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The Derbyshire seamer finished with 5 for 21 as the Lions dismissed the hosts for 214 on day one

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jan-2025

Pat Brown claimed a hat-trick on his way to a five-wicket haul as the England Lions enjoyed a dominant opening day of their second tour game against a Cricket Australia XI in Brisbane.Henry Hunt was his first victim, edging more conventionally to James Coles at second slip, before Jack Clayton was bowled shouldering arms. The Derbyshire right-armer was then wheeling away to celebrate his hat-trick when Hugo Burdon edged behind to wicketkeeper James Rew. Brown’s figures were 5 for 21 from eight overs as the home side were bowled out for 214.Brown, bowling first change, ran through the top order and had already had opener Nivethan Radhakrishnan caught by Coles from a rising delivery before securing his hat-trick.England Lions reached stumps at 53 for 1 with Ben McKinney the only wicket to fall for 32. Skipper Alex Davies remained unbeaten on 15 alongside nightwatcher Shoaib Bashir (one).Ryan Hicks top-scored for the CA XI with 64, before he became Brown’s fifth wicket. Hicks reached his half-century from 78 balls before Brown got another ball to lift off a good length to find McKinney at a wide first slip. Sam Cook wrapped up the tail to return 2 for 31.

Chelsea’s pursuit of Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens seems to have hit a bit of a roadblock. The Blues were ideally looking to bring the winger in ahead of the Club World Cup, in which they will face LAFC in their first game. However, with the deadline at 7pm on Tuesday, it was not to be for the Blues.

They already lost out on a deal for AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, as confirmed by Fabrizio Romano. That means that, after the Gittens deal was not completed in team, striker Liam Delap and defender Mamadou Sarr are the only new players to have arrived ahead of the competition in the USA.

Whatever happens with Gittens in the long run, he might not be the only winger that switches to Stamford Bridge this summer.

Chelsea’s Gittens alternatives

It was confirmed by Romano that the West London outfit want to sign Gittens ‘even if it’s later this summer’, explaining there is ‘no rush’ with the move. That suggests it is an independent move to their pursuit of another Premier League winger.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

This time in conversation with DAZN, Romano suggested that the Blues may still pursue a move for Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho. He explained that the Argentina international is ‘appreciated’ by the higher-ups at Stamford Bridge.

They might not be the only side in contention to sign Garnacho this summer. Bayer Leverkusen, now managed by former United boss Erik ten Hag, ‘called’ for the winger according to Romano, but he explained the player wants to stay in the Premier League.

As for a fee, it was reported by TEAMTalk at the end of last week that the Red Devils would expect at least £50m for Garnacho.

Why Garnacho would be a good signing

Despite a tough season at times for Garnacho, there is no doubt he is an exciting talent, described as a “special” player by football statistician Statman Dave. He ended the campaign in strong fashion, too.

The 20-year-old, who has already won three major trophies for club and country, ended 2024/25 with 21 goals and assists to his name in all competitions. He managed that tally in 58 games for United.

In the Premier League, the former Atletico Madrid academy player struggled for consistency. He scored six goals and assisted twice in 36 games. Almost half of those goal involvements, including this stunning strike away to Brentford, came at the end of the season, where Garnacho grabbed four in nine appearances.

Perhaps Garnacho could actually be considered a bigger talent than Chelsea’s other target, Gittens. Make no mistake about it, the England under-21 international is an exciting player. He managed 12 goals and five assists in 48 games for Dortmund last season.

That is, of course, fewer than the numbers Garnacho put up. With that being said, it is worth remembering that the Red Devils’ number 17 played ten more games, although he was far more productive.

On top of that, Garnacho’s contribution to silverware for United has been imperative to their success. He scored in an FA Cup final against Manchester City in 2023/24, showing a relentless nature to press City and then pounce on an error at the back.

There are also standout statistics on FBref which suggest Garnacho is an even bigger talent than Gittens. For example, in all competitions last season, the United winger averaged 1.68 key passes and 5.8 progressive carries per 90 minutes, compared to the Dortmund star’s 1.07 key passes and 5.53 progressive carries each game.

Goals and assists

0.53

0.49

Key passes

1.68

1.07

Progressive passes

2.22

2.13

Progressive carries

5.8

5.53

Ball recoveries

3.95

3.71

Whilst Gittens would be a strong addition to the Chelsea squad, Garnacho is perhaps a far bigger talent. The 20-year-old has three major trophies to his name, all of which he has contributed to, and the underlying numbers show just how deadly he can be.

