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Most of the left-arm spinner’s success has come because he bowls flat and quick, but on Test debut, he realised he needed to change his ways

Liam Brickhill in Bulawayo30-Oct-2017On Sunday, Tendai Chisoro became the 103rd Zimbabwean to play Test cricket. It marked a remarkable renaissance for the man had switched from being a fast bowler to a spinner only two years ago and even now is often pigeon-holed as a limited-overs specialist.Though he struggled to make an impact with either bat or ball in his first day on the field as a Test cricketer, Chisoro revelled in the experience and insisted that Zimbabwe were still in a position of strength. They still lead West Indies by 248 runs.Picked as a specialist spinner, Chisoro had to wait until late in the afternoon to have a bowl. “It helped with the nerves, not bowling too early on,” he said. “It gave me time to settle. And I knew it was the team plan. There was a leftie and a rightie batting, so since the captain [Greame Cremer] turns the ball away from the right-hand bat [so] he’d bowl from one end. We fancied Sikandar Raza more than me or the captain bowling at the left-hander, because he turns the ball away.”When Chisoro did eventually bowl, he came desperately close to picking up a wicket in his first over. But the hard-hit drive from Kieran Powell landed just short of Solomon Mire at long-on. He troubled Kraigg Brathwaite a lot more, repeatedly beating the outside edge.”I think I started well with the ball, but I think I could bowl a little straighter,” Chisoro said. “I was a little wide to the right hander, and the ball kept missing everything – the bat, the stumps, the pads. If I bowl a little straighter and then one doesn’t turn, I could get an lbw.”Adjusting his line is only part of the battle for Chisoro, who finds most of his success bowling flat and full. Before this series, he spent time playing limited-overs club cricket in England, and then turned out for Speen Ghar Tigers in Afghanistan’s Shpageeza Cricket League.”I don’t really think about seam anymore as it’s been two years since I bowled seam,” Chisoro said. “So the adjustment I had to make came from being used to the limited-overs game, T20 and one-day stuff. I tend to bowl a little straighter to the right-hander, and a little quicker. Luckily, I didn’t play in the first Test, so I had time to adjust in bowling a little slower. That was entirely up to Streaky [Heath Streak, the coach] He helped me out with that. It was going to be easier for them if I’d bowled quicker, because then the ball just comes straight on. To set up the batsman [in a Test], you have to bowl a little slower.”Zimbabwe were only able to take one wicket in 49 overs. Then again West Indies haven’t exactly raced ahead. “When we look at the score now, it’s 78 for 1, but considering the number of overs we’ve bowled, the run-rate is a bit slow even for Test cricket,” Chisoro said. “So if you add two wickets onto that score, it’s a different ballgame.”[Devendra] Bishoo is one of the two batsmen out there now, and he’s not considered a batsman, so tomorrow he’ll come and play shots, and give us chances. Hopefully in the first hour we’ll strike early, and after that look to keep attacking them.”Considering what happened in the first Test, if we bowl West Indies out and we have a lead of around 100, we’ll fancy ourselves to bowl them out in the fourth innings and win the Test match. As a team, we said if we get 650 runs in both innings combined, we’ll be safe and have a chance to win the game.”

Sunderland have reacted to their success of reaching the Championship play-offs last season by adding seven new players to their squad during the summer transfer window so far.

Who have Sunderland signed this summer?

The Black Cats lost to Luton Town in the semi-finals and Tony Mowbray has strengthened his side to go again with the signings of Jobe Bellingham, Jenson Seelt, Eliezer Mayender, Luis Hemir Semedo, Nathan Bishop, Nectarios Triantis and Bradley Dack on permanent deals.

That does not appear to be the end of the club's business before the deadline at the start of next month, though, as they are reportedly in the market for another winger.

Sunderland are said to be keen on a deal to sign CD Universidad Católica forward Alexander Aravena, who is valued at €8m (£6.9m) by his current club.

How good is Alexander Aravena?

The 20-year-old wizard has been in exceptional form for the Chilean side this year and his performances suggest that he has the potential to be a lethal partner for current Black Cats star Jack Clarke on the flank.

Mowbray could have two sublime attacking options to select from the start out wide by signing Aravena, whose intelligence was once lauded as "magnificent" by press officer and scout Salvatore Gandhi, to line up on the right wing, with the English gem on the left.

