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The Frank Worrell Trophy will remain in Australian hands regardless of the result in the third Test in Barbados but there is still plenty to play for as West Indies aim to draw the series

Brydon Coverdale11-Jun-2008Match facts
Brett Lee should enjoy bowling on a quick Bridgetown pitch © Getty Images
Thursday, June 12 to Monday, June 16, 2008
Start time 10.00 (local), 14.00 (GMT)The Big PictureThe Frank Worrell Trophy remains in Australian hands but the series result is still uncertain. West Indies enter the third Test hoping to clinch a 1-1 draw, which would be a major boost for a team that has struggled during the past decade. They gave Australia a tight contest in the first Test before falling away on the final day to lose by 95 runs, and in the second match a determined batting display from Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul sealed a draw that could easily have been a loss. The inclusion of their captain Chris Gayle, who missed the first two Tests with a groin injury, could further narrow the gap between West Indies and Australia.Test form guideWest Indies – DLWLL
Australia – DWDLWTeam newsGayle will make his long-awaited return after hurting his groin during the ODI series against Sri Lanka and West Indies should also regain the promising opener Sewnarine Chattergoon, who has had a shoulder problem. That will mean some reshuffling to their top order and the out-of-form Devon Smith has already lost his place. Xavier Marshall or Runako Morton may have to miss out as well and despite Morton’s impressive 67 in the first Test he could be the unfortunate one. West Indies’ other decision is whether to include the spinner Sulieman Benn. They did not choose a slow bowler in Antigua and the five-man pace attack became too predictable. But on a Bridgetown pitch expected to offer bounce and speed, there is no guarantee Benn will be given a chance this time.West Indies (possible) 1 Chris Gayle (capt), 2 Sewnarine Chattergoon, 3 Ramnaresh Sarwan, 4 Xavier Marshall, 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Dwayne Bravo, 7 Denesh Ramdin (wk), 8 Darren Sammy, 9 Jerome Taylor, 10 Daren Powell, 11 Fidel Edwards.The left-arm wrist-spinner Beau Casson will become Australia’s 401st Test cricketer and he will be the third slow bowler Australia have used in Tests since Shane Warne’s retirement. The inclusion of Casson as a replacement for the newly retired Stuart MacGill should be Australia’s only change. Luke Ronchi, the backup wicketkeeper who was flown to the Caribbean in case Brad Haddin’s broken finger kept him out of the match, will have to sit on the sidelines after Haddin was named in the team.Australia 1 Phil Jaques, 2 Simon Katich, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Hussey, 5 Michael Clarke, 6 Andrew Symonds, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Brett Lee, 9 Beau Casson, 10 Mitchell Johnson, 11 Stuart Clark.Umpires: Aleem Dar, Mark Benson.Watch out for …Shivnarine Chanderpaul If West Indies’ top order is stronger it will reduce the pressure on Chanderpaul, who has carried the batting through the first two Tests. Australia are having major problems getting him out and his patience is testing theirs. They have only dismissed him twice in the series – once when he slogged a MacGill full toss going for quick runs – and his Test average in the past 12 months is a Bradmanesque 99.55.Beau Casson Hardly a household name within Australia let alone outside it, Casson faces the challenge of stepping into the shoes vacated by Warne, MacGill and Brad Hogg. A strong debut from Casson, 25, will give Australia confidence that their spin stocks are not as bare as many critics suggest, but a disappointing effort will only increase the concerns ahead of their next Test series in India later this year.Pitch & conditionsAfter a couple of slower pitches to open the series, a fast and bouncy Kensington Oval surface is expected. The ground was redeveloped ahead of last year’s World Cup – it hosted the final – and this will be the first Test held at the ground since that work was done. Brett Lee will enjoy the favourable conditions having toiled hard for some impressive results on the tamer pitches in Jamaica and Antigua.Weather: Rain and poor drainage contributed to the draw in Antigua and the forecast is not promising in Barbados either. Showers are predicted for at least the first four days.Stats and triviaIt was hard to believe Chanderpaul could improve on his phenomenal 2007 calendar year, when he averaged 111.60 and earned a Cricketer of the Year title. But in his past five Test innings Chanderpaul has nearly doubled that average and he has made 399 runs at 199.50. That will drop quickly if Australia dismiss him cheaply, a task that is easier said than done.Last time Australia visited Kensington Oval it was a memorable occasion. They won the World Cup there in April last year, celebrating in the dark after the umpires were responsible for a farcical finish. One of the on-field officials in charge of that game, Aleem Dar, will be standing in this Test and might have some unwanted flashbacks if he has need to check his light meter.Quotes”It is going to be the best pitch we’re going to be playing on this series. There is going to be a bit more bounce and pace in it, it’s going to be very good for batting.”
“We get that every day at home. I don’t think there are going to be too many Aussie batsmen having sleepless nights going into the game.”

