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The lack of a backlift restricts the Australian opener’s range of strokes, especially the drive, but he has managed to use his limitations to his advantage

Aakash Chopra15-Jul-2015Chris Rogers went deep inside the crease to chop Moeen Ali’s short ball through the third-man region for a couple to reach another fifty, and with it to become the fifth batsman and the first opener to score seven consecutive Test half-centuries. Considering the number of runs (24,000, and 186 scores of 50 and above) he has scored at first-class level, his consistency shouldn’t come as a surprise. But since he was so late in making it to the international scene, every landmark he achieves raises eyebrows.While many Australians start their international careers fairly late, Rogers seems to be a little different. It won’t be too off the mark to assume that a paucity of batting talent in Australia forced the selectors to look at him, for his style of play isn’t really Australian. While a player like him would traditionally be rated highly in England, in Australia even his successes are received with some amount of cynicism. Even though the decline in Australian batting quality is quite apparent, their mindset hasn’t changed much: they still prefer picking players who can assert themselves on the game and opposition, and more importantly can take the game forward. Rogers does neither. Instead, he plays the traditional brand of cricket that dictates leaving everything outside off if it’s full and waiting for bad balls to come his way. He is the sort of player who is effective but will rarely change the flow of the game in a session or two.Rogers’ batting is built around minimising risk, and for that, minimal movement of the bat and feet. While most Australian batsmen grow up learning the importance of standing tall and cocking the wrists while taking the bat upwards in the backlift, Rogers crouches in his stance and breaks his wrists while taking the bat upwards in the backlift. In fact, the way he lifts the bat, the wrists have little role to play, for the weight of the bat is not distributed between the forearms and the wrists; in his case, it’s the forearms that bear nearly all the weight.The position of his right arm in his stance is similar to how it would be if you were cradling a baby. The advantage of this position is that the batsman can achieve the perfect pendulum movement, for the bat comes down in one direction, following the same path every time.

Like all good Test openers, Rogers has acquired a good sense of where his off stump is and takes pleasure in allowing balls to go through to the wicketkeeper

On the other hand, players with a high backlift run the risk of minor deviations in the path as they take the bat upwards and bring it down in the stroke. For Rogers, the flip side is that breaking the wrists so early means the bat does not going higher in the backlift regardless of the flight of the ball or whether he wants to play an aggressive shot or not.In an ideal world, the bat must go higher if the bowler has flighted the ball a little more and if you want to play an aggressive shot. By doing that, you use the momentum generated in the downswing to hit the ball harder. Rogers gives himself no such luxury and depends solely on the pace provided by the bowler. It isn’t surprising that his favourite areas of scoring against pace are either behind square on the off side or off his legs on the on side. He is a reluctant driver of the ball; in fact, he rarely plays the big, booming drive. His backlift (or the lack of it) dictates that he simply pushes the ball down the ground and makes peace with whatever he gets in return.Ricky Ponting was a powerful driver of the ball partly because of his emphatic backlift•Getty ImagesBowling to someone like Rogers is straightforward: you must not bowl short or provide width, while bowling an off-stump line, and you must stay away from his pads. In theory, every international bowler should be able to execute this, and Rogers ought to find it difficult to score runs. But years of playing the game have made Rogers acutely aware of his own game. He knows what he’s good at, and more importantly, knows what he isn’t capable of doing. Since he does not play the big, booming drives, he in effect pushes balls that are really full and hittable through the off side. Like all good Test openers, he has acquired a good sense of where his off stump is, and takes pleasure in allowing balls to go through to the wicketkeeper. His near non-existent backlift means that his hands are reasonably soft on the bat handle, and that enables him to present a dead bat while defending, which means soft edges often don’t carry to the slip cordon.Rogers’ batting is a throwback to an era gone by. At 37, he doesn’t have too much international cricket left in him. There aren’t too many of his ilk left, and we ought to enjoy him while he lasts, as he goes about using the pace to put the ball behind point and nudging it off his pads.

The former Canadian national team player, current Apple TV analyst joined Mic'd up to discuss Messi, MLS, Jesse Marsch

Kaylyn Kyle has covered virtually every soccer league you can name. She has been there for the Premier League and Ligue 1. She has watched on – and played at – the Olympics and the Women's World Cup. But in her estimation, nothing quite compares to MLS.

"It's one of the most exciting, because you genuinely don't know who's going to win every single weekend," she tells GOAL.

