All posts by h79snht.top

Newcastle United are keen to push ahead under Eddie Howe as they look to stay in the mix for continental qualification and have now been given a boost in their pursuit of a reported target, according to reporter Dean Jones.

Newcastle's January plans…

Undoubtedly, Howe has fallen victim to unfortunate circumstances regarding injuries, which will surely prompt the Englishman to enter the market in January to ensure he has adequate squad depth to tackle the rigours of Premier League football alongside potential further involvement in European competition.

Nick Pope has become the latest member of the Magpies' squad to be ruled out for an extended period of time, with the former Burnley man now requiring surgery on a shoulder issue that is expected to keep him on the sidelines for four months. Nevertheless, despite rumours linking free agent David De Gea and Arsenal stopper Aaron Ramsdale with a move to Newcastle United, boss Howe has confirmed that he hasn't made any inroads towards bringing a new goalkeeper in at St James' Park, saying:

"I've seen a lot of media headlines regarding goalkeepers and other players. We have not made any enquiries. If we were to recruit now we'd be recruiting in every area on the pitch. It's a chance for the other keepers to consolidate their positions."

Related Newcastle eyeing move to sign "quality" £40m+ star for Howe

It could solve a current problem…

Posts ByTom Cunningham Dec 6, 2023

Reports in Germany via Sport Witness claim that the striking position could be a position where the Toon look to strengthen in January, with Stuttgart poacher Serhou Guirassy said to be another player earmarked for a prospective transfer in light of injury-related absences.

On the flip side, Howe now looks to have received a boost in his hunt for a midfielder after it emerged that he would be keen on swapping his current environment for St James' Park in January.

Kalvin Phillips open to Newcastle move

Speaking on The Ranks FC podcast, reporter Jones has indicated that Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips would be open to moving to Newcastle United, who are believed to be keen to strike a deal for the England international in January.

Kalvin Phillips 2023/24 Premier League stats – (Sofascore)

Accurate passes per game

15.3 (90%)

Touches per game

23.3

Ball recoveries per game

2.0

Shots per game

0.5

Jones detailed that there has already been contact between both parties, stating on the podcast: "Now the midfield, we just talked about Kalvin Phillips; as it stands right now, Newcastle have obviously been in touch with reps around this and there is a feeling that Kalvin Phillips is comfortable with the idea of moving to Newcastle, going in there and obviously there’s a spot for him in that midfield.

"If it’s not him, it will be somebody like him and that will happen; they will sign a midfielder. It’s going to be on loan, like Newcastle don’t have the freedom in the January market to go out spending money."

Labelled "exceptional" by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, Phillips has struggled to capture the imagination since moving to the Etihad Stadium in his 29 appearances across all competitions (Phillips statistics – Transfermarkt).

Newcastle need to ensure that Sandro Tonali's absence is adequately compensated for and news that Phillips would be keen to move to the North East could come as music to the ears of the St James' Park faithful, making this one to watch.

وجهت اللجنة المنظمة لدورة الألعاب الأولمبية باريس 2024، الدعوة إلى الرباع المصري طارق يحيى لتسلم الميدالية البرونزية لأولمبياد لندن 2012.

ويأتي حصول طارق يحيى على الميدالية بعد ثبوت إيجابية عينة الرباع الروسي صاحب الميدالية الذهبية ليحقق بطلنا الميدالية البرونزية.

وقال طارق يحيى في تصريحات صحفية: “أنا سعيد للغاية بما حدث، وفرحتي لا توصف”.

طالع.. فيديو | إصابة كريم أبو كحلة أثناء خوضه منافسات رفع الأثقال في أولمبياد باريس

وأكمل: “استحق التتويج بالميدالية البرونزية، ودخلت في آخر محاولة لتحطيم رقم أولمبي خلال دورة لندن 2012، وسبق أن حققت الميدالية البرونزية في بطولة العالم قبل الأولمبياد بـ عام”.

ووجه طارق يحيى الشكر إلى شريف العريان أمين عام اللجنة الأولمبية المصرية ولجنة اللاعبين باللجنة الأولمبية المصرية والاتحاد المصري لرفع الأثقال، على الدور الكبير الذي بذلوه من أجل منحه الميدالية الأولمبية.

