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Everton have had their fair share of injury problems this season which has ultimately led to a disappointing and stressful season for the Toffees, with the side now engaged in a relegation battle in the remaining months of the season, however some good news has emerged from Finch Farm this week.

What’s the word?

The Merseyside club’s official Twitter account has confirmed the return of Fabian Delph to full training following a lengthy injury spell, with the club’s social media platform simply captioning a tweet “Fabian Delph: back in full training” alongside some images of the 32-year-old back in action.

The central midfielder has been plagued with a number of injury problems this season, with two periods of absence due to a shoulder injury back in August that side-lined the player until October, and then sustained another injury to his thigh in late January that has left him on the recovery table ever since.

Lampard will be delighted

Adding depth to the team when they are in the vulnerable position that Everton have found themselves in is always a huge boost for Frank Lampard, especially a player full of experience and understanding of what the club and the fans expect from the team as Delph has been with the squad since 2019.

Despite being out of the team for a large chunk of the season only making six appearances so far, the 32 year old can offer a number of attributes to the team, as not only is he effective in central midfield, he can also make an impact on the left side and even in the left back position if Lampard feels that he needs to deploy him there over the last games of the season.

His return has also come at a good time from a midfield perspective for the Toffees, as Allan was red carded in the victory over Newcastle United, in a controversial VAR decision that was unsuccessfully appealed by the club, meaning the Brazilian will miss three Premier League games when fixtures return next weekend, and Delph’s return will be a relief to Lampard giving him more options to replace the suspended player in the centre of the pitch.

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Everton’s win in the Premier League last week has put them three points clear of the relegation zone, but has not secured their safety to remain in the league next season as of yet, so Lampard and the team still have work to do to make sure they can avoid the club’s first relegation from the top flight in 71 years, and Delph’s return will certainly be a positive boost.

In other news: Lampard must ruthlessly axe Everton’s “lazy” £22.5m-rated flop, he’s stunk up Goodison

	John Buchanan and Ricky Ponting will be working together once again for the Kolkata franchise © Getty

John Buchanan, the former Australia coach, will take charge of the Kolkata side in the Indian Premier League, has reported.Buchanan will join fellow Australians Tom Moody and Greg Shipperd in coaching IPL sides. The Mohali franchise has signed on Moody, the former Sri Lanka coach, while Greg Shipperd, the Victoria coach, will join the Delhi team. This is Buchanan’s first serious coaching role since stepping down after Australia’s victorious World Cup campaign in 2007.Buchanan dismissed suggestions that having players from different countries in the same team will be a hurdle. “I don’t ever see that as a problem, once players merge together as a side you are actually trying to achieve a result,” Buchanan said. “What will be interesting is that you will have Australian players, Indian players, New Zealand players, Sri Lankan players, Pakistani players … and they could all end up in the one franchise.”Besides ‘icon’ player Sourav Ganguly, the Kolkata franchise includes Shoaib Akhtar, Ricky Ponting, Brendon McCullum, Chris Gayle, Ishant Sharma, Ajit Agarkar, David Hussey, Murali Kartik and Tatenda Taibu – who came on board following Wednesday’s player auction.”That will make for an interesting cultural exchange no doubt … and that will be one of the exciting parts, bringing together cultural differences in a very short period of time,” he said.Although the ICC has ruled out any special window in the international cricket calendar for the IPL, Buchanan had a different viewpoint. “It has the potential to revolutionise the game, at least in the way of delivery and to take it globally,” Buchanan said. “I think that [a scheduling window] is what will happen in the next 12 months, and it does have the potential to be damaging either way if it is not worked out properly.”