Everton are among a number of other clubs ‘expected’ to make an offer to sign Denzel Dumfries in the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Dumfries wanted

There have been a number of different reports throughout the summer transfer window so far about the Merseyside club wanting to sign Dumfries.

They need to start thinking about replacing the ageing Seamus Coleman soon, and the PSV talent certainly fits the profile that they should be seeking in a new right-back.

The Latest: Dumfries latest

As per PSV journalist Rik Elfrink, Everton, Inter Milan and a number of other clubs remain interested in signing Dumfries.

An offer to sign the Netherlands international is ‘expected soon’, and it could well come from Rafa Benitez’s side.

The Verdict: Sign

The Toffees saw a glimpse of what Dumfries could offer to them while he was on international duty at Euro 2020. He scored two goals in the group stages (Sofascore) and was a real menace along the flank, with Paul Robinson recently claiming that he was ‘brilliant’ in the tournament despite Netherlands’ early exit at the hands of the Czech Republic.

He has also impressed at club level, he scored four times and supplied a further nine assists in 41 matches across all competitions in the 2020/21 season (Transfermarkt).

As the captain of PSV, and having not yet reached his peak at 25 years of age, Dumfries would seem to be an ideal long-term replacement for Coleman at Goodison Park, so Everton need to do their utmost to try and bring him in.

In other news, find out what transfer update has left these Everton fans buzzing!

SYDNEY, Oct 30 AAP – Under pressure for his spot, Brett Lee is ready to prove he has lost none of the pace that made him one of the world’s most feared bowlers.Lee responded positively today to a warning from chief selector Trevor Hohns who has expressed disappointment in his form and says he needs to “get out there and bowl fast”.The 25-year-old faces a stiff challenge from hometown paceman Andy Bichel for his place in the Australian attack in the first Test against England at the Gabba in eight days.But Lee expects the return to Australian conditions to bring out his best after struggling through a lean spell, particularly in the recent 3-0 series win over Pakistan in Colombo and Sharjah.With temperatures reaching 53 degrees and humidity up to 97 per cent in Sharjah, he was forced to curb his pace and was out-bowled by Bichel in the final two Tests.That prompted Hohns’ warning that Lee must bowl flat out to warrant a place in the side and the speedster has promised to do just that.”Pace is my biggest asset and that’s what I’ll be taking into this series,” Lee said.”It was very hot over there and they are flat wickets – sometimes you do have to pull your pace back a bit so, coming back to Australian wickets, it will be a lot better.”I’ll be bowling the way I have been bowling lately. The pitches will be a lot faster and I’ll obviously be bowling a lot quicker back at home.”The Australian wickets suit my bowling a lot more than the Sharjah wickets and I’ll be excited if I get the chance to play at the Gabba.Lee’s average in Brisbane is 18.4 from two Test appearances and, despite a difficult recent series, his confidence heading into the international summer remains intact, particularly as he was the joint leading wicket taker against New Zealand and South Africa at home last year.”There are times when people go through a lean period in their career but I know deep down inside that I am bowling well so its just a matter of when its going to turn,” he said.He’d been encouraged by captain Steve Waugh who told him he would get a lot of wickets this season if he continued to bowl as he had recently.Lee made an explosive start to his Test career, but after taking 42 wickets in seven Tests at an average of 16.07 he was forced to undergo elbow surgery.In the 17 Tests since he has taken just 47 wickets, but Lee played down the statistics.”Its very hard to keep going at (an average of) 16 as a Test bowler,” he said.”If I am lucky enough to get the opportunity come the first Test I will certainly be going out there firing.Unlike senior paceman Glenn McGrath, Lee chooses not to nominate a key English batsman he will target.”I don’t target any batsman, I target every batsman.”Lee will play for NSW this week and has the backing of Blues coach Steve Rixon, who feels that now that Lee’s Australian team role has been clarified, opting for pace rather than control, he will shine once again.”You need someone a little bit different and he supplies that with raw pace,” he said.”Pace on wickets that bounce is very, very difficult to play.”Lee was speaking at the launch of the Travelex Cricket Roadshow, which will take five trophies won by Australia, including the 1987 and 1999 World Cups, for the public to see round the country.

