علق محمد بركات عضو اتحاد الكرة، على بيان مجلس إدارة الزمالك بشأن الاعتذار لـ دولة الإمارات بعد أزمة احتجاز الثلاثي، بسبب أزمة مباراة الفريق مع مسؤولي الأمن بعد مواجهة بيراميدز الماضية.
وتم التحفظ على الثلاثي عبد الواحد السيد، مدير الكرة، واللاعبين مصطفى شلبي ونبيل دونجا من قبل الشرطة الإماراتية، للاعتداء على فرد أمن بمباراة بيراميدز، التي حسمها الفارس الأبيض بركلات الترجيح والتأهل إلى نهائي كأس السوبر المصري.
وقررت المحكمة الإماراتية، تقديم موعد جلسة محاكمة الثلاثي إلى غدا الخميس بدلا من ٢٩ اكتوبر.
وأكد الزمالك في بيانه، على احترامه لدولة الإمارات، ونفى تحدث أعضاء المجلس لوسائل الإعلام في الفترة الأخيرة.
طالع | اعتذار وقرارات تأديبية.. الزمالك يُصدر بيانًا جديدًا بشأن أزمة الثلاثي المحبوس في الإمارات
وقال محمد بركات في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة إم بي سي مصر: “سعيد ببيان الزمالك وكنت أتمنى البيان يكون بعد المباراة مباشرة ستكون الأمر أفضل بكثير”.
وأكمل: “كل الدول العربية أشقائنا، معظم المباريات نلعبها في السعودية والإمارات ونحب شعوب البلدين، هذه الأمور تحدث، ولكن يجب أن نتحكم في أعصابنا أفضل من ذلك خصوصًا لو نلعب خارج أرضنا”.
وأردف: “يجب تقبل كل شيء وتفكيرنا يكون داخل الملعب فقط، وكل مثل هذه الأمور فرعيات، هؤلاء اللاعبين كلهم نجوم ويجب أن نتعلم من هذا الموقف، (كان الموضوع ممكن يتلم أسرع من ذلك)”.
وواصل عن ظهور صور للاعبي الزمالك: منظر بايخ أنا رجل نجم وأشعر باللاعبين لأننا كنا لاعبي كرة بالتأكيد، في يوم من الأيام كنا نتوتر في الملعب في نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا، تعرضت للطرد بسبب عصبيتي، وحتى يومنا هذا ألوم نفسي لأنني لم أتمالك أعصابي فقدت أعصابي، وألوم نفسي لأنني لو كنت لعبت مع 11 لاعبًا، لكان الوضع مختلفًا، وندمت على ما فعلته”.
وأردف: “أنا ألوم نفسي لأنني تعرضت للطرد، فالنجم يُحاسب على كل شيء. موقف لاعبي الزمالك يجب أن نتعلم منه جميعًا، ليس الثلاثي فقط ولكن جميع لاعبي الأندية”.
واختتم: “كل تصرف يفعله النجم يحسب عليه، يجب أن نحافظ على مظهرنا، ويجب أن نتعلم ونتمنى ألا نرى مثل هذه الأمور”.
A idolatria por um jogador de futebol é capaz de fazer um torcedor cometer loucuras para conhecer o ídolo. É o caso do barbeiro Rhonan Lopes. O carioca de 24 anos, morador de São Gonçalo, região metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro, viajou por mais de 80km para chegar a Granja Comary, local do centro de treinamento da Seleção Brasileira, em busca do sonho de cortar o cabelo do craque Neymar. + Confira a classificação dos grupos da Libertadores!
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Desde o início da madrugada de quarta-feira, o barbeiro faz do carro, emprestado por um amigo, seu dormitório para ficar de plantão na porta da Granja a espera do camisa 10 do Paris Saint-Germain. Além disso, o carioca pediu dispensa por três dias do trabalho e segue aguardando uma oportunidade de encontrar com o jogador.
-Estou aqui desde as duas da manhã de ontem, sem tomar banho e só comendo biscoito – disse.
-Me criticam muito. Me chamam de maluco e falam que eu não tenho o que fazer. Já falaram para mim que esse sonho é um sonho bosta, mas não dou ouvidos. Eu sei que estou fazendo o certo. Muita gente me ajudando. Não estou errado. Só tenho um sonho e quero realizar – completou Rhonan Lopes.
