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Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been cleared of any serious injury after taking a heavy blow to the back of the head from a Brett Lee bouncer

Cricinfo staff25-May-2008
Shivnarine Chanderpaul took several minutes to recover after being hit in the head © DigicelCricket.com
Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been cleared of any serious injury after taking a heavy blow to the back of the head from a Brett Lee bouncer. Chanderpaul had scans after the third day’s play in Kingston following the hit to the helmet, which sent him crashing to the ground, apparently knocked out.”I did not know where I was, my entire body went numb,” Chanderpaul told the . “I could not move my hands and I could not move my feet. However, I told myself if I left the field we would have been in a bad state.”At the time, Chanderpaul was on 86 and West Indies had 276 for 8. Despite expectations that he would retire hurt, Chanderpaul batted on to finish with 118 as the team added a further 36 after the incident and the West Indies bowlers then found some spark to rattle Australia to 17 for 4 at stumps.Lee, who was the first to the batsman’s side when he went down, compared Chanderpaul’s fightback to Steve Waugh’s double-century at the same venue in 1995. “You have to think about when the great Steve Waugh, when he got his 200, the stuff that he went through,” Lee said. “He copped a massive blow, but he gutsed it out and batted on.”Full credit goes to Shiv and I’m actually really glad that there’s a lot more protection for batsmen. The West Indies are a very good side and they are going out here to try to prove a point, which is great.”

Fulham are interested in a deal to bring Bright Osayi-Samuel to Craven Cottage this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Nigerian media outlet Today, who claim that Marco Silva is keen to make the Fenerbahce winger his first signing after taking over from Scott Parker.

The report goes on to state that the 43-year-old manager was close to joining the Turkish side himself before ultimately taking the Fulham job, and he has now shown an interest in a deal that would see the 23-year-old join him at the Championship club.

However, Today also claim that Osayi-Samuel is keen to remain with the Super Lig side, although Fenerbahce are thought to be willing to accept an attractive offer for the youngster.

Fans should be buzzing

While it would appear a fair statement to make that things have not exactly gone according to plan for Osayi-Samuel since making a move to the Turkish side back in January – with the £3.06m-rated man scoring just one goal and registering one assist over his 19 appearances for Vitor Pereira’s side – the winger’s form after breaking through at Queens Park Rangers should be enough to convince Fulham fans to be buzzing about the potential signing.

Indeed, over the 23-year-old’s 37 Championship appearances for Mark Warburton’s side back in 2019/20, the £6.5k-per-week forward scored five goals, registered eight assists and created nine big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.2 shots and making 1.2 key passes per game.

These returns saw the man Warburton dubbed a “dangerous” player earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.73, ranking him as QPR’s 10th-best performer in the second tier of English football, with Osayi-Samuel setting up the same number of goals as Eberechi Eze that year.

Furthermore, his level of performance while at QPR often led to fans of the club heaping a considerable amount of praise on the winger, with one stating their belief that Osayi-Samuel was the future of their side, while another simply dubbed the forward “outstanding.”

As such, should Fulham go on to complete a deal for the 23-year-old this summer, their fans could well be watching an incredibly exciting player lighting up games at Craven Cottage next season – as long as Osayi-Samuel can recreate the fine form from his previous spell in west London.

In other news: Get it done: Silva must make “exceptional” £41k-p/w dynamo his first Fulham signing

According to journalist Mark McAdam, Villarreal have had a bid turned down for Southampton transfer target Arnaut Danjuma.

The Lowdown: Saints eye Danjuma

The Saints have been linked with a move for the Dutchman (Hampshire Live), who currently plays for Bournemouth in the Championship.

However, Southampton are yet to make a concrete move for the 24-year-old, and they have now been beaten to the first approach.

The Latest: Danjuma bid rejected

As tweeted by McAdam, Europa League winners Villarreal made a €15m (£12.8m) bid for the Netherlands international.

However, that offer was turned down by the Cherries.

The Verdict: Hasenhuttl must make his move

Danjuma was one of the Championship’s best players in 2020/21. He was named in the division’s Team of the Season (Sky Sports) after scoring 17 goals and providing eight assists in all competitions (Transfermarkt), while he was labelled “exceptional” by his manager Jonathan Woodgate towards the end of last term (The Official EFL Podcast).

He is a player who could be an inspired signing for Southampton, but only if they make their move. Villarreal have already made their interest in the winger clear by presenting an offer to Bournemouth, so if Ralph Hasenhuttl and co really want to capture the winger, they must do the same before it is too late.

In other news, many Southampton fans want this man to leave the club.

