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Melvyn Betts produced his first match-winning performance for Warwickshireto lead them to a four-wicket Benson & Hedges Cup win over Somerset atTaunton

Richard Latham02-May-2001Melvyn Betts produced his first match-winning performance for Warwickshireto lead them to a four-wicket Benson & Hedges Cup win over Somerset atTaunton.The former Durham pace bowler deservedly collected the Gold Awardfor career-best limited overs figures of 4-22, having delivered his tenovers in one spell at the start of the match.Warwickshire won the toss on an overcast morning and soon Betts and VasbertDrakes had the home side in dire straits at 44-5, bowling with zip andaccuracy on a helpful pitch.Keith Parsons then lifted Somerset fortunes with a fluent 72, off 100 balls,with six fours, but his only real support came from Richard Johnson (24)in aninth-wicket stand of 47.Marcus Trescothick had looked in tremendous form making 23 in the earlyovers. But once the England opener fell to Betts, Somerset were alwaysstruggling and their total of 174 all out looked modest.Warwickshire found batting equally testing and Steffan Jones dismissed MarkWagh, Nick Knight and Dougie Brown with only 25 on the board. Like Betts,Jones bowled unchanged for figures of 3-38.Jason Kerr also bowled well for 1-23 from his ten overs, but Trevor Penneycame to his side’s rescue, finding a durable partner in skipper Mike Powellas they added 70 for the fifth wicket.Powell made 31, having been dropped by Parsons on 17. But it was Penney whosaw Warwickshire home with five balls to spare, scoring an unbeaten 73 off127 balls, with six fours.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former Sheffield United striker Brian Deane has expressed his doubts over Paul Heckingbottom’s suitability for the Bramall Lane dugout.

This comes after the Yorkshire club revealed that they have narrowed down their shortlist of managers to replace Chris Wilder down to five.

That shortlist includes Heckingbottom, who has been captaining the sinking ship in a caretaker role following Wilder’s departure back in March.

It is the 43-year-old’s first managerial role in England since his short spell with Leeds United in 2018.

Ultimately, Heckingbottom is not the most experienced of managers, which is a concern for Deane.

On the Sheffield United caretaker boss potentially getting the job full-time, Deane told FFC:

“I think that they need to get somebody in who has a track record. I think they need somebody with some presence. You know, if they don’t go down that route, then it will say a lot about their aspirations.

“If you consider the fact that if they put him in charge, they might look at it as a safe pair of hands. But you’d have to question what they want to achieve.”

Sheffield United have seen little improvement under Heckingbottom, so it may come as a surprise to some that the former Leeds boss is a strong contender for the position permanently.

Having managed both the Whites and Barnsley in the Championship, though, he is not a complete novice when it comes to English football’s second division.

Plenty of Aston Villa fans have been reacting to Dean Smith’s comments regarding European qualification on social media.

Villa have enjoyed a solid season in the Premier League and have flirted with Europe on several occasions throughout the current campaign. Smith’s side currently sit in 11th place on 48 points ahead of the meeting with Manchester United this afternoon, but three points today could see them end the weekend in ninth.

It seems as if the Villa manager has his eye on bringing European football back to Villa Park, though, admitting that the club ‘need to start challenging’ for that coveted prize.

In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports ahead of the clash with Manchester United, Smith said:

“Qualifying for Europe is the aim for the football club. The vision of the owners is to develop players and grow the value and the brand of Aston Villa Football Club across the world. We need to start challenging.”

Villa fans react

@villareport shared those comments on social media on Twitter, which unsurprisingly received plenty of interaction from a number of Villa supporters.

Here’s what some had to say in reply, with one making reference to youngster Carney Chukwuemeka, who has recently been linked with a move away, and another labelling them as ‘exciting’.

“No way we let Chukwuemeka leave now”Credit: @MazeSZN”Exciting times again as a Villa fan isn’t it”Credit: @will_avfc”The club starting to show the ambition that’s been missing over the last 10-15 years”Credit: @TheVillaHome”Can’t wait for the transfer window to open and see how serious the owners are. Could be a very exciting/interesting transfer window for us “Credit: @PeteVillan1981″Next year is our year”Credit: @mylokieran”Need to taste those European night atmosphere’s like Ajax again”Credit: @HoItender

In other news: Villa leapfrog PL rival in race to sign defender; source claims he’s visited the club, find out more here.

