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Former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak has been appointed the country’s head coach, succeeding Dav Whatmore, and has been tasked with ensuring qualification for the 2019 World Cup

Firdose Moonda11-Oct-2016Former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak has been appointed the country’s head coach, succeeding Dav Whatmore who was sacked in June. Streak was preferred over former team-mate Andy Blignaut and South Africans Peter Kirsten and Justin Summons, who were all interviewed for the job last Wednesday.Streak has been tasked with ensuring Zimbabwe qualify for the 2019 World Cup, and will be allowed to continue in his role as bowling coach for the Gujarat Lions in the IPL.After the announcement, Streak said: “My promise is I will leave no stone unturned in terms of our endeavour and our quest to improve the team’s performances. I believe that we have the resources here in Zimbabwe to do just that and planning is obviously going to be a major factor.”We do have a lack of cricket but I know Zimbabwe Cricket is addressing that issue at the moment. I feel that with the upcoming series [Tests against Sri Lanka and an ODI tri-series also featuring West Indies] we have some really good cricket coming up, so we can really work towards improving.”Makhaya Ntini, who was interim head coach since Whatmore’s departure and oversaw Zimbabwe’s limited-overs series against India and the two Tests against New Zealand, is expected to stay on as bowling coach while Lance Klusener will continue as batting consultant.Streak has previous experience as a head coach. He was in charge of the Bulawayo-based franchise Matabeleland Tuskers in the 2012-13 season, when they won the Logan Cup. Streak’s extensive experience in Zimbabwe also included a four-year stint as bowling coach between 2009 and 2013, under Alan Butcher. Streak was instrumental in readying Zimbabwe for their Test comeback in 2011 and nurtured some of their best bowling talent including Brian Vitori, Kyle Jarvis, and Chris Mpofu.When Streak’s contract with Zimbabwe was not renewed, he spent two years as bowling coach of Bangladesh, before moving to the IPL. He has remained committed to cricket in Zimbabwe, set up an academy in Bulawayo and also spent time doing television commentary in the country.Streak has less than three weeks to get ready for his first assignment: the two-Test series against Sri Lanka followed by the ODI tri-series which includes West Indies. Zimbabwe’s cricketers have been in training under Ntini’s watch throughout September in preparation for the series and have also played against Pakistan A.Their practice was briefly interrupted when the players embarked on a strike in protest over non-payment of match fees but they reached a resolution with ZC administrators. ZC have also finalised national contracts, although the list has not been made public.

Blackburn Rovers are interested in signing Queens Park Rangers striker Lyndon Dykes, according to recent reports.

What's the latest Blackburn Rovers transfer news?

With the likes of Ben Brereton Diaz, Bradley Dack and Daniel Ayala all leaving Ewood Park in the coming weeks, it's set to be a busy summer for Rovers as they look to replace them.

After missing out on the playoffs by goal difference, Jon Dahl Tomasson's side has moved quickly, signing Plymouth Argyle striker Niall Ennis last month.

A lack of depth up front has been a cause for concern for the Lancashire outfit all year, with the departing Brereton Diaz (16) the only player to score in double figures for the side this season.

Rovers aren't finished there, though, and according to the Daily Mail, they are among a number of teams interested in QPR striker, Dykes.

The Lancashire Telegraph reports that the club will need to sell players to generate any finances for a transfer, though, with full-back Tayo Edun being linked with a move away from Ewood, with both Charlton Athletic and Cardiff City interested.

Will Lyndon Dykes join Blackburn Rovers?

With eight league goals this season in a struggling QPR side, the 27-year-old would add some firepower to a Rovers team that's been severely lacking it this year.

No Rovers player outside of Brereton Diaz scored more league goals than the Scottish international during the Championship's latest campaign and adding him will help alleviate any pressure on Sam Gallagher's goal-scoring output.

The 27-year-old talisman, once hailed "dangerous" by former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard shortly before his team faced Dykes and Livingston in 2020, excels as a big target man, winning 4.8 aerial duels a game according to WhoScored, almost two more than Rovers' current number nine, Sam Gallagher who wins three per game.

