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Central will face defending champions West Zone in the semi-final; North will be up against South

Himanshu Agrawal01-Jul-2023Saurabh Kumar’s career-best figures of 8 for 64 helped Central Zone romp to a 170-run win over East Zone in Alur to secure a place in the semi-final of the Duleep Trophy. The left-arm spinner finished with 11 wickets in the match, having taken 3 for 46 in the first innings.Central will next face West Zone, the defending champions who had direct entry into the semi-final. That game, starting on July 5, will also be played in Alur.East had started the final day at 69 for 6, and it took Central only 12 overs on the final morning to get the remaining four wickets, all going to Saurabh.Saurabh first trapped Riyan Parag lbw in the 34th over, before cleaning up Shahbaz Nadeem in the 38th. Four overs later, he removed Akash Deep and Ishan Porel off successive deliveries to seal the win. East’s top scorer in the second innings was No. 10 Akash Deep, who entertained with a 14-ball 24, which included three sixes off Saurabh.Saurabh’s eight wickets meant East folded for 129, their second batting failure in the game after they had managed only 122 in the first attempt. The other two wickets in East’s second innings went to Shivam Mavi and Avesh Khan on the third evening.North Zone completed a massive win over North East•PTI Narang, Sindhu complete the formalitiesNorth Zone decimated North East Zone by 511 runs on the fourth morning in Bengaluru to complete the formalities towards their march to the semi-final. North will now be facing South Zone from July 5 onwards at the same venue to try to make the final.Having started the day on 58 for 3, North East lost 7 for 53 in a middle-order collapse fashioned by Pulkit Narang. He got four of those wickets with his offspin.The only bright spot for North East was the 57-run fourth-wicket partnership between Palzor Tamang and Nilesh Lamichaney. It was allrounder Nishant Sindhu who broke the stand with Lamichaney’s wicket, which began North East’s slide from 101 for 3. Tamang, who top-scored with 40, was next to fall, as Narang got his first wicket in the second outing.While Narang finished the game with seven wickets and 46 runs, it was also a memorable game for North’s young players, such as Sindhu, who had hit 150 before picking up two wickets on Saturday, and Harshit Rana, who scored an unbeaten 122 and also took two wickets in the match.

Veteran took on Scotland’s spinners and ended a 12-year run without a fifty at a world tournament

Matt Roller07-Nov-20212:49

Masood: Shoaib and Hafeez will be big-match players in the semi-finals

As Mohammad Hafeez trudged off in Sharjah after a cameo of 31 off 19 balls, Pakistan waited intently. With five overs to go and a solid platform built, surely this was the time to send in Asif Ali, the star of their wins against New Zealand and Afghanistan, for a late blitz ahead of the knockout stages?To the crowd’s disappointment, in walked Shoaib Malik: short sleeves, sweatband, durag and all. Malik was not meant to be in this side: only two months ago, he was in the midst of one of the worst runs of form a specialist batter has ever endured at a T20 league, averaging 7.44 in 10 innings for Guyana Amazon Warriors, and he missed out on selection in the initial squad.

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When he was confirmed as a replacement for the injured Sohaib Maqsood last month, the usual clichés about experience and a big-game mentality were trotted out but they could hardly have been further from the truth. In fact, Malik had not scored a half-century in an ICC event since the 2009 Champions Trophy; in leapfrogging the reserves, Malik seemed to have been picked on reputation rather than reason.But in this tournament, Pakistan can do no wrong. Their win against Scotland ensured their progress to Thursday’s semi-final against Australia as group winners and maintained their status as the only unbeaten team in the competition. Every decision they have made appears to be paying off, and any lingering doubts about their credentials cast aside.So it was no surprise that when Malik sauntered off 25 minutes later, he did so having ended that 12-year run without a fifty at a world tournament and with the crowd chanting his name, rather than Asif’s. Naturally, a low-pressure slog against Scotland’s spinners offered limited practice for closing out a game against Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood next week, but it added to the sense that everything is clicking for Pakistan.By this point in his career, Malik’s preference for spin bowling should be clear. In T20 cricket this year, he has been dismissed every 18.2 balls against seamers compared to 39.6 against spin; his role in Pakistan’s middle order is to target the final overs of spin before Asif takes over at the death against the seamers. “It’s a no-brainer: you just don’t bowl a spinner in front of Shoaib Malik,” Shan Masood said on ESPNcricinfo’s T20 Time Out.It was a surprise decision, then, for Kyle Coetzer to leave Brad Wheal’s final two overs unbowled, meaning Malik faced only four balls of pace across five overs. He got going by clobbering Mark Watt – Scotland’s best bowler of the competition – over long-off, using his long levers and letting his bottom hand take over to clear George Munsey on the rope.Shoaib Malik added some quick runs•AFP/Getty ImagesAfter blasting Saafyan Sharif over midwicket and then long-on as he missed his yorkers, twice straying into the slot, Malik ruined Chris Greaves’ figures in the final over, hitting the final four balls of the innings for three sixes and a four to take Pakistan to 189, an unassailable total even on a pitch offering Sharjah’s new trademark: low bounce from a good length.Greaves was a bold choice for the final over, despite his figures of 2 for 17 after his first three: he had enjoyed several lucky escapes when drag-downs were pulled to boundary-riders on the bounce, and Malik was always one step ahead, setting himself deep in his crease when he dropped short and skipping down the track when he pitched full. “We decided it was tougher to take down the spinners on that surface and tried to keep pace off the ball,” Coetzer explained. “Greavo had bowled excellently… he got two balls into the over but Shoaib used his skill and his ability to range-hit is pretty spectacular, to be fair.”Malik raised his bat nonchalantly to the crowd on his way off, as though this was nothing new for him; in fact, he had equalled KL Rahul for the fastest fifty of this tournament, and went clear of Umar Akmal for the fastest fifty by a Pakistan batter in men’s T20Is. Of course, it came against an associate nation who had been on the road for six weeks and were already out, but his death-hitting can only bode well.While Malik’s dreadful CPL form suggested he was a poor pick, his record in the UAE this year – averaging 36.14 with a strike rate of 162.17 in the second half of the PSL, and hitting 225 runs off 151 balls across six National T20 Cup innings – reflected his skill on slow, low pitches. “When Pakistan initially chose their side, it was more based on boundary-hitting, six-hitting,” Masood said. “Having watched the IPL in the UAE and the National T20, they figured out that they might need some cool heads out there in the middle.”Almost everything has gone as hoped for Pakistan in the group stages, with Fakhar Zaman and Hasan Ali the only two players who could reasonably be accused of underperforming. In all likelihood, both with keep their places for the semi-final: Fakhar breaks up a run of right-handers in the middle order and will be tasked with taking on Adam Zampa and – if he plays – Ashton Agar, while the only feasible replacement for Hasan is the 20-year-old Mohammad Wasim.Pakistan have defied their reputation as a volatile, inconsistent side in this tournament, extending their winning streak in their home away from home to 16 games. They are fighting history in their bid to win this competition – no side has ever gone unbeaten throughout a men’s T20 World Cup – but their ruthless group stage performance suggests that it is a statistical quirk they could overcome.

