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Whites have been cleaned, pitches have been readied, it’s time to hope again; we look at men who will be expecting slightly more than some of the others

Siddarth Ravindran and Nitin Sundar01-Nov-2010Ashish Nehra
Can Ashish Nehra make the transition to whites?•Getty ImagesAshish Nehra’s skills have never been questioned, not since Durban, where he bossed England with a supreme exhibition of controlled swing. That was the limitless Nehra of 24 years, with the world at the mercy of his seam position. Five years passed, years when injuries blighted him, but he managed to re-emerge. Nehra redux knew his limitations and gave up Tests, wary of not biting off more than he could chew. Two years later, he has become a certainty in a transient ODI bowling line-up, and now believes he has regained the strength and stamina for the longest format. This season Nehra will try to prove that he is ready, and if he succeeds, India could have a fast-bowling attack capable of retaining that Test No. 1 ranking for a while.R Ashwin
Ashwin has made all the right moves since MS Dhoni empowered him with the new ball in IPL 2010. He is now a strong contender for a limited-overs spot but a Test call-up remains a distant dream. Only a compelling domestic season or two can elevate Ashwin on par with Pragyan Ojha and Amit Mishra. He has started brightly, bagging seven wickets to go with a quick 73 in October’s Duleep Trophy. Crucially, he earned his wickets with classical flight and loop, without overly resorting to the carrom ball and his other Twenty20 variations. Ashwin’s stock will rise if he can sustain that effort through the season, but another average year could bring with it the tag of limited-overs specialist.Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane scored 1000 runs twice in two seasons and followed up with 809 in his third. Another bounty season and the India selectors will not have any excuses for ignoring him. Three vacancies loom in the India batting line-up, and while M Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara have emerged as serious contenders for two spots, the third is up for grabs. So far, Rahane has grabbed every opportunity available to him, be it the A-tour to England, the Emerging Players tournament, the Irani Trophy, or the tour game against the visiting Australians. There is intense competition for that middle-order berth – chiefly from S Badrinath and Yuvraj Singh – but age and an immense appetite for runs put Rahane in pole position.Ravindra Jadeja
Going by stats, Ravindra Jadeja’s inclusion in the ODI side should not elicit protest. He averages 31.47 with the bat – eight runs clear of either Pathan brother – and maintains an economy-rate of 4.84 on the flattest of tracks. Yet, he is considered a short-term solution, a begrudged patch-up job until a real allrounder arrives. Jadeja’s IPL 2010 ban cost him an opportunity to silence his critics, but the selectors have kept their faith in him. Now, to make that blue India cap his own, Jadeja has to shine in the Saurashtra whites. These are fields he has conquered before: 776 runs and 45 wickets in the 2008-09 season raised him into the spotlight. What he does this year could decide how long he remains there and whether he gains acceptance.Jaidev Unadkat
One prolific season is all it takes for genuine fast-bowling talent to get noticed in India – Ishant Sharma and Abhimanyu Mithun are examples. Jaidev Unadkat should aspire to follow in their footsteps as he prepares for his first domestic summer. He has started in impressive style: seven wickets at 15.42 and an economy-rate of 3.90 at January’s Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand, 13 wickets on first-class debut for India A at Grace Road, a headlining show in the Emerging Players Tournament in Australia, and praise from Wasim Akram. That is a delightful list of entrees from multiple cuisines, but only a sumptuous Indian main course will convince the selectors. What does Unadkat have on the menu?Umesh Yadav
If Unadkat wants a role model, he can do worse than pick Umesh Yadav, a seamer who earned his chances through honest performances for Vidharba. A Delhi Daredevils contract followed and he made heads turn with pace and bounce during IPL 2010, earning him a spot in the India sides for the World Twenty20 and the Zimbabwe tour. The selectors have seen his potential, but will now want him to prove his endurance. Can he sustain the 140-plus speeds through an entire day without breaking down? Can he torment left-handers with his natural delivery that angles away from wide of the crease? Can he continue to get disconcerting lift from dead pitches?Irfan Pathan
Irfan Pathan: the fans are convinced, but can he sway the selectors?•Getty ImagesHe hasn’t played for India in the past one and a half years, but fans still send in plenty of mails to ESPNCricinfo during every India match asking why Irfan Pathan isn’t in the team. Part of the reason is that India are still struggling to find a genuine allrounder, and many believe Irfan remains the best person for that slot. He has been overlooked for tours where plenty of fringe players were picked, despite making 397 runs at 49.62 and taking 22 wickets at 18.54 last season. India coach Gary Kirtsen feels he is “a little bit light on his bowling side”, a perception Irfan has to change to revive his international career.Rohit Sharma
Long acknowledged as a hugely-talented player, Rohit is yet to deliver. Three years since his one-day debut, he averages 28 and is yet to cement his place in the side. Questions have been asked about his mental discipline and his attitude to fitness. He hasn’t been at his best lately, struggling in the tri-series in Sri Lanka, failing on a flat track in the Irani Cup and not making any major contribution during the Challenger series. In the race for a Test middle-order slot, he has fallen behind Suresh Raina and Cheteshwar Pujara. Shedding the excess pounds, and stabilising a shaky Mumbai middle-order will send the right signals to the national selectors.Yuvraj Singh
His troubles during his tenth year on the international circuit are well-documented. A permanent member of the one-day side for much of the previous decade, he was dropped for the Asia Cup earlier this year. He also lost the Test spot vacated by Sourav Ganguly in 2008 to Raina. Three fractures of his hand, a cartilage tear in the wrist, neck strains and dengue fever have made it a year to forget, but Yuvraj started the domestic season strongly – with an unbeaten double-century in the Irani Cup. Besides helping showcase his batting form, the unglamorous Ranji Trophy – a tournament he hasn’t regularly played in since 2004-05 – will also be a test of his fitness and attitude.Piyush Chawla
At 16, he famously dismissed Sachin Tendulkar in the Challenger Trophy. At 17, he became India’s second youngest Test debutant. At 18, he was deceiving Kevin Pietersen with his googlies during the tour of England. Now 21, Chawla has been out of the national Test and one-day sides for more than two years. Harbhajan Singh has been India’s lead spinner in all formats, but there is plenty of competition for the back-up spot: Ojha and Mishra in Tests, and Jadeja and Ashwin in limited-overs. A surprising recall to the Indian team for the World Twenty20 earlier in the year shows Chawla remains in the selectors’ sights, and with arguably India’s finest domestic pace attack – RP Singh, Praveen Kumar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar – supporting him at Uttar Pradesh, a solid season could pitchfork him back into the reckoning.Abhinav Mukund
For a country that has traditionally struggled to find a strong Test opening combination, these are times of riches. Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir have provided solidity at the top over the past two years and, in his limited opportunities, Vijay has shown he is an able replacement in case either of the Delhi pair is missing. Adding to the options is 20-year-old Tamil Nadu left-hand batsman, Mukund, who averages in the mid-50s after three full seasons. This year, he had a good tour of England with India A, top scored for India in the Emerging Players tournament in Australia, and kicked off the home domestic season with 161 and 63 in the Irani Cup, earning a place in the Test squad against Australia last month.Virat Kohli
India have mostly fielded weakened teams in the past few one-day tournaments, but Kohli has done enough to retain a place in the squad, if not the XI, when a full-strength team is picked. A match-winning century against Australia in Visakhapatnam has pushed him ahead of Rohit in the fight for a middle-order place in ODIs, and he showed in the Champions League T20 that he can adapt his game to the Twenty20 format as well. A place in the Test squad remains elusive, though. The absence of Sehwag and Gambhir for much of the Ranji season will make him Delhi’s most important batsman. Gambhir’s international career took off after a stellar 2007-08 season where he led Delhi to the title; a similarly outstanding tournament could push Kohli’s Test case.

