Madhya Pradesh wicketkeeper-batsman Naman Ojha, who finished the Ranji season with 645 runs including four successive fifty-plus score in the knockouts, has been named as the captain of the 15-man Rest of India squad

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Feb-2016

Madhya Pradesh wicketkeeper-batsman Naman Ojha, who finished the Ranji Trophy season with 645 runs including four successive fifty-plus scores in the knockouts, has been named as the captain of the 15-man Rest of India squad. They will play 41-time Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai in the Irani Cup at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, starting March 6.The squad, which was announced shortly after the Ranji final, featured two Saurashtra players – Sheldon Jackson and Jaydev Unadkat. Jackson tallied 538 runs in 10 matches at 57.41, while Unadkat had a breakthrough season after injury, taking 40 wickets at 20.12.The squad also included the top two wicket-takers of the season – Jharkhand left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem and Assam pacer Krishna Das. Punjab pacer Barinder Sran, who recently made his international debut in Australia, and Vidarbha offspinner Akshay Wakhare were also in the bowling mix.Karun Nair, who scored 500 runs this season compared to last time’s 709, was one of the two Karnataka players in this year’s Irani Cup squad, along with Stuart Binny. Vidarbha’s Faiz Fazal and Jammu and Kashmir’s Ian Dev Singh add more weight to the batting line-up. Andhra’s Srikar Bharat was the other wicketkeeper in the squad apart from Ojha. Assam’s Arun Karthik, who was the third highest run-getter this season behind Shreyas Iyer and Akhil Herwadkar, and allrounder Jalaj Saxena, who piled up 588 runs and 49 wickets, didn’t find a place in the squad.Rest of India squad: KS Bharat, Faiz Fazal, Karun Nair, Sheldon Jackson, Naman Ojha (captain), Stuart Binny, Shahbaz Nadeem, Jayant Yadav, Nathu Singh, Jaydev Unadkat, Barinder Sran, Krishna Das, Sudip Chatterjee, Ian Dev Singh, Akshay Wakhare.

Fabrizio Romano has insisted that Chelsea are not holding any discussions to sign Neymar this summer.

The Lowdown: Neymar not looking for a move

Reports have surfaced over the last few weeks about Chelsea holding talks over a potential blockbuster summer transfer that would see Neymar wind up in the Premier League for the first time in his career.

However, given the Brazilian’s age, likely wage demands and the fact he is out injured, any move may seem unlikely from the outset, although given Todd Boehly’s lavish spending, nothing could be ruled out.

Neymar would indeed be a huge name on paper to sign and would likely attract a lot of international interest given his pedigree within the game, but his signing would go against what Chelsea have done recently by signing young players.

The Latest: Chelsea not holding talks with PSG to sign Neymar

Romano has confirmed on his YouTube channel that despite talks between Chelsea and PSG, none of those conversations have involved a potential transfer of Neymar.

He said: “We had reports about Chelsea, but from what I understand, at the moment, Chelsea are not speaking to PSG at the moment about Neymar Jr.

“They had contacts to clarify what happened with the Hakim Ziyech deal in the final hours of the January transfer window, it was a disappointing situation, so this is why Chelsea and PSG spoke in the last weeks, but at the moment, there is no concrete negotiation for Neymar to Chelsea at this stage.

“Of course, it’s still March, but at this stage, there is no negotiation – also, Neymar is focused on coming back from his injury.”

The Verdict: Boehly must avoid Neymar transfer

Chelsea made a conscious effort during January to recruit young players for the present and the future, with the likes of Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk and Joao Felix all arriving at Stamford Bridge earlier this year.

Therefore, to then go for someone in the twilight years of his career with a poor injury record in the form of Neymar would be a poor move from Boehly as his likely main purpose the Brazilian would serve would be to promote the club off the pitch and sell shirts given his stature.

