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ESPNcricinfo’s wrap of the second day of the Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and South Australia in Sydney

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Mar-2017
ScorecardFile photo – Ed Cowan scored his third hundred in four games•Getty Images

Ed Cowan’s dominance of the Dukes ball in the Sheffield Shield continued as he plundered his third century in four matches to help New South Wales into a strong position at stumps on the second day against South Australia in Sydney. Cowan ended the day unbeaten on 125, with Peter Nevill on 1, and the Blues had cruised along to 4 for 333, already holding a 104-run advantage over the Redbacks.In the first half of the Shield season, before Christmas, Cowan did not manage a century against the Kookaburra balls, but since the Dukes have been introduced in the second half of the campaign he has made 212, 0, 115, 51* and now 125*. In this match he came to the crease at first drop, with the score on 1 for 82 after Daniel Hughes fell for 26.Opening the batting in his first Shield match following his axing from the Test side and subsequent time away from the game, Nic Maddinson flew to 70 from 60 deliveries before he was caught behind off the bowling of Daniel Worrall. But Cowan had plenty of support from Kurtis Patterson (52) and Moises Henriques (54) as the Redbacks struggled to make inroads.South Australia had started the day on 5 for 169 but added only 60 for the loss of their final five wickets. Callum Ferguson failed to add to his overnight score and was caught off Pat Cummins for 75, before Alex Carey chipped in with 56. Cummins finished with 4 for 57 in his first innings of Shield bowling for nearly six years.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale has made a host of early moves in the summer transfer window in an attempt to bolster his playing squad at Ibrox.

The Light Blues failed to win a single trophy during the 2022/23 campaign and the English head coach has reacted to that by bringing in five new signings so far.

Dujon Sterling, Jack Butland, Abdallah Sima, Kieran Dowell and Sam Lammers have all come through the door, whilst Cyriel Dessers is poised to become the sixth after the club reportedly agreed a deal with Serie B side Cremonese last week.

Lammers is one of the more interesting additions so far as the Dutch centre-forward has only scored five league goals since the start of the 2020/21 season, throughout spells in the Serie A and Bundesliga.

His recent struggles in front of goal are a cause for concern but Beale could unlock the former PSV starlet by bringing Malik Tillman back to Glasgow.

What's the latest on Malik Tillman's future?

It was reported last month that Bayern Munich are open to sending the American out on loan again next term and that the Light Blues are still in the race for his signature, although they could face competition from Premier League sides.

Securing a deal to sign the 21-year-old for a second spell at Ibrox would be a fantastic piece of business as Rangers would be snapping up an excellent player who could make a huge impact on his own, whilst also being able to help Lammers find his feet in the final third.

Tillman averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.09 across 28 Scottish Premiership appearances last season, which placed him eighth in the squad, and chipped in with ten goals to go along with four assists.

He also created an outstanding 12 'big chances' for his teammates, more than Todd Cantwell (five), Ryan Kent (nine), Rabbi Matondo (four), and Fashion Sakala (one) managed from wide positions.

This suggests that Tillman, who journalist Jonny McFarlane claimed has "telescopic limbs", possesses the ability to be Beale's main creative threat from midfield, meaning he could be perfect for Lammers, who has previously showcased his ability to be a lethal scorer.

The Dutch marksman averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.24 as he plundered 16 goals in 30 Eredivisie starts during the 2018/19 campaign, whilst the new Gers signing also scored 30 goals in 63 matches for PSV at U21 level.

No Rangers forward scored more than 14 Premiership goals last term and these statistics suggest that the potential is there for Lammers to be a prolific number nine for the club.

As such, Tillman's return could play a crucial role in his revival as the £13k-per-week talent has the creative ability to provide the striker with the chances he needs to find the back of the net on a regular basis again.

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

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

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

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

Who is Eom Ji-sung?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia continues to be on Liverpool's "radar" this summer, according to The Redmen TV's Ste Hoare.

Has Lavia been linked with Liverpool move?

The Reds have made it no secret that they are looking to make significant additions to their midfield this summer, with Alexis Mac Allister already coming in from Brighton, in what looks like an exciting piece of business.