The top four in the Championship are in a race of their own. However, West Bromwich Albion, in fifth, are desperately trying to stay alive in the fight for automatic promotion but are currently 13 points adrift of Ipswich Town in second.

The Baggies currently boast the second-best defensive record in England's second tier this season but it is the attack that is currently letting head coach Carlos Corberan down, as West Brom rank 12th for goals scored in the division.

Nevertheless, with the January window open, Corberan is reportedly eyeing up attacking reinforcements to bolster his frontline to rectify this issue.

West Brom transfer news – Umut Nayir

According to a report from Turkish journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu, West Brom are set to battle it out with fellow promotion rivals Cardiff City over the signing of Fenerbahce frontman Umut Nayir.

The 30-year-old has struggled for game-time this season with the Super Lig giants and has played just 120 minutes in total for Fenerbahce, spread across 12 matches. This comes to just ten minutes per appearance despite the club currently paying him £10k-per-week. Furthermore, Nayir has failed to find the net even once in the 2023/24 campaign.

Having signed for the club on a two-year deal during the summer, Nayir quickly found himself down the pecking order under manager Ismail Kartal as both ex-Premier League stars Edin Dzeko and Michy Batshuayi have rotated the number nine position and have a combined total of 24 goals between them.

With that in mind, it seems as though an exit from Fenerbahce is likely this winter and West Brom could offer the striker the chance to kick-start his career.

Umut Nayir's career stats

Last season, Brandon Thomas-Asante finished as West Brom's top goalscorer in all competitions with nine goals in total in 35 appearances. This season, he is already just one off his record from the previous campaign, having found the net eight times in 25 matches, including seven in the Championship.

The issue for Corberan is that the former Salford City man is heavily relied upon for goals. The Baggies have scored 32 goals in all competitions this term and 25% have been through Thomas-Asante. Additionally, the 25-year-old's backup centre-forward Josh Maja has only managed to convert one opportunity all season in nine matches, offering little to nothing to the team if the first-choice striker doesn't have his shooting boots on.

Nayir could help alleviate this issue. While this season certainly hasn't gone to plan, the Turkey international has been a prolific goalscorer throughout his career and has a much more reliable record than the man he could replace at The Hawthorns, having registered 103 goal contributions in 265 appearances as a professional.

