Rob Smyth's Blog, page 180
February 12, 2016
Football transfer rumours: John Terry to Manchester United?
Today’s tittle-tattle had the Mummy before it was in the theaters
The Mill and José Mourinho have a lot in common: we’ll chin any man who disses Everybody Loves Raymond, we have an inferiority complex over our inability to understand Oxford commas – and we love scribbling down fantasy XIs of clubs we’d like to manage.
Mourinho is already doing that with Manchester United, according to today’s finger-staining rags. He has come up with 412312915 potential starting XIs, none of which include the words ‘Mata’ or ‘Fellaini’. Many of them do include ‘Bale’, ‘Varane’ and ‘Modric’, who he hopes to sign from Real Madrid. Mourinho will also offend absolutely everybody by bringing John Terry to Old Trafford.
Related: Ed Woodward escapes grilling from Manchester United investors
Continue reading...
February 11, 2016
New Zealand v Australia: first Test, day one – as it happened
5.39am GMT
Related: Australia trail by 36 runs after eventful start to first Test in New Zealand
5.13am GMT
Australia with the honours after an eventful first day’s play of the Trans-Tasman Trophy series. 13 wickets (should have been 14) and 330 runs made for an entertaining spectacle.
The tone was set from the off with Josh Hazlewood and Peter Siddle ripping through New Zealand’s top order after Steve Smith won the toss and sent the home side in. There was a recovery of sorts from 97-7 but 183 was still below par on a good pitch offering a smidgen to the new ball early on.
And here's the delivery that bowled Voges and was then called a no ball... #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/2iVICWxbAu
5.06am GMT
40th over: Australia 147-3 (Khawaja 57, Voges 7)
Bracewell to bowl the final over and Voges doesn’t need to play at the first two of them. The third does make the veteran play at stroke but a positive one from his pads into the on-side.
How the hell is that a no ball!?!!?!!
Oh umpire. You'll be needing this tomorrow.. #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/QxsuUES89b
5.01am GMT
39th over: Australia 144-3 (Khawaja 57, Voges 5)
Penultimate over of the day to be bowled by Mark Craig and it’s safely negotiated by Voges and Khawaja. Everyone expected it to be the final over of play but with two overs still to be bowled in the allocation the umpires are giving the benefit of any doubt to the crowd.
4.57am GMT
38th over: Australia 142-3 (Khawaja 56, Voges 3)
Bracewell bowling a good line and length to Voges as the day’s place begins to wind down. Voges offering a good stride and the full face of his bat to see off a maiden. It felt a bit like watching The Matrix that over. Every ball looked the same but the lengthening shadows hinted at an encroaching malevolent presence.
4.52am GMT
37th over: Australia 142-3 (Khawaja 56, Voges 3)
Khawaja and Voges adding some handy runs late in the day, working Craig all over Basin Reserve without risk.
4.49am GMT
36th over: Australia 136-3 (Khawaja 51, Voges 3)
Awkward little spell for Voges to negotiate. Boult senses the unease and McCullum hands him three slips and a gully to ram home the pressure of the situation.
It is a bad look for Steve Smith to hang around like that. Just get off and let the game go on. Well bowled Mark Craig
4.45am GMT
35th over: Australia 133-3 (Khawaja 50, Voges 1)
Khawaja finally brings up his 50 with a Craig full-toss. It ends an eventful over featuring the bonus dismissal of Smith and a streaky start to Adam Voges’ innings.
4.43am GMT
Out of nowhere does not do this justice. Smith has been serene in the last hour and sashays down the crease to Craig but instead of drilling the ball past the off-spinner, he mistimes it straight into the bowler’s follow through.
Craig took a good catch low down and Smith made sure it was confirmed by TV replays before he departed. Massive bonus for New Zealand. Smith left a big score out on the field there.
WICKET! The mysterious man with two first names Mark Craig gets the Aussie captain Steve Smith! @BLACKCAPS #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/BG5mpriXCJ
4.40am GMT
34th over: Australia 131-2 (Khawaja 49, Smith 71)
Boult’s over goes for three as he keeps Smith on his guard without seriously threatening to break through.
4.36am GMT
33rd over: Australia 128-2 (Khawaja 49, Smith 68)
Maiden from Craig to Khawaja. The Australian’s been stranded on 49 for a while now, for 13 deliveries, and is starting to look a little edgy.
4.32am GMT
32nd over: Australia 128-2 (Khawaja 49, Smith 68)
Needless to say we’ll be utilising the extra half-hour on offer for slow over-rates. Even then we may not see the full allocation bowled.
4.29am GMT
31st over: Australia 126-2 (Khawaja 49, Smith 66)
Commentators suggesting this is becoming a perfect day for Australia. It’s looking that way with Khawaja and Smith tucking in for bed and breakfast.
4.25am GMT
30th over: Australia 125-2 (Khawaja 49, Smith 65)
Boult’s back into the attack and Khawaja welcomes him with a four through midwicket. This pitch may be green but underneath it’s hard and flat, and with the ball doing nothing in the air, there are no excuses now for this pair not to go on to make big scores.
4.22am GMT
29th over: Australia 121-2 (Khawaja 45, Smith 65)
Craig to continue after drinks and he’s bowled better than four overs 0/20 would suggest. This over, typical to the spell, has the set partnership watchful and occasionally nervous and then peeling off a boundary from nowhere. This one from Smith, an inside out drive through extra cover was beautiful.
4.16am GMT
28th over: Australia 116-2 (Khawaja 44, Smith 61)
Another honest over from Bracewell but this pair are set.
This is why the Basin Reserve is rated one of the top ten cricket grounds in the world. #Basin #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/WQZ7ZJ8Was
4.12am GMT
27th over: Australia 115-2 (Khawaja 43, Smith 61)
Craig continuing around the wicket and he makes both batsmen question their strokes without snaring a breakthrough. Tough times for the Kiwis now with both batsmen set and an hour or so still left to play in the day.
4.09am GMT
26th over: Australia 113-2 (Khawaja 42, Smith 60)
Smith has his eye in now and New Zealand don’t know how to bowl to him. Outside off and he leaves without trouble and then the variations get dispatched. This time a bouncer from Bracewell gets lifted over midwicket for six.
4.04am GMT
25th over: Australia 106-2 (Khawaja 42, Smith 53)
Triple half-chance for New Zealand! Craig fires one into Khawaja who’s beaten in the flight, inside edges just past his stumps at Watling fails to take either the catch or the stumping opportunity. Khawaja rubs salt into the wound by picking up four from that delivery and the one following.
4.01am GMT
24th over: Australia 98-2 (Khawaja 34, Smith 53)
Smith activates the respectful chip in his robo-brain, seeing off Bracewell for the cost of a no-ball.
3.56am GMT
23rd over: Australia 97-2 (Khawaja 34, Smith 53)
The off-spinner Craig is brought into the attack, right-arm around the wicket to the right-handed Smith. The first delivery is rank. Slow, wide and loopy, and Smith carves it behind point to bring up an excellent half-century.
Brendon McCullum duck as capt in 100th Test
Allan Border
Stephen Fleming
Dilip Vengsarkar
Mark Taylor
Alastair Cook#greatcompany#NZvAus
3.53am GMT
22nd over: Australia 92-2 (Khawaja 34, Smith 48)
Smith now leaving Bracewell’s fifth stump line with contempt. Propping forward, withdrawing his willow and offering batting’s equivalent of Vicky Pollard’s “am I bothered?” As soon as Bracewell looks for off stump or straighter, Smith milks him on the on-side.
As quick as wickets have been falling, how good is @stevesmith49's innings looking here? #NZvAUS
3.47am GMT
21st over: Australia 89-2 (Khawaja 34, Smith 45)
Not a lot doing in that Anderson over other than an excellent cramped cut shot from Khawaja for yet another boundary. Maybe time for a change of tactic from the Black Caps and consider introducing Mark Craig’s spin into the attack.
So B-Mac became first player to play 100 consecutive Tests since debut in Test history. Tells a lot about his fitness. Champion! #NZvAUS
3.43am GMT
20th over: Australia 84-2 (Khawaja 30, Smith 45)
Four more for Smith off Southee, this time with plenty of top edge to the attempted pull and down to fine leg. Four more to the score but it goes against the wicket-keeper with Southee dropping in a bumper that clears everything but is adjudicated byes, not wides.
Best part of Khawaju innings thus far is on pitch with some seam not a single ball has beaten the outside edge of his bat #AUSvNZ
3.40am GMT
19th over: Australia 76-2 (Khawaja 30, Smith 41)
Corey Anderson on for a trundle and there’s a bit of wobble for him in the air and off the pitch, but not much. Khawaja waits patiently for the bad ball and then introduces it to the third man boundary with a savage late cut.
Interesting to note, 26 wickets in his first five matches, 41 in the 19 since. https://t.co/lWu5iMRklR
3.34am GMT
18th over: Australia 72-2 (Khawaja 26, Smith 41)
Four more for Smith who’s ridden his luck and doesn’t look at the top of his game, but still seems capable of scoring runs at will. Southee again chasing him and being worked off his pads.
The Aussies are in control now after a very shaky start. This partnership is now worth a match-high 62 runs. #NZvAUS
3.29am GMT
17th over: Australia 68-2 (Khawaja 26, Smith 37)
Ominous for New Zealand with Smith breaking those fifth stump line shackles with a glorious cover drive on the up, from the crease. If Smith’s eye is in to that level the Black Caps could be chasing leather for the next hour or so.
3.26am GMT
16th over: Australia 62-2 (Khawaja 25, Smith 32)
Another let off for Smith, top edging a pull from Southee that drops safely into space.
3.22am GMT
15th over: Australia 58-2 (Khawaja 25, Smith 28)
Don’t forget you can join in via Twitter @JPHowcroft, or email: jonathan.howcroft@theguardian.com.
3.15am GMT
14th over: Australia 56-2 (Khawaja 24, Smith 27)
Another boundary for Smith, working the returning Southee to fine leg this time.
3.11am GMT
13th over: Australia 52-2 (Khawaja 24, Smith 23)
Smith continuing the counterattack, smacking a four through point from the first delivery of Bracewell’s over.
DROPPED! Smith edges another one from Bracewell and it goes down in the cordon and races away for four more: https://t.co/T6tZfh79MF #NZvAUS
3.06am GMT
12th over: Australia 39-2 (Khawaja 20, Smith 14)
Khawaja releasing the pressure now, working Boult off his hip for four through midwicket, then teasing one over the slips on the bounce for four more, culminating in a joyous square cut to make it a 12-run over.
3.03am GMT
11th over: Australia 27-2 (Khawaja 8, Smith 14)
Bracewell’s maintaining the pressure on Smith as Boult is on Khawaja. Good partnership bowling from New Zealand. Smith’s smacked on his pads offering no shot but he’s well outside off-stump (not that that matters with him offering no stroke) but too far, and probably too high to justify a big appeal.
2.58am GMT
10th over: Australia 19-2 (Khawaja 8, Smith 6)
Even some of Khawaja’s defensive strokes need a superlative monitor. He looked like he was unfurling a cover drive to Boult but mid-stroke decelerated to push the delivery into the covers.
2.55am GMT
9th over: Australia 19-2 (Khawaja 8, Smith 6)
First bowling change for New Zealand with Doug Bracewell coming into the attack. Smith and Khawaja have their game faces on at the moment though, digging in for the long haul.
2.49am GMT
8th over: Australia 18-2 (Khawaja 7, Smith 6)
Boult applying pressure against Khawaja, stringing a few dots together, asking questions off the pitch. He goes for the wicket ball but there’s no swing for him and the batsman relieves the pressure with a single.
2.45am GMT
7th over: Australia 17-2 (Khawaja 6, Smith 6)
Smith adopting the perfect technique in these conditions. Watchful to anything on off, cashing in as soon as the bowler chases him towards his pads. It really is a game of patience out there for Australia. See off the new ball and then take advantage of the conditions.
2.41am GMT
6th over: Australia 15-2 (Khawaja 6, Smith 4)
Jacob, surely all host broadcasters are biased nowadays? Especially when you’re listening as a supporter of the other team.
2.38am GMT
5th over: Australia 15-2 (Khawaja 6, Smith 4)
Big test now for Smith in his first overseas tour as Test captain. He needs to both stop the rot and take advantage of excellent batting conditions. He’s helped by a lack of swing from Southee, enabling him to feel his way into his innings at his own pace. He clips a couple off his pads.
2.33am GMT
4th over: Australia 13-2 (Khawaja 6, Smith 2)
We need a superlative monitor for Khawaja’s drive. The form Australian gets off the mark with an elegant off drive that clips along the Basin Reserve outfield for four.
