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According to Sport English, Andre Gomes is ‘on the verge’ of a permanent move to Everton after club officials flew out to Barcelona as they looked to smooth out the finer details of the deal.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Toffees had the pleasure of having the Portuguese international in their side throughout the entirety of last season on a loan spell, and Gomes certainly impressed.

The classy midfielder won over the supporters with his consistently excellent performances, where he and the more combative Idrissa Gueye proved to be the perfect foil for each other in the Everton midfield.

Wearing the No.8 shirt at Goodison Park, Gomes made 27 Premier League appearances and took to the English game like a duck to water.

Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below…

The 25-year-old will reportedly cost a fee in the region of €30m (£26.7m), which can be considered a snip in the modern transfer market.

Marco Silva gets 50% of his wish, but it’s not all good news

Back in May, Everton boss Silva said on Gomes and another loan star in Kurt Zouma: “We believe in them, we give them something and we really help them. They help us, also. They have been fantastic professionals since they joined our club so let’s see what we can do. I hope and our fans also hope we can sign with them.”

Zouma was on loan from Chelsea and impressed massively in his 32 league appearances, although despite the good news on Gomes’ imminent arrival, Silva doesn’t look likely to get 100% of his transfer wish from last month after a fresh report.

The Daily Star believes that the Blues will block any potential exit for the French international as a result of their transfer ban. Chelsea bosses are said to be keen to limit the number of players leaving Stamford Bridge, as they would be unable to replace them.

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The supporters and Silva will be overjoyed to see Gomes close in on a permanent move, but it isn’t all good news on Merseyside in regards to the former Watford boss’ transfer hopes from May.

New South Wales 5 for 360 (Forrest 177, Haddin 55*, Hughes 51, Katich 51) v Tasmania
Scorecard

Peter Forrest was understandably thrilled at reaching his first century © Getty Images

Peter Forrest made his first Pura Cup century as New South Wales batted themselves into a strong position on the first day against Tasmania. Forrest fell late in the day for 177 and at the close the Blues had reached 5 for 360 with Brad Haddin on 55 and Grant Lambert yet to score.The early signs for New South Wales were excellent as Forrest, in his fifth first-class game, combined with the debutant opener Phillip Hughes for a 112-run second-wicket stand. Hughes, 18, is the Blues’ youngest first-class player since Michael Clarke burst on the scene and he immediately displayed the skills that earned him his place, striking 51.Forrest then had strong support from Simon Katich (51) and Haddin, as Tasmania’s attack struggled to string together two wickets in close proximity. His century came from 174 balls but he was not content to leave it there and finished with 21 fours and two sixes.His lengthy stay finally ended when Brendan Drew trapped him lbw with only 15 minutes left in the day. Ben Hilfenhaus was the only Tasmania bowler to claim more than one wicket, ending the day with 2 for 90.

Anil Kumble has urged his team-mates to approach the Tests with a positive mindset © AFP

Anil Kumble has happy memories of the Wanderers, and he urged his team-mates to be positive – “Let’s forget about the one-day series” – in the build-up to the first Test which starts on Friday. Back in November 1992, Kumble was a young man on his way back from the wilderness, and a stupendous second-innings display, 44-22-53-6, more or less sealed his place in the side for the best part of the next decade.”Personally, I’ve had a good tour whenever I’ve come here,” said Kumble, speaking to the media after another long net session on Tuesday. With 31 wickets from his nine Tests here, Kumble will be one of the men South Africa worry about the most, but he was almost anxious to shy away from talk of the individual. “It’s important that we play well collectively as a team,” he said. “It’s always a great atmosphere here at the Wanderers, and it will be a good Test series. The boys are geared up.”According to him, the 4-0 defeat in the one-day series was a page from the past, and he was confident that the team had the quality to bounce back over the three Tests. “If you look back at the West Indies tour, we won the Tests after we had an ordinary one-day series,” he said. “And inPakistan, we didn’t do too well in the Tests, but came back in the one-day games.”Not many gave us a chance when we toured Australia last time. Everyone said we would lose 4-0, and that turned out to be one of the best series we’ve ever played. The conditions here are pretty similar to Australia. When you look back at how the team performed, and also individuals, you can draw inspiration from that.”When asked what lessons could be learnt from the displays of that side, which left Australian shores after having nearly ruined Steve Waugh’s farewell, Kumble said, “We have more or less the same set of players. It’s a matter of one innings. Hopefully, it will be the first innings of thefirst Test here. We picked up 20 wickets and won a Test [Adelaide], and came close to winning another [Sydney]. You need runs on the board, and you need time.”

