He suggested the spinners needed a bit of time to get back into the groove in Galle
Andrew Fidel Fernando19-Sep-2024Sri Lanka have not played a Test in Galle in over a year, while one of their main spinners has not played long-format cricket for many months. Could this be why Sri Lanka’s slow bowlers were inaccurate on day two of their Test against New Zealand?Spin bowling coach Craig Howard wasn’t exactly trying to absolve the Sri Lanka spinners, but did suggest they needed a bit of time to get back into the groove in Galle. Still, they could have done better than they did, he said.”If we’d bowled the way we’d have liked to, we’d be in a much better position,” Howard said. “If we were able to hold our line and length for longer, it would have been much more difficult for the New Zealand batters to rotate the strike the way they did, and we’d have limited the boundary balls as well. We pay heavy attention to controlling the run rate, and we didn’t do that today.”Related
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On a Galle track taking plenty of turn, Sri Lanka’s primary spinners – Ramesh Mendis and Prabath Jayasuriya – took just a wicket apiece on Thursday. Jayasuriya gave away 99, in his 31 overs.”Prabath was fractionally off. He’s a very proud man,” Howard said. “You average 22 at Galle for a reason, so I’m sure he’ll come back, and I’m sure he’ll have a major impact on this Test.”Ramesh was more expensive than Jayasuriya, however, going at an economy rate of more than four in his 17 overs. Where Jayasuriya had played in two of Sri Lanka’s three Tests in England, Ramesh had been on the sidelines throughout.”Ramesh Mendis hasn’t played a red-ball game for probably a few months now,” Howard said. “He’s been on an England tour not playing, and the LPL (Lanka Premier League) prior to that. He was probably a fraction off from a length-and-line point of view.”The New Zealand batters’ shot-making did present a challenge, Howard said. But he had confidence that if Sri Lanka’s spinners bowled accurately, the match could turn in their favour.”Control of line and length is the first thing. If we do that there’s enough in this wicket. The game can speed up very quick in the back end. We could be on or two wickets away from having a first-innings lead. Ideally we can go through them in a hurry and end up with a lead, but if not have a small target to catch up.”
Manchester United have been known to splash the cash over recent years, forking out £600m under the guidance of former boss Erik ten Hag, but more money looks set to be spent during this window.
Current manager Ruben Amorim has already spent nearly £100m since taking the reins back in November, with Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha two of the additions made since his arrival.
However, there’s no denying that added funds will need to be spent this window if the club are to rise up the Premier League table and prevent a repeat of last season, which saw the side finish in 15th place.
The Red Devils have now gone over a decade without a league triumph, something that Amorim has been tasked with changing, but it’s safe to say it will be a long-term project to transform the side.
Money will need to be spent to back the 40-year-old in the market, leading to numerous names being mentioned as potential targets for the ongoing window.
The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer
Over the last couple of days, striker Ollie Watkins has emerged as a potential addition to the side, after United made contact with Aston Villa over a move for the England international.
He’s not the only forward who’s been on their radar in recent days, with talks also being held with Chelsea over a move for French forward Christopher Nkunku.
However, key work has also been done in the midfield department, with the Red Devils making huge strides in a deal for PSG’s Fabian Ruiz, according to one Spanish outlet.
The report claims that Amorim’s side has a €50m (£43m) offer ‘on the table’ for the Spanish international, who won the Champions League with Luis Enrique’s side at the end of last season.
It also states that the 29-year-old could be open to a potential move to Old Trafford, with the hierarchy seeing him as a crucial part of the puzzle in their quest for future success.
Why United’s £43m target would be perfect for Mbeumo
Bryan Mbeumo is a player who’s been firmly on their radar on United’s radar over the last few weeks, with the saga showing no signs of coming to an end soon.
The Brentford star has been the subject of two separate bids from Amorim’s side, with their latest offer of £55m plus £7.5m in add-ons being rejected by Keith Andrews’ men.
However, the Cameroonian, who scored 20 league goals last season, has previously stated his desire to move to Old Trafford, but he could end up staying at the GTEC beyond the summer window.
It’s expected that the Red Devils are to return with another offer, which could see them get closer to the Bees’ asking price, potentially putting an end to their summer-long pursuit.
Given his record in front of goal, he will likely hand the club the needed threat they’ve been hunting for, but he would certainly be aided in his attempts with a move for Fabian.
When delving into the Spaniard’s stats from the 2024/25 campaign in Ligue 1, he possesses a lot of talents that would see him star alongside Mbeumo at Old Trafford.
Fabian, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by journalist Zach Lowy, has registered 9.6 progressive passes per 90, and 2.2 progressive carries per 90, showcasing his ability to take the ball into forward areas.
Games played
30
Goals & assists
9
Pass accuracy
91%
Progressive passes
9.6
Progressive carries
2.2
Key passes made
1.7
Passes into final third
7.3
He also notched 1.7 key passes per 90 and completed 7.3 passes into the final third, having the tools to provide the likes of Mbeumo ahead of him with the opportunity to thrive.
