Teen prodigy Sam Konstas has a chance to score his third century of the summer, after helping NSW navigate a wet day at the SCG
AAP07-Dec-2024
Sam Konstas drives backward of point•Getty Images
Sam Konstas has helped New South Wales survive a tricky 20-over session, taking the Blues to 137 for 1 at stumps on a wet day two of the Sheffield Shield match against Western Australia.After rain washed out the opening five hours of day two at the SCG, NSW were asked to contend with an 80-minute period before stumps on Saturday.The Blues lost one wicket, Blake Nikitaras edging speedster Lance Morris to Cameron Gannon in the gully on 38.Otherwise NSW got through unscathed, with Konstas 80 not out and the Blues moving closer to Western Australia’s first-innings total of 211.After Konstas rocketed to 55 by stumps on Friday, he was far more circumspect in Saturday’s shortened period.The opener squeezed out two boundaries behind point in one over against Gannon, and used his feet to hit Corey Rocchiccoli back down the ground for four.He offered one half-chance late, sweeping Rocchiccoli in the air to deep square leg, only for a tough diving chance to be put down by Brody Couch.Tanveer Sangha also navigated through 28 balls, after being sent in as a nightwatchman at No.3 following the fall of Nikitaras.Konstas’ runs continued a serious purple patch for the opener, who scored 107 against a Test-quality Indian attack for the Prime Minister’s XI last week in Canberra.He also began the summer with twin Shield tons against South Australia, shooting him into the conversation for a Test debut.The 19-year-old has made no secret of the fact he feels ready for the game’s toughest level, keen to challenge himself as soon as this summer.A century on Sunday will only strengthen his case, with he or Josh Inglis likely to be next in line if Australia make changes to their top order.Tasmanian allrounder Beau Webster is also in Australia’s squad after three sparkling years with the bat in the Shield, but his chance is more likely to come if a vacancy opens up at No.6.Konstas’s runs have also come at a good time, with this the last round of the Sheffield Shield before the BBL break.It means he and other hopefuls will not play another Shield game until February, by which time Australia’s Test side will be in Sri Lanka for a two-match series.
The left-arm quick first played for them in 2023 and then helped them to the Division Two title in 2024
ESPNcricinfo staff11-Oct-2024
Jaydev Unadkat celebrates a breakthrough with Jack Carson•Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Jaydev Unadkat will continue his association with Sussex after extending his contract with them for the 2025 and 2026 County Championship seasons. He will be available for the final run-in in both seasons.”When I came to Hove last year, I wasn’t sure what was on offer in the County Championship and how would I adapt to it. But after a few games now, I can definitely say Hove is my home away from home and Good Old Sussex by The Sea has my heart,” Unadkat was quoted as saying in a release by the team.”Everyone at Hove is very pleased and excited that Jaydev [Unadkat] has signed a two-year extension and will be returning to the Club for the next two seasons,” Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace said.”Jaydev’s quality on the pitch has been so evident for everyone else to see, but just as importantly his qualities as a person make him one of the most popular and nicest guys any team could wish for.”Unadkat first signed for Sussex in 2023, and took 11 wickets in three matches. He returned to the team in 2024 and took 22 wickets at an average of 14.40 in five games, helping Sussex win the Division Two title.Unadkat is currently leading Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy, which got underway on Friday.
Amad Diallo is a player who has had to switch up his game over the last couple of months due to the implementation of Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system at Old Trafford.
The Ivorian has largely operated in a right wing-back role when fit, having a huge impact on the side and arguably taking his career to the next level as a result.
He managed to register eight goals and six assists in the Premier League last season, potentially having to feature in such a position once again throughout 2025/26.
The addition of Matheus Cunha and the potential signing of Bryan Mbeumo would likely see the pair operate in the number ten positions, which could see Amad drop back into a deeper position.
However, the hierarchy could land numerous targets this summer, with many of which benefiting the former Atalanta star in his quest for success at Old Trafford.
The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer
Over the last couple of days, Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez has been named as a possible addition for the club throughout the current window.
The 32-year-old may be allowed to depart Unai Emery’s side ahead of 2025/26, with the player himself wanting a move, but he could cost in the region of £40m.
AstonVilla's EmilianoMartinezreacts
However, he’s not the only defensive option currently on their radar, with PSG star Lucas Beraldo a key target for Amorim’s side, according to one Spanish outlet.
The report claims that the Brazilian centre-back could be allowed to depart the French outfit during the off-season, opening the door to a move to the Red Devils.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It also states that Jason Wilcox and Co are preparing a bid for the 21-year-old in the coming days, potentially adding further depth to the backline, but also providing quality elsewhere in the squad.