The Chile international has averaged a Sofascore match rating of 7.06 across 18 league appearances in 2023, which would have placed him second and only behind Ross Stewart within Mowbray's squad, and chipped in with nine goals and 1.1 chances created per game.

This has come after a return of 11 goals in 24 Primera Division outings on loan with Nublense during the 2022 campaign, which shows that the talented youngster is an excellent scoring option who can also create opportunities for his teammates on a regular basis.

Clarke, meanwhile, racked up nine goals and 12 assists in 47 Championship matches for Sunderland last season. No Black Cats player produced more assists and only Stewart, Ellis Simms, and Amad Diallo – who has since returned to Manchester United – scored more goals.

The former Tottenham Hotspur hotshot was, therefore, one of the club's best performers at the top end of the pitch and this was reflected in his average Sofascore rating of 7.00, which was the third-best at the club – behind Stewart and Simms at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

Aravena's form for Católica this year suggests that he has the potential to be one of the team's outstanding players, both in terms of his average performance level and the contributions he can make in the final third on a regular basis.

The Chilean maestro, who journalist Josh Bunting claimed would be an "excellent" signing, could replace Patrick Roberts on the right flank after the ex-Manchester City man averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.83 and scored five goals in 42 Championship clashes last term.

These statistics suggest that Aravena, who also has plenty of room to improve and develop at the age of 20, could come in as an upgrade on the English forward for Mowbray.

He would also be a lethal partner on the wing for Clarke this season as Sunderland would have two wide attackers who can carry a significant goal threat and offer a creative outlet for their teammates.

Newcastle United have received a big injury blow ahead of the new Premier League campaign, with a key midfielder set for a lengthy absence.

How old is Joe Willock?

Joe Willock has been an impressive servant for the Magpies to date, having made the move to St James' Park from Arsenal back in 2021. The 23-year-old has made 88 appearances to date, scoring 13 goals in that time, proving to be an energetic option who can shine both in midfield and out wide.

Newcastle begin their Premier League account with a home clash against Aston Villa on Saturday evening, as they look to kick on after a superb 2022/23 campaign – one that saw them finish fourth and seal a return to the Champions League.

Read the latest Newcastle transfer news HERE…

For that to happen, the Magpies need to bring in more signings and hope that they get fortunate in the injury department, but they have already received a blow, in that respect, following a fresh update.

How long is Joe Willock out for?

According to The Athletic's George Caulkin, Willock will miss the beginning of the Premier League season, and isn't expected to return until after the international break next month:

"Newcastle United will be without Joe Willock until after the first international break. Willock, 23, has had discomfort in his hamstring following his serious injury which ruled him out of the end of the 2022-23 campaign.

"Newcastle have therefore elected to allow the midfielder to recover until the first international break, which begins on September 4."

While Willock isn't necessarily the first name on Newcastle's team sheet, not being as important as someone like Sven Botman, Bruno Guimaraes or Alexander Isak, for example, he remains an important squad figure. For that reason, this absence comes at a real setback for the Magpies, at a time when squad rotation is so key across four different competitions.

He has been described as "underestimated" by Joleon Lescott and Michael Owen in the past, while Steve Bruce once hailed him as a "terrific athlete", highlighting why he could be such a big loss in the coming weeks.

While Willock may not always be a player who makes headlines and produces match-winning moments, his work ethic is vital to the way Newcastle play, and he is the type of footballer whose energy may only be truly missed when he isn't available.

The hope is that the Magpies are able to get by without him, however, especially with Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes arriving from AC Milan and Leicester City respectively, so they do feel better-equipped to handle his absence.

Willock is someone who needs to be fit for much of the campaign, though, doing exactly what is asked of him when he plays, and chipping in with the odd goal and assist here and there.

Thankfully, there are only three Premier League fixtures to hurdle before the international break, so it could worse – admittedly, the games are tough ones at home to Villa, away to Manchester City and against Liverpool at St James' – but Newcastle are a better, more balance-looking outfit when he is around.