The Spaniard has also thrived without the ball, winning 1.7 tackles per 90, and making 1.3 clearances – handing Amorim the perfect box-to-box option within his 3-4-2-1 system.
It’s unclear if the French outfit would accept the rumoured proposal for the midfielder, but it’s clear that he has the tools to thrive under the 40-year-old at Old Trafford.
The prospect of Ruiz linking up with Mbeumo at the Theatre of Dreams is certainly an exciting one, potentially having the ability to catapult the club one step closer to the top end of the table.
A Bellingham & Bruno hybrid: Man Utd chasing 'one of the best no.8's alive'
Manchester United could be about to make a move for a top-level European talent.
Liverpool are preparing for the 2025/26 campaign by packing Arne Slot’s squad with high-quality additions. After winning the Premier League last term, the Reds are looking to defend their title and challenge for silverware across other fronts.
As you will likely have seen, Liverpool have agreed a £116m deal with Bayer Leverkusen for the transfer of Florian Wirtz, who has been described as a “game-changer” with a skillset that is “dangerous for every opponent” by former Bayern Munich technical director Marco Neppe.
With Darwin Nunez’s sale expected at some point in the coming months, Anfield will surely welcome a new number nine through the gates, but there are other areas of the field that need attention too.
Indeed, the Reds have already tried to sign one of the best young centre-backs in the world in Dean Huijsen.
Why Liverpool wanted Dean Huijsen
Why did Liverpool want Huijsen? Well, for the same reason as everyone else: the Dutch-born Spain star was immense for Bournemouth after joining from Juventus for £15m, with analyst Ben Mattinson even declaring him “the most in-demand centre-back in the world.”
Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen.
The problem, as ever, was that Real Madrid also wanted the 20-year-old, and when they came knocking, the youngster’s decision was set.
Activating his £50m release clause, Los Blancos have added one of the finest young defenders to their ranks, and Liverpool will now need to turn their attention elsewhere, for more depth is needed in the rearguard following a paucity of defensive signings in recent years.
Ah well, he’s not the only young defender worth their salt playing in one of Europe’s top five leagues right now. In fact, he might not even be the best up-and-coming centre-back from the recent Premier League season.
There’s another, albeit with a bit more experience, who is on Liverpool’s radar and could prove an upgrade on the Spain international.
Liverpool in race for new centre-back
As per transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool are still concerned about Ibrahima Konate’s contract situation, with the Frenchman entering the final year of his deal.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
As such, FSG have stayed in the race for Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite. The 22-year-old has been fantastic over the past couple of years on Merseyside, taking another step in his development since David Moyes was appointed in January.
Liverpool are not alone in their interest. Tottenham Hotspur are also keen on the £70m-rated star, while Manchester United have a historic interest and would be certain to make their name known if more clarity were to be provided on the Englishman’s future in the coming weeks.
A move wouldn’t be made until Konate’s future is sorted, but if a breakthrough cannot be found, Branthwaite could become a hot topic on Merseyside this summer.
Why Liverpool want Jarrad Branthwaite
Standing at 6 foot 5, Branthwaite is a powerful and menacing defensive presence, protecting his backline with iron-clad resolve and steel-tipped challenges.
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite
Though he’s less at home in a pass-heavy environment than Huijsen, there’s a strong case to be made that the Evertonian could have the brighter future ahead of him, with the Toffees actually valuing their prized possession at £75m when the Red Devils came calling last year.
Looking at the data from the English top flight last year, you can see that while Huijsen outperformed his positional peer from an attacking standpoint, Branthwaite was more confident in the duel and maintained a similar passing crispness despite his tactical deployment.
Matches (starts)
32 (26)
30 (28)
Goals
3
0
Assists
2
1
Touches*
63.9
51.9
Pass completion
84%
83%
Key passes*
0.5
0.1
Ball recoveries*
3.3
3.1
Tackles + interceptions*
2.7
2.1
Clearances*
6.1
6.3
Ground duels (won)*
3.6 (56%)
3.9 (63%)
It’s worth noting that more active defensive numbers don’t automatically qualify for superiority as a centre-back. In fact, Branthwaite’s ability to read the game like a scholar and act only when the situation demands is not too dissimilar to Virgil van Dijk’s approach.
Given the Everton man’s left-footedness, he might be the Dutchman’s perfect heir, albeit one who would arrive in contentious circumstances.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk
But no matter. Liverpool, after all, are currently dealing with a potential double swoop from the Toffees for two of their first-teamers: Ben Doak and Joe Gomez have been reported to be on their rivals’ radar.
And for Branthwaite’s part, there’s a subtle undertow to his actions this year that suggests he would be up for the cross-city switch. In March, the English defender expressed concerns after being overlooked by England manager Thomas Tuchel, who once again neglected to call him up for the recent (difficult) camp.
In all likelihood, Tuchel was wary about bringing a defender into the fold whose club-level tactics are at such variance to the on-the-ball style the Three Lions are looking to implement.
