All posts by h716a5.icu

In the bowlers rankings, James Anderson reclaimed the top spot from Kagiso Rabada, who now trails the England seamer by 15 points

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jan-2018On the day he was named cricketer and captain of the year at the ICC awards, Virat Kohli became the second India batsman, after Sunil Gavaskar, to scale 900 points in the Test rankings for batsmen. The India captain vaulted from 880 points to 900 following his 153 against South Africa in the Centurion Test.Gavaskar had reached 916 points after he scored a remarkable 221 in his 50th Test at the Oval in 1979. In all, Kohli is the 31st batsman to 900 points in the Test rankings. Donald Bradman leads the list with 961 points followed by current Australia captain Steven Smith (947), who has drawn comparisons with Bradman after peeling off 687 runs in the Ashes series. In terms of Test averages, Smith is placed just below Bradman.Smith is currently 47 points ahead of Kohli and 66 ahead of the third-placed Joe Root. Hashim Amla, who made 82 and set up South Africa for a first-innings lead in Centurion, moved from tenth to eighth, while his captain Faf du Plessis jumped two places up to a career-best 12th.In the bowlers rankings, James Anderson reclaimed the top spot from Kagiso Rabada, who took four wickets in Centurion. The South Africa quick, who lost his top spot after only one Test, now trails Anderson by 15 points. India fast bowler Mohammed Shami, meanwhile, moved two places up to 17th after claiming a match haul of five wickets in Centurion.

There is still time for some late-summer transfer business to happen, and it looks as though one Everton player could be set to depart in the very near future, following a new update.

Will Everton sell more players?

It was clear at the end of last season that some major surgery was needed at Goodison Park, following another campaign that saw the Blues come perilously close to losing their Premier League status.

Sean Dyche will have wanted to bring in the right players, in terms of individuals he feels are perfect for his system, and the likes of Jack Harrison, Arnaut Danjuma and Beto have all arrived at the club, among others.

It has been a disappointing start to the campaign for the Toffees, though, who have only picked up one solitary point from their opening four league matches, and it could point towards certain individuals still not being good enough to feature at the highest level.

While the summer transfer window has slammed shut in England, and in most countries for that matter, there is still just enough time for business to be completed in certain leagues, including the Turkish Super Lig.

One player who could leave Everton this week is midfielder Andre Gomes, who appears to have no future at the club under Dyche, and may want a new challenge at this point in his career. Now, a big update has emerged regarding his potential exit, with time running out to seal a move elsewhere.

Will Andre Gomes leave Everton?

According to a new update from journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu on X, Gomes is wanted by Turkish giants Fenerbahce who are in the Europa Conference League and could depart Goodison before their summer transfer window closes on Friday.

"Fenerbahce is interested in Andre Gomes, who plays for Everton."

In truth, this feels like a natural time to bring Gomes' Everton career to an end, with the Portuguese arriving as such an exciting signing from Barcelona back in 2019, when big things were expected of him.

Instead, the 30-year-old has underwhelmed in a Blues shirt overall, scoring just twice in 100 appearances and also registering only seven assists, despite being a midfielder who is thought to be a creative presence.

In fairness to Gomes, he has arguably never been the same since suffering a serious broken leg in a home Premier League clash with Tottenham during the 2019/20 season, following a tackle from Son Heung-min.

It was an incident that left the Spurs man in tears after being shown a red card, such was the severity of the injury, and it has been tough for the Everton midfielder to ever look like a true force since that moment, despite being hailed as "excellent" by Kevin Campbell.

Dyche is now creating his own team, and it seems obvious that Gomes, on £120,000-a-week, isn't a part of it, so rather than stay at Goodison and potentially earn very little playing time, it makes sense for all parties to move him on this summer, allowing him for regular minutes and possibly letting the Blues receive a fee for him, rather than lose him for free when his contract expires next summer.