While Tomasson has prioritised a possession-based style of football, playing out from the back, his side has also shown a tendency to pick out a long ball whenever they identify space behind the opposition back line, firing 66 long passes a game, and having a forward like Dykes on the receiving end would see the £8k-a-week man almost certainly reap the rewards.

Rovers certainly aren't the only team interested in the Scottish international, though, with fellow championship outfit Stoke City and newly-promoted Burnley both also targeting Dykes, so the club have got their work cut out for them if they're going to lure the QPR man to Ewood Park.

Pink ball cricket will mark its debut in Sri Lanka when the first unofficial Test between Sri Lanka A and West Indies A commences at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Tuesday

Sa'adi Thawfeeq03-Oct-2016Pink-ball cricket will mark its debut in Sri Lanka when the first unofficial Test between Sri Lanka A and West Indies A commences at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Tuesday.”We have been lagging behind other countries in experimenting with the pink ball, but a start had to be made somewhere,” Sri Lanka Cricket vice-president K Mathivanan said. “With the ICC planning to introduce day-night Test cricket in the near future we should be prepared to face the changes and not lag behind.”Sri Lanka currently use the Australian Kookaburra ball in their domestic tournaments. Mathivanan said the pink ball costed as much as the red ball, priced at LKR 16,000. SLC is also likely to use the pink ball in their forthcoming domestic competition.Sri Lanka A captain Dimuth Karunaratne felt the pink ball doesn’t differ drastically as compared to the red ball. “We have had few practice sessions with the pink ball and found it very much similar to the red ball,” he said. “But with use, pink ball gets a bit strange and the colour fades.”Shamarh Brooks, the West Indies A captain, said the experience of having played with the pink ball should help. “The balls we use in the Caribbean are a bit light in colour, these balls are brighter,” he observed.Pink ball trial aside, the series will also help Sri Lanka’s national selector identify players who can make the Test cut ahead of the tour of Zimbabwe in October-November.Among those fighting for the opening slot are Karunaratne, Roshen Silva and Lahiru Thirimanne. “I think we have a strong team with some drop outs from the national squad. So this is a great chance for all of them to regain their form and perform well for the country,” Karunaratne said, while sidestepping the question about competition for places.Sri Lanka A coach Avishka Gunawardene said the priority was to identify a battery of fast bowlers. “The Zimbabwe and South African tours are coming and we have to find more fast bowlers so we will focus more on the fast bowlers during this series as that is the national side’s need of the hour,” he said. “We have a good balanced side including Under-19 players who performed well at the last Under-19 World Cup.”West Indies will play three four-day matches and three one-dayers during their month-long stay.

An update has emerged on Burnley and their plans to improve their attacking options following their promotion to the Premier League…

What's the latest on Jack Clarke to Burnley?

According to Football League World, Sunderland are expected to cash in on Clarets target Jack Clarke ahead of next season amid growing competition for his signature.

The report claims that Vincent Kompany is eyeing a swoop for the attacker alongside Rangers, Crystal Palace, and Everton, among others.

It is stated that Burnley hold the strongest interest in the former Leeds United academy graduate, who joined the Black Cats from Tottenham Hotspur in a deal that could rise to £10m last summer.

How did Jack Clarke perform this season?

The English forward caught the eye with his performances in the Championship for Tony Mowbray's side and could form an exciting partnership with current Clarets star Josh Brownhill.

Clarke averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.00 across 45 matches in the second tier and chipped in with nine goals from out wide and only missed five 'big chances'. He plundered those strikes from 6.92 xG and proved himself to be a reliable finisher in front of goal.

Brownhill, meanwhile, averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.27 across 41 league games and scored seven times. The former Preston North End ace outscored his xG by 0.85 and this suggests that, like his compatriot, the maestro is not wasteful with his shooting.

These statistics show that both players are effective at the top end of the pitch and could both carry a significant goal threat in the Premier League next season if they are provided with enough chances.

The Sunderland magician, whose dribbling ability was hailed as "effortless" by ex-Leeds ace Noel Whelan, also showcased his wizardry by racking up 12 assists from 11.10 xA in the division – four more assists than any Burnley player managed.