Kyle's journey has been a somewhat chaotic. From Canadian national team standout to high-profile MLS analyst, the former midfielder has been involved in the game at all levels – on and off the field. And now, she has settled in the Apple TV studio, hosting MLS 260 and regularly appearing as a sideline reporter for some of the biggest games. MLS, and its ever changing world, makes her life as interesting as ever.

"I gotta be honest, because you go into the season thinking, 'OK, yeah, I'm set. I know exactly what I'm talking about.' And then the transfer deadline, 24th hour, there's 17 different changes, player movements, in and out, and you're like, 'Oh, Jesus, where's this player from?' " Kyle says.

But she's uniquely placed to keep track of everything. She has done a bit of everything – from hosting, to reporting, to actually playing the game – and established herself as a relevant, and often loud voice in the American soccer landscape.

Kyle talked MLS, NWSL, Canadian soccer and more in the latest edition of Mic’d Up, a recurring feature in which GOAL US taps into the perspective of broadcasters, analysts and other pundits on the state of soccer in the U.S. and abroad.

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  ON THE 2025 MLS SEASON

  GOAL: What have you made of the MLS season so far? Has it been better than you expected?

  KYLE: I've covered every league under the sun, and since coming to MLS, I think it's, for me, it's one of the most exciting, because you genuinely don't know who's going to win every single weekend. Whereas when you're you're looking at the Prem, you're looking at La Liga, you have those top, top, top teams that seem to get the job done. Yes, there's the one-offs, like Nottingham Forest, that catch you by surprise. But I feel like with Major League Soccer, they make us do these preseason predictions, and the fans go crazy and they're so upset, and they're like, "You don't know what you're talking about. You're an idiot. You shouldn't have your job.' "

  But it is so hard because there is so much movement in the offseason. Now there's the new rule in Major League Soccer, which I absolutely love, where teams can buy players from other teams, which, for me, was a game-changer this year. I mean, you saw [Dejan] Joveljic from LA Galaxy going to Sporting KC. You saw Evander move. It's a very cool rule, and I love it, and I think it's added so much. But, yeah, it's chaotic, I gotta be honest, because you go into the season thinking, "OK, yeah, I'm set. I know exactly what I'm talking about." And then the transfer deadline, 24th hour, there's 17 different changes, player movements, in and out, and you're like, "Oh, Jesus, where's this player from?" Then you throw in the homegrown players… so it's chaotic, it's a lot of fun, and it's a league that I feel like just keeps you on your toes at all times.

  GOAL: You got that sense from the playoffs last year, that literally anything can happen.

  KYLE: Everyone's like, "What's the playoffs? Like, the team who just won the Supporters' Shield should win the league. It's the biggest trophy." But I'm like, "Americans, we love the playoffs." You tune into the NHL for the playoffs. You tune into the NFL for the playoffs. It's fun, it's entertaining. Those underdog teams can sneak in now, with that play-in-game. It's fun.

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  ON INTER MIAMI

  GOAL: We have to talk Inter Miami. How would you summarize Lionel Messi's impact on MLS?

  KYLE: The thing is, is everyone's like, "Oh, he's changed Major League Soccer" – and he hasn't. He has in a way, for sure, he's gotten more eyes on it from maybe other leagues from around the world or other countries that didn't rate Major League Soccer – and now they tune in because of him and are like, "Oh, this is actually a really good league." But every league that Messi has gone to people tune in. I mean, you look at Ligue 1 for example, there's four really top teams. I'm going to get killed by by French supporters, but like Marseille, Lyon, and PSG. And when he went to PSG, I didn't know a lot about the league. I didn't watch the league. And then obviously, we started covering it with BEIN sports. So he does that at every league that he goes to. I mean, people tune in to watch Lionel Messi. So I think what he's done for Major League Soccer is incredible, because I think he's gotten eyes on it in a way where now people look at the league differently.

  He had multiple clubs in Europe that he could have gone to, and he chose Major League Soccer, and he chose Inter Miami, which I think people are like, "He's at the tail end of his career." He was fresh coming off a World Cup in 2022 winning with Argentina, and arguably was one of the best players in the tournament. So I hate that narrative of like people saying "It's a retirement league" because it's not, and now it's also a development league of young, up-and-coming South Americans that then gets sold for $15 or $20 million over to Europe, like we saw with Miguel Almiron. So I just think the league has done such a great job in the short amount of time. It's not the EPL where, you know, it's hundreds of years of people being born into supporting Everton or Liverpool or Man City.

