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On the eve of a much-awaited series, India’s captain projected a sense of calm readiness for what could be the biggest test of his leadership

Nagraj Gollapudi at Edgbaston31-Jul-20182:00

Will Kohli set the record straight in England?

Virat Kohli knows it is not just James Anderson and England who are lying in wait for him. It is many more outside the ring, who want to see whether he is really the best Test batsman in the world. Four years ago, Kohli left England embarrassed. Four years later, questions still remain about Kohli as a Test batsman in England. He has five Tests to show how far he has come.That may be what the general public thinks of Kohli’s state of mind on the eve of a Test series. But it’s not what Kohli is thinking. That’s what he says, at least. He has already said he isn’t out to prove a point as a batsman in England.Still, Kohli has been waiting for this Test series for a while. His keenness can be gauged from the fact the he wanted to experience true English-like conditions by playing in county cricket for a short stint.That did not come through, but it doesn’t matter. The episode revealed his desire to learn, to understand, to adapt to the conditions and the bowlers. It can be gauged from the fact that as early as late June in Malahide, where India were playing T20 cricket, Kohli had a training session batting against the red ball. He certainly is keen.Having spent nearly 40 days in the UK now, Kohli, like other Indian players who play all three formats, is more relaxed – both in his mind and about his game. Before leaving India, Kohli said that for him to succeed on the field, he needs to live a normal life outside cricket. In the past few weeks his wife Anushka Sharma has been travelling with him, and the pair has enjoyed doing things a normal couple would do – taking a stroll, having a coffee, commuting between cities in a train.Mentally, Kohli is in a good place. On the field he has been his usual, focused self. Kohli’s training sessions are unique, in that he displays the same intensity that he would while facing Anderson in an actual match. In everything from his trigger movement to his head to his bat speed, to the point where bat connects with ball, you see Kohli is intent on scoring runs.. It is the ‘feel’ he is after.Getty ImagesOn Monday, facing all the Indian fast bowlers, Kohli displayed the same routine. He would call out “one” each time he connected in the middle. Kohli believes in rotating the strike even in Test cricket, in making sure the bowler is always pushed back in his corner and gains no upper hand. He does not play the waiting game.While we zoom into his batting with a critical lens, Kohli has a million things to ponder. What is the right combination of batsmen, who should comprise the bowling attack, should India field two spinners, and if yes, who should they be? Another challenge for Kohli would be the absence of a smart brain like Bhuvneshwar Kumar by his side. Bhuvneshwar played a dominant role not just with the ball, but also as a leader of the pace pack, in South Africa.A five-Test series has the potential to reveal the character of a player, his skills and strengths. This Test series will test his patience and judgment severely, and if he comes through it successfully, he will come out of it an evolved leader.Kohli will need help. He will need his top order to walk in, settle down and push the fast bowlers into their second and third spells. The batsmen will need to stitch partnerships that can not only exhaust the opponent, but also help India raise competitive scores, especially in the first innings. India failed to do that convincingly and consistently in South Africa, in a series they desperately wanted to win.He will need Ishant Sharma to graduate from workhorse to match-winner. He will need his slip catchers, including himself, to take the chances when they come.At the outset Kohli has displayed a sense of calm. On Tuesday afternoon, he arrived to pose for a moment with England captain Joe Root and the Pataudi Trophy. The next moment, he stretched his arms and walked to the pitch. He then addressed the media and said outside opinions do not influence him any more. He walked out of the ground back to the team hotel without any training. Kohli is ready. Kohli is relaxed.

There was no need for fireworks as the WBBL’s fourth edition kicked off in Melbourne; the likes of Lee and Healy lit things up well enough on their own

