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Gloucestershire CCC have secured the signing of Craig Spearman, the former New Zealand opener.Spearman has played 19 Test Matches and over 50 one-day internationals and brings a wealth of experience with him. This inevitably will strengthen the team in an area that historically has caused concern.Craig was born in Auckland but holds a British Passport through parentage and had decided to live here to pursue a career in finance.Gloucestershire CCC’s captain, Mark Alleyne confirmed: “I have come across Craig before and he is a quality performer. The timing is absolutely perfect for us as we look to extend on recent successes.”Gloucestershire coach John Bracewell added: “Craig and I go back to my first representative coaching appointment, Auckland Under-19s. He captained the side and represented the Auckland senior side the following year.”At the time I felt Craig was the closest cricketer I had seen to the style and grace of Mark Waugh. He certainly has the same timing and power through the ball.”At 29, Craig has his best years ahead of him and I expect his international experience will be invaluable in our line up. It will be interesting (no safer for you the spectator) to watch Craig and Ian batting together – Guy Fawkes’ Day.”Craig is relishing the opportunity of playing in England and entertaining with his swashbuckling style.Tom Richardson, Gloucestershire’s Chief Executive, added: “Craig is the sort of cricketer to make a significant difference. We look forward to starting the season at full strength with Craig on board as we attack the four major trophies.”

Leeds United have been handed a potentially huge boost ahead of their Premier League run-in.

What’s the latest?

In a recent post on Twitter, The Athletic’s Phil Hay provided a number of updates on Leeds United’s stricken first-team squad members, after the Whites suffered a series of setbacks in the 3-2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday evening.

However, one player who was a surprise absence from the trip to Molineux was Raphinha, with Hay revealing after the game that the right-winger was unavailable for selection due to illness – something that could subsequently see the 25-year-old miss out on Brazil’s World Cup Qualifying fixtures against Chile and Bolivia on March 25 and March 30.

In his tweet, the journalist said: “Raphinha – could miss Brazil duty with [a viral illness].”

Marsch will be buzzing

While it is never pleasant to learn that a player has fallen ill, especially if it rules them out of representing their country, considering the fact that Leeds essentially have eight fixtures in which they must position themselves as far away from the relegation zone as possible coming up over the next two months, the fact Raphinha could be ruled out of a trip to Brazil is sure to have left Jesse Marsch buzzing.

Indeed, over his 27 Premier League appearances so far this season, the £36m-rated forward has arguably been the Whites’ most important player, scoring nine goals, registering three assists and creating nine big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.7 shots and making 2.1 key passes per game.

These returns have seen the £63k-per-week sensation average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 6.97, ranking him as the club’s third-best performer in the top flight of English football.

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As such, the possibility of Raphinha remaining at Thorp Arch over the international break would undoubtedly come as a huge boost to Marsch and his side, as, by not making the trip to Brazil, not only would the winger be afforded a well-earned rest, it would also significantly reduce the chances of the 25-year-old picking up an injury, or even just returning to Leeds in a fatigued state at the end of the month.

AND in other news: Beren Cross reveals huge behind the scenes Leeds decision, Jesse Marsch will be fuming

The ICC has given the Jamtha Stadium in Nagpur, which hosted the third Test between India and South Africa, an official warning under its pitch monitoring process. The ICC agreed with the ‘poor’ rating that Jeff Crowe, the match referee, had given the pitch in his report.According to an ICC release, its sanction “took into consideration the fact that there had been no concerns about the performance of the pitch after any of the other international matches played at this venue”.Under the section of the ICC’s pitch monitoring process titled ‘Sanctions for Substandard Pitches and/or Outfields’, the penalty for a pitch earning a ‘poor’ rating for the first time is “a warning and/or a fine not exceeding USD 15,000 given together with a directive for appropriate corrective action”.Geoff Allardice, the ICC’s general manager – cricket, and Ranjan Madugalle, its chief match referee, made their decision after watching footage of the match, reviewing Crowe’s post-match report, and taking the BCCI’s response into account.The BCCI’s official response to Crowe’s rating is not known, but board officials have been vocal in support of the pitch, pointing to what they felt were “inconsistencies” in the match referee’s report, and contending that “excessive turn” – one of Crowe’s criticisms of the pitch – was “subjective”.Thirty three of the 40 wickets that fell during the Test, which lasted just under three days, went to spinners. No batsman from either side made a half-century.

