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The three-match series could give an indication of Chapman’s ability to fit into WIlliamson’s World Cup spot

Deivarayan Muthu16-Aug-2023Kyle Jamieson is finally back
After having recovered from back surgery, fast-bowling allrounder Kyle Jamieson is set to play his first international game in more than a year and first T20I since March 2021. With Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne, and Blair Tickner all not part of the UAE series, this is Jamieson’s opportunity to prove his fitness and be the enforcer in the attack.Related

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Jamieson’s tall frame and propensity to generate extra bounce has been a point of difference for New Zealand’s attack in Test cricket and ODIs, but he is yet to crack the shortest format. He has played eight T20Is so far, conceding almost ten runs an over. Can he remedy those numbers and fare better in what will be his first white-ball international away from home?NZ’s next gen is here
Auckland legspinner Adithya Ashok and South Africa-born Otago batter Dean Foxcroft are the new faces in New Zealand’s squad for the three-match T20I series in the UAE.Ashok, 20, has played only 15 List A and 19 T20 games so far, but he has already been earmarked to become a future star for New Zealand. Ashok has a big-turning wrong’un in his repertoire and will slot in straight for senior legspinner Ish Sodhi, who is currently with Trent Rockets in the Hundred. Having recently played club cricket for Colchester & EECC in Essex, Ashok will have to quickly adjust to the Dubai conditions, where dew is usually a major factor.”I still don’t think it has sunk in,” Ashok told NZC media in the lead-up to his potential debut. “It’s slowly sinking in…things like getting my kit and training – that’s when it starts to feel a bit more real. It’s a kid-in-the-candy-store type vibe and it was really cool, special moment for me. Also being away from home and things like that it’s pretty cool to go on a journey where it’s not like it’s quite expected as well, so the surprise is really pleasant.”Foxcroft, 25, had thought that his New Zealand career was over when he was locked out of the country when Covid-19 hit. What was supposed to be a six-week visit to South Africa eventually turned out to be a frustrating two-year-long stay because of the pandemic. Foxcroft is now on the brink of making his long-awaited international debut for New Zealand after having dominated the most recent Super Smash T20 tournament with his big-hitting and quickish offspin. Foxcroft has also had T20 – and T10 – exposure outside of New Zealand, with stints in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and Oman D10 league.Adithya Ashok has played 15 List A and 19 T20 games so far•ICC via GettyChapman’s chance to push his WC case
The last time Mark Chapman batted for New Zealand in a T20I, he played a blinder in Rawalpindi, his 57-ball 104 forming the centerpiece of a successful chase of 194 against an attack that included Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Shadab Khan. That innings put Chapman in New Zealand’s ODI World Cup frame. With Kane Williamson unlikely to start the World Cup for New Zealand, a batting spot is up for grabs. If Chapman produces similar powerful performances in the UAE and the UK, he could be a contender for that slot in India.UAE are a familiar opponent for Chapman. Overall, he has played six matches against them – all for Hong Kong – scoring 336 runs, including an unbeaten 124 in Dubai in 2015.More international exposure for UAE
It’s not often that UAE get to host two Full-Member nations in a span of two months. After making West Indies work hard for their 3-0 ODI series win in June earlier this year, UAE are gearing up for the New Zealand challenge with some new faces as well as old ones.Allrounder Mohammed Faraazuddin and left-arm fingerspinner Jash Giyanani are the two newbies in the side, with the selectors rewarding them for their good performances for the A team in the ACC Men’s Emerging Cup in Sri Lanka. But there is no room for legspinner Karthik Meiyappan.Fingerspin-bowling allrounder Aayan Afzal Khan and captain Muhammad Waseem, who were both in action in the recently concluded Global T20 Canada, are among the UAE players to watch out for in this series.

The rationale behind his dipping strike rate is not clear, but he would want to try and find a way out

Shashank Kishore12-Apr-20224:49

Is Hardik Pandya’s batting position dictating his approach in IPL 2022?

When Virat Kohli said one “can’t create overnight what Hardik Pandya brings at No. 6” last October, he was referring to his middle-order power-hitting specifically. Over time, Hardik has been able to marry this ball-striking with the game-smarts that have made him a feared white-ball destroyer.Hardik, who has largely batted in the lower middle order, has notched up the seventh-most number of sixes in the IPL since 2017, with 92 hits.Related