Alex Malcolm in Melbourne01-Dec-2018There was no need for fireworks on the opening day of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) season 4.South Africa batsman Lizelle Lee provided them with a stunning unbeaten century from just 56 balls as the Melbourne Stars upset the highly-fancied defending champions Sydney Sixers.Lee’s incredible batting, rather than an actual pyrotechnics display, spoke volumes for the tone that has been struck by the WBBL as its fourth season got underway in Melbourne.While the men’s BBL can look like a nightly rock concert at times, the WBBL is a reflection of Cricket Australia’s vision, a family friendly event for everyone.The revamped Junction Oval in Melbourne was the perfect setting. While Cricket Australia has an aim of filling the 100,000-seat MCG for a women’s match at the 2020 T20 World Cup, they have not over-reached by hosting the WBBL opener in the cavernous cauldron.The Junction provided grass banks for bouncy castles and family picnics, heritage-listed stands for a pure cricket experience, as well as brand new amenities like Cricket Victoria’s indoor facility to house a kids’ cricket zone.On the field, the cricket was high class. Lee’s blistering century signalled the importance of international stars to the tournament.Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy, who was the Player of the Tournament at the recently concluded T20 World Cup in the Caribbean, showed why they are two of the best and most popular players in Australia with sublime half-centuries in a losing cause.Perth Scorchers won the opening match of the double-header, and Australia batsman Elyse Villani was named Player of the Match for a fine half-century that was the bedrock of tricky chase. But the depth of Australian domestic women’s cricket was on display as Lauren Ebsary and Chloe Piparo played two sensational cameos – worth 40 and 26 respectively – to guide the Scorchers home.The Hobart Hurricanes looked significantly depleted on paper after West Indies star Hayley Matthews broke her toe at training on Friday. But 20-year-old Tasmanian Erin Fazackerley showed the talent coming through, clubbing 38 from 16 balls after getting off the mark with a six. Georgia Redmayne, meanwhile, produced an excellent 49 from 48 to get the Hurricanes up to a competitive 143 for 7.The depth of talent has not gone unnoticed and there are concerns that Australian women’s cricket may leave the rest of the world behind due to CA’s investment in the women’s game. Besides, there is real regret that domestic players in many other countries are unable to train and play to the same standard without the same level of remuneration that allowed women to become full-time professionals.While so many of Australia’s older players have had to forge a path playing juniors with boys, the visibility of the women’s game via the WBBL and its new free-to-air broadcast partner Channel Seven will give Australia’s future female players no such issues.But that’s not to say the broadcast deal is perfect. Channel Seven opted to showcase the opening day of the WBBL on one of its secondary channels, with the men’s Australian PGA Golf Championship taking precedence on the main channel over the weekend. The complexity of the digital streaming rights deal also provides challenges for those looking to watch all games on that platform.But the aim of visibility has certainly been achieved and de-coupling both the opening weekend and the finals from the men’s internationals and the BBL (the final itself will be a stand-alone event, and will be played on Australia Day before the resumption of the Brisbane day-night Test) has been a further step to embed the tournament in Australia’s psyche.Watching Healy hit spinners inside-out over cover with class and ease of any player on the planet is enough to inspire any youngster, male or female, to take up the game.While Cricket Australia’s marketing team kicked an own goal with the men’s team’s “elite honesty”, the women’s mantra – from the World T20 – of “#WatchMe” is absolutely on point.You can, and you should.

Time is running out to make a case for the summer’s big event, but two players in particular have stepped up

