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Bangladesh have an opportunity to keep their top position in the ICC ODI Super League. However, given two of their upcoming series against England and Ireland aren’t set in stone yet, it is best to grab points when they’re in form, like they are currently.Bangladesh will be buoyed by how their less-experienced players have stood up in the previous two games. First, Afif Hossain and Mehidy Hasan Miraz engineered a magnificent turnaround from the depths of 45 for 6 in a chase of 216. Then, Litton Das and Taskin Ahmed rose to the occasion to seal the series.That said, they have a few things left to do, like ensure captain Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah to get that one big score. As such, they’ve all been in form. Why just them? Newcomer Yasir Ali too needs a big knock too, to give him a head start.The visitors have a consistency problem with the batting. So far, neither Ibrahim Zadran nor Riaz Hassan have contributed significantly, while Rahmanullah Gurbaz has a knee niggle. Much of the work has been left to the middle order. They’ve all had starts, but no hair-raising contribution. Najibullah Zadran has two fifties, Rahmat Shah one. If allrounders Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan can chip in big, they will have ticked off a box.Bangladesh have negated their spin threat pretty well, with some assistance from the surface. Left-arm quick Fazalhaq Farooqi has been one of their standout performers. Having come off a four-for in the first game, the Bangladesh batters treaded with caution against him. Can he get some support from the others?

Form guide

Bangladesh WWWWW
Afghanistan LLWWW

In the spotlight

Najibullah Zadran’s two fifties has shown his importance in the middle order. He is the glue that holds the batting, especially when they falter. But now there’s a simple matter of moving on from the starts and converting them into big scores t have a greater impact.Taskin Ahmed bowled the most economical 10-over spell in his ODI career in the second ODI. Najibullah’s scalp at a vital time helped Bangladesh surge. Although he took just two wickets in the game, the performance underlined his growing improvement in skill and fitness in his second coming as a fast bowler.

Team news

Ebadot Hossain will be in line for an ODI debut if one of the regular pacers are rested. Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mahmudul Hasan Joy are the two batting options Bangladesh may consider if they want to make a change.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Litton Das, 2 Tamim Iqbal (capt), 3 Shakib Al Hasan, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Yasir Ali, 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Afif Hossain, 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Shoriful Islam, 10 Taskin Ahmed, 11 Mustafizur RahmanGurbaz is an injury concern. This would mean a forced change at the top. Among the ODI squad members, only the left-hander Shahid Kamal is the only one yet to get a go.Afghanistan (probable): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Riaz Hassan, 3 Rahmat Shah, 4 Azmatullah Omarzai, 5 Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), 6 Najibullah Zadran, 7 Mohammad Nabi, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 10 Fareed Ahmed, 11 Fazalhaq Farooqi

Pitch and conditions

Expect another batting surface where the ball will skid on late in the evening because of dew. No rain is forecast.

Stats and trivia

• Litton’s 136 is the highest at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. The 129* by Sean Williams in 2018 was the previous best. Soumya Sarkar’s 117 against Zimbabwe in the same ODI series was the previous best by a Bangladeshi here
• Bangladesh made 300 plus against Afghanistan for the first time two days ago. The 279 for 8 they made at the 2015 World Cup was their previous best.
  

MatériaMais Notícias

da bet esporte： Após uma estreia ruim no Campeonato Brasileiro, sendo derrotado em casa pelo Corinthians, por 3 a 1, o Botafogo deu a volta por cima e venceu o Ceará como visitante pela 2ª rodada, devolvendo o placar sofrido na 1ª. O destaque do jogo foi o atacante Erison, que participou dos três gols do Glorioso, marcando duas vezes e dando a assistência para Victor Sá fazer o seu.

RelacionadasBrasileirãoAlterações de Luís Castro são cruciais para primeira vitória do Botafogo no BrasileirãoBrasileirão18/04/2022BrasileirãoJorge Braga comemora vitória no Brasileirão: ‘Primeiro passo do novo Botafogo’Brasileirão17/04/2022BrasileirãoVelocidade e paciência para esperar pelos contra-ataques marcam vitória do Botafogo no BrasileirãoBrasileirão17/04/2022

da imperador bet： > GALERIA:ATUAÇÕES: Show de Erison e boa atuação de Patrick de Paula marcam vitória do Botafogo pelo Brasileirão. Veja as notas!