The match, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, has been granted international status, with the proceeds going towards the restoration of the cricket grounds in Dominica and Anguilla

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Feb-2018World T20 champions West Indies will face an ICC Rest of the World XI in a one-off T20I at Lord’s on May 31 later this year, to raise money towards restoration efforts in parts of the Caribbean hit by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September last year. In particular, the proceeds of the match will go towards the restoration of the cricket grounds in Dominica and Anguilla. The match, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, has been granted international status.”To have two category 5 hurricanes in the space of two weeks was unprecedented and everyone around the world was shocked by the destruction which was caused,” Colin Graves, the ECB chairman, said. “The ECB and CWI have always enjoyed a fantastic relationship and we are keen to support them and the people of the Caribbean in this fundraising initiative.””Hurricanes Irma and Maria have devastated parts of the Eastern Caribbean and we have been considering how CWI can best show support for our region in the most impactful way,” CWI president Dave Cameron said.England’s international summer is set to get underway on May 24, with a Test against Pakistan at Lord’s, while the IPL final is scheduled on May 27, four days ahead of the fundraising T20I.

Manchester United have been left with little time to dwell on Saturday's grim defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion, with Erik ten Hag's men turning their attention toward tonight's mouthwatering Champions League tussle with Bayern Munich.

Preparations for that crunch clash at the Allianz Arena have hardly been ideal following a dismal run of three defeats from their opening five Premier League games, while the Red Devils have also been plunged into a deepening crisis amid the growing list of absentees.

What is the team news for Man United vs Bayern?

Thomas Tuchel – and £100m man Harry Kane – will likely be licking their lips after seeing the 21-man squad that Ten Hag has at his disposal for the group stage opener later today, with the Dutchman down to the bare bones all across the pitch.

In the forward ranks, both Antony and Jadon Sancho are still not deemed available for selection, while the midfield department also appears rather depleted with recent arrivals Sofyan Amrabat and Mason Mount still not fit to feature.

It is in the backline where the Old Trafford outfit look especially light, however, with the former Ajax boss only able to select five defenders for the trip to Germany – including veteran asset Jonny Evans – with Harry Maguire proving the latest injury blow for the struggling side.

With four goalkeepers making up a rather weak travelling party, getting a result from tonight's encounter with the Bundesliga giants is already looking like something of an impossible task.

Who will start for Man United vs Bayern?

With the backline likely to pick itself, with Evans set to be the man in reserve, it is in the centre of the park where changes may lie in store, with it yet to be seen whether Ten Hag will persist with the midfield diamond that was utilised at the weekend.

As journalist Samuel Luckhurst noted, that tactical change failed to pay dividends as Brighton were able to "exploit" the narrow nature of United's midfield, with the likes of Christian Eriksen and Scott McTominay having simply been "bypassed".

It could be argued that despite the lack of alternatives, Ten Hag should consider ruthlessly ditching both of those men tonight, with McTominay, in particular, having 'offered little box-to-box threat from midfield or any protection' last time out, as per 90min's Jude Summerfield.

The Scotland international continues to perform for his country – with six goals from his last six appearances – although the 26-year-old could not translate that form back at club level, as he recorded just 22 touches against Roberto De Zerbi's men.

Previously branded "useless" by former Manchester Evening News writer Hesham Bilal-Hefiz, the United academy graduate did look rather lost on the right of the midfield, with it having been "inexplicable" that a specialised right-winger like Facundo Pellistri was not selected instead, according to Luckhurst.

There could be an argument for Ten Hag to make that change this time around, while as for Eriksen, the 31-year-old could be replaced by the youthful exuberance of Hannibal Mejbri, following the 20-year-old's stunning first goal for the club just a few days ago.

Aside from that consolation strike, the Tunisian starlet made his presence felt after winning four of his seven ground duels and completing 100% of his attempted passes after arriving off the bench, with Eriksen, by contrast, having 'struggled to have any influence on the game', as per Luckhurst.

It would be a bold call to make for Ten Hag to go for youth over experience against such elite opposition, although clearly, something has to give if the Red Devils are to get back to winning ways.