Glasgow Rangers fans are livid after Barry Ferguson suggested the Gers could sell midfielder Glen Kamara for just £7m.

After a hugely successful season that saw the Gers win the Premiership for the first time in 10 years without losing a single game in the competition (thefishy.co.uk), a number of their players are attracting interest from outside of Scotland, and one of those is Finland international Kamara (Football Insider).

The 25-year-old was a key player for the Gers last season in the middle of the park, both in the league and in the Europa League, while he also started all three games for his country at Euro 2020 (Transfermarkt). The Athletic said last year he was valued at £10m (although Transfermarkt say he is worth £5.4m), but in his column for The Daily Record, Ferguson said the Gers would struggle to knock back an offer of £7m.

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

Let’s see what the fans had to say about the observation from Ferguson below

“Sorry but Barry is talking rubbish.”

Credit: @meescotty19

“Barry Ferguson clearly stuck in the dark ages.”

Credit: @RatherNotSayGK

“Don’t think Ferguson is up to date on modern prices. Miles off it”

Credit: @martinsuth90

“That’s like something a Celtic man would say to deliberately wind you up, get in the bin”

Credit: @troikadeus

“For a fan Barry sure sticks the boot into us. £7m wouldn’t even start negotiations”

Credit: @SCCleanSol

“I love Barry but sometime in wonder what he’s thinking.”

Credit: @camrankin2

In other news, Rangers fans were delighted by news on this 4-goal man.

رد أنطونيو كونتي، مدرب توتنهام، على أنباء فسخ تعاقده مع السبيرز لتولي مهمة تدريب باريس سان جيرمان الفرنسي خلفًا لماوريسيو بوتشيتينو.

ظهرت تقارير في فرنسا وإيطاليا في وقت سابق من هذا الأسبوع تشير إلى أن كونتي مهتم بالتوقيع مع باريس سان جيرمان لقيادة مشروع النادي الفرنسي.

كونتي، الذي بقي 12 شهرًا على عقده، رفض باستمرار الالتزام بمستقبله على المدى الطويل مع توتنهام، لكنه يصر على أن الجولة الأخيرة من التكهنات غير صحيحة.

وقال الإيطالي في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “إندبندنت” البريطانية: “من الواضح أنني أعتقد أنه من الجيد أن تقدر الأندية الأخرى عملي، هذا شيء، لكن الحقيقة هي أنني لا أحب عندما يحاول الناس استثمار الأخبار فقط للتحدث ولخلق المشاكل”.

وشدد كونتي: “هذا ليس صحيحًا، غير عادل بالنسبة لي، بالنسبة للأندية المشاركة ولاعبي فريقي، أيضًا لأننا نركز حقًا على هذه المباريات الخمس لتحقيق نتيجة رائعة لنا، أكرر، هذا النوع من الأنباء يجعلني أبتسم”.