2.30am GMT
3rd over: Australia 7-2 (Khawaja 0, Smith 2)
Horrible loose shot from Warner. No foot movement, trying to slap Southee to the point boundary without picking up the pace of the pitch. The ball might be coming on a touch quicker than the batsmen are expecting.
2.27am GMT
Southee has two! And it’s another gift from Australia, Warner slashing at a wide delivery outside off stump and feathering an edge through to the keeper.
They do know this game can last five days, right?
2.24am GMT
2nd over: Australia 5-1 (Warner 5, Khawaja 0)
How will Warner respond to this situation? By caressing Trent Boult twice through the covers for a combined five runs. Boult ploughing that fifth stump furrow to the two left-handers and Warner just leans gently into a couple to get him and his country off the mark.
2.21am GMT
1st over: Australia 0-1 (Warner 0, Khawaja 0)
What a start for New Zealand. Immediately in the contest with the cheap dismissal of Joe Burns. The right-hander just overbalanced a touch trying to work one off his hip, gloving behind to the safe hands of Watling.
2.19am GMT
The $64,000 question: will Tim Southee make the new ball swing? Hmmm, our survey says, “ish”. To deliveries around off it’s swinging from the hand, towards middle and leg it’s angling down.
Fourth delivery angles towards fine leg and New Zealand are up in appeal for a glove behind! Rejected by umpire Kettleborough in the middle... and McCullum’s reviewing! Now then, what does the replay show? There’s a hot spot! Burns has tickled this off his glove to BJ Watling and New Zealand have a wicket in the first over.
2.13am GMT
Another blistering session Mr Lemon. Tip of the hat to you.
The responsibility now falls to me to see how Australia’s batsmen handle similar conditions to those New Zealand failed to adapt to. If there’s swing and seam for Southee and Boult we might be over and out before the weekend’s through.
2.04am GMT
Speaking of Nathan Lyon, it would be an offence to Photoshop if we didn’t post these.
@NeutronGirl @WhiteLineWire Actually, He's more Kimba the White Lion than Simba - pic.twitter.com/Ud9g3afzZL
@NeutronGirl @WhiteLineWire I need to stop this, but the Bird-Lyon combination had me intrigued. pic.twitter.com/c2VRB3Uxyg
@FredTitmus @Donno79 @WhiteLineWire Might be spending too much time on this but hey it's Friday. pic.twitter.com/mHS5kc73Kp
1.59am GMT
48 overs: New Zealand all out 183 (Craig 41)
Crunch time! What an over. Boult is down the wicket once more, but this time he swings Lyon sweetly over midwicket for six!
1.48am GMT
46th over: New Zealand 170-9 (Craig 40, Boult 12)
Hazlewood is punished for his lax fielding by being dragged back into the attack.
1.45am GMT
45th over: New Zealand 167-9 (Craig 37, Boult 12)
Watching Trent Boult bat is one of the unalloyed delights of world cricket. He charges Lyon almost every ball of this over, mostly defending once he gets there. Then as Lyon drops short to counter the charge, Boult cuts two from the last ball.
1.43am GMT
44th over: New Zealand 165-9 (Craig 37, Boult 10)
Suddenly Mark Craig is away as well. Confidence flowing. Siddle bowls with just a touch of width, Craigh cover-drives for four. Next ball, dead straight down the ground for the same result.
1.38am GMT
43rd over: New Zealand 149-9 (Craig 21, Boult 10)
Boult! First wanders towards Lyon and smears two over midwicket. Then finally connects one cleanly and lofts it straight for six! Surely he’s close to moving about Southee in the order. Some good knocks in his last few Tests.
1.37am GMT
42nd over: New Zealand 141-9 (Craig 21, Boult 2)
Just a couple from Tidy Siddle, as Craig gets it through the covers.
1.33am GMT
41st over: New Zealand 139-9 (Craig 19, Boult 2)
Southee went at Lyon first ball and fell. Boult is more the thinking-man’s opening bowler, so he looks at three balls before lifting one over the infield, which looks mighty but pitches at midwicket.
1.27am GMT
This is criminal. Playing on a green seaming deck, and you lose your wickets to the spinner. Southee aims a wallop, gets a big outside edge and it lifts gently to backward point.
1.26am GMT
41st over: New Zealand 137-8 (Craig 18, Southee 0)
Siddle settles into a full length, looking to hit Craig’s pads. Craig bats out a maiden, pushing every ball straight.
1.22am GMT
40th over: New Zealand 137-8 (Craig 18, Southee 0)
Lyon with 1-7 after two overs. How easy is that. Your quicks have toiled away all day, the batsman has survived, then you bring on the spinner and the batsman can’t resist trying to slam a few quick runs.
1.20am GMT
Oh no you didn’t. Oh, you did. Oh, you numpty. Lyon comes on after drinks, Anderson strikes a four down the ground, then goes again next ball and skews it off a high leading edge to mid off.
Two and a half hours of effort, what a waste.
1.14am GMT
39th over: New Zealand 132-7 (Anderson 34, Craig 18)
Again, just the one scoring shot. Again, it hits the fence. Bird beats the bat with one ball to Anderson, but gives him an easy full ball the next that Anderson clips through midwicket. Again, looking better by not trying to crush the shot.
1.11am GMT
38th over: New Zealand 128-7 (Anderson 30, Craig 18)
Marsh bowling pretty nicely now, but one ball gets too straight and Craig is able to glance it fine. They may not have many runs, New Zealand, but the ones they have are being scored in boundaries. I think that makes 17 in the innings.
1.06am GMT
37th over: New Zealand 124-7 (Anderson 30, Craig 14)
Jack Bird is back, the only Australian who hasn’t enjoyed himself today, with 43 runs from his first eight overs.
1.03am GMT
36th over: New Zealand 119-7 (Anderson 26, Craig 13)
Craig is bowled! Except he’s not. The shortish ball from Marsh hits him in the ribs, then the underside of his arm, then the ground, then bounces into his off stump about three quarters of the way off, hard enough to bounce back towards the batsman. But the bails stay at home.
12.59am GMT
35th over: New Zealand 116-7 (Anderson 24, Craig 12)
Oh, Craig. You charmer. Runs a single, gets hit by the throw, realsies there’s no fieldsman nearby at mid-on, so he jogs down their with pads and bat to field the ball himself. Stop it.
12.55am GMT
34th over: New Zealand 113-7 (Anderson 22, Craig 11)
Mitch Marsh now. Still just the one over for Lyon. It’s seamer day. Craig drives three runs out through cover. Not bad. Anderson slogs an attempted pull shot that just clears the bowler and limps straight for two. Bad.
12.53am GMT
33rd over: New Zealand 108-7 (Anderson 20, Craig 8)
Hazlewood continues, he’s bowled 12 of 33 overs so far today. Loving the work. Absolutely thriving on it. Look at his little face.
12.47am GMT
32nd over: New Zealand 108-7 (Anderson 20, Craig 8)
Siddle gives something away for the first time today. A no ball, which Anderson clips for a single. Devastating Siddle’s figures.
12.41am GMT
31st over: New Zealand 102-7 (Anderson 19, Craig 4)
Mark Craig looks quite capable of handling Hazlewood, who has done a lot of work this morning. Two singles from the over.
12.35am GMT
30th over: New Zealand 100-7 (Anderson 18, Craig 3)
Mark Craig away quickly, with a couple of runs square and then a single, which raises the New Zealand 100. But they’re seven wickets down, all of them caught behind the wicket.
12.32am GMT
And Bracewell is stopping. Gets a ball closer to his stumps, never there for a back-foot forcing stroke - almost the worst shot you could play against tight bowling on a pitch with some movement. It takes the edge to slip.
12.31am GMT
29th over: New Zealand 97-6 (Anderson 18, Bracewell 5)
“Everybody gets one,” says Josh Hazlewood, as he gives Bracewell a short wide one for the batsman to clobber away square for four. And a single. Bracewell gets going.
12.24am GMT
28th over: New Zealand 92-6 (Anderson 18, Bracewell 0)
Nice straight drive from Anderson the first ball of Siddle’s over, and it nets him four below the large white sightscreen sheet next to the twin scoreboards (digital and analogue).
12.21am GMT
27th over: New Zealand 88-6 (Anderson 14, Bracewell 0)
The good part of the over for New Zealand was when Watling drove a Hazlewood half volley through cover for four.
12.19am GMT
Well, that didn’t take long. Josh Hazlewood banged it back of a length, it jumped appreciably and even though Watling wasn’t trying to do anything with it, he was drawn into a defensive prod well outside off stump with his feet rooted to the spot, and only succeeded in gloving the ball. Four wickets for JH.
12.16am GMT
26th over: New Zealand 84-5 (Anderson 14, Watling 13)
The remarkable thing is not that Australia has five wickets. The remarkable thing is that they’ve only got through 25 overs in the first session. We’ll be here until midnight at this rate.
11.30pm GMT
Watling drags Bird behind square for a couple, and then forces three more through point. That’s it for a fascinating session. At one stage New Zealand were in danger of being bowled out before lunch, but Anderson and Watling regrouped with calm certainty. It could have been a lot worse for New Zealand, even if it was clearly Australia’s session. Thanks for your company; Geoff Lemon will be with you after lunch. Bye!
11.24pm GMT
23rd over: New Zealand 76-5 (Anderson 11, Watling 8)
That was the last ball of the over. We should have two more before lunch.
11.24pm GMT
This is better from Bird, and Watling, cramped for room by a nipbacker, very nearly drags it onto the stumps. The next ball brings a big LBW shout that is turned down. Was that pad first? Smith has gone for the review. This might be close, although height could also be an issue.
It seems to be pad first, just about, but it’s irrelevant because the point of contact was umpire’s call and so we stay with the on-field decision. “Pitched outside leg” says the third umpire, for reasons best known to himself. Replays show it was hitting the stumps too, so that’s a fair enough review.
11.18pm GMT
22nd over: New Zealand 76-5 (Anderson 11, Watling 8) Mitchell Marsh has a man at short cover for both batsmen, which is odd as he has largely bowled short. That’s not the length on this pitch. New Zealand look very comfortable at the moment. It’s been a session of two distinct segments: five wickets in the first hour, none since.
11.12pm GMT
21st over: New Zealand 75-5 (Anderson 11, Watling 7) That’s Bird’s best over so far, with a consistency of line and length that had previously been elusive. The ball isn’t doing much, however, and that reinforces the perception in the commentary box that New Zealand gave it away a little in the first hour. Guptill was the only batsman who got a really good delivery.
11.08pm GMT
20th over: New Zealand 73-5 (Anderson 11, Watling 6) Marsh is developing into a really handy, wicket-taking fourth seamer. Anderson works a couple off the hip to fine leg. This has been a level-headed partnership, with Anderson particularly impressive in his restraint.
11.03pm GMT
19th over: New Zealand 71-5 (Anderson 9, Watling 6) Anderson punches Bird through mid-off for four, a high-class stroke. New Zealand seem to have targeted Bird, who has disappeared from 35 from his five overs.
11.00pm GMT
18th over: New Zealand 66-5 (Anderson 4, Watling 6) Mitchell Marsh, on for Siddle, almost strikes with his second ball. Watling, trying to turn a lifter to leg, got a leading edge straight up in the air. He had no idea where the ball was as the bowlers and fielders converged, and eventually it bounced and hit him on the back. I think it would have bounced over the stumps had it not hit Watling. The over ends with an optimistic LBW shout against Watling; it was going down.
“Morning/evening Rob,” says Phil Withall. “A small positive for the Kiwis. I’ve just settled down for a morning of cricket watching and housework (I know how to spend a day off) and will be bringing my ability to kill any excitement in a cricket match to the table. You can expect the score to tick over at two an over and no further wickets until I go and cut the grass.”
10.54pm GMT
17th over: New Zealand 66-5 (Anderson 4, Watling 6) Jackson Bird replaces Hazlewood. His first spell was poor, but he should be able to relax now with New Zealand five down. Should. His third ball is too wide and Watling clouts it through the covers for four.
10.50pm GMT
16th over: New Zealand 61-5 (Anderson 4, Watling 1) Those of us who had the misfortune to be born as England cricket fans can’t understand why Siddle isn’t a regular, or at the very least a banker in places like England and New Zealand. He bowls a no-ball to Watling, the first run he has conceded in 27 deliveries. Watling then gets off the mark from is 18th delivery.
10.45pm GMT
15th over: New Zealand 59-5 (Anderson 4, Watling 0) Anderson gets off the mark from his 17th delivery, a flamboyant flick through midwicket for four off Hazlewood. After eight consecutive overs, Hazlewood might be due a break.
10.41pm GMT
14th over: New Zealand 55-5 (Anderson 0, Watling 0) Peter Siddle bowls another maiden; the only difference is that this one doesn’t include a wicket.