Ross Taylor, who was New Zealand’s main injury worry after the ODI series, is progressing well ahead of the first Test

Andrew McGlashan19-Mar-2018Martin Guptill has been added to the New Zealand squad as batting cover for the first Test against England but Ross Taylor is progressing well after the thigh injury he suffered in the one-day series.Guptill’s call-up confirms that the selectors still see a Test future for him after he last played against India in October 2016. Last season, Guptill announced he would be making a move into the middle-order to try and revive his Test ambitions but injuries have limited him to one Plunket Shield appearance since the decision in which he batted No. 3.He made 73, also batting at No. 3, against England in Hamilton last week during the two-day red-ball warm-up and after that innings reiterated his desire to make a go of things away from opening in first-class cricket to earn back his Test place. The recall has come sooner than expected.”I’ve got a couple more games to go for Auckland so hopefully I can get into the middle order and stay injury free,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “I’ve still got ambitions to play some more Test cricket, I’ve got to score some runs to Auckland and hopefully the call will come. But if it doesn’t, I’ve given it a good go.”Guptill’s highest Test score of 189 came at No. 5, against Bangladesh in 2010, and his versatility helped him earn the spot but it is arguably not the greatest vote of confidence in some of the players coming through the Plunket Shield. The leading run-scorer this season is 38-year-old Michael Papps while Greg Hay, the 33-year-old Central Districts opener who faced England last week, is second followed by Jesse Ryder.The other players with more than 500 runs this season are Luke Woodcock, who is 36, former Test opener Hamish Rutherford, Will Young from Central Districts and wicketkeeper Tim Seifert who has recently been capped at T20I level. However, the decision does mean a player hasn’t been pulled out of the current round of matches.Taylor was ruled out of the deciding ODI in Christchurch after aggravating a thigh injury from earlier in the series during his unbeaten 181 in Dunedin. He had also missed the match in Wellington.”We opted for extra batting cover for that final spot and with Martin having been playing in the middle-order recently, he can cover a number of positions for us,” selector Gavin Larsen said. “Ross is progressing nicely and is expected to take a full part in training [on Tuesday].”

Matthew Wheeler is to take on ‘many of the roles and responsibilities’ of PCA chief executive, in the continued absence of David Leatherdale

George Dobell27-Mar-2018Matthew Wheeler is to take on “many of the roles and responsibilities” of PCA chief executive in the continued absence of David Leatherdale.It was announced a few weeks ago that Leatherdale, the official chief executive of the PCA, would be taking a break from work to deal with what the organisation have now termed “an acute stress reaction” to a demanding workload and family health issues. News that Wheeler is “to take on more PCA business” suggests Leatherdale’s return to work is not imminent.”Following professional advice, Leatherdale is taking a break from his role as Chief Executive,” a PCA statement said.”Leatherdale recently developed an acute stress reaction as a result of a number of personal life events coinciding with a period of intense work commitments.”This will enable him to rest, focus on supporting his family and allow a smooth and robust return to his full duties at the appropriate time.”Wheeler is not coming into the role completely cold. He played a couple of first-class games for Northants in 1985 (he claimed Kepler Wessels as his only first-class wicket), has been on the PCA board as a non-executive director since 2009 and was appointed non-executive chairman in 2014. He has enjoyed a successful business career in the sports, entertainment and leisure sectors. He is a managing partner in Sports Investment Partners – who describe themselves as “a bridge between the worlds of commercial sport and financial investment” – and, while he will not be working full-time for the PCA, says he be at their officers at The Oval “on a regular basis over the coming weeks”.Daryl Mitchell, the Worcestershire batsman, will continue in his role as PCA chairman and as the players’ representative on the ECB cricket committee.”In David’s absence I will be spending more time on PCA matters,” Wheeler said. “We all wish him a speedy return to full health and we ask for you to respect his privacy at this time.”The PCA is extremely fortunate to have an excellent group of staff who will continue to deliver services to members with the association operating as usual.”It is a busy time for the PCA. With a former ECB board member, Andy Nash, warning that the domestic game in England and Wales is moving towards a future involving as few as eight full-time, professional teams, the PCA would be expected to take a leading role in the fight to preserve their members’ jobs. They are also involved with negotiating the next Team England deal – negotiations in which former CEO Richard Bevan, currently CEO of the League Managers’ Association, and Wheeler are now expected to take leading roles – and ensuring players benefit from the new broadcast deal which brought unprecedented wealth to the game.With all involved keen to provide Leatherdale with the time and space required to make a full recovery, no time frame has been set for his return. It is, however, thought likely to be two or three months rather than two or three weeks. While the PCA has, in the past, had an assistant chief executive – Jason Ratcliffe filled the position until stepping down – they have no plans to utilise such a role in the future.

