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So you think cricket featured in the Olympics just the once? In a certain Shropshire town’s version of the event it’s been the star of the show for 125 years now

Liam Herringshaw20-Aug-2011Ask someone to name a quintessential Olympic event and it’s unlikely they’ll suggest cricket. Just once – in Paris, in 1900 – has cricket appeared at the Games, and it was hardly a success. Only Britain and France entered, the French team consisted mostly of English expats, and four French batsmen failed to score a run in either innings as Britain romped to victory. Cricket was never asked back, and though there is a chance of seeing Twenty20 in 2020, don’t hold your breath.You might be surprised to learn, therefore, that there are cricketing Olympians galore, and that every year new players compete for gold, silver and bronze. You’d probably be even more startled to be told that not one of them is over 11 years old, and that they all live in the Welsh Borderlands.Much Wenlock is where the action happens. Every July this picturesque Shropshire town hosts the Wenlock Olympian Games. Featuring almost 20 different sports, from archery to volleyball, these are the Games that inspired Baron de Coubertin to start the modern Olympics. The 2011 edition is the 125th, and cricket, which was the very first sport to be played in the inaugural Games, still kickstarts proceedings today. And though the format has changed a bit since the 19th century, it might just be a blueprint from which the rest of the cricketing – and indeed, sporting – world could learn a thing or two.Strictly speaking, the cricket “Kwik-starts” proceedings, as the competition is a frantic blur of red-handled bats, yellow balls and bright blue stumps. That it now features schoolchildren rather than adults is down to two stalwarts of Much Wenlock Cricket Club, senior coach Pete Hitchin and head groundsman Tim Pinches. And that the kids have seized their Olympian moment in the way their elders never did.”A cricket match had been played every year,” recalls Hitchin, “and whilst some years it was brilliant, on other days it was dreadful. Over the years it had been such a two-headed beast. So Tim and I asked the Wenlock Olympian Society if they would hand it over to the primary schools.”Three years ago the society did just this, and the medals are now fought over by the eight primaries in the catchment area of Much Wenlock’s William Brookes School, named after the local doctor who founded the Olympian Games in 1850. Each school must include at least two girls in its team, and after playing three matches each in two round-robin groups, the top four fight it out for the medals.Keeping track of the scores is Karen Hands, who competed in an Olympian discus event as a schoolgirl. “The kids are so good at scoring they don’t really need me at all,” she laughs. “I just hand the toilet card out and make cups of tea!”As if to prove the point, a young lad sidles up to say that an official has added the totals up wrongly, and rather than losing narrowly, his team have won. When Hands and Hitchin check the numbers, he’s proven correct.That the audience consists mostly of players, teachers and officials (not to mention the odd overseas media team, looking for quirky stories in the build-up to London 2012) is due partly to the matches being played on a Friday. Intermittent cloudbursts don’t help either, but Hitchin scoffs at the notion that the kids need shelter. “They’re not made of sugar,” he laughs. “They won’t melt!”Out on the field, four games are underway, and it is quickly becoming clear that reigning champions Broseley are going to be tough to topple.Their head teacher is Jonathan Pygott, a self-confessed cricket fanatic. “What you put in is what you get out,” he says, “but we’re very lucky. I think Kwik Cricket has been fantastic… it’s been one of the best developments in schools’ sport, full-stop. We take part in three decent-sized tournaments a year now, and this is the icing on the cake.” Right on cue, his team wrap up a semi-final victory over Brockton to reach their third consecutive gold-medal match.

“I’ve got some plastic dog poo that I put down. I say, ‘Look, there’s the dog poo. You don’t want to drag your foot through it.’ And it makes them do it. Two piles of plastic dog poo and they’re absolutely invaluable”Much Wenlock Cricket Club’s senior coach Pete Hitchin explains his method of making sure his charges step through the bowling crease

