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Michael Edwards is now reportedly holding internal discussions about signing a replacement for the injured Alexander Isak for Liverpool in the January transfer window.

Liverpool discussing Isak replacement

Isak’s injury couldn’t have been timed much worse. Liverpool are already without Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah through injury and AFCON duties, which mean that Isak’s injury has left them scrambling for attacking options.

Arne Slot was far from happy with Micky van de Ven’s challenge, which injured Isak in the process of the Swede’s second Premier League goal for the club last weekend, telling reporters: “It’s going to be a long injury, for a couple of months. It’s a big disappointment for him and, as a result, for us.

Related Liverpool now in "talks" to sign £85,000-a-week Semenyo alternative in January

The Reds look set to miss out on Semenyo.

Posts 3 ByTom Cunningham

“This was, for me, a reckless challenge. I’ve said a lot about the tackle of Xavi Simons (who was sent off dragging his studs down the calf of Virgil van Dijk) which for me was completely unintentional.

“I don’t think you will ever get an injury out of a tackle like that. But the tackle of Van de Ven, if you make a tackle like that 10 times, 10 times there is a serious chance the player gets a serious injury.”

The Dutchman has now been left to find attacking solutions just as the January transfer window arrives. To that end, it remains to be seen just how busy Liverpool will be.

Given Isak’s injury, an attacking additions seems like a must if the Reds are to turn their season around, but a move for Antoine Semenyo now looks off the table.

Liverpool had been chasing his signature alongside the majority of the Premier League’s top clubs, but the Bournemouth star has reportedly chosen a move to Manchester City in January instead.

Back to square one, Edwards is now reportedly discussing the possibility of signing Goncalo Ramos next month, according to Caught Offside.

Edwards discussing Goncalo Ramos deal

The Reds are reportedly eyeing a six-month loan deal for the PSG forward, who has started just eight of 16 Ligue 1 games for the French side so far this season – scoring four goals in the process.

Whether PSG allow the Portugal international to leave on loan is the big question. Whilst he’s not first-choice, Liverpool will know themselves just how important squad depth is for sides competing for several honours.

Manager Luis Enrique is certainly fond of Ramos too, having told reporters back in May when the forward netted a hat-trick against Montpellier: “He’s a wonderful player, capable of very high performances.

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“If he plays a minute, he plays it very well. If he’s not on the pitch, he still helps the team. And today, he came into the starting eleven and scored three goals. So he’s a player who always performs at his best, and I would call him a guarantee.”

When it comes to replacing Isak whilst he remains sidelined, Ramos should be at the top of Liverpool’s shortlist given his experience at the top level.

Atapattu will stay on tour after all © AFP

The Sri Lanka selectors have kept Marvan Atapattu on the tour of Australia to minimise disruption for the team, but will take “the necessary disciplinary action” when they return home. SLC issued the statement on Tuesday, following a committee meeting, which said they felt “distressed and disappointed”.Atapattu, then, will be considered for the second and final Test which begins this Friday in Hobart. His tour was in jeopardy when he called the selectors “muppets headed by a joker” in a press conference during his first Test since 2005, in Brisbane this week. Whether he will now be considered for the home Test series against England which follows remains to be seen.SLC said in their statement: “Sri Lanka Cricket does not wish to disrupt the ongoing tour of Australia, especially as the second Test in Hobart will commence on November 16. However, Sri Lanka Cricket is very distressed and disappointed about the statements made by Marvan Atapattu on the selectors and Sri Lanka Cricket – and will take necessary disciplinary action on his return to Sri Lanka.”The captain Mahela Jayawardene had joined Trevor Bayliss, Sri Lanka’s coach, in support of Atapattu. “He’s worked really hard in the three to four weeks he has been with us,” Jayawardene said. “His contributions at team meetings, in the dressing room and off the field have been brilliant.”Bayliss added: “The way he batted in this match, he was one of our better players in the first innings. He’s batted well in the warm-up games as well and he is an important part of the set up at the moment. The comments he made didn’t have any effect on his involvement in the team whatsoever.”

