Dein erstes Forum » 4/7 favourites ahead of their clash with leaders

Englands problem child has grown up.The kid who was sent home from a Lions tour, the kid who missed a World T20 after smashing his hand on a locker has matured - or, at least, is well on the way to maturing - into the player his talent promised he might be. In Ben Stokes, England have a gem.There will be those who look at the scorecard of this match, shrug and say: But it was only Bangladesh.And it is true that there were moments - such as during their first innings collapse - when Bangladeshs lack of experience in Test cricket was obvious. Englands record against them - they have, to date, won all eight of the Tests they have played against one another - hardly reflects the narrowing gap between these two sides.But in these conditions, the margin is not very big at all. And in this game, it has been defined by Stokes. Having produced an outstanding spell of bowling to help take Bangladeshs last six wickets for the addition of just 27 runs, he then contributed perhaps the most mature innings of his Test career to date.True, he didnt turn it into a century. And true, it wasnt as eye-catching or awe-inspiring as his centuries at Perth, Lords or Cape Town.But while all those surfaces offered, to greater or lesser degree, the pace and bounce on which Stokes naturally feasts, this innings was compiled in conditions in which he has often struggled.Slow, low and offering help to the spinners, it was the sort of surface on which Stokes has often thrashed like a drowning man and given it away in infuriating fashion. Remember the dismissals in Grenada and Abu Dhabi: caught on the mid-wicket fence. Or the dismissals in Antigua or Abu Dhabi: charging down the pitch in desperation and missing.Bangladesh tried to entice him into similar mistakes here. But where once he would have tried to thrash his way to a decent score, here he played like a Test batsman. Where once he had no confidence in his defensive technique, here he gave himself a chance to succeed by playing himself in, defending when necessary, rotating the strike and still putting away the poor ball with that brutal power that has become customary.There were three sixes in this innings, but he no longer has boundary options alone; he has the ability, the technique and temperament to build an innings. Not satisfied with being a middle-order biffer - the sort of role that some, like Shahid Afridi, settled into a little too readily - he has combined his talent with an impressive determination to work hard and keep improving. He is well on his way to being Englands best all-rounder since Ian Botham.There will be those who point to his averages - the batting average is under 35; the bowling average over - and wonder what all the fuss is about. But if you judge everything on averages, you make some very average judgments.Stokes is a cricketer who, with bat, ball and in the field, is capable of altering games in circumstances where few can. Each one of his Test centuries might reasonably be described as great; he has taken some catches - remember Trent Bridge, 2015 - that few could and his bowling here defied a slow pitch to change the course of this game.In brutal conditions in which other seamers operated in three (or even one) over spells, Stokes started the day with a six-over spell of sustained skill and hostility. On a surface on which other seamers struggled to get the ball above hip height, he had batsmen jumping and sparring. And in an environment in which other seamers had to be content with cutters and slower balls, he swung the ball sharply.With his strength, his skill and his determination, he has developed into a huge asset to England as a bowler. If he couldnt bat to save his life, Stokes may still be an international cricketer.Some aspects of this will be of no surprise. We knew Stokes had talent: we knew he was strong; that he could thrash sixes and bowl bouncers. But he hasnt always looked an intelligent, adaptable cricketer. He hasnt always had the subtlety to complement his raw ability. But now that he has the skill to harness the reverse swing and now that he is learning to adapt to the slow surfaces on which he will probably have to play half his career, he is developing into something quite special. England missed him when he was injured. It wasnt just his on-field influence, either. The team management felt the dressing-room environment at The Oval, when Pakistan defeated them to level the Test series, was a little too quiet; a little too passive. Stokes belief, energy and determination play a huge part in driving this team forward.As Paul Farbrace said a couple of weeks ago: Stokes is a leader, wherever he goes, people want to go with him. Hes loved being vice-captain on this tour. But vice-captain or not, he is a leader, and people follow him and want to know where he is going, whether hes going out for dinner, when hes practising.The England management deserve some credit here. For many months now, they have done everything they can to make Stokes feel valued and appreciated.It would have been perfectly reasonable to demote him to No. 7 in the order here or to leave him out of the limited-overs sides. Instead they given him responsibility - he was vice-captain of the ODI side on this tour - and security in his roles. Knowing his value and seeing his potential, they have invested heavily in him. Aged 25, he should be able to repay them for several years.Dont discount that New Zealand influence, either. His father, Ged Stokes, was a rugby league player and coach who famously had a finger amputated when he couldnt wait for it to recover from