da spicy bet： “One of the most disgusting showings I have ever seen.” Those were the words used to sum up Manchester United’s 1-0 home loss to Everton by H, analyst for The Overlap.

da bet nacional： One year on from Ruben Amorim’s first game in charge, the Red Devils put in a performance to forget at Old Trafford.

The Toffees, who started the game on the front foot, were down to 10 men early on in strange circumstances.

Idrissa Gueye was sent off for fighting with Michael Keane. However, the red card did not affect the Toffees, who soon took the lead after a stunning individual goal from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

United were lacklustre in attack for much of the game, with Amorim sticking rigidly to his infamous 3-4-2-1 system, which, on Monday night, did not work. They had 25 shots, but managed just six on target, and looked devoid of any creativity.

The closest the Red Devils came was through Joshua Zirkzee, making his first start of the season. His well-directed header looked goal-bound, but Jordan Pickford pulled off a superb diving stop to keep it out. That was as good as it got for United.

It was a night to forget for Amorim’s side, with Bruno Fernandes one man who struggled.

Fernandes' stats vs. Everton

So often, the player United look towards in the moments when they need inspiration, Fernandes struggled to have a real impact on the game.

Perhaps that is because the Red Devils boss plays him so deep, where he cannot have as much of an influence in the final third.

On Monday against Everton, a club the Portuguese star has had plenty of success against, the final killer ball, something that would normally carve open a defence, was missing.

The United captain tried his luck from range twice but failed to test Pickford and missed a golden opportunity late on from close range, after good play by Mason Mount.

His disappointing performance was noticed by Steven Railston, United writer for the Manchester Evening News. He gave their skipper a 4/10 match rating, describing Fernandes’ efforts against the Toffees as “sloppy.”

The stats certainly reflected that rating. Normally, one of the players who can muster something up out of nowhere, United’s number 8 could only create two chances, despite looking after the ball well, losing it just 13 times out of 115 touches.

It was certainly not the best night at the office for Fernandes, although there was one of his teammates who was far more disappointing.

Man United's worst player vs Everton

It was a night to forget for several United stars, but one of those who struggled most was Patrick Dorgu. The Dane had little impact on the left-hand side and was too often slack in possession or missing the final pass to create an opportunity.

Indeed, Dorgu’s stats from the game highlight his struggles against the Toffees.

He had 41 touches, completing just 76% of his passes and only creating one chance. He also blazed an effort over the bar after getting on the end of a good cross from Zirkzee in the first half.

Dorgu key stats vs. Everton

Stat

Number

Touches

41

Pass accuracy

76%

Opposition half passes completed

8/15

Possession lost

11

Duels won

2/6

Crosses completed

0/3

Key passes

1

Stats from Sofascore

Railston did not seem to think highly of the United number 13’s performance against the Toffees. He gave the 21-year-old a 3/10, the lowest of any teammate, claiming that he “looks low on confidence” and put in a “poor” showing on Monday.

The journalist also suggested Diogo Dalot will come into the side on Sunday for United’s trip to Crystal Palace. Certainly, Amorim will have a selection decision ahead of the clash at Selhurst Park, with the wing-back’s place in the side perhaps on the line.

As Utd Faithfuls said over on X, he can be “unreliable” at times. Coming up against a high-flying Eagles team on Sunday lunchtime, this might be cause for concern, and Amorim might well decide to rotate the youngster out of the side.

There are options at his disposal. Dalot is one player who could operate out there, or a centre-back could slot into the side, with Luke Shaw pushing further up the pitch to play high and wide instead.

It will be interesting to see if Amoirm decides to switch things up and take Dorgu out of the side against Palace. It is certainly a must-win game for United, as they look to get back to winning ways and push for Europe.