Liverpool cannot afford to stop there, however, with more arrivals required, in order to avoid to same issue that happened last season, with Jurgen Klopp's side looking ageing and jaded in the middle of the park.

One player who has been linked with a move to Anfield this summer is Lavia, who enjoyed a highly impressive season for Southampton a personal level, even though Saints were ultimately relegated from the Premier League, having finished bottom of the table.

It doesn't look as though Liverpool's interest in the £25,000-a-week-earning former Manchester City man is going away any time soon, following a fresh update.

What's the latest on Lavia to Liverpool?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Hoare claimed that Liverpool are still keen on completing the signing of Lavia during the summer transfer window:

"There's been a lot of talk about Lavia in the press and various reliable reporters have been saying Liverpool have got an interest in him. I think Paul Joyce mentioned his name recently in Alexis Mac Allister pieces as well.

"I wouldn't be shocked if Liverpool signed Lavia. It wouldn't come out of the blue. I think he's definitely on their radar."

Lavia, who was hailed as "remarkable" recently by The Athletic, could be a great option for Liverpool this summer, having already looked so at home in the Premier League, making 34 appearances for Saints and averaging 2.1 tackles per match across 29 league outings in 2022/23.

Unlike fellow targets such as Khephren Thuram, Manu Kone and Gabri Veiga, the Belgian is already proven in the division, arguably making it less of risky signing, and the fact that Pep Guardiola has described him as "incredible" by City boss Pep Guardiola says a lot about his talent as a player.

At 19, Lavia is admittedly less proven than a number of others potential signings, which could be argued as a drawback – Liverpool need players who can start regularly from the off – but he fits the profile of exactly the type of player the Reds need to bring in before the new season gets underway.

The future of Wilfried Zaha at Crystal Palace is yet to be determined, but the latest update in the saga may shed light on where the Ivorian winger will end up next season.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the Eagles star has not agreed terms with Saudi Pro League outfit Al Nassr, at this stage. He tweeted:

"Wilfried Zaha has not agreed terms with Al Nassr at this stage. Saudi club has approached him but nothing done.

"Understand Zaha’s priority remains European football, attracting strong interest from Champions League clubs."

Which clubs want to sign Wilfried Zaha?

Indeed, Zaha’s future is more likely to reside in Europe, with the winger prioritising European football at his next club.

Zaha signed a 5-year contract in 2017 worth an estimated £26 million, per Spotrac.

That £130k-per-week contract runs out this summer, and Zaha’s future is still up in the air. Palace have made their intentions clear that they want to keep the player and have tabled a whopping £150k-per-week offer for the club hero to stay on at Selhurst Park.

Zaha has attracted interest from the Middle East, especially from Saudi Arabia.

Saudi clubs are set to splash the cash this summer, with Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo both signing for clubs in the Saudi Pro League in the last six months.

But Romano has stated that Zaha is more attracted to the prospect of playing in the Champions League than a move to Saudi Arabia.

Atletico Madrid are the latest European side Zaha has been linked with, as they look to rebound after a difficult 2022/23 season under Diego Simone.

What club should sign Wilfried Zaha?

The romantic ending to the Zaha saga would be for the winger to stay at Crystal Palace. But how realistic this is would be a different question.

Zaha has spent almost his entire career at Palace since breaking into the senior team through the academy in 2009.

The long-serving Eagles star helped fire Palace to promotion from the Championship in 2013, scoring two memorable goals in the playoff semi-final win over rivals Brighton. That season, Sir Alex Ferguson made Zaha the final signing of his tenure at Manchester United, but the transfer proved to be a failure.

Zaha made just two Premier League appearances for United and was loaned out to Cardiff City in 2014 where he made 12 appearances, per Transfermarkt.

In total, the 30-year-old dynamo has made 458 appearances for The Eagles, scoring 90 goals. Wilfried is a club legend and a fan favourite, and to see the winger finish his club career at his boyhood club would be part of the romance football is lacking in this current era.

