Tag Futebol

Mark Boucher’s remarkable feat of 500 Test catches is testimony to his longevity and fitness over the last 14 years

Madhusudhan Ramakrishnan09-Nov-2011Mark Boucher, who has featured in the most Tests as a wicketkeeper, has reached the unprecedented landmark of 500 catches in Test cricket. This outstanding feat is not only a tribute to his consistency, but also to the exceptional quality of his team’s fast bowlers and the bowler-friendly conditions in South Africa. Among South Africa players, only Jacques Kallis has played more Tests (145) than Boucher. Since his debut in 1997, Boucher has been a regular in the South Africa Test squad missing only ten Tests in between.Boucher, a quality batsman in his own right, is second behind Adam Gilchrist on the list of wicketkeepers with the most runs in Tests, but is by far the leader when it comes to wicket-keeping dismissals. He has a total of 522 dismissals from 140 Tests (139 for South Africa and one for ICC World XI) including 500 catches and 22 stumpings. His dismissals-per-innings figure of 1.962 is only marginally lower than that of Gilchrist, who is on top with a corresponding number of 2.178. The huge difference between the number of catches and stumpings for Boucher is indicative of the nature of the attack that South Africa have possessed for much of his career. Except for the odd spinner, the attack has predominantly revolved around pace. In sharp contrast, both Healy and Gilchrist have a higher percentage of stumpings because of the presence of top-quality spinners like Shane Warne and Stuart Macgill in their sides. Jeff Dujon, by virtue of being a part of the pace-heavy West Indies team, has the lowest percentage of stumpings among top wicketkeepers.**

Fielding stats for top wicketkeepers

PlayerMatchesInningsCatchesStumpingsTotal dismissalsDismissals/inningsMark Boucher139266500225221.962Adam Gilchrist96191379374162.178Ian Healy119224366293951.763Rodney Marsh96182343123551.950Jeff Dujon7915026552701.800Alan Knott95174250192691.545Most great wicketkeepers have forged successful partnerships with fast bowlers during the course of their career and Boucher is no exception. He has taken 84 catches off the bowling off Makhaya Ntini and 79 off Shaun Pollock. However, the dismissals-per-match figure was much lower in the case of Pollock. Only the Dennis Lillee-Rodney Marsh combination (95 dismissals in 69 Tests) and the Glenn McGrath-Gilchrist combination (90 dismissals in 71 Tests) are ahead of the Boucher-Ntini pairing. Although Boucher played only 35 Tests with Allan Donald, he took 53 catches off Donald’s bowling at a rate of 1.51 dismissals per match, which is well above the corresponding number for Lillee-Marsh and McGrath-Gilchrist.Ricky Ponting, part of Australia’s team in the two-match series, has been dismissed caught by Boucher nine times in Tests. Other batsmen who have been dismissed nine times are Andrew Flintoff, Chris Gayle and Michael Vaughan.

Most successful bowler-wicketkeeper combinations in Tests

BowlerFielderSpanMatchesCatchesCatches/MatchDennis LilleeRodney Marsh1971-198469951.37Glenn McGrathAdam Gilchrist1999-200771901.26Makhaya NtiniMark Boucher1998-200996840.87Brett LeeAdam Gilchrist1999-200865811.24Shaun PollockMark Boucher1997-200888790.89Malcolm MarshallJeff Dujon1983-199168711.04Boucher, who made his debut against Pakistan in 1997, had a very high dismissal rate in his first five years. South Africa’s top pace att,ack which included Donald, Pollock and Ntini, was responsible for this high dismissal rate of 2.043 between his debut and the end of 2001. Following the retirements of Donald and Pollock, the dismissal rate went down slightly between 2002 and 2006, and then fell substantially to 1.846 in Tests between 2007 and 2011. Surprisingly the dismissal rate in home Tests has also fallen from a high of 2.28 (1997-2001) and 2.24 (2002-2006) to just 1.78 since 2007.

Different phases of Boucher’s career

PhaseMatchesInningsDismissalsDismissals/InningsDebut-200148911862.0432002-200650961911.9892007-Present42791451.835Overall1402665221.962As expected, Boucher’s dismissal rate is very high (2.29) in England, where the conditions are ideal for swing bowling. He has also tasted much success at home (287 dismissals in 136 innings) and in the West Indies (dismissal rate 1.90). Australia’s dominance of South Africa in the last decade has meant that Boucher has generally had a lower number of dismissals in Australia. In the subcontinent, Boucher’s low dismissal rate reflects the nature of the conditions, which offer very little assistance to fast bowlers. His most successful series was in England in 1998, when he picked up 26 dismissals. That performance is joint-third on the list of most dismissals in a five-Test series, behind Marsh and Jack Russell.

