After six years as Justin Langer’s full-time partner, Matthew Hayden is about to parade his new public relationship when he walks out at the Gabba with Phil Jaques. The pair flirted as batting mates a couple of times over the past two years when Langer was injured, but now the men have the chance to develop something special of their own as they attempt to maintain the imposing collections of the previous combination.At times Jaques must have felt like he was the third wheel in a love affair. Since January, when Langer announced his split with Hayden and the Test team, Jaques has been linked to the post and he will begin life as a first-choice partner against Sri Lanka on Thursday.Hayden first seriously bonded with Jaques over a can of tinned stew during last year’s boot camp and he wants to develop the relationship, but he realises the feelings of batting with Langer will never be recaptured. “We’d played since 1990 together, that’s 17 years of knowing each other very intimately,” he said as the Australia squad completed its first training session. “Day in day out, playing against each other or with each other, you just can’t replace that.”John Buchanan’s boot camp gave Hayden and Jaques an idea of what to expect when the other was under extreme pressure. As members of Team Alpha they completed strenuous hikes, coped with sleep deprivation and shared cold stew and bread for dinner. “It tasted dreadful but we got through it,” Hayden said. “It was a lot of fun and a good start. It’s something I believe we can draw from.”Hayden calls Jaques a “very steady character” and believes he will settle comfortably and quickly into the Test set-up. “I’m not worried about Phil’s game at all,” he said, “I have zero concerns about that.”Jaques opened with 2 and 28 in his first Test against South Africa when Langer had a rib injury and he scored 66 after coming in when Langer missed the 2006 Bangladesh tour to recover from concussion. “It’s not like Phil’s played three games for New South Wales,” Hayden said. “He’s no rookie and that’s a great thing for this side. You come to this level knowing your game really well so there’s less to expose.”One thing that Hayden is slightly worried about is that Australia will enter the match a little rusty. The team has not played a Test since the Ashes series ended in January and has prepared for Sri Lanka by contesting two series of limited-overs matches. “There could be rust,” he said. “We’ve played a lot of one-day cricket. While we’ve played a few first-class games, Test cricket is still a different game. We’ve worked hard in the short time we’ve been home.”Hayden respects Sri Lanka’s pace attack but is in no doubt as to what he wants to do on Thursday. “Bat,” he said firmly. His new partner is probably feeling the same way.
A recurring back injury prevented Ricky Ponting from fielding throughout the fourth day, but he is expected to return as Australia attempt to finish off England at the Gabba on Monday. Ponting experienced the problem while making an unbeaten 60 as he set the tourists an impossible target of 648, but he spent the afternoon receiving treatment in the dressing room from Alex Kountouris, the team physiotherapist.Ponting strained a muscle in his upper back when he turned for the crease after backing up. He stretched on the ground but remained on the field until Justin Langer reached his century, declaring with his team at 1 for 202.The injury is similar to one he experienced on the 2004 tour of Sri Lanka and Langer said he would “bet his house” on Ponting being fit for the second Test at Adelaide from Friday. Adam Gilchrist assumed the captaincy on a day when Glenn McGrath also suffered with pain in a “hotspot” in his left foot.”The pressure is from his shoe and he’s had it for a long time,” Kountouris said. “The fact he’s gone from one-day cricket to bowling a lot more overs meant the soreness was severe today.” McGrath had a pain-killing injection in the foot and it will be treated after the match, but it is unlikely to threaten his participation in the remainder of the series.Shane Watson is another who is due to be available for Adelaide as his recovery from a hamstring injury progresses well. Watson was ruled out of this match but Kountouris said he was on track for the second Test, which would force another reshuffle if he is included in the team.
