Rain had an effect in most of the other games on the first day, but Bangladesh, South Africa and Sri Lanka had time to win their respective openers
ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jan-2025Australia opened their Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup with a dominant nine-wicket win over Scotland in the Group D game in Bangi.Fast bowler Caoimhe Bray starred with figures of 3 for 1 in 3.2 overs, while left-arm quick Eleanor Larosa and left-arm wristspinner Hasrat Gill shared five wickets among them to help Australia skittle Scotland for a mere 48 in 15.1 overs. Australia chased down the target in 6.4 overs with opener Katy Pelle remaining unbeaten on 29 off 18 balls.In Kuching, rain played spoilsport with the match between Samoa and Nigeria abandoned without a single ball bowled. The Pakistan-USA fixture also ended similarly in Johor, with the match abandoned without a ball being bowled.Meanwhile, in the England vs Ireland match in Johor, England rode wicketkeeper-batter Jemima Spence’s 37 not out off 27 balls and Charlotte Lambert’s 14-ball 25 to post a competitive 144 for 7. Ireland were put under pressure when they lost two early wickets inside four overs, however, rain forced the game to end without a result.Rain had a say in the New Zealand vs South Africa game as well, but not enough to prevent a result. Asked to bat first in Kuching, South Africa scored 91 for 7 in the 11 overs they got, with the opening pair of Jemma Botha (32 in 24 balls) and Simone Lourens (21 in 14) and international wicketkeeper Karabo Meso (25 in 14) doing most of the scoring. New Zealand could only manage 69 for 5 in reply despite opener Emma McLeod’s 34 in 25.Bangladesh, meanwhile, bowled Nepal out for 52 in 18.2 overs after inserting them in Bangi, and then knocked off the runs in 13.2 overs.
Will he, won’t he? That is the question dominating those of a Liverpool persuasion, with it likely to prove an anxious few weeks amid the wait to see if Alexander Isak will make the jump to Anfield this summer.
Rival supporters are raising their eyebrows at such interest in the Newcastle United man, not least considering the £256m that has been spent so far, albeit with prior claims indicating that Arne Slot’s side could fork out for him and still be in the clear, considering how well the club has been run.
Having waited patiently amid a muted 2024 summer window, the Reds have sprung into action this time around, lasering in on Isak to solve their centre-forward woes, with the hapless Darwin Nunez seemingly heading for the exit.
The Uruguayan scored just seven times in all competitions last season, having been given the cold shoulder by Slot, while stand-in false nine Luiz Diaz has since secured his own departure, after joining Bayern Munich on a £65.5m deal.
That latter move has also heightened the need for competition for Cody Gakpo on the left flank, with recent reports indicating that the Merseysiders may well be looking toward a Premier League solution to bolster their attacking ranks.
Liverpool enter race for another Premier League addition
Isak remains priority number one right now, with reports suggesting that Liverpool are ready to lodge a bid of around £130m, following the bombshell news last week that the Swede had informed Newcastle of his desire to leave.
Isak
Despite rival interest from Saudi Arabia, the 25-year-old appears to have his heart set on making the move to Anfield, with the Magpies said to be lining up RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko as his replacement.
Away from solely focusing in on Isak, however, Caught Offside have suggested that the Premier League champions have also entered the race for Crystal Palace playmaker, Eberechi Eze.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
As per the report, while it is Arsenal who lead the race for the England international, they are facing ‘stiff competition’ from the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and now Liverpool, with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur also in the mix.
The 27-year-old is being lined up as a potential replacement for the outgoing Diaz, according to the piece, with the player’s £68m release clause likely to be an attractive prospect for any interested suitor.
Why Eze could be another Isak level signing
The beauty of signing a player like Isak is the fact that he has already proven himself in the Premier League, having scored 54 goals in just 86 appearances in the competition, following his arrival in the summer of 2022.
In that same time frame, Nunez – for example – has played 95 times in England’s top-flight, albeit while netting just 25 times, highlighting the significant upgrade that the Newcastle man would represent.
A terror for Premier League defences, Isak has already been described by Virgil van Dijk as “definitely the most in-form striker at the moment in world football”, with that glowing praise coming prior to the striker’s clincher in the Carabao Cup final triumph in March.
Such Wembley heroics are also familiar to that man Eze, with the former Queens Park Rangers starlet having scored the only goal as Palace saw off Manchester City in the FA Cup final just a few months later.
