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Bayern Munich's Bundesliga match against Bochum had to be halted on two occasions and the players were taken off as objects were thrown on the field.

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Bayern game stopped in both halvesPlayers taken off the field and down tunnelFans lobbed tennis balls onto the pitchWHAT HAPPENED?

The game was stopped after 25 minutes as fans lobbed tennis balls from the stands. Although it was allowed to resume, it was halted again just nine minutes into the second half and the players were taken down the tunnel. Play started up again around 10 minutes later.

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German football matches have been stopped regularly in recent weeks as part of an ongoing protest involving throwing tennis balls, gold chocolate coins and apples onto the field to voice their anger against foreign investment in the German top-flight. The fans are demanding an end to a controversial plan from the league to sell a stake of future revenue to a private equity investor. The campaign to stop it was given a boost this week when prospective buyer Blackstone dropped out of talks. However, there remains one more leading candidate in the shape of CVC Capital Partners.

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Bayern were 1-0 up through a Jamal Musiala goal in the Bundesliga clash when the initial interruption occurred. Play was disrupted less than 10 minutes after Harry Kane missed a golden opportunity to double their lead. The striker was sent through on goal by an incredible pass from Musiala but his effort went sailing over the bar.

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After the restart, Bochum managed to pick up some momentum and went on to equalise through Takuma Asano before Keven Schlotterbeck put his team ahead just before half-time. Things took a turn for the worse after the second interruption as Dayot Upamecano was sent off in a second consecutive game and Kevin Stoger scored a penalty to make it 3-1. Kane eventually got a late goal to pull one back for Bayern, but the damage had already been done and they sustained a third consecutive defeat after the recent losses to Bayer Leverkusen and Lazio.

India’s decision to play five bowlers in the subcontinent has generated a lot of buzz, and now more importantly, some tangible results. Enough for Virat Kohli to maintain his faith in it

Alagappan Muthu in Fatullah14-Jun-20153:43

‘Big fan of playing five bowlers’ – Kohli

India’s decision to play five bowlers in the subcontinent has generated a lot of buzz, and now more importantly, some tangible results. Enough for Virat Kohli to maintain his faith in it.Although the only Test in Fatullah ended in a draw, the additional help had proved useful as R Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh combined to take eight wickets to force Bangladesh to follow-on. But with rain usurping a giant chunk of the game, the expected end came to pass. But not before Kohli was able to work out a few more permutations to his strategy.”I would want someone like R Ashwin, who is averaging 40 with the bat in Test matches – you really can’t ask for more from an allrounder – and someone like Harbhajan Singh to step up with the bat, and [Wriddhiman] Saha too,” Kohli said. “If those three start clicking, you literally have eight batsmen, and you can’t really ask for more as a captain. It’s basically up to the first six to take more responsibility and we are confident of doing that.”‘Reserve day in Tests a good suggestion’

Virat Kohli admitted playing against the weather was a futile task, but was intrigued by the possibility of reserve days in Tests matches.
“That’s a debatable question. It could be, I don’t know,” he said. “Say, on the fourth day a team is struggling to save a game, and the next day it rains for two sessions and the game is drawn. The team that deserves to win doesn’t get a win. So yes, there might be a thought there. It’s a good suggestion actually.
“You might want to add another day seeing the situation of the game. If there is a possible result, there is no harm in giving the team that’s winning a fair chance to compete for three sessions. You earn a draw or the deserving team gets a victory. Might not be a bad thing, but I’m not sure how the discussions are going to go.”