Brownhill was also a source of creativity for his side as the Englishman assisted eight goals and created 10.94 xA for his teammates, which suggests that the ace was let down by his fellow attackers as they did not make the most of the chances he was providing them with.

Kompany could now add another forward who is capable of finishing and creating opportunities in the final third by securing a swoop for Clarke.

The Black Cats whiz could form a dream partnership with Brownhill as they have both proven themselves capable of outperforming their xG and being able to consistently create openings for others from midfield and wide positions, which makes them huge threats for the opposition to deal with.

Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be keen on a move for Feyenoord captain, Orkun Kokcu, amid the speculation surrounding the north Londoners' interest in his current boss, Arne Slot.

What's the latest on Kokcu to Tottenham?

According to journalist Sean Walsh, writing on Twitter, the Lilywhites are said to be "looking at" the Turkey international ahead of the summer window, with the aforementioned Slot having also emerged as a leading managerial candidate for chairman, Daniel Levy.

In his attached piece for 90min, Walsh reveals that Spurs were eyeing a swoop for the Netherlands-born playmaker even prior to contemplating a move for his manager, with reports as far back as 2021 also outlining the club's interest.

This follows similar claims made by the Dutch media in recent days, with 1908.nl revealing that Kokcu could command a fee of around €40m (£35m), amid the interest from Levy and co.

What is Kokcu's style of play?

The promising midfielder is noted as a similar player to Borussia Dortmund and England sensation, Jude Bellingham, according to Football Transfers, with that likeness an indication of just what a talent Spurs could have on their hands.

In the case of Bellingham, the 19-year-old appears set for a high-profile switch to Real Madrid this summer following another sparkling season in Germany, having scored 14 goals and registered seven assists across all fronts for the title hopefuls.

The eye-catching teenager seemingly raised his profile even higher after shining for the Three Lions at the World Cup in the winter, with ITV pundit Roy Keane stating that the former Birmingham City starlet is "going to be a superstar".

While perhaps not at the same level as a player who could reportedly cost as much as €150m (£130m) this summer, Kokcu does no doubt share similar traits to that of the Englishman, having also dazzled in his midfield berth this term with 12 goals and five assists in all competitions this season.

The 20-cap maestro also appears to share Bellingham's maturity despite his relative youth, having captained the Rotterdam outfit of late and been hailed as a "true leader" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, with the Dortmund gem also described as a "leader" by manager, Edin Terzic.

The comparison can also be made between the pair due to their creative prowess and ability to surge forward from deep, with Bellingham averaging 8.18 progressive passes and 3.06 progressive carries per 90 across the last 365 days, as per FBref, while Kokcu has averaged 12.33 and 2.87 for the same two metrics, respectively.

Much like Bellingham – who has been a "talisman" at Westfalenstadion of late, as per James McManus – Kokcu has also been the real "driving force" for Feyenoord in recent seasons, according to journalist Marcel van der Kraan, with the hope being that he can replicate such an impact in north London.

That notable similarity between the pair should be of real excitement to those back at N17, with it potentially set to be a real coup if Levy can wrap up a deal over the coming weeks and months.

New Zealand’s domestic circuit will get its first feel of the pink ball during the upcoming season of the Plunket Shield, with three matches in March scheduled to be played under lights

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Aug-2016New Zealand’s domestic circuit will get its first feel of the pink ball during the 2016-17 season of the Plunket Shield, the country’s premier first-class tournament. One round of Plunket Shield matches, scheduled between March 6 and 9 in Auckland, Hamilton and Wellington, will be day-night fixtures, according to the domestic schedules released by New Zealand Cricket on Tuesday.2016-17 New Zealand domestic season schedule

