England A 118 for 5 (Shah 27*, Dawson 0*) trail Sri Lanka 145 (Bell 4-18) by 27 runs ScorecardFifteen wickets tumbled on an absorbing first day of the second unofficial Test between England A and Sri Lanka A at the Nondescripts’ Cricket Club ground in Colombo. By the close, England still held the upper hand, but their position was considerably less secure than it ought to have been.By bundling the Sri Lankans out for 145, with the captain, Ian Bell, taking the lead with 4 for 18 from nine overs of medium pace, England had a golden opportunity to stamp their authority on the match and push for a 2-0 clean sweep. Instead, they themselves slipped to 118 for 5 in reply. Owais Shah was 27 not out at stumps, but had Sri Lanka’s captain, Jehan Mubarak, held on at leg slip in the closing overs, England’s position would have been all the more precarious.The day began well for England. Despite losing the toss for the second match running, England’s bowlers took advantage of some slap-dash batting, on a juicy track that was offering assistance from the earliest overs. Rikki Clarke made the first breakthrough, having Ian Daniel caught behind for 9, and though Sri Lanka recovered to 79 for 2, Sajid Mahmood made two important breakthroughs in the middle order, including Mubarak for 11.Bell then swept through the tail, with assistance from the two spinners, Richard Dawson and Graeme Swann. The last seven wickets fell for 48 runs, and only a quickfire 21 from Suraj Mohamed added a sheen of respectability.Sri Lanka’s efforts, however, were soon put into context. Vikram Solanki was caught and bowled for 15 by Nandika Ranjith, but from 77 for 1, England themselves had a dose of the wobbles. Malinga Bandara and Mubarak combined on three occasions to remove Alistair Cook, Michael Powell and Clarke, while Bell was stumped off Suraj for 31. The upshot was that a fascinating second day lies in store.
Despite on-the-field success, things are far from rosy at Gloucestershire, where an operating loss of £22,000 has been announced for 2003.The figures were worse than 2002, but there were underlying reasons. The levy received from the ECB was cut by £30,000 midway through the season, and the 2002 figures included a one-off donation of £100,000.”There is not enough money coming into the game in terms of people coming to watch,” Jim Harris, the county’s honorary treasurer, admitted. “It is essential that we provide the type of entertainment that crowds will want to watch and at a time they are able to attend.”Harris said that membership and admission fees would increase "substantially", but he explained that the cost of watching cricket remained cheap when compared with other sports. "I hope that members and spectators will accept that it is essential that we take this action," he added. " Running a first class cricket county in this century is not cheap if we wish to maintain the highest standards."
New Zealand could take part in a tri-series with Pakistan and Australia in Pakistan in August this year.New Zealand are already touring Pakistan for a Test and one-day series tour in April-May but NZC chief executive Martin Snedden has offered New Zealand to Pakistan for a pre-ICC Knockout tournament.Pakistan are considering New Zealand’s offer at the moment.In return, New Zealand’s tour in April-May may be reduced by one Test match with Snedden offering to catch-up the days missed with the one-day series in August-September, or before their scheduled tour of Sri Lanka in 2003.The ICC Knockout has not been confirmed for Sri Lanka yet but it is anticipated the tournament will be played between September 13-30 this year.”We would be going in cold to that tournament and we need some time somewhere in Asia,” Snedden said.The idea of a three-way tournament with Australia was possible because Australia are to tour Pakistan around that time.No formal invitation to a tri-series has been sent to Australia yet and Pakistan Cricket Board officials are understood to be checking weather patterns in the region for August to see where such a tournament could be played.Pakistan are to celebrate their Test cricket Golden Jubilee next summer and the tri-series is seen as a potentially key part of the celebrations.
