Latest news with #inMaroon
Edinburgh Reporter
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
McInnes pleased with pre-season training camp
Goals from Alan Forrest and James Wilson, plus an own goal, allowed Hearts to round off their pre-season training camp with a 3-1 victory over Crawley Town in Spain. Sussex-based Crawley, who compete in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of the English league system, reduced the deficit to 2-1 before half-time, but the Jambos saw the game out at La Finca and Lawrence Shankland was introduced for the last 20 minutes of the game providing him with valuable pitch time. Hearts' head coach, Derek McInnes, told the club's social media that he was pleased with what he has seen during the week-long workout in Spain. The boss added: 'It is always nice to win, and for the players to get the reward for hard work.' The camp, he added, had been 'an absolute joy' and he said that the players on the trip 'have knocked their pan in'. McInnes admitted that it had been difficult to manage the playing time in Spain with more than 20 players on the trip and focusing on the vicory against Crawley, McInnes said it was very competitive and Hearts stood up to the challenge. He added: 'We were playing against a team who wanted to dominate the ball and remain in possession. Our press was good, our effort to win the ball back was terrific, and I thought there were signs about the team we want to be. '(It was) good to score from a set play, good to score three goals, James Wilson's goal was top class, and we could have had one or two more. Happy with the effort, happy with the week and it is just over two weeks since we came back to The Oriam. 'We have a good few training sessions before we play Dunfermline at Tynecastle.' Hearts have a closed doors game before they meet The Pars on Saturday, July 12 (17.15) in the Scottish League Cup, and, reflecting on the week in Spain, the new boss added: 'I've had a look at the lads, they have had a look at us (the coaching staff) and what we are demanding from them. 'Everybody is bursting to play their part and they (the players) have given me and the staff selection problems. That is the way it should be at a club like Hearts. There should be competition to play, and I believe we have got that.' Overall, he added: 'We are getting there, but we are not perfect, by a long shot, and, with a couple of additions, I think you would see a better balance overall. The lads we have been working with have been outstanding in terms of their effort.' However, he indicated that some players in the squad will be moving on once the competitive action begins as he admitted: 'We are a bit overloaded in certain areas.' Meanwhile, reports suggest that the Men in Maroon have two transfer targets, Burkina Faso international, Pierre Landry Kabore, who is playing in Estonia, and Albanian winger Sabah Kerjota who is currently with an Italian club. And McInnes confirmed that AEK Athens have met the valuation placed on 26-year-old, Livingston-born defender, James Penrice, by the Tynecastle club. He described the potential move, reported to be in the region of £2m, as a 'fantastic opportunity' for the player signed by Hearts as a free transfer from Livingston, and a man who had an outstanding first season at Gorgie. McInnes said: 'It looks as if he will be leaving. For that I am sad, but pleased for the boy.' Like this: Like Related
NDTV
09-06-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Ben Stokes Urged To Reconsider Retirement, Play 2026 T20 World Cup
Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull believes England are "hanging their hats" on trying to convince Test captain Ben Stokes to feature in the 2026 T20 World Cup, which could be the missing piece of the puzzle that the Three Lions are trying to figure out. Stokes has been a missing face in England's T20I fold since his heroics in the T20 World Cup final against Pakistan at the famed MCG in 2022. The seasoned star opted out of England's title defence last year, "a sacrifice" that allows him to be the all-rounder he "wants to be for the foreseeable future." With less than a year left before the latest edition of the marquee event in India and Sri Lanka, Doull sees Stokes's inclusion as vital for England. According to him, Stokes will be a tactical advantage, allowing them to go in with two genuine seamers and leave enough room to add spinners in the XI on the turning tracks in the subcontinent. "I think England might be hanging their hats on convincing Stokes to play in the 2026 T20 World Cup. I'm serious! They fully believe in that dressing room, and in that management group, that they will convince him to play. He then fills that role that means they can go in with two genuine seamers, Stokes and then the spin options they want in the side, which includes Bethell, Jacks, Rashid," Doull said as quoted from Sky Sports. England will line up under the newly established captaincy of Harry Brook after Jos Buttler relinquished the position following an abysmal run in the Champions Trophy earlier this year. In his first assignment as England's white-ball captain, Brook boasts a 5-0 record with three ODI victories over the West Indies and then topping it up with two wins on the trot over the Caribbean side. With immense firepower in his ranks, Brook-led England gunned down a daunting 197-run target set by the Men in Maroon to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match contest. "I've said plenty of times, we have a lot of depth. With small boundaries here, we felt West Indies were under par by about 30 runs. It gives us great confidence knowing we've got Will Jacks, Tom Banton, and Jacob Bethell batting five, six and seven. The top order can go out there all guns blazing," Brook told Sky Sports. Listen to the latest songs, only on