George Dobell in St Kitts09-Mar-2019If Chris Jordan were the Barbados-born cricketer qualifying for England next week, you wonder how much momentum calls for his selection would be gathering.As things stand, it is Jofra Archer who is dominating discussions around World Cup selection. And with his pace and potential, you can understand that.But you wonder if the lure of the new sometimes obscures the value of the familiar. For Jordan also offers a compelling package of skills. And, while he has not played an ODI since September 2016, he has provided a timely reminder of his qualities in these last two T20I matches. It’s not impossible it could yet win him a recall.While some limited-overs bowling figures can be misleading – bowlers might see their figures improved by a flurry of late wickets, with batsmen caught on the boundary, for example – Jordan’s figures here were reward for some high-class seam bowling. At one stage, he took four wickets in eight balls for the cost of two runs as Darren Bravo edged a fine one angled across him – the sort of wicket you might see in Test cricket, really – Jason Holder played around a straight one and Nicolas Pooran and Fabian Allen were punished for attempting to run good length, well-directed balls down to third man.This backed up his impressive performance in St Lucia. There he dismissed Chris Gayle with a well-directed yorker – a delivery that proved beyond his ODI counterparts for much of the preceding series – and followed it with an excellent slower ball (and brilliant return catch) to dismiss Bravo.So, in two games, he has shown the skill to bowl with variation and control, and an ability to bowl at most stages of the innings.This second match may prove especially relevant, though. The England management already know he is a good bowler at the death. They are less confident of his ability to maintain a tight line and length and bowl in earlier phases of the game. He may have gone some way towards convincing them here.Jordan has probably been unfortunate to play as little international cricket as he has. He was, by the coaching staff’s reckoning, the pick of England’s bowlers when he played the last of his eight Tests in Barbados in May 2015. But he was then left out of the team for the first Test against New Zealand a few weeks later on the basis that the selectors wanted to give Mark Wood a Test debut to ensure he had some experience at that level before the Ashes. At the time, it was presumed Jordan would be back later in the summer.But a couple of weeks after those Tests against New Zealand, Jordan sustained a side strain when bowling in an ODI. He had already stayed on the pitch too long for his own good – he went for 97 from nine overs – but was then obliged to bat as England went close to chasing 379 from 46 overs. That brief innings worsened the side strain and he was forced into a long lay-off. He fell out of the reckoning in that layoff and has only played half-a-dozen ODIs since.He has not, perhaps, developed his batting quite as much as it once seemed he would. And he does not have quite the pace of Archer or Wood. But he is a bowler with a good range of skills and as good a fielder as anyone available to England. He could be a very useful member of a 15-man World Cup squad.Sam Billings steers the ball through the on side•Getty ImagesMuch the same might be said about Sam Billings. His innings here – his highest in international cricket – showcased both his ability as a ball-striker and his cricketing intelligence. We don’t have to look too far back to see what happened the last time England’s top-order were knocked over cheaply in international cricket but on this occasion, Billings – in company with Joe Root, who made his first T20I half-century since the World T20 final in Kolkata – showed an ability to adapt their game to reflect both the match situation and a pitch offering the bowlers some assistance.With England reeling at 32 for 4 at one stage, his first 34 runs occupied 31 balls before, having established a base, he accelerated so dramatically that his final 16 balls brought him 53 runs. The 44 England scored from the final two overs of the innings left West Indies needing the largest score ever made in a T20I on this ground and a total perhaps 25 or 30 above par.It may well not be enough to earn Billings a place in that World Cup squad, though. With Alex Hales seemingly guaranteed the spot for the reserve batsman, there are only three sports remaining in the squad. While Ed Smith is clearly keen on Joe Denly, there seems limited point in having a third spinner in the squad – it is hard to see any circumstances in which he would play – so it may well be those final three spots are all taken by seam bowlers. It’s not impossible there could be two Barbados-born bowlers in that squad.”That would be a dream,” Jordan admitted. “But we haven’t talked about it. We don’t put that sort of thing in the atmosphere. We try and stay grounded and not get too far ahead of ourselves. We put our energy into what’s in front of us.”At least Billings is winning an opportunity now. The likes of James Vince, Dawid Malan (who has scored four half-centuries in his five T20Is) and Liam Livingstone are struggling to win an opportunity even in this second-string side.It is reflective, up to a point anyway, of the days when Australian cricket possessed such strength in depth that fine players such as Stuart Law (one Test, 54 ODIs) or Martin Love (five Tests) were limited to relatively brief international careers.There is a sense that this T20I series, coming at the end of a long tour, is a bit of an afterthought. But winning the series so comprehensively is a decent achievement for England. West Indies are world champions in this format, after all, and England have rested half-a-dozen of their first-choice players.To bowl a side out for 45 – the lowest total in T20I history by a Full Member of the ICC – and complete victory by 137 runs – only three times in T20I history has a larger margin of victory (in terms of runs) been achieved – is testament to England’s depth.It must bode well for their chances in both the World Cup and the T20 World Cup. But for the likes of Jordan and Billings, it makes securing a place in the side desperately tough.

Stats highlights from Trent Bridge, where the defending champions piled on the runs against Bangladesh

ESPNcricinfo stats team20-Jun-2019If it was the Eoin Morgan show the other day in Manchester, it was the turn of David Warner on Thursday to demoralise the Bangladesh attack. Australia had a splendid day with the bat and broke a few World Cup records on the way.Australia’s highest scores in World Cup’s•ESPNcricinfo Ltd 166 Runs scored by David Warner – the second highest for Australia in World Cups. Warner holds the record for the highest score as well when he made 178 against Afghanistan in Perth, in 2015.2 150-plus scores for David Warner in World Cups. No other cricketer has managed to score more than one in the history of the tournament. This is also David Warner’s sixth individual score of 150 or above in ODIs. Only Rohit Sharma with seven has more such scores.WATCH on Hotstar – Warner’s scintillating 166 (India only)1 Instances in World Cups for Australia where the first two wickets have had a century partnership. This is only the fourth time in World Cup history that this has been achieved.110 Innings taken for David Warner to score his 16th hundred. Only Hashim Amla got there faster, in 94 innings. Warner is joint second fastest along with Virat Kohli. Mark Waugh and Ricky Ponting are the only ones to have more than 16 centuries for Australia.173 Runs scored by Australia in the last 15 overs, the second most in this tournament. Only England managed to score more, when they collected 198 against Afghanistan. 25 Runs scored by Australia in the 46th over, the moost in a single over in this World Cup. Previously, Bangladesh had scored 24 against West Indies in the 38th over. 2 Scores higher than 381 that Australia have managed in ODIs. This is their second-highest World Cup score, and the fourth highest score overall against Bangladesh in ODIs. Incidentally two of the top four scores have come in Nottingham. 714 Match aggregate at Nottingham. – Most in a World Cup match. Four of the top seven total aggregates have taken place in the 2019 edition.

