South Australia reached 5 for 360 in the first day against Victoria at the MCG

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Nov-2016
ScorecardTravis Head scored his fourth first-class century (file photo)•Getty Images

Travis Head scored the fourth century of his first-class career, while Tom Cooper and Jake Weatherald also piled on the runs as South Australia dominated the first day against Victoria at the MCG. At stumps, the Redbacks had motored along to 5 for 360, with Cooper on 93 and in-form wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey on 17.However, Callum Ferguson’s lean patch continued when he was caught behind off Scott Boland for 5. It means that Ferguson has failed to reach double figures in any of his past six first-class innings, with a run of scores reading 0, 3, 1, 4, 4 and 5. Two of those innings – the 3 and the 1 – came in his appearance for Australia in the Hobart Test.Weatherald struck a brisk 88 before he was also caught behind off Boland, and Jake Lehmann was lbw to Jon Holland for 2, which left South Australia at 4 for 133. But Head and Cooper then combined for a 188-run stand that pushed the Redbacks up over 300, and brought Head his first hundred of the season.Always a promising batsman, Head took until the 64th innings of his first-class career – in November last year – to finally score a century. He now has four in the space of just over 12 months, and moved on to 130 before he was bowled, the third wicket for Boland.Cooper, celebrating his 30th birthday, also continued his productive start to the summer. He began the Shield campaign with 138 against Western Australia in Perth and has the perfect opportunity to bring up a ninth first-class hundred on day two.

Manchester United have earmarked Napoli defender Kim Min-jae as a top target this summer, but fear they could miss out on the South Korea international to Bayern Munich.

Reports of the Red Devils' interest in Kim have flooded in of late, with Erik ten Hag's outfit believed to have been leading the race over the past few weeks.

The player's €60m (£51m) release clause activates on July 1 and with United in the market for a new centre-back, the 26-year-old has been deemed the optimum choice to bridge the gap on the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal, who fought a fierce Premier League title battle this summer.

However, recent reports confirmed by Fabrizio Romano state that the Bavaria giants are getting closer to completing a deal, the German Bundesliga champions hijacking a move that seemed all but wrapped up for the Old Trafford side.

Romano does write that United are yet to present a fresh offer, and if they do look to reignite their pursuit, they could unearth their next Nemanja Vidic, at least, that's according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Speaking to Football FanCast, the journalist said: "United have always cried out for people to come in like Vidic, and if Kim [Min-jae] can be that character, then he'd be welcomed with open arms."

Could Kim Min-jae be the next Vidic?

Signing for Manchester United for £7m from Spartak Moscow in 2005, with the tough-tackling Serbian defender forging an incredible career on English shores, making 300 appearances, notably winning the Champions League and five Premier League titles – hailed as the most "consistent, influential player in the league" by teammate Gary Neville.

A truly fearless, unflinching centre-back, Vidic was the bedrock of Sir Alex Ferguson's success and epitomised the 'no-nonsense' tag, as he was described by the Guardian's David Pleat, often dealing with danger by meeting fire with fire.

The 36-cap Serbia star remains a coveted figure at the Theatre of Dreams and would undoubtedly steal the show if he, in his prime, was deployed into the current crop, and given that Kim has been heralded as an "iron barrel" by Napoli teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, he could adopt such a mantle.

The South Korean has been imperious for I Partenopei since arriving for just £16m last year, playing a central role in the club's Scudetto-winning campaign, making 35 Serie A appearances and earning an average Sofascore rating of 7.22, demonstrating his tenacity and 'no-nonsense' approach by making 1.6 tackles and 3.5 clearances per game, succeeding with 62% of his total duels.

Much like his now-retired peer Vidic, Kim could well be the "best centre-back in the world" – according to Luciano Spalletti, who recently left his managerial post in Naples – and would represent a return to defensive glory with a move to Old Trafford; an insurmountable wall to quell any threat opposition dare muster against Manchester United.

A big update has emerged on Aston Villa and their attempts to bolster their defensive options ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…

What's the latest on Pau Torres to Aston Villa?

