Category Uncategorized

India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav is aware of the impact Mayank Yadav can create with his express pace but he says it is important to “manage him well”.Mayank took everyone by storm with his 155kph pace during IPL 2024. Playing for Lucknow Super Giants, he picked up the Player-of-the-Match award in his first two games but was ruled out of the tournament soon after with an abdominal injury. He has not played any cricket since then but Suryakumar said he was back to full fitness.”He definitely has the X factor – it was evident when he played franchise cricket,” Suryakumar said ahead of the first T20I against Bangladesh in Gwalior. “He has that extra pace. I didn’t face him in the nets; our net plan was such that someone else faced him. But I have seen what potential he has and what difference he can make for the team. From that point of view, I feel he is a good addition to the Indian team and I am hoping he will do well.Related

• Mayank's fitness, Jadeja's replacement among India's priorities in Bangladesh T20Is

• Gwalior takes centre stage as youthful India prepare for experienced Bangladesh

• International cricket returns to Gwalior after 14 years, at a brand new venue

“It’s important to manage him well because of the amount of cricket being played. Everyone is playing for their state too. There was the Duleep Trophy recently. So it is important to pay proper attention and the BCCI is doing that.”Sunday’s match will be the first international at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium. In fact, the venue has not hosted any domestic cricket either. So there is an element of surprise about the conditions.While Bangladesh batter Towhid Hridoy expected the pitch to be “slow and low” with not much chances of a high-scoring game, Suryakumar Yadav had different views.”As you saw in Sri Lanka, Riyan [Parag] bowled four overs. If someone says he can bowl in the pressure situation, then why not”•Associated Press

“The pitch looks good,” he said. “We practised on the centre wicket, just two pitches away. We didn’t find it that low and slow – we practised all three days. So it [the match pitch] should not be much different.”For T20 cricket, these are good wickets. There will be good competition [between the bat and ball] but at the same time it looks good [for run-scoring]. The rest we will get to know tomorrow.”Yes, it’s a new ground but having practised here for three days, we know what the conditions are, how the pitch is, how the outfield is, what the wind factor is like, whether the dew settles in or not. We will like to play the way we did in the last T20I series. And if everyone does their job, you will get the desired results.”Until recently, India had the problem of their batters not chipping in with the ball in white-ball cricket. But that seems to be changing now, with India’s T20I squad including a plethora of allrounders and part-time bowling options.”It’s good if your batters can bowl an over or two,” Suryakumar said. “I think there is hardly anyone in this squad who doesn’t bowl. That gives you more bowling options on the ground. As you saw in Sri Lanka, Riyan [Parag] bowled four overs. If someone says he can bowl in the pressure situation, then why not.”