When Sachin Tendulkar takes the field at the Oval in the fourthTest against England he will join an elite club – that made upby Indians who have played a 100 Tests

Anand Vasu05-Sep-2002When Sachin Tendulkar takes the field at the Oval in the fourthTest against England he will join an elite club – that made upby Indians who have played a 100 Tests. There are currently threeother members – Kapil Dev, the greatest all-rounder India hasproduced, and two batsmen who dominated the bowling completely attheir peak, the stylish Dilip Vengsarkar (116 Tests) and thepeerless Sunil Gavaskar (125 Tests).And yet, it is already amply clear that Tendulkar will go pastthese greats, not just in terms of Test matches for India butalso in achievements on the field. Perhaps statistics are not thebest way to judge a cricketer of Tendulkar’s prodigious talent.However, a quick look at the numbers is revealing.Kapil Dev being an all-rounder, it’s difficult to make a head-tohead analysis, but the other two Mumbai batsmen can certainly beviewed through the same prism. After 99 Tests, Vengsarkar hadscored 6356 runs at an average of 45.72 with 17 centuries.Gavaskar did better with 8479 runs at 52.33 with 30 tons.And now have a look at Tendulkar at the end of 99 Tests – 8351runs have flowed off his broad bat at an average of 57.99 and SirDon Bradman’s tally of 29 tons has been surpassed. On reachingthe mark at Headingley, Tendulkar was humble enough to say,”Statistically, I have passed Don Bradman, but I can’t becompared with him. He’s not a normal person. You can only dreamof scoring a hundred every three innings.” Quite a characteristicstatement from the man; modest to the core, he still strives hardto attain perfection despite his many achievements down theyears.Being Tendulkar is no walk in the park. Make no mistake aboutthat. While fans hear mostly of the millions he makes insponsorship and the adulation he sparks off, few understand howstressful life can be for India’s favourite son. Unable to go outanywhere in public without being mobbed, Tendulkar has in thepast resorted to wearing disguises when going out for a drive. Ifhe wants to take his son Arjun to a movie or meet at his daughterSara’s teacher at school it would be nigh impossible.It is the kind of adulation that could have destroyed lesser men.The list of minor geniuses who have fallen prey to such heroworship would be too long to enumerate. Tendulkar, though, likethe Don before him has taken it all in his stride – he remainscricket’s finest ambassador both on and off the field.This ability to absorb pressure stood Tendulkar in good steadthis year. After the West Indies series and during the early partof the England series, Tendulkar was under the microscope forwhat according to some experts was a perceived lack of form. EvenSunil Gavaskar, one of Tendulkar’s greatest supporters, began towonder whether Tendulkar was had fallen prey to under-performingabroad.A fallacious argument from the beginning, it fell apart at theseams after Tendulkar’s second innings 92 at Nottingham and thebig hundred at Headingley. In fact in the calendar year,Tendulkar has rattled off 932 runs at an average of 58.25 in the10 Tests that he has played ahead of the Oval Test – thisincludes three hundreds and as many fifties. Now, exactly howdoes that constitute a lean patch? Most batsmen don’t do as wellat the peak of their powers.With another Test against England, two more against West Indiesand New Zealand later this year, 2002 might, ironically, work outto be a bumper year for Tendulkar. A look at the list of mostruns scored in a year by Indians tells a tale. In 1979, whenIndia played a record 17 Tests, Gavaskar made 1407 runs andGundappa Viswanath added 1388 runs to their tally whileVengsarkar managed 1044 runs in the same year. Another Indian toscore 1000 Test runs in a calendar year was Mohinder Amarnath,who in fact remains the fastest to the landmark. Tendulkar, mightnot have emulated Amarnath yet , but he has managed the feat morethan once.And he will again this year. It might be too early to predictit, but this might even be Tendulkar’s most productive year andhe could go past Gavaskar’s record of 1407 runs, despite playingtwo Tests less.It is interesting, however, that experts, mediamen and fans fromall over the have expended so much time and energy wondering whyTendulkar is doing so badly off late. Bishan Bedi, outspoken asever, said, “It must be hoped that this lean patch will makeTendulkar pick himself up, brush away a few cobwebs in histechnique and concentrate on playing like Tendulkar. No oneelse.”Why, even the great Sir Viv Richards joined the debate andopined, “I have seen this problem with Sachin these days, andespecially in Antigua; he doesn’t look as relaxed as he used toat the crease. That I feel, in my mind, is because, maybe, he isgetting close to some milestones. The freedom he used to playwith is not there anymore.”Perhaps, then, it is just a matter of how Tendulkar is playingrather than how well he is playing that has caused this alarm.It’s no secret that the little man has worked hard on tighteningup his technique and scoring runs, rather than dazzling everyonewith his formidable array of strokes. Take note though, thatthese strokes have merely been shelved for the moment notforever.In the course for his 193 at Leeds, Tendulkar began slowly yetfirmly, lifted his pitch to a more frenetic yet no less solidmiddle essay, and ended in an explosive crescendo that left youbreathless. Offering almost no chances until India were firmly inthe driver’s seat, he straight-drove with pedigree, pulled withthe power normally associated with four-wheel drives, and ranbetween the wickets like a hare with its tail on fire. Amatchwinning innings abroad, just when the team needed it most.Isn’t that what the critics said Tendulkar never did?