According to Football Insider, the Villans are in contact with Villarreal over a deal to sign central defender Pau Torres in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that Unai Emery has made the Spain international his number one target and that the club are now closing in on a swoop for the 26-year-old titan.

It states that they are making progress over a transfer and that it is set to take a fee of at least £40m, which would be a club record, to get it over the line.

Would Pau Torres be a good signing for Aston Villa?

The Premier League side appointed Monchi as their new president of football operations recently and securing a deal for Torres would represent his first blinder as the LaLiga ace would be a terrific addition to the squad.

It would be a masterclass from the former Sevilla supremo as he would be providing Emery with a top-quality left-footed defender who excels at keeping the ball away from his own box and using his ability in possession to progress his team up the pitch.

Over the last 365 days, the Villarreal star, who talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed "wonderful" on the ball, ranks in the top 4% or higher amongst his positional peers across the Men's Big Five Leagues for progressive passes and progressive carries per 90.

Whereas, Tyrone Mings does not rank higher than the top 47% of players in the same category for either statistic over the last 365 days of action.

This suggests that Monchi could improve Villa's ability to play out from the back by landing an upgrade on the left-footed England international on the ball, given that Torres is one of the best players in the major leagues when it comes to breaking lines and driving up the pitch to make things happen for his team.

The Spaniard has also produced consistently impressive and dominant performances for his club in LaLiga in recent seasons.

He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.04 across 34 league outings in 22/23 and won 61% of his individual duels, which came after the colossal ace won 66% of his battles and averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.09 in 21/22.

Mings, on the other hand, has averaged a rating of 6.91 in the Premier League across the last two campaigns, indicating that Torres would also be an upgrade on the current Villa defender in terms of his average performance level at the back.

Therefore, Monchi could land his first masterclass by getting this deal over the line for the defender as his statistics suggest that he would be a sensational addition to Emery's options in defence.

With the signing of a new striker and midfielder seemingly set to be high on the agenda for Manchester United this summer, it does appear that manager Erik ten Hag is also keen to strengthen his centre-back ranks, amid reports that club captain Harry Maguire could be shown the door.

One name that has been mooted as a potential option this summer is Ajax starlet, Jurrien Timber, with journalist Fabrizio Romano having stated last month that Ten Hag is the "biggest fan" of the 21-year-old, with United said to be constantly "informed" about the Dutchman's situation in Amsterdam.

The 5 foot 10 centre-back – who worked under his compatriot at the Johan Cruyff Arena – was also a reported target for the Red Devils last summer prior to the capture of his centre-back colleague, Lisandro Martinez, with The Guardian having claimed at the time that the Old Trafford outfit had begun talks regarding a possible £43m swoop.

With Timber subsequently going on to sign a new contract extension with the Eredivisie side, no such move came to fruition, with it again now looking as if the Carabao Cup winners won't be able to get their man, following reports that rivals Arsenal have lodged a £30m offer for the Utrecht native.

If the Gunners are to wrap up a deal in the near future, Ten Hag will be forced to look elsewhere to find a suitable alternative to help bolster the backline, with the aforementioned Romano notably stating earlier this week that the club have been scouting Nice star, Jean-Clair Todibo of late – with the promising Frenchman valued at around £26m, according to reports in Spain.

Who is Jean-Clair Todibo?

The former Barcelona man could well represent a "big bargain" for any potential suitor this summer – according to talent scout Jacek Kulig – having blossomed into arguably one of the most "underrated" defenders in Europe of late following his standout showings in his native France.

Previously described as the "best centre-back I've seen in a long time" by German legend Lothar Matthaus during a prior loan spell at Bundesliga side Schalke, the 6 foot 3 machine is certainly a well-regarded figure in the game, despite having failed to make his mark at Camp Nou where he made just five senior appearances.

Having spent the last two-and-a-half years at Nice – after initially signing on loan in February 2021 – Todibo has become a standout presence for the Ligue 1 outfit, having been described as being as "solid as a rock" by the aforementioned Kulig in the recent past.

The one-time Toulouse starlet could well provide a greater ball-winning asset than that of Timber if he is to make the move to the Theatre of Dreams, as the 23-year-old has averaged 2.38 tackles per 90 across the last 365 days to rank in the top 8% in that regard among his European peers, while the Ajax man has averaged just 1.40 for the same metric.