Having lost just one wicket during the final session of day one of their Pura Cup clash against South Australia at the Adelaide Oval, Western Australia will head into the second day comfortably placed at a score of 4/273.Star batsman Justin Langer said the match, played by two full-strength teams, was a good practice for Australian players gearing up to face an international season agianst the West Indies and Zimbabwe. And, for much of the day, it looked it – with Western Australia being made to work hard for its runs and the visitors finding it difficult to take wickets.After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Warriors scored at a solid rate, but lacked the extra edge to lead them to the three-hundred mark by the end of play. They will be hoping for a big score from Damien Martyn when play resumes tomorrow – the Australian Test hopeful having finished the day on 56.Martyn, who toiled for 186 minutes to post his 50 off 161 balls, struck six boundaries for the day. He will resume tomorrow with Tom Moody by his side, the captain on 47 off 97 deliveries.The pair were joined with the team on 4/190, when Simon Katich fell lbw to Peter McIntyre. Katich, one of Australia’s most exciting young batsmen, played a slow innings today – finishing on 25 from 60 balls, with two fours.Earlier in the day, the crowd of 900 was entertained by a breezy 60 from Langer, but not before he had endured an early scare.After scoring three ducks from three innings so far this season, Langer nearly departed for another today, when a Gillespie yorker went straight through him. “It was an absolute beauty,” he said of the ball that almost sent the speedster on his way to a hat-trick. “Most times when you get out in batting, it’s batsman error, but had I have got cleaned up that first ball, I’d definitely say that I could’ve done too much about it, it was a great ball,” he said.But the 29-year-old was glad the ball didn’t crash into the stumps after missing his edge. “Yeah it was good to get off the mark. You’re always a bit nervous when you come off a couple of ducks, but you know, for me, it was a bad week at the office really. Most people have a week at the officebut mine becomes public that’s all. I wasn’t too worried about it, I know I’ve been batting well. When you play every week of the year, you’ve got to have one bad one in 12 months, so I’d like to just put that behind me and get on and have a good season now.”In the first session of the day, Western Australia had fallen just shy of the one hundred mark, going to lunch at 1/99. The Redbacks then swung the momentum their way, with Jason Gillespie and Paul Wilson picking up the wickets of Langer (60) and Mike Hussey (48).Fittingly, Jason Gillespie, the hardest-working of the Redbacks today, was involved in each of the first three dismissals – snaring Campbell and Langer’s wickets and assisting Wilson with a regulation catch to end Hussey’s marathon innings.Looking sharp and dangerous, he was the pick of the South Australian attack today, finishing with a miserly 52 runs off his 26 overs, including ten maidens. Wilson was the next best, with one wicket, five maidens and 49 runs off his 20 overs. Blewett, with 24 runs from his three overs, and Young,with 62 from 21, were the most expensive. McIntyre also had a disappointing day (his only consolation Katich’s wicket in the last session) and was hit for 70 runs off 23 overs.
One of the best players in the world over the last year has certainly been former Leeds United winger Raphinha.
Over the last couple of seasons in a Barcelona shirt, the Brazilian has 69 goals and assists for the La Liga giants, forming a largely unstoppable wing pairing with Lamine Yamal.
That sort of form earned the Blaugrana winger fifth place in the Ballon d’Or rankings, which is arguably lower than he deserved given the sheer weight of goals and assists he registered.
Incredibly, he was not included in Fifa’s The Best team of 2025, despite such a stellar year.
Whilst Raphinha is dominating world football, Leeds fans will no doubt look back fondly on his time at Elland Road.
Raphinha’s best moments for Leeds
It is hard to pinpoint the Brazilian winger’s single best moment during his time in West Yorkshire. Raphinha donned that famous White shirt 67 times over the course of two seasons, bagging 17 goals and assisting a further 12.
It is surely not too far-fetched to say his biggest contribution came in the 2021/22 campaign, in what turned out to be his final game for the club.
In a season where the Whites were threatened with relegation, Raphinha scored his 11th goal of the season, a penalty, to help them beat Brentford and survive in the Premier League.
There were other moments which stood out, too. The former Sporting CP star loved a goal against Everton, bagging three times in four appearances against the Toffees. That included this stellar strike in 2021.
Described as an “absurd” player by former teammate Crysencio Summerville, it was certainly deserved that the Brazilian donned the number ten shirt at Elland Road.
The numbers he put up and the level of performance certainly warranted such recognition.
Raphinha was sensational for Leeds, and they might finally have a player more exciting than him coming through the ranks.
Leeds’ best talent since Raphinha
In the past couple of years, Leeds have had some exciting footballers who have been either bought or produced via the academy.
In The Pipeline
Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.
