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Paras Mhambrey has been roped in to assist Rahul Dravid as the bowling coach of the India A team

Amol Karhadkar14-Jul-2015Paras Mhambrey has been roped in to assist Rahul Dravid as the bowling coach of the India A team. The former India medium-pacer, who is also the Vidarbha coach, will join the India A squad in Chennai ahead of the first four-day game against Australia A from July 18.According to a BCCI insider, Dravid recommended Mhambrey for the role. The BCCI then formally approached Mhambrey, who accepted their offer after assuring the Vidarbha Cricket Association that he wouldn’t leave them in the lurch.”I am happy to work with Rahul. It feels really nice when someone of his pedigree takes so much interest in the appointment of support staff,” Mhambrey told ESPNcricinfo. “Working with the India A lot is an exciting prospect. There is a lot of potential in this India A group and I am looking forward to helping them maximise it.”The VCA was happy to release him despite his contract running till the end of the season. Mhambrey will thus skip the KSCA Shafi Darashah tournament since the pre-season tournament clashes with the India A series.”We are delighted to see Paras getting such an opportunity,” the VCA president Prakash Dixit said. “He assured us that he will join us as soon as the series is over and knowing him, we are sure he will keep in touch with our players regularly.”Mhambrey has gained plenty of coaching experience since leading Mumbai to a Ranji Trophy triumph as a player. Over the last last twelve years, he has coached Maharashtra, Bengal, Baroda and Vidarbha. He was also a part of the Mumbai Indians coaching staff for four years.

GOAL breaks down the line-up Mexico's Gerardo "Tata" Martino should pick against Argentina in a key World Cup bout on Saturday.

Mexico have reached the knockout stage in seven consecutiveWorld Cup tournaments, and with a fan base that always travels well, El Tri traditionally know how to make their mark.

But on current form, they are at risk of being dumped from the competition earlier than they have in more than 30 years.

Two finals defeats to the United States last summer and friendly losses to Paraguay and Sweden in the run-up to the World Cup were a bad omen. A 0-0 draw with Poland to begin their Qatar campaign didn't inspire much hope.

Martino, a manager under immense pressure, must now make quick adjustments to wake up an attack that didn't create enough against Poland, while ensuring a defence bailed out by Guillermo Ochoa's penalty heroics doesn't get ripped apart by an angry Argentina team looking to bounce back from a loss to Saudi Arabia.

Here's how Mexico should approach the Albiceleste – including Martino's decision at striker with Raul Jimenez in an injury-related rut and Henry Martin also struggling:

Getty ImagesGK: Guillermo Ochoa

No doubts here. Ochoa is the man – and a leading face of the national team from a global perspective, having shined so bright at the World Cup before and then again this week against Poland.

This is likely the final World Cup appearance for the 37-year-old, who now plays in Liga MX for America. No matter. When/if Mexico are knocked out, he'll still go down as a king.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesLB: Jesus Gallardo

Gallardo started every match at the 2018 World Cup, but he'll be most remembered as the unwanted answer to a trivia question: Who received the fastest yellow card in World Cup history? The full-back was booked in 13 seconds in El Tri's loss to Sweden.

Against Poland, the 28-year-old, who plays club football at Monterrey, made a good start in changing the narrative; he might have been the best field player for his team in the 2022 tournament opener and is locked into his starting spot.

A clash with Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria awaits.

Getty ImagesCB: Hector Moreno

In his fourth World Cup, Moreno remains a sure-fire member of Mexico's back-four, even though he may now be the weakest link.

Moreno struggled in El Tri's final tune-up match against Sweden and then conceded the penalty against Robert Lewandowski against Poland.

Still, it's too late to consider yanking such an experienced defensive anchor from the line-up. He's in the team vs Argentina.

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Getty ImagesCB: Cesar Montes

International chemistry can be difficult to build on the fly, so it helps when players are also familiar with one another at club level.

Montes, 25, is Monterrey team-mates with Moreno and Gallardo, giving Mexico a rare World Cup back-line with three defenders of the same club.

He started the friendly defeat to Sweden in central defence alongside Moreno and like Moreno could have done better in that outing. Unlike his partner, though, he appeared more assured against Poland.

Montes is ready to go against Argentina.

Former goalkeeper Tim Howard has been elected to the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2024.

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Howard had distinguished careerPlayed in Premier League and for USANow elected into 2024 Hall of Fame Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

Former Manchester United and Everton keeper Howard was on the ballot for this honour for the first time and received 46 of 48 votes (95.8%) from the player select committee. The stopper made 121 appearances for the U.S. men's national team from 2002-17 and was first-choice between the sticks at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.

