Former Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson believes relations between players and Cricket Australia will take a long time to heal after difficult negotiations over the MoU

Daniel Brettig19-Jul-20173:46

What exactly is the Cricket Australia-ACA pay dispute?

Negotiations between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association are continuing at a snail’s pace but the damage has already been done, the former Test paceman Mitchell Johnson has said.Talks between the two warring parties – including the chief executives James Sutherland and Alistair Nicholson – resumed in Melbourne on Wednesday with time fast running out to avoid major dislocation to the game, both in terms of commercial deals with sponsors and broadcasters, and also the Bangladesh tour in August.While discussions are now taking place on the sort of level that should lead to an eventual resolution, little movement is discernible from CA’s strong desire to end the fixed revenue percentage models at the core of past collective agreements, and likewise the ACA’s intent to keep the model in place. Johnson, who retired from the international game in 2015, said relationships would take a long time to heal whatever the outcome.”It’s been pretty disappointing and once it’s all dealt with, the player and CA relationship is going to be a struggle … it’s going to be very ordinary,” Johnson said in Sydney. “Even if it gets sorted, the damage has already been done. There’s been personal insults about the players being greedy. That’s not the case.”The relationship is going to have to build again. The last time I felt this way – not to this extent – was the Argus Review [in 2011]. That was the last time we had a little bit of trouble between the players and CA.””If we lose this battle as players, does then the ACA start getting their legs chopped from underneath them and the players lose the ACA?” – Mitchell Johnson•Getty ImagesCommercial pressure is mounting in terms of players looking at signing deals with sponsors competing against CA’s major corporate partners. It has been reported that both Usman Khawaja and Steven Smith are close to signing deals with Mercedes to follow on from Mitchell Starc’s newly unveiled contract with an Audi dealership in western Sydney. The ACA’s commercial manager, Tim Cruickshank, is currently in India for talks about the collective intellectual property passed on from CA to the players’ commercial arm, the Cricketers’ Brand, when the most recent MoU expired on July 1.”The players have fought so hard, the ACA, for the last 19 years, and got this model that we have in a really good place, and other things as well,” Johnson said. “From the CA point of view, I know David Peever, ex-Rio Tinto … no unions. So that is the thing that concerns me a lot. If we lose this battle as players, does then the ACA start getting their legs chopped from underneath them and the players lose the ACA?”That is the scary thing from my point of view. Cricket will still go on but I don’t know what sort of input the players will have in the future. I saw Nathan Lyon this morning and I think he’s as disappointed as everyone. The way it has been dealt with in the media, it probably should have been more of a private matter … it could have been dealt with very differently.”Speaking at the launch of a new app called BowlFit for young fast bowlers, Johnson also said England’s recent loss to South Africa at Trent Bridge would place doubts in the minds of the team led by Joe Root ahead of a likely pace-based Australian assault in the forthcoming Ashes series.”They’ve got a few issues to sort out,” Johnson said. “It’s only one game but it’s the way they got beaten that you see the score line. Joe Root being a new captain; they’ll try and put a bit of pressure on him to see how he handles it. Australia are a huge chance. It’ll be a great series but there are some scars there as well.”You want to be consistent and they probably haven’t got that consistency at the moment. It’s going to be hard for them now because they have been beaten, there’s pressure on them. I don’t care too much about England to be honest. I don’t care what they bring as long as it’s a good contest.”Another area Johnson found intriguing was the selection of Gary Ballance at No. 3, though a finger fracture has ruled him out of the next Test against South Africa. “England have Gary Ballance at No.3 and when you’re at No.3, you’re meant to be one of the best players in the team, if not the best,” Johnson said. “I don’t think he is.”If you’re a bowler and you see Gary Ballance at No.3, then you actually get a lot of confidence from that. Australia would have a lot of confidence. They [England] have changed their team a little bit over the past. They’re trying to find the right squad. It’s getting close to an Ashes series, so you want to lock that in.”