Todibo's brilliance at playing out from the back is also shown by the fact that he ranks in the top 5% for successful take-ons at an average of 0.63 per 90, with that again a superior record to Timber, who has averaged just 0.56 per 90 while featuring outside of Europe's top five leagues.

That would suggest that the signing of the one-time France youth international could allow Ten Hag to forget all about his former asset, with Todibo potentially set to be the 'bargain' defensive option that United are in need of.

An update has emerged on Celtic and their pursuit of a deal to sign Yang Hyun-jun in the summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Yang Hyun-jun to Celtic?

According to Sports Chosun, the Hoops are interested in a deal to sign the South Korean winger ahead of the 2023/24 campaign but have run into problems in negotiations with Gangwon FC.

The report claims that the K League side have proposed a deal that would see the Scottish giants sign Yang on a permanent basis before loaning him straight back to them until January.

However, Brendan Rodgers' side rejected this offer as they want to have the exciting forward in the building for their pre-season next month.

The player has also gone on record to state his preference in making the switch immediately: "I want to go in the summer, not in the winter. I hope (the club) will let me go as promised."

Who is Yang Hyun-jun?

Rodgers could land an excellent addition to his squad by working with Mark Lawwell to get a deal over the line for the 21-year-old in the coming weeks, as he could be a big upgrade on current Hoops attacker James Forrest.

A right-footed right winger, the Gangwon star's form in the K League 1 last year suggests that he has the potential to be a terrific asset for the Scottish giants.

Yang averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.02 across 36 league outings in 2022 and contributed with eight goals and five assists from out wide, to go along with six 'big chances' created.

To give those numbers some context, the 5 foot 10 threat would have ranked fourth for goals and sixth for assists within the Celtic squad.

Forrest, meanwhile, has scored five goals and provided four assists in his last 35 Scottish Premiership clashes for Celtic since the start of 2021/22. The 31-year-old dud has created four 'big chances' for his teammates across that period of time, statistics that suggest the veteran winger does not offer consistent quality in the final third.

In 22/23, he ranked as low as 12th for goals and tenth for assists within the squad in the league, indicating that the attacker was far from being one of the top-performing contributors, and this is why Yang could be a much-needed addition.

Rodgers may be looking to improve the depth of his squad with a view to being able to compete in Europe alongside all three domestic cup competitions.

Therefore, the signing of the South Korean could be a shrewd one as the young talent has the potential to be an upgrade on current Celtic forward Forrest, based on their respective records of scoring and creating goals for their teams.

Described as "highly creative" by FC Twente philosopher Joost van der Leij, he is also ten years younger than the Scotsman, meaning that he has more long-term value to the club and could develop and improve as a player with more experience.

It is now down to the club to convince Gangwon to part ways with the attacker immediately, instead of wanting to keep him until January, to improve the squad ahead of next season.

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza has said the quick fall of Soumya Sarkar and Sabbir Rahman – the set batsmen – cost the side in a chase of 196 in Mount Maunganui. Sarkar and Sabbir added 68 off 40 balls for the fourth wicket before both batsmen exited in a space of 10 balls. The double-strike triggered another Bangladesh collapse, this time they lost their last seven wickets for 44 runs and lurched to a 47-run defeat.”We were hopeful after they made 195,” Mashrafe said. “We were batting positively after losing three early wickets. We were on course to the target but lost the last seven wickets far too quickly.”They [New Zealand] made 15 extra runs at this ground where 180 is a par score. We had two set batsmen chasing well. So when they got out, the match got out of our reach. We did create chances with the ball by taking three early wickets but we didn’t attack with the wind and then defend when the batsmen were hitting down wind.”Although Sarkar’s wicket contributed to the slide, he briefly found form with 39 off 26 balls, including three fours and two sixes, after scores of 0 and 1 in his last two innings. In fact, it was Sarkar’s first 30-plus score in international cricket since March last year. Mashrafe termed Sarkar’s effort as a “positive sign” but rued the lost opportunity.”He [Sarkar] is back in runs after some time, so he must also be feeling better,” Mashrafe said. “But he lost an opportunity to make a big score. It would have helped us because he was playing their pace well.”While Bangladesh struggled to come to come to terms with the wind, Colin Munro used it an ally to hammer seven sixes during his 52-ball century.”Munro didn’t start off with his shots early because they had lost three early wickets,” Mashrafe said. “Munro was constantly targeting to hit down wind. We couldn’t stop him from doing that. We knew his style of batting. He got out off the first ball in the last game. We failed to take advantage of the opportunity we created ourselves. I don’t think it has anything to do with Munro or anyone. We have the ability to keep creating opportunities but we should capitalise on it.”