South Africa’s coach, Micky Arthur, has said that the gameplan will be to score at least 300 if they bat first in the third one-day international at Chennai on Tuesday. He is also well aware of how crucial the toss could be in the day/night encounter.”The toss will be crucial due to the dew factor. We will bat first, if we win the toss,” said Arthur. “A total of around 300 will be the goal to achieve a win.” However, he would be drawn on the make-up of the South Africa side, “the team will be decided after seeing the conditions on Tuesday morning.”After the defeat at Bangalore Graeme Smith said he had given his spinners a decent bowl as they could play a vital role later in the series. But Arthur says the balance of the attack is not yet settled and isn’t ruling out changes.”We have to discuss it depending on the conditions on the day of the match. It all depends on the weather conditions and accordingly we will pick a bowler or a batsman under the super-sub facility.””Ours is a side that is trying to look up but the players are young and are learning… Each one of them has the potential to do his business according to what he is toldWhen comparing the two teams Arthur pinpoints the Indian team’s depth in batting as a key factor. In the first ODI at Hyderabad they recovered from 35 for 5 to post 249 – although South Africa still managed to chase them down. In the second match India shuffled their batting and Virendar Sehwag guided them to victory from No. 4.”Our team is not as experienced as India,” Arthur said, “but we are creating a good atmosphere for the youngsters who are shaping up superbly. They are working very hard. It is all about team culture and philosophy. The players know what is expected of them and they deliver.”
ScorecardNorthern Districts triumphed in an astounding run-chase with a 48-run last-wicket partnership helping them hunt down 400 against Central Districts. That it came with the rain getting heavier and light fading made it all the more memorable.The target of 400 looked beyond ND’s reach when they lost their fourth and fifth wickets on 85. But Matt Hart and Hamish Marshall responded in outstanding fashion and put them back on track with a 216-run stand, an ND record for the sixth-wicket. Marshall, who has a one-day international century, scored his first first-class hundred with 128, in 238 minutes, and notched up his 2000th first-class run along the way when he was on 46.Hart’s hundred, 107 runs in 209 minutes, was his fourth. But he fell when 99 were still required, and Marshall followed when 62 were needed. Matters took an even sharper turn when Michael Mason, who earlier removed Marshall, took two wickets off successive balls to leave ND at 352 for 9.However, ND were not finished yet. Joseph Yovich and Ian Butler kept their calm even though the players were briefly forced from the field due to rain. Having come this close, with Yovish at the crease, there was always hope for ND. Though he bats at No. 8, he has a highest first-class score of 99, and 10 half-centuries to his credit.He added to that today by finishing on 54 not out, while Butler revealed his batting ability by scoring 14, including the match-winning boundary off Lance Hamilton – a hit back over the bowler’s head.Match abandoned due to rain ScorecardRain in Wellington meant no play was possible, and this left Otago to claim first-innings points from the match, and Wellington with some work to do to keep in touch with the competition’s front-runners.
Vasbert Drakes, West Indies’ fast-bowling allrounder, looks set to become Virender Sehwag’s replacement at Leicestershire, according to the coach Phil Whitticase.Speaking to BBC Radio Leicester, Whitticase said he hoped to complete the signing within 24 hours, after their attempts to sign the Australian fast bowler, Matt Nicholson, were blocked by his state side, New South Wales.Drakes, 33, has played seven Tests and 30 one-day internationals for the West Indies, and last May he was one of the stars of a record-breaking run-chase against Australia in Antigua. He has been a regular on the county circuit for several years, having previously played for Sussex, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire. If his registration is completed swiftly, he may come into contention for the Championship match against Lancashire at Grace Road, starting on Wednesday.Sehwag scored 478 runs in six Championship appearances for Leicestershire, including two centuries, but he has been told to take a complete break from the game for six weeks. He is returning home to ready himself for India’s Test series against New Zealand in October.