The Sri Lankan batsman will replace Australia’s Beth Mooney in Yorkshire’s top order

Shashank Kishore27-Jul-2017

Chamari Atapattu has become the first Sri Lankan woman to sign a contract with a franchise-based T20 league. She will represent Yorkshire Diamonds in the second edition of the Kia Super League that kicks off from August 10. Atapattu has been picked as a replacement for Beth Mooney, the Australia opener, who pulled out citing injury concerns.”I was on holiday with my family in Anuradhapura when I got a call, asking if I’m available. I said yes immediately. it was a pleasant surprise,” Atapattu told ESPNcricinfo. “I didn’t expect to play in the T20 league because most of the teams had already announced their squads.”Playing in the Women’s Big Bash League was my original target, but this is a great opportunity. I wasn’t expecting it, but now I’m looking forward to learning a lot. This is a great step, not just for my career but also for women’s cricket in Sri Lanka.”Atapattu left her imprint in a disappointing World Cup campaign – Sri Lanka won just won one game in seven attempts – when she smashed an unbeaten 178, the third-highest score in women’s ODIs, against Australia in Bristol. That knock, she says, transformed her outlook towards batting.”I used to always fear playing big shots and getting out, but that knock changed my approach,” she said. “To do it against a champion team gave me and the team so much belief. We used to think we have to fight and compete, but after that performance, we slowly started talking about looking to win. When I went out to bat in the next game, I felt a different batsman.”In England, Atapattu hopes to put into practice words of advice from her idols Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara. “Just hearing them speak highly about your game is a big boost,” she said. “I felt great when I heard of their appreciation. I’ve learnt a lot from them. Sanath has taught me how to not lose my style of play, Kumar has often spoken about trying to build an innings. I want to have Kumar’s consistency.”Atapattu also hopes to learn from her ‘friend’ Stafanie Taylor, who will play for Western Storm in the Super League. “We both bat alike,” she laughed. “When I see her play, I think ‘I should also play those kinds of shots.’ I’ve asked her about it and she has been very kind. We also spoke during the World Cup. I’ve also spoken a bit to Mithali Raj. Hopefully whatever I have learnt I can put to practice in England.”After her knock against Australia, Meg Lanning, the Australia captain said that she had already earned a potential bid from Melbourne Stars, even if it was only in jest. “If she’s going to bat like that every time, I’d be happy to have her,” Lanning said. Her exploits in England could well be a pathway to Australia, but Atapattu doesn’t want to put herself under pressure.”It was nice of hear that comment,” she said. “I don’t want to think about that at the moment. I’m excited to leave on Saturday. Mingling with some of the best players will help me train and prepare better. If I do well in England, I will definitely get many more chances. My family is more excited than I am. I hope to make them even happier.”

The 22-year-old has already struck 18 times in 16 appearances in all competitions this season and is now being linked with the likes of Real Madrid

Santiago Gimenez says Tuesday night's Champions League game against Atletico Madrid is going to be "one of the most important" of his career – and he's not wrong. For starters, Feyenoord need a win at De Kuip to climb above the current Group E leaders and their star striker is clearly key to them achieving their objective.

Gimenez missed the two teams' first meeting in Madrid through suspension and the Dutch champions still only lost 3-2 at the Metropolitano. The fans are cautiously optimistic, then, that Arne Slot's side can gain revenge with the Mexico international back in the starting line-up, and having already shown what he can do at this level with two goals in a 3-1 win over Lazio on matchday three.

But this isn't just a colossal clash from Feyenoord's perspective; it also very much feels like this could be a defining moment for Gimenez. A positive performance against one of Europe's biggest names – and best defensive sides – could well convince the numerous scouts certain to be in attendance that Feynoord's free-scoring forward should be their employers' top transfer target, if not in January than at the end of the current season.

We have, of course, seen plenty of strikers shine in the Eredivisie in the past only to subsequently disappoint at the very highest level, so are we looking at the next Robin van Persie here – or another Mateja Kezman?…

Getty'Already spoken with Atletico Madrid'

Just a month ago, Morris Pagniello claimed that while Gimenez's father Christian, a former professional footballer, is representing the 22-year-old's interest, he has been working alongside them as a consultant for nearly 18 months. Pagniello also claimed that several members of Europe's elite were interested in signing Gimenez.

“We have already spoken with Atletico Madrid," he told . "We also talked about him with Inter, AC Milan, Lazio and Napoli. For me, he could be perfect for both Inter and Juventus. They would be the best options for him. I've been telling various clubs to believe in him, his value went from €10m to €40m in just under 12 months. Now the teams closest to him are Real Madrid and Tottenham."

Pagniello's comments understandably caused quite the stir, but Gimenez, who has previously expressed his fondness for Madrid as well as the idea of plying his trade in Serie A by pointing out that he has an Italian passport, promptly took to social media to set a few things straight.