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This fearless hitting was witnessed during the Champions Trophy final in 2017, where Hardik swatted six sixes against spin – almost immediately from the get-go – to make a whirlwind 43-ball 76 in a crumbling chase. We have seen that in Australia, where his finishing act – a 22-ball 42 – in a 195-chase helping India seal the T20I series in December 2020. He has done it numerous times for Mumbai Indians in the IPL.So, what makes Hardik tick? When in full flow, He can line up his scoring zones with a touch of brutality to his game. His powerful wrists and bottom-handed power have added different scoring zones to his repertoire. He can scythe wide yorkers behind point with the same efficacy as playing a helicopter to a yorker-length delivery.But so far this season, this version of Hardik hasn’t yet surfaced. His 141 runs in four innings this season have come at a strike rate of 122.60. This pales in comparison to his overall strike rate of 150.5 in the IPL. In the death overs, specifically, he strikes overall at a mind-boggling 187.60.This time around, Hardik has tried to take his innings deep, before trying to pull off a late jailbreak. This hasn’t worked, like it didn’t on Monday night against Sunrisers Hyderabad when he remained unbeaten on a 42-ball 50, with Gujarat Titans “finishing seven to 10 runs short” by his own admission.Barring the one knock against Punjab Kings where he made 18 off 27, Hardik has largely looked to build an innings. At Mumbai Indians, the presence of enforcers in Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Quinton de Kock, and at times Kieron Pollard, left him with a clear mandate: of going out to take down attacks.2:15

Is No. 4 Hardik Pandya’s best position?

At Titans, it’s easy to assume it’s perhaps the added captaincy responsibility that is making him restrictive in his approach. But there could be a bigger factor at play: the auction. Titans made a splash when they signed Shubham Gill and Rashid Khan along with Hardik as their core group of players, but the batting is still thin on experience.Abhinav Manohar is a middle-order finisher, who hadn’t played a single T20 game until six months ago. B Sai Sudharsan has been picked on the back of one prolific Tamil Nadu Premier League season. It makes for a great story to tell how the franchise has backed two new players to rise to the occasion, but when it affects the overall batting dynamics, it’s hard not to look at the fault lines.Both Manohar and Sudharsan are now playing the role of enforcers. While Gill has been in scintillating touch, Matthew Wade has managed just 56 runs in four innings. Vijay Shankar, a batter they would’ve hoped a lot more from, finds himself out of the mix, firstly because of injury and then due to team combination.The top order isn’t brimming with alternatives either. Hardik’s move up to No. 4 has meant leaving the role he dearly loves to the likes of David Miller and Rahul Tewatia. There is one problem, though. Miller is not the same player that he has been. Since IPL 2016, Miller has the second-lowest strike rate among 59 batters who have faced over 500 balls,For Hardik, as a young captain, this can be a massive sacrifice, but it boils down to a lack of options. With only one other young batter in Rahmanullah Gurbaz to potentially fill in, the dearth of options may have fired Hardik to be a pillar at 4.Hardik’s captaincy mantra has revolved around “taking pressure off youngsters and asking them to play freely.” What freedom does he enjoy? It’s quite striking to look at the significant dip in strike rates of first-time Indian captains in the IPL as compared to the previous two seasons. Hardik’s dip from 151.67 in the previous two seasons to 122.6 currently is the biggest.As the season enters the second half and pitches tire, average scores could come down. Spinners may have a bigger say. The dew factor could be negligible, and Hardik may have to re-look at his approach.Even though it might not be his most ideal role, as a team man, one can understand his rationale behind doing it. But he would want to try and find a way out.

PSL starts on January 27 in Karachi, with all sides picking two supplement players to cover for injuries and Covid-19