For the second day running no play was possible in India’s four-day game against the South African A team at Buffalo Park in East London on Sunday, bringing the total number of days lost either to the elements or the conditions by the Indians in the past two weeks to five.All three days in the tourists’ match against a President’s XI in Chatsworth were abandoned because of a waterlogged outfield and now in East London the Indians have encountered similar circumstances during a tour that has been dogged by ill luck.Overnight rain in East London delayed the start on Sunday and a light drizzle later in the morning eventually persuaded the umpires that there was no possibility of play. An attempt to start the game will be made at 9.45am on Monday.For players from both teams the lack of play has proved frustrating. Connor Williams, for instance, has been in South Africa for more than two weeks, but has yet to get out onto the field and with the loss of each day’s play, his chances of forcing his way into the Test side have receded. He may well go through his entire South African tour without setting foot on a field.Daryll Cullinan, meanwhile, had hoped to persuade the South African selectors that he offers a solution to their middle order batting concerns, but he too, like Jacques Rudolph, has had to kick his heels. Like Williams, Rudolph was also due to play in the President’s XI match, but found himself with more spare time than he might have wanted.
Spectators arrived at the WACA on Saturday morning hoping to see something special. David Warner was on 244, and he scores fast. What was to come? A triple-century? An Australian record? A world record? No. Instead, this was a day of more sedate Test cricket, of New Zealand doing what they could to claw back into the Test. Australia remained on top, but this day at least was more evenly fought.In fact, all the batsmen combined on day two didn’t outscore Warner’s personal day one tally by much – 283 to 244. Warner added only nine and was first out, for 253. By stumps, the new most important man was Kane Williamson, who again looked a class above his team-mates, and was unbeaten on 70. Ross Taylor had shown some encouraging signs, on 26, and New Zealand were 2 for 140, still trailing by 419.That deficit was almost exactly the amount Australia had scored on the first day, and the first day is what will likely still cost New Zealand the match. As outstanding as Williamson was – and he was brilliant in moving to his half-century from his 90th delivery with a lovely cover-driven boundary off Mitchell Johnson – he will need significant support on day three. And with Doug Bracewell at No.7, this is a team short a batsman.Williamson scored heavily through cover and struck 10 fours, and Australia continued to have trouble finding his weakness. Probably because he doesn’t seem to have one. Notably, Taylor was much more crisp than in his scratchy Gabba performance, punching through cover-point and slog-sweeping Nathan Lyon for four. He had started to look something like the confident Taylor of old.But Australia had struck twice. Mitchell Starc was especially dangerous early, accurate and finding swing at high speed. In the third over of the innings, Starc trapped Martin Guptill lbw with a quick inswinger, and New Zealand did well to avoid losing any further wickets to Starc. It was not until Lyon found some turn later that they claimed another, Tom Latham caught at slip for 36.There was a serious concern for Australia shortly after tea, when Usman Khawaja pulled up short while chasing a ball to the boundary and left the field with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. Khawaja had scored 121 on the first day, his second century in consecutive Tests, and his efforts were key to Australia being able to post their 9 for 559 declared.Steven Smith had called an end to the innings shortly after drinks in the second session, Australia having added 143 to their overnight total. Wickets had started to tumble late in the innings, including three in one over from Mark Craig, but by then Australia were searching for fast runs and the wickets meant little to the overall contest.The day had started with the anticlimax of Warner edging to third slip off Trent Boult for 253 in the sixth over of the day. Like most of the New Zealand bowlers, Boult was much more impressive on the second day than on day one, keeping to more consistent lines and lengths. On the first day they had bowled only one maiden, on the second they managed 10. But the pressure they built was nominal only, given Australia’s hefty total.Only a few lusty late blows from Mitchell Marsh and the tail indicated that Australia were nearing a declaration; for much of the rest of the day they batted without hurry, secure in the knowledge that they were tiring New Zealand out with every over. When Smith did attempt a heave off Matt Henry he tickled a catch behind on 27, and it was then Adam Voges who steered the innings.Voges managed 41 before he was caught behind off Boult. Marsh struck five fours and a six on his way to 34 before he was spectacularly taken by Bracewell, a magnificent, reflexive return catch. The umpires checked on a possible no-ball and Bracewell may well have had nothing behind the crease, but the margin was tight and the third official gave him the benefit of the doubt.Craig then finished off with three wickets in an over as Australia’s lower order sought quick late runs. Peter Nevill danced down and was stumped for 19, Starc holed out for a golden duck and next ball Johnson was also stumped after advancing down the pitch. Lyon survived the hat-trick ball and the declaration came after the next over.The day ended with nine wickets having fallen, a much more even contest between bat and ball, and between Australia and New Zealand. Brendon McCullum’s men could only wish it had been that way one day one.