The South Group leaders overcame a nervy finish to make it seven wins from 10

ECB Reporters Network07-Jul-2024

Surrey 103 for 5 (Evans 25, Stewart 2-24) beat Kent 81 for 3 (Khushi 35, Topley 2-27) by 5 runs DLSSouth Group leaders Surrey held their nerve in a tense finish to beat Kent Spitfires by five runs in a rain-shortened Vitality Blast contest at the Kia Oval.Surrey, put in and with an unfamiliar batting line-up, did well to reach 103 for 5 from 10 overs after play finally got underway two hours and 25 minutes late.And then more rain, arriving just as Kent were about to start their reply, left them needing 87 from eight overs under the Duckworth/Lewis calculations.Despite late hitting from Feroze Khushi, who made 35, and Sam Billings, who swept Reece Topley for six in a seventh over costing 20 and in which Khushi also bludgeoned a six over long on, Kent could only finish on 81 for 3.It was Surrey’s seventh win from ten games, but Kent have now lost seven of their first ten group games and look to be dropping out of contention for a top-four finish and a quarter-final place.There were several decisive moments in a fast and furious affair, the first a brilliant fourth over from leg-spinner Cameron Steel in which he conceded only four runs and also bowled the dangerous Tawanda Muyeye for 22.Muyeye hit Dan Worrall for a slashed four and a superb lofted six to long on in the second over, but Jordan Clark allowed only six runs from the third over, and then Steel’s fine over left Kent on 29 for two with half their innings gone.Khushi smashed Chris Jordan over long on for six and Billings hit the Surrey captain, returning alongside Topley from England’s T20 World Cup campaign, for four over mid off to keep Kent in the hunt.But Khushi’s dismissal from the final ball of the penultimate over, well held by Steel diving forward at long on, felt like a big momentum swing back to Surrey as it left Kent needing 17 from the last over.Jordan began with a no ball, from which a leg bye was scampered, but new batsman Tom Rogers could only dig out a yorker from the free hit opportunity and, although he cut Jordan away for four from the next ball, he and Billings (14 not out) could not find the boundary again as Jordan’s accuracy under pressure closed out the game.The other decisive moment in the match came right at the end of the Surrey innings when they were 94 for five with just one ball remaining to be bowled.Up to then, and despite two offside wides, Grant Stewart looked to be succeeding in keeping Surrey’s total below 100, but he then sent down a waist-high no ball full toss which Ben Geddes swung away high for six behind square.That brought an extra ball, from which a bye was scampered and, in all, 19 runs came from the over, which had started with Clark crunching an extra cover four before being caught at long off for seven.There were five other sixes in Surrey’s effort, the first two pulled by Laurie Evans off paceman Nathan Gilchrist and off spinner Marcus O’Riordan. Evans, coming in after Ryan Patel had departed in the first over, skying Stewart to keeper Billings after one lovely off-driven four, made a punchy 25 before he hit O’Riordan to long off.Dom Sibley muscled Matt Parkinson’s leg spin for six over long on in his 20, which ended to a catch at deep mid wicket off Joey Evison, while Jordan pulled the medium pacer for six and Rory Burns produced a remarkable swept maximum off Gilchrist.Jordan mishit Gilchrist high to mid off to go for 14 and Burns finished 11 not out as he and Geddes, who was unbeaten on seven, saw Surrey to a total that proved – just – to be defendable.Kent saw Daniel Bell-Drummond fall for a duck to the second ball of their reply, hitting Topley high to deep square leg where 19-year-old debutant Ollie Sykes held the catch.

This summer could be make or break for Mikel Arteta in his position as Arsenal manager, needing to make the right additions to catapult his side to Premier League glory.

The Gunners have finished runners-up to Manchester City and Liverpool in each of the last three campaigns, being unable to go all the way and get the job done.

Injuries have certainly prevented such a charge from occurring in 2024/25, but with new signings during the off-season, it could aid the manager in his quest.

It remains unclear how much money the hierarchy will hand the Spaniard during the window to make changes he needs, with an emphasis on strength in depth after the recent fitness struggles in North London.

With a busy transfer window expected at the Emirates, no time has been wasted, leading to moves already being made in the market for new additions to strengthen the side.

The latest on Arsenal’s hunt for new additions this summer

Even though the transfer window is yet to open, Arsenal have already made moves for new attackers, with Viktor Gyokeres the main player on their shortlist.

The Swede has gained huge attention in 2024/25 after scoring 54 goals this campaign, with Sporting CP demanding a fee in the region of £60m to part ways with their talisman this summer.

However, he’s not the only attacker on the Gunners’ radar this window, with Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward Rodrygo on their shortlist, according to Spanish outlet AS.

They claim that Arteta’s side has made an approach to sign the 24-year-old forward, who’s registered 23 combined goals and assists across all competitions this season.

It also states that the LaLiga giants would demand a fee in the region of €100m (£84m) to part ways with the youngster, with Chelsea also keeping a close eye on the situation.

Why Arsenal’s £84m target would be perfect alongside Sesko

Striker Benjamin Sesko is another attacker who’s been strongly linked with a switch to Arsenal this summer, looking to offer a needed focal point to the first-team squad.