Boucher’s record in various host countries

CountryMatchesInningsDismissalsDismissals/InningsAustralia1020301.50England1427622.29New Zealand612181.50South Africa/Zimbabwe741422942.07West Indies1221401.90Subcontinent (including UAE)2444781.77Boucher’s figures against Australia are lower not only as a consequence of Australia’s tremendous record against South Africa, but also because Australia’s batsmen have generally been excellent players of pace bowling. However, against teams from the subcontinent, the dismissal rate is much higher. The inability of most subcontinent batsmen to adjust to the pace-friendly conditions in South Africa is a major factor behind the high dismissal rate. South African bowlers have done superbly against England both home and away over the years, and on pitches that have consistently aided swing bowling, Boucher has an excellent dismissal rate of 2.23.

Boucher’s record against each team

OppositionMatchesInningsDismissalsDismissals/InningsAustralia2038641.68Bangladesh816402.50England25471052.23India1427602.22New Zealand1427391.44Pakistan1528551.96Sri Lanka1426572.19West Indies2445771.71Zimbabwe612252.08

It’s fair to say that Manchester United’s 2023/24 campaign will not be one to remember.

It wasn’t only the results that were concerning, but it’s impossible to think of a single Premier League game where the Red Devils truly dominated.

Erik ten Hag suggests that this is almost all down to injuries, and in fairness, it’s hard to disagree considering the backline has been chopped and changed almost weekly.

Therefore, it’s no surprise to see that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to bolster the centre-back position, with one target potentially being an even better option than Jarrad Branthwaite.

Man Utd’s search for a centre back

According to Spanish outlet Marca, Man United have already made a move to sign talented defender Leny Yoro.

The Lille gem is set to be at the centre of a transfer battle between the biggest teams in the world, with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Liverpool all interested.

Yet, it’s mentioned that United have looked to beat the competition with an early offer of around £51m.

This means that Yoro could just prove to be a better deal than the Red Devils other defensive target, Branthwaite, with Everton hoping to achieve £70m this summer.

Why Yoro would be an upgrade on Branthwaite

Whether it was in Ligue 1 or Europe last season, Yoro performed like a seasoned professional with years of experience.

At just 18 years of age, the French ace is regarded as one of the biggest prospects in world football, and he became a crucial player for Lille.

Throughout the league campaign, the number 15 started 30 matches, keeping a clean sheet in 13 of those, four more than United’s clean sheet record in the Premier League.

Yoro has impressed that much that he’s even been described as a “young [William] Saliba” by football analyst Ben Mattinson in regards to his “dominance” and “always being in control.”

Touches

71.31

51.73

81.39

Passes completed

58.28

31.92

69.34

Pass accuracy

92.1%

79.8%

92.4%

Tackles

1.21

1.91

1.08

Interceptions

1.21

1.44

0.76

Ball recoveries

4.18

5.23

5.61

As you can see, Yoro is putting up statistics that are not just better than Branthwaite’s but also very similar to Saliba’s.

Firstly, the youngster is extremely technical, possessing the ability to play out from the back under pressure, as shown by his passes completed and touches.

However, what’s even more impressive is the way that he retains the ball, whether that’s by using his 6-foot-2 frame to shield the ball or by always making accurate passes.

The Lille academy graduate is also a rather solid defender who uses his athleticism to dominate, as shown by his 63% duel win rate, which is higher than Saliba’s 60% and not far off Branthwaite’s 68%.

Yet, what you’ll be able to notice is that the two French defenders boast inferior stats to the Englishman, which isn’t a reflection on their defensive capabilities.

Instead, it’s in direct correlation to their team’s possession stats, with Arsenal and Lille both having 58.4% and 57%, respectively, while Everton boast just 40.6%.

Furthermore, like Saliba, Yoro has played as a right centre-back his whole career due to being right-footed, meaning he has developed playing in that role, unlike Branthwaite, who’s preference is to play on the left.

Overall, given that Yoro could be attained for a lesser fee than Branthwaite and that he looks to be a better prospect, United must do all they can to beat the competition to his signature.

What Man Utd's dream XI could look like after £230m spending spree

Marcus Rashford doesn’t make the best eleven.

1 ByTom Lever Jun 7, 2024

Glasgow Rangers took another step towards qualifying for the league phase of the Champions League when they ran riot with a 3-0 win at Ibrox over Viktoria Plzen on Tuesday.

The Light Blues will now take a commanding lead to Czechia next Tuesday as they look to book their place in the play-off round of qualifiers for the competition.

Russell Martin will surely be delighted with the way that his team played against Viktoria Plzen, as his side looked solid and composed defensively and potent at the top end of the pitch.

