Gerrard only took over from Dean Smith in November, although this transfer window is his first chance to put his stamp on the squad through player recruitment.

If early reports are to be believed, he may be looking to strengthen at left-back. Fabrizio Romano revealed on Friday night that Villa were interested in Ajax’s Nicolas Tagliafico, while Bologna’s Aaron Hickey has also been linked this week.

Fan feed Villa Report relayed Gerrard’s comments, and here’s how some supporters responded.

These Villa fans erupt at transfer hint

“Exciting times to be a Villa fan”

Credit: @SoddyNu

“He really does know how to kick off the new year with a bang!!”

Credit: @samuelcaswell3

“If SG says we can be excited, then be excited.”

Credit: @DougEllisStand

“BRING ME HICKEEEEY”

Credit: @avfc4_alex

“Oh Stevie we are excited”

Credit: @alexanderavfc1

“I love Steven Gerrard”

Credit: @waynipoos1

In other news, many Villa fans react to this update on a reported target.

Sussex and Worcestershire remain Glamorgan’s closest challengers at the top of Division Two of the County Championship after their match at Hove fizzled out to a draw

27-May-2010
ScorecardSussex and Worcestershire remain Glamorgan’s closest challengers at the top of Division Two of the County Championship after their match at Hove fizzled out to a draw. No play was possible before lunch because of rain which meant a total of 65 overs were lost on the final two days. Worcestershire were not prepared to declare and set their second-placed rivals a target with the pitch still playing easily and a temptingly short off-side boundary on offer.The visitors, who began the final day on 76 for 2, a lead of 212, batted through to finish on 205 for 6. The lead was worth 339 when the players shook hands at 4.50pm. Worcestershire dropped to fourth place as a result of Gloucestershire’s win over Derbyshire while Sussex, favourites to go straight back up at the start of the season, are now 16 points adrift of Glamorgan.At least Sussex stopped the rot after successive championship defeats had enabled Glamorgan to knock them off the summit. In addition, they might have discovered a useful back-up seamer in opening batsman Michael Thornely, who claimed his first two first-class wickets in a seven-over spell either side of tea.The 22-year-old, who had only previously bowled four overs in first-class cricket, struck with his 15th ball when Moeen Ali drove to short midwicket. Moeen had added 60 in 17 overs with skipper Vikram Solanki after the early loss of nightwatchman Richard Jones, who was superbly caught in his follow through by Corey Collymore.Solanki was enjoying what had become nothing more than an extended net as he passed 50 for only the third time in 13 Championship innings. But on 61 he pushed forward to Thornely and was surprised to see his off stump knocked out of the ground. He hit five fours and three sixes, all over the short boundary on the scoreboard side, in a 124-ball stay.The only other wicket to fall came when Alexei Kervezee top-edged a sweep off Monty Panesar and Robin Martin-Jenkins took a comfortable catch at backward point. Martin-Jenkins was playing his last championship game at Hove after announcing that he will retire from the game on July 19 after 15 years with the county to take up a teaching job at Hurstpierpoint College. The veteran, fittingly, led the players off to a standing ovation at the end.

Newcastle United are reportedly now ‘trying’ to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Out of favour

Ever since Aubameyang was stripped of the captaincy by Mikel Arteta last month, he has not featured at all for Arsenal in the Premier League.

In that time, the Gunners have picked up a few convincing wins and scored a lot of goals – 15 in five games to be exact (Transfermarkt) – suggesting that the Gabon international would not be missed all that much if he left and perhaps paving the way for an immediate exit.

He is now at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), although has recently tested positive for COVID-19, and it seems he may not be a Gooner on his return if the latest reports are anything to go by.

The Latest: In contact

As per Italian football journalist Rudy Galetti, the St. James’ Park faithful are now ‘trying’ to sign Aubameyang, and are already ‘in contact’ with the Emirates Stadium faithful about a potential loan move.

The striker ‘would like’ a switch to the North East, and so this is a saga to keep an eye on throughout the window.

The Verdict: Avoid

There is no doubt that ‘Auba’ has been a top player throughout his career, scoring over 300 goals at both club and international level combined.

However, he has Whoscored).

Coupled up with his mammoth £250,000-per-week wages and less than spotless injury record, he is a player that the Tyneside outfit should be avoiding, as they look to build the project for the future.

In other news, find out which 154-goal title-winner NUFC are now eyeing here!