حقق الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ألانيا سبور فوزًا مهمًا خارج الديار أمام سيفاس سبور بنتيجة 2-1 في إطار الجولة التاسعة والعشرين من بطولة الدوري التركي.

وأقيمت مباراة ألانيا سبور وسيفاس سبور في ملعب الأخير “يني 4 أيلول”.

وشهدت المواجهة مشاركة مهاجم منتخب مصر، أحمد حسن كوكا، أساسيًا وحتى خروجه في الدقيقة 90.

اقرأ أيضًا.. تقييم كوكا بعد مشاركته في فوز ألانيا على طرابزون سبور بـ الدوري التركي

⚽ GOL! GOOL! GOOOL!
👤 AHMED HASSAN!
⏱️ 49’#SivasAlanya: 0-1 pic.twitter.com/oQnwbqNFxX — Corendon Alanyaspor 🌊☀️ (@Alanyaspor) March 9, 2024

ونجح كوكا في تسجيل هدف ألانيا سبور الأول في الدقيقة 49 من زمن الشوط الثاني.

وتعادل راي ماناج لاعب سيفاس سبور والنتيجة أصبحت 1-1 في الدقيقة 64، ثم عاد ألانيا سبور في التقدم عن طريق اللاعب، أوجوز أيدين، في الدقيقة 80.

بهذا الفوز، يرتفع رصيد ألانيا سبور إلى النقطة 36 ويصعد للمركز العاشر، بينما تجمد رصيد سيفاس سبور عند النقطة 38 في المركز التاسع. شاهد هدف كوكا الرائع في مرمى سيفاس سبور في الدوري التركي

Glasgow Rangers target Los Angeles FC midfielder Jose Cifuentes is ready to sign an Ibrox contract at the end of the month, according to reliable reporter Alan Nixon.

What’s the latest Rangers transfer news?

Michael Beale and Rangers have been busy in the transfer window already this summer, with four new faces already brought in.

Dujon Sterling, Kieran Dowell and Jack Butland have all arrived in Glasgow on free transfers, whereas Sam Lammers signed from Serie A side Atalanta for a fee in the region of £3.5m.

It doesn’t look as if the club will stop there, though, with Cifuentes heavily linked with a move in recent weeks. Reports suggested that at the beginning of the week that there was a breakthrough in talks to sign the LAFC man, but there has been a new update.

According to reliable journalist Nixon, via Ibrox News, Cifuentes is ready to sign a Rangers contract at the end of the month, despite the fact a Premier League club showed late interest in his services.

He adds that Rangers still need to agree on a low fee with LAFC to bring the player to Scotland in time for the new season.

“Ecuadorian star Jose Cifuentes is ready to sign a pre contract with Rangers at the end of the month despite late English Premier League interest.

“Rangers will have to agree a low fee with the Americans to have him over in time for their domestic and European campaigns.”

Who is Jose Cifuentes?

Cifuentes looks like he could be the next through the door at Ibrox, and he should bring plenty of versatility to Beale’s midfield options, with the player capable of turning out in holding, central or attacking midfield roles.

The 24-year-old appears to be at the peak of his powers with a career-high €12m Transfermarkt valuation, a figure which is higher than any Rangers player, so could be a smart signing in the long run.

Ecuador football expert Benedikt Duda has previously described Cifuentes as a “physical” player, saying he models himself on Paul Pogba, wit the player earning 15 caps at international level.

“Cifuentes is a no.8, who is physical and strong in defence with a tendency to get involved in the attack. There is a good reason he wears the no.11, and footballing-wise, he models himself after Paul Pogba.”