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South Africa, meanwhile, are quietly preparing for their first Test in Bangladesh in nine years

Mohammad Isam20-Oct-2024 Big picture: A new era for Bangladesh Instead of a legend’s goodbye, the Dhaka Test will now be Bangladesh’s first Test in the post-Shakib Al Hasan era, after the government advised Shakib not to come to the country, due to security reasons. Bangladesh are also dealing with a change of head coach, as the BCB has sacked Chandika Hathurusinghe and swiftly appointed Phil Simmons.South Africa, meanwhile, are quietly preparing for their first Test in Bangladesh in nine years. To counter their lack of experience in Bangladesh, the visitors are reportedly spending long hours in the nets at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.Temba Bavuma and Kagiso Rabada are the only survivors from their last tour of Bangladesh, when rain forced both Tests to be drawn. Bavuma will miss the first Test due to an elbow injury, which means Aiden Markram leads the side. South Africa are likely to have at least one debutant in their top four to replace Bavuma. The T20 star Dewald Brevis could be the one stepping up.Related

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South Africa’s batting will largely depend on Markram and his opening partner Tony de Zorzi, while David Briedingham and Tristan Stubbs have to handle the middle order. The experienced Keshav Maharaj leads the bowling attack, while Rabada could be required to do mostly holding jobs if the Dhaka pitch’s last rating is anything to go by.New Zealand captain Tim Southee called it “probably the worst pitch” he had ever seen, after the spinners completely dominated proceedings last December.Bangladesh already have three frontline spinners, before adding left-arm spinner Hasan Murad in place of Shakib. At least three are likely to feature in Dhaka, which could leave them with the dilemma whether to play four or five bowlers. There is no obvious replacement for Shakib of course, but Bangladesh will be hoping they can settle on a balanced XI soon. Form guide Bangladesh LLWWL (last five Tests, most recent first)South Africa WDLLL In the spotlight: Hasan Mahmud and David Bedingham Hasan Mahmud has made a promising start to his Test career. The slim medium-pacer bowls a mean line and length on a dime outside offstump. Debuting earlier this year, Mahmud has already taken five-wicket hauls in Pakistan and India. His 20 wickets in five Tests is easily the best start by a Bangladesh fast bowler. A home Test is always a challenge, particularly at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, but Mahmud’s discipline will come in handy.Fresh off a strong county season for Durham, David Bedingham has a new challenge in front of him: playing in the sub-continent for the first time. That means the stylish middle-order batter will be up against skillful spinners. It could be an important tour for the 30-year-old who has only six Tests under his belt.A lot of South Africa’s batting will depend on Aiden Markram and his opening partner Tony de Zorzi•AFP/Getty Images Team news: Brevis could debut; Bangladesh mull five bowlersPlaying five specialist bowlers would mean Bangladesh promoting Mehidy Hasan Miraz to No 5. The other option would be to leave out one of the pacers, and bringing in Jaker Ali to debut in the middle-order.Bangladesh XI (probable): 1 Zakir Hasan, 2 Shadman Islam, 3 Mominul Haque, 4 Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 7 Litton Das (wk), 8 Nayeem Hasan, 9 Taijul Islam, 10 Taskin Ahmed, 11 Hasan MahmudTemba Bavuma’s injury could mean that Dewald Brevis debuts at No 4. South Africa have pace options, but the left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy could replace the injured Nandre Burger.South Africa (probable): 1 Aiden Markram (capt), 2 Tony de Zorzi, 3 Tristan Stubbs, 4 Dewald Brevis, 5 David Bedingham, 6 Kyle Verreynne (wk), 7 Wiaan Mulder, 8 Senuran Muthusamy, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Dane PiedtPitch and conditions: Has the Dhaka pitch improved? The ICC rated the Dhaka pitch unsatisfactory in its previous Test in December last year, and it remains to be seen if the curator Gamini Silva has put in the work in the last ten months. There’s some rain in the forecast from the third day. Stats and trivia Bangladesh are yet to beat South Africa and India in Tests. South Africa have lost 10 of their last 13 Tests in the sub-continent, drawing the other three. Temba Bavuma and Kagiso Rabada are the only survivors from South Africa’s last tour of Bangladesh. Quotes “We are not thinking of the outside noise. We are focused on the match. We haven’t won against South Africa before so this is a great opportunity given our team and that the fact that we playing at home.””We have been here now for a few days and, nice and hot and sweaty for us. That’s been nice to get used to that again. conditions-wise, it’s pretty much what we’ve expected and the facilities have been really good. the hotel’s been great. People have been really accommodating towards us. So, we enjoyed our, first few days here and from the cricket side of things.”

The fast-bowling coach, who worked with Pakistan over the last year, talks about Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, and what went wrong in the England series

