These first-time auction buys could become key movers for their franchises if they are played this season

Sreshth Shah19-Sep-2020Josh Philippe, Royal Challengers Bangalore
Philippe, a wicketkeeper-batsman from Australia, was one of the stars of the Big Bash League’s 2019-20 season. He started the tournament with a bang, hitting 81 not out against Perth Scorchers and ending the game with a massive six that landed on the roof of the SCG pavilion. He went on to score four more fifties for Sydney Sixers in the tournament, including one in the final. Philippe, 23, has shown both impeccable timing and a 360 game in his short career. RCB were lucky to pick him up for just Rs 20 lakh (about US$27,000) in the last auction, which was before the BBL season. Philippe was recently included in the Australia squad for the ODI and T20I series in England, though he did not make his international debut. He has earned high praise from big names – Adam Gilchrist has said he could be a “catalyst for change” in Australia’s white-ball squad, while RCB team-mate AB de Villiers has said he sees some of his younger self in Philippe.Ishan Porel, Kings XI Punjab
Porel, 22, is a seamer who can consistently hit the 140kph mark. He first drew attention during India’s successful campaign at the 2018 Under-19 World Cup, in which he took 4 for 17 in the semi-final, against Pakistan, and then bowled a tight opening spell in the final, against Australia. Since then, he has become the de facto leader of the Bengal bowling line-up and helped Bengal reach the 2019-20 Ranji Trophy final. He was part of the India A team that toured New Zealand in January 2020 and took eight wickets in three games. Porel began as a back-of-a-length bowler, but over the past few years he has learned to swing the ball and begun bowling fuller to succeed in Indian conditions.Tom Banton, Kolkata Knight Riders
At 21, Banton is already one of the most talked about batsmen on the T20 circuit. In 40 T20 matches, he has an average of nearly 30 and a strike-rate of 154.16. Banton rose to prominence during the 2019 English summer, when he scored 454 runs for Somerset in the Royal One-Day Cup, including 112, 59 and 69 in the three knockout games. He also scored 549 runs in the Vitality Blast, including a hundred and four fifties. He was then picked up by franchises for both the BBL and the Pakistan Super League and had impressive innings in both competitions. He has also become a regular member of England’s white-ball squads. Banton grew up playing field hockey and that helps him play outrageous reverse-sweeps and scoops, which makes him an entertaining batsman to watch.Ravi Bishnoi, Kings XI Punjab
A modern-day legspinner who prefers his googly to the traditional legbreak, Bishnoi was the leading wicket-taker at the 2020 U-19 World Cup, collecting 17 scalps in six games at an average of 10.64. He admires Rashid Khan and Yuzvendra Chahal, and his fast run-up allows him to get extra zip and bounce. It will help Bishnoi, still just 20, that Kings XI Punjab’s head coach is Anil Kumble, the former India legspinner. Bishnoi recently said he had been learning to bowl the flipper from Kumble.Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rajasthan Royals
Jaiswal, an 18-year-old left-hand batsman from Mumbai, was the Player of the Tournament at the 2020 U-19 World Cup, in which he scored 400 runs at an average of 133, including four fifties and a century. By then, Jaiswal had already impressed for the Mumbai senior team – he scored three centuries, one a double, for Mumbai in the 2019-20 Vijay Hazare Trophy. Jaiswal’s consistency and aggression made him a hot commodity at the auction, and he was sold for Rs 2.4 crore (about US$338,000). With Ajinkya Rahane no longer at Rajasthan Royals, there’s a good chance Jaiswal will be one of their first-choice openers.

