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Liverpool have set their sights on signing Bayern Munich's Leon Goretzka, with Jurgen Klopp believed to be a big fan of the midfielder, according to a recent report from Football Transfers.

Is Leon Goretzka leaving Bayern Munich?

Despite increasing speculation about a summer exit, Goretzka has made it clear he wants to stay and fight for his place at Bayern Munich, with his agents not open for any negotiations with other clubs at this stage.

Bayern are willing to let the midfielder leave this summer, with Thomas Tuchel looking to free up some space in his squad, and West Ham United have identified him as a target following Declan Rice's recent departure to Arsenal.

The Hammers are preparing an offer for the German, and a whole host of other Premier League clubs are also interested, with Manchester United currently monitoring him, and Liverpool have now joined the race for his signature.

That is according to a report from Football Transfers, which states that the Reds have set their sights on the 28-year-old to bolster their midfield, amid uncertainty over the futures of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara.

Klopp views the Germany international as a prime candidate to fill the centre of the park, having previously made an approach to sign him back in 2018, and Bayern are now open to a sale, for a fee in the region of around €40m (£35m).

One of the central midfielder's key attributes is his versatility, as he is able to effectively operate in both a deep lying midfield role and further forward.

How good is Leon Goretzka?

The Bochum-born midfielder has been an integral player for Bayern over the course of several seasons now, making a total of 40 appearances in all competitions last term, during which time he registered six goals and six assists.

Despite most commonly playing in a slightly deeper midfield role, the former Schalke 04 man has managed to regularly chime in with goals and assists for Bayern since arriving ahead of the 2018-19 campaign, recordinga total of 34 goals and 35 assists in 179 appearances.

Former Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann has heaped praise on the maestro for his ability in both boxes, saying: "Leon is one of the best box-to-box players in Europe. He has incredible goal threat and knows when to bomb forward."

Last season, the central midfielder averaged 1.1 interceptions per game in the Bundesliga, the third-highest figure in the Bayern squad, highlighting his defensive capabilities, while he also averaged 1.6 tackles, far more than Henderson averaged in the Premier League.

Goretzka is clearly a very well-rounded midfielder, competent defensively and able to provide a threat on the front foot, and it is exciting news that Liverpool now view him as one of their key targets to bolster their midfield.

However, it does not appear as though he will be leaving Bayern any time soon, considering he has made it clear he wants to fight for his place, and he is contracted until the summer of 2026.

Manchester United are continuing to rebuild their squad this summer in their pursuit to regain their dominance and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Man United's interest in Joao Felix?

According to Spanish newspaper ABC (via Sport Witness), the Red Devils are one of the clubs interested in signing Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix.

As per the report, Erik ten Hag's side join Newcastle United and Aston Villa in their interest of the talented forward and after a taste of Premier League football with Chelsea, Felix is keen for his agent, Jorge Mendes, to action a move back to England ahead of next season.

What is the market value of Joao Felix?

According to reports coming out of Spain, the LaLiga giants are demanding an eye-watering fee of €140m (£120m) to part ways with their player this summer.

However, CIES Football Observatory state that Felix's market value is currently under half the amount quoted, totalling €60m (£51m), a valuation that would much better suit United's budget.

The Dutch boss has already completed the signing of former Chelsea dynamo Mason Mount, but will reportedly need to offload a number of players during the current window to ensure he can healthily reinvest.

One of the players who has been named on the 'for sale' list at Old Trafford is Jadon Sancho, with the winger struggling to be backed as a consistent first-team starter by his Dutch coach – averaging just 65 minutes per game over 26 Premier League appearances last season.

As a result, the signing of Felix could only further add competition for his positional peer next season, as Sancho is already having to compete with a number of highly-rated wide-forwards with Antony, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho all strong contenders to start.

The Portuguese star – once hailed a "pure talent" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – is one of the hottest young prospects in European football ranking in the top 10% of his positional peers across the top five leagues for shot-creating actions, progressive passes, progressive carries, successful take-ons and tackles per 90, as per FBref, proving that he is a consistent ball-winner and attacking threat.

When comparing Felix's output with Sancho's last season, the Atletico talent comfortably outperformed the former Borussia Dortmund ace in several attributes including goal contributions (11 v 9), shots on goal per 90 (4.07 v 1.12), aerial duels won (31.3% v 14.3%).