Umar Farooq12-Dec-2021The six PSL franchises firmed up their full squads for the seventh edition of the competition scheduled to begin January 27 in Karachi. Each franchise had the opportunity of retaining a maximum of eight players. Then they met in Lahore to finalise the remaining squad and complete an 18-man side, including two supplement players to prepare for scenarios such as injury and Covid-19 cases in any camp. However, it was agreed that these players can feature in the XI regardless of circumstances.Teams were allowed three platinum, diamond and gold players each, five silver ones, and two apiece from the emerging and supplementary categories. However, no one could pick more than four players combined – both overseas and local – in the platinum and diamond groups. A team had to choose at least three foreign players among their first nine picks, and could get the other foreigner from the supplementary round.That apart, sides must field a minimum of three overseas players and a maximum of four in their playing XIs. The 16-man squad must include five foreign and 11 local players, while the 18-player group could have been a combination of either six foreigners and 12 locals or five foreigners and 13 locals. Also, according to PSL regulations, an emerging player should either be Under‐23 as of January 1 of the playing season, or someone who has played an aggregate of ten or more games in the PSL over two seasons, but is not eligible to be in the emerging category as per age.Lahore Qalandars squad for PSL 2022•ESPNcricinfo LtdLahore QalandarsDraft picks: Fakhar Zaman (Platinum), Abdullah Shafique, Phil Salt, Harry Brook, Kamran Ghulam, Dean Foxcroft, Zaman Khan, Maaz Khan, Samit Patel and Syed FaridounRetained: Rashid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi (both Platinum), Haris Rauf (Diamond; Brand Ambassador), David Wiese, Mohammad Hafeez (both Diamond), Ahmed Daniyal, Sohail Akhtar and Zeeshan Ashraf (all Silver)Potential first XI: Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Phil Salt, Mohammad Hafeez, David Wiese, Kamran Ghulam, Samit Patel, Rashid Khan, Zaman Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris RaufMultan Sultans squad for PSL 2022•ESPNcricinfo LtdMultan SultansDraft picks: Tim David, Odean Smith, Rumman Raees, Asif Afridi, Anwar Ali, Rovman Powell, Imran Khan Sr, Aamer Azmat, Abbas Afridi, Ihsanullah and Blessing MuzarabaniRetained: Mohammad Rizwan, Rilee Rossouw (both Platinum), Imran Tahir (Diamond; Mentor), Sohaib Maqsood (Diamond), Khushdil Shah (Gold; Brand Ambassador), Shahnawaz Dahani and Shan Masood (both Gold)Potential first XI: Mohammad Rizwan, Shan Masood, Sohaib Maqsood, Rilee Rossouw, Khushdil Shah, Tim David, Odean Smith, Abbas Afridi, Imran Khan Sr/Rumman Raees, Imran Tahir and Shahnawaz DahaniKarachi Kings squad for PSL 2022•ESPNcricinfo LtdKarachi KingsDraft picks: Chris Jordan, Lewis Gregory, Umaid Asif, Tom Abell, Rohail Nazir, Mohammad Imran (wildcard: from Emerging to Silver), Qasim Akram (Right to Match), Faisal Akram, Talha Ahsan, Romario ShepherdRetained: Babar Azam, Imad Wasim (both Platinum), Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nabi (both Diamond), Joe Clarke (Gold; Brand Ambassador), Aamer Yamin, Sharjeel Khan (both Gold) and Mohammad Ilyas (Silver)Potential first XI: Babar Azam, Sharjeel Khan, Joe Clarke, Imad Wasim, Lewis Gregory, Mohammad Nabi, Aamir Yamin, Chris Jordan, Umaid Asif, Mohammad Amir and Talha AhsanIslamabad United squad for PSL 2022•ESPNcricinfo LtdIslamabad UnitedDraft picks: Colin Munro, Marchant de Lange, Muhammad Akhlaq, Reece Topley, Danish Aziz, Zafar Gohar, Mubasir Khan, Zeeshan Zameer (Right to Match), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Athar MahmoodRetained: Asif Ali, Hasan Ali (both Platinum), Faheem Ashraf (Diamond), Shadab Khan (Diamond; Brand Ambassador), Alex Hales (Gold; Mentor), Azam Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr (both Gold) and Paul Stirling (Silver)Potential first XI: Paul Stirling, Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Shahdab Khan, Azam Khan, Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Muhammad Zeeshan/Mubasir Khan and Marchant De LangePeshawar Zalmi squad for PSL 2022•ESPNcricinfo LtdPeshawar ZalmiDraft picks: Hazratullah Zazai, Usman Qadir, Salman Irshad, Arshad Iqbal, Sameen Gul, Kamran Akmal, Sirajuddin, Mohammad Amir Khan, Ben Cutting and Mohammad HarrisRetained: Liam Livingstone, Wahab Riaz (both Platinum), Haider Ali, Sherfane Rutherford, Shoaib Malik (all Diamond), Hussain Talat (Gold), Saqib Mahmood (Gold; Brand Ambassador) and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (Silver)Potential first XI: Hazratullah Zazai, Haider Ali, Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Ben Cutting, Hussain Talat, Sherfane Rutherford, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Saqib Mahmood and Salman Irshad/Arshad IqbalQuetta Gladiators squad for PSL 2022•ESPNcricinfo LtdQuetta GladiatorsDraft picks: Jason Roy, James Faulkner, Umar Akmal, Sohail Tanvir, Ben Duckett, Naveen-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Abdul Wahid Bangalzai, Ashir Qureshi, Ahsan Ali and Noor AhmedRetained: James Vince, Sarfaraz Ahmed (both Platinum), Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz (both Diamond), Shahid Afridi (Gold; Mentor), Mohammad Hasnain (Gold; Brand Ambassador) and Naseem Shah (Gold)Potential first XI: Jason Roy, James Vince, Umar Akmal, Sarfaraz Ahmed, James Faulkner, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Hasnain and Abdul Wahid Bangalzai

They spent countless hours together as kids learning “correct cricket” and they brought all of it on Tuesday