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Nathan Adcock made his third half-century for 2006-07 © Getty Images

Nathan Adcock and Jason Borgas frustrated Western Australia’s attempts to make the Pura Cup final, putting up strong resistance and ensuring a tough chase for the Warriors. South Australia reached 5 for 273 at stumps, with an overall lead of 198.Adcock made 95 and Borgas scored 83 as they built an important 147-run third-wicket partnership. Adam Voges’ part-time spin troubled the Redbacks near the end of the day and he finished with his best first-class figures, 3 for 42.Borgas again proved a slow but steady scorer and his 264-ball innings was his fourth half-century in his five-game career. Adcock blasted his runs in more entertaining fashion, smashing four sixes and nine fours from his 136 deliveries.Voges had both batsmen caught at slip shortly before stumps and also removed Darren Lehmann, who made a lively 36. The Warriors added only 12 to their overnight score before Ryan Harris finished the innings with 5 for 92, which was his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.The Redbacks, searching for their first and only win in a depressing season, have the chance to set Western Australia a challenging final-day target. The Warriors would have nothing to lose in the chase and a victory would likely push them into the Pura Cup final against Tasmania.

Kenya 135 for 5 (Tikolo 50*) trail Netherlands 474 (ten Doeschate 158, van Troost 86, Schiferli 69) by 339 runs
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Edgar Schiferli comes in after making 69 © David Waters / Cricinfo

Netherlands ended the second day of their Intercontinental Cup tie against Kenya at Nairobi Gymkhana in a commanding position after scoring 474 and reducing the home side to 135 for 5 at stumps. Only Steve Tikolo, unbeaten on 50 at the close, stands between Netherlands and a large, probably match-winning, first-innings lead.Kenya had fought back well on the first evening, but they failed to make any inroads after showers had delayed the start today. Their only success of the morning came when Jeroen Smits was bowled by the impressive Thomas Odoyo for 8, but runs flowed as Luuk van Troost was cutting loose at the other end.He found a valuable partner in Edgar Schiferli, the pair adding a competition-record 95 for the ninth wicket. Schiferli was far from daunted by a wilting attack, dominating the partnership with a 95-ball 69, while van Trrost, who was dropped by wicketkeeper Maurice Ouma immediately after lunch, began to open up in the afternoon as clouds gathered, eventually holing-out to Odoyo at long-on off Collins Obuya.As he departed for a well-made 86, the rain returned causing another 45-minute delay. Schiferli swatted the first ball after the restart from Tikolo for six over long-on, before finally perishing to a good catch in the deep by Obuya off the persevering Peter Ongondo. Netherlands’ total was the highest in the competition’s history and Kenya were left needing something special to stay in the game.

Maurice Ouma digs out a yorker from Edgar Schiferli © David Waters / Cricinfo

They were already without Hitesh Modi, who broke a finger yesterday, and so their batting line-up looked even more dependant than usual on Tikolo. They needed a good start, but they lost Ouma to the last ball before tea, well caught low down by Jeroen Smits, and never regained the initiative. Brijal Patel, whose recall had raised an eyebrow or two, fell for 22 and in the next over Tony Suji was bowled by Schiferli for 11 to leave them wobbling on 50 for 3.Although Tikolo looked assured, the worry was who would stay with him. The precocious Tanmay Mishra again looked more than capable before he perished for 16, and when the in-form Obuya was cleaned up by Mohammad Kashif shortly before the close, it was hard to see any way back into the match for the Kenyans.

Jenny Gunn was the shining light for England© Getty Images

Rain severely disrupted the opening day of the 2005 World Cup, with all four matches washed out after heavy rain lashed Pretoria. There are no reserve days in the opening group matches and so all teams will receive three points.
ScorecardEngland struggled after choosing to bat at the Technikon Oval, and were indebted to a brisk 40 from 50 balls by Jenny Gunn to give their total some respectability. Charlotte Edwards and Laura Newton gave the innings a steady start, content to see off the new ball threat of Cathryn Fitzpatrick. But Julie Hayes removed both openers, and when Clare Connor fell without scoring England were struggling at 63 for 3.Clare Taylor set about trying to rebuild the innings, as Australia’s seamers proved hard to get away. The middle-order fell trying to up the tempo, and when Rosalie Birch was run out England were in trouble at 102 for 6, leaving them trying to bat out the overs. Gunn played positively, adding 41 with Jane Smit for the eighth wicket, but the rain arrived before England got the chance to see how competitive their total would be.