“As an Australian fan,” begins David Shepherd, “never has the observation “don’t judge a pitch until both teams have batted on it” seemed so apt.” Indeed, though you’d expect the pitch to get easier as the day progresses. What New Zealand don’t really want is a noble 170-ball 40 from Watling.
10.38pm GMT
13th over: New Zealand 55-5 (Anderson 0, Watling 0) Since you asked, Australia lasted 18.3 overs on that first morning at Trent Bridge. Anderson, scorer of a 36-ball ODI hundred, has faced 13 here without getting off the mark. There are four byes off Hazlewood’s last delivery when the stretching Nevill can’t stop an errant bouncer.
10.33pm GMT
12nd over: New Zealand 51-5 (Anderson 0, Watling 0) If New Zealand lose another quick wicket, McCullum should declare. I’m not being entirely flippant. The scary thing about this morning for New Zealand is that their score includes three overs of nervous rubbish from Jackson Bird. The combined figures of Hazlewood and Siddle are five for 25. They have done nothing spectacular, just adhered to the fundamentals in helpful conditions. It’s a lot harder than it looks. Terrific stuff from Siddle, whose figures are 3-2-4-2.
10.29pm GMT
What were we saying about Trent Bridge? Australia have five wickets before drinks, with the debutant Nicholls the latest man to be caught in the cordon. It was a similar dismissal to Latham’s: a defensive push at a ball that could have been left on line, and a simple edge through to Peter Nevill.
10.27pm GMT
11th over: New Zealand 51-4 (Nicholls 8, Anderson 1) Nicholls times Hazlewood pleasantly through mid-off for three.
“Poor New Zealand,” writes
Livia Soprano
Robert Wilson. “People have the wrong idea about petards. They think it all sounds like some quite amiable kind of pulley system because of that whole hoisting thing. A petard was a bomb. Thus being hoist by your own petard is not much fun at all. Green pitches are always a hostage to fortune. What if you lose the toss and the other blokes are quite good at, you know, cricket? You can end up looking like a right plonker.”
10.22pm GMT
10th over: New Zealand 47-4 (Nicholls 5, Anderson 0) Nicholls, who has started serenely in the circumstances, plays out a maiden from Siddle. New Zealand are in big trouble already. One thing in their favour is that they have been here before – they were bowled out inside 60 overs on the first day of the last two Tests at Wellington, and they recovered to draw famously against India and to hammer Sri Lanka. Australia, of course, are a different challenge in these conditions.
10.18pm GMT
9th over: New Zealand 47-4 (Nicholls 5, Anderson 0) Hazlewood hedged his bets by going up for the LBW as the ball looped up towards gully. As soon as Warner took the catch, the umpire’s finger went up. Australia have taken four wickets in the first nine overs! Hazlewood, who is surely on a fast track to greatness, has figures of 5-0-18-3.
10.15pm GMT
McCullum has gone for a duck! This is turning into a nightmare for New Zealand. McCullum got a big inside-edge to a nipbacker from Hazlewood that looped to Warner at third slip.
Shaping as a good power-play for nz! Nothing like moving the game forward when confronted with a pitch with a tinge!! Good viewing
10.12pm GMT
8th over: New Zealand 44-3 (Nicholls 2, McCullum 0) That was an unusually poor shot from Williamson, and has left New Zealand in big trouble after only 40 minutes of the match. The new batsman is Brendon McCullum, playing his 100th Test, and he gets a standing ovation on his way to the crease. He has got his team out of trouble on this ground in the past, but usually in the third innings. They need something from him today.
10.08pm GMT
Peter Siddle takes the big wicket of Kane Williamson with his second ball! Williamson plays a loose drive outside off stump and gets a thick inside edge that is taken brilliantly by the keeper Peter Nevill, diving a long way to his left.
10.05pm GMT
7th over: New Zealand 40-2 (Williamson 12, Nicholls 2) Henry Nicholls is the new batsman. There are tougher circumstances in which to make your Test debut – ask Ken Rutherford – but not many. He gets off the mark first ball with a clip off the pads for two.
10.02pm GMT
Another one for Hazlewood! Guptill is turned round by an excellent delivery, full and moving away just enough to take the edge, and Steve Smith takes a smart catch at second slip.
10.00pm GMT
6th over: New Zealand 38-1 (Guptill 18, Williamson 12) A second no-ball from Bird, who has started pretty nervously. Williamson gets consecutive boundaries with a classy flick wide of mid-on and a gorgeous drive down the ground. Bird has figures of 3-0-25-0, and I’d imagine Siddle will replace him at that end.
Astonishing events at the Basin Reserve as a front foot no-ball is called in a Test match.
9.54pm GMT
5th over: New Zealand 28-1 (Guptill 17, Williamson 4) Williamson’s oldfangled ability to bat time makes him even more important than usual today. He gets off the mark with a beautiful push drive through the covers for four off Hazlewood.
9.51pm GMT
4th over: New Zealand 24-1 (Guptill 17, Williamson 0) Bird has concentrated on a good length so far, and could maybe pitch it up a fraction more. Yes, I am giving bowling tips to a man with 177 first-class wickets more than me. Guptill mispulls a short ball safely for two and then works another boundary to move to 17 off 14 balls. He has clearly decided to play his natural attacking game, and get as many as he can before the pitch gets him.
9.47pm GMT
3rd over: New Zealand 17-1 (Guptill 11, Williamson 0) If Australia get the great Kane Williamson early, they will happy as Larry, and New Zealand will be as happy as Larry David.
“Looks like an impressive crowd at the Basin Reserve - and there seem to have been good crowds in all the NZ matches I’ve caught this season,” writes Steven Larcombe. “ Has this been remarked upon? Is it a sign of McCullum-driven upswing in cricket’s popularity in NZ?” I’m sure it is, although it’s not just McCullum; New Zealand have some seriously exciting players.
9.43pm GMT
Yes, Latham is out. He pushed forward defensively at Hazlewood and seemed to get a routine edge through to Nevill. Australia did not so much appeal as celebrate; then, when it was given not out by Richard Illingworth, they reviewed straight away and continued to celebrate even before the third umpire had looked at the replays. Those replays confirmed the outside edge, so Hazlewood has an important early wicket.
9.41pm GMT
I think Latham is out there.
9.40pm GMT
2nd over: New Zealand 15-0 (Guptill 11, Latham 4) Jackson Bird, a horse for the New Zealand courses, shares the new ball. His first ball, to Guptill, kicks a bit from a length and takes a thick edge before landing short of point. An eventful over includes a pull for four from Guptill, a gorgeous leg-cutter that beats the outside edge, and an errant delivery that is flicked confidently wide of mid-on for another boundary. New Zealand are off to a breakneck start.
9.35pm GMT
1st over: New Zealand 7-0 (Guptill 3, Latham 4) Josh Hazlewood will open the bowling to Martin Guptill. He has become one of the world’s best one-day openers, but hasn’t yet worked out a successful way to play in Test cricket. There were hints that he might be getting there with a fine 156 against Sri Lanka in December, easily his best Test innings. And he starts confidently here, driving the second ball crisply through extra cover for three. Tom Latham starts well too, clipping a poor delivery from Hazlewood off the pads for four.
9.29pm GMT
Brendon McCullum says that anything over 300 would be a great score. The key for them is to stay in the game on the first day; Australia will be looking for Trent Bridge in reverse.
9.16pm GMT
In the last two Tests on this ground, against India and then Sri Lanka, New Zealand were skittled on the first day after being put in but recovered to dominate the match by virtue of monstrous third-innings scores.
9.11pm GMT
New Zealand Guptill, Latham, Williamson, Nicholls, McCullum (c), Anderson, Watling (wk), Bracewell, Craig, Southee, Boult.
Australia Warner, Burns, Khawaja, Smith (c), Voges, M Marsh, Nevill (wk), Siddle, Hazlewood, Lyon, Bird.
9.09pm GMT
Henry Nicholls makes his debut for New Zealand, while Jackson Bird returns to the Australian side for the first time since the 2013 Ashes.
9.06pm GMT
That’s a big toss to win on a wicket that is expected to be greener than grass itself.
Two McCullum's at the toss today. Maya with her Dad at his 100th consecutive Test. Special… https://t.co/WHfC3nvCxG
8.56pm GMT
Hello. These days, everything has to be the best or worst. This, for example, is literally the most pointless sentence in the history of the Guardian, a once proud newspaper. In such an environment, it can become hard to retain a sensible outlook. But even after a 17-hour stint viewing the world through the Guardian’s patented Perspective Specs, we reckon this might be the most keenly anticipated Australia/New Zealand series of all time.
The contests in the mid-to-late 1980s were memorable for all kinds of reasons, from the “catch of the century” to the catch that wasn’t, but even they did not engender the same level of excitement beforehand. This could be a classic: two relentlessly attacking teams, on lively pitches, with a heap of subplots that could legitimately demand a spin-off series of their own.
12.40am GMT
Rob will be here shortly. Time then to catch up on some team news, in case you missed it:
Related: Jackson Bird recalled by Australia for first Test against New Zealand
Continue reading...February 7, 2016
Chelsea v Manchester United: Premier League – as it happened
Diego Costa’s injury-time equaliser cancelled out Jesse Lingard’s fine goal in an enjoyably open match
Read Dominic Fifield’s full match report here6.14pm GMT
Read Dominic Fifield’s full match report here:
Related: Chelsea’s Diego Costa strikes at the last to deny Manchester United
5.55pm GMT
That’s the end of an increasingly enjoyable game. Costa and De Gea embrace. Louis van Gaal is giving the fourth official the hairdryer, for reasons that aren’t immediately clear. That Costa goal surely ends United’s title challenge, and De Gea’s wonderful save might end Chelsea’s chance of being in Europe next season. Paradoxically, fans of both sides should be pretty happy tonight, because there was plenty to enjoy in their attacking play. Thanks for your company, goodnight!
5.53pm GMT
90+6 min De Gea makes a brilliant save to win a point for United! Costa rumbled into the box on the left, came inside Smalling and drove a crisp shot towards the near post. It was going in but De Gea got down so smartly to tip it round the corner.
5.51pm GMT
90+5 min Juan Mata is applauded off by both sets of fans as he is replaced by Ander Herrera.
5.50pm GMT
90+4 min A lovely effort from Rooney, who beats Ivanovic on the left of the box and then floats a gentle chip over Courtois and onto the roof of the net. Courtois didn’t look worried, in fairness to him.
5.50pm GMT
90+3 min Chelsea are pushing for a winner. Schneiderlin concedes a free-kick that is woefully overhit by Willian.
5.49pm GMT
Fabregas stabbed a straight, short-range pass towards Costa in the area. He was played onside by Borthwick-Jackson, who came across and slid in to challenge as Costa shaped to shoot from eight yards. Borthwick-Jackson got there first, but his sliding tackle only diverted the ball away from the grounded De Gea, and Costa was able to tap the ball into the vacant net with considerable glee.
5.47pm GMT
Costa has equalised!
5.47pm GMT
90+1 min Depay wasted a promising break with an almost offensively sloppy pass towards Schneiderlin.
5.47pm GMT
90 min There will be six minutes of added time, a result of the Zouma injury.
5.46pm GMT
89 min Willian curves a free kick to the far post, where Costa gets above Blind but thumps his header over the bar from six yards. He should probably have scored, or at least forced David de Gea into a miracle save.
5.45pm GMT
88 min Alan Smith, on Sky, says United would be deserved winners, and he’ll be thrilled to know that I agree. Apart from the 10 minutes before half time, when they were all over the show, they have controlled the game. They haven’t created that many chances, they never do, but they have had a lot of the ball. Until the last 10 minutes, anyway: apparently Chelsea have had 93 per cent of the possession in that time! Pick that stat out!
5.43pm GMT
87 min “Wow!” says Ezra Finkelstein. “Rooney didn’t score for United.” I know! First time since 2009 I think.
5.42pm GMT
86 min Another United substitution: Memphis replaces the goalscorer Lingard.
5.41pm GMT
85 min United can’t get out of their third, never mind their half.
5.40pm GMT
84 min The corner is a poor one from Willian. But the pressure is building, and Mata fouls Hazard 30 yards from goal out on the left. Another Willian free-kick... is cleared.
5.39pm GMT
83 min Smalling is booked for a deliberate handball, just outside the box to the left. I’m not really sure he could have done anything to get out the way, but never mind. The free-kick is taken by Willian and headed clear by Martial. A few seconds later, Terry wins a corner.
5.37pm GMT
82 min I wonder if Luke Shaw or Borthwick-Jackson can play anywhere else, because this kid is the most promising homegrown United youngster in a long time. His crossing is outstanding and he seems eerily composed for a 19-year-old.
5.36pm GMT
80 min Lingard is booked for being a naughty boy.
