All posts by h716a5.icu

Ireland had to follow-on against Pakistan on their Test debut in Malahide, but one Irish batsman at least had the most prolific day of his career

ECB Reporters Network13-May-2018
ScorecardStuart Poynter and Michael Richardson demolished Derbyshire’s attack on a record-breaking day for Durham in the Division Two County Championship match at Derby.Poynter made his maiden championship century and Richardson scored his first in nearly four years as the pair shared Durham’s highest ever sixth wicket stand of 278.Poynter was eventually out for a career-best 170 but he and Richardson had completely transformed the game as Durham ended on 520, a lead of 93, and at the close Derbyshire were 1 without loss from two overs.Derbyshire held all the cards at the start of the day when Durham resumed 312 runs behind and still 162 away from avoiding the follow-on.When Cameron Steel went in the first over, caught at second slip off Duanne Olivier, Derbyshire must have sensed there was a chance to take complete control of the game but Graham Clark and Paul Collingwood gave the first indications of the fightback to come.Collingwood responded to a painful blow amidships from Hardus Viljoen by hooking him for six and Clark reached his 50 with a straight driven four off the South African.The pair had added 54 when Ravi Rampaul found some late movement to have Collingwood caught behind for 27 and in the next over, Clark was lbw to one from Tony Palladino that kept low.Durham were now back in trouble but that was to prove Derbyshire’s last success for as Richardson and Poynter first regrouped and then dominated on a pitch which had now flattened out.Derbyshire had a chance to break the stand when Richardson was 33 and the total 224 but wicketkeeper Daryn Smit put down the edge off Olivier diving to his right.It proved a big moment in the day and perhaps the match as the pair moved through the gears in the afternoon sunshine with Poynter completing his century from 128 balls as 148 runs came in the session.Poynter cut Matt Critchley’s leg spin for his 17th four to reach 150 which also took Durham past their previous highest sixth wicket stand of 249 between Gordon Muchall and Phil Mustard against Kent at Canterbury in 2006.Richardson completed his first championship century since May 21st, 2014 in the next over and it was a surprise when Poynter played across a low full toss from Olivier and was lbw.Palladino had Richardson lbw for 115 and finished with 4 for 87 but it is Durham who go into the final day on top.

Hoping to go one better than last season, Arsenal have got off to a solid start in the Premier League. Mikel Arteta will be well aware that it's still early days, though, especially after his side capitulated at the end of the previous campaign.

The Spaniard may even have an eye on January reinforcements to really increase the Gunners' chances of picking up some crucial silverware in the coming months. And that could include adding some defensive depth, with an offer reportedly made to sign one particular defender in the winter transfer window, who would certainly boost the North London side's title chances.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

Arsenal spent a reported €235m (£205m) in the summer transfer window, welcoming the likes of Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice, in an attempt to bridge the gap with Manchester City. An added bonus on top of that has, of course, been their return to Champions League football, which saw them ease past PSV Eindhoven in an opening gameweek win.

Arteta and those at the Emirates are only looking to strengthen their side even further, too. According to Record, via Sport Witness, the Gunners, and by extension sporting director Edu Gaspar, have made a €35m (£30m) offer to sign Sporting Club defender Ousmane Diomande, which has already been rejected by the Portuguese side.

The defender may not be keen to make a departure anytime soon, either, having only arrived at Sporting in January. When the winter transfer window does come along, however, it will be interesting to see if Arsenal's offer becomes tempting enough for either the player or Sporting, although they are not the only interested side.

How good is Ousmane Diomande?

At 19 years of age, Diomande may well have the world at his feet. Considering how well William Saliba's progression has gone as an Arsenal player, it would be a fairly smart move to try and replicate the Frenchman's success. And that's where Diomande could come in. The Sporting defender has plenty of time to develop into an important asset for the majority of clubs around Europe.

Statistically speaking, meanwhile, it's fair to say that this is a player to watch. According to FBref, Diomande is in the top 96 percentile for progressive passes, the top 95 percentile for progressive carries, and the top 93 percentile for tackles per 90 over the past 12 months.

At his best, the reported Arsenal target has earned plenty of praise, too, including from Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig, who said on X:

"Ousmane Diomande. You rarely see a player with such high ball-playing and pure defender skills. There are some tactical improvements but I'm quite sure this kid will play for the best teams in the world. The signs of elite talent."

