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Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh gave KKR a chance after SRH put up the biggest total of the season so far, but they fell well short in the end

Hemant Brar14-Apr-20232:28

Moody: Brook is a sensational talent in all formats

Harry Brook put behind a string of low scores with an unbeaten 55-ball 100 that included imperious hitting against pace and calculated strike rotation against spin. Aiden Markram was equally destructive, scoring 50 off 26 balls, as Sunrisers Hyderabad posted 228 for 4, the highest total of IPL 2023 so far.In response, Kolkata Knight Riders were 96 for 5 in the 11th over and in need of a miracle for the third game in a row. Nitish Rana’s 41-ball 75 kept their hopes alive, and with 58 required from the last three overs, they had Rinku Singh and Shardul Thakur – their miracle-makers from the previous two games – in the middle. Rinku fought hard with an unbeaten 58 off 31 but this time, it wasn’t to be.

Brook shows his class

Coming into this game, Brook had 29 runs in three innings at a strike rate of 74.35. But one felt it was only a matter of time before he stepped up. On Friday, he started by hitting the first ball of the innings, bowled by Umesh Yadav, through the covers for four. He picked up two more fours in the over, pulling and scooping the bowler with little fuss.Against Lockie Ferguson, he exposed his stumps and dispatched a slow full toss to the cover boundary. He used the same strategy in Umesh’s next over with even better returns – two back-to-back sixes. Thanks to Brook, Sunrisers raced to 43 for no loss in three overs.

Russell’s double-strike

Andre Russell hadn’t bowled this season so far, but it took him just one ball to make an impact. While Brook seemed unstoppable, Mayank Agarwal was struggling. Russell ended his agony by having him caught at short third for 9 off 13 balls. Rahul Tripathi hit a couple of fours but ended up top-edging a pull on the last ball of the over, giving Russell his second wicket.Aiden Markram took out his big strokes when Harry Brook slowed down•Associated Press

Markram takes over

In their spinners, Knight Riders found a way to keep Brook quiet. In the first six overs of the innings, Brook had smashed five fours and two sixes. In the next eight – seven of which were bowled by the spinners – he didn’t find a single boundary, and instead focused on rotating the strike.That, though, didn’t mean Knight Riders could breathe easy. Markram took the baton and ransacked 42 off 22 balls against the spinners. He was severe on Suyash Sharma, in particular, taking him for two sixes and a four in the 12th over of the innings. In the next over, he hit successive balls from Varun Chakravarthy for a four and a six, the second shot bringing up his half-century off 25 balls. He tried to go big on the next ball as well but holed out at deep midwicket.

Brook brings up his hundred

In the 15th over, Knight Riders re-introduced seam in the form of Ferguson. And Brook was back hitting boundaries, sending the bowler for four fours and a six in a 23-run over. Abhishek Sharma, meanwhile, took over Markram’s role and looted 32 off 16 against spin. He didn’t even spare Sunil Narine, hitting him for a four and a six in the 17th over. Those were the only two boundaries Narine conceded in his 4-0-28-0. Abhishek faced just one ball of pace, and was out on that.Brook kept picking up the occasional boundary, and moved to 95 off 52 with one over left. He was tiring by then but found just enough energy to hobble a couple of twos and a single to bring up his hundred.1:59

Did KKR get their plan for Narine’s overs wrong?

Knight Riders start poorly

Bhuvneshwar Kumar dealt Knight Riders an early blow when Rahmanullah Gurbaz sliced the third ball of the chase to deep third. In the fourth over, Marco Jansen dented them further by removing Venkatesh Iyer and Narine off successive deliveries. Iyer, who came in as Impact Player for Suyash, hit a couple of boundaries before miscuing one to Markram at mid-on. Narine was cramped for room and was also taken at mid-on, leaving Knight Riders 20 for 3.

Nitish Rana’s counter-attack

It looked like Knight Riders would surrender without a fight, but their captain Rana resuscitated the chase. In the sixth over, he hit Umran Malik for 4, 6, 4, 4, 4, 6. Not every shot came off the middle of the bat, but the 28-run over helped Knight Riders end the powerplay on a solid 62 for 3.N Jagadeesan gave Rana good support with his 36 off 21 before Mayank Markande had him caught at deep midwicket. Russell, who had walked off twice during the first innings with cramps, didn’t last long either, holing out in the legspinner’s next over.At that stage, Knight Riders needed 133 in 9.5 overs. Rana and Rinku kept the fight on, adding 69 in 6.2 overs for the sixth wicket. The pair was also helped by some lapses in the field – both Rana and Rinku were dropped once each, and later, Thakur was dropped twice.With 70 needed from 23 balls, Rana got two full tosses in a row from T Natarajan. He smashed the first one for a six but ended up hitting the second to sweeper cover, where Washington Sundar held on to the chance.Rinku hit three fours off Natarajan in the 19th over to reduce the equation to 32 needed off six, but as Rana himself said after the game, miracles don’t happen every game.