MatériaMais Notícias

Nesta quarta-feira, o Corinthians teve sua melhor atuação na temporada 2020/21 ao golear o Fluminense por 5 a 0, na Neo Química Arena, pela 29ª rodada do Brasileirão-2020. Um dos personagens principais da partida e dessa fase de ascensão com Vagner Mancini, Fagner deixou o dele e ainda saiu de campo garantindo a equipe na briga por uma vaga na Copa Libertadores.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansATUAÇÕES: Corinthians faz melhor jogo da temporada e goleia o Flu; veja as notasCorinthians13/01/2021BrasileirãoCorinthians goleia o Fluminense e segue firme na busca por vaga no G6Brasileirão13/01/2021CorinthiansPiton é operado e deve desfalcar o Corinthians no restante do BrasileiroCorinthians13/01/2021

TABELA
> Veja classificação e simulador do Brasileirão clicando aqui

GALERIA
> Relembre 15 estrangeiros que tiveram passagem discreta no Corinthians

Eleito melhor em campo pela transmissão da TV Globo, o lateral-direito celebrou o fato de o Timão ter retomado a temporada com uma excelente vitória diante de um rival direto na briga pelo G6 da competição. Para ele, essa vaga no torneio continental é a principal meta alvinegra nesta reta final.

-Motivo de felicidade começar o ano com vitória, a gente vinha numa sequência boa, a gente poder retomar depois de mais de 15 dias de preparação, começar o ano bem, com vitória, e isso nos coloca no caminho de vez na briga pela Libertadores, que é o nosso principal objetivo agora.

Fagner marcou o terceiro gol do Corinthians diante do Fluminense, ao receber lançamento de Cantillo, como nos velhos tempos, e acertando um lindo chute, sem chance para o goleiro Marcos Felipe. Foi o prêmio para uma ótima atuação, tanto defensiva quanto ofensiva, que foi essencial para a vitória.

Sem ter levado o terceiro amarelo, Fagner está garantido para enfrentar o Palmeiras, na próxima segunda-feira, às 19h, no Allianz Parque, pela 28ª rodada do Brasileirão-2020. Atualmente, o Timão tem 42 pontos e subiu para a oitava posição na tabela, superando o Santos, que tem a mesma pontuação, mas com um gol a menos de saldo. Vale lembrar que o Alvinegro tem um jogo a menos.

continua após a publicidade

اتخذ المدير الفني ميكيل أرتيتا قرارًا بشأن مستقبله في قيادة فريق آرسنال الإنجليزي، وفقًا لتقارير صحفية.

وتولى أرتيتا قيادة آرسنال في عام 2019، وتطور الفريق تحت قيادته وانضم للأندية المنافسة على لقب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

أرتيتا البالغ من العمر 42 عامًا، يملك عقدًا مع آرسنال ينتهي في يونيو 2025 أي بنهاية الموسم الجاري.

ومن المتوقع الآن أن يوقع أرتيتا عقدًا جديدًا طويل الأمد مع آرسنال، وفقًا لشبكة “سكاي سبورتس”.

وأضاف التقرير أن علاقة أرتيتا بالمدير الرياضي إيدو والمالكين قوية، ويشير التقرير إلى أن المحادثات الرسمية لم تكن ضرورية، إذ أن جميع الأطراف على اتفاق.

اقرأ أيضًا | مصير محمد صلاح بين التجديد والدوري السعودي.. قرار حاسم بيد ليفربول

وقال أرتيتا إن تمديد عقده سيحدث بطريقة طبيعية، وأن تركيزه الحالي ينصب على إعداد الفريق للموسم.

وخاض آرسنال مباراته الأولى في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز هذا الموسم، وحقق الفوز بثنائية نظيفة أمام ولفرهامبتون.

ونافس آرسنال على لقب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز في الموسم الماضي، لكن مانشستر سيتي تمكن من خطف الصدارة بالجولات الأخيرة وتوج باللقب.

The former cricketer was among eight sportspersons who were picked on Friday to receive the country’s fourth-highest civilian award

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Jan-2019

Gautam Gambhir looks on from the dugout•BCCI

Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir was among eight sportspersons who were picked on Friday to receive the prestigious Padma Shri, the country’s fourth-highest civilian award.Besides Gambhir, the seven other sportspersons named for the award were football player Sunil Chhetri, chess grandmaster Harika Dronavalli, table tennis player Sharath Kamal, archer Bombayla Devi Laishram, wrestler Bajrang Punia, basketball player Prashanti Singh and Kabaddi player Ajay Thakur.The eight sportspersons were among 94 Padma Shri awardees announced by the government on the eve of the Republic Day, while mountaineer Bachendri Pal was among those chosen for the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award.