Tottenham Hotspur are a club synonymous with failure in recent memory, often the brunt of the joke when it comes to England’s elite clubs despite the numerous desirable traits they boast.

With arguably the best stadium in the country and once led by a charismatic manager in Mauricio Pochettino, whose eye-catching and exciting brand of football led them to second place and a Champions League final, that quickly devolved into three miserable stints under Nuno Espirito Santo, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, all of whom failed in their desperate push to secure silverware and prove the Lilywhites are no longer the butt of the joke.

However, it seems that with Ange Postecoglou they have got the former back, as the Australian continues to forge a side that fans can once again be proud of.

Having had to navigate a tricky summer that was dominated by the uncertain future of Harry Kane, the former Celtic boss has seemingly come out the other side unscathed, as the club seek to establish themselves as surprise challengers for the season with this weekend’s North London derby.

Life without the England captain was expected to be rocky, but they are seemingly yet to feel the true effects of his absence.

However, there was a time in the past when they could have arguably secured an upgrade on the academy sensation that would likely have negated his path to first-team football. Although, it would likely have been worth it to see Luis Suarez tear it up in north London.

Did Spurs nearly sign Luis Suarez?

Having gone on to transform an underwhelming Liverpool side into title challengers, before winning it all with Barcelona, there are few strikers of their generation who come close to the Uruguay international.

After all, he was not solely a clinical finisher, as he blended such proficiency with an insatiable hunger to win. This helped him also lead the way with regard to creativity, as he would do all it took to claim victory.

Whilst this would often spill over into distasteful moments, such as the two times he bit an opponent, or the infamous handball against Ghana in the 2010 World Cup, the 137-cap ace will likely still be remembered for the quality he offered to football such was his talent when in his pomp.

So, to hear Harry Redknapp outline just how close Spurs were to signing him should disappoint many, as he told Laura Woods about the big deals he missed out on with talkSPORT: “Loads over the years, so many it’s crazy. You think you’ve got one done and you’re sitting around late at night trying to get it done and it doesn’t come off.

“I tried to get Luis Suarez at Tottenham but couldn’t get it done and then the chairman Daniel [Levy] let me have a couple of free transfers instead.”

Those signings he was forced to acquire were Emmanuel Adebayor and Louis Saha in the windows that followed, neither of whom came anywhere near close to the five-time La Liga winner.

Enduring a slow start to life in England after his £22.7m move to Merseyside in 2011, it was the 2012/13 term where Suarez truly began his breakthrough.

His 43 goal contributions across all competitions were just the start for the polarising forward, who would score 31 and assist 17 in the Premier League alone the following campaign as Brendan Rodgers’ side came painstakingly close to winning the title.

Were he not forced to miss the opening five games due to his ban for biting Branislav Ivanovic, the general consensus is that he would have shattered the all-time Premier League scoring record for a sole season, a feat which Erling Haaland has just achieved.

Earning his move to Camp Nou, he would reach even loftier heights, scoring 195 and assisting 113 across 283 appearances, a goal contribution every 1.08 games.