Not many gave us a chance when we toured Australia last time. Everyone said we would lose 4-0, and that turned out to be one of the best series we’ve ever played

That said, South Africa are formidable opposition, having lost only to Australia and England on home soil since their re-admission to the Test arena in 1992. “They know their conditions well,” said Kumble. “They have the bowlers to suit the pitches they play on. But then again, not manyhave gone to Australia and returned [nearly] victorious, so we must be positive.”Though he emphasised that the batsmen would need to get their act together over the next month, Kumble wasn’t overly worried about the poor displays in the one-day series. “It’s especially important for a spinner to have runs on the board,” he said. “The one-day series wasn’t easy. A couple of times, we had to bat under lights, and if you look at the record for thosekinds of games in South Africa, it’s a bit tough. We also didn’t have proper practice before the first game because of the rain.”South Africa too had the odd batting wobble during the one-day series, and Kumble was confident that India had the resources to hurt them again if they slipped up in the Tests. “Their top order also didn’t fare too well in the one-day games,” he said. “We have the quality when it comes to the bowling. If we bowl in the right areas, and get a couple of early wickets,we can put pressure on them.”The South Africans have already talked of how they won’t allow the Indian spinners to settle, and AB de Villiers and Herschelle Gibbs could be given the task of trying to unsettle Kumble with some big hits. de Villiers played some splendid knocks against Muttiah Muralitharan in Sri Lanka, but the prospect of the batsmen taking him on didn’t faze Kumble in the slightest. “Their approach will depend on the situation,” he said. “It will be good if they’re aggressive, it also gives us a chance to get them out.”

Kumble’s showing in the one-day series went almost unnoticed amid the batting meltdown © AFP

Given that India are almost certain to go into the game with a four-man bowling attack, Irfan Pathan, the spearhead less than a year ago, will miss out. The likes of Suresh Raina and Mohammad Kaif are already back home, after unconvincing one-day performances. Kumble, however, urged them not to be disheartened as they analyse what has gone wrong.”It’s important for the development of a youngster that you have these ups and downs,” he said. “Every outing won’t be a century or a five-wicket haul. I try and put positive thoughts in their minds. I’ve been through this before, as has everyone who’s played a lot of cricket. You just keep talking to them, and you hope that when they do come back, the experience they have gained will help.”He didn’t wax eloquent about his return to the one-day side, but made it clear that he was determined to be a part of India’s World Cup campaign, having played only a fringe role in the last edition. “It’s good to be in the scheme of things,” he said. “It’s a young man’s game, but you also need experience.”In the midst of the batting meltdown that cost India the one-day series, a couple of strong showings from Kumble went almost unnoticed. It didn’t really bother him. “As a team, we didn’t do well,” he said bluntly. “My performance was not so important. You need to win, and if that doesn’t happen, it doesn’t count.”If each of his team-mates had that town-sized heart and unflinching desire to win, India would hardly ever lose a game.

Dinesh Mongia is looking for more consistency in his game for 2006 © Getty Images

Dinesh Mongia has agreed to return to Leicestershire for another season in 2006, in a bid to reclaim his spot in the Indian one-day squad. Mongia joins Asif Mohammad, the Pakistani fast bowler, who signed for the club yesterday.”I was a part of India’s World Cup squad when we reached the final in 2003 and hope to be involved again next time,” Mongia, who is currently captaining Punjab back home in India, told BBC Sport. “Achieving consistency is undoubtedly my number one objective next summer, particularly in the Championship.”Mongia performed reasonably well last summer – averaging just over 40 and accumulating 684 first-class runs – but his best performances came in the Totesport League where he made significant contributions with bat and ball as Leicestershire fell agonisingly short in their bid for promotion from the second division.”There is no doubt that he is a very talented cricketer with considerable international experience,” said Leicestershire chairman Neil Davidson. “And he has made it very clear to us that he wants to make more of an impact next season.”