Washout at Supersport Park: a scene repeated all over Pretoria as the Women’s World Cup got off to a damp start in South Africa© Getty Images

ScorecardSouth Africa were on course to post a decent score at Centurion Park, before rain put paid to their opening match against Ireland. They were made to work for their runs by a determined Irish team, who reduced them to 92 for 5 before the middle-order led a recovery.Barbara McDonald was the pick of the Irish attack, here two early wickets included Johmari Logtenberg, the teenage star who is tipped for an impressive future. Shandre Fritz and Claire Terblanche added 90 for sixth wicket before bad light, and eventually rain, arrived with two overs of their innings remaining.
ScorecardMaia Lewis was the star for New Zealand, the defending champions, making 77 from 148 balls, but the rest of the batting struggled. Nicola Browne offered the only real support, making 25 from 35 balls, while Philippa Thomas and Nelly Williams claimed two wickets each.
ScorecardThe Indian bowlers kept a constant stranglehold on the Sri Lankan batting, never allowing them to gain any momentum. Even Shashikala Siriwardena, the top-score, struggled for 63 balls to make 29. Neetu David was the pick of the attack with 3 for 17, and the Indians would have been highly confident of reaching their target, but only had the chance to face two overs.

South Australia 225 and 2 for 122 drew with Victoria 8 for 331 dec
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Matthew Elliott made the best of a drawn match © Getty Images

Victoria had to be content with two points from their Pura Cup match against South Australia after rain washed out the last day’s play and the game ended in a draw. With these points, Victoria moved 12 points clear of second-placed Tasmania. This result also means that they will host the final regardless of the result in their last two matches.The match was called off a little after 2pm local time. This meant that Greg Blewett’s dismissal, LBW to Cameron White for eight, on the third day, ended up being the final ball of the match. In addition to the final day being abandoned due to rain, three hours of play were lost on the third day.The big plus from the match was the form of Matthew Elliott. Even though he recently told an interviewer he thought his days of playing for Australia were well behind him, there must be hope, if he can consistently rattle up big scores. The 154 not out he made in Victoria’s only innings, formed almost half the team’s total and included 15 fours and a six.

The South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) has confirmed that Damien Fleming will undergo surgery during January and be unavailable for the remainder of the season.Fleming has been suffering from anterior instability in his right shoulder and will undergo surgery on January 14 to repair the damage.Fleming is looking forward to having the surgery and commencing his rehabilitation, and to assisting the State team for the remainder of the season.”The shoulder has been giving me problems off and on during the past few months and I’m really looking forward to having it repaired so I can continue playing for South Australia during next season,” he said.”For the rest of this season I’ll work with the Redbacks and coaching staff to help out the boys in any way I can, and hopefully help see them get some wins on the board during the second half of the season.”This follows yesterday’s announcement by the SACA that right-hand batsman, Chris Davies will have surgery to repair a ruptured ligament in his left elbow on January 7 and also be unavailable for the rest of the season.Davies’ elbow injury worsened during the Pura Cup game against the Western Warriors recently, and following that match, Davies and the SACA medical staff decided to proceed with surgery.

The Athletic’s Phil Hay has delivered an encouraging update on where things stand with Joe Gelhardt’s new contract at Leeds United.

What’s the story?

Writing on Twitter, he said: “Joe Gelhardt is rapidly shooting up the list of players who Leeds United would like to tie to a new contract. He’s already asking the same question of Jesse Marsch as he asked of Marcelo Bielsa – how long can you hold him back?”

In a follow-up article for The Athletic, Hay then added: “The 19-year-old’s form over the past nine months has pushed him towards the upper end of the list of players who Leeds would like to tie to new contracts as soon as possible.

“The terms he signed when he moved from Wigan in 2020 ran for four years and the subject of an improved deal has already been broached with his camp, although with Leeds tied up in a relegation fight, negotiations are likely to wait until the season is resolved.”