It is no surprise that Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest player of all time, was so keen to praise his former teammate during their spell together: “He is the best out-and-out forward there is in the game today. He has so much to offer the team and it is a pleasure to play alongside him.”

Luis Enrique, his manager at the time, would supplement that claim: “He's an assassin in the area, a killer, a striker capable of finishing a move that seems like it has no end product.”

In fact, across an illustrious career in which he won numerous titles including a Champions League during an unprecedented treble campaign, Suarez scored 461 and assisted 255, and is still going in Brazil.

How good was Harry Kane?

Whilst it may seem impossible for there to be another striker that came even close to Kane, Suarez is one of the few who actually surpassed him from the current generation.

After all, not only are both his goalscoring and creative figures better, but he boasts the sizable trophy cabinet that the Englishman has rushed to Munich to emulate.

Whilst his loyalty to Spurs is immeasurable, having become their all-time leading scorer with 278 goals in 430 games, it has unfortunately failed to bring a single piece of silverware.

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Whilst Kane was once lauded as the “best striker in the world” back in 2022 by pundit Jason Cundy, writer Roy Nemer went one step further with Suarez: “He is no doubt a club legend and one of the best 9's not only in the history of the club but of his generation.”

However, that should not devalue what the 30-year-old achieved in north London, who too is valued as more than just a hero by Statman Dave. The analyst actually branded him a “legend of the game”.

Kane truly will go down as one of the finest forwards of this generation, but few compare to Suarez.

The 6 foot battler had everything. In his prime, the 36-year-old boasted speed, dribbling prowess, clinical finishing and an eye for a pass. As such, he won it all.

Had the current Bayern Munich man perhaps cultivated a trophy cabinet to rival the former Ajax superstar, then perhaps the debate might be slightly closer.

However, Spurs fans would likely still not change a thing because of the attachment they had with Kane, who will forever remain ‘one of their own’.

Liverpool have sent their scouts to watch an exciting new player from overseas, but a reliable journalist has revealed that they aren’t the only club looking to bring him to the Premier League.

Who are Liverpool's new signings?

Over the summer, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch were the four fresh faces to enter the building, all of which have had an instant impact on the first-team, but there were also plenty of players leaving Anfield.

On Merseyside, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho were the two senior stars to depart for a fee, whilst the likes of Roberto Firmino and James Milner were let go on a free transfer, alongside Nathaniel Phillips and Fabio Carvalho who were among a group sent out on loan for the remainder of the season, via Transfermarkt.

Having created plenty of space in his squad, Jurgen Klopp is now assessing his options in the market ahead of the next window opening in January and appears to have identified an ideal target in the form of Stuttgart B side’s attacking midfielder Raul Paula.

Germany’s youth international will be out of contract at the end of the current campaign which means the new year will present the Bundesliga outfit with their final opportunity to cash in should they not want to risk losing the 19-year-old for free, and should he head for the exit door, he’s already got two potential suitors waiting for him.

Are Liverpool signing Raul Paula?

Taking to X, The Guardian’s Ed Aarons has confirmed that Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion have both deployed officials to assess the recent performances of Paula as they weigh up whether to make an approach in January. He wrote:

“Understand that Brighton and Liverpool have been scouting Germany Under 18 midfielder Raul Paula. He has six goals and two assists in the last nine games for Stuttgart's reserve side.”

How good is Raul Paula?

Liverpool will be aware that Paula is still a teenager and the fact that he doesn’t have any senior first-team experience under his belt means that he likely wouldn’t be immediately thrown in at the deep end, but there’s no doubting that he could be a wonderful addition for the long-term future of the club.

The FDF client has racked up 36 contributions (21 goals and 15 assists) in 61 appearances since the start of his career, which shows just how prolific he can be in the final third and his desire to get involved with the action in the opposition’s penalty area as much as possible.

Stuttgart B’s number ten has also already had a taste of success having been crowned the German U19s Cup winner during the 2021/22 season, so he would possess the winning mentality needed to match that of the current squad who are already at the AXA Training Centre.