Five IPL franchises have expressed a “soft” interest in buying a stake in London Spirit, the Lord’s-based Hundred team, according to Mark Nicholas, the MCC president who is set to take over as the club’s chairman in October.Nicholas was speaking at Lord’s to announce plans for the inaugural “World Cricket Connects” symposium – an event due to be hosted by MCC on July 5, and intended to “help shape cricket’s ongoing global success and provide balance across its huge spectrum of stakeholders”.The initiative reflects MCC’s intention to “improve its global contribution” by offering a neutral canvas on which the sport’s most influential figures can meet and discuss the future of the game. BCCI secretary Jay Shah, whom Nicholas described as “the most powerful man” in world cricket, is expected to be among the 110-plus attendees, alongside other senior figures from the sporting and administrative sides of the game, including senior IPL figures and a host of influential current and former cricketers including Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum and Rahul Dravid.MCC’s own ambitions are a crucial part of cricket’s changing landscape, with the chief executive, Guy Lavender, recently writing to its members to ask whether the club should accept the ECB’s offer of a 51% stake in London Spirit as part of the drive to privatise the Hundred.Under the proposed model, the eight Hundred “hosts” – seven counties plus MCC – will be given majority stakes in their respective teams, with the ECB selling the remaining 49% to private investors, which will be finalised through a bidding process.Although the club’s rules allow a final call without a vote, Nicholas stressed MCC wanted to ensure it had the backing of its 24,000-strong membership, describing the move towards private equity as a “monumental” step which would eventually prove beneficial for the growth of game at all levels.”What we are putting to a vote is to accept the ECB’s offer of a 51% share of this franchise,” Nicholas said. “We will always be a members’ club. The first target is membership harmony [because] as a member you are entitled to a view. It’s very easy to knock people back because they’re difficult, but actually there is quite a lot of good thinking that comes out of activism. You have to treat people with respect, and hear their view.”Nicholas pointed out that cricket across the globe was a “booming franchise opportunity”, so it was only wise for the English game, MCC included, to cash in, especially having failed to capitalise on the original Twenty20 Cup concept more than two decades ago.”We missed out on T20 in 2003 where we could have grabbed it,” Nicholas said, recalling how English cricket squandered its first-mover status, with the IPL coming into being in 2008. “India thought quicker than us and were smarter than us, as India often is. India moves at an extraordinary pace to make things work.Related

• Ticket prices back in spotlight as England seal series in front of empty seats

• MCC begins search for new chief executive as Guy Lavender steps down

• ECB secures counties agreement on Hundred 'direction of travel'

• Mark Nicholas steps down from Southern Brave board ahead of MCC executive role

• ECB finalises process for Hundred private investment

“So the Hundred has given us another opportunity. The [MCC] membership quite likes being part of the chat, not being consigned to a piece of history. The members I talk to really love the idea of having a team, love the opportunity that it brings. There will be financial opportunity, either in growth of the equity or in sale of the equity.”The ECB has appointed Raine Group and Deloitte as advisors for the Hundred privatisation. While there’s no formal deadline, the ECB is eager to finalise terms by the end of the year, but as Nicholas conceded, there are a number of issues that still need resolving.”The real truth is that not everything is clear yet,” he said. “For example, how would the bidding process take place? What’s the rollout of these franchises in the bidding? We don’t know that yet. The ECB haven’t declared that. We have met the investment bank – I’m not sure they even know yet. There’s still a lot for us to learn.”Some of the potential bidders will be present at the World Cricket Connects event, which takes place on the eve of the MCC World Cricket Committee meeting, and Nicholas said it was important to listen to those voices.”They have dominated to this level by owning teams, driving forward a new financial model, and developing it extraordinarily,” he said. “There’s a very wide list of attendees, and I think that’s the advantage of the event. They would never otherwise come together.”

Manchester United now appear to have one foot in the Europa League final after claiming a 3-0 triumph over Athletic Club in the semi-final first leg away from home.

Bruno Fernandes’ double and Casemiro’s header secured the triumph for Ruben Amorim’s side ahead of next week’s return leg at Old Trafford – needing to hold on to secure their place in the final.

Should the Red Devils reach such a stage, it would be a superb achievement, especially considering the side was on the brink of elimination with a handful of minutes to go against Lyon in the previous round.

It’s the perfect opportunity for the manager to claim his first trophy in the role after taking the reins back in November, potentially securing a place in the Champions League as a result.

Numerous players produced performances to remember in Spain last night, playing a huge role in the success which led them to a three-goal advantage after 90 minutes.

United’s star performers against Athletic Club

As previously mentioned, captain Fernandes managed to get himself on the scoresheet twice, taking his goal tally to 19 goals across all competitions in 2024/25.

However, his underlying stats from the win were just as impressive, making 12 passes into the final third, along with three chances created – enabling other players the opportunity to impress in attacking areas.

Manuel Ugarte was another player who starred in Bilbao last night, registering two assists for Casemiro and Fernandes – offering a presence at both ends of the pitch for Amorim.

He also managed to win 100% of the tackles he entered, along with five recoveries and five ground duels won – highlighting his impressive showing in Spain once more.

However, despite the performances of the aforementioned duo, one other Red Devils talent failed to deliver, putting his position within the side at huge risk with the summer rapidly approaching.

The United dud who’s becoming the new Van de Beek

Midfielder Donny van de Beek joined United in the summer of 2020, looking to be a key player in the side’s ambitions of returning to former glory.

However, the Dutchman, who cost a remarkable £40m, would make just 62 appearances during his four years at Old Trafford, with injuries also preventing him from being a regular.

He would depart the club in the summer of 2024, joining Spanish side Girona for just £500k, seeing the side lose 99% of their investment, highlighting how poor their business has been in recent years.

Amorim may have unearthed another version of the midfielder in the form of Mason Mount, who has massively failed to deliver since his £60m move from Chelsea in the summer of 2023.

Like Van de Beek, injuries have hampered his progress, making just 41 appearances in the last two seasons, but also failing to deliver when fit – as seen in his showing against Athletic Club last night.

He was brought on with 25 minutes remaining, but could only muster a total of 23 touches, completing a tally of just 12 passes – unable to have the desired impact.

Mount also failed to complete any of his attempted dribbles or his attempted crosses, losing possession seven times – looking wasteful when having the ball at his feet.

Mason Mount’s stats for United against Athletic Club
Statistics	Tally
Minutes played	25
Touches	23
Passes completed	12/16 (75%)
Dribbles completed	0/1 (0%)
Crosses completed	0/1 (0%)
Possession lost	7x
Fouls committed	1
Stats via SofaScore

The 26-year-old picked up a booking to top off his showing off the bench, before being handed a measly 5/10 match rating by Manchester Evening News’ Samuel Luckhurst – highlighting his lack of impact off the bench.

Throughout this season, Mount has been unable to make an impact, especially since Amorim’s arrival, often being injured but also unable to provide the goods when fit – as seen with his cameo last night.

Given his decline, the club desperately need to sell him this summer, avoiding a repeat of Van de Beek and losing a whole load of money on their investment, with any funds allowing the manager to make the changes he desires.

97% passing: 8/10 Man Utd star is now as undroppable as Bruno & Casemiro

Man Utd romped to a superb 3-0 win on the road on Thursday evening in the Europa League…

By
Robbie Walls

May 2, 2025

da betsul： Worryingly, every team that seals promotion up to the Premier League immediately knows they’ll be up against it trying to stay afloat in its choppy waters. That will be the main concern now for Burnley.

da doce： Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton are going to fall back down to the Championship after one fleeting campaign in the tough division, with the Clarets hopeful, yet definitely apprehensive that they can buck this dismal trend when they reenter the top league shortly.

Scott Parker’s attempts to solidify the Clarets as a top-flight worthy side once more will be made a lot harder if Josh Brownhill were to depart Turf Moor, with the experienced midfielder’s future still up in the air heading into the hectic summer transfer window.

Brownhill's future at Burnley

Already, the Clarets are having to stomach the prospect of CJ Egan-Riley leaving the club for pastures new with RC Strasbourg.

Unfortunately, Brownhill could be next for the exit door if rumours are to be believed, with Turkish sides Trabzonspor and Besiktas now eyeing up the soon-to-be out-of-contract attacking gem, away from earlier interest from the likes of Everton and West Ham United.

Losing Egan-Riley is already a damaging body blow for Parker’s newly promoted outfit, but adding Brownhill into the mix would be nothing short of disastrous, considering the 29-year-old would hammer 18 goals in league action last season to help seal automatic promotion.

Moreover, the Manchester-born star – who is also reportedly on the radar of Wolverhampton Wanderers – possesses experience of the Premier League to further boost the Clarets, but there’s a worry he could now up and leave before top-flight football officially returns to Turf Moor.

Losing him for nothing would also be very painful for the Lancashire side, considering his estimated worth currently stands at around the £9.5m range according to Football Transfers.

But, there is a midfield teammate of Brownhill’s who actually now boasts a heftier worth than the stand-out 29-year-old after an impressive debut season under Parker’s wing.

The Burnley star who is now worth more than Brownhill

In their bid to immediately return to the promised land of the Premier League, Burnley surprisingly didn’t splash obscene masses of cash.

Indeed, £15.4m was the most spent on a single player in the form of Mike Tresor. Whilst Tresor would unfortunately fade into the background, another of their summer purchases would shine as ex-Manchester United youngster Hannibal Mejbri ended up relocating to the Clarets for a modest £5.4m fee.

He wouldn’t be an immediate success in his new location as he got up to speed, but Hannibal’s importance to the cause would be seen when crucial promotion games came thick and fast.

Indeed, his well-taken strike got the ball rolling for Parker’s nervy Clarets against Norwich City, while he also registered two assists when Burnley flawlessly won their last five league contests to finish inside the top two.

Lauded as an “absolute baller” during his time at Man United by scout Antonio Mango, he’s now finally living up to that immense potential.

Hannibal’s numbers for Burnley

Stat

Hannibal

Games played

39

Goals scored

1

Assists

5

Value when joining

£5.4m

Value now

£9.7m

Value increase

£4.3m

Sourced by Transfermarkt/Football Transfers

The Tunisian hasn’t blown anyone away with constant vibrant displays, but it’s clear the 22-year-old could only get better with time at Turf Moor, with this promise seen in his transfer value already increasing to a high £10m just a season into his Burnley move.