MatériaMais Notícias

Setembro de 2020 proporcionou um cenário caótico para o Flamengo devido ao surto de Covid-19 no elenco, ainda comandado por Domènec Torrent. Na ocasião, uma das brechas no time titular foi aproveitada por Hugo Souza, que estreou nos profissionais contra o Palmeiras, justamente o rival desta quinta, desta vez em duelo no Estádio Mané Garrincha, às 19h, pela significativa 31ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. O LANCE! transmite o jogo em Tempo Real.

RelacionadasFlamengoAlívio no vestiário: assista aos bastidores da vitória do Flamengo sobre o GoiásFlamengo20/01/2021FlamengoFlamengo encerra preparação para enfrentar o Palmeiras; Diego Alves permanece como desfalqueFlamengo20/01/2021FlamengoFlamengo revive rivalidade recente com o Palmeiras em duelo ‘divisor de águas’ no BrasileirãoFlamengo20/01/2021

O confronto do turno entre Flamengo e Palmeiras ficou marcado pelo imbróglio judicial. A partida só foi autorizada após oTribunal Superior do Trabalho (TST) autorizá-la cinco minutos antes do horário previamente agendado. O Flamengo estava remendado e composto por uma maioria de jovens da base. Hugo estava lá e se destacou logo na estreia, quando efetuou seis defesas difíceis e saiu de campo emocionado (relembre aqui).

De lá para cá, são 18 partidas acumuladas pelos profissionais. O goleiro costuma transmitir segurança neste início de trajetória escrita à base de regularidade – o seu escudo para obliterar a falha com os pés diante do São Paulo, na Copa do Brasil. E, provável titular hoje à noite, o camisa 45 prometeu “força” e luta “até o final” pelo título brasileiro:

-Espero que a gente consiga alcançar mais vitórias e ir em busca do objetivo maior, que é o título. Nós vamos forte, vamos buscar até o final. Até porque, nós somos o Flamengo e não queremos deixar este título passar. Felicidade define. Agora, é continuar buscando, continuar lutando, para que as coisas continuem acontecendo da melhor forma possível – falou Hugo Souza, logo após a vitória contra o Goiás, em que ele voltou a iniciar entre os 11.

A tendência, aliás, é que Hugo Souza permanece na equipe titular uma vez que Diego Alves, ainda em recuperação de uma lesão na coxa direita, não será relacionado para o jogo desta quinta, que marca, simbolicamente, o primeiro ciclo de Neneca pelo Flamengo, cujo vínculo só expira emdezembro de 2025.

SITUAÇÃO DO FLAMENGO NA TABELA

> Flamengo de volta ao G-4: veja e simule a tabela do Brasileirão

Na quarta colocação, com 52 pontos, o Flamengo está a sete do Internacional, que retomou a liderança ontem, tendo um jogo a menos em relação ao rival.

Despite a couple of setbacks against Aston Villa and PSV over the last week, Arsenal are once again flying in the Premier League.

While the team are less pleasing on the eye this season, Mikel Arteta has seen his side grow in maturity and develop a sterner side.

The £105m signing of Declan Rice has been instrumental in the solidifying of Arsenal, and while he and Martin Odegaard are practically guaranteed places in the starting XI, the third member of the Gunners midfield has been changing on a fairly regular basis.

Related Arsenal could sign Rice regen in 'one of the best young midfielders in Europe'

The 18-year-old could replace Rice one day, or become the perfect midfield partner.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 15, 2023

However, that could soon change as the latest player to be linked with a move to the Emirates, Martin Zubimendi, could become the Englishman's perfect partner.

Arsenal transfer news – Martin Zubimendi

According to The Mirror, Arsenal are conscious of their FFP position going into January but are still on the lookout for a new midfielder, and while their interest in Villa's Douglas Luiz remains, the 'mega, mega-money' it would take to sign him renders the transfer unlikely.