Paula’s price tag remains to be seen so it’s unknown whether chiefs would be happy to splash out for such an inexperienced target, but should the right opportunity present itself thanks to his contract situation, this is certainly a no-brainer of a move to pursue at the beginning of 2024.

West Ham United have revelled in a stunning rise over the past several years, with the (second) managerial appointment of David Moyes proving to be a masterstroke in building a project of illustrious success, something that was achieved in June with a 2-1 victory over Italian side Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final.

When the Scottish gaffer took the helm in 2019, the Hammers were in disarray and in danger of losing a coveted spot in the Premier League, one point above the relegation zone before the turn of the new year and clearly a squad devoid of confidence and direction.

But if the West Ham faithful thought that his industrious managerial approach would stem the flow of malaise then they were very wrong indeed.

Yes, Moyes carefully constructed an outfit capable of not just escaping the threat of the drop zone but actually eclipsing the expectations of the fanbase and securing three successive European campaigns – the third and current adventure courtesy of that silver-laden triumph in the Conference League.

At the centre of the feats was Declan Rice, homegrown prodigy and all-conquering midfield sensation, and it really is no coincidence that his ascendency coincides with his former side's rise to prominence.

What did Declan Rice achieve at West Ham?

After completing 245 appearances for West Ham and posting 15 goals and 13 assists, Rice earned a £105m transfer to divisional rivals Arsenal in July, which is a record for a British player.

Praised as a "force of nature" by journalist Rob Blanchette, Rice provided the Hammers with the energy, confidence and technical quality to turbo-charge the midfield and serve as the unrelenting engine for all of the exploits under Moyes' wing.

As per FBref, the £240k-per-week gem also ranks within the top 20% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, passes attempted, progressive passes, progressive carries and interceptions per 90 – illustrating the level of ubiquity in his midfield craft.

While the 6-foot midfielder does now earn his wage at the Emirates Stadium with the Gunners, he will always be remembered for his starring role in the most prosperous period of West Ham's modern history.

It's hard to imagine, but this world-class midfielder could have seen his impact eclipsed across recent years, with one N'Golo Kante very nearly signing for the club eight year ago.

Did West Ham nearly sign N'Golo Kante?

In 2015, West Ham were rumoured to hold an interest in Ligue 1 side Caens' dynamic and energetic centre-midfielder Kante, with the Daily Mail reporting that the Frenchman – who had received comparisons to Chelsea legend Claude Makalele – was being considered as an alternative to Alex Song.

A transfer for Song, notably of Arsenal and Barcelona, was reportedly in danger of falling apart after the Cameroonian midfielder spent the 2014/15 campaign on loan at Upton Park, though he would ultimately agree another season-long loan deal but managed just 12 outings in an injury-hit campaign.

Kante was believed to have been available for just £5m, and West Ham must really kick themselves in the teeth to this day after Leicester City secured his signature for a bargain £5.5m that very summer.

None knew the name at that point, but they would. Kante was instrumental in the middle of the pitch as the Foxes unbelievably won the Premier League, heralded as the signing of the season and lauded for his "incredible quality" by Arsene Wenger.

How good was N'Golo Kante?

After that dream-like maiden year on English shores, Kante would earn a £30m move to Chelsea, where he would ply his trade until the recently-sailed summer, having joined Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad on a free transfer after seven years at Stamford Bridge.

Lauded for his "magic" on the pitch by former Blues midfielder Cesc Fabregas, the 32-year-old World Cup winner has been one of the finest Premier League midfielders of his generation.

Everyone wanted a slice, and while Serie A giants Inter Milan held a vested interest in the star in 2020, Chelsea slapped an £80m price tag on his name to ward off interest in 2020 – which such a fee, though probably warranted, too expensive for the Italian team.

While Rice is still early into his career, on the current evidence Kante is the superior midfielder and it's really quite something to think that West Ham feasibly could have boasted a machine of a higher calibre than the 24-year-old, who will be held in a coveted light for many, many years in east London.