With that said, it's clear that Arsenal are targeting a player who may not only improve their present side, but also become a crucial part of Arteta's plans in the future, once again proving just how much they've grown as a club off the pitch in recent years.

Although they couldn’t convert their half-centuries, James Vince and Mark Stoneman have probably done enough to feature in the home Tests against Pakistan

Andrew McGlashan in Christchurch01-Apr-2018England’s summer in the Southern Hemisphere began with the Test match at the Gabba. Mark Stoneman and James Vince gave them an excellent platform with encouraging half-centuries, adding 125 together, before failing to go on. England never had a foothold in the Ashes after that.Fast forward five months and the match situation is somewhat better – they lead by 231 runs and are well placed to push for a series-levelling victory and have something to show for their efforts with the pink and red ball. But for Stoneman and Vince, there is a feeling of deja vu. Half-centuries apiece, a stand of 123, the promise of more, but frustrating dismissals.

New Zealand wicketkeeper BJ Watling is hopeful a Christchurch pitch losing some of its life will keep them in with a chance of saving – or even winning – the second Test and with it taking the series.
The second new ball is 14 overs away and represents New Zealand’s last chance of having a realistic target to chase, but the bounce and carry evident for the quicks over the first half of the day has lessened.
“It’s definitely a lot flatter than over the first few days,” Watling said. “It doesn’t look like it’s breaking up at all, it actually looks like it’s getting a bit deader. I don’t think it will do a hell of a lot on the final day so we just need to get ourselves into a position to hopefully win the game.”

Stoneman had significant fortune in his innings – dropped on 48 and 57 – but couldn’t make it count when he finally paid the price for flashing outside off. Vince played with increasing confidence during his third Test fifty – all of which have come at the No. 3 position – after regaining his place that he had to forego due to the batting reshuffle at Eden Park. As ever, the drives were working well and, almost as inevitably, one brought his downfall when he edged to slip with a spot-sealing maiden Test hundred on offer.”Going forward, I’m sure both would have loved to have got hundreds and gone on for themselves and their confidence,” Graham Thorpe, the England batting coach, said, “but they’ll still get good pat off us in the dressing room because it’s easy to shrink sometimes at this level so it was important they stood up and continued to play in a positive manner.”Stoneman now has five Test fifties – including two in this series – but none higher than this 60 while Vince averages 30.54 at No. 3 from his six Test against Australia and New Zealand. Since Trevor Bayliss took over in 2015, there has been one century from the opener who isn’t Alastair Cook (and his form is heading south) or the No. 3 who isn’t Joe Root – Keaton Jennings’ 112 on debut against India (Adam Lyth’s hundred against New Zealand came while Paul Farbrace was in temporary charge).There are alternative names who will be mentioned in the lead-up to the next series, against Pakistan in May, and a strong start to the domestic season could attract interest despite England Lions being beaten 3-0 by West Indies in the four-day matches. Liam Livingstone has been on this tour – he is not someone for the top three but the batting order is also far from settled – while the likes of Haseeb Hameed, Joe Clarke, Dan Lawrence and Nick Gubbins will be touted. Recently capped players such as Jennings and Tom Westley could also restate their credentials.However, both incumbents have probably done enough to mean they will start against Pakistan, but England will leave this tour without really having a clearer picture about the best way forward for their top order.”They are in the side so they are in charge of their destiny every time they walk to the crease so the more experience they gain they are in a position to go to that next level,” Thorpe said. “Ultimately it’s up to them to take that next step and go towards three figures.”There are areas of the Test side where we aren’t going to say everyone is guaranteed places. We are constantly trying to get more out of players who are in the starting XI. You have to look at your squad and think are there better players out there or do we have to keep working hard. We have to be patient with players, the more you learn you do get over those hurdles in Test cricket and start to feel very settled. We are hoping a few of them are close to that with the Tests they are starting to play.”England arrived in Australia with a batting line-up in a state of flux and will leave New Zealand in the same position. The attacks of Pakistan and India await. They will sense vulnerability.

Manchester United are now set to open contract talks with a "promising" player who's broken into the first team, according to a report.

What's the latest Man United contract news?