£50m could be a bargain for Chelsea, if they decide to pursue a move for a player who can add a whole new dimension to their attack.

Their new Joe Cole: Chelsea have now been offered £70m "superstar"

Chelsea are looking for signings to bolster their attack

ByJoe Nuttall Jun 10, 2025

All 15 players who played the men’s T20 World Cup in June are in the Scotland squad, to be led by Richie Berrington

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Aug-2024Scotland have called up right-arm quick Charlie Cassell and medium pacer Jasper Davidson for their first-ever bilateral men’s T20I series against Australia this September in Edinburgh. The 15 players who played the men’s T20 World Cup in June make up the rest of the squad, which will be captained by Richie Berrington.Cassell made a sensational start to his international career, taking 7 for 21 – the best ODI haul on debut – against Oman in the Cricket World Cup League 2 in July. He’s played two ODIs for Scotland so far and was also recently part of three matches in the One-Day Cup for Somerset.Davidson also made his ODI debut in the CWC League 2, against Oman, and took four wickets in that game.”After coming into the squad at CWCL2 and doing so well, it’ll be great for Jasper and Charlie to have the experience of what it’s like playing against the best, in front of a fairly large crowd,” Doug Watson, Scotland’s head coach, said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to play one of the best teams in the world, and I’m pretty sure that our players won’t need any motivating for this series. It’s a great opportunity for them to share the field with world-class players. They’re wanting to put in some huge performances and compete, and really push this Australia team.”The goal for us is to win this series. The first game is really important – if we can win that, it’ll set up the next two matches. The whole week will be brilliant for the squad, staff, supporters, and all of Scotland.”It will be Australia’s first tour of Scotland in 11 years. The sides will meet just three months after their T20 World Cup 2024 game in St Lucia, where Australia won a close match by five wickets. The games will be played at The Grange on September 4, 6 and 7.Scotland T20I squad vs AustraliaRichie Berrington (capt), Charlie Cassell, Matthew Cross, Brad Currie, Jasper Davidson, Chris Greaves, Ollie Hairs, Jack Jarvis, Michael Jones, Michael Leask, Brandon McMullen, George Munsey, Safyaan Sharif, Chris Sole, Charlie Tear, Mark Watt, Brad Wheal

Yorkshire dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s on a four-wicket Vitality County Championship victory over Division Two pacesetters Sussex at Scarborough during the fourth morning to boost their hopes of promotion.Resuming on 28 for 2 from 10 overs in pursuit of 103, the home side clinched a 21-point haul in exactly an hour’s play despite losing four wickets to offspinner Jack Carson.Opener Adam Lyth top-scored with 40 as Yorkshire claimed their third successive Championship victory dating back to June, consigning the league leaders to only a second defeat in 10 matches this season. The excellent Carson claimed his four consolatory wickets to finish with a career-best 9 for 120 in the match.Yorkshire started this fixture in third, 27 points behind Sussex, but are now only nine adrift with four rounds remaining.The White Rose county have won three Championship matches in a row for the first time since the early stages of 2021 when they beat Kent and Sussex away and Northamptonshire at Headingley.Upon clinching victory, Yorkshire moved to second in the in-play Division Two table – but dropped back to third after Middlesex beat Northamptonshire at Merchant Taylors’ School.Yorkshire and Middlesex face each other at Headingley from Thursday. Sussex, meanwhile, host Derbyshire at Hove next as they look to bounce back from a first defeat since May.Lyth set the tone in the day’s third over when he took back-to-back boundaries off Jaydev Unadkat’s left-arm seam – one flicked to fine-leg and the other cut through backward point.He then pulled Carson over midwicket and cut Ollie Robinson over backward point for sixes in the following two overs, taking the score to 59 for 2. The writing was on the wall for Sussex.They actually started the day minus three on the over rate, with counties deducted a point for each over they are behind the rate.So it was no surprise to see Carson employed early by captain John Simpson in a bid to speed things up. Realistically, improving that was their main target for the day, and they achieved it.Although Lyth led the way, he was importantly helped out by nightwatcher Dan Moriarty, who contributed 17 to a third-wicket partnership of 51. They came together at 18 for 2 late on day three and extinguished Sussex’s slim hopes of a turnaround.Moriarty, Yorkshire’s regular No. 11, was lbw to Carson – 69 for 3 – before the same bowler had Lyth caught behind down leg at the second attempt by Simpson with a further seven runs added to the total.Carson also trapped James Wharton lbw to bring Jonny Bairstow to the crease with only eight to win, and he holed out to deep midwicket for a two-ball duck. Yorkshire captain Jonny Tattersall hit the winning runs.