However, the north Londoners are also interested in another fantastically talented midfielder, Real Sociedad's Zubimendi and the fact that he has a £53m release clause makes a move for him far more realistic – at least from a balancing-the-books perspective.

It would still represent a hefty investment from the Gunners – and make him their fifth most expensive signing ever – but for a player that Luis de la Fuente, Spain's manager, called one of "the best midfielders in the world", it would likely be worth it.

Martin Zubimendi could be the perfect partner for Declan Rice

As mentioned before, Rice and Odegaard are practically guaranteed their place in this Arsenal team, as the former has been integral this year, and the latter is the captain who looks back to his best after a slightly rocky start to the campaign.

So, the Sociedad man would have to replace one of the players Arteta has been swapping in and out of the starting XI this year: Kai Havertz, Jorginho, Fabio Viera and even Thomas Partey when he was fit.

However, "the heart of La Real's midfield", as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, primarily plays as a defensive midfielder, meaning he would likely replace Jorginho or Partey, allowing Rice to occupy the left-eight role.

The first advantage Zubimendi has over the competition is age. The "special talent", as described by U23 scout Antonio Mango, is still just 24 years old, whereas Partey is 30 and Jorginho 31, meaning that Zubimendi could come in and reach his peak at the same time as Rice and Odegaard, securing Arsenal's midfield for nearly a decade.

When it comes to their output, however, it is a little trickier to claim the Spaniard is the outright superior player, but given how close their overall underlying numbers are, there is no reason to suggest that with time and the right coaching, he couldn't replicate their best – or even better them.

Martin Zubimendi vs Jorginho vs Thomas Partey

Stats (per 90)

Zubimendi

Jorginho

Partey

Non-Penalty Expected Goals +Assists

0.18

0.04

0.14

Progressive Carries

1.34

1.18

1.23

Progressive Passes

5.10

7.55

8.37

Shots on Target

0.34

0.04

0.14

Passing Accuracy

85.4%

85.8%

87.2%

Tackles Won

0.87

1.52

1.45

Clearances

1.95

0.63

1.49

Miscontrols

0.81

0.93

1.20

Ball Recoveries

6.11

7.93

8.15

All Stats via FBref for the 2022/23 and 2023/24 Domestic Seasons

The young ace outclasses his older opposition for progressive carries, clearances, miscontrols, shots on target, and non-penalty expected goals and assists but falls short in other areas, such as progressive passing and ball recoveries.

Ultimately, with both Arsenal players seeing less and less game time and are arguably over the hill in a football sense, bringing in someone young, exciting and potentially brilliant such as Zubimendi just makes sense.

Equally, given enough time to bed in, he could prove to be the perfect partner for Rice at Arsenal.

Glasgow Rangers secured their third Premiership victory in a row at Ibrox over the weekend and the result showed how resilient the Gers are.

Dundee took the lead after just five minutes at Ibrox, but it didn’t appear to worry Rangers as they scored three goals before halftime.

Jose Cifuentes was sent off on the stroke of half-time, yet being down to ten men didn’t affect the side at all, as the match ended 3-1.

Philippe Clement will also have enjoyed the fact that Celtic suffered their first league defeat of the campaign against Kilmarnock on Sunday, and if the Light Blues win their game in hand, only two points will separate the clubs at the top of the table.

With a Europa League clash against Real Betis on Thursday followed by the League Cup final against Aberdeen, this is the most important week of the season so far.

If he can negotiate this along with the rest of the festive season, Clement could head into the January transfer window filled with confidence.

The Belgian will be aiming to make a signing or two, especially with his midfield and attack lacking depth.

Rangers transfer news – Sima's future at Ibrox

The rumour mill has already begun surrounding various names being linked to the club, and as the window looms on the horizon, this will only increase.

It remains to be seen what budget Clement will have to work with next month, yet it appears that he is already targeting one signing.

According to the 4th Official, the Light Blues have “held preliminary talks” with Brighton and Hove Albion over a permanent move for winger Abdallah Sima.

The 22-year-old joined the Gers in the summer for the 2023/24 season yet has impressed during his first few months in Glasgow.

The Seagulls paid £7m to sign the player from Slavia Prague back in the summer of 2021, but with just a year left on his current deal, combined with the fact he hasn’t actually played a game for them indicates that he may be cheaper than first anticipated.

