The England coach feels good batting surfaces and quick outfields are needed to sustain the growth of the game, especially with the World T20 set to go standalone

Annesha Ghosh in Mumbai02-Apr-2018″It’s entertainment, isn’t it?”Rarely does a coach pose a question of this sort soon after a hiding, of the kind Australia meted out to England in the tri-series final in Mumbai on March 31.This wasn’t a tongue-in-cheek remark from England coach Mark Robinson. Nor was he aiming for hyperbole when he threw the question. He then jogged his mind back to the semi-final of the World T20 in March 2016 in New Delhi, where Australia beat England by only five runs on a slow surface. There, Australia didn’t hit a six in the last 10 overs; England managed two.”Here, it was just the opposite,” he said, referring to the final where a record fourth-wicket stand of 139 between Meg Lanning and Elyse Villani set the tone for a dominating win. Australia’s 209 was the highest T20I total in women’s matches, achieved largely because of 32 fours, the most in a T20I innings. Lanning alone smashed half the number of those fours in her 45-ball 88*.”Australia were absolutely outstanding. They fielded well, and that partnership between Lanning and Villani was outstanding,” Robinson said. “I mean, 120 (129) in the last 10? I mean, that’s how we learn; that’s brilliant. That’s going to bring people in. If I was a young person, I’d want to play such kind of cricket and come [to the stadium to watch].”Robinson hoped he wouldn’t see surfaces of the kinds that hosted the inaugural women’s day-night Ashes Test. He called for conducive batting conditions and quick outfields which could bring about a significant shift in viewership, in a year when the Women’s World T20 is set to become a standalone event.”What you want is the game to give credit to these fantastic female athletes. And I don’t think previously it was the case,” he said. “What you had in this tournament was the groundsmen go out of their way to produce the best surfaces possible, and that’s all you ask for wherever you go in the world. I would like to congratulate the BCCI getting these things right during the tri-series.”Robinson hopes boards would continue to provide conducive batting conditions and fast outfields•PA ImagesIn Robinson’s assessment, the tri-series lent testimony to the ever-increasing prowess of batsmen, who also somewhat benefitted from the new playing conditions that restrict the number of fielders outside the 30-yard circle to four. He cited Megan Schutt’s example to explain what bowlers needed to do to outfox batsmen in such conditions.”In this game, if you keep playing in these kind of wickets, you have to have a big legspinner somewhere, you have to have a yard of pace, you have to have a spinner who can get her fingers around it and the standards will go up, it will have to,” he said. “My criticism of the female game previously was the average wickets we’d play on and the standard of bowling wouldn’t be good enough.”I still feel the standard of bowling in the tournament hasn’t matched the standard of batting, and it will only go up. So the intent for the bowlers would mean they’ll have to hang in there and know what they want to do. Megan Schutt’s bowled really well, hasn’t she? So, you’ll need great changes of pace, or an extra yard of pace or something different. The game of cricket always evolves and we got to allow it to evolve and the bowling will start to catch up.”Robinson felt every team had a few marquee players who had to take it upon themselves to embed this brand of aggressive cricket to make the women’s game more attractive. “It’s about the big players scoring runs, isn’t it?” he asked. “Every team’s got such players. If Lanning got out in that game, it would have been different. But she didn’t, she had a partnership and that’s how she takes the game away from you, doesn’t she?”It’s about your best players: if [Harmanpreet] Kaur comes off, she can win the game by herself, we’ve seen it. The two games we won, we made mockery of two [huge] scores. Danielle Wyatt gets a big one and Nat Sciver does etc. So it’s always about the big players. So the shorter the game is, the less the big players you need, because the shortness of the game allows you to dictate terms.”While he conceded that going down in the final hurt, the “bigger agenda” was to identify the next generation of internationals, many of whom learnt plenty playing in conditions far different to the ones they’ve grown up on.The build-up to the tri-series wasn’t as promising for England, though. A back injury ruled out frontline fast bowler Katherine Brunt, while wicketkeeper-batsman Sarah Taylor was rested to “manage her long-term health.” Their pace bowling resources were further depleted when vice-captain Anya Shrubsole was forced to sit out all five games due to a shoulder strain.Danielle Wyatt’s batting came in for special praise from the England coach•BCCIReflecting on the loss, even as they prepare for three ODIs in Nagpur, Robinson was enthused by Wyatt’s performance. The opener finished atop of the run charts with 213 runs in five matches. Sciver and Tammy Beaumont too propped up much of the batting with half-centuries. He also appreciated the effort of the three debutants on tour.”From a selfish point of view, you’ve seen Nat Sciver look good as anybody in the world. You’ve seen Tammy Beaumont look as good as anybody I’m the world and you’ve seen Danny Waytt beginning to emerge as a cricketer to be feared. That’s really exciting,” he said. “We know we’ve got some bigger players to put back in but we’ve also got one eye on the future as well.”With Sarah, we can’t take her health for granted; Katherine, the age she’s in, we’ve got Lauren Winfield and Georgia Elwis working independently here trying to move their game on. That’s what we are doing. Trying to move our game on.”The upcoming series will be England’s first against India in the 50-over format since beating them in the World Cup final in July last year. Apart from spelling out the mantra for his side, Robinson also put himself in the Indian management’s shoes and felt they needed to “try and extract little more” out of their senior players. The talent among the youngsters wasn’t lost upon him either.”If I was their coach, I would be excited, by the age of them. They’ve obviously got two stalwarts [Raj and Goswami] who need to try and bring a bit more out of them. But India have got so much promise. And sometimes, with the brutality of sport you can only see warts and not the beauty spots,” he said.”If I was coach of that team, I’d need some patience and require my bosses to give me some patience as well, should I want to coach them because they’ve got some exciting talent. The young batters (Jemimah) Rodrigues and the young fast bowler [Pooja Vastrakar] and [Deepti] Sharma, there are a lot of great ages to work with.”

From Jamaica to Sydney, Andre Russell has made an impact in T20 cricket in several countries

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Feb-2017Andre Russell was an important part of the Kolkata Knight Riders’ XI in 2015 and 2016•BCCIIslamabad United
Andre Russell was part of the Islamabad United team that won the first season of the Pakistan Super League in 2016. He was the tournament’s highest wicket-taker with 16 in ten games and he had an economy of eight per over.Kolkata Knight Riders
Russell has been part of the KKR team since 2014 but became a key part of their first-choice XI over the last two years. In 2015, Russell scored 326 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 193
for KKR and was their highest wicket-taker with 14 and had an economy of eight per over. In 2016, Russell made 188 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 165, and was once again their highest wicket-taker – 15 wickets.Jamaica Tallawahs
Russell has played for Jamaica Tallawahs for four years and won two Caribbean Premier League titles with them – in 2013 and 2016. His best season was in 2016, when he made 286 runs at a strike rate of 172 and took 11 wickets at an average of 19. Russell was one of two players in the tournament to score more than 200 runs at a strike rate of more than 170.Sydney Thunder
Russell has played two seasons of the Big Bash League for Sydney Thunder. In 2015-16, he was an integral part of their title triumph – with 185 runs at a strike rate of 187 and 16 wickets – second most in the tournament – at an average of 19. His 2016-17 Big Bash was crippled by leg injures, though, and Russell dropped out of the tournament after five games.Andre Russell won two CPLs with Jamaica Tallawahs•LatinContent/Getty ImagesDhaka Dynamites
Russell has played three seasons for three different teams in the Bangladesh Premier League, and in 2016 he was part of the Dhaka Dynamites squad that won the tournament. He made 46 off 25 balls and had figures of 4-0-16-3 in the first Qualifier, which Dynamites won to seal their place in the final.Nottinghamshire
In 2016, Russell played three matches for Nottinghamshire in their run to the semi-final of the T20 Blast. He took 2 for 28 and scored 41 off 25 balls against Worcestershire, 2 for 34 and 15 off 8 balls against Derbyshire, and 3 for 20 and 39 off 18 balls in the semi-final against Northamptonshire.West Indies
Russell has only played T20 internationals for West Indies since November 2015; he is ineligible for ODIs because he did not play the domestic 50-over competition, which is one of the WICB’s criteria for selection. In 43 T20Is for West Indies, Russell has a batting average of 14.37 and strike rate of 130, and has taken 21 wickets at 37 apiece with an economy of over nine. Though his international career stats are not as impressive as his domestic numbers, Russell played a crucial innings in the 2016 World T20 semi-final against India in Mumbai, where he made 43 off 20 balls in a successful chase of 193. West Indies went on to win their second World T20 title by beating England in the final.

Hashim Amla didn’t have a great start to his Test career, but has since blossomed into one of South Africa’s finest batsmen, especially at the No. 3 position

S Rajesh11-Jan-2017A journey which began at Eden Gardens in Kolkata 12 years ago will reach a significant milestone in Johannesburg on Thursday when Hashim Amla walks out for the 100th Test match of his career, thus joining seven other South Africa players to achieve this feat. A 21-year-old Amla made his debut in that 2004 Test, and the early going was anything but smooth: he scored only 24 and 2 in his first Test, tallied 62 after his first six Test innings, and averaged a mere 25.50 after his first 15 Tests. The start was rough, but the peaks that followed have more than compensated for the poor beginning.Over the last 12 years, Amla’s batting has stood out for its sheer class and the ability to conquer all conditions and types of bowling. He averages almost 49 at home, 52 in Asia, 76 in England, and 46 in Australia and New Zealand. These numbers clearly demonstrate an ability to adapt to different conditions and bowling attacks. The runs have dried up in the last 18 months, and his career average – which stayed above 50 from his 65th to his 97th Test – has now slipped marginally below that mark, but hopefully, that is only a temporary blip.

During Amla’s best five-and-a-half years, between February 2010 and June 2015, he averaged a mindboggling 66.43 from 41 Tests, with 16 hundreds in 69 innings. Among the 26 batsmen who scored 2500-plus runs during this period, his average was the highest, followed closely by his team-mate AB de Villiers, with Jacques Kallis also in the top six. In 15 series he played during this period (excluding one-off Tests), he averaged 50 or more in 11 of them.With three batsmen in the global top six during this period, it is hardly surprising that South Africa dominated Test cricket and were clearly the best team of the time. They had a 23-7 win-loss record in those five-and-a-half years, while the next-best win-loss ratio was about half of South Africa’s number: England were 30-18 in that period, a win-loss of 1.66 compared to South Africa’s 3.28.

Amla’s recent dip in form – he has averaged less than 34 in his last 17 Tests – has brought his career average below 50 after 99 Tests; if he gets out in both innings in Johannesburg, he needs to score at least 185 runs in the Test to ensure his average at the end of the game is on the right side of 50. Among the four other top South African batsmen who have played 100-plus Tests, three had higher averages going into their 100th – Kallis, de Villiers and Graeme Smith. Kallis and de Villiers averaged over 50 going into that landmark Test, but Amla’s 25 hundreds is the highest among the lot. In fact, only six batsmen had scored more Test centuries after 99 matches – Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Matthew Hayden (30 each), Younis Khan (29), Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke (26 each).

A champion at No. 3Of the 7665 runs scored by Amla in Tests, 86% have come at No. 3, which makes him the fourth-highest run-scorer at that position; only Kumar Sangakkara, Rahul Dravid and Ponting have scored more. Amla’s average of 53.31 at that position is higher than his average at other positions, which is creditable given that he plays a lot of his cricket at home, where conditions are especially favourable for seam and swing early in the innings. Amla’s home average at that position is 49.52, while away from home it goes up to 58.16 – that is a pretty clear indicator of the tougher conditions in South Africa for a top-three batsman.

Even more impressive than his overall average at No. 3, though, are his numbers at that position when South Africa lose an early wicket. In the 40 innings when he has come in with South Africa one down for 10 or fewer runs, Amla has averaged a phenomenal 61.22, with three 200-plus scores – including a triple-hundred – and a 176. His highest Test score of 311 not out at The Oval came after South Africa lost their first wicket at 1; his second-highest score of 253 not out in Nagpur started at 5 for 1. On both occasions, one opener had fallen for a duck. More recently against England in Cape Town last year, he made 201 after coming in at 7 for 1.Hashim Amla’s stats at No. 3 are especially good when he comes in to bat early in the innings•ESPNcricinfo LtdWhen the first wicket has fallen between 11 and 20, Amla has averaged 51.31 from 15 innings. Combining the two, his average when coming in to bat with 20 or fewer runs on the board is 58.59, which is the highest among the top four run-scorers at that position. The other three did very well too when they came in to bat early – Dravid’s highest Test score came after the first wicket fell off the first ball of the innings, four of Sangakkara’s 11 double-hundreds came after the first wicket fell below 10, while Ponting had 10 hundreds in 70 innings – but Amla’s average in these situations is just a touch better than the others.

Playing the long inningsOne of the key features of Amla’s career has been ability to bat for long periods, regardless of whether he scores runs or not. In 168 Test innings, Amla has on eight occasions faced more than 300 deliveries. That includes his highest Test score of 311 not out, when he faced 529 balls and scored at a strike rate of almost 59, but also a 394-ball unbeaten 123 (strike rate of 31), when he defended relentlessly and almost saved the Kolkata Test against India in 2010. Then there was the unbeaten 139 off 382 balls (strike rate 36) against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2014, which he followed up with a 159-ball 25 to help South Africa escape with a draw. (They finished on 159 for 8 in 111 overs, requiring 369 to win.)Since the beginning of 1996, only four batsmen have faced 300-plus balls more than eight times in a Test innings. Sangakkara and Dravid have done it 16 times each, followed by Kallis (12) and Tendulkar (9). Amla shares the next slot with four others, which makes this a list of nine of the elite batsmen in Test cricket over the last 21 years.

The last couple of years haven’t been as prolific, but that slump can easily turn around with a couple of big scores. Amla will turn 34 in March 2017, and will hope he has at least two more years of prolific run-making ahead of him.

The 2012 and 2016 County Champions will be battling it out in the second tier, but Warwickshire and Middlesex won’t find life easy among a competitive division

David Hopps and Subhankar Bhattacharya12-Apr-2018Predictions1 Middlesex, 2 Sussex, 3 Warwickshire, 4 Northants, 5 Leicestershire, 6 Durham, 7 Glamorgan, 8 Kent, 9 Derbyshire, 10 GloucestershireMiddlesexLast season: 7th (Division One)
Coach: Richard Scott
Captain: Dawid Malan
Overseas players: Hilton Cartwright (until 14 May)
Ins:Outs: Ryan Higgins, Harry Podmore
Champions one year, down the next. Middlesex’s relegation in 2017 seemed inexplicable and their frustration boiled up during defeat on a turning pitch at Taunton in the final match when they were so incensed by conditions that there was even talk of legal action. Middlesex’s more considered response as winter arrived was to abandon their habit of overseas captains and entrust the future with Dawid Malan and Sam Robson as his vice-captain.But life is still not straightforward. Malan has been rested out of the first two matches by England, Eoin Morgan’s plans for a Championship comeback have been delayed by a broken thumb and England Lion Nick Gubbins is also injured. That meant a change of mind on an overseas player – Australian allrounder Hilton Cartwright comes in till mid May – and might mean a recall for Nick Compton. Ryan Higgins is also a loss in T20, but Middlesex can still fight off adversity and win the title.One to watch: Max Holden, a former England U19 captain, showed up well on loan at Northants last season and injuries could give him an immediate chance to make his mark.Bet365: 2-1Prediction: 1stSussexLast season: 4th
Coach: Jason Gillespie
Captain: Ben Brown
Overseas players: Ishant Sharma (April-June)
Ins:
Outs: Steve Magoffin, Chris NashSussex’s feelgood is high with the arrival as head coach of Jason Gillespie, who became a much-loved figure as he guided Yorkshire to successive Championship titles. They should be strong promotion contenders, although their hopes have taken a blow with the absence on IPL duty of Chris Jordan and Jofra Archer, who has followed the example of his Sussex team-mate Tymal Mills in 2017 by suddenly becoming one of the IPL’s most sought-after signings. With veteran Steve Magoffin also departing to Worcestershire that puts a lot of onus on the exciting but still slender paceman George Garton, plus, of course, Ishant Sharma, who is aiming to get into trim for India’s midsummer Test series in England.Chris Nash’s departure to Notts also leaves question marks at the top of the order, despite impressive returns in 2017 for Luke Wells and Stiaan van Zyl. Younger players such as Harry Finch, Michael Burgess and offspinning allrounder Delray Rawlins can help fill that gap, but if they can stay in touch with the top in the first phase, they can win promotion with a late surge in September.One to watch: Michael Burgess was released by Surrey and Leicestershire, but made a big impression when standing in as wicketkeeper for Ben Brown, capped by 146 against Notts in the final match of the season, and might just have a few more surprises in store.Bet365: 11-2Prediction: 2ndWarwickshireLast season: 8th (Division One)
Coach: Jim Troughton
Captain: Jeetan Patel
Overseas players: Jeetan Patel
Ins: Will Rhodes, Dom Sibley
Outs: William Porterfield, Ateeq Javid, Rikki ClarkeIt is hard to know what to make of Warwickshire. An ageing side showed such obvious signs of decline last season that their director of sport, Ashley Giles, had made plans to freshen up the side by mid-season, signing two batsmen in Dom Sibley and Adam Hose and an allrounder, Will Rhodes, who will make his bow this season.If Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott stir against Division Two attacks, and Sam Hain (highly praised for a batsman with a first-class average of 31) begins to live up to his reputation, there should be runs a plenty. But it is hard to see where the wickets will come from unless Jeetan Patel has a formidable season and Olly Stone puts an injury-strewn career behind him and delivers his potential. Giles has turned down an opportunity to be in the mix for the role oif England’s national selector to supervise the rebuilding of the Bears and, although there are signs of progress, his work is far from done.One to watch: Sukhjit Singh is the first county cricketer to emerge from the Chance to Shine programme – reason enough to wish him success.Dom Sibley works to the leg side•Getty ImagesBet365: 7-2Prediction: 3rdNorthamptonshireLast season: 3rd
Coach: David Ripley
Captain: Alex Wakely
Overseas players: Doug Bracewell (first month of season), Rory Kleinveldt (from mid-May)
Ins: Brett Hutton, Luke Procter, Ricardo Vasconcelos
Outs: David Murphy, AzharullahNorthants are a good thing for county cricket, a throwback to the more congenial times of old under the influence of coach David Ripley and skipper Alex Wakely, and none the worse for that if their surprise promotion challenge of 2017 is any guide – a campaign stilled only on the final day of the season at Grace Road. They have recruited well, adding two solid performers in Luke Procter and Brett Hutton, the latter a surprise capture from Notts; Ben Duckett is burning to bury memories of his Ashes soap opera with James Anderson under an avalanche of runs, and Richard Gleeson is one of the best uncapped fast bowlers in the country.That said, it will be a challenge for this adaptable, if small, squad to match last season’s efforts, especially as Max Holden has returned to Middlesex after a successful loan period. Rory Kleinveldt is also a year older, although his early-season substitute, Doug Bracewell, is a colourful and skilful replacement. Twenty20 might again be where they find their chief satisfaction.One to watch: Brett Hutton’s frustration at a lack of white-ball opportunities has led to him leaving Notts and Northants will find a strong-willed cricketer who should fit their need for value-for-money adaptable cricketers.Bet365: 9-1Prediction: 4thLeicestershireLast season: 10th
Coach: Paul Nixon
Captain: Michael Carberry
Overseas players: Varun Aaron (late April to early June), Mohammad Abbas (first Championship game in April then from mid-June)Ins: Ateeq Javid, Michael Carberry, Tom Taylor
Outs: Clint McKay, Will FazakerleyThe finest season for years is predicted for Leicestershire, where Paul Nixon’s impact might be seen most strongly later in the summer when an outstanding T20 record both as player and coach is put to the test, but initially the Championship can also deliver long-awaited progress. Nixon’s first coaching opportunity in England has been a long time coming and he begins it with a pair of potent overseas signings to lead the attack: initially Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas and then India’s Varun Aaron. If Zak Chappell’s homegrown talent provides support, Grace Road could be a challenging proposition for opposing batsmen.Whether Leicestershire’s seasoned batting line-up can stir itself to make enough runs might be down to Nixon’s inspirational qualities. Mark Cosgrove has relinquished the captaincy, with Michael Carberry taking over and a last hurrah from both would be a good place to start – although Carberry’s 59 runs in eight knocks on loan before Leicestershire signed him anyway was a defiant response to his statistical failure. Ateeq Javid, a spin-bowling allrounder, also has a last chance to make the grade after moving from Warwickshire.One to watch: Zak Chappell is one of the flavours of the month as far as England’s next generation of pace bowlers is concerned and will need to put dents in a first-class bowling average of 51.Bet365: 25-1Prediction: 5thPaul Collingwood urges on Durham at the Chesterfield Festival•Getty ImagesDurhamLast season: 9th
