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The USWNT received the most online abuse of any team at the 2023 Women's World Cup, per a FIFPRO and FIFA Report.

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FIFA study reveals online abuse stats during Women's World CupUSWNT subjected to twice as much hate as other teamsTwo unidentified players targeted more than othersWHAT HAPPENED?

The report, which was commissioned by FIFA and the Global Player's Union, identified that the perception of USWNT players not singing the national anthem often brought abuse online, with the theme of the team being 'unpatriotic' or 'anti-American.' The data from the study showed that the abuse piled on after the team were knocked out of the tournament in the round-of-16 by Sweden.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

A message on social media from President Joe Biden, per the report, triggered the worst period of online abuse over the course of the tournament. It's added that one in five players were targeted with discriminatory messages, with "homophobic and sexual abuse" posts accounting for over one-half of all the hate on social media platforms over the course of the tournament.

The report adds that a U.S. player, along with an Argentine player, were targeted more than others.

WHAT FIFA PRESIDENT GIANNI INFANTINO SAID

“There can be no place on social media for those who abuse or threaten anyone, be that in FIFA tournaments or elsewhere," he said in a statement.

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DID YOU KNOW?

This was the earliest departure from a Women's World Cup ever for the USWNT, with the team coming into the tournament as back-to-back champions.

South Africa will be looking to seal their qualification against the lowest-ranked team in the ICC Champions Trophy

The Preview by Danyal Rasool06-Jun-2017

Match facts

June 07, 2017

Start time 13.30 local (12.30 GMT)
3:14

Tait: Without Wahab, Amir needs to show authority

Big Picture

South Africa and Pakistan are cricketing opposites in every conceivable way at the moment. South Africa are the highest-ranked team in the Champions Trophy, Pakistan the lowest. South Africa hammered Sri Lanka to kick off their tournament, while Pakistan were at the end of a pasting – against arch-rivals India, no less. South Africa’s power-hitting stocks are the envy of virtually every other side in the tournament, while seemingly the only power-hitter in all of Pakistan has been suspended on charges of corruption during the Pakistan Super League. South Africa are favourites to win this game, Pakistan are not.Pakistan have traditionally gone into big tournaments believing their bowling to be their biggest asset, but anyone who took a look at their performance during the game against India would begin to seriously wonder if that was the case this time around. In any case, the top-two ODI bowlers according to the ICC rankings are South African – Kagiso Rabada and Imran Tahir – so their opponents certainly have the edge in that department.What other ways can we compare Pakistan and South Africa? Batting? What about (if only for amusement’s sake) fielding?South Africa did indeed lose the last series they played, but they got better with each game, culminating in a demolition of England in the final ODI. They continued that upsurge with a comfortable win over Sri Lanka, a game in which they were by no means excellent. It was a mark of their quality that victory never seemed to be in doubt, except for a brief period at the start of the second innings when Sri Lanka got off to a flyer. Hashim Amla scored a hundred, Quinton de Kock is perhaps the world’s best young batsman, Tahir was Man of the Match. You could run through all the other names, without finding any real chink in the armour.Pakistan can take inspiration from recent history. These two sides were similarly mismatched when they last took each other on at the 2015 World Cup, and South Africa were on course for a routine victory chasing a below-par total, before a few quick wickets derailed the chase and had Pakistan snatch an unlikely win. Eight of the XI that started for South Africa in the opening game of this tournament also played in that contest, so Pakistan may harness hopes of reopening old wounds.

Form guide

South Africa WWLLW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Pakistan LWWLL

In the spotlight

David Miller is the sort of player Pakistan are crying out for: an explosive middle-order player who can have a devastating impact towards the close of an innings. He isn’t just a slogger, though; it’s just that South Africa’s top order is so reliable he doesn’t often get in before the 35th over. He’s fresh off a 51-ball 71 in a thrilling ODI against England not too long ago, and though it couldn’t get South Africa over the line, it highlighted the value Miller provides as a stable No.5 to a superb top order. Pakistan’s death bowling was clueless against India, and it has been that way against the better teams for a while now. Miller should be licking his lips at the very prospect of facing them tomorrow.Besides Mohammad Amir, Shadab Khan was the only Pakistan bowler who could claim a passing grade from their game against India. The 18-year-old legspinner held his own against a daunting Indian batting line-up, ensuring the batsmen couldn’t target him in a tournament where spin bowlers’ chances haven’t been fancied. Fifty-two runs came off his ten overs, and he even provided the opening breakthrough, deceiving Shikhar Dhawan in the air. He might be expected to perform a similar role against South Africa, who will be aware of the damage quality legspin can do, what with Tahir’s heroics against Sri Lanka.