Preparado, o barbeiro sobrevive à base de água e biscoito e levou também cobertores e o kit para corte de cabelo caso Neymar atenda o pedido.
Ao lado do portão da Granja, Rhonan Lopes preparou um cartaz para ficar em evidência e chamar a atenção dos jogadores e funcionários que entram no centro de preparação para as eliminatórias.
-Neymar, há cinco anos na luta pelo meu sonho, pois sei que o meu Deus é fiel para realizá-lo – diz o cartaz.
Entretanto, a última chance para Rhonan ver Neymar é nesta quinta-feira. O barbeiro deve voltar a São Gonçalo por conta do trabalho e para tomar conta de Noah, seu filho de 11 meses.
-Estou dormindo há dois dias no carro e acho que vou até amanhã (sexta-feira). Eu estou me alimentando de biscoito. Almoço num restaurante da esquina, mas o resto do dia eu como biscoito. Não estou tomando banho, pois não tem onde tomar banho, e escovo os dentes no restaurante também. Está sendo difícil, mas é o meu sonho e vou atrás dele – concluiu o fã.
There are 50 days left until Jurgen Klopp leads his Liverpool squad from the dugout for the final time, with the end of an illustrious era now looming ominously close.
Sure, there's plenty to play for, and while Liverpool exited the FA Cup in dramatic circumstances against Manchester United before the international break, silverware beckons in the Premier League and Europa League.
But this does not detract from the poignancy that the German's near exit leaves, like a cloud of mist enveloping Anfield. Things just won't be the same; a piece will be missing and a sense of loss will pervade the prestigious Premier League club.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp
It's remarkable that the Reds have fought so valiantly despite a catalogue of injuries, but if Klopp's side are to prevail in the weeks to come, Trent Alexander-Arnold's return to fitness will be vital.
Why Trent Alexander-Arnold is so influential for Liverpool
Alexander-Arnold was promoted to Liverpool's vice-captain last summer after the summer exits of Jordan Henderson and James Milner, and he produced some scintillating football in the first half of the 2023/24 campaign, scoring two goals and supplying ten assists, though he has spent much of 2024 sidelined with a knee ligament injury.
The England international is one of the most creative and influential players in the world and his elite skills have led to a shift into midfield from right-back, something of a regular occurrence when Klopp's Liverpool hold possession, to maximise his ball-playing ability.
Trent Alexander-Arnold warming up for Liverpool.
As per FBref, the 25-year-old ranks among the top 16% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 1% for assists, shot-creating actions and passes attempted, the top 2% for progressive passes, the top 9% for successful take-ons and the top 13% for interceptions per 90, showcasing his masterful faculty on the ball.
In the Premier League this season, as per Sofascore, Alexander-Arnold has created 13 big chances for his teammates despite only starting 19 fixtures, averaging 2.5 key passes, 1.3 tackles, 6.6 ball recoveries and 1.6 clearances per game and succeeding with 60% of his attempted dribbles.
Alexander-Arnold's importance to Liverpool's senior set-up is discernible to any who watches Klopp's team strut its stuff; the scouse-born phenomenon's singular style is simply unmatched in the Premier League from any playing in the backline.
As such, his significance is reflected in his market value, with his £48m market price – as per Football Transfers' player valuation model – surpassing every defender in the Premier League barring Manchester City duo Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol.
In today's bloated transfer market, however, it's patently obvious that Alexander-Arnold would garner a far higher fee than this, with those over at Totally Money showcasing just how ridiculous figures have reached in the modern game when crunching the numbers and showing Andy Carroll's cost in 2024 money.
Andy Carroll's market value in 2024 money
Liverpool enjoy one of the best-run, efficient systems in the Premier League. While Klopp's tactical set-up and player performance on the pitch have shaped a period of history that has seen a wealth of silverware added to the trophy cabinet, it is the work of those behind the scenes that has enabled this.
It really wasn't always this way, with the dog days of the years preceding Klopp's arrival providing much misery, barring the 2013/14 campaign, where Luis Suarez's incredible striking feats nearly won an unlikely Liverpool side its maiden Premier League title.