As well as offering more progressive passes per 90 (4.12 v 4.04), successfully completing more take-ons per 90 (1.89 v 1.86) and winning more tackles per 90 (1.23 v 0.99) than Sancho.

Not only that, Felix offers Ten Hag a player with huge versatility in his positioning, which could be an invaluable asset next season with experience as a second striker, centre forward and in both the left and right wider forward roles too.

With all considered, it is unlikely that a move for Felix would be viable without the sale of at least one big-name player this summer, however, there is no doubt that Felix could develop into an even bigger superstar at Old Trafford and thrive under the guidance of Ten Hag.

And this interest surely spells trouble for Sancho heading into the new campaign.

Newcastle United have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Axel Disasi, with Football Transfers reporting that the defender is happy to join up with the Toon and has agreed personal terms.

Who is Axel Disasi?

The 25-year-old has been a regular first-team member for current club AS Monaco ever since his switch to the side three seasons ago. His game time has grown year on year for the Ligue 1 outfit, with the defender managing just 22.3 lots of 90 minutes when he first arrived at the side in the league. In the 2022/23 campaign though, that had increased to 37 – showing just how crucial he has become for their backline and how reliable he has been as an option for them in defence.

The Frenchman, who has also played for Monaco during their run in the Europa League, began his career with Paris FC in his teen years. He was then given the chance to shine for Reims and after helping them to seal a promotion into Ligue 1 from the second tier, he then went on to truly showcase his talent in the 2019/20 season for the side. Despite it being his first year of regular action in that first-team environment, it was enough to convince Monaco to snap him up.

Are Newcastle United signing Axel Disasi?

Disasi has since proven he can cut it with the big boys in his position in the top division. The 25-year-old, who stands at a giant 6ft 2in tall, ranked tenth for blocks in the entire league in 2022/23 for example with 51 in total and ranked second in Ligue 1 for his successful take-on percentage of 72.4%. When you consider his position on the field, it makes that stat seem even more impressive from the defender.

Now, his ability has led to interest from afar. Having never left France over the course of his career yet, it appears that Newcastle are ready to bring him to England.

The Toon have been linked with a transfer and it now appears as though a move is gathering pace. That's because according to a report from Football Transfers, the player is happy to move to the Premier League side if a deal can be agreed between the clubs.

It states that Disasi and Newcastle have reached an agreement on personal terms – based on the understanding fro ST James' Park that he would receive plenty of game time, and it now appears as though it could just come down to ironing out a fee for the defender.

If Newcastle did land Disasi, labelled as a “complete” defender by talent scout Jacek Kulig, it would be another tool in their arsenal to help them compete on all fronts next season. With the side wanting to compete in Europe, having bagged Champions League football, adding a player like Disasi who has that kind of experience would be hugely beneficial to the side.

He has played at the highest level and has can even provide an option at right-back if needed – showing that he certainly could slot into the Toon backline.

ScorecardFile photo – Shem Ngoche finished with figures of 3 for 18 from six overs•AFP

The efforts of Kenya’s bowlers, particularly left-arm spinner Shem Ngoche, set the base for their five-wicket win (Duckworth-Lewis method) as they limited Nepal to 112 for 8 in a rain-affected match in Kirtipur.The match was reduced to 38 overs a side after a delay due to rain and Kenya, having opted to field, immediately stifled Nepal. The hosts lost their first five wickets with only 66 on the board from 23 overs and, at 82 for 8 in the 32nd over, were in danger of being bowled out for less than 100. However, a ninth-wicket partnership of 30, the best for Nepal, between Shakti Gauchan and Sompal Kami lifted them to 112 for 8 before rain arrived again in the 36th over. Gyanendra Malla, captaining the side in place of Paras Khadka, top-scored with 27 while Ngoche had returns of 3 for 18. Ngoche was well supported by Nelson Odhiambo, who took 2 for 17, while three others bowlers took a wicket apiece.Upon resumption, Kenya were set a revised target of 104 off 29 overs. Spinners Sagar Pun and Basant Regmi quickly prised out Kenya’s top three by the seventh over, with Pun striking off successive deliveries to dismiss Irfan Karim and Dhiren Gondaria. However, Collins Obuya and Rakep Patel kept the chase on course with a steady 44-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Rakep carried on after Obuya was dismissed, stitching a useful stand with Gurdeep Singh. The score had reached 76 for 5 in the 22nd over before another rain break left the side with a revised target of 94 from 26 overs. Patel ended the match with a six off Sompal Kami to finish unbeaten on 34 and seal Kenya’s fifth win in the tournament so far.