Shashank Kishore in Rajkot10-Mar-2020As kids, Cheteshwar Pujara and Arpit Vasavada spent countless hours in each other’s houses at Railways Colony in Rajkot. When not summoned to do homework, they’d train together, wanting to out-do each other with the bat. Arvind, Pujara senior, wanted them to channel their cricketing pursuits better and would have them alternate at the nets. Then over countless meals, he would drill into them the need to play “correct cricket” and to prove themselves on tough wickets outside Rajkot.On Tuesday, Vasavada and Pujara exhibited those very virtues that were ingrained in them as young players wanting to make a name in Saurashtra. And in doing so, Saurashtra took another step closer to their Ranji Trophy dream, after three failed attempts.Sure this final wasn’t being played outside Rajkot – regarded widely as a wicket by casual cricket observers in the country – but Arvind, a keen watcher from the stands, would’ve been delighted because this was far from a typical Khanderi surface they grew up on. This could’ve well been a surface in Kalyani or Karnail Singh Stadium in Delhi, one that needed both batsmen to dig in and exhibit substance over style. And they did.Pujara and Vasavada are the artisans of this team. There is a reason why the batting revolves around them. The more flamboyant artists were back in the pavilion. Sheldon Jackson looked a dream, but flattered to deceive. Vishwaraj Jadeja set himself up and was bowled through the gate. Such dismissals can potentially cause doubts for batsmen at the other end.Vasavada soaked it all from the non-striker’s end on Monday, even as Pujara battled throat infection, dizziness and fever. Pujara didn’t come out for pre-match warm-ups and the usual batting routines on Tuesday to preserve his energies. But when it was time for him to use them, he did it the way he knows best. Bengal’s fast bowlers kept trying to land the punches. Pujara had one answer: block.Short ball on the body: block. Left-arm over from outside leg: pad away. Left-arm spin from around the wicket: step-out-smother. Bouncer from around the stumps: duck and weave. He had answers to all questions the bowlers tried to ask of him. The approach comes out of years of training and knowledge of the surface, where batsmen, especially those from outside, can be worn down by demons they can’t see. In all fairness, conditions were tough and runs came in a trickle in the morning. It needed batsmen to fight and these two were prepared for the hard grind without the worry of being made to look ugly.They came together at a crucial time on Tuesday morning, with Saurashtra resuming on a dicey 206 for 5. A few quick wickets and Bengal’s hopes of restricting them below 300 would’ve been a real possibility. The onus was on them to see off the first hour at least. They added 25 in the first 15 overs of play, Pujara on occasions having mild discomfort against Shahbaz Ahmed’s left-arm spin. Once, he was even referred to the TV umpire for an lbw decision but survived because of his intent to try and get to the pitch of the ball, which got him outside the nine-feet mark. And while the impact was in line, he was too far down the pitch.Vasavada, at the other end, was equally watchful. Playing behind the line, rising with the bounce, weaving away from short balls, and resisting the temptation to sweep, a shot he plays very well. Most knocks of his generally has a good portion of runs square of the wicket through the sweep shot. But this was different. His determination to not play it as often seemingly evident.From time to time, Pujara kept walking up to him in between overs, sometimes in between deliveries, at the first sign of him trying to do something outside the manual. But these instances were few in a dogged effort. The mantra was clear: ‘There are no points for grace. Time and runs are our currency’.There was a poignant moment when Vasavada got to his century, though. Vasavada was consumed by emotion as he roared towards the dressing room, whipped off his helmet and waved his bat animatedly. Pujara had started to run towards him to give a big hug but stopped, held himself back and allowed Vasavada to let his emotions flow. And once he regained his composure, Pujara walked up to him and gave him a quiet hug and handshake. It was the hug that validated Arvind’s “tough runs outside Rajkot” philosophy.All along, Pujara was hardly been deterred at his own scoring rate. There was not even an inkling of that word ‘intent’ being heard from any corner. He didn’t get to his fifty until his 191st delivery, when he put away a long hop to the point boundary with all his might. It was sane batting, dour batting but a masterclass in putting mind over all else.Then a release shot came off his 200th ball, a length delivery that had him take a big stride forward and disdainfully crash on the up for four through cover point. But such luxuries of letting instincts take over were very limited, and the beauty of his knock lay in his self-restraint, like Vasavada, fully aware that while he wasn’t a 100%, he couldn’t afford to not give anything but 100% for his team. In four innings in the final, Pujara had a best of 27. This was his space, his home and he wasn’t going to pass another chance.The partnership was worth 142; but its value far greater than many stands they’ve had on flatter wickets. Pujara only made 66, off 237 balls. Vasavada 106, before being stumped. But as stumps approached and shadows lengthened in Rajkot, they had more than done their bit to give Saurashtra a real shot at history.On Holi, it wasn’t quite a colourful batting display you’d expect from an Indian mainstay, but the bloodymindedness to get the job done showed his steely resolve and how much the old virtues of occupying the crease and bail the team out meant to him.