5.36pm GMT
79 min “De Gea,” writes Mike Gibbons, whose brilliant book you should buy here. “This is Ronaldo 2008-09, without the histrionics. He’s going to do one, isn’t he? May as well enjoy him while we can.”
It’s so easy to get lost in the moment, and think that the best now is the best ever, but I can’t ever recall a goalkeeper with better reflexes than De Gea.
5.34pm GMT
78 min Another good move from United is ruined by an overhit cross from Lingard. Van Gaal makes his first substitution, with Schneiderlin replacing Fellaini.
5.33pm GMT
76 min Mikel leaves his studs on Carrick, who is booed by the Chelsea fans for experiencing consequent pain. Some refs might have sent him off, though it was one-footed – rather than two, like Flamini earlier – and he was probably in control of his body.
5.31pm GMT
74 min Darmian’s low cross comes to Rooney, 14 yards out. His first touch controls it behind him, and as it bounces up he improvises to hook an acrobatic shot – not a volley – that is not far wide of the near post. Courtois had it covered I think.
5.29pm GMT
72 min Another good save from De Gea. Fabregas does really well to slip away from Blind and Borthwick-Jackson on the right side of the area before smashing a rising shot towards the near post. De Gea is sufficiently alert to stretch and push it behind for a corner – from which, Terry’s scuffed shot is cleared off the line by Martial. It might actually have been going wide, I’m not sure; Martial was on the far post anyway.
5.27pm GMT
70 min This is a good spell for Chelsea. Cahill gets in front of Fellaini at the near post, running onto Willian’s right-wing corner, but he mistimes his header and United survive.
5.25pm GMT
68 min A fine save from De Gea keeps out Ivanovic’s brilliant volley. A cross from the right was headed up in the air by Azpilicueta at the far post, and Ivanovic – lurking six yards out to the left of centre like all good right-backs – welted a technically superb left-footed volley towards goal. De Gea demonstrated his peerless reflexes, stretching to tip it over the bar. DDG is indeed dead, dead good.
5.23pm GMT
67 min Guus Hiddink makes his final chance, with Pedro replacing Nemanja Matic.
5.22pm GMT
65 min If the scoreline stays like this, United will move within four points of City, five of Arsenal and Spurs and ten of Leicester. Martial almost makes it two, running clear onto Fellaini’s through pass, but Courtois plays sweeper-keeper to good effect. From the resulting throw, Lingard clatters a bouncing ball not far away from the top corner on the far side. Moments later, Borthwick-Jackson puts it another gorgeous cross but there’s only Rooney in the box.
5.20pm GMT
63 min Blind is booked for shoving Costa over from behind, just outside the box on the right.
5.18pm GMT
It was a nice move involving Carrick, Martial, Mata and then Borthwick-Jackson, who fizzed a low cross into the box from the left. It ricocheted to Lingard, who was 12 yards out, facing away from goal and with Azpilicueta behind him. He kept his composure to take a touch and then smash a rising half-volleyed drive on the turn that gave Courtois no chance. That’s a really nice goal.
5.16pm GMT
Manchester United take the lead with a fine goal from Jesse Lingard!
5.15pm GMT
59 min Play resumes, with Cahill on for Zouma.
“It was Sharpe!” says Scott Wightman. “Sorry. I got lost looking at this picture of Valbuena in action against Belgium the other week. IMHO Sharpe as the 5 is one of the great weird numberings because all of the virtues one traditionally associates with a 5 - physical strength, intense concentration, better without the ball at their feet - were absent from Sharpe’s (considerable) game. Zidane was a 5 but he genuinely could have played anywhere if he wanted to.”
5.15pm GMT
58 min Zouma is being moved very carefully onto a stretcher. I can’t remember the last time I heard a footballer scream as much as that. It brought to mind Syd Lawrence’s sickening injury for England against New Zealand in the 1991-92 Test series, though I should stress that there’s no suggestion Zouma’s injury is as bad as that.
(Warning: this clip is definitely not for the sensitive)
5.12pm GMT
55 min Zouma is in trouble here. He’s screaming with pain every couple of seconds, and a stretcher is coming on. He landed awkwardly as he cleared a loose ball, and it doesn’t look good. Gary Cahill will replace him.
5.11pm GMT
Betis have won twice at home all season ... against David Moyes's Real Sociedad and Gary Neville's Valencia.
5.10pm GMT
54 min A Chelsea substitution: Oscar off, Eden Hazard on.
5.10pm GMT
54 min “All I remember about numbers was that the tiny sticky-backed ones you could buy to attach to the back of Subbuteo players used a glue that consisted of the most unadhesive substance known to mankind at the time,” says Kevin Porter. “I believe its modern application is to coat distressed ice-rinks.”
Oh my, I’d forgotten all about those. You could learn everything about the innate cruelty of life just by spending half an hour trying to number your Subbuteo players.
5.10pm GMT
53 min Another chance for United. A cross from the right bounces off Martial, but he gets to the loose ball first and tees it up for Lingard in the D He shapes a curler towards the corner, and Courtois dives a long way to his left to make a fine save.
5.07pm GMT
51 min “I used to love the exoticism of squad numbers when they were confined to international tournaments,” says Martin Gamage. “Take the Holland team at the 1974 World Cup when the keeper, Jan Jongbloed, sported the number 8 shirt. It suggested that even the keeper had the ability to embrace total football, come over all Johnny Rep, and plant a wonderful shot into the opposition’s top corner.”
5.07pm GMT
50 min Two chances for United. First Blind reads the play to pick Costa’s pocket near the halfway line and find Rooney. He comes in from the left and hits a good shot that is beaten away by Courtois, diving low to his right. United almost score moments later when Martial comes infield from the left, easily away from Ivanovic, only to drag a decent chance wide of the near post from 10 yards.
5.05pm GMT
49 min United have started the second half as they did the first, with lots of the ball.
5.04pm GMT
49 min “I detest both teams,” chirps Gene Salorio, “but I find Fellaini’s persistent fouling much more annoying than Costa’s thuggery. The latter is, sometimes, an amusing part of the spectacle. The former is just static.”
5.04pm GMT
48 min Mata’s curving cross from a narrow position finds Rooney in space 12 yards out, but he mistimes his jump and the ball loops into Courtois’ hands. It was an awkward chance because the ball was hit with pace by Mata.
5.02pm GMT
47 min “I think it was Denis Law who first used the phrase ‘Twisted Blood’, in relation to what George Best, on his debut, left Graham Williams of WBA with,” says Mark Power. “Although I’d hate to suggest that SAF allowed an unoriginal thought into his head ...”
I thought it was Paddy Crerand? I wasn’t saying Alex (we’re pals) invented it, just that he used it for the first time (to my knowledge) after that 4-1 win at Chelsea in October 1995.
5.02pm GMT
46 min Peep peep!
4.51pm GMT
It’s only
Ray Parlour’s autobiography
the return of our old friend Ryan Dunne!
“Re: numbers. I did always find it a tad off that Veron was given David May’s #4 shirt, but it’s amusing to imagine him asking what the previous occupier of the position was like and Fergie giving it the big sell (“aye he was a key part of the Treble success, just look at where the lad’s standing in the photos” etc).”
4.49pm GMT
Half-time chit-chat “Is it decided?” says Jeffrey Sisler. “Is Cahill definitely the #3 centreback for Chelsea? I miss his height in the box.” Let me ask Guus and get back to you, I’m meeting him for a Flat White tomorrow.
@robsmyth0 Yes it was Lee Sharpe! Met him in 1992 in the Britannia Hotel in Manchester. Lovely chap #5
4.47pm GMT
Peep peep! An adequate half of football comes to an end. See you in 10 minutes!
4.46pm GMT
45+1 min Chelsea could have had a penalty there. Willian’s deflected cross came to Terry, 10 yards out. He hooked the bouncing ball towards goal, and it hit the hand of Blind before deflecting wide of the far post. Blind’s hands were up as he threw himself at the ball in the kamikaze/John Terry style, so you can understand why Chelsea were aggrieved.
4.44pm GMT
44 min After a nice move involving Rooney, Mata and Lingard, Darmian sidefoots a diagonal low cross that somehow misses everyone and goes out for a goalkick on the far side. That was a beautiful cross.
4.43pm GMT
43 min Willian finds Costa on the left. He tries to come inside Darmian, who knocks the ball onto Costa and out for a goal-kick. Costa doesn’t dispute the decision. I know.
4.42pm GMT
42 min United have restored order with a bit of tiki-takanaccio.
4.40pm GMT
40 min Oscar does the sour metres, tracking back to concede a corner when Lingard breaks clear on the right. It’s United’s 10th of the half. Blind swings it in and Fellaini, wrestling with Zouma, heads not far wide of the far post from 10 yards. Actually that come off his shoulder, not his abundant noggin.
4.39pm GMT
39 min “On the topic of squad numbers, I hold their introduction into the Premier League as one of the causes of the current state where about a quarter of Anfield empties in protest well before the end of the game, and even Arsene Wenger is advocating splurging forthcoming television millions on players (and their agents and salaries),” says David Wall. “They used to be just an additional treat to decorate international tournaments, but once they became common-place they then had to be followed by names on the back of shirts, for further ease of identification, and then you get the cult of the individual where a player signing a contract extension can be an item on the national television news without further explanation of the context or why it is significant (why anyone other than him and the club should care about his employment conditions). I wonder if a return to 1-11 numbering would roll back the tide.”
The only way to roll back the tide is to put the internet back in its box. We all know it, we just don’t know how to do it. Also: WAS IT LEE SHARPE?
4.38pm GMT
38 min Diego Costa does his thing, bundling Borthwick-Jackson off and then stomping around with an affronted coupon.
4.37pm GMT
37 min “This really has been a half of two halves,” says Maher Sattar. “That’s all I have.” It’s more than I got.
4.35pm GMT
36 min Chelsea have been superb in the last 10 minutes and could easily have scored three times.
4.35pm GMT
35 min Willian puts Borthwick-Jackson on his backside with a lovely feint and then sidefoots an inviting cross along the six-yard box. Darmian blocks Oscar at the near post and Azpilicueta at the far post can’t get there.
4.33pm GMT
34 min Another chance for Chelsea, this time for Oscar. who picks up a return pass from Fabregas and sidefoots high and wide from a tightish angle, 10 yards out.
4.32pm GMT
33 min “Surely, surely this is a United side that has improved and grown up and moved on from the one that huffed and puffed ineffectively only to be undone by one moment of Eden Hazard magic last season?” says Thabo Mokaleng. “Surely?”
Have you been cryogenically frozen for the last nine months?
4.32pm GMT
32 min Costa misses the best chance of the match. It was a neat move from Chelsea, involving Oscar and Willian. Oscar played a penetrative ball down the inside right channel to Costa, who ran away from Blind and then sidefooted a shot just wide of the far post from 15 yards. It wasn’t a sitter, though he probably should have scored.
4.30pm GMT
30 min This is Chelsea’s best spell. Fabregas almost blunders straight through the defence, with the last man Smalling sliding it to challenge him.
“Speaking of shirt numbers, do you think Chelsea will retire the no. 26, if Terry is set to leave after the season?” says Konstantin Sauer. “After all, it’s not exactly one of the numbers regarded as ‘legendary’.” I suppose. Might as well.
4.29pm GMT
29 min Ivanovic gives Martial a taste of his own medicine, driving forward to win a corner. It’s swung out towards Matic, whose flicked header at the near post is caught acrobatically by De Gea. It was a comfortable save.
4.27pm GMT
28 min For all the unarguable competence of United’s passing, they haven’t created much. Mata has been busy but only Martial looks threatening.
4.27pm GMT
26 min Chelsea get their first corner of the match. It’s swung in and headed over the bar by Costa, who makes a beeline for the referee Mr Michael Oliver to complain about the intrinsic unfairness of being Diego Costa. Blind was leaning on him a but, but, well, no.
4.25pm GMT
24 min “No5,” says David Wall. “It was Mike Phelan, wasn’t it.” He used to wear No5, but I thought that was before squad numbers. Didn’t they come in for the second season of the Premier League? By which time Giggs was around and wearing No11, so Sharpe needed another number. I don’t know.
Jeez, this is hot chat.
4.24pm GMT
22 min It was a goal from Ryan Giggs on this ground that first leg Sir Alex Ferguson to use the phrase “twisted blood”. Another United left winger, Martial, is starting to twist Ivanovic’s blood. He wins another corner, which leads to another corner, which leads to a third. Blind takes it and it so nearly falls to Fellaini six yards out. But it doesn’t, so let’s move on.
4.22pm GMT
21 min Martial’s dangerous inswinging cross towards the abundant noggin of Fellaini is superbly defender by Terry (I think).
4.19pm GMT
20 min It could be a long afternoon of the soul for Ivanovic against Martial, who looks the most dangerous player on the pitch.