Liverpool have a forgotten titan out on loan who could rival Quansah
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ByAngus Sinclair Mar 23, 2024
Suarez signed from Ajax for around £23m back in January 2011 in what looked to be a promising move, but he wasn't the most expensive centre-forward to make the move to Liverpool that month, with Carroll arriving weeks earlier.
According to Totally Money, Liverpool would have had to have paid a staggering sum of £102m to secure Carroll's signature from Newcastle United back in 2011, obliterating what was already a staggering sum for the marksman.
Indeed, Carroll moved to Anfield for a club-record £35m fee back in January 2011 following Fernando Torres' sale to Chelsea, with the 22-year-old having scored 11 goals from 19 Premier League matches for the Magpies that season, before making his lucrative westward move.
Carroll was a talented striker but this was not a great use of money, though Liverpool were desperate after losing Torres and needed to restore the club's spearhead as soon as possible.
And after injuries and a lack of form, Carroll would only chalk up 11 goals from 58 appearances for the Merseyside outfit before being sold to West Ham United in a £15m move in 2013, with Gary Lineker commenting on the "lonely" chapter in the towering forward's career.
Liverpool record sales in the modern market
Player (year sold)
Original fee
Cost in 2024
Fernando Torres
£52.5m
£145m
Luis Suarez
£73.5m
£132m
Philippe Coutinho
£130.5m (initial)
£132m
Raheem Sterling
£57m
£93m
Xabi Alonso
£31m
£72m
Numbers via Totally Money
Given that Torres, in yesteryear's money, would have cost a staggering sum for the Stamford Bridge side himself, the cogs might well have meshed together to facilitate such a transfer rotation.
But what cannot be disputed is that Carroll proved to be one of the most dismal decisions made by those with a seat at the Anfield table, having cost a large figure while failing to deliver quite significantly.
Klopp's arrival in 2015 has changed the narrative at Liverpool and such acquisitions are few and far between now. It's a good thing too, it's one that the club will definitely not want to repeat.
Late run-out costs opener chance to turn second Test ton into a match-defining innings
George Dobell in Hamilton01-Dec-2019
Rory Burns celebrates his century•AFP / Getty Images
Rory Burns admitted he was left with a “bittersweet” sensation at the end of the third day of the second Test in Hamilton.Burns had earlier recorded his second Test century to help England into a potentially match-winning position. But his run-out opened the door to a New Zealand recovery and saw England lose three wickets for 61 runs in the latter stages of the day.On a slow-scoring surface on which England were looking to bat only once, Burns and Joe Root appeared to have given their side an excellent platform with a third-wicket stand of 177. But from 201 for 2, England subsided to 269 for 5 at the close with their chances of establishing a match-defining first innings lead having receded sharply.ALSO READ: Much-needed hundred gives Root breathing spaceAll of which left Burns – believed to be England first moustached (but not bearded) Test centurion since Jack Russell in 1996 – slightly frustrated. But while he accepted England had made life “more difficult” for themselves, he also viewed the episode as a learning example of the sort of ruthlessness required to prosper in Test cricket.”It’s been a positive day but it could have been a better day,” Burns said. “Bittersweet is probably the overriding feeling. I enjoyed the fact I made a century, but at the same time I’m disappointed that I couldn’t stretch it.”There are fine margins in Tests. Could me and Rooty have stretched our partnership to get us deeper into the game? We’re still in a very good position but we’ve probably made it slightly more difficult for ourselves. These are the things to iron out if you want to become a really good side.”It was the manner of Burns’ dismissal which most frustrated. Although he gave two chances early in his innings on day two, he had batted almost faultlessly – though there had been a run-out chance on 87 – in reaching his century on day three. But moments afterwards he was run out by an inch or two after attempting an unnecessary second run.”I didn’t really feel there was a second there,” he admitted. “But I came back for it anyway and the result was the result. It’s disappointing. It was my call at the end of the day.”While the end was disappointing, Burns could be proud of his batting on day three. Having admitted he struggled to adopt the correct tempo to his innings at the end of day two, he settled down admirably on day three. And while there was a period when he appeared troubled by Neil Wagner’s short ball – he was struck twice, once on the chest and once on the back by such deliveries – he later pulled with impressive command. He also became the first England opener – and there have been plenty – to record Test centuries home and away since the days of Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss.Rory Burns is hit by a short pitched delivery•Getty Images