Managing director has quadrupled his bet on inspirational head coach, but England’s unremitting schedule remains biggest challenge

Matt Roller03-Sep-2024Success in English cricket is evaluated by Ashes series and World Cups. The extensions to both Brendon McCullum’s contract and his remit, announced on Tuesday, represent Rob Key quadrupling the size of his bet: McCullum will not only take charge of the 2025-26 Ashes, but now the 2026 T20 World Cup, 2027 Ashes and 2027 50-over World Cup, too.Key made clear when he was appointed England’s managing director two years ago that his decision to split the coaching roles owed to pragmatism, rather than principle. “You get a better list of candidates… nearly all of them are like, ‘I wouldn’t be going for this if it was one [role],'” Key said. “You want the best people, and you build the structure around them.”In effect, that is exactly what Key has tried to do with this gambit. There has been a complete transformation in England’s Test cricket under McCullum: he has overseen 19 wins, eight defeats and a single draw, and has given them a clear identity that they were sorely lacking. Key’s belief is that he can have the same effect on a stagnant white-ball set-up.Related

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In a coaching market that is heavily skewed towards the franchise circuit, Key believes that McCullum’s new contract is a major coup for England: “We are incredibly fortunate that a coach of his quality is prepared to commit wholeheartedly to English cricket,” he said on Tuesday. “We’re confident this restructure will bring out the best in our players and coaching staff.”It is a call which highlights the importance of perception. England have played some brilliant Test cricket under McCullum but are yet to win a series against the world’s top two: they drew with Australia last summer, and were heavily beaten in India earlier this year. Still, the sense remains of a team on the up – not least after five clinical wins this summer.By contrast, Matthew Mott took England to three World Cups and won one of them, his team beating Pakistan at the MCG less than two years ago. And yet, he found himself sacked after reaching a semi-final in June: Jos Buttler’s hangdog expression told a story of a team whose progress had stalled, necessitating a change in leadership which fell on Mott.Brendon McCullum is now England’s man for all formats, under Rob Key•Getty ImagesThe pitfalls of McCullum’s new role are hidden in plain sight. Only India play more men’s international cricket than England, and England play more Tests than anyone. Their ludicrous fixture list is encapsulated by the 24-hour turnaround between the scheduled fifth-day finish of the upcoming third Test against Sri Lanka and the start of a T20I series against Australia.Key insisted that the “constant clashes” between formats “are easing, starting from January” but the volume of cricket scheduled is still substantial. Expect McCullum to have few qualms about handing the reins to one of his assistants for several bilateral series over the next three years – as Rahul Dravid did throughout his tenure with India.The trouble lies further ahead, with a dilemma that is familiar to England’s captains and coaches across the past two decades: how can you plan for both an Ashes series, and a World Cup straight after it? It is akin to a tennis player winning Wimbledon and jumping on a plane to Flushing Meadows, or an athlete being asked to compete in a World Championships immediately after an Olympic Games.In both the 2025-26 winter and the 2027 summer, McCullum will need his players to perform at their best throughout a four-month period – a scenario in which England have always struggled. Nasser Hussain (2003), Michael Vaughan (2007) and Andrew Strauss (2011) all led depleted squads to 50-over World Cups which were staged immediately after Ashes tours, with predictable results; Buttler faced a similar situation last year, with England’s multi-format players underperforming in India.Buttler was among the players who struggled five years ago when the turnaround was flipped. England’s 2019 World Cup triumph, the culmination of their white-ball revolution under Eoin Morgan’s captaincy, left players physically and emotionally drained yet was swiftly followed by a home Ashes series: England snuck a 2-2 series draw, but were outplayed.Previous England captains have felt the pain of an Ashes followed by a World Cup•Getty ImagesAs Australia’s fine record at World Cups can attest, scaling twin peaks in quick succession is by no means impossible: only three members of their side that beat India in Ahmedabad last year did not feature on the Ashes tour which preceded the World Cup. Andrew McDonald oversaw success on two fronts, something which has eluded England’s coaches.More immediately, McCullum’s task will be to inject some energy into a white-ball set-up which felt desperately low on it by the time they were knocked out of June’s T20 World Cup. He will watch from afar for their next 14 games, with Marcus Trescothick in interim charge, then will have a quick tour to India to make his mark before February’s Champions Trophy.The biggest unknown for McCullum will be his relationship with Buttler. Buttler idolised McCullum as a player but has never played or worked with him, and his captaincy is under scrutiny after the manner of England’s semi-final defeat to India in Guyana. Where Buttler had the balance of power over Mott, McCullum should be strong enough to take the lead.England believe they have a new core of young players who can become regulars across formats over the next decade: this includes Harry Brook, Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson, who have all showcased their attacking style in McCullum’s Test team. This is simply the latest step in Key’s attempts to bridge the gap between the two codes – which had been in danger of becoming a chasm.It was barely two years ago that McCullum made clear to Key that he had no interest in taking on England’s white-ball teams, after Morgan had transformed them into not only regular semi-finalists but trendsetters in the global game. Now that they are lagging behind, he finds himself in charge of another revival.

