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A Tasmanian car containing a batch of egg throwers was fortunate to escape after pelting a small group of Sri Lankans in Hobart last week. Muttiah Muralitharan would have been in hot pursuit of the drive-by yolkers if he and his fellow tourists were not so shocked by the flying object, which hit a selector in the back, but they laughed it off as a random act.While the Sri Lankans reported the incident on Friday, Mahela Jayawardene, their captain, said a green light saved the car’s passengers, who were “probably drunk”, from being chased by the men in the group.”If Murali had a stone or something near him he would’ve thrown it back,” Jayawardene said in Brisbane. “By the time they had realised what had happened the car had raced down the road. It was lucky for the guys in the car that the traffic light was green, otherwise Murali said he would have chased them.”Jayawardene joked it would have been funny if the egg had hit Murali instead of a selector. “It was a just a random thing and not a big deal,” he said. “We all had a good laugh about it. We didn’t want the matter to escalate so we lodged the complaint and left it at that. Murali was part of the group and the only recognisable person, but we all are fine with the matter.”Muralitharan has received a lot of poor treatment in Australia and even though it was unlikely the occupants of the car recognised him, the fact that a group of Sri Lankan tourists was singled out is a poor reflection on the host country.Another spinner, India’s Harbhajan Singh, has also been targeted following his part in the race controversy involving Andrew Symonds at the SCG, and Symonds’ home crowd chanted “Harbhajan’s a w***er” during the opening ODI of the CB Series.Jayawardene said it was important to “block everything” out during tours of Australia. “When you come here it’s not just the players who are aggressive, it’s also the crowd who are as aggressive as their team,” he said. “Everyone wants to win here in any sport, so teams need to prepare for that.”We should block everything else apart from what needs to be done in the middle. The Indians showed that with the way they bounced back in the Test series recently after what all happened in Sydney.”

Ricky Ponting wants his team to be “ultra-competitive” and said “nothing over the top” occurred to spark Lou Vincent’s comments about Australia’s ego-driven behaviour. Vincent complained the home players thought they were “bigger than the game” and were always talking, but Ponting said the chatter was an element of international competition.”Lou is a player who is always yapping up a bit and chirping when he is out on the field, trying to get an advantage for his team, and I think that’s just part of the game at the highest level,” Ponting said in The Australian. “There was nothing over the top that went on the other night, and what he is saying merely highlights how tough our two sides go at it out in the middle.”I want the guys in my team to be ultra-competitive. That’s what it is to play cricket for Australia, and I’m sure New Zealand are exactly the same.”The Australians have taken Vincent’s claim that they “hunt like a pack of dogs” as a compliment. Matthew Hayden said he was proud of the way the players stuck together and Brett Lee said it was what the team tried to do.”One of the reasons we have played really well recently is that we have had a never-say-die attitude, and sometimes other teams see that as a bit of ego,” Lee said in the Courier-Mail. “That is definitely not the case.”People talk about our sledging, and we play really tough cricket. We are renowned for that, but we know there is a line in the sand. We are well aware of the boundaries.”Lee said things on the field were not spoken “in a bad way”. “There are no racial things said, and nothing that represents a bad image for kids,” he told the paper. “Of course there are mind games. There is always going to be chat out there.”Stuart Clark, who is a quieter member of the squad, said he was surprised Vincent was listening to the Australians. “He should be thinking about what he has to do,” Clark said in the Sydney Morning Herald. “I don’t think we’re nasty or unfriendly, but I do think that the Australian cricket team hates losing as much or more than anyone, and I don’t see how that’s a bad thing.”John Buchanan did not feel there was a problem with his team’s behaviour. “We play the game hard, there is no doubt about that,” he said in The Australian. “But we play it fair and within the spirit of the game.”

ScorecardPankaj Singh’s six-wicket haul guided Rajasthan into Friday’s Ranji Trophy Plate final with a nine-wicket win over Orissa.Resuming their overnight score of 91 for 5, still 55 in arrears, Orissa lost Niranjan Behara early with the score on 97. Priyabrata Pradhan made 26 before being dismissed by Singh. Debashis Mohanty, the Orissa captain, and Rashmi Parida did offer some resistance with a 58-run partnership for the eighth wicket. Singh removed Mohanty five runs short of his half-century and Orissa were finally dismissed for 220, with Parida not out on 67.Rajastan will face either Saurashtra or Madhya Pradesh in the Plate group final on February 2.