The Gers boss brought Oliver Antman in for a swift debut and handed Cyriel Dessers his first start of the season, with the pair indirectly combining for the second goal.

Dessers, who also assisted the opening goal from Djeidi Gassama, expertly tucked his penalty away after the former Go Ahead Eagles winger won the spot-kick.

The Nigeria international should keep his place in the starting XI for the time being, because Danilo has failed to show that he has what it takes to be the starting number nine.

Why Danilo should not start for Rangers

Fitness issues for Dessers and Hamza Igamane provided the former Feyenoord attacker with an opportunity to start the first three games of the season for Rangers; both legs against Panathinaikos and the Scottish Premiership opener against Motherwell.

The 26-year-old forward should be in the prime years of his career and able to hit the ground running at the start of the campaign to be a reliable presence at the top end of the pitch for Martin.

Minutes

74

82

63

Shots on target

0

1

0

Passes completed

11

9

10

Key passes

2

0

1

Big chances created

0

0

0

Ground duels won

1

1

1

Aerial duels won

0

1

0

However, as you can see in the table above, that was not the case in the first three matches that Danilo started. The Brazilian lightweight offered very little to the team in and out of possession, with no goals, no assists, and just four duels won.

He was, rightly, dropped for Dessers for the clash with Viktoria Plzen and the Nigerian striker scored a goal and provided an assist, which was more than Danilo managed in the previous three games combined.

The former Eredivisie centre-forward has not proven himself to be reliable enough with his availability, either, as he has missed 53 games through injury in two years at the club.

This is why the Scottish giants should be in the market to find an upgrade on Danilo, and there is a fresh report linking them with a striker who would be exactly that.

Rangers make striker one of their top targets

According to TEAMtalk, Maccabi Tel Aviv centre-forward Dor Turgeman has emerged as one of Rangers’ top Ibrox targets to bolster their options in the number nine position before the end of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that Martin has approved the club’s pursuit of a deal to sign the Israel international, and that the Gers remain keen on a swoop for his services.

Transfer Focus

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

However, TEAMtalk adds that the Light Blues need to cash in on a player before they are able to commit funds towards a potential deal for Turgeman, as they want to sell Dessers or Igamane in order to free up money for new signings.

The outlet also reveals that MLS outfit New England Revolution have made an offer to sign the striker from Maccabi Tel Aviv, which means that Rangers will need dominoes to fall quickly to avoid missing out on the forward.

It was reported earlier this summer that the 21-year-old dynamo has a price tag of around £5m, and it remains to be seen whether or not the American side will meet that valuation before the Gers have an opportunity to make their own move.

Why Turgeman would be a Danilo upgrade for Rangers

Given Danilo’s performances at the start of this season and his injury issues throughout his time at Ibrox, Rangers should be looking to sell the Brazilian forward to make room for the signing of Turgeman, who would be an upgrade on him.

As aforementioned, the Gers number 99 has missed 53 games through injury in the last two seasons, which means that he is not a reliable or durable player whom Martin can depend on.

Turgeman, however, has only missed five games through injury, all through one thigh issue last year, in his entire senior career to date, which suggests that he is far more likely to be available week-in-week-out for the Light Blues.

Availability is the best ability and that is why this is one of the big reasons why he would arrive as an upgrade on the former Feyenoord marksman.

The 21-year-old striker, who was described as “lethal” in the penalty area by writer and analyst Kai Watson, also has the quality to come in as a big upgrade on Danilo.

Appearances

31

Starts

22

Goals

15

Big chances missed

4

Big chances created

10

Assists

3

Ground duel success rate

42%

Aerial duel success rate

49%

As you can see in the table above, Turgeman produced an eye-catching haul of 15 goals and ten ‘big chances’ created in just 22 starts in the top-flight in Israel last season, which shows that he is a prolific forward who rarely wastes a ‘big chance’.

Danilo, meanwhile, has scored nine goals and created nine ‘big chances’ in 36 appearances in the Premiership for Rangers to date, including the clash with Motherwell last weekend.

These statistics suggest that Turgeman also has the potential to deliver more quality in front of goal as both a scorer and a creator, given that he scored six more league goals last season than the Brazilian flop managed in the last two years combined.

This is why Rangers should be looking to move on from Danilo this summer in order to facilitate a swoop for the Maccabi Tel Aviv centre-forward, who could be an excellent addition to the squad if he is able to adapt to Scottish football.

Djiga repeat: Rangers have held talks over deal to sign £3.4m star

Rangers have reportedly held talks over a deal to sign a star who would be Nasser Djiga repeat.

ByDan Emery Aug 7, 2025

نجح الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي، في تسجيل الهدف الثاني في شباك سيراميكا كليوباترا، في اللقاء الجاري الآن في مسابقة الدوري المصري.