Scorecard

Harshad Khadiwale scored his maiden first-class century in only his sixth match © Cricinfo Ltd

Sudeep Tyagi, Uttar Pradesh’s 20-year-old right-arm medium-pacer, made a sensational first-class debut, taking 6 for 46 to bundle out Orissa for 216 within the first two sessions in Cuttack.Orissa had a disastrous start, Tyagi striking three times in his third and fourth overs to reduce them to 8 for 3. Shiv Sunder Das, the former India opener, and Pinninti Jayachandra led a brief recovery with an 86-run fifth-wicket partnership but Piyush Chawla removed Jayachandra in his first over for 55. Jayachandra ran only three of his runs, scoring the rest in boundaries. Tyagi came back to get the important wicket of Das for a patient 75 and, once he was out, the rest folded easily.In reply UP made a shaky start too before Shivakant Shukla and Suresh Raina lifted them from a precarious 35 for 3 to end the day at 84 for 3, still 122 in arrears. Raina scored a quick unbeaten 27 off 32 balls.
ScorecardKarnataka had another ordinary opening day to the Ranji Trophy as they struggled their way to 189 for 9 after winning the toss in Mumbai. The first day of the 2005-06 season saw them bowled out for 85 by Baroda in a match they eventually lost outright.Barrington Rowland’s dismissal, off the fourth ball of the morning, was followed by wickets falling at regular intervals: the 49 that Rahul Dravid and C Raghu put together for the third wicket was the highest partnership. Dravid looked good for his 40 but fell to Powar on the stroke of lunch. Powar did the bulk of the bowling and his reward was a five-for. B Akhil battled hard for his unbeaten 53, even as wickets kept falling regularly at the other end.

Gagandeep Singh started the Ranji Trophy in a blazing fashion, but was let down by the support cast © AFP

ScorecardHimal Watekar, Andhra’s right-hand opener, scored a maiden first-class century to rescue Andhra after a Gagandeep Singh blitz had left them reeling at 19 for 3 in Amritsar. Andhra lost two quick wickets towards the end of the day’s play to finish at 294 for 6. Watekar got out half an hour before stumps for 137.Watekar was ably supported by captain MSK Prasad, who scored a patient 127-ball 51. Watekar and Prasad put on 142 runs for the fourth wicket, as Gagandeep found no support from an inexperienced attack. He pulled his hamstring when he came back for his third spell of the day, but Karan Goel, who completed the unfinished over, trapped Watekar lbw in his second over.
ScorecardAlmost every Saurashtra batsman got a start, but none went on to get a big score as they ended the first day at 262 for 6 in Dharamsala, after choosing to bat first. Cheteshwar Pujara topscored with 64 as four other batsmen passed 20, but wickets kept falling regularly. The highest partnership came for the third wicket – 86 runs between Pujara and Kanaiya Vaghela, who scored an extremely watchful 40 off 190 balls.For Himachal Pradesh, left-arm opening bowler Ashok Thakur took three wickets, including the crucial one of Pujara, and former India offspinner Sarandeep Singh chipped in with two.

Adam Voges has had a strong start to the season for Western Australia © Getty Images

On a day of shocks for Australian cricket the selectors produced two more by picking Andrew Symonds and Adam Voges, a Western Australia batsman, in the 13-man squad for the third Test starting on Thursday. Damien Martyn began the rash of surprises by retiring and the decision was followed by Cricket Australia insisting he was part of the original outfit for Perth.While a “flabbergasted” Symonds was an outsider, Voges was not even on the radar until Martyn walked away. Voges, a hard-hitting 27-year-old, was chosen ahead of the injured Brad Hodge and Phil Jaques, Chris Rogers and Marcus North. He did not know the news until tapped on the shoulder during the game against the England XI at Lilac Hill. Told to leave the field, he thought he was in trouble until he took the call from Michael Brown, Cricket Australia’s operations manager.”This was not an easy decision as there are many players pushing for selection, which augers well for the future,” Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors, said. “His inclusion in the squad is a just reward for his efforts to date.” Voges has impressed during his time at the Centre of Excellence in the off-season and he started the summer strongly for Western Australia, but he was dropped last month when the state’s internationals returned to face Queensland.The Symonds Test experiment appeared to have ended after the South Africa tour when he was dumped for the Bangladesh series in April, but the aging attack’s need for assistance has provided an opening. Shane Watson, the injured allrounder, was the first choice for the spot and Symonds has a chance to add to his 10 Tests and contribute with his mix of medium pace, offspin and aggressive batting.”I was flabbergasted when I got the call,” Symonds said. “I thought I was a million to one to play this series, especially when they went for Pup [Michael Clarke] when Watto was ruled out. I dug out my baggy green the other day when I was moving some stuff around and wondered if I would ever put it on my head again. That’s still up in the air but I’m obviously a fair bit closer to that moment than I thought I was.”Hilditch said there was some uncertainty over the conditions at the WACA and the pitch would be assessed closely before the XI was named. Perth’s previously quick surface has become more batsman friendly and a cap for Symonds is more likely than a debut for Voges, who will gain useful experience in the squad ahead of the one-day section of the summer.Voges has scored two Pura Cup centuries this season, including a high of 152 against Tasmania, and has 320 runs at 53.06. In the one-day competition – he owns the record for the fastest century after his 62-ball effort in 2004-05 – he has picked up 233 runs at 46.60 and posted two half-centuries. Shaun Tait has been dropped from the squad while Mitchell Johnson, the 12th man for the first two Tests, has retained his spot.Australia squad Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Andrew Symonds, Adam Voges, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Glenn McGrath, Mitchell Johnson.