Plunket Shield first five rounds: October 22 – November 25

Ford Trophy: January 15 – February 18

Plunkt Shield final five rounds: February 25 – April 1

Women’s One-Day Competition: November 26 – February 11

Women’s Twenty20 Competition: November 25 – February 12

Westpac Stadium, Wellington will host its maiden first-class match when home side Wellington take on Otago. Eden Park in Auckland will host a match between Auckland and Canterbury, while Northern Districts will play Central Districts at Seddon Park.According to a report on , the pink ball will be closely monitored, and player feedback on the ball’s visibility, durability and the effect of conditions on it will be taken into account before NZC looks into the possibility of hosting a floodlit Test against England in 2018 on a drop-in pitch at Eden Park.While the start times for the day-night matches have not been finalised yet, the session timings (local) are likely to be between 2.30pm and 4.30pm, 4.50pm to 6.50 pm, and 7.30pm to 9.30pm. The remaining matches will have the traditional 10.30am start.There were plans to hold an entire round of day-night Plunket Shield matches in the 2015-16 season, but these were scrapped due to concerns over the quality of lights at McLean Park in Napier. NZC was also forced to ditch plans of hosting South Africa for a day-night Test in March next year.Hamilton’s Seddon Park has already had a run of trials with the pink ball under the floodlights in the form of a New Zealand team open-wicket training session, as well as a minor association match, held in March this year.The 2016-17 Plunket Shield will be split into two parts, and will run on either side of the T20 and List A tournaments. The first-class season begins on October 22 and goes on until the first five rounds are completed. The final five rounds of the Plunket Shield will then be contested from February 25 and will conclude on April 1.The T20 competition is scheduled between December and mid-January and will be followed by the Ford Trophy, the country’s List A competition, from January 15 to February 18. The schedule for the T20 competition will be announced on Friday.

Australia’s captain Steven Smith ranked a surprise hiding at the hands of Sri Lanka among the most deflating results of his career

Daniel Brettig30-Jul-2016Australia’s captain Steven Smith ranked a surprise hiding at the hands of Sri Lanka among the most deflating results of his career, after pledging his leadership would be focused upon improving the national team’s record in overseas territory.The 106-run defeat in little more than three days of actual playing time has put Australia’s No. 1 ranking at risk, being their seventh consecutive loss in Test matches in Asia and first to Sri Lanka in 17 years. Meanwhile a hamstring injury to the left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe means Smith will be relying on the ability of the Victorian spinner Jon Holland to hit the ground running when he links up with the squad in Galle for a match on what is expected to be an even sharper spinning pitch than that seen in Pallekele. A task considered well within the team’s capability ahead of the series now looks exceptionally steep.Familiar Australian weaknesses against spin bowling were laid bare by Rangana Herath and his wrist-spinning offsider Lakshan Sandakan, as they shared 16 wickets between them. At the same time batsmen like David Warner and Usman Khawaja were put to shame by an extraordinarily composed innings of 176 from the 21-year-old Man of the Match Kusal Mendis. Smith, too, had reason for self-recrimination, as his charge down the track at Herath’s first ball on day two had effectively swung the match.”It is disappointing,” Smith said. “I said before the game that we haven’t played well in subcontinent conditions for quite a while now. It’s something that under my captaincy I want to change. There were glimpses throughout this game that we’ve improved in some aspects but I think we just let ourselves down a lot as well.”I generally play spinners quite aggressively. I’ve hit that ball for four or six several times throughout my career. I got beaten on the inside of the bat. It’s just summing it up and making sure I play with a straighter bat if I’m trying to go over the top. I know it looked ugly and it probably didn’t look great. For me, it’s about making sure I still have that intent to score.”In expressing sorrow for O’Keefe’s exit, particularly after he had fought bravely alongside Peter Nevill to try to delay defeat on the final afternoon, Smith also spoke optimistically about the skills of Holland. The pair were fellow academy inductees nearly a decade ago, and will need to find quick rapport as captain and spinner to help bring Sri Lanka’s batsmen to heel.”Galle is the biggest spinning place here in Sri Lanka, or so we’ve been told so it’s going to play a big part again,” Smith said. “Jon Holland is a class bowler, he’s done pretty well in state cricket and having a left-arm orthodox bowler in these conditions is a must. He’s accurate, he hits a good area and hopefully we can see some of the same as what we saw from Steve and Rangana, with some balls spinning and some balls skidding. It’s incredibly hard to play against and I’m looking forward to him getting here and having a couple of days’ preparation with us.”He and I went to the academy together so we know each other reasonably well and I’m sure he’ll fit in well around this group. There’s always challenges when you’re playing international cricket, especially away from home. He’s going to have to get a game plan and the speeds that he needs to bowl together pretty quickly. We’ll be working with him to make sure he gets that in and I’m really excited for him to join us.”Holland for O’Keefe is likely to be the only change to the Australian side, with Smith looking for his team to atone for their missteps in Pallekele.