He could be available for a fee of around £25m, according to reports in France.
Why United’s latest target would be perfect for Amad
Whilst injuries somewhat plagued his progress throughout last season, Amad managed to produce numerous impressive moments in what was a huge year for the star personally.
He was seen as a squad player by former boss Erik ten Hag, but the arrival of Amorim saw him become a key member of the side, as seen by his assist for Marcus Rashford in the 40-year-old’s first game at the helm.
Other key outings saw him register a hat-trick against Southampton, whilst also netting the winner against local rivals Manchester City at the Etihad.
Undoubtedly, given his setbacks with various injuries, he will be hoping to put a run of games together and replicate his best form in the club’s charge up the table next year.
If he is to be a success, he could be aided by defender Beraldo, who could hold the keys to the Ivorian reaching the next level despite his current defensive role.
Paris St Germain's Lucas Beraldo, Nuno Mendes, Gianluigi Donnarumma and BradleyBarcola
When delving into his stats from the previous campaign in Ligue 1, the Brazilian thrived in and out of possession, offering a real top-level talent to Amorim’s side as a result.
Beraldo, who’s been labelled “incredibly eye-catching” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, managed to complete 95% of the passes he attempted last season, 5.9 of which per 90 were progressive – subsequently handing Amad the chance to impress when he receives the ball.
Games played
25
Goals & assists
1
Pass accuracy
95%
Progressive passes
5.9
Passes into final third
7.5
Passes into opposition box
0.6
Tackles won
1.4
% of tackles won
62%
Aerials won
2.1
Aerial success rate
68%
The youngster’s impressive ability on the ball is further reflected by his tally of 7.5 passes into the final third per 90, a figure that puts him in the top 2% of the division – having the ball-playing ability to allow Amad to torment the opposition.
However, the defender has also been a key defensive option for the Parisians, winning 1.4 tackles per 90 along with a 68% aerial success, which could massively bolster the options currently on the books at Old Trafford.
Whilst it’s unclear how much a deal for his signature would cost this summer, it’s evident that any deal would be a superb one, having the potential to improve further given his tender age.
If he can transfer his skillset to England, he would have the quality needed at both ends to impress, potentially allowing Diallo to reach the next level as a result.
Needed more than Watkins: "Cantona of his generation" wants to join Man Utd
Manchester United appear to be edging closer to landing the signature of another star.
Having lay dormant over the last year or so, Liverpool’s recruitment team have sprung into life this summer, enjoying a simply remarkable start to the window to only bolster Arne Slot’s already imperious outfit.
In deals akin to a Football Manager save, the Anfield side have moved swiftly and efficiently to strengthen their hand, having already confirmed marquee deals for Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez – alongside the goalkeeping duo of Armin Pesci and Freddie Woodman.
Florian Wirtz
That has all come before the start of July, with the Premier League champions impressively improving, rather than weakening, their ranks, even amid Trent Alexander-Arnold’s eventual departure.
And there could be more to come yet. Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, now with just 12 months remaining on his contract at Selhurst Park, remains a top target for the Reds. A replacement for the seemingly departing Darwin Nunez will also need to be found.
Elsewhere, meanwhile, doubts over the future of Luis Diaz could spark the need for a new option on the flanks, with work already being done on that front…
Latest on Liverpool's search for a winger
Had things worked out differently, the Merseysiders may well have signed off on a particularly statement deal a year ago, with a move for Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon – which would have seen Joe Gomez head in the opposite direction – failing to come to fruition.
Despite subsequently adding Federico Chiesa to the fold instead, the desire for a new winger has certainly not abated, with recent reports suggesting that Liverpool could be among a raft of clubs in the mix for Lyon starlet, Malick Fofana.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to TEAMtalk, while it is Everton who appear to hold the strongest interest in the 20-year-old, Liverpool – alongside the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea – have also made an enquiry too, ahead of a potential swoop.
The race for the Belgian’s signature is said to be ‘open’, with top-flight clubs lining up to pounce on Lyon’s current woes, following their recent relegation from Ligue 1.
Lyon's Malick Fofana
That dramatic drop into France’s second tier has left suitors hoping that they can secure Fofana’s signature for below the previous €50m (£42m) asking price, ensuring a potential bargain could be up for grabs.
Why Liverpool should pounce for Malick Fofana
For all the wisdom of looking within the Premier League for a ready-made figure like Kerkez, there is a real intrigue over plucking an exciting young talent from abroad, with the Reds already raiding the Bundesliga for one of their brightest stars, in the form of Wirtz.