That crucial strike marked the versatile forward’s 14th goal of the campaign in all competitions, having also chipped in with a further 11 assists amid his role in a left-sided number ten berth.
Eze record vs the ‘Big Six’ – all comps
Club
Games
Goals
Assists
Arsenal
7
1
0
Chelsea
9
1
1
Liverpool
7
1
1
Manchester City
9
2
1
Manchester United
11
0
0
Spurs
7
3
1
Total
50
8
4
Stats via Transfermarkt
Like Isak, the fleet-footed “magician” – as hailed by The Telegraph’s Sam Dean – has seemingly reached talismanic status at his current side, with now the perfect time for him to take that next step to a club operating at the summit of the European and English game.
Like Isak too, Eze has also showcased what he can do at Premier League level on a consistent basis, having registered 57 goals and assists in 146 games in the competition to date, 16 of which came in 2024/25.
Eze vs Wirtz
Of course, there is undoubted excitement over deals for the likes of Jeremie Frimpong, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, although quite how that trio will fare in English football remains to be seen.
In Eze – the man who scored at Anfield in Palace’s 1-0 win back in April 2024 – there would be no such need for concern or questioning. This is a player who can immediately make an impression on Slot’s starting lineup.
With Isak leading the line, and the Englishman operating off the left flank, the Merseysiders could have a new deadly combination to unleash next season.
The new Salah: Liverpool agree personal terms to sign "world-class" star
Liverpool are preparing to sign a new forward as Luis Diaz leaves for Bayern Munich.
Liverpool were told to trust in Arne Slot by Jurgen Klopp at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, and the Reds rode the crest of that wave of faith right through to the league title.
They won it confidently. They won it emphatically. Manchester City and Arsenal and the rest were dispatched by an outfit who, quite simply, were better than everyone else.
Now Liverpool have taken things to the next level, pulling in fresh faces from every which way in the summer transfer window to reinforce Slot’s squad ahead of the 2025/26 season.
Arne Slot celebrates Liverpool's Premier League triumph
The Reds will have their sights set on a successful Premier League title defence, but they will also be hungry to win the Champions League, and the FA Cup and Carabao Cup too.
Pre-season performances should be taken with a pinch of salt, but Florian Wirtz’s start to life as a Liverpool player has certainly fuelled hopes that these lofty goals are within reach.
Florian Wirtz's pre-season show-stopper
Wirtz signed for Liverpool in June for a £100m fixed fee. Potential add-ons could take that to £116m, which would make the 22-year-old the most expensive footballer in British history.
Florian Wirtz celebrates scoring his first Liverpool goal.
His illustrious career beginnings with Bayer Leverkusen have led him this far, though many rivals will wait to see how he fares amid new surroundings. But then Wirtz’s talent is off the scales, and he’s undoubtedly got the physical profile to match within the English game.
Across pre-season so far, the Germany international has shone, bagging a brace of assists against Stoke City back in England before jetting over to Asia, featuring against AC Milan and then picking up the Man of the Match award against Japanese side Yokohama FM.
He’s the real deal, all right, and Liverpool must know they have hit the jackpot. Wirtz is the cream of the crop of arrivals, but he may yet be trumped by another.
Liverpool lining up new striker
According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are now putting a British-record package together for Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, just waiting for the perfect moment to show their hand.
Isak, 25, has informed the Magpies that he wishes to pursue a move to Merseyside, having refused to go on their pre-season tour and instead using his former club Real Sociedad’s facilities.
One of the best strikers in the world, Isak would cost a staggering sum, with Newcastle expected to demand £150m for their talisman.
Why Liverpool want Alexander Isak
If Liverpool were to sign Isak, they would partner Wirtz with a truly special star. The German playmaker has already been called “the best midfielder in the world” by former Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes, and Isak is regarded by many – including pundit Alan Shearer – to be a “world-class” forward.
Building this new-look team is a staggering display of FSG’s intent, but the profiles of Wirtz and Isak could evoke a sense of nostalgia, potentially handing Slot his own version of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.
Torres’s game was built on pace and power, and this aligned perfectly with the robust creativity of Gerrard, who marshalled his midfield while playmaking for his Spanish frontman. The results were incredible.
Arguably at his career-finest when playing for the Anfield side, El Nino notched 101 goal contributions from 142 appearances as a Liverpool striker.
