Tag Futebol

You can imagine the frustration Ruben Amorim has had to endure during his time as Manchester United manager, so far being unable to change the club’s fortunes in the Premier League.

However, there’s only so much the 40-year-old can change, especially given the lack of talent he’s had at his disposal in numerous key areas of the pitch at Old Trafford.

He’s gone from having Viktor Gyokeres as his main talisman to having to rely on Rasmus Hojlund, with the Dane scoring 44 fewer goals across all competitions in 2024/25.

Undoubtedly, Amorim must wish he could rekindle such a partnership with the Swede this summer, but the 27-year-old has already expressed his desire to join fellow top-flight side Arsenal this window.

As a result, he’s had to turn his attention to other forwards to try and improve the situation, with numerous names on their radar between now and the end of the summer market.

The latest on United’s hunt for a new striker this summer

Moise Kean is a player who’s firmly been on their radar over the last couple of weeks, but United will have to act quickly to secure a deal with the Italian’s £44m release clause expiring on Tuesday.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is another talent who’s in their sights, after the Englishman was released at the end of his contract with Everton, leading to a pay-as-you-play contract with the Red Devils being mooted.

However, he’s not the only Premier League talisman on their shortlist this summer, with Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins a player they’re monitoring, according to CaughtOffside.

Their report claims that Amorim has made the 29-year-old his top target for the current window, after he registered 17 goals and 14 assists across all competitions in 2024/25.

It also states that Unai Emery’s side don’t want to part ways with their top goalscorer during the off-season, demanding a fee in the region of £60m if he were to depart the Villans.

Why United’s £60m target would be Amorim’s answer to Haaland

Striker Erling Haaland has been a player who has been a constant nuisance to countless backlines in the Premier League, undoubtedly being one of the most feared talents in the division.

The Norwegian has managed to find the net 85 times in his 97 league appearances in his three years across the city under Pep Guardiola’s guidance.

Such a record has seen him claim the Golden Boot award in two of his three years in England, with United supporters undoubtedly wishing they had their own version of the talisman.

However, talents such as Haaland are extremely hard to come by in the modern game, potentially costing a pretty penny in the process, with the club struggling to convince such talents to join given their recent decline.

That could be about to change this summer with a move for Watkins, with the Villa talent labelled as a similar player to the Manchester City talisman by FBref.

When comparing the pair’s stats from the most recent league campaign, the Villa star has outperformed Haaland in numerous key areas – showcasing the talent he possesses in forward areas.

Watkins, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by journalist John Townley, posted a better goal per shot on target rate, with such a record handing Amorim the clinical edge his side have hugely lacked in recent months.

How Watkins & Haaland compare in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Watkins

Haaland

Games played

38

31

Goals & assists

24

25

Goals per shot on target

0.4

0.3

Progressive passes

1.1

0.5

Pass accuracy

72%

66%

Progressive carries

1.9

0.7

Carries into final third

1.3

0.6

Aerials won

1.9

1.8

Fouls won

1.2

0.4

Stats via FBref

The England international also completed more passes whilst posting a higher tally of progressive passes per 90, having the skillset to provide the other forwards around him with added chances in front of goal.

His dominance over the Norwegian is further reflected by his tally of aerials won per 90 and carries into the opposition box, subsequently being an all-round threat that can cause problems in multiple different ways for the opposition.

£60m may appear to be a hefty sum for Watkins, but he’s showcased in recent times that he’s a readymade talent who can hand the Red Devils the goal threat they crave this summer.

If he can transfer his talents over with him to Old Trafford, it would be a sensational piece of business, handing the manager his very own version of Haaland in the process.

Related Amorim's answer to Kane: Man Utd in talks to sign "world-class" striker

Manchester United could finally end their pursuit of a new talisman with a move for one European star.

Posts ByEthan Lamb Jul 11, 2025

Northern Diamonds bowled Lancashire Thunder out for just 61 – the lowest total in the four-year history of the Charlotte Edwards Cup – on the way to a five-wicket victory with 6.2 overs to spare against their arch-rivals at Durham’s Seat Unique Riverside.Scotland left-arm seamer Rachel Slater returned a superb three for 12 from four overs bowled straight through with the new ball, while opener partner Lizzie Scott also struck twice added to two wickets for the off-spin of Erin Burns in a final group clash which started with neither side able to qualify for Saturday’s Finals Day.Having almost perfectly made use of helpful bowling conditions, the Diamonds slipped to 37 for four in this helter-skelter contest. But Thunder had left themselves with too much to do, and their former batter Rebecca Duckworth steered the hosts over the line with an unbeaten 21.Both sides finished this competition with three wins from their 10 matches. Diamonds have won their last two and Thunder have lost their last two.Given the Diamonds are hosted by Yorkshire as a region, this was the first of two Roses T20s in as many nights, with the men’s teams facing off at Headingley in the Vitality Blast tomorrow. And the first blow was struck by the White Rose county in emphatic fashion.Diamonds got off to a near-perfect start, beginning with the correct call at the toss.Captain Hollie Armitage elected to bowl on a green pitch which offered obvious seam movement and also prodigious swing for Slater and Scott, the latter playing her first game of this season’s T20 competition.Thunder slipped to 19 for four inside the opening five overs, losing key trio Emma Lamb, Australian Katie Mack and in-form Seren Smale, whose 88 not out in their defeat at Central Sparks on Friday represented – at the time – the highest score by any batter in this competition.Scott had Fi Morris and Mack caught, the latter brilliantly by a diving Katherine Fraser at backward point, and left-armer Slater bowled Lamb and Smale.Unfortunately for Thunder, things got worse quickly, and 13 from Tara Norris batting at number nine proved to be their highest score. Only three batters reached double figures as a procession of batters came and went on a sunny North East day.Captain Ellie Threlkeld was run out from cover at the striker’s end before debutant all-rounder Grace Johnson chipped Slater to mid-off – 24 for six in the seventh.Kate Cross was bowled by Australian Burns before, considering the circumstances, the riches of back-to-back boundaries through the covers for Norris off former Thunder seamer Sophia Turner took the score to 50 for seven in the 11th.But it was only a brief respite. Norris was bowled on the pull at Scotland off-spinner Katherine Fraser before Liberty Heap was stumped off Katie Levick’s leg-spin.And when Sophie Morris chipped Burns to cover, Thunder were all out inside 15 overs for a record low total.Left-arm spinner Morris and new ball seamer Cross then both struck twice apiece to give Diamonds something to think about at 37 for four after eight overs, 25 runs still needed.England’s Cross trapped Emma Marlow lbw and had Bess Heath caught behind to finish with figures of two for 14 from four overs.Duckworth’s unbeaten 21 represented the highest score of the match.