Pakistan distanced itself from the conflict between the game’s controlling body and some of the teams on the players contracts

Special Representative17-Aug-2002Pakistan distanced itself from the conflict between the game’s controlling body and some of the teams on the players contracts.Pakistan manager Yawar Saeed said Friday that his team would be signing the contract by Monday.”Pakistan considers the ICC as the supreme body and then there is no direct clash of interest between the Pakistan players and ICC over the sponsors of its tournament,” Yawar said.Ausralia, England, India and New Zealand have refused to sign the contracts that have left the four teams on collison course with the ICC.When pointed out Pakistan might not have a direct clash with any of the sponsors in the ICC Champions Trophy and the World Cup where Pepsi is the sponsor but could happen next year when Pepsi’s rival can secure the sponsorship, Yawar said the players contracts was for 30 days before the tournament and 30 days after the tournament. “But yes, this is a issue that we will have to discuss at board level when we return Pakistan.Yawar will be leaving for Cape Town on Aug 27 to attend the managers meeting on the issue. He said he hasn’t seen the agenda of the meeting and was therefore, not in a position to discuss that at this stage.

Six Barbadians have been named in an All-Star 14-man squad following the conclusion of the West Indies Under-19 youth cricket championships

26-Aug-2002Six Barbadians have been named in an All-Star 14-man squad following the conclusion of the West Indies Under-19 youth cricket championships.The squad was announced by chairman of youth selectors, Clyde Butts, at the tournament’s awards dinner and presentation ceremony on Saturday night at King’s House, the official residence of the Governor-General.Among the six Bajans is opening batsman Martin Nurse, who also won the trophy for emerging as the leading run-scorer in the three-day version of the championships won by Barbados.He is joined by captain Kenroy Williams, fellow batsmen Kirk Edwards and Ryan Wiggins, off-spinner Jason Smith and fast bowler Corey Edwards.Nurse passed 50 three times in the competition en route to 334 runs, while Williams, Wiggins and Edwards all scored centuries and Smith was the team’s top wicket-taker with 25 scalps.Pride of place at the awards ceremony went to Trinidad and Tobago fast bowler Ravi Rampaul, who walked away with three trophies, including the Most Valuable Player award for his record 45 wickets, which included a best-ever innings haul of ten wickets for six runs.The 14: Corey Edwards, Kirk Edwards, Martin Nurse, Jason Smith, Ryan Wiggins, Kenroy Williams (Barbados); Shawn Findlay, Xavier Marshall Krishmar Santokie, Jerome Taylor (Jamaica); Ravi Rampaul (Trinidad and Tobago) Zaheer Mohammed (Guyana); Gareth Matthew (Leeward Islands); Liam Sebastian (Windward Islands).

Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa is intensifying transfer talks with Hertha BSC star Matheus Cunha.

What’s the story?

According to recent reports from German publication Bild (via Sport Witness), Bielsa’s side have already expressed their interest in signing the £27m-rated forward, and a move could be on the cards after the 22-year-old received approval from Hertha to leave the capital club.

Brazilian outlet UOL now claim that the Whites have intensified talks with Hertha over bringing him to Elland Road this summer, and that despite the German club’s high demands, Leeds are promising to make a big effort and won’t give up on his signing.

Imagine him and Rodrigo

Speaking on a Facebook Live video, Leeds Live’s Beren Cross said: “Cunha, yeah I mean I think anybody that’s done a basic level of analysis or read some of the stuff around Cunha will know that he’s a bit like (Rodrigo) De Paul, really, he’s a very exciting footballer – he’s got a lot going for him.”  

Dubbed as “something special” by former Hertha BSC manager Bruno Labbadia, the £55,000-a-week Cunha enjoyed a superb campaign in the Bundesliga last season, scoring eight goals and providing another eight assists in all competitions.