The legend who is Gerrard helped him reach that pinnacle, instrumental as he widened the scope of the Spaniard’s potential.
And Torres knew it. When the Scouser hung up his boots way back when, the forward said this: “I always say the best player I played with is Steven Gerrard. I found he was the player who completed my game. I think my level got into a different dimension when I was on the pitch with him.”
Fabrizio Romano has praised Isak for being a “machine” in front of goal, but he’s also elegant, athletic and creative in his attacking play. In this manner, he’s a bit like Torres.
As per FBref, the Sweden international ranked among the top 16% of strikers across Europe last season for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive passes, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90.
Truly, he’s the all-encompassing number nine. Torres was too. And with Wirtz pinging balls through to him, using his seamless movement to shift from left to right, left to right, there’s no telling how dangerous Slot’s Liverpool could be over the coming years.
Moreover, there’s a certain semblance between Isak at Newcastle and Torres in his Liverpool heyday, the strikers comparable in their rate of scoring and supplying for teammates.
Games
109
142
Goals
62
81
Goal rate
0.57
0.57
Assists
11
19
Assist rate
0.10
0.13
G/A rate
0.67
0.70
If the duo manage to bag themselves a partnership at Slot’s Liverpool next season, fans may well be treated to some incredible new football, but also a sense of the past, keeping the spirit of the club alive as they chase down more honours.
Whether Liverpool succeed in prising Isak away from Newcastle this summer is still open to the court, but the Merseysiders know that the £120k-per-week talent wants to join them, and they know that they have a world-class playmaker in Wirtz who could create a sensational new duo.
It’s bad news for Rio: Liverpool discuss move for "electric" £43m Diaz heir
Liverpool will now get ready to sign a winger after Luis Diaz signed for Bayern Munich.
أعلن نادي إستريلا أمادورا البرتغالي عن تقديم شكوى رسمية ضد الزمالك بسبب جناح الفريق الأول لكرة القدم، شيكو بانزا، الذي انضم في الصيف الماضي.
وانتقل بانزا إلى الزمالك وشارك في أكثر من لقاء في بداية الدوري المصري ولكن سرعان ما تم استبعاده من القائمة التي تتواجد في المباريات بسبب عدم التزامه.
لكن المشكلة الحالية خارج الملعب، حيث أمهل نادي أمادورا سابقًا الزمالك حتى اليوم الخميس حتى سداد قيمة القسط الأول.
اقرأ أيضًا | يانيك فيريرا: تحدثت مع لاعب الزمالك بسبب العصبية.. ونحتاج لتطوير شيء واحد
وقال أندريه سيلفا المتحدث الرسمي لنادي إستريلا أمادورا البرتغالي في تصريحات خاصة لـ بطولات: “الزمالك لم يرد أبدًا على اتصالاتنا بشأن قسط شيكو بانزا الأول”.
وأضاف: “اليوم، قدمنا شكوى ضد الزمالك أمام الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم، فيفا، من أجل الحصول على حقوقنا من تلك الصفقة”.
وكان نادي أوليكساندرا الأوكراني قد قدم شكوى ضد الزمالك قبل أيام بسبب قيمة القسط الأول في صفقة، خوان ألفينا، وهو أمر مشابه لما حدث مع شيكو بانزا.