Clement may need to move a couple of players out first before making any January signings and this is something he could well be working on at the current moment in time.

There have been a few players over the last few years who have shone on loan and secured a permanent transfer. Ryan Kent is the most obvious example, as he spent four more years with the club after signing from Liverpool.

The most recent example of this is Ianis Hagi who developed into one of the most creative players at the club before a serious injury disrupted his progress.

Ianis Hagi’s statistics at Rangers

The Romanian arrived on a sixth-month loan deal in January 2020 and enjoyed a fruitful start to life in Scotland, with his two-goal salvo against Braga in the Europa League culminating in one of their finest European wins.

Steven Gerrard said he “was one of the best talents in Europe at U21 level” upon his arrival and he managed three goals and two assists in 13 matches before the domestic season was halted due to the pandemic.

During the summer of 2020, Gerrard secured him on a permanent deal for a fee of £3m and he instantly repaid the former manager.

The 2020/21 campaign showed Hagi at his finest, as the midfielder registered 23 goal contributions – eight goals and 15 assists – in all competitions, and the Ibrox side won their first league title in a decade.

The former Genk gem ranked third in the squad for goals and assists during the title-winning campaign, along with ranking fifth for big chances created and for key passes per game, proving his worth at the club.

The 25-year-old suffered a serious knee injury in January 2022 against Stirling Albion and this ruled him out for 12 months, severely disrupting the good work he had put in up until that point.

Hagi is currently spending a temporary spell at Alaves in Spain and there is no doubt he could still play a big part for the club in the future.

Signing Sima on a permanent basis could allow Clement to repeat Rangers’ Hagi masterclass.

Abdallah Sima’s season in numbers

The 6 foot 2 loanee was previously hailed by talent scout Jacek Kulig as being a “complete forward” and he has certainly demonstrated these abilities so far this term.

Operating mainly on the left wing, Sima has featured in 27 matches for the Gers in all competitions, missing just one game all term.

These outings have seen the former Slavia Prague wideman score 13 goals while grabbing an assist, and he is the joint-top scorer alongside James Tavernier, underlining how important he has been over the previous few months.

Abdallah Sima's statistics this season

Premiership

Europa League

Games

16

5

Goals

9

2

Shots on target per game

1

1.2

Big chances created

2

0

Successful dribbles per game

1.6

2

Stats via Sofascore

Clement will need to rely on him further due to the injury to Danilo, who will be missing until 2024 at the earliest after suffering an injury playing against Hearts last week.

A permanent move for the winger in January could be a stroke of genius as it will give the club a major boost and his goals have been vital throughout the 2023/24 campaign.

Sima also ranks first in the squad for successful dribbles per game (1.6) while also ranking third for shots on target per game (one) in the Premiership so far this term, and that proves he isn’t just ranking highly for goals.

With two of the most important matches of the season coming up this week, the Belgian will be hoping Sima can continue his recent form, and he will be desperate to lead the Gers to success.

Related Rangers could sign an "electric" Ryan Kent replacement permanently in January

Clement could make a signing or two in the January transfer window

Posts ByRoss Kilvington Oct 31, 2023

Hagi shone once he made his move to the Light Blues permanent, especially during his maiden season, and there is no reason why Sima couldn’t do the same.

His pace and creativity have given the club a reliable and dangerous attacking presence on the left wing and the fact he is currently the joint top scorer speaks volumes about how well he has settled in at the club.

Tying him up to a long-term deal once the winter window opens would be excellent news for both parties.

نجح فريق الكرة الأول بنادي بيراميدز في تسجيل الهدف الثالث بشباك نظيره الجونة في المباراة الجارية بينهما الأن بكأس مصر.

ويحتضن ملعب استاد الدفاع الجوي مباراة فريقي بيراميدز والجونة في دور الـ8 ببطولة كأس مصر 2023-2024.

وأحرز الهدف الثالث لاعب خط الوسط بلاتي توريه في الدقيقة 56 بتسديدة صاروخية من داخل منطقة الجزاء.

الجدير بالذكر، أن مصطفى فتحي قد أهدر فرصة تسجيل الهدف الرابع بإضاعة ركلة جزاء بعد دقائق من تسجيل الهدف الثالث.

