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Big picture: Santner and Hardik impress

India and New Zealand have travelled the length and breadth of the country for six games in 14 days and we are finally at the end, with the T20I series tied at 1-1. It’s time for one last push, and then please remember to put those tray tables in the upright and locked position.Winning a series here is hard work for a visiting team. India have protected their stronghold with ridiculous consistency. Over the last 10 years they have played a total of 55 bilateral series, across formats, and won 47 of them. Only Australia in 2019 and South Africa in 2015 have beaten India in India.Mitchell Santner has stressed this point in press conferences; that apart from the learnings New Zealand can take about conditions they will face during the ODI World Cup in October, there is still the chance to go down in history as a team that beat India in India.Related

• Ferguson, the unofficial leader of New Zealand's pace pack

• Why India trust Arshdeep with the difficult overs

• Mitchell and Santner give New Zealand 1-0 lead

• Suryakumar helps India draw level in spin-fest

• Lucknow curator sacked for 'shocker of a pitch'

Both captains have actually been big gains for their sides. Santner has already shown the poise under pressure that he set out to have, and he seems to be an out-of-the-box thinker too. Dude asked Lockie Ferguson if he’d bowl offspin to make the most of a rank turner in Lucknow.Hardik Pandya, meanwhile, has been an upfront and honest presence, even in front of the camera, which has been great (though not for everybody). Except, is that even a surprise? Guy publicly said he wouldn’t have minded losing to Pakistan in that epic T20 World Cup match because it was an epic T20 World Cup match. He’s well liked in the team. He throws his entire weight behind his players. And he has no fear of failure. The specifics of this series may easily fade from memory but the two captains might just go on to etch their names in history.

Watch live in the UK

You can watch the third T20I between India and New Zealand live on ESPN Player in the UK and on ESPN+ in the USA.

Form guide

India WLWLW (Last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
New Zealand LWTLL

In the spotlight: Kishan and Sodhi

Ishan Kishan scored 210 in one innings in December. In the next eight, he’s scored less than half that. This India team insists on giving its incumbents a long rope. Plus Kishan doubles up as the their wicketkeeper and presents a hard-hitting left-hand option at the top of the order. These are pluses everybody looks for in the modern game. So his place is probably safe, but still, wouldn’t he love a match-defining innings in a series decider…In a New Zealand bowling attack that values discipline and works towards minimising the margin for error, Ish Sodhi is a total wildcard. He’s the kind of spinner who gets bored by even the idea of stringing six balls on the same spot, which is probably why he finds himself on the outs in Test cricket. But what hurts him in whites is what defines him in coloured clothing. Sodhi is the second-highest wicket-taker in T20Is over the past two years.0:37

Ferguson: ‘Hardik’s body language as captain has been fantastic’

Team news: Malik in for Chahal?

Ahmedabad may not want to do what Lucknow did – its already been in the eye of a storm before – in which case India might be tempted to bring back Umran Malik in place of Yuzvendra Chahal.India (probable): 1 Shubman Gill, 2 Ishan Kishan (wk), 3 Rahul Tripathi, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Hardik Pandya (capt), 6 Deepak Hooda, 7 Washington Sundar, 8 Shivam Mavi, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Umran Malik, 11 Arshdeep SinghBarring injury and other circumstances, it’s unlikely that New Zealand will want to make a lot of changes.New Zealand (probable): 1 Finn Allen, 2 Devon Conway (wk), 3 Mark Chapman, 4 Glenn Phillips, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Michael Bracewell, 7 Mitchell Santner (capt), 8 Ish Sodhi, 9 Lockie Ferguson, 10 Jacob Duffy, 11 Blair Tickner

Pitch and conditions: The return of the belter?

The Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad has typically been a high-scoring venue for T20Is, with three of its last five games producing totals in excess of 160 in both innings, including a 224 for 2. The weather is set fair.

Stats and trivia

• Apart from a T20I series in 2012, which ended up being a one-match affair, New Zealand have never won a bilateral series in any format in India.
• Kishan’s 19 off 38 in the last game is the third-slowest innings of 30 or more balls by an opener from a Full Member country in T20Is. There were, of course, mitigating circumstances.
• There are 44 players with a batting average above 40 and a strike rate above 130 in T20Is. Two of the top three have been on show in this series: Suryakumar Yadav (47.17 and 175.63) and Devon Conway (47.42 and 130.47)

MatériaMais Notícias

Para o confronto com o Red Bull Bragantino nesta quarta-feira (8), Rogério Ceni está garantindo a zaga do São Paulo com base na ‘sorte’. Isso porque, em seu plantel, só pode usar duas opções: Beraldo e Alan Franco – que, inclusive, foi autor do único gol na vitória contra o Santo André.