"In the last few hours, statements have come out about my future that have emerged from sources far from my environment," he wrote. "Given this situation, I would like to clarify that I do not have a representative and that the person in charge of my career is my father with the help of Mariel.

"It is important not to take into account claims that have not been made by them or by me. I am very grateful for the understanding and support that everyone shows me every day. We have always been very open with information and know that as soon as there is any news to give, we will gladly let you know."

AdvertisementGetty ImagesSet to surpass Suarez

Speculation surrounding his future hasn't abated, of course, and in a funny way, Gimenez only has himself to blame, given transfer talk is inevitable when a player is performing at such a high level.

Gimenez is tearing up the Eredivisie in a manner not seen since Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan sensation once scored 30 Eredivisie goals across a single calendar year; Gimenez already has 29 in 2023 – and another three games to work with. Not bad for a player that cost Feyenoord just €6 million (£5.2m/$6.6m) when he joined from Cruz Azul in the summer of 2022.

It's also worth remembering that he started slowly. It took him some time to get to grips with what Feyenoord's highly-rated coach Arne Slot was asking of him, particularly from a defensive perspective.The goals weren't exactly flowing either, though. He scored just twice during the first half of the 2022-23 Eredivisie season.

Getty From super-sub to leading man

However, at that stage, he was being used primarily as an impact substitute, with Slot often preferring to start with Danilo up front. There were flashes of Gimenez's enormous potential, though, most notably in a Europa League loss at Lazio, when he scored twice in a 27-minute cameo.

Furthermore, the longer the season went on, the more comfortable and, thus, confident he became leading the line for Slot. Gimenez became Feyenoord's first-choice forward in February and was integral to their title triumph, netting in nine consecutive games during the run-in.

He ended the campaign with a record of 23 goals in 45 appearances (only 27 of which were starts) – and his fine form unsurprisingly led to him being included in the Mexico squad for the 2023 Gold Cup, after failing to make the cut for Qatar 2022.

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Getty Argentina-born Mexico match-winner

Gimenez was tasked with serving as El Tri's super-sub by new coach Jaime Lozano – and, given his familiarity with the role, he played it perfectly. In a tight and fiercely-contested final against Panama, Gimenez was only brought on in the 85th minute. But it mattered not. Just three minutes later, he won the game – and the tournament – for Mexico by controlling a ball on halfway, turning his man, and then racing away to score with a low, left-footed strike.

It was the perfect illustration of everything he has in his locker: excellent technique, strength, speed and a cool head. For Gimenez, it was a beautiful moment that also felt like vindication for choosing to represent Mexico over Argentina.

People had told him he was crazy – and worse – for turning down the land of his birth. However for Gimenez, Mexico had always felt like home. He had lived nearly his entire life there, with his father having left Independiente for Veracruz in 2004, when Gimenez was only three years of age, before going on to spend the remaining 14 years of his professional career with Mexican clubs.

Cruz Azul was one of those clubs, and that's where Gimenez took his first steps towards stardom. He started out as a midfielder, but despite being considered a little shy and awkward at first, he developed into a lethal goalscorer, striking 100 times across four seasons at under-age level. He made his pro debut at just 16 years of age and there had been talk for some time that the boy was destined to play in Europe one day.

The move to Feyenoord still came as something of a surprise and Gimenez wasn't convinced at first. It was his father who felt that the Netherlands would be the perfect place for him to develop as a player, and he was spot on.