Mutter the name Ryan Christie in the presence of a Celtic supporter and it may just send shivers down their spine or provoke a look of despair in your general direction.
On his day, the former Bhoy had the potential to frighten defences to death, cutting inside with the finesse of Arjen Robben and devastatingly finding the net. Yet, on other days, the ex-Parkhead gem resembled a frustrated figure, somebody who to coin an old phrase, couldn’t hit a barn door.
That was the story of Christie’s Celtic career in a nutshell; promise, excitement but ultimately, he’d let you down and disappoint too regularly. The very fact he was branded a “laughing stock” by pundit Frank McAvennie paints a very vivid picture of his final campaign with Celtic.
After all, at one stage last term, he scored just once in a run of 19 league outings.
Yet, as the Premiership title race begins to captivate and enthral with Ange Postecoglou’s side stuttering in attack, they could well do with his presence.
Liel Abada has been exceptional at times this term, scoring 14 goals and assisting 11 since penning terms with the Scottish giants. Sadly, however, he has failed to find the net in his last four outings.
Daizen Maeda has also struggled and with the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Karamoko Dembele and Giorgos Giakoumakis regularly spending time on the sideline through injury, they have been bereft of much offensive depth.
Additionally, James Forrest’s career looks to be winding down now but in Christie, they had the perfect man to cover in a multitude of positions across the forward line and his presence would surely be appreciated right now.
He wasn’t always a prolific goalscorer but in terms of his creativity, he was a marvel, supplying 15 goals in his final campaign in Scotland.
Capped 26 times by his country, he also offers experience, something that would be invaluable to a young and developing Celtic team.
To call letting him go a mistake may be pushing it, but there must be an element of regret in allowing him to run down to the final six months of his contract.
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As a result, the Bhoys fetched just £2.5m for a player whose value has quickly increased by a whopping 224% to £8.1m after waving farewell to Postecoglou and co.
Celtic have fetched plenty of big fees in recent years; namely for the likes of Odsonne Edouard and Kieran Tierney, but they should have received far more for Christie as well.
AND in other news, Forget Jota: Celtic passenger who lost 71% duels is becoming a “huge problem” for Ange…
Results summaryKnights opened the Ram Slam T20 Challenge with a straightforward win, chasing 154 against Warriors in Port Elizabeth. Warriors were left to rue their mid-innings collapse in which they lost five wickets for 30 runs between the 5th and 11th over, caused largely by pace off the ball from Shadley van Schalkwyk. Christiaan Jonker’s 61 off 38 balls kept them in the hunt but the quality of international batsmen in the Knights side meant the total, though slightly above par for the venue, was never enough. Theunis de Bruyn’s 78 off 48 balls and David Miller’s 62 off 47 balls took Knights home with two overs to spare.Rain affected double-header Sunday but Dolphins made a strong statement against Cape Cobras, putting on 231 for 2. Sarel Erwee became the first centurion of the competition with 103 off 58 balls while Khaya Zondo contributed 67 off 34 balls. Vernon Philander conceded 49 runs, while Dane Paterson went for 44 runs in their respective four-over quota. In response, Cobras’ superstars could not withstand the pressure. Richard Levi nicked off against Robbie Frylinck, Temba Bavuma scooped a catch to point off Keshav Maharaj and JP Duminy was run-out. Hashim Amla was on 52 not out when lightning stopped the chase after 8.3 overs. Cobras finished on 108 for 3 in 10 overs, 15 short on the DLS method.The lightning eventually turned into a storm and reduced the match between Lions and Titans to 15 overs-a-side. Albie Morkel took 3 for 12 to keep Lions to 127 for 6, with Reeza Hendricks’ 67 off 42 the only score over 20. Then, Morkel scored 41 off 