The Slovenian, who’s scored 21 times in all competitions this campaign, has already been subject to talks between the Gunners and current employers RB Leipzig, which could see a move develop in the coming days.

Like Rodrygo, he has an £84m valuation on his shoulders, but Arteta’s side could land him at a cheaper price if they enter negotiations with the Bundesliga outfit.

His goal tally from this campaign is evidence that he can provide the goods within the final third, potentially striking up a deadly partnership with the Brazilian in attacking areas.

The Real Madrid star has the quality with the ball at his feet to provide any fellow attacker the goods to improve their own respective tallies, which could catapult Arsenal to the top of the tree next time around.

Rodrygo, who’s been labelled “world-class” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has completed 2.3 successful dribbles per 90 this season, along with a 52% success rate – showcasing the threat he carries.

However, he often has the end product too, completing 1.2 crosses per 90 and creating 2.3 chances created, handing Sesko the platform to explode in North London.

Games played

30

Goals & assists

11

Successful dribbles

2.3

Dribble success rate

52%

Crosses completed

1.2

Chances created

2.3

Shots taken

2.5

Touches in opposition box

6.5

He’s also registered 2.5 shots per 90, averaging 6.5 touches in the opposition box per 90 – offering a constant threat to the backline, which could see him partner the Slovenian and link up given his hold-up play.

Whilst both would set the hierarchy back a fair whack of money, their respective figures highlight what they could offer to the side, handing Arteta the depth he craves in the final third.

Should they transfer their skill sets over to England, the thought of the pair combining at the Emirates is truly frightening, making them a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League.

More exciting than Zubimendi: Arsenal enter talks to sign £84m "monster"

Arsenal could be about to make a move to land a star who’d massively improve Mikel Arteta’s side.

ByEthan Lamb May 30, 2025

Nottingham Forest “want to do a deal” for an “amazing” Liverpool player, with the Reds now “willing” to sanction a departure this summer, according to former scout Mick Brown.

Forest set for Europa Conference League campaign

After spending large parts of the season in the top five, Forest will no doubt be disappointed to have missed out on the Champions League, but the 2024-25 campaign still has to go down as a success for Nuno’s side.

The Tricky Trees have sealed a return to Europe for the first time since 1996, and West Ham United’s victory in the 2023 Europa Conference League final suggests Nuno’s men will also be able to be competitive in the competition next season.

However, a European campaign comes with a more congested fixture list, which means it will be important for Nuno to improve his squad depth in the summer transfer window, and there is a desire to bring in a new defender.

Nottingham Forest make contact to sign "gifted" star dubbed the 'new Modric'

He could replace Morgan Gibbs-White.

ByTom Cunningham May 23, 2025

Indeed, according to Brown, in an interview with Football Insider, Nottingham Forest are now interested in signing Liverpool centre-back Jarell Quansah this summer.

The former scout said: “Nottingham Forest are one of the sides interested in Quansah. Whether it’s a permanent move or a loan, they want to do a deal.

“From what I hear, Liverpool and the manager would be willing to let him go on loan, and a loan spell is exactly what he needs.

“At Forest, he’d have to step up and be counted, which would be good for his game. They want to strengthen their squad to prepare for competing in Europe, and he’s on their radar.“

Forest move could be ideal for "amazing" Quansah

The 22-year-old played a role in Liverpool’s Premier League title triumph last season, making 25 appearances in all competitions, but he predominantly deputised for Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, finding it extremely difficult to dislodge the centre-back duo.

As the Warrington-born defender is now at an age where he needs to be playing regular football, it could make sense to leave the Reds this summer, and a move to the City Ground would allow him to continue playing in Europe for a big club.

There are signs the Englishman may have a lot to offer Forest too, having been lauded by teammate Alexis Mac Allister, who said: “He was amazing. The job he did with Virg [Virgil van Dijk] is so important for the team because it gives us that calmness that we need to play football. “Even on the ball he was amazing. Very happy and very glad for him.”

Having also received an endorsement from Arne Slot, Liverpool may be unwilling to cash-in on Quansah for good this summer, but a move is not completely ruled out, with a £50m fee touted.