“It’s worked very well,” agrees Hitchin, who, along with Pinches and other qualified coaches, goes into the schools beforehand to run training sessions.Teaching children to bowl is the toughest challenge. “The big problem is that they throw,” says Pinches, but Hitchin has some unorthodox solutions. “To make them step through the crease,” he grins. “I used to say, ‘Imagine there’s a pile of dog poo there. You want to step over it.’ And they’d laugh at me.”So now I’ve got some plastic dog poo that I put down. I say, ‘Look, there’s the dog poo. You don’t want to drag your foot through it.’ And it makes them do it. Two piles of plastic dog poo and they’re absolutely invaluable. The ECB should be investing in large quantities of the stuff!”It’s not clear what he’d make of such techniques, but William Penny Brookes would definitely be impressed by the quality of sport on show. As Chris Cannon, secretary of the Olympian Society, explains, this dynamic doctor was a lifelong advocate of physical education for schoolchildren. “He wanted the Games to be for everyone,” Cannon tells me. “Rich or poor, from top athletes to seven year-olds.”Brookes also recognised that “the working man’s only possession is his health”, and used Olympian activities to keep the local men fit, occupied, and out of the pubs. “Much Wenlock had an unenviable reputation for drunkenness,” writes Catherine Beale in her fascinating history of the Games, . Brookes was astonishingly successful, and his legacy is preserved by the fact the cricket is still played on the ground he used to patrol.This year, in a repeat of the 2010 final, Broseley are taking on Church Preen, whose players Jacob, Jess and Oscar are waiting their turn to bat. Is the final going to plan, I ask them. “No!” they chorus. What the plan? “To get loads of runs,” says Jacob. “Or else we’re never going to beat Broseley.”Church Preen’s star player is ten-year-old Charlotte, who Jacob describes as “one of our best bowlers, and one of our best batters. And a very good catcher.” Right on cue, she thumps a ball to the boundary.Looking on with approval is Joanne Brown, the secretary of Much Wenlock CC. She is delighted by the number of girls taking part. “There are some really good girl cricketers,” she says. “It’s nice to see.”The problem comes once they finish primary school. “It’s hard,” Brown says, “because they move off into secondary school, and William Brookes is a performing arts school. And given the choice between cricket and dance…”This is echoed by Pinches. “We want to have a ladies’ team, a girls’ team,” he says, “but we struggle to get the girls out there to stick with cricket.”Todd, Broseley’s nine-year-old star, lets rip•Liam HerringshawAt which point the heavens open with breathtaking force, and everyone dashes for cover. Much as Hitchin predicted, the officials are rather more eager to leave the field of play than the kids.Eventually, the deluge abates and the final recommences, and, as Jacob, Jess and Oscar feared, Broseley prove too strong, overhauling Church Preen’s total to record their third consecutive Olympian victory.Broseley’s all-round star is also one of their youngest: Todd, just nine years old. As he clutches his gold medal, I ask him how long he’s been playing cricket. “One year,” he says, which just goes to show how quickly good skills can be learnt. His favourite cricketers? “I like everyone!” he beams.If all goes to plan, Todd will be an Olympian for many more years to come. The Society has agreed to add Inter Cricket to the programme next year, bringing in teams of 12- and 14-year-olds, and Cromarty hopes that one day the adult game will be reinstated too.Hitchin is happy just to focus on the development of children’s cricket, and isn’t worried about what happens once the buzz of London 2012 has died down. “This is forever, as far as we’re concerned.”As the tournament draws to an end, and Cressage take on Brockton for the bronze medal, two competitors take a well-earned breather. One of the umpires walks past, congratulates them on their efforts, and hands them both a “Chance To Shine” sticker each.As the official moves on, one of the boys looks quizzically at his sticker and then turns to his friend. “What’s this for?” he asks.”For taking part!” his friend admonishes.It doesn’t get much more Olympian than that. Dr Brookes would surely approve.

Australia evokes memories both painful and sweet for India’s manager on this tour

Sidharth Monga at the MCG24-Dec-2011Shivlal Yadav uses the phrase “it so happened” a lot. It so happens that as manager of the Indian team, his first Test of this assignment is at the MCG, the current team’s scourge and the scene of Yadav’s finest show of courage as an offspinner and a gritty tail-ender. A little less than 30 years ago, when India last won a Test here, in the days when physios and doctors weren’t available 24-7, Yadav took at least seven painkilling injections, straight into his broken toe, to score 20 runs and then bowl 32 overs when India had lost two other bowlers to injury.It was good-old hanging by the skin of the teeth until Kapil Dev recovered to bowl a magic spell on the final day to take 5 for 28 and bowl Australia out for 83, chasing 143. MCG 80-81 is a Test known for the Gavaskar-Lillee altercation and Kapil’s magic spell, but the smaller contributions, the likes Yadav made, are often not retold.Returning to Australia brings back happy memories for Yadav. He averaged under 30 in this crucible for finger spinners, statistics only two other Indian spinners – Bishan Bedi and Ravi Shastri – have managed. Fifty-five of his 102 Test wickets were Australians. However, it is the MCG that is closest to him. Two days before the Boxing Day Test, as he sits in the empty stands of this huge stadium, with birds’ chirpings clearly audible, he recollects those five days in minute detail.”The wicket wasn’t very good. It came up, down, everywhere,” he says. “Vishy [G Viswanath] got a brilliant hundred in the first innings. He had been struggling for runs. In first Test in Sydney (which India lost by an innings) he couldn’t get many. I remember he had completely stopped drinking. He was absolutely concentrating on the game, and he got the hundred, and then he had a beer. For 15 days not a drop. He said he would only have it after scoring a hundred.”It was a hundred made possible by the No. 10 Yadav, who hung around for 79 minutes and scored 20 runs himself. He was there when Viswanath got to the hundred, but before that his toe cracked. “That’s when I broke my toe. Rather Lenny Pascoe broke my toe,” Yadav says. “Rodney Marsh was shouting from behind that he was going to keep coming down. I didn’t understand what he meant. Lenny started hitting me on the top first. He started with my helmet, then shoulder, forearm, ribs, thigh, then the yorker on the toe. Then I understood what Rodney meant.”Viswanath meanwhile told Yadav to not remove the shoe. He knew the sight of swelling might psyche Yadav up. “It was numb and then it hurt,” Yadav says. “I didn’t take a runner or anything. Vishy said, ‘Don’t worry about it, and bat till I am there.’ After he got out, Dilip Doshi got out soon. I went to the hospital to get my foot x-rayed. It was a T sort of fracture. Quite visible.” Yadav still can’t bend his toe.During Australia’s innings, Kapil strained his thigh, and Doshi, too, injured his toe. There weren’t many options left. “Sunil asked the doctors if I could take painkillers and be on the field. The doctor said they’d give me shots but I wouldn’t be able to chase balls. Sunil said, ‘You field in the slips and keep bowling at the other end.'”Yadav went on to bowl 32 overs, taking two shots before each session, one each into the either side of the toe, for the wickets of Kim Hughes and Allan Border. He points to the mid-on area where Chetan Chauhan “brilliantly” caught Hughes’ on-drive. Still, India had conceded a big lead, and had only set a meagre target, thanks to half-centuries from Gavaskar and Chetan Chauhan – Gavaskar had threatened a walkout in the second innings after being given out lbw to Dennis Lillee – when Yadav’s turn came to bat.Yadav wanted to wear a bigger shoe than his own, Bharath Reddy’s size 11, and go out to bat. But the way he was limping, the manager Wing Commander Durrani told him he could not play any further part in the match. What Kapil did with the ball after that is part of folklore, as is Greg Chappell’s attempt at a hook, and getting bowled behind the legs by a Karsan Ghavri grubber. That was the wicket, just before the end of the fourth day’s play, that made Lillee say he would bet on India if he were a betting man.A lesser told story is how the same combine of Yadav and Ghavri had kept India alive in the series with a 10-over ninth-wicket stand on the final day of the second Test in Adelaide. Only Doshi, not much of a bat, was to follow, but Australia couldn’t get to him. Ghavri played out 39 deliveries for seven, and Yadav 28 for a 0 not out, called by the Australian papers the most valuable zero of all time.