The Real Madrid ace carried the team all evening, and he was rewarded as his stunning strike at the death sealed all three points

A moment of pure magic from Vinicius Junior lifted Brazil to a thrilling 2-1 victory over Colombia in CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying on Thursday. The Real Madrid star played a key role in the opener and sealed the win with a stunning late strike.

However, the night wasn’t without setbacks, as injuries to midfielder Gerson and goalkeeper Alisson added to manager Dorival Junior’s growing list of absentees, which already includes Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, and Neymar Jr.

Brazil struck first just six minutes in when Raphinha converted from the penalty spot after Vinicius was brought down by Daniel Munoz. The Selecao would suffer a blow after 28 minutes, however, as Gerson was forced off with an injury, replaced by Newcastle’s Joelinton. Just before halftime, Colombia capitalized on a mistake from the substitute, as James Rodríguez threaded a perfect pass to Luis Díaz, who fired home from 18 yards to level the score.

After the break, Colombia took control of possession, and the match had a scary moment in the 70th minute when Davinson Sanchez collided with Alisson, leading to a lengthy stoppage. Sanchez was stretchered off, while Alisson, after receiving medical attention, walked off and was replaced by Bento in goal.

As stoppage time stretched past 10 minutes, Brazil pushed for a winner. Guilherme Arana squandered a golden chance at the far post before Vinicius produced a moment of brilliance with just minutes to spare. Cutting in from the left, he unleashed a breathtaking 30-yard strike that soared over the defense and into the net, stunning the stadium.

With the win, Brazil surged from sixth to second in the table, now sitting on 21 points from 13 matches. They trail only Lionel Messi’s Argentina (25 points), whom they face on Tuesday in their final March qualifier.

GOAL rates Brazil’s players from Arena BRB Mane Garrincha…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Alisson (7/10):

  Nothing he could do about Diaz's strike, but was as reliable as ever while on the pitch. Removed in the second half due to injury

  Guilherme Arana (6/10):

  Held his own on the flank defensively, but struggled progressing effectively into the final third.

  Gabriel (7/10):

  Really solid when playing out from the back, and a towering presence at set pieces. Picked up a needless yellow card, though.

  Marquinhos (7/10):

  Calm and composed on and off the ball. Didn't put a foot wrong.

  Vanderson (5/10):

  Struggled to get to grips with Luis Diaz for Colombia's opening goal and found it hard to contain the Liverpool ace for most of the evening.

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  Midfield

  Gerson (N/A):

  Subbed off 28 minutes into the match due to injury.

  Bruno Guimaraes (6/10):

  Solid in the middle of the park as normal, but was overwhelmed at times by Colombia's press. His partnership with Joelinton felt more natural after Gerson's departure, but that was expected for the Newcastle duo.

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  Attack

  Raphinha (8/10):

  Scored his penalty well. Played out of position as a No.10, and did well to pull the strings going forward.

  Vinicius Junior (9/10):

  Brazil needed their star man to show up, and he absolutely did. He drew the penalty for the opening goal and smacked home the winner with minutes to spare.

  Joao Pedro (5/10):

  The Brighton man got little to no service but his hold-up play was decent at times. Dorival's still to find the right striker for his system.

  Rodrygo (5/10):

  Showed flashes in moments, but was largely absent in attack. Not his best performance.

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  Subs & Manager

  Joelinton (4/10):

  Came into the match early due to a Gerson injury and immediately committed an error, leading to Colombia's opening goal. He recovered well in the second half, but that mistake loomed large until Vini's winner.

  Matheus Cunha (5/10):

  Replaced Joao Pedro, but was a ghost on the field. Completely absent.

  Bento (N/A):

  Replaced Alisson due to injury.

  Estevao (N/A):

  Subbed on late, brought life to the attack, but there was not enough time to make an impact.

  Savinho (N/A):

  Introduced in the 77th minute. Brought energy, but lacked a finish.
  Andre (N/A):

  Replaced Guimaraes late on. Adapted fast to the tempo of the match.
  Wesley (N/A):

  Subbed on late and had a decent chance but fired it over the bar.

  Dorival Junior (5/10):

  He has yet to solve Brazil’s issues up front. Joao Pedro and Matheus Cunha struggled, and Neymar's absence remains a glaring void. The attack lacked cohesion, with Vinicius’ late magic masking an otherwise uninspired performance. While Brazil’s win was deserved over the course of the 100+ minutes, it wasn’t a complete display. That all being said, it's a victory that's secured a vital three points to provide crucial momentum heading into Tuesday’s clash.