Club

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Club

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Ankaragucu

107

48

3

Bordeaux

93

29

9

Goztepe

35

18

0

Sunderland

49

17

2

Giresunspor

34

9

2

Stoke City

17

2

3

Umraniyespor

33

18

3

Fulham

15

3

0

Besiktas

30

6

1

West Brom

9

1

0

Hajduk Split

26

6

1

Bursaspor

26

5

0

Y. Malatyaspor

16

5

1

Osmanlispor

13

3

0

Fenerbahce

12

0

0

Total

332

118

11

Total

183

52

14

Stats via Transfermarkt

Stats via Transfermarkt

Granted, Nayir is five years older than Maja, but he still boasts more than double the number of goals that Maja has bagged in his entire career. Right now, West Bromwich Albion need goals and the Turkish centre-forward certainly has goals in him, so Corberan shouldn't pass up the opportunity to bring him to the Midlands this winter.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have experienced up and down form in the Premier League recently, with a 1-0 home win over Burnley then being followed up by an underwhelming 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest and then a demoralising 3-0 defeat at the London Stadium to West Ham United.

The Old Gold cannot complain about their current predicament however when it comes to where they sit in the division standings, ten points above the dreaded drop-zone in 13th spot under Gary O'Neil's management.

Wolves' season has not been derailed majorly even with star winger Pedro Neto being out for some time now, the assist king at Molineux – managing eight assists from just ten games – gearing towards a return to the first team imminently after picking up a hamstring injury in late October.

Yet, Wolves could be preparing for a future without their dazzling number seven if the West Midlands outfit are successful in their pursuit of this equally explosive attacker in January.

Wolves transfer latest – EFL star being lined up

Wolves have been after Norwich City winger Jonathan Rowe since the summer transfer window as has been revealed by the Sun in the last few days, the stuttering Canaries rejecting a £15m bid for their homegrown talent at the time.

This won't stop O'Neil and Co going back in for Rowe in January however, attempting to land the Championship hot-shot again who has only become more crucial to David Wagner's cause at Carrow Road this season after initially bursting onto the scene.

Wolves won't be alone in reigniting their interest in Rowe, with past rumours from TEAMtalk suggesting that Crystal Palace and Aston Villa were keen on landing the Norwich winger with Unai Emery's men getting ready to go back in for the young winger.

O'Neil's side will hope they can jump to the front of the queue to sign the exciting 20-year-old, eager to have their next Neto in the building sooner rather than later to soften the eventual blow of the Portuguese forward leaving Molineux.

How Jonathan Rowe compares to Pedro Neto

Both players in question have been vital for their sides this season, especially Rowe who continues to step up and be counted for the Canaries despite Wagner's men underwhelming regularly as a collective.

Whilst Neto excels at creating chances and being unselfish, Rowe's craft centres on being a clinical finisher for his second-tier side – netting two goals versus Ipswich Town in the fiercely contested East Anglian Derby last match, both strikes showcasing Rowe's alert awareness to score goals by seizing on defensive indecision.

It led to football journalist Ben Mattinson referring to Rowe's rich goalscoring form as the 20-year-old being "on fire" on social media during the match, the Canaries forward garnering more and more glowing praise with Rowe now on 11 goals in all competitions.

Signing Rowe could make O'Neil's men less overly reliant on the likes of Hwang Hee-Chan to fire goals in regularly, the South Korean attacker is the top scorer at Molineux this season in the Premier League with eight.

Rowe would have to work on his creative game to fill the Neto void however, Neto coming in at a remarkable 8.13 progressive passes received per 90 minutes over the last year according to FBRef. In stark contrast, Norwich's 20-year-old winger comes in with just 3.92.

Yet, there's not too much of a glaring difference between Rowe and Neto when it comes to progressive carries and exploiting defensive frailties with swashbuckling runs forward.

Neto does trump Rowe with 4.46 progressive carries to 3.80 but the Canaries forward is still a work in progress and a talent who could thrive when making the step up to the Premier League.

Rowe does beat Neto when it comes to touches in the attacking penalty area however, coming in at 4.93 to the 23-year-old's 4.03 to further highlight Rowe's ability to be in the right place at the right time to finish chances.

Neto looks as if he will be staying in the Midlands this coming transfer window, O'Neil stating that he will stay put despite previous interest from Arsenal, but signing the £4.6k per week Norwich talent – as per Capology – feels like a move worth pursuing still.

Wolves' star winger will eventually want to test himself away from the West Midlands outfit and follow previous first-team stars Ruben Neves and Nathan Collins out of the door for pastures new, O'Neil potentially signing Rowe now lessening the sting of this future exit.

Arsenal are speculated to be one of the many sides ready to make a presence in the January transfer window, as Mikel Arteta eyes quality reinforcements to bolster the squad depth at the Emirates.

The Spaniard, alongside Edu, orchestrated an impressive summer of business in the transfer market, welcoming over £200m worth of acquisitions to strengthen the side that just missed out on the Premier League title in the 2022/23 campaign.

Currently sitting just one point from the summit, Arsenal’s pending activity could be the difference between the north Londoners being part of the race once more, and claiming their first Premier League trophy since 2004.

It’s forecast to be a busy winter for the Gunners, if the news surrounding potential January targets is to be believed, as a host of talent is already being linked with a move to the Emirates in 2024.

Arsenal transfer targets – Strikers

While reports have speculated that the midfield will be the primary point of rejuvenation this winter, the north Londoners have also been named as a club interested in a list of top-quality strikers.

One name that has popped up as a target is Brentford forward Ivan Toney, who is said to be valued at £100m by the Bees, as he prepares to return from his ban from football in the first month of 2024.

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The Mirror reported that Brentford’s valuation of their star talisman comes in the hope of warding off interest from Arsenal, who are claimed to be eyeing the 27-year-old.

