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Woakes marked his England Test recall with 57 off 23 balls to revive a stuttering Birmingham innings

ECB Reporters Network05-Aug-2018

ScorecardChris Woakes celebrated his call-up to the England squad for the second Test against India by making a match-winning career-best 57 from 23 balls for Birmingham Bears as they beat Northamptonshire by 17 runs at Wantage Road.After winning the toss, the Bears’ innings stuttered along until Woakes struck six fours and four sixes in a cameo that steered the visitors to 187 for 7. Josh Cobb made a career-best 103 from 62 balls in reply but found no support as Northants slumped to their ninth defeat in ten matches.The Bears innings was initially hard work as only 38 came from the Powerplay for the loss of Ed Pollock and Adam Hose before Ian Bell continued his excellent form. He flicked the day’s first boundary through midwicket, swatted four more past mid-on and lifted Richard Gleeson elegantly over cover.Hose, having edged a boundary from Nathan Buck over the wicketkeeper’s head, tried to scoop the same bowler over short-fine leg and was caught at the wicket. Pollock fell for just 1, skying a pull stroke to mid-on where Seekkuge Prasanna took a solid catch.Bell swung Ben Sanderson over mid-off and gracefully went in-to-out to lift Prasanna wide of extra-cover but he and Sam Hain, who added 64 for the third wicket, fell within three balls. Bell drove Buck straight to extra-cover for 43 after Hain, who lifted a low-full toss from Sanderson over long-off for the innings’ first six, holed out to long-on off Prasanna.At 128 for 5 after 16 overs, the innings was listing but Woakes ensured the Bears had plenty to defend. He survived a tough dropped chance on 12 as Gleeson couldn’t hold on running around from long-off and the miss proved costly.He pulled the Gleeson for four through cover point and midwicket before top-edging a six as 16 came from the 17th over. Prasanna was swung over long-on for six more and Woakes found two more sixes in the final over that brought 17 as the Bears finished with a flourish, scoring 59 runs in 24 balls.Northants also found the going tough in the Powerplay as Ben Duckett was superbly yorked by Olly Stone for 2 and with only 45 runs scored, the required rate was quickly into double figures.Cobb was struck a blow to the head by a Stone bumper but warmed to his work with a punch off Woakes past mid-off and then through midwicket before driving Aaron Thomason down the ground for four and pulling a slower ball out of the ground over deep-square leg. He put a ball through a similar region for his second six and flicked Thomason wide of short-fine leg for four, passing fifty in 35 balls.But it was a lone chase as Ricardo Vasconcelos made 18 before driving Grant Elliott to long-off where Thomason took an excellent catch running to his right, Alex Wakely holed out to deep square for 3 and Steven Crook, Charlie Thurston and Prasanna only made single-figure scores.Cobb was left to chase the target himself and he went down on one knee to put another ball out of the ground and swung Woakes over long-on for six more.With 64 needed from 24 balls Cobb heaved Thomason out of the ground over midwicket and past short-third man for four to leave 42 required from 18. He drove Stone for four and charged back for a second off Woakes to reach his first T20 hundred in 58 balls and become the fourth T20 centurion for Northants.But Stone’s final over only cost seven and with 27 needed from the last over, Cobb ran himself out coming back for a second run and a wonderful innings was consigned to a losing cause.

Australia’s joint vice-captain knows that he will need to be patient and show a more measured approach to have success in English conditions