Even just a few months ago England, having lost two early wickets in their second innings, might have gone into their shells. It was nothing of sort in Cardiff to ensure the exemplary work of the bowlers was not wasted

George Dobell in Cardiff10-Jul-2015As England thrashed their way to a series of records against New Zealand – their highest ODI score, their highest ODI chase and several more besides – there was growing talk that a ‘new England’ had emerged. An England that would play fearless, aggressive cricket. An England that would take Australia on at their own game.But behind the talk there was some fear. There was a fear that, under pressure, they would revert to the timidity that has characterised some of their cricket under pressure in recent years. There was a fear that, against the pace and hostility of Australia’s bowlers, the brave talk that followed victory against a weakened New Zealand would be exposed.We may only be three days into this series and the result of this match may not be confirmed – we have seen 377 chased down in the fourth innings of a Test this week with seven wickets in hand, after all – but it does seem safe to draw this conclusion: the talk was not hollow; the promises were not empty. New England is real.There were a couple of moments that summed up the new spirit on the third day in Cardiff. After losing two wickets in the first 10 overs of their second innings, there was a danger that England would freeze in the spotlight. There was a danger that they would seek to play careful, cagey cricket in an attempt to preserve their lead and stray from the method that had earned them the advantage. There was, in short, a danger that they would revert to type.If that sounds harsh, consider the pattern of several recent defeats. In Barbados, for example, England began their second innings with a lead of 68. But instead of seeking to drive home their advantage, they went into their shells and laboured for 20 overs over their first 40 runs and lost five wickets in the process. They went nowhere and they went there slowly.Nor was that the aberration. You can point to the defeat in Abu Dhabi in 2012 – when England were set 145 to win but scored 72 all out at a rate of under two-an-over – or their defeat at Headingley last year, when they scored 59 in 42 second innings overs against Rangana Herath on the way to defeat. Not always, but often, England have crumbled when the match should have been at their mercy.

‘No doubt I’ve been concerned’ – Bell

Ian Bell admitted he was worried about losing his place in the England team heading into the Investec Ashes series.
Bell, who had averaged 6.78 in his last four Tests and lost the vice-captaincy of the side to Joe Root, scored a fluent 60 on the third day in Cardiff to ensure England did not surrender their advantage and to recover some of the confidence he admits had begun to dim.
“When you’re not scoring runs as a batter, that’s the case isn’t it?” Bell said. “It’s your job. So it was nice to make a contribution today and start to feel some rhythm. I feel back to my best now, but it is just a start. There’s no doubt I wanted it. It’s been four or five games without a score.
“There’s no doubt I’ve been concerned. It’s been a testing period for me. It’s an incredible game. It’s testing you all the time. From that hundred in Antigua and then all of a sudden it’s been tricky.
“I knew this knock was going to be very important individually. But individual stuff is irrelevant. It’s about getting a total to win the game. I want to go out and play for the team, be aggressive, be busy. That probably took a lot of pressure off individually as well.”
Bell also suggested that, come what may over the final two days, England would take confidence from their performance over the first three days. Any lingering doubts from the whitewash in Australia has, Bell believes, been cast away.
“It’s given us a lot of belief,” Bell said. “The first three days have been brilliant. We’ve got a lot of respect for Australia. They’ve been playing fantastic cricket for a long time now, but the first three days have gone brilliantly for us. We can take a lot from it but we know that Australia is going to keep coming back at us.
“But I think the whole dressing room is excited and ready for a good challenge this summer.”