Lancashire have signed up New Zealand’s offspinning allrounder Nathan McCullum as their overseas player for the Friends Provident t20

Cricinfo staff04-Jun-2010Lancashire have signed New Zealand’s offspinning allrounder Nathan McCullum as their overseas player for the Friends Provident t20. He replaces Pakistan’s Shoaib Malik, who will miss the tournament due to international commitments, following the reversal of his ban by the PCB.”It was obviously a blow to our plans when Shoaib Malik’s international ban was overturned so close to the start of the competition,” Lancashire director Mike Watkinson said. “However, I am delighted that we have a like-for-like replacement in Nathan. He is an experienced Twenty20 player who will strengthen both our middle order and spin bowling options.”McCullum was pleased with the opportunity to play for Lancashire and looked forward to making a contribution. “I’m really excited at the prospect of joining Lancashire. Twenty20 is a form of the game I really enjoy so hopefully we can have a successful campaign and go the distance. I’ve heard great things about Lancashire as a club and can’t wait to get over there,” he said.McCullum has played 22 Twenty20 matches for New Zealand, taking 21 wickets at an economy rate of 6.45. He averages 26.66 with the bat, and was one of New Zealand’s bright spots during their forgettable World Twenty20 campaign. He has been a crucial player for Otago Volts in New Zealand’s domestic Twenty20 competition.McCullum could debut against Northants Steelbacks at Old Trafford on June 9, and is available for all of Lancashire’s remaining matches in the group stages of the competition.

West Bromwich Albion secured the permanent signing of striker Daryl Dike on New Years Day, with the 21-year-old making his Baggies debut against QPR on Saturday.

Although the USA international’s first game for the West Midlands outfit didn’t go to plan, with Albion losing 1-0, there will be plenty of excitement regarding what the former-Orlando City man can do based on his previous spell in the Championship on loan at Barnsley last season.

Under current West Brom manager Valerien Ismael, Dike scored nine goals in 22 appearances for the South Yorkshire outfit, helping them to secure a play-off place.

The 21-year-old returned to the MLS outfit, where former Manchester United star Nani had played, with the Portuguese labelling Dike “a special boy.”

Now at The Hawthorns, the £9m-rated striker will be looking to go one better than last season and secure promotion to the Premier League. What is for sure is that if the American can replicate similar form to that of last term, the Baggies’ bid for promotion will certainly be boosted.

Ismael’s side are currently fifth in the Championship, seven points off of the automatic promotion places and in need of an extra goal source.

The Black Country club are the league’s best defenders, having conceded just 20 goals. However, they’re the second-tier’s joint-tenth top scorers with 31 goals. First place Fulham have scored more than double with 64 in one game less.

It’s a major issue that needs to be resolved immediately. In fact, the Baggies haven’t particularly had a recognised goal scorer they could rely on for a handful of seasons now, with former loanee Romelu Lukaku enjoying the most fruitful campaign since the Belgian made the temporary move to The Hawthorns from Chelsea.

The striker scored 17 goals in the 2012/13 campaign, helping Albion to an eighth-placed finish. Similarities can certainly be drawn between the two strikers.

After all, his former teammate Jordan Williams once said: “Daryl has got a rocket of a right foot. I think he’s similar to Lukaku. He hasn’t scored as many goals yet, but he can hit a ball just as hard.”

Stood at 6 foot 2, Dike is only four centimetres shorter than the Belgian, with the use of their respective physicality a major part of both players’ games.

Of course, if Dike was to evolve into a world-class talisman-like Lukaku, Albion fans would be delighted. However, it is certainly realistic to expect the American to score double digits by the end of the season.

If so, the Baggies may have an improved shot at an instant return to the Premier League.

AND in other news, West Brom eye swoop for “dominant” £5.4m-rated beast, he’s miles better than Hugill…

Leeds United are said to be scouting Brenden Aaronson ahead of a potential move this month…

What’s the word?

That’s according to journalist Pete O’Rourke, who delivered a fresh claim to GIVEMESPORT.

“With Aaronson at RB Salzburg, I know Leeds scouts have been watching him,” he said.

Just last month, the Sunday People reported that the Yorkshire giants were tracking the 21-year-old attacking midfielder after losing Kalvin Phillips to a long-term injury.

Aaronson is said to fit the athletic profile of what manager Marcelo Bielsa is looking for in the engine room.