“Rodney Marsh was shouting from behind that he was going to keep coming down. I didn’t understand what he meant. Lenny started hitting me on the top first. He started with my helmet, then shoulder, forearm, ribs, thigh, then the yorker on the toe. Then I understood what Rodney meant.”Yadav on his toe injury

Yadav remembers earlier in the tour he had tried to farm the strike when batting with a No. 11, and got himself out while trying to work a single off the last ball. “When we came inside the dressing room, Gavaskar fired me. ‘This is not the professional way of playing. Why should you bother about the other fellow? It’s his problem. You look after your wicket.’ I had made up my mind that if the situation came again I would play my own way. I was not going to bother about the other batsmen.”It just so happened that in the Adelaide Test we had 10 overs to play when I joined Karsan. He said he would play that end and I said I would play this end. Only on one occasion there was a couple taken, but we never changed ends.”Yadav came back to Australia in 1985-86, and ended up with 15 wickets in the series, more than any other bowler. There was one final act left before he was finally done with the Aussies. The tied Test. In the first innings he added 55 with Kapil to save the follow-on, and in the second he joined Ravi Shastri with India needing 14 to win. It had been a daring declaration by Australia on the final day.”The moment they declared Kapil said, ‘Come on boys, let’s go for it. This challenge we have to accept.’ Sunil and [Kris] Srikkanth got a good start, and after that we kept losing wickets after every 50 runs we put on. At times we thought okay we should call it off, but somehow we kept getting runs. That momentum kept going on. Ravi played a beautiful knock. If Kapil had stayed there for half an hour, match would have been over.”When I walked in, with the 40000-odd crowd, my hair was standing, my heart pumping. Ravi came up to me and said, ‘Shivi, if at all you want to hit, hit only Greg Matthews, not Ray Bright, because the ball was turning and he was taking it away from me. There was very little I could think – there was huge sound of public shouting. I played a couple of balls, and took a chance because we were running out of overs too. One flighted ball, I just went down the wicket and lofted. Allan Border was at silly point and he shouted ‘Catch it, catch it, catch it.’ Greg Ritchie was at long-on, and he was trying to get under the ball. The moment the ball cleared him, I was a relieved man. Otherwise it would have appeared as if I threw my wicket away.”With just four required, when Yadav tried to sweep Bright, the ball hit the arm, and then the back of the bat to deflect onto the stumps. Maninder Singh’s dismissal after that is stuff of legend, as is the “altercation” between Shastri and umpire V Vikramraju. “We thought we had lost an opportunity to win the Test match, but ultimately we realised it was a tie, and perhaps even better than a win. Even today we talk about it because it was a tie.”Parity has been Yadav’s relationship with Australia, especially in Australia. He played an important part in three drawn series against them. The parity ended after his retirement as Australia became a much stronger side and kept whipping India at home. Now that India are starting a series on level terms and not as underdogs, it so happens that Yadav is the manager of the side.