With Cunha’s ability to play as a number ten, through the middle and out wide on the left, the Brazilian could strike up a partnership with last summer’s signing Rodrigo.

The duo are hugely versatile, with the Leeds man also able to play as the number nine or just behind the central striker – in fact, he was at his most prolific last season when playing in the second striker role, scoring three goals in five games.

Both have the pace, the movement, the creativity and the knack of breaking into the box at the right time to be a real attacking threat – Cunha averaged 2.6 shots and 1.8 key passes per game in the Bundesliga last season, while Rodrigo managed 1.8 and 1.2 respectively in the Premier League.

The two could either play just behind Patrick Bamford and operate as number tens, or Bielsa could instead use one of them as the centre-forward and let the other one drop deeper.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/leeds-united-marcelo-bielsa-transfer-gossip-rumours-news-elland-road-rodrigo-de-paul” title=”Read the latest Leeds transfer rumours and news!”]

In either case, Cunha could strike up an exciting partnership with Rodrigo were he to join Leeds.

Meanwhile, Leeds United facing major transfer blow…

Manchester United have been linked with a move for Leicester City midfielder Your Tielemans as the summer transfer window approaches.

What’s the story?

According to Belgian reporter Sven Claes, who keenly tracks the latest developments of his compatriots across Europe, the Red Devils are interested in acquiring the 24-year-old’s services after an impressing 2020/21 campaign.

In an interview with The Empire of the Kop, the journalist revealed that the Liverpool target is also attracting admiring glances from fellow Premier League giants United as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer aims to build a title-winning side.

Next Carrick

“It will be a very difficult decision for Tielemans. The tears speak for themselves after receiving the POTY award two weeks ago,” Claes told EOTK Insider.

“When he’ll play a good Euros, I expect him to be leaving yes. He’s ready for a new challenge/next step – and I also believe that. It’s an absolute talent with an excellent mentality on and off the pitch.

“A lot of clubs like Man U and a Spanish top team already want him. He had it difficult in the past at AS Monaco, but at Leicester, everyone saw his real qualities again. I think we’ll hear soon more about his near future.”

Tielemans was the Foxes’ standout performer last season as they won their maiden FA Cup crown and finished a highly respectable fifth in the top-flight table.

His impressive performances have caught the eye of the continent’s top clubs, and Brendan Rodgers faces a fight to retain the services of his prized asset.

United are currently assessing their options after the Old Trafford outfit achieved a consecutive top-four finish for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, with several big names linked to the 10-time English champions.

Many have outlined the need for a new right-winger and central defender in the red half of Manchester, but with Paul Pogba set to entire the final 12 months of his contract, the need for a midfield conductor could be greater than ever.

The club have arguably failed to replace Michael Carrick since his retirement back in 2018. He was the heartbeat of United for many years, dictating the tempo and setting the rhythm for his teammates to follow.

Pogba’s range of passing makes him the closest embodiment of the now United coach, although, in truth, Tielemans has a skillset far closer to that of the former England international than Pogba ever will.

Claes values the Belgium star at around £56 million, and the man once labelled as “quality” by former Leicester defender Steve Howey would certainly improve United’s chances of ending their eight-year wait for Premier League crown next season.

United should be doing all they can to get the Belgian to Old Trafford.

And, in other news…Woodward heading for another huge Man Utd mistake over £160k-p/w liability 

Rain might have resulted in many interruptions during the past weeks County matches but Andrew Gait and Sven Koenig broke through the gloom with some fine first class batting performances, while Neil Johnson performed in the limited overs version

Keith Lane08-Jul-2002Rain might have resulted in many interruptions during the past weeks County matches but Andrew Gait and Sven Koenig broke through the gloom with some fine first class batting performances, while Neil Johnson performed in the limited overs version.Gait scored 88 for Derbyshire in their draw against Gloucestershire and Koenig scored 55 for Middlesex as they drew with Worcestershire.Shaun Pollock bowled very economically in his drawn match for Warwickshire against Kent returning match analysis of 24.4-8-41-2. With the bat however he only managed five runs. Neil Carter taking two wickets with successive balls took 3/24 in the second innings. He also failed with the bat scoring one.Hampshire and Sussex also had to be content with a draw. Johnson took 1/38 and scored three runs while Nic Pothas scored 10 runs for Hampshire. Mark Davis, fairing no better scored eight and took 1/3 for Sussex.The Nottinghamshire, West Indies ‘A’ match also petered out into a draw with Kevin Pieterson scoring one run.Johnson was the star of the South African connection scoring 92 runs as Hampshire beat Sussex by 93 runs in a Norwich Union encounter. Pothas helped the cause taking five catches behind the wicket and also scoring 26 before being run out. Mark Davis scored seven and took 2/45.Gait scoring 30 runs for Derby saw his team go down by seven runs to Gloucester in the limited overs match. Koenig scoring 16 for Middlesex saw Surrey run away with an eight wicket win.