Interview by Danyal Rasool06-Feb-2023Shaun Tait was named Pakistan’s fast-bowling coach in February 2022 for a year*. As one of the fastest bowlers of his generation, his appointment appeared to make sense, particularly to the cricketing nation with the most reverential relationship with its fast-bowling history.The Pakistan backroom staff at the time felt transitional by its very nature; Saqlain Mushtaq had just had his interim stint extended by another 12 months. Pakistan had several highly promising fast bowlers, all frighteningly quick, most extremely young. Tait was with the team in a frenetic, tumultuous year that had its fair share of joy and frustration.During one of those low points, the evening before England put the finishing touches on a 3-0 Test whitewash, we spoke to Tait about his time in Pakistan. He spoke, individually, about Hasan Ali’s streakiness, Mohammad Hasnain’s pace, and Naseem Shah’s leadership qualities.How has your stint with Pakistan been?
I’ve enjoyed it. It was so exciting. Asia Cup, World Cup, the lead-in to that, I loved that period. Our bowlers were up and ready and they were bowling fast. We had a couple of huge games against India with big crowds and our guys bowling good pace. To me, that’s it. That’s what I liked as a player – entertainment. As a coach, I like to see the bowlers do that – entertain, run in to bowl fast, take wickets. So that was enjoyable.Is your role tactical or more focused on man management?
I just read an article about Allan Donald [working] with the Bangladesh fast bowlers. He said that he coaches mindset. I’m not gonna put myself in his category, but that’s a similar approach, I guess, to what I have. Big on relationships with the guys, but also giving them their space. Not hugely technical unless I really see something that is worth talking about. And then I’ll have a conversation with the player if the technical side of things needs to go further. But I’m certainly not going to try and change people. I’m not a by-the book-coach.A lot of it goes on feel, learning about the player. I think if you use your ears more than your mouth as a coach and listen to the players, that serves you well. I’ve learned more about the modern-day cricketer by listening to them. The technical stuff is there, but I’m not an overly technical coach. I’m not huge on the analytics, but it’s there and you’ve got to use some of it. But I’m big on feel, mindset and relationships.Why did the England series go so horribly wrong?
It was certainly eye-opening for a lot of people. We knew the way England were going to approach it. We’ve seen the way they’ve been playing in recent times. They obviously stepped it up a little bit.It started from the first Test. They got the rub of the green. England winning the toss on a wicket where they could certainly play their shots helped. We ended up with a couple of injuries. The first Test was a perfect storm for England. The momentum just continued from there. It’s been a tough series, but I think there’s been moments when Pakistan have certainly stepped up and had a crack. There’s been times when we’ve moved the game forward, more so than maybe in the past. It just goes a little bit unnoticed.Related

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Do you have any input on the kind of wickets Pakistan produce in Test cricket?
I don’t have any input whatsoever. I would like to see different pitches, and I’m not the only one, but I’m not saying I should have any say in that. We didn’t have the attack that people thought we may have gone in with. We lost Haris [Rauf]. We lost Naseem [Shah]. Shaheen [Shah Afridi] was out injured. The team looks a little bit different to what it did maybe nine months ago.But I’d like to see pitches different because I’m a bowling coach, I’m a fast bowler. I don’t think it takes a rocket scientist to realise that it would be nice if things were different.Pakistan produced great fast-bowling wickets against South Africa before you came in, so have the fast bowlers given you any input into what’s changed?
Talking to you right now, I’m probably learning more about them. I don’t know enough about cricket wickets to know if they can make these pitches fast-bowling friendly. I don’t talk to the curators about whether they can make a wicket better for fast bowlers. I don’t think it would matter if I did, to be honest. If I, as a fast-bowling coach, walk up to the curator and say, “Can you please make this wicket fast bowling friendly?” I don’t think he’s going to do that.Most of the fast bowlers seem to have bought into what you’re trying to do with this unit. How have you built that rapport with them?
Maybe they can relate to me a little bit because I played and I bowled with pace myself. Certainly not as good as these guys. I played three Test matches, 35 ODIs, but I think they can relate to the fact that I bowled with pace and I liked to entertain. They can warm to that and I can relate to them. That helps. I sort of know what they’re going through – not all the time but a lot of the time. I haven’t tried to force them to do things that they don’t want to do just because I believe in it. Except, I’ve held them fairly accountable to death bowling, which has been ongoing, and I knew it was going to take quite a while for it to happen.By the time the World Cup came, I looked at them and I’m happy we did that death-bowling preparation. It started months and months ago, the discussions around death bowling and being disciplined in the basics of death bowling. Ruthless in the basics and adding some of their strengths in with that. I think we did a good job of that in the World Cup. Being brave at the death is not always going to work out, but when it does, it’s such a great feeling for a fast bowler. You’ve pulled off the last four overs of the game. That specifically has been something that I think I’ve added to their mindset.

“There’s no way – no way – an express fast bowler can now play all three forms consistently”