Away from the Premier League, this week a report from 90min told of fellow target Marcos Leonardo’s future plans, stating that both the Gunners and Manchester United are ‘on alert’ as the 20-year-old plots to leave Santos.

In January, the Brazilian football calendar will have concluded, giving the striker the chance to spread his wings in Europe, with a list of clubs already monitoring his movements due to his goal-scoring proficiency in South America.

It’s added that the Serie A side will expect a fee in the region of £20m for their forward, as a move looks imminent, with the player’s agent speaking to outlets in Brazil to reveal his client “wants to have a European experience, and his time will come this winter.”

It will be interesting to follow the direction of the youngster’s future steps, with his links to Arsenal coming at an interesting time, correlating to news regarding the future of strikers already in north London.

How Gabriel Jesus’ future could look

Reports in Spain, relayed by The Hard Tackle, have speculated that Real Madrid are plotting a move for Gabriel Jesus, with the Brazilian being a former target for Los Blancos under Carlo Ancelotti.

It’s stated that Madrid have ‘reignited their interest’ in the 26-year-old, whose future at Arsenal could be under question regardless of the Spaniards’ interest, especially as several strikers have been linked with a Premier League move.

Speaking to Brazilian news outlets, the four-time Premier League winner claimed that finishing is not his “strong point”, which is a fair statement considering the Brazil international is yet to score more than 14 domestic league goals in a season.

Despite not being the clinical presence that Arsenal perhaps need, Jesus’ contribution to Arteta’s attack sometimes seems irreplaceable, with his animalistic energy infectious to building charges into the final third.

If the former Manchester City star was to leave the Emirates, he would be sorely missed for reasons far beyond scoring goals, although if he was to say, it must be debated that his future could be away from leading the line.

Why Marcos Leonardo would be a good signing for Arsenal

In signing Leonardo, the Gunners could revive the presence of a “cold-blooded” striker, as the 20-year-old was once lauded by U23 scout Antonio Mango, as well as having Jesus in the attack to support the budding talisman.

57

21

6

41

13

12

45

21

4

33

11

8

As portrayed in the table above, the Santos sensation – who has also been noted for his "exceptional pace" by Mango – is by far the more clinical out of the two forwards based on his form over the 2022 and 2023 Brazilian football calendars, although Jesus is more of the creator.

Signing a talent as prolific as Leonardo could spare the pressure on the 26-year-old to score consistently, while Arteta could still use the strengths of his £45m man in a slightly deeper role to benefit Arsenal in the final third to maximum effect.

Depth is another factor that the Brazil U20 international could bolster at the Emirates, with Jesus and Eddie Nketiah being the only identifiable centre-forwards in the first team, reinforcing the need for reinforcements in future windows.

How Marcos Leonardo compares to Gabriel Jesus

When it comes to overall gameplay, Jesus has transformed the energy levels in Arsenal’s front line, with his ability to carry the ball and cover ground being some of his greatest assets as a roaming forward.

Although the two Brazilians occupy the same position, their tactical setups are almost opposing, with the 26-year-old’s vision to support and create rather than to be the figure to bury the ball in the net and conclude such sequences.

Gabriel Jesus

Marcos Leonardo

26

27

11

13

1.2

1.1

16

12

14%

18%

1.2

1.0

Hailed as an “absolute killer in the penalty area” by talent scout Jacek Kulig and dubbed a "deadly weapon" by Mango, Leonardo boasted a higher conversion rate and scoring tally in the Brazilian Serie A than Jesus in the 2022/23 Premier League.

It’s easy to forget that the striker is only 20 years old, considering how effortlessly scoring goals comes in his game, making his instinctual qualities an attractive subject for Arsenal to consider partnering with their low-scoring forward.

As well as pairing the duo together, Arteta could be handed the opportunity to rotate the two high-quality strikers to promote an advanced level of performance, as well as being gifted the opportunity to unearth Leonardo as an eventual heir to the ex-City whiz.

Arsenal have seen just how successful buying young talent from Brazil can work out, with Gabriel Martinelli turning himself into a crucial first-team member after arriving as a teen from Ituano.

In Leonardo, the Gunners could secure a sizzling goalscoring talent, and a player that could both compete with, and eventually replace Jesus, whose future of leading the line at the Emirates is debatable.

After recent stutters against Luton Town and Toulouse, Liverpool got back to their ruthless best against Brentford in the Premier League to cap off an impressive start just before the third international break of the season. Sitting second and just one point away from league leaders Manchester City, Jurgen Klopp's side have the opportunity to go above last season's treble winners when they square off at The Etihad in the first game back after the international break.

If the Reds are to mount a serious title challenge, however, then they may need to look towards the January transfer window to complete Klopp's midfield rebuild. And reports suggest that FSG could be about to do exactly that.

Liverpool transfer news

Liverpool's summer overhaul, despite how many changes were made, has been fairly seamless. Those who arrived have slotted straight in and have impressed where the likes of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho began to fail. Dominik Szoboszlai has been particularly impressive, offering the Reds mobility in the middle of the park once again. Ryan Gravenberch, meanwhile, has shown signs of becoming yet another bargain under Klopp, as he bounces back from Bayern Munich failure.