الأهلي يواجه سيراميكا كليوباترا، في إطار منافسات الجولة الأولى من بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

طالع | الأهلي يطالب اتحاد الكرة بسرعة تولي خبير أجنبي منظومة التحكيم

وأحزر وسام أبوعلي، الهدف الثاني لصالح الأهلي، في الدقيقة 48 من ركلة حرة، اصطدمت بالحائط وسكنت الشباك.

وجاء هدف التعادل عن طريق المغربي أحمد بلحاج في الدقيقة 24 من ركلة جزاء، احتسبها الحكم بعد العودة إلى تقنية الفيديو، بسبب تدخل قوي من أكرم توفيق على زلاكة.

وسجل حسين الشحات، هدف الأهلي الأول، في الدقيقة الرابعة من عمر المباراة بعد تسديدة قوية سكنت الشباك.

وتقام بطولة الدوري المصري الموسم الحالي، بنظام جديد، حيث تلعب مباريات من دور واحد كمرحلة أولى، ثم يتم تقسيم الأندية إلى مجموعتين، بداية من المركز الأول حتى التاسع تتنافس على لقب الدوري.

بينما الأندية من المركز العاشر حتى الثامن عشر، تتنافس على البقاء والهبوط، على أن يهبط فريقان فقط بدلًا من ثلاثة إلى دوري القسم الثاني (دوري المحترفين)

 

da bet7： Arsenal are reportedly preparing a bid to sign a £51 million player targeted by Vincent Kompany's Bayern Munich, and it is believed the Gunners want to act fast to win the race.

Edu could sign new world-class striker for Arsenal this summer

da bet nacional： Mikel Arteta's side were praised for their excellent attacking form last season, despite just losing out on the Premier League title to eventual champions Man City, who won a national record fourth league crown in a row.

Related European club set for talks to sign "prolific" ace from Arsenal this week

It could be a summer of change at the Emirates Stadium.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini May 29, 2024

The north Londoners scored over 90 goals in the league alone, with the majority of their strikes coming courtesy of Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz. Their attacking contributions came from across the forward line in the absence of a world-class natural number nine, which is testament to the fluidity of Arsenal's side going forward.

However, it has been widely reported that sporting director Edu could soon put that to an end, as Arsenal are actively seeking a new striker this summer. Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah are Arteta's only senior options in that position right now, but both are facing uncertain futures at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal's top goalscorers in the league last season

Goals

Bukayo Saka

20

Leandro Trossard

17

Kai Havertz

14

Martin Odegaard

11

Gabriel Martinelli

8

A guaranteed 25-plus-goals-per-season front man has long been thought of as the missing piece of the jigsaw, with Arsenal chiefs eager to source it before the start of next season.

"Arsenal are seeking to sign a prime striker before their pre-season tour," wrote reliable journalist Miguel Delaney for The Independent recently.

"Mikel Arteta has already long started work on plans for next season, and wants to bring in three first-team level players while moving out three or four.

They did already considered purchasing a striker in January, with that long seen as the final main piece missing. A move for Ivan Toney was considered then, but Brentford’s £100m price put Arsenal off, and he has since fallen way down the list of targets.

"Arteta wants to get all business done early, so the squad is immediately ready to work on a campaign where they are aiming to hit over 90 points. The plans have already seen in the market as reminiscent of Liverpool around 2018."

A forward who Arsenal have been regularly linked with is Bologna star Joshua Zirkzee, coming after the Dutchman's excellent Serie A campaign.

Arsenal preparing bid for Joshua Zirkzee

According to Italian newspaper Tuttosport, as relayed by Spanish media, Arsenal are preparing an official bid for Zirkzee, but Bundesliga giants Bayern also have the striker on their list of potential targets and are "involved" in the race.

The Bavarians, who will now be lead by new manager Kompany (Fabrizio Romano), possess a buy-back clause regarding Zirkzee – which hands them an advantage. However, if they decide not to formalise their interest, Arsenal would be handed a fairly clear run.

Arsenal chiefs apparently want to move quickly for Zirkzee as they seek to end their long search for a natural striker of real quality. Stefano Pioli, commenting on the £51 million Zirkzee last season, claimed he is a striker who "has everything".

da betcris： Glasgow Rangers ultimately failed to end their local rivals' dominance in the Scottish Premiership as they ended the 2023/24 campaign in second place.

da doce： The Light Blues finished eight points off the top of the table and have not won the division since the 2020/21 season under former boss Steven Gerrard.

Celtic have now won each of the last three titles and Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen will know that they have work to do in the upcoming summer transfer window to piece together a squad capable of coming out on top in the division next term.