All in all, it looks as if Rangers could be about to make a shrewd addition, and it is good to see that the club are still in pole position despite interest from a side south of the border.

As Mumbai begin their quest for their 42nd Ranji title, Aditya Tare, their captain, elucidates on the burning desire to win that has become a part of the Mumbai tradition

Shashank Kishore in Indore09-Jan-20173:30

‘We played two great games coming into the final’ – Tare

Aditya Tare is a domestic veteran now. Having come through a competitive system, he is now in a position where he can dictate how the team functions. Tare’s elevation to captaincy in 2014-15 came during a crisis: his predecessor Suryakumar Yadav stepped down amid a slew of ordinary results and reports of infighting. Along the way, he has had a senior player in Abhishek Nayar to guide him. In Chandrakant Pandit, Mumbai have a strict disciplinarian as coach.It’s this confluence of an easy-going attitude and the competitive spirit that allows the team to be who they are off the field, and yet remain focused and fiercely competitive on it. It has helped mould Mumbai into their present form, following the departure of stalwarts like Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar and Wasim Jaffer.This season hasn’t been easy for Mumbai, but the way they have jumped over every hurdle shows their character. Off the field, they are a bunch of jolly blokes who indulge in their share of fun and games. Team-bonding activities, where they watch movies and dine together, are a norm, and more so this season, given they have spent nearly three months on the road, with little time for rest and recovery. In the time spent at home, they’ve been spotted together at gyms, or even at a tattoo studio.On the field, the free-spirited individuals have all been driven in the same direction. It’s almost as if the Mumbai cap comes with a rider that says ‘you have to win the Ranji Trophy’. These were the same words that were famously ingrained into Sachin Tendulkar when he made his debut as a 15-year-old. Prithvi Shaw, who was born a good 12 years later, and, at 17, is the youngest member of this Mumbai team, spoke of this burning desire when he was asked to make a formal speech during a team welcome ahead of the semi-final in Rajkot.”Every Mumbai player who enters the dressing room aims to win the trophy. It doesn’t matter if it’s the most experienced player or the least experienced player,” Tare said on the eve of Mumbai’s quest for their 42nd title. “When Prithvi came into the squad, he mentioned he wants to win the Ranji Trophy in his speech. Anyone who comes in the squad, their aim is to win. That’s the whole point, especially when you play for Bombay [Mumbai].”Wanting to be fierce and competitive is one thing, pulling together in tough situations – especially after having to cope with long periods of travel – is another. It is, of course, a lot easier when players like Nayar are around to bail the team out of tough situations. Nayar was brushed aside early in his career as an “ordinary cricketer” by those who were supposed to welcome him into the set-up. Despite that, at 33, he has been a part of five Ranji Trophy-winning teams, and has exemplified the fighting spirit and their burning desire to rise above obstacles.Nayar took nine wickets in a tense win in the quarter-final against Hyderabad. In the semi-final against Tamil Nadu, he scored a feisty half-century from a position where Mumbai could have conceded a lead, and perhaps even the game. That knock helped them eventually pull off a win that hadn’t seemed likely on the second day, after a first-innings batting slump.Aditya Tare has benefited from the presence senior players like Abhishek Nayar, who have exemplified the team’s desire to rise above obstacles•Fotocorp

Nayar is the mentor, the one who young players turn to for suggestion and advice, the player who the coach and captain trust. Tare’s praise for the former captain comes straight from the heart. “He loves playing cricket, loves playing for Bombay and that’s seen by everyone,” he said. “He plays with his heart on his sleeve. He’s a great senior player to have.”The determination he shows is infectious. He has been a crucial player for us for the past two seasons. He had a barren spell two seasons ago, but he’s come back and won matches single-handedly for Bombay throughout the season. Whenever we were under pressure, he was my go-to man with bat and ball. He did that especially in the quarter-finals and semi-finals.”As happy as he seems to be in a job that comes with plenty of challenges, Tare has also left an imprint as a batsman. He may not have the big hundreds, but his cameos and steely half-centuries have gone a long way in helping Mumbai. In the quarter-final against Hyderabad, he counter-attacked to take the game forward and set up a strong first-innings total. In the second innings, with the ball reversing, he once again took the attack to the opposition and set Hyderabad a target that proved too much.Many of his traits as a captain stem from this confidence of contributing as a batsman. He understands that while it is important to make big runs to be in the national reckoning, it isn’t something he is beating himself to do, because it matters more to him that these contributions come in a Mumbai win.”Every Mumbai player who enters the dressing room aims to win the trophy” – Aditya Tare•John Michel