Trent Rockets were victorious in a nervy must-win encounter against Birmingham Phoenix in the Hundred at Edgbaston on Monday. The Rockets drew level on points with third-placed Northern Superchargers to keep themselves in the hunt for a place in the knock-outs, as they came out on top by three wickets with just three balls to go in a tense affair.Birmingham Phoenix won the toss and chose to bat, with both sides sitting on six points in the table and looking for the opportunity to keep their seasons alive. Phoenix had to make do without Sophie Devine, forced to miss out through injury.That required a batting order shuffle for Phoenix but their shuffled top order didn’t last long: three wickets fell early for the home side as they lost captain Ellyse Perry, Fran Wilson and Amy Jones in the opening 15 balls before they had reached double digits. Alexa Stonehouse grabbed the big wicket of Perry, Sciver-Brunt dismissed her one-time housemate Wilson and her maid-of-honour Jones first-ball.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

“I was very happy with how the ball came out today,” Sciver-Brunt said. “I probably haven’t had that much success or that much consistency, so I was very happy with my personal bowling performance today.”Phoenix’s recovery was as impressive as it was crucial, with Sterre Kalis and Indian international Richa Ghosh putting on 95 for a record fourth-wicket partnership in the women’s Hundred. Ghosh made 41 from 36 and Kalis 47 from 44 as they took the hosts to 112 for 6.After her early wickets Sciver-Brunt finished with figures of 2 for 16. Australian international spinner Ashleigh Gardner also picked up a critical late couple of wickets to take 2 for 17.Nat Sciver-Brunt and Ashleigh Gardner took two wickets each•Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Phoenix needed early wickets to help them defend their below-par total and they managed just that, with Bryony Smith and Nat Wraith dismissed in the first 20 balls. Unfortunately for Phoenix, that brought Sciver-Brunt to the crease, the leading run-scorer in The Hundred this year – and indeed the record-holder for the highest aggregate ever in the women’s competition.With Sciver-Brunt and Gardner at the crease the visitors looked to be cantering in the chase, but a flurry of wickets at an inopportune moment from balls 70-80 – including a timely run-out from Perry – made things suddenly appear much tricker for the Rockets. Not for the first time, the Rockets found themselves trying to scrap over the finish line, but this time it was a must-win encounter.They benefitted from a debatable no-ball call, which saw Josie Groves reprieved having initially been given out caught, but on this occasion they had enough in the locker to get over the line – Katie George there at the end alongside Groves to keep alive Rockets’ hopes of going further in the Hundred.”In terms of the chase, we probably got ahead of it a bit earlier and gave ourselves a bit of relief towards the end, so the pressure didn’t build up too much,” Sciver-Brunt said. “For the two batters to come out at the end, who hadn’t faced many balls, they were very brave, and I was really pleased for them to get the job done.”We’ve had so many close games, so to come out on the right side of it this time feels really good. It’s still all in our hands, if we beat the Oval Invincibles in our last game then we will be in that top three.”

Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund was mere centimetres away from netting a potentially crucial goal in last month’s Europa League final, having seen his goalbound header denied by a simply remarkable acrobatic clearance from Micky van de Ven.

The suggestion from TNT Sports commentator Ally McCoist that the Dane could have done better with that attempt appeared distinctly harsh, with his colleague, Darren Fletcher, perhaps putting his best when suggesting that the 22-year-old might be the “most unlucky number nine” that the Red Devils have ever had, following his disallowed goal on the final day against Aston Villa.

Whether it is the fault of the £64m man, or due to the wider problems of the team, he simply hasn’t kicked on in a United shirt as expected, with the player who ran Galatasaray ragged in October 2023 having hardly been seen since.

Short of quality and confidence, Hojlund ended 2024/25 with just ten goals to his name in all competitions, having only netted four times in the Premier League, while missing just six ‘big chances’.

That latter statistic illustrates that the ex-Atalanta starlet isn’t necessarily wayward in front of goal, albeit the lack of opportunities created perhaps points to the lack of trust in him from his teammates – something which was said to be an issue at the tail-end of the previous campaign.

Having ended the 2023/24 season as the club’s top scorer, there is a player in there somewhere. The issue is, United’s patience appears to have – rightly – worn thin.