But not this time. This time England have come out punching and they have seized the key moments. This time, after they lost those first two second-innings wickets, they responded by thrashing 49 in five overs in a counter-attack that ensured they retained the upper hand.It was telling that Ian Bell led the charge. Bell is, in many ways, a symbol of ‘old’ England. Despite the huge amount of success he has enjoyed in his long career, he is still burdened by a reputation – a largely unfair reputation – for shying away in the heat of battle. And with his grim form of late – he had not reached 30 in his last nine Test innings and, in six of those, he had failed to pass one – it would be understandable if his confidence were in the cellar.But he responded in positive style. Four of his first 13 balls were sent to the boundary – three with gorgeous drives and one with a typical steer to third man – as he played the sort of bold, fluent innings that allowed his undoubted talent to flow. Given a choice to defend or attack, he embraced attack. It has not always been that way.Bell’s theory is that most of the new members of this team – the likes of Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Joe Root – were brought up playing T20 cricket. As a consequence their idea of what is possible and appropriate is different from the likes of Bell who grew up steeped in old-fashioned English thinking: all high elbow and playing in the V.”The younger guys are just raised that way,” Bell said. “That’s the way they’ve come into cricket because they’ve played a lot of T20. They just see the game a little bit differently. They want to take every option on which is I suppose completely different from when I started.”It’s not thinking about if it doesn’t come off. You know there are days when it won’t, but it is a different way of seeing the game. It’s a bit of a breath of fresh air. And it’s great to be involved in.”It is great to watch, too. And if there are times when the aggression might backfire – Alastair Cook was, for the second time in the match, out as he made slightly uncharacteristic attempt to push on the scoring – the pros surely outweigh the cons. These are early days in the series, but with the style of cricket, the scoring rates and the engaged crowds, it feels uncannily like 2005.It was not just with the bat that England attacked, either. The day started with England utilising a ball 70 overs old and with Australia five wickets down. The match was in the balance.But whereas ‘old’ England might well have attempted to bowl dry and wait for the new ball, the new-look side – blessed with the extra pace of Mark Wood and the extra option of Stokes – went on the attack. Whereas ‘old’ England had nowhere to turn once Stuart Broad and James Anderson were exhausted, now they have the four-man pace attack to allow fresh legs and fresh questions for the batsmen.Stuart Broad’s early wicket of Shane Watson was an example of England’s plans coming together•Getty Images”The ten overs before the new ball, you sometimes try and cruise,” Bell said. “You try and get through it as quick as you can.”But we wanted to go out and take wickets before that new ball. The way the guys set the tone was brilliant and it made it that little bit easier when we had the new ball.”While England started with five successive maidens, it was reward for probing bowling that continually challenged the stumps – something of a rarity from England in recent times – and exploited the variable bounce in the wicket. Broad, bowling a fuller length that was perfect for this sluggish surface, struck in the first over and after Anderson exploited the new ball perfectly, Australia had lost their final six wickets for only 50 runs.Compare that to the 2013-14 Ashes. While England invariably made inroads into the Australian first innings, there was significant lower-order resistance throughout: 132 for 6 at Brisbane became 295 all out; 257 for 5 at Adelaide became 570 for 9 declared; 143 for 5 in Perth became 385 all out; 122 for 6 in Melbourne became 204 all out and 97 for 5 in Sydney became 326.Improvement has been the theme of this England performance. After a series of matches in which they missed several chances – three in eight balls at one stage in Leeds – they have taken every catch that has come their way here. Cook and Root, in particular, have held on to some outstanding catches in the slips.Hard work remains. And the forecast is not wonderful for Sunday. But Australia will deserve all the plaudits they gain if they can win from this position. On a pitch of variable bounce and in conditions where the ball has swung for the majority of the time, Australia need something approaching a miracle. Or at least some rain.Either way, this series is shaping up to be a cracker. And this England side, too. Entertaining, likeable and attractive. It is just what the game in England and Wales required. These are early days and there is, as yet, no success of which to speak. But New England could be quite something.

England don’t name replacement, but Will Jacks could arrive in Bangladesh for the ODIs if not selected for second Test in NZ

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Feb-2023Tom Abell has been ruled out of England’s upcoming tour to Bangladesh with a side strain, denying him the chance to win his first international cap.Abell, the Somerset captain who bats in the middle order, strained his left side while bowling the first ball of his third over in England Lions’ victory over Sri Lanka A in Colombo on Wednesday.He did not complete his over, and was unused as a batter in the run chase as Lions secured a four-wicket win. A scan on Thursday confirmed the injury, with Abell to return home shortly to begin his recovery.Andy Hurry, Abell’s director of cricket at Somerset, said: “Obviously, we are all extremely disappointed for Tom. He has shown over a number of seasons the quality of player he is, and picking up an injury at this time is incredibly frustrating for him. We will focus now on ensuring he receives all the appropriate support he needs during a period of rehabilitation through to him returning to play.”Related

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• Buttler 'frustrated' as England grapple with scheduling dilemmas

• Mahmood marks injury comeback with three wickets in Lions win

• Tamim Iqbal returns to ODI side for England series

England initially named 15-man squads for both the T20I and ODI legs of the tour, which runs from March 1-14, but said on Thursday that they would not name a replacement for Abell.However, ESPNcricinfo understands that Will Jacks – who is only in the T20I squad – could travel to Bangladesh early and arrive in time for the ODI series if he is not selected for the second Test in New Zealand.Several potential replacements such as Sam Billings, Alex Hales and Liam Dawson had previously ruled themselves out of the tour, instead opting to fulfil their respective contracts in the ongoing Pakistan Super League.Abell’s name did not feature among Birmingham Phoenix’s retained players when the ECB confirmed player movements in the Hundred on Thursday, but ESPNcricinfo understands Welsh Fire are instead considering signing him as captain in next month’s draft.England arrive in Dhaka next Friday ahead of the first ODI on March 1. The three ODIs are part of the ICC’s Super League, though both teams have already secured qualification for the 2023 World Cup.ODI squad: Jos Buttler (capt & wk), Rehan Ahmed, Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Sam Curran, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, James Vince, Chris Woakes and Mark WoodT20I squad: Ben Duckett, Will Jacks and Chris Jordan replace Saqib Mahmood, Jason Roy and James Vince.

Wolverhampton Wanderers will be hoping to remain outside of the bottom three in the Premier League as they prepare to take on Bournemouth at the Molineux on Saturday.

Gary O’Neil’s side are above 18th-placed Ipswich Town on goal difference and are one point above Crystal Palace in 19th, which means that they could end the weekend in 19th place if results do not go their way.

A win against the Cherries would almost guarantee their place outside of the relegation zone, though, unless Ipswich and other teams muster up big wins, and that should be the aim on Saturday.

The Old Gold secured their second win of the Premier League season last time out, beating Fulham 4-1 at Craven Cottage, and have to follow that up with another positive performance and result.