Daniel Brettig at Edgbaston30-Jul-2019Wielding his bat like a cutlass and swinging it with enough gusto to twice be caught at third man against India last summer, Travis Head would not, at first glance, look like an Australian player ideally suited to the subtleties required to bat successfully in England.There have been numerous similarly swashbuckling Australian talents who never quite cracked it in England, not least Doug Walters and David Hookes, when confronted by slower surfaces and the moving ball. Adding to the difficulty for Head is another matter of more recent history – he is too young to remember Australia winning a series in England, having been seven years old when a team led by Steve Waugh rushed to a 3-0 lead and ultimately a 4-1 final margin in 2001.”2001, very early days, I probably didn’t watch much of it. I was probably asleep most of the time,” Head said with a laugh. “Yeah, probably ’05 [was first memory]. Obviously the last one, coming to Trent Bridge, I only watched the first couple of sessions.”I was over here when Ash [Agar] got 98 [in 2013]. I think I was watching it with a mate in the Greek islands. I went to The Oval and watched Smudge [Steven Smith] get a hundred. So I’ve watched a bit of cricket here. I loved watching India here last year as well. It’s a place where you get exciting cricket. So looking forward to get involved with it.”ALSO READ: James Anderson the key as Glenn McGrath ‘sits on fence’ in Ashes predictionBack in November, Head was discarded from Australia’s ODI team at an inopportune time for anyone wanting to go to England for the World Cup – something Head clearly wanted. However, it also provided useful clarity in terms of what his goals should be, something added to when he acquitted himself more than adequately against Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka in his first three Test series – those edges to third man aside.After the SCG Test, Head was left with some regrets about not finishing off the series well, something he atoned for while striding to a century against Sri Lanka in Canberra in Australia’s last Test before the Ashes. Given that two other centurions for that match, Kurtis Patterson and Joe Burns, did not make the final Ashes squad, Head had to have done more work in the interim.”I think for a long part of my career, I was a bit, not reckless but I took the game on,” he said. “But as I’ve matured a little bit and played a lot more cricket, I’ve got more of an understanding of how I want to play on different wickets, especially in the last 12 months. Being able to adapt to wickets throughout the country in Australia and over here, and how I adapt my game it has been probably a more mature approach.”I’ve taken more time and tried to give myself a chance a bit more than I did when I was younger. As I’ve played more cricket and got more experience, I’ve been able to do that, and I found that the other week batting with Wadey [Matthew Wade, for Australia A against England Lions]. It was nice to spend time in the middle, and I’ve played a bit of cricket over here so I know what to expect. It’s about making sure I let them bowl to me, but also making sure that I’m still positive and don’t change my natural instincts.Travis Head celebrates a century•Getty Images”So when there’s a chance to score, score, because we’re there to get runs and it can be quite difficult to get runs over here. So when they’re on offer we have to make sure we take it, but also making sure we do it for a long period of time.”The battles against India, Jasprit Bumrah in particular, have stuck in Head’s memory bank ahead of likely duels with the similarly precise James Anderson, among others. “Looking back at the way I batted in Adelaide and knowing the conditions and not trying to drive the ball, just let the ball come,” he said. “I think I did a really good job in Adelaide and Perth of doing that, then got a little bit greedy in Melbourne and Sydney when the wickets were better and I wasn’t able to do it for long enough.”So it was nice to get through to the back end of the summer against Sri Lanka and be able to go out there and do it for a long period of time, to get a big score on a wicket on day one where it still did a bit. I was able to let the ball come, and do all the things I was able to do throughout the summer. It’s going to be a real key focus. I understand the England bowlers will put me under pressure and test that patience, I guess. For me, it’s about making sure I continue being as positive as I can be and moving the game, but also giving myself the best chance to get big hundreds and to be putting us into great positions.”Alongside Pat Cummins, Head was anointed co-deputy to Tim Paine during the Sri Lanka series, after the roles were passed on from Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh. Anyone thinking this premature, needed only look at how Head had been made South Australia’s captain in 2015, aged 21, and followed by building his batting record and consistency while helping the state to a pair of Sheffield Shield finals. He will, in England, be looking for advice from Smith and David Warner, both still barred from formal leadership roles.”I think I just look back on the captains that I’ve had – Michael Klinger, Johan [Botha],” Head said. “Just taking little bits out of everyone. I obviously had Steve for a lot of my one-day career, Painey’s been fantastic and it was nice to field next to him at first slip in the A tour because I got a great understanding of the way he thought about the game. I think in my first few years, I was trying to find that and probably looked at the job higher than what it was.”But I think in the last few years I’ve really taken a good focus, just making sure that my role is no bigger than anyone else’s, and just ticking off all the boxes for the boys, and just being there and creating a really good environment. Being really calm and consistent in the way I go about things, and trying to make it as good an environment as I possibly can. That’s been my focus and I see that as my role here, making sure that I’m on hand for Painey, that I’m a connection between the group and Painey.”Making sure we keep a really good environment, and a consistent environment throughout whatever we get throughout the next little period of time. And if games are getting a little bit out of hand, we can make sure that we’re calm and in control. So hopefully, I can bring that really levelled environment and level head out in the middle, and try and be a helping hand.”Walters toured England four times without success, and was left out of the 1981 tour. Hookes had only one chance in 1977, and never returned for a Test series. Head, his method so grooved on hard Australian surfaces, will make for a fascinating study on this tour.