Shahid Afridi wants to be a regular in Pakistan’s Test line-up © Getty Images

Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan allrounder, has said that he is keen to emulate Andrew Flintoff and play a crucial role in the Test series against England.Afridi made his Test debut in 1998 but has not yet cemented his spot in the Test side. “Flintoff has made great contributions for England. I am hoping to match his feats in this series,” Afridi told BBC Sport. “Flintoff is someone who has made impressive progress with bat and ball and is now a certain selection in England Test and one-day squads. I want to be like him. I have played just 19 Tests all these years and it does not satisfy me as a professional.”Salman Butt is the only regular opener in the 16-member squad for the first Test against England and Afridi or Shoaib Malik may be asked to open with him. “I feel more relaxed at that position [down the order],” said Afridi. “But if my team needs me to open and there is a crisis of openers then I have no choice but to say yes.”Bob Woolmer, Pakistan’s coach, said that choosing the 11 was going to prove difficult. “The selection is going to be a nightmare for us as we have too many options available. We now have to sit down and work out the best possible combination.”Woolmer also said that he would like to see pitches that are conducive to spin for the Tests. “I hope it [the pitch] takes sharp turn because there is no batsman who can play sharp turn comfortably – especially against the wrist-spinners.”

Stephen Fleming says his team must learn from this “hiding” and called it a performance that would send “tremors around the world”. He shared his thoughts at the post-match press conference where John Bracewell answered questions about criticism in New Zealand and the difference between his Test and one-day records.

Stephen Fleming admitted that it had been a tough learning curve for the team© Getty Images

Stephen FlemingOn the series result
It’s certainly disappointing. It’s a comprehensive display by Australia, one of the most comprehensive I’ve seen. They’ve gone up another level and some of the bowling during the series was superb. We lacked a bit of sting in our bowling.On his side’s performances
I’m absolutely concerned about some of them. We have deserved the criticism. There have been sessions that have been exasperating for us all. We knew we had to compete in every session. The first two days were fine, then the ante got lifted and we didn’t turn up for the next seven. A tough learning curve for the team.On whether any team can challenge Australia
Teams are going to have their days and have opportunities to win matches, but day-in day-out this team is by far the most superior around. Their displays have been as we expected, but there’s more developing to come. It’s scary.On teams to compete with Australia
England are licking their lips and deserve to be full of anticipation. Teams are comparing themselves against Australia and the standard is improving, but at some stage there’s going to be a group of guys who can match them. England will have to perform extremely well to compete, but they have the personnel to do that.On facing Australia
The pressure they created was pretty telling and there were mistakes made from players who normally wouldn’t make those mistakes. Every time they play this well they send tremors round the world. We’ve only got a short period before we have another crack at it and that’s exciting.On any positives from the losses
You’ve got to be professional and understand the hiding we’ve taken and walk away a better side for it. I look at how much the players have learnt. You’ve got to look at how well the Australians have played and try and learn something from it. We’ve got a group of young bowlers, and even in my situation I’m still learning from these players.John BracewellOn criticism of him in New Zealand
I must accept the fact, it’s an accountability process and we’ve lost two Tests in Australia in a row. We haven’t lived up to the standard of a wicket that is one of the best Test pitches I’ve ever seen.On the differences between his Test and one-day record
I don’t let it distract me from my core purpose to lift the side and the individuals within the side. It’s a side that has found Test cricket tough over the past 12 months and is endeavouring to put it right.On the game and mental weakness
We recognise that the third innings is something that has plagued us. Everyone wanted to win the toss here and 500 is what you wanted to get. In other games we competed whether we won or lost the toss and fell away as the game continued, particularly in the third innings. We’re looking at it, but it’s one of those things that the more you mention it, it can get to you.On playing Australia
The first time you play Australia is the best time to get them and Jacob Oram proved that. They toughened up on him and he will have to toughen up for the home series, realise where they are going to attack him and expand his game to counter that.