The team's current focus will, however, be on the SFA Cup final clash with the Hoops at Hampden Park on Saturday, as they bid to win a second domestic cup trophy of the campaign.

After that game, Clement and Koppen's full attention should be on the window and the players they could bring in from elsewhere to bolster the team.

They could land a major upgrade on Tom Lawrence in the middle of the park by securing a deal for one star who has been tentatively linked with a move to Ibrox.

Rangers' potential interest in Georgia international

Firstly, GeorgianFooty on X cited Glasgow World as a source on Rangers being interested in a swoop to sign central midfielder Otar Kiteishvili from Sturm Graz.

The post relayed a supposed report that claimed that Scottish giants are targeting a deal to bring in the talented whiz, whose contract is due to expire this summer.

However, it then turned out that the original article from Glasgow World was a list of 37 possible midfielders who are out of contract ahead of next season that the Light Blues could look at to sign.

When that was pointed out on X, GeorgianFooty replied that they had seen links to Rangers for Kiteishvili from several local sources in Georgia, which suggests that there may be more validity to the claim than first appeared.

This means, however, that it is not a concrete transfer rumour or one that Rangers fans should expect to happen in the coming weeks or months, but it could be one to keep an eye on, particularly if the Georgia international does not sign a contract extension with Sturm Graz.

If he allows his deal to expire and becomes a free agent then the midfielder could be an attractive target for the Light Blues, as his form during the 2023/24 campaign suggests the potential is there for him to be a huge upgrade on Lawrence.

Tom Lawrence's form for Rangers this season

The Welsh whiz made 23 appearances in the Scottish Premiership this season for the Gers but failed to showcase his attacking quality on a regular basis.

Lawrence, who operated in a central or attacking midfield position, chipped in with two goals and three assists in those 23 league outings as his side finished second in the division.

That came after the former Derby County star had plundered two goals and one assist in five Premiership games in an injury-disrupted first year at Ibrox during the 2022/23 campaign.

In total, Lawrence, who could still feature in the SFA Cup final on Saturday, produced three goals and three assists in 28 games in the league and the Europa League combined.

Tom Lawrence

23/24 Premiership

23/24 Europa League

Appearances

23

5

Goals

2

1

Assists

3

0

Big chances created

4

0

Key passes per game

1.1

0.8

Dribbles completed per game

0.7

1.2

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 30-year-old maestro did not score or assist goals on a consistent basis, or create high-quality opportunities week-in-week out for the Scottish giants, domestically or in Europe.

Lawrence, who scored two goals from 2.36 xG in the Premiership, also lost 51% of his ground duels and only made 1.2 tackles and interceptions combined per match.

This shows that the experienced ace is very much an attack-minded player who does not offer much to the team out of possession when it comes to winning the ball back.

Therefore, Lawrence endured an underwhelming season overall as, despite being in the team to score and create goals, he did not provide consistent quality in the final third, which is why Rangers could now look to find an upgrade this summer.

Why Otar Kiteishvili could be an upgrade on Tom Lawrence

Kiteishvili could arrive at Ibrox as a significantly better option in the middle of the park for Clement if he can translate his performances in Austria over to Scottish football.

He won the Bundesliga Player of the Season award for his outstanding displays on the pitch during the 2023/24 campaign, which speaks to how highly the star is rated at his current club.

As shown in the clips above, the 28-year-old award-winner has a terrific strike in his locker, quick and agile feet, and has the ability to score in a variety of ways; from the edge of the box, under pressure from defenders in the area, and with his head.

The Georgia international racked up 11 goals and nine assists in 40 matches in all competitions – 20 goal contributions in total – and his form in the Bundesliga suggests that the quality is there for him to be a huge upgrade on Lawrence.

23/24 season

Otar Kiteishvili (Bundesliga)

Tom Lawrence (Premiership)

Appearances

25

23

Sofascore rating

7.31

7.06

Goals

9

2

Assists

5

3

Big chances created

5

4

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.8

1.2

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Kiteishvili could provide more to the team in and out of possession from a central or attacking midfield role.

The Bundesliga Player of the Season racked up 14 direct goal contributions, compared to Lawrence's five, in just two more appearances this term.

He also made over twice as many tackles and interceptions per game for Sturm Graz, who won the league title, than the Welshman did for Rangers, which shows that the Georgia international could also offer more from a defensive perspective.

Related Rangers lodge bid for £2.7m star who'd be a better signing than Jefte

The Light Blues have reportedly made an offer to sign the young central defender.

Posts ByDan Emery May 22, 2024

Therefore, Clement could land a huge upgrade on Lawrence by securing a deal to sign Kiteishvili this summer, due to the far superior quality he could provide on and off the ball in a midfield position next season.

