The weather has kept a soppy series bubbling. Australia’s bright summer streak popped at six with the draw at Wellington and New Zealand – amazingly, considering the way they have been allowed to perform – have a chance of squaring the series at Auckland. It is a limited but valid opportunity.Historical records tell the Black Caps they have an even chance of taking the three-Test affair. Eden Park has hosted six Trans-Tasman Tests and the ledger is square at three-all. However, the forecast says it could be another dreary contest with showers predicted until Monday. At least. A draw would be a positive result for Stephen Fleming as he looks ahead to two Tests against Sri Lanka.The most relevant question is do Australia, a week out from holidays after eight months on the road, have one last burst left? They have thumped Fleming’s side over two series this season, and Ricky Ponting wanted 40 more overs at Wellington to mop up New Zealand’s second innings. Instead the dried-out Australians would like to sign-off on their dominating gallop across the two islands with a convincing performance. At Christchurch they won by nine wickets; at the Basin Reserve they had a 278-run advantage in less than three days when the plug was pulled. It is an equation of Australia’s energy versus New Zealand’s resistance.Fleming’s side, batting and captaincy are suffering, but he could afford only one alteration to the squad, James Marshall joining his identical twin Hamish at Craig McMillan’s expense. The less things change the more the result should stay the same. Fleming has taken the downward step to No. 4 and been looking for ways to upset Glenn McGrath’s ease at finding his front pad in front. Australia’s attack will not be touched and there was barely a whisper of push for Brett Lee.The Paul Wiseman v Iain O’Brien debate is still alive after two weeks and is vital to the power – or impotency – of an attack that has given up 1137 runs in two Tests at 3.9 an over. The rain and early life of a drop-in pitch didn’t win O’Brien his third Test, but the return of Wiseman’s offspin was a sensible option to provide slow support for Daniel Vettori.Australia won the last encounter at Eden Park in 1999-2000 when Colin Miller’s second-innings five wickets were more valuable than Vettori’s 12 in the match. Before that New Zealand were victorious three times in a row on a ground that makes Australians shudder at their team’s lack of success. Bruce Edgar’s 161 and Richard Hadlee’s seven victims in 1981-82 toppled Chappell, Lillee and Marsh, John Bracewell, the current coach, took 10 to claim the 1985-86 series, and in 1992-93 Dipak Patel and Danny Morrison hauled five-wicket bags to draw New Zealand level against Border, Warne, Waugh, Healy and Martyn.They were heady matches, but Eden Park is now in the grip of rugby season – the Auckland Blues have a Super 12 bye after a two-two win-loss record – and cricket has one last hold before the goalposts are wheeled out properly for winter. However, the low attendances of the opening Tests suggest local views are All Black once autumn arrives and they have little appreciation of any-coloured caps. It should be a sombre end to a draining summer.Peter English is Australasian editor of Cricinfo.
New Zealand Women 151 for 6 (Tiffen 52) beat Australia Women 131 by 20 runs Scorecard New Zealand Women stayed alive in their six-match series against their Australian counterparts as they won the fourth match by 20 runs at the Bankstown Oval in Sydney. The star of the New Zealand batting effort was Haidee Tiffen, who held the innings together with an 89-ball 52. Her partnership with Aimee Mason (33) was largely responsible for the modest total that they achieved. Cathryn Fitzpatrick was the most successful bowler for Australia with 3 for 35.Despite losing Belinda Clarke for 0, the second wicket stand was worth 51 and Australia were coasting along. However they lost their ways in middle overs and there wasn’t any noteworthy partnership thereafter. Louise Milliken and Helen Watson snapped up two wickets apiece as Australia were bowled out for only 131.
