All posts by n8rngtd.top

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.

Frank Lampard is a name that will forever be etched in Chelsea history, after his contributions on and off the pitch during his 13 years as a player and two separate stints as manager.

The 46-year-old made a total of 648 appearances for the Blues, registering a total of 211 goals – making him the most prolific player in the club’s history, despite being a midfielder.

His tally saw him overtake Bobby Tambling, with his record still intact today and certainly going to take some beating in the years to come.

Upon his retirement from professional football, Lampard took the plunge into management, taking over at Chelsea after 12 months of being Derby County boss.

However, he would face the chop in January 2021, before returning on a temporary basis at the end of the 2022/23 season, before Mauricio Pochettino took over permanently that summer.

Since his retirement, the Blues have found it difficult to replace the Englishman, especially with his goalscoring ability – but many thought the search had come to an end with the signing of one player in January 2023.

Enzo Fernández’s stats for Chelsea

Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernández cost Chelsea a whopping £106.8m – a deal that was an English record until Moises Caicedo arrived at Stamford Bridge last summer for £115m.

Whilst he is a midfielder, his tally of four goals and six assists during the first half of the 2022/23 campaign evidently caught the eye of the Blues hierarchy, leading to the mammoth transfer fee.

Fernandez has since made 76 appearances in all competitions, scoring seven times – with all of his efforts coming last season – including a superb free-kick against Aston Villa in the FA Cup.

However, with the appointment of Enzo Maresca, the 23-year-old has struggled to make a greater impact, starting just six games in the Premier League to date, falling behind Roméo Lavia in the pecking order in recent weeks.

It’s safe to say his head may have been turned by recent events, which have seen Spanish giants Real Madrid touted with a move for his services, in a transfer that could see French international Aurelien Tchouameni move in the opposite direction.

He still has all the qualities to remain a key player for the Italian, as shown in the recent Europa Conference League clash with FC Noah, registering three assists in the first half before being replaced by Cesare Casadei at the break.

However, he may struggle to regain his place in the squad when one player returns from his current loan spell away from the Premier League outfit.

The player who could be Lampard’s heir for Chelsea

Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos is a player who has real potential to be a huge player for Chelsea for many years to come – after joining in a £18m deal back in January 2023.

He was sent on a season-long loan to fellow top-flight side Nottingham Forest last summer, but was subsequently recalled just a handful of months later after making just two appearances under Steve Cooper at the City Ground.

Santos would join Ligue 1 side Strasbourg on loan from January to the end of the campaign, making 11 appearances, scoring just once – but linking back up with the French side for the current season.

The 20-year-old “monster”, as dubbed by Brazilian football journalist Nathan Joyes, has already bagged five goals in his first nine Ligue 1 outings, with only four players in the division outscoring him up to now.

He could fill the boots of fan-favourite Lampard with his goalscoring exploits, but he’s also showcased that he’s able to do the dirty work despite his tender age, winning an average of 2.3 tackles per 90 along with eight duels won per 90.

Santos undoubtedly has a long way to go with his development until he reaches his full potential, but the early signs are nothing but positive, making him a viable box-to-box option for Maresca in the near future.

It could see Fernandez drop further down the pecking order when the Brazilian returns to Stamford Bridge next summer, adding further pain to the Argentine after his recent decline in first-team minutes.

The youngster is evidence that the club’s strategy of investing in youth talent can be successful, with the Blues set to reap the rewards of Santos’ undeniable quality for many years to come.

Chelsea leading race to sign "monstrous" £66m Nkunku upgrade

Chelsea are leading the race for a new goal machine, as they look to upgrade on Nkunku

By
Connor Holden

Nov 7, 2024

Newcastle United are reportedly planning to hold contract talks with Alexander Isak to fend off potential suitors like Liverpool, Arsenal and PSG.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Isak is in demand across Europe
• Has a contract until 2028 with the Magpies
• Newcastle might ignite extension talks in the summer

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Swedish forward has emerged as one of the most sought-after strikers in European football, and the Magpies are eager to secure his long-term future at St. James’ Park. Although Isak is already tied to the club until 2028, Newcastle’s hierarchy is aware that his current salary of £140,000 per week is significantly lower than what other elite forwards earn across England and Europe.