Shafali Verma and Jess Jonassen smashed merciless unbeaten fifties to steer Delhi Capitals (DC) into the WPL 2025 playoffs with a nine-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Saturday. It was RCB’s fourth defeat in a row, and they ended without a single win in the Bengaluru leg of the tournament.Ellyse Perry once again led RCB’s fight after they were sent in, scoring an unbeaten 60 to help the side post 147 for 5, but it wasn’t enough against the table-toppers, who had Shikha Pandey and debutant left-arm spinner Shree Charani picking up two wickets apiece.The chase though got off on a tricky note for DC, who lost Meg Lanning in the third over, but Shafali and Jonassen put on an unbroken 146 for the second wicket off just 77 balls – the highest partnership for any wicket in a WPL run chase. The Chinnaswamy was left silenced as DC romped home with 27 balls remaining.Ellyse Perry hit three sixes on her way to an unbeaten 60 off 47 balls•BCCI

Perry anchors RCB innings

Perry came into this game with three fifties in RCB’s first five games, and she was once again central to her team’s fortunes on a slow surface. While there were starts from Danni Wyatt-Hodge (21 off 18) and Raghvi Bist (33 off 32), neither went on to a big score. It was left to Perry to anchor the innings and keep the scorecard ticking at a healthy rate.Coming in after Pandey had dismissed Smriti Mandhana in the second over for another low score (8), Perry was up and running in Pandey’s next over by crashing a wide half-volley over the covers for four. She then hit a six each off spinners Jonassen, Charani and Minnu Mani.Perry put on a brisk 44 with Wyatt-Hodge for the second wicket, and 66 with Bist for the third. With Bist struggling to middle the ball, however, that partnership consumed 54 balls.Perry reached her fourth fifty of the season, off 37 balls, in the 14th over. At the end of the 16th over, RCB were 119 for 2 and eyeing a strong finish. But they fell apart, scoring just 28 in the last four overs for the loss of three wickets. Perry only faced seven balls in the last five overs, scoring eight runs off them.With 295 runs in six innings, Perry has overtaken Nat Sciver-Brunt to become the tournament’s leading run-scorer.Sree Charani finished with figures of 2 for 28 on WPL debut•BCCI

Charani shines on debut

DC preferred Charani over fast bowler Titas Sadhu and she looked in her element. Unfazed by the huge turnout at the Chinnaswamy, Charani used the turn that was on offer in the first innings, kept the stumps in play, constantly angling the ball into middle and leg over the course of a tight spell. She removed Bist and Richa Ghosh in a momentum-changing 17th over to deflate RCB at the death, and ended with figures of 2 for 28 from four overs.

Chinnaswamy fast follows Chinnaswamy feast for Mandhana

Mandhana owned the Chinnaswamy during WPL 2024, scoring 219 runs in five innings, including two half-centuries, at a strike rate of 154.22. This season, however, she has perished to ill-judged shots, accumulating just 50 runs in four innings at her home ground at a strike rate of 102.04. On Saturday, she chased a Pandey delivery shaping away from off stump and edged to Lanning at wide slip.

Left-right combination works for DC

RCB had an excellent start to their bowling powerplay, conceding just five runs in the first three overs. Renuka Singh displayed excellent control with her swing, with almost all of her deliveries finishing within the stumps. She removed Lanning for a 12-ball 2, with Perry taking a sharp chance at mid-on. But once Jonassen joined Shafali, runs started flowing for DC, and it became hard for RCB to keep them quiet.This was the second time Jonassen walked out at No. 3. She had scored another unbeaten 61 from that position at the same ground against Gujarat Giants. With DC’s top order predominantly made up of right-hand batters, they promoted the left-handed Jonassen and it began to unsettle RCB. Jonassen looked fluent in her 38-ball stay, hitting nine fours and a straight six off left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht.Shafali, who had been out in the 40s three times before this game, played a composed knock, showing a desire to not throw her wicket away after a bright start. She ended with her top score of the season, smashing eight fours and four sixes (two each on the off and leg sides) and hammered the bowling to all parts.As DC neared their target, RCB’s bowling began to wither, and Shafali and Jonassen duly punished them. From 68 for 1 after nine overs, DC sprinted to their target, hitting eight fours and five sixes while ransacking 83 runs off what turned out to be the last 39 balls of their innings.

Coach Justin Langer will assess Joe Burns over the next couple of days and Matthew Wade appears an option to open

Andrew McGlashan15-Dec-20202:04

Justin Langer: ‘We’re going to be really well planned for Virat Kohli’

Australia coach Justin Langer has confirmed that Cameron Green will make his Test debut against India in Adelaide if he passes concussion protocols over the next couple of days with Matthew Wade shaping as a potential opener if the allrounder does play.Langer said there had been “good news” on Green’s progress on Tuesday morning following the blow he took on the side of his head in his follow through against the Indians at the SCG.”If he’s passed fit he’ll definitely play,” Langer said. “We are just going through the protocols. He had another test this morning which we got good news on. He’s a terrific young bloke, obviously an excellent talent, he’s earned the right for selection through his performances. It’s very exciting for Australian cricket for him and his family.”He added that the selection decisions were a “jigsaw puzzle” with “a lot of balls in the air” and whether Green gets the medical sign-off to be available will determine the balance of Australia’s XI.Related