Sri Lanka have not qualified for a T20 World Cup semi-final since 2014

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jun-20241:33

Angelo Mathews: We’re sorry, hurting and heartbroken

Angelo Mathews issued an apology to Sri Lanka on behalf of his team-mates on Saturday, saying they were “heartbroken” to have “let the entire nation down”. Their group-stage exit from the T20 World Cup 2024 was confirmed when Bangladesh beat Netherlands in St Vincent on Thursday.Sri Lanka lost both of their completed matches at the T20 World Cup, against South Africa in New York and Bangladesh in Dallas, and had their fixture against Nepal washed out in Florida on Tuesday. Their early elimination means it is now a decade since they have reached the semi-finals of a men’s T20 World Cup.Their tournament has been characterised by logistical challenges. Along with Netherlands, they were one of two teams scheduled to play their group games at four different venues, leading their spinner Maheesh Theekshana to complain the fixture list was “so unfair”. But Mathews, the most senior player in Sri Lanka’s squad played down their impact.”We’ve let the entire nation down and we are really sorry because we’ve let ourselves down. We never expected this,” Mathews said. “We came across a lot of challenges but those are not something to worry about. It’s unfortunate that we didn’t make the second round.”Sri Lanka face Netherlands in St Lucia on Sunday night in a match that is a dead-rubber for them. Netherlands can still qualify for the Super Eight but are reliant on Nepal securing their first-ever win against a full-member team in Bangladesh, and also need to leapfrog Bangladesh on net run rate.”We can’t take any given team lightly,” Mathews said ahead of Sunday’s match. “We saw Nepal almost beat South Africa yesterday. It’s unfortunate that our Nepal game was washed out, but it is what it is. We have just one more game in the tournament and we’ll play for our pride.”We haven’t done justice to ourselves, especially the way we played in the first two games, so it’s very unfortunate. We are heartbroken, and we are hurting so much within ourselves. But it’s another day tomorrow and then we have to come up against the Netherlands, and the Netherlands are a very, very dangerous team. So, we hope to play well and beat them.”Sri Lanka came into the T20 World Cup after three consecutive T20I series wins since December and Mathews said it was frustrating to have unperformed. “That’s something we regret because [with] the way we played Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and Bangladesh in Bangladesh, I thought we didn’t do justice to our capabilities in this tournament.”When you come into a World Cup, you can’t take any team lightly but unfortunately, the way we played against those teams just before the World Cup, and then once we came back here and the way we played, obviously the wickets were quite different but we didn’t do justice to ourselves.”Mathews, now 37, also said that on the personal front, he had made no hard decisions on his white-ball future. He has been a consistent presence in the Test side over the past few years, but had been dropped from the limited-overs teams until the current selection committee brought him back.It is possible he will be available for the next T20 World Cup in 2026, which Sri Lanka will co-host. But it is also possible this match against Netherlands will be his last in T20 World Cups.”I play every game as if its my last game,” Mathews said. “Nothing in life is certain. I’m trying to do whatever I can for the team. I don’t have big hopes about the next game, or the next series. I have some time to think about all those things and make a decision. From my side I haven’t settled on anything. The selectors’ opinions are needed, more than mine. I’m playing because of the love I have for the sport – whether that’s for the national team or my club team.”

تحدث الهولندي فيرجيل فان دايك، مدافع الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ليفربول عن هزيمة فريقه أمام تشيلسي في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “بريميرليج”.

وخسر ليفربول أمام تشيلسي أمس، السبت، في إطار منافسات الجولة السابعة من بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، على ملعب “ستامبفورد بريدج”.

بتلك النتيجة خسر ليفربول الصدارة واحتل المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي برصيد 15 نقطة خلف آرسنال المتصدر بـ16 نقطة.