‘El Toro’, como vem sendo chamado pela torcida, é o artilheiro do clube carioca na temporada com 10 gols marcados e um dos principais do Brasil em 2022 entre os jogadores da Série A. Mais do que isso, tem a melhor média entre os maiores goleadores do país neste ano.

Das 14 partidas disputadas, o camisa 89 foi titular em somente sete, somando 703 minutos em campo, segundo dados do site OGol. O que lhe dá uma média de uma bola na rede a cada 70 minutos no gramado. Nem mesmo Hulk, que anotou 13 tentos em 12 jogos, tem um aproveitamento tão bom. O atacante do Atlético Mineiro precisa, em média, de 72 minutos de atuação para marcar.

Revelado pelo XV de Piracicaba, Erison está disputando pela primeira vez a Série A do Brasileirão. No ano passado, porém, foi um dos destaques da B vestindo camisa do Brasil de Pelotas, apesar do rebaixamento da equipe. O centroavante chegou ao Xavante já no 2º turno da competição e marcou 8 gols nas 19 rodadas em que atuou, terminando também com uma das melhores médias do campeonato.

MINUTOS PARA MARCAR UM GOL EM 2022
– Apenas atacantes da Série A com 10 gols ou mais no ano
– Dados do site OGol

1º – Erison – Botafogo – 1 gol a cada 70 minutos em campo
2º – Hulk – Atlético-MG – 1 gol a cada 72 minutos em campo
3º – Calleri – São Paulo – 1 gol a cada 102minutos em campo
4º – Rodriguinho – Cuiabá – 1 gol a cada 110minutos em campo
5º – Raphael Veiga – Palmeiras – 1 gol a cada 118minutos em campo
Léo Gamalho – Coritiba – 1 gol a cada 118minutos em campo
7º – Gabigol – Flamengo – 1 gol a cada 120minutos em campo
Nicolas – Goiás – 1 gol a cada 120minutos em campo
9º – Cano – Fluminense – 1 gol a cada 145minutos em campo

It is hard to pin-point one single reason for Pakistan’s capitulation in Dubai; there were many chinks in their armour

Umar Farooq12-Jan-2014Where is the home advantage, asks Misbah

The unresponsive pitches in the UAE that have not played out to Pakistan’s strengths have left the team disappointed and bewildered. After losing the second Test against Sri Lanka in Dubai, Misbah-ul-Haq said flat pitches were not what he had wanted and it blunted the home advantage.
“Obviously, we are not getting support as per our strength [of spinners] and that is a worry for us,” Misbah said. “The PCB is not preparing pitches, obviously the curator [in UAE] is preparing pitches. But as far as satisfaction goes, it’s not there because we have not given instructions for such flat tracks.
“Maybe the groundsman wants to make another kind of pitch but they are not able to do that. It is surprising that there is no turn here on the pitch. Normally the pitches here help spin, on the second or third day but even on the fifth day the pitch did not spin.”