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Who's ready for some afternoon baseball on Thursday?

Nine teams are in action in Major League Baseball today, starting at 1:05 p.m. EST with the Arizona Diamondbacks taking on the Washington Nationals.

As we do every day here at SI Betting, we're going to pick every MLB game today, with a short breakdown as to why we're leaning in that direction.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Washington Nationals Prediction and Pick

Shockingly enough, the Washington Nationals have a better record than the Arizona Diamondbacks entering Thursday's matinee matchup.

I'm rolling with Washington with MacKenzie Gore on the bump, as he's allowed two or fewer earned runs in seven of his last eight starts and has a 2.92 Fielding Independent Pitching on the season. Arizona's Ryne Nelson hasn't fared nearly as well, posting a 5.49 ERA and 4.30 FIP in 2024.

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Minnesota Twins Prediction and Pick

Minnesota is one of the best home teams in baseball (23-15) this season, and Simeon Woods Richardson has pitched extremely well in 11 starts. He's posted a 3.29 ERA this season, leading the Twins to an 8-3 record in his starts.

The Rays should have a chance with Zack Littell on the bump — he's posted a 3.62 FIP — but they've gone just 6-8 record in his starts.

Seattle Mariners vs. Cleveland Guardians Prediction and Pick

I getting Luis Castillo as an underdog in this matchup, as Logan Allen (5.30 ERA) is on the mound for the Guardians.

Castillo has a 3.32 ERA this season, and since April 14 he's allowed two or fewer runs in all but one start. I think he's a must-bet at these odds on Thursday.

Houston Astros vs. Chicago White Sox Prediction and Pick

One of the easiest bets to make in baseball this season?

The other team when the Chicago White Sox are starting Chris Flexen.

Flexen hasn't been good at all in 2024, posting a 5.35 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP, but the worst part is that he's led the Sox to a 2-13 record in 15 outings. I have to take the Astros — who are a much better team — to win outright in this one.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Colorado Rockies Prediction and Pick

Gavin Stone (3.01 ERA) has been great for the Dodgers this season, leading them to a 10-3 record in his 13 starts and holding all but two teams to three earned runs or less. He also has five innings of shutout ball against these Rockies under his belt already in 2024.

I love the Dodgers' offense to tee off on Ty Blach, who has a 4.65 ERA and a dreadful 1.41 WHIP in 2024.

Kansas City Royals vs. Oakland Athletics Prediction and Pick

Seth Lugo has been one of the most consistent starters in baseball, posting a 2.40 ERA and leading his Royals to a 10-5 record in his 15 starts.

The A's have won two in a row to snap an eight-game skid, but I'm not sold on them beating one of the American League's best arms so far this season.

Baltimore Orioles vs. New York Yankees Prediction and Pick

I'm all about Luis Gil, who pitched 6.1 innings of two-hit ball against the O's earlier this season, to get a win on Thursday.

The Yankees are 12-2 in Gil's starts, and I think they're well equipped to beat lefty Cole Irving (3.03 ERA, 3.41 FIP) in this game. Irvin has been solid in 2024, but his ERA has risen from 2.84 to 3.03 in three starts this month.

San Francisco Giants vs. St. Louis Cardinals Prediction and Pick

The Giants have struggled on the road in 2024, going 16-22 straight up, and I'm not sold on them picking up a win on Thursday with Keaton Winn (6.66 ERA) on the mound.

San Fran is just 3-8 in Winn's outings, and while the Cardinals are 3-10 in Andre Pallante's appearances, they're 2-2 in his four starts and he's lowered his ERA nearly two runs over his last two outings.

Milwaukee Brewers vs. San Diego Padres Prediction and Pick

The Milwaukee Brewers haven't gotten the best stuff from Bryse Wilson as of late, with his ERA rising from 2.40 to 3.84 since the start of May. However, I still think he has the advantage over youngster Adam Mazur, who has a 7.82 ERA in three outings in 2024.