4.18pm GMT
18 min That’s a lovely save from Courtois. Martial moved infield from the left, ignored Ivanovic and then, from the corner of the box, smashed a fierce right-footed shot towards the far top corner. Courtois stretched high to his left to tip it round for a corner.
4.17pm GMT
17 min “Afternoon Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “Seeing as people seem to be asking questions in their emails today, riddle me this. Who do you reckon will be managing these two clubs in the corresponding fixture next season?” Mourinho and Simeone. You have my word.
4.15pm GMT
16 min A wonderful, Gascoigne-like surge through the heart of midfield from Willian eventually leads to Oscar hitting a fierce 20-yard shot that is well blocked. That was Chelsea’s best/only attack so far.
4.14pm GMT
15 min “In the squad number era (better name than the Premier League era if you ask me),” begins Scott Wightman, “Bruce was United’s original 4 and Pallister the 6, but who was the original 5? Clue: it’s not Ronny Johnsen.” Was it Sharpe?
4.14pm GMT
14 min “If I remember, didn’t Liverpool start the decline of proper numbering by putting the slight and nippy Craig Johnston in the 5 shirt, in the days when it was the preserve of large chaps who looked like they snacked on housebricks?” asks Simon Cherry. Don’t forget Argentina 1978, who numbered their World Cup squad in the hipster style.
Related: What's in a number?
4.13pm GMT
13 min A crisp low shot from Carrick, 25 yards out, is well held by Courtois down to his left.
4.12pm GMT
12 min Mata and Rooney work the ball nicely to release Borthwick-Jackson, whose cross is blocked for a corner by Ivanovic. Borthwick-Jackson has started really well. Blind’s corner is headed clear to Rooney, who completely mishits a volley from 30 yards.
4.10pm GMT
10 min Another corner to United down the right. Blind takes it short to Darmian, whose cross is headed out for a throw-in by Terry. United are all over Chelsea.
4.08pm GMT
9 min United have started so well that you feel sure they are going to lose 1-0 despite having 68 per cent possession.
4.07pm GMT
8 min The corner is cleared to Borthwick-Jackson, who drills a low 30-yarder straight at Courtois. An easy save.
4.07pm GMT
7 min Another corner for United, who are the dominant side at the moment. Blind swings it in from the right and Costa slices it behind for another corner.
4.05pm GMT
6 min “What club did Manchester United buy Darmain from?” asks Dacre. “Also how much did they pay for him?” Torino, £12.7m; oh and you should definitely wear the pink tie.
4.05pm GMT
5 min Meanwhile, in Naples.
Related: Napoli fans wear masks of Kalidou Koulibaly in protest against racism
4.03pm GMT
4 min United have started like the home side, with some confident passing. Lingard finds Fellaini in a good position down the right; his low cross towards Rooney is inadequate, but moments later a better cross from Borthwick-Jackson is headed behind for a corner by Zouma. The corner is played short, to no great effect.
4.02pm GMT
3 min “Re: Tom Harp’s email,” begins Harry Tuttle. “I‘m always a little disappointed to see No6 in midfield and No4 stuck in defence, if I’m honest.”
All we can ask is that you be honest.
4.01pm GMT
2 min A decent early attack from United ends with Matic blocking Lingard and allowing the ball to run through to Courtois.
3.59pm GMT
1 min Chelsea, in blue, kick off from right to left. United are in red.
3.59pm GMT
If you're into the whole pre-order thing, you can get I'll See You Out There here: https://t.co/8RIZDzH9rK
3.56pm GMT
The players emerge from the tunnel, with John Terry feeling the love of Stamford Bridge. This, of course, will be his last game against Manchester United before he signs a one-year contract extension.
3.51pm GMT
An email “Some trivia for you. Scottish FA Cup, East Kilbride vs Celtic, latest 0-1 (HT),” says Tom Harp. “East Kilbride line up with players wearing shirts 1 to 11. Playing formation 1-4-5-1. Goalkeeper is #1, defenders #2-5, centre-forward #9, midfielders the balance. When is the last time you saw that?”
It’s so funny you should say this, because yesterday my Saturday-league team played a 2-3-5-1 with the goalkeepers wearing #1-2, the defenders #3-5 and so on.
3.51pm GMT
Guus Hiddink and Louis van Gaal are chatting away on Sky. Here are the points of interest from their pre-match interviews:
3.44pm GMT
Arsenal moved up to third with a 2-0 win at Bournemouth. That means Manchester City are now fourth, and United are seven points off a Champions League place, for a couple of hours at least.
Related: Arsenal back to winning ways at Bournemouth thanks to Mesut Özil
3.02pm GMT
Both sides are unchanged, so Eden Hazard stays on the Chelsea bench. You just haven’t earned it yet, baby.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1) Courtois; Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Azpilicueta; Mikel, Matic; Willian, Fabregas, Oscar; Costa.
Subs: Begovic, Baba Rahman, Cahill, Loftus-Cheek, Pedro, Traore, Hazard.
2.48pm GMT
This is where Twitter really comes into its own
.@diegocosta and Kenedy arriving for today's game... https://t.co/pIJajC6zej
2.46pm GMT
From the archive
A typically brilliant piece from Scott Murray, including George Best managing to score at the Stretford End despite being the victim of a hit-and-run.
Related: The Joy of Six: Manchester United v Chelsea matches | Scott Murray
2.46pm GMT
In the 1.30pm kick off, Arsenal are leading 2-0 at Bournemouth. Get the latest news with Nick Ames’ MBM.
Related: Bournemouth v Arsenal: Premier League – live!
1.11pm GMT
Hello and welcome to live coverage of this Premier League contest between the teams in 13th and fifth place, also known as Chelsea versus Manchester United. It’s been an odd time for both clubs, a lost season while Jose Mourinho does the necessary to get what he really, really wants.
Chelsea are unbeaten in 12 games since Mourinho was sacked in December. United are on a celebrated unbeaten run of their own – two matches, in which they have scored six goals, some of them beautiful. If they win today they will be able to rationalise that they are back in the title race.
Continue reading...February 6, 2016
South Africa v England: second ODI – as it happened
Alex Hales’ mature 99 and a thrilling cameo from Jos Buttler gave England an ultimately comfortable victory in Port Elizabeth
3.43pm GMT
So, England lead 2-0 with three to play. This a wonderful time to be an England cricket fan, especially after all that misery from 2013-15, and you could argue they are the most exciting team in the world. They are nowhere near the best, not yet, but everything is going in the right direction. Thanks for your company, bye!
3.41pm GMT
That was another majestic performance from Jos Buttler, who tonked 48 from 28 balls to turn a tight runchase into a stroll. He is surely among the world’s best limited-overs batsmen now, and he will especially thrilled with the congratulatory handshake from his hero AB de Villiers.
3.38pm GMT
46.2 overs: England 263-5 (Buttler 48, Moeen 21) Since being dropped from the Test team, Buttler has made 330 runs at an average of 110 and a strike rate of 151. But it’s Moeen who completes a fine victory, smashing Morkel for consecutive boundaries. England have finished the match by scoring 26 off the last five deliveries!
3.36pm GMT
46th over: England 255-5 (target 263; Buttler 48, Moeen 13) Moeen is dropped! He drove Tahir high to wide long off, where Behardien put down a running catch. By modern standards that was relatively straightforward. Even by modern standards, Buttler is pretty awesome: he smashes three successive sixes with an effortless straight drive, a slog sweep and another thumping hit down the ground.
3.32pm GMT
45th over: England 234-5 (target 263; Buttler 30, Moeen 10) Rabada is into his penultimate over, and South Africa really need another wicket. England do bat deep – Jordan, Rashid, Willey,
Topley
– but these are the last two proper batsmen. No wicket but only three runs from the over. He is so good for a 20-year-old.
3.29pm GMT
44th over: England 231-5 (target 263; Buttler 29, Moeen 9) Kyle Abbott ushers England towards the finish line with a poor over that goes for 16. It includes three consecutive boundaries for Buttler, who is controlling an awkward little run-chase with such authority.
3.22pm GMT
43rd over: England 215-5 (target 263; Buttler 13, Moeen 6) Yes, the square-leg umpire Dharmasena did help give Hales out. The other umpire, Johan Cloete, had his view obscured as Hales followed through after the ball hit the thigh pad, but Dharmasena was able to see that it then came off the face of the bat and went through to de Kock.
England are making this harder than it needed to be, though they are still the likelier winners. Moeen drags Rabada round the corner for four to help bring the target down to 48 from 42 balls. Should.
3.18pm GMT
42nd over: England 209-5 (target 263; Buttler 13, Moeen 2) That was a really strange dismissal. Hales missed his attempted pull and only hit the ball in his follow through after it deflected off his thigh pad. The umpire took absolutely ages to give it, which makes you wonder whether the square-leg umpire had something to do with it. Anyway, however it came about, it was the right decision.
3.15pm GMT
For the second time in his England career, Alex Hales falls for 99! He tried to pull the new bowler Abbott and gloved it down the leg side. After a long delay, he was given out by the umpire. That’s a sad end to an excellent, responsible innings.
3.12pm GMT
41st over: England 202-4 (target 263; Hales 99, Buttler 9) Hales moves to 99 off Behardien, whose over completes the fifth-bowler allotment.
3.07pm GMT
40th over: England 198-4 (target 263; Hales 97, Buttler 7) Hales, on 96, doesn’t pick Tahir’s googly and inside-edges it not far wide of leg stump. Four singles from the over.
3.05pm GMT
39th over: England 194-4 (target 263; Hales 95, Buttler 5) A poor move from AB de Villiers, who tries to sneak in one of the remaining fifth-bowler overs at a time when it would surely have been better to keep the pressure on England. Duminy is clobbered through the covers for four by Hales, and in total the overs goes for 10. So England now need just 69 from 11 overs.
3.01pm GMT
38th over: England 184-4 (target 263; Hales 89, Buttler 1) “As a passionate, misty-eyed fan of glacially-paced Test matches, nine-hour rearguards and charmless shirtfront draws, is it misplaced if I say that this is just a touch boring?” says Robert Wilson. “I’m not sure why - actually, I am - no one playing in this games seems to care very much. It’s denting my suspension of disbelief. I need to believe...”
Hmm, yes I know what you mean: the first 35 overs felt very predictable. That said, it could be stumbling towards a thrilling conclusion.
2.58pm GMT
37th over: England 180-4 (target 263; Hales 86, Buttler 0) For the first time since the start of the innings, England are under a fair bit of pressure. The new batsman is Jos Buttler, of Lancashire and the Mumbai Indians. He survives a big LBW shout second ball; he was outside the line, having walked down the wicket to Morkel, and the ball scuttled away for four leg-byes.
2.56pm GMT
Stokes completes one of the more eventful ducks in England’s one-day history, pushing indeterminately at Morkel and dragging the ball back onto the stumps.
2.52pm GMT
36th over: England 175-3 (target 263; Hales 86, Stokes 0) That’s the end of an eventful over.
2.52pm GMT
It was the googly from Tahir, with Stokes missing a reverse sweep. I think it pitched outside leg. Yes, it did, so Stokes survives!
2.50pm GMT
This is South Africa’s chance. Another quick wicket would prompt mild panic in the England dressing-room, although they do bat really deep. How is that not out?! Stokes tried to sweep Tahir, missed, and seemed to be completely plumb. But the umpire Johan Cloete gave it not out, and of course South Africa have used their review.
In fact, it turns out it’s the right decision by the wrong working. The umpire gave leg-byes, but replays showed there was a slight underedge from Stokes. But he’s been given out this time!
2.46pm GMT
35th over: England 170-3 (target 263; Hales 84, Stokes 0) Stokes is in ahead of Buttler. I’ve no idea why, perhaps to keep a left-hand/right-hand partnership.
2.44pm GMT
Morkel strikes with the third ball of a new spell. Morgan, on the charge, was duped by a slower leg-cutter and had to reach a long way in order to slog it to leg. The ball went miles in the air, and de Villiers ran back towards long off to take a fine catch.
2.38pm GMT
34th over: England 168-2 (target 263; Hales 82, Morgan 29) Tahir comes into the attack again. It’s “buffet stuff”, says Shaun Pollock, except he pronounces it like Phoebe’s surname in Friends. Morgan brings up a comfortable fifty partnership at more than a run a ball, and it’s time for drinks.
2.34pm GMT
33rd over: England 162-2 (target 263; Hales 80, Morgan 26) When Behardien gives him a bit of width, Morgan blasts it through extra cover for four. The last ball is far too short and Morgan smashes a pull over midwicket for six! England are cruising and will have to really excel themselves if they are to cock this up.