Pakistan entered day five amid prediction of heavy rain in Dubai and although thick clouds prevailed over the stadium all day, the rain never came down. Pakistan may have considered themselves unfortunate, but they were out-batted and out-bowled by an efficient Sri Lankan team that beat them by nine wickets – their biggest win in terms of wickets, against Pakistan. The home team may have walked out with positives after the draw in Abu Dhabi, however, the loss in Dubai, once again, exposed a number of chinks in the Pakistan team.Top-order conundrum
Pakistan’s top order was praised for their contribution in the first Test but their failure in the second means the team will have to take a fresh look at their options. The No. 3 position remains a talking point after Mohammad Hafeez, drafted back into the Test side after a stellar run in the ODIs, couldn’t reprise the same form, scoring 21 and 1 in the second Test. Ahmed Shehzad’s introduction as an opener didn’t work either; the move disturbed the left-right combination of Khurram Manzoor and Shan Masood which had set-up Pakistan’s win against South Africa in Abu Dhabi in November.Middle-order frailties
Pakistan’s over-reliance on Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq is no secret and it’s high time other batsmen started delivering. The technically sound Asad Shafiq, who scored a century against South Africa at the same venue three months back, has been struggling since. Though he played some elegant back-foot shots on the fourth day, he wasn’t able to stay for an extended period; he contributed 6 and 23.The overworked workhorse
Saeed Ajmal has toiled for 114.2 overs in the two Tests in this series and conceded 248 runs. On top of the workload, he also took a blow on his foot while batting in the second innings. It can be argued that Sri Lanka batsmen played him with caution and neutralised him well, but he did look off-colour with his line and length.The ineffective seamer
Rahat Ali, who went into the series as the second seamer, failed to make an impact in the two Tests. His inability to pick up wickets was excused by the captain, the coach and the team manager, who suggested the bowler had been unlucky. But for someone who bowled more than 100 overs in the series for just two wickets, it can’t be just about luck. It also points to the lack of skill.The flat tenure
Dav Whatmore’s tenure as the coach of Pakistan is soon coming to an end; he is with the team for another nine days. In the two years with Whatmore at the helm, Pakistan didn’t show any signs of improvement and failed to win a single Test series. The record will leave a blot on Whatmore’s coaching credentials.

Ange Postecoglou has been dealt another Tottenham injury worry ahead of the north London derby, with a "world-class" Spurs player injured on international duty.

Tottenham vs Arsenal – team news and injury updates

The Lilywhites host Arsenal this weekend in what is one of their biggest games of the Premier League season, and Postecoglou will be hoping that he can help to spoil Mikel Arteta's title charge early doors.

Free agent who Paratici tried to sign in 2022 holds talks to join Tottenham

The ex-Spurs managing director is seemingly an admirer.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Sep 10, 2024

Arsenal are without summer signing Mikel Merino this weekend, with the Spaniard fracturing his shoulder in training and could be out for nearly two months. Declan Rice is also a big miss for Arteta and won't play a part after he was sent off for two bookable offences in their last game against Brighton.

Captain Martin Odegaard is a huge doubt for the clash at Tottenham as well, following the midfielder's ankle sprain, which forced him off during Norway's 2-1 UEFA Nations League win over Austria on Monday.

Timo Werner

RB Leipzig (loan)

Dominic Solanke

Bournemouth

Archie Gray

Leeds

Wilson Odobert

Burnley

Lucas Bergvall

Djurgarden

Min-hyeok Yang

Gangwon FC

Riccardo Calafiori could miss the north London derby too, after suffering a freak injury on international duty for Italy, so Arteta has been dealt numerous selection headaches and concerns ahead of their face-off with Spurs.

For Tottenham, important trio Micky van de Ven, Richarlison and marquee summer signing Dominic Solanke missed their most recent 2-1 defeat away at Newcastle, but there is optimism that both van de Ven and Solanke could return against Arsenal.

"Micky was close, he trained this week, but he's not quite 100 per cent," said Postecoglou on van de Ven.

"Part of me was keen to give Radu a run as well, especially at this venue, so we've gone with Radu. It's nothing serious, we've a heavy programme after the international break. We're going to need all our back four, so getting Radu a game is positive for us."

Solanke has been absent since his sustaining an opening weekend ankle injury away to Leicester City, but Postecoglou has since revealed that the Englishman is close to returning.

“Dom is close but we're going to be a bit cautious with him," said Postecoglou in an injury update on Solanke.

"We've got a big programme post the international break, so he'll miss out on Sunday.”

Richarlison is still seen as a real doubt for Tottenham and is likely not to feature against Arsenal, with Postecoglou sharing that the Brazilian is set to be out for weeks.

“The only other one we got midweek is Richarlison," said Postecoglou on Richarlison's injury, just before Spurs faced Newcastle.

"Picked up an injury in training, so he'll probably miss the next few weeks.”

While Richarlison isn't expected to return for Tottenham until later this month, Postecoglou has been dealt another potential injury absence on top of the 27-year-old.

