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West Bromwich Albion centre-forward Reyes Cleary has still not signed a new contract with the Baggies.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Steve Madeley, with the journalist revealing in a recent article for The Athletic that, despite the 17-year-old’s current contract at The Hawthorns set to expire this summer, as well as West Brom having expected the striker to put pen to paper on a professional deal earlier this year, an agreement is yet to be reached with the teenager.

In his report, Madeley writes: “Prolific forward Reyes Cleary was expected to sign a professional contract early this year but, with March now underway, the deal has yet to be completed.”

Fans will be fuming

Considering the abundance of potential that Cleary possesses, in addition to the fact that West Brom have made something of a habit of losing their most promising youth prospects on free transfers in recent years, the news that the club are yet to tie the 17-year-old down to a professional deal is sure to have left fans fuming.

Indeed, the youngster has been in remarkable goalscoring form for Albion’s youth sides so far this season, bagging 13 times over his nine outings for the U18s and seven times over 11 Premier League 2 fixtures.

This form has reportedly seen the likes of Bayern Munich, Schalke, Crystal Palace and Newcastle United all register an interest in the attacker, while a great many more clubs will undoubtedly join the queue for the teenager should he become a free agent at the end of the season.

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As such, it would appear an absolute priority for Steve Bruce to do all he can to secure the future of the centre-forward who Richard Beale dubbed a “diamond” before the summer, or else the Baggies could well see a repeat of Louie Barry and Nathan Ferguson’s departures from the club back in 2019 and 2020 respectively.

In other news: Bruce can finally axe £14k-p/w “Rolls-Royce” as WBA plot offer for £20k-p/w “beast”

Rahkeem Cornwall’s career-best match figures of 12 for 205 along with Jahmar Hamilton’s 130* in the second innings took Leeward Islands to a 85-run victory over Jamaica in Antigua.Cornwall picked up 5 for 74 to help bundle Jamaica out for 158 in the first innings, after which he claimed 7 for 131 in Leewards’ final innings defence of 365 to bowl Jamaica out for 280. Hamilton built on Cornwall’s five-wicket haul in the first innings with a steady century that comprised of eight fours and three sixes. He was assisted by opener Montcin Hodge (72) and Orlando Peters (41) to help Leewards set Jamaica a target of 366.In the chase, Kirk Edwards top scored with 93 but it wasn’t enough to drive Jamaica home as none of the other batsmen managed to cross a score of 40.Both teams suffered batting collapses in the first innings. Hodge (41) and Daron Cruickshank (51) did majority of the scoring in Leewards’ 155 after they were inserted, while, in response, Jamaica were bundled out for 158 with No. 11 Sheldon Cottrell top scoring with 37.For Jamaica, Nikita Miller and Damion Jacobs starred with the ball, picking eight wickets each in the match.Barbados smashed Windward Islands by an innings and 56 runs in Bridgetown. The win was built around centuries from Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope, and a match haul of eight from pace Miguel Cummins.Windwards chose to bat and were in trouble straightaway as Cummins cut through their top order to reduce them to 46 for 4 – one of the four to fall was Keddy Lesporis, who was sent on his way after handling the ball. Fifties from Andre Fletcher and Kavem Hodge made sure they did not collapse altogether, and they managed to put 250 on the board before being all out, Miguel ending with five scalps.If they had any hope of that being enough to challenge Barbados, it was crushed by opener Brathwaite and No. 3 Hope, with scores of 117 and 162 respectively. Brisk cameos from the middle order followed, giving Barbados a cushion of 200 runs going into the second innings. Windwards could not force them to bat again, with Cummins again making the initial breakthrough before the spin of Sulieman Benn and Roston Chase took over. Windwards were duly bowled out for 144 in 53.3 overs.Guyana registered a big win in Providence, beating Trinidad & Tobago by 105 runs. Batsmen Vishaul Singh and Leon Johnson, and the spin pairing of Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo were the stars of the game for Guyana.Vishaul held Guyana together after they chose to bat, making an unbeaten 104 from No. 5 to get his team to 237. The two spinners then ensured that was enough, Permaul taking a five-for and Bishoo three to bowl T&T out for 179. Captain Johnson made sure that 58-run lead did not go to waste, stringing together 111 in Guyana’s second innings, before declaring to set T&T 303 for the win. They got nowhere close as Guyana’s spin twins delivered once more, Permaul grabbing four this time and Bishoo two.

DrawnThis game was treated as a means of giving the Englishmen as much practice as possible before the third Test match, and MCC batted 12 men against the local side’s 13. Both teams fielded 11 a side. During the tea interval on the second day the Bendigo Cricket Association received a telegram from W. H. Jeanes, Secretary of the Australian Board of Control, asking on whose authority the teams had agreed to bat thirteen and twelve respectively. The Bendigo Association replied that it was by mutual arrangement.