Man United have been keen to tie down a number of youngsters to new deals in recent months, with it recently being reported that forward Joe Hugill has now agreed to put pen to paper on a new deal, which will extend his stay at Old Trafford until 2026. The news about Hugill edging closer towards signing a new deal follows United agreeing fresh terms with Dan Gore and Rhys Bennett back in the summer, while Marcus Rashford agreed a five-year contract, with Erik ten Hag clearly planning for the future.

Rashford did more than enough to impress his manager last season, having racked up 30 goals across all competitions, and he is not the only young player who has made an impression on Ten Hag in recent times. According to a report from 90min, the Red Devils boss is believed to be a fan of Hannibal Mejbri, and talks over a new contract have now been opened, with the club of the belief he is worthy of being handed fresh terms.

Hannibal's current deal expires in the summer of 2024, although Man United do retain the option to extend it by an additional year, and it is thought to be highly unlikely they let him walk away from the club on a free transfer at the end of the season. There are indications the midfielder would be eager to extend his stay at Old Trafford, with the report revealing he is keen to prove himself at Old Trafford, having signed from AS Monaco for £4.35m in 2019, although that could rise to £8.7m.

The 20-year-old has already made his breakthrough at international level, having been capped 20 times by Tunisia, and he has now broken into the United first team, having scored his first goal for the club against Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend.

How good is Hannibal Mejbri?

The Tunisia international has only made four first-team appearances for the Red Devils, as he is still in the early stages of his career, and there is real competition for places in midfield, considering the summer acquisitions of Sofyan Amrabat and Mason Mount. As such, it may be a little while before the youngster establishes himself as a starter for United, but it is clear to see why Ten Hag is eager to tie him down to a new contract, as he put in some promising performances on loan at Birmingham City last season.

Over the past year, the attacking midfielder ranks in the 96th percentile for assists per 90, when compared to his positional peers playing at a similar level, while also placing in the 83rd percentile for progressive carries, displaying his ability to drive the ball forward. It is good news that Man United have opened new contract talks with Hannibal, and they should look to tie him down for the long-term future, considering he's been lauded as "promising" by Ralf Rangnick.

After disappointing Ashes, allrounder hints he may be tempted by a specialist white-ball career

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Feb-2018Moeen Ali has added his voice to the growing concerns about the future of Test cricket, saying that the low attendances in the recent Ashes had disappointed him, and hinting that he too may one day be tempted to follow the specialist white-ball route that Adil Rashid and Alex Hales have already headed down.Moeen endured a poor Ashes series, averaging 19.88 with the bat and 115.00 with the ball as England slumped to a 4-0 defeat. But, he said, the overall experience of the campaign had been equally dispiriting.”Yeah [I fear for Tests]. I feared in the Ashes actually,” he said. “The crowds were quite disappointing. There were a couple of big days, but even when they [Australia] won the Ashes there weren’t that many celebrating. That’s when I thought, ‘Actually, we’re struggling a bit.'”We’re very lucky in England. After being all around the world and seeing the crowds everywhere else, we’ve got the best fans, we’ve got full houses most of the time. I feel fortunate in that way.”It is a worry. Test cricket is the pinnacle. It is, in my opinion, where the best players play. You can really see who is the best. It’s been a worry for a while but Australia really opened my eyes.”Moeen’s take on the series, however, has been hotly disputed in the Australian media, given that the official figures for the Ashes made it the second-most attendance series in the country’s history. A total of 866,732 fans attended the five matches, with only the 1936-37 Ashes, in which Don Bradman’s Australia fought back from 2-0 down to win 3-2, attracting a bigger audience.Almost 200,000 fans attended across the five days at Adelaide, the first day-night Test in Ashes history, and Moeen conceded that that format, along with a possible switch to four-day Tests, could have to be further embraced in the future.”When the idea of four-day Tests came up I was against it because it’s always been five days,” he said. “But maybe it has to change. I don’t really like the pink-ball Tests but maybe if it works and brings crowds in it has to be done.”On the subject of Hales and Rashid, and their switch towards becoming white-ball specialists, Moeen insisted that decision could only be good for England in the long term, and left the door open for a similar decision later in his career.”I believe they can both play Test cricket and are good enough to but I also believe both of them have given themselves a chance to become real specialists and that can only be good for us [England],” he said. “There’ll be more people to follow, in the next year or so.””It’s not really crossed my mind [to specialise in one format] ,” he said. “But maybe in the future, down the line, just for your own body with so much cricket being played, maybe I might have to.”