Sign him up

Valued at £10.8m by Transfermarkt, the Salzburg sensation would be a quality addition for Leeds.

Having already notched 15 caps and five goals for the USA, Aaronson has also gained valuable experience in the Champions League for the Austrian outfit – across 51 appearances, he has provided ten goals and 12 assists, via Transfermarkt.

In his six UCL appearances this term, the young 5 foot 10 dynamo has proven to be an absolute workhorse at either end of the pitch, having averaged two tackles, 1.3 dribbles, 1.2 shots and one key pass per outing, as per WhoScored, despite featuring against Ligue 1 champions Lille, Sevilla and Wolfsburg.

During his time in the Major League Soccer, Aaronson earned praise from one of the country’s greatest players in DeMarcus Beasley. “Watching this philly/Mia match… and I like this kid Aaronson. He is silkyyy! Is he in any of the youth national teams? Full team?” he tweeted.

Leeds’ current midfield options have struggled greatly this season, in particularly Mateusz Klich, who has failed to replicate the sort of form that has seen him emerge as a reliable and regular option under Bielsa.

They have also struggled to replace Pablo Hernandez in the no.10 role, so Aaronson could well be a player that the Argentine badly needs. Not only that, on the above evidence, he is a player the 66-year-old would love to manage.

Victor Orta and co must push ahead with plans to sign him now.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano drops big Raphinha update…

Ross Taylor has been appointed New Zealand captain for the tri-series in Sri Lanka in August

Cricinfo staff27-Jun-2010Ross Taylor has been appointed New Zealand captain for the tri-series in Sri Lanka in August. The national selectors have rested two key senior players in regular captain Daniel Vettori and Brendon McCullum for the tournament in Dambulla, which also involves India. Vettori and McCullum have both been granted paternity leave and will also spend their time off reconditioning themselves for the busy season ahead. Fast bowler Kyle Mills will be Taylor’s deputy.The 15-man squad features rookie batsman Kane Williamson, who led New Zealand in the 2008 Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia. He was called-up to the Test squad for the home series against Australia earlier this year, but is yet to make his international debut.Mark Greatbatch, the chairman of selectors, said the tour would be an opportunity for Taylor to sharpen his leadership skills in Vettori’s absence. “With Daniel not touring Sri Lanka, it provides an opportunity for Ross to further develop his captaincy skills,” Greatbatch said. “Ross was vice-captain for a portion of last season and did a great job leading the Blackcaps (New Zealand) to victory against Australia in Napier earlier in the year when Daniel was injured.”Vettori will not be going to Sri Lanka as the tour coincides with the birth of his second child and New Zealand Cricket (NZC) supports his wishes to spend time with his family. He will also use this period to continue with his conditioning programme in preparation for the rigorous international schedule ahead.”McCullum had earlier skipped the short tour of USA after the World Twenty20 to rest ahead of future tours. His participation for the tri-series was anyway in doubt, as the birth of his child was expected in the middle of the year, and Greatbatch said the break would also benefit McCullum in the long run.”He (McCullum) has played over 200 consecutive games for New Zealand and, with a significant schedule ahead that culminates with a World Cup early next year, NZC believes it appropriate that McCullum spends the time reconditioning in New Zealand,” Greatbatch said. “He is also expecting the birth of his second child in July.”Returning to the squad after injury lay-offs are allrounder Grant Elliott and batsman Jesse Ryder. “Grant Elliott comes back after a lengthy period out of the game. He was a key member of our ODI team prior to his injury, and it is great to have him back,” Greatbatch said. “Jesse Ryder is also returning to the team having sustained an elbow injury during the World T20 in the West Indies. Kane Williamson gets his first tour with the Blackcaps based on his excellent domestic first-class one-day form.”Taylor has established himself as one of the premier batsmen in the team in all formats and he said his latest elevation was an honour. “It was a pretty special feeling when the selectors approached me,” Taylor said. “While I appreciate it will be a tough tour against quality opposition, it represents a good opportunity for players to experience subcontinent conditions, particularly with the World Cup on the horizon.”The tri-series is scheduled between August 10 and 28. The same teams contested a tri-series in Sri Lanka last year but New Zealand failed to make the final.Squad: Ross Taylor (capt), Kyle Mills (vice-capt), Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Gareth Hopkins (wk), Nathan McCullum, Andy McKay, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Daryl Tuffey, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson.