Sunderland are battling Championship rivals Watford for the signing of a prolific 22-year-old this summer, and he could even be available on a free transfer soon.

Sunderland manager & transfer news

The Black Cats are going through a key period at the moment, with the club still looking to find their next manager, after interim boss Mike Dodds stepped down from his role at the end of the season.

A host of names have emerged as options to take charge at the Stadium of Light, including Queen Park Rangers boss Marti Cifuentes, who took charge of the west Londoners last year. Granted, he could only guide his side to 18th in the Championship table, but avoiding relegation was seen as an achievement in itself.

Former AZ Alkmaar manager Pascal Jansen has also emerged as an option for Sunderland this summer, having left the Eredivisie side earlier this year. He prefers a 4-3-3 formation, naturally adopting a defence-minded approach, which may not get Black Cats supporters off their seats.

In terms of potential new signings on the pitch, the Championship side have been linked with a move for Ajax ace Ar'Jany Martha, with the 20-year-old left-back starting eight league games for the Dutch giants in 2023/24, as well as featuring in the Europa League. He is viewed as possibly being their next version of Patrick van Aanholt, who was a successful player in the position for a number of years.

Sunderland battling rivals for prolific winger

According to Valencia Plaza [via Sport Witness], Sunderland are interested in signing Valencia B youngster Declan Frith this summer, with Watford also providing competition for his signature.

The 22-year-old is yet to make his debut for Valencia's first team, which shows why he could eye a move away in the coming weeks and months. It is even claimed that he could be available on a free transfer in July, should the La Liga not trigger a one-year extension to his current deal.

Frith may not be a huge name, but he could be a high potential option to bring in for Sunderland at relatively low cost. The Englishman has impressed for Aston Villa's Under-23s in the past, registering a prolific 15 goal contributions (eight goals and seven assists) in just 24 appearances, and he also played fives time for Chelsea at the same level, showing that he has pedigree as a highly thought of young player.

Moving to Sunderland could be far more beneficial than toiling away for Valencia's B team, and the fact that he could be available for free takes away a large amount of risk when it comes to the Black Cats making a move for him.

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The winger could provide some extra end product at The Stadium of Light after a season in which none of the club's centre-forwards stepped up and forced their way in as the recognised goalscorer.

A British passport holder, the quick will not need to represent the county as an overseas player

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jul-2021Daniel Worrall, the 30-year-old Australian quick who played three ODIs in 2016, has signed a three-year contract to play with Surrey. He will join the English county at the start of the 2022 season after wrapping up his Sheffield Shield commitments with South Australia. Worrall, who has been playing for Gloucestershire in the ongoing county season, is a British passport holder, and will thus not have to play at Surrey as an overseas player.”A professional ambition I have always held is to test myself as a cricketer in the UK, complimenting my personal desire to live internationally,” Worrall said in a statement released by Surrey. “Surrey CCC has extended an offer for me to play as a UK local player once my contract finishes in Adelaide at the end of the coming season. I have proudly accepted and am honoured to play for the most prestigious club in the UK.Related

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“I eagerly look forward to contributing to an already outstanding club history and fulfil my ambitions as an English cricketer in the second phase of my career.”By signing with Surrey, Worrall will give up his role as a local player for South Australia.”I’d like to welcome Dan to Surrey CCC. He is a high-quality bowler with a wealth of experience in Sheffield Shield, Big Bash and County cricket to draw on,” Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart said. “With no Rikki Clarke [retiring at the end of this season] or Jade Dernbach [leaving the club after 19 seasons with them] with us next year, the need to add to our pool of fast bowling options to play for the Club over the course of our punishing six-month season was crucial and Dan will add significant experience and expertise to the group we already have in place.”Worrall’s stint in international cricket wasn’t too successful, as he picked up just one wicket in those three ODIs – one against Ireland and two against South Africa – but has 222 wickets from 58 first-class matches as well as 41 List A wickets from 35 games and 40 wickets from 52 T20s. He “will add further depth to Surrey’s fast bowling unit, representing the Club in all competitions,” the statement said.Overall, in two stints with Gloucestershire – in 2018 and now – Worrall has picked up 53 wickets at an average of 22.53.

Celtic are yet to make their first signing of the summer transfer window but still have just under two months left to do any incoming business they want to do.

The Hoops won the domestic double, lifting the Scottish Premiership title and the SFA Cup, during the 2023/24 campaign and could still look to improve their squad to secure more silverware next term.

