All posts by n8rngtd.top

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.

Blast’s all-time leading scorer quits captaincy after seven seasons in charge

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Mar-2022Luke Wright, the leading run-scorer in T20 Blast history, has stepped down as Sussex’s T20 captain after seven seasons in the role.Sussex have been one of the leading T20 sides in the country under Wright’s leadership but have not managed to convert a strong win/loss record into a trophy, and lost to eventual champions Kent in last season’s semi-finals.They have lost several key players – most recently Chris Jordan and Phil Salt – in recent seasons, and Wright spoke out against the talent drain on the eve of Finals Day last year, saying: “It’s absolutely not impossible to keep your best players.””It’s something from the club’s point of view that we need to look at because we can’t be losing our best players all the time,” he added. “Our recruitment process has got to be really strong and it’s something that probably hasn’t been as good as it should be at this moment in time.”Sussex said in a statement that they were “naturally disappointed” that Wright had asked to step down as captain but that they “respect his decision after 104 T20 games in charge.”Related

• Sussex sign Pujara for English summer

• Rashid Khan returns to Sussex for 2022 Blast

• Rizwan signs Sussex contract for Championship, Blast

• Brown joins Sussex exodus after requesting early contract release

• Wright: 'We can't be losing our best players all the time'

“It has been a huge honour to captain Sussex, the club I love so much,” Wright said. “However, I feel it is the right time to step down. I will continue to give my all to help Sussex as I have over so many years.”Rob Andrew, their chief executive, said: “We respect Luke’s decision to step down as captain and we will work with him to move forward and focus on the future with his successor at the helm.”Luke has been a fantastic captain, leading the team to the knockout stages of the T20 Blast in five of his seven seasons as captain, including two Finals Day appearances in 2018 and 2021. The experience and knowledge he will be able to share with his successor will be invaluable.”Wright has been preparing for his career after cricket of late, completing a Masters of Sport Directorship at Manchester Metropolitan University this winter, but is under contract at Sussex until the end of the 2023 season.He was released by his Hundred team, Trent Rockets, after spending the inaugural season of the competition on the bench but is expected to be signed in April’s draft.Sussex have recruited a handful of new signings for this season’s Blast, with Rashid Khan due to be available throughout the group stages with Mohammad Rizwan and Josh Philippe splitting the second overseas spot. Steven Finn and Fynn Hudson-Prentice were also recruited at the end of last season.

There are two playoff spots and several seeds still to be claimed in the National League as the final weekend of the 2024 MLB season approaches.

While we don't know the playoff matchups yet, we do know there is no lack of story lines among the NL contenders. Can Shohei Ohtani do enough to push the Los Angeles Dodgers to the promised land and erase their recent October failures? Will the surprising, youthful Milwaukee Brewers be able to bring their regular-season magic into the playoffs? Is this the year that Manny Machado will have his signature moment in a San Diego Padres uniform?

Those questions, and more, will be answered soon enough.

Last year, the Arizona Diamondbacks cruised through the first two rounds and defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in an exciting NLCS to represent the NL in the 2023 World Series. The 2024 Diamondbacks, who shook off a World Series hangover to start the year, are far from a perfect team, but they're not alone. Every MLB team has a vulnerability somewhere on its roster that could cost it this fall.

After we covered the American League last week, let's dive into each NL contender's biggest weakness.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Current playoff spot: NL West leader
Biggest weakness: Starting pitching

There are absolutely no questions about the Dodgers' explosive lineup, which could make up about half of the NL All-Star roster. The bullpen is in good shape, too. But thanks to a flurry of injuries, the Dodgers still have plenty of questions about who is taking the ball in the playoffs.

Two of the Dodgers' starters entering the year—Tyler Glasnow and Gavin Stone—are out for the season. James Paxton now resides in Boston. Clayton Kershaw remains on the injured list with a toe injury and only has seven starts this season. Bobby Miller has been dreadful this year, allowing 36 runs in his last 31 innings pitched.

That leaves Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jack Flaherty, Walker Buehler and Landon Knack to duke it out for postseason starts. It's not a bad group, it's just not as big of a strength in October as the Dodgers imagined back in spring training, especially with Buehler often looking like a shell of his former himself after returning from Tommy John surgery.

Philadelphia Phillies

Current playoff spot: NL East champion
Biggest weakness: Offensive slumps

There's not much to nitpick with the Phillies, who own the most wins (94) in all of baseball.

Philadelphia boasts arguably the best starting rotation of any playoff contender, as Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Christopher Sanchez and Ranger Suarez all have taken care of business this season. The bullpen is nice, too, and the lineup features a couple of the league's biggest sluggers in Bryce Harper (.902 OPS) and Kyle Schwarber (.859).