With James Pattinson joining Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood on the injury list, the Western Australia quick could be a potential dark horse for the Ashes, but he isn’t looking too far ahead

Arun Venugopal in Ranchi05-Oct-2017Even as Australia’s top quicks are either nursing injuries or limbering back to recovery, Jason Behrendorff has reaped the rewards of staying fit. With James Pattinson becoming the latest high-profile casualty, three of Australia’s A-list pace quartet – Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood being the other two – have been rendered out of action.Behrendorff, meanwhile, has earned a call-up to Australia’s T20I squad, and is in line to make his international debut against India. At 27, it isn’t as if he is a stranger to injuries himself. The left-arm seamer has been dogged by back and leg injuries in the recent past, with a stress fracture in his left leg ruling him out of the 2016-17 Big Bash League. Behrendorff, though, made a rousing comeback to first-class cricket by picking up 23 wickets in three games for Western Australia, including a 14-wicket haul against Victoria. With an impressive record across formats, including 53 T20 wickets from 38 matches, Behrendorff, selector Mark Waugh reckoned, “deserves his chance at this level.”Considering the number and frequency of injuries, there is speculation over Behrendorff being a potential dark horse for the Ashes. But, given his struggles with injuries and a background in sports science, Behrendorff is well aware of the fickle nature of injuries and doesn’t want to look beyond the T20I series.”I’m 100 percent focused on these games here and making my debut,” Behrendorff said. “It’s something I’ve worked so hard for so hopefully I’ll be able to play at least one of these three matches over the next week or so.”I am feeling really good at the moment. I’ve had an uninterrupted pre-season for a change which is the first time in a long time. I feel like my seasons have always started quite slow; so it’s something different this year, which is great. I feel my preparation has been great so far coming in from playing some pre-season games to playing in the JLT Cup back home. I played a couple of games there as well, so that’s been really positive. It showed last year when I had my build-up coming back from my leg injury, I was able to have a lot of match practice beforehand so I felt ready to go when I came back.”While Behrendorff admitted his experience in four-day cricket has made him a more confident bowler in the longer format, he recognised the need to be tactically smart in Indian conditions. “[It is] something we have spoken a little bit about,” he said. “The wickets over here are generally a lot different to the ones we play on back home. Change-ups… but the main thing is execution as well. Having your field set and bowling the right ball at the right time, that’s going to be huge.”Most of my cricket has been in four-day cricket so it’s something I’ve worked really hard at and I’m feeling more confident with how I’m going about it. It’s a format I really enjoy and I’m looking forward to starting the four-day summer when I get back home as well.”With Australia having lost the ODI series 4-1, there are questions about the team’s morale. As a newcomer to the set-up, Behrendorff knows he can do his bit to keep the mood of the squad upbeat. “The morale is really good. The boys that played in the one-day series have had a couple of days off and they have really had a good time relaxing and recovering,” he said. “There are five of us that have just joined the squad for the T20. We are full of energy, ready to go and really looking forward to an exciting series.”That’s something we speak about. Having a good attitude at training, good attitude at games making sure we are doing everything we can to be as upbeat and positive as we can all the time. That’s a big part of the new guys in the group – myself and the other guys who just flew in – to have that energy and bring that to the group and keep everyone buzzing. We know all the boys have done everything they need to do and will do over the next couple of days to be ready to go.”

Craig Overton looks set to make his debut in place of Jake Ball in the day-night Test at Adelaide

George Dobell at Adelaide01-Dec-2017Craig Overton appears to be winning the selection race ahead of the day-night Test in Adelaide, and looks set to make his debut in place of Jake Ball in the England side.While the final decision will be left to Joe Root, the England captain, both Overton and Ball were named in a 12-man squad on the eve of the second Test.Overton, the 23-year-old Somerset seamer, has impressed in the nets over recent days and had an extended batting session against short-pitched bowling in training on Friday evening.Ball had something of a mixed experience in Brisbane. While he took a key wicket early in Australia’s first innings – that of David Warner – he was also the most expensive bowler, conceding 4.27 runs per over.By contrast, James Anderson and Stuart Broad both conceded fewer than two runs an over in Australia’s first innings while Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali conceded 2.79 and 2.46 per over respectively. With one of England’s tactics being to frustrate Australia’s batsmen into errors, Ball’s relative costliness was an issue.He could consider himself unfortunate if he misses out, though. Few batsmen are dropped after one modest game and Ball was, at times, asked to deliver spells of sustained short-pitched deliveries which resulted in a few more boundary opportunities for the batsmen.He also found himself bowling on a pitch offering him little. The surface in Adelaide, while certainly far from the seamers’ paradise some suggest, might offer bowlers just a little more assistance. Certainly it looks likely to be quicker while a combination of the pink ball and the use of floodlights might ask a few more questions of the batsmen.Overton might also strengthen the tail a little. While he has had a horrid run of form on the tour so far – he has been dismissed for a duck in all three of his innings to date – he has a first-class century behind him and retains ambitions to develop into a true all-rounder. The England management have stressed, however, that the respective batting merits of the pair is not relevant to the selection decision and they aim simply to pick the bowler they think will prove most effective.Having not played international cricket, Overton might well face something of a baptism of fire if he is picked. While most Ashes Tests offer an intense atmosphere – a full house is expected on Saturday – this one could be more tense than usual due to a deteriorating relationship between the sides. While there may be a certain amount of pantomime-style playing to the crowd about some incidents, there are also a couple of players on either side who appear to genuinely dislike one another.Meanwhile Moeen Ali came through his first spell of bowling since the Brisbane Test without any serious issues. Moeen sustained a deep cut on his spinning finger in Brisbane which compromised his performance and threatened his ability to bowl in Adelaide. While a chunk of the blistered skin did come off after a brief bowl in the nets on Friday night, he reported no pain or serious inconvenience and confirmed his ability to bowl as required in the Test.It was noticeable, however, that Root had a longer bowl than usual and may use himself to lessen the burden on Moeen.