Goals from Matheus Cunha (x2), Joao Gomes, and Goncalo Guedes sealed all three points for Wolves against Marco Silva’s side, as Cunha starred once again for the club this season.

The Brazilian magician has enjoyed a terrific start to the 2024/25 campaign and has emerged as a huge talent and asset for O’Neil in the midlands.

Matheus Cunha's form this season

The 25-year-old forward has showcased his ability as both a scorer and a creator of goals on a regular basis in the Premier League so far this term, to become a shining light in a disappointing team that has only won two matches.

As a goalscorer, Cunha has found the back of the net seven times from an xG of just 3.13 and he has only missed one ‘big chance’. This shows that the attacker has been incredibly ruthless in front of goal as he has not wasted many opportunities to score.

The Brazil international scored 12 goals from 9.49 xG across 32 appearances in the Premier League during the 2023/24 campaign, and is now on course to better his tally in the current term.

As you can see in the table above, Cunha’s current form would mean that he would end the season with more goals, more ‘big chances’ created, and more assists than he managed in the previous campaign.

He has, quite simply, been electric for Wolves and his quality in the final third will be crucial to their chances of avoiding relegation down to the Championship. The Brazilian ace, in fact, scored two and provided one assist in the 4-1 win over Fulham to lift the team out of the bottom three last weekend.

Whilst Cunha thrived at Craven Cottage, one player who could be dropped from the starting XI after an underwhelming display is attacking midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde.

Why Jean-Ricner Bellegarde should be dropped

The French gem started as one of the two number tens behind Jorgen Strand Larsen, alongside Cunha, but was unable to produce a quality performance with his work in or out of possession for the Old Gold.

It was his first start since the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool in September and he did not do enough to suggest that O’Neil should select him from the start for a second match in succession.

Bellegarde has managed one goal and one assist in 11 appearances and seven starts in the Premier League so far this season, after he was unable to add to his tally of goals or assists in the convincing win over the Cottagers.

As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old attacking midfielder had very little impact on the game as he ended his appearance with zero shots and zero chances created for his teammates.

The former Strasbourg star also failed to offer much out of possession for his side, with three of his seven duels won and one tackle completed, whilst being dribbled past once.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

O’Neil must, now, ruthlessly ditch the former Ligue 1 ace from the starting XI for this home clash with Bournemouth, as Goncalo Guedes could come in as a superior option at the top end of the pitch.

Why Goncalo Guedes should be unleashed

The Portuguese whiz returned to Molineux in the summer after spells with Benfica and Villarreal on loan during the 2023/24 campaign and is now fighting for a regular spot in the team under O’Neil.

Guedes scored one goal in 13 Premier League matches during the 2022/23 season, after his move from Valencia, but seemed to find his form again in Spain last term.

In nine starts in LaLiga during the second half of last season, the 28-year-old whiz produced three goals from 2.3 xG and two assists from four ‘big chances’ created.

Guedes, who was once hailed as a “great talent” by ex-PSG icon Pauleta, has since shown plenty of promise in limited minutes with Wolves in the current campaign.

The experienced forward came off the bench against Fulham last weekend to score the fourth goal in the game, getting on the end of Larsen’s pass to rifle an accurate shot into the bottom corner.

As you can see in the table above, Guedes also caught the eye with his performances in the League Cup earlier this term, with three goals and one ‘big chance’ created in starts against Burnley and Brighton.

This means that the Portuguese winger has produced four goals, one assist, and two ‘big chances’ created in 11 appearances and two starts in all competitions for Wolves this season.

The former Valencia star’s goalscoring form for Villarreal and Wolves in 2024 suggests that he could be perfect alongside Cunha as a second attacking midfielder, as the Brazilian has only been rewarded with three assists from nine ‘big chances’ created in the league.

Their next Ait-Nouri: Wolves want to sign "highly rated" £9m star

Wolves have enjoyed success recruiting from Ligue 1

1

By
Joe Nuttall

Nov 26, 2024

Guedes is a player with the finishing quality to make the most of Cunha’s creativity and that is why Bellegarde should be dropped from the XI for the 28-year-old against Bournemouth.

France coach Didier Deschamps has revealed he has held talks with Paul Pogba amid the midfielder's search for a new club.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Pogba allowed to return to football
• Midfielder still without a new club
• France boss confident in his ability

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Pogba is cleared to return to the field after he saw a four-year doping ban reduced to 18 months on appeal. He was subsequently released by Juventus in November to allow him to join another club and plot a way back after a lengthy absence, but he remains a free agent.

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• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 31-year-old had been linked with a move to Marseille, while Manchester United have been encouraged to re-sign him and Manchester City have also been linked, but no move has materialised. Despite his struggles to find a way back to the game, Deschamps is confident Pogba can return to the highest level of the game.

• WHAT DESCHAMPS SAID

  "He's supposed to be able to play again, but he doesn't have a club," Deschamps told reporters. "We're talking, and I won't tell you the details. Yes, he has the ability and the mentality to return to the highest level. It won't happen overnight, but for the moment, he hasn't made a decision. We'll see."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR POGBA?