Still just 22, the £116m man has arrived in English football off the back of a stunning stint at Bayer Leverkusen, having registered 122 goals and assists in just 197 games for the German side. In the words of The Athletic’s Bundesliga correspondent, Seb Stafford-Bloor, the playmaker is “already one of the best footballers [he’s] ever seen live”.
What also stands out regarding the rising star is his innate versatility, having showcased his ability to feature off either flank, as a number ten, or even as a false nine for both club and country to date.
That flexibility is seemingly shared by the “explosive” Fofana – as hailed by data analyst Ben Mattinson – with the former Gent ace having also operated on the left or right wing in his senior career thus far, as well as a centre-forward or attacking midfielder.
Where the Belgian is also akin to Wirtz is in their dribbling prowess, with the Lyon man ranking in the top 2% of his peers in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref, while his German counterpart ranks in the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.
Jamie Gittens – Borussia Dortmund
8
4
12
Kenan Yildiz – Juventus
7
5
12
Eliesse Ben Seghir – Monaco
6
3
9
Malick Fofana – Lyon
5
4
9
Antonio Nusa – RB Leipzig
3
4
7
Jean-Matteo Bahoya – Frankfurt
2
3
5
Jesus Rodriguez – Real Betis
2
1
3
Mamadou Diakhon – Stade Reims
2
1
3
Yan Diomande – Leganes
2
1
3
Bazoumana Toure – Hoffenheim
0
3
3
Of course, the latter man is the superior talent – as his record of 22 goals and assists in the league showcased last term – but Fofana has also dazzled when given the chance, providing five goals and four assists in Ligue 1 in 2024/25, despite starting just 16 games.
That solid return has ensured that Fofana ranks in the top 10% of his European colleagues for non-penalty goals, at an average of 0.47 per 90, with that actually placing him ahead of Wirtz, who averaged 0.38 for that same metric.
Much like the ex-Leverkusen man ranked among the brightest stars in the Bundesliga, Fofana is a diamond in his own right in Ligue 1, having even been noted as being ‘Eden Hazard-like’ due to his ability to weave his way past defenders.
And so, having already forked out for one exceptionally exciting talent in the form of Wirtz, Liverpool and Slot could now raid another of Europe’s top five leagues in similar circumstances.
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Liverpool have already hit the jackpot on this shrewd Jurgen Klopp signing.
Arsenal have enjoyed a meteoric rise under Mikel Arteta’s wing, making year-by-year progress and now not just consistent Champions League competitors but one of the most respected squads in European football.
However, it’s been five years since the Gunners added to their trophy cabinet, Arteta winning the FA Cup just months into his reign way back in 2019/20, defeating Chelsea in the final.
It’s clear that there’s a missing ingredient, that one last piece of the puzzle which will pave the way to new levels of success in the Premier League and beyond.
Arsenal need to sign a striker, and while Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres has been high on the list, it looks like sporting director Andrea Berta is instead going to move for Benjamin Sesko.
The latest on Benjamin Sesko to Arsenal
On Thursday, Fabrizio Romano confirmed that concrete talks between Arsenal and RB Leipzig are underway for the transfer of Slovenian striker Sesko, who has an €80m (£67m) release clause in his contract.
Since then, Arsenal sources have claimed that personal terms are all wrapped up, and that we’re now entering the later stages of a saga which promises the 22-year-old’s transfer to the Emirates Stadium in the coming weeks.
Sesko is considered one of the most exciting centre-forwards in Europe, having scored 39 goals across two seasons in Germany.
However, while Arsenal are desperate for more firepower, the striker’s arrival would rock the boat somewhat, with someone like Gabriel Jesus perhaps at risk of being ousted from contention next season, should Berta drive the deal over the line.
Why Gabriel Jesus needs to go
In 2022, Arsenal signed Jesus from Manchester City in a deal worth £45m, securing one of the Premier League’s finest pure finishers, chiselled into a natural winner under Pep Guardiola’s wing too.
But he’s struggled with injuries ever since first donning the Arsenal jersey, missing 61 matches due to injury absence since joining.
After tearing his cruciate ligament in January, thus ending his season after undergoing surgery, the Brazil forward’s day may well be done, with the potential signing of Sesko bound to knock him down the pecking order.
Jesus did enjoy a burst of clinical form before that blow, but consistency has been a struggle even when he’s maintained fitness levels, with pundit Micah Richards calling the 28-year-old “frustrating” after one performance against Liverpool last October.
Gabriel Jesus’ Arsenal Career by Season (all comps)
Season
Apps
Goals
Assists
24/25
27
7
2
23/24
36
8
10
22/23
33
11
8
Data via Transfermarkt
Kai Havertz is not a natural goalscorer, but his unique set of skills make for an interesting and dynamic option at number nine, something that could serve well as the counterpoint to Leipzig’s inbound man.