16th
Leicester
45.4%
17th
Crystal Palace
42.8%
18th
Nott’m Forest
41.2%
19th
Everton
40.9%
20th
Ipswich
40.6%
Huijsen, sure, has already established a ball-playing game to admire, but Branthwaite isn’t against the kind of tactical principles that would see him hit his stride at Liverpool.
Indeed, when out on loan at PSV Eindhoven in 2022/23, he completed 87% of his passes, averaged 0.3 key passes per game and also completed an impressive 64% of his long balls, as per Sofascore.
Of course, Branthwaite is also just an “absolute monster” of a central defender, as he was called by talent scout Jacek Kulig after his exemplary breakout campaign in 2023/24.
A major player for Everton once again over the past 12 months, Branthwaite has surely proved enough over the past couple of years to convince Liverpool’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, and the rest of the transfer team that he could be the perfect addition.
Perhaps not quite so attuned to a ball-playing style as Huijsen, the hulking defender may yet sharpen that element of his game, and under Slot’s wing, his overall ability would surely see him prove an upgrade on Real Madrid’s new recruit.
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Will Newcastle United secure Champions League qualification?
Ahead of the final day of the Premier League season, Eddie Howe’s team are fourth in the table, but not yet assured of Champions League qualification.
NewcastleUnited fans before the match
The Magpies are above both Chelsea and Aston Villa by virtue of goal difference alone, but victory over Everton at what promises to be a raucous St James’ Park will rubber stamp a top five finish and a return to the Champions League.
Expected to get the job done, Newcastle have already begun plans for the summer transfer window, so do they have an “astonishing” magician, reminiscent of a fan favourite from yesteryear, in their sights?
Hatem Ben Arfa's Newcastle United career
Hatem Ben Arfa arrived on Tyneside from Olympique Marseille, initially on loan, in the summer of 2010, and would depart four years later as a bona fide cult hero.
The Frenchman scored 14 goals and provided 16 assists in 86 appearances for the Magpies, but he was certainly more than just about pure statistics.
Peter McVitie of Goal outlines how he ‘showed flashes of brilliance’ during his time in the North East, without ever showing much ‘consistency’, winning over the Toon Army with ‘some dazzling firepower’ and ‘awesome displays of skill’.
Meantime, Louise Taylor of the Guardian labelled him ‘the sort of footballer fans adore’, praising his ‘exquisite touch… superior vision, perfect balance and elusive movement’, even if then-manager Alan Pardew regularly referred to him as “high maintenance”.
Jean-Baptiste Caillet of Opta’s the Analyst believes Ben Arfa is ‘France’s best dribbler since Zinédine Zidane, which is certainly high praise indeed, but backing it up by noting that only Neymar and Lionel Messi ‘have completed more dribbles per-90’ across Europe’s big-five leagues since Zizou’s retirement in 2006.
So, more than a decade on from Ben Arfa’s departure, could the Newcastle faithful soon have another dribbling winger to get behind?
Newcastle's search for a new forward
According to a recent report by Santi Aouna of Foot Mercato, Newcastle are ‘interested’ in signing Al-Ahli forward Gabri Veiga.
It had been reported by Fabrizio Romano that Veiga is on the verge of joining Porto for around £14m, but Newcastle, who have obvious connections to Saudi Arabia, are hoping to hijack this deal.
Born and raised in Galicia, he broke through at local, boyhood club Celta de Vigo, describing playing for los Celestes as a “dream”, with Sid Lowe of the Guardian documenting his ‘extraordinary’ La Liga form, adding that he ‘is not the stereotypical Spanish midfielder’.
In total, he scored 11 goals and registered five assists in 36 La Liga appearances during the 2022/23 season, including bagging a brace to beat Barcelona at Balaídos on the final day, which would turn out to be his last-ever appearance for the club.
His La Liga statistics from that season were certainly very impressive.
Gabri Veiga 2022/23 La Liga statistics
Statistics
Gabri Veiga
La Liga rank
Minutes
2,294
120th
Goals
11
13th
Goals + assists
15
12th
Shots on target %
46.8%
17th
Shots on target per 90
1.14
15th
Goals – xG
+4.9
1st
Attempted take-ons
75
34th
Take-on success % (min 70 attempted)
54%
7th
Progressive carries
68
40
All statistics courtesy of FBref.com
Given the above, it was expected that Veiga would move to one of Europe’s biggest clubs, but instead, he chose to join Al Ahli, with the Saudi Pro League side paying his €40m release clause, earning a reported €10m a year.
Gabri Veiga for Celta Vigo
Well, in the Middle East, the Spaniard has scored 12 goals and registered ten assists in 65 appearances, a key figure as Matthias Jaissle’s side won this season’s AFC Champions League Elite, beating Kawasaki Frontale in the final in Jeddah earlier this month.
Now ready to return to Europe, could he be on his way to Tyneside?