“We have brought Ashwell Prince back to give us experienced options should we wish to change our top order batting’ – Haroon Lorgat © Getty Images

Ashwell Prince will replace Boeta Dippenaar for the remaining two ODIs against India. The change was announced today by Haroon Lorgat, convenor of selectors. “We have brought Ashwell Prince back to give us experienced options should we wish to change our top order batting,” Lorgat said.Lorgat also announced that six senior players would be rested for the Twenty20 match to be played against India at Wanderers on Friday night. “The players to be rested are Mark Boucher, Jacques Kallis, Andrew Hall, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini and Shaun Pollock,” Lorgat said.”We are fortunate to have talented players in reserve which allows us to rest some of our senior players. “These include the likes of AB de Villiers as a wicket-keeper, and allrounders such as Tyron Henderson, Albie Morkel, Roger Telemachus, Robin Peterson and Johan van der Wath.”Lorgat also confirmed that he had replaced Andre Nel with Andrew Hall for the third ODI. “Andre Nel had sustained an injury to his right index finger and I made the call to the replace him with Andrew Hall before the start of play”

8:30am
Scorecard
Wet conditions on the morning of the third day meant that play was off at 8:30am local time. Bouts of heavy overnight showers left the MA Chidambaram Stadium in a damp state and covers enveloped most parts of the ground.The outfield had a lush, marshy look about it and the umpires decided to call off play without even waiting for an inspection later in the day. Like the first two days, grey skies loomed and despite the super sopper, and the ground staff, working overtime nothing could stop them from abandoning play right at the outset.

Sachin Tendulkar: Will play, but won’t bat© AFP

Sachin Tendulkar has said he will play in the charity match on January 10 for the victims of the tsunami, but will only field, following medical advice that he shouldn’t play a ball for a month.”I am definitely participating in the match. But I won’t be batting in that game as advised by my doctors,” Tendulkar told Press Trust of India. He had earlier hinted that he wanted to be a part of the match even if he couldn’t participate in it.Tendulkar had also been advised not to play domestic games to rest hisleft elbow which kept him out of international cricket for over two months.He was quoted by United News of India, saying, “The doctors have recommended a month’s rest during which they have advised me not to play a single ball and to take complete rest.”Speaking about the tsunami tragedy, he said it was important for every person to do his bit to help the victims’ families and the survivors. Tendulkar also said he had made no goals for the year 2005. “No goals for 2005. I am just going to go out there and play my game.”

Andy Flower has agreed a new two-year deal with Essex. Flower, 35, retired from international cricket after the 2003 World Cup. He has dual nationality and becomes qualified to play as a non-overseas player next season.David East, Essex’s chief executive, said: “Andy has been a model overseas player for the last two seasons and, following the conclusion of his international career, we are delighted he has signed a two-year contract with us. He has a British passport and will play in Essex as a local player, which obviously enables us to keep our second overseas player option open having already secured Scott Brant for 2004.”Flower joined Essex in 2002 and made an immediate impact, scoring over 1000 runs with an average over fifty, and helped Essex to promotion in both the Frizzell County Championship and the National League. This year, Flower recently passed the 1000-run mark again, despite Essex’s struggle in the Championship.

Ruthless Queensland finished off a stunned Tasmania in record-breaking time at the Gabba today before victorious captain Stuart Law rubbished any thoughts of hometown advantage.The Gabba wicket came under fire after Queensland cruised to a 10-wicket win in just 569 minutes – the shortest completed match in Australian domestic four-dayhistory.It was finished 27 minutes before tea on the second day when the Bulls reached 0-51 against a Tasmanian team which had been skittled for 100 and 82 in the PuraCup match.Former Test batsman Dean Jones – who watched from the commentary box – unloaded scathing criticism on the Gabba ground staff.But his was a lone voice as both teams insisted the greenish wicket was not responsible for the record.”Deano never scored a run here (for Victoria),” Law said.”People are going to be pointing the finger at the pitch but I don’t think it contributed to any dismissal.”It’s a result wicket – you don’t want a flat track where every team gets 400.”(Test opener) Matthew Hayden has batted here all his career and he averages 60 at the ground.”Maybe Queensland batsmen are better than people give them credit for.”The points table reflects that, with the defending champions charging to a 10-point break at the halfway stage of the season.Tasmanian skipper Jamie Cox – whose match returns of 20 and 21 stood out like skyscrapers for the Tigers – said the wicket made batting tough.The Tigers didn’t help their cause with some poor shots today, leaving them in tatters at 5-28.”It was bloody hard work and it got quicker today which made it even tougher,” Cox said.”But I looked at the wicket yesterday morning and I wanted to lose the toss.”I wasn’t at all unhappy to bat first on it.”There is no excuse for us to lose 19 wickets with a top score of 28. That’s not acceptable.”The Tigers struggled with an illness to batsman Michael Di Venuto, who retired hurt for four.But the game was gone by then, with the Tasmanians losing three wickets in the first three overs of the second day.Michael Kasprowicz took all three on the way to 4-22, while Joe Dawes collected 3-28.The record-keepers began watching the clock when it became apparent the teams wouldn’t need the tea break.The record for the shortest domestic match was set in 1975-76, when Dennis Lillee and Mick Malone helped Western Australia thump Victoria in 10 hours at the MCG.Curator Kevin Mitchell Jnr defended his wicket, putting the record down to “one of those games”.”We’ve been struggling since this ground was rebuilt (two years ago) to get pace and bounce – I think we’ve got it,” Mitchell said.”The conditions helped the ball swing and seam but I’ve seen livelier wickets here.”Queensland has won its three home matches this summer and, with two first-innings wins away from home, leads the points table with 22.Law admitted the Bulls could “relax for a few weeks” over the Christmas break but said they must regain focus for the return clash with Tasmania in Hobart onJanuary 17.