Next on India’s docket is a tour to Sri Lanka, before hosting South Africa, who have not lost an away series since July 2006. Naturally, fronting up with a team full of options was a priority for Kohli. Will he retain the present attack with Ashwin and Harbhajan working in tandem?”I would like to have players who can win us games in the bowling unit. And both of them have that ability,” Kohli said. “Especially now that we have a prolonged season in the subcontinent, we need to look at how we can strengthen our team for that as of now. And both of them are good enough to do the same thing when we go away from home as well, it’s just about the mindset I guess. The more confidence we build in this season, we’ll carry it forward to wherever we play in the future as well.”Watching them bowl together in a pair was really exciting as a captain. And I think both of them enjoyed bowling together as well – if one put pressure, the other took a wicket and vice-versa.”Kohli is not known as a man who takes a backward step. And he has a simple reason for playing that way. It’s fun: “We want to play that sort of cricket. When I captained in my first Test in Adelaide too, I had the same thought process, that we should play aggressively and give ourselves a chance to win the game. You enjoy the game when you play like that.”I think, as a team, it’s very important to have that intensity and attitude especially when we are fielding. Because that is the one time when all 11 players are together and you get the true sense of being a team. We have that understanding in the team that we need to maintain intensity in the field at all times, regardless of the conditions, the pitch, or the situation. If your intent is to win, you will always do well in any situation and come out better than the other team more often than not.”That’s my thinking, but the credit goes to the whole team for responding to that. Because I can think something, but if players don’t respond then it’s useless. We are all on one page, and in sync. It’s a good thing and if we keep building that we’ll get even stronger.”Amid India’s push to move onward and upward, there were a few moments to reflect on and Kohli was asked about life after MS Dhoni.”It’s obviously strange,” he said. “The same thing happened when Sachin Tendulkar retired. A few games after that it was a very strange feeling. You suddenly don’t see a very impactful figure in the dressing room. As a cricketer, you always get used to having him around, listening to him, having discussions with him. That voice is always there and it’s a very familiar feeling in the change room.”Now that he’s not there, you sometimes do feel he’s going to pop out of somewhere. Those sort of things happen, it’s a natural process. But now he’s decided to retire from this format and everything moves on. The team wants to continue in the same way, that has done well in the subcontinent in the past as well, so we can take that leaf out of his book. He’s really helped a lot of us youngsters in becoming good international players. He’s given us ample opportunities, so now is the time for us to take up the responsibility and take Indian cricket forward.”

Calum MacLeod made the second highest score by an Associate player in an ODI and third highest by an Associate player in List A cricket in a 170-run romp over Canada to seal a place for Scotland in the Super Sixes