Manchester United have now conducted a scouting mission on Sunderland youngster Chris Rigg, who has been likened to a former Premier League player by journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest Man United transfer news?

Although the summer transfer window only ended just over a week ago, rumours continue to swirl about who Man United could sign in January, and they are still keen on Brentford striker Ivan Toney, despite a growing level of interest in the Englishman.

With Jadon Sancho considering a move away from Old Trafford in January, following crisis talks with Erik ten Hag, former Aston Villa man Anwar El Ghazi had been linked as a target, with Football Transfers claiming he would jump at the chance to return to England.

Ten Hag is looking at strengthening his squad in a number of key areas, with Brentford left-back Rico Henry also being named as a possible target, having engaged in talks over a deal for the 26-year-old in the latter stages of the summer transfer window.

Not only is Ten Hag running the rule over targets who could make an immediate impact at Old Trafford, but he also has one eye on the future, with Jacobs revealing the Red Devils are now keen on Sunderland youngster Rigg, who has been compared to England international Jordan Henderson.

In an interview with GiveMeSport, the journalist confirmed recent links are genuine, while also likening the 16-year-old to a former Premier League player:

"I think that, with Rigg at Sunderland, there is concrete interest, for sure. I know that Manchester United have also scouted and tracked the player as well. He's a very similar kind of profile, in many ways, to Jordan Henderson. He has a lot of energy and stamina.

"He has a very high ceiling and would, of course, be available because of Sunderland's situation and his potential at relative value. It wouldn't necessarily be a cut-price or bargain fee in any way, but we're in a market where virtually every talent is between £20million and £30million or significantly more in the case of players like Moises Caicedo. I don't think that Rigg would be anywhere near that."

Who is Chris Rigg?

The starlet is a central midfielder by trade, having displayed he is capable of playing in both an attacking and defensive role during his time with the Sunderland youth team, and he has since gone on to impress at first-team level.

In his two professional appearances for the Black Cats this season, the Englishman has scored two goals, indicating he is not too far off being able to cement himself as a consistent first-team player, despite being very young.

Of course, it would be a huge step up at Manchester United, but the Sunderland academy graduate has been lauded as an "incredible talent" by members of the media, and clearly has a great deal of potential.

If Man United do sign Rigg in the near future, it is probably wise for him to continue his development in the second tier or below on loan, before coming back to challenge for a spot in the star-studded midfield at Old Trafford, making this one to watch.

But since the tournament’s authority, the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolitan (CCDM), has allowed clubs to exchange players among themselves, ESPNcricinfo has learned that the fast bowler is likely to be snapped up by Abahani Limited

Mohammad Isam20-Jan-2018Mashrafe Mortaza, the Bangladesh ODI captain, was the first pick in the player draft for the 2017-18 Dhaka Premier League. He was signed by Shinepukur Cricket Club, who had won the lottery to determine which Dhaka club would get the first pick in the draft. The tournament is due to begin on February 5.But since the tournament’s authority, the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolitan (CCDM), has allowed clubs to exchange players among themselves, ESPNcricinfo has learned that the fast bowler is likely to be snapped up by Abahani Limited. Each club has also been allowed to keep five players from the previous season.In Saturday’s draft, Kalabagan Krira Chakra used the second pick in the first round to choose the batsman Taibur Rahman before Legends of Rupganj picked up Mushfiqur Rahim. Agrani Bank opted for Al-Amin Hossain and Mohammedan Sporting Club took Shakib Al Hasan.Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club, Brothers Union and Abahani Limited picked Liton Das, Yasir Ali and Nasir Hossain respectively.Defending champions Gazi Group Cricketers, who got the ninth pick, went for Imrul Kayes while Prime Bank Cricket Club picked Mahmudullah. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club picked Nazmul Islam and, with the last pick in the first round, Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity acquired Anamul Haque.The players draft, in which the clubs are allowed to pick players and not the other way around, is an alternative to players transfers, which is a more open-market system.

Glasgow Rangers face two matches in the space of five days which could potentially make or break their season.

First up is the Champions League playoff second leg against PSV Eindhoven this evening before Old Firm rivals Celtic travel to Ibrox for their Premiership clash on Sunday.

Michael Beale will be taking it one match at a time however and this evening's tie represents an ideal chance for the Gers to secure a major financial windfall which could influence their transfer business not just before deadline day but for the subsequent windows too.