Is it different coaching high pace vs regular pace? Are express pace bowlers more vulnerable?
Yeah, I think so. I step back from the medical and fitness side a little bit and let those experts work with the fast bowlers. I’m just in the conversation, helping out. So from that point of view, it’s been interesting.We’ve had back-to-back stuff. Even if it’s T20, it’s still high intensity and we’ve got guys on the sidelines. Your Shaheens, your Naseems, your Haris Raufs. They were on the sidelines for much of our season, so I suppose that is a good example of the toll it’s taken.Can extreme fast bowlers bowl in Tests?
It didn’t work for me! If you talked to Brett Lee, it might be a different story. It doesn’t happen very often, but I have to say this: There’s no way – no way – an express fast bowler can now play all three forms consistently. That’s for sure.Afridi’s injury during the Sri Lanka Test series was mismanaged. He went on to break down in the World Cup final. Is there a recognition that lessons need to be learned from what happened there?
I don’t know. Like I said, I step back from that [medical] side. If you look at the FTP [Future Tours Programme] going forward, it’s stacked. That’s what I mean when I say there’s no way an express bowler can play all forms. But it’s certainly opened our eyes up to how polished our management of Shaheen’s going to be.What do you think of the level of sports science around Pakistan’s fast-bowling unit? Is it where it needs to be? How far does it need to go?
I hate the sports-science subject. I’m not a big analytical coach and I’m not a huge sports-science guy. It’s not that I don’t believe in it. I just don’t know how much you can constantly throw into sports science and expect that these stallions are going to keep going. Every individual is different and that has to be taken into account. For me as a bowling coach, it’s taken time to work out every individual and what they need differently. I’ve got a good grasp of that myself now. My relationship with individuals is quite good, I suppose. I would say sports science is getting better, but that’s not my subject.Is there space for you to be more assertive in how much the fast bowlers play and when they rest?
Those conversations have happened, and I’m asked for my input, but if I knew what causes injuries, I wouldn’t have got injured so much myself and I would have played a lot more Test cricket probably. If you get someone that’s got a great eye for bowling technique, I’m sure they’ll come up with something. There’s a six-month process required to change things. There’s not a great time to do that because the media, the fans, selectors, want to see players on the park.”My input with Hasnain is purely about just using his athleticism. Getting that grunt as a fast bowler and being angry. Just running in fast and feeling good. He can play Test cricket, but not a great deal”•Christopher Lee/ECB/Getty ImagesWe played a hell of a lot of T20I cricket in the World Cup and its build-up, and bang, we were playing five Tests. A couple of guys get injured because they’re so used to bowling four overs. And even though you’re trying to build up their workloads during that time, it’s very difficult to get into Test cricket on a flat pitch. I don’t think that’s a great shock. You look at England – their fast bowlers were pretty much red-ball bowlers that haven’t been with the T20I side. Our guys have been with the T20I side and then they came into the Test side. That was asking a lot of those bowlers.Does there need to be segregation between white- and red-ball teams?
You have to start going down that path, which is not easy because you have to then pigeonhole players about whether they’ll be Test or white-ball bowlers. The players have to be in that conversation, but definitely, there’s got to be some separation. You’re also away from home now, even the coaching staff. It’s not just physical, it’s mental as well. It’s definitely got to be looked at.Are there lessons to be learned from your own career in the way you manage these players?
I think you can’t help but look back on your own career a little bit. And everybody’s different. You don’t necessarily come in and manage or mentor or coach thinking every player is [like yourself]. That’ll be unsuccessful. But I certainly think about times from my career and I sometimes mention to players what worked for me. “What do you think, maybe it’ll work for you?” I have empathy for them because I know what they’re going through a little bit, which helps. So yes, at times you do draw on your own experience.When you were hired in Ramiz Raja’s time, it was obvious he was influenced by the Australian mindset. Do you think that was part of what you were expected to bring to this role?
I don’t know if that’s why I got hired – maybe it is. But it suits this fast-bowling pack. There’s a whole heap of obstacles in the way for cricketers. Whatever those obstacles are, my job is to remove as many of those as I can and make life easier for them. That would be the No. 1 part of the job. And if that’s the mindset, then great. I hope the players are enjoying it.You’ve got to get their trust as quickly as possible. Once you get their trust and they know you’re in their corner, that’s great. It’s not, “I’m the coach and you’re there.” I don’t like that way of coaching. I’m in the corner with them and we’ll fail together and then have success together as well. I think if I can walk up to Naseem, put my hand on his shoulder, and if it has any effect on him at all, that’s great. That’s part of my job, I guess.

“Being brave at the death is not always going to work out, but when it does, it’s such a great feeling for a fast bowler. You’ve pulled off the last four overs of the game”

Is that also the way you were coached?
Not necessarily. I was in and out of the Australian team quite a bit, so I didn’t have huge influences on my bowling. The biggest influence on my bowling was with my team-mates. So as a young guy in the Australian squad, I had Brett Lee, [Glenn] McGrath, [Jason] Gillespie, [Michael] Kasprowicz, but not necessarily coaches, no.Hasan Ali is an enigma, given the huge gulf between his ceiling and floor. How do you deal with that?
He needs to trust himself more. You can get 20 different opinions about your bowling, but I think he’s probably earned the right to trust himself and realise what works for him. He had a fantastic couple of seasons not long ago. I have not sat with him and done a lot of technical work, but I’ve tried to have a few discussions with him about clearing his mind and just keeping things simple. I know that sounds like a cliché and a bit lazy. He’s a good bowler. I think he just needs to get some confidence back.Is he someone who’s more susceptible to outside voices, the media, etc?
Possibly. What I tell them is to shut out the noise as much as possible and just concentrate on what you’ve done in the past that’s been really good. It’s such a simple approach. With him, I certainly think that’s necessary. But he’s a smart bloke as well. Smart guys like him are not the easiest to coach because he’s smarter than me!Sometimes if I say something stupid, Hasan’s going to go, “Really? I don’t think that’s right.” So he’s a smart bloke and he can work it out for himself. I don’t know what the future holds, but it’d be nice to do some more work with him.The fastest bowler Pakistan have is perhaps Mohammad Hasnain, but he struggles with confidence and has had action issues. What sort of career do you see for him?
Hasnain has got the ability to bowl proper rapid, but yeah, there’s no doubt [there’s an air of vulnerability to him]. I mean he went through the whole action thing, so he’s now getting used to his body. It was Umar Rasheed [a bowling coach at the National High Performance Centre] who did a lot of work on his action. They’re quite tight. He did a lot of work with him, and he’s been great.But my input with Hasnain is purely about just using his athleticism. Getting that grunt as a fast bowler and being angry. Just running in fast and feeling good. During the World Cup, I had a good chance of working on his run-up. He can play Test cricket, but not a great deal. But you see how the English manage Mark Wood. They do it pretty well. Potentially someone like Hasnain, maybe he gets his pace up and bowls short spells. He’s going to be tough to deal with.”Hasan Ali needs to trust himself more. I’ve tried to have a few discussions with him about clearing his mind and just keeping things simple. I think he just needs to get some confidence back”•Ryan Pierse/Getty ImagesCould you do this job for a reasonable length of time?
I’ve enjoyed this role, and I certainly don’t take it for granted. Going forward, I have no idea what the decisions are going to be. I have no clue. I like this job. I love the boys. I love working here and the people of Pakistan. Even travelling to Australia and New Zealand and the Netherlands, the amount of [Pakistan] fans are ridiculous. There’s obviously a great following. It’s a big thing to be part of. Pakistan’s a big team with a great bunch of fast bowlers. I get asked for selfies all the time, much more so than I do in Australia. I probably get abused by Australian supporters more than anyone else!Do the players consider you a hard taskmaster?
Unfortunately, no!Do you have aspirations of being a head coach?
I don’t know. I have weird goals. I’m not overly ambitious, but I could see myself being a head coach one day. But that doesn’t mean [only in] international cricket. I don’t sit there and go, I want to be with the biggest team in the world and I want to be the head coach. I don’t have those overarching goals. I just enjoy the ride as it is.What doesn’t happen in Pakistan fast bowling right now that you think needs to happen?
[Long pause] I won’t talk about the pitches anymore, but if they leave some grass on the wicket, that would help a lot. The fact I haven’t got a straight answer is probably not a bad thing.Do you wish one of these fast bowlers was a bit older? Because these pace bowlers are a similar age and that way it’s harder for a natural leader to emerge.
No, I like that. Shaheen’s a natural leader. They all are. Even Naseem, he may be a young bloke, but he’s got a head on his shoulders that’s far above his years. I don’t even think they need a great deal of leadership. I think they’ve got it in them. And they’ve got charisma. The Asia Cup stood out to me this year, their charisma and presence. I talk to them about presence all the time as a fast bowler. That stood out in the Asia Cup. Everyone was talking about the Pakistani bowling attack, the way Naseem knocked over KL Rahul, the celebration – it all just looked great. And [that too] on debut. The way he bowled was just a guy that was above his years.One thing I would like to see is a little bit more mongrel, you know? A little bit more. They can be aggressive but I’d like to see even more aggression. I’m Australian. I think Australians are trying to behave themselves on the cricket field more nowadays, but I don’t think you can ever rub that off. I would love to see us be less friendly in general.Have you conveyed that to them?A little bit, but probably not enough. Watch out for it in the future.*Feb 6, 2023, 10.09GMT: The introduction to the interview was edited to make it clear that Tait’s appointment as Pakistan’s fast-bowling coach was only for one year.