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jan-2014Calum MacLeod made the second highest score by an Associate player in an ODI and third highest by an Associate player in List A cricket in a 170-run romp over Canada to seal a place for Scotland in the Super Sixes and put an end to Canada’s consecutive World Cup streak dating back to 2003. Scotland join UAE and Hong Kong from Group A in the Super Sixes.Canada won the toss and sent Scotland in to bat in the hopes of restricting them to a low total that they could chase down quickly to pass Scotland on net run rate. MacLeod erased any chance of that happening with 175 off 141 balls in Scotland’s total of 341 for 9.Matt Machan teamed up with MacLeod to add 144 for the second wicket and MacLeod looked to have a rare ODI double-century in his sights before perishing on the first ball of the 46th over to Khurram Chohan – who finished with 5 for 68. MacLeod was left to settle for the highest score by a Scotland player in an ODI.Canada never threatened to chase Scotland’s hefty total, especially after opening bowlers Iain Wardlaw and Rob Taylor wiped out the top four to leave Canada at 42 for 4. Wicketkeeper Matty Cross had a terrific day behind the stumps, taking six catches and also effecting two runouts. Hamza Tariq was last man out for 71 as Canada succumbed for 171 in 39.2 overs. Taylor, Wardlaw and Safyaan Sharif all finished with two wickets apiece for Scotland.Irfan Karim produced a scintillating 108 for Kenya to pave the way for a stunning four-wicket upset of Netherlands on Thursday at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln. The defeat put Netherlands in fourth place in Group B, denying them a spot in the Super Sixes. Kenya go into the next stage from Group B, along with Papua New Guinea and Namibia.Netherlands, the pre-tournament favourites were sent in to bat by Kenya, as the latter team looked for the best chance to progress on net run rate. Wesley Barresi scored 137 not out for Netherlands and was part of a 136-run second wicket partnership with Eric Szwarczynski that spanned 30.4 overs. Netherlands entered the final 10 overs of their innings on 188 for 3, but their steady pace from the start of the innings and an overall lack of a sense of urgency came back to haunt them in the end as they finished on 265 for 5.Kenya needed to achieve the target in 36.1 overs to leapfrog over Netherlands on net run rate into third place in Group B. While Barresi’s first innings ton consumed 150 balls, Karim torched the Netherlands attack to reach his century with his 15th four off just 81 balls. He received excellent support from Ragheb Aga (86) and the pair added 148 for the second wicket in 20.2 overs. Karim was the third wicket to fall with the score 240 in the 32nd over, leaving Kenya with 26 to score in 4.5 overs in order to pass Netherlands on net run rate.After a brief flurry of wickets, captain Rakep Patel and Steve Tikolo held their nerve, striking a pair of boundaries as part of a 13-run 35th over to make it 262 for 5 entering the 36th. Ahsan Malik removed Patel on the first ball of the 36th, but singles came off the next three deliveries before the winning run arrived off a wide. Kenya reached the target with room to spare in 35.4 overs. The win keeps Kenya’s hopes of maintaining their World Cup streak alive.Patel later said the win was a relief. “There was a lot of pressure on the boys today. They really performed and got us through to the next round,” he said. “Chasing 265 could have been very difficult. But the way Irfan Karim and Ragheb Aga batted today was very good, and Collins Obuya finished things off nicely. This win means a lot to the team, and to everyone back home. The boys have believed in themselves and changed their own luck. The senior players are displaying real leadership and commitment.”Netherlands captain Peter Borren admitted the lack of runs in the last 10 overs had made the match difficult for the side.”A lot went wrong today, in the field particularly. Their two batsmen played beautifully, and we didn’t respond well,” Borren said. “We probably didn’t get enough runs in our last ten overs. We could have killed them off there with wickets in hand. But they bowled well and we struggled to get it away. That was pretty crucial.”Papua New Guinea opener Lega Siaka scored his second century of the tournament to ensure his side finished atop Group B courtesy of an eight-wicket thrashing of Namibia at Mount Maunganui. Namibia won the toss and chose to bat first but were under pressure immediately after Pipi Raho and PNG captain Chris Amini nipped out two wickets each in their opening spells to leave Namibia at 16 for 4 in the sixth over.Gerrie Snyman provided Namibia’s best resistance with 54 at number six, but lacked any genuine support. Snyman was dismissed by Mahuru Dai in the 41st over to make it 137 for 8 before Namibia were eventually bowled out for 163 in 48.4 overs. Siaka’s 112 not out dominated the chase and PNG’s next best score was Assad Vala’s 16. PNG needed only half of the allotted overs to reach the target and vaulted to the top of the group in the process.Lega Siaka scored a match-winning century for Papua New Guinea•ICCUAE prevented Hong Kong from going undefeated in Group A, defeating their Asian rivals by 22 runs. UAE won the toss and batted and captain Khurram Khan led the way with 78. Khan’s team-mates wasted the platform he laid for them as his dismissal in the 39th over sparked a mini collapse. UAE went from 185 for 4 to be bowled out for 249 in 48.1 overs. Haseeb Amjad led the way with the ball for Hong Kong taking 3 for 33.Manjula Guruge dismissed the dangerous Irfan Ahmed early in the chase. The best partnership in the innings was 49 for the third wicket between Waqas Barkat (24) and Mark Chapman (59) as Hong Kong lost wickets at regular intervals and struggled to sustain any momentum. Guruge finished with 4 for 39 as Hong Kong was bowled out in the final over for 227.Entering the Super Sixes, Papua New Guinea has a distinct advantage on the other five teams, carrying over four points into the next phase by virtue of their wins over Kenya and Namibia during play in Group B. Kenya has the biggest hill to climb carrying zero points forward after losses to Papua New Guinea and Namibia. Scotland, UAE, Hong Kong and Namibia all carry two points forward from the group stage into the Super Six phase, which begins on Sunday.