It may be odd to argue, amid what was a wretched campaign for Manchester United as a whole, although 2024/25 was in many ways a season of redemption in some quarters, with Harry Maguire re-establishing himself as a central figure under the new Ruben Amorim regime.

Thrust into an unorthodox number nine berth during United’s Europa League run, in particular, the England international delivered arguably the greatest Old Trafford moment in recent years, following his last-gasp winner against Lyon.

Once written off under Erik ten Hag, having been stripped of the captaincy amid talk over a move to West Ham United, the 32-year-old, to his credit, fought his way back from the brink, having notably been hailed as “perfect” for the 3-4-3 system by Amorim.

Fittingly too, that heroic winner against the Ligue 1 side had been supplied by another man on a mission, in the form of Casemiro, with the Brazilian having also delivered the assist for Kobbie Mainoo just minutes earlier – alongside winning the prior spot-kick.

Central to that comeback, the 33-year-old is in many ways the comeback kid, having shaken off the disappointment of being left out of the starting lineup for last season’s FA Cup final, to then edging out Manuel Ugarte to get the nod for the Europa League showpiece 12 months later.

That resurgence has been a joy to behold, although the fact remains that his £70m addition was perhaps a costly, long-term mistake. Could something similar soon be repeated?

Latest on Man Utd's transfer search

Speaking of fixing prior mistakes, the Red Devils appear to be searching for a suitable successor to Andre Onana between the sticks, with the 29-year-old facing an uncertain future at the club after just two years in Manchester.

Linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, the £47.2m signing made a catalogue of errors again in 2024/25 – including three leading to a goal in the Premier League – with it no surprise that Amorim is reportedly seeking a replacement.

As noted by journalist Rudy Galetti, United are said to have “renewed interest” in Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen, with the club holding “internal talks” over whether to make a move for the German.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Expand Collapse

Writing in his attached piece for TEAMtalk, Galetti notes that the 33-year-old has emerged as a ‘leading target’ for the Red Devils, amid their search to replace Onana this summer.

The veteran goalkeeper – who is said to have also been considered by Chelsea – is facing his own uncertainty back in Catalonia, amid the potential arrival of Espanyol’s Joan Garcia.

Why Ter Stegen could be another Casemiro for Man Utd

It is heartwarming that a man who won the lot at Real Madrid – namely five Champions Leagues – appears to simply love life at Manchester United, with Casemiro memorably collapsing to the floor in delight following the wild celebrations after Maguire’s Lyon winner.

The one-time Porto man has looked back to his first season best in recent months, having notably described 2022/23 as the “best” individual campaign of his career, with Erik ten Hag having hailed him as the “cement” in the side at the time.

Frustratingly, however, such performances were not maintained in the following year, with Casemiro described as looking like he’s playing “in Soccer Aid” by pundit Jamie Redknapp, having failed to justify his reported £350k-per-week salary.

Casemiro’s PL record by season

Stat (*per game)

22/23

23/24

24/25

Games (starts)

28 (24)

25 (24)

24 (18)

Goals

4

1

1

Assists

3

2

0

Big chances created

7

2

3

Key passes*

1.0

0.6

0.9

Pass accuracy*

79%

83%

80%

Tackles & interceptions*

4.4

4.0

4.1

Balls recovered*

N/A

5.3

4.3

Dribbled past*

1.6

2.2

1.2

Total duels won*

55%

52%

64%

Stats via Sofascore

Despite his recent renaissance, the decision to plump for the ageing talent remains a costly one then, with the same potentially set to occur with regard to Ter Stegen – a player who takes home £102k-per-week in Barcelona.

Like his former Madrid rival, the 44-cap Germany international could bring a wealth of experience to United, undoubtedly, having racked up 422 appearances for the club to date, while winning a plethora of major honours.

Much like Casemiro too, Ter Stegen has repeatedly delivered the goods at the elite level over a consistent period, having previously been described as “extraordinary” and “among the three best keepers in the world” by former boss Xavi. Former Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak also stated that it is “is crazy the way he can make some saves”.

The problem is, however, that at 33, the former Borussia Mönchengladbach man would hardly be a long-term solution, not least considering his unfortunate injury woes of late.

Indeed, last season, the long-serving Barca star made just nine appearances in all competitions, having only recently made his return from a lengthy stint on the sidelines due to a tendon issue.

That spell out of action – which saw Ter Stegen miss 51 games for club and country – follows a previous period of absence in 2023/24, in which he missed a further 19 games with a back injury.

For a club like United who have endured frequent injury setbacks in recent times, that must surely have alarm bells ringing, with Amorim unable to afford further disruption in such a key position.

Yes, like Casemiro, the 6 foot 2 ace – who ranked in the top 7% in LaLiga in 2023/24 for save percentage – can be a quality asset on his day, but those days may prove to be few and far between as his career reaches its climax.

As United found with Casemiro – and Raphael Varane before him – Spain’s elite clubs are rather canny at affloading ageing stars at the right time. United simply can’t prove another victim of that this summer.

Related Their best CF since Ronaldo: Man Utd eager to sign "fearless" £44m striker

Manchester United are eyeing up a move for a striker who would be their best forward since Cristiano Ronaldo.