This is a small jump up from 18-goal hero Brownhill’s own valuation, with Parker praying that both Hannibal and the more seasoned head of the 29-year-old can link up with each other in the top-flight.

If that doesn’t happen, however, the ex-Fulham boss will know Hannibal will be raring to prove himself in the elite division, having already picked up the pieces with the Clarets after his Old Trafford departure.

Related Their best RB since Trippier: Burnley eyeing move for "immense" £10m star

Burnley could be about to land their best right-back since Kieran Trippier with this sensational swoop.

Posts ByKelan Sarson May 22, 2025

Maiden first-class hundred for former England Under-19s captain

ECB Reporters Network22-Aug-2024A magnificent maiden first-class century from Ben McKinney and a dogged hundred from Alex Lees put Durham in a dominant position on day one of their Vitality County Championship clash with Nottinghamshire.McKinney, who is playing in just his second County Championship match, smashed an experienced Notts bowling attack around the park at the Seat Unique Riverside after Haseeb Hameed put the hosts into bat at the toss, while Lees anchored the Durham innings to reach three figures for the third time this season in the County Championship.McKinney was very much the aggressor in the early stages of the day as the pair put on 189 runs for the first wicket, the hosts’ highest opening stand of the season. The visitors then made a mini-fightback and picked up three wickets for 58 runs, but Lees combined with Ashton Turner for a partnership worth 122 to leave the hosts 393 for 5 at close.McKinney, who was part of the England Lions side that beat Sri Lanka last week, was excellent throughout his innings and laid a fantastic foundation for Durham in this mid-table battle. The 19-year-old dominated with some great shots, particularly on the off side, while Lees offered few opportunities as he went through the gears on the way to a 15th first-class century for Durham.Meanwhile Notts skipper Hameed will be scratching his head after his decision to bowl first allowed the hosts to post a big total. As a result his side already look like having a mountain to climb.On the opening morning at Chester-le-Street Durham managed to negotiate a tough period of opening bowling from Olly Stone, who was released from the England Test squad to play in this game, and Brett Hutton, but McKinney and Lees looked in good touch.Once he made it through the opening exchanges, McKinney looked to attack whenever he could and he hit two glorious boundaries on the off side from a Stone over. The tall left-hander passed fifty for the second time in his first-class career with a cover drive for four while Lees kept the scoreboard ticking at the other end to take the partnership past 100 just before lunch.McKinney continued where he left off after lunch as he remained positive and he picked up several boundaries including a lovely pull shot off the bowling of Hutton.Then came a flurry of milestones for the hosts with Lees reaching his fifty from 114 balls and former England Under-19s skipper McKinney brought up his maiden hundred from 117 balls with a beautiful cover drive. He then hit Freddie McCann for the first six of the match over the long-off boundary, but his excellent knock didn’t last much longer as he chipped a McCann delivery straight to midwicket and had to depart for 121.Scott Borthwick looked in good touch but Lyndon James bowled him for 26 after he left one which clipped the top of off stump and the Notts bowler struck again soon after, removing Ollie Robinson for 13, which gave the visitors some hope.While wickets were falling at the other end, Lees remained firm and joined McKinney in getting a century after tea, albeit in a somewhat different style with the former England man’s milestone coming from 223 balls with just seven boundaries.Turner, who is making his first-class bow for Durham, came to the crease and ran well between the wickets with Lees as they accumulated runs and passed 300. Turner then played a delightful pull shot for four and Lees got in on the act as he dabbed a Stone ball to the third man boundary as the hosts piled on the runs.The second new ball initially couldn’t help Notts in their pursuit of wickets as Turner reached his fifty from 70 balls. However, Hutton then bowled Lees for 145 to end a fine innings and give the visitors a sniff in the final stages of the day.James picked up his third of the day as Graham Clark went for 7, but Turner remained unbeaten on 62 at stumps.