Also, it would be yet another unnecessary headache for Graham Potter to deal with as it would be a huge ego in the dressing room, which is something that Chelsea arguably don’t need given the high calibre of players already in the squad.

Arsenal finally return to Premier League action later today, as they host a threadbare Leeds United team.

Mikel Arteta noted the importance each game has now, as they reach the climax of a season where they could finally win the title that has eluded them since that infamous campaign in 2004.

The Spaniard claimed: “You ask me about points but it’s happened in the last four or five seasons so it will demand almost perfection.”

That perfection has clearly upped their form of late, having survived a wobble in early February to win their last six league matches in a row including some season-defining late victories over Aston Villa and Bournemouth.

This fixture against the Whites now marks the best chance they will get to face them, as they are set to be without Max Wober, Wilfried Gnonto and Tyler Adams.

However, they will have to navigate some injury woes of their own.

Given the relative ease of such a fixture, perhaps Arteta could seek to rest some of his star men in favour of those in need of some first-team minutes, namely Emile Smith-Rowe who has stepped up his recovery of late by starring on international duty.

Is Emile Smith-Rowe fit?

Having suffered throughout the campaign with numerous ailments, finally the young English starlet had begun to make his comeback with a string of appearances from the bench.

However, it was the starring role he had for England U21s that truly announced him as ready to start once again.

This could be at the expense of Martin Odegaard, who endured a trying international break himself which also included being on the receiving end of a reckless tackle from Rodri during Norway’s clash with Spain.

To perhaps allow their talismanic “leader” some additional rest, as lauded by Arteta, could prove imperative as they face a much tougher clash the following week against Liverpool.

On the occasion that Smith-Rowe instantly returns to form, which his goal for England suggests he might, fans will likely not even know that Odegaard is missing.

Just last season had seen the 22-year-old hit double figures for goals for the first time in his career, as he began establishing himself as part of the top assets at the club.

Former Gunners favourite Mesut Ozil even branded him a "difference-maker" for their side before his retirement.

Despite Odegaard playing an instrumental role in the Gunners’ success this season, perhaps welcoming a struggling outfit could mark the best opportunity to rest the £54m-rated magician and embed the £40k-per-week maestro back into the fold.

Should Smith-Rowe return to full fitness, his presence could prove crucial in these all-important final league fixtures.

Dan Christian, the Australian allrounder, has taken over as Nottinghamshire’s captain for the NatWest T20 Blast after James Taylor decided to stand down due to his England commitments.Chris Read, the club captain who leads the side in the County Championship, will take charge for the Royal London Cup.Taylor has played in England’s last five Tests following his recall against Pakistan, in Sharjah, and has been a regular around the one-day set-up for more than a year although did not make the final XI in the recent series against Pakistan.His likely role with England during the home summer against Sri Lanka and Pakistan means that chances for county appearances will be limited so he has relinquished the position he has held for two seasons.”Having recently got back into the Test side, and being around England’s team full time in 50-over cricket, it’s right that James focuses on his own game this year,” Mick Newell, the Nottinghamshire director of cricket and England selector, said.”Clashes between our one-day fixtures and the international schedule make it unlikely that he’ll be able to play a major part in our season, so it would be difficult for him to captain on the occasions when he does feature for us.”Since taking on the captaincy in 2014, James has shown himself to be a tactically sound captain, and one that has responded to the extra responsibility with a better level of performance with the bat.”In future seasons, if the schedule is more kind to us, I can certainly envisage him slotting back into the role.”Christian’s role with Nottinghamshire for the 2016 season has recently been expanded to include the Royal London Cup, but while Read will lead in that competition Newell hopes Christian’s T20 expertise will play a key role in the Blast.”Dan brings a great deal of knowledge of how to be successful in T20 cricket, having played it all over the world for a number of years,” he said. “He has leadership experience and it will be good to have a T20 captain who can very much focus on that form of the game.”He’s going to be a key player for us in both white ball formats and we know he sets a very good example with the way he goes about his cricket.”