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The other big call that needs to be made is whether to show faith in badly out-of-form opener Joe Burns – who has made 62 runs in nine innings this season – although his experience may still tip the scales in his favour.Langer also confirmed that Marnus Labuschagne would not be considered as an interim opening batsman, with the aim to make as few changes to the batting order as possible in the absence of David Warner, which would point towards an elevation for Wade from No. 6 if Green is available.”I have been backing Joe in the whole time,” Langer said. “He’s a very good player, you don’t lose your talent overnight. He also understands that runs are the greatest currency to any player and he’s been a bit light on. We’ll get eyes on him today, see how he’s going, have a chat to him and we’ll make our decision on who will open in the next day or so.”Marnus won’t be opening, he’s done an amazing job at No. 3. Steve Smith does an amazing job at No. 4. We’ll try and stay as settled as possible while David [Warner] is injured. We’ve got some tough decisions to be made.Cameron Green made a century against the Indians at Drummoyne Oval•Getty Images”We’ve got to wait and see what happens with Cameron Green first so that’s one part of jigsaw puzzle. We’ll look at Joe and Marcus [Harris] today to see how they are tracking at training. We’ve got to pick our six best [batsmen] and that’s all part of the jigsaw puzzle. There’s a lot of balls in the air, I wish we could be more definite, not only for you guys but more importantly for our players but until we get a few things ticked off we can’t make a decision.”Wade has never opened the batting in first-class cricket, but has done it considerably in the limited-overs game, and him batting alongside Burns was the option endorsed by Ricky Ponting during Channel Seven’s BBL coverage on Monday evening.”He could…he could handle anywhere,” Langer said on Wade going in first. “He’s mentally tough, physically tough, he’s got good footwork, he can counterattack like David Warner. We’ve just got to work out what the best make-up of our team is going to be.”Despite a horror season, Burns gained Ponting’s endorsement to continue in the role although if Green is a success at No. 6 there will be another decision to make when Warner and Will Pucovksi are fit again.”I’m sticking with Joe Burns,” Ponting said on Seven. “I’ve heard a lot of suggestions that he hasn’t scored enough runs to stay in the side but I’m keeping him in there.”He made 40 in his last Test innings, he’s made four Test hundreds, averages almost 40 – I’m sticking with him and showing some faith. I think he’s good enough to get through it.”What I am doing is moving Matthew Wade up to the top of the order to open with [Burns]…I think you’ve got to tell Wade it’s just for one game. Wadey will want to do it. He’ll be excited by this, he’s that sort of character that he’d love the chance to get up there and take on the Indian opening bowlers in a Test match. He won’t shy away from it.”

Erling Haaland came under fire from a renowned former Norway manager after failing to score for his nation against Kazakhstan.

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Haaland couldn't score against KazakhstanReceives 2/10 rating Norway held to disappointing goalless drawWHAT HAPPENED?

No Premier League team has managed to find a way to stop Haaland this season, but it's a different story for Norway. The Man City star was held off the scoresheet as Norway drew 0-0 against Kazakhstan in their Nations League tie on Friday.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Haaland wasn't the only notable player who failed to inspire his country to victory, with Arsenal's Martin Odegaard also struggling. Both players were criticised after the match by former Norway boss Egil Olsen. Olsen, who briefly managed Wimbledon in the Premier League, took the Scandinavian nation to successive World Cups in 1994 and 1998 and then coached the team again between 2009 and 2013.

WHAT EGIL OLSEN SAID

Olsen said: We have two world-class players in the team. Today Erling Braut Haaland was unfortunately far below par. It’s one of the worst things I’ve seen from Haaland. Martin Odegaard flashes at times, but I have also seen him better. One point here is too bad. There are no other teams in this group that will concede points to Kazakhstan.”

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GettyWHAT THE FANS THOUGHT

The Norway manager's words seemed relatively kind compared to how the fans reacted to their star players performances. Haaland recorded a 2/10 rating from TV2 watchers and Odegaard a slightly-improved 4/10. The City striker had four shots and failed to get any on target in a sorry night for the Premier League's most feared striker.

Celtic all but sealed their third successive Scottish Premiership title with a narrow 2-1 win over their local rivals at Parkhead on Saturday afternoon.

The Hoops scored two goals in quick succession during the first half as Matt O'Riley gave the hosts the lead before an own goal from John Lundstram made it two just three minutes later.

Cyriel Dessers pulled one back for Rangers with a close range header but Lundstram was sent off for a dangerous challenge on Alistair Johnston, and the away team spent the second half failing to get back into the match.

O'Riley was one of the standouts on the park for the Scottish giants with his midfield wizardry but he was not the only star of the show for Celtic, as Daizen Maeda was as good as the Denmark international.

Matt O'Riley's Old Firm magic

The left-footed maestro caught the eye once again for Celtic as he registered his 15th Scottish Premiership goal of the campaign, in 35 appearances.

O'Riley, who has also chipped in with 12 assists in the league, opened the scoring at Parkhead with a thumping finish into the bottom right corner after Callum McGregor played the ball to him just inside the box.

Touches

64

Shots

5

Goals

1

Key passes

3

Duels won

7/12

Pass accuracy

90%

As you can see in the table above, the Danish gem was also reliable in possession, provided a big threat in the final third as a shot-taker and creator, and competed well in his duels.