Advertisement

• GOAL
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  On Tuesday, Newcastle revealed a 28 per cent increase in turnover to £320 million, but their spending power remains restricted due to the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR). Hence, despite the financial boost, they cannot afford to match the astronomical wages that Isak might command at a club with greater financial resources. So far, there have been no discussions about improving his contract, but with the summer transfer window approaching, speculation about his future is only expected to intensify.

• WHAT NEWCASTLE CHIEF EXECUTIVE SAID

  When asked whether Newcastle could offer Isak a new deal reflecting his rising status, the club's chief executive Darren Eales, was caught in a spot of bother.

  “We’re going to be clear, he has multi years left [on his deal],” Eales told . “So all of these things, we will have the discussions in terms of a new deal, just like we did, whether it’s Joelinton, Bruno or Anthony Gordon. That’s something that we will approach in the summer.”

  On the growing transfer links surrounding Isak, Eales admitted that it was frustrating but inevitable. “It is part and parcel of the world we live in. The reality is that all of our players are under long-term deals. They’re committed to the club, so from that perspective, we’re not looking to move any player on. It would be crazy for us to consider it [selling stars].

  “If we chose to renew contracts of players and keep key players here, that means there is going to be an impact in terms of what you have available elsewhere, but Eddie [Howe, the head coach] knows that and understands the financial parameters we have here.”

• DID YOU KNOW?

  For Isak, the Champions League remains a priority, as he has only made six appearances in Europe’s premier club competition. If Newcastle fail to qualify for next season’s tournament, the 26-year-old forward may be reluctant to extend his stay.

Stats analysis of the Carlton Mid Tri-Series final between Australia and England in Perth

Bishen Jeswant01-Feb-2015502 Number of international wickets taken by Stuart Broad, making him only the third English player to take 500 wickets, after James Anderson and Ian Botham. He started the game on 499 wickets and returned figures of 3 for 55.89 Runs conceded by Chris Woakes, the fourth-highest by an English bowler in an ODI innings, and the second-highest against Australia. The most runs conceded by an English bowler is 97, by Steve Harmison against Sri Lanka in 2006.141 The fifth-wicket partnership between Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh, the highest ever fifth-wicket stand in Perth. This was Australia’s first 100-plus stand for the fifth wicket in Perth.3 Number of Australian batsmen – James Faulkner (50), Maxwell (95) and Marsh (60) – who made fifties in the first innings, batting at No. 5 or below. This is the second such instance involving three Australian batsmen and the tenth overall.3 Number of times Maxwell has been dismissed in the nineties in ODIs since 2013, the most for any batsman, tied with Shikhar Dhawan.48.1 Faulkner’s batting average, the fifth highest for any Australian batsman. Faulkner has scored 770 runs, in 38 ODIs, including a hundred and four fifties.24 Number of balls Faulkner took for his 50, the sixth fastest by an Australian batsman. This is the second instance of Faulkner scoring a fifty off 24 balls, the other being against India in 2013.

Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini suggested he's ready to quit after receiving furious backlash for "worst penalty taker" dig at Ademola Lookman.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Lookman missed from the spot against Brugge
• Gasperini openly criticised the striker's penalty skills
• Manager says comments were not meant to offend

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The penalty incident occurred during Atalanta’s 3-1 second-leg Champions League play-off defeat to Club Brugge. Lookman, who had just pulled a goal back for his team after coming on as a second-half substitute, had the opportunity to further close the gap from 12 yards but his effort was denied by former Liverpool and Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, extinguishing any hopes of a dramatic comeback.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  In his post-match comments, Gasperini did not hold back in his criticism of the Nigerian international, making it clear that Lookman had no business taking the crucial spot-kick.