MELBOURNE, Jan 28 AAP – Acknowledging that 2002-03 had not been his best season, Adam Gilchrist was as surprised as anyone to win the Allan Border Medal tonight as Australia’s cricketer of the year.The wicketkeeper-batsman had indisputably been a key member of the dominant Australian Test and one-day teams.But it was his limited-overs opening partner Matthew Hayden, currently ranked the world’s No.1 Test and one-day batsman, who was the pre-event favourite.Gilchrist polled 88 votes, to edge Ricky Ponting (84), Shane Warne (79) and Hayden (76).”The award was a surprise, it’s amazing, I really didn’t expect it,” said Gilchrist, who also won the one-day international player of the year award.”So many guys had great years, Matty Hayden had a standout year, probably a better year even than last season when he won the award.”So I think all of us were banking that he was going to be the man.”When asked if it had been his best-ever season, Gilchrist replied: “To be honest no, seeing from my reaction tonight.”It started out well…. I was probably a fraction inconsistent in one-day cricket, in Test cricket I felt like I took some opportunities well and missed a few opportunities, although that’s the type of player I am.”Gilchrist nominated skipper Steve Waugh’s century in the fifth Ashes Test earlier this month as his highlight of the season.Personal high points would have included back to back unbeaten Test hundreds against South Africa.The Allan Border Medal is still in its infancy, but Gilchrist said it was already something coveted by the players.”It’s grown in tradition in four years, it’s grown legs,” he said.”It’s got a little bit of history now if you look at the names already on the winners board.”I guess the key ingredient with this one is that the players vote on it.”The previous winners were Hayden (2002), Steve Waugh (2001) and Glenn McGrath (2000).The voting began on the tour of South Africa from February-April last year and finished with the VB Series finals last weekend.Votes were cast by the players, umpires, match referees and media representatives on a 3-2-1 basis for each game, with an extra weighting given to the 11 Tests over the 27 one-day internationals.Test captain-in-waiting Ponting (13 votes) was a narrow winner of the Test Player of the Year ahead of Warne (12) and Gilchrist (10).Warne’s chances were hampered by missing the last two of the 11 Tests in the voting period with a dislocated shoulder.Gilchrist also won the One-Day International Player of the Year with 18 votes, one ahead of Hayden and Brett Lee.He made 751 runs with two centuries at an average of 32.65 and a strike rate of 95.79.Gilchrist also took 40 catches and made five stumpings.But Gilchrist’s Test average of 77.33 this season was the best in a team where Ponting and Hayden also averaged more than 60.Other award winners were Martin Love (State Player of the Year), Nathan Hauritz (Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year) and Karen Rolton (Women’s Cricketer of the Year).Former Test captains Lindsay Hassett and Ian Chappell were inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.
Derbyshire tasted victory for the first time since May13th when they beat Middlesex by 42 runs at Derby.Batting was never easy on a slow pitch and Middlesexwere bowled out for 154 with 28 balls to spare inreply to the home side’s 196-7.A typically well paced half-century from Rob Baileyand some powerful strokes from the lower order gaveDerbyshire a challenging total and they defended itskilfully.The bowling was tight and the fielding keen andMiddlesex, handicapped by an injury to StephenFleming, faded away aftger a middle-order collapse.Alex Edwards, signed because of injuries to four pacebowlers, did well against the county he spent lastseason with and ended with figures of 1-25 from nineovers on his Derbyshire debut.But it was the spinners who did the damage with leftarmer Lain Wharton bowling particularly well to take2-23 from his nine overs.By the time Fleming, who dislocated a finger fielding,came in, his side were 94-6 and although the NewZealand skipper played some defiant strokes,Derbyshire were always in control.Fleming fell to a fine running catch at long off byChris Bassano and when Angus Fraser holed out in thedeep, it brought to an end a run of ten games without awin for Derbyshire.
It’s been a period of remarkable change at Rangers in recent weeks, with the Ibrox side having been forced to react following a desperate start to the season.
Gone are Patrick Stewart, Kevin Thelwell and the much-maligned Russell Martin. Ex-Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl – yet to taste defeat in the Premiership – has steadied the ship nicely, with Stig Inge Bjornebye also joining the party ahead of the January window.
The former Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers man has signed a six-month deal in a consultancy and advisory role, with the 56-year-old set to aid Rohl and co in seeking out potential new recruits for when the window opens next month.
After the chaos of the summer, which saw £8m dished out on Youssef Chermiti, among other errant deals, the Ibrox side need to get back on track again, replicating the deals that proved so fruitful in recent years.
From Calvin Bassey, to Joe Aribo, to Glen Kamara, the Gers have repeatedly acquired exciting young talents on the cheap and sold them on for sizeable profits, with that true none more so than in the case of one-season wonder, Hamza Igamane.
How Igamane compares to Rangers forwards this season
In what is such a pressure cooker in Glasgow, signing off on eye-watering deals for figures like Chermiti is almost a case of setting the player up to fail from the off, with the man who failed to score a single goal at Everton since netting just once in his new surroundings.
It is far more prudent and astute to seek out bargain deals instead, where possible, with the Light Blues reaping the rewards of having forked out just £1.7m for Igamane back in the summer of 2024.
It was a muted start for the promising Moroccan forward, having taken until early December to net his first Premiership goal, albeit with that kickstarting something of a purple patch, with nine of his 11 league goals coming in December and January.