Five senior Indian players have asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India to have a contract system for them based on their seniority, said Ratnakar Shetty, member of the BCCI’s finance committee and joint secretary of the Mumbai Cricket

Staff and Agencies19-May-2001Senior players for contract systemFive senior Indian players have asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India to have a contract system for them based on their seniority, said Ratnakar Shetty, member of the BCCI’s finance committee and joint secretary of the Mumbai Cricket Association in Mumbai on Friday. Talking to PTI, Shetty said that this was a suggestion which came from the players. A decision in this regard will be taken by the Board’s finance committee only after going through all the aspects. “When a player gets injured and is out of the team for months, he does not get paid enough though the Board bears his medical and travellingexpenses,” Shetty said. “Hence, the players want something like a contract system which will give them a sense of security.”Asked if the system could be implemented in India, Shetty said “it has to be seen after it (system) comes into existence. But for this, the players will have to turn professionals and also their tax and legal problems have to be taken into consideration”.Meanwhile, talking to reporters at the end of the camp, Indian captain Sourav Ganguly said the final shape to the contract system would be given after a few more rounds of talks with the board. The players who met Shetty in Bangalore were Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, besides Ganguly.Gavaskar to chair ICC committee meetingThe ICC Cricket Committee-Playing will hold a discussion on the role of third umpires, technology and on-field playing conditions when it meets in London on May 23. The three-day meeting, chaired by Sunil Gavaskar, will consider the question of technology against a background of technical developments in broadcast coverage and its affect on the role and authority of umpires. The agenda for the meeting also includes maintaining the current situation, an increased use of technical assistance in making decisions, or a reduced relianceon technology.An ICC press release said that Australian umpire Darrell Hair will also join the meeting on the first day to give an umpire’s perspective on the on field role and third umpires, in relation to TV replay referrals and decisions. All member countries have been invited to give their views and recommendations at the meeting. Decisions reached will be effective for a three-year period starting September 1 this year.All ICC full-member countries plus associates will be represented at the meeting and among the delegates, besides Gavaskar, will be Allan Border (Australia), John Reid Jr (New Zealand), Zaheer Abbas (Pakistan), Brian Basson (South Africa), Sidath Wettimuny (Sri Lanka), Kris Srikkanth (India), Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe), Jackie Hendriks (West Indies), Roquibal Hassan (Bangladesh), David Acfield (England), Geoff Edwards (Canada), John Everett (Scotland) and Harilal Shah (Kenya). ICC chief executive David Richards and cricket operations manager Clive Hitchcock will represent the ICC management at the meeting.Saba Karim announces retirementFormer Indian stumper Syed Saba Karim on Friday announced his retirement from the game. Karim who had an eye surgery in Chennai and treatment abroad, said “I have decided to retire not only from first class cricket, but also from club cricket. But I’ll be available if my office Tata Steel wants my services for the Times shield.” The wicket-keeper batsman, who made his debut in 1982-83 as a 15-year old, said “I have no option other than calling it a day as my doctor informed me last month that the retina of my right eye had suffered permanentdamage”.The 33-year-old Karim who played for India in a solitary Test match and 34 ODIs injured his eye against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup in Dhaka last year when an Anil Kumble delivery struck him on the right eye off the batsman’s boot. Karim in his brief period as Indian wicket-keeper scored 352 runs in 34 matches and took 27 catches and effected three stumpings. His only Test was against Bangladesh in November last year when he scored 15 and took one catch. Karimdescribed East Zone’s triumph in the Deodhar Trophy twice under his captaincy as the most memorable moment of his cricketing career.

Dean Windass has exclusively told Football FanCast that Diogo Jota’s injury is a huge loss for Liverpool, but believes the timing of the setback is manageable.

The Portuguese winger sustained a foot problem during the Reds’ 4-2 victory at Old Trafford last Thursday and was initially ruled out for the rest of the season.