Posts ByDan Emery Jun 8, 2025

Newcastle United will be looking to do just one thing this summer and that is making sure Alexander Isak is still part of their squad when the summer transfer window closes.

The Swede has enjoyed yet another fruitful campaign in the North East and securing Champions League football will do Eddie Howe’s prospects of keeping him – at least for another season – no harm at all.

The Magpies have a rich history of towering, magnificent centre-forwards throughout their history. From Hughie Gallacher to Jackie Milburn. Malcolm Macdonald to Alan Shearer. Every generation of Newcastle supporters has had the privilege of seeing a proper number nine lead the line for the club.

Since Shearer’s retirement, things looked bleak on that front for a few years. That was until Isak joined the Toon in the summer of 2022 for a fee in the region of £63m.

This was a club-record fee, but over the previous three seasons, the former Borussia Dortmund starlet has more than repaid the faith shown in him by Howe, that’s for sure.

Alexander Isak has been one of Newcastle’s finest signings

Bringing Isak to the club was a major statement of intent by Howe, especially as the club were looking at playing in the Champions League.

Injuries restricted him to just 27 appearances during his maiden campaign at St James’ Park, but he still managed to score ten Premier League goals while chipping in with three assists.

Last season, the Magpies made the group stages of Europe’s premier club competition. Isak may have scored a solitary goal in that campaign, but his overall tally of 25 was the most he had recorded in a single season at club level.

Not someone to be content with that output, the Swedish hitman has only gone and bettered that this season.

At the time of writing, the 25-year-old has found the back of the net 27 times in all competitions, but the striker is offering more than just goals to this Newcastle side.

Indeed, when compared to his peers in the Premier League throughout 2024/25, Isak ranks in the top 3% for successful take-on percentage (47.7%), in the top 10% for touches in the attacking penalty area (6.28) and in the top 15% for goal-creating actions (0.47) per 90.

Add in the fact that he has recorded six assists for the Toon in the league this term, and it proves just how much he has developed his game.

If Newcastle do qualify for the Champions League, Howe will be determined to reach the knockout stages. In order to do so, however, he must spend this summer in a bid to improve his squad.

Metric

2022/23

2023/24

2024/25

Goals

10

21

23

Assists

1

2

6

Shots per game

2.3

2.6

2.9

Goal conversion percentage

20%

27%

24%

Scoring frequency (minutes)

152

108

116

A lack of depth, especially in key attacking positions, is worrying. Could a move for a Bundesliga starlet change that?

Newcastle plotting move for Borussia Dortmund star

Anthony Gordon may be Howe’s main source of goals and assists from the wing, but it is evident that another top-class talent is required to take the club to the next level.

According to the Daily Mail, the Magpies have sent scouts to monitor Dortmund sensation Jamie Gittens, who has a reported release clause of £50m, as they plot a move to sign the England U21 international.

If the club fails to qualify for the Champions League next season, this fee will fall, opening the door for several clubs to make an offer.

There is no doubt that he wants to play at the top level of European competition, which means Howe will be desperate for his side to finish in the top five.

If so, signing a talent like Gittens would be a huge statement of intent. Furthermore, the young winger would also be a dream signing for Isak.

Why Newcastle must sign Jamie Gittens

Since Niko Kovac began his tenure at Dortmund, it is obvious that Gittens doesn’t quite fit in with his tactical plans.

This means he could be on the move in the summer and, if Howe has the necessary funds, it is a deal that must be a top priority for the club.

The Englishman has already played over 100 competitive matches for the German giants, scoring 17 goals and grabbing 14 assists in the process.

Like compatriots Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham before him, Gittens could certainly be the next massive English talent to depart Dortmund for a move abroad.

After he scored the first Champions League goal of his career in November 2022, Statman Dave hailed the winger as a “wonderkid” and it was hard to argue.

Since then, he has gone from strength to strength, using Dortmund as a potential stepping stone for a move to the Premier League.

Although his displays haven’t been as good as hoped since Kovac took charge, Gittens still ranks in the top 1% for successful take-ons (3.58) and in the top 9% for progressive carries (5.49) per 90 when compared to his peers in Europe’s top five leagues.

These statistics show that the youngster is highly effective at beating his man and taking the ball into the final third, which is why he could be a dream for Isak.

He has also created six big chances in the German top flight while averaging 0.7 key passes per game. Again, yet more evidence of why he would be an excellent signing for Isak next season, because he can create high-quality chances for the striker to put away.

The most important aspect for Howe is that Gittens still has plenty of development to do. He is by no means the finished article. Playing alongside stars such as Bruno Guimaraes and Isak will only help him take the next step in his career.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Gittens is a man in high demand this summer and with Dortmund looking like they are open to selling, the Magpies could face stiff competition for the Englishman when the window opens.

Finishing in the top five of the league table is therefore imperative to their hopes of landing the talented winger. If not, then the club will likely miss the boat on Gittens.

Newcastle now eyeing "unplayable" once-£100m player as cheap loan signing

He could be such an exciting addition to Eddie Howe’s squad.

ByHenry Jackson May 16, 2025

Liverpool are now plotting to sign a goalkeeper who is statistically similar to Manchester United’s Andre Onana for just £4 million, according to a recent report.

Liverpool confirm Van Dijk’s new contract and being summer planning

Just under a week after confirming Mohamed Salah signed a new contract with Liverpool, the Reds have now announced that superstar defender Virgil van Dijk has signed a new deal until the summer of 2027.

Related Total cost of Virgil Van Dijk's new Liverpool contract is over £40,000,000

There could be a big transfer twist on the cards.

Posts ByCharlie Smith Apr 17, 2025

The 33-year-old, who was set to become a free agent this summer, was being eyed by German giants Bayern Munich, but the Dutchman has committed to the Premier League side, and his new contract will reportedly see him earn £400,000 a week.