Edinburgh Reporter
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Reports indicate Hearts will move for McInnes
Speculation continues over who will be the next manager at Hearts and BBC Sport Scotland report that the Jambos will make an official approach to Kilmarnock on Monday. Derek McInnes is said to be the man they want but the former Aberdeen boss would not be drawn on reports linking him to the job after Kilmarnock secured their place in the William Hill Premiership next season with a 3-2 success over Dundee at Rugby Park on Saturday, their third straight victory. McInness said there there had been no contact between the clubs, however, the 53-year-old former Aberdeen boss is heavily tipped to take over from Neil Critchley. Liam Fox (pictured) was in Hearts' dugout on Saturday as the Men in Maroon beat Motherwell 3-0 thanks to a double from Lawrence Shankland and a single from Alan Forrest to move into seventh spot in the table. Shankland has now scored five goals in three games and the interim manager stressed that the Scotland international will score goals if given the right service. Fox added that the victory over the Fir Park side was a team effort and his players deserved huge credit for the way they have performed at Ross County and on Saturday. He added: 'It has been a disappointing season, we know that, we accept that, but we are really pleased with the last two results and are looking forward to Wednesday.' Hearts are at home to St Johnstone (kick-off 19.45) before travelling to Kilmarnock for their final league game on Saturday. Hearts go into the midweek have scored six goals in their last two outings and only let in one. Shankland broke the deadlock at sun-kissed Tynecastle against The Steelmen with a low shot from the edge of the box after 30 minutes. Motherwell skipper Stephen O'Donnell was caught out by the bounce of a clearance from debutant goalkeeper Ryan Fulton. Shankland moved to his right and then sent the ball back the other way and it nestled in the back of the Motherwell net to spark celebrations around Tynecastle. Then James Penrice sent an inch-perfect cross into the box and Shankland was there to send the ball home with a well-directed header. Time 60 minutes. Two minutes later, it was Forrest who netted to end the contest. Second-half substitute, Yan Dhanda, who has been frozen out of the starting line-up of late, picked up the ball on the left side of the pitch. He cut in and fired a dipping shot which Motherwell goalkeeper Aston Oxborough spilled and busy Forrest made no mistake from an angle, burying the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the net. The Fir Park side thought they had levelled near half-time when Callum Slattery shot home, but the celebrations were cut short when VAR intervened. It took nearly four minutes for the decision to come through and defender Dan Casey was adjudged to have jumped into Fulton's line of sight from an offside position. Motherwell manager Michael Wimmer said his men were not good enough at either end of the pitch. He added: 'It was a disappointing result and this happens. There were four shoots for Hearts and they score three goals and we did not score so it was no good enough in both boxes. It was too easy. 'There are no excuses, today we were not good enough.' Like this: Like Related
Times of Oman
26-03-2025
- Sport
- Times of Oman
Phil Simmons to continue as Bangladesh head coach until 2027 ODI World Cup
Dhaka : Phil Simmons will continue as Bangladesh's head coach for the next two years until the 2027 ODI World Cup. Simmons was initially appointed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) in an interim role until the recently concluded Champions Trophy. The Bangladesh board then offered him a longer contract that would keep him with the Tigers for the next two years. "I am delighted to be given the opportunity to work with Bangladesh cricket on a long-term basis. The talent within this team is undeniable, and I believe we have the potential to achieve great things together. I am looking forward to the journey ahead," the 61-year-old said as quoted from ESPNcricinfo. "Having worked with some exceptional players already, I can see the immense promise in this squad. Their skill and passion for the game inspire me daily. Together, we can take Bangladesh cricket to new heights and create something truly special," he added. During his interim period, Simmons didn't enjoy much success with the Bangladesh side. Under his watch, Bangladesh won a sole Test and a T20I series in the West Indies. In the recently concluded Champions Trophy, Bangladesh went winless and crashed out of the group stage after back-to-back defeats against India and New Zealand. "My time with the Bangladesh team over the past few months has been incredibly rewarding. The energy, commitment, and ability within this group have been nothing short of impressive. I'm excited to continue helping these players reach their full potential," Simmons said. The recent appointment puts an end to the rumours and speculations about Simmons' future. As he extends his role with Bangladesh, Simmons won't be available to coach the Karachi Kings in the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10. The former West Indies batting all-rounder has previously served as the head coach of Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Afghanistan. When he sat at the helm of the West Indies management, the 'Men in Maroon' lifted the 2016 World Cup.