Scorecard

An unbeaten 70 from Marcus North kept Western Australia in the hunt for the outright win they need to make it to the Pura Cup final. At close of play on the second day at Brisbane, the Warriors were 6 for 298, still 56 away from Queensland’s first-innings total of 354.Several of Western Australia’s batsmen got starts, but none could go on to a century. Chris Rogers made 82, and put together 117 for the second wicket with Murray Goodwin (59), but Queensland made regular inroads thereafter to keep the Warriors in check. North, though, kept the fight going with a patient innings which had so far consumed 158 balls and included seven fours.North was also helped by some poor catching by Queensland. He was dropped twice in one over from Shane Watson – first Wade Seccombe, the wicketkeeper, spilled a sharp legside chance, and four balls later Craig Philipson dropped a straightforward catch at square leg. It was a big blow for Watson too, who was returning to the bowling crease after a month due to a side strain.”My sides feel really good and I’m just working on a few technical things so I’m pretty happy with how I went,” Watson said after the close of play. “I’m not going to charge in every over and try to bowl a rocket the first ball because I want to make sure it’s nice and warm but I haven’t felt it at all and the more I bowl the more confident I’m going to be.” Watson did take one wicket, though, that of Ryan Campbell, and finished the day with 1 for 47 from 17 overs.Earlier Seccombe powered to 69 to help his side add 52 runs for the last two wickets in the morning. Each side can seal a home final with outright victory.

Leewards fast bowler Adam Sanford has been called into the West Indies squad as a replacement for Omari Banks, who had to pull out of the tour with a back injury. Sanford made the last of his seven Test appearances in 2002 against New Zealand.Banks had a cortisone injection to counter inflammation in his lower back last week, but after no improvement, the team doctors advised him to rest the injury for the next three months.Banks is the third player to return home with injury. Jerome Taylor was the first casualty, also with a bad back, and Marlon Samuels will miss the tour with a knee injury.The first Test starts on December 12 at Johannesburg.

The XXXX Queensland Bulls’ “department of youth” tonight welcomed itslatest admission with the elevation of 19-year-old left-armer pacebowler Scott Brant to the team for the Pura Cup match starting tomorrowin Adelaide.Brant was rushed into the twelve following a foot injury to allrounderJames Hopes at training in Adelaide today.The Bond University sports management student was called out of alecture and made the dash from the Gold Coast to Brisbane to catch thelast flight to Adelaide.Hopes will stay on in Adelaide to receive treatment and remains incontention to play for the Bulls in their vital ING Cup match againstthe Southern Redbacks on Sunday.The Zimbabwean-born Brant, who turned 19 on Australia Day, was set tomake his 2nd XI debut for the Queensland Academy of Sport later thismonth in Canberra before the SOS came from Adelaide.He bowled an impressive spell for Norths in the Final of the K&RPlumbing One Day competition on Sunday, taking 3-34 from 10 oversagainst Valley.A member of the Australian Under-19 train-on squad, Brant was unable toplay in the World Youth Cup won by Australia last week as he had not metthe ICC residential qualifications to represent his adopted country.Brant has played for the Australia Post Queensland Under-19 team for thepast two season after he and his mother, brother and two sisters movedto Brisbane from Zimbabwe three years ago.Brant is set to make his first class debut tomorrow if Bulls coachBennett King and captain Jimmy Maher opt to use him to fill the thirdpace bowling spot behind Joe Dawes and Ashley Noffke.XXXX Queensland Bulls v Southern Redbacks, Pura Cup, Adelaide Oval,Wed-Sat: Jimmy Maher (c), Jerry Cassell, Martin Love, Brendan Nash,Andrew Symonds, Lee Carseldine, Wade Seccombe, Nathan Hauritz, AshleyNoffke, Scott Brant, Joe Dawes, Matthew Anderson (12th man to be named).Southern Redbacks: Greg Blewett (Capt) Nathan Adcock, Chris Davies,David Fitzgerald, Ben Higgins, Ben Johnson, Brad Young, Mike Smith,Graham Manou, Peter McIntyre, Paul Rofe, Mark Harrity (12th man to benamed).

A sparkling 107 by Sri Lankan wicket keeper batsman, Romesh Kaluwitharana, enabled Colts Cricket Club to register a 17 run victory over CCC at Maitland Crescent today. It was their third successive win in the Premier League Limited Overs Tournament this year.After being put in to bat, Colts CC Openers, Chaminda Mendis (72) and Romesh Kaluwitharana (107), put on a188 run partnership to compile up an imposing total of 265/9 in 50 overs.Kaluwitharan returned to form after a disappointing performance in Sharjah with the bat. He batted in his normal aggressive manner and scored his runs from just 120 balls, hitting one six and nine fours over the thick outfield.After the dismissal of Kaluwitharana, with the score on 188 runs in the 35th over, Colts lost their momentum losing three quick wickets: Sajith Fernando, Dulip Samaraweera and Eric Upashantha.Jeewantha Kulatunga (38) and Duleep Samaraweera (20) then chipped in to give Colts a final score of 265 runs in 50 overs. Indika Gallage and Hemantha Boteju accounted for two wickets each.In reply, CCC were required to chase the runs in just 48 overs because of a slow over rate. They lost Bradman Ediriweera early in their innings wth just two runs in the board. Wicket-keeper batsman Indika de Silva top scored with 61 from 55 balls. Michael Vandott (43), Hemantha Boteju (42*), Damitha Hunukumbura (34) and Roshan Mahanama (32) were all among the runs but failed to covert their good starts into the needed match winning innings. They were eventually dismissed for 248 runs in 47.3 overs. Sajith Fernando, Kaushalya Weeraratne and Dinuk Hettiarachchi captured two wickets apiece.