2.30pm GMT
32nd over: England 150-2 (target 263; Hales 78, Morgan 15)
2.25pm GMT
31st over: England 145-2 (target 263; Hales 76, Morgan 13) Tahir was supposed to be South Africa’s matchwinner on this pitch, but he has been pulled from the attack with figures of 5-0-31-0. Hales survives an appeal for a stumping off a leg-side wide from Behardien. It went to the third umpire but his back foot stayed grounded. England need 118 from 114 balls.
2.20pm GMT
30th over: England 140-2 (target 263; Hales 70, Morgan 12) If you want a job done, get a kid to do it. Rabada is back, and almost gets a wicket when Hales inside edges a big drive just wide of leg stump and away for four.
2.15pm GMT
29th over: England 133-2 (target 263; Hales 69, Morgan 10) After playing himself in for precisely four deliveries, Morgan smokes Tahir over long off for six! He has been happy to be overshadowed by Jos Buttler in recent matches but we shouldn’t forget that he has been in awesome form since England’s epiphany last May. Saying which, he’s dropped later in the over, a sharp chance to the keeper de Kock after a fairly big deflection.
2.12pm GMT
28th over: England 124-2 (target 263; Hales 69, Morgan 1) Hales steers Abbott to third man for four. This has been an atypical Hales innings, and as such is arguably his best for England in ODIs. England need 139 from 22 overs. They should win. Should.
“Jonty Rhodes’s and his five catches?” sniffs Bear. “Meh.I had the good fortune of playing with Roland Butcher after he had retired from the 1st class game and one match particularly sticks in my memory...He scored 120-odd with the bat, took 3 catches, ran 2 batters out and took 3 wickets with his military medium.Now THAT is a MoM performance.”
Related: Ian Botham's booze-fuelled masterclass a riposte to Stuart Broad | Andy Wilson
2.07pm GMT
27th over: England 118-2 (target 263; Hales 64, Morgan 0) Tahir returns, and hurries through an over at a cost of just a single.
2.06pm GMT
26th over: England 117-2 (target 263; Hales 64, Morgan 0) Jos Buttler is demoted from No4 after scoring only 221 runs in his last two innings in that position. I jest, of course: it’s good to see England being flexible with their line-up, and Morgan’s a good man to have at No4 against the slow bowlers on this slightly tricky pitch.
2.01pm GMT
That’s the wicket South Africa needed. Abbott gets one to follow Root, who shaped to glide it to third man but was cramped for room and deflected the ball onto the stumps.
1.56pm GMT
25th over: England 111-1 (target 263; Hales 59, Root 37) South Africa are sticking in the game, hoping one wicket will prompt an old-style England collapse. Duminy has a biggish LBW appeal against Root turned down; it would probably have missed off stump, and South Africa have used their review anyway.
1.53pm GMT
24th over: England 106-1 (target 263; Hales 56, Root 35) South Africa’s need for a wicket means the return of Kyle Abbott. Hales walks down the track and wallops the ball over midwicket for one-bounce four. That was pretty majestic.
1.49pm GMT
23rd over: England 100-1 (target 263; Hales 51, Root 34) Hales reaches an impressive, sensible fifty from 68 balls, with only four fours.
1.45pm GMT
22nd over: England 94-1 (target 263; Hales 48, Root 31) Root charges Morkel and swishes at fresh air. The required rate is above six for the first time; England won’t want it to go much above seven.
1.42pm GMT
21st over: England 90-1 (target 263; Hales 46, Root 29) South Africa replace their fifth bowler, Behardien, with their fifth bowler, Duminy. He is bowling his offspin from around the wicket, as so many do these days. After just a single from the first five deliveries, he errs in line and is worked fine for four by Hales.
“Hi Rob,” says Eva Maaten. “Sorry you’re not getting many mails. Am following still from Manila, but since we shall be moving to Johannesburg in the summer and already know that my husband’s new colleagues are avid cricket fans, supporting South Africa, the series takes on a special interest for us... While we are England fans, having lived in London for years, we are of course keen not to antagonise our new environment... The emerging new South African team looks quite exciting, though not as much as the England one.”
1.38pm GMT
20th over: England 84-1 (target 263; Hales 41, Root 28) Morkel beats Hales with consecutive deliveries. A wicket would change everything, not least because it will harder to start as the pitch gets more and more tired.
1.34pm GMT
19th over: England 82-1 (target 263; Hales 40, Root 28) Four singles from Behardien’s third over. South Africa really need a wicket.
1.27pm GMT
18th over: England 78-1 (target 263; Hales 39, Root 25) This has been a mature performance from Hales so far, showing again that it would be premature to write off his Test career at this stage. He clips Morkel in the air but short of Duminy at deep square leg, and that’s drinks. I’m away to the bathroom.
“Shout out to brother-in-law Chris, and nephews Gareth and Cavill, supporting SA at the game today,” says Roger Beardsworth. “Sadly, due to bad planning I flew back to London from Port Elizabeth this morning. Only their disappointment will cheer me up.”
1.25pm GMT
17th over: England 74-1 (target 263; Hales 36, Root 24) Root is beaten by some low bounce from Behardien, another sign that the pitch is starting to die. South Africa need a wicket.
1.20pm GMT
16th over: England 71-1 (target 263; Hales 34, Root 23) We still haven’t seen another replay of the Hales review. Anyway, this is a good spell for England against the slower bowlers. Root glides Tahir for four, and a scampered three off the last ball makes it 10 from the over. And it brings up the fifty partnership. Congratulations to both concerned.
“Surely you realise how hard we are all having to work,” says Angus Doulton, who is working so hard that he doesn’t even have time for a question mark. “There’s you. Then there’s the fact that an almost unknown city just north of Rutland is already 1-0 up on Man City. And now the six nations is about to start. Keeping track of it all, e’en with all the electronic whizzes in the home powering through the electricity is hard enough. Finding a moment to email you is a pretty big ask.”
1.17pm GMT
15th over: England 61-1 (target 263; Hales 30, Root 17) Jonty, of course.
@robsmyth0 MOTM mainly for fielding: https://t.co/AU8LJTGVxn
1.15pm GMT
This is all a bit odd. The keeper de Kock was so certain that he had caught Hales off Behardien’s first ball that he signalled for a review instantly and persuaded his captain de Villiers to make the request official. He was absolutely certain, and I thought I saw a deviation on the first replay. There was a noise too. But then UltraEdge showed nothing, so Hales survives and South Africa have used up their only review. I’d like to see that again.
1.13pm GMT
Has Hales been caught behind?
1.11pm GMT
14th over: England 55-1 (target 263; Hales 26, Root 15) Ah, here we are: Gus Logie was Man of the Match for his fielding. Back in the modern world, England have started well against Tahir, that one farcical incident aside. His second over yields five singles.
1.09pm GMT
13th over: England 50-1 (target 263; Hales 23, Root 13) At 13 from 32 balls, this is one of Root’s slower ODI innings. He has been as busy as ever, but it hasn’t quite happened for him yet.
“Good afternoon,” says Finbar Anslow. “Has anyone ever been awarded man of the match purely for fielding?”
1.05pm GMT
At 39-1 off 10 I'd think "oh well, we'll lose this", but this side is so bright & skilful I feel relaxed. It's an odd sensation @robsmyth0
I’ll see your optimism and lower it: we’ll lose this.
1.04pm GMT
12th over: England 48-1 (target 263; Hales 22, Root 12) What a diabolical piece of cricket. The new bowler Imran Tahir’s second ball is a full toss. Hales smears it miles in the air, and it drops between the dithering du Plessis and the man at long on. That was almost up there with the Chris Rogers LBW at Lord’s in 2013.
1.02pm GMT
Another ODI...
Another stunning England catch...
Chris Jordan. Take. A. Bow!
See the action on SS2 now!#SAvENG https://t.co/WU2kTfKNQM
12.57pm GMT
11th over: England 42-1 (target 263; Hales 17, Root 11) Root hooks Morkel confidently, but only for a single, one of three from the over. Emails please!
12.56pm GMT
10th over: England 39-1 (target 263; Hales 15, Root 10) Hales has had enough of dot balls and decides to clump a slower ball back over Rabada’s head for four. The pitch is expected to get slower and lower, hence the need for a fast start, and there is a hint of that when Hales almost drags one onto his stumps. This has been an excellent first 10 overs, a kind of Test one-day cricket.
12.53pm GMT
9th over: England 34-1 (target 263; Hales 10, Root 10) Morkel replaces Abbott, who bowled better than figures of 4-1-17-1 suggest, and continues the good work by conceding just one from the five balls. Then Root, increasingly desperate for runs, walks across his stumps to flick the last delivery through square leg for four. Excellent improvisation.
It’s not just the bowling that has been excellent; South Africa have been full of intensity in the field. It almost brings to mind that terrifying afternoon at the Oval in 1999, when England could barely get it off the square.
12.48pm GMT
8th over: England 29-1 (target 263; Hales 9, Root 6) Shaun Pollock, on commentary, reckons England needed a faster start because runscoring will become harder as the ball gets softer. But there has been so little to hit. This has been exemplary from Abbott and Rabada. Root is trying to force the issue, as he always does, but even he can’t manage it: he has six from 19 balls.
12.45pm GMT
7th over: England 28-1 (target 263; Hales 8, Root 6) South Africa are all over England at the moment. Since the wicket there have been just eight runs from four overs.
12.41pm GMT
6th over: England 26-1 (target 263; Hales 8, Root 4) South Africa’s pitch map in the first 10 overs of the first game was more Jackson Pollock than Shaun Pollock, but today they have been superb. The pressure is building, and there would have been a run-out chance for the bowler Rabada had he picked the ball up cleanly in his follow through. Hales was well out of his ground at the striker’s end.
12.39pm GMT
It was a good delivery, almost yorker length, and hit the pad as Root whipped across the line. This might just shave leg stump, in which case the original decision – out – will stand, but it’s probably missing. Yes, it’s sliding down so Root is not out.
12.37pm GMT
Root has been given out LBW to Rabada, but it looked like it was sliding down.
12.34pm GMT
5th over: England 23-1 (target 263; Hales 7, Root 3) Hales almost drags Abbott back onto the stumps. This is excellent bowling, extremely accurate and very straight to Hales in particular. A maiden.
12.31pm GMT
4th over: England 23-1 (target 263; Hales 7, Root 2) After the final Test Rabada said, with delicious understatement, that he does “not like to see Root and Stokes score runs”, so this should be a good contest. Root gets going with a work to leg for two.
12.27pm GMT
3rd over: England 20-1 (target 263; Hales 6, Root 0) The contrast with the first match, when South Africa’s bowlers started filthily, has been enormous. That was a wonderful piece of bowling.
12.27pm GMT
That is one of the more emphatic dismissals you will see. After going for two boundaries earlier in the over, Abbott jags a gorgeous delivery back through the gate to send Roy’s leg stump flying.
12.22pm GMT
2nd over: England 9-0 (target 263; Roy 4, Hales 5) Kagiso Rabada starts his spell with an unusually loose delivery: short, wide and crashed behind square for four by Hales. The second ball is a beauty, bouncing over Hales’s attempted forcing stroke. This pitch has been like a trampoline in the first couple of overs.
12.18pm GMT
1st over: England 4-0 (target 263; Roy 4, Hales 0) South Africa’s attack is much stronger today, with Kyle Abbott and Kagisa Rabada in for Chris Morris and Marchant de Lange. Abbott bowls the first over to Jason Roy – and drops him fourth ball! It was a very sharp return chance to his left, the kind that either stick or don’t. A fine over concludes with Roy edging through the vacant third-slip area for four.
12.16pm GMT
A dignity-free plug
If you're into the whole pre-order thing, you can get I'll See You Out There here: https://t.co/8RIZDzH9rK
12.08pm GMT
Hello, Rob here. England need 263 to take an assailable 2-0 lead in this series. They are favourites, though not quite as much as you might think: this is definitely not a 399 pitch.
11.45am GMT
We’ll be back very shortly with England’s reply. Bye for now!
11.43am GMT
Moeen Ali speaks:
It’s not an easy pitch but I think we bowled quite well and it’s a good score for us. The new ball didn’t come on as well, but the old ball is even harder and there’s a bit of spin as well. We’re going to have to play well to win this game.
At the death, with the short boundary quite straight on one side, I think it would have been tough (for the spinners). We’re going to bat as normal as we can, the guys will have to back their instincts.
11.43am GMT
50th over: South Africa 262-7 (Behardien 23, Abbott 7 )
Topley, in search of a fifth wicket, bowls the final over, and but for a wide down the leg side it’s very nicely done. Five singles are scored, and England are all grins and high-fives at the end of it. They think this is an achievable total, and, well, only time will tell. They certainly controlled those last 10 overs very well, conceding 64 runs in the process. 262 seems a fine total – encouraging for the side batting second, but not dispiriting for the team preparing to bowl.