The Padres ar 0-3 with Mazur on the mound, and I don't love backing them as favorites in that spot on Thursday.

South Africa will have tougher tests to come, but they wanted to learn more about their support pace bowling and Duanne Olivier took his chance well

Firdose Moonda08-Oct-2017Duanne Olivier had one job: to do the same thing he did last summer.Except that he did it against an international batting line-up not a local one, with one of the most promising young bowlers on the global circuit at the other end, Kagiso Rabada, not his franchise partner Marchant de Lange, in front of a small but vociferous crowd, not an empty ground. So even though this one job was the same job as the one Olivier had always done, it had become a much harder job because it had been added to by expectation.Olivier was last season’s leading wicket-taker in first-class cricket with 52 scalps, some distance ahead of his nearest competitors, who had 34. It was widely understood that he was a wicket-taker but because the competition is not televised, very few people had actually seen what kind of a wicket-taker he was. Word around the game was that he had a decent short ball but also that he had the stamina to return for spell after spell and the ability to be effective with the older ball.But all of this was just talk. None of it had been seen at international level because Olivier had not had that much opportunity to show it.He debuted against a mentally shot Sri Lankan side that made for easy-pickings, was inconsistent in England in a series South Africa want to forget and was unspectacular in Potchefstroom last week when Morne Morkel set the tone. Here on his home turf, with all but one big name – Rabada – unavailable, he had his chance to prove what he is capable of and Faf du Plessis was particularly pleased with the outcome.”That’s what you want to see from young bowlers. You want to see improvement, that they can learn quickly at the highest level, because the guys that can learn, you can stick with them,” du Plessis said. “The way he bowled today was a fantastic effort. To bowl 10 overs on the trot of short-ball work takes incredible effort, so I have to take my hat off to him. He was our best bowler today.”Olivier’s spell started on the second evening when Bangladesh followed-on but he really got into his work on the third morning when, for the first time, he appeared to be bowling to a plan. South Africa had a short-leg in place and Olivier was told to pitch it short. His sixth ball climbed on Soumya Sarkar and carried to Aiden Markram under the helmet but he could not hold on. Later in the over, Olivier bounced Sarkar and then aimed at his ribs. In the next over, Sarkar prodded at one from Rabada and was caught at second slip.Then, Olivier turned it up. Men were sent out on the leg side waiting for the hook and Olivier ramped up the pace and the effort. Imrul Kayes almost gloved one as it sailed past his hips and Mominul Haque had one hurtle towards his face. Olivier set them up so Rabada could take them down. Mominul holed out to deep square leg off Rabada in the ninth over.Bangladesh’s captain Mushfiqur Rahim bore the brunt of Olivier’s aggression and there were many hearts in mouths when he was hit on the helmet and required treatment. Olivier, not shirking from his plan, delivered a short ball as soon as Mushfiqur was ready to go again.For all the work he put in, Olivier’s only reward was the strangling of Kayes down the leg side but in his 10-over spell he showed all the ingredients South Africans like to see in their quicks. He was fast and he was fiery and though there is still work to be done for him to challenge the currently-injured elites for a more regular place in the Test XI, du Plessis is now confident Olivier could get to that level.”You can’t compare any of our bowlers to KG’s skill, but what we needed from a bowling attack today, we needed to be ruthless and aggressive and try and make it uncomfortable for Bangladesh, and he led from that aspect. I’m very proud that he can make those improvements,” du Plessis said.”There is a difference in our top four seamers, they are world class, best-in-the-world kind of bowlers. So if you judge guys according to them, there would be a gap. For me it is important to see how we can make those guys get better for the time when they need to step up into the team. These guys that played the last two Test matches will be looked at for the future so it’s important for them to see that there is some work to do, but they have the quality.”That q-word (not quota, though there is that one too) is something of a talking point in South African cricket because there are serious concerns about their depth. To have learnt that they still have a lot of quality was an important goal in this series and du Plessis can now look forward to the rest of the summer with optimism.”We had really good targets leading into this series of what we wanted to achieve as a team and we achieved those goals hands down, so we’ll take confidence as we move into two big series,” he said. “We appreciate that India and Australia are going to be a lot tougher. Bangladesh didn’t have the firepower we thought they would have in these conditions. We won’t get too far ahead of ourselves in thinking we are the finished article.”