Now is the time to marvel and wonder, to congratulate and celebrate. Thanks to Stokes, cricket in England seems relevant again

George Dobell in Leeds25-Aug-2019Of course Headingley was the scene of the miracle.Of course, on the ground where England’s last irrefutably great allrounder cemented his reputation, Ben Stokes enshrined his own legacy with a performance that will be spoken of for decades to come. A performance which those fortune enough to witness will never forget and for whom the scars of tinnitus – this really was a remarkably vocal crowd – will be considered a price worth paying. Maybe Brian Lara’s innings at Bridgetown in 1999, also against Australia, was its equal, but Stokes is in exalted company here.At the end, every security guard, every steward, every opponent and every supporter – Australian and English – was on their feet and offering thunderous applause. For this was a display that transcended patriotism, professionalism and partialism. A display that left those who thought they had seen it all with their jaws open and head shaking. A display that left the jaded and disappointed whistling as they skipped home.ALSO READ: One of the ‘top two moments I’ve ever had on a cricket field’ – StokesThere will be a time to reflect on England’s wretched first-innings batting. There will be a time to focus on their bowlers’ poor use of the conditions in the first innings, the dropped catches that allowed Australia to stretch their advantage beyond 300 in the second and, yes, there must be a time for reflecting on the standard of umpiring in international cricket. It isn’t good enough and it would be disingenuous to pretend England haven’t been the beneficiaries here and in the World Cup final. Still, Australia will reflect that, had they not squandered their final review moments earlier, Stokes would have been trapped leg-before with his side still two short.Now is not that time, though. Now is the time to marvel and wonder. To congratulate and celebrate. To shake our heads ruefully and count ourselves fortunate. So dramatic was the finish of this game that play was, apparently, halted at other venues so that everyone present – even the players and umpires – could watch and the result was announced during Tottenham Hotspur’s game against Newcastle. Cricket seems relevant again in England and it hasn’t for a long time. Stokes is a huge part of that resurgence of interest.Ben Stokes reverse-pulls a six over cover•Getty ImagesFirst, the science bit. This was England’s highest successful fourth-innings run chase, their highest 10th wicket partnership to win a game (it is just the second-highest in the history of all Test cricket) and the first time any side has won having failed to reach 70 in the first innings in 131 – yes, 131 – years. Oh, and it was also a second century in successive Tests for Stokes in a result that ensures the fight for the Ashes continues into the final two Tests.The most revealing moment in Stokes’ prestige – the word innings seems a bit insufficient for this bit of magic – was when he reached his century. He did not so much as twitch a smile. There was no raising of the bat or lifting of the arms. Instead he remained absolutely focused on his objective – the team’s objective – which was winning.”I didn’t really care,” he said later about reaching his century. “Personal milestones, especially in that sort of situation, mean absolutely nothing. There were still a lot more runs to get; I wasn’t bothered about how many I had.”This provides quite an insight into Stokes’ motivations. And it ties in with the manner in which he took responsibility in the field when England appeared to be falling apart on the third evening. For while his bowling figures in the second innings – 24.2-7-56-3 – look unremarkable, the bald statistics conceal the fact that it was bowled in one remorselessly hostile spell split only by the close on day two and four balls delivered by Jofra Archer before he left the field with an attack of cramp. It was, as his captain put it afterwards, “super human” and it undoubtedly kept his side in the game.”He’s the ultimate team man,” Root said. “On the third night, when things weren’t going for us and we got sloppy, he stood up. Jofra went off with cramp, but you couldn’t get the ball out of Ben’s hand. He wanted to do everything he could to keep us in that match and that’s what you want form your senior players. He bowled pretty much 20 overs on the bounce with a night in between. That’s an incredible achievement in itself.”Such testimony is worth remembering the next time you hear somebody tell you Stokes can’t be considered a great allrounder as he doesn’t average 40 with the bat or below 30 with the ball. You can’t judge everything with statistics and Stokes is a far from average cricketer. While others may protect their figures, he remains utterly committed to the result. And it is meant to be a team game, after all.Headingley rises as one to applaud Ben Stokes•Getty Images”Whatever the stage of the game, whether it’s with bat or ball, the team that I’m playing for is going to get everything from me,” Stokes said. “That spell was a time to stand up and deliver. I really enjoy being the person that Joe turns to when it isn’t going our way. I don’t want to do the easy things; I want to do the hard yards as well.”But if that lack of celebration was the most revealing moment, it was far from the most staggering. For that moment you can pick between the switch-hit six – it was more of a reverse-slog-sweep, really; Stokes did not swap his grip – off Nathan Lyon, a sweep for six off Josh Hazlewood; yes, Hazlewood, the man who had taken nine wickets and bowled with unrelenting menace, or the ramp off Pat Cummins that went for six more. Each one of them was staggeringly good.Don’t make the mistake of thinking this was one of those belligerent Stokes innings where he simply chanced his arm, though. It was a long time in development. After 73 balls, he had scored just three runs and his 50 occupied 152 balls. That is easily the slowest of his career.When the acceleration came, however, it was dramatic. By the end, he had struck eight sixes – beating Kevin Pietersen’s old record for England in Ashes cricket – with his second 50 taking just 47 balls. And while one or two – ok, three or four – of those sixes appeared to pass only just over the boundary fielders, you could almost believe that Stokes was toying with his prey like a cat might a mouse. He didn’t give an actual chance until he had 116.England had no chance when the last wicket-pair came together. Yes, Stokes was set, but there was too much to do, surely, and he had for company a man who is averaging 4.66 in the County Championship this season (an average artificially boosted by three not outs) who had to wipe his spectacles between every delivery. The groundstaff had gathered; the presentation party had assembled; the ICC even tweeted – if only for a moment – their congratulations to Australia on retaining the Ashes.Ben Stokes ramps a six over fine leg•Getty ImagesBut so well was Stokes striking the ball by this point that Jack Leach faced only 17 balls in their 62-ball stand. That over from Hazlewood – the one with the swept six – went for 19. As thunderously supported as the two sixes and a four, was the perfectly weighted two that Stokes guided to backward point and the single that followed it ensuring Leach had only one delivery to face. It was enough to see Hazlewood, who had just replaced James Pattinson, out of the attack. For perhaps the first time in the match, Australia looked out of options.And, under pressure, it was Australia who blinked. Marcus Harris dropped a tough chance off Stokes – a sliced edge – running in at third man when England still required 17 and then Lyon, inexplicably, fumbled and failed when he had a simple run-out chance (Leach having over enthusiastically backed up) with just two required.”I think Jack must have been watching Monty Panesar at Cardiff,” Stokes said with his face behind his hands as he recalled the moment. “I could not believe when I looked up and saw him so close to me. He said he thought I was coming down, but I said mate, ‘I was nowhere near running’. That was huge panic stations because he was so far out.”Stokes was sympathetic to Lyon, though. “Pressure situations can really affect what a human does,” he said. “Nine times out of ten Lyon would pick that ball up and take the stumps off. But you have to take into account the pressure he is under.”Such moments don’t seem to bother Stokes, though. Quite the opposite, really. He has done it in a World Cup final and a key Ashes Test now. Like the best before him – Shane Warne, MS Dhoni, Viv Richards – he appears to blossom in the heat of competition just as others wilt.England have a gem in Stokes and his brilliance has kept them in this Ashes series.