However, it still remains to be seen whether or not the 28-year-old star is an active target for the Gers or not, or if he would be willing to make the move to Glasgow.

Pair’s seventh-wicket stand of 157 comes on frustrating, rain-affected day for Derbyshire

ECB Reporters Network23-Aug-2020Paul Coughlin and Ned Eckersley shared a record-breaking stand for Durham on a frustrating rain-affected day for North Group leaders Derbyshire in the Bob Willis Trophy match at Emirates Riverside.The pair took their seventh-wicket stand to 157 in 49 overs, a Durham record against Derbyshire, before Matt Critchley bowled Coughlin for a career-best 90 from 146 balls.The leg-spinner then bowled Matty Potts two balls later but Eckersley was unbeaten on 78 with Durham 337 for 9 when rain arrived shortly after lunch, wiping out 57 overs from the day’s allocation.Derbyshire would have expected to restrict Durham to a lot less when the day began but their bowling lacked intensity and the second new ball failed to trouble Coughlin and Eckersley.Coughlin had set the tone by taking advantage of wide balls from Ben Aitchison to drive two fours, the second one taking him to his first 50 of the season and the eighth of his career from 75 balls.A lofted drive at Ed Barnes only just cleared a leaping Billy Godleman at mid off and Eckersley survived an lbw appeal on 40 when he played across the line at Sam Connors but there were few other alarms for the pair.Eckersley’s 50, his first of the summer, was a more sedate affair and contained only one four but it had helped shift the momentum Durham’s way after Derbyshire reduced them to 155 for 6 shortly after tea on day one.The previous highest seventh-wicket stand against Derbyshire of 130, which also featured Coughlin with Paul Collingwood three years ago, was comfortably passed and a century was beckoning for the all-rounder when Critchley was introduced two overs before lunch.His third ball tempted Coughlin into a cut but he played on and Potts went two balls later when Critchley turned one past his forward defensive push.Matthew Salisbury edged Barnes to first slip in the first over after lunch but Eckersley struck the seamer for two consecutive fours before the weather had the final say.

Mikel Arteta revealed that Riccardo Calafiori did not have to be convinced as the defender was "ready" to join Arsenal after the first meeting.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Arsenal signed Calafiori from BolognaThe defender is already on the US for pre-seasonWas eager to join Gunners despite interest from other clubsWHAT HAPPENED?

The versatile 22-year-old defender has joined Arsenal from Bologna for a fee that could rise to £42 million with add-ons. Calafiori quickly integrated with his new team-mates after the young defender was formally introduced to the squad by Arteta during a team meeting in Philadelphia, where Arsenal are currently on their pre-season tour.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT ARTETA SAID

When Arteta was asked what has been the most impressive feature of Calafiori, the manager said: "It was great when I spoke to him one or two times and that was when I didn’t know if we could do it or not. He was adamant – 'Let me know when you are ready, my bags are ready and I just want to come to Arsenal'. Those were his words. When you have that feeling with a willingness and determination to make us better. We should be really proud of that."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Despite his eagerness, Calafiori will not be thrown into the deep end in a friendly clash against Liverpool and instead might just get a "few minutes" to help him ease into his new role at Arsenal.

When asked about his potential debut, Arteta said: "I don’t know. He had a long flight yesterday and the medical. The last 48 hours have been busy for him. He hasn’t really done anything with the team. Let’s see how he is. If he’s available great, he might play a few minutes. But if he’s not ready, we’re not going to push him."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

DID YOU KNOW?

Calafiori revealed that he had been in discussions with Arteta and Arsenal's sporting director Edu for almost two months before a deal with Bologna was thrashed out.

"I spoke for almost two months with the coach and Edu. The negotiations were tough and took a while, but I was always convinced this was the right move for me," Calafiori said.

"I see Arsenal as the best project for me to develop as a player. There were other clubs but I don't care any more. I am here and I want to win trophies. This is the best project because the team is young and can win trophies. My mentality is to win. I can play in different positions, I don't care where but I just want to play. I was here in January to watch Arsenal versus Crystal Palace. As soon as I am really fit, I hope to help the team."