Jota missed the trip to West Brom on Sunday and appeared likely to remain sidelined for the final two matches against Burnley and Crystal Palace.

However, Jurgen Klopp provided an encouraging update ahead of the trip to Turf Moor by revealing that Jota’s injury isn’t as bad as first feared, and while he won’t face Burnley, he could return for the visit of Palace in their season finale this Sunday.

The Reds’ boss said there’s a “tiny chance” for the weekend.

Liverpool know that two more victories should be enough to see them qualify for the Champions League, providing fourth-placed Leicester don’t thrash Spurs and finish above Klopp’s men on goal difference.

“He’s injured now and that could be his season over – Mane will be happy,” Windass told Football FanCast.

“Jota will be a big miss, but it’s not bad timing. He’s done well when he’s come on, and he’s got injured the last two games and will be trying to get fit for next year and see what happens.”

Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak has voiced his support for measures tobring in more excitement into Test cricket and preferred an odd numberof Test matches in a series to ensure a greater probability of aresult

07-Jun-2001Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak has voiced his support for measures tobring in more excitement into Test cricket and preferred an odd numberof Test matches in a series to ensure a greater probability of aresult.”Obviously, it (two-Test series) is not an ideal scenario. You don’twant a case where the result is one-all. I think the people like tosee a result,” Streak said talking to reporters after his team’spractice session ahead of the first Test against India starting inBulawayo tomorrow.”The World Test championship is a good thing and it will add a bit ofexcitement. When more Tests are played and rankings start to fall inplace, it will make the game more interesting for all cricket lovers,”he said.

Indian opening batsman Shiv Sundar Das, who was chosen as the man ofthe match in the first Test between India and Zimbabwe at Bulawayo forhis two innings of 30 and 82 not out has dedicated the award to hisparents and coach

Staff Reporter11-Jun-2001Indian opening batsman Shiv Sundar Das, who was chosen as the man ofthe match in the first Test between India and Zimbabwe at Bulawayo forhis two innings of 30 and 82 not out has dedicated the award to hisparents and coach. In an interview to a Kolkata newspaper, Das said,"I am a relative newcomer to the team. For me to have played a partin this historic win, is quite thrilling. I dedicate the MoM award tomy parents Uttam Das and Kanchanbala Das and to my coach KishoreMania."In the interview, Das also stated that at one point, he thought ofgoing for a hundred. "However, once Laxman got out, I decided to hangon till the end. Even Sachin Tendulkar told me to hang on till the winwas completed. After this, I decided not to get out," said Das.However, inspite of his two innings, Das is unhappy at the way hebatted. "Maybe I got the runs. However, I had a few close shaves.That is why, before the second Test begins, I will have a session withMr. Gavaskar. Since he is on this tour, I will discuss a couple ofproblems that I am having."

Dean Windass has exclusively told Football FanCast that Ruben Loftus-Cheek will be a man in demand this summer.

The midfielder will bring the curtain down on a disappointing loan spell with Fulham this Sunday before returning to parent club Chelsea.

Loftus-Cheek has managed just one goal and failed to assist in 30 Premier League appearances since making the loan switch across London.

He’s still got more than three years running on his Chelsea deal, but hasn’t played regularly for the Stamford Bridge outfit since the 2018-2019 campaign.

Thomas Tuchel compared Loftus-Cheek to former Blues star Michael Ballack ahead of Chelsea’s April trip to Fulham, but it remains unclear whether the German manager will offer the midfielder a future back in west London.

With that in mind, Southampton are ready to give the 25-year-old a lifeline, with the Blues reportedly asking for £20m.

Ralph Hasenhuttl is an admirer of Loftus-Cheek and Windass believes that the midfielder needs a new adventure to kickstart his career again.

He told Football FanCast:

“Well, he won’t be at Fulham. I like watching the lad play, he looks an athlete.

“For him, he needs a team or a manager that wants to put his arm around him and get him fit. The boy’s a talent, he’s a big lad. He needs to get his future sorted out.

“He’d be able to play in the top four or top six team, but he needs a manager to put his arm around him. There will be a few managers after him.”