The 19-year-old batsman had a breakout season in the Women’s Big Bash League, finishing among the top five run-getters

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Jan-2017In a season of breakthroughs for women’s cricket in Australia, Ashleigh Gardner is set to become the latest by becoming the first indigenous cricketer to debut for Australia women since the pioneering figure of Faith Thomas started out all of 59 years ago.Gardner’s barnstorming displays with the bat for the Sydney Sixers – she scored 414 runs in 16 matches with three fifties – have earned her a spot in the squad for both the Twenty20 and 50-over matches to be played against New Zealand women over the next month. More pointedly, they offer her a chance to earn selection in the squad for the World Cup, due to be played in England later this year.Australia women squads for NZ matches

Twenty20s: Meg Lanning (capt), Kristen Beams, Alex Blackwell, Lauren Cheatle, Rene Farrell, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Beth Mooney, Megan Schutt, Molly Strano, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington
ODIs: Meg Lanning (capt), Kristen Beams, Alex Blackwell, Nicole Bolton, Lauren Cheatle, Rene Farrell, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry (subject to fitness), Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington

Australia’s captain Meg Lanning was delighted by the 19-year-old’s selection, having seen her destructive potential up close during the Women’s Big Bash League. “It’s great to see, a big step for her but she’s really deserved it,” Lanning said. “She’s come of age I guess in the last 12 months and really dominated, which is what we want to see.”She’ll fit into the group really well, a great kid, so looking forward to having her around and hopefully she can take her opportunity. Consistency takes time, you come in and make a few scores but it’s about being consistent and she’s done that throughout.”She’s often come in to bat under pressure during the WBBL after a few wickets have gone down early, and she plays her own game, players to her strengths and takes the game on, which exactly what we want in the side. She’s played some outrageous shots in innings throughout the WBBL, so it’s exciting to see young girls coming through and putting up their hand at state level and being rewarded.”A hamstring strain means that Ellyse Perry will be unavailable for the T20 matches but Lanning said she was hopeful of a return in time for the Rose Bowl 50-over series. “Having Ellyse Perry missing for the T20s isn’t ideal but it gives an opportunity to someone else coming through,” Lanning said.”We’re getting closer to the side we want to have for the World Cup, but there’s still opportunities for everyone to impress. It’s a very important series against New Zealand and we’re looking forward to the challenge because we know they’re a very good team.”We’ll just have to see how she’s tracking, it’s disappointing for her to miss out but once she’s fit she’ll come back in and we know what a special player she is. You’ve just got to adapt to these things and do the best you can.”The transition from T20 to 50-over cricket is something Lanning and her team will have to make over the next few weeks, having experienced a glut of the shortest form via the WBBL but now needing to refocus ahead of their defence of the World Cup. “It’s mostly about patience with bat and ball,” she said.”Even in T20 cricket you’ve got more time than you think, so one-dayers tend to drag on a bit now we played so many T20s. It’s just really knowing your game plan and what suits your team and individuals and having the patience and really just backing yourself. We’ve been in good form in one-dayers of the last couple of years so it’s really important that we become really consistent with it.”New Zealand will travel to Australia for three T20Is, which will be played between February 17 and 22 in Melbourne, South Geelong and Adelaide. Australia will then visit New Zealand for three ODIs, in Mount Maunganui, between February 26 and March 5.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball updatesSean Abbott finished 2016 with a five-for but failed to finished the year with a win•Getty Images