A Test series in India is one of the toughest assignments in cricket. How prepared are Mominul Haque’s men?

Mohammad Isam13-Nov-2019Bangladesh are going to play a Test series against India with gaps the size of Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal in their squad. Mominul Haque has said he is missing “three players” because he feels Shakib is two players in one. But against the No 1 Test side in the world, and without two of their main players, the rest of the Bangladesh side must step up or they risk perishing quickly.ESPNcricinfo looks at how prepared Bangladesh are ahead of the first Test in Indore.Can the batsmen show stickability?The batting line-up will revolve around Mominul, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah, but less experienced players such as Shadman Islam, Liton Das and Mohammad Mithun must also play a role. Mominul pointed out in his pre-match press conference that all of them had played first-class cricket coming into the India tour, but questions still remain about the form of a number of batsmen in red-ball cricket.The one-off Test against Afghanistan in Chattogram in September ripped open many frailties in this batting line-up. One of the biggest problems is the inability of the batsmen to spend time in the middle. In the absence of Shakib and Tamim, the senior batsmen have to take charge, but so does everyone else. Even someone like Saif Hassan, a candidate for a Test debut, has to bring his longer-version quality of leaving the ball well, into the picture.The likes of Mahmudullah, Liton and Mithun cannot throw away their wickets after good starts, since Bangladesh don’t have any genuine allrounders to balance out their batting line-up.Abu Jayed jumps in celebration•Getty ImagesAre the pace bowlers undercooked?Abu Jayed played two Tests in New Zealand at the start of the year, and created numerous chances, but he hasn’t had the best of times in first-class cricket since then, going wicketless in two games for Bangladesh A and not looking his usual wicket-taking self for Sylhet Division in the National Cricket League.Al-Amin Hossain has only played two first-class matches in the last 11 months, while Mustafizur Rahman has played one Test and one other first-class match this year. Ebadot Hossain, the quickest of the lot, hasn’t hit his stride this year either.The preparedness of the fast bowlers, therefore, is a big worry for Bangladesh going into the Indore Test. Part of the reason for this problem is that fast bowling is almost ignored by the team management in home Tests, and by the selectors when they pick the Bangladesh A squads.Who will keep wickets?Mushfiqur said in an interview last month that he has informed coach Russell Domingo of his decision not to keep wickets in Tests. Liton then becomes the first choice, and given that the batting line-up is without Shakib and Tamim, he will bat at No 7.Liton isn’t in great form but in his Test career so far, he has fared better with the bat when he has played as designated wicketkeeper. Mithun is another wicketkeeping choice but he would only come into the picture if Bangladesh are looking to play five bowlers.Taijul Islam bounds in to deliver•AFPHow will the spinners cope without Shakib?Mehidy Hasan and Taijul Islam will be Mominul’s go-to bowlers in nearly every situation, whether he needs a strike bowler or someone to hold one up or even to try something new.Mehidy has a little more to prove after losing his place in the T20I side and having to play first-class matches for Bangladesh A. Taijul can expect to bowl long spells but he is used to the workload. The spinners’ biggest difficulty will be to adjust to life without Shakib at the other end. Shakib provided the strongest support with his accuracy, which gave Mehidy and Taijul a bit of breathing space. In this game, even if Bangladesh pick the offspinner Nayeem Hasan as a third spinner, Mehidy and Taijul have to look, act and bowl like senior bowlers.