One struggle that has remained is the defensive midfield role, however. So far, Alexis Mac Allister has been shoehorned into the role and has, therefore, been exposed at times. Reports suggest that FSG could solve that problem in January though. According to Sport, Liverpool have taken the lead in the race for Andre Trindade. The Fluminense man is reportedly worth €35m (£30m) and has attracted the interest of the Premier League giants, alongside Barcelona.

Previous Liverpool transfer news suggested that the Reds had pulled out of the race to sign Andre, but now it seems as though they are leading the way in the chase for his signature in a major twist ahead of January. When the winter window opens, the Brazilian is certainly one to keep an eye on.

Liverpool leading the way for "monster" Andre

When looking at Klopp's newest version of his Liverpool side, there's a sense that the only player missing is an out-and-out defensive midfielder capable of replicating Fabinho's role when at his best. It has become clear fairly quickly that Mac Allister is not the man to do that and would be better used in a more advanced role similar to his Brighton & Hove Albion days. Andre, however, could be that player for the Reds. Andre's stats, compared to Mac Allister's, certainly suggest as much.

Player

Progressive Passes Per 90

Interceptions Per 90

Tackles Won Per 90

Andre Trindade

6.43

1.09

1.40

Alexis Mac Allister

5.42

0.69

1.21

It comes as little surprise that the Fluminense man has been at the centre of praise over the last year or so, including from ESPN's Fernando Campos, who posted on X: "Pressing and playing with the confidence of someone who knows he's different. Get out of the hush and make the team work. André Trindade is the best defensive midfielder in the country and is a monster of a player."

Sinha had been undergoing treatment for liver cancer and kidney disease in Singapore and Thailand previously

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Aug-2018BPL chairman and BCB director Afzalur Rahman Sinha died at the Gleneagles Global Hospital in Chennai on Wednesday. He was 68 and is survived by his wife, son and daughter.A Freedom Fighter in Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971, Sinha had been undergoing treatment for liver cancer and kidney disease in Singapore and Thailand. He was a well-acknowledged financier and sports organiser, who joined the BCB in 1998 and later became chairman of its finance committee.Sinha was also president of Surjo Tarun, a Dhaka league side with whom he has worked with for two decades. He had also chaired Acme Laboratories; a leading pharmaceutical company in Bangladesh.

The former England wicketkeeper was in charge of Worcestershire for 11 years and oversaw their promotion into Division One of the County Championship recently

Mohammad Isam and George Dobell05-Jun-2018Former England wicketkeeper Steve Rhodes is set to become the Bangladesh head coach for all three formats later this week. His appointment will end the BCB’s search for a new coach that has lasted eight months following Chandika Hathurusingha’s resignation last October.ESPNcricinfo has learned that since the other candidates have not been called up for a face-to-face interview, Rhodes is BCB’s No. 1 choice. It is also understood that Rhodes is Gary Kirsten’s recommendation. Kirsten was recently appointed BCB’s short-term consultant to find coaches. The BCB is also in talks with Lance Klusener as a batting consultant.Rhodes, who will turn 54 next week, played 11 Tests and nine ODIs and is now known for his talent-spotting skills. Hehad been in charge of Worcestershire since 2006, having played for them from 1985 to 2004. But he was sacked last year by the county and relieved of his duties as head coach of the England Under-19 squad just before the World Cup, after it emerged that he had failed to report the arrest of a young allrounder – Alex Hepburn – in a timely fashion.He also oversaw the promotion of Worcestershire into Division One of the County Championship at the end of the 2017 season and had been recently made an England scout. His work with Worcestershire involved promoting a young and homegrown squad.”I can confirm I’ve had talks with Bangladesh,” Rhodes told ESPNcricinfo. “And I can confirm I’m interested in what I think is a really prestigious role. But nothing is confirmed at this stage and nobody should jump the gun and presume it is.”BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury said that Rhodes’ experience, especially in English conditions, gave him a distinct advantage over the other shortlisted coaches. With the World Cup in England under a year away, the BCB had been seeking someone with that specific background, which is why they had initially almost confirmed Paul Farbrace. Rhodes was also part of the England coaching staff during their Test series in Bangladesh in 2016.”Steve Rhodes is in our shortlist as a head coach,” Chowdhury said. “We are hoping that he will meet us in Dhaka in a couple of days. We shared our tentative candidates list with Gary Kirsten so this is a joint effort. The list is made up of his recommendations and our list, which is why Rhodes is coming this week.”We had initially approached big names and experienced coaches but they couldn’t come because of various reasons. Among the currently available coaches, Rhodes is the most experienced. Also, the 2019 World Cup will be held in England which is another reason that we are looking at him.”Chowdhury further said that Rhodes will be making a presentation about his plans with the Bangladesh cricket team, similar to Richard Pybus and Phil Simmons’ interviews in December.”We have already communicated with him that we would like to know what plans he has for the Bangladesh team for the 2019 World Cup and 2020 World T20,” Chowdhury said. “Generally, when someone is appearing for an interview here, it is assumed that we have had some basic discussions with him.”Without naming Rhodes, Chowdhury said that the new coach will be joining the Bangladesh set-up during the training camp for the West Indies tour later this month. “During the break between the Afghanistan and West Indies series, we would expect the new coach to join the training camp ahead of the West Indies tour.”The BCB’s search for the new head coach began in November last year when they first approached Tom Moody, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Andy Flower and Justin Langer but all five turned the offer down. Then they interviewed Pybus and Simmons but the BCB didn’t contact them back and both were soon appointed by Cricket West Indies and the Afghanistan Cricket Board respectively.Then the BCB nearly confirmed Geoff Marsh and Farbrace before asking Kirsten to help them find a new coach in a tough market where T20 franchise assignments are turning out to be more attractive.