Former Liverpool man Jermaine Pennant has now revealed who he believes could be brought in to replace a £34m star this summer, in an exclusive interview with Football FanCast.

Van Dijk, Salah and Alexander-Arnold contract update

Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all out of contract at the end of the campaign, which will leave Arne Slot with some gaping holes in his squad if the trio fail to agree new deals before the summer.

Speaking on The Overlap, Daniel Geey has recently provided an update on the contract situation, and it is not good news for fans, with the sports lawyer stating he believes Salah is the most likely to leave out of the three (via Rousing The Kop).

“I am a terrible betting man, but if I were to go, I would go with Van Dijk. I think Trent is 50/50. I think Salah is more likely to go,”

There is no shortage of interest in the Egyptian, with clubs from the Saudi Pro League thought to be particularly keen, meaning the Reds have been forced to start assessing potential replacements for the summer transfer window. Now, a former player has revealed who he thinks Slot could sign if Salah departs.

Liverpool determined to go all out for "impressive" star at Slot's request

He knows Slot well…

1 ByTom Cunningham Feb 18, 2025

Jermaine Pennant was speaking exclusively to Football FanCast on behalf of NewBettingSites.uk.

When asked whether there is anyone in England who could replace Salah, Pennant said: “Semenyo for Bournemouth, he’s looked exciting but he likes to play off the left, but I think he could play off the right as well.

“Mbeumo is a good option, but when you’re talking about other players rather than Mo Salah, it’s hard to put anyone up near him. Whoever we get, it’s just not going to be the same.

“So will we see someone from the Premier League? Probably not, I think they’ll go abroad to find a replacement.

“Their recruitment is usually spot on. I’m sure as we speak Liverpool are looking for some sort of replacement.”

Adeyemi and Kubo among Liverpool targets

The 32-year-old has been a revelation ever since arriving at Anfield for a relatively low fee of £34m, and he has played a key role in Slot’s side’s push for the Premier League title this season, amassing a staggering 23 goals and 14 assists.

As such, while it is good news Liverpool are being proactive in the transfer market by looking at potential replacements, their number one priority should be to tie the forward down to a new contract.

Pennant indicates a move for a player from abroad is the most likely scenario, should the Merseyside club be unable to agree new terms, and they have been linked with some exciting options.

Borussia Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi and Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo are among the players to be linked with a move to Anfield in the event Salah departs, but it will of course be extremely difficult for either player to replicate what Salah has done for the club.

Tottenham Hotspur bolstered their defence during the final days of the transfer window, hijacking a move to sign defender Kevin Danso from French side Lens.

It looked as though he was set to join Wolverhampton Wanderers, but it is Spurs who have secured his signature on an initial loan deal, which includes an option to buy in the summer for a fee of around £21m.

Ange Postecoglou moved onto defensive targets due to his current injury crisis at the back coupled with a series of poor performances that only stopped with their win over Brentford on Sunday afternoon.

That said, Danso wasn’t the only player to arrive in the last couple of days of the window…

How Tottenham signed Mathys Tel on deadline day

Last week, Spurs were keen on signing the Bayern Munich forward in a bid to bolster their squad ahead of the final few weeks of the season.

According to Sky Germany – as per Sky Sports – the two clubs had agreed on a deal worth £50m for the transfer of the Frenchman, but he initially turned a move to the club down.

This was certainly a big blow for the club, especially as they aim to improve on their recent poor form and a big signing like Tel would have given Spurs a major boost.

Fortunately, in dramatic circumstances on transfer deadline day, the French teenager reversed his decision and decided to sign for the Lilywhites on loan after a personal phone call with Postecoglou.

Nevertheless, despite their poor form, the manager has plenty of players who can cause chaos in the final third alongside Tel. Indeed, one of them is worth even more than the Bayern centre-forward…

Worth more than Tel: Ange has struck gold on Spurs star

Brennan Johnson joined Spurs on deadline day in 2023, moving from Nottingham Forest in a deal worth £47.5m. He had scored eight times for the club the previous season as they remained in the top flight, and it looked like Johnson would be a good signing for Spurs.

Five goals and ten assists in the top flight for a more than promising return for the right-winger in his first season at his new club, even being hailed by pundits and media alike, including Palace podcast HLTCO, who said:

“Johnson is such an exciting player to watch. He’s got frightening pace and directness; constantly looking to make something happen, it must be an absolute nightmare to defend against him.”