  But you can already see the impact of what Messi has done with the league, where these stadiums that weren't filled, and now they are filled, and they're having to change venues so they can accommodate ticket sales of people wanting to see Lionel Messi. So I think it's incredible what he's done. I think it won't stop when he does retire, because now you're starting to see more and more players tuning in because of Messi and being like, "Oh, actually, this looks like a little bit of me." I mean, Emmanuel Latte Lath for Atlanta United, or Kevin Denkey at Cincinnati. It's been really cool what he's done, not only on the pitch, but the awareness that he's bringing off the pitch as well.

  GOAL: What do you make of Javier Mascherano as a manager?

  KYLE: He's done an extremely good job, and I think there was a lot of pressure on him when he went in, because you have a manager like Tata Martino, in 18 months, they lifted the Leagues Cup. They set the points record and they lifted a Supporters' Shield. Yes, he does have Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez and Messi, I understand that. But the pressure on Miami is to win everything, whether it's the CONCACAF Champions Cup, whether it's the Club World Cup, whether it's the league, the Supporter's Shield… they have the players to do so, so and one of the deepest benches here in Major League Soccer, and then obviously the pressure because he played with Messi. So the narrative of "You got the job because of Messi" is there, but I think he's done an extremely, extremely good job.

  They lost a lot of key pieces last year, like Diego Gomez, Matias Rojas, and they've had to fill it. They went out, they found Tadeo Allende. They found Telasco Segovia, two players that have played massive roles. People are talking about disciplinary stuff, you know – three red cards already early on in the season – but it's not really any different of a story than what we saw last year from Inter Miami. But he's done a great job having to rest Messi for a few games and manage his load and bringing in players to get the job done. And they're second in the Supporters' Shield under Vancouver Whitecaps right now top in the Eastern Conference.

  GOAL: Four matchdays in, who's your way-too-early favorite to win it all?

  KYLE: I gotta go Inter Miami. They've come back, to win down to 10 men in two matches. And then you have Messi. And you just can't bet against him. I feel like they will go back-to-back years winning Supporters' Shields. Anything can happen in the playoffs, but I don't see them having an early exit like we saw last year against Atlanta United.

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  ON THE USL, DIVISION ONE LEAGUE, PRO-REL

  GOAL: USL is getting a Division One league with promotion and relegation. Should MLS be worried?

  KYLE: It's always great when you have competition. When I grew up as a player, if you don't have competition, it doesn't make you better. And I think you know, with what the USL is doing, I think it's a fantastic platform for players to improve and get better and get professional games, because we have seen a lot of USL players make the jump to Major League Soccer, and we have seen a lot of Major League Soccer players make the jump to USL. Competition is always good, and I think it only will improve the sport here, and it's also showing the growth of the sport here in North America, which is incredible to see.

  What I will say with Major League Soccer, though, in just 25 years, and since Don Garber has taken over as commissioner, he took it from 10 teams to 30 teams. We now have soccer specific stadiums that sell out. We now have soccer specific training grounds that are multi million dollar training grounds that are quite honestly, better than a lot of European training grounds. So I will say what Major League Soccer has done in a short amount of time, and the infrastructure that they've created, for me, is some of the best in the world. Again, not I'm not talking about the Barcelonas, the PSGs, but I am talking about those, maybe teams 20 to 13, when you look at some of their training grounds, and then you look at a Columbus Crew training ground, even an Inter Miami training ground… It is amazing to see the growth in Major League Soccer and the growth here with the USL, and, you know, just getting more and more competitive.

  GOAL: And promotion-relegation, which was recently announced by the USL. Is it necessary?

  KYLE: For USL, I think, the more you can innovate, and the more that you can add growth, the more the game gets better. So if that's the way they thought they could get better and add maybe a few more eyes on the USL, get more fans in the stands, make it more competitive. I don't know the ins and outs of the USL as well as I do with Major League Soccer, but I will say I love seeing change, and I love seeing growth. My husband played in the USL, I love the USL. Competition is great.

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  ON NWSL TRANSFERS

  GOAL: I wanted to touch on the NWSL a little bit. You played in the league, you had quite an influence in the women's soccer sphere. There have been some significant departures, though, to Europe this offseason. What do you think this means? Should the league be worried?