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After being told of the news live on air for NBC's Premier League coverage, he said: "When you play football, you try and for the love and play for the glory, and hopefully along the way you do some things."

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Howard will go down as one of America's greatest-ever goalkeepers. Not many from his country have starred in the Premier League but he has done that. Josh McKinney, captain of the U.S. seven-a-side Paralympic team, was also elected to the Hall of Fame. A player must appear on 50% or more of ballots to be elected and Howard, 52, passed with flying colours.

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GettyWHAT IS NEXT?

Howard will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on May 4, 2024. On top of his television work, the former keeper is a minority owner and sporting director at Memphis, who are in the second tier of the United Soccer League's League Championship.

Alastair Cook hinted that England would field both Stuart Broad and James Anderson in what could be a defining Test match for his captaincy

David Hopps26-Jul-2014There has never been a Sunday start to a Test in England, but the administrators have missed a trick by not following the old custom in one-day cricket of delaying the start until the afternoon so everybody had chance to go to church. Alastair Cook, a former chorister at St Paul’s, presumably still knows his ways around the aisles and might wonder if there is such a thing in the Church of England as payback time. If there is, he needs it now.This increasingly feels part Test series, part Shakespearean tragedy and, should that feeling persist over the next five days, it does not augur well for Cook. It is normally in Act III where the central character with many virtues begins to suffer for the flaws in his character, such as indecision, ambition or the failure to set a third man. If he does not somehow turn the third Test in his favour, it could become messy.That being so, this is no time for squad rotation. It is one thing to talk entirely logically about rotating your crop of fast bowlers to survive the insanity of seven Tests in little over two months. It is quite another to do it when you are 1-0 down with three Tests to play, when a run of 10 Tests without victory represents the worst for 20 years, and when England’s cricket media, and indeed much of the public, is on your back. Short-term thinking is the only way to go.Alastair Cook continues to put “blood, sweat and tears” into turning around his form with the bat•PA PhotosLooked at in isolation, fast-bowler rotation would mean there was a strong case for Stuart Broad to stand down at the Ageas Bowl. The rest would enhance his chances of managing the tendinitis in his knee and getting through the summer. And his presence in the next Test at Old Trafford will become even more important if, as is quite probable, James Anderson suffers a ban when the ICC disciplinary panel sits in judgment on his Level 3 charge on August 1, after his spat with Ravindra Jadeja at Trent Bridge.But Cook was admirably honest about the position England find themselves in. When you have the third most successful fast-bowling combination in Test history – their shared-wickets tally outdone only by Ambrose and Walsh and Wasim and Waqar (fourth if you include Pollock and Kallis) – you do not voluntarily split the partnership in a match that could define your captaincy unless you have an overpowering reason to do so. Especially when the Ageas Bowl has a reputation as one of the fastest, bounciest surfaces in England.”We are not in a position to rotate because we are not winning games of cricket, so we are picking the best XI to do that,” Cook said. “Clearly with the workloads the lads have had in the four Test matches, we are starting to see more thoughts of it because we are slightly into unknown territory.”We will do what we always do, which is to pick what we think is the best team and put all the circumstances into it – fatigue and all that kind of stuff. It is largely a physical thing. Each individual bowler will pull up fairly differently. But we are picking the XI that we think this week will be the best to win.”He was adamant that “Stuart Broad is fit enough to play this game”. As for Anderson, any fears that his mind might be more on his ICC appeal than the Test would be groundless. Anderson has finished both the Headingley and Lord’s Tests, against Sri Lanka and India, distraught at England’s defeats. The charge hanging over him just makes him want to play all the more.”It is obviously a distraction with that looming but he is a very senior, experienced guy who is hurting a lot,” Cook said.Chris Jordan, whose recent Championship performance for Sussex against Warwickshire countered the belief that he was stuck in one-day mode in the Sri Lanka Test series, has a strong case for a recall. Perhaps Ben Stokes’ blistered feet will be hurting (his abysmal batting run hardly helps his case) or Liam Plunkett might be held to be feeling the pace. It is hard to see how England can turn to Chris Woakes, so unproven, with the series at such a critical point – but if Plunkett is leggy, Woakes may also find a place.It is by no means impossible for Cook to turn the summer in his favour. His integrity and sense of duty should need no underlining. The former England captains, and others, who increasingly feel it is in the best interests of both England and Cook for him to step down, do so with considerable respect and would love to see him prove them wrong. Kevin Pietersen, the latest former England captain to call for his resignation, might feel more slighted, but by now he is just one more voice, the easiest opinion of all for Cook to shrug off.With each Test that England lose, the same questions grow in potency – and, for that matter, predictability. “I am desperate to carry on because I love being England captain,” Cook said. “It is a huge honour.”We know what we are at the start of. It is bubbling under but the longer it goes without a win it becomes harder and harder. I just have to stay true to myself and realise how good it will be if I can get through this as a person, as a player, as a leader, and take huge strides from it. If I don’t get through it, it is what it is.”I am putting in the hard yards. Sometimes you feel as if you are not getting the rewards. But that’s why it’s called Test cricket. Nothing will give me more satisfaction than scoring runs because I will know how much blood, sweat and tears have gone into it.”The summer has sharpened his taste for black humour. He praised the coaching staff and his team mates for their unity, and remains grateful for their support. “I think so, yes – unless they are lying to my face,” he said. It was a neat, and essentially lighthearted, reminder of human nature. It was not yet a disguised cry for help – although somebody will probably wonder whether it was.He has not made a Test fifty in 2014, during which time he averages 14.33, but sustaining him is the memory of a previous low spot in his career when he could not buy a run and was on the verge of being dropped. He felt in a much worse place in 2010 then he does now. “Sod it,” he said, and went out against Pakistan at The Oval with a desire to hit the ball.”I went in to bat that day thinking ‘I am going to be dropped anyway, I might as well play my way’. Think my first ball of that day against Pakistan was an awayswinger from Mohammad Amir which I hit through midwicket for four. I had a little bit of luck, a couple of nicks went through slips, and then a bloke threw it over the keeper’s head for me to get a hundred.”A career is again on the line. There is a lot of work to do before he gets into the realms of possible India overthrows. But this is not a good time for England captaincy changes – not in Test cricket at any rate. English cricket will be so much better off if he makes it.