Despite the best efforts of Sean Abbott – who avenged his mauling by Travis Head here last New Year – the Adelaide Strikers saw in 2017 in style by comfortably defending their modest total of 152 with an outstanding bowling display that gave them their first win of the Big Bash League in a match that was attended by 45,741 fans.Abbott recorded just the fifth five-for in BBL history, and the competition’s best figures since 2012, but Sixers’ batting crumbled in a heap at Adelaide Oval to lose six wickets inside 25 runs as they were bowled out 104 in the 19th over.Abbott’s revenge not enough
The 2015 edition of this fixture – a quite extraordinary game – will be remembered longest for Head’s assault on Abbott; 51 runs from 16 balls gave Strikers the unlikeliest victory and sent Adelaide into raptures.It was a different story this time round. Abbott came on for the first time in the tenth over, with the Strikers – with Brad Hodge backing up Ben Dunk – 89 for 1 and cruising. With his fourth ball, Abbott made Dunk pick out short cover, then dismissed Hodge – caught well by the sprinting Johan Botha at cow corner – and that man Head, who Will Somerville dived athletically to catch at fine leg, in his next over. Next over, Jake Lehmann played all around Somerville – who cancelled a holiday celebrating his wedding anniversary to play – and the Strikers were suddenly and improbably at 102 for 5.Abbott returned for two more overs of clever variations at the death – picking up the wickets of Chris Jordan and Tom Andrews, both skying – and his figures read 5 for 16. Perhaps his parsimony turned the game most: none of his four cost more than seven, he did not concede a boundary and half his deliveries were dots. Abbott’s was a mighty contribution; alas it did not prove enough.Chris Jordan took two crucial wickets of Daniel Hughes and the dangerous Sam Billings to finish the game on a high•Getty Images

A wicket an over keeps the doctor away
After a steady if unspectacular start (Jason Roy’s reverse-slog-swept six aside) the Sixers lost a wicket in each of the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth overs – all of which were delivered by different bowlers – to lose five wickets for 12 runs. The Sixers were under the pump and, as if to illustrate the point, when the fourth of those wickets fell (Brad Haddin treading on his stumps to the effortlessly awkward Billy Stanlake), Sam Billings was greeted by a slip, gully and short leg.The trouble did not stop there. After two safe overs break, Botha cut Ben Laughlin – who had begun the rot with the wicket of Roy – straight to point, then Abbott prodded back to Liam O’ Connor. At 64 for 7, it looked a good game to win for the Sixers. All this from a batting line-up that, bolstered by the return of Nic Maddinson – whose dismissal, caught at point, was perhaps the tamest of all – looked extremely strong.Billings’ lone hand
Billings has just one more match for the Sixers before he joins up with England in India but his three innings so far have seen him score 42, 40 and 40 more here. He was left to do the job alone and, after a ropey start in which he could have been caught, stumped or chopped on, it proved too much. That does not mean there wasn’t time for some outrageous strokeplay as the fireworks roared overhead – twice he swept seamers into the members’ section, while there was a beautiful drive down the ground, too. With 54 required from 19 balls (a situation not unlike Head’s last year), it took a special moment from his mate Jordan to dislodge Billings, with a magical caught and bowled.Strikers’ varied striking options
The Strikers should not have had enough runs to win this game. That they did was down to their varied bowling attack. Hodge used seven bowlers (three spin, four seam), and did not need to call upon Keiron Pollard until the 16th over of the innings.The spinners flew through their overs, with O’Connor particularly impressive. Of the seamers, Jordan was excellent up top, and Stanlake’s pace, bounce and tricky angle made him difficult to hit. Laughlin, though, with his run and pace becoming ever shorter and slower, was the pick of the lot, conceding just 10 runs from his four.If the Strikers continue to bowl like this, they could make another final, despite losing their opening two fixtures.

Aside from landing a new centre-forward this summer, a major priority for Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag appears to be the signing of a quality midfield upgrade, ahead of next season's Champions League campaign.

Amid that search, all the talk at present appears to be centred on Chelsea playmaker, Mason Mount, with Sky Sports reporting that United are set to make a 'formal bid' for the England international.

With previous claims suggesting that personal terms have already been agreed with the 24-year-old, the only issue now appears to be the difference in valuation between the two clubs, with the Blues said to be demanding around £70m if they are to sanction a sale.

With the one-time Derby County loanee currently having just a year left to run on his existing deal at Stamford Bridge, that price tag may appear rather steep as far as Ten Hag and co are concerned, particularly amid the club's fear surrounding Financial Fair Play restrictions.

As such, the Carabao Cup winners may wish to consider a cheaper alternative in the form of another reported target – Sofyan Amrabat – with speculation in Spain suggesting that the 26-year-old, who also has just 12 months to run on his current contract at Fiorentina, could be available for a fee of just €20m (£17m).

Who is Sofyan Amrabat?

The Moroccan international notably caught the eye following his standout displays during his nation's surge to the World Cup semi-final during the winter, having been something of a "monster" at the tournament, according to journalist Carlo Garganese.

The Netherlands-born ace also came into wider focus more recently after starring in his side's eventual, Europa Conference League showpiece defeat to West Ham United, having seemingly taken Mount's friend and Three Lions teammate, Declan Rice "to school", according to journalist Muhammad Butt, such was his midfield dominance.