Coach: Jon Lewis
Captain: Paul Collingwood
Overseas players: Aiden Markram (until 14 May), Tom Latham (from 18 May until mid-August), Axar Patel (from 19 August)
Ins: Will Smith, Nathan Rimmington
Outs: Paul Coughlin, Graham Onions, Keaton JenningsDurham’s daunting task is to put the horrors of 2017 behind them. Relegation and a 48-point penalty, inflicted by the ECB because Durham needed a financial bale-out, wrecked their season before it had begun and left a deep well of resentment in the northeast that will linger for many years. Their financial tribulations also contributed to the loss of three top players at the end of the season with England hopeful Keaton Jennings, veteran seamer Graham Onions and sparky allrounder Paul Coughlin all heading for pastures new. Add a season’s ban for Jack Burnham for a positive drugs test and the heart has been ripped from the side.Paul Collingwood, pushing 42, is still there, more than six years after calling time on his England career. He will look for Cameron Steel and Graham Clark to build on 2017 form and South African opening batsman Aiden Markram might just be a fine early-season gamble. They will doubtless find another seamer somewhere because essentially that is what Durham do. And that is just one of the reasons why English cricket should wish them well.One to watch: Brydon Carse, an aggressive fast bowler, can be a fine sight when fit and in full flow.Bet365: 16-1Prediction: 6thGlamorganLast season: 7th
Coach: Robert Croft
Captain: Michael Hogan
Overseas players: Shaun Marsh
Ins:
Outs: Jacques Rudolph, Will BraggSuch has been the investment in Glamorgan by the ECB that the need for success is more pressing than it has been for years. Cardiff still hosts international cricket, despite giving up on Tests, and is also one of the eight venues for the proposed city-based T20 tournament in 2020, so long-term mediocrity will no longer be looked upon so benignly.Glamorgan’s commitment to a young side with a Welsh flavour has won them new admirers but such pride does not always translate into on-field success. It is now time for players such as batsmen such as Kiran Carlson and Aneurin Donald and the pace bowler Lukas Carey to turn potential into regular success. South African Kolpak Colin Ingram has opted for a white-ball deal, but the presence of Australian Shaun Marsh, who did not win an IPL contract, offers a guiding hand to Glamorgan’s youngsters, as does the return of Matthew Maynard as batting coach after his departure from Somerset.One to watch: Lukas Carey is a young fast-medium bowler from Pontarddulais with a smooth action who made a good impression in his debut season.Bet365: 14-1Prediction: 7thKentLast season: 5th
Coach: Matt Walker
Captain: Sam Billings
Overseas players: Matt Henry (first half of season)
Ins: Ollie Robinson, Heino Kuhn, Matt Henry, Harry Podmore
Outs: Adam Ball, Hugh Bernard, Charlie Hartley, Matt Coles, Sam NortheastPaul Downton endured a torrid time as managing director of England, lasting only 14 months in the role, and his return to the county game as Kent’s first director of cricket will be no easy task. A fading Kent promotion challenge for the second year in a row in 2017 culminated in a curious sequence in which Sam Northeast lost the captaincy because he would not commit to a new contract in 2019 – he chose Hampshire among a posse of admirers – and was then replaced by Sam Billings even though he will miss the first phase of the Championship season because of the IPL.With Kent also losing bucolic allrounder Matt Coles to Essex, an ageing group of senior players are left alongside a group of younger professionals who have so far failed to make much of an impact. Joe Denly, as vice captain, steps in for Billings in the early weeks and even the arrival of the South African batsman Heino Kuhn on a Kolpak deal and seamer Harry Podmore can suppress the feeling that Kent’s next promotion opportunity may be a while.One to watch: Kent will hope that Grant Stewart, a burly Australian with an EU passport, will prove a capable substitute for the departed Matt Coles.Bet365: 7-1Prediction: 8thGrant Stewart celebrates his maiden first-class wicket•Getty ImagesDerbyshireLast season: 8th
Coach:Stephen Stubbings
Captain: Billy Godleman
Overseas players: Duanne Olivier (first half of season)
Ins: Ravi Rampaul
Outs: Tom Wood, Greg Cork, Shiv Thakor, Rob Hemmings, Tom Taylor, Tom Milnes, Ben Cotton, Matt Henry, Charlie MacdonellDerbyshire have finished in the bottom three in Division Two for three successive seasons and their response has been an impatient one. The message from Kim Barnett, as he undertakes a final year as director of cricket, is that the county will no longer wait forever for young players to fulfil their talent: Tom Milnes, Tom Taylor and Ben Cotton have all been released when many Derbyshire set-ups in the past would have allowed more time for homegrown players to prove their worth.The loss of the talented allrounder Shiv Thakor, after he was found guilty of indecent exposure, is another blow for Derbyshire. Their batting remains in the familiar hands of Wayne Madsen, Billy Godleman and Alex Hughes and they will expect a big season for legspinner/batsman Matt Critchley. As for the bowling, the pace of South African Duanne Olivier and canny contributions of Ravi Rampaul will be vital, and blooding of teenaged seamers is inevitable.One to watch: More opportunities for Afghanistan-born offie Hamidullah Qadri would stir interest beyond DerbyshireBet365: 20-1Prediction: 9thGloucestershireLast season:6th
Coach: Richard Dawson
Captain: Chris Dent
Overseas players: Daniel Worrall (until 2 July)
Ins: Ryan Higgins
Outs: Patrick Grieshaber, Brandon Gilmour, Phil MustardSince finishing at the bottom of the table in 2012, sixth place has been an invisible hurdle for Gloucestershire (they have finished there in four of the past five seasons). The departure of experienced former England keeper Phil Mustard by mutual consent on the eve of the season leaves a hole. They will also be without Cameron Bancroft who was signed by Somerset for 2018 – only to be withdrawn from the Championship after he was embroiled in Australia’s ball-tampering scandal.Gloucestershire will have a local boy in charge after Chris Dent was made captain, following a season in which he led the way with the bat, scoring almost 900 runs. The bowling was carried by Liam Norwell, who bagged 59 wickets averaging 17.38, but the rest was under-strength. They will hope that their overseas signing Daniel Worrall, the Australian paceman who has a solid first class record with South Australia, can make an impact straightaway. He may need to.One to watch: Ryan Higgins, a hard-hitting T20 all-rounder who impressed while with Middlesex, will be looking for further opportunities after moving west.Bet365: 14-1Prediction: 10th