  "Lookman was not supposed to take that penalty, he is one of the worst penalty takers I've ever seen," the Italian manager told reporters.

  "He has a frankly terrible record even in training, he converts very few of them. Retegui and De Ketelaere were there, but Lookman in a moment of enthusiasm after scoring decided to take the ball and that was a gesture I did not appreciate at all."

  Following Gasperini’s remarks, Lookman took to Instagram to express his disappointment, describing the criticism as both "deeply disrespectful" and personally hurtful. His response resonated with fans and pundits alike, many of whom questioned why the manager chose to publicly attack his player instead of addressing the issue internally.

• WHAT GASPERINI SAID

  As the controversy continued to dominate headlines, Gasperini addressed the situation in a press conference on Saturday. While he acknowledged the impact of his words, he insisted that his intention was not to insult Lookman.

  "It had an extraordinary impact, everything that came afterwards… mine was not meant to be an offensive sentence," Gasperini said.

  "Yesterday in Udinese-Lecce we had what could have been a drama, luckily there were guys who let it go. I would have liked a strong player like Lookman to have made a gesture towards [Charles] De Ketelaere saying: 'Come on keep the ball, put it in'.

  "He can become a penalty taker, that would be an additional goal-scoring ability… I always speak in front of the whole team, it has never touched the club. He felt offended, I didn't want to offend anyone."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR ATALANTA?

  Amid his efforts to downplay the controversy, Gasperini has been busy preparing his troops for a crucial match against Empoli on Sunday. They remain in contention for the Serie A title, sitting third in the league table, just five points behind leaders Napoli and another victory over the weekend will be a major boost to keep their championship ambitions alive.

Since Eddie Howe took over as manager of Newcastle United back in November 2021, he has taken the side from strength to strength. After avoiding relegation in his first season, they managed to reach the Carabao Cup final and qualified for the Champions League in 2022/23.

Although last term was slightly more disappointing for the Magpies, missing out on European qualification, they have still made great strides under Howe.

This is largely down to the Englishman’s impressive signings since he has been at the helm of the Tynesiders. It is fair to say the Magpies’ boss has made the most of all the money available since their takeover by a Saudi Arabian consortium.

Newcastle’s signings under Howe

Since the 2021 takeover, the Magpies have made 22 signings, some for substantial amounts of money, others on loan and even some on a free transfer. Howe has been able to shape the squad to his liking, thanks to the investment from the board.

The most expensive deal under the former Bournemouth manager came in 2022 when they broke the record for the most expensive signing. The North East side spent £63m on Real Sociedad and Sweden striker Alexander Isak.

Anthony Gordon was another major signing under Howe. The winger joined the club from Everton in January 2023 for £45m and has since gone on to become an England international, featuring at Euro 2024. Last summer, he was reportedly close to a move to the Red side of Merseyside, with Liverpool wanting to sign him for an eye-watering £100m.

Some of the Magpies’ other notable signings include the likes of Harvey Barnes, who made the move from Leicester, and Sandro Tonali. The Italian midfielder joined the club from Serie A giants AC Milan in 2023.

In total, there have been eight players who have made the move to St James’ Park for £30m or more.

Arguably the biggest bargain of the lot, however, has been Bruno Guimaraes. The Brazilian has become a crucial player under Howe and has greatly risen in value since he joined the club in January 2022.

Guimaraes’ market value in 2024

In January 2022, the Magpies beat European heavyweights Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain to the signing of Guimaraes. He joined the club from French outfit Lyon, signing for £40m.

Since making the move from the French side to Newcastle, the 30-cap Brazil international has been superb in that famous black and white striped shirt. He has now played 117 times for the club, scoring 17 goals and grabbing 17 assists in that time.

This term, he has taken on a far more senior role for Howe’s side. So far during the 2024/25 campaign, the midfielder has captained the Magpies in all eight of their Premier League games, grabbing an assist in their 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Football scout Jacek Kulig touted the Brazilian as a “leader” back in 2021, and he is certainly showing that side of his game so far this season.