Can the Phillies sustain this level of play, though? Philadelphia was on pace for a 114-win season back in May before playing sub-.500 ball in July and August. The team has figured it out since then, but offensive slumps have cost them in October the past two years, scoring just three combined runs in Games 6 and 7 of the NLCS last year and three total runs in the final three games of the 2022 World Series.

Milwaukee Brewers

Current playoff spot: NL Central champion
Biggest weakness: Starting pitching

The underdog Brewers defied all odds during the regular season, making manager Craig Counsell look foolish for joining the rival Chicago Cubs by winning the NL Central by double-digit games. They'll be underdogs again in the playoffs. But who says this team can't make a memorable run?

The biggest problem with Milwaukee—which was rarely an issue during the Counsell era—is the starting pitching. Freddy Peralta (3.69 ERA in 31 starts) assuredly will get the ball in Game 1. But who starts Game 2? Or Game 3?

Tobias Myers has been a pleasant surprise this season, but he only has 25 career starts under his belt. Colin Rea hasn't logged a quality start in over a month and owns a 4.89 ERA since the All-Star break. Frankie Montas, who arrived from Cincinnati at the trade deadline, is putting up big strikeout numbers but also just surrendered seven earned runs in 2 2/3 innings to Arizona.

An Aston Villa transfer target is keen on a move to Villa Park after speaking to Unai Emery and Monchi.

Aston Villa eyeing new attacker

The Villans have brought in eight new players ahead of the 2024/25 season, with Amadou Onana the latest and most expensive signing after he joined from Everton.

There have also been a number of exits to balance the books at Villa Park, with Douglas Luiz joining Juventus and Moussa Diaby signing for Al-Ittihad. As a result, a replacement for Diaby appears to be needed, and it has been claimed that an offer has been submitted to Hoffenheim attacker Maximilian Beier, although there is competition from Chelsea.

Contact made: Aston Villa chase £50k-p/w forward who Thierry Henry loves

He could be the perfect Ollie Watkins alternative for Unai Emery.

By
Ben Browning

Jul 31, 2024

Joao Felix of Atletico Madrid has also been heavily linked with a move to the Midlands, however, an alternative target appears to be former Villa star Jack Grealish, with a loan-to-buy deal with Manchester City mooted in the media. However, it appears as if Villa may have a real chance of signing Felix, going off a new claim.

Joao Felix to Aston Villa transfer update

The latest transfer update has come from The Boot Room, who state that Aston Villa are battling Benfica to sign Felix this summer. Villa have held talks over a permanent transfer, something which Atletico Madrid are willing to entertain. It is added that ‘Felix is keen to link up with Villa and he has held talks with Emery and Monchi’.

However, Villa may need to act fast, as the lure of returning to Benfica could also appeal to Felix, who is also being linked with a return to Barcelona on loan.

Previously named as Emery’s “dream” target, it looks as if Villa are in a good position to get a deal done for the £96,000-a-week forward, with the funds also there following Diaby’s move to Saudi Arabia.

Should a deal go through, Villa would be getting a forward who is still just 24 years of age and has plenty of experience in the Champions League. The Portugal international also has knowledge of the Premier League after a loan spell at Chelsea and has played as a centre-forward, second striker, left winger, right winger and attacking midfielder throughout his career.

During his time at Stamford Bridge, Felix was also hailed by Gary Neville after his goal against Manchester United. “He’s a proper player, him. Just the way he moves with the ball looks so different, so in control. Class – real class. He’s got options in front of him but he thinks 'no, I’m going to go on my own', and he just fires it past David de Gea. Really good finish."

Game-changing injuries during Australia’s joust with South Africa have aided the case for substitutes in Test cricket. Once a taboo, the concept is gaining momentum