As writer Zach Lowy stated on the night, Amrabat had put on an "absolute clinic" in the centre of the park, having proven himself to be "criminally underrated" in contrast to the aforementioned Rice – who has himself been linked with a move to Old Trafford.

Not only has the former Club Brugge already shown his class against English opposition – having won nine duels against the Hammers last week – but he could also prove a more natural fit for United in a central midfield berth, with Mount typically lining up in a number ten role or on the flanks in west London.

While perhaps more of a deep-lying option than the Chelsea ace, Amrabat can still offer a creative, proactive asset as he ranks in the top 8% for progressive passes among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues at an average of 7.93 per 90, while the Englishman, by contrast, has averaged 5.95 for the same metric.

Equally, it is also the Fiorentina rock who can offer a more composed presence alongside the likes of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes as he ranks in the top 5% for pass completion at an average of 88.8%, while Mount has a pass completion rate of only 76.4% – albeit while operating in a more advanced role.

With Amrabat also possessing the benefit of having played under Ten Hag previously at Utrecht – registering 11 goal involvements in 50 outings while working with the Dutchman – the 48-cap ace could truly be a quality, affordable alternative to Chelsea's contract rebel.

It might seem as though we are at the start of the Haseeb Hameed story. We are not

Paul Edwards at Old Trafford16-Sep-2016It might seem as though we are at the start of the Haseeb Hameed story. We are not. Even journalists who have been covering Lancashire cricket over the last two years were not present when it began.That occurred, as far as it can be precisely dated, in the living room of a family home in Bolton some 15 years ago, with a four- or five-year-old boy nagging his Dad to bowl at him. Soon he discovered that this bat-and-ball business was all he wanted to do with his life.It might also seem that Hameed’s career has been one of unblemished success. No, that would be wrong, too. There have been lows in Hameed’s career and one of the many impressive things about the round of interviews he did in the aftermath of his England selection was his willingness to talk about them.Anyone who has been left out of a side or turned down for a job could learn from this 19-year-old who is willing to share his life experiences and lessons with anyone interested enough to ask. For example, after progressing through Lancashire and England’s junior ranks, he was informed nine months ago that he was not selected for the Under-19 World Cup.”That was probably the lowest point,” he said “I was expected to go and had put my mind to it, so to be told I wasn’t going was pretty heartbreaking. I remember how low we all felt, me and my family. Breaking the news to them was especially tough.”But it motivated me and there was a desire in myself to achieve great things because of that. To go to the place where the World Cup was held nine months on with the main England side is incredible. It is pretty surreal.”I am not going to say I didn’t think about proving people wrong, or making a point, and to go out there and do just that is really pleasing. I had played through all the England age groups, all that was left was for me to play in the Under-19 World Cup, so to not get the nod at the final hurdle hurt a lot. But it motivated me to work harder.”

‘I didn’t want to be someone that has an average England career, I want to achieve great things in the game, do things like Cook and Root have done’