The Glamorgan team for the County Championship match against Somerset starting tomorrow (9th July) at Sophia Gardens, will be drawn from the following squad:

JP Maher (6)J Hughes (22)A Dale (11)MJ Powell (14)MP Maynard (25)MA Wallace (18) +RDB Croft (10) *DS Harrison (20)MS Kasprowicz (3)AG Wharf (16)SD Thomas (7)DA Cosker (23)

India’s three-day match against a President’s XI at the Chatsworth Oval was officially abandoned on Tuesday morning, throwing the tourists’ preparations for the first Test against South Africa which starts in Bloemfontein on Saturday into disarray.After another inspection of the outfield on Tuesday it was eventually decided that the soggy outfield would not dry sufficiently and the fixture was officially called off.The irony is that for the past three days the sun has shone in Durban and there has been little, if any, overnight rain. Club matches in and around Durban took place on Sunday, but because of poor drainage at Chatsworth, by Tuesday cricket was still not possible.The fact is that the facilities and the expertise at Chatsworth are not up to first-class standard. Blame for the fiasco has been tossed fairly freely around, but umpire Wilf Diedricks made a telling point when he said: “There is clearly a drainage problem, but it would help if they cut the outfield every now and then. The grass is just too thick and it soaks up water like a sponge.”Efforts to have the match shifted to another venue proved futile. The most obvious other ground in Durban, Kingsmead, is unavailable because the pitch is being prepared for a provincial match at the weekend.The Indians, therefore, have been left to fit in what training they can ahead of the Test match. They are unable to travel to Bloemfontein ahead of schedule because no flights are available and in any case, net facilities at Goodyear Park will only be ready on Thursday.The allocation of this fixture to Chatsworth was a sop to the community who, earlier in the year, threatened protest marches and formed action committees when it became apparent that no World Cup fixture was going to be played at the ground. In view of what has now happened, the World Cup organisers may well heave a sigh of relief.It is also apparent, however, that the practice of asking touring sides to play tour matches at unsatisfactory venues must be revisited by the United Cricket Board. Last year New Zealand had to play a one-day in Alice on a pitch that, in all honesty, was not fit for a junior school game.India now have to pick a Test side which almost certainly include players who have not had a serious bat or bowl in South African conditions. The only consolation for the tourists, for what it’s worth, is that the majority of the South African Test team will not have played first-class cricket since the second Test in Bulawayo in mid-September.

Crystal Palace and Newcastle United are both keen on signing Barcelona youngster Marc Casado.

The Lowdown: Casado profiled

Casado is just 18 years of age and captains Barcelona’s Under-19 side. However, he is out of contract with the Catalan giants in a matter of months and actually shares the same agent as Palace forward Jordan Ayew.

The Spaniard is primarily a central midfielder but can also play in a holding role and has even trained with the first team under Xavi Hernandez, perhaps the best possible mentor for a young, technical midfielder.

The Latest: Palace interest

Sports Witness relayed a story from Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo on Wednesday regarding Casado. They claimed that both Palace and Newcastle are watching the midfielder and are best placed to sign the player on a free transfer in the summer.

The report does add that Casado would need to secure a work permit ahead of a possible move to the Premier League.

The Verdict: One to watch…

It seems as if sporting director Dougie Freedman is tracking Casado closely ahead of a possible free transfer swoop to bolster Patrick Vieira’s midfield options.

Securing Casado’s services ahead of Newcastle could be a shrewd move in the long-term, and it would be interesting to see what Vieira would do with the youngster if he moved to Selhurst Park.

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Casado is yet to feature for Barcelona’s first-team, so he could well get his first taste of senior action in Palace colours, with a cut-price move possibly one to keep an eye on over the coming months.

In other news: Palace and John Textor now hit with off-field blow as news emerges.