West Indies are three wickets away from clinching the Antigua Test against Bangladesh. The visitors ended the fourth day on 109 for 7 after they were set a target of 334. Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales led the way for the hosts with three wickets each, as Bangladesh’s specialist batters failed to put together a performance for the umpteenth time this year.West Indies themselves couldn’t put up a bigger target after they were bowled out for 152 in the second innings. Taskin Ahmed got his maiden five-wicket haul in Tests, finishing up with 6 for 64. This came on the back of Bangladesh’s surprise declaration on the fourth morning, despite being 181 runs behind West Indies’ first-innings total of 450 for 9.Bangladesh’s batters, however, couldn’t repay their bowlers. Both their openers got out similarly to how they were dismissed in the first innings. Zakir Hasan inside-edged Roach on to his stumps, while Mahmudul Hasan Joy edged Seales to third slip. Roach then set Shahadat Hossain up in the 11th over, getting the ball to seam away several times before bowling a booming inswinger. The ball kissed Shahadat’s gloves as he tried to get out of the way, before Joshua Da Silva took the inside edge.Shamar Joseph then saw two dropped catches in his first over, both of Mominul Haque. Da Silva dropped a chance down the leg side, before Mikyle Louis couldn’t hold on to a straightforward one at gully. Mominul, however, couldn’t last long, as Roach took a superb caught and bowled from his drive in the next over.Taskin Ahmed took a career-best 6 for 64•CWI

But Shamar’s bad luck continued at the other end. Alick Athanaze dropped Mehidy Hasan Miraz at second slip, with the Bangladesh captain on 14. Litton Das cut one uppishly, only for Seales to get a hand on it at backward point. Shamar’s exasperation at having four catches dropped off his bowling, however, didn’t last too long. He had Litton caught at fine leg for 22 to reduce Bangladesh to 59 for 5 in the 18th over.Mehidy was the only one fighting for Bangladesh, riding out the short-ball barrage, and keeping the scoreboard moving. He made 45 off 46 balls with five fours and a six, before Seales got him caught behind, as Da Silva took a fine catch. Seales then clean bowled Taijul Islam as well.West Indies’ morning had started with good fortune despite the declaration surprise. Shahadat, at first slip, dropped captain Kraigg Brathwaite on 9. Next ball, Taskin slammed an inswinger into Louis’ front pad, but umpire Kumar Dharmasena said not out. Replays showed that the batter was plumb in front, but Bangladesh hadn’t taken the review.Taskin, however, removed Louis in his next over when the opener was caught behind for 8. Taskin then had Keacy Carty caught at third slip, a further reward of his excellent line and length in his first spell. Brathwaite then guided Shoriful Islam to second slip in the following over, as the visitors’ decision to declare got an early vindication.Kavem Hodge and Alick Athanaze nearly got West Indies out of trouble. The pair struck eight fours either side of the lunch break, but just when they added 50 for the fourth wicket, Bangladesh struck three times in as many overs. Taskin’s beautiful delivery that nipped slightly away had Hodge caught behind for 15. It was also Litton Das’ 100th catch in Tests.File photo: Jayden Seales also finished the day with three wickets•AFP/Getty Images

Mehidy then removed Athanaze in the following over. He made 42 off 63 balls, with seven fours, but the young left-hander played a superfluous shot, struck on the back foot while trying to cut a ball that was spinning into him. Then Taskin clipped Justin Greaves’ off stump with another fantastic delivery, as the first-innings centurion made just 2 in the second.Alzarri Joseph immediately counterattacked against Taskin, and this time there were no verbal exchanges between the two. Da Silva followed suit by getting two fours off Taskin’s next over. He struck Taijul for a straight six, but then the left-arm spinner got one to get big on Da Silva, who gave a catch to point.Alzarri then holed out to short fine leg after top edging Mehidy. He had earlier survived a similar top edge, but Mominul had dropped a relatively difficult chance. Mominul had earlier also dropped Carty at short cover.It was, however, all forgotten when Taskin yorked Shamar to complete his first five-for. He finished up the West Indies innings when Mehidy took a brilliant diving catch at mid-off, after Roach was deceived by a Taskin’s slower ball.But Bangladesh’s batters couldn’t be inspired by their bowlers, as they crumbled on the fourth day.