David Smith has departed as Northamptonshire’s chief executive after a difficult season in which the club were relegated from Division One of the Championship

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Nov-2014David Smith has departed as Northamptonshire’s chief executive after a difficult season in which the club were relegated from Division One of the Championship having failed to win a game and relinquished the T20 title they had won in 2013.Following up the success of a first trophy in two decades and promotion from Division Two was always going to be a challenge and Northamptonshire were hit hard by injuries, including Alex Wakely being ruled out for the entire season, and difficulties in securing an overseas signing. At the end of the season, Northamptonshire released a raft of players, with Smith saying “inaction is not an option”. Now they will be looking for a new chief executive as well.”I have thoroughly enjoyed my three years at Northants Cricket,” Smith said. “During that time we have seen close on three million pounds worth of capital investment into members and spectators facilities. When our conference and facilities suite is finished in December, the club will have a real opportunity to develop a 52-week sustainable business model that will be less reliant on cricket match-day-associated revenues.”We won the T20 competition in 2013, the club’s first trophy in 21 years, as well as gaining promotion to division one during that year, so I feel I can look back with real pride on my contribution while CEO of the cricket club. The time is now right for me to look at other opportunities and for someone else to take the club to the next stage of its development.”Smith took charge at Wantage Road in late 2011, having been Leicestershire’s chief executive for four seasons. A player with Warwickshire during the 1970s and ’80s, Smith went into the leisure industry and later joined the club’s committee before moving across the Midlands.Northamptonshire chairman, Gavin Warren, added: “In the rapidly changing world of professional sport, it is vital for the club to continue to move forward and develop. Thanks to the good work over the last three years we have many opportunities both on and off the field, and the new chief executive will be appointed in the next few months to develop these.”

Milan boss Stefano Pioli confirmed on Friday that USMNT winger Christian Pulisic will feature against Fiorentina at the weekend.

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Pulisic to return for MilanUSMNT winger over injuryLeao & Giroud to miss matfchGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

After missing the entirety of the November international break, the USMNT winger is set to return to action for the Italian side. Pulisic went down with an injury against PSG in the UEFA Champions League on November 7, and a little over two weeks on, he's now back and fit for action. However, winger Rafael Leao is set to be sidelined for the match, meaning the American may be moved to the left-side of the pitch to open up options on the right. Meanwhile, striker Olivier Giroud is also suspended for the contest, so there's also the option of playing him through the middle.

AdvertisementWHAT PIOLI SAID

“When a player gets injured, we suffer at Milanello,” Pioli said in a press conference. “We’ve always tried to change something and we are doing anything to improve this situation. We have analyzed all injuries, each player has their own history. Somebody got injured because he played too much, others didn’t play enough."