وقال فان دايك في تصريحات لـ”ليفربول إيكو”: “كانت مباراة مفتوحة بالطبع، وخاصةً في الشوط الثاني، من الواضح أن سعي الفريقين للفوز وتلقيهما هدفًا بهذه الطريقة ليس أمرًا رائعًا، خاصةً مع اقتراب فترة التوقف الدولي”.

اقرأ أيضًا | واين روني يكشف سبب تراجع مستوى محمد صلاح مع ليفربول

وأكمل: “حققنا نتائج إيجابية بالتأكيد وجدنا طريقة، من المفارقات أن نستقبل هدفين في مباراتين مختلفتين في الدقيقة الأخيرة، لا يزال أمامنا الكثير من العمل، نعلم أنه في كرة القدم، كل ثلاثة أو أربعة أيام، تتغير الأمور لكن علينا أن نعمل لكي تتغير الأمور لصالحنا”.

وأردف: “كانت الأيام السبعة أو الثمانية صعبة علينا جميعًا لكننا مع الجهاز الفني والجماهير، قادرون على قلب الأمور لصالحنا أنا واثق من ذلك”.

واستطرد: “الأمر يتعلق برؤيتنا لهذا المنظور كلاعبين وجهاز فني، وأريد أن يرى المشجعون هذا المنظور أيضًا لكننا نعيش في عالم مليء بالضجيج، وعلينا التعامل مع هذا أيضًا، يقع على عاتقنا مواصلة العمل، وتحقيق النتائج، والتكاتف، واكتساب الثقة”.

وأضاف: “علينا أن نفعل ما كنا نفعله العام الماضي، عندما كان الجميع في غاية السعادة، الآن نمر بلحظة عصيبة، وقد تتغير بسرعة لكن علينا أن نعمل جاهدين لتجاوزها”.

وأتم: “هذا شيء ندركه ونحتاج إلى القيام به معًا، كما فعلنا دائمًا على مدار هذه السنوات، خاصة عندما كنت هنا في النادي لأنه كانت هناك بعض الصعود والهبوط في المستوى”.

هاجم أحمد حسام ميدو، نجم منتخب مصر السابق، مسؤولي استاد القاهرة الدولي بسبب ضغط المباريات على أرضيته قبل ساعات من استضافة مباراة القمة بين الأهلي والزمالك.

وكتب ميدو عبر حسابه الرسمي على منصة “إكس”: “استاد القاهرة أُقيمت عليه 8 مباريات خلال 12 يومًا من 18/9 حتى 29/9: مودرن وإنبي، الأهلي وسيراميكا، زد والاتحاد، الزمالك والجونة، البنك الأهلي ووادي دجلة، زد والحرس، مودرن وفاركو، الأهلي والزمالك”.

وأضاف نجم الزمالك السابق: “والنتيجة أننا ندمر أرضية الملعب، النجيلة لها عدد ساعات معين.. عبث لا يحدث إلا في الدوري المصري”.

استاد القاهرة اتلعب علية ٨ مباريات خلال ١٢ يوم من ٩/١٨ حتى ٩/٢٩
مودرن وانبى
الأهلي وسيراميكا
زد والاتحاد
الزمالك والجونة
البنك الأهلي ووادى دجلة
زد والحرس
مودرن وفاركو
الأهلي والزمالك
والنتيجة ان احنا بندمر أرضية الملعب
النجيلة دي ليها عدد ساعات معين
عبث لا يحدث إلا في… — Mido (@midoahm) September 29, 2025

ويأتي انتقاد ميدو في وقت تتجه فيه أنظار الجماهير إلى استاد القاهرة، حيث يحتضن الليلة “كلاسيكو العرب” بين الأهلي والزمالك في الجولة التاسعة من الدوري الممتاز.

ورغم الهجوم، أكدت مصادر داخل الاستاد أن الساعات الماضية شهدت جهودًا مكثفة لإخراج الملعب في أفضل صورة، حيث جرى تجهيز أرضية اللعب بشكل كامل، فضلًا عن غرف الملابس، المدرجات، ومناطق جلوس الجماهير، مع تنفيذ خطة تنظيمية ومرورية لتأمين الحضور.

وتجدر الإشارة إلى أن القمة النارية المنتظرة بين الأهلي والزمالك، يسعى فيها الفارس الأبيض للفوز من أجل الابتعاد بصدارة ترتيب الدوري، حيث يتواجد في المركز الأول برصيد 17 نقطة.