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Every year before New Zealand Cricket’s annual general meeting, a brief ritual takes place. It lasts only a few minutes but it is of genuine significance in the development of cricket in New Zealand.”It” is the annual meeting of the New Zealand Cricket Foundation. The independent body was set up in 1979 with the aim of providing assistance in areas normally beyond the reach of the work of New Zealand Cricket (NZC). Among its committee and executive are some real movers and shakers in the cricket and business world.President is long-time New Zealand cricket benefactor, businessman Sir Ron Brierley, while the secretary is the chairman of NZC and chief executive of the National Bank, Sir John Anderson. Elected members of the committee are: former commentator Iain Gallaway, another notable benefactor in John Oakley, cricket historian and former New Zealand selector Don Neely and former international John Morrison. NZC’s four appointed members of the Foundation are: former international and co-founder of Sky Television Terry Jarvis, NZC board member Denis Currie, chief executive Martin Snedden and NZC operations manager John Reid, both of them former internationals.Over the years, the body has donated $NZ4.15 million to groups around New Zealand for a variety of reasons. They have provided permanent wickets or practice wickets to a total of $NZ2.09 million while also assisting with coaching, coaching co-ordinators and development, funding New Zealand Young players to Lord’s, travel grants and scholarships. They have also assisted ins funding New Zealand Youth tours, Kiwi Cricket and specialist clinics, and in other ways.In the past year, the Foundation contributed $30,000 to Canterbury Cricket’s indoor facility at Iversen Terrace while every year it presents the Sir Jack Newman Award in honour of one of the original members of the Foundation who had a transport empire in the Nelson region, to a person who has made a significant contribution to youth cricket in New Zealand. This year’s winner was Marlborough man Mike Rhodes who has given 33 years of service to junior cricket in his region.In the past year, the Foundation had a surplus of $NZ281,139, its first surplus for some time, mainly due to a gain on sale of a proportion of GPG shares held by the Foundation, while NZC also made two grants of $25,000 to the Foundation.Examples of the spread of pitch funding can be seen from the following list: (all $NZ)$15,000 – Taranaki Cricket Association,$9000 – Northern Districts Cricket Association,$7500 – Dunedin Cricket Association,$6000 – Bay of Plenty Cricket Association,$4500 – Burnside West – University Cricket Club, Mount Aspiring College,$4000 – Hillcrest High School Cricket,$3000 – Adams House: Christchurch, Campion College, Ellesmere College, Hamilton Cricket Association, Morrinsville Cricket Association, Oamaru Cricket Club, St Andrew’s College, St Bede’s College, Southwell School, Te Puru School: Thames, Waimea College,$2000 – Merivale Papanui Cricket Club,$1750 – Old Collegians Cricket Club,$1500 – Akaroa Cricket Club, Westport South School, Karamea Area School, Burwood School, Cromwell Cricket Club, Greenmeadows School, Highlands Intermediate School, Karamu Intermediate School, Mahora School, Manurewa Central School, Mauku Cricket Club, Merivale School, Mount Anglem College, Taitoko School, Taradale Intermediate School, Te Aroha College, Te Puke Cricket Club, Whangarei and Districts Cricket Association,$1250 – Picton Cricket Club, West Coast Cricket Association,$1000 – Papamoa School,$600 – Tamahere School, Vardon School.