Mak Pakhei of Total Football Analysis praises Veiga’s ‘awareness to play the ball forward’ as well as his ability to take on opponents in the middle third of the pitch, a trait associated with Ben Arfa from his time at St James’ Park.
Journalist António Mango believes he possesses “astonishing technical ability”, while Thomas Hammond simply labels him a “quality player with bags of potential”.
So, it is very clear that the Spaniard is a flamboyant, highly-talented midfielder who, at 22 years old, still has room for development, underlining that he would be both an excellent and exciting signing for Newcastle supporters.
Newcastle make approach for £25m ace and Howe's already revealed his thoughts
Glasgow Rangers are still on the hunt for a permanent first-team manager. With each day passing, the Ibrox faithful will become more anxious about who it might be.
Pre-season will likely start in late June, which doesn’t give the board much time to find the right candidate for the job.
The takeover by the 49ers Enterprises is showing plenty of progress, but will it be completed by the time preparation begins for the 2025/26 campaign?
That much remains to be seen. There have already been a few names linked with a move to Rangers. José Mourinho was reportedly keen on a move to Glasgow, according to TEAMtalk last month, but his massive wages, plus the fact that a compensation fee would have to be paid to Fenerbahçe, surely rule him out.
Elsewhere, former RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund manager Marco Rose is another potential candidate, especially due to his connections with the Red Bull football group.
Again, his wage demands might prove to be out of reach, although things may change once the 49ers complete their takeover deal. One man who may or may not be returning to the club is Steven Gerrard.
Nathan Patterson, Steven Gerrard
Latest on Steven Gerrard's potential return to Rangers
The Englishman, who led the Light Blues to their last Premiership title in 2021, has been one of the favourites to become the next permanent manager.
On the surface, the move makes perfect sense. He is out of a job, knows what makes Rangers tick and most importantly, knows how to get the better of Celtic domestically.
There are differing claims over whether Gerrard is in the running to make an incredible return to Ibrox, however, with Chris Jack of the Rangers Review outlining: “It is understood that the appointment will be a manager with no previous involvement with Rangers. The new era will be a new beginning.”
That said, journalist Mike McGrath has suggested that Gerrard’s name is among the lengthy list of candidates being considered. In any case, with Athletic Club being knocked out of the Europa League at the semi-final stage, the Gers will now enter the Champions League at the second qualifying stage.
2021/22
22
12
1.86
2020/21
56
44
2.52
2019/20
54
36
2.17
2018/19
60
32
1.9
Via Transfermarkt
Those ties begin towards the end of July, indicating how urgent it is to bring a new manager in as soon as possible.
Could Danny Rohl be an ideal fit for the role?
Rangers could turn to Danny Rohl as their new manager
German manager Rohl could be the man that the 49ers are targeting as the new head coach, if recent whispers are to be believed.
It was reported by talkSPORT that the manager has left Sheffield Wednesday just days after the end of the 2024/25 Championship season.
Sheffield Wednesday manager DannyRohl
It was believed that he had a release clause of £5m in his contract with the Owls – a figure which surely would have ruled out a move by Rangers – but now it appears as though he is without a club.
Regarding his future, Rohl has always seen himself aiming higher than the English Championship, saying: “I’ve always said that I’m very grateful to Sheffield for the opportunity I’ve been given there. And I’m someone who always wants to develop the club further.
“And to do that, you have to weigh up how far that’s still possible or whether the maximum has perhaps already been reached under the current conditions.”
If Rohl is indeed a free agent ready to be snapped up, then the 49ers could do no worse than take a look at the 35-year-old.
Why Danny Rohl could be more exciting than Steven Gerrard
Gerrard’s spell at Ibrox will live long in the memory of the supporters, especially after ending a barren decade-long wait for a league title. There were difficult times, too, however. The first couple of seasons saw the Gers struggle, especially after Christmas.
After winning the Premiership crown, Gerrard wasn’t backed sufficiently and thus failed to kick on from that moment, allowing Celtic to return to the summit of Scottish football.
It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows under the former Liverpool captain, and his exit still rankles with a few of the fans, that’s for sure.
Sheffield Wednesday managerDannyRohllooks dejected after the match
In Rohl, what exactly would the Ibrox side be getting? He doesn’t have much experience managing at the highest level. Indeed, his only senior role was the Sheffield Wednesday job, where he took charge for 89 matches across all competitions, winning 34 games.
He tends to utilise a 4-2-3-1 formation, which would work out well with the players he could inherit at Rangers, no doubt about that.
Although his lack of managerial experience will be held against him, Rohl has won plenty as an assistant. Between August 2019 and June 2021, he was second in command to Hansi Flick at Bayern Munich.
Of course, the Bavarian side won the treble during the 2019/20 campaign and Rohl played a key role in this success as arguably the brains behind the trophy-laden season.
He followed Flick to the German national team, spending time as an assistant between August 2021 and September 2023. Germany failed to get out of the group stages at the 2022 World Cup, however.
Dubbed as “unbelievable” and the “best head coach” he played under by Josh Windass, it is clear Rohl has plenty to offer as a manager.