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Mesmo com mais opções no elenco, o departamento médico vem sendo o pesadelo do Tricolor paulista no setor. Desde o final do ano passado, Diego Costa, com uma contusão no joelho esquerdo, foi submetido a uma cirurgia, e conforme o LANCE! adiantou, deve voltar aos treinamentos no final desta semana, mas sofrerá com a questão da recuperação de ritmo.

ATUAÇÕES: Alan Franco marca e garante vitória do São Paulo nos acréscimos

Veja tabela do Campeonato Paulista e simule os próximos jogos

Ferraresi, com uma ruptura no ligamento durante o clássico contra o Palmeiras neste ano, operou neste domingo (5) e conta com um prazo de recuperação de 9 a 12 meses. Arboleda, embora recuperado da grave lesão que sofreu no tornozelo ano passado, agora sofre com quadros frequentes de tendinite no joelho. A dupla estava sendo a principal opção de Rogério Ceni no começo da temporada, mas os planos foram frustrados.

Rafinha, que já foi improvisado como zagueiro algumas vezes no ano passado, trata uma entorse no tornozelo. Ou seja, não é opção também.

Quando se fala de contar com sorte, é no sentido literal da palavra. Os dois próximos desafios do São Paulo não são fáceis: Red Bull Bragantino, no Nabizão, e clássico com o Santos, no Morumbi.

Ou seja, diante do contexto atual, se por acaso Alan Franco ou Beraldo tivessem se machucado ou levado alguma suspensão, o problema diante estes dois confrontos seria maior ainda. Contra o Massa Bruta, a presença dos dois já é garantida. O problema é contra o Santos.

Mesmo com o Peixe enfrentando uma situação extremamente delicada no Campeonato Paulista, com apenas uma vitória até o momento, nenhum dos dois zagueiros podem arriscar ficar de fora do duelo, que será o quarto clássico do Tricolor neste ano e o último desta primeira fase do Paulistão.

Veja as movimentações do São Paulo no mercado da bola

Com o estadual em andamento, as únicas opções caso aconteça algo com Beraldo e Alan Franco seria utilizarMatheus Belém eYthallo, Crias de Cotia que foram promovidos ao profissional recentemente. Mas diferente de Beraldo, que tem mais experiência, os dois ainda são muito ‘júniores’.

São opções de urgência, conforme o próprio Ceni pondera. Isso porque o treinador vê como ideal que se repita o que aconteceu com Beraldo: um ano treinando com o plantel principal para ajudar na adaptação.

Quanto a vinda de possíveis reforços, alguns nomes eram alvos, mas nenhum se concretizou como esperado. Entre eles,João Marcelo (do Porto B) e Joaquim (do Cuiabá). Alan Franco, por conta da idade e passagens pela MLS, de fato é mais experiente. Mas Beraldo não ficou para trás nos elogios de Rogério Ceni. Com o desempenho que tem apresentado, pode aproveitar este momento para se firmar mais ainda na equipe.

– Um menino dedicado, chega cedo, trabalha bem. Erra um pouco mais do que os outros porque arrisca mais do que a maioria, ele constrói mais do que a grande maioria dos zagueiros. Acho que ele vem ganhando experiência. Às vezes se distrai e um marcador rouba a bola dele, mas tem sido muito útil e tem sido uma peça fundamental sem os zagueiros experientes – disse o treinador.

O jeito agora é este: assegurar que nada aconteça com os dois defensores e manter os bons números que o São Paulo tem apresentado no setor defensivo mesmo com as adversidades.