Yves Bissouma limps off after suffering injury against Estawini

Concerns now surround midfielder Yves Bissouma, and whether he will be able to play against Arsenal.

Bissouma was forced off with an injury during Mali's 1-0 win over Estawini in midweek, with the 28-year-old limping off in the 64th minute after a heavy challenge. He scored Mali's only goal of the game in the seventh minute, but it couldn't have been a worse end to the 90, as he now waits to discover the severity of his injury.

The £35 million ace, called "world-class" by presenter Adam Smith, has started two Premier League games under Postecoglou so far this campaign, scoring a rocket in their 4-0 win against Everton.

Dinesh Chandimal’s poor form might prompt Sri Lanka to bring in Charith Asalanka

Andrew Fidel Fernando21-Oct-2021Big pictureOf all the matches in this qualifying round, this one seems to most have the feel of a dead rubber. Not only do Netherlands have no chance of making the Super 12s, but Sri Lanka are also highly likely to finish top of Group A thanks to their superior net run rate.For Netherlands, this is a chance to make a mark in a tournament in which they will feel they have underperformed. In the first match, their batting was blown away by Ireland’s seam bowlers, while in the second, their bowlers could not withstand David Wiese’s assault for Namibia.Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have earned themselves an opportunity to find a solution to their top-order issues. Dinesh Chandimal had another failure against Ireland on Wednesday, thus finding his position at No. 3 in serious peril. The likeliest replacement may be Charith Asalanka, but Dhananjaya de Silva is also in the squad.Related

Arthur: SL bowling attack 'almost ideal' for T20 World Cup

Their fast bowlers, meanwhile, might get a rest. Lahiru Kumara has had a particularly taxing workload over the past few weeks, although it may be Dushmantha Chameera that Sri Lanka would prefer had a night off to recharge for the Super 12s.Form guideNetherlands LLLTW
Sri Lanka WWLLLThis year, Max O’Dowd has hit 293 runs in just six innings, and at a strike rate of 137.•ICC via GettyIn the spotlightOne of the few bright spots for Netherlands has been the batting of opener Max O’Dowd. He hit 51 off 47 balls against Ireland while the rest of the top order blew up around him, before making a 56-ball 70 that was the backbone of Netherlands’ innings against Namibia. He has got arguably the best attack of the qualifying stage to contend with in this match, though. Can he maintain his output?Pathum Nissanka has promised a lot more in Tests than he has in the shortest format, but in hitting his first half-century against Ireland, he suggested he could find success in this World Cup yet. He was unambitious in the early overs while wickets fell around him, but never seemed bogged down either, finding a way to keep his score moving until the boundaries eventually came. After all, Sri Lanka desperately need a reliable run-scorer in their top three.Pitch and conditionsThis will be both teams’ first match in Sharjah. During the IPL, the Sharjah tracks were slow, turned a bit and had variable bounce. Temperatures are expected to hover around the low 30s Celsius range again. If the conditions in Abu Dhabi are anything to go by, dew could be an issue too.Team newsAlthough No. 5 is a more familiar position for Asalanka, he may slot in at No.3, leaving Bhanuka Rajapaksa at No. 5.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Perera (wk), 3 Charith Asalanka, 4 Avishka Fernando, 5 Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 6 Dasun Shanaka (capt.), 7 Chamika Karunaratne, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Binura Fernando, 10 Maheesh Theekshana, 11 Lahiru KumaraNetherlands may bring in Brandon Glover in place of Timm van der Gugten.Netherlands (possible): 1 Max O’Dowd, 2 Stephan Myburgh, 3 Roelof van der Merwe, 4 Colin Ackerman, 5 Ryan ten Doeschate, 6 Scott Edwards (wk), 7 Bas de Leede, 8 Pieter Seelar, 9 Logan van Beek, 10 Fred Klaassen, 11 Timm van der Gugten/Brandon GloverStats and trivia In the only previous T20I between these teams, Netherlands were bowled out for 39, a game which Sri Lanka won with 15 overs to spare. That was, however, during the World T20 in 2014, when Sri Lanka had arguably their greatest T20I side – a team which went on to lift the trophy. This year, O’Dowd has hit 293 runs in just six innings, and at a strike rate of 137. In 14 innings in 2021, Wanindu Hasaranga has 23 wickets and an economy rate of just 5.43.