“I’m very happy, very proud. There are so many emotions, obviously, that go through my head right now speaking about it. It’s a proud feeling; it’s a feeling of joy. It’s just incredible. The journey I’ve had so far in my career, to be able to extend it with another two years at this club is amazing, and I’m so happy.

“It was always Liverpool. That was the case. It was always in my head, it was always the plan, and it was always Liverpool.

“There wasn’t any doubt in my head that this is the place to be for me and my family. I’m one of Liverpool. Someone called me the other day an adopted Scouser – I’m really proud to hear these things; it gives me a great feeling.”

Liverpool eye new back-up goalkeeper if Kelleher departs

As Van Dijk commits his future to the Reds, according to German outlet Sport Bild, Liverpool are interested in signing goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas from Borussia Mönchengladbach, who are desperate to raise funds.

The report states that Nicolas has interest from England and particularly from Liverpool. That is because the current head of first-team goalkeeper coaching, Fabian Otte, has worked with Nicolas before, and he could be in line for a move to Anfield to help strengthen their options between the sticks.

The Reds are planning to make an immediate move for the shot-stopper, and the right offer could see this deal accelerate, as Mönchengladbach are desperate for cash to balance their books. Nicolas has a market value of just 5 million euros, which is roughly £4 million.

The report adds that the 27-year-old is seeking one final big contract in his career, but perhaps worryingly, Nicolas is statistically similar to Man United’s Onana. The pair have similar passing figures and share poor penalty saving records, placing the Manchester United ‘keeper second on FBRef’s ‘similar players’ tool.

Nicolas’ 24/25 league stats compared to Onana

Nicolas

Onana

Apps

19

31

Goals against

25

41

Goals against per 90

1.37

1.32

Saves

69

85

Save percentage

78.3%

69.8%

Clean sheets

4

9

Passes completed

669

868

Passes attempted

794

1192

Penalty kicks faced

5

4

Penalty kicks saved

0

1

Liverpool already have Giorgi Mamardashvili arriving from Valencia in the summer, but that is not stopping them from looking for another goalkeeper, as Caoimhín Kelleher is expected to leave while Vitezslav Jaros could go out on loan, opening up a spot for a veteran third choice.

Spin-friendly pitches and toss wins have revived Pakistan’s home record, but concerns remain over the long-term consequences of the formula

Danyal Rasool16-Oct-2025Half of their home Tests. After going four years and 11 Tests at home without a win – the longest streak for the traditional top eight Test sides this century – Pakistan’s bar was set low: at least win the games where they won the toss and consequently enjoyed the best of batting conditions. It left them even more vulnerable when the coin landed the other way, but then again, they’d won four of 11 tosses in those Tests, losing two games and drawing the others.Pakistan’s decision to play on a used track in Multan a year to the day ago birthed the spin tracks that have become an identifiable feature of Test cricket in the country of late. It is an idea they pushed to its caricatured limit in a series against West Indies, where the surfaces deteriorated so much Pakistan captain Shan Masood called the conditions “too extreme”. But, whatever the criticism of Pakistan’s methods, there is no doubting their effectiveness: Pakistan have won each of the Tests where they called correctly at the toss, plus one against England after losing it. After 11 Tests without a win, four of the last five home Tests have ended in triumph.For all the defiance that Pakistan have outwardly projected about there being no good or bad ways to win Test matches, this was a tactic borne out of necessity than choice, and one that still provokes debate among the media and fans alike. Over the past week in Lahore, when Azhar Mahmood came to talk to the media, he had to fend off questions about whether Pakistan had given up on any hopes of winning away Test matches at all; they have lost their last five. Masood, meanwhile, was asked whether fast bowling would die off in the next generation with Pakistan stacking their line-up with spinners to exploit the turn on rapidly disintegrating surfaces. The fans have enjoyed the sugar hit of the wins, but like all sugar hits, also worried about the long-term consequences for the game’s health.Related

Noman, Afridi set up rousing win for Pakistan

Plot intact, result missing: South Africa's Test revival still a work in progress

Masood's 20-wicket masterplan pays off as Pakistan learn to win differently

It all detracted from what happened in Lahore this week: Pakistan, who finished bottom of last year’s WTC, beat South Africa, who won the whole thing. And while they did so on a palpably spin-heavy wicket, it was by no means too far removed from Test strips prepared everywhere across the subcontinent these days.Though Pakistan’s 161-run second wicket stand before tea on the first day established a beachhead from which they kept South Africa at bay for the next three days, they could never quite deliver the landing blow they managed fairly quickly against England in Multan last year, or the West Indies in January. South Africa gritted their way to a first-innings response that kept them in touch, and their fourth innings outscored Pakistan’s third, the first time that has happened since Pakistan turned to spin tracks at home.That, partially, is down to South Africa being a better Test side than England, West Indies, or for that matter, Pakistan in most conditions. But at the same time, the Lahore wicket refused to open up to Noman Ali and Sajid Khan with the same alacrity as Multan and Pindi have over the past year. It required Shaheen Shah Afridi to break open the game for Pakistan in the fourth innings, initially to snap the burgeoning partnership between Tony de Zorzi and Ryan Rickelton, Pakistan’s bete noires in the first innings, on the fourth morning, and later to polish off the last three wickets with a reversing ball, coming around the wicket to the right-handers to bring the ball in late.Shaheen Shah Afridi played a key role in Pakistan’s win in the first Test•Getty ImagesFor South Africa, too, there was encouragement when they turned to the elite fast bowling of Kagiso Rabada, whose figures belied the menace he carried both with new ball and old. It took him just three balls into the Test to find swing into the right-hander Abdullah Shafique and get his first wicket, and he was far more dangerous than any of South Africa’s trio of finger spinners for the first two sessions. He repeatedly threatened early through Pakistan’s second innings, just missing out on snaring Babar Azam for a duck with HawkEye deemed a lovely middle-stump ball seaming away to be going too high. Later, he would get his man with a vicious nipbacker. Wiaan Mulder bowled just two and was never going to have the same impact, but Pakistan appear to want quality swing bowling to count for something in Tests at home.If anything, South Africa, perhaps spooked by what they saw in Multan in January, outflanked Pakistan in the spin department, feeling three outright fingerspinners. Pakistan, who have spent this time of Test drought gently finessing their home formula, went just with their trusty two of Noman and Sajid. Instead, they tried to manufacture a role for their historical strength – pace bowling combined with reverse swing – and fielded both Afridi and, for his first first-class game in two years – Hasan Ali.Masood called them Pakistan’s “best exponents of reverse swing” when the ball ages, which it does fairly quickly on the strips Pakistan prepare. While Hasan was a statistical footnote in this game, bowling ten wicketless overs across the two innings, Masood strongly hinted he would front up alongside Afridi in Pindi next week once more. Spinroads may be their bread and butter for now, but Gaddafi against South Africa perhaps also began to illuminate an eventual path to a more harmonious balance, a quiet transition from a home season whose success hinges on the flick of a copper disc on a patch of underwatered mud.