Even this most articulate of 19-year-olds might accept that “even harder” would be more accurate. Already Hameed had been playing or practising more or less seven days a week in his relentless search for improvement.”The one thing I remember from the practice sessions with my dad even at the age of 16, he was challenging me to a level where I couldn’t always cope. He told me then that he wasn’t preparing me for Under-19 level, or even first-class level, he was preparing me for Test cricket.”Because of that, I have wanted to play Test cricket at a young age, because he was preparing me at a young age. I didn’t want to be someone that has an average England career, I want to achieve great things in the game, do things like Cook and Root have done.”And at a time when so many critics are rightly lauding Hameed’s ability, it is illuminating to hear him talk about the importance of adversity in his career. He succeeds partly because he has failed.”It is important to taste that adversity because you appreciate the good times more,” he said. “It also helps you realise what it takes to get to a certain level. I had another moment when I was 14 when I suffered my first major dip in form. It showed me that I needed to keep working hard to get better and better.”It all gets tougher, and to combat that you can’t just be content with what you have achieved in the past. You have to push yourself further and further. You look at Ronaldo and Messi, they have already achieved everything in the game, but they are hungry for more. And for young lads like me, it is good to look at role models like them.”You are never really satisfied with what you have achieved, you are always looking at ways of getting the best out of yourself. Then there are no limits to what you can achieve.”No limits, perhaps, as long as you retain your focus on what matters, which, in Hameed’s case, is scoring runs. As the hullabaloo continues over his selection for England’s tours of Bangladesh, he knows that will be important, too.”Ashley Giles told me it was a case of putting performances in and recognition will come with that, but if you start thinking about the recognition, your performances could be hindered.”The important thing is to think about your performances and being in the right frame of mind to perform. I’m glad I’ve been able to do that recently for Lancashire as well. It’s amazing how quickly things happen, there’s no barrier to you achieving your goals as long as you put the work in.”My emotions haven’t allowed me to think too far ahead and I think that’s a good thing because we have a massive game at Edgbaston next week. The thing that’s got me here is taking small steps and looking at the next game, the next bowler and I’ll continue to do that.”Ash and the coaches here have never tried to alter my technique too much but they’ve told me when there were little changes to be made. They put things forward and it’s then been whether I liked the idea.”I am confident in my ability to play the longer format now. I know I’ve only played 19 first-class games, which doesn’t sound a lot, but I like to think I learn quite quickly when thrown into difficult situations, that has been another key in me getting the call at such a young age. So I am confident that if I can continue doing what I do hopefully that will stand me in good stead.”There is no reason why what has worked for me so far will not work at the highest level. If there are any changes to be made – and I am always looking to get better – and I feel it is the right move, of course I will be happy to do that. But at the moment I feel my game is in a good enough place to hold me in good stead against Bangladesh.”

Usman Khawaja has said transitioning to red-ball cricket after a long break from Tests will be his side’s biggest challenge in their upcoming series against Sri Lanka