16 balls and shared an 85-run third-wicket partnership with AB de Villiers, who blitzed a 19-ball 50, to give Titans victory with 22 balls left in their innings.International incidentsDe Villiers takes the honours for the most impressive performance by a national player, not least for the back-to-back sixes he hit off Kagiso Rabada to end Titans’ innings. He did not, however, score as many runs as either de Bruyn or Miller. De Bruyn’s contribution may be particularly noteworthy, considering his struggle to find a spot in the Test team. This innings showed he could start making a case for consideration in shorter formats.Among the bowlers, Maharaj, who opened the bowling for Dolphins and took 1 for 23 in three overs, would have caught the national selectors’ eyes. Maharaj started ahead of Imran Tahir, and showed the same control he has become known for in Tests.There will be concern over Duminy’s start as Cobras captain. He bowled three overs and cost his side 40 runs, and was then run-out for 1, at a time when Cobras desperately needed a partnership.Domestic dreamersLook no further than Erwee for a domestic player who has made an impact in the opening week. Erwee, a 28-year-old opening batsmen from Pietermaritzburg, has had a stunning summer so far. He was the leading run-scorer in the Africa T20 Cup for champions Kwa-Zulu Natal Inland.He also scored two hundreds for the Dolphins in the first-class competition, but was forced to miss two of the remaining three matches. Erwee could not play mid-way through the first half because he went to France for the wedding of England’s Jason Roy, a friend from his club cricket days in the UK, and then could not play the final round before the break because he was part of South Africa’s victorious Hong Kong Sixes squad.Beyond the boundaryBoth venues, St George’s Park and SuperSport Park, saw fairly good crowds attend the opening week, with the Port Elizabeth band in full voice and a Sunday afternoon crowd braving the Highveld storms to braai on Centurion’s grass embankments.Three members of the crowd took one-handed catches, in a competition for a share of R2 million (US$139,290) but only two of them are eligible to win. The third is an employee of the Gauteng Cricket Board, one-half of the Lions franchise, and so had to be disqualified.
Johan Botha, the South Africa offspinner, is looking to get his career back on track after being selected for the one-day side for the series against Pakistan, which ends his 18-month absence from international cricket.Botha underwent a rehabilitation programme to correct his action after being reported while making his Test debut in Sydney against Australia in January, 2006. His action was deemed illegal after testing at the University of Western Australia, based on which he was banned.In August, 2006, soon after the ICC had cleared his action, a second test found that he had continued to bend his arm beyond the permitted 15-degree angle. After further reworking, his action was cleared once again on November 21.”Obviously I’m very excited and thrilled to be back in the national team”, Botha told the , a South Africa-based newspaper. “It’s been a quite a while now and it will be great to be back in the set-up and have another go.””It’s in the past now, it happened then and it’s history to me. I won’t lie, it was not a nice feeling, it was a tough period for me but I knew it will be over. I kept backing myself and I never thought it was over for one minute.”Botha, who had captained the South Africa Emerging Players to victory in a one-day tournament in Australia, is keen to make the most of his selection.”This is an opportunity for me to put my hand up and do something special. I think Mickey [Arthur] and the selectors are just giving everyone a chance because they need a number one spinner. They had a look at Robin [Peterson] and Thandi [Tshabalala] and I think this is my chance.””I think, contrary to some beliefs, spinners have a huge role to play in one-day cricket and it will be nice to play that role for my country.”Botha made his ODI debut in December 2005, against India in Hyderabad, and has taken 7 wickets in 13 matches.