The hosts fell 12 runs short in Chennai and now trail the three-match T20I series 1-0
Shashank Kishore05-Jul-2024
South Africa lead the three match T20I series 1-0•BCCI
After defeats in the ODI series and the one-off Test, South Africa began their run to the women’s T20 World Cup with a morale-boosting victory over India in the first T20I in Chennai.Starring in the win were Tazmin Brits, whose 81 – an innings of contrasts – set South Africa up along with Marizanne Kapp. The pair added 96 in just 9.2 overs; Kapp’s own contribution was a robust 33-ball 57 as the visitors posted 189 for 4.India’s chase began well with Smriti Mandhana’s 30-ball 46, but her wicket slowed things down considerably, until they found their ammunition through Jemimah Rodrigues’ punchy 29-ball half-century.Related
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Eventually, the target proved steep as South Africa’s spinners used the slow pitch and the absence of dew to their advantage. In the end, India fell 12 runs short after flirting with the possibility of a heist when Rodrigues brought the equation down from 47 off 18 to 21 off six.Wolvaardt flies, Brits stuttersLaura Wolvaardt came out all guns blazing and took Renuka Singh for 16 runs in the third over. But South Africa weren’t able to build on that with Brits, at this point, struggling to hit the ball off the square.Brits took 10 deliveries to get off the mark and the piling up of dots made Wolvaardt take more risks than she would’ve liked. One such stroke – walking across to expose all three stumps in a bid to sweep left-arm spinner Radha Yadav into acres of open space – led to her downfall in the eighth over to leave South Africa 50 for 1.Kapp finds her gears straightawayKapp began with two fours off her first three balls, the first one, an inside-out drive over extra cover, particularly attractive. But she was also massively lucky to be reprieved twice in the 10th over.First, Richa Ghosh failed to hang on to a catch behind the stumps when Kapp was on 11 and then Mandhana put down a tough chance running in from long-off with the South African allrounder on 11. This helped unleash Kapp, which reduced the pressure on Brits after she had limped to a run-a-ball 25 at the 10-over mark.Jemimah Rodrigues made a half-century•BCCI
Fighting a back injury, Kapp had shelved her sweeps for large periods during the Test match between these two teams a few days ago. But in perhaps a sign that she was feeling heaps better, Kapp displayed different variations of her sweeps as her innings progressed – the full-blooded ones, the paddles, the scoops and even the reverse – during a 30-ball half-century that injected momentum into South Africa’s innings.Brits makes the most of her luckBrits broke the shackles in the 11th over when she heaved legspinner S Asha over the long-on boundary, even as Kapp went berserk at the other end in their near-century stand.Brits should’ve been out on 50 when she top-edged a slog, only for Ghosh to grass the opportunity. It would prove game-changing in a sense as Ghosh, who was hit on the chin by the ball rebounding off her gloves, while tumbling to the floor was ruled out of the rest of the game due to concussion.It took Brits until the 17th over of the innings to hit top gear, when she launched Radha for back-to-back sixes to offset any pressure from Kapp’s wicket in the same over. South Africa ransacked 58 runs off the last five to head into the break with momentum firmly with them.India go off rails despite Mandhana, Rodrigues knocksMandhana’s cameo helped India raise their half-century in the fifth over, before Ayabonga Khaka pulled the game back by nicking off Shafali Verma. That wicket slowed things down considerably as India’s No. 3, D Hemalatha, struggled to cope with the pressure of the asking rate. She limped to 14 off 16 at the halfway mark.This may have resulted in Mandhana’s downfall as she left her crease against Chloe Tryon and got caught behind. When Hemalatha was bowled off the very next ball, looking to clip Nadine de Klerk, South Africa sensed an opportunity with India 87 for 3 in the 11th.Rodrigues kept punching, using the crease superbly to manipulate the bowlers and pick up runs behind square against spin. Her enterprise offset Harmanpreet’s struggle against cramps, which appeared to limit her hitting range. Yet, when she played a full-blooded slog for a boundary to bring the equation down to 17 off 5, India believed. However, it wasn’t to be on the night as South Africa held their nerve to close out the game and seal their first win on tour.
After a dramatic end to the Super Eight stage, with Afghanistan winning a thriller against Bangladesh in St Vincent to knock out Australia, the four semi-finalists of the T20 World Cup 2024 have been confirmed: Group 2 toppers South Africa will take on Afghanistan in the first semi-final, while Group 1 leaders India will face England in the second semi-final.The first semi-final between South Africa and Afghanistan will start at 8.30pm local time on Wednesday, June 26, at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba. The second semi-final between India and England will be at 10.30am Thursday morning, June 27 (local time) at Guyana’s Providence Stadium.India had been allotted the second semi-final in Guyana well before the tournament started, irrespective of their Super Eight finish. That match will start at 8pm India time on June 27.The playing conditions for the two semi-finals, though, are different. The second semi-final, featuring India and England, will not have a reserve day because of a single day’s gap between that match and the final.However, a total of 250 minutes of additional time is available for each semi-final. The first semi-final will have an extra 60 minutes at the end of the day’s play and a further 190 minutes on the reserve day, starting from 2pm local time. The second semi-final will have the entire 250 minutes available on the scheduled day since it doesn’t have a reserve day.Additionally, for a game to be constituted as complete in the semi-finals and final, both teams should bat a minimum of 10 overs per innings, as opposed to five overs per innings in the rest of the tournament. This could be significant as rain has been forecast at both venues, and the playing conditions state that in case of a washout, the team that finishes higher in their respective Super Eight groups (India and South Africa, in this case) will proceed. In case the final is abandoned because of poor weather, the two finalists will be declared joint winners.