“I struggled a little bit with my tempo on day two,” Burns said. “I basically just kept seeing it and wanted to climb into it and give it the kitchen sink. It more of a mindset shift rather than a technical shift on day three. I just tried to let the ball come to me and kill it underneath my eyes.”Initially I felt pretty comfortable riding Wagner’s short balls and he bowled a couple of good ones. But I thought ‘I’m actually seeing them quite nicely’ and I’ve been working on the pull for a while, so I thought I’d get it out and put it to work. I felt pretty comfortable with that and thought I played it quite nicely.”I just tried to apply myself for as long as I could. It came to a slightly disappointing end but I thought I played quite well. It was nice to take the opportunity on a flatter surface, but I would have liked it to be bigger.”Burns had also appeared to struggle to adapt to the demands of the match position in the second innings of the first Test. But he explained that his dismissal – top-edging a sweep – was more a reflection of his discomfort against the left-arm spin of Mitchell Santner than an attempt to dominate the bowling.”I thought was playing really nicely in Mount Maunganui,” he said. “But I didn’t enjoy having the short leg in. Santner was getting some to spit and I thought I was worse off playing with a straight bat. I wasn’t fully backing my defence so I saw fit to get one and get up the other end. It wasn’t trying and hit it for four.”
Liverpool suffered a 3-0 home defeat at Anfield against Atalanta in the Europa League in what could prove to be Jurgen Klopp’s final European home game for the Reds. It was a disastrous performance from Klopp’s side, who were poor for most of the night, and now face a mammoth task to overturn the deficit.
Two goals from former West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca and a third from Mario Pasalic were enough to sink Liverpool, who had some good chances, and a goal from Mohamed Salah ruled out for offside, but could not find the back of the net.
Following the match, Klopp congratulated Atalanta on the victory and expressed his frustration with Liverpool’s poor performance, explaining how they “lost the plot a bit”, and the fact there were “zero positives” to take from the game.
Perhaps Liverpool could have done with their talismanic right-back tonight because it was a poor performance from both of their fullbacks. Andy Robertson, who was rested, came off the bench at half-time to replace Kostas Tsimikias although his introduction could not prevent Atalanta from scoring twice in the second half to take a 3-goal lead back to Bergamo.
Kostas Tsimikas' night to forget
Thursday night's game certainly was not one of Tsimikas’ best in a Liverpool shirt. Since joining the club from Olympiacos in 2020 for just £11.75m, the Greek left-back has been a consistent squad player for Klopp, but struggled this time around, often having to deal with Charles De Ketelaere, who at times drifted out to the left, and marauding wing-back Davide Zappacosta.
Former Chelsea man Zappacosta managed to get four crosses into the box, completing two, as per Sofascore.
However, not all of those crosses came when Tsimikas was on the pitch after the Greece international was replaced at the break following a shoddy opening 45 minutes.
With that being said, De Ketelaere, in particular, proved to be a tough challenge for Liverpool’s number 21, who was constantly caught out of position, giving room for the Belgian to exploit in behind.
It was a tough night in all for Tsimikas, so much so that Goal.com’s Mark Doyle gave him a dismal rating of just 3/10, noting how he was “put out of his misery at half-time” by being substituted.
Joe Gomez's performance in numbers vs Atalanta
Tsimikas was not the only Liverpool full-back to struggle, with Joe Gomez putting in an equally disappointing performance. Coming up against young wing-back Matteo Ruggeri, Gomez was run ragged by the 21-year-old, as well as struggling to handle matchwinner Scamacca, who often peeled out wide.
Liverpool's Joe Gomez
In fact, you could arguably pin some of the blame for Scamacca’s second goal on Gomez. It was a slick finish from the Italian, who now has five goals in his last five games. However, you could argue the Englishman did not mark him tightly enough, allowing the former West Ham striker the space to finish off an inch-perfect cross from De Ketelaere.