This summer feels like it will have to be another one of significant change for Tottenham Hotspur.

Following a campaign that seems to go from bad to worse on a near-weekly basis, the pressure continues to mount on Ange Postecoglou, and it seems like he is on the precipice of losing his job.

However, it’s not just the staff that could change, as Daniel Levy and Co have to look to bring in some first-team quality players and shift those deemed surplus to requirements.

In fact, there is one player who was signed by Antonio Conte, who has cost the club a significant amount of money over the years and simply has to be sold.

Spurs players who should be moved on

Before we get to the player in question, it’s worth examining some of the other members of the squad who should be moved on or sold in the summer, such as Yves Bissouma.

The Mali international kicked off the season by getting banned for using laughing gas, and while he hasn’t done anything like that since, he has been incredibly disappointing when he’s played.

For example, when he started against Fulham before the international break, he was hooked at half-time and earned a 3/10 match rating from journalist Alasdair Gold, who described his display as ‘dreadful’ and ‘panicked’, which is not what you want from your central midfielders.

Another player signed in the same window who has to be sold or simply let go is Richarlison, who cost £60m, earns £90k-per-week and is never fit enough to play for the team.

In the almost three years since he moved to N17, the Brazilian international has made 80 appearances, in which he’s only been able to score 18 goals and provide nine assists.

Wage Burners

Football FanCast’s Wage Burners series explores the salaries of the modern-day game.

Unfortunately, there is yet another Conte signing who should be sold in the summer, someone who can be a serious liability at times.

The Spurs dud who must be sold

So, when it comes down to players who could be described as expensive mistakes, there are, unfortunately, quite a few at Spurs, but in this case, we are talking about Pedro Porro.

The Spanish full-back joined the club on loan with a £40m obligation to buy in January 2023, and to start with, there was a lot to like about him.

For example, in his first season and a half at the club, the former Sporting CP star racked up a brilliant haul of seven goals and ten assists in 54 appearances and looked like he could become the club’s own Trent Alexander Arnold thanks to his ability to whip a ball in.

Unfortunately, this season has seen his output drop to just two goals and seven assists in 42 appearances, and that has shone far more light on his defensive ability, or lack thereof, more accurately.

The Don Benito-born ace is a complete liability at the back, and we have seen that on multiple occasions.

For example, the time Leandro Trossard completely embarrassed him at the Emirates, his abysmal performance at home to Ipswich Town, which journalist Mitch Fretton described as a “horror show,” or his “absolutely terrible” showing at home to Bournemouth, as one podcaster put it.

What makes it all that much worse is the fact that he’s also making £85k-per-week, which means he’s amassed around £9.6m in wages so far, which means he’s cost the club about £49.6m in total.

Transfer fee

£40m

Total Wages

£9.6m

Appearances

96

Cost per Appearance

£516k

Goal

9

Cost per Goal

£5.5m

Assists

17

Cost per Assist

£2.9m

Goal Involvements

26

Cost per Goal Involvement

£1.9m

That breaks down to about £516k-per-appearance, £5.5m-per-goal, £2.9m-per-assist or £1.9m-per-goal involvement, which is hardly value for money.

Ultimately, while Porro showed some initial promise at Spurs, he has since become a total liability in defence, and therefore, the club should look to sell him as soon as possible.

Worse than Son: Spurs' 6/10 "bystander" is now fading away like Maddison

Tottenham suffered another defeat at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 4, 2025

Liverpool have confirmed a new contract for Virgil van Dijk, fending off interest from the likes of Bayern Munich to keep the captain on Merseyside for two more years.