Under difficult circumstances at the Owls, he avoided relegation in 2023/24 and led them to 12th in the most recent season, missing out on a playoff spot by just ten points.
He might not be perfect, but the fact that he offers something fresh could be exactly what the 49ers group are after, instead of going over old ground with regard to Gerrard.
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By moving in a different direction, the Light Blues will look towards entering a new era this summer as they look to finally end years of hurt by challenging Celtic for the domestic title.
Will Rohl be in the dugout come July? Only time will tell.
Earns more than Diomande: Rangers flop should never play at Ibrox again
The 49ers must ensure that this Rangers flop who earns more than Mohamed Diomande never plays at Ibrox again.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, 21, ripped up the IPL record books, slamming the league’s fastest half-century, off 13 balls. He made a two-paced pitch look like a belter to reignite their IPL campaign. Surprisingly, KKR captain Nitish Rana gave himself the new ball and the move backfired, with Jaiswal hitting 26 runs off the opening over. The other Rana – Harshit – wasn’t spared either as Jaiswal chopped the fast bowler behind point and flat-batted him down the ground for fours. Jaiswal also laid into Shardul Thakur and brought up his half-century inside three overs. Jaiswal threatened to convert it into a hundred, but the target wasn’t big enough. Eventually, Royals hunted down 150 with nine wickets and almost seven overs to spare.
Romario Shepherd (14 balls) Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings, IPL 2025
At the start of the 19th over, RCB were 159 for 5, having slumped alarmingly following quick fifties from openers Jacob Bethell and Virat Kohli. They had scored just 45 in their previous seven overs, for the loss of four wickets, but proceeded to score an astonishing 54 off their last two overs, setting a new IPL record for most runs across the 19th and 20th overs. Romario Shepherd faced all but one of the last 12 legal balls and hammered six sixes and two fours off Khaleel Ahmed and Matheesha Pathirana, en route to an unbeaten 53 off just 14 balls.BCCI
Pat Cummins (14 balls), Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians, IPL 2022
Chasing 162, KKR slipped to 83 for 4 in 12 overs on a challenging Pune pitch. Pat Cummins, though, came in at No.6 and hoicked the second ball he faced for six. In the next over, Cummins took Jasprit Bumrah for a six and a four to raise KKR’s hopes. He then smashed Daniel Sams for 6,4,6,6, 2 (nb), 4,6 to zoom to 56 off 15 balls and seal victory for his side.BCCI
KL Rahul (14 balls), Kings XI Punjab vs Delhi Daredevils, IPL 2018
For nearly four seasons, the record for the fastest fifty in the IPL stood at 15 balls, before KL Rahul went berserk with a flurry of boundaries on his debut for Kings XI Punjab. A fortunate top-edged six off Trent Boult kicked things off, before he unveiled an array of exquisite cover drives and pulls off Mohammad Shami’s first over. At 27 off nine balls, the fastest fifty seemed some way away, until he smashed Amit Mishra’s undisciplined first over for 24 runs to eclipse the previous mark by a single ball. He soon got out trying to whip Boult through the legside, only to be caught at short third man off the leading edge. By then, though, he had taken his place at the very top of a list of the IPL’s elite hitters.BCCI
Sunil Narine (15 balls), Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2017
After their destructive opener Chris Lynn injured his shoulder early in the 2017 season, Kolkata Knight Riders experimented with Sunil Narine as a pinch-hitting opener. He got them off to some quick starts and showed enough ability to retain his position as an opener when Lynn returned. Chasing 159 in Bengaluru, Lynn and Narine decided they wanted to try and finish the game inside 10 overs. Both went ballistic, but it was Narine who raced Lynn to a 50. He went after fellow Trinidadian Samuel Badree, hitting him for three sixes in a row, before smashing three fours in a row off S Aravind. When he lofted seamer S Aravind into the stands beyond long-on, Narine equalled the record for the fastest half-century in the IPL.Yusuf Pathan struck the fastest IPL fifty•BCCI
Yusuf Pathan (15 balls), Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, IPL 2014
Yusuf Pathan’s innings came in his side’s final league game, in which they had to chase 161 in 15.2 overs to get two shots at qualifying for the final. After being dropped twice early on in his innings, Yusuf made the most of it, mowing Dale Steyn for 26 runs in an over, ensuring Knight Riders closed out the chase in just 14.2 overs.Associated Press
Nicholas Pooran (15 balls), Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2023
Chasing a mammoth 213 against Royal Challengers, Pooran came in with Super Giants still needing 114 from 56 balls. From 10 off five deliveries at one stage, Pooran ended with a 19-ball 62; seven of those deliveries were dispatched for six, while four went for fours. He reached his half-century off just 15 deliveries, mercilessly going after every bowler. By the time he was dismissed, Super Giants needed just 24 off 18, and would end up edging a one-wicket win.Associated Press
Jake Fraser-McGurk made a mark early in his maiden IPL season, smashing a 15-ball fifty in just his third match, although in a losing cause. Chasing a mammoth 267 against SRH, Fraser-McGurk tried to do his bit at No. 3. After starting with two dot balls, he struck four fours in the next six balls before smashing three sixes against Washington Sundar. He handed the same treatment to Mayank Markande as well, to reach the half-century off 15 balls, and eventually finished on 65 off 18, an innings studded with seven sixes and five fours.AFP/Getty Images
Fraser-McGurk matched his feat seven days later, against MI, and this time batting first to haul his team to 257. Opening the batting in a day game, Fraser-McGurk started took on Mark Wood off the first ball of the game. After carting Wood around the park in a 19-run over, Fraser-McGurk also struck a six and four off Jasprit Bumrah in the second over, which went for 18. He brought up his fifty by dispatching Piyush Chawla over long-on for six, followed by a four, before tearing into Hardik Pandya in a 20-run over full of boundaries down the ground. He eventually fell for a stunning 84 off 27, holing out off Chawla, after setting things up nicely for the middle order.