Whilst Gomez lasted the whole game, he struggled both in and out of possession tonight. The 26-year-old won just one of his five ground duels, completed only one of three long balls, and managed a pass accuracy of 79%, according to Sofascore.
Joe Gomez vs Atalanta
Minutes played
90
Touches
77
Accurate passes
38/48 (79%)
Tackles
0
Interceptions
1
Duels won
3/7
Possession lost
21x
Dribble success
0/2
Key passes
1
Not only that, he was wasteful in front of goal, crucially wasting a chance to cross the ball in from the edge of the area, after the ball fell to him from a set-piece. His wait for a professional goal goes on.
It was a night to forget for Gomez, who was notably handed a 4/10 rating by goal. He has been superb for the most part this season, but with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s imminent return from injury after he was named on the bench tonight, it could mean Gomez is dropped to the bench soon enough.
It is the second loss in five games for Liverpool and the first after the international break. They will be hoping to bounce back on Sunday when they host Crystal Palace, in a must-win Premier League game, as the title race hots up with only a few games left this season.
كشف بدر رجب رئيس قطاع الناشئين بالنادي الأهلي النقاب عن حقيقة وجود مفاوضات من جانب الزمالك مع أحد نجوم القطاع مما ترتب عليه إيقاف اللاعب.
وكانت الأيام الماضية قد شهدت تردد أنباء بشأن وجود مفاوضات بين نادي الزمالك ومحمد رأفت لاعب فريق النادي الأهلي مواليد 2005، ومعاقبة المهاجم الشاب بالإيقاف.
بينهما هدفي الأهلي والزمالك.. رابطة الأندية تعلن الأهداف المرشحة للأفضل في الجولة الأولي من الدوري
وقال بدر رجب في تصريحات تلفزيونية بفضائية الأهلي: “اللاعب متواجد في النادي ووقع على عقد يمتد لـ 5 سنوات ينتهي في 2027”.
وأكد خلال تصريحاته: “وحتى اليوم رأفت كان يتدرب في النادي، ولا توجد مشكلة”.
الأهلي يخاطب اتحاد الكرة لإجراء تحقيق عاجل في ظاهرة تسنين الناشئين
وتابع: “القصة وما فيها أنه أحيانًا، يضر أولياء الأمور أولادهم، اللاعب موجود في النادي الأهلي”.
وأتم: “لكننا نمنع البلبلة، ونحافظ على لاعبينا وبالتأكيد هو لاعب جيد وإلا ما كان سيتواجد في الأهلي”.
O Corinthians voltou a treinar nesta segunda-feira após receber folga no último domingo. Apenas os jogadores que atuaram por menos de 45 minutos no Dérbi participaram da atividade promovida por Sylvinho, por isso a comissão técnico recorreu à base para reforçar os trabalhos com dois jovens.
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TABELA > Veja classificação e simulador do Brasileirão-2021 clicando aqui
> Conheça o aplicativo de resultados do LANCE!
GALERIA >Relembre o desempenho do Corinthians no Brasileirão por pontos corridos
Guilherme Biro e Igor Formiga, ambos laterais, foram os escolhidos para completar o treinamento nesta manhã. Ambos já haviam treinado com o elenco em alguns momentos desta temporada e participaram do início da preparação para o duelo com o Red Bull Bragantino, nesta quarta-feira.
No dia 17 de junho, Biro se apresenta à Seleção Brasileira sub-17 e ficará por dez dias treinando com o grupo de jovens em local ainda a ser definido. O objetivo dos treinamentos é dar continuidade na preparação do Torneio Sul-Americano da categoria, que será disputado no segundo semestre de 2021. Além dele, Leo Mana e Kauê foram corintianos convocados para o selecionado.
As novidades do treino não pararam por aí. Ruan Oliveira, que vem em processo de recuperação de cirurgia no joelho, está em fase final de transição e treinou com bola no gramado, realizando os mesmos exercícios que seus companheiros. Cauê, que também estava em transição, trabalhou sem restrições e pode ficar à disposição de Sylvinho para quarta-feira.
Lembrando que Otero, na seleção da Venezuela, e Caíque França, Gustavo Mantuan e Danilo Avelar, em recuperação de cirurgia, seguem como desfalques do Timão. A partida diante do Red Bull Bragantino será nesta quarta, às 20h30, na Neo Química Arena, pela quarta rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro de 2021.