Tottenham Hotspur's search for a new number nine continues, as they have earmarked a new young target to replace Harry Kane…

Who could replace Harry Kane at Spurs?

The departure of the England captain was a tough one to take for fans and those within the club, as everyone knows how much quality they have just lost, even with the lofty £100m fee attained.

Ange Postecoglou now has a curious task on his hands, deciding whether to put his trust in Richarlison and invest elsewhere, or to spend the money earned on a direct replacement. Few could do what the 30-year-old marksman has done in recent years, who leaves with 280 goals for the club.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

However, that has not stopped them from perusing the market, as TEAMtalk suggest that the Lilywhites have enquired to Brighton and Hove Albion about the availability of their young striker Evan Ferguson.

The Republic of Ireland international is highly rated at the Amex Stadium, and with the security his new long-term contract brings, this will be far from an easy deal to do. Reports from earlier in the window even suggested that the Seagulls believe they have a £100m player on their hands.

How good is Evan Ferguson?

It is no surprise to see the teenage sensation draw such interest, given he is in possession of numerous assets that have already allowed him to start in the Premier League.

The 18-year-old boasts just 30 senior appearances for his current side, having scored six times in the league last term, and marked the first game of this campaign with a goal too.

His bulky, towering frame belies his pace in behind, and he blends both of these starring physical attributes with a deft touch and an ability to link up the play.

As such, he has received plenty of praise, that of which Tim Sherwood led by comparing him to one of England's most legendary goalscorers:

"I mean he's a man at a very young age, you know. He looks to me like the nearest thing I've seen to Alan Shearer. I mean, when he's getting the ball half a yard, he's not even giving any respect to the goalkeepers. He's just smashing it with power. He's just looking after contact and smashing it through the goalkeeper."

Given how relentlessly Kane sought to chase after Shearer's all-time Premier League scoring record, seemingly sacrificing that for silverware in Germany, to now compare their new striker target with the former Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United star bodes well for Postecoglou in his hunt for a successor.

The Australian manager will not be seeking a perfect replacement for the forward, but instead someone able to hold their own and lead the line with pace, power and energy.

His youth should service the latter, whilst Ferguson's interview with Sky Sports helped outline how he shares enough similarities to make up for what they have just lost.

Spending the earlier parts of his career in midfield definitely aided this notion: "I think it's helped me sort of just be more natural as a modern striker. You see strikers now, like Harry Kane, the way they drop in… I wouldn't be surprised if he played midfield as a kid.

"I can understand the kind of run to make or when to delay a pass. It's helped me be more complete."

With the physicality and finishing know-how to emulate Shearer, but the quality to create and score that mirrors Kane, Ferguson could be that big-money risk that helps lay the foundation for over a decade of success under Postecoglou.