ScorecardFile photo – Paras Khadka hit seven fours and a six in his 84•Peter Lim/ACC

Paras Khadka, the Nepal captain, contributed with bat and ball to help his team defend 217 against Netherlands in an ICC World Cricket League fixture in Amstelveen.Khadka top-scored with a 94-ball 84, and then nipped out two wickets – that of Stephan Myburgh and Wesley Barresi – with his medium-pace in six overs. Netherlands, who recovered from the early blows to be comfortably placed at 103 for 3, were bowled out for 198 in 48.3 overs.Netherlands, who opted to bowl, had Nepal reeling at 65 for 3 in the 20th over. Khadka then forged a 118-run fourth-wicket stand with Sagar Pun to rescue Nepal and set them up for a competitive total. While Khadka hit seven fours and a six, Pun faced 78 deliveries for his 45 and struck two fours.The dismissal of both batsmen in the space of 16 deliveries allowed Netherlands to claw back. Michael Rippon, the left-arm wrist spinner, ran through the lower middle order to finish with 4 for 35 off six overs, while Ahsan Malik, who sent back Khadka, had two wickets.Netherlands’ top three contributed just 21. It needed a rescue act from Max O’Dowd and Roelof van der Merwe to bring the chase back on track; the pair added 82 to rescue them from 21 for 3 in the eighth over.But van der Merwe’s dismissal for 56 to Sandeep Lamichhane, the legspinner, brought Nepal back into the game. The wickets of O’Dowd and Pieter Seelaar in successive overs left Netherlands tottering at 140 for 6. Timm van der Gugten and Tim Gruijters kept the chase alive courtesy a 53-run stand, before Nepal returned to pick up four wickets in eight deliveries to close out the contest.Despite the loss, Netherlands are still three points ahead of second-placed Hong Kong in the eight-team table. Nepal, for whom this was the third win in eight matches, are placed sixth and equal on points with Kenya, who have two games in hand.

Sri Lanka A head coach Avishka Gunawardene lamented the lack of big scores from the batsmen, after the side lost all four games in the A-team tri-series involving Pakistan and hosts England Lions.Sri Lanka A passed 255 only once on good batting surfaces, with Angelo Perera’s 69 being their highest individual score in the tournament. In contrast, Lions piled up runs and misery on Sri Lanka A, including a total of 425 for 1, which was set up by Ben Duckett’s unbeaten 220 not out, in the sixth match.”The biggest disappointment for me was not England Lions scoring 300 or 400 against us but that none of our batsmen used the conditions to get a big hundred,” Gunawardene said. “I thought that was the ideal opportunity for the batsmen. You don’t get better tracks even in Sri Lanka. The ball came nicely onto the bat and there wasn’t much movement, but our batsmen didn’t make use of that opportunity.”Besides Angelo, Niroshan Dickwella and Bhanuka Rajapaksa got to fifties, but could not convert it into a big score. Gunawardene held temperament responsible for batsmen not building on starts. He also said the batsmen need to learn the art of pacing an innings from domestic cricket.”They will get a 30, 40 or a 50 and throw it away. It’s all to do with their mindset; nothing wrong with their talent,” Gunawardene said. “Even the Pakistan A coach said that we had so much of talent but something was not right, which I also agree. The batsmen will have to start learning how to play long innings in domestic cricket. They should know how to build an innings, how to pace an innings, these are little things that our batsmen need to learn and develop and all of them comes from playing domestic cricket.”Gunawardene lauded Lions’ dominant batting line-up, which dictated the series. Five of their batsmen registered 150-plus scores as Lions won all their four matches.”That side is as good as their senior national team,” Gunawardene said. “The wickets were very flat but the difference was their batters in every game made it big with each one of them getting big scores against us and Pakistan A.”Dickwella finished the series as Sri Lanka A’s highest run-getter with 164 runs at 41, but Gunawardene termed Dhananjaya de Silva, who had to leave England and join the senior team for the home series against Australia, as the “most impressive”.”Roshen Silva looked the one guy who was ready to score the big one, very willing to spend a long time in the middle,” Gunawardene said. “He looked very good and he had the knack for batting longer hours and making big scores but he got a call to return to Sri Lanka. Mahela Udawatte didn’t score a lot of runs although he looked good. Niroshan Dickwella got starts but didn’t convert them into big ones. The most impressive of them was Dhananjaya de Silva, the moment he joined the squad I thought he was really good. [Lakshan] Sandakan looked like one of those spinners who could turn the ball he has first-class experience and he needs to get to next level and play.”Thisara Perera let Sri Lanka A down, despite having the experience of 168 international matches•Associated Press