The Tasmania and Hobart Hurricanes quick has been a consistent performer when given a chance

Andrew McGlashan30-May-2024Former Australia captain Tim Paine believes Nathan Ellis should be in Australia’s first-choice attack for the T20 World Cup 2024 with a decision then made between Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.Ellis, 29, has struggled to command a regular spot in Australia’s T20 side despite impressive returns in the 14 matches he has played – only one of which has come at home. He was a reserve for the 2021 T20 World Cup in UAE when Australia won the title and did not make the squad on home soil in 2022.Related

Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins – A rotating carousel of pressure

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“I think Australia have a great opportunity, and I hope they take it in this World Cup, and that is to pick Nathan Ellis. He would be my third quick,” Paine, who played for Ellis’ state Tasmania, told ESPN’s . “I think he just complements the other guys really well, he’s got a different skillset, comes from a different angle, different height, and think some variety in the attack will be really important to win this World Cup.””I know you are going to ask me straightaway who aren’t you playing…I’m going to go Mitchell Starc, [he] is my out and out number one quick, I’m picking him, obviously going with Adam Zampa, and I’m doing to decide between Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.Nathan Ellis has rarely failed to perform for Australia•Associated Press”I’m going to pick one of them and I’m going to go with Nathan Ellis’ all-round skills, his ability to bowl all through the powerplay, I think his slower balls, he’s clever. His international record for the opportunities that he’s been given is outstanding and I think now is the right time…that’s not to say they [Cummins and Hazlewood] are not the best couple of bowlers in the country, they are outstanding bowlers, and will continue to be, I just think Nathan Ellis complements the rest of that attack really, really well.”Starc finished the IPL in outstanding form with back-to-back player of match awards for champions Kolkata Knight Riders, Cummins was very consistent for Sunrisers Hyderabad who he captained and Hazlewood has put together some outstanding T20 performances when his schedule has allowed, including 3 for 16 in the 2021 final.However, Ellis’ numbers stack up well against them and he has been particularly strong in two tough phases of innings: the powerplay and the death. In all T20s since 2020 (domestic and international), Ellis has the second-best powerplay economy of those selected in the World Cup squad behind Hazlewood while at the death, where he has forged his reputation, he is the best of Australia’s quicks by some margin having bowled far more at that stage than any of the others.Ellis featured just once for Punjab Kings in this season’s IPL and took 1 for 24 in a rare win for the side that finished second bottom. In Australia’s first warm-up match against Namibia he took 1 for 17 from his four overs.There remains a chance that Australia try different combinations of bowling attacks through the group stage where they face Oman, England, Namibia and Scotland. Starc and Cummins only arrive into the Caribbean over the weekend when the squad travels to Barbados.

There are five Pakistan players with ILT20 contracts whose availability for the final stages is likely to be compromised as a result

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Jan-2024The Pakistan Super League’s 2024 season opener will coincide with the final of the UAE’s ILT20, a scheduling clash which will provide complications for franchises in both leagues.The ninth edition of the PSL will launch on February 17 with a fixture between the league’s two most successful teams, defending champions Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United, at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. The ILT20 final is due to take place in Dubai at the same time.There are five Pakistan players with ILT20 contracts whose availability for the final stages of the tournament is likely to be compromised as a result. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Azam Khan, Mohammad Amir are all due to play for Desert Vipers, while Imad Wasim was recently unveiled as a new signing by Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.Related

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Phil Simmons appointed Karachi Kings head coach

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Amir joins Desert Vipers for ILT20

A number of overseas players are also due to feature in both leagues and may miss either the start of the PSL or the final stages of the ILT20, depending on the terms of their contracts and their franchises’ progress.The PCB unveiled fixtures for the PSL on Friday, with the tournament’s final scheduled for March 18. The knockout stages will be played in Karachi for the first time since 2020, which will host a total of 11 games. Lahore (nine games), Rawalpindi (nine) and Multan (five) will also stage fixtures, but neither Quetta nor Peshawar will.Zaka Ashraf, the chair of the PCB’s management committee, said: “The decision to host the marquee event across these cities is a testament to our commitment to bring top-notch cricket to fans across the country. We believe that hosting matches in these venues not only adds to the excitement for fans but also promotes cricket at the grassroots level.”The PCB recently agreed a new broadcast deal for the 2024 and 2025 editions of the PSL and reported a 113% increase in the value of live-streaming rights and a 45% increase in the value of broadcast rights. “It is an unprecedented moment as the prices for both of these rights are unmatched,” Ashraf said. “This is a testament to the growth of the HBL PSL brand.”The board also announced that the National Women’s T20 Tournament will start on Monday, January 15 and will feature six regional teams: Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta and Rawalpindi. The final will be staged on January 31, with the venue yet to be announced.The 16-player squads were selected by the national women’s selection committee. “The National Women’s T20 Tournament 2024 serves [as] a great opportunity for the players to stake a claim in the national team ahead of the busy international year,” the PCB said in a press release, with both the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup due to take place in September-October.