On Tuesday, Stoinis muscled LSG to an elusive home win with a takedown of Mumbai’s fast bowlers
Deivarayan Muthu17-May-20232:52
Moody explains how Stoinis outsmarted Mumbai Indians
The Ekana Stadium didn’t roll out the black-soil turner for the final league game in Lucknow this IPL, but the red-soil one was just as difficult for all batters – except Marcus Stoinis.He was the only one to strike at over 170 on that track, his expertly-paced unbeaten 89 off 47 balls being the difference on Tuesday. Like most other batters on the day, Stoinis had started slowly, scoring 35 off his first 29 balls, but cranked up to top gear to smash 54 off his last 18.This was Stoinis’ best IPL score. This is already Stoinis’ best IPL season in terms of both runs (368) and strike rate (151.44). Before this game, a large chunk of Stoinis’ runs had come away from Lucknow on better batting tracks. Lucknow Super Giants might have been tempted to bump him up to the top, where he has been successful for Melbourne Stars in the BBL, once they decided to bench Kyle Mayers for their last home fixture. Instead, LSG promoted Deepak Hooda to open with Quinton de Kock and backed Stoinis’ muscle in the middle order.ESPNcricinfo LtdStoinis channelled all of that power in the 18th over, bowled by Chris Jordan. He went 6, 4, 4, 6, 4. The first ball was a 144kph length ball on the stumps that disappeared beyond the bigger long-on boundary. It brought up Stoinis’ half-century and had LSG’s mentor Gautam Gambhir on his feet, applauding the landmark. Jordan then took pace off the ball, but Stoinis still picked away him for fours on either side of the wicket. Then Jordan marginally missed the yorker and bowled a low full toss. It was still a hard-to-hit delivery, but Stoinis extended his arms and launched another six over the long-on fence. Jordan was left scratching his head in utter disbelief.Related
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But this sequence wasn’t particularly special because Stoinis always dominates Jordan in T20 cricket. Overall, Stoinis has taken Jordan for 151 runs off just 61 balls at a strike rate of almost 250 without being dismissed in T20s. However, the one-handed sixes off both Jason Behrendorff and Akash Madhwal in the 19th and 20th overs were truly remarkable.Both Behrendorff and Stoinis play for Western Australia in domestic cricket. The left-armer knows that Stoinis relishes pace on the ball, so he denied him pace and pushed a dipping yorker away from his swinging range. Stoinis got beaten by the change-up, and his bottom hand flew off the bat on impact, but he still manufactured enough power and elevation with one hand to clear long-off. Madhwal then just missed his middle-stump yorker on the final ball of the innings, but Stoinis created swinging room and enough power with just one hand again to clear long-off.2:31
Bishop: The way Stoinis paced his innings was superb
The yorker is arguably the bowler’s best delivery in T20 cricket, but Stoinis’ swing is so powerful that he can hit sixes off that length with just one hand on a used pitch. Kieron Pollard, who used to do this often on the field, was helplessly watching all the carnage unfold from Mumbai’s dugout.Tom Moody, the former Australia allrounder and an analyst at ESPNcricinfo, tried to make sense of Stoinis’ one-handed bombs.”It’s been done with the pace of the delivery, so therefore he gives his bottom hand away, but still the velocity of the swing coming down through the arc and he just extends the swing through with the top hand in control of the striking of the ball,” Moody said on ESPNcricinfo’s T20 Time:Out. “It takes strength, it takes balance and control because you still have to have your head in a strong position. If you throw your head back from that position, the ball is going nowhere. It’s a case of he’s been done [in] there, but he just extends that top hand through the ball to make sure he gets maximum contact.”That ability to hold his shape and use his reach has also helped him get on top of spinners this IPL. It was on display against Mumbai Indians again, with punchy sixes off Hrithik Shokeen and Piyush Chawla soon after the powerplay. With LSG currently third, this skill could also prove useful in spin-friendly Chennai for the playoffs. Throw in the pace dominance, and Stoinis has proved to be a man for all surfaces this season.