  KYLE: It's continuing to grow. There's expansion clubs that are slowly starting to come in. I was there at the beginning where places didn't have training grounds, we didn't have breakfast. So where the NWSL has gone from to where it is today has been night and day. So well done to the NWSL. But what I will say is, when you are a player, you want to play in the Champions League. We don't have that here in North America, obviously. And I do think it's almost a similar situation as Major League Soccer. When you do make that jump to Europe, I feel like when you make the jump to England, I don't think it's isn't competitive for team one to 10. I think they have team one to 5, where it's very competitive, they pay good money, they have proper training grounds, and they're in the Champions League. Ultimately, every player would love to play in the Champions League. I wish I would have!

  So I do feel like when you are losing a player, because I got both sides of it. When the girls are talking about it, they're like, "It won't hurt the league." But it will hurt the league, because you want your biggest and best stars in the league. But what I will say, a lot of players that have played in Europe come to the NWSL and they realize this is a very difficult league. It's very transitional, it's very athletic, it's very competitive from team one to team 10. But yeah, obviously, when I look at it, you never want big stars to leave a league, because ultimately that hurts.

Captain Meg Lanning said “we all support Ash and her feelings around the day”

AAP23-Jan-2023Meg Lanning has declared the Australian women’s team are united in support of indigenous star Ashleigh Gardner and her criticism of the side playing on January 26.Gardner made her views clear on the subject on Sunday, when she said the day was a “day of hurt and a day of mourning” for indigenous Australians.The reigning Belinda Clark Award holder will line up in the T20 against Pakistan but has said playing on that date did not sit well with her.The second T20 against Pakistan was initially scheduled for January 27 in Canberra but was moved to the 26th in Hobart when South Africa abandoned their men’s ODI series, which had included a scheduled game in the southern city.In a move driven by players, Australia will wear an indigenous jersey, wristbands and socks with indigenous colours for the match in Hobart.The issue is understood to have been first raised months ago by players, who were keen to lead an education space on the issue once being told they would be scheduled to play on January 26.”It’s something that we can’t control in terms of the scheduling and playing on that day,” Lanning said. “But something we would like to do is acknowledge the sadness and grief that day brings for First Nations people.”We’re going to try to use the opportunity we have to educate ourselves and try to create a better understanding of what it means and their culture. It’s a really united front in the group and we all support Ash and her feelings around the day.”Lanning said Gardner was doing “pretty well” after receiving online abuse following her statement, and labelled the allrounder’s action as brave. Gardner was with the Australian team at training on Monday, amid a throng of media focusing on the issue.The subject of January 26 has been a constant challenge for Cricket Australia in recent years, and a subject about which the governing body takes regular input from its indigenous advisory committee.The organisation dropped the term “Australia Day” from all marketing two years ago, which was met with criticism by then Prime Minister Scott Morrison.Indigenous elements will also become part of all Big Bash League uniforms from next season, with the women’s team to wear a First Nations jersey throughout next month’s T20 World Cup.”It’s something that we’ve been working on as a group for a number years,” Lanning said. “We’ve been trying to use every opportunity that we get to educate ourselves and try to celebrate the culture of First Nations people as well and try to make a point of that.”We’re doing a cultural tour the day before [January 26)] to learn a little bit more. It’s something as a group that we’ve spoken about for the past few years, it hasn’t just come up now. We’ll continue to do that because we think it’s important.”The advisory committee’s co-chairman and former CEO of Reconciliation Australia Justin Mohamed told AAP he understood a busy schedule meant games would be played on January 26, and stressed his personal view was that the tone of the event was crucial.”I can only reflect on Anzac Day and the [AFL] fixture with Collingwood and Essendon. The respect they show to Anzac Day only enhances and educates,” Mohamed said.”People who go to that game know this is a significant time, and there have been losses. [January 26] is a day of mourning, but also there is a day of survival. Where Aboriginal culture and language and history have survived all this.”The 26th will always be the 26th. Even if we change the date to celebrate Australia Day on, the 26th is a date all Australians should know and shouldn’t be lost.”Mohamed said the team had been proactive in their response to the scheduling.”Straight away they said, ‘This day has a strong significance for First Nations people, we need to learn more about this’,” he said.

Virgil van Dijk has claimed that there has been no progress in contract talks with Liverpool as the Dutch defender edges closer to free agency.

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• Van Dijk provided update on his contract situation
• 'No idea' if he'll still be at the club next season
• Dutchman focused on winning Carabao Cup and Premier League

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Van Dijk might have played his final Champions League game for Liverpool on Tuesday as they crashed out after losing 4-1 on penalties against Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of their round of 16 fixture. After the loss at Anfield, the Dutch defender was asked about his future at the Merseyside club, to which he replied that contract talks have stalled with the Reds at the moment.