Goals

0

7

Assists

1

2

Big chances created

1

3

Shots per game

1.3

2.1

Successful dribbles per game

0.8

0.7

Key passes per game

0.1

0.7

He has certainly improved this season – notably scoring seven goals in seven consecutive games. Not only does the Welshman now already have 12 goals to his name across all competitions, but the 23-year-old has also recorded three assists for Spurs.

The winger has also created three big chances in the top flight while succeeding with 56% of his dribble attempts.

Such performances for Spurs have seen his market value rise since making the move to London. According to the CIES Football Observatory, Johnson is currently valued at €80m (£66.5m), which is proof of just how much the player has improved at Spurs.

Not only that, but they have also hit gold on the winger, who coincidentally is worth millions more than Tel.

Saved by Sarr: 6/10 Spurs dud just showed why Spurs need to spend millions

Tottenham Hotspur claimed their first Premier League win since December against Brentford.

ByEthan Lamb Feb 2, 2025

Sheffield United have now agreed a deal to sign a new player for Chris Wilder as they look to end the January transfer window on a high in their bid for promotion back to the Premier League, according to a fresh report.

Sheffield United need additions

Though they have been one of the busier Championship sides this January, injuries mean that Sheffield United still need additions.

Wilder’s side have already added reinforcements in attack in the shape of Tom Cannon and Ben Brereton Diaz from Leicester City and Southampton respectively, with the two combining to help the Blades edge past Derby County in their most recent outing.

Meanwhile, fellow new signing Hamza Choudhury was named man of the match for his performance in the heart of the Blades midfield after joining the club on loan from Leicester City.

And reinforcements have arrived at the back too, with Wilder’s side sealing a deal for Harry Clarke, while the Blades are also closing in on a pair of deals to sign wingers recommended by AI in a deal driven by their new owners.

The 15 most expensive signings in EFL Championship history

The second tier has had its fair share of mega-money deals.

ByRoss Kilvington Feb 3, 2025

But at least one more addition is still needed after a serious injury to Harry Souttar, who was ruled out for the season in the New Year after suffering an Achilles injury on Boxing Day.

“We are after a centre-half, no doubt about it”, Wilder explained after the win against Swansea City four days ago.

Now, it seems that the Blades are finally moving to address the issue, and are closing in on a deal to land another new face.

Sheffield United agree loan move for defender

That is according to a fresh report from Football Insider, which claims that Sheffield United have now agreed a deal with Crystal Palace to take Rob Holding on loan for the remainder of the season.

The former Arsenal defender was Gunners legend Paul Merson dubbed “reliable” during his time at the Emirates Stadium, where he was often relied upon by Mikel Arteta when he wanted to see a game out.

However, he has hardly featured since moving to south London after falling out with Oliver Glasner, with his only senior appearance coming in the EFL Cup before he was suspended from the first team by the Eagles head coach.

Appearances

162

Goals

5

Yellow Cards

22

Red Cards

1

Now, his south London nightmare appears to be coming to an end at least temporarily, with the former England U21 international now closing in on a move to South Yorkshire.

As per the report, “the Blades have won the race to land the 29-year-old centre-back on loan for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign” as they look to continue their push for promotion, though there is no mention of just how much of Holding’s £45,000 a week wages Wilder’s side will be asked to cover for the duration of his time at Bramall Lane.

With plenty of experience to his name, should he be match-sharp Holding could well be the perfect short-term replacement for Souttar, and could be a key part of Sheffield United’s hopes of an instant return to the top flight.

Glasgow Rangers returned to winning ways over the weekend, yet the Premiership title is surely out of reach for Philippe Clement’s men.

The 3-1 win at Ibrox against St Johnstone may have secured three points, but with the Union Bears walking out after 55 minutes, protesting against the board, the atmosphere at the club is bordering on toxic.

The new CEO, Patrick Stewart, is backing Clement, who will be in charge of the club throughout the transfer window.

With one or two signings likely, who is the Belgian looking to bring to the club?

Rangers eye move for Championship defender

According to Swedish outlet Expressen, Rangers are one of the many clubs that have expressed interest in Burnley defender Hjalmar Ekdal, with a loan move being touted.