However, O'Riley did let himself down with a weak penalty that gave Jack Butland the chance to make a save, which provided the away side with a chance to get back into the match in the second half, albeit they did not take it.

Daizen Maeda's big contributions

Maeda was unplayable alongside his Danish teammate in the Old Firm clash as his work in and out of possession was crucial to Celtic's success on Saturday.

Brendan Rodgers once claimed that the Japan international has the work rate of "two players" and that was on full display against the Light Blues at Paradise.

Kenny Miller described him as a "pressing machine" on commentary for Sky Sports, which fellow commentator Chris Sutton agreed with, as the winger constantly closed down opposition players to stop Rangers attacks in their tracks.

James Tavernier ended the match with a 57% pass accuracy and one key pass, compared to his usual 78% pass accuracy and 3.2 key passes per game, which illustrates how effective Maeda's closing down was.

Whenever the English full-back attempted to bomb down the flank or put a ball into the box, the Hoops winger was there in the right place to close him down and force him to produce a turnover or go backwards.

The right-footed forward, who started on the left flank, also made a telling contribution in attack as his burst down the left wing produced the cross from which Lundstram prodded the ball into his own net.

Maeda does not officially get the assist for the goal but it was his teasing delivery into the box that forced the midfielder to find the back of his own net.

Overall, the talented ace, who had 34 touches of the ball and completed 100% (2/2) of his dribbles, was unplayable with his fantastic pressing and wing play, and that is why him and O'Riley were two of the standouts for the Scottish giants.

da dobrowin： Chelsea are still competing to secure a place in Europe for the 2024/25 campaign and have three games left to finish as high up in the table as possible.

da gbg bet： After Manchester United's 4-0 loss to Crystal Palace earlier this week, the Blues are seventh in the Premier League and only two points adrift of Newcastle United in sixth.

The London-based giants can either land a place in the Europa Conference League or the Europa League for next season, having spent the current campaign without any European football.

This means that there is still plenty to play for over the next three games. However, some attention is still on the upcoming summer transfer window as Chelsea look to improve their playing squad.

Todd Boehly and his team are already reportedly eyeing targets to come in and compete with Mauricio Pochettino's current options, and a defender from LaLiga is supposedly on their list.

Chelsea's interest in Barcelona star

According to Mundo Deportivo, the Blues are one of a number of teams interested in a deal to sign versatile Barcelona defender Jules Kounde.

The report claims that the Spanish giants have to cash in on one of their current centre-back options, having overloaded in that position, and the France international has attracted interest from a host of clubs.

Chelsea, PSG, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Inter, and AC Milan are all said to be eyeing up the former Seville star ahead of the summer, but the outlet does not name a potential price tag for the ace.

It does, however, reveal that Bayern Munich are keen on Ronald Araujo, and the Uruguay international could, therefore, be the centre-back Barcelona sell, instead of Kounde.

The report adds that the versatile enforcer, who can play at right-back or in the heart of the defence, is willing to remain with the Catalan giants, which does not suggest that he is likely to push for an exit from the Nou Camp this summer.

Chelsea's pursuit of Kounde comes almost two years on from when they failed to sign him on a permanent deal from Seville, in the summer he made the move to Barcelona.

Sky Sports reported that the Blues were confident that they would get a deal over the line to add the French titan to their squad, having agreed a deal with the Spanish side, only for the player to wait for a transfer to Barca.

Boehly and his team could now avenge that one that got away by bringing him to Stamford Bridge this summer, should he become available.

Pochettino could then brutally ditch current first-team centre-back Axel Disasi by bringing Kounde in as an upgrade on his compatriot over the coming months.

Axel Disasi's season in numbers

The 26-year-old battler recently lost his place in the starting XI after Chelsea were hammered 5-0 by rivals Arsenal at The Emirates back in April.

Veteran defender Thiago Silva has replaced him in the lineup over the last three games – a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa, a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur and a 5-0 win over West Ham United.

Disasi has, however, started 29 of his 31 appearances in the Premier League so far this term, which shows that he has been a regular starter for the majority of the campaign.

The French colossus, who has played eight games at right-back this season, has been solid from a physical perspective in the English top-flight, with a duel success rate of 65%. This shows that opposition forwards rarely get the better of him in one-on-battles on the ground and in the air.

Axel Disasi vs Premier League centre-backs

Statistic (per 90)

Percentile rank

Tackles (1.15)

Bottom 17%

Interceptions (0.63)

Bottom 10%

Blocks (0.91)

Bottom 12%

Clearances (3.56)

Bottom 34%

Aerial duels won (2.51)

Top 28%

Stats via FBref

As you can see in the table above, Disasi ranks well below average in a number of defensive statistics against his positional peers in the Premier League this term.

However, he does rank above average in key possession-based statistics. The former Monaco star ranks within the top 33% of centre-backs in the division for progressive passes per 90 (3.91), and the top 27% for progressive carries per 90 (1.05).

Why Chelsea could brutally replace Axel Disasi

Pochettino could brutally replace Disasi by securing a deal to sign Kounde this summer, as the French gem has the potential to be a big upgrade at the heart of the Blues defence.