على الجانب الآخر، يسعى الأهلي لتحقيق الانتصار من أجل العودة من جديد إلى المنافسة على لقب بطولة الدوري للموسم الحالي، بعد البداية السيئة، حيث يحتل المركز السابع برصيد 12 نقطة.

It has been an interesting season in 2024/25 for Chelsea. They face a fight on their hands to secure a spot in the top five, and are still competing in the UEFA Conference League, a competition many expect them to win.

In the top flight, the west London side are one of the biggest underperformers when it comes to expected goals, highlighting an issue in front of goal. As per Understat, they have an expected goals tally of 64.83xG, but have actually managed just 56 goals, an underperformance by 8.83. There are only four top-flight sides with a bigger underperformance.

Thus, it might not be a surprise that the Blues are targeting a new attacker this summer.

The forward Chelsea want to sign this summer

It has been a theme in the last few years that Chelsea have signed players, and even a manager, from Brighton and Hove Albion. Well, this summer might be no different, given they are linked with Seagulls attacker Georginio Rutter.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to a report from Florian Plettenberg, Enzo Maresca’s side are thought to be ‘closely monitoring the development’ of Rutter down on the South Coast, and could make a move for him this summer, having ‘added him to their shortlist’.

The situation between the versatile attacker and the West London outfit has been described as ‘one to watch’ by Plettenberg, ahead of what will be a busy summer at Stamford Bridge.

He did not clarify a price, but Football Transfers value him at upwards of £39m.

Why Rutter would be a good signing for Chelsea

It has been an impressive season so far for Rutter in his debut campaign for the Seagulls. This term, he has eight goals and five assists across all competitions for Fabian Hurzeler’s side, including five in the Premier League.

In fact, the 22-year-old Frenchman, who is capped at under-21 level for his country, might certainly help with the expected goals deficit at Stamford Bridge. He is generally a lot more consistent this term, with 5.68xG, a 0.68 difference from his actual tally, as per Understat.

Another reason Chelsea fans can get excited about signing Rutter is the flair he brings as part of his game. Described as an “entertainer” by football analyst Ben Mattinson, the former Leeds United star is a tricky customer for most defenders, and oozes confidence in one-vs-one scenarios.

Indeed, it is not just that video that showcases how exciting Rutter can be with the ball at his feet, but the numbers from FBref are also there to back it up.

For example, the Seagulls’ number 14 averages 1.47 successful take-ons per game, ranking him in the top 9% of forwards across Europe over the last year.

Take-ons attempted

3.86

94th

Take-ons completed

1.47

91st

Progressive carries

2.28

86th

Carries into final third

1.96

95th

Carries into penalty box

0.87

71st

There are certainly shades of Chelsea legend Eden Hazard in Rutter. At his peak, the former Blues winger was described as the “best player in the league” by Jamie Carragher, who said he “does things that others can’t do”.

The legendary Belgian attacker was phenomenal in a Chelsea shirt. He scored 110 goals and grabbed 87 assists in 352 games for the west Londoners, becoming one of the most exciting players to watch in the Premier League.

That was thanks to his fearlessness on the ball, all the tricks at his disposal and the ability he had to glide past players. As per Sofascore per game, he averaged 5.8 successful dribbles in 2017/18, his highest on record.

If Rutter – registered 24 goals and assists for Leeds last season – is even half as good as Hazard was for Chelsea, they will have a world-beater on their hands. He certainly comes with lots of the flair their former number ten possessed, and has that ability to beat players in one-vs-one scenarios.

At just 22 years of age, there is plenty of time for Rutter to develop, too. He is a player who can score, create and carry in an effective manner, just like Hazard did. He could be a player Chelsea fans fall in love with.

Their best CF since Costa: Chelsea in talks to sign £65m "powerhouse"

Chelsea have made contact to sign “powerhouse” who would be a dream for Palmer

ByConnor Holden Apr 15, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

da aposte e ganhe： O técnico do São Paulo, Dorival Júnior, aproveitou a entrevista após o empate com o Coritiba, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, no sábado (29/4), fora de casa, para comentar sobre a decisão do clube de dispensar o ponta Pedrinho, acusado de agredir a ex-namorada, uma influenciadora digital de 20 anos.