The track at Newlands, and the cricket it produced, was like something from the 1800s, leading to mayhem in the middle and exaggeration in the analysis

Mark Nicholas05-Jan-2024What is a bad pitch? One that favours batters so heavily that it results in a five-day draw? Or one that favours bowlers of a particular type and finishes in 107 overs?What is bad batting? Is it technical – as in poor footwork, playing around the front pad, going hard at the ball – or is it poor shot selection?What is good bowling? Hitting “the right areas” on pitches where the ball moves laterally or, worse still, bounces unevenly? Or swinging/spinning the ball on pitches that offer little help to such skills?Related

Manjrekar: No malice intended in pitches for this series

De Villiers blames T20 cricket for short South Africa-India Test series

What's the big deal with the Nagpur pitch?

Is the ICC's pitch-rating system fit for purpose?

Rohit calls out ICC for supposed double standards in rating pitches: 'Hope they keep their ears and eyes open'

Neither Barry Richards, a wonderfully gifted batter from an age long past, nor Dean Elgar, one from the modern era and less gifted but no less committed, were prepared to call out the same Newlands pitch that a very great South African golfer, whose love of cricket goes back to a childhood hitting as many cricket balls as golf balls, called “shocking”.Rohit Sharma said he didn’t mind playing on such seam-friendly surfaces so long as pitches in India were were not marked down for being spin-friendly. In fact, Rohit almost admitted to enjoying the challenge. Virat Kohli fairly revelled in the contest at both Supersport Park and Newlands, reckoning that he batted about as well as he can do. Elgar at the former and Aiden Markram at the latter played the innings of their lives.Cricket is a multifaceted game. One day is rarely, if ever, the same as the last or the next. Cricket takes all sorts, sizes and shapes, and will frustrate as often as it will fulfil. It follows no rules, only the laws by which it is regulated, and the consequence is that in games that are not limited by the overs each side receives, there is no telling what will happen or how long it will last. I helped friends with tickets for the third day at Newlands but they didn’t get close to seeing a ball bowled live. “What the hell sort of a wicket was that???” WhatsApped one of them. A belter for Markram, I replied.Cricket is the most artistic of all games. It is frequently difficult and frustrating but even the most prosaic of players can give pleasure with a mighty strike, an unlikely wicket or a brilliant catch. It has mainly instinctive skills and yet relies on method for excellence. Batting pleases the eye because it is a thing of straight lines that is subject to angles and dimensions. This feels like an accident but it is in the interpretation.

We might, in hindsight, call these psychological pitches; ones that required the right mindset both in preparation and at the moment of performance. For a batter to fear the worst was to invite failure; for a bowler to assume the best was to invite hubris

Above all, batting is fragile. One minute you have it, the next it is gone. A single ball will undo hours, days, weeks of preparation. For sure, batting – cricket indeed – is not to be trusted. Ask Elgar and ask Marco Jansen about bowling. At the halfway stage of the World Cup, he had the ball on a string before he was blasted all around Eden Gardens and he suddenly couldn’t land it on the cut bit. During these two Test matches against India he has resorted to bowling round the wicket and trying to stick to a fullish line outside the off stump. For conviction, he has explored limitation. Only late in the denouement yesterday, when there was nothing but crumbs left to play for, did he let go and watch the red ball fly again. In short, the fear of failure was nowhere to be seen and almost by magic, his rhythm returned.Cricket is a game played out on the edge of nerves. It examines character, explores personality and exposes vulnerabilities. A man – Markram, say – scores nothing one day and a hundred the next. This is wicked, it is unkind, but it is tempting and it is exhilarating. Raise your bat once and you will ache to do so again.The art of cricket is a beautiful journey and a beautiful result. This beauty holds its place in our heart even at a time when all roads point to change. It is why there is an immense responsibility as we search to modernise a game that has its roots in the past. After all, it is the roots that define it.My view is that this was a poor pitch because it was too heavily weighted in favour of fast bowling. The key to the game is a fair pitch that gives every player hope. It looked odd, as if the plate-like cracks had been glued together by a different make and colour of grass from the one elsewhere on the surface. From these, and from the indentations created when the ball pitched, came the sideways movement, uneven pace and unpredictable bounce. I would mark it down for this but I would not condemn.The pitch in Centurion was no sinecure either. India, a side rammed with exceptional batters, were bowled for 131 in the third innings and lost the match by a mile. A lot of the cricket played in both matches was ordinary and sometimes worse. A lot of the rest that was played was very good, even thrilling. The matches swung in quality like few I have seen, and yet, in the main, the best players commanded the best results. We might, in hindsight, call these psychological pitches; ones that required the right mindset both in preparation and at the moment of performance. For a batter to fear the worst was to invite failure; for a bowler to assume the best was to invite hubris.2:05

Sanjay Manjrekar: ‘No malice intended in pitches for this series’