Ravi Shastri is clear on one thing as he takes over the position of India coach from Anil Kumble: the captain is the boss of the team. The coach and his backroom staff, according to the new India coach, are there only to make sure the players are in the right frame of mind to perform at their best.Shastri beat four other candidates to the job and said he only applied for the position having understood the “gravity of the situation” once Kumble stepped down in less than ideal circumstances last month.Shastri was team director just before Kumble was appointed coach last year, and he said he had been disappointed when he was overlooked as head coach in 2016. But after Kumble’s one-year contract expired in June, the BCCI chose not to renew it and instead sent out an advertisement seeking candidates for the position. Kumble himself had been one of the applicants, even though he was told he would be given “direct entry”. Shastri, though, was not.The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) – Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman – tasked with finding India’s next coach told the BCCI that Kumble remained their first choice. But Kumble stepped down after realising the differences between him and the captain Virat Kohli had become “untenable”.It was then that Shastri decided to enter the fray, with the BCCI re-opening the interview process.”I had not really wrapped my head around the gravity of the situation,” Shastri told . “There was nothing personal. I really hadn’t begun to understand the seriousness of this. But when I sat down and gave it a serious thought, I began to tell myself: ‘Here is a unit that I have been part of and enjoyed a great working relationship with. Having been part of the unit that helped it become No. 1, I thought the onus is on me now to make it work again, in the best interests of everybody involved. That’s when I knew it’s time for me to apply again.”According to various individuals from the BCCI and CAC as well as the committee of administrators one big point of difference between Kohli and Kumble was who was the boss.Shastri is more than happy to let the captain take charge. “It’s always the captain’s team and it is the leader who calls the shots. That’s how it has always worked. A coach’s role, effectively speaking, is to stay in the background and let the onus be on the players. The coach and support staff’s role is to get the players in the most brilliant frame of mind to execute things and if done effectively, it brings enjoyment to the player’s game.”Shastri said his relationship with the support staff – both Sanjay Bangar (assistant coach) and R Sridhar (fielding coach) were appointed by him – as well as the positive rapport he has with the players meant he could hit the ground running.”I’m simply going to press the refresh button and begin from where I left. I know what I’m stepping into, players have an idea of what’s coming, so that ticks the first box. Just to give you an idea, I won’t be spending the first six to eight months in the job warming up to the team. That had already been accomplished in my previous stint. This time, it’s going to be about getting on the job from day one.”Although Shastri and Kohli will be the men in command, a new challenge awaits them in the form of Rahul Dravid and Zaheer Khan, who have been appointed as consultants by the BCCI at the behest of the CAC. The CAC felt, with India travelling overseas in the next two years for challenging Test series’ and the 2019 World Cup in England, the players needed experienced specialist hands to ensure success.Asked for his thoughts on working with Dravid and Zaheer, Shastri was optimistic, but hinted he would have the last word on support staff appointments.”In fact, even in my last stint, I had asked people like Rahul and Zaheer to come every now and then,” Shastri told . “I even asked Sachin [Tendulkar] to come at some stage and have a chat with the boys. I always believe that you need a fresh set of ideas. Your core team is meant to do the job for 200 days a year and every now and then, whenever you get some fresh inputs through with the quality of players like Zak (Zaheer) or Rahul it can only be good.”Tomorrow it could be an excellent fielding coach. What stops Jonty Rhodes from coming and having a chat with the boys? Overseas, I could pick the brains of a fast bowler who has bowled very well in those conditions – say in South Africa or Australia. It’s fresh inputs that might trigger off something. I am always open to such kind of ideas.”

Chelsea have been the most active of any team across the continent over the past few transfer windows, coinciding with the arrival of chairman Todd Boehly, and could be about to further add to their squad with the signing of teenage defender Ishe Samuels-Smith from fellow Premier League side Everton.

Who are Chelsea trying to sign?

Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku have already arrived at Stamford Bridge this summer – as has a new head coach in Mauricio Pochettino – but many more have departed.

Kalidou Koulibaly, Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic, Edouard Mendy, Kai Havertz and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have all left as part of a major squad overhaul on the back of last season's terrible 12th-place finish.

The Blues are now expected to focus on replenishing their squad before the window closes on 1 September, with Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo reportedly top of their list.

Many others have been linked, including Southampton's Tino Livramento and Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic, while the Daily Mail claims that 17-year-old defender, Samuels-Smith is closing in on a £4m move to west London.

Who is Everton defender Ishe Samuels-Smith?

Samuels-Smith was listed as one of the top 20 biggest talents to look out for in The Guardian's 2022 Next Generation list last year, but his career has so far been restricted to just appearances at youth team level.

That is not all that surprising given he only recently turned 17, but already teams are seemingly circling to land a youngster described as having a "bright future" by The Athletic's Patrick Boyland.

The England U17 international is comfortable playing at left-back and centre-back, and it is the latter where he could come in handy at Stamford Bridge in the long term.

Chelsea are not short of centre-back options, even accounting for Koulibaly's departure, with Wesley Fofana, Thiago Silva and Benoit Badiashile currently the men to overtake for a starting spot.

Silva's illustrious career is coming to an end, though, and Pochettino could no doubt do with a left-footed centre-back who can perfectly complement right-footed Fofana, who will be hoping his Chelsea career can take off in his second season at the club.

As pointed out by The Guardian's Andy Hunter, Samuels-Smith 'is comfortable stepping into space with the ball and has an excellent passing range', making him perfectly suited to a Pochettino-managed side.