Pakistan will play three one-day matches in Australia starting middle of June, two at an indoor stadium in Melbourne and one under open skies in Brisbane

Omar Kureishi29-May-2002Pakistan will play three one-day matches in Australia starting middle of June, two at an indoor stadium in Melbourne and one under open skies in Brisbane. For both teams, it is an opportunity to size up each other.Australia will be at full strength, it being assumed that the Waugh brothers are out of the reckoning in this version of the game. Pakistan will be without Abdul Razzaq and Saqlain Mushtaq, both on County duty in England. This leaves Pakistan without its key all-rounder and its best, specialist spinner.Notwithstanding, Pakistan, on paper, remains a strong side. I am delighted that Saeed Anwar has been included though he will be woefully out of match practice, but Saeed Anwar needs time out in the middle and nothing is really at stake in the matches in Australia. No one can quarrel with the team that has been selected.I would presume that Shahid Afridi will be in the playing eleven but where will he be slotted in the batting order? Shahid Afridi has an extra claim by virtue of his bowling and Pakistan will need his leg spin or his version of it. Shahid Afridi is a bona fide all-rounder. Too bad, he doesn’t get to bowl much.Among the officials who will accompany the team, five in all, I notice there is no trainer. Perhaps, it is felt that Pakistan doesn’t need one. The Sri Lankans who are touring England have in their squad, a coach, Dave Whatmore, a batting coach, Barry Richards, a bowling coach Darryl Foster and two physios, one of whom, presumably is a trainer. Whether or not he is, Sri Lanka is one of the best fielding sides in the game. They not only hold on to the catches but also have the ability to hit the stumps in effecting run outs.While it is great to see the setting up of academies, I think we should also concentrate on sending ‘A’ teams on tours. I would imagine that there would be some reluctance on the part of the hosts to meet the expenses of such tours, there being no revenue that can be generated, but the PCB should try and find sponsors and meet some of the expenditure themselves. It would be money well spent.The West Indies won the Test series against India in style and what is important, without any significance contribution from Brian Lara. The Indians, understandably, are not happy about losing the series but a lot of people in the cricket world are delighted that the West Indies are showing signs of a resurgence. What had been missing from the West Indies teams of recent times was self-belief.They appeared to have found it and for the first time one gets the impression that the players are behind Carl Hooper. He has, of course, led from the front. Here was an immensely gifted batsman who was something of an enigma. He did not seem to be at peace with himself. He walked out on the game. But he seems to have found himself, television pictures of his wife and son, Carl Jr showed a happy family. Hooper made a bundle of runs himself and led the team with a quiet assurance.He seemed unflappable in contrast to the somewhat excitable Ganguly. But the star of the show was Chanderpaul who batted with a tenacity that one does associate with a West Indies batsman, more like Hanif Mohammad or Sunil Gavaskar or Geoff Boycott.He batted in the middle order, the last of the specialist batsmen. If there was early collapse, he consolidated the innings, if the West Indies had got off to a good start, he cashed in on it. He was the batsman for every occasion and indeed every contingency as he showed in the West Indies second innings at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica.The West Indies batsmen batted in that second innings like sailors on shore leave. It was Chanderpaul in the unlikely company of Pedro Collins who took the West Indies to a match-winning score. The West Indies still don’t have the bowling to win matches away from their beautiful islands.Mervyn Dillon had a good series but he cannot be compared to a Glenn McGrath or Shaun Pollock and to Pakistan’s trio of Wasim Akram, Waqar Yunis and Shoaib Akhtar. One associate West Indies cricket with bowlers of genuine pace. There does not appear to be an Andy Roberts or Malcolm Marshal or Courtney Walsh in sight. That is why the team will struggle when it plays abroad. Its bowling is rather like that of Sri Lanka minus Muralitharan.The Indians seem to have given themselves a complex about winning a series abroad. It plays on their minds. They lost to a better team but they allowed the West Indies to become the better team.The football World Cup starts in the next few days. I don’t write on football as a rule because I am just a distant devotee of the game. But I will stay glued to the television set. And in the midst of all the gloom, the football World Cup will stand out as a beacon. Not arms or diplomacy but sports is the best bet for world peace. If you are angry, kick a football. Not fire a gun or drop bombs.