Having bowled and batted with tremendous skill over the first two days in Bengaluru, Australia’s discipline began to unravel on the third

Jarrod Kimber in Bengaluru06-Mar-2017Nathan Lyon bowled in the first innings of this match like a man who understood offspin on a spiritual level. From over the wicket, the ball would leave his hand, curve away, rip back, and get serious bounce. He did it ball after ball, like he was an animated GIF of offspinning perfection. Lyon, and Australia, were in complete control.On the third morning, Australia weren’t in complete control of the Test, but they were in front. The day couldn’t have started much better for them as the Starc and Wade scrappy-and sloggy double act was approaching 50. If they could double that it was pretty much game over.Starc was in control of only a little more than half the deliveries he faced and he had ridden his luck: one catch should have been taken, and he had another overturned on review. When Starc decided to slog sweep R Ashwin, though, it wasn’t just the end of his innings but Australia’s too.The problem was that, even last evening, the pitch was showing signs of getting easier to bat on. The variable bounce seemed to be disappearing. So not only was Australia’s collapse this morning – 4 for 37 – a complete turnaround from their day of endless fight yesterday, it also left some of their easier runs unscored. The lead stopped growing at 87, like that was a real bad-luck number for Australian cricket and not a misremembered conversation handed down over the years as fact.They had a lead, but not the game.Later Cheteshwar Pujara faced Lyon with a record that inspired little confidence, having fallen to the offspinner five times for an average of 29. And KL Rahul was at the other end, with a second-innings average of 12. Abhinav Mukund was already gone, and the newly nervous Virat Kohli was in next.Pujara looked completely out of sorts. He edged one from Lyon into Matthew Wade’s pad, he flicked one close to a diving midwicket, and he edged another to the left hand of Steven Smith at slip. Smith dropped it. Pujara was 4 and India were in the minus. He finished the day with 75 more runs.There were great moments too. Smith took a catch so good that you want to take it to your make-out spot and get cosy with it. Josh Hazlewood’s spell in the middle of the day was the kind Glenn McGrath would produce in Asia, a bass-guitar beat down. And they had some luck with the Kohli lbw because had it been given not out, it would have been just as good a decision.And then India had a bit of a moment when they promoted Ravindra Jadeja. He was either a tea-watchman, a leftie to break the string of right handers in the middle order, or they thought it would be hysterical to send him in and see what happened.But Hazlewood couldn’t bowl forever, though he did try, and Smith could only dive majestically at the ones he could reach. And after that, nothing really went right.Mitchell Starc has been the poorest fast bowler on this pitch. He hasn’t maintained the pressure of Hazlewood, Ishant Sharma, or Umesh Yadav, and hasn’t produced enough of his Hollywood leading-man balls either. The left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe bowled okay, but without his beloved Pune pitch he’s not looked as likely to break through, and despite him keeping the scoring low for someone to prosper at the other end, they did not. And Mitchell Marsh’s Alfred Hitchcock bowling cameo was hardly worth it.Then there is Lyon, who in the first innings bowled in such a cluster of awesomeness that analysts will be showing it to their grandkids one day. Of 134 balls, he over-pitched two and under-pitched two, according to Cricviz data. And the only time he went wide was to set up Ajinkya Rahane.In the second innings, Lyon bowled 162 balls and his line was wider. His worst balls were quite wide but even his stock balls weren’t as straight. His tight cluster had become a pie dropped from a second-floor balcony.  In one innings he went from 97% of his balls on a good length, to 43%.There are many reasons for the difference. The savage bounce Lyon got in the first innings had become gentlemanly. When Pujara was struggling, Rahul faced 17 consecutive balls from the offspinner to give his partner a rest. As the Indians felt the pitch easing, they attacked more and did not let Lyon settle into a groove.But Lyon didn’t bowl as well either. He didn’t look confident or happy. His action looked like his arm was coming over past the perpendicular at times. He pulled out of one ball and grabbed his back. And he even seemed to pop open the callous on his spinning finger.And then there were the foot holes. Lyon must have spent most the day looking at them, rubbing them with his hand, and putting his foot in them to try and find the right place. By his last over he had to admit it wasn’t working. He abandoned the crease that had given him eight wickets and ended up hoping India would make a mistake as he bowled around the wicket.At this point it was clear: Lyon was no longer in control, and neither were Australia.

Their current approach to ODI cricket has taken them to No. 1 in the world but if they want a trophy to go along with that ranking in 2019, they need to mind match situations better

George Dobell at The Oval14-Jun-20181:20

Winning ugly an important skill for England – Morgan

In the same way the ice bergs didn’t “put any doubt” in the mind of the captain of Titanic, some of England’s batsmen seem determined not to allow “any doubt” – or even reason – to be put in their minds when they bat in limited-overs cricket.That’s how it seemed as they stumbled over the line at The Oval, anyway. Thanks to David Willey’s highest – and probably best – ODI innings, England may be able to paper over (sandpaper over, if you will) the cracks in this performance. But there were, once again, a few warning signs they would be best to heed ahead of the World Cup in a year’s time.The problem – not for the first time – is that England seem unable to harness the welcome aggression with which they now play limited-overs cricket with just a modicum of common sense.Take the dismissal of Moeen Ali. By the time he was out at The Oval, England required only 18 to win and they had 69 balls in which to score them. All he needed to do – as the last senior batsman – was keep the strike and pick off the runs when the opportunity arose.Instead he went for the big stroke. And, after he was taken at deep midwicket, England were forced to rely on two bowlers – albeit bowlers who can bat – to see them over the line. On another day, against a more incisive attack, it is a mistake that will cost them. They haveto learn to play more sophisticated cricket.It wasn’t the first time Moeen had made this error. Just a few days previously, in Edinburgh, he had done something similar: with 25 required from the final 28 balls of the match, he had tried to hit a six and been caught on the long-on boundary. It seemed an unnecessary risk. He was the eighth-wicket to fall and England subsequently lost.In between the games, Moeen defended the approach by saying it was best “not to have any sort of doubt.” He insisted he would “stay true” to himself and continue to take such an approach. And, a few days later, he showed he was true to his word.Moeen wasn’t the only one, either. While Jos Buttler, caught at mid-on, was probably the victim of a fine slower-ball, it again seemed unnecessarily aggressive to try to hit over the infield in the match situation. And while Jonny Bairstow may well feel his pull was so well struck that he deserved a boundary, the fact is he hit it almost straight to the man placed for the shot on the leg-side boundary. It was a naive stroke.David Willey and Liam Plunkett celebrate the moment of victory•Getty ImagesThere’s a context here. So keen were England to embrace a new mindset in their ODI cricket following the debacle of the 2015 World Cup that it was, for a while, essentially they played uncompromising, unmitigated, undiluted, aggressive limited-overs cricket. They neededthat approach to take root. They needed it to become the norm.But we’ve moved on from that now. And while the general approach is still welcome, it seems fair to add a little sophistication to it. So while nobody is asking them to play the percentage cricket that was the hallmark of earlier generations of England teams, it does seem fair to expect them to temper their aggression to cater for the match situation or even bowler-friendly conditions. Even Lewis Hamilton slows down for corners.There was lots to admire about England’s performance at The Oval. Their two main spinners – who claimed 5 for 79 in 20 overs between them – were especially impressive, with Adil Rashid not conceding a boundary until his ninth over and Moeen going into his tenthhaving conceded only a four and a six. Equally, Eoin Morgan and Joe Root batted with calm common to break the back of the run chase.It is true, too, that, with both bat and ball, England are missing Chris Woakes. Not only is Woakes their highest-rated ODI bowler, but he has increasingly gained a reputation as a calm head in the batting order. His worth to this side has been best demonstrated by his absence.But just as England were knocked out of the ICC Champions Trophy last year through an inability to adapt to conditions, so Morgan will know his side have to add some wisdom to their flair if they are to win the World Cup next year.”We were below par with the bat,” he admitted, “but we found a way to get over the line. Finding a way to get over the line was important.”Morgan will know, however, that England got away with it at The Oval. And he will know that they won’t get away with it against better sides. Or sides which are not shorn of at least five first choice players, as this Australia side was.By the time the World Cup comes around, England still need to be playing this type of aggressive, fearless cricket. But if they are to win it, they will surely need to complement it with the ability to adapt, adjust and temper their wonderful aggression with just a little nous.

India’s Harmanpreet Kaur talks about her hard-hitting style, her stint at Sydney Thunder, and the various captains she has played under

Annesha Ghosh16-Jun-2017Describe your first day at work with Sydney Thunder. Was it a training session, a squad meeting or an ice-breaking session?
My flight to Sydney was scheduled the same evening we [the India women’s team] landed in Mumbai after winning the Asia Cup in Thailand. So I missed all the ice-breaking and training sessions with the Thunder girls and was due to play a match the very next evening. I landed there and did a few pressers and the team meetings. Was dog-tired after that but excited to hit the ground running in a few hoursYour 28-ball 47 on your WBBL debut featured a lofted cover drive for six that was described by Adam Gilchrist on live commentary as “as good a cricket shot as you will ever see”. Is that the best shot you’ve played till date?
One of the best, surely. I was pleasantly surprised to learn he was on air at that point. He even tweeted something after the game. [It’s] always nice when a legend like him appreciates your game.How did you feel when you had the bowler, Gemma Triscari of Melbourne Stars, in splits with that shot?
My first reaction action after hitting that six was… umm… confusion. I was like, “Hey, I smoked that one, and all she does in reply is burst into laughter!” The next match, which was also against the Melbourne Stars, and we needed 13 off 12, I remember I had closed out the game in the 19th over, with one four and two sixes. After I hit that winning six, I spotted Triscari laughing at short third man. I told myself, “Well, maybe, that’s her way of reacting to sixes!”How well did you get along with your team-mates?
Oh, it took me a while to remember the names. For the initial few days I wasn’t able to tell their faces apart. I would think, “Wasn’t this the same girl I was introduced to a few minutes ago?” But the first fielding session I had with them on match day was real fun. I had only four-five hours of sleep and was tired but the enthusiasm of the girls was infectious.Their English is starkly different from what we speak here in India. I would have to strain my ears to make sense of what they spoke. I would focus hard on a few words when the Aussie girls would interact with each other and then pick a few up from there. I guess I did pretty well as a student ().

“Sandwiches were a constant feature in breakfasts [at Sydney Thunder], and I absolutely hate sandwiches. I would be really annoyed every time I found it on the menu”