NZ drew the MCG’s biggest non-Ashes Boxing Day crowd in cricket’s professional era
Daniel Brettig in Melbourne26-Dec-20190:37
Boult thanks ‘amazing’ fans for Boxing Day support
New Zealand drew the MCG’s biggest non-Ashes Boxing Day crowd in cricket’s professional era as its chief executive David White suggested they would happily be more regular guests for the showpiece day of the Australian Test match calendar after a 32-year wait for this opportunity.Australia last hosted New Zealand for a Test match on Boxing Day in December 1987, and despite that match’s healthy attendance of 51,087 on day one and 127,184 for five days, the trans-Tasman neighbours had been relegated to early season Test series for the intervening years as Cricket Australia chased fixtures against countries that offered more lucrative overseas broadcasting deals.ALSO READ: ‘I’m still having therapy from that Boxing Day Test match in 1987’However, the roll up of 80,473 to the MCG was the most sizeable Boxing Day attendance outside of England visits since 85,661 turned up to see Greg Chappell’s team face the West Indies in 1975 – two years before the World Series Cricket split. It made a compelling visual and financial case for New Zealand to be invited to play Test matches during the holiday season more often.Biggest non-Ashes Boxing Day crowds
85,661 v West Indies, 1975
80,473 v New Zealand, 2019
73,812 v South Africa, 1997
73,516 v India, 2018
“It’s an event that’s always been held in high regard by both Australians and New Zealanders, and I know a lot of Kiwis have been looking forward to being at the MCG today,” White said. “The NZC and CA boards have an excellent relationship with a lot of bilateral exchanges in recent years and we’re confident that will continue into the future.”The MCG crowd was not only large but also lively, with the vast New Zealand presence bringing plenty of extra noise and life to the occasion, from the playing of the national anthems and the roar when Trent Boult bowled Joe Burns in the day’s opening over, to the chorus of boos that greeted the exit of David Warner and the entry of Steven Smith late in the morning session.”I thought he crowd was amazing really, 80,000 I saw come up on the total tally there in that last session,” Boult said. “The Kiwi support was pretty cool, a lot of teal, a lot of black caps, and some good support from back home. I’m sure they had a good day, but we’ve got a lot of work still left in the match.”I was actually quite nervous before the whole start of the match and I don’t remember the first ball, but it was nice to get that one [to Joe Burns] right and full and straight and to see it swing back – of course [it would be the same] in any Test match, but with 80,000 people watching you it was pretty exhilarating.”The spectators were treated to an absorbing contest between bat and ball on an MCG surface that offered significantly more bounce and marginally more seam movement than those prepared for the past two years.According to CricViz, the amount of seam movement on offer over the first two sessions of day one stood at 0.58 degrees, compared to 0.52 degrees for the same sessions of Australia’s Test match against India in 2018 and 0.47 degrees against England in 2017. Overcast and somewhat muggy conditions also aided the New Zealand bowlers in their pursuit of bend through the air, fetching 1.7 degrees of swing in the first 30 overs versus 0.9 degrees of swing for the corresponding period of the India Test.Whether this was enough movement to ensure a result remained up in the air by the close of day one, as the Australian top order fought their way into a decent position through the efforts of Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, David Warner and Matthew Wade remained to be seen. Even so, there was still useful movement on offer for the likes of Colin de Grandhomme with the old ball late in the day.Stuart Fox, the MCC chief executive, has stated bluntly that the pitch needed to reap early wickets because it was unlikely to deteriorate. “Ours haven’t shown that [deterioration], so that’s why we’re trying to liven up things at the earlier stages of the game – the lateral seam movement is quite important,” Fox said recently. “Age has been a bit of a factor with the pitches. As we move forward the next three years we’ll have new pitches here, then hopefully there might be a new brand of cricket for the MCG.”Warner, who had started his innings fluently, was noticeably discomforted towards the end of his innings when he was struck on the chest by a prancing delivery from Boult, and he did not look comfortable again before edging a full delivery from Neil Wagner into the slips cordon six balls later.