“National teams are not helping us either. Many other clubs are facing the same situation but of course, the numbers are not positive. We are all working to improve and lower the number of injuries. Pulisic, [Davide] Calabria and [Ruben] Loftus-Cheek will be back [against Fiorentina], [Rafael] Leao, [Simon] Kjaer and [Noah] Okafor won’t be available.”

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The American has been on fire of late for the Rossoneri, and the underlying stats of when he's on the pitch only back that up. When featuring on the scoresheet for Milan, they have not lost once, and have only settled for a draw on a single occasion too. He's net five times since arriving from English Premier League side Chelsea over the summer.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR PULISIC AND MILAN?

The Rossoneri return to Serie A action on Saturday when they host Fiorentina in a top-half table clash. Third place Milan sit on 23 points while La Viola are on 20; a win would see the latter jump to level on points with Milan, while a win for Pulisic's side would further the gap from those below.

Chelsea may still hold a special place in the heart of Mateo Kovacic, with the Manchester City star appearing to celebrate a goal from Cole Palmer.

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Croatian midfielder left London in the summerBack at the Bridge for Premier League thrillerOdd reaction to dramatic penalty levellerWHAT HAPPENED?

The Croatia international midfielder brought a five-year spell at Stamford Bridge to a close over the summer when he swapped west London for the North West of England. Kovacic had enjoyed considerable success in a different shade of blue, becoming a Champions League winner while taking in over 200 appearances.

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Kovacic’s colours are supposed to be firmly nailed to City’s mast now, with the 29-year-old looking to help Pep Guardiola’s side defend their Premier League title. He could, however, be seen reacting to a dramatic late goal during a return to the Bridge on Sunday in surprising fashion.

DID YOU KNOW?

City dropped two points at Chelsea as Palmer converted a stoppage-time penalty in a thrilling 4-4 draw and Kovacic – who was standing on the edge of the box as a nerveless spot-kick was crashed into the top corner – appeared to give a fist bump when seeing the ball hit the net.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

It is impossible to tell what was going through Kovacic’s mind at that point, unless the man himself speaks out, and it may be that he was merely geeing himself up for the time that remained on the clock. Chelsea fans are, however, taking his actions as an indicator that he will forever be one of them.

GOAL breaks down the candidates to be named the league's best player

Most of the MLS season has now been played, and we have a pretty good idea of where teams and players stand as we reach the final stretch.

The All-Star break has come and gone, and several stars have distanced themselves from the rest. From playmakers to elite goalscorers, there are a number of candidates who could take home the MLS MVP award in 2022.

With that said, GOAL breaks down the top five candidates for the end-of-season honor as the race to be crowned the best player heats up.

Getty Images1Sebastian Driussi (Austin FC)

The Austin FC star has been a revelation and remains the MVP favorite with 26 goal involvements (including secondary assists).

Driussi leads the Golden Boot race with 19 goals, three clear of second place. He's chipped in seven assists, and with Emiliano Rigoni now in the squad, there's reason to believe those numbers could start getting even better.

And then there's the team success. Austin are second in the West, behind only the juggernaut that is LAFC, who they crushed over the weekend. Driussi scored the fourth goal in that 4-1 win, putting an exclamation mark on a game that served as a statement for both the club and its star.

As things stand, Driussi is deservedly the favorite for MVP as the most exciting player on one of the league's most exciting teams.

AdvertisementGetty Images2Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC)

Nashville goes as Mukhtar goes and, throughout this season, Mukhtar has gone pretty hard.

The German midfielder has 16 goals, far more than any player on his team. He has 11 assists, tying him for fifth-most in the league. In fact, he has contributed to 27 of the club's 41 total goals scored this season.

The point is, if Nashville score, Mukhtar has probably played a part. And even when they don't, Mukhtar probably put them in position to find the net, which the team will need to do more of as they look to push their way into the playoffs.

Nashville have won their last two games by lopsided margins and, as they now sit fourth in the West, it appears Mukhtar has them on the right track.

Getty Images3Luciano Acosta (FC Cincinnati)

Having Brandon Vazquez on his team may split votes, but Luciano Acosta may actually be the league's most valuable player to his team.

Acosta creates plenty, having long been one of the league's more dynamic attackers (aside from that quick spell in Atlas). He leads the league with 15 assists, two more than former MVP Carles Gil, who sits second and is playing his way into the race as well.

For an attacking midfielder to have as much impact on all aspects of a game, they have to be doing something right, and much of Cincy's success comes down to Acosta's willingness to do it all.