In truth, incredible things happened that had everyone talking – 55 all out and six wickets without a run being scored the most notable – and still we could celebrate fine batting and the craftwork in seam and swing bowling. Athletic catches were taken in the slips and the crowd rose to its feet on numerous occasions to raucously celebrate the many striking events they were fortunate to witness with their own eyes. Indeed, had you put aside just two days to watch Test cricket and these were them, you’d think it was quite some show. After all, few modern batters boast techniques as good as Kohli and KL Rahul, or strokeplay as eye-catching as Rohit and Markram. Few modern fast bowlers come close to Kagiso Rabada and Jasprit Bumrah.It’s just that it all happened so quickly. It was like when it all began in the late 1800s and the pitches were usually not much good and always uncovered and the bats were planks and techniques were being worked out at origin and bowlers fizzed the ball from their fingers with little pace but plenty of cut and they homed in a length so difficult to play that WG Grace averaged 32 with the bat and Sydney Barnes 16 with the ball. There you go! Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.So I’m inclined to call this a one-off. I don’t think it was a South African plot to have such surfaces, only that the coach might have requested a little grass to give encouragement to the quicks. Given the track the grass lay upon, this led to mayhem. Such extremes – and especially those on the scoreboard – lead to exaggeration in the analysis.I’m moved to say that cricket can be anything, and yes, in general we want better pitches for a longer Test match game and a greater range of skills to show their face. But we also want the players to react to the challenges of nature and nurture with equal relish and to accept, without rancour, that nothing is perfect and nor will it be. Only that cricket lives on at Test level for the very reason that days like these past five in South Africa surprise, amaze and amuse us. And that best of all, cricket is the talk of the town.

Shakib’s presence makes Barishal formidable, Dhaka has the Mahmudullah-Mashrafe-Tamim combo, while Sylhet have great balance

Mohammad Isam19-Jan-2022

Comilla Victorians

Team overview
Comilla Victorians, the two-time BPL champions, return to the tournament after missing the 2019-20 season. And Comilla, who won the 2015 and 2019 editions, will be boosted by the return of their head coach Mohammad Salahuddin.They have one of the most balanced squads in the tournament, with a good mix of experience and local expertise. Faf du Plessis and Sunil Narine are their marquee players, while Mustafizur Rahman, Moeen Ali and Cameron Delport are big names in T20 cricket in most places around the world.Among the other batters, Liton Das is in good form, while Imrul Kayes has plenty of BPL experience. Parvez Hossain Emon is the wildcard in the top order, having struck the fastest hundred by a Bangladeshi in T20s, in 2020. Comilla have also roped in allrounder Nahidul Islam, a known T20 specialist, to add to the spin-heavy bowling attack.Related

• du Plessis' BPL wishlist: win the tournament, contribute in wins, be one of the top scorers

• Smooth BPL 2022 despite Covid cloud will mean big gains for Bangladesh cricket

• Victorians appoint Steve Rhodes as technical advisor

• BPL: Lewis, Tanvir and Jacks among players to watch

Strengths
A potent spin attack led by Narine, in addition to allrounders like Mahedi and Nahidul. Left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam could be one to look out for, too.
A well-balanced batting line-up led by du Plessis. Liton and Imrul are capable of giving the team big starts, while Moeen will be in charge of providing a late flourish if needed.Weaknesses
A pace attack in which Mustafizur will have to do most of the heavy lifting. Oshane Thomas and Karim Janat are useful, but Shohidul Islam, Sumon Khan and Abu Hider all have their work cut out.Squad: Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Sunil Narine, Mustafizur Rahman, Liton Das, Shohidul Islam, Imrul Kayes (capt), Tanvir Islam, Kusal Mendis, Oshane Thomas, Ariful Haque, Nahidul Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Sumon Khan, Mominul Haque, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Parvez Hossain Emon, Abu Hider, Mehedi Hasan, Cameron Delport, Karim Janat.Shoriful Islam will lead Chattogram’s bowling attack•ICC via Getty

Chattogram Challengers

Team overview
Chattogram Challengers will hope to go a step further than they did at the 2019-20 BPL, where they made it till the second qualifier, where they lost to eventual champions Rajshahi Royals.But Chattogram overall had a decent outing in that season – which is probably why they have retained Rayad Emrit, Enamul Haque, Nasum Ahmed and Chadwick Walton, as well as head coach Paul Nixon. However, they are yet to name their captain for this season.The line-up looks promising. Afif Hossain, Shamim Hossain and Zakir Hasan are all in-form Bangladesh players, and they have the overseas trio of Kennar Lewis, Will Jacks and Chadwick Walton to complement them well. Sabbir Rahman, who has now fallen off the radar, is also part of the team.Shoriful Islam and Benny Howell will lead the bowling attack which also has Mehidy Hasan and Nasum Ahmed in the spin department.Mrittunjoy Chowdhury, a left-arm quick who has impressed in the Under-19 and domestic circuit, is an interesting pick. Chattogram also have three wicketkeeping options in Walton, Zakir and Akbar Ali.Strengths
They have quite an impressive batting line-up that includes several foreign and local big-hitters, so they would hope their batters turn up well at the tournament and provide them with some solid starts up front.Weaknesses
The big names in the side will be expected to keep up with the pressure especially in the back-end of the tournament, where they let it slip last season.Squad: Nasum Ahmed, Benny Howell, Kennar Lewis, Will Jacks, Shoriful Islam, Afif Hossain, Shamim Hossain, Mukidul Islam, Chadwick Walton, Rayad Emrit, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Sabbir Rahman, Mrittunjoy Chowdhury, Mehidy Hasan (capt), Akbar Ali, Naeem Islam, Enamul Haque, Zakir Hasan.With a captain-coach combination of Shakib Al Hasan and Khaled Mahmud, Barishal Fortune have plenty of experience in the think-tank•AFP/Getty Images