Vijay Dahiya: hung up the gloves after 15 years © Getty Images

Vijay Dahiya, the veteran Delhi wicketkeeper who played two Tests and 19 ODIs for India, has retired from all forms of cricket after a 15-year career. In a sudden decision, Dahiya informed the Delhi District Cricket Association of his retirement just four days after he sat out Delhi’s Ranji Trophy match against Baroda at the Feroz Shah Kotla.Speaking to , Dahiya, 33, said that a hand injury forced the decision midway through the domestic season. “I know what I am doing but my hand just gave away. I know my body well and I am happy that I came back and proved a point to my critics. And I am leaving when the team is on a high,” he said. “I can rest and then come back but then I will not be fair on this young boy [Puneet Bisht, the rookie ‘keeper] too because then even I am not letting him settle also.””I don’t like to sit out and I just wanted to be part of action before I called it quits. So I thought, let me just field and walk back to the dressing room one final time along with my team-mates,” he added. “I always wanted to leave on my terms. Why should I let anybody take away that liberty from me?”Dahiya made his first-class debut against Punjab in 1993-94, and was an integral part of the North Zone team which lifted the Duleep and Deodhar Trophies in 1999-2000, and also captained Delhi for some time. He was called up to the Indian ODI side in late 2000, and was one of five wicketkeepers used by the selectors in a 16-month period. In an ODI against Australia at home in March of 2001, Dahiya slammed a a 39-ball 51 to help set up a match-winning total. It was his only ODI half-century, while in the two Tests he played against Zimbabwe in 2000, he only got the opportunity to bat once.Dahiya took a break from the game last year – he informed the DDCA that he “need not be considered” for selection so as to make room for a younger player – but returned this year. He began his Ranji season with a fine 152, his highest first-class score, against Tamil Nadu that bailed Delhi out of trouble, and effected a stumping against Uttar Pradesh’s Praveen Kumar that helped his side gain a vital first-innings lead. He informed Arun Jaitley, the DDCA president, about his decision on Sunday, but there was no press conference or benefit match.

‘I would like to see the 2011 World Cup being hosted jointly by the four Asian Test-playing nations’ – Ehsan Mani © Getty Images

Ehsan Mani, the ICC president, said on Wednesday that Asia could only host the 2011 World Cup if Australia didn’t make a bid for organising the mega event.”The ICC has decided under a rotation policy that every third World Cup would be held in Asia. In 2011 it’s the turn of Australia to host the event but they’ve not yet decided on what to do. If they say no then Asia can bid for the tournament,” said Mani.The next World Cup is due to be held in the West Indies in 2007 and Mani said the ICC had sent all the relevant documents and papers for the 2011 edition to the Australian cricket board who’ll now take their time and convey their decision to the ICC. James Sutherland, Cricket Australia’s (CA) chief executive, said last week his board had not decided about hosting the World Cup while the Indian and Pakistan boards have indicated their willingness to organise the coveted event. Of the eight World Cups, Asia has hosted two – in 1987 when Australia won – and in 1996 when Sri Lanka won.Mani said even if Asia could not host the World Cup in 2011 it would automatically do so in 2015 under the rotation policy. “India has shown its interest and so has Pakistan. But personally if possible I would like to see the 2011 World Cup being hosted jointly by the four Asian Test-playing nations – Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. It would be something to look forward to and give the game a big boost,” he stated.Mani said no deadline had been set for Australia to confirm their willingness to host the tournament. He added that the ICC would handle all the finances of the World Cup while the host country would be providing the facilities and technical support, saying, “We expect from the World Cup hosts to provide the best playing facilities, good coordination with the local authorities, assuring anti-piracy and exemption from taxes. Prevention of ambush marketing, sponsorships and related issues are handled by the ICC.”Taxes have been a major issue when it comes to India hosting international events as nearly 44 World Cup 1996 cases are pending in the country’s supreme court.