The allrounder flew home to Brisbane and missed the second day’s play in Hobart

Alex Malcolm27-Oct-2023 • Updated on 28-Oct-2023

In-form Queensland allrounder and fringe Australia Test seamer Michael Neser has returned to the Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania in Hobart after missing the second day’s play due to personal reasons which saw him travel home.”Things are more positive now and I can re-join the team for the remainder of the game,” Neser said in a statement on Saturday morning. “I am very grateful for the backing we have received and thank everyone for their support and understanding.”Neser will re-enter the match under the usual first-class playing conditions after missing the remainder of the Queensland first innings batting and the bulk of the Tasmanian first innings.Neser was 51 not out overnight on the first day batting at No.5 for the first time in his first-class career, continuing his red-hot form. He did not resume his innings on the morning of day two and was retired out. He could not be replaced in the XI which meant Queensland had 10 players.It is understood Neser was elevated to No.5 on day one because it was already known he would be leaving the match. There are limited flights from Hobart to Brisbane which meant he could not leave any earlier. He was given a license to play aggressively and clubbed five fours and a six in his 71-ball innings. There were periods when Tasmania had nearly every fielder on the fence for him while they maintained a conventional ring field for Joe Burns who had made a century at the other end.Under Cricket Australia’s Sheffield Shield playing conditions, players can only be replaced in a match for concussion or international call-ups.Queensland were already without captain Usman Khawaja who is resting for the second straight Shield match as part of his workload management ahead of the upcoming Test summer which features seven Tests against Pakistan, West Indies and New Zealand in the space of three months.Neser’s withdrawal came in the midst of a career purple patch with the bat. In his last 10 first-class innings, playing for Glamorgan in the County Championship and Queensland in the Shield dating back to April this year, Neser has scored 785 runs at 87.22 including scores of 90, 86, 123, 176*, 140, 90, and 51. He had also taken 23 wickets at 26.08 in those eight matches including a seven-wicket haul.

India batter says the two players have shared great respect for each other ever since first meeting at the 2019 ODI World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Aug-20230:45

Rahul Dravid: Would be ‘fantastic’ if India meet Pakistan three times in Asia Cup

Pakistan have long viewed Babar Azam as their biggest global sports star, and the admiration is shared across the border by Virat Kohli, who called Babar “probably the top batsman in the world”.In an interview with Star Sports last year, Kohli spoke of his relationship with the Pakistan captain, and revealed that they had always been on good terms, since first meeting on a rainy day in Manchester in 2019.”The first interaction I had with him [Babar] was during the 2019 [ODI] World Cup after the game in Manchester. I’ve known Imad [Wasim] since the Under-19 World Cup, and he said Babar wanted to have a chat. We sat down and spoke about the game. I saw a lot of regard and respect from him from day one, and that hasn’t changed,” Kohli said. “Regardless of the fact he’s probably the top batsman in the world across formats, and rightly so. Performs so consistently and I’ve always enjoyed watching him play.”Related

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The rivalry between Kohli and Babar has always formed part of the cultural intrigue of India vs Pakistan contest s over the past five years, and partisan comparisons in both countries have added to the spice. When the two met at that World Cup game in Manchester, Kohli was ranked the top ODI batter in the world. On that day, he scored a 65-ball 77 as India eased to an 89-run victory.Over the years, as Babar has entered the prime of his career, he has risen to the top of the game, particularly in the ODI format. Earlier this year, he became the fastest player in ODI history to reach 5,000 ODI runs, beating out Hashim Amla and Viv Richards. He’s currently the top-ranked ODI player in the world by some distance with 886 points. Rassie van der Dussen is a distant second with 777. Kohli also makes the top ten, coming in ninth with 705 points.Babar is also ranked third in T20I cricket and fourth in Test cricket, as he is the only batter to make the top five in all three formats.India and Pakistan play each other in Kandy in a group stage game of the Asia Cup on September 2. They are also likely to play at least once more in the Super 4 stage, and are scheduled to play a World Cup match on October 14 in Ahmedabad.