BRISBANE – Australia’s cricket selectors have been given extra time tosolve a spinning problem for the series opener against South Africa nextweek, but they won’t hand out a Test cap for the sake of it.The Adelaide Oval, which hosts the first Test from next Friday, hastraditionally been a base for two spinners, leaving a question mark overwho could partner Shane Warne.Stuart MacGill and Colin Miller are the most experienced contenders butcases can be made against both, leaving almost a lottery amongAustralia’s otherwise thin spinning ranks.National selector Allan Border said publicly that two spinners would benamed in a 12 or 13-man squad for Adelaide, leaving the door open for asurprise selection.But chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said the squad, which wassupposed to be named tomorrow, had not yet been discussed.The selectors will pick the squad on Saturday night after Hohns watchesSouth Africa open its first-class tour during a four-day match againstWestern Australia at the WACA Ground.Hohns was adamant selectors would not throw in another spinner for thesake of tradition at the Adelaide Oval, even though MacGill and Millerbowled half of Australia’s overs against the West Indies last summer.”It’s an option, and there is no doubt about that, but we have to decidewhich is the right way to go,” Hohns said.”We have to first decide whether another spinner warrants selection.”We’ve got a few young fellows coming through and we’ve got the triedand true performers so it’s something to be discussed.”Spinners across the country haven’t been banging down Hohns’ door thissummer, after struggling for impact on sometimes unco-operative wickets.Even Australian coach John Buchanan admitted that selectors faced atough decision.”You could go around the whole country and, if you look at thestatistics this season, there isn’t one person who has put up their handand said ‘pick me’,” Buchanan said.”It will be an interesting choice if selectors decide to go that way.”Selectors must first settle on the style of any second spinner -MacGill’s leg spin, Miller’s off spin or a left-arm spinner.Miller would have an advantage because his offies complement Warne’s legspin but the 38-year-old is struggling for opportunities with Victoria.His Test career would almost certainly be over if selectors plucked arookie off-spinner, perhaps even Queenslander Nathan Hauritz, for aglimpse of the Test scene.The off-spinners would be the frontrunners with South Africa set to playthree key left-handed batsmen – Gary Kirsten, Lance Klusener and JacquesRudolph.”That makes a difference,” Buchanan said.”Leg spin is one of the spinning options that we need to have. It wouldbe, in a sense, nice for the ball to go the other way but that’s adecision for selectors.”That would leave MacGill out of the running, continuing a frustratingseason during which his on-field behaviour has been questioned.Other spinners around the country include Tasmania’s Daniel Marsh, NSWoff-spinner Anthony Clark, young Victorian leggie Cameron White, SouthAustralians Brad Young and Peter McIntyre and West Australian Brad Hogg.

ScorecardFile photo: Ankit Bawne and Maharashtra will hope for as little rain as possible on the final day in Gahunje•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Opener Swapnil Gugale’s 91 on yet another rain-curtailed day has put Maharashtra on course to take a first-innings lead and start their season with three points against Haryana. Play was stopped in Gahunje just before tea on the penultimate day with hosts Maharashtra 256 for 3, only 79 runs behind Haryana’s first innings total of 335.Claiming the lead might not be quite so straightforward with heavier rain predicted on the final day. The unbeaten batsmen Kedar Jadhav and Ankit Bawne, were quite aggressive during their 76-run partnership, and would be hoping for at least an hour’s play tomorrow to push Maharashtra ahead.The day, however, clearly belonged to Gugale. He had debuted in 2010-11, got a duck and did not play the rest of the season. After a few years in the wilderness, he broke through in 2014-15 with 596 runs at 54.18, including a century in the semi-final against Tamil Nadu. He had come in midway through the season and ended up with the highest average.Gugale began cautiously today, taking his time to gauge the pace and adjusting to the lesser bounce on the pitch. He saw off the pace of Ashish Hooda, the standout bowler for Haryana, before getting into gear with some lovely drives.Jayant Yadav, on a high after impressing for India A against the touring Bangladeshis last week, was introduced after drinks but Gugale didn’t let him settle. He laced a four through cover and followed it up with a paddle sweep to the fine leg boundary. Next over, he charged down the wicket and struck medium-pacer Sachin Rana over his head and into the sight screen. Gugale completed the assault by hoicking Yadav into the stands beyond long-on just before lunch.Gugale had scored 174 against Delhi last season and memories of that knock may have come up for Virender Sehwag, now leading Haryana. But, Hooda was eventually rewarded for his discipline as Gugale edged one to keeper Nitin Saini just after entering into the nineties.Gugale was glad to have started the season with a good knock which wiil give him “enough confidence to avoid second-season blues.” but was disappointed to have missed out on a three-figure mark.”A hundred is, after all, a hundred,” he said after the day’s play was called off ten minutes before scheduled close. “It would have been better to leave home for four consecutive away games with a hundred at home but it wasn’t to be. Hopefully I can make amends in the coming games.”