There were no airy slashes, few high-risk shots, and yet Virender Sehwag’s innings had the same effect as so many of his cavalier knocks

George Binoy in Mirpur10-Jun-2008
Virender Sehwag’s running between the wickets along with Gautam Gambhir was exceptional © AFP
A fleeting glance at the scorecard will tell you that Virender Sehwag scored 89 off 76 balls with 13 fours and a six. While the strike-rate – 117.10 – will suggest a typical Sehwag sizzler, this was a different sort of innings. There were no airy slashes, few high-risk shots, and yet this innings had the same effect as so many of his cavalier knocks.If the change in Sehwag’s approach was a conscious decision, there would have been reasons for it. Inconsistent form in ODIs – his last 50-plus score for India was against Bermuda in the 2007 World Cup – cost him a place in the XI. He was picked for the CB Series earlier this year, but after five failures, India preferred Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa to partner Sachin Tendulkar. Sehwag’s form in the Indian Premier League might have given him the edge over Uthappa for today’s match, but it was Tendulkar’s injury that really opened the door for him.The problems that led to most of Sehwag’s ODI failures – the inability to find the right pace of scoring, or attempting to hit the ball with might – were missing today. His approach was measured and though he cut down on risk, the damage caused was as severe.He began cautiously against testing deliveries from Umar Gul and Sohail Tanvir. His initial forceful shots, off his pads through midwicket and square drives through point, were all played along the ground. When Wahab Riaz pitched short on leg stump on two occasions, Sehwag merely moved inside the line and lapped the ball deftly to the long-leg boundary. Only when the ball was really loose, such as the wide one Gul offered him, did Sehwag go over the top. A significant absence among the shots Sehwag played was his trademark slash over third man – a stroke that has fetched him sixes and dismissals.”That [shot selection] is why he [Sehwag] scored 80 [89] runs,” Mahendra Singh Dhoni, his captain, said later. “You have to pick and choose. A batsman like him can score easily at one run per ball. He just has to pick and choose.”A batsman like him [Virender Sehwag] can score easily at one run per ball. He just has to pick and chooseMahendra Singh Dhoni, India’s captainIt wasn’t just about the boundaries, though, as Dhoni put it. Sehwag’s running between the wickets along with Gambhir was “exceptional”. There was an instance in the 17th over, when Gambhir pushed the ball to cover off Iftikhar Anjum. He didn’t go for the single immediately but Sehwag had sprinted towards the danger end, putting pressure on the fielder. The throw was off target – Sehwag may have been home – and the batsmen were able to run an overthrow. His urgency and application today presented a stark contrast to his lackadaisical attitude in a match against Sri Lanka in February 2007, which resulted in one of the most ridiculous run-outs.His innings, however, wasn’t flawless. On 43, he edged one to Kamran Akmal but was dropped; and when on 58, he closed the face of the bat too early but the leading edge lobbed over Shahid Afridi’s head at point. By and large, his shots were orthodox, his timing terrific and placement precise. The outcome was that India began their first ODI after the IPL in Twenty20 mode. They were 43 after five overs, 76 after ten and 143 at the end of the 20th with Sehwag’s contribution being 71 off 63. His first attempt at clearing the boundary, off Riaz, paid off soon after.It took a freak delivery to get him out – a slower one out of the back of Riaz’s hand that bounced awkwardly and took the edge. By that time India were 174 for 2 in just the 24th over. “It’s really important in conditions like this to score off the new ball,” Dhoni said. “Wait for the bad deliveries but still look to score off the new ball. As the game progresses it gets really slow and it’s very difficult to rotate.”The contenders for India’s opening slots are many but if Sehwag continues to blend his aggression with judicious shot selection, he’s a shoo-in for the role. A sentiment Dhoni expressed when he said, “Hopefully, if he’s at his best he will continue to open.”

Newcastle United have struggled for consistency so far this season, with some seriously impressive wins and some thoroughly disappointing defeats all within the first months of the campaign.

They have beaten Manchester City in the League Cup, Manchester United and Arsenal in the Premier League, and Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. Still, they have also lost to Borussia Dortmund home and away, drawn with West Ham and Wolverhampton Wanderers and most recently lost to Bournemouth on the south coast.

Eddie Howe will be hoping that his side can refind their form following the international break and that their injury list starts shrinking as soon as possible.

Football FanCast has previewed and predicted their next six encounters, including four Premier League games and two Champions League games.

Date	Competition	Opponent	H/A
25th November	Premier League	Chelsea	H
28th November	Champions League	Paris Saint-Germain	A
2nd December	Premier League	Manchester United	H
7th December	Premier League	Everton	A
10th December	Premier League	Tottenham Hotspur	A
13th December	Champions League	AC Milan	H

Newcastle United v Chelsea

25th November, Premier League, St James' Park

Howe's side welcome the visiting Chelsea in their final league match of November.

The pair couldn't be split in their last meeting, which came at Stamford Bridge on the final day of last season. Kieran Trippier's own goal cancelled out Anthony Gordon's opener that afternoon, as the West Londoners were resigned to a 12th placed finish.