A new number one is on the agenda for the Bhoys after Joe Hart's retirement, with Newcastle United's Martin Dubravka and Croatia star Dominik Livakovic linked with moves to Parkhead to be Brendan Rodgers' first-choice.

There could also be some changes in the backline for the Scottish giants as the Northern Irish boss could shake up his central defender options.

Celtic's possible centre-back shuffle

Football Insider recently reported that Sweden international Gustaf Lagerbielke is poised to move on from Parkhead before the end of the window.

The outlet did not reveal, however, any current interest from teams or how much the Hoops would be prepared to sell him for, after paying £3m to sign the defender from Elfsborg last summer.

Celtic could ruthlessly ditch the Swedish dud over the coming weeks by securing a deal to sign an impressive free agent as his replacement.

The Daily Record have claimed that Scotland international Scott McKenna has been on Rodgers' radar for a 'long' time, which suggests that he may be a target for the club this month if they are in need of a centre-back.

Signing the left-footed titan would then free up the club to cash in on Lagerbielke, as they would have a central defender in the building to keep them covered in that position.

Why Scott McKenna would be a good signing for Celtic

Celtic should swoop to sign McKenna as he is an experienced and reliable centre-back who would also offer natural balance on the left side.

Liam Scales is the club's only naturally left-footed centre-back, with Stephen Welsh, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Lagerbielke, and Maik Naworcki all being naturally right-footed.

This means that the Scottish colossus could come in and provide Scales with competition for his place with his ability to play out from the back on his favoured foot.

Appearances

13

Pass accuracy

90%

Duel success rate

58%

Aerial duel success rate

65%

Error led to shot/goal

0

Penalties committed

0

As you can see in the table above, McKenna caught the eye during his loan spell with Kobenhavn during the second half of last season, as he completed a high percentage of his passes and was dominant in duels without making any major errors.

The 27-year-old titan, who was once dubbed "dominant" by analyst Chris Kearney, completed a higher percentage of his passes than Lagerbielke did (85%) in his seven outings in the Premiership.

Perhaps the 24-year-old dud's passing was an issue for Rodgers, hence his lack of game time, but that should not have come as a surprise after he completed 81% of his passes in the Swedish top-flight in 2023, which shows that he gifts the ball back to the opposition far more regularly than the Scottish enforcer.

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McKenna, therefore, could now come in as a free agent and offer reliability in possession and a natural left-footed option to play next to one of the right-footed defenders, which is why he could be a fantastic bargain signing to allow the club to brutally ditch Lagerbielke.

The offspinner’s bowling may not have developed as much as his batting in recent years but his five-for kept Bangladesh in the game in Sylhet

Mohammad Isam21-Apr-2025Bangladesh’s future depends on their vice-captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Both the immediate future – like the ongoing Test against Zimbabwe, where Bangladesh are trailing by 25 runs with nine wickets in hand – and also the long-term future.At 27, Mehidy has time on his side. He – along with Bangladesh’s captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana – must constantly evolve to try and stay ahead of plans his opponents have for him.Zimbabwe have been on top in the opening exchanges of the Sylhet Test, so it was important for someone from Bangladesh to step up on day two. Mehidy was the leader of the fightback with his 11th five-wicket haul in Test cricket. He finished with 5 for 52, accounting for Zimbabwe’s entire lower order, but their last-four wickets added 80 and they finished with a first-innings lead of 82.Related

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Mehidy is just five wickets short of becoming the third Bangladesh bowler to take 200 Test wickets, along with Shakib al Hasan and Taijul Islam.Yet, in the last two years, Mehidy the bowler, has taken a backseat to Mehidy the batter. His improvement with the bat, in addition to his primary role as an offpsinner, has led to him being hailed as Shakib’s successor. He aced both roles and was Player of the Series in Bangladesh’s maiden Test series win in Pakistan last year. Even Shakib, in the last 12 months of his Test career, had to play second fiddle to Mehidy.His improvement as a batter, however, has come at some cost to his bowling. But with the growth of their pace attack, Bangladesh are no longer overly dependent on Mehidy for wickets..Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan are the only Bangladesh players with 600-plus runs and 25-plus wickets in a year•AFP/Getty ImagesWith the bat, Mehidy averaged 12.33 in eight Tests in 2022. He averaged 39.20 in four Tests in 2023, before finishing 2024 as Bangladesh’s highest run-getter – 614 at an average of 38.37. He also became only the second Bangladesh cricketer to score 600-plus runs and take 25-plus wickets in a year.Mehidy’s bowling average was steady for most of this period; last year he took 31 wickets at an average of 36.09. In four home Tests in 2024, he averaged 70.28 and had a strike rate of 121.4 with the ball, easily his worst year in home Tests. He has gradually developed as a bowler in overseas Tests and understands the need to constantly work on himself.”There’s very little idea about those [players] who are starting out their international careers,” Mehidy said after the second day’s play in Sylhet. “Then, as time goes on, there’s more awareness of the player. Footage is available. We can find out where a player has to develop. It is very important to improve at the international level. Otherwise, one won’t be able to survive.Mehidy Hasan Miraz was Player of the Series in Bangladesh’s maiden Test series win in Pakistan•Associated Press”I didn’t have high expectations of myself. I just wanted to support the team by bowling in good areas. Five wickets come when you bowl well, and your luck favours [you]. I have both batting and bowling as options. I have to work on both areas. I have improved my batting in the last three years. I work hard on my batting. I have to do well in both batting and bowling.”One of the observations about Mehidy’s bowling in the last few years has been how little he tried to turn the ball. He often depended on conditions, like in the first Test in Rawalpindi, where the fifth-day pitch worked in the Bangladesh’s favour. Mehidy said against Zimbabwe he relied on coaches telling him what pace to bowl at. Sylhet has more pace and bounce than the typical Bangladesh pitch, so he felt the guidance helped him.”The coaches guided us very well. We looked at the video footage after my first spell,” Mehidy said. “I consulted the coaches about my bowling speed – whether it is enough for this pitch. You can’t take wickets quickly on this pitch. But if you cut down the runs, the batter’s mistake might be coming. That was my mentality, which probably brought me the wickets.”

“Many players are weak against the short balls. It usually gives you the chance to score runs, and you can even get out. It depends on a batter’s mentality”Mehidy on his approach against the short ball

Mehidy, however, is more proud to have improved his batting after spending the first five years of his career in the lower order.”I started my career as a bowler. I didn’t get a lot of batting opportunities,” he said. “I used to bat at No 8 or 9. I didn’t have big scores but put together some partnerships. When I started to make some contributions with the bat, the team management had confidence in me. I started to believe that I can score runs in international cricket. I can win games with the bat at this level, [but] I must work harder at it.”Mehidy also said he can work on playing the short ball better, having got out to it in the first innings in Sylhet. “I have scored a lot of runs against the short ball [in the West Indies],” he said. “Many players are weak against the short balls. It usually gives you the chance to score runs, and you can even get out. It depends on a batter’s mentality. Sometimes you don’t expect a bouncer so early in the innings. I could have left it easily. I think I can improve in this area.”If Mehidy can improve his bowling to the degree that he has improved his batting, Bangladesh will have one rock-solid allrounder to depend on for the foreseeable future.

Captain’s classy 60 sets up nervy chase as Brave enjoy home comforts against Phoenix

Alan Gardner30-Jul-2021

James Vince’s fifty set the tone in the run chase•Getty Images

James Vince stroked 60 from 38 and Chris Jordan produced a late cameo with the bat as Southern Brave finally got their campaign up and running with victory under the lights at the Ageas Bowl. Liam Livingstone produced his first significant contribution of the Hundred with an unbeaten half-century and Adam Milne’s 3 for 15 had seemingly set up Birmingham Phoenix for a narrow victory – only for Tom Helm to blink first against Jordan in the final set of five.For the third game running, Brave conceded a century stand (no other men’s team has done so even once), as Livingstone and Miles Hammond lifted Phoenix from a precarious 47 for 3 after 37. Jake Lintott picked up 2 for 13 while Liam Dawson was also frugal – but neither bowled their full allocation as Brave’s big guns, Tymal Mills and Jordan, again proved expensive, Livingstone hauling Phoenix up above 150 with a boundary from the final ball of the innings.Vince led the Brave charge but Milne removed Quinton de Kock cheaply and Devon Conway suffered the rare indignity during his time in England of being made to look human, producing a scratchy 34 from 27. Conway took 21 balls to score a boundary and then had his stumps rearranged by the returning Milne, leaving 32 needed from 19.Jordan struck a vital boundary off Helm and Milne produced a late blip by delivering a wide and a no-ball in his final set, bringing the equation down to single figures. With Phoenix failing to bowl the 95th ball before the cut-off, they were made to bring an extra fielder up inside the ring – and their poor timekeeping was to prove costly, as Jordan thrashed Helm into the newly-created gap at deep square leg, before a wide and a dropped catch by Benny Howell at deep midwicket was followed by another wide as Jordan scrambled Brave over the line.Lintott provides cutting edge
Despite a much-vaunted pace attack for this competition, Brave have struggled to make an impact with the ball. Missing Jofra Archer as he continues his comeback from injury, Mills and Jordan had taken one wicket between them in Brave’s first two games; and their only wicket in the Powerplay was George Garton’s dismissal of Alex Hales at the start of Trent Rockets’ low-pressure chase of 127.Related

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Brave started much better in their first outing at home, with Garton proving difficult for the two right-handed Phoenix openers to get away during an opening “tenner”. Colin de Grandhomme sneaked through a cheap set and Mills then finally got himself on the board for the campaign when Daniel Bell-Drummond slapped to point for 9 off 10. Phoenix were 27 for 1 after 25 and although Livingstone targeted de Grandhomme, hitting him for two sixes either side of being caught off a no-ball, the introduction of Jake Lintott seemed to put Brave on top.The left-arm wristspinner, a Blast wildcard pick after his success for Birmingham Bears, claimed a wicket with his first 100-ball delivery in Cardiff earlier in the week, but was then collared by Ben Duckett. On a bigger ground, he had greater protection to toss it up, and this time he struck twice in four balls – Finn Allen stumped coming down the pitch, Moeen Ali bowled while slog-sweeping – for impressive figures of 2 for 3 from his opening ten.Livingstone, we presume
That Livingstone would prove to be the headline act for Phoenix sooner or later was no surprise, coming just a couple of weeks after he had blitzed an England record 42-ball T20I hundred. But despite a few trademark towering blows into the stands, this was an innings that was more perspiration than inspiration.Liam Livingstone powers one through the offside•Getty Images

Livingstone was reprieved on 12, when replays showed de Grandhomme had overstepped after a big top edge had settled in the hands of mid-off, and although the next ball was dumped over the ropes, he only managed to find the boundary once from his next 23 balls. He moved into the 40s with a thick top edge over the keeper, crashed Mills into the crowd next ball and then brought up his half-century with another slice over short third man.Taking the pressure off during the middle of the innings was Hammond, moved down after the first two matches to fill an unfamiliar middle-order berth. From 6 off 9 he looked increasingly fluent and briefly overtook Livingstone to be 41 off 25 – but only ended up facing four of the last 15 deliveries. He said afterwards his strategy was to “get down the other end” and let his partner go to work, but Livingstone’s struggle for timing continued, even if his 68 off 44 looked like decisive.Vince’s lone hand
The women’s match earlier in the day had produced a cakewalk of a chase for the home side, Danni Wyatt’s fireworks seeing them to a target of 141 with 18 balls to spare; consequently, both Vince and Moeen Ali had been keen to bowl first at the toss. Vince got his way and made the early running in Brave’s chase. In fact, he did the early everything – during the time he was out in the middle, he scored 60 out of 82 and all nine of his side’s boundaries.He began in circumspect fashion against Milne’s extra pace in the Powerplay, but climbed into Helm, taking his first five for three fours and a six. Howell’s second ball was lofted for a regal six over deep extra cover, while four more boundaries came from the spin of Moeen and Livingstone. But with Conway dealing almost exclusively in singles, the pressure on Brave’s captain increased – and when he top-edged a sweep off Moeen to short fine leg, they were left needing 70 off 42.It looked beyond them until Jordan joined his captain in making a stand, as Brave’s men matched the women by pulling off the highest chase in their side of the tournament so far.

Leeds United might be having to rapidly change their plans for the summer after Championship playoff heartbreak, but they still remain keen to add to their ranks ahead of the new season.

Firesale incoming at Leeds

A 1-0 defeat to Southampton at Wembley ensured that Leeds United will spend another season in England's second tier, and that is likely to have a knock on effect on their transfer business as their sorry play-off record continued.

Leeds' play-off record (League One and Championship)
Year	Exit stage
2024	Final
2019	Semi-final
2009	Semi-final
2008	Final
2006	Final
1987	Final

Daniel Farke's side still owe £73.5m this summer in outstanding transfer fees from their time as a top-flight club, and it has been reported that they will have to raise up to £100m from player sales this summer, leaving a grim outlook at Elland Road.

Chief among those likely to leave is Championship player of the year Crysencio Summerville, while the likes of Wilfried Gnonto and Archie Gray have also been mooted as potential sales as the Yorkshire side look to balance their books.

There are also question marks over plenty of returning loanees, with Diego Llorente, Rasmus Kristensen, Max Wober, Marc Roca and Jack Harrison all set to return from spells away from the club.

But Leeds remain keen to formulate transfer plans of their own despite the ongoing uncertainty, and now they have been tipped to make one move in particular.

Leeds believe they can still win Rodon race

That comes with Leeds still keen on turning Joe Rodon's loan move into a permanent one despite their second tier status next season. The Welshman, who is contracted to Tottenham but spent the year at Elland Road, was a key part of Farke's defence this season and has become a fan favourite too.

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He was dubbed "outstanding" by former Leeds man Jon Newsome back in September after one particular performance against Millwall.

"Outstanding. Absolutely outstanding. Joe Rodon was man of the match for me. He got his head on everything. He was a different class, he really, really was", Newsome told BBC Radio Leeds.

He went on to rack up 43 appearances, and Leeds Live report that those at Elland Road still hold hope that they can win the race for his services despite interest from teams in the top flight and an eight-figure price tag of around £10-15m.

The reliable Phil Hay has also backed Leeds to try and keep him beyond this summer despite rumoured interest from clubs that can offer Premier League football, admitting that the club should be doing everything to "get it done".

“I’d be really surprised if they didn’t have another go at Rodon, I really would. It will come down to what his alternatives are,” Hay said.

“If you looked at him this season as a team who has just been promoted or you’re bottom-end of the Premier League, the money you’d have to pay for him, by Premier League standards, isn’t massive, he might be worth a punt.

“Tottenham tend to bargain pretty hard, but he’s been so good this season and so steady you’d absolutely say if you can get him back that fills the right centre-back, get it done.”

Though it will likely come down to Rodon's personal ambitions, he seems to have settled in well at Elland Road, and should Leeds be able to keep him he could be the man to help them back to the top flight next season.

Members of Liverpool's first-team squad will filter back into Kirkby on Friday onwards, with the U21s and teenagers already back and under Arne Slot's watchful eye.

Make no mistake, though, Liverpool's prominent members will not be returning for the foreseeable, with many competing on international duty and others currently enjoying their holidays – like Andy Robertson and Dominik Szoboszlai, who were knocked out of Euro 2024 over a week ago.

A central defender, defensive midfielder and wider forward are all positions that have been discussed ahead of possible summer spending, though FSG will only make their move if the right opportunity materialises.

Regarding the base of the midfield, the right chance might just have come along…

Liverpool transfer news

According to Spanish publication Sport, Liverpool are considered the favourites in the Premier League in the race to sign Bayern Munich sensation Joshua Kimmich, who is out of contract in Bavaria in one year.

The 29-year-old is currently starring for host nation Germany at the Euros but noise from the Allianz Arena suggests that fresh terms will not be agreed and he will be sold this summer, with Bayern considering a nominal sale of just €30m (£25m).

Hansi Flick's Barcelona have a vested interest and so too do a host of top English outfits, so Liverpool will need to move quickly if their intrigue is indeed serious.

What Joshua Kimmich would bring to Liverpool

Last summer, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho were sold to the Saudi Pro League after dismal, regressive campaigns. Jurgen Klopp needed to bolster with a top-class new no. 6 and after missing out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to Chelsea, settled for the shrewd £16m signing of Wataru Endo.

Endo, aged 31, has been an interesting addition to the Anfield clutch but is not the long-term solution to the holding midfield conundrum at Liverpool. Industrious and tenacious, yes, but also limited technically and not the crispest in defensive challenges – winning just 41% of his ground duels in the Premier League last season.

Kimmich, while no longer a new kid on the block, would bring an elite range of passing and a sharp defensive skill set that truly could leave him in a promising position for illustrious success on English shores, a metronomic force to serve Slot's possession and progression-centric system.

Matches played

28

29

Matches started

27

20

Goals

1

1

Assists

6

0

Pass completion

91%

88%

Touches per game

90.3

54.4

Tackles per game

1.6

1.7

Key passes per game

2.6

0.6

Recoveries per game

5.0

3.7

Dribbles per game

0.4 (45%)

0.3 (67%)

Ground duels won per game

2.8 (60%)

2.9 (41%)

He's quite clearly a cut above Endo, so cultured, so combative, so creative. Signing Kimmich would go against Liverpool's principles of targetting young, malleable talents, but exceptions can be made, right? Like when Liverpool signed distinguished midfielder Thiago Alcantara from… Bayern Munich, for £20m, seizing upon a unique opportunity.

Kimmich, unlike his former Bavarian teammate, is not so prone to extended layoffs, missing 17 matches due to injury over the past four campaigns, or 4.25 per season.

A player of myriad qualities, Kimmich ranks among the top 8% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 5% for shot-creating actions, the top 2% for passes attempted, the top 3% for progressive passes and the top 18% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.

His immense stretches of ground covered on a game-by-game basis have facilitated his rise to one of the leading European players of his position, with Julian Nagelsmann among those to have gushed over his "world-class" ability.

Such is his prowess, he could be the final piece of the puzzle at Liverpool, the missing link to ensure Slot's success. He could be Liverpool's own Declan Rice, or, even better, Liverpool's very own Rodri.

Arne Slot's very own Rodri

Rodri. Where to begin? Perhaps, aptly, from the end. Last time the Manchester City machine graced a football field, he starred as Spain overcame the valiant efforts of Georgia to advance, with a continent in awe, to the quarter-finals of the Euros, setting up a tie with Kimmich's Germany, ironically.

Unmatched spatial awareness, anticipation and technical quality place the pillars that make up Rodri's standing as one of the finest players in world football. Indeed, the 27-year-old has been described as "the best midfield player, currently, in the world by far" by Pep Guardiola.

He is so influential, completing 91% of his passes as Man City won their fourth successive Premier League title last season, averaging 1.5 key passes, 2.1 tackles and 6.9 recoveries per outing and winning 59% of his contested duels.

Moreover, the Spain star scored nine goals and supplied 14 assists across all competitions last season, showcasing his ability to stretch his influence beyond the expectations and even hopes of the world's finest 'defensive' midfielders.

His staggering ability to call upon every facet of the midfield game – and more – to a superlative degree is what differentiates him from the rest of Europe's high-class midfielders, but Kimmich could take a claim for bearing such talent.

Kimmich, as mentioned above, is a midfielder of far-reaching quality, and there is every chance that he would lift Slot's Liverpool to another level upon signing this summer, proving to be the catalyst to turbo-power and raise the bar to match that of the country's imperious champions.

For just £25m, it would simply be an offence to refrain from at least making an advance…

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He may be far from Pakistan’s poster boy, but his consistency with both bat and ball is helping them play the kind of cricket they want to

Danyal Rasool13-Sep-20258:26

Wahab: Haris Rauf has to come back against India

This story begins, as any story about Mohammad Nawaz, in an MCG dressing room, head in hands as he tries to hold back tears. Babar Azam isn’t prone to giving rousing speeches, but he sees the sensitivity of the moment, and rises to it. He modulates the emotional temperature of the room perfectly, aware that, in front of rolling in-house PCB cameras, any attempts to be excessively rousing may come off as a loss of control.”Koi masla nai hai, [It’s not the end of the world],” the Pakistan captain begins, voice steady, pitch level. “We need to work together as a team.” He then turns to Nawaz, who moments earlier just bowled the final over of that pulsating contest against India, failing to defend 16 as a match Pakistan had controlled slipped out of their hands.”And especially you, Nawaz,” Babar says to the man who cannot take his eyes off the floor. He switches to Punjabi, using both men’s mother tongue to further cement their collective solidarity, “you’re my match-winner, and I’ll always have faith in you, come what may. Keep your head up.”Related

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It was particularly cruel on Nawaz, who had been forced into a situation that wasn’t his to manage. He was bowling the final over when Pakistan had banked on pace to have finished the job by then. There was a no-ball for height that arguably wasn’t the correct call, and a free hit that knocked back a stump only to then trickle away for three.Just weeks earlier, Nawaz had produced a remarkable all-round performance against India in the Asia Cup in Dubai. He had doubled up as the game’s most economical bowler and the most destructive batter, sealing a classic win that would go on secure Pakistan’s berth in the final. It was that kind of showing that led Babar to declare him a match-winner, and yet, it had been wiped from memory, replaced by that chaotic over in Melbourne. Sunday will be the first time he faces India since that heartbreak.Mohammad Nawaz after the chaotic final over against India at the MCG•Getty ImagesThe one thing Babar couldn’t relate to – at the time, anyway – was being left out of the side. Pakistan have not always viewed Nawaz as a matchwinner in that same vein over his career, ever since he lit up the first game in PSL history, where he took 4-13 and was unbeaten with the bat for Quetta Gladiators. That is evident in when he has played; he has batted every position from 3 to 9. At four, where his numbers are strongest and where he first batted in that Asia Cup win over India, he would be sent in just twice more, and never again. With the ball, Pakistan have used him during the Powerplay, where he has bowled about a third of his T20I deliveries, and boasts a better economy rate than in any other phase of the innings.But more telling is how often Pakistan have not used him at all. In the 162 T20Is they’ve played since his debut up until July this year – when Nawaz returned once more after 18 months in the wilderness – he had taken part in just 60. It seems Nawaz can be deployed, with ball and bat, whenever Pakistan want, or, as about two-thirds of the games during his career attest, not deployed whatsoever.2:08

Samiuddin: Hesson clear with his plans for Pakistan

It is what makes this most recent resurgence hard to view as anything more than transitory, but his impact for Pakistan over the last 12 T20Is has been phenomenal. Called up for the spin-heavy conditions of Bangladesh in July, Nawaz is holding together this fragile strategy Pakistan have adopted under Mike Hesson, where specialist fast-bowling heft is sacrificed at the altar of piecemeal lower-order batting contributions.A hat-trick during a five-for against Afghanistan, and significant runs accrued over the past month in the UAE at a strike rate just under 140 have propelled Nawaz to perhaps the single most important player in this Pakistan set-up. Hesson on Thursday called him “the best T20I bowler in the world right now” and the numbers agree; no Full Member player has more T20I wickets this year (21), and no one that has bowled at least 200 deliveries has bettered his economy rate of 6.47.This is the kind of cricketer Nawaz was meant to become when he offered Pakistan a snapshot in that first PSL game. A decade on, Pakistan, and perhaps Nawaz himself, may finally have begun to work out what kind of cricketer he is. Though similar flashes in the past have proven false dawns, he has perhaps never played cricket as well, or as consistently, as he has in this latest edition of a cricketer whose reinventions are becoming impossible to keep track of.In one sense, Nawaz cannot really be called a match-winner. Not in the conventional sense of the word. He isn’t, and won’t ever be, Pakistan’s best spinner, and isn’t, and won’t ever be, their best batter, or their most explosive. But on any given day, he could fit either of those descriptions, and that, in T20I cricket, wins you matches. Matches of the sort Nawaz has been winning for Pakistan of late, and that Nawaz won when he last played India at the Asia Cup three years ago.

Bouchier and Dean identified as possible Covid-19 contacts, expected to return for second T20I

Valkerie Baynes28-Aug-2021Charlie Dean and Maia Bouchier have been ruled out of England’s opening T20I against New Zealand after being identified as possible contacts of a COVID-19 case.The pair, who both earned maiden international call-ups for the series, are expected to join up with the England squad ahead of the second T20I at Hove in a week’s time, pending test results.”In order to evaluate the situation and undergo further testing they will miss the first Vitality IT20 against New Zealand,” the ECB said.Emma Lamb has been drafted into the England squad ahead of the first match, at Chelmsford on Wednesday.Batting allrounder Lamb scored an unbeaten 111 off 61 balls opening for Thunder in the Charlotte Edwards Cup against Sunrisers in July, when she also took 3 for 16. She then played all seven of Manchester Originals’ completed matches in the Hundred, with notable scores of 32, 39 and 46 and claiming all three of her wickets for the tournament against Birmingham Phoenix, again taking 3 for 16.Related

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The as-yet uncapped Lamb was named in a 24-strong England training squad last June as players resumed individual programmes at various venues around the country after the first wave of the Covid pandemic.Lamb’s inclusion means that England have again resisted the temptation to pick 17-year-old allrounder Alice Capsey despite her impressive efforts for Oval Invincibles during their late charge to the Hundred title.Bouchier scored 92 runs in seven innings for Southern Brave during the Hundred at an average of 30.66 and with a strike rate of 143.75. Allrounder Dean, who played for London Spirit in the Hundred, claimed a wicket and scored 22 as part of an England A team which beat New Zealand by four wickets in a 50-over warm-up match.Taunton will host the last of the three England-New Zealand T20Is on September 9, with five ODI matches to follow as both sides ramp up their preparations for the World Cup, starting in New Zealand in March, where England are defending champions.

Chris Woakes has conceded that his winter of inaction with England “felt like a bit of a waste”, and revealed that he had received an apology from the team management and the ECB over the shared car ride that led to him having to self-isolate on arrival in Sri Lanka in January.Woakes has not played international cricket since last September, having travelled to South Africa, Sri Lanka and India without making it into the starting XI in any format of the game. He was recalled this week to the T20I squad for the first time in almost six years, and while admitting that had come as a surprise he said he would be hoping to push himself into the selectors’ thinking ahead of the T20 World Cup later this year.”I haven’t been in this squad for a while and I look at this as an opportunity” he said. “It is great for me to be back amongst the squad. I don’t take any squad selection for granted, I am certainly not just here to make up the numbers – if I get a go I will be trying to stake a claim. I also realise there are a few injuries knocking around but that doesn’t take anything away from me being part of this England team and putting my hand up to be part of this World Cup – with two World Cups around the corner.”T20 is the only format Woakes has had any game time in recently, initially at the IPL and then with Birmingham Bears in the Vitality Blast. After being named PCA Men’s Player of the Year last summer, Woakes was part of the ODI squad that flew to South Africa only to return without playing a game after concerns over bio-security. He then missed the first Test in Sri Lanka – a game he felt he was “a shoo in to play” – after being deemed a close contact of Moeen Ali, who tested positive for Covid-19 on arrival in the country.When the Test team moved on to India, Woakes was repeatedly overlooked before returning home as part of the ECB’s rotation policy, then missed the three ODIs due to the logistical demands of travel and quarantine required to rejoin the England bubble. “I just want to put it behind me really and look to what’s ahead,” he said. “It’s certainly been a tough seven or eight months since last September.Related

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“It all bubbles up to a really frustrating time. Not playing a single game all winter, after the summer I had, almost felt like a bit of a waste for me. Still great to be with the squad but you want to be playing cricket and making the most of your form when you’re hot.”On the decision to send him and Moeen in a shared taxi from Birmingham to Heathrow, despite the multitude of protocols in place to protect players from potential Covid-19 transmission, Woakes said that he had “vented” his frustration at the time, with his period in isolation effectively costing him his place in the side.”I felt like I was kind of a shoo in to play that first Test match in Sri Lanka, and obviously having had what happened, therefore obviously it did have a knock-on effect, [if] the team wins or the team does as well, all of a sudden it becomes hard to break back in. It doesn’t mean that I’d have played all the Test matches for the winter, but it might mean that I’d have had an opportunity to put my hand up before in a strong performance. And then the thoughts around selection for further Test matches might have been different.”I vented my frustration at the time, and apologies were given. [No] stone was [left unturned], but unfortunately that was the one thing that we did not quite get it right, and I did pay a price for that.”Having opted to go to the IPL after being picked up at auction by Delhi Capitals, Woakes then missed England’s two-Test series with New Zealand earlier this month. That decision was agreed between the player and ECB, with Woakes saying time away from home had “taken its toll mentally” – but he was keen to find a way to press his case for a Test return against India later in the summer, despite few opportunities to play red-ball cricket over the next six weeks.”I spent a lot of time away from home in that period and it had kind of taken its toll mentally,” he said. “The IPL was very much a decision which I took on, it’s on my shoulders, but I felt it was a great opportunity to learn and play some cricket after the winter I’d had.”Those two Tests versus New Zealand were put in [the schedule] quite late and I think the issue was as soon as getting out of isolation in London I’d have had to have a few days at home then play for Warwickshire to make myself available for any part of that Test series. Then there’s the tricky side of Covid restrictions and getting back in that bubble. Once we’d made the decision it was never really an option to play the second Test match. You’d have had to be in the bubble from the start.”It’s a real tricky situation. I felt I needed a refresh and some time at home with the young family. I kind of put up the pros and cons of missing that two-match series. It was very much in our hands, I spoke to Spoons [head coach Chris Silverwood] and the rest of the backroom staff here and they said ‘as much as we feel you probably should have a breather and get away from cricket, it is on you. If you want to be part of that we’ll definitely let you’.”I decided that little break would do me good in the long run. They certainly know I want to play Test cricket, don’t get me wrong. I haven’t played much red-ball cricket but they know I want to be a part of that Test squad and I believe they want me to be part of it so hopefully come that India series I’ll be fit and firing and ready to play a big part of that.”