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• WHAT VIRGIL VAN DIJK SAID

  Speaking to reporters, the Dutchman said: "I have no idea. I still have no idea at the moment. Genuinely. I have no idea at the moment. It is not on hold. Nothing on hold. There’s just… I keep saying the same thing. Listen, there are ten games to go, and that is my full focus. If there is news, you guys will know it.

  "I don’t even know myself. Everyone knows there are some conversations behind the scenes, but that is about it. At the moment, I don’t even know what will happen next year. If anyone says they do know, they are lying to your face."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  After the loss against the French champions, Van Dijk sent Liverpool fans into a panic as he was spotted speaking with PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and sporting director Luis Campos. Liverpool have also yet to finalise new contracts for Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

  The Reds will now aim to bag their first trophy of the season on Sunday as they gear up to face Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

Everton may have avoided relegation by 14 points last season, but it was hardly one to remember for the Toffees as they finished 15th in the Premier League.

Things aren’t exactly going much better this term either for Sean Dyche’s men, who have won just twice in the top flight.

Many players who Dyche was hoping to rely on have failed to deliver. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored just two goals all season, while defender Michael Keane has started nine of the club’s 11 league games due to Jarrad Branthwaite’s injury issues.

A few have shone, and they could be the reason for Everton retaining their top-flight status for another season.

Everton’s best performers this season

Dwight McNeil has been excellent in a number 10 role, scoring three goals and supplying three assists in the Premier League, shining under Dyche this term. Iliman Ndiaye has also scored three goals for the club and the presence of these two in the final third has given the Merseyside faithful some hope.

With Orel Mangala and Abdoulaye Dououre running things in midfield, there are plenty of positives for Everton, that’s for sure. The key thing now is to string a run of victories together to move up the table.

One of the surprise hits of the campaign, however, has been the form of Ashley Young, who has performed excellently at right-back for the club.

Ashley Young’s statistics this season

Last season, Young made 31 league appearances for the Toffees. Despite missing only seven games, he ranked in the bottom 50% of positionally similar players in Europe for tackles, interceptions, aerial duels won and progressive passes per 90 last season.

It was clear that he was underperforming and while earning £40k-per-week in the process, a wage that Dyche would have liked to get off the bill, he should have been out the door.

He wasn’t released during the summer, remaining at the club after penning a new deal, and with Nathan Patterson struggling with injury, Young became the first choice at right-back.

The 29-year-old has started all but two of the club’s top-flight games this season, registering three assists in that time, enjoying somewhat of a resurgence for Everton.

Among the first-team squad, Young currently ranks second for assists (3), fourth for accurate passes per game (27.6), second for key passes per game (1.4) and fourth for tackles per match (2.4), demonstrating how effective he has been for the team this term.

The veteran defender has certainly established himself in the starting XI and, given how good he has been recently, is Young becoming undroppable?

Patterson may be the long-term option on the right side of the defence, but it appears as though the former Manchester United star has this position sewn up at present.

There is no doubt Young is enjoying an Indian summer this campaign, and it will be interesting to see if his form continues when the domestic calendar returns.

Fewer touches than Pickford: Dyche must now finally ditch Everton star

The Everton man struggled against West Ham

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By
Joe Nuttall

Nov 9, 2024

With Jason Holder in the side, there is hope that West Indies could return to a time when success was measured not by bling or bank balance, not by strutting or swagger, but by deeds on the pitch.