Glasgow Rangers are now in talks with a European club over the sale of a “brilliant” key player, who has already agreed personal terms to go, according to a recent report.

Martin wants more defensive reinforcements at Rangers

The Gers are closing in on their return to pre-season action, as it is less than four weeks away until they return to competitive action in the Champions League second qualifying round. Before that, Russell Martin will hope to have as much transfer business wrapped up as possible, as he will want to make a strong start as the new Rangers boss.

The Scottish giants announced the signing of Max Aarons on a season-long loan deal from AFC Bournemouth on Wednesday. The defender is “delighted” to be joining Rangers, as he describes the Gers as a “huge club”.

Aarons told the club’s media team: “I am delighted to be here; as you can see, it’s a huge club, and you realise that when you walk through the doors. I can’t wait to get going.

“I’ve got a lot of experience now in different leagues, and I have played a lot of games. I think I can bring that experience; I can bring a new energy, and I think Rangers fans can be excited – I am really looking forward to it.”

Rangers bid made: 49ers table offer to bring "spectacular" 22 y/o to Ibrox

The Gers want a permanent transfer.

ByCharlie Smith Jun 26, 2025

Aarons may not be the only defender to arrive at Ibrox this summer, as the Gers are in talks to sign Conor Coady from Leicester City. Meanwhile, Rangers are also looking into the possibility of a deal to sign Owen Beck from Liverpool, with the new boss making it clear he wants to improve his defensive ranks.

Rangers now in talks to sell Hamza Igamane

Deals for Coady and Beck may soon become more financially viable too, as according to Sacha Tavolieri, Rangers are in talks to sell Hamza Igamane to French outfit Lille.

Tavolieri states that Lille have made Igamane a top target, as they see him as the person to replace Jonathan David, who is leaving the club on a free transfer.

He adds that the Rangers forward has spoken to the club and has now agreed personal terms, and all that remains is the two clubs, who are in talks, to agree a transfer fee.

Earlier this week it was reported that Rangers were “at risk” of losing Igamane, as teams such as Marseille and Lazio were circling with interest. In fact, it was claimed that Marseille had made an approach to sign the 22-year-old, which had rocked the Scottish club.

Rangers have set a £20 million asking price on Igamane, but it remains unclear if Lille would be willing to pay that much.

Apps

46

Goals

16

Assists

3

The Morocco international was sensational for the Gers last season, as he netted 12 goals in 33 league games, as well as a further four in the Europa League. A standout moment was him netting the winner in the 3-2 win away at Celtic, an impact that Derek Ferguson lauded as “brilliant”.

“Igamane is a real breath of fresh air, the young man. The manager said he was trying to get him up to speed, but in the last few games he has been nothing short of brilliant. He is off the cuff, and he had three or four nutmegs this afternoon – and took his goal brilliantly. I don’t know if you remember Ted McMinn, but Igamane’s got that unpredictability.”

Bryan Mbeumo rapidly appears to be the latest player to be edging closer to completing a move to Manchester United this summer, looking to add to their first-team overhaul.

Matheus Cunha has already completed his own switch to Old Trafford, costing a fee in the region of £62.5m – with the Brentford talent potentially being next in line.

The 25-year-old has already chosen the Red Devils as his next destination, leaving the hierarchy to agree a deal with Thomas Frank before he can complete a medical.

It’s been reported that they’ve already placed a £45m offer with £10m in add-ons, but it’s expected to be rejected with the Bees demanding a fee in the region of £70m to sell the Cameroonian.

It appears that the move is heading in the right direction, but he’s not alone in being wanted by the club this summer, with multiple other stars also on their radar ahead of 2025/26.

The latest on United’s pursuit of new additions

As previously mentioned, United have wasted no time in identifying options to help improve Ruben Amorim’s squad, in his attempts to transform the club during his first full season in charge.

Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen and Liam Delap are just three names who’ve been on their list, but have had to look elsewhere – with the latter joining Premier League rivals Chelsea.

However, such a transfer could massively help the Red Devils in their latest pursuit, with Blues talisman Nicolas Jackson another name they’re targeting, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

The report claims that Amorim’s side are seriously interested in a move for the 23-year-old forward, who managed to find the net 10 times in his 30 league appearances this season.

It also states that the Senegalese international could be available for the right price this summer, but doesn’t state how much they could demand, with Aston Villa also credited with a strong interest.

Why United’s latest target could be Amorim’s own Isak

Alexander Isak is a player who has torn up the Premier League over recent years, being one of the most feared attackers after joining Newcastle United back in the summer of 2022.

The Swede has since scored 54 league goals in just 86 appearances, with 23 of his efforts coming in 2024/25 – with only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah registering more goals this campaign.

His subsequent tally from this campaign is nearly three times higher than the Red Devils’ top scorers Amad Diallo and Bruno Fernandes – showcasing how impressive the Magpies ace has been in front of goal.