Visitors manage to defend 135 at Edgbaston to hand hosts their first defeat of the tournament

ECB Reporters Network23-May-2023Northern Diamonds maintained their 100 percent start to the 2023 Charlotte Edwards Cup with a three-run victory over Central Sparks at Edgbaston.With both sides having won their first game, something had to give and it was Diamonds who preserved their perfect record thanks principally to an impressive bowling display.Put in, Diamonds were bowled out for 135, far less than looked likely when they were motoring nicely along at 73 for 1 in the ninth over. The fall of Leah Dobson for 41 off 25 balls was the first of nine wickets to fall for 62 runs in 67 balls as Georgia Davis bowled her off-spin beautifully for 4-0-13-3, well-supported by Emily Arlott and Erin Burns who took two wickets each.The total looked a little under par but Sparks fell just short on 132 for 7 after their batters never escaped the shackles imposed at the start by accurate opening spells from Lizzie Scott and Katherine Fraser. Chloe Tryon bounced back from conceding 11 in her first over to take three vital wickets and end with 3 for 30.Only Eve Jones and Arlott passed 25 as tight bowling and a sluggish, used-pitch combined to make run-scoring difficult.After Sparks chose to bowl, they soon struck a big blow when Lauren Winfield-Hall lifted the seventh ball of the innings, from Arlott, to extra cover.Dobson and Hollie Armitage responded positively and raised the 50 from 37 balls. Their well-constructed stand stood at 68 from 43 balls when Davis bowled Dobson through an attempted leg-side flick.That wicket started a big slide as four fell for 19 runs in 23 balls. Davis had Sterre Kalis smartly stumped by Amy Jones, Bess Heath was brilliantly run out by Katie George’s direct hit from midwicket and Armitage skied Burns to mid off.Davis had her third victim when Tryon lofted to deep midwicket and only Fraser kept the innings from complete freefall. Fraser was ninth out when she top-edged a return catch to Burns and the last pair mustered just a single from five balls before Grace Hall was superbly caught by Davina Perrin at point off Arlott.Diamonds also took an early wicket when Perrin lofted Fraser to mid off and the bowlers applied good pressure as only four fours arrived in the first eight overs. England star Amy Jones was never fluent before she was deceived by a lovely flighted ball from Tryon and bowled off her pads.Katie Levick cranked up the pressure by conceding just six runs in two overs which also brought the crucial wicket of Eve Jones, caught at midwicket. Burns also fell on the offensive when she was well caught at wide long on by Abi Glen off Tryon.As the required rate escalated, Sparks, with half their batters out, required 38 from the last 18 balls. Abbey Freeborn struck the first four of those 18 for four to dent Scott’s figures but then lifted the fifth ball to point and 13 from the final over, delivered with great composure by Tryon, proved too many.

The decision has been made for Bukayo Saka to sit out England's next 2026 World Cup qualifier against minnows Andorra on Saturday.

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Saka out of matchday squad vs AndorraWinger has hardly trained in build-upMajor doubt for Senegal game tooFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Saka is not part of the England matchday squad that will face Andorra on Friday evening. The game at RCDE Stadium in Barcelona will also be played without Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins and Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher. Injury means Watkins has withdrawn from the camp altogether to return home. Saka and Gallagher remain with the group for now.

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Saka's absence is most likely linked to his fitness after England manager Thomas Tuchel explained on Friday that the Arsenal star has only completed a single training session during the week. He had earlier missed three months of the club season after undergoing hamstring surgery in December, although did return to play the whole of April and May for the Gunners.

DID YOU KNOW?

Saka is yet to play for Tuchel since the ex-Chelsea boss began work with England in January, having been sidelined for the previous international break in March.

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Saka hasn't yet been ruled out of England's follow-up game against Senegal on June 10, a friendly taking place at Nottingham Forest's City Ground. But, as a result of sitting out the Andorra clash and his lack of training since reporting for international duty, he will be a major doubt to feature.

Kevin De Bruyne’s move to Napoli has stalled due to club’s managerial uncertainty, with rumours emerging that he could continue in the Premier League.