Team news

South Africa may be tempted to stick with the side that beat Sri Lanka so comprehensively, although that would mean they miss the transformation target – a minimum of six players of colour on average over a season – two games in a row. Phehlukwayo might be given a start, and in such an eventuality one of Chris Morris and Morne Morkel could make way.South Africa (possible): 1 Hashim Amla, 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 AB de Villiers (capt), 5 David Miller, 6 JP Duminy, 7 Chris Morris, 8 Wayne Parnell, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Morne Morkel/Andile Phelukwayo, 11 Imran TahirWahab Riaz has been ruled out of the tournament, and Junaid Khan will take his place in the side. Sarfraz Ahmed also confirmed that Fakhar Zaman will open the batting, replacing Ahmed Shehzad.Pakistan (possible): 1 Fakhar Zaman, 2 Azhar Ali, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Mohammad Hafeez, 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Sarfraz Ahmed (capt, wk), 7 Imad Wasim, 8 Shadab Khan, 9 Mohammad Amir, 10 Hasan Ali, 11 Junaid Khan

Pitch and conditions

There has been some drama surrounding the Edgbaston pitch. This game was scheduled to be played on an unused pitch, but it has gone soft due to the amount of rain. As a result, the match will be played on the same pitch that was used previously this tournament. As for weather, rain is expected to stay away for most of tomorrow, and a full game is expected.

Stats and trivia

• Pakistan have lost six successive Champions Trophy matches, a run that stretches back to 2009
• Hashim Amla became the quickest batsman to 25 ODI centuries with a hundred against Sri Lanka on Saturday. He needed 151 innings to get to the mark, overtaking Virat Kohli who took 162

Quotes

“Yes, definitely.”
“We have tried to lift the team’s spirits, and the mood in the camp is very good now.”

England now know only one way to play: aggression. It has taken them on a thrilling ride over the last two years. Can they keep it going when the pressure is really on?

George Dobell30-May-2017

Overview

That England are the bookies favourites speaks volumes for their improvement since the 2015 World Cup. Shocked into a change of mindset by their wretched from in the tournament, they discarded their coach, several senior players (including their top wicket-taker, James Anderson, and top run-scorer, Ian Bell) and their old approach in reinventing themselves as an ultra-aggressive side who are committed to attacking with bat and ball as a default option.The change has been dramatic: they have recorded five of the six highest scores in their ODI history since the end of the World Cup, including the world record total of 444 against Pakistan, and won six of their seven most recent bilateral ODI series. The decision to stick with Eoin Morgan as captain, despite a disappointing World Cup and his absence from the Bangladesh tour, has been crucial: he has driven the ‘no-fear’ approach (the revival began in the New Zealand series at the start of 2015; just before Trevor Bayliss started his stint as England coach) and insisted upon a continuity of selection that has ensured the side is settled and their roles well defined.England squad

Eoin Morgan (capt), Alex Hales, Jason Roy, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett, Mark Wood, Jake Ball, David Willey

The development of Ben Stokes into a top-class allrounder has been key, but this is a side well-served by all-rounders – Chris Woakes, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid and Liam Plunkett could also fit in this category – meaning they bat deep and have plentiful bowling options. Most of all, they are a team that will, with the bat, with the ball and in the field, always take the positive option. And if they go down, they’ll go down swinging.They might even be the most exciting team to watch in the tournament; has that ever been the case with an England ODI side? They went close to winning in 2013 but that always felt like the end of an era. This time they could win and the sense is of a team that is still starting out.

Champions Trophy history

1998 – Quarter-final
2000 – Quarter-final
2002 – Group stages
2004 – Runners-up
2006 – Group stages
2009 – Semi-final
2013 – Runners-upESPNcricinfo Ltd

Form guide

England have won eight of their nine most recent ODIs, including series wins over West Indies, Ireland and the world’s No. 1 ranked side, South Africa. Ignoring the aberration of Lord’s, when a much-changed side was bundled out for 153 and defeated by seven wickets, their lowest total when batting first in their last 11 ODIs is 296. It was the only time they have failed to reach 300 in that sequence. A couple of batsmen are a little short of runs (Jos Buttler has reached 20 only once in eight innings; Jason Roy has not passed 20 in six) and some of the all-rounders (Stokes, Moeen and Woakes) have minor injury concerns, but England go into a global ODI tournament with expectations higher than they have been for 25 years.