Kante (via WhoScored)

Rice (via WhoScored)

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West Ham will hardly rue the fact that Rice plied his trade for the club and not Kante given the immense success that has been achieved over recent years, but the thought of the French midfielder joining the club and cementing a starting berth in the midfield is mouth-watering to say the least.

Especially considering the incredible title triumph that Leicester clinched with the diminutive machine in the middle.

Had Kante earned a spot in the centre, he could have secured success to transcend even the heights that Moyes has reached, potentially even forging an unbreakable bond with Rice in the middle as the England international graced the senior scene for the first time in the later stage of the 2016/17 campaign.

That delightful blend of precocity with established world-class credentials would have served up a deadly concoction – one that likely would have been enough to form the nucleus of a charge to Champions League competition, or perhaps even a glinted taste of the Premier League title.

West Ham may well be basking in rich fruits at present, but just imagine the impact that Kante might've made had a punt been taken on his skills before he moved to Leicester.

Worcestershire were celebrating their first victory of 2018 after overcoming Derbyshire by 50 runs at Blackfinch New Road in their opening Royal London One-Day Cup game

ECB Reporters Network19-May-2018
ScorecardWorcestershire were celebrating their first victory of 2018 after overcoming Derbyshire by 50 runs at Blackfinch New Road in their opening Royal London One-Day Cup game.The home side are anchored at the foot of Division One of the Specsavers County Championship after failing to win any of their opening five games. But they quickly settled back into the form which earned them a semi-final place in the One-Day Cup last summer after an impressive performance with bat and ball.Worcestershire amassed their second-highest score in 50 over cricket at New Road after an explosive half-century from Ross Whiteley, once of Derbyshire, gave the innings late momentum. Wayne Madsen’s classy 87 gave the visitors hope but they were eventually bowled out for 273 in the 47th over.Whiteley has spent the winter playing in the Bangladesh Premier League and the Pakistan Super League either side of the inaugural T10 tournament in Sharjah. That had followed on from him becoming the first Englishman to hit six sixes in an over – in a T20 Blast match against Yorkshire at Headingley.After sitting out the opening five Championship matches, Whiteley stepped up to the plate to smash 58 off 39 balls with three sixes and seven fours. All three of his shots which cleared the ropes resulted in a lost ball as he and Ben Cox – 56 not out from 51 balls – plundered 101 off 10 overs for the sixth wicket.Tom Fell (56) had earlier helped lay the foundations for the late assault after the cheap dismissal of openers Daryl Mitchell and Joe Clarke. He shared in stands of 60 in 13 overs with Travis Head and another 62 in 11 overs with Brett D’Oliveira. It was another sign of a return to form for Fell, who failed to score a half-century in any cricket last summer, after his 88 against Surrey at the Kia Oval.Derbyshire suffered an early setback as Worcestershire skipper Joe Leach held onto a sharp low return catch to dismiss Ben Slater. Luis Reece was promoted up the order and added 51 with Billy Godleman before the Derbyshire skipper – a century-maker in Thursday’s win over Warwickshire – played forward to Head on 23 and was bowled.Reece found another willing ally in Wayne Madsen during a partnership of 77 in 13 overs. But after achieving a List A best of 62, the former Lancashire player went for a violent heave at Ed Barnard over midwicket and was bowled.Josh Tongue returned to the attack and a fine straight and rising delivery accounted for Matt Critchley, who attempted a hook and top-edged through to Cox. Madsen has been a thorn in the side of the Rapids on more than one occasion and he reached a 45 ball half century. But after making 87 he reverse-swept Head into the hands of Tongue at gully.Mitchell’s medium-pacers sent back Daryn Smit and Hardus Viljoen in the space of three balls and D’Oliveira’s stunning returning catch put paid to Safyaan Sharif. Alex Hughes struck some lusty late blows before falling to Leach.