Were you able to rub off a bit of Hindi or Punjabi on your Thunder team-mates?
Oh yeah, I did, but only a smattering. They seemed to be already familiar with “” (let’s go), and it was kind of nice the way most of the girls used it while heading for the ground. I also remember many of them showing particular interest in the song from . Many a time, I would enunciate the words, explaining the lyrics to them, and to their credit, they were pretty quick at getting the pronunciations right. But they would also put me on the spot, asking me to translate words like “breakfast” into Hindi. I would wonder, “, India breakfast breakfast !” (Oh man, we call breakfast breakfast in India.)Did you develop a liking for Australian food?
Sandwiches were a constant feature in breakfasts, and I absolutely hate sandwiches. I would be really annoyed every time I found it on the menu. And then there was also bacon. I wasn’t accustomed to eating bacon before my WBBL stint. I don’t even like fish much. I have always been an all-things-chicken aficionado, as you’d expect of a Punjabi. But my room-mates would insist I tried a bit of bacon. I kept refusing for the longest time – and succeeded in doing so too. Thankfully, though, the Thunder manager, Merv Pereira, turned out to be an Indian. That was the biggest plus point (). He was almost like a godsend. And a lot of Punjabis based in Sydney would come to watch our games. My cousin lives in Sydney too. So, getting “” (home-style food) wasn’t much of a problem.You have been signed up by Surrey Stars for the upcoming season of the Kia Super League, England’s domestic T20 tournament. Were you offered a contract by any other franchise?
No, it’s only Surrey [Stars]. The BCCI informed me that the franchise wanted to rope me in for the tournament. Given that I don’t have any cricketing commitments during that time of the year, and the World Cup, too, will have been over by then, I decided to give it a shot.Batting for Sydney Thunder? Not a problem. Adjusting to the accents? Far trickier•Getty ImagesWith one wicket in hand, and eight runs needed off the last two balls in the final of the Women’s World Cup Qualifier, against South Africa, in February, you hit a six off the penultimate delivery and ran a couple the next ball to hand India the title. Talk us through that final-over finish.
We needed nine off the over, so I had made up my mind early that I would face all six deliveries. Raja [Rajeshwari Gayakwad], the No. 11 batsman, was at the other end, and knowing our tailenders rarely get to bat in matches, I was clear in my head I didn’t want to give her the strike, because doing that would have meant I had to hope for her to take a single.In such situations, you can’t hope for things to happen – you’ve got to make things happen. The South African quicks were also keeping it really tight in the end overs. We had lost the last few wickets to yorkers. My target was to hit at least two fours or one six, and I was anticipating where the ball would be bowled according to the field placements. But after I failed to execute in the first three balls, I realised perhaps the bowler was trying to out-think me by bowling completely opposite to the field setting. So, I decided to play the last two balls purely on their merit, and luckily, I connected the penultimate ball for a six. Whew!And what about the celebration that followed? Were you even aware your bat was on the verge of skyrocketing into outer space?
Such was the thrill of that win. Normally I wouldn’t even let my bat drop to the ground, forget hurling it up in the air. My bat means the world to me, so after the excitement tempered down, I kept apologising to my bat for hours on end. But yeah, I did watch replays of that frenzied celebration on social media and, as I said, it was frenzied.How was it being room-mates with West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor and batting in her company during the WBBL?
It was fun. Since most of the [Thunder] girls hailed from Sydney, they would travel from home. A few of us lived in the same apartment – Taylor, I, Sam [Bates], Cheats [Lauren Cheatle]. Taylor is a chilled-out girl – doesn’t talk much and mostly likes to keep to herself. But I thoroughly enjoyed batting with her. We would share our individual understanding of a bowler’s gameplan, share our views and experiences with each other. I got to learn a lot from her in terms of assessing tactics of opponents. She’s really good at that: 70-80% of her predictions about the bowlers’ lines and lengths would come true.Tell us one trait you admire the most in each of the captains you’ve played under – Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami, Anjum Chopra and Alex Blackwell, the Thunder captain.
Mithu has been immensely calm and focused as the leader of our side. Her experience as a top batsman for all these years reflects in her sound awareness about responding to a particular situation.Jhulu was as aggressive as captain as she’s always been as a bowler. I’m an aggressive player myself, so I like that trait in her.

“Normally, I wouldn’t even let my bat drop to the ground, forget hurling it up in the air. My bat means the world to me, so after the excitement tempered down, I kept apologising to my bat for hours”Harmanpreet on her bat-hurling celebration after hitting the winning runs in the Women’s World Cup Qualifier final

Anjum was a cool-headed skipper. She would underline that there were no hierarchies in the team, no senior-junior classifications. She would often say, “Irrespective of age and experience, all players representing the national side, even the debutant, are on the same plane.”Blackwell is an out-and-out team player. Often after the end of a match she would seek our opinion on the choices she had made in the field that day and ask us how differently we would have reacted had any of us been in her position. It was nice to see the importance she attached to the perspective of every player.The ideal way of describing your bowling style would be: right-arm everything. Your spin variations are marked by a deceptive use of pace and flight. How did you develop this brand of bowling?
It’s only been two or three years since I switched from medium pace to spin. I don’t focus much on the technicalities of the craft, to be honest. I just make sure I enjoy my bowling, which is what I’m glad I’ve been able to do so far. Much of the effectiveness of my spin bowling – offspin, legspin, wrong’uns or quicker ones – has its origin in the nets sessions I used to have in Moga.During my early years of formal training, my coach, Rupchand Sir, would make the girls try out all types of bowling. I’m happy those experiments – the looping, darting and all that – are coming to good use now.You’ve always said Virender Sehwag is your cricketing hero. How much of an influence has he been?
I grew up watching Sehwag, and he was the only reason I followed matches on television as a kid. I never had any other cricketing idol. I would meticulously follow his style of batting – his liking for scoring runs in fours and sixes, his approach in high-pressure situations. During my growing-up years, I would often try and execute some of the trademark Sehwag shots while playing with the boys in the neighbourhood. Even now, whenever I get to meet him, I discuss my game with him and try to learn something new.Is your on-field aggression a reflection of your admiration for Sehwag’s strokeplay?
Not really – the aggression is in my genes (). It’s been handed down by my father, Sardar Harminder Singh. I would tag along with him when he used to play club-level games. I think I picked up the hard-hitting style from him.Harmanpreet (right) with “firebrand and great dancer” Veda Krishnamurthy•IDI/Getty ImagesWhat is it like to be the connecting link between the two veterans – Goswami and Mithali – and the younger crop of players in the Indian team?
Spending considerable time over the years with Jhulu , Mithu and now with the youngsters as well, has helped me understand their mindsets. At times, when either side is not able to convey their thoughts to the other, I can play the communicator between them. The youngsters coming into the team may feel shy about discussing certain things with the two legends, while for them [Raj and Goswami], the concern may be to ensure their feedback is not misconstrued as putting undue pressure on the girls. That is where I can chip in and bridge the gap, if any. [It] helps the team-bonding too.What’s the worst sledge you ever copped on a cricket field and what was your response?
I’m not sure if I can recall the worst sledge but I do remember getting one from [Alyssa] Healy during the WBBL. I was at the non-striker’s end and the noise in the stadium was quite deafening, so I couldn’t hear what she said. But my partner told me between overs that Healy had uttered something unpleasant. Since I hadn’t heard it myself, I chose to ignore it and carried on with my game. However, after the end of the match, Healy came up to me and apologised.If there were a contest to publish most Instagram stories in a day, who among your India team-mates is likely to win?
Sushma Verma [the wicketkeeper] – hands down. No one in the team is a patch on Sush.Who’s the most fun on a night out?
I think it’s Veda [Krishnamurthy]. She is a firebrand and a great dancer too.Who’s the worst?
It has to be Smriti [Mandhana]. You know how graceful she is as a batsman. But, unfortunately, I can’t say the same about her dancing skills ().A catch goes up to win the World Cup final. Who do you want under it?
Myself. I trust my abilities the most.

MatériaMais Notícias

da bwin： O elenco das Brabas sofreu sua sétima baixa na temporada. Nos últimos dias, o Corinthians comunicou a saída da meia Liana Salazar, que retornou à Colômbia para defender o Santa Fé, seu antigo clube.

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da betsul： + Corinthians fora da Copa do Brasil 2024? Veja times que podem não disputar a competição

Após a saída da goleirasuiço-brasileira Natascha, apelidada carinhosamente de “Gringa da Fiel”, ao Flamengo, Lia era a única estrangeira do elenco feminino.

A colombiana de 30 anos agradeceu o carinho e apoio que recebeu durante sua única temporada pelo Corinthians.

+ Veja as movimentações do mercado da bola no LANCE!