Newcastle United reportedly made an offer for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen in the transfer window and the Nigerian could prove to be Eddie Howe's own version of Manchester City sensation Erling Haaland at St James' Park.

Could Newcastle United sign Victor Osimhen?

According to Italian news outlet Il Corriere Dello Sport, Newcastle saw a bid rejected for the 24-year-old striker, who has been instrumental in Napoli's title charge so far this campaign, and it would not be a surprise to see the Toon return again in the summer window.

The report goes on to claim that Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis is set to offer the young striker a new deal in order to keep him at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, and any interested sides will be forced to pay around €150m (£132m) should they want to sign Osimhen this summer.

In 23 Serie A appearances this season, the former Lille striker has contributed a phenomenal 22 goals and four assists, averaging a superb 7.60 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

He has also been crucial for Luciano Spalletti's side in the Champions League, as he boasts four goals in five appearances in Europe, which has helped Gli Azzurri to the quarter-final stages.

For context, Kieran Trippier is ranked as the top performer in Howe's squad so far this campaign with a 7.54 rating from WhoScored in the Premier League, while Osimhen's average of 4.3 shots per game is also far better than anyone at St James' Park, which emphasises the goal-scoring qualities he could add at Newcastle.

WhoScored suggests that the Nigeria international excels at finishing and headed attempts, and his numbers speak for themselves this season, so it was no surprise that BBC journalist Mimi Fawaz labelled him a "goal-machine" back in November.

Could Newcastle sign their own Erling Haaland?

Unsurprisingly, Osimhen's remarkable form in front of goal had drawn comparisons with Manchester City's Haaland, with FBref suggesting that the Norwegian superstar is the third-most similar player to the Napoli forward when compared with other strikers across Europe's top leagues.

This season has seen the two register extremely similar numbers with regard to non-penalty goals per 90 (0.99 vs 0.98), shots on target (both 39) and shot-creating actions (both 49).

Therefore, they can both be relied upon to put the ball in the back of the net, but also involve themselves heavily in the build-up play and can create chances for others, which is exactly the type of striker Howe would appreciate at St James' Park, especially with goalscoring wingers such as Miguel Almiron at his disposal.

Osimhen and Haaland are clearly similarly effective strikers in front of goal and if Newcastle can achieve their Champions League dream and PIF are willing to spend the money, then why not bring in the Napoli superstar, who has already proven himself as one of Europe's top strikers this season.

Leeds United appear to be ‘in the front row’ to sign full-back Alex Grimaldo on a free transfer.

What’s the latest news on Leeds and Grimaldo?

Grimaldo has been on the books with Benfica since 2016 but could be about to end his seven-year association with the Portuguese side over the coming months. The 27-year-old, who shares the same agency as Leeds wingers Luis Sinisterra and Crysencio Summerville, has made 292 appearances for Benfica, contributing to an impressive 87 goals.

Capable of playing further as a left-midfielder if required, Grimaldo has won eight major trophies during his time with Benfica. His contract is set to expire at the end of June, though, with Elland Road seemingly a potential destination.

One Italian outlet provided an update on the defender’s future in the last 48 hours, with Leeds receiving a mention. They claimed that Juventus are eyeing a possible transfer, Napoli have set their sights on the player and Barcelona could be in the running. However, the report adds that Premier League sides are also keen, with ‘Leeds in the front row’.

Would he fit in at Elland Road?

Junior Firpo was the club’s only senior left-back option at the start of the season, however, with the Spaniard missing large parts of the campaign through injury, former manager Jesse Marsch decided to use centre-back Pascal Struijk in that position.

Struijk is now considered a left-back by Transfermarkt as a result of his 20 appearances during the current campaign, but there could be an argument for Leeds to bring in another full-back over the coming months, especially a player of Grimaldo’s quality. The Spaniard has been used to turning out in either the Champions League or Europa League since moving to Benfica, gaining plenty of experience at the highest level.