Fortune Barishal

Team overview
A Barishal franchise returns to the BPL for the first time since 2016. Burners and Bulls had their moments in the first four editions, but now we have Fortune Barishal.Fortune Barishal had finished fourth – out of five teams – in the Bangabandhu T20 Cup in December 2020.For the BPL, they signed up Shakib Al Hasan and coach Khaled Mahmud first up, which gives them a great think-tank. Shakib and Mahmud are linking up again after a coach-captain partnership for several seasons with Dhaka Dynamites, including their triumph in 2016.They have picked a number of young Bangladeshi batters, a Mahmud hallmark. Najmul Hossain Shanto leads this pack that also includes Towhid Hridoy, Munim Shahriar and Salman Hossain. Chris Gayle will join the set-up slightly later on, adding a truckload of firepower and experience to the batting line-up.They have a strong pace attack with Alzarri Joseph and Obed McCoy in lead roles, complemented by local left-arm quicks Mehedi Hasan Rana and Shafiqul Islam. They also have quality spinners to call upon, including Shakib and Taijul Islam, and Afghanistan ace Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who is likely to join the side a bit later on.Strengths
Variety in the spin attack. They have orthodox left-arm spinners in Shakib and Taijul Islam, and left-arm spin of the unorthodox kind from Jake Lintott. Mujeeb Ur Rahman adds a bit of mystery, while Nayeem Hasan is an accurate offspinner who’s in great domestic form.
A pace attack with three left-arm quicks. Obed McCoy will bring pace and guile, while Mehedi Hasan Rana and Shafiqul Islam have the local know-how.Weaknesses
If Shakib bats in the Barishal top three, that makes eight top-order batters in their squad. It would mean some of the younger openers may have to do an unfamiliar middle-order job.
Not enough allrounders apart from Shakib and an aging Dwayne Bravo. Evidence from previous BPL seasons suggests that bowling allrounders are useful on slow and low pitches where teams tend to pick fewer out-and-out fast bowlers.Squad: Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Chris Gayle, Nurul Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehedi Hasan Rana, Fazle Mahmud, Obed McCoy, Alzarri Joseph, Towhid Hridoy, Ziaur Rahman, Shafiqul Islam, Shykat Ali, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Salman Hossain, Irfan Sukkur, Dwayne Bravo, Munim Shahriar, Jake Lintott.Mushfiqur Rahim will lead a team that has the quality to go all the way•BCB

Khulna Tigers

Team overview
Khulna Tigers, a team built around allrounders, are sending out positive vibes, they look like a team that can go all the way. The closest they got to that was the last time the BPL was held, in 2019-20, when they reached the final before losing to Rajshahi Royals.Led by Mushfiqur Rahim and coached by Lance Klusener, Khulna’s player choices, even the overseas ones, are tailor-made for Bangladeshi conditions.Mushfiqur has Soumya Sarkar, Yasir Ali, Rony Talukder and Andre Fletcher as the main batters. Mushfiqur is also the wicketkeeper, Soumya bowls useful medium-pace, and Talukder is another keeping option.The genuine allrounders include Thisara Perera, Mahedi Hasan, Seekkuge Prasanna and Sikandar Raza, with support from domestic stalwarts Farhad Reza and Mohammad Sharifullah. Most of them are capable middle-order batters, but they will mostly be required to do the job at the death.Kamrul Islam Rabbi and Naveen-ul-Huq will lead the pace attack, while Khaled Ahmed is there to provide support. Rabbi has made his name as a good death bowler in recent BPL seasons, and has a burgeoning reputation as a big-hitter too. Veteran left-arm spinners Sohrawardi Shuvo and Nabil Samad will come in handy as the pitches get weary.Strengths
Allrounders. Perera, Raza and Prasanna have international pedigree while Mahedi isn’t too far behind, particularly in the BPL.Weaknesses
Managing the expectations could be a big challenge for Khulna. They were finalists in the last BPL and given their overall strength this time, taking them down will give most teams a lot of pleasure.Squad: Mushfiqur Rahim (capt), Mahedi Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Farhad Reza, Yasir Ali, Rony Talukder, Jaker Ali, Khaled Ahmed, Mohammad Sharifullah, Sohrawardi Shuvo, Nabil Samad, Seekkuge Prasanna, Sikandar Raza, Thisara Perera, Naveenul Huq, Andre Fletcher.Mashrafe Mortaza and Mahmudullah, in the same corner this time•BCB

Minister Group Dhaka

Team overview
Dhaka’s ownership changed dramatically the night before the player draft last month when the consortium that had initially bought the franchise couldn’t pay the bank guarantee. It left the BCB to take over the team, with selector Habibul Bashar getting only a few hours to prepare for the draft.He went on to pick Mahmudullah, Tamim Iqbal and Mashrafe Mortaza. It was an interesting call because this showed the BCB’s faith in these three senior players, who they have felt, at three instances between 2017 and now, were well past their prime, at least for T20s.They have also roped in Mohammad Naim, Shamsur Rahman, Jahurul Islam and Shuvagata Hom among the local batters, apart from the Afghan quartet of Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Shahzad, Qais Ahmad and Fazalhaq Farooqi.They later signed Andre Russell, who at USD 250,000 is the most expensive player in the tournament.They also have Isuru Udana of Sri Lanka, Rubel Hossain and Ebadot Hossain to round off a steady bowling attack.Mashrafe, meanwhile, will miss the first few matches because of a back injury.Dhaka are the most expensive team in the competition at USD 900,000. Comilla and Sylhet Sunrisers are next in line, but their respective spending in players has been less than half that of Dhaka, at around USD 426,000 and USD 418,000.Strengths
Balance in the line-up. They have a strong top and middle order, with Mahmudullah and Russell taking care of the death overs. The bowling attack is also well stacked up with the pace and spin bowlers.Weaknesses
The same as their strengths – they might be a bit over-reliant on those experienced players.Squad: Mahmudullah (capt), Isuru Udana, Qais Ahmad, Najibullah Zadran, Tamim Iqbal, Rubel Hossain, Mashrafe Mortaza, Shuvagata Hom, Mohammad Shahzad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mohammad Naim, Arafat Sunny, Imran Uzzaman, Shafiul Islam, Jahurul Islam, Shamsur Rahman, Ebadot Hossain, Rishad Hossain, Andre Russell.Taskin Ahmed will lead Sylhet Sunrisers’ pace-bowling attack•Getty Images