– Foi uma honra e orgulho poder vestir esse manto sagrado. Simplesmente obrigado, obrigado a cada uma das pessoas que me ajudaram durante esse ano. Aos dirigentes, comissão técnica, pessoas de apoio, colegas, mas sobretudo aos torcedores! – postou Lia em suas redes sociais.

Pelo Santa Fé, Lia chegou a enfrentar o Corinthians na final da Libertadores de 2021, vencida pelas brasileiras por 2 a 0. Antes de se tornar profissional, ela jogou em equipes universitárias e defendeu a Universidade do Kansas, entre 2011 e 2015.

+ Veja como ficou a tabela e simule o mata-mata do Campeonato Paulista

Além de Lia e Natascha, as Brabas tiveram as saídas da goleira Kemelli, da lateral Juliete e das atacantes Adriana, Bianca Gomes e Mylena na temporada.

A equipe treinada por Arthur Elias volta a campo na segunda-feira (20), contra a Ferroviária, pela quarta rodada do Brasileirão feminino, na Arena Fonte Luminosa, às 20h.

continua após a publicidade

Manchester United have a make-or-break summer under boss Ruben Amorim, needing to make the overhaul he desires to get the best out of his first-team squad.

The 40-year-old took the reins back in November from Erik ten Hag after he was sacked, looking to lead the side back up to the top of the Premier League table.

However, with just a handful of games to go, the Red Devils sit in the bottom half of the table, closer to the relegation zone than a place within the European spots.

They could still secure a place in the Champions League next season should they win the Europa League, potentially having a final against fellow English side Tottenham Hotspur.

Regardless of whether they are in Europe again next season, Amorim will want new signings to improve their league standing and push for a top-four spot in 2025/26.

An update on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

Given the cost-cutting operation currently in place at United, it remains to be seen how much funds the manager will have at his disposal to make the signings he desires.

Whilst Matheus Cunha will remain the club’s number one option, Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres has once again emerged on their shortlist ahead of the summer.

The Swede has once again been subject to interest from the Red Devils, with talks already being held over a possible switch to see him reunite with his former boss.

However, further progress has already been made elsewhere in an attempt to secure the signature of Real Madrid’s star forward Rodrygo, with reports in Spain putting United firmly in the race for his services.

They’ve reported that the Red Devils have already submitted a €80m (£68m) offer for his services, but it remains to be seen whether the LaLiga giants will accept such a bid.

It also states that the Brazilian wants to stay in Madrid but could be tempted by a move to the Premier League, needing to make a decision whether or not he’s keen on the transfer.

Why United’s £68m target would be perfect with Bruno

Bruno Fernandes has been United’s shining light in attacking areas over the last few months, playing a pivotal role in their success in the Europa League – as seen on Thursday night.

The 30-year-old registered two goals in the win over Athletic Club in the first leg, handing them an advantage over the return leg at Old Trafford next week.

His subsequent double has taken him to a staggering 19 goals and 16 assists across all competitions, by far and away the highest of any player within the first-team squad.

However, such a tally could be bolstered even further next year should the club conduct a deal for Rodrygo, with the Brazilian having all the tools to thrive alongside Fernandes at Old Trafford.

The 24-year-old has registered 14 goals and nine assists for the LaLiga giants, a figure that would certainly see United increase their output within the final third.

Games played

30

Goals & assists

11

Pass accuracy

91%

Successful dribbles

2.3

Chances created

2.3

Tackles won

67%

Duels won

5.3

He’s also managed to complete 2.3 successful dribbles per 90, along with 2.3 chances created – potentially partnering the Portuguese international behind the strikers and providing endless opportunities.

Rodrygo, who’s been labelled “one of the best” by current boss Carlo Ancelotti, has also starred without the ball, winning 67% of the tackles he’s entered alongside 5.3 duels won per 90 – fitting perfectly into Amorim’s hard-working and relentless system.

Should the club pull off such a signing over the summer transfer window, it would be an excellent piece of business that would add needed quality to the forward line.

£68m may seem like another hefty fee forked out by the hierarchy, but given his age and his form, he’s only going to develop further, potentially being the Red Devils’ leading talisman for many years to come and leading them back to Premier League success.

Amorim must offload 5/10 Man Utd dud who’s becoming the new Van de Beek

Manchester United took a huge step towards the Europa League final last night with a 3-0 win over Athletic Club.

ByEthan Lamb May 2, 2025

An “exceptional” former Manchester United player could make a surprise return to Old Trafford this summer, according to a report.

Man Utd pursuing midfielder amid Casemiro doubts

Casemiro’s future at Old Trafford appears to be in doubt, despite the Brazilian putting in some much-improved performances in recent times, making a remarkable 11 tackles against Manchester City earlier this month.

As such, Ruben Amorim may be tasked with bringing in a new tough-tackling midfielder this summer, and the manager’s search has led him to Atalanta midfielder Ederson, with Man United expected to make a £52m bid for the Brazilian.

Other potential options include Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Larsson, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Joao Gomes, with United certainly not short on options as we edge closer to the summer transfer window.

Manuel Ugarte joined the Red Devils last summer, following the decision to sell Scott McTominay to Napoli for £25m, and the Scot has really kicked on since arriving in the Serie A, establishing himself as a key player for the Serie A title chasers.

As such, according to a report from Spain, McTominay could now be in line for a surprise return to Old Trafford, although a deal will not be cheap, as his performances for Napoli have elevated his market value considerably.

It may also be difficult to prise the 28-year-old away from Napoli, with the Italian club determined to keep hold of him, and given that he is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career, the midfielder may not be overly keen on a return despite the interest from his former club.

Top target: £64m "Superman" now Man Utd's leading candidate to replace Onana

The Red Devils are looking to sign a new goalkeeper, with Andre Onana putting in some concerning performances this season.

ByDominic Lund Apr 16, 2025 "Exceptional" McTominay shining in the Serie A

The Scotland international was much-maligned during his time with Man United, which ultimately led to the decision to cash-in last summer, but he has shown serious signs of development since moving to Napoli.

The Lancaster-born midfielder has picked up a very impressive eight goals and four assists in 28 Serie A appearances, most recently bagging a brace against Empoli to ensure his side remained just three points behind league leaders Inter Milan.

In light of the improvements the central midfielder has made to his game, he was lauded as “exceptional” by journalist Josh Bunting earlier this season, and he ranks highly on some key metrics for midfielders over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Non-penalty goals

0.26 (97th percentile)

Successful take-ons

1.05 (85th percentile)

Aerials won

1.84 (90th percentile)

That said, it seems very unlikely that McTominay will be on his way back to Old Trafford anytime soon, given that he left less than a year ago, and appears to be flourishing with Napoli.