Leeds United defender Ezgjan Alioski has again been tipped to join Galatasaray at the end of the season, as his time at Elland Road is now surely reaching its conclusion.

The Lowdown: Alioski set to leave

The 29-year-old has been a good servant for the Whites, making a total of 170 appearances and even being hailed as ‘brilliant’ by former England striker Kevin Phillips.

Alioski has chipped in with two goals and three assists in the Premier League this season, but his future looks set to belong elsewhere.

The left-back is out of contract at Leeds in the summer and Galatasaray have been continually linked with snapping him up.

The Latest: Fresh update emerges

According to Fanatik [via Sport Witness], the Turkish giants still ‘want to sign’ Alioski, with the North Macedonian top of their summer wish-list and talks now ‘officially’ beginning over a deal.

It is claimed that the player has already spoken to manager Fatih Terim, as he approaches what will finally be his last-ever Leeds game this weekend, at home to West Brom.

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The Verdict: Good move for all parties

A move to Galatasaray appears to be a good move for all concerned, with Alioski clearly happy to take on a fresh challenge and Leeds willing to move him on.

At 29, he isn’t getting any younger and signing and out-and-out left-back, such as Ajax’s much-linked Nicolas Tagliafico, could make the Whites an even more balanced outfit.

Alioski has undoubtedly been a positive influence overall at Leeds, but it is time to move him on, especially following last weekend’s incident with Burnley’s Dwight McNeil looming over his head while the FA decide how to react.

In other news, Leeds have been linked with a move for an exciting South American player. Find out who it is here.

The non-return of captain Nasser Hussain from Ben Hollioake’s funeral in Perth, due to delays in his flights, and the influenza suffered by Mark Butcher were the only minor concerns in the England camp before tomorrow’s third National Bank Test in

Lynn McConnell29-Mar-2002The non-return of captain Nasser Hussain from Ben Hollioake’s funeral in Perth, due to delays in his flights, and the influenza suffered by Mark Butcher were the only minor concerns in the England camp before tomorrow’s third National Bank Test in Auckland.Hussain was to arrive back this afternoon and catch up with a net session of his own at Eden Park.Butcher was not expected to be in any doubt for consideration in the Test.The England team had what coach Duncan Fletcher as a very fitting memorial service for Hollioake on the Bastion Point reserve which overlooks Auckland harbour yesterday which he said was very well done.He was delighted on the eve of the last assignment for his side over a long winter that there was still a good deal of enthusiasm in the side.The side’s team spirit had been tested under the pressure of Hollioake’s death and it had come through well.There were players who had been weary as the result of the side’s playing programme but Fletcher said no-one had ever complained to him of tiredness, rather he had noted players looked weary and had discussed that with them. But he was emphatic that no-one had ever claimed tiredness.He did say that the programme leading up to the World Cup in South Africa next year was an intensive one and it would be difficult for any player to play in every match of that programme.”Even in the England summer it is going to be very difficult from here on in. I mean, you finish the final Test against India and within two days you fly to Colombo. That means it is very hard,” he said.Fletcher pointed out again that even while England was playing at home during their summer they were still on tour.”If we were away on tour, you would rest them from a friendly game between Tests which people don’t seem to grasp. There’s so much cricket on when we get back to England it’s just a tour at home – that’s all the difference is,” he said.It was also a case that the selectors would have to start working on a programme of using players at specific times of the season.He described it as being along the lines of a rotation system.Asked if he had enough players to do something like that he said you could never be happy until you were on top of everything.He did feel the side was moving forward, albeit slowly.”I know some people would like it a bit quicker but when you look at how we started out this winter and how we were criticised as a weak side in India and a weak side down in New Zealand and you have a look at our results, we haven’t done too badly for a weak side,” he said.It was very important for England to win the series as a measure of what it had come from this winter.”It has been a very good winter as far as we have been concerned, with the young, inexperienced side that we have had to be 1-0 up, territory we have never been in before.”We played really well in that second Test. We had the better of that game by a long way and it is just important that we carry on at that momentum,” he said.