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Jul-2016Australia batsman Usman Khawaja has said transitioning to red-ball cricket after a long break from Tests will be his side’s biggest challenge in their upcoming series against Sri Lanka. Australia last played a Test in February this year, against New Zealand.”We haven’t played red-ball cricket for a while,” Khawaja said. “Weird seeing the red ball coming down the first time when it did [in an intra-squad practice game]. We were out in the field all day yesterday and you forget how tough being out on the field is. Going to have to do five days of it. Test matches is the hardest form, I reckon, mentally and physically. Going five days, especially in heat like this… If it goes that far, it’s going to be pretty tough. It gets easier the more you do it.”In a way it’s nice we have got three formats of the game. It can be a lot sometimes but I really enjoyed playing white-ball cricket. Now enjoying coming back for some Test stuff, doing something different.”Since the Tests against New Zealand, Australia have played T20s in South Africa, the World T20 and the ODI tri-series in the West Indies. Khawaja, who announced yesterday that he had got engaged following the tri-series, suggested Sri Lanka’s heat could also be an obstacle once the Tests start.”The weather is a big challenge. Very hot and humid. The conditions are different, similar to what you get in West Indies and India. Not too foreign, but one of those places where if you start scoring some runs, you’ll get comfortable. If the wicket deteriorates, though, it could get tough to score too.”Australia’s squad of 15 is playing intra-squad warm-up games in Colombo, leading up to the first Test in Pallekele from July 26. That will be followed by Tests in Galle and Colombo, before the limited-overs leg featuring five ODIs and two T20s.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsYasir Shah followed the lead of his captain to give Pakistan the edge after two days of the first Test at Lord’s. Misbah-ul-Haq’s hundred provided the initial inspiration and Yasir backed that up with a virtuoso display to leave England battling for parity, his fifth five-wicket haul in 13 Tests, on a pitch that offered him little assistance, underlining his claim to be one of the most dangerous spinners currently playing the game.It could have been worse for England, with Alastair Cook dropped twice off the bowling of Mohammad Amir on his way to 81. Amir eventually bowled Cook for his first Test wicket since he removed Graeme Swann on the same ground almost six years ago but the spotlight had already begun to shift to his team-mate Yasir. The last legspinner to take a five-for at Lord’s was Mushtaq Ahmed in 1996 – also the last time Pakistan won on the ground.England had been 118 for 1, Cook and Joe Root adding a century stand for the second wicket, before Yasir struck for his first Test wickets outside of Asia. Root, in his first innings replacing Nick Compton at No. 3, looked at something like his dynamic best before trying slightly too hard to force the pace and top-edging a slog-sweep to be taken at midwicket two short of a half-century. It was to prove a costly indiscretion.Pakistan had their first look at England’s reshaped middle-order, an area Misbah had tentatively suggested his bowlers might be able to exploit before the Test, and Yasir in particular liked what he saw. James Vince briefly shimmered on an otherwise dull, cloudy day, before playing back to be lbw to Yasir – DRS confirming it would have clipped leg stump – for a fifth innings without a significant score at Test level; Gary Ballance clipped one four on his comeback but was then beaten by a gently turning legbreak, pushing down the wrong line.Jonny Bairstow bristled with intent as he attempted his latest England rebuilding effort, hammering boundaries either side of the wicket with the vigour of a blacksmith at his anvil, but he too fell to Yasir, attempting to cut a delivery that was too full and seeing it skid on to the stumps.Misbah erred towards defensive fields, as his quicks struggled for containment, but he had a dual-purpose operator in Yasir, who settled into a 15-over spell that yielded 4 for 46 once he had switched to the Pavilion End. Only the occasional delivery spun but Yasir, like an experienced engineer calibrating a favourite piece of machinery, twiddled away at the control panel, imparting drift and subtle changes of pace to leave England scratching their heads at 193 for 6.They were grateful to Chris Woakes, who had earlier taken his maiden Test five-for, battling to the close. Woakes and Moeen Ali negotiated almost a dozen overs but Yasir again changed ends and an appeal that would once have been dismissed as highly speculative gave him his fifth victim. Joel Wilson adjudged Moeen lbw to a delivery spinning in from round the wicket and, with DRS registering umpire’s call on impact in line with off stump and ball hitting leg, Yasir did not have to consider retracting his of joy.Woakes’ 6 for 70 had helped finish off Pakistan with only 57 added to their overnight score before the stage was transported back to 2010, as Amir prepared to bowl to Cook once again. Amir’s first delivery in Test cricket after a five-year ban for his involvement in spot-fixing on this ground was met by a few pseudo-witty cries of “no-ball” from the crowd and it was unceremoniously tucked away into the covers for a single by Cook.Much has changed in the intervening period but Amir’s tightly coiled action caused the England captain just as many problems as it did on their first meeting, when he picked him up three times in five Tests; when Cook dragged on during the evening session, Amir had his moment of release.He had initially struggled with his line and length, leaking 33 runs from six overs before lunch, but gradually became more comfortable as the adrenaline ebbed away. Rahat Ali was generally the most demanding of Pakistan’s left-arm trio and he removed Alex Hales in the second over of the innings, angling a delivery across to have the opener taken at third slip.The England reply had been anchored by Cook, who benefitted from two glaring errors in the field. When he had made 22, Amir slanted the ball in to take the edge, just as he had done as a teenager, only for Mohammad Hafeez to make a mess of a straightforward low catch at first slip. There was further anguish for Amir when he began his second spell during the afternoon, his first delivery luring Cook into a drive as the ball left him, only for the ball to hit wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed on the wrist as he dived to his left.Cook had reached his fifty by that point and went on to pass Sunil Gavaskar’s record as the opener who has scored the most runs in Tests, but a rather less pleasing statistic for England soon emerged. Of the last eight Tests in which Cook has made a 50-plus score, none have resulted in victory (two draws, six defeats).In the morning session, a burst of three wickets in eight balls, including the dismissal of Misbah for 114, saw England wrap up Pakistan’s innings inside the first hour. Having been 282 for 4 shortly before the close on Thursday, Pakistan might have been disappointed to make only 339.Misbah, fresh from becoming the oldest captain to score a Test hundred, began the second day with designs on seeing his side up towards 400 and a secure position from which his bowlers could mount an attack. He could only add four runs to his overnight score, however, before Stuart Broad brought a delivery back to burst between bat and pad and rattle the stumps.That dismissal meant Pakistan had gone from 310 for 7 to 316 for 9, with Woakes removing Sarfraz and Wahab Riaz in the preceding over. Sarfraz had looked in dangerous mood, frequently stepping down the pitch to cut and drive on his way to 25 from 29 deliveries but he gifted his wicket when slapping a short, wide delivery to backward point to give Woakes his maiden five-for.Two deliveries later, Wahab was following Sarfraz back to the pavilion, as Woakes followed up an excellent outswinger with one of the fastest balls of the match, full and ducking in past a flimsy defence to leave off stump flat on the ground. As the crowd applauded Woakes’ achievements, Amir walked out for his first involvement in a Test since the corresponding match at Lord’s in 2010. But this was far from the main event, as Yasir would later prove.