Over the years, Liverpool have signed numerous players who have had a huge impact on their squad, ultimately helping them claim Premier League glory this campaign.
Virgil van Dijk is undoubtedly the biggest example, costing £75m from Southampton back in January 2018 and being a spare head in their backline ever since.
The Dutchman, who’s now the club’s captain, has played every minute of the league season in 2024/25, helping the side keep 14 clean sheets in the process – the most of any side in the division.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk
Players like Mohamed Salah and Alexis Mac Allister have also been influential in their success, nailing their place down in various positions across the field.
However, this summer presents a fresh opportunity for Slot to add new blood to his squad, with numerous players already emerging on their shortlist ahead of the window.
The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new signings this summer
Martin Zubimendi is a player who’s been on Liverpool’s radar constantly over the last few years, even having an offer accepted for him last summer.
The Spaniard turned down a switch to Anfield before reemerging on their shortlist ahead of the summer, but he appears to be heading to Arsenal in a £50m move after Fabrizio Romano’s latest report.
However, the same can’t be said for right-back Jeremie Frimpong, with the Dutchman appearing to be edging ever closer to completing a switch to Anfield ahead of the summer.
It’s been confirmed that the 24-year-old is keen on a move to the club after the Reds held talks with Bayer Leverkusen over a deal for the full-back, who has a £29.5m release clause in his current deal.
However, despite the moves for the aforementioned duo, one current first-team player is already worth as much as the pair combined, highlighting the great work done by the hierarchy in recent times.
The Liverpool star who’s worth as much as Zubimendi & Frimpong
Slot’s ability to win the league title in his first season in charge is nothing short of remarkable, undoubtedly getting the best out of the players who are already at the club after his appointment.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
Such success could lead to an exciting prospect for supporters when he’s able to spend money this summer and make his own stamp on the squad on Merseyside.
The likes of Frimpong could add further quality to the first team squad, helping his compatriot achieve the unthinkable and retain their title in 2025/26.
However, the Leverkusen star could also link up well with current midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, who’s managed to hugely impress throughout this season, after getting the chance to thrive under Slot’s guidance.
After joining for £34m from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023, the 22-year-old only made 12 league starts in his first season – unable to cement his place in the starting eleven.
However, his importance to the squad has been immeasurable this time around, starting all but one meeting and being a crucial cog in the midfield for his compatriot.
His underlying stats are just as impressive, completing 90% of the passes he’s attempted, allowing him to notch a tally of four assists in the Premier League this campaign.
Ryan Gravenberch’s stats for Liverpool in the PL (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)
Tally
Games played
35
Assists
4
Pass accuracy
90%
Tackles won
52%
Interceptions made
1.7
Successful dribbles
1.1
Aerials won
65%
Stats via FotMob
Gravenberch has also starred without the ball, winning 52% of the tackles he’s entered, whilst making 1.7 interceptions per 90 – often being the player to break down the opposition’s threat going forward.
As a result, he’s now valued at a staggering £80m by FootballTransfers, a mammoth increase after his big-money transfer to Merseyside less than two years ago.
His subsequent value is the same as Zubimendi and Frimpong’s respective transfer fees of £50m and £30m, highlighting the progression he’s made throughout this season.
If the club are to mount a charge to maintain their title glory next season, investment will be crucial, handing the manager the funds he needs to make adequate changes.
However, the form of Gravenberch will also be imperative, with his performance levels certainly aiding their pursuit if he can replicate the success he’s enjoyed in Slot’s debut campaign.
A dream Huijsen alternative: Liverpool open talks to sign £67m defender
Liverpool could be about to forget about Dean Huijsen with a move for another defensive star.
Liverpool are looking for reinforcements to strengthen their argument to continue winning silverware and they are now looking to fend off stiff competition for one of South America’s most talented youngsters.
Liverpool kickstart their summer transfer business
The Premier League trophy will arrive at Anfield in a matter of weeks and there is little to be despondent about among the Reds’ support, who have taken to Arne Slot after the Dutchman’s magnificent debut season in charge.
Internally, Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have signed extensions to continue their association with Liverpool. However, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future remains unsolved amid heavy links claiming the Three Lions international could join Real Madrid.