Cricket Australia chair says, “the Gabba has a use for life that ends in 2030. We need a solution, and are working on it”

Andrew McGlashan18-Aug-2024

The Ashes encounter in 2025-26 will be the 49th consecutive season of Test cricket at the Gabba, but there may be no half-century•Getty Images

The Gabba in Brisbane has played host to plenty of iconic Test moments – the 1960 tie, Ian Botham’s last great Test innings, Shane Warne’s career best, Peter Siddle’s birthday hat-trick, India’s famous 2021 heist and Shamar Joseph’s heroics to pick out a few – but there are now major questions over its future as an international venue.On Sunday it was confirmed that the Queensland government had only signed a two-year hosting agreement with Cricket Australia which means beyond the upcoming India Test and next year’s men’s Ashes fixture there is great uncertainty when, or if, the famous ground will be back on the schedule.The Ashes encounter in 2025-26 will be the 49th consecutive season of Test cricket at the Gabba, but there will be no half-century with it not having one of the four New Zealand Tests the following year. There are, however, discussions ongoing about white-ball internationals with England due to visit that summer for ODIs and T20Is.Related

Gabba to be demolished after 2032 Olympics, cricket to get new home in Brisbane

'Where does Australian cricket play?' Queensland Cricket renews talks over Gabba future

Ashes 2025-26: CA schedules Brisbane day-night Test after Perth opener

'He can be successful as an opener' – Watson thinks Smith should stay put

MCG to host one-off Australia-England Test in 2027 to mark 150 years of Test cricket

The Gabba is coming towards the end of its viable working life in 2030. Brisbane will host the 2032 Olympics and initially, there had been plans to completely rebuild the venue, but that was ditched by the Queensland government due to costs and instead, there is expected to be a renovation along with other stadiums in the city.While a complete rebuild would have taken the stadium out of commission for a number of years, there is still uncertainty over whether it will be usable during a renovation.In an open letter, the chair of Queensland Cricket Kirsten Pike and chief executive Terry Svenson outlined the organisation’s frustrations and concerns for cricket in the state.”The State Government’s decision to not progress with its commitment to rebuild the Gabba and downgrade its proposed Olympic role has resulted in direct and indirect changes to how we proceed with our business,” they wrote.”It is deeply disappointing that the 2026-27 Gabba Test has become a casualty of the uncertainty around the infrastructure planning and development ahead of the 2032 Olympic preparations, specifically around the Gabba.”…and while not being unduly alarmist, the potential outcome of this continuing uncertainty could have a significant impact on participation statewide and fan engagement across men’s and women’s cricket.”The future of the Gabba is under threat by new stadiums around the country, including a proposed indoor venue in Hobart•Tasmania Government

Speaking last week, former Australia and Queensland captain Allan Border called for a new multipurpose venue to be built in the city.”It’s sad, but they [Cricket Australia] have got to have some certainty, probably over the next four years, if they can use the Gabba or not,” he told the . “I’d be knocking down the Gabba and building a new venue from scratch at Victoria Park. A brand new 60,000-seat stadium suits rugby, cricket, Aussie rules and the Olympics, and the Gabba becomes housing.”Whatever the future of a major cricket venue in Brisbane, there could be a potential challenger on the horizon with Tasmania having ambitions to host indoor Test cricket in the proposed new Hobart stadium which is set to be ready in 2029. However, Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird said it was hard to envisage a future where Brisbane was not part of the regular Test schedule.”That’s hard to imagine, but we have to have the facilities and a ground that supports it,” he said. “We want the fans to have the best experience as they come and see the world’s best players.”What we do know is the Gabba has a use for life that ends in 2030. We need a solution, and are working with the AFL as well on a long-term solution. We want a great venue in Brisbane, that can support Queensland Cricket and Australian cricket for years to come.”The Queensland Cricket letter added: “We remain hopeful that Test cricket will return to the Gabba after the summer of 2026-27 despite the current lack of detail and uncertainty surrounding the upgrades to the Gabba.”Queensland does have other smaller international venues. Allan Border Field in Brisbane regularly hosts the women’s team and Australia A and the Gold Coast hosted a T20I against West Indies in 2022. In regional Queensland, Mackay is used while Townsville and Cairns hosted the T20I and ODI series respectively against Zimbabwe and New Zealand in 2022.The men’s Future Tours Programme has some winter home cricket on Australia’s schedule in the coming years which could open the door for venues such as Cairns and Townsville. South Africa are due to visit for ODIs and T20Is in August 2025 while Afghanistan have a Test and three T20Is allocated in July 2026 although those would appear unlikely to happen given Cricket Australia’s current stance on bilateral series with Afghanistan.