With a depleted Australian side, and dwindling crowds at ODI matches in the country, the upcoming series may further struggle to bring in the crowds

Brydon Coverdale10-Jan-2013Once upon a time, the one-day international tri-series was a highlight of Australia’s cricket summer. You need only catch a World Series Classics replay on Fox Sports to be reminded that the stands were usually heaving with scantily-clad men and women, kids holding home-made banners, and if it’s a match from the early 1980s, terry-towelling hats. Tony Greig and Bill Lawry would be calling the action with such fervour that you’d think each game had the World Cup riding on it.How times change. The triangular series is gone, although it was resurrected last summer with India and Sri Lanka in the country, and the crowds don’t flock to 50-over cricket in anything like the numbers they used to. Twenty20 internationals and the Big Bash League have been brought in with the aim of attracting the younger fans, Test cricket remains the premier format, and one-day internationals are left searching for relevance.It is into this environment that an Australian outfit led by George Bailey and lacking drawcards like David Warner and Shane Watson will venture on Friday, taking on Sri Lanka in a series that two years from the next World Cup, has little riding on it. The broadcasters, Channel Nine, have voiced their displeasure at the lack of big names in Australia’s side, although they might change their tune if Aaron Finch tees off on debut.”I can probably understand it coming from Channel Nine,” Bailey said in Melbourne on Thursday. “I think they’re about to go into negotiations for the TV rights. I think that was a pretty tactical move to try to talk down one-day cricket and what the Australian team’s putting out. But it’s still called the Australian cricket team.”On Friday, the Channel Nine cameramen will do their best to focus on the most densely populated stands at the MCG, but there will be huge numbers of empty seats as well. When Australia and Sri Lanka met at the MCG in a one-day game earlier this year the crowd was approximately 29,000, while only 19,000 turned up when they played at the same venue the summer before. By contrast, the BBL Melbourne derby attracted 46,000 fans last weekend.”I might have a bit of a left-field view but I think the way sport is shown on TV now is so good and you get so much information thrown at you that the better it gets delivered to your couch, the less reasons there are to leave and watch it at a ground,” Bailey said. “Big Bash is popular because it goes for three hours and it fits in nicely. There’s no doubt one-day cricket takes a bit longer, and I think Test matches are becoming a real event in themselves.”It’s as much about the spectacle as the event itself and the cricket. One-day cricket, as far as crowds go, will be challenged at different times. But I still think the actual cricket itself is very good. There is always going to be a huge element of luck in T20 and I think Test cricket will always be the ultimate test, and I think one-day cricket certainly sits nicely in the middle of those two.”

We’ve got a really big appetite for 50-over cricket [in Sri Lanka]. I think that’s something that drives the national team a lot. They [the Sri Lankan public] enjoy their one-day cricket and T20 cricket a lot more than Test cricket.Mahela Jayawardene

If the last couple of ODIs between the sides at the MCG are any indication, the Melbourne crowd will feature plenty of Sri Lankan supporters from the city’s large ex-pat population. Despite the format’s battling status in Australia, 50-over cricket remains immensely popular in Sri Lanka, and the team’s captain Mahela Jayawardene said he was confident that if the series started well, it would find an audience.”There’s been a lot of cricket played in the summer, and West Indies are coming, there is the Big Bash,” Jayawardene said. “But I think there’s certainly a lot of interest in world cricket for the 50-over game. For players it will still be exciting, trying to push yourself, but once you play a few good games [the fans] will get into it. I think it’s all about how the series is going to start and how exciting it is going to be.”We’ve got a really big appetite for 50-over cricket [in Sri Lanka]. I think that’s something that drives the national team a lot. They [the Sri Lankan public] enjoy their one-day cricket and T20 cricket a lot more than Test cricket. We don’t get big crowds for our Test matches … but in one-day cricket they definitely get behind the team, they have a good time and enjoy their one-day cricket.”These five matches will also be the first in Australia to be held under new ICC rules that, among other things, prevent captains from placing any more than four fieldsmen outside the circle at any time. The rules aren’t quite as radical as the split-innings experiment Australia trialed in the Ryobi Cup last summer but the game’s governing bodies hope they will lead to more exciting ODIs as the cricket world builds towards the 2015 World Cup.”The rule changes are going to be interesting. We’ve had them for a couple of years at the domestic level,” Bailey said. “My only concern with those is not to continue to make them too batter friendly. I don’t necessarily think higher-scoring games become better games of cricket. An even contest between bat and ball still provides the best games of cricket. I’m really looking forward to seeing how the international players adapt.”I think four [fielders] out has challenged the spinners at a domestic level, but I’ve also seen the best spinners adapt pretty well and still find ways to dominate the game or contribute really well in games. I like the fact that bowlers do get a second bouncer. I like the fact that that leaves a bit more uncertainty in the over. I think they’re interesting rule changes. Anything that provides a little bit of uncertainty, even to make captains or teams think a little bit more on their feet, are good changes for the game.”