However, given his goalscoring record, he would cost a pretty penny, with Eddie Howe’s side placing a £150m valuation on the 25-year-old’s head this summer.

The Red Devils could be about to land their own version of the Swede in the form of Jackson, with FBref labelling the Chelsea talent as a similar player to Isak based off their respective figures in 2024/25.

When delving into the stats and comparing them, the Blues star has managed to match or better him in numerous key areas, handing Amorim his own version of the talisman should he move to Old Trafford.

Jackson, who’s been labelled “special” by journalist Rahman Osman, may have registered fewer goals this season, but has posted a higher shot on target accuracy rate – showcasing his ability to get his efforts on target, which could lead to added goals down the line.

Games played

30

34

Goals & assists

15

29

Shot-on-target accuracy

45%

43%

Pass accuracy

76%

75%

Aerials won

37%

32%

Shots on target per game

1.4

1.3

Fouls won

1.2

0.4

He’s also managed to win more aerial battles, whilst also completing more of the passes he’s attempted, handing Amorim an all-round option within the final third at Old Trafford.

The 23-year-old’s talents don’t stop there, winning more fouls per 90, offering a constant nuisance to the opposition backline, which could make him a real threat alongside the likes of Cunha and Fernandes at the Theatre of Dreams.

It’s safe to say that Jackson won’t be many supporters’ first choice for the centre forward role this summer, but he has that raw ability that could shape him into an elite-level talent.

Should he make the move to the North West and get anywhere close to the goal tally produced by Isak, it would be one hell of an addition – pushing the club one step closer to returning their former glory in the coming years.

As exciting as Mbeumo: Man Utd ramp up move for "better version of Haaland"

Man Utd’s swift start to the window could be followed by the signing of a new centre-forward

ByRobbie Walls Jun 5, 2025

Chelsea forward Cole Palmer found himself in the spotlight with his recent heroics in the Club World Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain making waves far beyond the pitch. The 23-year-old Englishman was filmed snapping a selfie with a New York Police Department officer outside the Peninsula Hotel on Monday, a day after Chelsea’s emphatic victory over Paris Saint-Germain.

• Palmer basking in CWC glory
• Winning hearts in the USA
• Was stopped for a selfie by an NYPD officer

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Palmer’s new-found status in the Big Apple comes after his sensational performance at the MetLife Stadium, where he scored twice and assisted another in Chelsea's 3-0 dismantling of the French champions. His dazzling display earned him the prestigious Player of the Tournament accolade, an honour which was presented by none other than U.S. President Donald Trump.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Palmer paused to engage with a member of the NYPD as he exited his hotel in midtown Manhattan. Captured in a video shared by the Palmer smiled for a selfie with the officer, an interaction that symbolised his rising stardom in the U.S.

• WATCH THE CLIP

• WHAT NEXT FOR PALMER?

  Following their Club World Cup triumph, Chelsea players and staff were treated to a private celebration to toast a remarkable end to their campaign. The trophy was their second piece of silverware as they previously earned Conference League glory, beating Real Betis in the final.

After losing Matheus Cunha to Manchester United, Wolverhampton Wanderers have now reportedly set their sights on signing an impressive Championship forward this summer.

Cunha officially joins Man Utd

In one of the earliest, though perhaps least surprising moves of the summer, Cunha has now officially swapped Wolves for Manchester United. In truth, as soon as the Brazilian’s £63m release clause came to light, his exit seemed inevitable. For Wolves, it’s now more important than ever that they spend the money well and replace their talisman in seamless fashion. That, however, is easier said than done.

Appearances

92

Goals

33

Assists

15

Cunha’s record speaks for itself. The former Atletico Madrid man particularly found his best form throughout the 2024/25 campaign and replacing his impact will undoubtedly be Wolves’ toughest task this summer.

Whilst it’s easy to assume the worst, Wolves already experienced a glimpse of life without Cunha throughout the season when he was missing through injury and suspension. It was then that Vitor Pereira’s side proved that they’re more than just the Brazilian, securing three of their six impressive consecutive wins to send a statement in the battle to secure their Premier League status.

With that top-flight status secured and £63m to spare, Wolves should ensure that life without Cunha remains blissful rather than the nightmare many have envisaged in the past.

To that end, who could arrive remains to be seen. Stars such as Harvey Elliott have already threatened to steal the headlines in recent weeks and signing a Premier League champion would certainly do no harm.

Whether the former Fulham gem is capable of producing the same output as Cunha is the big question, though. Instead, Wolves could push on to sign a proven goalscorer in the coming months.

Wolves "monitoring" Ivanovic

According to South London football reporter Richard Cawley, Wolves are now “monitoring” Mihailo Ivanovic following his excellent debut season at Millwall. The Serbian striker scored 12 goals in his first Championship campaign and only looks set to get better at just 20 years old.

Given how he starred in his first season, Millwall may naturally be reluctant to let their forward leave so soon after he initially arrived. But the Premier League call is certainly a difficult one to turn down.

Millwall manager Alex Neil has been among those full of praise for Ivanovic in recent months, telling reporters in April: “Any 20-year-old that leads the line in the Championship and can get nearly [10 goals], and he’ll get double figures before the end of the season.

“If you do that, that’s an unbelievable season and it won’t be surprising me if people start talking about him. I’ve already seen something the other day talking about the top 10 young talents in Europe – he’s one of them.”

Having lost a top talent in Cunha, if Wolves managed to sign one of the top 10 young talents in Europe – as Neil believes Ivanovic is – then that should be seen as excellent business.