Matthew Hoggard held his hand up for England on the third day at the Wanderers© Getty Images

Matthew Hoggard was left rueing England’s misfortune with the weather at the close of the second day’s play, after a bold overnight declaration backfired to allow South Africa back into the game. By the close, they trailed by just 105 runs, thanks to a brilliant unbeaten century from Herschelle Gibbs."That was a change of fortune with the weather," said Hoggard. "When it was overcast, the wicket was doing things, but then 20 minutes [after we declared], the sun came out. It’s evenly poised now, but if South Africa get past our score, it’ll be a bit of a dogfight in the last innings. But hopefully we’ll get four quick wickets and put the pressure back on them."A tough day for England’s bowlers was made even more arduous when Steve Harmison pulled up in the middle of his 13th over, suffering from pain at the top of his left calf. "Harmo’s been our leading bowler all year, so it was a massive blow," admitted Hoggard. "But we just had to pull our socks up and get on with it."I wasn’t too tired by the end," he insisted, adding that he had picked up four wickets despite bowling as badly as he has done all tour. "My energy levels were good, but unfortunately the fluid in my body disappeared and I was shuffling in with cramp. The altitude doesn’t help, and it’s been a long day with an extra half-hour at the start and half-an-hour at the end, but it was the worst I’ve bowled all tour, so to get four wickets, I’m quite happy."Hoggard had some words of encouragement for James Anderson as well, who came into the Test as a late replacement for Simon Jones, and bowled without much rhythm, having not had any opportunity to play competitively for more than a month. "He bowled a few wides at the end of his spell, but it’s hard to come straight from the nets, so he’s done really well and there are no worries about how he bowled. I tried to impart my words of wisdom, for what they’re worth, and tried to keep his spirits up."The afternoon session included a controversial catch at slip for Marcus Trescothick, who removed Boeta Dippenaar for a duck, even though some commentators openly questioned whether the ball had carried. But Hoggard had no doubts. "Tres says it went straight in and he got his fingers underneath the ball, and really you’ve got to take the fielder’s word for it. He’s a very honest lad and wouldn’t cheat, especially with the cameras about."There was also some puzzlement as to why Ashley Giles only bowled only seven overs, despite England being a seamer short. "It wasn’t a tactical thing," said Hoggard, "but the ball was doing a bit for the seamers. If you get the ball in the right areas there’s something in it, but when the sun comes out, there’s not as much around."We knew it was going to be a hard series," said Hoggard. "South Africa are a competitive side, and we have to keep playing well to beat them. But we’ll put our feet up tonight, and come out refreshed tomorrow."

David Gilbert, CEO, Cricket NSW is pleased to announce the following selections for NSW Under 15’s team to compete in the Australian Female Under 15’s Championships, being held in Victoria from 15-19th December 2003.Martin Garoni, a Regional Cricket Officer with Cricket NSW, is very excited in being the newly appointed NSW Under 15’s coach. Martin says he is "looking forward to taking the team to the Championships in December. The team chosen seems to be well balanced with many exciting young players chosen."Alyssa Healy has been honoured by being chosen as Captain, a remarkable achievement for the 13 year old. It looks as though she is following in the footsteps of her famous uncle, Ian Healy, as a wicketkeeper who will also be opening the batting.The team is as follows:
Alyssa Healy (Captain) Epping
Ashleigh Campbell (Vice-Captain) Elermore Vale
Ashleigh Corby, Bathurst
Sarah Coyte, Mount Annan
Rhiannon Dick, Revesby
Ashleigh Endacott, Castle Hill
Alex Julien, Roseville
Lucy Kensit, Surry Hills
Corinne Loader, Ingleburn
Erin Osborne, South Tamworth
Ellyse Perry, West Pymble
Renee Rollason, Bega
Melissa Van Der Reyden, Bligh Park
Coach: Martin Garoni
Manager: Sally CurryNSW will also be sending the following 6 players to the Championship in the Combined Victoria/NSW Invitational Team:
Mary-Anne Germanos, Burwood
Meghann Lanning, Thornleigh
Brodie Neems, Hamlyn Terrace
Connie Osbourne, Bolwarra Heights
Melissa Penman, Revesby
Hannah Perry, Bateau Bay