Jake Needham has retired from professional cricket after asking to be released from the final year of his contract with Derbyshire

ESPNcricinfo staff28-May-2012Jake Needham has retired from professional cricket after asking to be released from the final year of his contract with Derbyshire. The county have accepted his request, ending Needham’s six-year stay.With first-team chances very limited – his final appearance was in the first half of 2011 – he has decided to explore opportunities in the financial services sector, while working in a part-time role with Derbyshire’s media and marketing department. He has also been appointed captain of Ockbrook and Borrowash, who play in the Derbyshire Premier League.In 2006, he was the first player from the Derbyshire academy to be offered a professional contract after making his first-team debut in 2005 against Essex at Derby. His found more opportunities in the one-day arena, playing 56 limited-overs matches and taking 34 wickets with his offspin.”I felt it was the right time for me to look at a career outside county cricket,” Needham said. “It is, therefore, with great optimism and enthusiasm that I take a position working behind the scenes with the club. Karl Krikken and the rest of the club have been fantastically supportive throughout this period and I would like to thank them all sincerely.”I’ve been involved with Derbyshire since playing junior cricket at the age of 11 and it’s no secret that I have a great affection and affinity for the place and the people. I am, therefore, relishing the chance to help the club in any capacity possible.”Needham played twice for England Under-19s in 2006, before making the bulk of his Derbyshire appearances in 2007 and 2008. He spent last season captaining the second XI.

Gloucestershire have suffered a huge blow after the city council rejected plans to develop their homeground of Nevil Road in Bristol.

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jan-2012The future of Gloucestershire has been thrown into doubt after plans to develop their Nevil Road home were rejected. The club could now leave Bristol, where they have played since their formation in 1870.Gloucestershire had hoped to undertake a £10 million project to raise the capacity of Nevil Road to meet ECB standards and keep international cricket but the city council rejected their plans. Gloucestershire are now looking at several options to secure their future, one of which is a move to another part of the county.The ground development was essential to maintaining a one-day international at Bristol, a match which brings £1 million to the city. The project was to be funded by building flats at one end of the ground but permission for this was rejected. Opponents thought the plan for a seven-story block of 147 flats was too big, didn’t comply with sustainability commitments and lacked contributions towards education and green spaces.Chief executive Tom Richardson said the club were angry at the decision to reject plans that were recommended for approval by the council’s planning officers and a move away from Bristol was now a serious possibility. “We’ve said all along if we don’t have international cricket at Bristol, and we’re staring down the barrel at that, then we’ll have to consider moving elsewhere,” said Richardson.Gloucester City Council have already been in touch with the club for early talks over a potential move to the Wagon Works Ground, a venue Gloucestershire used from 1923 to 1992.The club now have to decide whether to appeal the decision to reject planning permission or seek other options. Either way, time against them. “It’s a long term decision and can’t be taken lightly or quickly but the clock is ticking,” said Richardson. “The international in 2013 is now extremely dodgy or maybe already disappeared. With international cricket here we had a very good plan going forward. Now we have to have a serious rethink.”Another consequence on the rejected plans is the impact on the playing budget. A contract offer to Chris Taylor was conditional on the development going ahead. Taylor could now be the second senior player to leave Nevil Road, after Jon Lewis’ departure to Surrey at the end of the last season.