Together against Bangladesh, Chatara and Jarvis produced a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate parts

Liam Brickhill04-Nov-2018Many of the best fast-bowling double-acts have been built around variation. Wasim and Waqar, Donald and Pollock, Marshall and Garner, Anderson and Broad – their differences are a vital ingredient in their shared success. So after Tendai Chatara and Kyle Jarvis shared five wickets to dent Bangladesh and secure a first-innings lead on the second day in Sylhet, Zimbabwe bowling coach Douglas Hondo settled on exactly the right word to describe his quicks’ complementary relationship: synergy.”They have got synergy,” Hondo said. “They’ve played a long time together. Chatara takes it away, Jarvis a little bit in, so that’s a good mix.”Though Jarvis is two years older, he and Chatara made their first-class debuts within two weeks of each other in 2009. They bowl at similar speeds, though both men started their careers in tearaway mode and had to re-adjust after major injuries, Jarvis to his back while Chatara broke his leg playing football. Both men have had breaks from the international game: Jarvis when he went to Lancashire for four seasons, and Chatara when he was out for more than six months after his horrific leg injury. But that is where their similarities end.Jarvis was always destined for cricket. Born into a famous cricket-playing family – his father Malcolm played five Tests and 12 ODIs for Zimbabwe as a left-arm medium pacer in the 1990s, and would have taken the first wicket by a Zimbabwean in Tests were it not for a dropped catch – he grew up in Harare’s leafy northern suburbs, hanging out with Mitchell Marsh when he lived in Zimbabwe for a time while his father Geoff was coaching the national side.Chatara was born in Dangamvura, a poor, high-density suburb in Mutare, nestled in Zimbabwe’s eastern highlands. He never attended any of Zimbabwe’s main cricket-playing schools, and turned up at his first Under-17 cricket trial wearing basketball sneakers. Indeed, basketball and athletics were Chatara’s primary sports until he was picked for the national Under-19 side.Their bowling actions speak to their contrasting paths into the game: Jarvis bowls with an orthodox action lacking in frills, while Chatara’s action is one of homespun lopsidedness. But together, against Bangladesh, they produced a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate parts.Before this Test, Hondo worked hard with them to alter their lengths to suit the longer format. Where they had tried to keep batsmen on the back foot in the ODIs, to prepare for this game he placed the bowling target mat on a much fuller length, attacking the stumps. Jarvis, in particular, stuck firmly to this tactic virtually throughout his spells, making the batsmen play a high percentage of deliveries, while Chatara – who had also worked on honing his line to left-handers, offered the temptation of a line outside off stump. On game day, the bowling coach’s instructions were: “Just bowl enough balls in the right area to ask enough questions and don’t give up, don’t let up. Just keep bowling in the right areas. The pitch has enough natural variation, the pitch will do enough.”With Bangladesh stuck in one-day mode, batsmen played at deliveries they might easily have left alone, with Imrul Kayes and Mahmudullah playing on and Nazmul Hossain Shanto nicking a distinctly short-format drive against Chatara. Jarvis, meanwhile, had Liton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim caught behind poking at outswingers, having kept the batsmen tied down with a constricting wicket-to-wicket line.”They had a good series in the ODIs, so we knew that they were going to come and play in that one-day mode, which will present us with a lot of chances in the Tests because the field sets will be quite attacking,” Chatara said. “I think they haven’t really adjusted from ODI cricket to playing Tests, where you leave many balls, whereas in ODIs you’ll be looking for scoring shots.””Early on I was just trying to hit a good area, because there’s so much talk about Bangladesh [pitches] being flat,” he added. “So hitting a good area early on, and making the batsman play as much as possible.”Chatara and Jarvis did just that, but Bangladesh’s top order also obliged them with an overly attacking mindset. The end result of that impatience was that, while there are still three days left in the match, the game moved on very swiftly on day two and it is now Zimbabwe who hold an unlikely ascendancy.”It’s Test cricket, sometimes you have to leave some balls, sometimes you have to hold yourself in,” explained Hondo. “There’s five days of play so you have to play accordingly. If you ask enough questions and they’re obliging, things will happen like that. We’re just trying to complement our batters, who took a lot of time at the wicket. So we have to complement them by bowling in the right areas.”Chatara admitted even he was a little surprised by how easily Bangladesh slipped into the seamers’ traps to put Zimbabwe in a good position. “Considering the fact that we won the toss and batted first, we really wanted to bat deep, to tea today,” Chatara said. “With Bangladesh batting before lunch, it actually felt like we gave them too much time to bat today. So I actually thought they were going to bat well. But the way we bowled, we bowled very well to restrict them to the score they had at the end of the day.”

Leeds United will have to be ambitious and clear in what they want if they want to be successful in building a squad that can avoid instant relegation from the Premier League.

The facts are there for all to see. The last six teams to be promoted from the Premier League have all been relegated in their first season in the top-flight, which means that it is going to be incredibly difficult for the Whites to beat the drop.

Daniel Farke knows more than most about how difficult it is, because he managed Norwich during their relegation in the 2019/20 campaign, and was relieved of his duties before they succumbed to another relegation in the 2021/22 season.