Moreover, Jesus pockets a staggering £265k per week at Arsenal, supposedly placing him behind only Havertz on the club’s wage bill. Is it justifiable for both players, neither of whom may start every week, to be on the books for the club next term?
Journalist Graeme Bailey believes that, while the Gunners are pressing ahead with contract talks for Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli, they may be warming to the prospect of selling Jesus.
His current injury may inhibit the chances of doing that this summer, but it’s looking rather likely that the arrival of Sesko will spell the end of the Brazilian’s time at the Emirates, his setback proving little more than a stay of execution.
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Arsenal could be about to land a star who could star alongside Benjamin Sesko at the Emirates.
In what would be a statement move, the 49ers and Leeds United have now reportedly set their sights on signing an impressive Manchester City target in the coming months.
Leeds planning big summer
As Southampton, Ipswich Town and Leicester City found out the hard way this season, surviving in the Premier League is tougher than ever before. To put into context just how large a gap there is to bridge for Championship sides these days, the closest clubs to the bottom three in the current campaign have been Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, who need little introduction.
Nonetheless, Leeds will enter England’s top flight hoping to avoid the same mistakes that led to instant relegation for Leicester, Southampton and Ipswich. That is, of course, easier said than done, but club chairman Paraag Marathe has already reiterated that he knows the extent of the challenge ahead, whilst also publicly backing Daniel Farke.
49ers now ready to launch new bid to sign 16-goal French forward for Leeds
He’s enjoyed an excellent season.
ByTom Cunningham May 15, 2025
He told reporters amid Leeds’ recent title celebrations: “I’m very excited to run it back with Daniel and collaborate with him. I’m under no illusions that it is going to be easy. The past two seasons the three promoted teams came straight back down but we have something they don’t have, we have Daniel Farke first of all.I have ended the speculation. He is my man.”
As clear as day in his stance, Marathe and the rest of those behind the scenes at Elland Road must now focus on potential incomings, with several targets already threatening to steal the headlines.
Beto
Among those already mentioned includes the likes of Jamie Vardy and Beto, as the 49ers seemingly set their focus on attacking additions in the coming months. In a long summer ahead, reports have even suggested that one particular star is back on their radar ahead of their return to the Premier League.
Leeds eyeing "fantastic" Gabriel Sara
According to transfer reporters Graeme Bailey, the 49ers now have Gabriel Sara “on their radar” with Leeds plotting a summer move to sign the reported Manchester City target this summer.
Bailey told Leeds United News: “He’s [Sara] on the radar. Leeds have looked at him. You know, they knew all about him at Norwich, etc. He was fantastic. He’s not going to be cheap. We know that. But he’s an option out there.”
Whilst a move to Leeds would see Sara make his first foray into the Premier League, it wouldn’t be his first time in English football after he initially earned Galatasaray’s interest throughout an impressive spell at Norwich City.
Praised for his “creative left foot” at the time by analyst Ben Mattinson, Sara has since kicked on in Turkey and is on course to end the current campaign with two goals and as many as nine assists to his name.
Chelsea still have plenty to play for over the next two months as they fight to end the 2024/25 campaign with a trophy to show for their efforts on the pitch.
The Blues have one foot in the semi-finals of the Conference League after they travelled to Poland to hammer Legia Warsaw 3-0 in the first leg of their quarter-final clash on Thursday evening.
Tyrique George opened the scoring, with his first senior goal for the club, and Noni Madueke scored twice to secure a comfortable victory for Enzo Maresca’s side.
The Blues will be hoping to win their first Conference League trophy to claim a piece of silverware in the manager’s first season at the club, whilst also attempting to qualify for the Champions League.
Chelsea are fourth in the Premier League and now know that the top five in the division will qualify for Europe’s premier cup competition, which means that they are in a great position at this moment in time.
Despite the fact that it could be a successful end to the season, the Blues are reportedly active in the market ahead of the summer – with Liam Delap one player who is of interest to the London giants.
Why Chelsea want to sign Liam Delap
It was recently reported that Chelsea are serious about a deal to sign the England U21 international, and that they have already opened talks to snap him up from Ipswich Town.
The 22-year-old striker is set to be relegated to the Championship with the Tractor Boys, who are 12 points adrift with seven matches left to play, and the Blues could take advantage of that to bring the forward to Stamford Bridge this summer.
Ipswich Town'sLiamDelapapplauds fans after the match
Despite Ipswich’s struggles in the Premier League this season, the former Manchester City centre-forward has proven his ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis.