Strength

Depth and consistency. They bat beyond the horizon – Woakes registered the highest score (95 not out) by a No. 8 in ODI history last year and Adil Rashid, a man with 10 first-class centuries behind him, could come in as low as No. 10 – and have six or seven options with the ball. That allows them the freedom to attack and the ability to rebuild with the bat and some insurance with the ball. Perhaps more significantly, it allows the batsmen, in particular, to buy into the aggressive ethos that has been a hallmark of their improvement over the last couple of years. The messages from the management – go out there and attack – have been consistent and have been backed by consistent team selection. The result is a settled team

Weakness

History and expectation. England’s record at global ODI tournaments is famously modest and it remains to be seen how they will cope with the unusual experience of going into this home tournament as favourites. Their success has generally been built on playing fearless, no consequences, joyful cricket. And when they had nothing to lose, in the aftermath of the 2015 World Cup, that was relatively easy. Whether they can do it now, with the consequences of failure potentially more painful, remains to be seen.

Key stats

5: The number of global one day finals (three World Cups and two Champions Trophy) England have contested. 0: The number of global one day finals they have won. 6.27: England’s run-rate since the last World Cup. Comfortably the best in ODIs244: England have also hit the most sixes in that period – New Zealand are next on 217

Liverpool will not be making a move for Alex Scott this summer, according to a report from reliable journalist Ben Jacobs.

Who is Alex Scott linked with?

The midfielder has had an electric year in the Championship for Bristol City and has become a key player for the side already despite being only 19-years-old. He featured in a total of 42 second tier games for the Robins in the 2022/23 season – nearly every single league fixture for the club – and 40 of those came as starts. It led to one goal and five assists from the centre of the field, the teenager's best ever career tally for assists.

In addition, when compared to others in his position in the Men's 'Next 8' competitions in Europe, he ranks extremely highly despite his youth and relative inexperience (he's only had two years of first-team football).

He sits nicely in the top 11% for progressive carries for example with a rate of 2.34 per 90 and also fits into the 83rd percentile for successful take-ons, with a total of 1.22 per 90 to boot.

It's led to plenty of clubs from higher up the pyramid sniffing around his signature – but one club that won't be making a move is Liverpool according to journalist Ben Jacobs. He states that the Reds have indeed scouted and had a look at Scott but that they won't be making a move to sign him. Instead, that leaves the path empty for some of the other interested Premier League sides, namely Wolves and Tottenham.

What is Alex Scott's transfer value?

A deal won't be cheap for the player even though he is only 19. That's because Jacobs adds that Bristol City want around £25m for his signature – a huge fee for a player who has yet to leave the Championship.

However, when you consider the impact he has had on the game already and some of the high praise he has receieved, it comes as no surprise. Even Pep Guardiola has hailed Scott for example, as he called the midfielder an "unbelievable player."

Indeed, some Reds fans may feel that, considering his talent, their club should be in the race to try and bring Scott to Anfield.

The Committee of Administrators (CoA), which is in charge of the Indian board, has sought an “urgent” intervention from the Supreme Court to clear the air on whether disqualified office bearers can attend BCCI or ICC meetings

Nagraj Gollapudi07-Apr-2017

The Committee of Administrators (CoA), which is in charge of the Indian board, has sought an “urgent” intervention from the Supreme Court to clear the air on whether disqualified office bearers can attend BCCI or ICC meetings. The CoA’s request comes two days prior to the BCCI’s special general body meeting (SGM) in Delhi on April 9.The CoA fears the SGM is likely to be attended by many former state and BCCI office bearers who became ineligible under the Lodha Committee recommendations which were approved by the court.Among those who are likely to attend the SGM is former BCCI president N Srinivasan. Pre-empting such a situation, the CoA had warned the BCCI office bearers and the state associations that only eligible representatives could attend the SGM.Vidarbha first to get pending BCCI funds

By becoming the first state association to implement the reforms recommended by the Lodha Committee, the Vidarbha Cricket Association will now get its pending funds from the BCCI.
Last September the Vidarbha Cricket Association elected a fresh administration, having adopted the new constitution as per the Lodha Committee recommendations. VCA is one of the very few BCCI members – along with Tripura Cricket Association and Hyderabad Cricket Association, and the suspended Rajasthan Cricket Association – that agreed to comply with the July 18, 2016, court judgement, which approved the Lodha Committee reforms.
In the face of staunch opposition from the rest of the states, the court had asked the BCCI through twin orders last October to “cease and desist” from disbursing any funds to all state associations that did not fall in line. In its third status report submitted in court on Friday, the committee of administrators said that VCA would get the funds straightaway.