  The 91-time France international is reported to be considering a move to the United States to join an MLS team or he could land a lucrative contract in the Saudi Pro League instead.

Prithvi Shaw is back in the T20I squad, while KS Bharat gets a maiden call-up to the ODI squad

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Jan-2023India have left Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli out of their T20I squad for the upcoming home series against New Zealand. KL Rahul is also not in the squad, and while the BCCI put his absence – and that of Axar Patel, from both the ODI and T20I legs of the series – down to family commitments, it gave no specific reason for Rohit, India’s regular all-format captain, and Kohli missing the series.As a result, India’s first-choice top three from their last two T20 World Cups are now missing successive T20I series.This may not yet have a major bearing on India’s long-term future in the format, however. Ahead of the recently concluded ODI series against Sri Lanka, Rohit said the selectors and team management had made it clear to a number of senior players that they would not be able to play all three formats over the next few months for workload-management reasons, with India building up towards the 50-overs World Cup later this year.Related

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Hardik Pandya, who captained India in the three T20Is against Sri Lanka earlier this month, will continue to lead the side in the T20I series, which will be played in Ranchi, Lucknow and Ahmedabad from January 27 to February 1, with Suryakumar Yadav as his deputy.Rohit and Kohli are part of the squad for the ODI series that will take place before the T20Is, from January 18 to 24 in Hyderabad, Raipur and Indore.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Prithvi Shaw in, Harshal Patel out

The T20I squad is also notable for the return of opener Prithvi Shaw, who last played for India in July 2021, and whose absence from subsequent squads – particularly in the T20 format – has been a constant source of debate, given his rare ability to provide rapid starts in the powerplay. Shaw forced himself into the reckoning earlier this week by scoring 379 off 383 balls – the second-highest first-class score by an Indian batter – for Mumbai against Assam in the Ranji Trophy.Left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav, who took a Player-of-the-Match-winning 3 for 51 in the second ODI against Sri Lanka on Thursday, is also back in the T20I squad, having last featured for India in that format in August 2022. He is one of two wristspinners in the squad along with Yuzvendra Chahal.Sanju Samson, who was ruled out midway through the T20I series against Sri Lanka with a knee injury, remains out of the squad – the BCCI release did not provide an update on his fitness. Jitesh Sharma, who replaced him, remains in the squad as one of two wicketkeeping options alongside Ishan Kishan.Fast bowler Harshal Patel, who played only the first T20I against Sri Lanka, has been left out of the squad.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

KS Bharat called up to ODI squad

With Rahul sitting out the ODIs, India have called up the uncapped KS Bharat as a second wicketkeeper alongside Kishan. Bharat is also part of India’s squad for the first two Tests against Australia in February – he is expected to contest the lead wicketkeeper role with Kishan in the absence of regular keeper Rishabh Pant, who has undergone knee ligament surgery after suffering a serious car crash in late December.In Axar’s absence, meanwhile, the selectors have called on a like-for-like replacement in Shahbaz Ahmed – both are allrounders who bat left-handed and bowl left-arm spin. Shahbaz has been part of the white-ball mix in recent months, and has played three ODIs, most recently in December on the tour of Bangladesh.Also back in the squad is fast-bowling allrounder Shardul Thakur, who was left out of the series against Sri Lanka. Left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh, who was part of the ODI squad against Sri Lanka but didn’t get a chance in the starting XI, misses out – he remains part of the T20I squad, however.Jasprit Bumrah, who was initially named in the ODI squad against Sri Lanka before pulling out before the start of the series – he is on the road to recovery from a long-term back injury – is not part of either white-ball squad or the squad for the first two Tests against Australia.

Anfield might have seen sweeping structural changes enforced this summer, but very little has been tweaked within the Liverpool first-team squad.

Various bits of fat were trimmed, but Federico Chiesa has been the only signing to have played for the Reds this season – and his injury issues have left him with merely three appearances to date.

It’s hardly been detrimental. Liverpool have been brilliant under Arne Slot, smashing past opponents to claim the top spot in the Premier League and Champions League tables, through to the last eight of the Carabao Cup too.

Slot’s tactical nous and disarming demeanour have worked a treat for Liverpool in the wake of Jurgen Klopp’s departure. The Dutch boss has been loath to enforce changes, but there’s one area that has seen two players jockey for the number one spot: left-back.

Liverpool's left-back tussle

For what seems like the first time since Andy Robertson joined Liverpool from Hull City in a deal worth around £10m, his number one spot on the left side of the backline is under threat.

Kostas Tsimikas, 28, has been happily playing second fiddle since arriving just over three years ago and has been an able deputy throughout, posting 17 assists across 97 outings.

But Robertson was embroiled in suffering across the 2022/23 campaign, along with his teammates, and was beset by more trouble last season, injuring his shoulder on international duty in October and failing to recover his finest form.