Kevin Pietersen has branded the decision to omit Ian Bell from England’s touring squad to South Africa as “pathetic,” “insane” and “ridiculous.”In a series of furious interviews, most notably on talkSPORT, BreatheSport and ESPNcricinfo, Pietersen also labelled former England coach Andy Flower “a clown” for dropping Nick Compton ahead of the 2013 Ashes and suggested that the decision to disregard Bell’s experience for a tour of South Africa was “a disgrace.””England are playing the best team in the world with one of the best fast bowling attacks the game has seen for years,” Pietersen told ESPNcricinfo. “So not to take one of your most experienced players with a great record against that team is absolutely ridiculous. You have to take him for his experience.”He’s played 118 Tests and you need that experience on tour. He’s probably got another five, six, seven or eight Test hundreds in him. It is an insane decision to leave him out.”Yes, Belly hasn’t scored the runs he would have liked of late. But that happens to all players and it’s at those times that the management need to stick by him. It’s a disgrace they way they’ve dropped him now.”Pietersen also questioned what he saw as the inequitable treatment of Bell compared to the patience shown to the team’s captain, Alastair Cook, and questioned what he sees as an ageist attitude prevalent within English cricket.”Captain Cook himself can go two years without a Test hundred but he can play every single game,” Pietersen said on BreatheSport. “As for Belly, he struggles a bit – he got a hundred, what nine or 10 Test matches ago? – but he’s not good enough to get to the South Africa tour? I think it’s pathetic and I think he’s been hard done by here. People need to start having a hard look at themselves.”He’s 33, not 53,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “Why is that, in England, that 33 is considered too old? In other countries we have seen the likes of Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting play on far longer than that. Belly isn’t over the hill. Of course he can fight his way back from this. I believe he will. He is a class player. You don’t score 22 Test centuries without being a top class player. I’m very angry about this.”While Pietersen might be expected to be outspoken on this issue – as has been well documented, his relationship with the England management is not cosy and he is a director of the management company that looks after Bell’s interests – he has not been alone in his criticism of the squad.Mark Boucher, the former South Africa wicketkeeper, tweeted that South Africa would experience “a boost in confidence” by seeing a squad without either Pietersen or Bell, while Graeme Smith, the former South Africa captain, tweeted that he was “very surprised” Gary Ballance had been recalled and that bowlers would be “licking their lips” in anticipation of bowling to him.”I know the South Africa players, and they will be licking their lips bowling to a bloke like Gary Ballance,” Pietersen told talkSPORT.”You just have to see what the likes of Mark Boucher and Graeme Smith have said on social media today, England are just being laughed at. It’s horrendous. Goodness, my mind just boggles when I see what happens there. It’s frustrating.”He did, though, see merit in one of the decisions. “It’s good to see Compton back. He was dealt an horrendous blow by that clown who coached England a couple of years ago.”

In Bruno Lage’s first season as Wolves manager since replacing Nuno Espirito Santo back in the summer, the Old Gold are currently well in the race to secure European football with a total of 12 wins, four draws and eight defeats under their belt in 24 games played.

One impressive factor of Wolves’ season so far is their defensive record, having conceded just 18 goals, leaving only league leaders Manchester City with a better record.

With that in mind, one player that has contributed a lot to Wolves’ impressive defensive record this season is Romain Saiss.

The Moroccan has started all but two of their league games this term, only missing fixtures with Southampton and Brentford as a result of AFCON, which shows just how important he’s been for Lage in 2021/22.

With Wolves conceding in both games that he missed last month and keeping three consecutive clean sheets before he jetted off for international duty, it suggests that the Old Gold’s defence was undoubtedly weakened due to his absence.

The 31-year-old’s performances this season have also shown just how valuable he is to Lage’s side with WhoScored giving him an overall rating of 7.02/10, making him Wolves’ third-highest rated player.

From a defensive point of view, the £28k-per-week Morocco international has managed to win a total of 56 aerial duels, 44 interceptions and 26 tackles, highlighting how much of a defensive unit he has been in this campaign and how much he has contributed at the back.

Having been likened to former AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini by people at the club according to Lage, Saiss’ current contract at Molineux is due to expire at the end of the season.

Taking into account his impressive performances this campaign, the defender has certainly put himself in the frame for the club to offer him a new deal given how valuable he has proven himself to be.

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Moving forward, if the defender can keep up the same level of performance he has done throughout the season to date, the Midlands club should definitely see if he would be willing to continue his career in a Wolves shirt and sign a new contract.

In other news: Forget Traore: Fosun heading for unforgivable Wolves howler, Lage would be furious – opinion