With that in mind, it is perhaps unsurprising to find out that the Magpies investment has already paid out well. The 26-year-old’s transfer value has rapidly increased during his time at Newcastle, and he is now valued at a whopping £70m.

The Newcastle number 39 did have a £100m release clause in his contract, although that expired earlier in the summer. He came close to a move away, with both Manchester City and Arsenal believed to be interested. However, he ultimately remained at St James’ Park.

Should he get sold by the Magpies for £70m, his current value, or perhaps even more, would be a figure that represents their record sale. It would eclipse several sales including that of Andy Carroll to Liverpool back in 2011 for £35m.

There is no doubt that the signing of Guimaraes has been a brilliant piece of business from Howe’s side. Not only have they got one of the best midfielders in the Premier League on their books, but would also be in for a huge profit if he was to leave.

Newcastle ace who left in 2016 now earns a crazy £180k-p/w more than Gordon

One former Newcastle player is earning a fortune in the Middle East…

By
Ross Kilvington

Oct 22, 2024

High demand on franchise circuit persuades 21-year-old to withdraw from first-class game

Matt Roller14-Nov-2022Will Smeed has signed a white-ball-only contract at Somerset in a ground-breaking move that highlights the growing divide between formats in English cricket.Smeed is one of the most promising young batters in the English game and made his debut for the Lions earlier this year. He has impressed for Somerset in the T20 Blast across the last three seasons and in August became the first player to score a century in the Hundred, playing for Birmingham Phoenix.”I feel that my game is better suited to white-ball cricket,” Smeed said in Somerset’s press release. “After a huge amount of thorough and considered discussions, I feel that I need to solely focus my attention on the limited-overs formats in order to become the very best cricketer I can be.”I can assure people that this [is] not a decision that I’ve taken lightly, and I’ve spoken to a lot of people about it. I want to be the best player that I can be, and to do that I believe that this needs to be my focus.”Smeed first came to mainstream attention when, aged 16, he made a second-team hundred in the same innings as a 42-year-old Marcus Trescothick in a red-ball game, but he has never played a first-class game and averaged 15.57 in his five outings in the Second XI Championship this season.”I know how much our members love red-ball cricket, but unfortunately I haven’t been performing how I would like to in the longer form of the game,” Smeed added. “The easy option would have been to carry on playing red-ball cricket and try to fit everything in and reach a certain level across all formats, but I want to try to be the best that I can be.”To achieve this, I feel that I need to focus on excelling in one format. I’m certainly not saying that I’ll never play red-ball cricket again. I just feel that this is the right decision for me and Somerset at the current time.”It has become increasingly common for English players to sign white-ball deals with their counties since Adil Rashid and Alex Hales took that step in early 2018, but the vast majority of those players have been in their 30s and have already played a significant chunk of red-ball cricket. Smeed has made the decision weeks after his 21st birthday.Will Smeed celebrates reaching his century for Birmingham Phoenix in the Hundred•ECB/Getty Images

“I still want to play everything,” Smeed insisted in an interview with ESPNcricinfo this summer but his exploits in short-form cricket have made him a sought-after player on the franchise circuit. He has already represented Quetta Gladiators in the PSL – who have retained him for the 2023 edition – and Bangla Tigers in the Abu Dhabi T10, a tournament he will return to next week playing for Deccan Gladiators.Most significantly, he has a deal with MI Emirates – the franchise run by Mumbai Indians’ owners Reliance in the ILT20, the new UAE league – and he appears certain to put his name forward for December’s IPL auction. If selected, he would miss the first two months of the Championship season regardless of his Somerset contract.Andy Hurry, Somerset’s director of cricket, said that the club supported Smeed’s decision. “As a club we will continue to do everything we can to ensure that our players fulfil their aspirations, and we therefore support Will in this decision,” he said. “White-ball only contracts are not new in the game and are not new at Somerset. The game is developing all the time and I sense that we will see more contracts of this type emerging across the world.Related