He has proven quality in the final third with 87 goal contributions and once came in for heavy praise from former Benfica sporting director Tiago Pinto, who said two years ago that Grimaldo ‘is one of the best five left-backs in Europe’ and ‘is good enough to play for any side’.

Therefore, should head coach Javi Gracia guide Leeds to safety over the coming months, a move for Grimaldo could well be one to keep an eye on, and securing his services would certainly add quality to the club’s left-back ranks, possibly resulting in Struijk returning to his former central role in the process.

Cricket Australia is expected to announce the schedule for next summer’s home international matches on Wednesday, despite an ongoing reluctance from South Africa’s cricketers to play in a day-night Test in Adelaide

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Apr-20163:08

Cullinan: Teams need time to adjust to the pink ball

Cricket Australia is expected to announce the schedule for next summer’s home international matches on Wednesday, despite an ongoing reluctance from South Africa’s cricketers to play in a day-night Test in Adelaide. After the success of the inaugural day-night Test between Australia and New Zealand last year, it was widely expected that two day-night Tests would be part of the 2016-17 fixtures, but the South Africans are concerned they will be disadvantaged.The Australian Test summer typically begins at the Gabba but this year it is likely to start at the WACA, with South Africa to play in Perth, Hobart and Adelaide. Pakistan will then arrive for Tests in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. The third Test against South Africa and the first against Pakistan were expected to be day-night fixtures at Adelaide Oval and the Gabba respectively, and the Pakistan game is not considered in danger.But the South African players have expressed their concerns about playing a day-night Test, despite being offered a day-night tour match to prepare for the Test. Tony Irish, the chief executive of the South African Cricketers’ Association, said the players lacked experience against the pink ball in night conditions.”Our players are not in favour of playing the game under those conditions,” Irish told the . “The main reason is we feel disadvantaged. Not one of our players who will compete in that Test has played Test match cricket or any cricket with a pink ball… The reluctance to play is a sign of how much importance the South African players place on the series against Australia.”New Zealand’s players expressed similar reservations last year ahead of the inaugural day-night Test but a $1 million prize pool, split 60-40 between the winners and losers, was offered by Cricket Australia to sweeten the deal. Although the match was considered a success, it finished inside three days after a grassy pitch was prepared in order to help protect the pink ball from too much wear and tear.

Both New Zealand Women and West Indies Women know the feeling of having dominated the Women’s World T20 for most parts, only to falter when it matters most. But it’s a record they are desperate to shed, West Indies a bit more than their opponents after having missed a berth in the final on three previous occasions.”Today at training I actually said in the meeting that this is the fourth time we are in the semi-finals but this time around it is not actually against Australia, so that’s maybe a plus for us,” Stafanie Taylor, the West Indies captain, said when reminded of their unenviable record. “We definitely want to cross this barrier. We’ve been here so many times to know how to approach it. Today in training, the vibes were fantastic and that’s what I want to see, going into tomorrow’s game. We just hope that we can put our best foot forward and go with all the heart.”Taylor and Deandra Dottin were at the forefront of West Indies’ batting revival, against India, which played a big part in securing their semi-final berth. The batting has revolved around these two, even as the others haven’t exactly set the stage alight. It was the same pair that was instrumental in handing West Indies a win in their only match against New Zealand at the World T20, in 2012, even though New Zealand lead the head-to-head 8-3.Taylor wasn’t too perturbed by the record, and insisted the only thing in their focus was to emulate the Under-19 boys. “We’ve been talking about it from the time the U-19 team won the tournament,” Taylor said. “It’s more like an inspiration for us. This is like more drive to go out there and actually do the job. That both the men’s and the women’s team are in the semi-final and playing at the same ground is actually fantastic. Everybody is just behind us a hundred percent and given us good feedback. It is going to be a mental thing tomorrow. 75 percent of the game is actually played there and I think, on that day whoever is calmer and more composed will win. If we try to do that, we definitely can pull this off.”New Zealand are in red-hot form, having bossed their way in the group stages with four wins in as many matches. In the previous World T20 in Bangladesh, they missed the semi-finals on net run rate, but this group under Suzie Bates seems to have found a successful formula based around spin, even as their batting line-up have put together tall scores on sluggish wickets. On Thursday, they could relish batting on a Wankhede deck that has been a bowler’s nightmare in the competition so far.”We’ve actually been pretty fortunate with the grounds we’ve played on,” Bates, the second-highest run-getter in the competition, said. “The wickets have been great to bat on and we’ve shown that with some of our scores. I’ve heard that Mumbai is a good batting track, but we haven’t played here before. So, just really excited. Hopefully, it’s fast and has a bit of pace on it. Hopefully, there are some big scores out there. I haven’t had any issues with the wickets we’ve played on. We’ve been able to play our shots and hit across the line. Hopefully, tomorrow will be the same as well.”A feature of this New Zealand side is their ruthlessness that has brought about a different dimension to their already robust game. With nine wins in their last 10 T20Is, they are the form side, but are well aware that while a place in the final has eluded them since 2010. Haidee Tiffin, the coach, explained why the brand of cricket, inspired by Brendon McCullum, has played a key role in their rise.New Zealand captain Suzie Bates is the second-highest run-getter in the tournament•IDI/Getty Images