While the wait goes on regarding his long-term plans, Liverpool are eyeing a move for Celtic forward Daizen Maeda to strengthen their forward line following an excellent season for the Japan international north of the border.
Reds scouts have also ran the rule over Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers and it is anticipated that they could make a move to bring the former Manchester City man to Anfield.
Rayan Ait-Nouri is on the radar to provide competition for Andy Robertson after another solid campaign for the Wolverhampton Wanderers man, even if he would cost around £51 million to lure from the West Midlands.
Imagine him & Gakpo: Slot driving Liverpool deal for £60m "game-changer"
Liverpool are set for a shopping spree this summer.
ByAngus Sinclair May 1, 2025
Several other names will continue to do the rounds and plenty of transfer scenarios are set to be thrown around in connection with Liverpool, given their status as reigning champions under Slot. Tapping into that theme, the Reds have now made an approach to sign one of South America’s brightest talents once the window opens.
Liverpool make transfer approach for Flamengo's Wesley
According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool have made ‘informal approaches’ to Flamengo over Wesley as they look to land the Brazilian star following over a year of scouting the full-back. Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Barcelona are also in contention to sign the 21-year-old, who the Reds see as an ideal successor to Alexander-Arnold should he depart this summer.
Wesley in 2025 – Serie A
Tackles won
9
Successful crosses
8
Completed dribbles
8
Recoveries
28
Goals
0
Assists
1
Chelsea are preparing an opening offer of around £17 million for his signature. However, Flamengo are looking to recoup a fee nearer the £29.7 million mark. Negotiations are expected to pick up pace during the Club World Cup.
Labelled “exceptional” by Felipe Luis, the Brazil international has made 125 appearances for Flamengo in total, registering three goals and five assists. His agent has travelled to England previously to hold talks with Manchester City and Liverpool surrounding a potential transfer, suggesting that there could be legs to this story from more than one angle.
Conceivably, the Reds stand a good chance of landing Wesley due to their position as Premier League title holders. Nevertheless, it will be up to the player himself to determine his next career step.
Very little went New Zealand’s way on the opening day of the second Test and chancy Sri Lanka cashed in
Madushka Balasuriya26-Sep-2024Welcome to the multiverse of madness fine margins. Doesn’t quite roll off the tongue as the Marvel one, but don’t for a second think New Zealand wouldn’t consider making all sorts of morally ambiguous choices to slip right into any other universe right now. See, if you’re slow on the uptake (read: only clicked on this article and nothing else), that intro is not quite right.Yes, Sri Lanka won the toss and, yes, Nissanka edged behind off the final ball of the first over, but that’s about it. New Zealand thereafter embodied their slightly less competent self from seemingly another reality.Karunaratne was grassed by Daryl Mitchell at first slip, before later being let off as Tom Blundell fumbled a stumping. Chandimal, meanwhile, was fortunate to edge between third slip and gully when he was only on four, but then it happened again in the 13th over – this time as New Zealand had opted to go without a second slip.Related
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The end result of these costly errors (and some just regulation bad luck) was a 122-run second-wicket stand, which was precisely what skipper de Silva would have been hoping for when he won his sixth toss in a row in Tests (yeah, he definitely doesn’t want to inhabit a different universe).Even the breakthrough came against the run of play. Karunaratne’s call on a quick run to midwicket was turned down by Chandimal, leading to a mix-up which saw the former nowhere near returning to his crease. That he even made the frame was down to a throw from Glenn Phillips that found Tom Latham at short leg instead of Blundell closer to the stumps.But if New Zealand thought that this would prove to be a watershed in terms of their fortunes, the universe was only just getting started.You know that whole bit about Mathews being strangled down leg after a no-ball, well in this reality that ball too was a no-ball. Couldn’t script it, really, but then again there are supposedly an infinite number of realities. Mathews also wound up edging one behind shortly after, but as the fates would have it, the ball fell short of first slip.Chandimal’s chanced innings then continued with a leading edge dying on Tim Southee at short cover, four runs short of his 16th Test ton. And as if to really punctuate the milestone, once reaching it, he edged yet another drive past first slip.Tim Southee and Co found it hard to break the second-wicket stand•AFP/Getty ImagesWith New Zealand uncharacteristically unreliable in the field, Chandimal eventually fell after playing all around a sharp-turning off break from Phillips. By then Sri Lanka had 221 on the board, but if the first Test had shown anything, it is that wickets breed more wickets. Still, when you’re running bad even quads aren’t safe.See the scale of New Zealand’s misfortune by this point had already reached