• Will Smeed fighting on all fronts for Somerset after red-ball reversal

• Will Smeed chooses his white-ball path, but the ground was laid a generation ago

• Will Smeed, Ben Duckett show England Lions are ready to roar on off-day for senior side

• Star turn on Lions debut leaves England feeling the need for Will Smeed

• Will Smeed hits the Hundred's first hundred to get Birmingham Phoenix off the mark

“Will is an exceptional talent and has the potential to have an incredibly successful career. At this stage he is not drawing a permanent line under his red-ball future, and this is currently the best way forward for both Will and the club.”He has all the attributes to become a very successful white-ball player and I am sure that our members and supporters will enjoy seeing him continue to improve. He has a very important role to play in limited-overs cricket for Somerset for many years to come.”Smeed had previously signed a one-year extension with Somerset earlier this year, which was due to expire at the end of the 2023 season. His new deal runs until the end of the 2024 season.

Batsmen who didn’t quite light up the tournament

25-Nov-2014Inzamam-ul-Haq
19 runs at 3.16 in 2003
Inzamam made his name with one of the greatest World Cup innings during the 1992 tournament. Famously, he helped Pakistan cane New Zealand’s surprise weapon, offspinner Dipak Patel, for 22 runs in Patel’s last two overs. In 2003, though, Inzamam couldn’t manage 22 runs across the entire tournament. In an effort to prolong his career, he had committed to a diet that helped him lose 17 kg, but the first evidence of its impact was disastrous. He made only 19 runs from six matches in South Africa, and not once could he reach double-figures. Recalling that trial for the , Inzy vowed, “I never do that again”.Allan Border

60 runs at 8.57 in 1992
Border might have turned the 1987 World Cup final Australia’s way with this weaker suit, getting England’s Mike Gatting to mis-hit reverse sweep off his left-arm spin, but just over four years later, as Australia tried to defend their title, Border couldn’t come through with his stronger suit. He averaged 8.57 in the tournament, totalling just 60 runs from seven innings. The captain’s nightmare series was not without consequences for his team, as they were knocked out at the group stage in a tournament they were co-hosting.Nathan Astle

79 runs at 8.77 in 1999
The New Zealand batsman’s World Cup career got off to a roaring start in 1996 as his century helped defeat England. That was not a harbinger of things to come: he had to wait ten more innings before reaching double-digits, and that when it came was a 11 against Scotland in 1999. He had three ducks in 2003 as well, but balanced those out with several important innings. His ’96 campaign was also salvaged a bit by that hundred against England. There was no such solace in ’99 as he ran up a sequence of: 4, 4, 2, 0, 11, 20, 9, 26, 3.Mahela Jayawardene made only 5 in the 2003 World Cup semi-final, but made up for it with a classic century in the semi-final four years later•Nick Laham/Getty ImagesMahela Jayawardene

21 runs at 3.00 in 2003
Jayawardene often finds himself being an example of how calculated strokeplay is always better than slogging. No one would have made that argument from his contributions during the 2003 World Cup though. The extra pace and bounce in South Africa got the better of him, and his best chance to get back in form did not pan out as he was not required to bat against Bangladesh or Canada. Coming away with 21 runs off seven innings in the showpiece event of the ODI calendar is not quite flattering to a man who likes the big occasion. But one thing he did do right was cling on to Ehsanul Haque’s outside edge that ensured Chaminda Vaas became the first and only bowler to claim a hat-trick off the first three balls in an international match.Keith Arthurton
2 runs at 0.40 in 1996
On each of his previous tours to India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the West Indies batsman had reasonable success with the bat. It was expected that he would be able to cope with the conditions in the subcontinent during the 1996 World Cup. Instead, he had arguably the worst World Cup for a specialist batsman, scoring 2 runs in five innings. That wretched run included ducks in the loss to Kenya, and in the famous meltdown against Australia in the semi-final. It cost him his place in the one-day side for two years.