Aston Villa have been one of the stand-out teams in the Premier League this season, improving significantly since the introduction of Unai Emery.

When the Spaniard took over in November, Villa were on a run of bleak form with little sign of change under Steven Gerrard.

In just over six months, the 51-year-old has boosted the Midlands side from a team in relegation form to one charging towards a top-six finish and potential European football next campaign.

This summer, Emery will have his chance to undergo his first pre-season with the squad, as well as make changes on the business front in the lucrative summer transfer window.

The incoming of Mateu Alemany as Director of Football from Barcelona has boosted the club’s outlook ahead of the window, with a host of top talents in Europe linked with a potential move to Villa Park.

Earlier this week the contract details of a Premier League star were revealed, as he emerged as a potential target for the Villans.

What’s the latest on James Ward-Prowse's future?

Newly relegated Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse has been linked to many clubs, including West Ham, Tottenham and Villa.

That's according to the Daily Mail, the Englishman does not have a relegation clause in his contract which would allow him to leave the club upon the Saints' relegation.

The south-coast side are still “braced for bids” for their star man, however, who is “admired” by Villa with the club attempting to sign the midfielder for £25m last year, a deal that was ultimately rejected.

What could James Ward-Prowse bring to Villa?

Hailed as being “the best free-kick taker” he had ever seen by Pep Guardiola, a figure that has worked closely with Lionel Messi, Ward-Prowse is a player that will surely be on the move this summer.

It seems as though Emery is planning a rebuild of his inherited Villa squad, with the Spaniard admitting to The Athletic his desire to have a “stronger squad”.

The potential introduction of the 28-year-old, therefore, could well do that.

Indeed, the Englishman stands as a possible upgrade on Philippe Coutinho with another central addition set to be the final straw that sees the Brazilian step aside in the summer.

Set piece situations aside, the £100k-per-week midfielder is a stable figure to have in the middle of the park. Not just boasting an exceptional passing ability, Ward-Prowse is a player that will do the dirty work too.

Statistically, the Englishman boasts better stats on average per game than Coutinho in the critical areas of the advanced midfield role, as well as scoring and assisting.

The Southampton captain averages a successful pass rate of 85% (43.8 per game) to Coutinho’s 78% (14.1 per game), as well as making on average 1.4 interceptions per game compared to the Villa man’s 0.2 – showing his ability to dictate play and read the game.

The former Barcelona sensation has often been seen as a creative marvel but even Ward-Prowse trumps him in that area of the game this season, making 2.1 key passes per match to a dismal 0.4.

The midfielder’s potential arrival at Villa Park, therefore, would be a huge upgrade to Emery’s squad with regards to both depth and quality.

Erik ten Hag will be hoping for a much better performance from his Manchester United side as they face Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League this afternoon.

The Red Devils have lost their previous two league matches and are currently sitting just one point ahead of Liverpool in the hunt for the final Champions League spot, albeit with a game in hand over their rivals.

United weren’t quite at the races in their defeat to West Ham United last weekend, despite dominating the lion's share of possession (65%) yet they failed to take any of their chances, and if they aren’t careful, this defeat may prove to be very costly indeed.

There will no doubt be changes to the starting XI ahead of the visit of Wolves, with a few players failing to impress against the Hammers.

Christian Eriksen was uncharacteristically quiet, making zero key passes and losing possession seven times, while David de Gea must be worrying about his long-term future after making yet another mistake. However it is Wout Weghorst who must be ditched ahead of the crucial tie today.

Will Wout Weghorst be dropped for Manchester United against Wolves?