The 30-year-old Robertson has been a stalwart for Liverpool, but Slot seemingly isn’t the biggest fan and appears to be sending out probes ahead of anticipated transfer activity in 2025.

Liverpool eyeing new left-back

As per a recent report from Football Insider, Liverpool have joined Manchester United in weighing up a move for Fulham’s Antonee Robinson.

The USMNT international has been a core part of Marco Silva’s success over the past few years in the Premier League and, aged 27, has built up the experience to make a positive impact at a top-performing club.

A separate report commenting on the Red Devils’ interest reveals that Fulham are willing to field offers worth £40m for the dynamic left-back, and this might be worth the money for a Liverpool side already flying high.

Why Antonee Robinson would be a Robertson upgrade

Robertson is keen to prove the doubters wrong once again, and in fairness, the Scotland skipper is still one of the finest full-backs in the world, even if there are signs of regression.

Is it so hard to recognise that a player of unceasing energy might splutter after many years of service in a full-throttle Klopp system? Liverpool writer Leanne Prescott once hailed the Scotsman as a “Duracell Bunny”, but all batteries run out of juice at some stage.

Robinson isn’t quite a new kid on the block, but the 27-year-old is currently operating at the height of his game and has only played 261 senior club matches across his career. Robertson, in comparison, has played 514 – with only 45 coming since the start of last season.

The Fulham man’s performances have led pundits such as Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley to hail him as “one of the best left-backs in the world”, with others, like analyst Ben Mattinson, claiming that the North American ace is a full-back with “insane defensive numbers and anticipation.”

As per FBref, Robinson ranks among the top 4% of Premier League full-backs this season for assists and carries into the penalty area per 90. Praiseworthy stuff. However, he also ranks among the top 6% for tackles and interceptions won and the top 9% for aerial duel success rate.

It’s quite clear that Robinson is operating at a brilliant level, and that he might be the missing piece in Liverpool’s puzzle. The Reds are thriving under Slot’s wing, sure, but there are always facets to work upon, to improve.

As the table above demonstrates, Robinson is outperforming his positional peer across a range of key metrics this season, having been far more aggressive in defensive phases and more accurate still.

Furthermore, the west Londoner is actually seeing more of the ball than Robertson despite playing in a team that enjoys less possession and control. This is largely down to his mobility, performing 1.1 dribbles per match compared to his Liverpool counterpart’s 0.2.

While Robertson has been marginally more creative than his counterpart, it’s important to remember that Fulham, impressive though they have been, do not operate in the same realm as Slot’s rampant Reds.

And still, Robinson has outstripped the Scot. Given the quality of Liverpool’s rivals in England’s top flight, it’s vital that means of improvement are uncovered and pounced upon, lest stagnancy take hold and fellow Premier League heavyweights enter the ascendency.

The fate of Trent Alexander-Arnold on the opposite side of Slot’s backline is bound to conjure up the most deafening noise from a transfer perspective, but keep an eye on the left flank; Robertson is still an excellent player, but Robinson is showing every bit the signs of superiority right now.

If Liverpool are to create a dynasty under their new boss, perhaps this might be the move to go for, completing the strength of the left side.

Liverpool thought they had the next Messi & Ronaldo, then he left for £0

Liverpool must regret signing £20m flop who was once compared to Messi & Ronaldo

By
Angus Sinclair

Nov 14, 2024

Hrishikesh Kanitkar, who’s been named batting coach, will take charge of the team in the lead-up to the 2023 T20 World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Dec-2022Ramesh Powar’s tenure as head coach of the India women’s team has ended, a little over two months out from the next T20 World Cup in South Africa. India will be without a head coach for the upcoming five-match T20I series at home against Australia.For now, the team’s support staff group will be headed by former India allrounder Hrishikesh Kanitkar, who has formally been handed the position of batting coach. Kanitkar, who was most-recently in charge of a second-string Indian men’s team in similar capacity during their limited-overs tour of New Zealand, has linked up with the women’s squad in Mumbai ahead of the Australia series beginning on December 9.Powar, meanwhile, is set to return to his role as spin-bowling coach at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). In a media release, the BCCI termed Powar’s switch to men’s cricket as part of a “restructuring module”. It’s a position he had previously held at the NCA between 2019 and 2020, before taking over as head coach of the Mumbai men’s team, who he guided to the Vijay Hazare Trophy title in March 2021.For Kanitkar, the role is a step up from his present role as a batting consultant at the NCA. Earlier this year, he was head coach of India’s victorious batch of Under-19s, who became world champions in the Caribbean. His NCA stint aside, Kanitkar has also coached Tamil Nadu, apart from being player-mentor at Rajasthan towards the end of his career. Like Powar, Kanitkar has been an active part of NCA’s redevelopment under former India captain and current India men’s head coach Rahul Dravid. He was with the Indian women’s team as the batting consultant during the tour of Sri Lanka and then the victorious Asia Cup campaign.Powar has had two stints with the women’s team, the most recent of which was a mixed one. Having taken over in May 2021, he oversaw the team’s lead-up to the 2022 World Cup (50-overs), where they crashed out in the group stage with three wins in seven. More recently, though, the team finished silver medalists behind Australia in the Commonwealth Games, before recording their first-ever white-ball series win in England, when they blanked the hosts 3-0 in the ODIs in September. His final series with the team was a victorious one, India storming to their seventh Asia Cup title in October.”I have had an enriching experience in my stint as head coach of the senior women’s team,” Powar was quoted as saying in a BCCI release. “Over the years I have worked closely with some of the stalwarts of the game and upcoming talents of the country.”With my new role at the NCA, I will be looking [to use] my experience [from] over the years to help build talent for the future. I look forward to working in tandem with [NCA head coach] VVS Laxman for the further development of the game and bench strength.”For Kanitkar, the five-match series against Australia will be followed by a tri-series in South Africa, also involving West Indies, in the lead-up to the World Cup.”I see tremendous prospects in this team, and we have a good mix of youth and experience,” Kanitkar said, looking ahead to his new role. “I believe this team is ready for the challenge ahead. We have a few marquee events coming up and it is going to be exciting for the team and myself as batting coach.”