Raphinha, of course, is one who was brought into the club, but the likes of Kalvin Phillips and Archie Gray are academy graduates.
Well, the academy has yet again produced another exciting talent. Harry Gray, the younger brother of Archie, is a “special” prospect according to football scout Ben Mattinson, and is on the cusp of the first team at his boyhood club.
Gray is a striker by trade and has been on fire this season.
In 13 appearances across all competitions for the Whites’ academy this term, he’s bagged ten goals, showing just how clinical he can be in front of goal.
Gray record per competition 2025/26
Competition
Games
Goals/assists
Premier League 2
6
5G, 1A
EFL Trophy
2
2G, 1A
Premier League Int. Cup U21
2
0
National League Cup
2
3G
FA Youh Cup
1
0
Stats from Transfermarkt
Perhaps the highlight of his season so far was a hat-trick against Scunthorpe United in the National League Cup.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
The 17-year-old showed excellent instinct in the box for his first strike, before bagging twice from outside of the box, including a sensational free-kick, to take home the match ball and secure a 3-1 win for Leeds.
His talent has already been recognised by manager Daniel Farke. The German gave him a debut last season in the Championship, and included him in the matchday squad in the Carabao Cup and once in the Premier League.
There is a case to be made that Gray is the best attacking talent since Raphinha was at Elland Road. He is clearly an excellent player, proven by the fact that he’s already made his first-team bow and is a real goal machine.
Yet, Leeds haven’t had an attacker who has exploded in the Premier League like the Brazilian since he departed. It is a long season and Gray might get the chance to do that this time around, or, failing that, get his chance in 2026/27 if they stay up.
He is certainly a brilliant talent and could be the most exciting attacker since their former number ten left the club.
Leeds star is fast becoming their best bargain since Pablo Hernandez
Leeds have now stumbled across their best bargain since Pablo Hernandez in this exceptional performer at Elland Road.
It might have escaped your attention, but several thousand miles away from the controversies in Australia, another Test match is about to get underway: the deciding third match between South Africa and West Indies in Durban.Prior to this series, few gave West Indies much hope of upsetting South Africa at home, and yet they approach the third Test level-pegging at 1-1. They caught South Africa snoozing in the first at Port Elizabeth, with an allround batting performance (inevitably dominated by Shivnarine Chanderpaul), and in spite of a number of injuries, they clawed at South Africa’s coat-tails doggedly for much of the second in Cape Town.The injuries have taken their toll, though, and West Indies’ chances of claiming their first series win over South Africa since 1992 are looking desperate. Chris Gayle, whose laid back leadership style clearly suits this young side, broke his left thumb in Cape Town and will miss out, exposing an already shaky batting lineup. And there is enough doubt over Fidel Edwards (hamstring) to suggest that even if he does make the final XI, he won’t be firing on all cylinders.Neither, it seems, will Dale Steyn whose hamstring injury has limited his preparations for Thursday. “He’ll probably only bowl (in the nets) at about 70 percent,” Mickey Arthur, the South Africa coach said yesterday. “He is making some nice improvement, but we’ll probably only have final clarity on the morning of [the Test]. (sic)”Should Steyn miss out, the decision South Africa take on his replacement could have a bearing on the future of their bowling attack. Shaun Pollock is tipped to return, but hot on his heels is Monde Zondeki, almost a decade his junior, who has been in blistering form this season.The most encouraging aspect of South Africa’s seven-wicket win in Cape Town was the return to form of Graeme Smith, who elbowed his way into rhythm with a pugnacious 85. The question of who opens with Smith continues to divide opinion though, and with Neil McKenzie ruled out with a calf muscle tear, Herschelle Gibbs (who was dropped in place of McKenzie in Cape Town) gets a recall.On the eve of the match, all eyes are on the Kingsmead pitch. With heavy rain over the past few days, the groundsmen are behind schedule and it could be another slow, low surface – which is not ideal for a series which deserves a competitive finale.TeamsSouth Africa (probable) Graeme Smith (capt), Herschelle Gibbs, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, AB de Villiers, Mark Boucher (wk), Paul Harris, Shaun Pollock, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini,West Indies (probable) Devon Smith, Daren Ganga, Runako Morton, Marlon Samuels, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dwayne Bravo (capt), Denesh Ramdin (wk), Darren Sammy, Rawl Lewis, Jerome Taylor, Daren Powell
Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson have been ruled out of the Twenty20 International against England tonight at the SCG due to illness and injury. Lee is suffering from a chest infection while Johnson, who partnered Andrew Symonds in hitting balls from a driving range in a public relations exercise on Monday, has a stomach strain.Shane Harwood, the Victoria bowler, and James Hopes, the allrounder who has played nine ODIs and two Twenty20 games, have been called into the squad. Alex Kountouris, the team physiotherapist, said Lee’s illness had developed over the past 24 hours.”He will be assessed by a doctor later today,” Kountouris said. “Mitchell has a minor abdominal strain which occurred late yesterday and as a precautionary measure we have decided it best for him not to play.” Both players will be monitored over the next couple of days in the lead-up to the first game of the tri-series against England at the MCG on Friday.Australia (from) Adam Gilchrist (wk), Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Cameron White, Brad Hogg, James Hopes, Ben Hilfenhaus, Nathan Bracken, Shane Harwood.England (from) Michael Vaughan (capt), Andrew Strauss, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff, Paul Collingwood, Ed Joyce, Jamie Dalrymple, Paul Nixon, Chris Read, Liam Plunkett, Sajid Mahmood, Jon Lewis, Chris Tremlett, James Anderson, Monty Panesar.
The dispute between South Africa and Australia surrounding Shane Warne’s vociferous appealing promises to continue, with Andre Nel suggesting the South Africans are to match their opponents with their own enthusiastic questioning of the umpires.”If they can get away with it, why can’t we try and get away with it too,” Nel told reporters at Sydney airport. “Maybe we can try and put pressure on umpires, inexperienced umpires, which they do very, very well. Maybe we can learn from them to do that better.”Despite the South African’s protestations about Warne’s aggressive appealing in this week’s second Test at Melbourne, he wasn’t reported by the umpires. Mickey Arthur, the South Africa coach, said Warne was a master at pressuring the umpires but Chris Broad, the match referee, rejected suggestions that he should face disciplinary action for his robust appealing, particularly to rookie Test umpire Asad Rauf of Pakistan.”I think they are very, very clever about the way they do things with umpires,” Nel added. “They put a lot of pressure on the umpires and sometimes it counts in their favour. Maybe we can learn something from them in a certain way by doing this. But sometimes they go a bit overboard and it gets a bit annoying, but that’s the way they do it and it’s working for them.”Meanwhile, newly-arrived Johan Botha was shielded from the media at the airport. Off-spinner Botha, 23, who has yet to play a Test, joined the team last Thursday and could partner established spinner Nicky Boje in the third Test on the spin-friendly Sydney pitch. Nel described Botha as ‘a surprise package,’ but South African officials didn’t want to subject Botha to undue media pressure.Nel added that he was looking forward to opening the fast bowling attack alongside Pollock.”It’s always nice to get the chance with the new ball and to bowl with Polly,” he said. “If I can fill the boots Makhaya has filled the last few years, I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
The fast bowler Charl Langeveldt will miss the next three one-dayers between South Africa and England owing to a fractured left hand. Langeveldt, 30, injured his non-bowling hand during the third Test at Cape Town.”Langeveldt has left the squad and gone home,” Gerald de Kock, South Africa’s media manager, told Reuters. “He will undergo a scan, and the hope is that he will be able to play in the last three games.”The next match is at Bloemfontein on Wednesday, but Langeveldt will not return until at least the fifth match, at East London on February 9.
ScorecardAfter they were put in, Easterns soon crumbled to 68 for 5 before Pierre de Bruyn (18) and Godfrey Toyana (40) restored some hope and helped them to 197 for eight after 45 overs. In a tight bowling display from all the Boland bowlers, Wallace Albertyn stood out and was the main wicket taker with 3 for 24.Boland were well on the way to a victory, but some slow batting from Albertyn, and the big wicket of Con de Lange (57 off 69 balls) falling with 13 runs required off the last 12 balls, cost them dearly as they went down by four runs.Earlier in the innings, Chad Baxter had set Boland for what looked like a win with 51 off 67 balls, while Andrew Hall took the Easterns bowling honours with 3 for 31.