The club is on pace to make the playoffs for the first time in its history and, if they do, Acosta will get much of the credit for being one of several driving forces being their success.

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Getty Images4Daniel Gazdag (Philadelphia Union)

It's been the summer of Gazdag in Philadelphia.

The Hungarian midfielder has scored nine goals in his last nine games, chipping in five assists in his last 10 appearances as well.

He's tied for second in the league in goals, having scored 16 from the midfield. What's more remarkable is that he's scored those 16 goals in just 48 shots, less than half as many as Mukhtar and roughly two thirds as many as Driussi.

Gazdag is remarkable and, perhaps more importantly, he's consistent, establishing himself as the best player on the best team in the East.

The Union have scored 23 goals over their last six games and seem well on their way to the top seed in their conference. And, if they keep on that path, Gazdag will be in the award race right down to the wire.

Ireland tightened their grip over the Intercontinental Cup game against UAE in Dublin, seamers Craig Young and John Mooney chipping away at the visitors’ batting to reduce them to 207 for 8 in pursuit of the hosts’ massive total

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Jun-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsFile photo: Craig Young picked up 3 for 46•Getty ImagesIreland tightened their grip over the Intercontinental Cup game against UAE in Dublin, seamers Craig Young and John Mooney chipping away at the visitors’ batting to reduce them to 207 for 8 in pursuit of the hosts’ massive total.Ireland ended within touching distance of 500, but UAE would have been pleased with their bowlers’ efforts in the morning, when the hosts lost their last seven wickets for 68.Seamer Amjad Javed started UAE’s fightback when he dismissed double-centurion Ed Joyce, Andy Balbirnie and Gary Wilson in three successive overs. While Joyce and Balbirnie were trapped leg-before with full deliveries, Wilson nicked a lifter to the wicketkeeper.When Mooney edged a drive off Mohammad Naveed to gully three overs later, Ireland had been reduced to 435 for 7, having started the second day on 420 for 3.Kevin O’Brien and George Dockrell halted the fall of wickets with a 35-run partnership, but Fayyaz Ahmed broke the stand as soon as he was brought back into the attack when he removed O’Brien for a swift 29. Dockrell was stranded on 22 when Javed took out last man Young for his fourth wicket.Ireland had lasted 24.3 overs into the day, and the UAE top order built on their bowling momentum. Amjad Ali took 31 deliveries to score a run and then pulled Mooney straight to midwicket, but Asif Iqbal and Saqib Ali developed a partnership, taking the score to 75 for 1.Young sent back both set batsmen in successive overs, bowling Iqbal for 43 and getting Saqib lbw for 27.Khurram Khan (24) and Swapnil Patil (30) put on 51 for the fourth wicket, but Ireland found someone else to nip another growing partnership, and UAE lost two set batsmen in consecutive overs again, this time to Mooney.Now Dockrell struck twice as UAE slipped to 162 for 8. Ireland would have eyed a 300-plus lead at that point, but Shaiman Anwar and Naveed denied them till stumps with an unbeaten 45-run partnership. Anwar, UAE’s leading run-getter at the World Cup, pulled Dockrell for his eighth four to reach his half-century in the penultimate over of the day.

The USMNT bagged three late goals, including a long-distance banger from Antonee Robinson, to down Trinidad & Tobago Thursday.

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USMNT score three goals in seven minutesPepi, Robinson and Reyna on scoresheetU.S. in pole position for Copa America qualificationGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The USMNT scored three times in seven minutes and 23 seconds to claim a vital CONCACAF Nations League win over 10-man Trinidad and Tobago Thursday evening. Pepi got things going for Gregg Berhalter's side, before Antonee Robinson followed up with a long-distance curling effort. Then, Reyna finally made his mark on the match, scoring the dagger in the 3-0 victory.

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With victory Thursday – which many were not convinced was coming prior to the late Rciardo Pepi opener – the U.S. have all but confirmed their spot at Copa America. For USA fans, it's bittersweet relief, because we all know their history on the island of Trinidad in matches where they need a result to qualify for a major world tournament.

The key to the evening, though, was showing that the USMNT can in fact find a result without starting star wingers Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah. The Soca Warriors were incredibly composed and should be applauded for their defensive showing. Ultimately, though, it was impressive how focused Berhalter's side stayed and how influential his substitutes were; Brenden Aaronson and Pepi changed the game.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR REYNA, ROBINSON AND THE USMNT?

The squad now hits the road for Monday's match in leg two of the series vs Trinidad in Port-of-Spain. Get over the line on Monday and the USMNT will qualify for the 2024 Copa America – a huge achievement for Berhalter's squad.