Gunawardene said the the absence of five players – Roshen Silva, Dhananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan, Vishwa and Asitha Fernando – all of whom were named in the Test squad – left the A team short on experience.”I went to England with two spin-bowling allrounders for the three four-day matches and when it came to the one-day tri-series the only spinner in my team was Sandakan who was picked for the Sri Lankan Test side for good reasons,” Gunawardene said. “I was left with only Sachith Pathirana and Ramith Rambukwella who are spin-bowling allrounders. I didn’t have a specialist spinner in my line-up and I was left with only three fast bowlers and the squad had only 13 guys because several had been called to the national team and others to the Under-19 team that was to tour England.”Gunawardene, however, praised Asitha, who was Sri Lanka’s leading wicket-taker in the Under-19 World Cup, and Vishwa for adding bite to the attack.”They were very impressive in all the matches, they got the ball to move and the batsmen struggled against them,” Gunawardene said. “Vishwa was quite quick and touched 140 kph. Asitha is just 19 and bowls 135-plus kph. I saw him in the Under-19 squad but he has to play more first-class matches and get the experience. The best thing about him is that whatever we say he has the capacity to grab, which I think is a good sign.”Thisara Perera was the biggest disappointment of the series, scoring 99 runs in three innings and taking one wicket in four matches while conceding 226 runs at 7.06 runs an over, despite having the experience of 168 international games.”You have to get more out of someone who has played over 100 ODIs he should have done something at least stop batsmen from scoring whereas he went for 60 and 100 runs,” Gunawardene said.”Thisara is only 27 but for someone like him to be considered for the national side he has to perform exceptionally well. He can’t be performing at the same level as the under 19 and the rest of the guys. He is so experienced; he has to come up with exceptional performances. You can’t be just under-performing.”

Newcastle United have scarcely fired wide of the mark since the affluent PIF takeover in October 2021, and no deal encapsulates the winds of change at the club better than Bruno Guimaraes.

Signing in January 2022 from Lyon for £40m, Guimaraes joined a struggling Premier League outfit that was battling to preserve top-flight status, but his impact has exceeded expectations and then some.

Making 17 divisional appearances across the second phase of the 21/22 campaign, the 25-year-old would score five goals and register one assist, integral in ushering in a new level of performance and a new sense of belief, with manager Eddie Howe blown away by his engine's technical ability and hailing him as "magnificent" as the threat of relegation swiftly became a fleeting and poignant memory.

Recording a spectacular seasonal Sofascore rating of 7.25, complementing his direct output with an 86% pass success rate and an average of 2.6 tackles per match, the £120k-per-week gem carried his form into the new footballing year and has been the centrepiece of the outfit's resounding exploits, having reached the Carabao Cup finale and perching comfortably inside the league's top-four with just five matches to play.

How much is Bruno Guimaraes worth?

Few would've expected the Magpies to ascend to the front of the game as swiftly as they have done, but it is all down to manager Howe's tactical aptitude, the pinpoint success in the market alongside technical director Dan Ashworth, and the implementation on the field.

Guimaraes was the perfect signing; as per FBref, the midfield monster ranks among the top 16% of positional peers for rate of assists, the top 20% for progressive passes, the top 15% for successful take-ons and the top 15% for tackles per 90, confirming the dynamism of his trade that has left him held in such high regard.

According to a recent report stemming from Spain, Liverpool are considering attempting a swoop for the gem, with a seismic fee of €100m (£88m) being touted. Real Madrid are another who have been noted as suitors for the midfielder.

This value represents a staggering 120% increase from the fee paid for Guimaraes' signature last year, and is a testament to the Magpies' resounding success in such a short time.

Hailed as "world-class" by his teammate Dan Burn, Guimaraes will undoubtedly continue to see his value balloon over the coming months, with the Toon poised for that coveted spot in the Champions League.