“It’s the standard that we’ve been brought up in – such tough situations and conditions,” Tare, who has struck five half-centuries and more than 500 runs this season, said. “We may qualify every season, but if we don’t win the Ranji Trophy, it’s an unsuccessful season, whereas for other states, qualification itself is a big thing. That is how the standard is, and that’s how it should be. Every player who comes into the squad knows it.”I don’t rate myself on the number of hundreds I score, but the number of matches I’ve won for Bombay. That holds a special thing in my mind. As a batsman, you’re rated for hundreds. That’s one thing I haven’t done, but I am working on it. It’s important that your contribution help teams win championships. I’m doing all that I can. It’s still a dream to play Test cricket. I’m chasing it, I don’t know for how far but I’m right behind it.”What of winning the big championships then? Is having a happy team, a competitive environment and a great bunch of boys enough to create an aura? Tare didn’t think there’s a choice. It’s a responsibility, according to him, that comes with the Mumbai cap.”When you’re playing for Bombay, you’re used to playing big games against big teams. I think it’s just a tag. It’s just another five-day game we’ve to play to the best of our abilities,” he said. “There’s no cakewalk. You have to face a lot of issues – injuries to players, lack of form sometimes, but it’s been great. The support staff has been great, the selectors have been terrific. Whoever has come in has done superbly. We’ve shown we can handle tough situations. Coming in, we were prepared for every situation.”

The summer transfer window officially opened for business earlier this month and Brendan Rodgers has already secured his Celtic first signing ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Odin Thiago Holm has joined on a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee from Norwegian side Valerenga and he may not be the last player to come through the door at Parkhead before the deadline.

Rodgers, who replaced Australian manager Ange Postecoglou after the 57-year-old completed a move to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, could carry on his predecessor's work in the Asian market to bolster his squad in the coming weeks.

Indeed, the Daily Record recently reported that the Hoops are scouting Gwangju winger Eom Ji-sung, with a view to a possible swoop this summer.

Who is Eom Ji-sung?

Celtic already have Portuguese dynamo Jota as their first-choice option on the left wing and the South Korea U22 international, who is a right-footed forward, must be brought in by the manager to come in as an excellent alternative.

With the club competing in all three domestic competitions and in Europe, Rodgers needs squad depth and Eom could provide competition in the wide areas.

Jota enjoyed a phenomenal 2022/23 campaign and dropping him from the starting XI seems unlikely at this point in time. The ex-Benfica man averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.45 across 33 Scottish Premiership outings and chipped in with an outstanding 11 goals and 11 assists from the left flank.

He also racked up ten goals and ten assists in 29 league appearances in the previous season with these statistics showing that the Hoops star is a proven performer in Scotland, someone who is capable of delivering goals and assists on a regular basis.

Eom, on the other hand, is a winger who has showcased his ability in front of goal but is not quite as creative as the Portuguese hotshot. In 2022, the 21-year-old averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.13 across 23 K League 2 matches and contributed with nine goals and one assist for his side.

The South Korean ace, who was hailed as an "exciting" prospect by journalist Jason Lee, only missed four 'big chances' in the division, indicating that the talented gem is not wasteful in front of goal, racked up a strike almost once every other match.

Therefore, the "underrated" Gwangju star – dubbed "underrated" by scout Ali Can Kutlu – could be a huge goal threat for out wide and provide Rodgers with an excellent option to rotate Jota with. Eom could slot in on the left for cup matches or midweek matches in order to avoid burnout for the first-choice winger.

Such an intriguing transfer is a tantalising prospect and would no doubt leave the Hoops with two exciting and young forwards to choose from on that side of the pitch.