The Sri Lanka fast bowler proved he had the heart to go from the most devastating match in his career, to being Man of the Match in the next

Andrew Fernando in Pallekele04-Nov-2012Four Sundays ago, the second ball of Lasith Malinga’s second over was thumped off the pads over midwicket for six. It was the violent beginning to Marlon Samuels’ World Twenty20 final rampage and the delivery upon which the trophy pivoted.For the remainder of the over, Malinga tried sticking to yorkers; the delivery he had worshipped as a teenager before becoming its foremost disciple as a cricketer. He had himself turned matches with that ball; reaped sensational success with the way he got it to dip and swerve well after the batsman had begun playing at it. This time though, his most trusted instrument failed him. Twice he overpitched and was scourged over cover and long on. His next over was no less painful. He has since said it was his most difficult day on a cricket field and blamed himself for his side’s defeat.In the time since he has endured much criticism, and his motivation has been questioned. Whatever Malinga may say about his knee injury, he must accept that Test retirement was not best announced during a lucrative tournament which he would have had to miss part of, if he were to continue playing Tests. Whatever the reason behind that timing, it invited doubt about his commitment to Sri Lanka.But against New Zealand, in his very next international match, Malinga responded to his critics by his performance, the way all the best cricketers do. He was intense at the beginning, skidding through with pace in the channel outside off stump.The Pallekele pitch had lost a great deal of bounce in the five days since the opening Twenty20, and the low carry initially served to further vex the New Zealand openers, neither of whom had seen much of Malinga’s low-arm action. Rob Nicol could barely lay bat on ball in Malinga’s first spell. Often Malinga would bring the ball in, before moving it away a touch off the seam. If Angelo Mathews had been positioned closer to the keeper at first slip, Malinga should have removed him for 4. Tom Latham was not so fortunate. Malinga angled one across him, and the ball kept low and skidded in between bat and pad to clip off stump. In his first five overs, he rarely allowed the batsman to safely leave the ball. The spell cost 12 runs – much of that in edges.He returned to deliver three more during the batting Powerplay. In his first spell, Malinga had gone full and low, but with Ross Taylor batting well, he changed his approach. The fast, uncomfortable bouncers that had been missing almost entirely during Sri Lanka’s World Twenty20 campaign became a feature of his next three overs. He pitched short to Taylor several times in a short period, but as length is more difficult to determine with Malinga’s low arm, Taylor was surprised each time. Once he was hit on the glove, another time, flush on the helmet. Taylor tried to pull and hook, but in the end, the best he could do was to fend him away for singles.At the death New Zealand got Malinga away for one four – only the second he had conceded in the day, and the first had been the edge past Mathews. The yorkers were humming nicely, only without the late swing he used to generate before the rule that made reverse swing obsolete in ODIs. He then put a neat full stop on a plucky performance, when he got one to dip beneath Andrew Ellis’ bat, to take the base of leg stump off the last ball of the innings.Mahela Jayawardene had backed Malinga to the hilt on the night of the final, and had been roundly chastised himself for that decision. Jaywardene is generally a master at sizing up conditions, but on that occasion he had allowed West Indies to have the pace on the ball that Malinga provided on a sluggish pitch, when he still had slow bowling options available. But in their next match together, the relationship between captain and strike bowler had not been shaken. Jayawardene still relied on Malinga to deliver the most high-pressure overs of the innings.”I think I’ve often repaid that trust when he has given the ball to me,” Malinga had said before the match. “I have bowled well in those pressure situations and given the team what it expects. I couldn’t do that in the final, but I think that’s why Mahela gives me the ball in those situations.”For much of his career, Malinga has been a player who has been given the toughest job on the field, and often he has done it well. No one can doubt his form has slipped over the past year, as his figures against India in particular, clearly lay out. But if anyone doubted his hunger, perhaps his 2 for 39 from 10 overs in this match will placate them. It takes heart to go from the most devastating match in one’s career, to being Man of the Match in the next.