وواصل كونتي: “لكنني أعتقد أيضًا أن الأشخاص الذين يريدون إخبار شيء عن هذا يجب عليهم إظهار الاحترام لجميع الأشخاص المتورطين في هذا الموقف، وعدم اختراع أخبار مزيفة وإلقاء الكثير من الأكاذيب”.

وأوضح: “في هذه الحالة، من يعمل في كرة القدم – لاعبون أو مدربون – يعلمون جيدًا أنه في هذه المرحلة من الموسم، تبدأ الكثير من الأخبار المزيفة في الظهور”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. أنشيلوتي يحرج بوتشيتينو بشأن تصريحاته حول مستقبل مبابي

الإيطالي لا يريد أن تكون هذه القضية تشتيت الانتباه عن سعي النادي للتأهل لدوري أبطال أوروبا، يتأخر توتنهام عن أرسنال بنقطتين مع بقاء خمس مباريات ودعا كونتي إلى بذل جهد مشترك.

وأردف: “في هذه اللحظة، نحن جماهيرنا وأنا واللاعبون والنادي نحتاج إلى التركيز على هدف مهم بالنسبة لنا، لدينا فرصة كبيرة لمحاولة الحصول على مكان في دوري الأبطال”.

وأكد كونتي: “إنها فرصة كبيرة بالنسبة لنا لأنه لا يمكن لأحد أن يتخيل البقاء والقتال من أجل هذا الهدف في الدوري الآن في هذه اللحظة، في الماضي كان الأمر مختلفًا، لكنك الآن تعلم جيدًا ما قلته في الماضي من أنه سيكون معجزة لتحقيق هذا الإنجاز”.

واستطرد مدرب توتنهام: “نقوم بشيء مميز للوضع الذي واجهناه هذا الموسم، لقد تحدثت مع لاعبي فريقي والأمر نفسه مع جماهيرنا عليهم مواصلة دعمنا ودفعنا حتى النهاية”.

وأكمل: “نحن نعيش هذا الحلم، علينا الاستمرار حتى النهاية للحصول على مكان في دوري الأبطال، من الصواب التأكيد على أننا نكافح من أجل هدف لم يكن في أذهاننا في بداية الموسم”.

واسترسل كونتي: “لهذا السبب أريد أن أقوم بدفع الجميع في النادي ليكون لديهم حماسة كبيرة، وشغف كبير، ومشجعينا للبقاء معنا ودعمنا من البداية حتى النهاية”.

وأصر: “الآن سيكون من المهم جدًا التركيز وعدم الاستماع إلى الأخبار المزيفة والأشخاص الذين يريدون بالتأكيد خلق مشاكل للبيئة”.

وصمم كونتي: “يجب أن نلعب هذه المباريات الخمس وبعد ذلك، لأنني أجيب كثيرًا، في نهاية الموسم بطريقة خاصة سأتحدث مع فريقي وسأرى الحل الأفضل، نحن نعمل بجد ويعلم اللاعبون جيدًا أننا مركزون للغاية، نحن نتحدث كثيرًا عن هذه الفرصة”.

وأفاد الإيطالي: “علينا أن نعيش هذا الوضع بشغف وحماس وفرح، أكرر، نحن نستحق البقاء هناك والقتال من أجل مكان في دوري الأبطال، الحصول على مكان في دوري أبطال أوروبا ليس سهلاً على أحد”.

وأتم كونتي تصريحاته: “للبقاء هناك، نحتاج إلى الاستمتاع بهذا الوضع، لهذا السبب، أكرر على جماهيرنا البقاء معنا في كل لحظة، في اللحظات الإيجابية والسلبية، نحن نستحق القتال حتى النهاية ولدينا دفعة كبيرة من جماهيرنا”.

Leeds United have been offered Olympique Lyonnais star Maxwel Cornet, as reported by the Daily Mirror.

The Lowdown: Leeds United look ahead to 2021/22

As the Whites aim to get their ducks in a row ahead of the 2021/22 season, there has been much discussion surrounding their potential transfer activity at left-back.