The Gers’ Europa League voyage arguably brought the best out of the 23-year-old too, with Igamane registering four goals and one assist across his first four league phase outings.
In all, he chalked up 16 goals in 46 games in 2024/25, before departing for Lille on a £10.4m deal over the summer, following just a further three appearances at the start of the campaign.
Now in France, the seven-cap international has exploded in Ligue 1, netting nine goals in his first 18 games for his new club, rubberstamping why former boss Philippe Clement viewed him as a “rough diamond”.
For comparison, that tally eclipses every player at Rangers this season, with James Tavernier – as ever – leading the way with seven goals, ahead of Djeide Gassama on six.
Igamane vs Rangers forwards – 25/26
Player
Games
Goals (Assists)
Igamane
18
9 (2)
Miovski
20
5 (1)
Gassama
30
6 (2)
Curtis
15
3 (0)
Danilo
23
3 (1)
Moore
20
2 (2)
Bajrami
14
2 (0)
Aasgaard
24
1 (1)
Chermiti
18
1 (1)
Stats via Transfermarkt
Igamane’s impact in Glasgow may have been fleeting, but his talent was undeniable, with none of the new faces, evidently, having come close to hitting such heights.
Now, Bjornebye and co need to follow suit by striking gold again in 2026.
Rangers could land their biggest talent since Igamane
While Rangers may wish to be cautious about dipping into the market to back yet another new manager, there is a clear need to strengthen, with the likes of Gassama and Joe Rothwell among those who could already be moving on after just six months at Ibrox.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
In terms of potential incomings, it was reported earlier this month that the Gers – alongside Sunderland – were among the clubs keen on signing Tromso sensation, Jens Hjerto-Dahl.
The 20-year-old – who is not expected to command a sizeable fee – is courting attention following a promising season in his native Norway, having registered four goals and seven assists in 30 league games.
An eye-catching talent at 6 foot 4, the attack-minded midfield “unicorn” – as he’s been hailed by Belgian scout Elijah Michiels – could follow in Igamane’s footsteps as another high-potential, relative unknown talent who can dazzle in Scottish football.
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With his imposing frame and eye for goal, the youngster is a real box-crashing threat for his current side, typically operating as an all-action central midfielder.
While his overall record stands at just 21 goals and assists in 87 senior games, there’s certainly enough to be encouraged by, with that record not too far below Igamane’s 26 goals and assists in 56 games for AS FAR, albeit while operating as a forward.
In the view of analyst Kai Watson, he appears to be destined for one of Europe’s top five leagues, such is his talent, with Rangers perhaps able to provide a suitable stepping stone, as they were for Igamane last season.
Like Igamane too, there is an elegance and silk to the midfielder’s game which could be nurtured under the Rohl regime, with the Gers again in need of that player who can take the game by the scruff of the neck.
This does then look like a deal worth pursuing, with Bjornebye – and his expertise of the Scandinavian market – perhaps the perfect figure to lead this move for his fellow Norwegian.
Shades of Aaron Ramsey: Rohl must ditch "terrible" Rangers man after Hibs
Rangers’ look like they’ve plucked another frustrating talent from south of the border.
Shaun Pollock, the South Africa allrounder, has announced his retirement from international cricket following the second day’s play against West Indies in Durban. The current Test, his 108th, will be his last and the one-day series that follows the final matches for his country.”I’d like to thank Cricket South Africa for allowing me the opportunity of representing my country for the last 12 years,” Pollock told a press conference after the day’s play. “I thoroughly enjoy the honour and privilege of wearing the Protea badge and take with me some remarkable memories having played against some great players.”I made the decision at the start of the season that the West Indies series would be my last,” he said. “I have been fortunate to be in a team that has had the calibre of players to beat any opposition on any given day. I have made some wonderful friendships and have played against some remarkable characters.”Pollock, 34, regained his Test place for the deciding match against West Indies after not playing in the five-day game since January 2007. He currently stands on 420 Test wickets, the most by a South African, and 387 in ODIs. There is a chance he will finish with 400 in both forms depending on his success in the one-day series against West Indies.Pollock was thrust into the captaincy of South Africa in April 2000 when Hansie Cronje was drummed out of the game, and he faced the biggest challenge of his career – to lift a shocked and demoralised South African side. However, after a solid start to his captaincy, he lost some credibility after a 3-0 drubbing in Australia in 2001-02, and was later blamed for South Africa’s disastrous World Cup in which they failed to qualify for the Super Sixes.As a result, Pollock immediately lost the captaincy and was replaced by Graeme Smith. Though his nagging brilliance around off stump remained, his pace and ability to take wickets at the top of the order dipped in latter years.”I realise I have been blessed by God,” he said, “and feel I have nurtured my talents to the best of my abilities.”