It remains to be seen whether the CoA directives will be obeyed or ignored by Srinivasan and the state associations. During different meetings with the CoA in the last couple of weeks, the three existing office bearers of the BCCI – Amitabh Choudhary (acting secretary), Anirudh Chaudhry (treasurer) and CK Khanna (acting president) – indicated that the Lodha Committee eligibility criteria would not be applicable to the representatives from each state attending the SGM in case the person was not an office bearer. However the CoA is not certain.In its third status report, which was submitted in the court on Friday, the CoA has asked whether the two sets of frequently asked questions put in place by the Lodha Committee would be part of the BCCI’s new constitution. In the second set of FAQs, issued on January 12 this year, the Lodha Committee had said that disqualified office bearers could not come back as representatives for BCCI meetings or on behalf of the board.”The issue of whether the First FAQs and the Second FAQs form part of the reforms that the Committee of Administrators is required to implement requires urgent attention in light of the notice calling for a Special General Meeting of the BCCI on April 9, 2017,” the CoA status report said. The report was signed by former India woman’s captain Diana Edulji, who is part of the four-member CoA.The question that the BCCI office bearers and many state associations are asking is can the FAQs be relevant after the court had declared in its order on January 20 that the Lodha Committee’s role would be “confined to overall policy and directions”.In its submission on Friday, the CoA said the second set of FAQs was “particularly relevant” for Sunday’s SGM. “For the upcoming Special General Meeting that has been called by the BCCI on April 9, 2017, each existing Member Association of the BCCI is required to send a nominee/representative to attend the same. The Committee of Administrators has been informed that such nominee/representative need not necessarily be an office bearer of the concerned Member Association. It is possible that in some cases the nominees representative of a Member Association to the SGM scheduled on April 9, 2017, may be a person who would be disqualified to represent the Member Association if it is held that the FAQs form part of the reforms that the Committee of Administrators is required to implement.”The two top items on the four-point agenda of the board’s SGM concern the forthcoming ICC meetings in Dubai. The ICC Board is expected to vote on the new governance structure and revenue distribution model. Although CoA member Vikram Limaye was the BCCI representative at the last ICC Board meeting in February, the BCCI’s office bearers want to pick their own nominee this time, and Srinivasan is one of the favourites.But with the Lodha Committee reforms having made him ineligible, the CoA wants the court to take the final call.

India bowler Ashish Nehra said the combination of his double-wicket over in the Powerplay and Jasprit Bumrah conceding just five runs off his final two overs were key moments in India’s five-run win