He has scored 12 goals in 30 appearances in the division, despite his team having only scored 31 times in 31 games in the league, and outscored current Chelsea number nine Nicolas Jackson.
As you can see in the graphic above, Delap has been significantly more clinical with the ‘big chances’ that have come his way than Jackson has for the Blues this term.
This may be why Chelsea are interested in signing the English youngster when the summer transfer window opens for business later this year, because he could improve the team’s ruthlessness in the final third.
The Blues, however, have now been linked with interest in a player who could be a even better signing than Delap from another Premier League team.
Chelsea have made contact to sign Premier League star
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Chelsea are one of a number of clubs interested in a deal to sign central defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The report claims that Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, and Liverpool are the other Premier League sides keen on a swoop for the Spain international, who has caught the eye with the Cherries this season.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It states that all four of those clubs, as well as Chelsea, have made contact with the player’s representatives to see where his head is at ahead of the summer.
Ornstein’s report adds that the Spanish centre-back has a £50m release clause in his current contract with Bournemouth, which would allow teams to snap him up without having to have drawn out discussions with his club.
It reveals that the Cherries and Huijsen both want a transfer, or for him to commit to staying at the Vitality, as early as possible in the window, to avoid any late drama.
This means that Chelsea could get a deal for the young central defender wrapped up early, allowing them to focus on other positions later i the window.
Why Huijsen would be a better signing than Delap
Whilst Delap would be an excellent addition to the squad, for the reasons mentioned earlier, Huijsen would be an even better signing for the Blues for several reasons.
Firstly, the Spanish colossus is three years younger than the Ipswich sensation and this means that Chelsea could get more out of him in the long-term, assuming both players are successful and go on to be long-serving performers at Stamford Bridge.
AFC Bournemouth's DeanHuijsenduring the warm up before the match
Secondly, Huijsen is already accustomed to playing in a team that wins games fairly regularly, as Bournemouth are tenth in the division and have won 12 and lost ten. This means that he could hit the ground running for the Blues in a team that is on the front foot and expected to perform well as a team.
Whereas, Ipswich have only won four of their 31 matches and this means that Delap has often been chasing long balls or trying to fashion chances for himself against the run of play, which would be completely different to the way that Chelsea play with their possession-based football under Maresca.
That is not to say that the English ace could not adapt to the new style, but it suggests that Huijsen is less of a gamble and has a greater chance of hitting the ground running.
Delap is also yet to show that he can create chances for his teammates on a consistent basis, with 0.7 key passes per game, three ‘big chances’ created, and just two assists in 30 league matches.
Whereas, Huijsen, who football talent scout Jacek Kulig hailed as “extremely dominant”, has excelled at both parts of the game in his respective position at centre-back, by offering consistent quality in and out of possession.
Non-penalty goals
0.09
Top 10%
Shot-creating actions
1.64
Top 5%
Progressive passes
4.49
Top 20%
Progressive carries
1.45
Top 8%
Blocks
1.50
Top 25%
Interceptions
2.10
Top 1%
Clearances
6.78
Top 4%
As you can see in the table above, the Spain international ranks incredibly highly among his positional peers when it comes to progressing play to create chances in possession, whilst also being an outstanding defender who is typically in the right place at the right time to make vital interceptions and clearances.
This suggests that there are not many, if any, flaws in the 19-year-old star’s game, whilst there does seem to still be some gaps in Delap’s development, and that is why he could be an even better addition than the England U21 international.
Contact made: Chelsea plot move for "world-class" ace who'd be Desailly 2.0
Chelsea could repeat their Marcel Desailly masterclass by raiding AC Milan once again.
ByDan Emery Apr 7, 2025
The Blues could bolster their squad by signing both of these young talents in the summer transfer window, but – for the reasons listed here – Huijsen should be their top priority.