Chelsea have now submitted a £47m offer for a “world-class” goalkeeper, and talks are expected to move quickly in the coming weeks, according to a report.

Maresca and Chelsea's goalkeeper problem

After a poor showing in the 2-1 UEFA Conference League defeat against Legia Warsaw, the Blues have responded with back-to-back victories, most recently picking up a 1-0 victory against Everton at Stamford Bridge, securing their third Premier League clean sheet of the month.

Robert Sanchez has returned to the starting XI in the Premier League, and the recent defensive showings have been much-improved, but the mistakes the Spaniard made earlier in the campaign are likely to be in the back of Enzo Maresca’s mind.

Sanchez has made five errors leading to goal in the Premier League, the joint-highest number of any player in the division, meaning there have been widespread suggestions that Maresca could look to bring in a replacement in the summer.

Chelsea now have "strong" chance of signing £206k-per-week Barcelona star

Enzo Maresca’s side have thrown their hat in the ring.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 26, 2025

AC Milan’s Mike Maignan is one goalkeeper of interest, with the west Londoners making contact over a potential deal earlier this month, while they are also in the race for Angers shot-stopper Yahia Fofana, who has been recommended by Didier Drogba.

However, it appears as though a different goalkeeper could be one of Chelsea’s key targets, with a report from Spain revealing they have now submitted a €55m (£47m) offer for Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel.

Kobel’s performances for Dortmund have attracted the attention of a number of European clubs, but the Blues are the most interested party, and talks over the deal are expected to move quickly over the next few weeks.

The 27-year-old has made it clear he wants to play for an elite club, which means a move to Stamford Bridge could be of great appeal, should they manage to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

"World-class" Kobel could be Sanchez upgrade

The 6 foot 5 colossus is clearly very highly regarded by his current employers, with Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl lauding him as “world-class”, while he also impressed scout Ben Mattinson in the semi-finals of the 2024 Champions League.

The Swiss shot-stopper’s top-level experience is likely to be appealing to Chelsea, while he has also received plaudits for his ability in possession of the ball, which could be crucial, given Maresca’s passing style of play.

While the Blues have started to pick up more clean sheets recently, Sanchez’s howlers earlier in the campaign indicate it is the right decision to bring in a new goalkeeper this summer, and it is exciting news that the move for Kobel is now gaining traction.

Apart from the opening game against England, whenever SA have been posed difficult questions, their players have made themselves count

Madushka Balasuriya17-Oct-20253:09

Review: SA one step closer to semis, SL further away

South Africa have one foot in the semi-finals, but of all the cricketing nations, they will be the least likely to get ahead of themselves. Though if anything were to prepare them for some unlikely hiccups it would be this World Cup campaign.Against England, their batting fell apart. Against New Zealand, this was rectified as the top order took charge of middling chase. But against India, the top-order once more struggled, before the lower-order and a magnificent Nadine de Klerk innings took them to a famous win. It was a similar story against Bangladesh as the lower order came to the rescue. But the common theme has been that at each time of asking, South Africa have been ready with the answers.Related

'Want to take it one step further' – Bosch on SA's push for maiden ODI World Cup final

Wolvaardt, Brits fifties put SA closer to semi-final berth

“It’s been great. It’s sort of felt like the whole team has contributed in different parts of this tournament, which has been awesome,” South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt said after their 10-wicket win against Sri Lanka on Friday.”We definitely haven’t relied on one or two people. Whether it’s Nadine and Chloe [Tryon] getting us out of the hole, or, you know, me and Taz [Tazmin Brits] battling all today. The whole bowling unit has been amazing too, and I think our feeling has been pretty decent as well throughout the tournament. So, it’s just nice to see all those pieces of the puzzle sort of coming together.”Against Sri Lanka, Wolvaardt and her side had their hands full in finding the right puzzle pieces to navigate a heavily rain-curtailed game. There were five hours and 14 minutes between the the last ball of the first innings’ 11th over and the first ball of the 12th. In fact, the game was on the verge of being called off before the rains unexpectedly eased and a restart time was announced. In that moment, all previous strategies and plans went out the window.For Sri Lanka, it meant they had to switch gears instantly, from having 38 overs left in a 50-over game, to having eight left in a reduced 20-over affair. But with eight wickets in hand, it was a fairly straightforward equation in terms of what was required from them.