Not helped by a long-term injury lay-off, Fofana is coming off the back of a disrupted first season in west London following a move from Leicester City worth up to £75m. At that price, Chelsea will be eager to get a lot more out of the France international.

Fofana did still show some promise last season – his 1.3 interceptions per game in the Premier League being the second-most of any Chelsea player, according to WhoScored, while his 89.8 pass-success percentage was bettered only by Silva (91.3%) among Chelsea centre-backs.

Also ranked in the top 2% of all centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past 12 months for progressive carries (2.20 per 90 minutes), as per FBref, it is clear that Fofana has plenty to give the Blues.

With the reported imminent arrival of Samuels-Smith, who was named on the substitutes' bench by both Frank Lampard and Sean Dyche last season, Chelsea may just have found Fofana's ideal long-term partner.

Predicting the future of football is never easy, especially when looking at players who could really have legacy-defining eras. With the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, it seemed pretty guaranteed where football's crown was heading for as long as they were playing at the top of European football.

Back in 2019, however, French outlet L'Equipe attempted to predict the stars that would come next, tipping six young players to dominate European football.

Since the prediction four years ago, those players have had incredibly mixed spells, though, and it's fair to say that some have simply failed to live up to their potential.

With that said, we've taken a look at just how their respective careers have gone so far.

6 Karamoko Dembele

Tipped to become the next best thing, Karamoko Dembele was 16 at the time of his inclusion on L'Equipe's 2019 list. Now only 20, it's far too early to completely write off the former Celtic winger.

The pressure at 16 would have been incredibly difficult, and since leaving Scotland, Dembele has struggled to ever kickstart what is still an early career. At Brest last season, though, summing up recent years, the 20-year-old failed to score a single goal.

5 Ansu Fati

Also included on the list was Barcelona's Ansu Fati. And this came as no surprise, considering the winger's emergence as one of the most exciting players at the Nou Camp. Injury issues have halted his rise to the top since, however, with the Spaniard missing 35 games since the 21/22 season.

In the last campaign, he at least started getting things back on track as Barcelona won their first La Liga title under Xavi, and Fati scored seven goals.

4 Sebastiano Esposito

You'd be forgiven for not exactly knowing the name Sebastiano Esposito. Once tipped for great things at Inter Milan, the forward has so far failed to reach his potential.

Still only 21, he has plenty of time to become the player that L'Equipe once tipped him to become back in 2019, but after a failed loan spell at Anderlecht, it's far from looking promising for Esposito.

3 Joelson Fernandes

Once again a name that may not be too familiar with a number of fans, Joelson Fernandes has never really got going at Sporting, despite initially being tipped to become the next best thing.

Making just four appearances for the first team, the winger never looked like reaching his potential in Portugal, and has since spent a season on loan at FC Basel, where he scored four goals, before ending up at Turkish side Hatayspor.

2 Mohamed Amine Ihattaren

Mohamed Amine Ihattaren has had the most difficult journey of these players since being included in L'Equipe's list of young players. There was even a point that the midfielder was reportedly considering retirement due to mental health issues.

The Juventus midfielder didn't feature last season, and it remains to be seen where his future lies in football.

1 Karim Adeyemi

Onto a player that everyone should be familiar with, Karim Adeyemi is well on his way to reaching his potential at Borussia Dortmund. After making the move to the Bundesliga giants back in the summer of last year, and has since enjoyed a promising debut campaign.

Ending the season with nine goals, and six assists, the only way is up for the 21-year-old.

Hampshire continued their winning start to this season’s Natwest T20 Blast campaign thanks to a Man-of-the-Match performance by Michael Carberry