Sylhet Sunrisers

Team overview
Sylhet Sunrisers have picked a pretty balanced squad on paper, but a lack of genuine T20 match-winners may leave them short at some stage in the tournament.Anamul Haque is set to lead a side that includes Colin Ingram, Lendl Simmons and Ravi Bopara among their marquee foreign players. He will also have batting cover from Mohammad Mithun, Alok Kapali, Mizanur Rahman and Nadif Chowdhury among the locals, while Mosaddek Hossain, Sohag Gazi and Muktar Ali are the main allrounders.Taskin Ahmed will lead the bowling attack, along with Kesrick Williams, Shiraz Ahmed and Al-Amin Hossain. The spinners include Nazmul Islam, Jubair Hossain and Sunzamul Islam.Mervyn Dillon, the former West Indies fast bowler, will coach the side; it’s his first assignment in the BPL. Given their lack of top T20 names, Sylhet might have to play out of their skins to compete against top sides like Dhaka, Khulna and Comilla.Strengths
A lot will depend on Bopara, Ingram and Taskin. Ingram has to score quickly at the top while Bopara’s middle-order contributions and four overs with the semi-new ball will be crucial. Taskin has to pick up wickets at the top, and fire in his yorkers in the death overs.Weaknesses
Very few match-winners and allrounders. Sylhet could perhaps load their team with bits-and-pieces cricketers, but that approach is seldom successful in T20s.Squad: Anamul Haque (capt), Taskin Ahmed, Kesrick Williams, Colin Ingram, Shiraz Ahmed, Mosaddek Hossain (capt), Mohammad Mithun, Al-Amin Hossain, Nazmul Islam, Ravi Bopara, Sohag Gazi, Alok Kapali, Muktar Ali, Jubair Hossain, Mizanur Rahman, Nadif Chowdhury, Shafiul Hayet, Sunzamul Islam, Lendl Simmons, Devon Thomas.

MatériaMais Notícias

A briga entre a dupla Flamengo e Fluminense e o Vasco da Gama pelo controle do Maracanã chega ao fim nesta quarta-feira (8). O Governo do Estado do Rio de Janeiro irá abrir as propostas financeiras dos consórcios Fla-Flu e Maracanã Para Todos (Vasco e WTorre) e revelar quem conseguiu a maior ponutação no processo de licitação, que já dura oito meses.

➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

➡️A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta!

continua após a publicidade

Segundo informações do portal “ge”, a dupla Fla-Flu já é a virtual vencedora da disputa. Com 117 pontos na proposta técnica, o consórcio de Flamengo e Fluminense não pode mais ser alcançado pelo concorrente. Vasco e WTorre até conseguiram aumentar sua pontuação de 81 para 85 na terça-feira (7), mas não foi o suficiente para brigar com os rivais.

No entanto, apesar dos envelopes serem abertos nesta quarta, o vencedor da disputa pela concessão do estádio pode não ser confirmado ainda. Isso porque o processo prevê um prazo para possíveis recursos e impugnações, o que pode adiar o anúncio oficial do consórcio que irá gerir o Maracanã pelos próximos 20 anos. Também de acordo com o “ge”, o Maracanã Para Todos tentou o adiamento da cerimônia na Justiça, mas não teve sucesso; a expectativa é de que Vasco e WTorre não reconheçam a derrota no envento.

continua após a publicidade

Na abertura das propostas financeiras, a maior oferta ganha 125 pontos, enquanto a segunda leva 115, com peso de 40%; os outros 60% são da proposta técnica. Desta forma, não há mais chances de Flamengo e Fluminense serem ultrapassados pela dupla concorrente.

Tudo sobre

FlamengoFluminenseMaracanãVasco

Beth Mooney’s unbeaten 94 helped Perth reach their target of 165 with seven wickets to spare

AAP06-Dec-2025

Beth Mooney’s unbeaten knock took Scorchers into the finals•Getty Images

Beth Mooney has led Perth Scorchers back into the WBBL finals, executing the perfect chase against Brisbane Heat and ending Melbourne Renegades’ title defence in the process.Needing 165 for victory in a must-win game at the WACA on Saturday, Mooney hit an unbeaten 94 from 61 to help Perth reach the target with seven wickets and four balls to spare. The victory ensured the Scorchers would have a home final, knocked the Renegades out of the top four and handed the Heat the first winless season in WBBL history.With one game to play in the season, Hobart are guaranteed top spot and hosting rights for next Saturday night’s final at Ninja Stadium. Perth and the Melbourne Stars are also locked into finals spots, with the winner of the Sydney Sixers and Adelaide at North Sydney Oval on Sunday morning to join them.The WBBL’s finals system has third and fourth face off in eliminator on Tuesday, before the winner of that plays against second on Thursday for a spot in the final.The Stars could have wrapped up second spot on Saturday morning had they beaten the Sydney Thunder at Junction Oval, only for them to be well beaten. Instead Perth are now in second, and will stay there if the Strikers beat the Sixers on Sunday.Facing a tricky chase after Georgia Redmayne’s 57 helped the Heat to 164 for 7, Mooney took control of the game at the WACA. Australia’s veteran opener regularly picked balls up off her pads and hit them over the legside to the rope, hitting 12 boundaries in a near-flawless knock. The Scorchers’ chase threatened to wobble late when Maddy Darke (24) and Sophie Devine (13) fell, but Mooney held her nerve and Freya Kemp’s late hitting saw Perth home.The leading run-scorer in WBBL history, Mooney now has scores of 105, 75 and 94* for the season and will enter the finals as one of the league’s most dangerous players.