“I think we’re still searching for that perfect game as a team”Laura Wolvaardt

For South Africa however, it was trickier. For one, each bowler could now bowl only four overs each under the revised playing conditions. This meant that both Marizanne Kapp and Masabata Klaas, who had bowled five overs each prior to the rain interruption could not be used further.”That was a little bit tricky, especially because Kappy and Klaas are usually quite big for us in the death. So we had to sort of go to the left-arm spinners, which we don’t do too often, too late in the game. But I thought they bowled brilliantly.”Nonkululeko Mlaba finished with three wickets•Getty ImagesAdding to Wolvaardt and South Africa’s problems was that the amount of rain that fell meant that, even despite the entire ground being covered and the super sopper being used, the “ball was like a bar of soap.””Especially after that five hour break, I think we looked a bit nervy when we came back on the field, a couple of missed fields,” Wolvaardt said. “So I think we did a great job of sort of removing [that from our minds] and getting those wickets in the end.”Leading the way on this front was none other than Wolvaardt. On the seventh ball after the restart, a skier off a leading edge was dropped – a first hint at how difficult this wet ball would be to grip. But she ensured there would be no further stumbles with two otherwise straightforward catches held to dismiss both set batters at that point.While the catches in and of itself weren’t difficult, the message it sent across was clear – this is yet one more problem to be solved. Which meant that when Wolvaardt threw the ball to Nonkululeko Mlaba, and asked her to bowl four of the eight overs remaining, it was less a question and more of a challenge, to once more defy the odds.”Lefty [Mlaba] loves a challenge,” Wolvaardt said. “She was asked the other day what would be her favourite place to bowl and she said, ‘probably the death.'”She said she really likes it when the batter is coming at her, so it challenges her, and gets her into a very competitive zone. Yeah, I thought she bowled very well.”Mlaba’s figures at the end read 3 for 30 in four overs, but her final over brought three runs and three wickets. Along with de Klerk’s four-run penultimate over, it proved to the difference as the DLS-adjusted target was 121 and not closer to 150.Not that a higher target would have likely made a difference with how Wolvaardt and Brits approached their chase, ensuring minimal risks were taken as they knocked off the target with 31 deliveries left to spare.”It hasn’t been the best tournament for me overall, so very nice to hit a few,” Wolvaardt said. “Obviously a reduced game, so I just sort of thought of normal T20 plans. So Taz and I just went out as if it was a normal T20, and both got off to decent starts, and just kept going for the side.”Whisper it, but this was a display of potential champions. Sure, the juggernaut that is Australia awaits at some point, but South Africa, like their captain, just keep ticking along, and finding answers. For Wolvaardt though, the key is in ensuring that it all comes together at the right time.”I think we’re still searching for that perfect game as a team, where the top order fires and the middle order fires – which is exciting, because we’re still winning games even though certain things aren’t perfect,” she said. “Hopefully, if we do make those semifinals, it’ll all come together.”