11.35am GMT
49th over: South Africa 256-7 (Behardien 21, Abbott 4 )
Good bowling from Stokes, pitching it full and denying the batsmen a chance to really swing their bat. The first three deliveries go for singles, but Behardien heaves the next over cover for four – and it only lands a couple of yards short of the rope. The bowler responds with a yorker aimed at leg stump, which yields another single, and a full-toss to Abbott brings another.
11.29am GMT
48th over: South Africa 247-7 (Behardien 15, Abbott 1 )
England are very happy with the whole only-conceding-singles thing, though it relies on the bowler not offering miscued-yorkers-cum-invitations-to-score-down-leg. Rabada tucks in to one of those, getting four for his troubles, but is out next ball, and the single life returns.
11.27am GMT
A slower ball, and Rabada doesn’t judge it at all, top-edging the ball over his left shoulder to backward point, where Morgan takes an easy catch!
11.23am GMT
47th over: South Africa 239-6 (Behardien 13, Rabada 8 )
Willey continues, and this time South Africa score in an even more regular 1-1-1-1-1-1 pattern. Meanwhile, an English cricketer/IPL auction update:
#IPLAuction @sambillings is a #DilliBoy now!
Big shout out to the English man! pic.twitter.com/xqJzvUDb9k
@IPL @DelhiDaredevils can't wait to join up! Should be awesome #Taaaap
11.21am GMT
46th over: South Africa 234-6 (Behardien 10, Rabada 5 )
Four more runs on the board, all of them singles, with South Africa scoring in a pleasingly regular 1-1-0-0-1-1 formation.
11.17am GMT
45th over: South Africa 230-6 (Behardien 8, Rabada 3 )
The wind is picking up now, but the run rate isn’t particularly. Five off Willey’s sixth over, and I think South Africa need at least 260-odd to have met par, and 280+ to feel at all smug.
11.12am GMT
44th over: South Africa 225-6 (Behardien 6, Rabada 0 )
Three singles from Topley’s over, and the wicket from the last. England have had a little luck here, with both of the last two wickets, but it really did seem that something made the ball move there, and it can only have been the bat. And talking of good catches, here’s that Jordan effort in full:
Another ODI...
Another stunning England catch...
Chris Jordan. Take. A. Bow!
See the action on SS2 now!#SAvENG https://t.co/WU2kTfKNQM
11.10am GMT
Oh but that is close. I think they’ve got to stick with the on-field umpire here, though. The ball appeared to deviate, but UltraEdge can’t really tell the difference between bat-on-ball and near-simultaneous bat-on-ground. A great, low, diving catch from Buttler, though, to at least give the umpire a decision to make. It takes an age to come, and when it does, he’s out!
11.06am GMT
The umpire didn’t think so, and indeed nobody seemed particularly excited about it, but there’s just a chance that the ball flicked the bat on its way through here, and England are going to check!
11.01am GMT
43rd over: South Africa 222-5 (Rossouw 10, Behardien 4 )
Stokes bowls, and a wide and five singles follow. “Given the way things are going, shouldn’t there be a special award for Catch of the Match?” wonders John Starbuck, apropos Jordan’s 41st-over wonder. We’ve got enough awards, methinks, and the catch carries its own reward, surely. When Jordan next logs on to Twitter he’ll see that his efforts were acknowledged and appreciated, and that should be all he needs. It was a beauty, though.
10.57am GMT
42nd over: South Africa 216-5 (Rossouw 8, Behardien 1 )
Roussouw gets off the mark in style with a lovely cover drive, and gets even further off the mark by pushing Topley’s final delivery back the way it came for four more. Ten runs from the over, but also a key wicket.
10.52am GMT
A game-changing few minutes for England! And to add to the sense that this match is swinging their way, this shouldn’t have been given – the ball looked on first viewing to be heading down leg, and replays confirm it! De Kock however wasted South Africa’s one review some time ago, so Duminy’s got to go!
WICKET! Topley traps Duminy! It would have missed but SA have no more reviews https://t.co/zfomvITeNG pic.twitter.com/x4mrZUbQHa
10.50am GMT
41st over: South Africa 206-4 (Duminy 47, Roussouw 0 )
South Africa passed 100 in the 21st over, and now 200 in the 41st over. Top marks for consistency there. The delivery after they reach that landmark flicks de Villiers’ pad and disappears down the leg side for four leg byes, but his innings is over one ball later, and that might change everything.
10.47am GMT
De Villiers sends the ball into orbit! Up and up and up it goes! But he hasn’t quite got hold of it! Jordan at midwicket turns around and runs towards the rope. Down and down and down it comes, Jordan still running and looking over his shoulder, until finally it comes to earth with his hands underneath it! Thunderously difficult catch that, beautifully taken.
10.43am GMT
40th over: South Africa 198-3 (De Villiers 71, Duminy 45)
Oooh! De Villiers tries to cut a ball that jags into him, misses it completely and is extremely fortunate to see it fly just over the stumps. Jordan’s over is however bookended by violent boundaries, Duminy hitting the first for four and de Villiers absolutely clobbering the last over deep midwicket for the day’s second six. 13 runs from the over.
10.38am GMT
39th over: South Africa 185-3 (De Villiers 63, Duminy 40)
Stokes bangs one into Duminy’s hitting zone, and he hits it hard, wide of cover, and just stands there, bat frozen at the top of its swing, admiring the ball’s journey to the rope. England hand out another bonus run from the last ball, which flies straight to a fielder who, with both batsmen in their creases, takes a wholly unnecessary shy at the stumps, hits them, and they jog an easy single as the ball deflects away.
10.33am GMT
38th over: South Africa 175-3 (De Villiers 59, Duminy 35)
De Villiers tries to smash the ball over midwicket, but the ball doesn’t go anywhere near where he expected it, or when, and he gets next to nothing on it. Undaunted, he tries to smash the next over the covers, gets a thick edge and it flies straight behind him for four. A noticeable shift in ambition, even if the pitch still seems to be confounding him. Then a single, and a drop! Duminy edges, and the ball flies into the meat of a diving Buttler’s glove – and then out again!
@Simon_Burnton In Bloemfontein England were 263/4 after 36 overs. SA 165/3 here at the same stage. Different sorta ODI so far. #SAvENG
10.29am GMT
37th over: South Africa 167-3 (De Villiers 54, Duminy 35)
Moeen’s now all bowled out, his last over costing two runs and his 10 costing a combined 41. And so we enter the final 13 overs, with less spin and more runs anticipated.
10.24am GMT
36th over: South Africa 165-3 (De Villiers 53, Duminy 34)
Jordan bowls, and three singles take us through to drinks. De Villiers’ innings so far: three fours (Duminy, incidentally, is still in search of his first), two twos, 37 singles, 34 dots.
This is currently the fourth slowest of de Villiers' ODI scores of more than 50: https://t.co/1F8ItQUJzp . #SAvEng #CricViz
10.19am GMT
35th over: South Africa 162-3 (De Villiers 52, Duminy 33)
Moeen penultimate over yields a wide and another small heap of singles.
10.15am GMT
34th over: South Africa 157-3 (De Villiers 50, Duminy 31)
Ooooh! Duminy attempts a pull and bottom-edges into the turf, the ball heading vaguely stumpwards for a moment before flicking off his back leg to safety. That’s a rare outbreak of near-drama, though, with the batsmen otherwise running stress-free ones and twos, and de Villiers scoring his 50th run from the final delivery.
10.11am GMT
33rd over: South Africa 150-3 (De Villiers 48, Duminy 26)
From nowhere, a maiden from Moeen, the first since over No4. ‘Twas all different then.
10.08am GMT
32nd over: South Africa 150-3 (De Villiers 48, Duminy 26)
An end to the spin twins, as Chris Jordan – England’s most expensive bowler by a distance in the first game – comes on. Duminy licks his lips and swings his bat, top-edging the ball just over short midwicket. He gets away with it, and gets two runs for his troubles, but promptly reins in his ambition a bit. A few singles follow.
10.04am GMT
31st over: South Africa 145-3 (De Villiers 47, Duminy 22)
Moeen keeps going, and a misfield from the man backing up behind the stumps as Willey tries to throw them down turns a sharp single into an easy three. And then Willey has another shy at the stumps, and it’s an absolutely useless one, flying well wide both of them and the chap backing up and rushing away to the boundary for five. An ugly, messy over from the fielding side.
10.00am GMT
30th over: South Africa 135-3 (De Villiers 45, Duminy 14)
Rashid’s final over contains one absolute snorter, ripping off the turf and turning a corner, leaving de Villiers flummoxed. That is, though, one of only two dots, buoys in a sea of singles.
9.57am GMT
29th over: South Africa 131-3 (De Villiers 43, Duminy 12)
A Duminy single, four dots, and then a de Villiers reverse sweep for four, the first boundary for 46 deliveries. We’re getting occasional glimpses of magic, and the promise of more to come.
9.54am GMT
28th over: South Africa 126-3 (De Villiers 39, Duminy 11)
An 11th consecutive over of spin, but this can’t go on much longer – this is Rashid’s ninth, and he’s only got one left. Though I guess there’s always Root. Anyway, four more singles.
9.52am GMT
27th over: South Africa 122-3 (De Villiers 37, Duminy 9)
Moeen bowls, South Africa score three singles. The overs are whooshing past here, and the scoreboard is still ticking only slowly.
9.48am GMT
26th over: South Africa 119-3 (De Villiers 35, Duminy 8)
The brass band in Port Elizabeth is utterly relentless. They just keep on parping. Really excellent commitment. And it even sounds quite good. A lot of tunes I must admit I don’t know, but their version of All About That Bass was particularly impressive.
9.45am GMT
25th over: South Africa 114-3 (De Villiers 32, Duminy 6)
Again, two singles. But also a wide! We’re halfway through the innings, and it’s just kind of rumbling by.
9.41am GMT
24th over: South Africa 111-3 (De Villiers 31, Duminy 5)
And the seventh over of spin also brings two singles. The calm before the (anticipated) storm.
9.39am GMT
23rd over: South Africa 109-3 (De Villiers 30, Duminy 4)
A sixth successive over of spin, and the (joint) cheapest, bringing as it does just the two singles.
9.37am GMT
22nd over: South Africa 107-3 (De Villiers 29, Duminy 3)
A beauty of a shot from de Villiers steers the ball to the third man boundary for four. And three more singles.
9.32am GMT
21st over: South Africa 100-3 (De Villiers 24, Duminy 1)
Moeen’s over starts with three dots and ends with a fourth. In between, though, South Africa get the two singles they need to take them into triple figures.
9.31am GMT
20th over: South Africa 98-3 (De Villiers 23, Duminy 0)
The wicket falls from the fifth delivery. The first four had been very much a continuation of the recent theme – a couple of singles and a single couple – but now there’s another new partnership to establish.
9.28am GMT
England make a breakthrough! Despite the temptation to stick him in a single-stopping position elsewhere Jordan remains at slip, and when du Plessis tries to work the ball onto the leg side, the ball grips off the pitch, takes the outside edge and plops into Jordan’s bucket hands!
9.25am GMT
19th over: South Africa 94-2 (Du Plessis 45, De Villiers 20)
De Villiers sends the ball wide of third man for four in the middle of Moeen’s over, which with a wide and some further scoreboard-ticklage ends up costing nine. Entirely stress-free scoring, this, with the batsmen expertly locating apparently infinite single-taking opportunities.
9.20am GMT
18th over: South Africa 85-2 (Du Plessis 44, De Villiers 13)
Rashid continues, as does South Africa’s constant scoreboard tickling. 1-1-1-1-1-2. At which Morgan decides to go with spin at both ends, with the ball being tossed to Moeen Ali.
9.14am GMT
17th over: South Africa 78-2 (Du Plessis 40, De Villiers 10)
A couple more singles and then du Plessis sends the ball crashing through the covers for four. And then a couple more singles. An entirely untroubled eight off the over, which is followed by drinks.
9.10am GMT
16th over: South Africa 70-2 (Du Plessis 34, De Villiers 8)
Three more singles and a couple, and South Africa keep ticking along, slow and steady, with the promise of excitement to come.
9.06am GMT
15th over: South Africa 65-2 (Du Plessis 30, De Villiers 7)
This is utterly unhurried stuff from South Africa, who since the last ball of over No10 have scored only in singles. Four more of them here.
9.02am GMT
14th over: South Africa 61-2 (Du Plessis 28, De Villiers 5)
Rashid keeps going, and South Africa score four, all singles.
8.58am GMT
13th over: South Africa 57-2 (Du Plessis 26, De Villiers 3)
Stokes bowls at du Plessis, who flails his bat wildly. Had he only middled it the ball would still be travelling, but as it is it looked ugly and uncontrolled, and even a single was a bit risky.