According to Javed Miandad, Pakistan’s batting display in the final ODI against South Africa was one of the most pathetic batting displays he had ever seen © AFP

Javed Miandad, the former Pakistan captain, has slammed the national selectors for persisting with older players while ignoring new talent, which he felt led to the ODI series loss against South Africa.”The selectors have repeatedly been trying the same players who have failed to fulfil the nation’s expectations,” Miandad told a private TV channel. “Inconsistent selection policies led to Pakistan’s defeat against South Africa. The selectors’ poor selection is bringing cricket at par with hockey [in Pakistan].”According to Miandad, the selection committee should be held responsible for the series loss against South Africa even after all the credit it received for selecting a team that reached the final of the ICC World Twenty20.He also expressed his disappointment over the manner in which Pakistan’s batsmen were dismissed in the final match, ending up on the losing side after being well-placed for a series win. “It was one of the most pathetic [batting] displays I have ever seen as six wickets tumbled for just 20 runs. It was a golden opportunity for Pakistan to win the series but they ended as 2-3 losers.”Imran Nazir, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi and Misbah-ul-Haq all played poor strokes, sealing their fate. Pakistan could have easily won the game without any fireworks but they played indiscreet shots to turn their victory into defeat.”Pakistan now head to India for a five-match ODI and three-Test series starting on November 5.

India need 316 runs to win the Test and Dhoni said ‘the way we bat till tea will be very important’ © AFP

The finger injury that Mahendra Singh Dhoni sustained might hamper him when he walks out to bat on Saturday, but he was confident that India could save the Kingsmead Test and head to Cape Town still 1-0 up in the series. And according to him, even victory wasn’t impossible, given that India needed a further 316 runs from the 97 overs scheduled for the final day.”It’s evenly poised,” he said, speaking after the fourth day’s play. “But we must keep in mind that this is the second Test of the series, and so far, neither side has managed to score 300 runs in a day’s play. The weather will also be a factor.”We have not had 90 overs of play on a single day in this match. As a team, we are looking forward to tomorrow’s play. We will stay positive. We’ll see how the situation is at tea time. What we do after that depends on what position the team is in at that point. The way we bat till tea will be very important.”Mark Boucher’s assertion that South Africa were confident of rolling over the Indians inside two sessions drew a brusque response – “If I was a South African cricketer, I wouldn’t say that we would bowl India out inside 50 overs” – and Dhoni emphasised that India wouldn’t approach the situation defensively. “Can we survive? Why not? It’s a fair enough wicket. If you can keep the good balls out, it should make for a good day’s cricket. We’re not merely looking at saving the Test or defending.”He was less positive about the bruising on the right middle finger, which caused him to grimace on more than one occasion out in the field. “I can’t show it to you,” he said with a big grin. “The good news is that it’s not broken. I’m in a position to bat, and there are still three days to go before the next Test.”He was candid when asked about his shot selection throughout the course of this series. “In this match, the shot I played in the first innings [which gave Mornè Morkel a first Test wicket] could have been avoided,” he said. “If I cut out the cover drive, I will be in a position to score more for the team.”He also refused to be too critical when asked about Virender Sehwag’s fallow run, which continued today with his dismissal for 8. “It’s part and parcel of the game,” he said. “With the new Kookaburra ball, there have been one or two early breakthroughs in every innings. A lean patch happens to everyone. If you get a good ball, you get out. There’s no pressure on the middle order because one batsman fails. It depends on how the toporder shapes up as a group.”If they don’t shape up on Saturday, a series that started with Cinderella-like success at the Wanderers might just end up looking like the ugly sister’s face.