The ghosts of the legendary ARG are everywhere, 15 years after its final match

Cameron Ponsonby04-Dec-2023The Rude Boy stand has been taken down at the ARG. The once-famous double-decker terrace that housed Antigua’s greatest music entertainers is gone. Replaced instead with two shipping containers and a lorry trailer. The prison watchtower that stands over the road, where the legend goes that Viv Richards’s dad would stand and watch his son bat in the middle whilst keeping one eye on the prisoners under his guard, has had its view improved immeasurably. Nothing now in its way, but nothing now to see either.”You had music from morning to night,” says James Stevens, Head of the Antiguan Umpire’s Association for the last 24 years and chance interviewee after he saw two English lads stumbling around the famous and dilapidated Antigua Recreation Ground”We had Gravy and Mayfield and the music,” Stevens recalls, reflecting on the famous names of those who performed outside the boundary rope of the ARG, as much as he does those that performed within it. “As a matter of fact, DJ Chickie the music master got man of the match in an India v West Indies game. You had three days rained out and he kept the crowd lively throughout the days.”For someone who doesn’t believe in ghosts, a trip to The Rec is to have a go on a Ouija board for a laugh, only to feel your stomach jolt when the thing moves. The place is dense with history and with signs of life everywhere you look aside from the one place it matters. A shop within the grounds has three men sitting drinking a beer and eating some lunch, while the pavilion itself still operates in an administrative capacity. In fact, as England and West Indies were playing their first ODI on Sunday, the latest set of aspiring Level 3 umpires in the region were taking their final exams there. Something that Stevens himself would be overseeing, adding that that’s why he wouldn’t be in attendance at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium himself.The watchtower of the prison in St John’s, Antigua, from where Viv Richards’ father is said to have watched him bat at the ARG•Cameron PonsonbyEven Stevens, a measured man who grew up in the countryside of Antigua, fails to avoid hyperbole when talking about the ground.”ARG as a cricket venue in the universe, probably has the most history.”And he’s not wrong, in spite of the fact that that history lasted for just 22 Tests and 11 ODIs, spanning 31 years. Brian Lara’s 375. Brian Lara’s 400. Viv’s fastest ever Test ton and the highest successful run-chase in Test cricket all happened on the same patch of grass of one tiny Caribbean island that boasts a population of just 90,000 people.The reason for the stadium’s demise is well-known. The 2007 World Cup was hosted in the West Indies, and Chinese money was used to build new stadiums across the Caribbean. The Sir Viv Richards stadium went up four-and-a-half miles down the road, and as a result, the ARG became second-choice. A few miles in the other direction and you also have the Coolidge Cricket Ground, where the Stanford T20s took place and which is now the headquarters of Cricket West Indies. Meanwhile, the ARG sits decaying. A once-iconic cricketing institution that is now a shadow of its former self. As an analogy for the state of West Indies cricket, it is almost too on the nose.You still see cricket whilst travelling around the island. Kids playing at lunchtime, club players playing in the evening. The difference, Stevens explains, is that there was a time when you didn’t even have to look.The consensus is that there are fewer people playing, but the exact reason why is less tangible. The myth that the Caribbean has fallen into the grip of basketball is exactly that. The two main sports listed by taxi drivers are football and cricket, and whilst basketball does, occasionally, get a mention, so do Playstations.Brian Lara drives during his 375, the first of his two world records against England at the ARG•PA PhotosTo an Englishman visiting, the activity on the island contradicts the narrative that the game here is dying. Cricket in the Caribbean is said to be in a worse state than it is back at home, but if you saw as much cricket in London as you did when wandering around Antigua, you’d consider the game to be in rude health. Perhaps it is merely the difference between something that was once a national pastime instead now being a national hobby. And when you only have 90,000 people to play with rather than 70 million, that makes a difference. The game is here. But as Stevens says, you just have to look.It’s been 15 years since ARG last hosted a match, when the Windies held on to a thrilling draw nine-down against England. And beer bottles (presumably not from that same day, but you can’t be sure) are still scattered around the stands, which gape where randomly selected blocks of seating have been ripped out.The history of the ground is more tangible than you could ever expect. And the gap that The Rude Boy Stand leaves provides a tangible reminder of what once was, in a ground that otherwise has an intangible aura.”It was always a pleasure to come to ARG and watch the cricket,” concluded Stevens. And you wouldn’t doubt him for a second.