One route the West Yorkshire outfit could go down is to sign players with Premier League experience, as they know the division and know what it takes to avoid relegation.

There are several former Leeds players who now fall into that category of star, although some of them are now beyond the club’s reach, including Nottingham Forest centre-forward Chris Wood.

Why Chris Wood is unattainable for Leeds

The New Zealand international is now unattainable for the Whites because there is a chance that Nottingham Forest could be playing in the Champions League next season, and they will be playing in a European competition no matter what.

Wood played for Leeds in the Championship between 2015 and 2017, after joining from Leicester City, and caught the eye with his goalscoring exploits in the second tier.

As you can see in the graphic above, the towering striker averaged a goal every other game for the Whites, before being sold to Burnley for £15m.

Wood has gone on to cement himself as a reliable and consistent Premier League goalscorer throughout his career, playing in the top-flight in every season since his exit from Elland Road in 2017.

24/25 (Nottingham Forest)

35

20

23/24 (Nottingham Forest)

31

14

22/23 (Newcastle United)

18

2

21/22 (Newcastle United)

17

2

21/22 (Burnley)

17

3

20/21 (Burnley)

33

12

19/20 (Burnley)

32

14

18/19 (Burnley)

38

10

17/18 (Burnley)

24

10

As you can see in the table above, the impressive marksman was remarkably consistent for Burnley up until the 2021/22 campaign, in which he joined Newcastle United in the January transfer window.

His time with the Magpies did not go to plan, with four goals in 35 Premier League appearances, but his previous form for Burnley was clearly enough for Forest to put their faith in him, and he has paid them back in a big way.

His incredible form for Forest, with 34 goals in 66 league matches to date, illustrates why he is beyond the club’s reach at this moment in time, but that does not mean that Farke cannot sign his own version of Wood.

Leeds considering deal for Premier League star

According to Football Insider, Leeds United are considering a bargain swoop to sign Callum Wilson from Premier League side Newcastle United in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Whites are looking to add Premier League experience to their squad, and the England international would fit the bill for the newly-promoted side.

Transfer Focus

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

It states that the Championship champions are exploring the possibility of a deal to bring the experienced centre-forward to Elland Road ahead of the 2025/26 campaign to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

Football Insider reveals that Wilson is poised to walk away from St. James’ Park at the end of his current contract, which expires at the end of June, and that Leeds view him as potentially smart business on a free transfer.

With this in mind, the 49ers must act upon this interest to snap up the 33-year-old veteran, because he could arrive as Farke’s own version of Chris Wood in the 2025/26 campaign, to bolster the team’s chances of avoiding an instant relegation from the top-flight.

Why Callum Wilson could be Chris Wood 2.0

As aforementioned, Nottingham Forest hit the jackpot with Wood because they were willing to overlook his struggles in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 campaigns.

They banked on him being able to recapture the form he displayed at Burnley earlier in his career, and his 20 Premier League goals this season at the age of 33 prove that they made the right decision.

Wilson could be a similarly successful signing for Leeds after a difficult season with the Magpies on Tyneside, as he has failed to score in 17 Premier League appearances this term, albeit with only two starts to his name.

The veteran striker, once described as “incredible” by manager Eddie Howe, would be arriving at Elland Road off the back of a poor campaign, just as Wood was when he left St. James’ Park to sign for Forest.

Just like the New Zealand international, though, Wilson also has an impressive history of scoring goals in the Premier League for Newcastle and Bournemouth that predates the current term.

24/25

2

0

23/24

9

9

22/23

21

18

21/22

16

8

20/21

23

12

19/20

32

8

18/19

29

14

17/18

23

8

16/17

16

6

15/16

9

5

As you can see in the table above, the English marksman has, typically, scored goals on a regular basis when given plenty of starts by his manager.

These statistics show that he knows how to find the back of the net at an impressive rate in the Premier League, which is why he could be an excellent and much-needed signing for a Leeds squad that are looking to avoid relegation at the first time of asking.

They also show that Wilson has the potential to be Farke’s own version of Wood as an experienced and Premier League-proven striker who could come in and make a big impact in the final third if given enough game time to shine, as the ex-Leeds striker has been at the City Ground.

Leeds make enquiry to sign Premier League star who'd leave Bogle worried

Leeds United are plotting a move to sign a Premier League star who would leave Jayden Bogle worried.

1 ByDan Emery May 19, 2025

As a potentially free agent signing, he could be a shrewd addition to the group for Farke and a player who could pass on his experience to the younger players in the squad, which is another reason why this could be an excellent piece of business.

If you’re looking for some plus-money player props tonight, look no further. The Astros-Giants game has a couple of hot players to watch tonight at Minute Maid Park.