An opener making a comeback against the odds galvanised his partner as Bangladesh put on their first century stand for the first wicket since December 2022
Mohammad Isam29-Apr-2025A century stand between Bangladesh’s openers was a long-forgotten promise in Test cricket. Opening pairs have come thick and fast, and, since their milestone Test series win in Pakistan last year, had contributed very little to their team’s totals. The selectors have gone through many options and have scratched their heads over the lack of candidates in domestic cricket.They had, however, ignored one batter for a long time. Anamul Haque isn’t perhaps the most obvious choice given the enigmatic international career he’s had since his debut in 2012. He has been a domestic giant, however, piling up numbers that most openers in the country have struggled to match, even those who have played for Bangladesh in recent years. He is the leading run-getter among openers in the 2024-25 domestic first-class season, and he remains an outstanding performer even if you put together runs from all formats.There are, however, complications surrounding Anamul’s name. Many consider him to be too flashy on social media. He also led a players’ revolt against the owners of his BPL team after they stopped paying the players. Anamul and a few other players also then posed with cash when some payments were finally made.There’s the more legitimate question mark of Anamul’s inconsistency at the highest level, of course, but that can be placed against many of his peers in and around the Bangladesh side too.Bangladesh’s recent struggles to find a strong opening pair in Test cricket can be summed up by the fact that the 118 that Anamul and Shadman Islam put on against Zimbabwe in Chattogram was their first century stand for the first wicket since December 2022. Of the 33 opening stands in between, only two even crossed the half-century mark.Shadman then went on to score 120. It was the first century from a Bangladesh opener since Zakir Hasan’s 100 against India in December 2022, also in Chattogram.Anamul himself made a nominal contribution in Bangladesh’s scorecard on the second day of this Chattogram Test. He made a bigger impact than the scorecard would suggest, though. Anamul batted with a smidgen more positivity than Bangladesh’s recent openers have done. He was a little troubled by short balls in the early stages, but also adjusted quickly to playing the Zimbabwe quicks off the back foot. Anamul was also alert to the possibility of the quick single, which was definitely a distinction between him and Mahmudul Hasan Joy, who tends to rely a lot on hitting boundaries in his strong areas.Anamul’s approach rubbed off on Shadman too. He scored exacly twice what Anamul did (39) during their 118-run stand. In recent Tests, Shadman had tended to get stuck early in his innings, but looked far more assured here, every time he looked for runs. His off-side strokeplay was notable for the ease with which he found the gaps, and his straight-driving easy on the eye. Shadman too found regular ones and twos, especially with Zimbabwe stacking their slip cordon against both openers.Shadman Islam scored his second Test hundred•MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP via GettyShadman’s freewheeling batting continued after Anamul’s departure, as he added 76 for the second wicket with Mominul Haque. It was the best Bangladesh’s top-order batting had looked in several months.”I didn’t change anything [as an opener],” Shadman said after the day’s play. “I usually play according to the merit of the ball. I don’t really go out with a lot of plans in my mind. As openers we stuck to our plan. I think we didn’t get a big partnership for a long time but we can make things better in the future.”I felt [Anamul Haque] Bijoy was comfortable in his stay. He didn’t really struggle in the middle. He was connecting the ball quite well. He is a very experienced cricketer. He is always scoring runs. He provided a good start. He was looking good, but he was unfortunate to get out.”That Anamul was playing at all was a bit of a surprise. It wasn’t because Anamul wasn’t scoring runs in domestic cricket. On the contrary, he is the second highest run-getter in Bangladesh in all formats since his last Test three years ago, with 4962 runs at an average of 43.91, with 13 centuries – a hugely significant number from a Bangladesh perspective, with the next-best on that list having scored only eight in that time.Seven of Anamul’s centuries have come in an extraordinary 2024-25 season, which has brought him 2146 runs at 51.09.It’s usually extremely difficult for a Bangladeshi cricketer dropped from the national team, particularly if they are beyond a certain age, to make a comeback. At 32, Anamul had shown the hunger to score runs day in and day out at the domestic level, and made himself impossible to ignore. While Bangladesh were losing the first Test in Sylhet, Anamul was scoring back-to-back hundreds for Gazi Group in the Dhaka Premier Division, virtually forcing the selectors to recall him.Bangladesh aren’t known for giving players a long rope, however, so having made it back, Anamul will know he’ll have to keep scoring runs to keep hold of his hard-won slot.
Australia icon looks to broaden her horizons during transformative stint at WPL
Vishal Dikshit14-Mar-20232:47
Healy: I like to lead from within the group and empower players
Captain Alyssa Healy gathered her UP Warriorz team-mates one day in the team hotel and asked each one of them to write down their answer to the question: “What do I want to get out of this season?” whether on or off the field. Many overseas players wrote about learning the Indian culture, someone wrote about enjoying every moment of the WPL, one about sharing her experiences and another about learning from the seniors, and so on.The objective of this exercise was break the ice between the players, get them to trust each other, and form a well-knit unit, and not just a squad of 16. Even though Healy does not take the credit for this – it was suggested by the team owner Jinisha Sharma – she says “it was a little tough initially” for them to get together and form relationships quickly, because the squad didn’t have much time to know one another between the T20 World Cup, which ended on February 26 in South Africa, and the WPL, which began on March 4 in Mumbai.Now that the team has been together for two weeks and a few games, Healy is unflinchingly working towards her own objective for the WPL: to get the most out of the Indian domestic players.