Edu is prepared to make an Arsenal offer for a £102 million striker, who could actually leave for less than this if they open negotiations.

Edu targeting new striker for Arsenal before start of pre-season tour

The Gunners will commence their pre-season tour of the USA on July 24 and will begin their 2024/2025 preparations that day in Los Angeles against Bournemouth.

Arsenal cast eye on Euro 2024 star after concerns for £250,000-per-week duo

The north Londoners hold worries over two members of Mikel Arteta’s squad.

1

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 2, 2024

This comes after reports that Arsenal wish to sign a prime new striker before their pre-season tour kicks off, meaning the north Londoners have just a few weeks to get one over the line if they're still aiming for a quick summer deal.

Mikel Arteta's side bagged an impressive 90-plus goals in the Premier League last season, which helped to score them 89 points on the board as they narrowly missed out on their first title in 20 years to Man City.

Arsenal's top scorers in all competitions last season	Goals
Bukayo Saka	20
Leandro Trossard	17
Kai Havertz	14
Martin Odegaard	11
Gabriel Jesus	8

However, it is widely believed that a star centre-forward could be the final missing piece of Arteta's jigsaw. Arsenal tried to sign RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko this summer, even submitting an offer for the Slovenian, but he instead chose to remain at his current club and pen a new contract.

The 21-year-old would've been an astute purchase, as reports at the time indicated he was available for the value of his previous £55 million release clause, after a season where he scored 18 goals in all competitions.

Arsenal unfortunately missed out on what could've been a very good signing, and a host of strikers have been linked since. The Gunners reportedly have their eyes on Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres and Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee as two alternatives to Sesko, and another could be Napoli star Victor Osimhen.

The latter is Serie A's most prolific goalscorer, racking up 65 goals in 108 league outings for Napoli since he joined from Lille in a £69 million deal four years ago. Arsenal and Chelsea have been named as Premier League contenders for Osimhen since the turn of the year, as explained by journalist Ben Jacobs in February.

“We still can't rule out Arsenal in the race for Osimhen," said Jacobs.

"It’s also true that PSG have Osimhen very, very high on their list of targets and can move in the market because they will free up money due to Kylian Mbappe’s departure. I'm still told by sources that Osimhen’s priority is the Premier League, which is encouraging for Chelsea and Arsenal. He would be looking for about £250,000 per week, which Arsenal, Chelsea and PSG would all be happy to pay.”

Edu prepared to make Arsenal bid for Osimhen

According to a report from Spain this week, they're very much still in the race for him. Indeed, it is believed Edu and Arsenal are willing to make an offer for Osimhen, who could leave for less than his £102 million release clause if clubs open talks and force Aurelio De Laurentiis' hand.

Arsenal would have to push the boat out in terms of salary, as his rumoured £250,000-per-week wage demands would make Osimen the third-highest earner at Hale End.

A chance move away from his hometown in South Africa unlocked a door he never knew existed

Shashank Kishore10-Sep-2025When Martin Coetzee was let go by his provincial team in South Africa in 2019, he felt like it was curtains on his cricket career.He had hovered on the fringes of the first-class set-up for years without really breaking in. As he contemplated what next – “the thought of moving to another provincial team, or quit cricket altogether and explore another path, like coaching” – the Covid-19 pandemic struck.He was 29, and time was ticking.Then came the move to Hong Kong, far from a cricketing decision. His wife, Lindy, a teacher, had just landed a job at a private school, and the couple decided to take the plunge into the unknown.Related

• Uphill task for Hong Kong against dominant Sri Lanka

• Kaushal Silva: 'No one is going to hand us anything'

• Will fifth time be the charm for Hong Kong?