The middle-order of Australia’s T20I side is under the microscope, but Ashton Agar believes he is making “small steps” in learning the art of finishing an innings having been given a pivotal position.The make-up of Australia’s XI with Agar as one of five frontline bowlers sees him in the No. 7 spot and he has walked to the crease in two contrasting, but common, situations in the first two games against England, both of which have gone the way of the home side.In the opening game he came in during the 17th over with a run chase losing its way and the equation standing at 30 needed off 21 balls. Agar managed just 4 off 5 before he was run out in the penultimate over as Australia made a mess of things to lose by two runs.ALSO READ: Starc says lack of recent cricket costing AustraliaOn Sunday, Agar walked in at 89 for 5 in the 13th over with a first innings needing rebuilding if anything close to a competitive score was to be reached. Agar didn’t exactly blaze a trail but made 23 off 20 balls as the middle and lower order scrambled their way to 157. It made a game of things but Jos Buttler, the master of a finish wherever he bats, guided a very efficient chase.”It is a difficult role, coming in with minimal balls left and you could be in different situations. I’ve seen that vary a lot in the last two games,” Agar, who has also taken four wickets in the two matches, said. “Generally, you have a batsman at the other end and the key to getting your innings started is getting them on strike, finding your boundaries when you can.”I feel like I’m slowly learning to figure that role, trying to play some better cricket shots, limit the amount of balls I hit in the air at the start and hopefully take it as deep as I can to try and finish off an innings. Yesterday was maybe a small step forward in that direction.”Agar has only had a handful of opportunities at the crease since he returned to the T20 team in the last Australian summer. The prolific top order meant he did not get a bat in the series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan (neither did Alex Carey at No. 6) before making 20 off 12 balls in Johannesburg, a game he capped off with a hat-trick.His overall strike rate is a modest 110.08 – for anyone who has batted at least ten times at No. 7 in T20Is he is the fifth slowest – and he has only hit four sixes in 12 innings. In all his T20 cricket the majority of his innings have been at Nos. 6 and 7 but the strike-rate remains just over a run-a-ball.”It’s definitely a role that I’ve identified that if I can fit into well I can really help the team,” he said. “It’s a tough role and one I really need to improve on because it’s really important at that backend of an innings. To get an extra 10-15 runs out of that position in a minimal amount of balls, that can be the difference either setting or chasing.”We bat quite deep now as you saw with Patty Cummins last night hitting Jofra for a beautiful six, that’s a really good sign for us. Justin Langer asked all the bowlers to go away and work on their batting throughout the practice games.”While disappointed at the two defeats, particularly having let such a strong position slip in the first match, Agar said that after six months without cricket there remained a strong belief in the squad.”It really hurts to lose a series but we look around the changing room and we know we are a really good T20 team and if we win a couple of those small moments it shows we are super competitive against the best teams in the world. To match it with a team who has had a summer of cricket and been playing really well, coming off no cricket, we are very close.”

The German's enforced exit proves that the Blaugrana remain beset by financial problems – four years after Josep Maria Bartomeu's resignation

Joan Laporta claimed in February of this year, "If we meet the budget, the darkest era in FC Barcelona's history will be over." Just over two months ago, he revealed that the "financial transition", from the edge of bankruptcy to economic stability, was "getting closer and closer".

Alluding to the mess he inherited from his disgraced predecessor, Josep Maria Bartomeu, Laporta said, "The culers (Barca fans) have been patient and we are working to turn the situation around from the one we found when we came to the presidency (in March 2021). The balance sheet this season will be positive and I hope soon we can be '1:1' (the Liga regulation that allows a member club to invest as much money in transfers as it generates in revenue).

"I am an optimist and a realist, and I know what I am talking about. We have grown in terms of income and we have reduced expenses, and we are in a situation in which we are about to resolve the Financial Fair Play (FFP) issues from last season."

Many Barca fans are beginning to wonder, though, if Laporta really does know what he's talking about, because just nine days before the close of the transfer window, the club is still not in a position to register star summer-signing Dani Olmo.

Consequently, Barca are once again scrambling around at the tail end of August, trying to either sell players or remove high-earners from the wage bill just to make ends meet. At the time of writing, Ilkay Gundogan – who only arrived in Catalunya last summer and was one of the Blaugrana's best players last season – is being pushed out the door, which only begs the question: Are Barcelona really making any progress under Laporta – or simply back to square one?

• Getty
  

  Perfect match

  Just like everyone else in football, Gundogan was aware of Barcelona's financial problems when he signed for the club on a free transfer last summer. He'd come close to joining twice before, but now, it seemed, the timing was right. He'd just brought the curtain down on his Manchester City career in the best possible fashion, by leading Pep Guardiola's side to a historic treble, and was looking for a new challenge.

  In Barcelona, he couldn't have wished for a better option. The Catalan club represented the realisation of a dream. He'd grown up watching Xavi running the "best midfield in the world" – now he'd have the chance to play under the Spanish legend.

  Crucially, Xavi was just as keen to have Gundogan on board. He was the first player that he requested Laporta sign last summer. Far more importantly, though, the pair just clicked from their very first conversation.

  "Xavi made his ideas of how the team wants to play very clear," Gundogan explained. "It's very similar to how we played in Man City. It's a similar school, Guardiola, Xavi… But in the way he approached the talks, with his honesty, I also saw sort of my own character reflected in him."