South Africa batsman Alviro Petersen has stepped down as captain of the Highveld Lions franchise with immediate effect, due to his commitments with the national side

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Dec-2012South Africa batsman Alviro Petersen has stepped down as captain of the Highveld Lions franchise with immediate effect, due to his commitments with the national side. Stephen Cook will captain the team for the remainder of the first-class Sunfoil Series.”When I took over as Lions captain, my immediate focus, together with then coach Dave Nosworthy, was to build a squad who can compete in all three competitions, hence the recruitment of [Thami] Tsolekile, [Gulam] Bodi, [Imran] Tahir and [Hardus] Viljoen,” Petersen said.”We have also seen young talented cricketers emerging and also the squad mature as a whole. I do think the squad is complete now, and ready to win silverware. I would like to thank the Lions board, coaching staff, supporters and most of all the players, for their support and commitment the last three years.”I wish the new leadership team of Lions cricket all the best, while I look forward to the new challenges and opportunities in my career.”Petersen captained the side for three years, during which they played in the final round of four limited-overs competitions and qualified for the Champions League T20 twice. Lions reached the final of the latest edition of the Champions League, losing to Sydney Sixers.

Australia took a 2-0 lead in the Ashes series, with three to play as they inflicted a 218-run defeat on England in the Adelaide Test to follow up their overwhelming 381-run win in the opening match in Brisbane

The Report by David Hopps at Adelaide Oval09-Dec-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details0:00

Kimber: The return of the happy hookers

Australia took a 2-0 lead in the Ashes series, with three to play as they inflicted a 218-run defeat on England in the Adelaide Test to follow up their overwhelming 381-run win in the opening match in Brisbane.It took Australia only 11.4 overs to remove England’s last four wickets for the addition of a further 65 runs after light morning rain, which delayed the start by 10 minutes, cleared and the Test was completed with floodlights piercing the gloom.England’s one consolation was a return to form for Matt Prior, albeit in insignificant circumstances. Prior, 31 not out overnight, was ninth out for 69 from 110 balls, the first time he had passed 50 in 17 attempts, a sequence stretching back to his match-saving century against New Zealand in Auckland in March. It will probably be enough to protect his place in Perth.Prior pulled with gusto, but the shot also proved his downfall as he deposited Peter Siddle into the hands of Ryan Harris at deep square. It was a bountiful morning for Siddle and Harris, who had toiled away impressively on the fourth day, but who did not have to extend themselves unduly to round things up with two wickets apiece on the final morning.Siddle and Harris took seven wickets between them. That should not alter the salient fact: Mitchell Johnson might not be the only reason for the shift in power, but he has been the overriding reason.Australia, after seven defeats in nine, have now won two Tests on the bounce; England, unbeaten in 13 before this series, have been heavily beaten in both. Under the coaching influence of Darren Lehmann, Australia are playing positive cricket, fielding tigerishly and their bowling plans are working. England look weary and disorientated, a team which has so far failed to challenge the notion that it is in decline.No England team has ever come back from 2-0 down to win a series in Australia, the one thing in England’s favour being that they only need to draw the series to retain the Ashes.But England will be particularly unsettled by the fact that they have lost so heavily in Adelaide where a dry pitch of comfortable pace bore a similarity to surfaces on which they have achieved many recent victories and offered arguably their best opportunity of the series.Adelaide’s first drop-in pitch displayed the ground’s traditional characteristics, offering more spin as the match progressed, and will have delighted the curator Damien Hough.Peter Siddle finished with 4 for 57 in the second innings•AFPAlastair Cook said three times at the post-match ceremony that England need to “look at ourselves”. It will be the mantra ahead of Perth. He said: “We had a few opportunities on that first day to put pressure on that first day and we missed them. Mitchell Johnson has bowled well and quickly and we have to look at ourselves, our techniques and our shot selection.”Michael Clarke, Australia’s captain, admitted that he had been unsettled when he drew back the curtains to see rain falling. He said: “The last thing we wanted was rain today – and I guess not enforcing the follow-on made me a little more nervous. I thought our bowlers could do with a rest and come out fresh in the second innings.”We have to be realistic: that is only our second Test win in [11] months and that is not good enough if we want to be the No 1 Test side in the world – and that is our goal.”Johnson, man of the match after his first-innings 7 for 40, can now look forward to what is routinely viewed as his banker: the WACA. He said: “I’m really excited about being back in this team.” He confirmed the mo stays on for the rest of the series.Once the skies cleared so quickly, England’s cause was hopeless: 304 runs short of victory with only four wickets remaining. They played as if they knew it.Quite what Stuart Broad was up to, only he knew. Five balls into the day, he became the third England batsman to perish to the hook shot. Siddle fired in two short balls in his first over of the day. The first, a lackadaisical affair, was pulled by Broad for six. The next ball was quicker and shoulder height and Broad hooked it into the hands of Nathan Lyon at deep square.Harris, delayed until first change, was also presented with a wicket in his first over as Graeme Swann dangled his bat at a wide one, which moved away slightly, and presented a comfortable catch to second slip. His second wicket of the morning, Panesar driving feebly to short extra, completed the job.