These players are amazing and it’s not about us, it’s almost about them and helping grow the sport hereHealy on the young Indian players within the UP squad
“I feel like sometimes we forget that this is the WPL, and this is the Indian league and we’re the foreigners coming in to play a part and play a role and do our job,” Healy told ESPNcricinfo. “But this is more so about growing the game in India and seeing these young, amazing Indian players get a chance on a big stage to show everyone what they can do. I think sometimes the international players come in and sort of overshadow that fact.”There’s a lot of talk about all the international players making all the runs and taking all the wickets, but what the UP Warriorz in particular have as a strength is we’ve got some really good Indian players within our squad that are really going to shine at the right times, and our job as international players is to complement that and do our job where we can.”Warriorz have won only two of their first four games, but they can boast a line-up that covers most bases, if not all. They have the fastest bowler in the world, Shabnim Ismail, who has already bowled 127.5kmh; their spin duo of Sophie Ecclestone and Deepti Sharma has picked 13 wickets together with economy rates of 7.03 and 8.20 respectively in a high-scoring tournament; Grace Harris is a belligerent finisher, and Tahlia McGrath has struck two half-centuries already, with an overall strike-rate of nearly 160.Alyssa Healy has been leading from the front for UP•BCCIIt is the Indian names, however, that Healy wants to focus on. Twenty-eight-year-old hard-hitting batter Kiran Navgire, allrounder Devika Vaidya who is now opening the batting for them with the captain, middle-order batter Simran Shaikh, and Under-19 star Shweta Sehrawat, who opened initially but has been moved down the order now.”A Deepti Sharma, a Raja [Rajeshwari Gayakwad]…everybody knows them already, they’ve played for India, but there’s players like Devika, to come in and do what she did [making 36 not out in a ten-wicket win against RCB] and just remind everyone that these players are amazing and it’s not about us, it’s almost about them and helping grow the sport here,” Healy elaborated further. “I’ve been trying to communicate that to them and that’s where the trust is being formed, that I’m here for them, I’m here to promote them, I’m not here to promote myself and give myself the best opportunities to go out there and make runs or take wickets. I want them to do that and them to be really proud of themselves at the end of the tournament.”Healy has, after all, already played nearly 250 international games for Australia, plus all eight seasons of the WBBL (including two titles), and she also featured in the last season of the Hundred as well, for Northern Superchargers. She will be 33 later this month, and with the kind of maturity that often comes with age, exposure and experiences, Healy wants to give back to the game, even if it means to players of another team, who have been coming close to beating Australia in recent finals.”A big thing is that cricket is such a small part of our lives and at the end of the day it’s not everything in our lives either, and we sort of forget that, we get wrapped up in how important cricket is and it’s the be-all and end-all,” Healy explained. “But at the end of the day, you’re going to retire and you have your whole life ahead of you so if you can learn some skills or learn how to be a well-rounded person in your cricketing career, I think that’s going to be beneficial for the rest of your lives, so an exercise like that (about achieving something from WPL) is really exciting for the group to think, ‘ok, what do I want to get out of the WPL?’Meg Lanning, Beth Mooney, Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Healy unveil the WPL trophy•BCCI”It’s not just about runs and wickets and being the best player in the competition. A lot of them have written out there that they want to dive in and experience our culture and get to know me, and for me, mine is like to dive in and experience the Indian culture a little bit more and get to know some of these girls and their families outside of cricket, and things like that. Making a commitment and putting it on a board means that you’re accountable for that and you walk in there every day and say, ‘am I living that?’ So that was a big push from Jinisha [Sharma, the owner], which I was really excited by, because it’s sort of one of my life mottos as well.”According to Lisa Sthalekar, the Warriorz mentor, Healy went to Deepti, the vice-captain after joining the squad to say, “I’m here to help you, this is your side, you’re from UP, I’m the outsider, let me help you guide this team, because you’ll be in this team for as long as you want whereas I’m here for a small amount of time.” Sthalekar has known Healy for well more than a decade from her domestic cricket days and was Healy’s team-mate in each of her three debuts in international cricket, back in 2010 and 2011. She says Healy has always been about the bigger picture “for as long as I can remember”.Related
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“People may love her or hate her, she does polarise people, but one thing is that she’s always seen the game broader than just her own experience in that one moment,” Sthalekar said. “A prime example is that T20 World Cup [final in 2020] at the MCG. She could have had blinkers to the World Cup final thinking ‘it’s in my home country, we are expected to win, we only just got into the final’. But what does she and all the rest of the players do? They open the blinkers up and go, ‘this is actually bigger than us. This is about past players, it’s about volunteers, it’s about women’s sport in this country’. She took all of that on and went, ‘I’m just going to live this moment and enjoy it,’ and she had a smile from ball one, even before she hit a four, and then just soaked it up.”Healy took India down in that 2020 final with a momentous and brutal 75 off 39 that gave Australia an 85-run victory. Exactly three years later, she is now leading a side full of Indians – some experienced and many raw – to share her experiences with them, to groom and chaperone them, and prepare them for the big stage where she has lifted many a trophy.