rotten levels, so much so that new units of measurement were being expediently crafted following the close of play.How else would you choose to surmise the series of events that followed: Kamindu edging twice through a vacant second slip region, before getting a full-blooded edge that Mitchell was only able to parry away for four. Disastrophy? That could work, potentially. Especially after Mathews became the third Sri Lankan batter to be dropped, as he fenced away a sharp bouncer from the luckless O’Rourke that Latham at second slip could only get fingertips on.Mercifully for the visitors, that was to be the last of their close calls, as Sri Lanka ended the day having piled on 306 runs for the loss of three wickets at stumps. But things can change quickly in Test cricket, particularly in Galle, and especially on a new day.”A lot of days are like that in Test cricket actually,” stated Glenn Phillips reflecting on the day’s play. “A lot of the time at home, especially on the greener wickets, they get edged quite often either just before or just over the slips fielders.”That’s part and parcel of the game, but it really makes you feel like you’re in it. And if you can create some pressure for a long period of time, then you definitely feel like you’re not that far away from a couple of quick ones. We could come out tomorrow and they could potentially be bowled out for 330, as simple as that.”But until then, New Zealand would, as a collective perhaps, do well to keep an eye out for any stray banana peels or rakes lying around.
Decision to scrap meaningless final day of warm-up a further sign of England’s new mindset
Vithushan Ehantharajah25-Nov-2022Friday in Abu Dhabi was meant to be day three of England’s warm-up against the Lions. That was until Ben Stokes put it to the Test squad that something more productive could be achieved, rather than simply completing the match.The result was irrelevant – a day’s batting for 501 for seven on Wednesday had given way to chasing 77 overs’ worth of leather for 411 for 9 on Thursday – so the skipper floated to his team-mates that perhaps a two-hour session of middle practice and nets would see them right, ahead of their flight to Pakistan on Saturday morning. The reaction was unanimous.”We went around our group and we asked where everyone was at, and what they felt like they needed,” Stokes said, when explaining the change of plans.”Sometimes with the warm-up games, you can get into the last day of that and it becomes a thankless task, and you don’t get out of it what you really wanted to. I thought the first two days were really good. The lads got a real good opportunity to bat out in the middle and obviously spent all day in the field yesterday.”I feel as a group, we’re in a position now where we can go and ask the individuals exactly what we need without forcing them into doing something. We’ve all played a lot of cricket now, and everyone came back with the feedback that they would probably feel more benefit out of getting more volume in the nets and working on skills.”What we know of Stokes as captain, and the ethos instilled by him and head coach Brendon McCullum, could never have been more distilled. Convention bordering on politeness would have meant bringing the game to a conclusion. But why not do what you need to do, instead of what others think you should? There was even talk that the management might ask the ground-staff to scuff up the pitch in the morning for a day’s worth of training against spin, to prepare for the possibility of encountering a similar surface deep into one of the upcoming Tests in Rawalpindi, Multan or Karachi.Stokes’ first visit on the middle came during Friday’s ad-hoc practice, where he bowled a few overs alongside Jofra Archer – who gave Ben Duckett a torrid time ahead of returning home to the UK – before batting. Stokes himself had played no part in the match, instead watching on from the sidelines between net sessions, massages and a few long, gruelling sessions on a stationary bike in 30-degree heat. He was suitably impressed by what he saw.England’s Test squad look on during their final day of practice in Abu Dhabi•ECB Images”That first day, obviously the scorecard looks ridiculous,” he said. “But I think looking at it finer than that, you look at the way Zak and Ducky applied themselves early on with the new ball, when it was actually doing a bit, but still looked to put the pressure back on them whenever they could. Then we got into a position of about 300, 350 – the way Livi and Will Jacks went out and played is exactly what we’re on about when we get into those positions, especially out here in the subcontinent, rather than simply letting the game flow and not taking anything on really.”With the ball, it’s an incredibly flat wicket, so it was a good opportunity for the lads to be out of their comfort zone when you’ve got lads coming hard at you. I think two spells into the bowlers, a day in the dirt, that’s exactly what we want when we’ve got a big tour coming up.”Stokes also made special mention of Haseeb Hameed, who scored 145 for the Lions against a strong attack featuring James Anderson, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Overton and Jack Leach. He produced 20 fours, two sixes and plenty of intent that pleased Stokes – including the fact that Hameed had sought out conversations with director of men’s cricket Rob Key and McCullum.”He [Hameed] played