Against West Ham, Weghorst was deployed in an unfamiliar attacking-midfield slot, where he has played just twice before at United, with both games resulting in zero goals or assists, and it was yet another poor performance in this position last week.

The Dutchman played just 57 minutes, and failed to display any sort of attacking intent, taking one shot and making just one key pass, while he achieved a rating of just 6.5/10 as per Sofascore – the lowest out of the United starting XI.

The 30-year-old took just 28 touches and played 16 passes, suggesting he couldn’t get into the game whatsoever, and it’s evident that this position isn’t suited to his strengths.

The £35k-per-week flop has managed to score just two goals for the club since joining in January and Ten Hag may be better off going with someone like Marcel Sabitzer directly behind the striker as opposed to Weghorst.

Richard Keys branded him as the “worst player” he’s ever seen in a Man United shirt, and it looks abundantly clear that Ten Hag won’t be pursuing a permanent deal for him come the summer.

Whoever plays in that role today, they must be looking to supply Marcus Rashford as much as possible in order to secure another three points which may prove crucial in the hunt for Champions League football in 2023/24.

India’s new head coach Anil Kumble has said the question of conflict of interest will be fully addressed before he formally takes over the role

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jun-20163:58

Bal: Important to see the vision Kumble brings

India’s new head coach Anil Kumble has said the question of conflict of interest will be fully addressed before he formally takes over the role. Kumble’s involvement in Tenvic, a company “in the business of sports and consulting”, has raised concerns around a possible conflict of interest in the past. Kumble has always denied Tenvic, which has cricketers as clients, is a talent management company.Minutes after Kumble was announced as India’s next coach, though, he tackled the conflict-of-interest question. “We [BCCI and I] have already discussed that,” Kumble said. “Whatever needs to be done will be done before I take up this role officially. That has been discussed, and it has been clear with the BCCI as well. Something that can be easily resolved.”Later, when asked the same question in a separate Hindi interview, Kumble expressed displeasure at the repeated questioning around the conflict of interest. He compared it with a middle name erroneously given to him in the media during his playing days. “Whenever I am mentioned, the term conflict is added to my name,” Kumble complained. “I played for 18 years. When I used to play, a middle name, Radhakrishnan, was given to me. Don’t know where it came from. After I retired ‘conflict’ has become my middle name. I have spoken to BCCI. Whatever needs to be done we will do.”The BCCI expressed similar displeasure at being asked about the conflict of interest, but also suggested there was some action expected. “I think conflict of interest has become a very fashionable word to use,” the board secretary Ajay Shirke said. “That has been completely addressed, and whatever decisions around that have been addressed prior to making this decision. There will be no conflict of interest as such before he assumes his role.”Kumble was happier talking about the prospects of the new job. He was excited at once again teaming up with four of his long-standing India team-mates from the 90s to the late 2000s. “I think it’s a great thing for Indian cricket,” Kumble said. “I certainly believe that the five players I played with throughout my career… Sourav [Ganguly], Sachin [Tendulkar], [VVS] Laxman are in advisory roles. Sourav in administrative role as well. Then Rahul [Dravid] in charge of the junior teams. The five of us have had a wonderful relationship off the field, and on it as well. The five of us will have to sit and see what is needed for the best interest of Indian cricket. The other stakeholders as far as cricket is concerned will come in. I am looking forward to all that.”Ganguly, Tendulkar and Laxman formed the cricket advisory committee that interviewed the 57 candidates and recommended their choice for the coach’s job. Ganguly is also the chairman of the BCCI’s technical committee and president of the Cricket Association of Bengal. Dravid coaches the India A and India Under-19 teams.Kumble said it was not an easy decision to apply for the job given the travel that goes with it, but once his wife supported his decision he felt it was the right time to give back to Indian cricket. “It’s a big responsibility,” Kumble said. “I have seen the kind of pressure coaches have been under. They have the biggest accountability. I felt this was the right time to come back to the dressing-room environment, to be with the players, to help them prepare.”I have plans. Both long-term and short-term. I have plans for the coming matches and series, but I can’t plan alone. I will have to share my thoughts with the whole team. Will have to take their ideas too.”