For England it’s been about all-out attack for a while; India seem to want to adopt more of that approach for more of their innings going forward
Sidharth Monga23-Mar-20212:54
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The World Cup is still two years away and India have been on the record saying that ODIs are their lowest priority this year, so it is not surprising for this ODI series to have the feel of a space filler before the IPL. However, there was enough on display on Tuesday to see two sides working on how they want to play this format.England are the leaders of change in this format. India are not quite aping them but they are looking to catch up without taking the kind of risks that can result in the kind of defeat England tasted on the night: a collapse from 135 for 0 in 14 overs to 251 all out when some might call for a more circumspect approach to chasing a sub-par total.The difference between these two teams is stark, and best summed up by the opening combinations. England’s is a once-in-a-generation dream team of Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow. Their opening partnership averages 60.45 and goes at 7.04 an over. They are an upgrade on the only two other opening combinations who managed to average 50 and score at over a run a ball: Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir (50.54 per dismissal and 6.42 an over) and Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder (50.9 and 6.4).More importantly, Roy and Bairstow are well above their contemporaries, giving England a significant head start. The two came together as openers in September 2017. During the Roy-Bairstow era, India have been among the top three ODI sides, but their openers – Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma – average 41.88 and go at 5.29 an over.Consequently England kill many ODIs early in the game. During this period, their average 10-over score has been 60 as against India’s 50. The difference is starker when the sides are batting first, which is trickier than ever when you run the risk of aiming too low. England’s average 10-over score when batting first has been 59 as opposed to India’s 46. With a target guiding them, India close this gap: it’s 53 India and 62 England when chasing.India tend to take fewer risks early, like to take games deep and then score big at the end. England spread the attacking duties and want to break open games earlier than in the final overs. In this ODI, 39 for 0 in 10 overs from Dhawan and Rohit was in part owed to tricky conditions – Dhawan said the ball swung and seamed early – but it is not like India were going to bat the way Bairstow and Roy did later in the day. However, there were signs later that India are looking to shed the conservatism.Virat Kohli is the most efficient run machine in ODI cricket: he has finetuned his game to score reasonably quickly while taking no risks at all. That is why he has a great conversion rate and is destined to go past Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI centuries. He tends to leave his aerial hits to the end, but here he tried to slog in the 33rd over, perishing for a typically efficient 56 off 60. He could have sleepwalked to a run-a-ball hundred here, but that would have risked what India have been criticised for in the past: leaving runs out there.In Kohli’s approach was acknowledgement that India are looking to change the way they are playing ODI cricket and that the start had been slow. Kohli still said the 317 they got despite a sensational 112-run stand between KL Rahul and Krunal Pandya in 9.3 overs was sub-par.Related
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The collapse that followed Kohli’s wicket might have given them reason to question the new approach, but the unlikely win in the end will keep those questions at bay. The questions instead were pointed at England. Could they have been more conservative after the start they got? For England and Eoin Morgan, the answer is no. They will keep attacking the way they did, but will just look to get better at it than on the night.”When we have bad days with the bat, it can potentially look worse than it is, but we play an aggressive brand of cricket,” Morgan said. “We just need to get better and execute better than we did today. When you look at our top seven, we all have scored 60-ball hundreds. It is something we pride ourselves on. To be able to take the attack to the opposition. And that is the way we want to play.”White-ball cricket as a rule is always on the upward slant: total scores, individual scores, strike rates are always increasing. With an eye on the World Cup, we want to continue to try and push the envelope in that regard. Sometimes that doesn’t work because we don’t get it right, but for us losing like that is way better than losing by 10 runs playing in a completely different matter that doesn’t suit us. It’s important for us to reinforce the method that has worked for us over the last five years.”Expect England to wipe this defeat from their memories and set themselves up for another assault come the next ODI. For India there are two ways to look at the result. Some might be thankful they won because otherwise they might have possibly ended up shelving their bolder approach in the middle overs. Others might have hoped for the 40-over defeat that looked likely because that might have forced a more dramatic change to their approach to opening ODI innings. The two remaining ODIs will tell us a bit about how India plan to approach their ODI cricket in the next two years.