Though Marco Bielsa has not yet ventured into the current transfer window, the Elland Road side have been linked with moves for Adama Traore and Borna Barisic respectively, while left-backs Barry Douglas and Ezgjan Alioski could both leave.

However, it now seems that a new potential signing could be on the horizon in the form of the 24-year-old Ivorian.

The Latest: Cornet offered to Leeds

Leeds United are said to have been offered the chance to sign Cornet as they step up their hunt for a left-sided defender [Mirror].

Some reports have suggested that the versatile ace could be available for around £20 million, a fee which the Whites are currently not willing to pay [Mirror].

Cornet actually made his name as a winger before moving to a left-back position this season, so he appears to be a perfect like for like replacement for Alioski.

The Verdict: Cornet would be a shrewd addition

Fundamentally, signing someone of Cornet’s quality could be a real coup for the Whites as they look towards the new season, providing they can negotiate the fee down to something they are happier with.

Posing an intense attacking threat, the Ivory Coast internationalist has scored 51 goals and laid on a further 29 assists in 251 games for Lyon [Transfermarkt].

While many of those came during his time further up the pitch, he still supplied 10 goal contributions in 39 games across all competitions this season playing mostly in defence; four goals and six assists [Transfermarkt].

As Bielsa’s men look to improve upon a solid 9th placed Premier League finish last year, bringing in someone with Cornet’s end product could considerably enhance the quality of their high-octane brand of football.

Leeds United should be pulling out all the stops to get the deal over the line.

In other news, Real Madrid are said to be eyeing up a key Leeds United man.

Shane Watson declares openly that he’s aiming to be the one who ends Australia’s 45-year search for a genuine Test all-rounder

Michael Crutcher28-Feb-2002Shane Watson declares openly that he’s aiming to be the one who ends Australia’s 45-year search for a genuine Test all-rounder.The 20-year-old Tasmanian gets his first chance to make his case at international level when he debuts for his country in the four-day tour match against South Africa A starting in Port Elizabeth tomorrow.Watson has become the hottest prospect in Australian cricket just 18 months after his first-class debut, and he hasn’t ducked away from the hype.Watson wants to bat at No.4 and bowl at first-change, leaving him chasing the likes of Keith Miller, who scored seven centuries and took 170 wickets in Tests between 1946 and 1956.”I want to become a genuine allrounder. That’s my goal and something I am working towards. That means I want to be able to do a lot of work in both aspects,” Watson said.”It is obviously pretty hard but I have seen an opportunity which has been lacking in Australian cricket.”It is something I have seen and something I am really working on because I know there’s an opportunity there if I perform in both aspects.”Australian cricket has long craved an all-rounder with the explosive talent of Miller, ensuring there’s plenty of pressure on Watson while he tries to make the grade.His early returns in domestic first-class cricket have been promising – 601 runs at an average of 37.56 and 33 wickets at 24.33 – and he has the attacking nature to succeed in cricket’s toughest role.The former Queenslander rates his favourite cricket elements as the bouncer and the pull shot and Australian Test opener Justin Langer found his right arm-bowling is genuinely fast.But Watson’s real test will come at international level when he meets stronger teams who will expose any weaknesses in his batting or bowling.It might sound tough but Watson, who rates batting as his strongest discipline, is drawing on Shane Warne’s experience as he tries to revive a lost role in Australian cricket.”When Shane Warne first came into the Test side, Australia had not had a really good leg-spinner for 20 years,” he said.Making time to stay on top of both batting and bowling roles was an art in itself.”It’s hard. At training you have really got to balance your time,” he said.”If you are not hitting them that well with your batting you have got to do some time with that but then you have to have a bowl to make sure that’s going well.”Watson will be Australia’s most-watched player tomorrow as the tourists rest some senior players ahead of Friday week’s second Test in Cape Town.Andy Bichel, Darren Lehmann and Stuart MacGill are also expected to play their first matches on tour, probably with little hope of breaking into the Test team in this series following Australia’s crushing win by an innings and 360 runs in the first Test.Daryll Cullinan will lead a South Africa A team which includes Test batting contenders Graeme Smith and Jacques Rudolph.