What is the Rangers team news vs PSV?

Speaking to the media before the crucial match, Beale stressed the importance of the tie, saying: "The two games we've got coming up in the next four or five days is what it's all about, playing for this club.

Read the latest Rangers transfer news HERE…

"This team is due a big performance and we have a great opportunity. We know we will have to perform better than we did last week if we want to go through.

"There won't be too many surprises, but we have a lot of variety across the forward positions. We know we will need to be strong defensively first and then take our opportunities when they come."

Kieran Dowell will miss the game due to a slight knee problem, but it appears as though the Gers have a clean bill of health aside from that.

With so much at stake, will Beale unleash his most expensive summer signing?

Will Danilo start against PSV?

The Brazilian joined the club from Feyenoord before the start of the season for a fee in the region of £6m following an impressive stint in Rotterdam.

He scored 14 goals in all competitions during the 2022/23 season, including ten in the Dutch top flight and was even hailed as an “amazing instinctive finisher” by analyst and Eredivisie expert Melvin Dupper before his arrival.

This form clearly impressed Beale and securing his signature was a major coup for the Light Blues, and he could certainly torment PSV this evening.

The 24-year-old has already scored twice against the Eindhoven based outfit before in seven matches, and he has enjoyed a solid start to life in Glasgow.

Although starting just three of his five matches thus far, he has netted two goals, including the winner against Greenock Morton in the League Cup, and given his ability in front of goal, he must start tonight.

Danilo ranks fourth across the squad for shots on target per game (one) in the league, while also ranking second for successful dribbles per game (1.3) and it indicates that despite averaging just 45 minutes per game, he is doing all he can to get on the scoresheet.

The Brazilian also won possession back once per game while recovering 3.7 balls each match, and it’s evident that he deserves to lead the line for the club against the Dutch side.

Leaving his most expensive signing on the bench wouldn’t be the greatest idea and the tie represents a perfect opportunity for him to showcase the form that saw Beale shell out £6m on him in the first place and secure with it a financial war chest in the process.

Aston Villa have “stalled” in talks to sign Sevilla defender Marcos Acuna, but a reliable journalist has revealed that a deal has not yet completely been ruled out.

What position does Marcos Acuna play?

Acuna is primarily a left-back who has plied his trade at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium since 2020 having moved there from Sporting CP, and last season, he was a standout star during his 21 La Liga starts under Jose Luis Mendilibar.

The Argentina international firmly established himself as the Spanish outfit’s overall second top-performing player with a WhoScored match rating of 6.78, so despite still having another two years remaining on his contract, there’s a chance he could be on the move having caught the eye of Unai Emery in the Midlands.

According to reports, NSWE have already held contact with all parties regarding a swoop for the 31-year-old, with The Telegraph’s John Percy confirming that a deal is being worked on.

Football Insider later shared that the veteran had agreed personal terms over a move to the Premier League, and even though talks had continued, a switch might not be as advanced as initially imagined.

Are Aston Villa signing Marcos Acuna?

Taking to X, Rudy Galetti revealed that Aston Villa have been paused in their approach for Acuna by Sevilla who are now having second thoughts over letting him leave for the top-flight in England in a setback for Emery and Villa.

“Talks between #AstonVilla and #Sevilla for Marcos #Acuna is stalled in this moment. The [Spanish] club is not so convinced to let the [Argentina] player go: internal evaluations in progress to decide if stay in the negotiation or definitely close the door.”

Aston Villa having to halt their pursuit of Acuna will come as a setback to Emery, but with the defender having been hailed a “star man” by journalist Josh Bunting, the boss shouldn’t give up on his goal of reaching an agreement before the transfer deadline on September 1st.

The Zapala native, who is naturally left-footed, last season won 36 out of his 57 tackles made in La Liga which was the highest success rate throughout the whole of his squad, via FBRef, so loves to get stuck into challenges, but he’s also capable of making a positive impact at the opposite end of the pitch.

Read The Latest Aston Villa Transfer News HERE…

Sevilla’s £47k-per-week earner clocked up seven goal contributions (four assists and three goals) across all competitions and whipped 147 crosses into the opposition’s box, again more than any of his fellow teammates, representing his desire to create chances in the final third.