Man Utd's search to replace Rasmus Hojlund

While Hojlund may be keen to stay and prove himself at Old Trafford, a return to Italy does appear the most likely outcome, with Champions League finalists Inter Milan reportedly ready to bring him back to Serie A.

With one number nine seemingly on his way, another could be set to arrive in the form of Viktor Gyokeres, albeit with the Swede currently in a public dispute with Sporting CP over his future, amid the suggestion that the club have rowed back on their willingness to let him leave for around €70m (£59m) this summer.

Things are getting messy in Lisbon, it would seem, hence why United’s newly crowned sporting director, Jason Wilcox, must continue to consider alternatives, with TEAMtalk reporting that talks have been held between the club and the representatives of Juventus striker, Dusan Vlahovic.

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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The suggestion is that the Serbian’s agents reached out to Wilcox and co in order to try and engineer move, with the 25-year-old believed to be prioritising a Premier League switch.

While the report does state that the former Fiorentina man is not deemed to be a ‘priority target’ for Ruben Amorim, the contact was said to be ‘positive’, ensuring the Premier League outfit could return to the table later down the line.

Amorim, it would seem, might have his heart set on a reunion with Gyokeres, although Vlahovic would surely be the next best thing. Oh, and he might be available for just €30m (£26m).

How Vlahovic compares to Viktor Gyokeres

The ‘definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results’, with United perhaps wary of dipping into the Serie A market for a third successive summer in order to sign a new striker.

Indeed, 2023 saw Erik ten Hag plump for Hojlund, despite the then 20-year-old having scored just nine league goals for Atalanta the year prior. A year later, the Dutchman then forked out £36.5m for Joshua Zirkzee, a player who had netted just 11 times in Serie A for Bologna in 2023/24.

The result? Two goal-shy, albeit talented figures who scored just seven league goals between them for United last time out, with there certainly a fear that Vlahovic could continue the trend, having actually only scored ten Serie A goals last season – plus a further five in all competitions.

2024/25

29

10

4

2023/24

33

16

3

2022/23

27

10

2

2021/22 (Juventus)

15

7

1

2021/22 (Fiorentina)

21

17

4

2020/21

37

21

2

2019/20

30

6

1

2018/19

10

0

0

The difference is, Vlahovic’s work prior to that is reason for excitement, having scored 81 top-flight goals, across his time in Turin and Florence, since the start of 2020/21, with a further six strikes coming the year before that for his former employers.

It is for that reason that, much like Gyokeres, he has been hailed as a “goal machine” by scout Antonio Mango, with writer Emmet Gates also tipping him to be a “generational talent” in the past.

A hulking, brute of a striker at 6 foot 4, the Serbian star truly is an imposing focal point at the top end of the pitch, a trait he shares with the 6 foot 2 Gyokeres.

While the latter man may be the “hottest striker in Europe” right now, as per ESPN’s Mark Ogden, following his haul of 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting, the Swede certainly boasts similar traits to his Juventus counterpart.

That is particularly seen in their ability to score out of nothing from range, with both men possessing a cannon of a stronger foot. Indeed, analyst Ben Mattinson has hailed Gyokeres as a “ball-striking monster”, while Sky Sports’ Nick Wright has described Vlahovic as ‘dangerous from long distance’.

Such quality is evidenced by the fact that both men have taken on free-kick duties of late, with Vlahovic scoring four between 2022/23 and 2023/24, while Gyokeres netted three in 2024/25 alone, as per Transfermarkt.

As alluded to in the case of Hojlund, United are in desperate need of a striker who can conjure up a moment of magic on their own, with neither Vlahovic nor Gyokeres particularly reliant on the service around them.

That said, both can provide that poacher’s instinct when required too, with the Juve sensation ranking in the top 10% of strikers across Europe for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, as per FBref, while the former Coventry City man ranks in the top 15% in that regard.

While Vlahovic may be a left-footer, unlike Gyokeres, the pair are both a force to be reckoned with, with the Belgrade-born star’s consistency at the elite level over a number of seasons certainly to be admired.

Yes, he may not be the leading target for Amorim and Wilcox, although if prising Gyokeres from Lisbon proves too great of a task, then they may have already opened the door to the next best thing.