If it stops raining here by tomorrow morning, the second tri-series final will go ahead as scheduled, according to Sydney Cricket Ground curator Tom Parker.”If the rain stopped at 9am tomorrow it would help us immensely,” Parker said on the eve of the second final between South Africa and New Zealand.”What we need is the rain to stop – we need that something terrible.”However, that looked unlikely, with the forecasters predicting thunderstorms tomorrow.If the rain continued through the day, Parker said it would then be up to the match referee and umpires to decided on a cancellation.There must be 25 overs per side to constitute a game, meaning play can start as late as 6pm.If the match was called-off, Sunday’s scheduled third final would be the deciding match in the series.The forecast for Sunday is for the sun to break through.Parker admitted he’d been through the toughest week of his life as a groundsman with his staff working around the clock for the past two days to get the pitch ready.Groundstaff have been working under a marquee which measures 30 metres by 10 metres and Parker said the tent had kept the pitch dry.”It’s the hardest job I’ve had – it’s something unique making a wicket under a marquee.”He said there was no danger of the pitch being under-prepared.”There’s no way it’ll be dangerous at all. If anything it’ll play a little slow and a little low – I term it playable at this stage,” Parker said.”Everything’s up to scratch at the moment but it’s been a big battle for us over the past few days.”We’ve been working 24 hours a day to get a wicket ready. At the moment the wicket itself is very dry and very flat and devoid of grass.”

An unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 67 between Craig Light and Mark Lavine lifted North West out of a spot of trouble on the rain-curtailed first day of this match, after the home side, put into bat, had collapsed from 40 without loss to 76 for four.Lavine, with a typically belligerent 48 off 52 balls, including five fours and two sixes, and Light, with a far more sedate 19, took the home side to 143 for four after heavy rain had ensured that play would only start at 3pm and just 48 overs of a scheduled 104 would be possible.Riaan Niewoudt, who made 35 on his first class debut, and Gary Outram put together a solid first-wicket stand of 40, but that was where the wickets began to tumble, with the much-vaunted Northerns pace trio of Steve Elworthy, Greg Smith and David Townsend all chipping in. Smith was the most successful, ending the day with two for 19 from 12 overs.North West currently lie fourth in their section of the competition and will qualify for the Super Eight phase if they prevent Griquas, struggling against Boland on day one, from overtaking them. Lavine’s efforts mean they are within seven runs of a first batting bonus point, with 52 overs left to pile up points. Should he stay in for any length of time on Saturday, a good number should come their way.

Zimbabwe offspinner Prosper Utseya has, in a letter to Zimbabwe Cricket, claimed that he is a victim of racism and has levelled a string of allegations against Alistair Campbell, managing director of ZC. In a letter to Wilson Manase, ZC chairman, Utseya claims Campbell:

• Has a “personal agenda” against him which influenced his non-selection [in the playing XI] at the recent World Cup.
• Appointed white coaches and administrators during his 2010-2012 stint as chairman of the cricket committee in order to take control of cricket.
• Had a conflict of interest in setting up Dominus Sport, the company that ran ZC’s marketing affairs during his time as cricket committee chairman, and his actions had an impact on ZC’s funds.