New Zealand fast bowlers have dominated oppositions at the Wellington Regoinal Stadium in recent years

Shiva Jayaraman20-Mar-2015 4-6 New Zealand’s win-loss record against West Indies in their last 10 completed ODIs. However, four of those six defeats came abroad. New Zealand have a 3-2 win-loss record at home in their last five ODIs against West Indies. 3-3 New Zealand’s win-loss against West Indies in World Cups. The only time they met each other in a knockout scenario was in the 1975 semi-final when West Indies beat New Zealand by five wickets. 6 Times teams that batted first were bowled out by New Zealand in the last 10 day/night matches at Wellington Regional Stadium. Pakistan’s 210 was the highest among the six innings, the other five were wrapped up under 150 and New Zealand won all six matches. 20.00 The New Zealand fast bowlers’ bowling average in ODIs at Wellington Regional Stadium since 2010, their best for any ground on condition of two or more matches played. New Zealand have taken three four-wicket hauls and two five-fors in seven matches at this venue in the last four years.12.00 Tim Southee’s bowling average in ODIs at Wellington Regional Stadium – the third-best for anyone with at least 20 wickets. Southee has taken 21 in six ODIs, including two five-fors and one four-wicket haul. Southee took 7 for 33 against England during his last match here.29.16 New Zealand’s batting average in overs 11 to 35 in this World Cup; among the top teams only England have done worse. New Zealand have lost a wicket every 35 balls in these middle overs, which is the worst rate for any team in this World Cup after Scotland. Besides the match against Bangladesh when New Zealand made 135 for 1 between 11 and 35 overs, their scores in this period have been 71 for 5 against Scotland, 80 for 5 against Australia, 119 for 4 against Sri Lanka and 111 for 3 against Afghanistan.

15 Wickets taken by West Indies in the mandatory Powerplay in this World Cup – the most by any team. Their bowlers have averaged 16.13 in the first 10 overs, nearly four points less than their closest rivals, New Zealand. West Indies’ economy of 4.03 is also among the best for any team for the period under consideration. They haven’t been as effective in the middle overs though (11.1 to 34.6) – 14 wickets at 58.85 – and their economy of 5.72 is the worst in this World Cup after Scotland’s 5.91.

5.78 Daniel Vettori’s bowling average against batsmen in the current West Indies squad. He has taken nine wickets from 133 balls and has conceded just 52 runs, an economy of 2.35. He’s also dismissed West Indies’ openers five times in 71 balls.

58.28 Ross Taylor’s strike rate in this World Cup; He has made109 runs in six innings at an average of 27.25 with one half-century. The last time a New Zealand batsman scored 100-plus runs in a World Cup at a lower strike rate was in 1999 and the culprits were Craig McMillan, Matt Horne and Chris Harris. Taylor has hit 441 runs against West Indies at an average of 44.10, though his last five innings against them have produced just 108.4 Times Jerome Taylor has taken three or more wickets in a match in this World Cup. He is one of the two bowlers to do so, the other being India’s Mohammed Shami, who has four such hauls in seven games. Taylor has taken 14 wickets at an average of 18.35.135 Runs scored by Chris Gayle the last time he played in an ODI against New Zealand in New Zealand, which was back in 2009. However, his nine innings before that had produced only 176 at an average of 22.00. Gayle is the top run-scorer for West indies against New Zealand with 852 runs at 38.72.100 Runs added by West Indies’ opening partnership in six matches in this World Cup. Their highest has been 33 by Johnson Charles and Dwayne Smith in their last match against UAE. In contrast, New Zealand’s first wicket has added 354 runs at 59.00 with two century partnerships in six innings. Smith hasn’t done well in this World Cup as an opener scoring only 93 runs in six innings. Charles – the other option at the top in West Indies’ squad – has scored only 71 runs in seven innings against New Zealand.