“As the coach, it’s the brand of cricket we want to play. Like the men – an attractive, aggressive style,” Tiffin explained. “We’ve got players who can do that, whether with bat, ball or on the field. It’s about not only doing the basics well, but also expressing ourselves and allowing the girls to be free. As Kiwis, we’re a sporting nation, we get inspired by being out and playing any sport, to be honest. We’re here to do a job and I really want to girls to express themselves.”For some players, it’s not about hitting over the top. It’s more about finesse and accessing areas of the ground in their style. We’ve got players who can put up a good total, or defend a good total. I certainly encourage the girls to express themselves. We’re not looking too far ahead. We’ve got a job to do, and both teams are staring at zero.”Looking ahead to the clash, Bates also underlined the importance of not being sucked into the occasion, but insisted her team was on a mission to do the country proud. “This team dedicates any performance to the country. We’re representing our country,” she said. “There’s been amazing number of people who’ve represented both the White Ferns and Black Caps and certainly Martin Crowe, who recently passed away.”We’ve certainly drawn upon inspiration from players that have gone before. We certainly respect the past, but with regards to whom we dedicate our performance to, it’s pretty easy to say that we are representing our country and we are very proud to do that.”She also revealed tips from McCullum could serve as an inspiration for her team to emulate. “Brendon is from Otago, and I’m from Otago, so he’s always been, over the years, willing to talk about cricket and his leadership style,” Bates said. “A number of girls, during the New Zealand cricket awards, spoke to him briefly and the way he went about his cricket at the end his career and during the World Cup campaign was an inspiration. We had drawn upon a little bit of inspiration from the way he got the guys to go out there and express themselves, and we’re trying to do that in this tournament.”

YouTuber Conor McGilligan has slammed Leeds United winger Jack Harrison after his poor display right after signing a new contract.

What's the latest on Leeds and Jack Harrison?

It was a fairly disastrous outing for the Whites on Sunday afternoon as they were thumped 5-1 at home by Crystal Palace.

Indeed, playing against their relegation rivals, this was a great opportunity to give the club's Premier League survival hopes a shot in the arm.

As it turned out, quite the opposite happened. Despite taking the lead through Patrick Bamford, Leeds were pulled level just before half-time.

From there, they may well have not turned up for the second half as Palace scored four unanswered goals to win the game at Elland Road 5-1.

No doubt, very few, if any, Leeds players came through with any credibility, but it seems one man really stood out.