Utseya confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that he had written the letter after the World Cup and prior to Zimbabwe’s tour of Pakistan, but could not comment further at this stage. Campbell said he was unable to comment as the matter was pending either legal or internal disciplinary action.With Utseya openly basing some of these claims in the letter on “rumour”, he would appear to be open to legal action, though the matter may ultimately be dealt with internally at ZC. It is understood that ZC is currently investigating the letter.“Racism and Victimisation”The letter copies all ZC board members and bears the headline “Racism and Victimisation”, and begins: “Through you Mr. Chairman I wish to share my frustrations as I believe I am a victim of racism and have come to a point where I feel I have been quiet for too long whilst a lot has been happening.” After more than 10,000 words, Utseya finally closes his case with a plea for the board to consider his concerns.Utseya, who was in Zimbabwe’s World Cup squad but did not get a game, claims he considered leaving the World Cup prematurely out of frustration, and cites Campbell’s pre-tournament comments as a back story to support his contention that ZC’s managing director conspired against his potential selection. Last year, the ICC banned Utseya from bowling offspin, and in a guest column for the governing body in the lead-up to the World Cup, Campbell wrote: “I’m still a bit baffled by how Prosper Utseya will get on without being allowed to bowl his off-spinner, but no doubt he’ll find a way. He’ll certainly be the only bowler in the tournament without a ‘stock’ ball. He has been bowling medium-pacers and off-cutters recently so perhaps that is the way he will go.”Utseya was banned from bowling after testing in September 2014. In December, his offbreak was found to be illegal but his other deliveries were deemed legal, and so he was cleared to bowl again so long as he did not utilise his stock ball.His new method was field-tested for the first time on a trip to Uganda in December 2014 and he then captained Zimbabwe A against Canada at home in January. In four games he took five wickets at an average of 17.80, bowling his full 10 overs in every match, never conceding more than 24 runs, and also contributed useful runs down the order. In his letter, he uses this as evidence that he deserved to be picked at the World Cup, but does not elaborate on how Campbell was able to influence selection at the tournament.Propser Utseya was part of the 2015 World Cup squad but did not play a single match during the tournament•ICC

Administrative allegationsTo support his racial allegations, Utseya goes on to list cases where Campbell appointed white people for coaching and administration posts, during his stint as chairman of the cricket committee and chairman of selectors, including coaching roles to Heath Streak and Grant Flower. Utseya claims the decision to make Mangongo assistant coach was merely “a cover up to have a black man”. The employment of foreign white coaches at franchise level – Jason Gillespie, Allan Donald and Andrew Hall all coached Zimbabwean franchises during this period – is also cited as a ploy to “make sure that it is dominated by whites and thereby taking control of cricket”.Utseya also alleges that the appointment of Elton Chigumbura as Zimbabwe captain after he stepped down in 2010 was a short-term set up for Campbell to achieve a long-term goal. “When I was removed from the captaincy with no genuine reason Elton Chigumbura was then appointed,” Utseya writes. “Their aim was simply to put a white captain in B Taylor simply because they believe a white coach cannot work with a black captain and the change from Utseya to B Taylor would not look good politically hence the Elton route. Elton was not given a chance to prove himself and was quickly dropped from the captaincy.”Chigumbura captained Zimbabwe in 20 ODIs between May 2010 and the end of the 2011 World Cup, but the extra responsibility affected his form. After the 2011 World Cup, Chigumbura said that he planned to resign and focus on his own game, but later retracted that statement. In June 2011, ZC’s then managing director Ozias Bvute announced that Taylor would take over the captaincy.