Gelhardt’s the future

Make no mistake about it, Gelhardt represents the future of Leeds United’s attack, whether that be in tandem with Patrick Bamford over the 12 next months or so, or else leading the line on his own in the years to come.

He has already proven himself to be a player for the big occasion this season in the Premier League, netting the dramatic late winner against Norwich City last week and also being the man to earn a stoppage time match-saving penalty against Wolves earlier in the campaign.

Whether or not the Whites remain in the Premier League, tying down Gelhardt to a new long-term deal and protecting him from the vultures of some of the top flight’s European-contending clubs will be crucial.

The former Wigan ace is already making a big impression at just 19 years of age, and you can only wonder at how just how good he will become in the next few seasons or so.

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Leeds fans should be excited with Hay’s latest update on their talismanic youngster.

AND in other news, Beren Cross reveals huge behind the scenes Leeds decision, Jesse Marsch will be fuming

	India have not been averse to trying out different combinations in the slips during the ongoing Test series © AFP

One of the features of the first three Tests in Australia has been India’s constant changing of their slip cordon and close-in fielders in front of the batsman. Throughout the games Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Wasim Jaffer have often switched positions in the slips.Robin Singh, India’s fielding coach, revealed the logic behind shuffling around the close-in fielders and trying to put senior players close in when the new batsman walks in. He also admitted that a young one-day side selected for the forthcoming CB Series would field with a higher intensity.”We have been working on certain things,” Robin said after arriving in Adelaide for the final Test. “Sometimes it’s difficult for some guy to stand at short leg for the whole day, especially when Anil Kumble is bowling. We don’t really want to miss a catch.”Fielding has a lot to do with experience as well. Sometimes a younger guy may not know where to stand. He may not be able to gauge the bounce and pace of wicket. VVS [Laxman] and Rahul [Dravid] have played a lot with Anil [Kumble]- for the zones and states. Sachin [Tendulkar] has played a lot with Anil. Sometimes it makes sense to have stalwarts of the game in the opponents’ face. They [Australia] were really under pressure in this game and at any given point of time, with these guys who have done well and their confidence behind them, it definitely makes an impact. You see Ricky Ponting goes and stands at silly point. He need not stand there but sometimes I think it’s done for effect. And it really puts pressure on a new guy that comes in.”Even at practice India have been trying out different combinations in the slips, with players switching positions in every session. “VVS has put his hand up, Sourav [Ganguly] has too,” he said. “I spoke to him and said, ‘Why don’t you have a go’. Sometimes when the game is tight you want senior guys at your opponents’ face. I think Sourav did that well last game.”Sachin has been available to stand in the slips and Rahul is our best fielder against Kumble. You try and juggle these guys around. Wasim [Jaffer], in fact, has been working a lot in the slips. I’m working on RP [Singh] too because I think he can be a really good slip fielder. What we need to focus on is ground fielding. Grounds are really big and we don’t have the strongest arms. Sydney game and Perth game, even first innings and second innings, things were different. At least we have noticed the effort from everyone.”India’s one-day squad, though, consists of a bunch of youngsters and can be expected to be a far better fielding unit. Ganguly, Dravid and Laxman were left out and Tendulkar will be the only member of the side on the other side of 30.Robin, while admitting it was an advantage, preferred to look at the pros and cons. “You can look at it both ways. If you take the senior guys and the batting experience they have, it’s a big asset in Australian conditions. It’s a question of how you want to go ahead.”The younger guys are better fielders and easier to work with but senior guys are thorough professionals too, Sourav for example is somebody who’s done exceptionally well along with Sachin. Definitely his experience is going to make a huge difference. But people have to fill the gaps. It’s a balancing act and somewhere along the line you have to see how to go forward.”Ganguly’s omission has been a major talking point in India but Lalchand Rajput, India’s assistant coach, didn’t think it would distract the team from the job at hand. “All these guys are professional cricketers who will focus on the game rather than what’s happening outside,” he said. “At the moment they’re concentrating on the Test series and not looking ahead to the one-dayers. It’s a very, very important game for us and we’re focussing on the upcoming Test.”