Liverpool seal new contracts for key stars

The Reds could officially win the Premier League this weekend in what has been a brilliant first campaign under Arne Slot. Should Arsenal suffer defeat against Ipswich Town on Sunday afternoon, Liverpool could seal the title with a win at Leicester City shortly after.

However, away from the pitch, a hot topic of conversation has been on the futures of star trio Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk. Salah, as we know, has officially signed a new two-year contract at Anfield, whereas Alexander-Arnold looks set to join Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano had recently said that Van Dijk is set to join Salah in signing a new Liverpool contract through until 2027, and talking recently, the skipper was asked about his pending new deal: “I think first, all the focus should be going to the Hillsborough anniversary. I think that’s the main thing and then we’ll see. The focus will still be on Leicester, but maybe there’s some news. I know … but I don’t know.

“I love the club, that’s pretty obvious. I think you can see that in the way I speak about the club, the way I work for the club in terms of what I do on the pitch on and off the pitch, and that will always be the same.”

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1 ByTom Cunningham Apr 16, 2025 Van Dijk signs new Liverpool deal worth over £40m

Bayern Munich were keen to sign Van Dijk on a free transfer, seeing the centre-back as a ‘unique opportunity to strengthen its defence with experience, leadership and proven quality’, but it has now been confirmed by Liverpool that Van Dijk has signed a new contract at Anfield.

Rumoured to be on £220,000-a-week beforehand, Van Dijk has become a Liverpool legend since joining from Southampton back in 2017, winning numerous trophies, and David Ornstein reports the new two-year deal is now worth £400,000-a-week.

Ornstein confirms there are no pay cut or break clauses, which will guarantee the Netherlands star is paid £41,600,000 through to the summer of 2027, by which time he’ll be 35. This is even more than the fee Liverpool paid to Brighton for star midfielder Alexis Mac Allister (£35m), but Reds fans will feel their captain deserves every penny.

Games

314

Goals

27

Assists

13

Yellow cards

25

Red cards

1

Minutes played

27,925

Trophies won

8

Talking after penning terms, Van Dijk said: “I’m very happy, very proud. There are so many emotions obviously that go through my head right now speaking about it. “It’s a proud feeling, it’s a feeling of joy. It’s just incredible. The journey I’ve had so far in my career, to be able to extend it with another two years at this club is amazing and I’m so happy.”

Van Dijk is now the highest paid defender in the top flight and will be the second-highest paid player in any position once Kevin De Bruyne departs Man City this summer, behind only Erling Haaland who sits on £500,000-a-week at the Etihad.

This summer is massive for Arsenal football club in their attempts to finally end the two-decade wait for a Premier League title, with the transfer window providing them with a huge opportunity.

Numerous players will need to be sold and brought in to hand manager Mikel Arteta the best possible chance of being a success and completing the overhaul of the first team squad.

The Spaniard has done an excellent job in taking the side from mid-table struggling to title challenges in the five years he’s been in charge at the Emirates.

However, his side have finished second place in each of the last two seasons in England’s top flight, looking set to finish in the same position once again this season.

There’s no denying that key areas are in need of investment to take the side up a notch in 2025/26, with the hierarchy already laying the foundations for various moves in the summer window.

The latest on Arsenal’s hunt for new midfielders this summer

The one midfielder whose name is on the lips of many supporters is that of Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi, who’s been a constant target for the Gunners in the last few months.

Arteta’s men tried to land him during the January transfer window, but ran out of time to complete a deal, subsequently needing to wait until the upcoming window to land their target.

It appears they’ve done just that, with new sporting director Andrea Berta confident that the 26-year-old will become his first addition after joining the club after Edu’s departure a couple of months ago.

However, despite the potential incomings, it was confirmed earlier this week that the club were planning on offering Thomas Partey a new deal with his current one set to expire at the end of the campaign.

Whilst the 31-year-old would be a solid squad option in 2025/26, he shouldn’t be a regular starter in Arteta’s side – needing to utilise one player ahead of him at the Emirates.

The Arsenal star who should be ahead of Partey in 2025/26

Declan Rice has been a key player for Arsenal over the last couple of months, single-handedly playing a vital role in their two-legged Champions League quarter-final triumph over defending champions Real Madrid.

His two free kicks in the first leg helped the Gunners boast a three-goal lead ahead of the second leg, whilst producing another Man of the Match showing to seal the deal for the club at the Bernabeu.

The 26-year-old now looks to be a bargain at £105m, but he needs to be partnered by other top-quality talents if they are to go one better and win the title for the first time in over 20 years.

The hierarchy may not need to spend any money on finding a perfect player to play alongside him in the form of Myles Lewis-Skelly, who’s mainly featured at left-back after breaking into the first team.