Spinner’s climb towards latest milestone has been arduous

Andrew McGlashan10-Dec-2021Nathan Lyon claimed his 390th Test wicket on January 6, 2020, when he removed BJ Watling to wrap up victory against New Zealand at the SCG. He claimed his 399th Test wicket on January 19, 2021 when he removed Washington Sundar on the final day of the thrilling series against India.By the time some of you read this the moment may have come, but as of December 10, 2021 Lyon is still waiting to be the third Australian to scale mount 400. It will come, but it’s not coming easily.Partly Australia’s paucity of Test cricket in recent years is at play. This is just their 10th Test match since the 2019 Ashes but, regardless of that, the climb towards the latest milestone has been arduous.In the first Test against India last year there wasn’t much needed from him with the visitors’ second innings amounting to 36 and in Melbourne there was barely a target to defend. However, India played him superbly in the second two matches. Lyon’s figures in those games were 5 for 351, although it might have been different if Tim Paine had not put down two chances at the SCG.Related

Jack Leach, naked at the Gabba

Missing technology continues to hamper Brisbane Test

Malan and Root put up big third-wicket stand as England fight back

Leading into this Test he had two Sheffield Shield matches for New South Wales where he bowled 106 overs and claimed four wickets. He bowled well, at times very well, on the third day at the Gabba but the wickets column remained at zero. There was only a centimetre or so in it, though, with one delivery.When Dawid Malan had 8 he shouldered arms to one that slid on with natural variation – Lyon was trying to turn it – and it barely cleared off stump. Hawkeye said it was 1.6cm between Malan surviving and not. He could be forgiven for the decision to leave; three overs earlier Lyon had made one grip and spin extravagantly from middle and leg to zip past the edge.”There’s a little bit of turn and I can see it turning more as the game goes on,” Malan said.It wasn’t the only near-miss for Lyon. Early in his innings, Joe Root nearly ballooned an attempted sweep to short leg and the ball before he went to fifty he missed another and was nearly bowled. Between those moments Lyon landed one perfectly which exploded from a length and ragged past Malan’s edge.There is, however, some evidence – beyond the bare number of wickets – that currently Lyon is perhaps not providing quite the threat that he has in the past.Analysis of ESPNcricinfo’s data showed how England were comfortable defending Lyon on the front foot. So far in the game they have done so 60 times but have not been in control to only seven of those shots. In the past Lyon has used drift, dip and overspin to deceive batters looking to get on their front foot in Australian conditions. Out of the 61 wickets Lyon has taken at home in the last four seasons, 21 have come when batters have been out playing forward defence. That has been his most productive mode of dismissing batters in Australia.However, numbers suggest that batters are getting more comfortable defending Lyon off the front foot: according to ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball data, in the summers of 2018 (vs India) and 2019 (vs Pakistan and New Zealand), Lyon took 19 wickets when batters were defending on the front foot – once every 47 balls.Since the last home season against India, batters have played the front foot defence to 328 balls from Lyon but have been dismissed only twice. From what remains a small sample size of three Tests, his current overall strike-rate for 2021 is 202.8.Nathan Lyon ponders a close call•CA/Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesThe contest with Root, one of the best players in the world, who is such a good judge of length and very adept at using the crease, was superb. Root took 37 runs off 54 balls against him; Malan, with the usual challenges of a left-hander to offspin, had 30 runs from 78 balls.”He [Root] batted really well, played Nathan Lyon very well,” Marnus Labuschagne said. “He’s obviously a beautiful player of spin bowling – and pace bowling – but it’s not my job to admire Joe Root’s innings, it’s my job to try and find holes in his game and help the team wherever I can to get him out.”Before the match, Pat Cummins indicated that captaining spin-bowling would be one area where he might be looking for advice. Towards the end of the day Ricky Ponting, commentating on Channel Seven, did question some of the field placements when there were no close catchers in front of the bat. At times during the Root-Malan partnership, Labuschagne and vice-captain Steven Smith could be seen chatting with Lyon.”I think it’s a wicket where you need to be crafty with your field and that’s what me and Nathan were discussing,” Labuschagne said. “Potentially where we could get another catcher, where we could use our short legs. Just trying to come up with ideas.”For Lyon, though, the wait goes on. In the penultimate over of the day Malan played and missed at a cut shot. Lyon’s hands were on his head. It’s been a familiar pose of late.