Five months on, the Blues are all changed, having appointed a new manager to the dugout. Former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has replaced interim manager Frank Lampard whilst the club brought in several new additions over the summer.

One of those being Cole Palmer, who has impressed since joining from Manchester City in a £42.5m deal. The left-footed playmaker has scored four goals and provided two assists in six league starts so far this season, so the hosts will need to be wary of his threat.

Additionally, an away win over London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and a 4-4 draw with treble-winning Manchester City in their previous two games is sure to have given the side a confidence boost after their abysmal start to the season.

However, with home advantage, the Tynesiders could just edge this one in a cagey affair as the goal-shy visitors may find it difficult to break down one of the division's best defences.

Prediction: Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea

Paris Saint-Germain vs Newcastle United

28th November, Champions League, Parc de Princes

The tests keep coming in November as just a few days after hosting Chelsea, Newcastle will be jetting off to Paris for their Champions League group match against the French champions, Paris Saint-Germain.

While the Toon did lose to Borussia Dortmund home and away, they should be full of confidence for this encounter given their total domination of the side last time they met at St James' Park.

That game saw the hosts emerge as 4-1 winners in a result that stunned the Parisian side and the wider footballing community.

However, with their home win over AC Milan, PSG now find themselves one point off the top of the group and with home advantage, it's hard to see the game going the same way it did in England.

Add to that the fact that Kylian Mbappe is unlikely to have as bad a game as he did that day, and the ferocious home fans, we are struggling to see how the Toon can come away as winners from this one.

It'll be an entertaining game, with plenty of goals, but we think it might just be a step too far for this Newcastle side.

Prediction: Paris Saint-Germain 3-2 Newcastle United

Newcastle United vs Manchester United

2nd December, Premier League, St James' Park

There is no chance for Newcastle United to catch their breath after a hectic November, as their first game of an equally challenging December sees them welcome Manchester United to St James' Park in the Premier League.

We reckon it would be fair to say that while the Toon have had a few issues so far this campaign, Erik ten Hag's side haven't exactly had the best of seasons either.

Historically, it would usually be the Red Devils that go into this fixture as the favourites, but with how they have been playing this season and how good the Toon have looked when they are in full flow, the home side should be full of confidence for this one.

If they want some extra encouragement, they only have to think back a few weeks as they blew United away in the Carabao Cup, beating them 3-0 at Old Trafford.

That said, there is no such thing as an easy game against Manchester United, and the one thing ten Hag's team will have on their side is history.

In their last ten encounters, United have emerged victorious five times, while the Toon have won just three times. Although, they have won the two most recent.

Ultimately, it should be an enthralling encounter, and given that it's a Saturday night game, you can be sure that the fans will be in full voice. It might not be as good a result as they picked up at Old Trafford, but the Toon will have enough to pick up all three points.

Prediction: Newcastle United 3-1 Manchester United

Everton vs Newcastle United

7th December, Premier League, Goodison Park

Newcastle United will have five days to recover from their game against Manchester United on 2nd December before making the 119-mile trip to Goodison Park to take on a resurgent Everton side.

Now, had this game been taking place a month or two earlier, we might have predicted an easy win for the Toon, but with the Toffees' recent performances, we reckon this will be more of a challenge than it was last season.

The men in blue have started to look genuinely quite good under the management of Sean Dyche in recent weeks, and their results have backed that up. Three wins, one draw and one loss from their last five games is a vast improvement compared to where they were last season and is the kind of form they'll need to stay up this season.

Additionally, their recent points deduction could end up firing up the team and making them even more of a threat for travelling teams who aren't ready for the cauldron that Goodison is now sure to become.

That said, the Toon currently sit in seventh place with six wins to their name, and they have already beaten Arsenal, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City this season, so while it won't be an easy game, they should have just about enough to get the job done.

Prediction: Everton 1-3 Newcastle United

Tottenham Hotspur vs Newcastle United

10th December, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Just three days after their game at Goodison Park, Eddie Howe's Newcastle United will have to travel down to London to take on the Premier League's surprise package this year: Ange Postecoglou's high-flying Tottenham Hotspur.

The Lilywhites have gone from struggling in mid-table under the likes of Antonio Conte and Ryan Mason to spending most of this season atop the table and scoring for fun.

There is no doubt that the north Londoners have looked like one of, if not the best team in the league so far this year, but following their 4-1 loss to Chelsea that saw Micky van de Ven pull up with what looked like a hamstring problem and a potential injury to James Maddison, they could well be at their weakest when they host the Toon.

That said, the Magpies certainly have their own injuries to worry about, but with the memory of what they did to Spurs last time the two sides met still fresh in the memory, Howe's men could come away from this one with all three points yet again.

The prospect of Maddison not featuring should only further encourage the Toon, especially considering they have won two of the last three encounters between the two sides; we still think they'll have just enough to edge it, even away from home.

Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 2-3 Newcastle United

Newcastle United vs AC Milan

13th December, Champions League, St James' Park

Three days after their trip to north London, Newcastle United play host as Italian giants AC Milan come to St James' Park in what could be a must-win game for both sides.

Should the Toon lose to Paris Saint-Germain on November 28th, their chances of reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League will become slim to none, but that doesn't mean there is nothing to play for against Milan.