Vidarbha seamer Rajneesh Gurbani, playing the biggest match of his life, could not wait to get back on the field to help his side make history

Akshay Gopalakrishnan in Kolkata21-Dec-2017On the night before the biggest day of his career, Rajneesh Gurbani could barely let his eyes close. It was the “woke-up-worrying-it’s-late” experience that most of us have endured at some stage. Except that for Gurbani, it wasn’t just another day at the office.Gurbani was playing the biggest match of his life. His body had already been through a hellacious lot, having sent down 49 overs. Gurbani had taken his team to the brink. But there was still a job to do. This was his chance to not only witness history but make it happen.Sleepless and weary, the events that unfolded after Gurbani took the field at Eden Gardens on Thursday could well have been a dream. Except, it wasn’t. For four whole days and a bit, the match continued to swing both ways. But throughout, there was one constant: Gurbani never ceased to tantalise. Resolute and courageous, he kept Vidarbha’s dream alive.”Anxiety. I felt it all night long,” he said. “I woke up at 12.30am thinking it’s 6. I wanted the match to start then and there and finish the whole thing off. For the first time, I was ready at 6am with my clothes on and ready to go.”Once he took the field, the nerves only got worse. It made him change his angle repeatedly, at one point doing it four times in an over. Karnataka weren’t going to go down without a fight. But Gurbani wouldn’t buckle. Blessed with a keen sense of understanding of his strengths, Gurbani continued to bowl the best way he knew: being consistent with his lines and lengths and try to force an error from the batsmen.The plan worked. Vinay Kumar poked at a wide one. Abhimanyu Mithun miscued a big hit. And S Aravind edged one that shaped away from him. In each of those deliveries, Gurbani had managed to find subtle movement. As the last of those wickets fell, Gurbani sank to his knees, with team-mates jumping on him. He then acknowledged a thinly scattered crowd by flashing the match ball. Some of Vidarbha’s players were in tears, but Gurbani was moved when he saw the emotion on coach Chandrakant Pandit’s face.”All the credit to how I’m bowling goes to Chandrakant Pandit sir and Subroto Banerjee sir,” he said. “Both of them supported me well and brought about some skill changes. Chandrakant sir used to make me bowl at one spot for an entire day. He used to make me bowl on demand: a whole day of inswingers, a whole day of outswingers or hitting the off stump. This sort of match simulation meant that when I came out, I could bowl any of these deliveries at any instant.”Outswing is Gurbani’s natural weapon. He can swing the ball in the air and get it to move off the deck. He manages skiddy pace, which makes him a dangerous bowler in front of the stumps. Gurbani has a smooth run-up. The action flows from the time he runs into the crease, at an easy pace. The wrist position is accurate as he tilts back and the movement is supple when he bends his back.

“We were obsessed with becoming champions, because becoming champions is what is going to give us our identity.”

“He has worked on the incoming delivery,” Prashant Vaidya, the former India pacer and the VCA’s incumbent vice-president, told ESPNcricinfo. “He was very consistent with his length, his line used to be very good and he was essentially a very good away-swinging bowler. But this year, he has improved greatly in bringing the ball back in. So if that starts happening, even his strength, which is the ball moving out, becomes more lethal. When you can move the ball both ways, it puts the batsmen in two minds. And he has improved in pace, which has made him more effective with the natural swing he has.”Gurbani’s ability to read situations and recognise his strengths stand out. Though shy off the field, his willingness to take initiative and bowl in any situation impressed Vaidya. That quality came through in Vidarbha’s quarter-final, when Gurbani ripped through Kerala with four wickets in four overs and gave Vidarbha a substantial first-innings lead. For Vadiya, that spell in the quarter-final was still a more accurate reflection of the improvements Gurbani had made.”These are favourable conditions to seam bowling, but the spell he bowled to Kerala in the quarter-final, that was out of nowhere,” he said. “In four overs, he turned the entire game on its head. I think that really stands out for me.”If I have to compare him to somebody in India team, he is in the mould of Bhuvneshwar Kumar. I would not hesitate to put him in that mould. He puts the ball consistently in that corridor and has the ability to swing it both ways.”The technical side apart, a lot of the pre-season work for the lithe and wiry Gurbani went into building himself up physically. “It was all about pushing myself to run that extra mile or the extra session or two in the gym,” he said. “But through all of it, the goal was to become champions. While lifting weights in the gym, I used to have guys come up to me and say, ‘Guru, put on 10 kilos; Vidarbha needs you to be strong’.”So it was about working harder and pushing yourself harder for that extra spell. We were obsessed with becoming champions, because becoming champions is what is going to give us our identity.”For Vaidya, work still remains on the fitness front. “As you go to higher levels and play more cricket, you need to complement or balance it with physical fitness,” he said. “Because he is going to play longer seasons, more cricket. You need strength.”He’s a very wiry person. I don’t want that to change because that’s his strength. That gives him that momentum and agility. But you need the strength to bowl longer and play longer seasons.”Having a coach who thinks like him has reconfirmed what Gurbani wants out of this sport. “When Chandrakant sir came into the side, we all wondered how he is,” he said. “And we were all advised that he will either make you do it or make you leave cricket.”It was in sync with how I am personally – either I grow in cricket or I leave cricket. I don’t want to be stuck in between. Of course, he shouts at me, and I want him to shout at me so I don’t get too carried away. Watching his emotions when the team doesn’t perform – he can’t sleep. Though performance is not in his hands, seeing him being so involved and invested inspires us.”Where Gurbani goes from here is anybody’s guess right now. But whether he grows in cricket or leaves cricket, for the hand he has played in Vidarbha creating history, he has made his name synonymous with the state’s cricket for the next few years at least.