وكان بيراميدز قد تقدم بهدف لفيستون ماييلي في الدقيقة الثامنة من عمر اللقاء برأسية متقنة من داخل منطقة الجزاء.

فيديو | فيستون مايلي يسجل هدف بيراميدز الأول أمام الجونة

ثم أضاف الهدف الثاني المدافع أحمد سامي في الدقيقة 42 برأسية مميزة مستغلًا عرضية محمد حمدي المتقنة.

وصعد بيراميدز من دور الـ16 بانتصار على حساب أبو قير للأسمدة بهدف دون رد، فيما تأهل الجونة من دور الـ8 على حساب الترسانة بركلات الترجيح.

ومن المقرر أن يتأهل الفائز من مواجهة اليوم للدور نصف النهائي لبطولة كأس مصر منتظرًا الفائز من موقعة المصري وفاركو. هدف بيراميدز الثالث أمام الجونة

Replying to Rajasthan’s 224, Karnataka were 166 for 9 before Vinay Kumar and last man Ronit More added a precious 97 runs

Saurabh Somani at the Chinnaswamy16-Jan-2019

Vinay Kumar raises his second first-class hundred•PTI

Halfway into their Ranji Trophy quarter-final against Rajasthan, there’s a familiar face on top of Karnataka’s charts for the season. Except, Vinay Kumar is heading the wrong chart. He’s got the highest average in the team, a quite stunning 62.40, nearly ten points higher than Manish Pandey’s 52.80, the next best.Vinay’s bowling returns are 11 wickets in six matches at 31.09. If he was a batting allrounder, these numbers would mark a legendary season. But for a man whose primary suit is bowling, the returns with the ball are underwhelming and the runs are a bonus.The bonus could save Karnataka in their quarter-final, though. On day two, Vinay came in 152 for 7 after Rajasthan had made 224 in their first innings. Karnataka quickly slipped to 166 for 9 and Rajasthan were looking at a decisive lead, with Karnataka to bat last. Vinay ended the day 83 not out and had put on 97 with Ronit More for the last wicket, giving Karnataka a lead of 39. More’s contribution was 10 off 59 balls, while Vinay made 77 off 128, farming the strike expertly. Even the 10 runs More made were far more than a career first-class average of 4.14 would have led anyone to expect. And the 59 balls he faced were unprecedented, his previous highest being 37 balls. Egged on and cajoled by Vinay, More outdid himself.”It was very important for me to be there, as the senior. We discussed adding runs in blocks of five to ten and building a partnership,” Vinay said at stumps. “I needed to plan according to the match situation. I know Ronit can defend, but if the ball keeps low he might have played across. That was there in my mind.”The opposition will definitely look to bring fielders in in the last two balls and not give a single. I was ready to hit a boundary off the fifth ball and take a single off the sixth. That was the plan and it came good for us. But see, how much ever I perform, the same credit goes to Ronit. If he wouldn’t have stood there, we couldn’t have got a 97-run partnership.”Vinay, who has two first-class centuries, said he had been taking his batting ‘more seriously’, but reproached his team’s top order for not lasting long enough to capitalise on run-scoring opportunities.”I’ve always maintained batting is very important (for bowlers). Especially nowadays, the lower middle order and the bowlers have to perform for the team,” he said. “Adding those 40-50 runs at the end always has value for the side. You can see nowadays, for any team if the bowlers contribute 50-60 runs it makes a big difference. I was working on my batting. When I started my cricket I was a batsman and then I became a fast bowler. Nowadays, seeing all the competition, I’m taking batting more seriously.”We could have batted a little better. It was not doing that much, but odd balls were doing a bit. If we could have stayed for that initial period when bowlers were coming hard at you, after that, when I was batting it became a bit easier. As a bowler, you can bowl 18-20 overs in a day normally, after that your energy will lessen. If we could have tackled those first 10-12 overs, we would have done better.”Vinay’s runs could prove crucial in the second half of the match, with Karnataka having to bat last. And though the former captain said the pitch at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium wasn’t one where 20 wickets should have fallen in two days, he admitted it wasn’t always playing true.”The cracks are a bit wider now and if you hit the cracks it can keep low,” he said. “Definitely it will be difficult. If bowlers can keep it wicket to wicket, and keeping it back of length, the odd ball will keep low. If you can bowl in those areas, it is going to be difficult.”