He'd be amazing with Ekitike: Man Utd "optimistic" of sealing deal for star

Manchester United appear to be edging closer to completing a deal for one top-level talent.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 13, 2025

Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce are in talks with Bayern Munich to sign Kingsley Coman, eyeing a possible €40 million (£34m/$46m) move for the winger.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Fenerbahce contact Bayern over Coman
• Mourinho pushes for a marquee winger signing
• Die Roten open to selling Frenchman for €40m

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Fenerbahce have opened talks with Bayern to sign Coman, with Mourinho pushing for a deal that could cost up to €40m. Turkish outlet reports that the initial approach was for a loan, but a permanent move is on the table.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Bavarians are said to open to selling the French international if they receive a satisfactory offer, though it's unclear how Leroy Sane's recent departure to Galatasaray might impact the club’s stance. Coman has been with Bayern since 2015, racking up 339 appearances, 72 goals, and 71 assists. Despite his contributions, he’s been seen as transferable, especially with the club chasing new attacking talent like Liverpool’s Luis Diaz.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The 29-year-old, who scored the winning goal in the 2020 Champions League final, has won league titles in France, Italy, and Germany. Last year, a move to Saudi Arabia collapsed due to his own refusal. Arsenal and other Premier League clubs have been closely monitoring his situation. Under Vincent Kompany, Coman started four of Bayern’s five Club World Cup matches, including the 2-0 quarter-final defeat against his former club Paris Saint-Germain.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Fenerbahce must decide whether to push for a loan or full transfer, depending on Die Roten’s final asking price and squad plans. Bayern’s pursuit of a new winger and their view on Coman's fitness will likely influence the decision.

A Manchester United legend has returned to Old Trafford in a new position after confirming his retirement from playing.

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• Man Utd legend confirms retirement
• Returns to club in new role
• Will develop youngsters

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Defender Jonny Evans officially announced he has hung up his boots, after making 241 appearances for the club across two spells. He has now returned to the club as head of loans and pathways.

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• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Evans' new role will see him working closely with director of football Jason Wilcox to enhance progress of young players' development and help them become ready for the first team. A big part of the role will be establishing the best loan moves for each player.

• WHAT EVANS SAID

  Evans said: "I want to officially announce my retirement from my playing career, not with sadness, but with pride, gratitude and excitement for the next chapter ahead. I’ll be forever indebted to the managers, coaches, staff and, of course, my team-mates, that I have had the privilege of working alongside throughout my 20 years in professional football. I am looking forward to working with the next generation of talented players to support them to reach their potential. Having had experience of loans myself, I know the crucial role that they can play within a player’s development."

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

  United are yet to begin their 2025-26 pre-season, with trips to Sweden and USA coming up next month.

da bet7： Tottenham Hotspur face a significant summer of changes, both in the dugout and at squad level, with the future of a key player seeming far away from north London.

Ange Postecoglou facing Spurs exit after dismal campaign

da premier bet： Spurs could still qualify for the Champions League next season by winning their first major trophy since 2008.

Related Tottenham: Robinson thrilled after hearing Levy could appoint 52-year-old

Spurs are said to be closing in on his arrival.

Posts 2 ByEmilio Galantini May 13, 2025

All eyes are on the Europa League final in Bilbao on May 21, which has the potential to save Tottenham’s season in a crunch, all or nothing encounter against Premier League rivals Man United, who’ve also endured a horror-show season.

Ange Postecoglou led Spurs to their 20th top-flight loss of the season against Crystal Palace last weekend, breaking their all-time record for most recorded Premier League defeats in a single campaign, with the 59-year-old under intense scrutiny.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League

Average match rating

Son Heung-min

7.05

Pedro Porro

6.98

James Maddison

6.98

Dominic Solanke

6.88

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

More and more credible media sources are reporting that Postecoglou could leave Spurs regardless of whether they win the Europa League, and he’s likely to be joined by some big-name players.

Cristian Romero linked with Spurs summer exit

One of them, star defender Cristian Romero, is a top target for Atlético Madrid and Diego Simeone.

Some reports even suggest that Romero has already agreed terms on a move to Atletico, but both the Lilywhites and La Liga side are yet to find any common ground when it comes to the 26-year-old’s final price tag.

According to information from Marca, there is still negotiating to do when it comes to Spurs and Atlético shaking hands on a fee.

Cristian Romero clear he wants Atletico move amid £84m plan

As per the Spanish newspaper, relayed by Sport Witness, Romero is clear he wants a move to Atlético from Tottenham, but the Premier League side value him at around £59 million and are very unlikely to go anywhere below £42 million.

It is unclear whether Simeone’s men will reach their minimum figure, but they’re set to open talks, and are planning a spending spree worth up to £84 million this summer.

Taking into account they wish to use this cash on a host of other targets, despite Romero’s obvious quality when at his very best, Atlético want to whittle his price down as much as possible.

“He’s the best centre-half at the club,” said pundit Paul Robinson about Romero in 2022, to Football Insider.

“I think they probably tried to get one in during the window but it didn’t work out. But in Romero they have got a phenomenal defender. He makes others around him better.

“What they have got isn’t enough. They need more, but he is certainly the best that they have got. He could play in any side in the top four of the Premier League. He is a Champions League player, a top player.

“If Spurs are going to go places Romero is the type of player they will need to keep and build around.”