And while Jurgen Klopp's Reds may hold a vested interest in the ten-cap ace, there is a feeling that Guimaraes has scarcely scratched the surface of his potential on Tyneside, and despite the lucrative fees his name is being touted at, it would be ludicrous for Howe and co to imagine anything other than a future with the Brazilian at the heart of the plans. Indeed, they truly struck gold when bringing him to the club last year.

Pundit and former Aston Villa forward Gabby Agbonlahor has been reacting to rumours linking the club with a move for Manchester City defender Kyle Walker.

What’s Agbonlahor said about a move for Walker?

NSWE are prepared to back Unai Emery with a “huge” transfer budget ahead of his first full season in charge. One player who has been linked with a move to Villa Park is Walker, with reports suggesting that Emery is after a new right-back and feels the 32-year-old could slot straight into his side.

Internal talks have been held in the Midlands over moves for Walker and Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips, with those at the Etihad possibly tempted into selling the pair if they receive a double bid in the region of £55m.

Talking to Football Insider regarding the speculation surrounding Walker, Agbonlahor, who contributes to Sky Sports, doesn’t think a transfer will materialise, believing “every club in the Premier League would sign” the full-back.

“I think every club in the Premier League would sign Kyle Walker. For 32, he’s still so quick. I’m not sure Man City would be willing to let him go.

“Cancelo is out on loan, and past that they’ve only got Rico Lewis. I don’t see Walker being an option for Villa. I can’t see City being willing to let him leave.”

Ambitious?

It could well be an ambitious move by Villa Park chiefs, but with Emery transforming things on the pitch and leading a late charge for European football, it is good to see the high standard of player the club are looking to sign.

Walker previously spent time on loan at Villa in the early stages of his career and has gone on to star at the highest level for club and country, winning 11 honours with City. He could add three more trophies before the end of the season, but on a personal note, the England international has fallen out of favour slightly, starting just 16 Premier League games this season.

Walker will also be entering the final 12 months of his City contract in the summer, so the club may see it as a good time to move the player on and refresh their full-back ranks, potentially leaving the door open for Villa, so who knows, a transfer could gather pace despite Agbonlahor’s comments.

Tottenham Hotspur could look to the Championship for one of their summer signings, according to reports…

What's the latest on Tottenham's interest in Nathan Wood?

Renowned transfer guru and journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed the Lilywhites' interest in Swansea City defender Nathan Wood.

"Nathan Wood, attracting interest after 2002-born CB impressed on England U21 debut and been outstanding for Swansea this season," he tweeted. "Understand Arsenal and Tottenham are monitoring his performances closely. Swansea looking to try and extend his contract to prevent summer move."

The 20-year-old cost the Welsh outfit just £400k from second-tier rivals Middlesbrough last summer and made his first England U21 bow only last month.

Who is Nathan Wood?

Spurs have had mixed success when dipping into the EFL for first-team talent, ranging from the early success of Dele Alli to the yet-to-be-seen talents of Djed Spence but there is good reason to think that Wood would be a worthwhile signing.

Capable of playing both centrally and out wide in a defensive role, the former Crewe Alexandra could follow in Ben Davies' footsteps, having also signed from the Swans back in the summer of 2014.

Whatever you think of his quality, he has been a solid servant for the club on what is nearly approaching a decade and his versatility, particularly in recent years with the regular transition of management, has been crucial. A lot of his time has been spent at left-back but under Antonio Conte, he has often looked the part as a left-sided centre-back.

Wood started his career out as a left midfielder as a result of his rapid pace, having once clocked a 100m time of just 13.07s. For comparison, Gareth Bale ran an 11.4s attempt aged 14 and Spurs fans know all about his acceleration.

This speed makes him an intriguing prospect in defence, especially if he were to lineup alongside someone like Eric Dier, who isn't going to outrun many forwards in the Premier League.

The 20-year-old, once lauded as a "talented" starlet by journalist Craig Johns, has been impressed for Swansea and that's reflected by the fact that only four other players have managed more minutes in the Championship this term. He leads the squad in terms of passing accuracy (91%) and ranks second for aerial duels won (two per game), showing that he's a physical presence too.

It remains to be seen how much Wood is likely to command at the end of the season but in the English gem, Spurs could well find another Davies-like stalwart that can become a mainstay in defence for years to come.