However, the 18-year-old is a central midfielder by trade, subsequently having the tools to star in such a position – with his stats from the current season backing up his versatility.

The teenager, who’s been labelled “sensational” by former Spurs star Jamie O’Hara, has completed 94% of the passes he’s attempted, at an average of 40 passes per 90 – handing added opportunities to those around him in the process.

He’s also completed 57% of the dribbles he’s attempted, whilst notching 1.3 touches per 90 in the opposition box, showcasing the impressive talents he has with the ball at his feet.

Games played

19

Goals & assists

1

Pass accuracy

94%

Passes completed per game

40

Dribbles completed

57%

Touches in opposition box

1.3

Tackles won

67%

Duels won

6.3

Lewis-Skelly’s impressive ability doesn’t end there, winning 67% of the tackles he’s entered, and coming out on top of 6.3 duels per 90 – not afraid to put himself about despite his tender age.

The youngster’s performances in 2024/25 have been nothing short of remarkable, having the ability to star in Arteta’s side for many years to come.

He’s already earning rave comparisons, notably similar in style to fellow Hale Ender Jack Wilshere. Like Lewis-Skelly, his ability to evade the press, manipulate the ball in tight areas and dribble, are certainly reminiscent.

However, he should be doing so at the heart of the side alongside Rice, with the boss needing to drop Partey out of the side and utilise him as a bench option with Lewis-Skelly needing a chance to star in midfield.

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The David Moyes revival has already taken Everton so far; Goodison Park is unrecognisable from the tumbledown slump that the Scotsman inherited, confidence at a low ebb after colourless football under Sean Dyche’s wing.

Dyche did a good job, all told, but he couldn’t take the Toffees any further and rightly parted ways when The Friedkin Group looked to christen their ownership with an uplifting appointment.

Moyes has done very well indeed, losing just four of his 16 Premier League games at the helm. However, he needs new recruits this summer, especially at the front of the ship.

With Everton stepping into a new home at the Bramley-Moore dock, it feels the right time to replace the ailing Dominic Calvert-Lewin with a new number nine.

Everton's search for a new striker

Calvert-Lewin has been a stalwart for Everton, playing 270 matches across nine seasons, scoring 71 goals. He’s out of contract this summer, though, with brittle fitness levels and consequent struggles for form suggesting he should be allowed to leave.

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Beto’s resurgent as a focal frontman, but Everton want more, with Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Tim Kleindienst identified as the perfect player to join Moyes’ project.

According to Caught Offside, TFG are ready to pay the €35m (£30m) asking price for the powerful striker, though the same could be said for Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Further interest from overseas complicates matters, but Everton’s willingness to place a bid suggests that Moyes and the owners are driven toward making improvements during the off-season.

Why Everton want Tim Kleindienst

Time was when Everton would cede swift defeat in a jam-packed race for a talented striker, Goodison Park devolving into something of a hotbed for disappointment in recent years.

But this is a new era, and Moyes has restored the feel-good factor. Kleindienst, 29, could make this new feeling even better still, with a clinical track record in Germany denoting his capacity to confidently take Calvert-Lewin’s place in the squad.

The Germany international has scored 16 goals and added ten assists across 32 matches for Gladbach this season, arriving from Heidenheim last summer.

Standing at 6 foot 4, he carries the imposing physicality that Moyes has made such good use of throughout his managerial career, and with Kleindienst winning 4.7 aerial duels per Bundesliga match this season, he has what it takes to flourish in the area Calvert-Lewin so expertly excels.

Matches (starts)*

23 (19)

30 (30)

Goals

3

16

Assists

1

7

Big chances missed

1

14

Pass completion

64%

62%

Big chances created

1

11

Key passes*

0.3

0.9

Dribbles*

0.4

0.4

Tackles + interceptions*

0.7

1.3

Total duels won*

5.5

6.9

The two strikers have a lot in common. Both strong and tall, they win many duels through their focal role in the air; each forward dribbles infrequently, with neither proving the most accurate in his passing.

However, therein lies the disparity. Kleindienst is far more fruitful in his passing, so creative and intelligent with his knock-ons, his lay-offs. Indeed, as per The Athletic’s Seb Stafford-Bloor, the German is “an exquisite one-touch player”.

Defensively, there’s a lot to admire too. FBref record Kleindienst ranks among the top 19% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for tackles, the top 11% for interceptions and the top 1% for both blocks and clearances made per 90.

To be sure, signing a striker on the brink of their thirties would be something of a risk, but Kleinsdienst’s athleticism, power and dynamism would be perfect for an Everton side on the up.

Profiled in a similar way to Calvert-Lewin and coveted by divisional rivals, Everton will want to make this statement of intent.

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