Firstly, the Barcelona star has averaged more tackles (1.21), interceptions (0.85), blocks (1.06), and aerials won (2.38) per 90 in LaLiga than the Chelsea man has in the Premier League.

This suggests that the ex-Seville man could offer more to the team than Disasi from a defensive perspective, as he cuts out opposition attacks more frequently than his compatriot.

The 25-year-old ace, who has won 63% of his aerial battles in the league, was once reportedly told by Xavi that he and Araujo would be among "the best CBs in the world" at Barcelona, and his work in possession suggests that it was a fair claim by the manager.

Statistic per 90

Jules Kounde (Barcelona)

Axel Disasi (Chelsea)

Pass accuracy

89.9%

90%

Progressive passes

7.69

3.91

Progressive carries

2.16

1.03

Shot-creating actions

1.91

0.45

Successful take-ons

0.46

0.42

As you can see in the table above, Kounde is far more progressive and forward-thinking in his use of the ball than Disasi, with significantly more shot-creating actions, progressive passes, and progressive carries per 90.

In fact, the Barcelona star ranks within the top 1% of centre-backs in LaLiga for progressive passes per 90, the top 3% for progressive carries per 90, and the top 3% for shot-creating actions per 90.

He also ranks within the top 3% of centre-backs in the Men's Big 5 Leagues and European competitions for progressive passes per 90 (7.00), which speaks to how well he has performed across Europe's major leagues.

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Kounde is a strong defender, who can play at right-back or centre-back, and has the quality in and out of possession to be a big upgrade on Disasi, as shown in the aforementioned statistics.

This is why Pochettino could then brutally ditch his own versatile French defender by bringing the Barcelona titan to Stamford Bridge in the summer.

Tottenham Hotspur are now in complete control of their own destiny, with a victory over Nottingham Forest moving them into fourth place with a game in hand against fifth-placed Aston Villa.

Spurs flew out the blocks with intensity and purpose, and they were rewarded fairly quickly after a Murillo own goal handed Spurs the lead.

Chris Wood equalised just before the half-hour mark, and at half-time, Ange Postecoglou switched out his midfield pairing.

Spurs’ dominance eventually paid off, with two wonderful goals securing the three points, but it was the performance of one individual that made the difference, even more so than Spanish defender Pedro Porro.

Pedro Porro’s performance in numbers vs Forest

There’s no two ways about it: Porro has been fantastic at right back this season, taking to Postecoglou’s philosophy and approach with ease.

Last night, the Spaniard scored his first Premier League goal of the season, unleashing a wonderful strike into the roof of the net, which gave the team some much-needed breathing room.

However, his overall performance was sublime, keeping Callum Hudson-Odoi relatively quiet, making two tackles, and only being dribbled past once, as per Sofascore.

The number 23 was also composed on the ball, playing out of tight spaces with deft passes and touches, which led to his pass accuracy being 91% – among the highest of anyone on the pitch – while taking 78 touches.

Despite this, Porro still wasn’t the best defender, with one of his teammates stealing the spotlight.

Van de Ven’s statistics against Forest

When Micky van de Ven is playing alongside Cristian Romero at the heart of the Spurs backline, the side looks so much more complete, calm and dominant.

The Dutch defender has had a difficult season so far, with two hamstring injuries causing him to lose his momentum, but this performance highlighted just how incredible he truly is.

The 22-year-old made his 20th Premier League start of the season on Sunday, and every single attribute of his complete profile was on display.

Football.London’s Alasdair Gold handed Van de Ven an outstanding 9/10 match rating for his showing, describing him as simply “superb,” and the statistics also support that.

Goals

1

Pass accuracy

94%

Touches

84

Possession lost

5

Tackles

5

Dribbled past

0

Ground duels won

5/5

Van de Ven was extremely confident in possession, evading the Forest pressure with excellent passing and ball carrying, as shown by his 94% pass accuracy – the highest of any player in the game – and 84 touches.

The left-footed centre-half also showed just how well he can strike a ball, as he scored Spurs’ second goal of the game with a rocket into the top-left corner that was completely unstoppable.

On top of the Dutchman's goal and his influence on the ball, the number 37 also completely dominated Anthony Elanga, Divock Origi, and Wood, with his athleticism allowing him to make five tackles and win all five of his ground duels without being dribbled past once.

Such a performance drew plenty of praise, notably from Jamie Redknapp. Speaking on Sky Sports, he compared the defender to an £86m-rated Arsenal man: "Arsenal fans look at Saliba who’s a great young defender, but I think this guy is equally as good. He’s got everything going for him.

"You can see the difference when Spurs lost him to his hamstring injuries, I think if he stays injury-free then there is no reason he can’t end up like what Virgil van Dijk has done. When Virgil van Dijk was a similar age, he wasn’t producing a performance like that."

It was, without doubt, the perfect centre-half performance, a masterclass even, and the rapid 6 foot 4 monster will play a huge role not just in the rest of this season but in the future of Tottenham football club.