A number of Liverpool supporters are fuming after James Pearce claimed Neco Williams won’t be replaced this summer, if he leaves the Reds.

Jurgen Klopp’s side managed to salvage their 2020/21 season, finishing third in the Premier League, despite so much going wrong throughout the campaign.

The hope is that it was nothing more than a blip, however, with Liverpool going into next season as title challengers again.

[freshpress-quiz id=“359326”]

Klopp could need more depth at his disposal this time around in order to compete with Manchester City, but one player who could leave Anfield is Williams.

Writing in The Athletic, Pearce claimed that the Welshman could move on this summer in search of regular first-team football if a £10million bid arrives.

He also states that a replacement right-back wouldn’t be signed, however, with Joe Gomez and youngster Conor Bradley seen as options there.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/the-latest-liverpool-transfer-news-copy-2/” title=”The latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=“none”]

Liverpool fans angry at James Pearce’s update

That aspect of Pearce’s update has not gone down well with some Liverpool fans, who took to Twitter to voice their disapproval at the claim.

“Gomez at RB again. Here we go again”

Credit: @PrafulSai

“We aren’t making it out of top 4 battles”

Credit: @LfcOkx

“In other words, hey Trent. Get ready for another season of sweatshop labour. And don’t dare think your hamstrings will last into any summer tournament/tour next year”

Credit: @SantiWest100

“And we expect to compete against City, our owners are jokes yeno”

Credit: @LF_1906

“No chance we challenge for silverware again under FSG”

Credit: @_lewistweets

“What’s the point of selling your backup RB if your not gonna sign another backup RB?”

Credit: @_PrimeTAA

In other news, a current England international has been tipped to join Liverpool – find out who it is here.

ADELAIDE – An Aboriginal youth cricket team will tour England later thisyear to re-enact the 1868 indigenous tour

AAP20-Jun-2001ADELAIDE – An Aboriginal youth cricket team will tour England later thisyear to re-enact the 1868 indigenous tour.The Aboriginal side will be coached by former Australian spinner AshleyMallett and will play an English youth side at Lord’s and The Oval inLondon during the three week tour in August.”The Australian Cricket Board has indicated that they want this tohappen,” Mallett said today.”They want Aboriginal cricket to get a boost and not by just giving lipservice, they really want it to happen.”They have put structures into place so that Aboriginal cricketers havegot not a better go than other cricketers, but an equal chance.”The tour follows a successful one-day match between a Prime Minister’sXI and an ATSIC XI in Canberra in April this year, which was won by theATSIC team.

Barry Fry insists that Daniel Levy may dig his heels in this summer and keep Harry Kane at Tottenham Hotspur.

Sky Sports have reported that the England captain has asked to leave the club this summer.

There is said to be interest from Manchester United, Manchester City, and Chelsea in snaffling him way from the north London club.

Of course, he has enjoyed one of his finest seasons at Spurs, winning the Golden Boot along with the Premier League’s Playmaker Award.

Fry is the Director of Football at Peterborough United and he says that he has dealt with Levy repeatedly throughout his career.

As a result, he believes that Levy may well refuse to let Kane go, because he is so desperate to ensure that Spurs are not short-changed.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, Fry said: “Well I’ve dealt with Daniel Levy several times, he’s one of the hardest men to deal with. Although everyone thinks Harry Kane will leave Tottenham, I’m not so sure.

“Daniel digs his heels in, he’s still got three years left on his contract. No matter how much other people offer him, if he wants to keep him, he’ll keep him. He’ll have an unhappy player on his hands but that won’t matter to Daniel.

“All Daniel’s interested in, fair enough, is Spurs, what’s best for Spurs, and no matter how much money he got, out in the market, it’ll be very difficult to replace him, there’s no doubt in my mind about that.”

Kane has three years left on his contract at Spurs and would likely cost a fortune in this transfer market, with The Independent reporting that he would cost a minimum of £200m.