They will be hoping to get at least Axar back, whose batting will allow them to play a more attacking spinner in Kuldeep
Sidharth Monga11-Feb-2021With the first Test of the series being India’s second home defeat in more than eight years, it had to be a rare event. While England played excellent cricket from the moment they won the toss, they needed some good fortune to go their way too. One hundred and sixty-six Tests have been played since the start of 2017. There have been results in 146 of those. Only five times has a team made fewer errors with the bat than India’s 102 in Chennai to lose a Test. To lose 19 wickets to just 102 uncontrolled responses is terrible luck – Cheteshwar Pujara got out in the first innings despite being in full control of the shot – especially when England’s first innings alone took 136 not-in-control responses to end.Given the toss, the conditions and England’s resolute batting, India had to work harder for their wickets. It’s the opposite of what happened in Australia when it was the visitors who enjoyed some luck in the last three Tests when the ball was in play.Events in the final innings of the last two Tests in Australia and also in the recent game between Bangladesh and West Indies in Chattogram might have had some impact on England’s lack of declaration and fans’ expectations, but the Test was – as most of them are – won and lost in the first two innings. Not only did India’s first innings feature three unlucky wickets and some sensational catching, but the surge in the effectiveness of bowling was also huge.Related
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England enjoyed at least a bonus day of batting before the ball started to misbehave at all, which is not how the other Tests in the aforementioned list played out. Four out of the five Tests mentioned earlier were typically low-scoring affairs, the fifth was between India and Afghanistan.The penalty for batting errors went up considerably day three onwards in Chennai. The first innings took 13.6 false responses for a wicket to fall, the next three took 6.8, 5.7 and 4.1 respectively. Interestingly, the frequency of false responses didn’t really follow a linear pattern: there was one false response every 10.7 balls in the first innings, and every 9.4, 4.9 and 8.5 balls in the subsequent ones. Arguably, England were batting for a declaration in the third innings and played a few shots too many, which might be reflecting in poor control percentage on the fourth day; or perhaps India saw something in how England tackled the misbehaving ball on day four, which gives them confidence for the rest of the series.This points to two factors other than dumb luck. England could afford to bowl more attacking lengths because they had the runs on the board and a more responsive pitch to bowl on. While the economy rate went up, the errors were likelier to bring them wickets. Also, on more difficult pitches, you pay more for your errors. And this pitch got really difficult after the first two days. This was perhaps the kind of pitch that MS Dhoni used to rail against because it made the toss crucial, especially when Anil Kumble had retired and he had just Harbhajan Singh as the settled spinner.Washington Sundar might have to sit out despite his batting hand in the last Test if India play both Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav•BCCIThis is not to say that this is the first time a team has enjoyed good luck in Test cricket. India did so in Australia. England did so when they were in India last time, winning three tosses and having to induce fewer false responses for a wicket, but this time they backed it up with the big runs to make any slice of luck became significant.This time around, England are more determined to grind India out if they get to bat first, which shows in their squad composition. India are missing a key bowler: with a complete and relentless attack in the past, India could contain teams to 450-500 instead of the 578 England got here. Also, India are towards the end of a long season, which began with the IPL and carried into the gruelling tour of Australia. In the absence of Ravindra Jadeja, the fitness of the other bowlers will continue to be tested should England win the toss on a similar pitch again.Good examples of how India negated the toss disadvantage by restricting the opposition to 400-450 include the Mohali Test against Australia in 2013, the Mumbai and Chennai Tests against England in 2016, and the Ranchi Test against Australia in 2017. They will be hoping they get at least Axar Patel back, whose batting will allow them to play a more attacking spinner in Kuldeep Yadav. That might mean Washington Sundar might have to sit out despite his batting hand in the last Test, but when playing a spinner at No. 7, you are looking more at his bowling than batting.Virat Kohli’s press conference after the first Test betrayed a hint of annoyance at questions looking for any larger issue with the team. Kohli himself made just nine mistakes when he batted, and was out two times. The team knows they were in a tough situation, the kind they have made look easy in the past.Should they lose the toss again and find the pitch to be similar – the latter is less likely to happen – India will ask for better control from their bowlers and a little bit more luck when they bat in the first innings. For the first time in four years, India have been properly challenged at home. The next three Tests will make for fascinating cricket.
Game 5 of the World Series featured a pitching performance for the ages.
It just wasn’t authored by the player most would have expected it from.
Blue Jays rookie starter Trey Yesavage dominated the defending champion Dodgers, spearheading a 6–1 victory that brought Toronto one win away from its first championship since 1993. He struck out 12 batters and gave up just one run on three hits over seven innings, breaking the record for most strikeouts by a rookie in World Series history previously set by Don Newcombe of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1949.
He outdueled Los Angeles ace Blake Snell, who gave up five runs on six hits and four walks in 6 2/3 innings.
The Blue Jays ambushed Snell, with Davis Schneider driving the game’s first pitch over the left field wall for a lead-off homer. Two pitches later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did the same, blasting the eighth home run of his historic postseason.