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Despite the presence of Timo Werner, Bryan Gil, Dejan Kulusevski, Son Heung-min and Manor Solomon in their squad already, it is believed Tottenham are admirers of both Wolves star Pedro Neto and Eberechi Eze of Crystal Palace heading into the summer.

Manager Ange Postecoglou doesn't appear to favour Gil in his starting line up, leading to rumours that the Spaniard could in fact leave N17 this summer, while the consistently-injured Manor Solomon could quit Spurs if they end up bringing in two wingers (Dan Kilpatrick).

This would free up space for a new wide attacker for next term, and a decision must also be made on the long-term future of Werner.

Timo Werner's best games for Tottenham so far	Match Rating (via WhoScored)
Spurs 3-1 Crystal Palace	7.68
Spurs 3-2 Brentford	7.36
Spurs 2-1 Brighton	6.91
Spurs 1-2 Wolves	6.66
Man United 2-2 Spurs	6.64

The German, signed on loan from RB Leipzig in the winter transfer window, bagged his first Spurs goal against Crystal Palace last weekend and has registered a further two assists so far during his time at N17.

His deal is thought to contain a £15 million buy-option, something which may well entice the wider Tottenham recruitment team if Werner can display the kind of form which motivated Chelsea to splash £47.5m on him in 2020.

Hutton thinks Spurs will "always" be in contact over Werner deal for 24/25

Now, speaking to Tottenham News, former Lilywhites defender Hutton has suggested that Spurs will always have been in contact over signing Werner permanently for 24/25.

“I think they will have always been in contact about it,” said Hutton.

“I don’t think that will change between now and the end of the season, they will always be monitoring that situation. It always goes back to the same thing for me, he needs more than one opportunity to score a goal.

"You see Eze, fantastic free-kick but before that Werner has a great opportunity one-on-one with the goalkeeper and he shows amazing speed and that’s what he’s all about getting into position.

“Sometimes I just think when he has too long to think about it, I never feel confident that he’ll score. If that was Son, I’d put him down to score. But he got his goal and he’s off the mark. Well done, it’s good for him and good for the club, but I think they’ll be monitoring the situation from now until the end of the season to see if he’s a guy that can fit in long-term or not. Then they’ll have to make the decision."

Newcastle United have been through somewhat of an injury crisis this campaign, with numerous key first-team members spending long periods on the sidelines.

The midfield department has been the most depleted after injuries to the likes of Joelinton and Lewis Miley, whilst big-money signing Sandro Tonali has missed the vast majority of the campaign after being suspended for breaching the FA's and Italian Federation's betting rules.

In recent weeks, the Magpies' defence has taken a severe hit after ACL injuries to Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles, which has seen forgotten defender Emil Krafth being handed a rare spell in the starting lineup.

However, the club's problems don't stop there, with goalkeeper Nick Pope still out with a shoulder problem after picking up the issue in the 1-0 victory over Manchester United back in December.

Given everything that has occurred in recent months, boss Eddie Howe is looking to strengthen multiple key areas this summer with the boss looking at one player in particular to potentially add needed depth or push for a starting role.

Newcastle looking at EFL star

Given the injury situation at St James' Park, the club need to invest this summer to help improve their lack of squad depth that has seen the squad look thin on multiple occasions.

According to The Telegraph's Mike McGrath and John Percy, the Magpies are interested in signing Middlesbrough goalkeeper Seny Dieng, with Howe's side not the only side looking at the 29-year-old.

The former QPR 'keeper is believed to have caught the eye of numerous Premier League clubs, including Crystal Palace, while Championship leaders Ipswich Town are also interested.

Dieng would surely jump at the opportunity to move to Newcastle, given their status as an established Premier League side.

Whilst he would likely be playing second fiddle to Pope – an undoubted favourite of Howe – the Senegal international would certainly be pushing him for playing time given his displays in the Championship this season.

Seny Dieng's stats at Middlesbrough

After joining Michael Carrick's side for a fee in the region of £2m last summer, the "sensational" Dieng, as dubbed by the Second Tier Podcast's Ryan Dilks, has proven himself as one of the best shot-stoppers in the division.

The 29-year-old has achieved a tally of ten clean sheets in his 30 league appearances this season and has been particularly influential for Boro in recent weeks, as they mount a late charge for a play-off place.

Indeed, the goalkeeper has made 69 saves this season, with the former QPR man boasting a 65% save percentage.

Appearances

30

Saves

69

Save percentage

65%

Pass completion rate

77%

Clean sheets

10

The Senegalese shot-stopper is just as impressive with the ball at his feet, with Dieng managing to complete 77% of the passes he's attempted in the league this season.

To put that into perspective, Pope has succeded with 73% of his passes, so there is a slight improvement on a player who Les Ferdinand believes "could be pound-for-pound the best signing that they [Newcastle] have made," during Howe's tenure.

With Loris Karius out of contract in the summer and Martin Dubravka now aged 35 and coming to the end of his playing career, the club should look to invest in a younger 'keeper who could potentially push Pope for the starting role, whilst being a solid backup option to have.

The Boro man has proven he's more than capable in England's second tier, with the 29-year-old now coming into his prime and more than deserving of an opportunity to play in the biggest league in world football.