• Upbeat Bangladesh look to start with a bang against Hong Kong

Just prior to leaving South Africa, though, Coetzee was told casually by his wife’s school principal, “Don’t forget to pack your cricket bags.” The principal happened to be a former New Zealand first-class cricketer, Ben Hart.”It seemed an odd comment at the time,” Coetzee laughs at the memory. The 36-year-old top-order batter is now in Dubai, part of Hong Kong’s squad at the Asia Cup. “I thought at best this may be a way to play recreationally, get to know a few people at the cricket club, it will help with keeping myself in shape. Nothing more.”When they landed, Hong Kong wasn’t the buzzing global hub he had imagined it to be. Covid restrictions had made the city unrecognisable. “Restaurants were shuttered, masks were compulsory, and residents had to line up for regular blood tests,” Coetzee says.But amid all that, Coetzee found comfort in the fact that he could get outdoors for a few hours. And that outdoor place happened to be the Hong Kong Cricket Club.”I turned up there with no expectations honestly, it was just to get outdoors, rather than being locked in,” he says.

“I thought at best this may be a way to play recreationally, get to know a few people at the cricket club, it will help with keeping myself in shape. Nothing more”

Over time, Coetzee discovered the city’s cricket culture was far more organised and ambitious than he had imagined. He saw talented players fiercely compete, and was explained the pathways into club cricket and possibly international cricket if he stayed the course.”That got me dreaming,” he says. “Suddenly, a three-year qualification criteria didn’t seem to matter, I thought let me start playing and put myself up there. Yes, the wait was long, at times frustrating, but in that period, I played a lot of club cricket, made a lot of friends and enjoyed competing. It got me hooked.”It’s only then I thought of all the things I take for granted back home. In South Africa, you tend to take some things for granted – outdoor nets, fields, space,” he explains. “In Hong Kong, the biggest challenge is facilities. Say, just leading up to our prep tour here, all we had were indoor nets. No grass. It makes you appreciate what you had growing up. But it also makes you work harder.”By the time Coetzee’s qualification period ended, he went on to become one of Hong Kong’s key batters and a regular fixture in the national squad. When not playing, he is a professional coach at the club he represents.”It still surprises me how much Hong Kong has given me,” he says. “You won’t believe it, but there’s a rivalry that is always packed,” he says. “Kowloon Cricket Club and Hong Kong Cricket Club – mate, it’s fiercely competitive as well. The talent is immense.Hong Kong are playing their fifth Asia Cup•Asian Cricket Council”My own team-mates – Nizakat Khan, Anshuman Rath, Kalhan Challu – these guys are all so dedicated. It makes you feel good to be playing with a group that’s as enthusiastic and keen to show what they’re capable of. From day one, Hong Kong cricket felt like a family.The “family” has recently had to channel the disappointment of not qualifying for the 2026 T20 World Cup – their chances at the Asian qualifiers were scuppered by the weather.”Yeah, that still hurts,” Coetzee says. “We were having dinner last night, watching the tennis [US Open final] and one of the UAE lads just mentioned it as a joke and it actually still stung a little bit.”We are very disappointed with that, but with the new coach [Kaushal Silva] and the whole new group and vibe we have got going, we try not to think about that too much, and we are excited about everything that’s ahead. The next week or so is a good example. There’s always the next one to qualify for.”The game has also taken him places – Nepal, Oman, and the UAE – he never imagined visiting when he was lying on a South African rugby field with a broken leg, convinced his sporting life was over. That injury when he was 17 had driven him back to cricket, but the end of his Lions contract had almost pushed him out for good. Yet here he is, living a second chance, wearing new colours, and having a new perspective at 36.”We love the city so much,” Coetzee says. “We’re based just outside the hustle and bustle, in Green Pulse Bay. We can see ourselves living here for quite a while. The cricket crowd is growing, the local kids have so much talent, and the passion is unbelievable.”I never thought I’d find this in Hong Kong. But now I know exactly why Ben told me to pack that cricket bag.”

Calmest man in the arena. Trent Alexander-Arnold stepped up when England needed him most, expertly dispatching his decisive penalty, his team's fifth, in the quarter-finals shootout against Switzerland to advance to the semi-finals of Euro 2024, where the Netherlands now await.

The Liverpool vice-captain has been on the periphery this summer after being shoehorned into the centre of the park in the Three Lions' opener and failing to hold a motley crew together against Serbia.

It was always going to be an uphill battle, but Liverpool fans will be safe in their knowledge that their homegrown talent is one of the very best in the business.