Former Test fast bowler Mark Gillespie has been cut from Wellington’s contract list, but both Gillespie and Wellington coach Bruce Edgar have left the door open for a possible return. New Zealand’s six major associations have announced the players offered first-round domestic contracts for the 2015-16 summer, with Gillespie one of several former internationals missing from last year.Wellington have lost former captain James Franklin, whose Irish ancestry has allowed him to sign as a local player for Middlesex, meaning if he was to play for Wellington it would need to be as an overseas player. Brendon Diamanti is gone from Canterbury’s list, while Wellington fast bowler Andy McKay, Otago batsman Aaron Redmond, Central Districts batsman Jamie How and Northern Districts fast bowler Graeme Aldridge have all retired.Gillespie, 35, has made no decisions on his future, but last summer played only three Plunket Shield matches for 11 wickets at 27.63. New Wellington coach Bruce Edgar said that although Gillespie was no longer contracted, he still had some hope of being selected during the season.”We believe that Dizzy was off the pace last season and that he’s slipped down the order behind other more effective bowlers,” Edgar said in a statement. “That said, we want to work with Dizz to get him firing in time for the season. If that happens, then he’s available to be selected like any other player and I’m sure he’ll give it everything he’s got.”Gillespie this week told : “I’ve made no decisions regarding my future. As far as I’m concerned, not getting a contract does not mean I am no longer a cricketer.”In other moves, Jesse Ryder has completed his return to Central Districts from Otago, as reported last week. Otago have been particularly active in their recruiting, with Neil Broom returning after one season at Canterbury, Anaru Kitchen and Warren Barnes having joined from Auckland, and Brad Wilson having moved from Northern Districts. Anurag Verma has moved from Northern Districts to Wellington.Franklin is not the only player who has moved on due to county commitments: Central Districts allrounder Kieran Noema-Barnett is gone from their list after signing as a local player with Gloucestershire.Several players have disappeared from the domestic lists after gaining New Zealand Cricket contracts, including Central Districts’ Doug Bracewell, Northern Districts’ Mitchell Santner, and Wellington’s Grant Elliott. Colin Munro is back on Auckland’s list after losing his national contract, while Ish Sodhi has reappeared on the Northern Districts list for the same reason.Other notable additions include well-known coach Bob Carter’s son Leo Carter, who has signed with Canterbury; Kane Williamson’s cousin, the batsman Dane Cleaver, who has joined Central Districts; and Brisbane-born spinner Alecz Day, who has signed with Wellington and qualifies due to his mother being from New Zealand.The contracting process involves nine to 14 players being offered deals as part of the first round, with the remainder of the 15-man squad to be confirmed by August 10.Auckland Michael Bates, Brad Cachopa, Colin De Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Donovan Grobbelaar, Michael Guptill-Bunce, Shawn Hicks, Colin Munro, Tarun Nethula, Rob Nicol, Robert O’Donnell, Glenn Phillips, Matt Quinn, Jeet RavalCanterbury Todd Astle, Hamish Bennett, Leo Carter, Andrew Ellis, Cameron Fletcher, Peter Fulton, Roneel Hira, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Johnston, Cole McConchie, Ryan McCone, Henry Nicholls, Edward Nuttall, Logan van BeekCentral Districts Tom Bruce, Dane Cleaver, Greg Hay, Marty Kain, Andrew Mathieson, Ajaz Patel, Seth Rance, Jesse Ryder, Bevan Small, Ben Smith, Kruger van Wyk, Ben Wheeler, George Worker, Will YoungNorthern Districts Cody Andrews, James Baker, Jono Boult, Dean Brownlie, Joe Carter, Anton Devcich, Daniel Flynn, Brett Hampton, Jono Hickey, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Bharat Popli, Tim Seifert, Ish SodhiOtago Warren Barnes, Nicholas Beard, Michael Bracewell, Neil Broom, Derek de Boorder, Jacob Duffy, Ryan Duffy, Josh Finnie, Anaru Kitchen, Michael Rae, Hamish Rutherford, Craig Smith, Sam Wells, Brad WilsonWellington Brent Arnel, Brady Barnett, Tom Blundell, Alecz Day, Dane Hutchinson, Matt McEwan, Stephen Murdoch, Ollie Newton, Michael Papps, Jeetan Patel, Michael Pollard, Matt Taylor, Anurag Verma, Luke Woodcock

Richard Hughes has now been put on red alert in the race to sign Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk successor ahead of Real Madrid, according to recent reports.