ECB Reporters Network14-Jul-2017
ScorecardMichael Carberry summoned some of the old magic [file picture]•Getty ImagesMiddlesex were still closed away in the dressing room, refusing requests for interviews, more than a hour after a spectacular collapse against Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl consigned them to a 29-run defeat in the NatWest Blast.Even that was something of a release for Middlesex, who found themselves 74 for 7 in the 13th over before Tim Southee hammered five sixes in his 64 off 32 balls to narrow the margin.Hampshire were still comfortable winners, with young leg-spinner Mason Crane taking 3 for 15 off four overs and Reece Topley, Gareth Berg and Kyle Abbott all grabbing a wicket a piece.Crane said: “”Three good performances so far and everyone has contributed in all of them. It hasn’t been the same players in every game and that shows we have a strong team. The crowd were amazing. I’ve never seen it that full for a Hampshire game.”Hampshire continued their winning start thanks to a Man-of-the-Match performance by Michael Carberry, who smashed 77 off 45 balls and followed it up with two catches.The former England opener showed he is still capable of some devastating power hitting at the age of 36, while captain James Vince played some classy shots in his brief 34 to get his side on the front foot from the off.Vince won the toss and opted to bat first in his side’s first home game of the season, backing up his decision with six classy fours and a six in his quickfire 34 off 15, before skying one from Toby Roland-Jones high into the air only to be caught by Southee at square leg.Rilee Roussow and Carberry put on a measured 48-run partnership, ensuring the scoreboard ticked over, but the South African soon followed his captain back to the dressing room after clubbing a flat catch to James Franklin at long-on off the bowling of Nathan Sowter.Carberry followed up his 41 not out against Sussex on Wednesday night with a magnificent batting display in front of the Ageas Bowl crowd, placing a delicate shot through gully to reach his 50 off 32 balls. And the 36-year-old wasted no time in following that up with two sixes straight back down the ground and into jubilant crowd.A tough evening for the Middlesex bowlers showed no sign of easing up, as Aussie George Bailey smacked 28 off 19 balls, with a six and three fours, but Roland-Jones cut his innings short as it began to reach full flow having him caught at long-on by Dawid Malan.Shahid Afridi’s batting struggles continued, the 37-year-old failing to add anything to a tally of five runs in this year’s Blast competition when he was caught in the deep by Malan trying to power Roland-Jones for six.After looking as if they would set Middlesex a score of over 200 to win, the steady fall of wickets, including that of Carberry in the final over, bowled by Franklin, Hampshire managed 189 for 8.Roland-Jones, released by England from the Test squad, ended the pick of Middlesex’s bowlers after taking 4 for 39 off his four overs, while Franklin took three wickets in the last over of the innings to end with 3 for 19 off two overs.Hampshire continued as they started, Abbott sending Paul Stirling packing for just six runs and Topley following up with the wicket of dangerman Brendon McCullum, thanks to a stunning acrobatic catch from Rossouw at midwicket. England captain Eoin Morgan put up some resistance, making 23 off 22, before wicketkeeper John Simpson and New Zealander Southee came together in an eighth-wicket stand of 86 to try and salvage the game.Southee reached a half-century off 28 balls, while Simpson made 37 off 34 as Middlesex fell 29 runs short.

Imran Tahir raised Derbyshire’s hopes of back-to-back victories by taking five wickets on his debut as Durham collapsed on the second day of the Division Two match at Chesterfield

ECB Reporters Network04-Jul-2017
ScorecardImran Tahir claimed a five-wicket haul•Getty Images

Imran Tahir raised Derbyshire’s hopes of back-to-back victories by taking five wickets on his debut as Durham collapsed on the second day of the Division Two match at Chesterfield.The South African, who is playing for his sixth county, celebrated by sparking the decline that saw Durham lose 4 for 18 in 43 balls either side of tea before the visitors rallied to avoid the threat of following-on.Derbyshire controlled the game for much of the day with Billy Godleman falling two shot of a century as he and Gurjit Sandhu took their 10th wicket stand to 102 before the home side were bowled out for 368.Durham were going well at 119 for 1 but after Jack Burnham played on to Tahir and 16-year-old off-spinner Hamadullah Qadri bowled Michael Richardson for 64, the visitors crumbled before Paul Coughlin with an unbeaten 62 and Barry McCarthy guided them to 274 for 8, 94 behind.Derbyshire’s first objective at the start of the day was to get to a fourth batting point which was achieved after a 35-minute rain break with Godleman and Sandhu frustrating the bowlers for another 15 overs before Godleman was caught behind hooking at Coughlin.Sandhu followed his unbeaten career-best 48 by taking the new ball but Richardson and Cameron Steel added 52 before a mix-up saw Steel run out for 21 in Tahir’s first over.The legspinner’s second over gave no indication of what was to come as Richardson dispatched him for two fours before Burnham drove him over extra cover for six.But when Burnham tried to whip a ball from off stump and chopped on, Durham’s hopes of a decent reply faded as Qadri followed his record-breaking five-wicket haul at Cardiff last week by beating Richardson in the flight.Paul Collingwood was bowled pushing forward at Tahir in the first over after tea, Ryan Pringle was lbw playing back to one that sung in from Sandhu and Graham Clark was the sixth to go with Durham still 205 behind.The threat of the follow-on loomed when Stuart Poynter sliced a drive to point and Tahir bowled Matthew Potts with the next ball but Coughlin and McCarthy denied Tahir to keep Durham in the contest.