Courted by Real Madrid and entering the final year of his contract, there's an uneasy focus on the 25-year-old's future, with his technical quality and presence in the Anfield side simply irreplaceable.

However, for all his strengths, he's not the most valuable member of Arne Slot's first team, with one of Jurgen Klopp's later signings actually overtaking him in that regard.

Why Liverpool signed Cody Gakpo

The man in question is none other than Cody Gakpo, who is starting to show signs of growing into the player that Liverpool envisaged when they paid PSV Eindhoven the big bucks to bring him to the Premier League in January 2023.

Liverpool paid £35m for Netherlands international Gakpo's services, with the dynamic forward having lit up the Dutch Eredivisie and turned global heads onto his journey after an impressive campaign in Qatar, at the 2022 World Cup.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 18% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, the top 7% for progressive passes, the top 11% for successful take-ons and the top 8% for tackles per 90.

Liverpool might not feel that they have quite got bang for their buck just yet but Gakpo is a unique attacking outlet and he could positively explode under Slot's leadership in just over one month.

Cody Gakpo's market value in 2024

Hailed for his "special skill set" by Klopp's former assistant manager Pep Lijnders, Gakpo has not seen his market price skyrocket since alighting in Liverpool, but he's made steady progress that has been reflected through his impressive overall tally of 23 goals and nine assists across only 46 starting appearances.

The 25-year-old, who is thriving at the Euros and has notched three goals and an assist over five matches for Oranje – set to meet England at the penultimate hurdle on Wednesday – has so much more to give, but this is a wonderful illustration of just how talented a player the Reds have at their disposal.

Make no mistake, some of the listed market prices below are a tad modest, but there's no question that numbers have been crunched to accurately establish the most important and marketable members of the Anfield crop. Alexander-Arnold, despite his glittering quality, doesn't even make the grade, with the site recording his current market value at £33m, likely due to his contract situation.

1.

Dominik Szoboszlai

£46m

2.

Alexis Mac Allister

£45m

3.

Darwin Nunez

£43m

4.

Cody Gakpo

£40m

5.

Luis Diaz

£36m

Gakpo's place in the rankings bears testament to his high-class ability. While he hasn't always been performing at the apex of his game at Liverpool under Klopp, the Dutchman is a sharp goalscorer with a dynamic and far-reaching skill set.

Supporters might be yearning for new signings on Merseyside, but if Alexander-Arnold is kept on the books and Gakpo is provided the license to thrive under his countryman's tutelage, Liverpool might just find they have the tools to sculpt the illustrious success they so dearly crave.

Liverpool hit gold on Klopp superstar who's worth more than Anthony Gordon

This talented player could explode under Arne Slot’s management.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 5, 2024

Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund says his body "feels good again" after missing the start of the season with a hamstring injury.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Hojlund injured in pre-season
• Says he now "feels good again"
• Admits to "fluctuating" weight

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 21-year-old missed the start of the season with a hamstring injury but now he is back fit for the Red Devils. The Denmark international is content to be eased back into first-team action as he says there is "no point" rushing things and risking another injury. The former Atalanta star also spoke about he is now carrying a bit less weight after hitting the gym.

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  WHAT RASMUS HOJLUND SAID

  He told reporters: "There is no point in rushing things and risking another injury. My body feels good again. I might be ready to play 90 minutes, but if I also use my brain a little bit, I don’t think 90 minutes on Saturday against Spain is a good idea.

  "I've lost a little weight, but it doesn’t matter. I know there are some benefits to being a little lighter and some benefits to being a little heavier. I’m not focused on the scales. I’ve gotten used to the fact that my weight fluctuates a little bit."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Hojlund has a big responsibility for United this season – to provide the goals in attack they need to challenge for trophies again. However, the Red Devils have had a poor start to the season and sit 14th in the Premier League. The Dane will hope he can hit form, stay fit, and deliver on the pitch.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  The forward could start for Denmark in their Nations League clash away at Spain on Saturday and then again against Switzerland on Tuesday. He will then return to Erik ten Hag's team next week.