Liverpool on red alert in race to sign VVD heir

The Reds have had a centre-back problem ever since missing out on Marc Guehi on deadline day. Left with just Ibrahima Konate, Van Dijk and the injury-prone Joe Gomez to choose from, Arne Slot has seen his side suffer defensively and forced to adopt a more pragmatic approach in recent weeks.

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Liverpool are looking to continue their sweeping rebuild with an ambitious target in 2026.

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It’s a problem which could become worse before it gets better, however, with Ibrahima Konate still on course to leave the club as a free agent at the end of the season. It would leave Liverpool with just two senior central defenders and desperately needing to secure Guehi’s signature.

To that end, recent reports have claimed that Anfield chiefs are ready to make an offer to sign the Crystal Palace defender in hopes of beating the likes of Real Madrid to his signature next year.

That would at least replace Konate before their Van Dijk problem emerges. The Liverpool captain has less than two years remaining on his current deal and is likely to bring an incredible Anfield spell to an end when next season concludes.

His exit will hand the Reds an impossible task. Van Dijk has been one of, if not their most important players of their most successful Premier League era and there is arguably no one like him in European football.

Nonetheless, those in Merseyside are certainly willing to give it a good go. According to TeamTalk, Hughes is now on red alert in the race to sign Alessandro Bastoni.

£66m Bastoni could replace Van Dijk

Liverpool are reportedly among the clubs to be contacted by intermediaries about a potential move to sign Bastoni in 2026. Sources told TeamTalk: “Alessandro is happy at Inter, and in Italy, but at 26, there is the belief he might look to try his hand abroad. He is at the top of his game, and not many in the world currently compare to him.”

In terms of price, Liverpool will have to splash the cash once again if they want to sign the Italian from Inter Milan, given that the Serie A giants have set their price-tag at a hefty £66m. That fee would quickly look like a bargain if Bastoni became the heir to Van Dijk’s Anfield throne, however.

League stats 25/26

Bastoni

Van Dijk

Minutes

1,223

1,440

Progressive Passes

80

110

Tackles Won

25

5

Ball Recoveries

51

32

When compared to Van Dijk it’s easy to see why Liverpool have their sights set on Bastoni. The Italian has that unique composure in possession combined with a more aggressive nature off the ball than the Anfield captain.

The ongoing war in the north of Sri Lanka seems to have had the least effect on Sri Lanka Army who produced an outstanding performance over the weekend to record their third successive win of the season and take over the top position in Tier B.With Tier A clubs being given a weekend off because of the country’s 60th Independence Day celebrations which fell on February 4, clubs in the other tier came to the limelight with Army being the only club to record a win out of the five matches. They beat Lankan Cricket Club by three wickets chasing 242 in the fourth innings in Panagoda.Army’s match-winners were two 22-year-old bowlers who produced career-best returns Ajantha Mendis, the right-arm slow-medium bowler, accounted for seven Lankan batsmen in the first innings for 37 runs and in the second innings, legspinner Seekuge Prasanna took 6 for 76 as Lankan was dismissed for 164 and 283.The only resistance came from Yasas Tillakaratne, brother of former Sri Lanka Test captain Hashan Tillakaratne. Yasas who spends a good part of his time playing in the English leagues made a rare appearance for his club to score only his fourth hundred (121) in a first-class career spanning 15 years. However, it was not good enough to stop Army from advancing to the top of the table.In a high-scoring game at Havelock Park,identical centuries by the Burgher Recreation Club pair of Dilan Sandagirigoda – scoring his maiden hundred in only his third first-class match – and Dilum Harischandra, with a hundred on his first-class debut were not good enough to stop Saracens Sports Club from collecting valuable points on the first-innings lead. In reply to Burgher’s 418 for 8 declared, Saracens were boosted by a 132-run seventh-wicket stand between Sachithra Serasinghe (118),who also made his maiden first-class century and Ravindra Karunaratne (52) replied with 484 to move to third place in the standings.Panadura Sports Club lost their position at the top of the table when they were deprived of victory by Sebastianites Cricket and Athletic Club’s last-wicket pair at the Panadura Esplanade.Set 403 for victory, Sebastianites lost their ninth wicket at 283 and looked in danger of defeat. But their tenth-wicket pair of captain Primal Salgado (49*) and Suranjana Rajitha (3* off 32 balls), playing in only his third first-class game, hung on for 11.3 overs to deprive Panadura a win.