O treinador diz que respeita a decisão da diretoria. Mas ponderou sobre as qualidades do jogador, que segundo ele eram únicas dentro do plantel tricolor.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasSão PauloSão Paulo treina na Arena da Baixada e embarca à Colômbia para duelo da Copa Sul-AmericanaSão Paulo30/04/2023São PauloDorival vê São Paulo com campo para crescer e elogia elenco: ‘Está propondo jogo a todo momento’São Paulo29/04/2023São PauloSão Paulo vai pagar três salários como multa por demissão para Rogério Ceni; férias e 13º completam valor milionárioSão Paulo29/04/2023

da cassino：
+ Saiba os 20 clubes das Américas que receberam mais interações no Twitter em março

-É um jogador de um para um, e realmente nós não temos outro no nosso elenco. Pedrinho havia sido meu jogador no Athletico-PR, já o conhecia muito bem. É uma decisão da diretoria, que eu respeito, e temos que tentar dentro do nosso grupo buscar um jogador que tenha características semelhantes.

Pedrinho não foi o único jogador tratado individualmente por Dorival em suas falas. O volante Méndez também foi assunto. Pedido pelo antecessor Rogério Ceni, o equatoriano vem só esquentando o banco e é um dos poucos atletas que ainda não teve oportunidades com o novo comandante.

-Foi um dos poucos que ainda não teve uma oportunidade de atuar, tudo é uma questão de tempo. Pedi a ele um ou outro detalhe, a gente vai corrigindo, pra me dar essa certeza de pôr ele em campo. É um jogador de muito bom nível técnico. Apenas pedi que alguns detalhes sejam melhorados pra que possamos ter ele em momentos importantes.

+ Confira os jogos e classificação resultados da Sul-Americana-23 na tabela do LANCE!

Just one wicket falls to newly promoted side in one-sided onslaught at Edgbaston

ECB Reporters Network12-Apr-2024

Durham endured a day of torment on their return to Vitality County Championship Division One as Warwickshire piled up 490 for one on the opening day at Edgbaston.The visitors chose to bowl but were pummelled by openers Rob Yates (191, 205 balls) and Alex Davies (226 not out, 274 balls) who added 343, the second-highest championship opening stand for Warwickshire.Their season-opener at home to Hampshire having been washed out last week, Durham must have wished the rain had stayed around as they toiled on a flat pitch with the Kookaburra ball.Yates took advantage with a stylish innings which included 25 fours and five sixes, while captain Davies posted an iron-willed maiden double-century with 25 fours and three sixes. In first class cricket, Durham have conceded only five partnerships of 300-plus – three of them by Warwickshire.This latest instalment of woe arrived despite the presence in the bowling attack of three debutants – Scott Boland, Callum Parkinson and Colin Ackermann. They ended the day with a combined one for 220.Durham’s decision to bowl appeared strange, bearing in mind the Kookaburra and the good batting pitch for the first game of the season at Edgbaston last week, and Yates and Davies duly rattled up 50 in 57 balls. Boland ended the Australian season in good form with 16 wickets in his last two games for Victoria but endured a joyless entry to county cricket. His first ball went for four and so did four others in his first three overs. Thirteen fours arrived in the first 12 overs as Davies raced to his 50 in 57 balls and Yates to his in 58.During the lunch interval, Warwickshire legend Dennis Amiss, speaking to club members, recalled his debut in 1960 when, as a 17-year-old, he did not get a bat as openers Norman Horner and Billy Ibadulla put on 377. That remains Warwickshire’s highest opening stand in first class cricket, but Yates and Davies had a real good go at it.They alternated in taking the initiative. Davies was first to his century (102 balls) but after Yates passed his ton (118), he accelerated. Successive sixes off Brydon Carse over the very short boundary took him in front of his partner and he struck Ackermann gloriously for 16 in three balls just before tea before perishing in pursuit of another six when Alex Lees held a swirling catch at long off.Yates left the field to a standing ovation and the spectators were soon back on their feet in acclaim for Davies’ maiden double century (249 balls). Never mind the propitious conditions, it was an innings of immense discipline and concentration from the captain and he has power to add tomorrow. In company with Will Rhodes (60 not out, 100 balls) he milked the melancholy Durham attack for 147 in the last 34 overs of the day.Warwickshire’s team includes Craig Miles, recalled from his loan spell at Glamorgan in light of injuries to Liam Nowell (torn pec muscle) and Michael Booth (side strain) and the delayed arrival of Hasan Ali who arrived in Birmingham today ready to make his debut away to Hampshire next week.