Scorecard Bengal’s disciplined bowling attack defended a relatively low total of 156 to bowl Tripura out for 133 at Bhubaneshwar. The three-pronged pace attack of Ranadeb Bose, Shib Paul and Laxmi Ratan Shukla left Tripura reeling at 39 for 6, and only Timir Chanda (43) managed any decent score as Bengal affected three run outs. Choosing to bat first, Bengal had been in similar trouble after Chanda (4 for 28) and Manoj Singh (3 for 27) bowled excellent spells, but Kamal Mondal (69) helped them to what would prove a winning total. Scorecard Orissa opener Bikas Pati’s 84-ball 80 made most of the difference as his side clinched a four-wicket win over Jharkhand at Cuttack. Set 195 to win, Pati forged small yet crucial partnerships for the first and second wickets, and though he departed with 56 to get, Orissa managed to get home with 32 deliveries remaining. Batting first, Jharkhand slumped to 30 for 3 before Rajiv Kumar (49) and Keshav Kumar (56) chipped in. Preetamjit Das, the left-arm medium-pacer, had the best figures of 32.
Shane Warne, the Australia legspinner, has quashed rumours of a ODI return by confirming his retirement. He said he is more intent on preserving himself rather than touring the West Indies for the 2007 World Cup.In an interview with Warne said: “At this stage, I’m retired. I’m 37 later this year and I think I know my game pretty well. I know I can’t bowl for hours in the nets like I used to because when I wake-up I won’t be able to move the next day.”Warne took a three-week break from the game, spending part of it in Thailand and Fiji, before returning to represent Victoria for a Pura Cup match against South Australia starting February 2. “I needed three weeks off,” he said. “I could probably have done with a few more weeks to be honest, but I really wanted to play the last few games for Victoria. I wanted to get back in the groove. I’ve missed the game. It’s always nice to have a few games, especially with Victoria.”In 2003 Warne announced that he would retire from ODIs after the World Cup, but he failed a drugs test before the tournament started, and has focussed on Tests ever since.
New Zealand have been given a much needed boost ahead of the First Test against Australia at Christchurch, with Nathan Astle and Daniel Vettori both declaring themselves fit. The two players missed matches during the recent 5-0 ODI drubbing but are confident of making the Test series.Astle was suffering from a shoulder injury and Vettori back pain, but as two of New Zealand’s most experienced players their return can not come soon enough for a heavily depleted squad. Injuries have ruled out Jacob Oram, Scott Styris, and Michael Papps as well as long term absentee Shane Bond.”It’s good, it was just a bit of a niggle in the AC joint,” Astle told the news agency. “It was more precautionary than anything else. With the [one-day] series gone I just wanted to rest it and be right for Thursday. Everything’s fine – throwing, batting, I haven’t had a bowl yet, but I’m sure that’ll be all right as well.”Vettori is vital for a threadbare Kiwi bowling attack and will once again shoulder a heavy workload in the three-match series. He is just 12 wickets short of 200, and would join Chris Cairns and Sir Richard Hadlee as New Zealanders with that milestone. But despite the number of overs he is likely to bowl Vettori is not concerned: “I’m pretty confident about what I can do. I talked to Stephen [Fleming] and John [Bracewell] about it and I won’t be putting any restrictions on myself and they won’t be putting any on me either. It’ll just be a feel thing but I’m reasonably confident at the moment.”
Steve James has admitted defeat in his battle to overcome a long-standing knee injury and has announced his retirement from first-class cricket.James, 36, had a year remaining on his contract, but after sitting out the 2003 season he was forced to bow to the inevitable when six operations failed to make any real progress. Already a regular writer on cricket and rugby, he will devote himself full-time to journalism. Aptly, he announced his decision in a Sunday newspaper.”There are a lot of different emotions but I guess the main one is sadness,” James said. “I had a serious operation last June and I knew then it was 50-50 whether I’d be able to play again. I had another year on my contract and I felt I had another couple of years in me but it’s not to be. The decision was made for me.”James, who played twice for England in 1998 (“At least they couldn’t call me a one-Test wonder,” he once said), made his Glamorgan debut in 1985, sscoring 15890 runs at 40.63. For much of the 1990s James was one of the most prolific batsmen on the county circuit, but in recent years injury blunted his effectiveness.He was appointed as Glamorgan’s captain in 2001, leading them to the Sunday League title in his first season. He resigned last summer when it became apparent that he would not be able to play during the season.