George Dobell at North Sound18-Apr-2015This is why Jason Holder was appointed West Indies’ ODI captain. He may only be 23, he may only have been playing his fourth Test, but here, in Antigua, he produced a display of leadership that many of his more experienced team-mates would do well to emulate.It wasn’t so much the class of Holder’s shots that stood out; impressive though the back-foot drives, the lofted straight drives and the tight defence were.It was more the composure. On a fifth day pitch, against a pair of seamers with well over 600 Test wickets between them, with a Test to save and his top-order colleagues gone, he seemed to revel in the pressure. This was his first Test century; there will surely be more.There have been signs of such willingness to embrace responsibility before. Not only did he accept the captaincy of a weakened team ahead of the World Cup – an almost impossible challenge – but he also accepted the burden of bowling at the death.He knew his own figures would be tarnished by the role. And he knew he could, as other captains have done before him, have hidden himself from the worst of the fray and protected his own analysis.But that is not Holder’s way. So, against South Africa, after conceding only nine runs from his first five overs, he brought himself back at the end of the innings with arguably the world’s most destructive ODI batsman – AB de Villiers – at the crease.Holder’s final two overs cost an eye-watering 64 runs and left him with an ugly and unwanted record: no one has conceded more than the 104 runs he was plundered for in a World Cup match.The episode showed he had a little to learn about death bowling, perhaps, but it also showed a selflessness, a bravery, a willingness to lead that was admirable.Those in Barbados who know Holder best – and Ezra Moseley, the former West Indies seamer, has been a pivotal figure in his development – will not be surprised by this innings. He was always seen as a batting allrounder growing up and his leadership qualities were recognised when he was appointed captain first of Barbados U19 and then, briefly, West Indies U19.His batting ability may, in time, allow West Indies to go into a Test with a stronger, five-man bowling attack. If he could have batted at No. 6 or No. 7 in this game, West Indies could have played another seamer, or perhaps spinner, and used their strike bowlers in shorter bursts.But Holder’s excellence with the bat will mask – to some extent – the recklessness of some of his colleagues.For while Holder batted as if his life depended on saving the game, Marlon Samuels batted as if he had something better to do in edging a wide delivery to slip. While Holder batted with a composure that belied his tender years, Devon Smith – a decade his senior – batted with the naivety of a schoolboy in driving to mid-on. And while Holder batted with the discipline and denial of a high-quality Test batsman, Jermaine Blackwood batted with the disregard for conventional technique of a man in the last over of a T20 run chase in charging down the pitch and trying to slog through midwicket.Allowances can be made for Blackwood, in particular. He is a couple of weeks younger than Holder and, as a natural strokemaker learning his trade, it is inevitable that mistakes will occur. As his captain, Denesh Ramdin said, “he’ll learn from the experience”.But Samuels’ failure is more troubling. He had already survived a missed stumping opportunity after attempting a repeat of a lofted drive that carried for six off James Tredwell. So to continue to bat in such loose style was something of a dereliction of duty from a team perspective.To Samuels’ credit, he apologised to the team in the dressing room. But it remains infuriating that a man so obviously blessed averages just 35.55 in Test cricket. Not only was his batting inappropriate in the circumstances, it was against team orders. West Indies were not pursuing a victory target.”There were some shots there that were really disappointing,” Ramdin admitted afterwards. “They weren’t called for at the time.”Devon could have gone on to get a hundred and the game could have been different. We need those batsmen who get in to go on and make big scores. It’s very important, to create the belief, that we can win games”It was important we set up the game in the first hour. We needed not to lose early wickets. But it didn’t go as well as we planned. The guys apologised to the team for it.”There were other positives for West Indies. Antigua had to bid $US500,000 to host this match but the game generated the highest attendance figure for a Test on the island; the old ground may have seemed busier, but it had a smaller capacity. Meanwhile Jerome Taylor out-bowled his England counterparts with the new ball, Smith made his highest score for almost a decade (November 2005) and Blackwood showed he is a talent worth perseverance. Kemar Roach also enjoyed a good game and, by accompanying Holder for more than 50 deliveries, showed admirable character. Around such men, West Indies can build with some guarded optimism.Furthermore, West Indies have seen many of their proud records slip away in recent years, but at least they can say they have still never lost to England in Antigua. And, for the first time since 2009 – and the last time they held out for a draw against England in Antigua – they had batted for more than 100 overs in the fourth innings of a Test.From a negative point of view, the bowling of Sulieman Benn was disappointing and there were times in the field on the fourth day when the bowling and, in particular, the fielding became quite ragged.But Ramdin, whose own batting was also impressive, was in buoyant mood at the end.”This is a fantastic boost,” he said. “The draw feels good. Our confidence is up and we’ve continued that tradition of not losing a Test in Antigua.It was an understandable reaction. If nothing else, the continued development of Holder suggested that Phil Simmons’ pre-match cry for the team to play with “discipline and pride” did not fall on completely deaf ears.West Indies may have a long way to go before they reclaim a place in the top three of the Test rankings – which is Simmons’ aim – but with Holder in the side, there is hope that they are returning to a time when success was measured not by bling or bank balance, not by strutting or swagger, but by deeds on the pitch.