Vishal Dikshit in Nagpur30-Jan-20171:52

‘Bumrah backs himself’ – Nehra

India’s most experienced bowler in the T20 squad, Ashish Nehra, has said picking up early wickets and, later on, the scalp of Ben Stokes were key to turning things around in their five-run win in the second T20 in Nagpur. England were well placed chasing a target of 145 with 42 required from five overs and seven wickets in hand but Jasprit Bumrah and Nehra choked the flow of runs in four of those five overs, claiming three wickets between them in the period.”When you are defending a score like 145, it is important to pick up a wicket up front, which we got in my [second] over,” Nehra said. “It puts pressure on the batsmen. With the wicket slow, if you take two, three wickets early then the batsmen will be on the back foot. If Amit Mishra had not bowled a no-ball, we could have been in the game earlier.”Nehra had opened the bowling with Yuzvendra Chahal and went for only five runs in his first over before dismissing attacking openers Sam Billings and Jason Roy at the beginning of his second over to finish his spell on 2-0-7-2. When Nehra came back to bowl, England were 32 away from the target with four overs left.”I knew [the 17th] had to be the over where we had to pull it off,” Nehra said. “Luckily it happened – that over went for five or six and Ben Stokes got out. We were back in the game, but my last over was fine till the last ball went for a six. Had I picked up a wicket, we would have had 15 to defend in the final over and Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling is not easy to score [off]. He still did the job.”Mishra, who came into the XI for Parvez Rasool, had also brought India back in the middle overs when he dismissed Eoin Morgan with an uncharacteristic offspinner in the 11th over and then bowled Stokes two balls later for a first-ball duck before a check with the third umpire revealed he had overstepped for a no-ball. Stokes went on to score 38 off 27 balls and nearly saw England through.Bumrah has emerged as India’s most potent death-overs bowler and bowled three of the last five overs for only 14 runs. England were still favourites when the last over started with eight runs needed and Joe Root, on 38, on strike but Bumrah dismissed him and then Jos Buttler two balls later to turn the tables on England. Bumrah finished with figures of 4-0-20-2, the eighth time he has conceded fewer than six runs per over while completing a full four-over quota in the 23 T20Is he has played. Nehra explained how Bumrah’s success is down to his precision with the older ball, compared to his own forte of taking wickets with the new ball.”Bumrah’s strength is bowling with the old ball – whether it’s the slower ball or yorker,” Nehra said. “He’s learning day by day and he will only get better from here. In the one-day series, we saw 350 and 380 were scored but Jasprit Bumrah still bowled five or at least three overs in the end.”Even though Bumrah conceded nine runs in the 16th over – when he came back into the attack – it was Nehra who kept India’s chances alive by conceding only five runs in the next over, which also included Stokes’ wicket. When England needed 24 form 12 balls, Nehra bowled his last over in which Jos Buttler clubbed the left-arm pacer for a four and six to bring the equation down to eight from six balls.”When you are bowling in the death you are always under pressure in T20, but still you have to back yourself,” Nehra said. “You practice the skills in the nets, but I personally feel as a bowler it is mental toughness that counts. Last five balls were fine, but then the last ball went for a six. I was confident after Buttler got out Jasprit will do the job.”Bumrah did finish the job even though England were only four wickets down and needed eight from the final over. Two wickets and another two dot balls meant England fell short of India’s total by five runs.

ScorecardCharlie Shreck claimed three wickets on the opening day•Getty Images

A career-best unbeaten 79 from Harvey Hosein rescued Derbyshire on the opening day of the Division Two match against Leicestershire at Derby.The home side had slipped to 151 for 5, despite a half century from Alex Hughes, with Charlie Shreck taking three wickets but Hosein took advantage of a bad miss by Rob Sayer to steer his side to a respectable 282 for 8 when bad light ended play early.Derbyshire were trying to avoid becoming the first team in the county’s history since 1924 to go through a season without winning a Championship game but they started badly after Leicestershire decided to bowl first.There was certainly some early movement for Clint McKay who nipped one back to trap Billy Godleman in front in the seventh over of the morning and he should have had Ben Slater in his next over but Richard Jones spilled a simple catch at point.It was not an expensive miss because Slater completely mistimed a drive at Shreck’s first ball and chipped a gently catch to mid-off but that was Leicestershire’s last success before lunch as Hughes and Wayne Madsen played carefully to put the innings back on track.Madsen had bagged a pair in the previous game but he was looking set when Jones moved one away just enough to draw him into playing and give Ned Eckersley his first of four catches.Hughes was less convinced he got a touch against Shreck three overs later and he had Neil Broom taken at first slip in his next over to leave Derbyshire facing another first innings failure.Tom Wood was stuck on 8 for 40 balls on his first-class debut before Neil Dexter bowled the 22-year-old but Hosein played positively from the start although he should have been dismissed on 32 but Sayer fumbled a straight-forward return catch.With help from Tom Milnes and Tony Palladino, Hosein guided Derbyshire to a second batting point as Leicestershire began to unravel in the closing stages of the day.Hosein was given another life on 78 when he drove at McKay and Harry Dearden on his senior debut dropped the catch at second slip before the umpires decided that even with the floodlights on, the light was not good enough for play to continue shortly before 5pm.

Arsenal have enjoyed a season as one of the Premier League’s best, sitting at the top of the pile for the majority of the campaign.

April’s disappointing form saw the Gunners get chased down by Manchester City but hope does still remain in north London that Mikel Arteta’s side can still win their first league title since 2004.

With just three games remaining, Arsenal have reached new heights this season, guaranteeing Champions League football for the 2023/24 campaign and a top-two finish for the first time since 2016.