Chelsea have made a habit of hijacking deals from their big six rivals this summer and reports have revealed they could be about to do it again.

Who have Chelsea signed this summer?

Boehly and Mauricio Pochettino have been busy this summer, sealing deals for nine players including the likes of Axel Disasi, Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia and Nicolas Jackson.

Of course, Lavia and Caicedo were secured in dramatic circumstances as club chiefs swooped in to steal deals away from Liverpool, which only increased the excitement from the Stamford Bridge faithful.

According to The Independent's Miguel Delaney, there is also now a chance that Chelsea could hijack Spurs' move for Nottingham Forest's Brennan Johnson late in the day in the summer transfer window:

"Tottenham Hotspur are still some way off agreeing on a fee for Brennan Johnson, as Nottingham Forest are not shifting from their £40m basic price for the forward. The stand-off could yet see Chelsea in late on, as they retain an interest in the 22-year-old.

"Chelsea are nowhere near so advanced, and haven't got to that stage, as they survey potential attackers. The club are prioritising an out-and-out centre-forward but there are not too many obvious choices available, and there is a belief in the market they will move for Johnson late on in the window if his future is not yet agreed."

How good is Brennan Johnson?

22-year-old Johnson is an exciting young target for the Blues, having become a key man for Forest as he has matured as a player. He has registered 41 goal involvements (29 goals and 12 assists) in 107 appearances for the Reds, as well as netting twice in 19 caps for Wales.

The Wales international is still a young player learning his trade, and he is yet to prove himself at a genuinely top club, but he is someone who could be a really shrewd signing by Chelsea this summer.

At 22, he still has so much more improving to do as a player, but he has done well in the Premier League for a struggling team, scoring eight goals in the competition last season, and he would be someone viewed as a long-term success story, rather than a panic buy signed for the here and now.

Read the latest Chelsea transfer news HERE…

While at his best down the middle, Johnson can also play out wide, with his versatility likely to appeal to Pochettino, and he has been lauded as a "fantastic player" by Forest boss Steve Cooper, who will no doubt be desperate to retain his services beyond the end of the current transfer window.

The fact that Chelsea could even gazump Spurs for the signing of the Welshman would be an added bonus, given the rivalry between the two clubs, and while some supporters may want a more high-profile addition, he could prove to be an interesting piece of business if he ends up being their No.1 option.

It is certainly going to be an exciting next week or so for Blues supporters.

The allrounder will be eligible to resume playing from midnight on January 14, having “inadvertently ingested a prohibited substance, which can be commonly found in cough syrups”