a bad break. The son has inherited the fathers determination and spirit.Theres more than a little Brendon McCullum about the way he lifts this England team: he might have made a decent All Black had he stayed in New Zealand.None of this disguises the fact that Englands top-order failed again. Again and again over the last couple of years, Englands middle-order has rescued them after poor starts. While their sixth-wicket averages 83 in 2016, their next-best partnership is 53 for the seventh-wicket. That is fine, up to a point. But if England are to beat they best, if they are to win in Australia or in India, they will need the top-order to contribute far more often.This game isnt won yet, either. What we have learned so far in this match is that, after the first 30 overs or so, the ball becomes quite soft and the slow pace of the wicket partially negates the turn on offer. Bangladesh scored 331 in the fourth innings here against England in 2010 and lost, while New Zealand scored 317 for 7 to win in the fourth innings here in 2008.As a result, spinners are more dangerous with the new ball, when some deliveries turn sharply and others skid on, and seamers come into their own only if they can find some reverse. In that regard, England are well-served with Stokes. He has enjoyed an outstanding 24 hours or so, but his work is not yet done.Cheap Shoes Store Near Me .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at Boston Strong - a citys recovery from tragedy. Nike Basketball Shoes Clearance .7 million, one-year contract, a raise of $2.2 million. 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During the athletes parade, the 23-strong Ukrainian team was represented by a lone flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops in Ukraines Crimean peninsula.Claudio Ranieri could include January signing Daniel Amartey for the first time when Leicester City travel to Manchester City for their top-of-the-table clash on Saturday.Amartey is yet to make the squad since his arrival two weeks ago, having last played a competitive game for former club FC Copenhagen at the start of December because of the winter break.His fitness will be assessed by Leicester boss Ranieri before the game, as the league leaders prepare for a stiff test of their title credentials at the Etihad Stadium. Leicester are currently three points clear at the top of the table City are tough to beat at home, having dropped just eight points at the Etihad all season, and Pellegrinis side have kept four clean sheets in their last five league games.Victory over the Foxes on Saturday afternoon would put City level on points at the top with 13 games to go, but Ranieris side saw off Liverpool on Tuesday and have not lost in the league since Boxing Day. Team newsEliaquim Mangala (hamstring), Kevin de Bruyne (knee/ankle), Wilfried Bony (shin), Jesus Navas (hamstring) and Samir Nasri (thigh) are all sidelined, as is Vincent Kompany (calf), but Pellegrini hopes the defender will be back with the squad next week. Manuel Pellegrini hopes Vincent Kompany will return in a weeks time Amartey could make his debut if he proves his fitness, and the versatility he offers would be a welcome bonus for Ranieri - he was signed mainly as a central midfielder but can also play at centre-back and right-back.Only Matty James (knee) and Jeff Schlupp (hamstring) will definitely be absent for Leicester. Ranieri says the others when asked who will finish top of the Premier League table Opta statsCity have won 16 of the last 19 Premier League games at the Etihad (W16 D1 L2), while Leicester have failed to score in the last three top-flight games against Pellegrinis side.ddddddddddddOnly one team (Everton on 13th January 2016) have stopped City from scoring in the last 27 competitive matches at the Etihad .Leicester have lost just one of their last 15 away league games (W9 D5 L1).Sergio Aguero has scored 12 goals in his last 10 Premier League appearances for Manchester City. Sergio Aguero has been in good form for Manchester City On the day of this game, Leicester will have spent 47 days on top of the league in 2015-16; only their opponents have spent longer in first place this season (100 days).City have won the most points at home this season in the Premier League (28), while Leicester have won the most away from home (25).Without Jamie Vardys 18 goals in the Premier League this season, Leicester City would be 18 points worse off.Mersons predictionI fancy Man City here but they will play right into Leicesters hands. Theyll have a go and Vardys pace will be too quick for the City defence. Aguero is just on fire, though, so Im going to go for City as I think theyll have too much.PAUL PREDICTS: 3-1 Manchester City can move joint top of the table with three points on Saturday BettingPremier League title favourites City are Sky Bets 4/7 favourites ahead of their clash with leaders Leicester City (9/2). The sides shared a goalless draw when they met at the King Power Stadium in December and its 14/1 for a repeat of that outcome or 16/5 for a draw of any kind.The hosts are unbeaten in their last seven top-flight matches and can be backed at 15/8 to win with both teams scoring, while the Foxes have kept clean sheets in five of their last six league matches and are 11/8 to win or draw in the Double Chance market. Jamie Vardy scored twice against Liverpool on Tuesday Aguero has scored nine goals in eight appearances at the Etihad and is 11/4 to open the scoring and 4/7 to net anytime with Vardy a 15/8 shot to score anytime.Check out tips from our Sky Sports pundits Jamie Redknapp, Charlie Nicholas, Phil Thompson and Matt Le Tissier here. ' ' '