I’ve got some fun trends for you today,,,

Astros rookie Hunter Brown has started seven major-league games and appeared in 12 across the past two seasons for Houston. He has five wins in 50⅔ innings of work with a strikeout rate of 9.49 batters per nine innings. His ERA was 0.89 last season and it’s 2.37 this year. But, that’s still not what’s most impressive. Listen to this:

Yes, you read that correctly. Brown has not given up a long ball in any of his 50⅔ innings of work.

The Giants have the third-most home runs in the league this season (48) with 60.5% of their runs scored coming from the home run. That’s the most in MLB.

One player in particular is smoking hot right now: LaMonte Wade Jr.

What happens tonight when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?

Wade is +550 to hit a home run tonight. Brown is +100 to strike out more than 6.5 batters.

Did I mention the Giants also have the highest strikeout rate in the league (27.5%)?

Bet accordingly.

MatériaMais Notícias

da leao： O Corinthians trabalha com a possibilidade de rescisão com o atacante Luan, que na última terça-feira (4) foi agredido por torcedores em um motel em São Paulo. Para isso, no entanto, o clube alvinegro precisaria pagar o que deve para o jogador. Saiba, então, quanto o Corinthians deve para Luan?

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFora de CampoSBT renova com dois comentaristas e define cobertura de Corinthians x UniversitarioFora de Campo07/07/2023CorinthiansDo planejamento à ‘Renatodependência’: veja cinco pontos que explicam a má fase do CorinthiansCorinthians08/07/2023CorinthiansTécnico do Grêmio revela intenção de contratar Luan, do CorinthiansCorinthians07/07/2023

da lvbet： O jogador recebe mensalmente R$ 800 mil e tem contrato com o Timão até o dia 31 de dezembro. Assim, se não deixar a equipe até o fim do vínculo, a equipe do Parque São Jorge terá que pagar R$ 4,8 milhões. Porém, o Corinthians também deve R$ 4,5 milhões para o atleta por conta de direitos de imagem.

O Timão não tem dívidas salariais com os jogadores, mas assume algumas pendências em imagem, entre elas com Luan. Desta forma, o clube alvinegro deve, no total, R$ 9,3 milhões ao atleta.

continua após a publicidade

Pagar Luan não é a prioridade financeira da direção corintiana no momento, mas frente aos acontecimentos recentes é estudada como a situação será resolvida. Não é descartada uma nova rodada de negociação para que o vínculo seja encerrado antes do prazo. O jogador está disposto a conversar sobre o assunto, inclusive, mas não abre mão de receber, pelo menos, parte dos valores.

Segundo Higor Maffei Bellini, presidente da Comissão de Direito Desportivo da OAB Butantã e especialista em Direito do Trabalho ao Lance!, Luan pode se apoiar no artigo 483, seção C da Consolidação das Leis do Trabalho (CLT) que afirma que “o empregado poderá considerar rescindido o contrato e pleitear a devida indenização quando correr perigo manifesto de mal considerável.”

continua após a publicidade

+ VÍDEO: Luan é agredido por torcedores do Corinthians em motel

– Ele pode pedir a rescisão. Pode alegar que faltou proteção a sua pessoa, que o Corinthians não tomou nenhuma medida para que ele fosse protegido de uma forma especial. Um jogador de futebol não é contratado para enfrentar riscos de ser agredido pela torcida organizada do clube dele. Se o Luan continuar trabalhando no Corinthians em virtude da situação que se desenhou na noite passada, ele está sim correndo o risco de um mau manifesto, que não é inerente ao seu trabalho – disse Higor.

+ Até 50% OFF em produtos do Verdão para os torcedores fanáticos!

– Outra linha que ele pode seguir, é que esse mau manifesto não é necessariamente ligado à atividade dele dentro das quatro linhas. Pode considerar que isso se estendeu para a vida pessoal dele, tanto que ele foi agredido num momento de lazer e ele não é obrigado a passar o final do seu contrato sob o risco iminente de ser agredido na rua, restaurante, ou qualquer lugar – conclui o advogado.

Luan foi contratado pelo Corinthians no fim de 2019. Na época, o Timão pagou R$ 25 milhões ao Grêmio por 50% dos direitos econômicos do atleta. No total, o meia-atacante fez 80 jogos e marcou 11 gols. No ano passado, ele esteve emprestado ao Santos durante três meses. A equipe do Parque São Jorge manteve o pagamento de 87,5% dos salários do atleta enquanto ele esteve no Peixe. O clube da Baixada Santista só arcou com R$ 100 mil dos R$ 800 mil acordados com o atleta.