  That shared trait served neither man well, though, at a club that seemingly has little interest in facing up to the full extent of its problems on and off the field.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  'Didn't come here to lose these games'

  Gundogan had turned down far more lucrative offers from elsewhere to join Barca, having been swayed not solely by Xavi but also by memories of growing up watching Ronaldinho wowing Camp Nou with his still-unrivalled box of tricks. However, he quickly came to realise that the old image of Barca as '' no longer holds true. According to reports in Spain, he and his wife Sara felt "abandoned" by Barca as they attempted to settle in the city – which eventually led to an apology from the club.

  Of far greater concern to Gundogan, though, was the character of his colleagues. This was a man who had become renowned and revered at one of the greatest club sides the game has ever seen for repeatedly stepping up to the mark when his team needed him most. Gundogan wasn't just a serial winner – he was a big-game player that turned into "prime Zinedine Zidane" at the business end of every season.

  So, it came as no surprise to see him score six minutes into his first competitive Clasico, last October. However, what came as a serious shock to Gundogan was his team-mates' reaction to Barca going on to lose the game 2-1, after conceding an injury-time winner to Jude Bellingham.

  "I have just come to the dressing room," Gundogan said in a post-match interview with , "and, obviously, players are disappointed after such a big game, such an important game and such an unthinkable result, but I would like to see more anger, more disappointment.

  "This is part of the problem: you have to express more emotions when you lose and when you know you can play better. You have to do better in certain situations but we don't react. I didn't come here to lose these kinds of games. I also have a responsibility as a senior player not to allow these things to happen to the team, because we need to hang in there more."

  Barca defender Inigo Martinez dismissed the significance of Gundogan's criticism, arguing that sometimes players say things that they don't mean "in the heat of the moment". But Gundogan meant every word – and he repeated many of them after Barcelona capitulated in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final loss to Paris Saint-Germain.

  Once again he expressed his bitter frustration at the lack of "anger" after such an avoidable defeat and even called out Ronald Araujo for stupidly getting himself sent off at a crucial juncture in the contest – which didn't go over well with the Uruguayan.

  Again, though, that's part of the problem at Barca these days. There's a fragility about the team and indeed the club that means they find it difficult to deal with home truths.

• Getty Images
  

  'Stability and time'

  It's certainly no coincidence that a clearly upset Laporta decided against travelling with the team for the Liga clash with Almeria on May 16 – just a day after Xavi had openly discussed the club's financial problems.

  "The cule must understand that the situation is very complicated to compete economically," he told reporters. "It has nothing to do with what we had 25 years ago when the coach would come and say 'I want this player, this one, and this one.' It doesn't work like that anymore. I understand that and we're going to adjust to [the situation]. That doesn't mean we're not going to compete. We need stability and time."

  Barca have little of either. Laporta formally sacked Xavi less than two weeks later, and in the most disrespectful and farcical fashion imaginable, creating even more chaos at the club. And while their 2024-25 Liga campaign kicked off with a win in Valencia on Saturday, Barca's financial situation remains as uncertain as it is unresolved.

  Indeed, it's telling that several top Catalan journalists – some of whom are Barca fans – are losing faith in the current administration, given the Blaugrana find themselves cash-strapped and in registration mess for the second summer in a row.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  Ridiculous recruitment

  The hope remains that Olmo will be registered before deadline day, but that most likely depends on allowing Gundogan, who still has two years left on his contract, to leave for nothing just to create room on the wage bill.

  Some have argued that Olmo's arrival means the 33-year-old Gundogan is no longer required, particularly as doubts have been raised over his suitability to the pressing game new coach Hansi Flick is hoping to implement. However, whatever way Laporta and his supporters try to spin it, Gundogan's enforced exit is a damning indictment of the club's ridiculous recruitment policy and only serves to highlight their ongoing inability to balance the books.

  It's certainly hard to have much faith in Barca's bid to buy and sell their way out of trouble when one considers that of the seven players signed across 2023 – Gundogan, Julian Araujo, Vitor Roque, Oriol Romeu, Joao Felix, Joao Cancelo and Inigo Martinez – only the latter is likely to still be at the club come the close of the current transfer window.

  It is Gundogan's exit that really grates, though. For starters, he remains one of the best attacking midfielders in the game, as underlined by the fact that only Bruno Fernandes created more chances than Gundogan across Europe's 'Big Five' leagues last season. He contributed 13 assists – the biggest haul at Barca – and was also directly involved in more goals (19) than in his final, treble-winning campaign at City (18), suggesting he still has at least another couple of big seasons left in him.

  He'll be missed just as much for his character as his quality, though.