Daniel Brettig28-Nov-2012Ponder for a moment an alternative conclusion to the Adelaide Test, one that arrives after both teams are able to call on substitutes to maintain a full complement of 11 fit players. Jacques Kallis and James Pattinson still limp off with injuries incurred while bowling, but instead of remaining on the scoreboard they are replaced – Kallis by Ryan McLaren and Pattinson by Mitchell Starc. The addition of fresh bowlers alters the course of the match.McLaren’s bustling medium-fast follows up from Kallis’ initial breakthroughs, and also reduces the role played by a profligate Imran Tahir, to restrict Australia to a slimmer first innings – Michael Clarke drags McLaren onto the stumps having made a mere 147. Thus chasing a reduced target, South Africa entertain as many thoughts of winning as survival until Starc delivers a swerving spell with the second new ball midway through the final day, dismissing McLaren among three victims in as many overs.Starc’s left-arm footmarks also create more purchase for Nathan Lyon, who finds sharp spin and variable bounce out of the rough to ensure South Africa are bowled out with an hour and a little more than 100 runs to spare. Kallis, meanwhile, is passed fit for the Perth Test, and Pattinson’s recovery period is revised to give him a chance of playing against Sri Lanka at the MCG on Boxing Day.Such a scenario will be outlandish to some and anathema to others, but with every glimpse of a batsman grimacing in pain at the crease and every camera shot of a bowler limping from the field, the radical concept of allowing substitutes in Test cricket slips closer to the realm of the possible. Whether that is also the realm of the necessary still depends on one’s point of view. Medical practitioners and physios around the Australian game are at the vanguard of global lobbyists for the concept, while players and coaches are softening in their resistance – bowlers moreso than batsmen.Older cricketers, and captains, are reluctant to tamper with the venerable and venerated concept of 11 versus 11, irrespective of injuries, conditions or the changing tactical fashions of other sports. Paul Marsh, the Australian Cricketers Association chief executive, spoke for many of his members when he stated that any such change would “tear at the fabric of the game”. Following the Adelaide Test, South Africa’s captain Graeme Smith spoke warmly from this perspective about the respect engendered among combatants for playing the last game that leaves nowhere to hide for five days.”I think that’s the whole challenge of Test cricket really,” Smith said. “When you watch Peter Siddle bowl at the end of his tether in the last 12-18 balls of the day to someone who’s batted all day, that’s what Test cricket is all about. I don’t think there’s a sport out there that really tests you for as long mentally, emotionally and skill-wise other than Test cricket, and I think maybe rules like that might soften the blow a bit. That’s why people who look back over time can be proud of what they’ve achieved, that they’ve been able to handle what this game is all about.”Smith’s views are emblematic of the opposition to any concept of substitutes. Nonetheless, the views of medical men are creeping towards wider acceptance, albeit slowly. The concept of a cricketer being subbed out of a first-class match is already in place under exceptional circumstances in Australia, as Ricky Ponting and numerous New South Wales-based team-mates for Australia were replaced in Sheffield Shield matches to avoid injury and a scheduling clash ahead of the first Test in Brisbane. Ponting’s hamstring was deemed too tight for him to complete a match for Tasmania against South Australia in Hobart, while Michael Clarke and Mitchell Starc played only three days of four at Allan Border Field so they could join the rest of the squad at the Gabba.This year, Cricket Australia’s playing conditions committee – of which Marsh is a member – agreed in principle to the use of a single substitute for either injury or tactical reasons in Shield fixtures. It was viewed as a radical step at CA, and ultimately too radical at the ICC’s headquarters in Dubai, from which word filtered back to Jolimont that enforcing such a law would risk the first-class status of the Shield. That edict killed the concept for the 2012-13 summer, but a serious discussion on it is evidence of progress in the mind of the Cricket New South Wales team doctor and sometime Australian team medical officer John Orchard, among the most vocal advocates of the change.”I think everyone who’s in the preparation and injury side of looking after cricketers is unanimously in favour of it, and we’re getting much better penetration into the cricket part of the structure – there are now a significant number of coaches and even players who are in favour,” Orchard told ESPNcricinfo. “It wouldn’t have even been on the agenda five years ago and now there are people lobbying on the cricket side, not just the injury side.”

‘The ask of the modern player, which is to come out like a sprinter in T20 and bowl four overs of smoke, two days’ rest then another four overs, and then adjust from that to the marathon efforts of bowling 40 overs in Test cricket with maybe only week or 10 days’ break in between, bodies all over the world are having a problem with that.’Sports physician John Orchard