Crystal Palace are still waiting to hear whether Wilfried Zaha intends to stay on at the club, but it appears Roy Hodgson's side are ready to bring in a new attacking player regardless.

Who are Crystal Palace signing?

Palace have so far signed only Jefferson Lerma this summer on a free transfer following his Bournemouth exit, but a few others could be set to follow.

Flamengo attacking midfielder Matheus Franca has been touted as a possible target for the Eagles, as have Arnaut Danjuma and Perr Schuurs of Villarreal and Torino respectively.

According to the Daily Mail, Southampton striker Che Adams is another player being eyed up by Hodgson to potentially lead Palace's attack this coming Premier League season.

The report suggests that Palace have enquired as to Adams' availability, but they may also face competition from London rivals Fulham – set to lose star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic – for a player valued at £15m by the Saints following their relegation to the Championship.

How many goals has Che Adams scored in the Premier League?

After proving himself in League One and the Championship, Adams has spent the past four seasons as a regular in the Premier League at Southampton.

The 23-cap Scotland international has scored 25 goals in 123 top-flight appearances, which is a hugely underwhelming figure on the face of it. However, he is a creative forward, as highlighted by his 0.9 key passes per game last season – as per WhoScored – which only James Ward-Prowse (1.9) could better among Southampton regulars.

On the basis of last season alone, Adams scored five goals and assisted three in a poor Southampton side – an average of 0.36 goals or assists per 90 minutes. As per FBref, that figure was bettered by only two Palace players – Michael Olise (0.43) and Eberechi Eze (0.48).

Zaha, incidentally, averaged 0.35 goal involvements (as did Odsonne Edouard), which shows that Adams did not have as bad a season as the figures initially suggest as he actually outperformed the Ivory Coast international in that regard.

There are other similarities between Adams and Zaha, in fact, given they both scored from 0.11 of the shots they attempted in the Premier League last season.

Adams has often been used as a substitute by Southampton, which may also be the case at Selhurst Park, and the 27-year-old previously earned praise from then-boss Ralph Hasenhuttl for the "fantastic" attitude he shows when being used as a backup player.

Beyond a steady number of goals and assists, Adams is also a threat in the air, ranking as he does in the top 22% of all forwards across Europe's top five leagues last season for aerial duels won, according to The Analyst.

Indeed, the 2.76 aerial duels Adams won per 90 last season was bettered only by Jean-Philippe Mateta (3.02) among Palace players.

Adams would not be a like-for-like replacement for wide player Zaha, of course, and the signing would not exactly get supporters out on the streets celebrating, but it could be a shrewd piece of business for the Eagles as they bring in a player who has showed he can do a job in the top flight.

Fulham star Joao Palhinha has denied that he is thinking about a possible move to Bayern Munich in the January transfer window.

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• Palhinha almost joined Bayern in summer
• Midfielder says his focus is on Fulham
• Bayern said to be cooling interest in him

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Palhinha came close to joining Bayern in the summer transfer window and is even reported to have travelled to Munich for a medical, only for the deal to fall through. Despite signing a new contract with Fulham, he has been linked with a possible January switch and Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund admitted the midfielder is still being monitored by the club.

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  WHAT PALHINHA SAID

  The Portugal international was asked if he is still considering a switch to Bayern, but he insists his focus is on finishing off the month of December with Fulham. He said to (via ): "It's not messing with my head, I'm calm. I'm not thinking much about what will come next. I'm thinking about the seven games we have ahead of us in December, they are complicated games, there is Boxing Day, it all comes together. It's an important month for Fulham and for me too. And that's where my focus is. Whatever has to happen in January will happen."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Despite their efforts to sign him in the summer, Bayern are not lining up a new bid for him in the next transfer window, reports. Despite this, Fulham are preparing for the possibility of him leaving next month and are eyeing Brazil and Fluminense midfielder Andre as a possible replacement, according to

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• WHAT NEXT FOR PALHINHA?

  Palhinha, who has scored twice in the Premier League this season, has six more games to play in December with Fulham before the January transfer window opens. The Craven Cottage club are up against West Ham at home on Sunday.