What’s most impressive about Arteta's side, is that they are the joint-youngest squad in the top flight, level with Southampton with an average age of just 24.4.

The club’s three highest goalscorers are under 25, with 24-year-old captain Martin Odegaard netting 15 goals this season, level with 21-year-old Gabriel Martinelli, and in third is Hale End graduate Bukayo Saka with 14 goals.

To see young players flourishing is one thing, but to see them lead and maintain the success of a team at the summit of the Premier League is an incentive for those in the club’s academy, as a glimpse of the opportunities that could open for them in the future.

Several academy names have featured in first-team training this season, the most recent addition being Portuguese midfielder Mauro Bandeira.

Who is Mauro Bandeira?

Since joining Arsenal’s academy at the age of 13, Bandeira has worked his way through the system and currently plays for the U21s in the Premier League 2’s division one.

The 19-year-old prodigy has scored three goals in the league this season, making 20 appearances.

The Loures-born player is versatile in his positioning and has featured four times this campaign at right-back when called upon.

Once described as a “lively” presence in the engine room by journalist Layth Yousif, the young midfielder signed his first professional deal last summer and took the number 41 in the senior team.

Most recently, the teenage talent made the trip to St James’ Park with the Arsenal first-team squad, showing how he is valued at the club by Arteta.

With talk surrounding Granit Xhaka’s potential departure in the summer getting louder as the season draws to a close, the Swiss international could leave a vacancy to be filled in the heart of the pitch.

The Gunners aren’t afraid to place talented young stars above big names, and Bandeira could be one for the future as he embodies the skill set imposed on the current squad by the 30-year-old.

In the Football League Trophy this season, Bandeira has averaged a Sofascore match rating of 6.83, as well as winning over half of his duels per game (56%) whilst maintaining a passing accuracy of 81% – showing his ability to function in both areas of the engine room.

While speculation grows around Arsenal’s desire to sign a defensively-minded midfielder in the transfer window, the club may have the chance to explore the academy next season, especially with even more fixtures inbound with European involvement.

Only time will tell if the young Hale End gem will follow in the footsteps of those before him, however, Arsenal is the club to be at for young players under Arteta’s management.

Durham supporters steeling themselves for the possibility of another Test mismatch after events at Headingley can at least find consolation that this Championship encounter has thankfully been made of sterner stuff