The central plank of Orchard’s argument for substitutes in Test matches is that it must be seen as a natural counterbalance to the wildly contrasting demands now placed on international cricketers via the poles of Test matches and Twenty20 fixtures. In terms of training, preparation, and execution they are as divergent as a marathon and a sprint, creating a chasm between formats down which increasing numbers of players are falling with injuries.”In the days when you only had one major form of the day, the matches were spaced out nicely and you could treat Test cricket as a marathon and train like a marathon runner, bowl lots of long spells in the nets and lots of long spells in Test cricket,” Orchard said. “It was a sport which didn’t have many injuries. But the ask of the modern player, which is to come out like a sprinter in T20 and bowl four overs of smoke, two days’ rest then another four overs, and then adjust from that to the marathon efforts of bowling 40 overs in Test cricket with maybe only week or 10 days’ break in between, bodies all over the world are having a problem with that.”It’s not that one country’s got poor injury management and poor physios and poor doctors, it’s just that the human body’s not designed to do that. We’ve suddenly entered a high-injury era for cricket, where every country has got players playing T20 and Test cricket, and in no country are the bowlers standing up and coping well with it. You can try your preparation in all sorts of ways, but that adjustment is becoming very different to make.”There are numerous variations on what form the substitutes system might take. The concept of replacing a player only when injured appears flawed and open to exploitation, as rugby has discovered with its blood rule. A single substitute available across the course of the match, essentially a 12th man freed up to play, is the most measured option, already debated by CA and advocated by the likes of the Victorian coach Greg Shipperd. Orchard’s suggestion is the most far-fetched, allowing bowlers to be subbed out once they have reached a certain number of overs, in the manner of baseball pitchers.”If cricket joined other sports and embraced substitutions you could make cricket a little bit closer to T20 cricket,” Orchard said. “If you had players who could bowl 15 overs in an innings in Test cricket and then get subbed out and bring in a fresh bowler, it would be a radical change but it would be in response to another radical change, which is T20 cricket. When T20 was first suggested and played it was considered a bit of a joke, hit and giggle, now it is treated very seriously and it is here to stay.”You certainly are getting some old-school people in cricket saying we should limit T20 because it is ruining Test cricket, and in one sense they’re correct but in another they’re out of date. No one is going to limit T20 cricket when it is getting bigger crowds and it’s bringing in more money than the traditional forms of the game. You’re never going to stop players playing in tournaments that earn more money than their Test cricket.”Bringing subs in is a radical solution, but it is one that has to be debated more and more. It is really a matter of how long we’re prepared to sit back and watch injuries have a greater and greater impact on cricket matches, before people get sick of outcomes of Test matches being decided by who happens to have the least injuries rather than who has the better side.”The sight of the injured combatant fighting through pain and physical restriction to do his best for his team is among sport’s most compelling, but it is a drama that invariably leads to a long delay until that player may return to action for the sequel. Kallis’ efforts with the bat in Adelaide have more than likely ruined his chances of playing in Perth, while Pattinson’s team-oriented inclination to try to keep bowling after he first felt pain, ignoring it until he could barely breathe, is likely to have lengthened his rehabilitation time by a significant amount.”If changes are made to allow subs, people will miss the innings of your Jacques Kallis coming on and playing with a hammy and in obvious pain,” Orchard said. “That’s great to watch in terms of human courage, and some of the most famous innings over the years have been batsmen under duress, and that is something you would miss if you brought in subs.”But on the other hand we have Pat Cummins have his debut [in Johannesburg last year], get injured and play through with the injury, help win the Test match in a great display of courage, but we’re now behind the ledger in terms of how much cricket he’s missed with injury since then, opposed to how great it was to watch him in that Test. We’re missing him more going forward for the fact he played through in that Test.”Ultimately, the possibility of substitutes in Test matches will rise or fall based on the views of the players themselves. They are the most vocal advocates for Test cricket itself, and if they begin to lose interest in its physical risks and psychological demands then change may not be long in coming. Australia’s captain Michael Clarke offered a carefully divergent view from Smith, stating that international cricket had become far more of a squad game. Even though he loves the breadth of the challenge posed by a Test match, Clarke is a little less wedded to the concept of 11 v 11.”To me it’s such a hard game, it’s Test cricket, it’s the pinnacle, the hardest game in the world, the greatest game in the world,” Clarke said. “There’s going to be injuries, especially when you have to work as hard as both teams have had to work over the first two Test matches of this series, but you’ve got to find a way.”We look forward to a third Test with maybe some new faces on both sides. International cricket is not just about 11 players, it’s about a squad. That’s why Australia’s been so successful for a long period, because of the strength of first-class cricket in Australia, players manage to come into the team and have success. [11 versus 11] is how it is, so I accept it.”

Liverpool fans mocked Pep Guardiola by chanting "you're getting sacked in the morning" as the Reds ran out 2-0 winners against Manchester City.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Now winless in seven games
• Guardiola mocked by Liverpool fans
• Reminded them of his success

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  A Cody Gakpo strike and a penalty from Mohamed Salah were enough to earn the three points for Arne Slot's Premier League leaders, putting them 11 points clear of Guardiola's reigning champions in the table. Guardiola's side have now lost six and drawn one of their last seven matches and many see the latest defeat as the end of their title hopes this season, and the Anfield crowd couldn't help rubbing it in the coach's face.

Advertisement

• WHAT LIVERPOOL FANS SAID

  As the chants of "You're getting sacked in the morning" rang around Merseyside, Guardiola was seen smirking on the touchline. The legendary manager turned around and held up six fingers to remind the home crowd how many Premier League titles he has won with City. After the game when he went to applaud the away supporters, he held up the six fingers again.

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The seven-game winless streak is the worst run in Guardiola's entire coaching career, but there is little chance of him being sacked any time soon considering his success with the club and the fact he recently signed a contract extension.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN CITY?

  City simply need to get back to winning ways in their next game – a home match against Nottingham Forest, who are sixth in the table, on Wednesday.