8.55am GMT
12th over: South Africa 55-2 (Du Plessis 25, De Villiers 2)
So, a first look at Rashid and some clues as to how the spinners might fare on this surface. And early signs are promising, with just the single run scored.
8.52am GMT
11th over: South Africa 54-2 (Du Plessis 25, De Villiers 1)
Two singles and a wicket from the over, which given that the last four had cost on average 10 apiece represents a return to frugality for England.
8.48am GMT
It all came down to whether the ball pitched in line with leg stump, which it did. Just. The rest was formality.
8.47am GMT
Is de Kock out here? England think so, the umpire thinks so, the batsman has crossed his fingers and sent it upstairs.
8.44am GMT
10th over: South Africa 52-1 (De Kock 22, Du Plessis 24)
The batsmen appear to have located some kind of magic run-tap, and lustily twisted it. Du Plessis hits Willey’s second ball for four, just about deals with a corking yorker next up, and then hammers the next over midwicket for six, before a single gives de Kock the chance to work the last wide of cover for four more. Fifteen runs from the over.
8.41am GMT
9th over: South Africa 37-1 (De Kock 18, Du Plessis 13)
The first bowling change sees Stokes replace Topley, and de Kock hit probably the shot of the day so far, a lovely straight drive for four, and then go through midwicket for four more off the last, which may have been three had Adil Rashid, who fielded on the boundary, not been wearing a cap, which just kissed the rope while he was holding the ball.
8.36am GMT
8th over: South Africa 27-1 (De Kock 10, Du Plessis 12)
Willey bowls, and South Africa score three singles and a pair. Buttler’s price was driven up by some competition from Kolkata Knight Riders. Morris’s price is probably the big surprise of the auction so far, but I guess there’s still time for a couple more when they come back from lunch.
Morning @Simon_Burnton. Cracking start from England here. Chris Morris going for double Buttler in the IPL? The world is a funny place.
8.30am GMT
7th over: South Africa 22-1 (De Kock 7, Du Plessis 11)
Two more singles, the second another leading edge from de Kock, and then du Plessis chips the ball to deep midwicket, where the fielder hares in an attempt to catch it, misjudges, slips over and the ball bounces over his prone form and to the rope. Topley’s clearly grumpy at this turn of events, which is perhaps he gets the line of his final delivery wrong, and it’s tickled down the leg side for another four.
8.25am GMT
6th over: South Africa 12-1 (De Kock 6, Du Plessis 2)
Willey’s most expensive over so far, costing as it does two singles. If you’re in Australia, or can convince your computer that you’re in Australia, and haven’t seen this Adam Milne catch from earlier today, you probably should.
'That is the most astonishing outfield catch you will ever see!'
Watch here: https://t.co/DUAM8HGwmG #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/MlVUqPnMk6
8.21am GMT
5th over: South Africa 10-1 (De Kock 5, Du Plessis 1)
Ooooh! De Kock tries to work a full toss to midwicket, mistimes it and sends a leading edge flying over the bowler’s head but safely short of mid off. And then … oooh! He edges the next, but it lands a metre or so short of Jordan at second slip. And then … aaah! He drives the next through the covers for four, a lovely shot.
8.18am GMT
4th over: South Africa 4-1 (De Kock 0, Du Plessis 0)
Great control here from England. After 8% of their innings South Africa, if they keep going at this rate, are on course for a 50-run total. A third successive maiden.
8.14am GMT
3rd over: South Africa 4-1 (De Kock 0, Du Plessis 0)
South Africa have scored from one of the 18 deliveries bowled this morning, and this second successive maiden has a wicket in it to boot. A fine start from England, and it looks like this is going to be a pretty different game to Bloemfontein, where England were 32-0 at this stage.
8.10am GMT
There’s no doubt about this one! Amla expects more inswing than Topley achieves, and the ball straightens off the pitch, flies wide of his bat, clips his pad and clatters into off stump!
8.08am GMT
2nd over: South Africa 4-0 (Amla 4, De Kock 0)
A bit of swing for Willey, moving away from the left-handed De Kock. And again the bowler thinks he’s made a breakthrough, but though there’s a noise as ball passes swishing bat it comes from the bat hitting the ground, the ball passing through unmolested. The next ball’s a beauty, but passes inside the bat and outside the wicket. Still, a fine first over, and the first maiden of the series so far.
The IPL auction is taking place this morning in Bangalore, here are some selected sold players #SSNHQ pic.twitter.com/o9x3qm0Mbs
8.04am GMT
1st over: South Africa 4-0 (Amla 4, De Kock 0)
Reece Topley gets the game started, and gets very excited when his second delivery smacks Amla full on the pads, at least until his captain tells him it came off the edge of the batsman’s blade. And at that moment the Guardian decides to test its fire alarm system. Topley gets five-sixths of the way to a maiden over, and then Amla clips the last to fine leg for four.
7.59am GMT
Beautiful blue skies in Port Elizabeth, and while some fairly serious wind is forecast, it doesn’t look like anything’s going to interrupt the action. Which starts in a few seconds’ time.
7.55am GMT
While the anthems blare, here’s a reminder of the teams
England: Hales, Roy, Root, Morgan*, Stokes, Buttler, Ali, Jordan, Rashid, Willey, Topley.
South Africa: Amla, de Kock, du Plessis, de Villiers*, Duminy, Rossouw, Behardien, Rabada, Abbott, Morkel, Tahir.
Here's the SA team for today's second #MomentumODI v England #SAvENG #ProteaFire pic.twitter.com/CUaimYm5mz
7.36am GMT
Sam Billings was also unsold in the IPL auction.
.josbuttler is sold to mipaltan for INR 380 lacs #IPLauction
Sam Billings remains unsold #IPLauction
Chris Jordan remains unsold #IPLauction
7.34am GMT
England are unchanged, and Eoin Morgan says he also would have batted. “It looks a little bit dry, and with the wind this morning it could help the swing bowlers. There is a temptation to play Stuart Broad but there’s also a bit of continuity to the side. Stuart hasn’t played for a year or so, and this gives him time to work on his white ball skills and hopefully play a part later in the series.”
7.33am GMT
Two changes: Kyle Abbott and Kagiso Rabada are in, Chris Morris and Marchant de Lange are out. “We looked dangerous in the first game. The top seven’s all in good form and we’re looking forward to getting some runs on the board.”
7.31am GMT
The IPL auction is happening right now. Chris Jordan has gone unsold, but Jos Buttler has been snapped up:
RT englandcricket: England wicketkeeper-batsman josbuttler will play for mipaltan in the 2016 IPL #IPLAuction pic.twitter.com/tgMTV4RlOl
7.29am GMT
Hello world!
News from Port Elizabeth, such as it is, is that Kagiso Rabada is pacing around the outfield even as I type, looking very much like someone preparing for a day’s action. England may well be unchanged, though Vic Marks in his preview mooted a potential Broad/Jordan swaperoo. More news when I get it …
7.55pm GMT
Simon will be here soon. Whilst you wait, have a read of Vic Marks’s preview from Port Elizabeth.
If there is to be any respite for the bowlers in this 50-over series it is likely to come here. St George’s Park provides a characterful venue, much beloved by South African cricketers. The brass band plays in the stands (with a wonderful Stand By Me ringing out several times a day). “It’s the closest we come to your Barmy Army,” said Faf du Plessis. “It is one of our favourite grounds.”
But it is not, usually, the batsmen’s favourite ground. The ball tends to keep low and at sea level it does not travel quite so far once lofted. Sometimes there is a little seam movement. The last time England were here, in 2009, they bowled South Africa out for 119 in a one-day international with Jimmy Anderson taking five for 23; Graeme Swann did not get a bowl.
Continue reading...February 5, 2016
The Fiver | Football’s grave-faced clairvoyant of impending doom
Richard Scudamore, the executive chairman of the Premier League, is a big fan of China. A couple of years ago, in a series of leaked emails that came heroically close to covering the entire spectrum of -isms, he theorised that China had found a cure for the opposite $ex. “You will learn over time that female irrationality increases exponentially depending on how many members join your family,” began the father of five. “That should keep you within the Chinese government’s one child per family enforcement rules. Very clever those Chinese.”
Continue reading...Golden Goal: Cristiano Ronaldo for Manchester United v Arsenal (2009) | Rob Smyth
Sir Alex Ferguson’s United scored well over 100 counterattacking goals but their Emirates stunner in 2009 would also prove to be a significant moment in time
Some dates are seared into English football history: 30 July 1966, 26 May 1989, 26 May 1999, 13 May 2012. Few would add 14 February 1987 to that list. Paul Wilkinson scored a late equaliser for the leaders and eventual champions Everton against their bogey team Oxford, Ian Rush scored a hat-trick in Liverpool’s 4-3 win over Leicester and, at Old Trafford, 13th-placed Manchester United beat Watford 3-1.
That last scoreline does not tell the whole story. United’s third, scored by Gordon Strachan, was their first counterattacking goal under Alex Ferguson. We didn’t know it at the time but it was the start of a significant tradition: in the next 26 years, Ferguson’s United scored well over 100 counterattacking goals. There weren’t so many in the first five years under Ferguson, because the side was not good or quick enough, though there were a few glimpses of the future in a 3-1 win on Luton’s plastic pitch in 1989 and a staggering shellacking of Arsenal a year later.
Related: The Joy of Six: Counter-attacking goals
Related: Golden Goal: Wayne Rooney for Everton v Arsenal (2002) | Lawrence Ostlere
Continue reading...Football transfer rumours: Daniel Sturridge to leave Liverpool?
Today’s rumours will drive a Lionel up in there
These days, an attacking trio are is nothing without a fancy name or acronym: MSN, VaRooKa and so on. Such word or letterplay was clearly Manchester United’s prime motivation when they apparently bid a whopping £145m for Neymar last summer. The only logical justification was surely that they wanted put Neymar, Marouane Fellaini and Leicester’s Leonardo Ulloa together for a season of unbridled FUN.
There are some alternative acronymous line-ups that might more honestly reflect the nature of Louis van Gaal’s United: Wilfried Zaha, Mauro Zárate, Bobby Zamora, Amr Zaki and Simone Zaza, perhaps. There’s also Fellaini, Roberto Firmino and Gylfi Sigurdsson. Or Shinji Okazaki, Memphis, Fellani and Olivier Giroud. The possibilities are literally endless.
Continue reading...February 4, 2016
Gary Anderson and Michael van Gerwen lead race for Premier League
The world champion and the world No1 will be the men to watch when the 2016 Premier League begins in Leeds on Thursday night
Who’s the best? Sports fans have been arguing about this since time immemorial. Sometimes it’s undeniable, as with tennis right now, but generally it’s a little more complicated. Each judge will give different importance to each piece of evidence: leagues, cups, world rankings, head-to-heads, even personal prejudice. The debate is particularly intriguing in darts, where Gary Anderson, the world champion, and Michael van Gerwen, the world No1, both have compelling claims to be regarded as the best in the world. Last month, for the first time, the PDC Player of the Year award was shared.
Anderson has won the last two World Championships, the tournament that defines careers and lives, and has gatecrashed what most thought would be the age of Van Gerwen. He is also the reigning champion of the Betway Premier League, which starts in Leeds on Thursday night. Van Gerwen is comfortably top of the Order of Merit, however, and won 18 tournaments in 2015 with a series of awesome performances.
Related: ‘It was just a slog,’ says Gary Anderson after retaining PDC world title
Continue reading...January 27, 2016
Did a football fan shoot the ball to stop the opposition scoring? | The Knowledge
Plus: playing consecutively for most clubs on one train line (2); meeting the same opponent as player and manager; and short men (in goal). Send your questions and answers to knowledge@theguardian.com or tweet us @TheKnowledge_GU
“Many years ago I read a story somewhere about a ‘crazy’ supporter in South America who shot a ball that was flying into the goal with a pistol to stop the goal being scored,” recalled Illya McLellan last week. “Apparently the ball fell to the ground and didn’t go in. I have tried to find out if this story was true and wondered if anyone else had heard of it?”
Continue reading...Football transfer rumours: Real Madrid to sign Eden Hazard?
This morning’s balderdash is brought to you in association with old age
So, just five more sleeps until Jim White Day, a biannual event in which quinquagenarian Scotsmen get to be four years old again. It’s been an underwhelming transfer window so far, like all the others, but that won’t stop pulse rates entering the danger zone with the news that Real Madrid want to sign Eden Hazard in the summer!
Hazard, who has missed all of the 2015-16 season with severe ennui, is much admired by the Real Madrid interim coach Zinedine Zidane. Real are currently banned from buying players in the summer but, well, you know how that will play out. But Chelsea have told Real they MUST pay £80m if they want Hazard.
Continue reading...Rob Smyth's Blog
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