incredibly well yesterday,” Stokes said. “He’s someone you wouldn’t necessarily have down for that type of innings, but me and Baz were watching him play.”He has had conversations with Rob and Baz about what he needs to do to get back in the team, and he’s obviously listened. It’s amazing to see a player like Hass, who has done what he’s done over five or six years, has realised the potential that he can play that way, against our front-line attack. I think it’s amazing to see what messaging, when it’s clear and precise, can do for a player. it’s great to see that filtering down to the Lions group here.”They were told when they came to the camp, the way in which we operate. Hass can take a lot of credit, he’s listened to the conversation about how to get into the team, and is actually implementing it. It wasn’t just yesterday, he did it throughout the summer.”This hasn’t been your usual training week. It began with a visit to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for qualifying and race day last weekend, an excursion set up by Stokes via his Red Bull connections. Golf has featured regularly – of course – and the vibe throughout training has been kept constant by McCullum’s wireless speakers. The Kiwi even called in contacts at Kolkata Knight Riders to secure the luxurious Ritz Carlton Hotel.Ahead of restricted movements in Pakistan due to the level of security, this week has been about enjoyment and, by proxy, reinforcing the freedom England cracked so well in the summer to win six out of seven Tests. Over that period, there has been a lot of outward talk about messaging and buy-in from players. Internally, however, there has not been as much direct supplementation, as there was at Lord’s ahead of the South Africa series when Stokes felt compelled to pull out a whiteboard to reaffirm the team’s principles. This time, no such aids were required.Related
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“It is important to keep making those points, but not by sitting down for 45 minutes and having those types of talk,” he said. “It’s just real quick and repetitive, but the conversations haven’t changed at all. It’s very clear in the way me and Brendon talk to the team, and especially the first day here, it was pretty obvious that the lads are still very much on that path. It makes the new lads feel at ease when the conversations are still as clear as they were six months ago. Especially Will Jacks and Liam Livingstone, that’s the way they want to play their cricket. It’s great having guys like that in the squad. It’s great to watch.”There is a palpable sense of excitement about the visit to Pakistan, even if they’d prefer a little more freedom. Some players are looking to take cues from Australia’s successful tour to the country earlier this year, among them opener Zak Crawley who spoke in the week about watching the series back and noting how well openers on both sides performed. Others, like Stokes, are wary of putting too much stock in thinking conditions will be identical.”We are not reading too much into the Australia-Pakistan series, because we don’t know it’ll be like that,” he said. “If we get there and it looks dry, it might spin. We have heard some comms that it might be green, nippy wickets. We need all bases covered, and to wait and see.”Whatever is laid out in front of them, he believes his England squad has shown over the summer just how malleable they can be.”As the summer went on, we learnt to adapt to different situations,” he added. “First and foremost, we have in the front of our mind the conversations we have had and the way we want to play our cricket. What we will go to Pakistan with is that mindset of knowing we will need to absorb pressure but if, at any given time, we feel the time is right to pounce and put pressure on the opposition, we will still do that. It’s obviously going to be different conditions and situations, but first and foremost the way we play, the team ethos, how we play with the bat and attack with the ball won’t change. As time progresses we will see adaptation of that.”Best of all, this trip, along with the seven-match T20I tour in September and October, will go some way to earning back trust after England’s no-show of 2021. There were fears of a similar about-turn at the start of the month when Imran Khan was wounded in the leg after being shot during a protest march in Wazirabad. But minds are at ease thanks to feedback since the incident, and the scale of what England are about to embark on – a first Test tour of Pakistan since 2005 – is not lost on the team or its captain.”It’s been a long time since England have played Test cricket in Pakistan,” Stokes said. “With what happened with Imran Khan recently, there was a little bit of concern, but we have Reg Dickason, who has been the security man for many years with England, and we left it in his capable hands. He went out and said everything could continue as planned. Having that man feed you that information back puts everyone’s mind at ease – players and support staff.”In terms of the tour itself, I’m really looking forward to it,” Stokes added. “I’ve never been there, and I’m quite interested to see what the security lark is like. I’ve heard it’s pretty intense. With the cricket, I’m really looking forward to it. We know what the subcontinent feels about the cricket, it’s a huge part of their life, and we’re looking forward to going out there.”