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• Kevin De Bruyne being pursued by Serie A champions Napoli
• Serie A side emerge as front-runners amid MLS interest
• Reports emerge the Belgian could remain in the Premier League

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to a report by The Independent, De Bruyne’s proposed move to Napoli is now in jeopardy amid fresh interest from the Premier League. The Belgian international is set to leave Manchester City this summer following the expiration of his contract. The six-time Premier League winner was initially eyeing a move abroad, with the Serie A side emerging as the front-runners for his signature, alongside MLS club Chicago Fire.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Napoli, after winning the Serie A, had identified Kevin De Bruyne as a key addition to their squad, given his world-class skill set. However, with manager Antonio Conte's future still uncertain, De Bruyne is weighing up his options. The Belgian reportedly had a 25-minute conversation with Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis, and while the Italian club have presented the most lucrative offer, reports suggest that negotiations are not as advanced as portrayed by the Italian media. According to the report, De Bruyne may even remain in England, potentially with Liverpool, in what would be an extremely controversial move, reminiscent of Carlos Tevez's switch from Manchester United to Manchester City.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Kevin De Bruyne was on a £400,000-a-week wage, according to BBC Sport, making him the second-highest-paid player at Manchester City after Erling Haaland signed a record-breaking deal earlier this season.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR KEVIN DE BRUYNE?

  The Belgian international will now wait for the right offer to secure his future, carefully weighing up his next move as he approaches the final stage of his illustrious career.

West Ham United’s tactical approach has changed in recent weeks under Graham Potter. Despite their fortunes not fully changing with results, the performances overall have shown good signs.

Where Julen Lopetegui played a 4-2-3-1, often leading to a very disjointed press, Potter has made adjustments to a 5-2-3, aiding their off-ball work, providing extra protection in the back line, but also allowing them to be more aggressive in the press.

Potter’s usage of wing backs, his approach to prioritise his best players, such as Mohamed Kudus, Lucas Paqueta and Jarrod Bowen, and his willingness to play more directly into a narrow front three, have given West Ham a different dynamic since his arrival.

That being said, there is still a big issue in one certain area of the pitch, which has been prevalent for quite some time now.

West Ham midfield issues

West Ham clearly have a mobility issue in the middle of the park, and this isn’t a new problem from this season. Since Declan Rice left the club in 2023, the Hammers midfield recruitment has lacked the necessary ground-covering attributes that were lost when the England international left the club.

Rice was sold to Arsenal for a fee of around £105m in the 2023/24 summer transfer window, and his replacement signings were Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse.

During the 2024/25 transfer windows, West Ham have failed to address this spot, with their further midfield additions also lacking mobility, with Guido Rodriguez the main defensive midfield signing, who joined on a free transfer in the summer.

Stats (per 90 mins)

Rice

Alvarez

Soucek

Goals + Assists

0.16

0.06

0.26

Progressive Carries

2.45

1.09

0.21

Progressive Passes

6.59

4.01

2.94

Passes into Final Third

6.40

4.56

2.68

Tackles

2.17

2.52

1.55

Blocks

1.24

1.29

1.29

Interceptions

1.77

0.88

0.77

Ball Recoveries

9.18

4.69

2.27

Aerial Duels Won

1.02

1.36

3.56

When you compare Rice to the current midfield options for West Ham, you can see the mobility they are now missing, as Rice averaged 9.18 ball recoveries per 90 and made 2.45 progressive carries per 90, which is more than both Alvarez and Tomas Soucek combined in these metrics.

It could be argued that the Hammers did, at one stage, have a dream successor to the midfield powerhouse in their ranks, only to have seen him depart for a Premier League rival too…

West Ham lost their best talent since Rice

West Ham lost a “serious talent” according to Ben Mattinson in the same summer they lost Rice, with Divine Mukasa joining Manchester City on a long term deal.

The 17-year-old is already attracting interest from the likes of Bayer Leverkusen and Ajax, having made 28 appearances for Manchester City’s U21 and U18 teams, scoring 14 goals and providing 21 assists.

The versatile attacking midfielder is left-footed, oozes class and creativity in the final third, whilst having the quality to operate in tight spaces between the lines.

His overall quality shines through, and he would surely already be getting minutes for West Ham’s first team this season – as Mattinson hinted at – had he stayed at the club, especially with the injury troubles in recent weeks.

Losing Rice in the 2023/24 summer window was bad enough, but at least the Hammers received a sizable fee for the England midfielder, which then allowed them to reinvest in their squad.

But losing Mukasa could come back to haunt them, as the youngster is showing he may well be the biggest talent to come through the academy since Rice.

Lopetegui may have already sold "incredible" Rice replacement at West Ham

West Ham already sold their “incredible” Rice replacement too soon

2 ByConnor Holden Feb 14, 2025