David Hopps at Edgbaston24-May-2016
ScorecardJames Weighell claimed his first five-wicket haul•Getty ImagesDurham supporters steeling themselves for the possibility of another Test mismatch at Chester-le-Street after events at Headingley can at least find consolation that this Championship encounter has been made of sterner stuff. For three days, the leaders Warwickshire have failed to kill off a dogged challenge by Durham, the upshot being that they will begin the final morning 84 runs short with six wickets remaining. There is no doubt where the grittiest cricket has been on show.When it comes to toughness of character, Keaton Jennings loves nothing better than to sandpaper a bowling attack into submission. He began the season against Lancashire with centuries in both innings – only the third Durham batsman to achieve the feat – and his unbeaten 88 showed the same unyielding qualities. His fifth-wicket stand with Paul Collingwood was worth 67 from 23 overs at the close.Viewed through an international prism, as they are about to be, Durham, the hosts for the second Test, are in a mess. Appalling Test advance sales seemingly give them no immediate hope of reducing debts totalling £5m, especially with Ben Stokes hors de combat, but on the field, under the captaincy of Collingwood, their tenacity can be taken for granted.Durham’s tail is a long one: this match remains decidedly in the balance. But if they pull this one off, back-to-back wins (they beat the leaders Lancashire at Emirates Riverside last week) would be a powerful retort to those who imagined they might be relegation fodder. Instead it is Surrey, rich enough to lend them a few bob, whose season is turning sour.Durham’s ability to produce cricketers in the north-east also deserves to command huge respect, and it has been exemplified here at Edgbaston by James Weighell, the latest fast bowler to come off the production line – the result of a strong academy and a willingness to cast their net far and wide. Others can learn from that.A 22-year-old from Middlesbrough, border country where Durham’s raids are these days considerable more successful than Yorkshire’s, Weighell has twice set career-best figures in only his fourth first-class match, following up four wickets in the first innings with 5 for 33 second time around to return 9 for 130 in the match.He took all his wickets in the first innings from around the wicket – utilising it as an unusually persistent ploy against the right-hander – but he adjusted the balance towards a more conventional approach on the third day in conditions that gave plenty of encouragement to pace bowlers maintaining an attacking length.With Chris Woakes on the road north to join England – Warwickshire’s best bowling return for half a century safely gathered in – it was tempting to feel some sympathy for the effect that it would have on their Championship challenge until the thought dawned that Durham’s pace bowling stocks are currently weakened by the absence not just of Stokes and his England colleague Mark Wood, but also Chris Rushworth, whose 83 wickets last season made him the PCA cricketer of the yearFielding a trio of wet-behind-the-ears pace bowlers, Durham bowled themselves right back into the match by dismissing Warwickshire for 114 in their second innings, challenging the perception that their Woakes-inspired deficit of 123 on first innings was as good as terminal.Weighell was the prime reason. Warwickshire, resuming on 15 for 2, soon lost Andrew Umeed, who had made a century on Championship debut in the first innings, but who edged an excellent lifting delivery from Weighell. Ian Bell fell to a yorker and Weighell also added to the misery of Sam Hain whose desperately thin Championship season – a season in which he might have been expected to blossom – continued when he hacked a nondescript ball onto his stumps. Tim Ambrose caught at short leg on the stroke of lunch and a miscue to midwicket by Oliver Hannon-Dalby completed his five-for.Durham could be forgiven for identifying Keith Barker as the bowler they most feared as they set off in pursuit of 238. Barker, Warwickshire’s stocky left-arm swing bowler, has been Durham’s nemesis for years. There was a maiden century in 2011, the bowling figures behind two innings defeats in 2014 and another Championship hundred last season. One look at his sizeable frame sends them all a quiver.As it was, the threat came from a different source. It was the ganglier figure of Chris Wright who spearheaded Warwickshire’s challenge in a post-tea spell of 4 for 10 in 24 balls which disturbed the equanimity that had taken hold during a circumspect opening stand of 87 in 30 overs between Jennings and Mark Stoneman.In Woakes’ absence, and with no signs of turn for Jeetan Patel or Woakes’ stand-in – the legspinner Josh Poysden – Wright’s intervention was necessary. Scott Borthwick got the best delivery of all, which left him sharply to hit off stump, and when Michael Richardson pulled to midwicket few would have reckoned on Durham having a 50-50 chance of victory by the close.

Patrick Vieira’s sacking at Crystal Palace is not the only moving and shuffling behind the scenes at Selhurst Park, hints former Eagles midfielder Darren Ambrose.

The Lowdown: Vieira sacked as Palace manager

The Frenchman arrived as Palace boss back in the summer of 2021, in an appointment that was considered exciting at the time, especially given his pedigree as a player.

As time has gone on, however, Vieira has started to look more out of his depth and under pressure, with the Eagles failing to win any of their last 12 matches and not tasting victory in 2023 to date.

The 1-0 defeat away to rivals Brighton on Wednesday evening proved to be the final straw for the 46-year-old, who was officially relieved of his duties on Friday.

It means the search is now on to find Vieira’s successor as soon as possible, ensuring Palace don’t get themselves dragged into a genuine relegation battle in the Premier League.

The Latest: Ambrose reacts to news

Speaking to Sky Sports News on Friday morning, Ambrose hinted at some behind-the-scenes issues involving Shaun Derry, who departed in January amid rumours of a fall-out with the gaffer:

“The immediate reaction myself was shock, until I dug into it and looked at the real reasons. There are situations within the football club that hasn’t been fully released yet, like Shaun Derry, well not parting ways, but he’s on gardening leave at the moment.

“Who knows, he may return at some stage, but there just seems (to be) some kind of issues that were arising in the football club.”

The Verdict: Correct decision

While Palace fans have shown plenty of support for Vieira in recent months, as well as patience, performances and results have simply not been good enough for some time now.

The football on show has been bordering on unwatchable – the Eagles haven’t scored in their last four matches, dating back to the middle of February – and it is clear that a change was required before the team got themselves into real trouble.

The Derry side of things is intriguing, with the former midfielder joining Vieira’s staff in 2021 but then being placed on gardening leave on deadline day back in January.

Whether or not the situation surrounding him is anything to do with the sacking remains to be seen but reports of rumoured clashes with him did emerge following the move, adding fuel to the fire.

If everyone isn’t pulling in the same direction when it comes to the entire staff, it is so difficult to pick up positive results, and this potential bad blood may have proved fatal for Vieira.