Joe Root describes Bess as “very able back-up” as England ponder spinner’s inclusion
George Dobell in Centurion29-Dec-2019
Dom Bess was flown in as cover after illness struck the England camp•Getty Images
England have confirmed that Dom Bess, the off-spinning allrounder, will remain with the squad when they move on to Cape Town for the second Test.While Bess was not an original member of the tour party, he was added to the squad when it became clear that Jack Leach, in particular, was struggling with the sickness bug that has now affected, by Joe Root’s reckoning, 14 England players.Leach, England’s first-choice spinner on this trip, has been quarantined in his hotel room for more than a week and is thought unlikely to have recovered in time to be considered for the second Test, which starts on January 3. Leach was recently hospitalised by an attack of gastroenteritis during the second Test in New Zealand, with his situation complicated by his history of Crohn’s disease. As a result, his long-term fitness may have deteriorated and England will be reluctant to risk his recovery by rushing him back into the team.ALSO READ: Silverwood defends Root’s decision to bowl firstCraig Overton, the Somerset seam-bowling allrounder, will also remain with the squad in the knowledge that the sickness bug may yet claim more victims. While no more players reported symptoms on the final day of the match in Centurion, several family members of players are now understood to be unwell.But it is the retention of Bess that is most intriguing. All the indications from training and conversations with the England management suggest he has drawn ahead of Matt Parkinson, the other spinner originally selected in the touring squad, and could well be in line to play in Cape Town if, as expected, England decide they need to include a spin bowler. That, in turn, will lead to an interesting selection decision, with one of Jofra Archer, Sam Curran, James Anderson and Stuart Broad likely to miss out.While Root, the England captain, did not specify which spinner was in pole position to play in Cape Town there did appear to be a hint about the new pecking order in his phraseology.”It’s been really a tough month or so for Jack Leach, having gone down in New Zealand as well,” Root said. “It’s really sad and really hard for him.”We’re trying to manage that as best we can. We’ve got some very able back-up in Dom Bess and we’ve got Matt Parkinson as well as another option. We’ll turn up at Cape Town, look at the surface and make our decision.”Although Bess’ first-class record with the ball for Somerset is modest (while he averages 23.93 at Taunton, that jumps to 37.89 away), the England management feel he is a much-improved bowler since making a surprise Test debut in 2018. He has recently been on a spin-bowling camp in Mumbai, where he worked with Rangana Herath, and has returned, they believe, with greater control and venom in his bowling.Parkinson, meanwhile, has endured a tough winter so far. His three red-ball games for England (two here and one in New Zealand) have accrued two wickets for 235 runs from 52 overs and it seems a decision may have been made to limit his immediate international future to the white-balls teams. Bess is, by some distance, also the better fielder and batsman and made a half-century on Test debut.It says much for the dearth of England’s spin options, however, that they are picking between two men who are far from assured of selection in their county sides. Bess was obliged to go out on loan to get some cricket in 2019 – he played four first-class matches for Yorkshire and seven for Somerset – while Parkinson was picked for just four Championship games by Lancashire.There was better news of most of England’s other first-choice options. Ollie Pope, who missed the Centurion Test due to illness, has returned to training and is thought likely to be fit to return for the second match. Jonny Bairstow, who made 10 runs in his two innings, looks especially vulnerable.Perhaps, to an extent, Bairstow might count himself unfortunate. Having been dropped ahead of the New Zealand tour, he has not had the benefit of any first-class cricket to rebuild his game, though he was sent on a training camp in South Africa ahead of this tour. If he was a bit unlucky in the first innings – he received a delivery which kept low – his second innings dismissal, chasing a wide one without a lot of foot movement, was ugly.Equally, looking back a bit further, he may feel he was unnecessarily unsettled by talk of giving Jos Buttler the gloves and moving him up the order. He was never keen to bat at No. 3, despite making a century there in Colombo last year, and never keen to give up the gloves. For a while, albeit three or four years ago now, he was scoring heavily at No. 7. It might have been best to leave him to it.Ultimately, though, he will know that the responsibility to score runs – wherever he bats, whatever the situation – is down to him. And, over the last 12 months, his average of just 18.55 from 10 Tests doesn’t make much of a case for his defence.