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Jan-2018Baroda allrounder Yusuf Pathan has been handed a back-dated five-month ban by the BCCI. The 35-year-old, who last played for India in 2012, was found to be in violation of the BCCI’s anti-doping rules, having ingested the banned substance terbutaline. The ban expires at midnight on January 14, 2018.A BCCI statement said Pathan had “inadvertently ingested a prohibited substance, which can be commonly found in cough syrups”. Pathan had provided a urine sample as part of the BCCI’s anti-doping testing programme during the domestic T20 competition on March 16 last year. Upon testing, his sample was found to contain terbutaline, a substance that is prohibited both in and out of competition in the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) list of prohibited substances.Pathan was charged with an anti-doping violation under the BCCI Anti-Doping Rules on October 27 and was provisionally suspended pending determination of the charge. Eventually, his five-month ban was deemed to have started from August 15 last year as the BCCI was satisfied with Pathan’s explanation that – as per the board release – he had “taken terbutaline inadvertently to treat an Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI) and not as a performance-enhancing drug”.”Having considered all of the evidence and taken expert external advice, the BCCI has accepted Mr Pathan’s explanation of the cause of his ADRV [anti-doping rules violation], and on that basis has agreed that a period of ineligibility of five months should apply,” the BCCI release said.On the decision to back-date the suspension, the release said: “Under BCCI ADR [anti-doping rules] Article 10.10.3, Mr Pathan is entitled to the full credit against that period of ineligibility for the provisional suspension that he has been serving since 28 October, 2017.”In addition, there is discretion under BCCI ADR Article 10.10.2 to back-date the start date of the period of ineligibility still further on account of Mr Pathan’s prompt admission of his ADRV upon being confronted with it by the BCCI, and under BCCI ADR Article 10.10.1 on account of the delays in the results management in this case that are not attributable to Mr Pathan.”The BCCI also noted that Pathan had previously been drug-tested five times without any “adverse analytical findings”. According to the board, while Pathan had departed from the rigorous standard of “utmost caution” expected of a player under the BCCI’s Anti-Doping Rules in this instance, his departure from such standard was deemed to not be “significant”.In a statement, Pathan said he would be more careful with his choice of medication in the future. “The prohibited substance was detected in my sample because of a medicine I was taking for throat infection,” he said. “I would like to once again assure to the BCCI, Baroda Cricket Association and my fans and I promise to be more careful with what I consume henceforth. In hindsight, I should have been more careful and checked the status of the medications with the BCCI’s dedicated anti-doping helpline.”Pathan had played only two matches for Baroda during the 2017-18 Ranji Trophy season, before his provisional ban took effect, scoring 111 and 136* against Madhya Pradesh. He will be eligible to return to action in the Super League phase of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament.

Hibernian finally lost patience with manager Lee Johnson following an underwhelming start to the 2023/24 campaign, relieving him of his duties.

The Easter Road outfit may have secured progress to the quarter-finals of the League Cup and the playoff round of the Europa Conference League, yet it was their performances in the Premiership that were clearly the catalyst in him being sacked.

The Edinburgh side have lost all three of their league matches so far, scoring five goals but conceded eight, and they are rooted to the bottom of the table.

The question is, who will replace Johnson in the role?

Who are the candidates to replace Lee Johnson at Hibs?

The former Sunderland boss was only in charge of the club for just over a year following his appointment in May 2022 and across his first full season he led them to a disappointing fifth spot in the league while failing to progress to the quarter-finals of both the Scottish and League cups.

There will be no shortage of candidates who will want to take the role, despite their position in the league table, but for now, former defender David Gray will be in caretaker charge until the international break at least.

The Scotsman compiled a list of some potential new appointments with names including ex-manager Neil Lennon, Scott Brown, and Derek McInnes among others, yet could it be a current Premiership manager in Stephen Robinson who is perhaps the best person for the job?

Could Stephen Robinson take over at Hibs?

Hibs have struggled recently and considering only two managers in the 21st century have reached 100 games at the club, this is probably a key reason behind their lack of success.

Robinson could be a wonderful appointment by the Edinburgh side, especially considering his recent success at St Mirren.

Since taking charge of the Paisley side in February 2022, the Northern Irishman has rejuvenated them, securing a top-six finish last term for the first time in nearly 40 years, and he drew praise from journalist Ben Banks.

He said: “Stephen Robinson btw, should be on the Manager of the Year list.

“St Mirren third from bottom last April, challenging financial situation, redundancies, skeleton coaching staff, but one weekend away from their first top-half finish in the top flight since 1985. So impressive.”

Considering they have one of the lowest budgets in the top flight, yet still finished above the likes of Motherwell and Dundee United is wonderful and the fact the 48-year-old knows Scottish football so well, it would surely make him an excellent choice.

He had previously enjoyed a spell at the Steelmen, winning 72 and drawing 27 games from his 169 in charge across three years while showcasing his attacking ideologies as his team scored 244 goals during those ties, working out at nearly 1.5 goals per game.

Johnson did see his team score 1.6 goals per game, but they also conceded the same number. In essence, they struggled at both ends of the pitch as he lost more games (24) than he won.

Robinson's contract expires at the end of the current season and this could certainly tempt the Hibs board into launching a move for the St Mirren manager in the coming weeks.

There will be plenty of attention for the vacant role, but Robinson stands as one of the better options available.