While they wouldn't be able to go further in this competition, they would have the chance to drop into the Europa League instead, and if anything, that might be the better option at this point in time, as they would undoubtedly be one of the favourites to win that, and what better way to end a trophy drought than with a European one?

In terms of the game itself, the Toon will be hoping to do one better than their draw away in Milan and considering how they have dispatched PSG, Manchester City, Arsenal and several others at home this season, we don't see why they can't do the same to an inconsistent Milan side.

The Italians are third in Serie A but have only collected three more points than Newcastle, so we reckon that the Magpies will have just enough to come away with all three points from this one and qualify for the Europa League if progressing from the group is out of the question.

Prediction: Newcastle United 2-1 AC Milan

Liverpool's recent Premier League victory away to Burnley ended two successive draws at Anfield against rivals Manchester United and title contenders Arsenal, with the latter's recent dropped points meaning Jurgen Klopp's side will head into the new year in first place.

Of course, there is so much action yet to take place and injuries have made life tough for Liverpool, who have deceived prevalent praise for their success this season while still leaving plenty of room for improvement.

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Then again, while some might claim that the Reds are 'overachieving', Klopp deserves all the plaudits for discarding the struggling engine room of last term and welcoming four exciting additions to return the squad to title-chasing calibre.

These acquisitions – Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch – came at the expense of several other touted players throughout the summer months, though with the winter transfer window now just around the corner, Klopp appears to be lining up a bid for such a previous target.

Liverpool transfer news – Manu Kone

According to transfer specialist Rudy Galetti, Liverpool are back in for Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Manu Kone, whose contract expires in 2026 and is also being monitored by Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain.

While the Bundesliga side have no immediate urgency to cash in on the 22-year-old, he was available for a ballpark €35m (£30m) in the summer after impressing with his performances in Germany.

Fabrizio Romano was among the reporters in the summer to confirm that the Anfield side were eager to add Kone to the ranks, and though Klopp ultimately focussed his attention elsewhere, the rising star remains on the shortlist and could be signed in January.

Manu Kone's style of play

Kone has chalked up 70 displays for Gladbach since signing from his homeland team Toulouse in 2021, leading the German club's former sporting director Max Eberl to declare him an "interesting" player and a "top talent".

Swiftly asserting himself as an elite ball-carrier with adept defensive skills and a positional awareness that allows him to track and impede runners, Kone has got heads turning – with Liverpool at the front of the line.

Highlighting his skills, journalist Antonio Mango said: "Koné does all his work in the centre of the pitch, capable of leading attacking, he’s fantastic at transitioning from defence to attack. Koné has a little bit of swagger about him but in a good way, very confident and composed in possession and accomplished when being pressed."

Strengths

Weaknesses

Dribbling

Aerial duels

Tackling

Discipline

Passing

Long shots

*Sourced via WhoScored

This season, the 11-cap France U21 international's progress has been hampered by injury but he has started to find his feet in recent months, starting five of Gladbach's past six outings in the German top-flight.

Across his eight appearances in the league, Kone has completed 88% of his passes and averaged 2.1 tackles, 5.3 ball recoveries and 2.5 dribbles per game; while yet to return to his finest form, the core qualities on display denote his pedigree as one of the most talented midfield prospects around.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 21% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 13% for progressive carries, the top 2% for successful take-ons and the top 13% for tackles per 90.

He's certainly proved his level against high-quality opposition, with talent scout Jacek Kulig saying last season: "Another fantastic performance against Bayern. One-man army in midfield."

While the £32k-per-week gem is a multi-functional player with a dynamic approach to his craft, his defensive skill set appears to have enough about it that Klopp has decided to reignite his interest, with a transfer to Merseyside surely coming with the caveat that he will be deployed, principally, in the holding midfield role.

How Manu Kone compares to Wataru Endo

Liverpool enjoyed a successful midfield rebuild in the summer but still need to sign a specialist No. 6 to fortify the centre of the park for years to come, despite signing Endo from Stuttgart for £16m in August.

The Japan international was targetted after the Reds failed to stop both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia from joining Chelsea, and while this move was met with surprise initially, he has proved to be an industrious and important member of Klopp's high-flying side, having started the past five Premier League matches.

Of course, the decision to sign the midfielder perhaps even surprised Klopp himself, but he has popped up with some big moments – scoring a crucial thumping effort in a dramatic late turnaround against Fulham – to ensure that the side returns to form this season.

Further, having started all of his outfit's Europa League and Carabao Cup encounters – with Liverpool having topped their continental group stage and advanced to the semi-finals of the domestic competition – his ability to impress and serve consistently across multiple competitions has been vital to the fight for silverware.

Previously hailed as a "proper warrior and leader" by Bundesliga commentator Kevin Thatchard, the £50k-per-week star has been something of an unsung hero this season, but at 30 years old, he is not the lasting solution that Kone could prove to be in the future.

While he is an assiduous player, Endo is not one to progress the ball forward himself, nor is he the most inventive with his distribution, and while this is no detriment to his game, there is a sense that Klopp might opt for a more dynamic option for the years ahead.

Given Kone's expansive style and robustness, it's hardly surprising that Liverpool want to add him to the fold, and though he's definitely not the finished article, this is something that could play into the Anfield club's hands, allowing him time to develop while competing against the experienced Endo for a starting spot in the future.