That start to the game took the air out of Dodger Stadium, and Yesavage made sure it never returned. As the series heads back to Toronto, here are four takeaways from Game 5.
Dave Roberts is out of lineup options
Their dominant pitching and sweep of the Brewers masked it, but the Dodgers bats haven’t been clicking for some time now. Los Angeles managed only 15 runs across four games in the NLCS, and has scored just 18 in the Fall Classic. And no matter what tweaks Roberts makes, it hasn’t seemed to make a difference.
For Wednesday’s game, Roberts tried to shake things up by moving Mookie Betts from second to the No. 3 hole, and shifting Will Smith up to No. 2. And after resisting for the entire playoffs, he finally decided to bench center fielder Andy Pages, who was 4-for-50 during the postseason with zero walks. None of it mattered.
Too many key Dodgers bats are slumping at the wrong time. Betts is 3-for-23 this series, and has just one extra-base hit in his last 52 plate appearances. Tommy Edman is 3-for-21. Since his home run in Game 2, Max Muncy is 1-for-13 with five strikeouts. Roberts can reshuffle things all he wants to, but with the Dodgers’ backs against the wall, none of it is likely to wake the lineup out of its prolonged, ill-timed slumber.
Trey Yesavage rises to the occasion
Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage limited the Dodgers to one run on three hits in seven innings. / Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Of course, Yesavage was the main reason why the Dodgers’ offense struggled on Wednesday. With the way he threw the ball, few lineups would have put up much of a fight against him.
For the second time in this series, the rookie outpitched the two-time Cy Young Award winner. Yesavage, who made his big-league debut on Sept. 15, was simply brilliant. He struck out every Dodgers hitter at least once, and two of the three hits he gave up didn’t leave the infield. He struck out five consecutive hitters at one point, and after giving up a solo homer to Kiké Hernández in the bottom of the third, retired 13 of the last 16 batters he faced.
Of the 104 pitches Yesavage threw on the night, Dodgers hitters swung at 52 of them. They whiffed 23 times, marking the most swings-and-misses in a World Series game since tracking began in 2008.
It was a breathtaking performance, particularly considering the 22-year-old had made just three major league appearances before manager John Schneider opted to include him in his playoff rotation. Yesavage hasn’t flinched on the big stage yet, and his latest gem has the Blue Jays on the precipice of an upset title few predicted before this series began.
Dodgers’ bullpen will be their undoing
More and more, Game 3 is looking like the exception rather than the rule. In the 18-inning Dodgers win, their bullpen fired 13 1/3 innings and gave up just one run. Excluding that game, the group has allowed nine earned runs in 8 1/3 frames.
On Wednesday, Snell exited the game with runners on first and second and two outs, with the deficit still a manageable 3–1. Edgardo Henriquez came in and immediately allowed both inherited runners to score—one on a wild pitch and one on a single. He faced three hitters and retired none of them.
This appears to be another area where, no matter where Roberts turns, he finds himself with few attractive options (Monday’s Game 3 aside). With Yoshinobu Yamamoto set to take the mound in a do-or-die Game 6 Friday, it would surprise no one if he once again goes the distance and saves Roberts from having to choose from a series of bad options.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is your World Series MVP so far
Yesavage might have something to say about this after his historic performance, but Guerrero remains the greatest force of nature in this series. He’s reached base in every game, reached base multiple times in four out of five games and has run his Fall Classic slash line to .363/.500/.636. No Dodgers pitcher has made him look uncomfortable.
With star outfielder George Springer missing the previous two games and Bo Bichette still dealing with a knee injury, Toronto was down two of its biggest stars. Guerrero stepped up in their absences and then some, and, if the Blue Jays can scrape across one more win, he’ll have some hardware to show for it.
A KPMG, empresa contratada para auxiliar o Corinthians na renegociação de dívidas, alegou calote e moveu uma ação na justiça para cobrar R$ 1,5 milhão do clube paulista.
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A dívida foi confessada por Duílio Monteiro Alves, ex-mandatário do Corinthians, em documento firmado no dia 30 de dezembro, antepenúltimo de sua gestão. À época, Duílio assegurou à empresa que o montante seria depositado até o dia 20 de janeiro, em uma única parcela, o que não se confirmou.
O acordo com a KPMG foi assinado em maio de 2021, no primeiro ano de gestão do agora ex-presidente. Na ocasião, o Corinthians vinha de um aumento exponencial em sua dívida, que beirava R$ 1 bilhão segundo o balanço financeiro da época.
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O objetivo da parceria entre as partes era trabalhar na renegociação das dívidas do clube, além de auxiliar na captação de novos recursos para complementar a renda. No entanto, a défice financeiro do clube cresceu drasticamente desde então e hoje ultrapassa o valor de R$ 2 bilhões.
Ao assumir a presidência do Corinthians, em janeiro de 2024, Augusto Melo encerrou o contrato com a empresa de consultoria e contratou a Ernst & Young para assumir a função.