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Later in the letter, Utseya claims that Campbell has suggested he become a coach, is not giving him a chance to remodel his action and is trying to prevent him from gaining a national contract. “Bearing in mind I still have an opportunity at 30 years old to work on my off spin. If I can reinvent in 2 months and make it Man of the Series in my comeback series with my new bowling action I reckon within 4 months I will be brilliant and what more in a year’s time I will be an artist at work. ICC can take away my offspin but they cannot take away my brains and experience which must count for something.”Utseya goes on to suggest that given Zimbabwe’s “unique” racial situation, the position of managing director should be split – and offers to fill the second post. “It is my humble wish that if Alistair Campbell can suggest that at 30 years old I can be involved in Franchise coaching and if the ZC Board also agrees with him in that I am not adding value as a player with my new bowling action I would like to go 2 steps further than his suggestion and put my hand up for consideration for the proposed split post as I have the credentials.”Race and cricket in ZimbabweThis is not the first instance of allegations of racism surfacing in the Zimbabwe cricket set-up. Cricket remained a predominantly white sport in Zimbabwe for two decades after majority rule in 1980, although after Henry Olonga became the country’s first black cricketer in 1995, other black players started to filter through.For a time it seemed that transformation of the game might happen organically, but the troubled wider political and social context caught up with cricket. In March 2001, ZCU announced the formation of an Integration Task Force focused on the “rapid evolution” of the game, and the eradication of racial discrimination in cricket. Players had to fill out a racism survey and, in the eyes of the predominantly white players, the integration targets set out by the Task Force amounted to an unofficial quota system. This was one of the factors that led to the player rebellion in April 2004, followed by the exit of 15 white players from the national squad. In September that year, the ICC held a hearing into allegations of racism began in Harare. The hearing ended amid allegations that ZCU was trying to create a hostile environment and intimidate witnesses and in October, then ICC president Ehsan Mani said he was satisfied with the findings of the report which found no evidence of racism in Zimbabwe cricket.In January 2013 issues of race came to the fore again when the Sports and Recreation Commission, headed by the then Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture David Coltart, issued a directive that any person tasked with convening the selection of a national side should have played international sport themselves. The directive was portrayed as being racially motivated by Givemore Makoni, the convenor of selectors and the man most directly affected by it.Stephen Mangongo’s tenure as national coach was marked by general player ambivalence towards his coaching style, rather than any particular racial tension, but when Mangongo lost his position after Zimbabwe’s whitewashing by Bangladesh last December, he reportedly said: “I am inclined to comment that I don’t think that Zimbabwe cricket was ready for an indigenous black person. It’s about acceptance, it’s about being ready for that and the alarmists already rang a lot of bells because a black guy had taken the head coach’s mantle.” This was despite the fact that the people responsible for the termination of his position were also black, and is indicative, in a general sense, of the way in which matters of race and racism are drawn into areas of disagreement in Zimbabwean cricket.

A frustrating behind-the-scenes Rangers claim has emerged on Ibrox striker Rory Wilson…

What’s the talk?

According to Football Insider, a source has revealed that the Gers teenager could leave before even playing a minute under Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

It’s understood that Brighton are in talks over a deal to sign the attacker as they look to swoop in ahead of their rivals to land him. They are said to be pushing hard to get this over the line after the striker turned down fresh terms in Glasgow.

The report claims that Rangers will only rake in £300k in development costs should he leave to join the Seagulls as he is out of contract at the end of the campaign.

Wilson is said to have met with his namesake Ross Wilson and Gio van Bronckhorst to discuss staying at Ibrox, but has decided that he wants to move on to pastures new.

Fume

This update will leave the Gers sporting director fuming as £300k is a paltry sum of money for a player with the 16-year-old’s potential.

The Scottish striker has scored 40 goals for the youth teams in Glasgow this season, whilst he has also netted seven times in six matches for his country at U17 level – scoring his latest against Georgia on Tuesday. He has been in phenomenal form for the academy and this suggests that he has the potential to make it in the first team if he is able to continue to progress.

Wilson has been showing that he is too good to be playing in the youth sides as he has been finding the net at a ridiculous rate, hence why Premier League sides are now trying to swoop him up.

The last time the Gers lost a hugely-talented prospect to an English side was when Billy Gilmour signed for Chelsea in 2017. He reportedly left for £500k with performance-related add-ons and is now valued at a whopping £10.8m by Transfermarkt – significantly more than the fee Rangers have seen for his talents.

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If Wilson is able to follow in Gilmour’s footsteps and make his mark in England and at international level, then the £300k Brighton will need to pay this summer will look like a huge bargain.

This is why Rangers’ sporting director will be fuming that the Seagulls are now pushing to get a deal done and that they will only need to shell out less than half a million pounds for his signature.

AND in other news, Sold at £4m, then became a £22.5m hero: Rangers had a disaster on iconic “phenomenon”…