Jesse Lingard is hoping to land a new contract in 2024, with the ex-Manchester United star promoting himself during solo training sessions in Dubai.

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Released by Nottingham Forest in 2023Ex-England star still without a clubWorking on fitness amid talk of U.S. moveWHAT HAPPENED?

The former England international was released by Nottingham Forest at the end of the 2022-23 campaign and has been without a club ever since. He has taken in trial spells at West Ham and Al-Ettifaq, but no offers have been put to him.

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Lingard is looking to stay in shape, ensuring that he is ready for any call, and has headed to the Middle East for some warm weather work during the English winter. He is putting in the hard yards, with videos posted on social media in a bid to catch the eye of potential suitors.

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Lingard took in 232 appearances for United during his time at Old Trafford, while earning 32 caps for England, but has found form and fitness hard to come by in recent times. He is, however, still only 31 years of age and believes that he has plenty left in the tank.

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There has been talk of Lingard heading to the United States, where he would join Lionel Messi in MLS, but the 2024 campaign in America is not due to get underway until February so there is more work for him to do behind the scenes before any permanent deal is done. Everton are also said to be mulling over an approach, according to , which could deliver a shock return to the Premier League.

Heather Knight made her first Test century as England continued their dogged rearguard action well into the third day at Wormsley

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Aug-2013
ScorecardHeather Knight and Laura Marsh put on a record-breaking partnership for the seventh wicket•Getty ImagesHeather Knight made her first Test century as England continued their dogged rearguard action well into the third day at Wormsley. Knight’s 157 from 338 balls was the seventh-highest Test score by an England woman and she was joined by the equally obdurate Laura Marsh in a stand of 156 – England’s best for the seventh wicket and one run shy of the Test record – that went a long way to staving off the threat of defeat to Australia.With six points on offer in these multi-format Ashes, the incentive to win was clear and evinced by Jodie Fields’ decision to declare with her team six down on the second day. But with the prospect of defeat coming at such a price – a draw will give each side two points – England have knuckled down in an attempt to make sure they don’t lose. Australia had extended their lead to 81 by reaching 64 for 1 by the close, making a draw the most likely result.Resuming on a perilous 172 for 6, still 149 runs behind, Knight and Marsh forged on in the same manner in which they had gone about their business on the on previous evening. The pair soaked up 73 overs of pressure before Knight was run out after being sent back looking for a single.Knight was dropped on 105, wicketkeeper Fields missing a chance down the leg side, but by then she had long-since surpassed her previous best innings, in her only other Test, of 19. She hit 20 fours in all and was particularly strong off her pads in making the third-highest individual total for England against Australia.Marsh, 13 from 114 balls at the start of the day, had progressed to 35 when she lost her partner and Katherine Brunt, who hit her first ball for four, went soon after. But Danielle Hazell stuck around for another 20 overs as Marsh went to her first Test half-century, eventually facing 304 balls for her 55. By the time Australia claimed the final wicket, Erin Osborne finishing with 4 for 67, the deficit was just 17.”I’m really pleased, I think when I went in we were pretty up against it,” Marsh said. “I was just really pleased to be able to hang in there with Heather and support her.”It was the job the team needed and I tried to stick in there and be disciplined with my decision-making. It was really helpful to have Heather at the other end for the vast amount of the time I was there because she just played brilliantly and we kept each other going.”I tried to be positive in defence and approach it that way and pick up runs when they became available.”With a slim lead and a potentially tricky couple of hours to negotiate amid rain showers, Australia’s openers began at a similarly watchful pace, reaching 40 before Jenny Gunn removed Rachael Haynes. First-innings centurion Sarah Elliott accompanied Meg Lanning safely to the close but it will take something special from the usually attacking Fields to force a result.