While talking on the One Leeds Fan Channel, after the game, McGilligan dropped some brutal claims on Harrison on who lost the ball 21 times during the game (via SofaScore).

He said (3:40): “​​But the players, I've never seen a downturn in mentality like that. Jack Harrison… what do you say?

"I said on the preview [podcast] I'm hoping he doesn't get a contract and then his performances start to reduce and you know start to weaken.

“For me, he was the worst player on the pitch today which is a little bit of a shame. You know you get contract, you get a five-year deal and you don't take your man on, you're not closing men down, and you're not putting in any real effort, your crosses in are woeful.”

How much does Jack Harrison get paid at Leeds?

It certainly would have been a great time for Harrison to impress. Not only do Leeds need him at his best amid the threat of relegation, but he must continue to prove himself after signing a big new contract.

Indeed, as announced on the official club website, the 26-year-old put pen-to-paper on a fresh five-year deal – that runs until the summer of 2028 – just last week. He will now reportedly earn £90k-p/w.

After that latest display, however, it's safe to say he didn't really earn his keep. After all, McGilligan wasn't the only one to note Harrison's poor performance.

In the LeedsLive player ratings, journalist Beren Cross handed him a three out of ten and wrote: "Barely in the game save for a couple of decent set-pieces."

There's certainly much to improve on for both player and club. At least with his new deal, he'll have plenty of opportunities to make amends.

Mumbai fast bowler Shardul Thakur, who was one of the players released by Kings XI Punjab midway through IPL 2016, said he was hurt by the “feeling of being left out”

ESPNcricinfo staff09-May-2016Mumbai fast bowler Shardul Thakur, who was one of the players released by Kings XI Punjab midway through IPL 2016, said he was hurt by the “feeling of being left out”. Thakur was Mumbai’s highest wicket-taker during their Ranji Trophy win in the 2015-16 season but has not played a match for Kings XI in this season.While he was not upset about missing out on a place in the XI, Thakur felt the franchise should have retained him to allow him to learn from the more experienced players in the squad. Bought by Kings XI in the IPL 2014 auction for INR 20 lakh, Thakur has played only one game for the franchise so far, against Delhi Daredevils in IPL 2015.”It is obviously disappointing. I was really looking forward to doing well in the IPL,” Thakur told . “It is frustrating because if you ask anyone in the squad, I was working as hard as anyone else in the training sessions.”It could be because of the team combination. But just being there in that group is a great learning experience. It was surely not a waste of time. We have a good coaching staff and great team management as well. It is the feeling of being left out which is hurting me.”To bowl to different quality batsmen in the nets is, in itself, a tremendous learning experience. You learn a lot about your game. I feel they should have kept me [with the team].”The practice of releasing players who have been on the bench is a common one among franchises in the IPL. A source from the Kings XI franchise told ESPNcricinfo that this was a way to trim the squad. “[It’s] Easier to service smaller squads with quality,” the source said. However, a few franchises have chosen to not release players. A spokesperson for Mumbai Indians told ESPNcricinfo that the franchise “believes in grooming the reserve players and Mumbai’s reserves have travelled together to Visakhapatnam to have their own practice games to be match-fit in case a player is called up”. Kolkata Knight Riders, too, have not released players.Apart from Thakur, batsman Armaan Jaffer and allrounder Pardeep Sahu have also been released by the franchise. While Thakur and Jaffer did not get a game in the season, Sahu played five matches, taking three wickets with his legspin at an economy rate of 8.34.According to , Delhi Daredevils, too, released a few players, including Mumbai batsman Akhil Herwadkar, who was the second-highest run-scorer in Ranji Trophy 2015-16. Herwadkar, too, did not play a game for Daredevils but stated that the franchise had told the players they would be called back in a few days.”We were not given a reason, but were told that we will be called back in a few days. I am expecting a call. This is just a few days’ break,” Herwadkar told .