Plenty of Championship and Italian clubs are keen on luring the player away from Burnley, suggesting the Light Blues face stiff competition for his signature.

The report goes on to state that Clement and Co have made contact with Burnley over a potential loan deal, which would certainly help ease the club’s current defensive crisis.

It wouldn’t be the first time that the club have signed a defender from England in recent years. If a move for Ekdal could be as impressive as the one which saw Calvin Bassey move north of the border, then Clement may just strike gold.

Why Rangers could sign Calvin Bassey 2.0 in Hjalmar Ekdal

Bassey arrived in the summer of 2020 to little fanfare. Considered an excellent talent, the Nigerian operated on the periphery during the 2020/21 season, making just 15 appearances.

Transfer Focus

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

Due to an injury crisis in defence, Bassey established himself as first choice centre-back the following campaign, playing 50 times for the Gers, reaching the Europa League final and winning the Scottish Cup in the process.

Accurate passes

37.4

52.3

Key passes

0.2

0.8

Tackles

1.6

1.5

Ground duels won

3.4

3.4

Possession lost

11.6

14.7

It was a stunning rise, which led to him joining Ajax for around £23m, a club-record sale. While Ekdal may be joining on loan initially, he could have the same impact, arriving from south of the border and starring.

The defender has played just 19 games for Burnley since joining two years ago, but a spell at his previous club Djurgarden was a success.

Indeed, during his final season in the Swedish top flight with the club, Ekdal not only showed his attacking qualities by scoring three goals, but the 26-year-old also averaged an 88% pass success rate, won 61% of his total dues per game and averaged 1.2 tackles each match, showcasing his defensive abilities.

Vincent Kompany once described the Swede as an “intelligent” and “mobile” defender, and it is evident that his skill set could be well suited to the rigours of Scottish football.

The main thing would be getting the defender back to 100% fitness. If Clement can ensure that Ekdal will feature heavily between now and the end of the season, then it is surely a no-brainer to sign him on loan.

Bassey made such a positive impact in a short space of time. The Burnley star may well follow in his footsteps.

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Gladiators have replaced him with Qais Ahmed thus far, but are open to finding other replacements

Umar Farooq21-Feb-2023Wanindu Hasaranga will not be joining Quetta Gladiators this PSL season as Sri Lanka look to manage his workload. Hasaranga was partially available, having been scheduled to play in six games before leaving on March 3, but the franchise confirmed he has been ruled out of the league altogether and they are now looking to find a replacement.Hasaranga was supposed to join the team at the start of the PSL and after his stint, Afghanistan legspinner Qais Ahmad was slated to take over. But Hasaranga’s absence has forced Gladiators to play Qais in two games, though they remain open to finding a replacement for Hasaranga with seven of their group stages games still remaining.SLC CEO Ashley de Silva told ESPNcricinfo that Hasaranga “wouldn’t ask” for a No-Objection Certificate, as he had domestic commitments with the National Super League, as well as international series to play in New Zealand. Even though neither SLC nor Hasaranga’s management mentioned it outright, there is also the IPL coming up, which given his success last year and the money he earns at the tournament, is likely to be a priority. Essentially, the issue comes down to workload: the IPL and national duties are an inevitability, and there is significant domestic pressure to play in SLC’s local tournaments, even the four-dayers, leaving the PSL lower down the priority list.Related

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Gladiators came into this season in poor form, having lost six games last season. Over the last three seasons, they have the fewest number of wins (10) of all franchises, having not made it into the play-off since 2020. They were edged out last season on net run-rate (-0.708) by Islamabad United (-0.069). They have already lost two games out of the three they played this season.Meanwhile, Kusal Mendis – who was signed up to replace Jordan Cox by Lahore Qalandars – is also now unavailable. Mendis is part of Sri Lanka’s Test outfit, and as such has officially been part of Sri Lanka’s red and white-ball preparations for that tour. His not being part of the PSL despite having been picked by a franchise are clear cut – there is a clash with his international commitments.” Qalandars have found a replacement for Mendis in West Indies ODI captain Shai Hope.This is the second time that Hasaranga has been denied the opportunity to play in a franchise league in the last eight months, after he had to withdraw from his Hundred contract with Manchester Originals at short notice.