Manchester United and Liverpool have both been linked with signing Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, but it is Ruben Amorim’s side who are in pole position ahead of the January transfer window.

Semenyo is one of the most impressive wide players in the Premier League currently, scoring six goals and registering three assists in the competition leading into the international break.

The 25-year-old is wanted by a host of top clubs, with United among those thought to be right in the mix to snap him up, potentially even in the January transfer window.

Semenyo has a £65m release clause in his current Bournemouth contract for a certain time period, with David Ornstein reporting the Cherries will effectively be powerless to stop a departure in early January.

Liverpool look to be the most interested out of United’s Premier League adversaries, as they look for an injection of attacking quality midway through the season, with the Reds believing Semenyo can be their next Sadio Mane.

Man Utd leading Liverpool in Semenyo race with player keen on move

According to a report from Spain, Manchester United are the front-runners to acquire Semenyo’s signature from Bournemouth in January, with INEOS seeing him as a top target for the Red Devils.

The report claims it’s “hard to believe Manchester United won’t secure the signing” due to their willingness to pay the release fee and Semenyo being interested in a move to Old Trafford.

They are ahead of Liverpool in the race, which will no doubt delight the supporters, with Amorim possibly eyeing a long-term replacement for Marcus Rashford, should he leave Old Trafford for good at the end of this season.

Semenyo feels like an ideal signing for United in the mould of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, in terms of players who have proven themselves in the Premier League and are ready to make the step-up to a bigger club.

The Ghanaian provides strong end product on a consistent basis, and has scored twice in three Premier League appearances against the Red Devils, while Pep Guardiola recently hailed his ability, calling him an “extraordinary” player.

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola was asked earlier this week about the situation, saying he isn’t worried about losing his star player in January.

He's "much better" than Sesko: Man Utd pursuing "one of the best CFs in PL"

Manchester United could land a new centre-forward just months after landing Benjamin Sesko.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 21, 2025

Despite this, it is easy to envisage Semenyo’s head being turned by a move to United, especially if they continue their recent improved form under Amorim, and he would be a fabulous addition to the attack.

Man Utd have their own version of Semenyo & he's Amorim's "best player"

MatériaMais Notícias

O Botafogo de Artur Jorge está voando na temporada e se tem um responsável por fazer a equipe chegar nesse patamar, o nome dele é Júnior Santos. Enquanto a equipe vivia a turbulência da não classificação para as semifinais do campeonato carioca e a demissão de Tiago Nunes que deixou a classificação para a fase de grupos da Libertadores ameaçada, foi a regularidade e o brilho do atacante que garantiram a tranquilidade.

continua após a publicidade

A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta e tá na mão!

O Lance! Betting tem apostas a longo prazo para a Seleção Brasileira em 2024! Vem conferir!

A teporada de Júnior Santos é irretocável até aqui. O atacante é o jogador com maior número de participações em gols do futebol brasileiro em 2024. São 16 gols marcados e quatro assistências distribúidas, somando ao todo 20 colaborações em gols para o Botafogo. O jogador é o artilheiro da atual edição da Copa Libertadores com nove gols, além de ter assumido o posto de maior artilheiro da história do Botafogo na competição.

A grande temporada de Júnior Santos atraiu o interesse de outros clubes do futebol brasileiro. Ainda no início do ano, o atacante recebeu uma sondagem do Palmeiras, mas o próprio Textor, dono do Botafogo rechaçou qualquer negocio.

continua após a publicidade

Já o mais recente interesse veio de Minas Gerais. O Cruzeiro apresentou uma proposta no valor de cinco milhões de euros (28 milhões de reais), que também foi recusada pelo clube alvinegro.

Tudo sobre

Artur JorgeBotafogoCruzeiroFutebol BrasileiroJohn TextorJúnior SantosLibertadoresLibertadores 2024PalmeirasSAF