Finally, Acuna, who has the versatility to operate in seven different positions over the grass, already knows what it takes to compete and be successful at the top level having secured seven trophies for both club and country since the start of his career, including the 2022 World Cup, so he would be able to match the winning mentality of the squad at Villa Park, but by the looks of things, a move to England isn't guaranteed at this moment in time.

With AB de Villiers and South Africa’s four premier pacemen back in the reckoning, coach Ottis Gibson is excited about picking the playing XI

Firdose Moonda22-Dec-2017Ottis Gibson enjoyed a dream start as South Africa’s coach – with a clean-sweep over Bangladesh a couple of months ago – and if he could have it his way, he won’t be waking up anytime soon.Though South Africa’s assignments get tougher over the next three months, starting with the four-day, day-night Test followed by series against India and Australia, they are well resourced for the fixtures, better than they have been for several reasons. The return of star batsman AB de Villiers and as their premier pacemen – Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander, Morne Morkel and Kagiso Rabada – are all fit, selection could be a little bit of a nightmare. But Gibson doesn’t mind at all.”Some nightmares you want to wake up quickly from but this one is a good nightmare because you are bringing back such good quality players,” Gibson said. “It’s going to be interesting selection but if we get right and you look at the strength of the team we can put on the park, that’s a pleasing thing. It’s good to have all those guys back. Getting the right blend is going to be a challenge but it’s one we’re all looking forward to.”South Africa’s main dilemma will be deciding if they are going to get de Villiers in the team by lengthening the line-up to seven batsmen, or by leaving Temba Bavuma out and choosing three of the four seamers in the attack. Of those, Dale Steyn will demand the most attention, because he been sidelined for the longest and his chances of a comeback were the slimmest.While Philander struggled with a back injury for a few months and Morkel battled through a side-strain, Steyn has not played an international in more than a year since last November. He is now aiming to return, not just to take the five wickets he needs to overtake Shaun Pollock as the country’s leading Test wicket-taker, but to play for a few more years or so. But he may not be included in the starting XI immediately.Without giving too much away, Gibson said he wants to see how Steyn has come through the warm-up match against Zimbabwe, of which he and Bavuma played two of the three days before joining the Test squad. Steyn bowled three spells (of five overs, four overs and then three overs) in Zimbabwe’s first innings and went wicketless, but found rhythm and conceded just 16 runs. Assessing him in the next few days will be more crucial than any of that. “When you’ve had such a long layoff and a significant injury, you just have to wait and see how you pull up. Hopefully he pulls up well from that game, and we’ll see how he goes going into this summer,” Gibson said.Like so many, Gibson is eager to see Steyn back to his best and work with him. “He has been a champion bowler for a long time, probably along with James Anderson, probably the best of the modern generation in terms of wickets taken, games played and the way he has led the South African attack for a number of years,” Gibson said.For now, Gibson may have to content himself with trying to build the rest of the side into the formidable unit he wants to turn them into, especially as they aim to dethrone the world’s top Test side. “Against Bangladesh, we started to try and talk in a particular way around the dressing room and we tried to play in a particular way. We tried to be very positive in the way we went about Test cricket and take opportunities when they come along,” Gibson said. “Hopefully we will try and continue that in this game and then leading into the India series. India are the No.1 team in the world at the moment and we know we need to be at our best if we are going to compete with them and beat them, which is our ultimate goal. We just want to continue the progression that we started in the Bangladesh series.”Zimbabwe may not present a same kind of challenge but it’s important for Gibson that the team starts to gel again, after more than two months playing domestic cricket. It is also a match Gibson will use to re-emphasise his own philosophies, especially as a new(ish) coach. “The players, in general, have responded quite well to me. I am quite a laid back person anyway and a bit firm when I needed to be and I think Faf has made it quite easy for me as well. He has been outstanding as a captain and a leader and we chat – I was just back home for a couple of weeks and we were talking constantly about the game and planning ahead so he has been very good. In general, the players have been good. We’ve been winning so its been easy that way,” he said.He also wants to make sure South Africa have some fun in the new format – a four-day Test which will also be played under lights. With the novelty of the famous St George’s Park brass band, it may even feel a lot like home for Gibson. “I love the band. I’m from the Caribbean so music is in our blood over there,” he said, reminiscing about his own playing days down the coast in East London. “But hopefully they’ve learnt a few more sounds. Last time I was here I think they played the same song for about five hours.”