Mehidy’s five-for gave the hosts a big chance before the duo patiently took India over the line before lunch break

Vishal Dikshit25-Dec-20223:23

Jaffer: India’s defensive approach in a small chase was disappointing

A fighting and defiant half-century stand between No. 8 Shreyas Iyer and R Ashwin saved India from a lower-order collapse and led them to a thin three-wicket win on a turning and low pitch on the fourth morning in Dhaka. Resuming on 45 for 4, India needed 100 more to win and Bangladesh six wickets. Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s five-for gave the hosts a big chance with quick wickets in the first half hour before Ashwin and Iyer used patience, accounted for the low bounce and also scored at a good clip – at over four an over – to take India over the line before the scheduled lunch break.India strengthened their second spot on the WTC table with the 2-0 series win and have a four-Test series coming up at home against Australia, of which they can afford to lose only one game to not lose out on the final spot.WTC standings as on December 25, 2022•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

India were in deep trouble in the first hour at 74 for 7, still 71 adrift from the target, when Iyer and Ashwin came together. Iyer used his straight bat to play out the spinners patiently and Ashwin used a low stance for the low bounce especially against Mehidy as the Bangladesh spinners stuck to a stump-to-stump line that had fetched them three wickets in the morning.Mehidy even created a chance when Ashwin was on 1 and India on 80, when Ashwin gloved the ball to short leg where Mominul Haque put down a straightforward chance. Just like Bangladesh made India pay for the dropped chances on Saturday, Ashwin cashed in on the life he got and picked up regular boundaries once he moved into double-digits. He collected two in an over off Khaled Ahmed and finished things off in a 16-run over off Mehidy which started with a first-ball six over midwicket and ended with back-to-back fours, taking Ashwin to an unbeaten 42 off 62 while Iyer was on 29 at the other end.Mehidy Hasan Miraz had India in all sorts of trouble on the fourth morning•AFP/Getty Images

Bangladesh had raced ahead with an early advantage in a dramatic first hour that saw a few boundaries, numerous appeals, two reviews, and three wickets.Jaydev Unadkat survived a very marginal lbw call on the third ball of the day and Bangladesh’s review showed the ball was just hitting leg stump, which wasn’t enough to overturn the on-field decision. Unadkat slog-swept the very next ball for six over midwicket but fell in the next over when Shakib Al Hasan slipped in a quick one from around the wicket to trap him right in front on the back foot and Unadkat wasted a review.Mehidy then removed two left-hand batters in consecutive overs for his eighth Test five-for. Rishabh Pant, at No. 7, unleashed a reverse sweep early on against Shakib for four but also looked nervous while either stepping out too often against the spinners or going on the back foot dangerously against sharp turn. Mehidy bowled on the fourth stump line consistently to him from around the wicket and pitched one marginally shorter to trap Pant on the back foot for 9.Seventy-one for 6 quickly became 74 for 7. Axar Patel carried on from his overnight 26 with regular strokes to keep the score ticking whenever he got width or length to work with. But he also became a victim of Mehidy’s stifling line and flat trajectory when a grubber deflected off his pads on the back foot and hit the stumps to send him back for 34.Shakib replaced himself with Taijul Islam to keep the left-arm spin threat going from one end and Iyer and Ashwin kept their bats close to pads and leaned forward to block the ball patiently in a boundary-less spell of 67 balls. With two right-hand batters on now, Mehidy’s magic didn’t look as unplayable now, barring the life Ashwin got. Iyer hit his first four on his 29th ball when Mehidy pitched one wide and then stepped out to drive Shakib inside out for a powerful cover drive followed by a pull for two more fours to quickly take India past 100 and switch the momentum.When India were 34 away, Shakib brought on pace for the first time in the day. After conceding a four down the leg side, Khaled Ahmed nearly created a chance with Ashwin’s thick edge past a diving gully fielder but that also went for four. Taijul came back on, Mehidy tried going around the wicket and Bangladesh hoped maybe lack of bounce would get them an opening, but nothing worked.Ashwin quickly scored 31 off the last 34 runs with the help of four fours and a six and kept Bangladesh still searching for their first Test win against India.

It is a “matter of time” until an “outstanding” Liverpool player signs a contract extension at Anfield, according to a big update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Liverpool contract latest

The Reds may be flying in the Premier League under Arne Slot, topping the table and making a great start to the season with their new head coach, but the contract situations surrounding key trio Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are threatening to act as a distraction.

All three have been among the most influential players of this era at Anfield, winning the Champions League, Premier League and many other trophies along the way, not to mention standing out as arguably the best players in their world in their respective positions.

Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk and Salah are all out of contract at Liverpool at the end of this season, and as things stand, none have agreed extensions yet, leading to concern regarding their futures.

For that reason, it is only natural that replacements have reportedly been lined up for them, with Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo seen as a potential successor to Salah on the right wing, for example. Now, a new contract update has emerged – one relating to a different Reds hero.

Liverpool star Ibrahima Konate likely to sign new contract

Taking to X, Romano claimed that it is now a “matter of time” until Ibrahima Konate extends his stay at Liverpool.

The £70,000-a-week Frenchman has been such a strong signing for the Reds since arriving from RB Leipzig for £36m in the summer of 2021, proving to be a brilliant partner for Van Dijk. In fact, the Dutchman recently heaped praise on his colleague after the 2-1 victory away to Wolves in the league.

“He is a fantastic player who still can be better. As you saw, he is important with the goal, he is defensively solid, a bit unlucky with the goal we conceded, but obviously the qualities he has are outstanding in my opinion. He is learning, growing, getting better and looking after himself much better in order to be ready every three days as that’s what asked.”

Injuries have been the one thing holding Konate back, with a string of absences over the past three-and-a-bit years proving to be frustrating, but when he is fit and firing, he is among the leading centre-backs in the country.

This season, the 25-year-old has averaged 3.6 clearances and 2.6 aerial duel wins per game in the league, and his pace and physicality are going to be vital to Liverpool’s chances of winning the title.

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A new deal for Konate makes complete sense, especially given his age, and the Reds should see him as the future leader of their defence, assuming he can avoid further injury problems.

South Africa will remain cautious with Vernon Philander’s hamstring complaint, are not worried about Quinton de Kock’s form and are looking forward to Rilee Roussouw becoming a permanent spot in the XI

Firdose Moonda in Auckland05-Mar-20151:51

Duminy back in squad after fitness test

Should JP Duminy pass his fitness test on Thursday afternoon, he will likely slot back into South Africa’s XI for their Saturday clash against Pakistan in Auckland. But that may not be the case for Vernon Philander, whose hamstring strain will need to be more conservatively managed and may result in his returning only later in the tournament.”A guy like JP will definitely get back in the mix. He has been one of our best players over a period of time,” coach Russell Domingo said. “We need to make sure Vernon is 100 percent ready to go because we need to be careful with a hamstring strain with the important stage of the competition still to come.”South Africa have all but secured a spot in the knockouts and early calculations see them traveling back to Australia to play a quarter-final Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide and they see Philander as key when the competition reaches that stage. Domingo was keen to use him on pitches he has a proven liking for, but if they need to hold him back from their remaining fixtures in New Zealand to ensure he is available later on, they will.”If there is something in the wicket, there are few better bowlers than Vernon Philander. He is able to extract whatever movement there is,” Domingo said. “If there is something in the wicket and particularly at this venue there might be. We’ve had two low scores in the games here, then. Vernon is a handful, he hits that area consistently and finds a little bit of nip, swing.”Although Philander’s experience in New Zealand has been limited to four ODIs, he has taken six wickets at 15.83 and has an economy of 4.22. His skills would be a handy against Pakistan and the UAE, but his chances of making the XI will depend on how well his hamstring has healed.Someone whose place is not in in doubt is Quinton De Kock. The opener has got into double-figures only once in five ODIs since returning from an ankle ligament tear but Domingo said neither the injury nor the lack of game time has hampered de Kock.”The ankle is fine. All batters go through periods when they are looking for runs. It was four games ago in a warm-up game when he got a good 60 against Sri Lanka,” Domingo reminded.That innings came amid de Kock’s lean patch, his first since establishing himself with three successive centuries against India. De Kock followed that run with another ton in Sri Lanka, where he had appeared out of his depth in 2013, and became Hashim Amla’s third-most successful partner in runs terms after Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers. Naturally, a bubble built around de Kock.”The expectation from a lot of people is that every time he bats, he is going to get runs and cricket does not work like that,” Domingo said.”It’s a good time for a young player who has had a great start to his international career and this will be a good test for him to find the form he is capable of. I’m sure it will be challenging for him because he has always been such a successful young player and a lot has been said and written about him for a young player. But players like that need a bit of love and attention and affection.”So who is providing the hugs? “I’m hoping his girlfriend,” Domingo joked. “I am giving him a lot of attention at the moment. Love is not the word. He is an important player for us and we need to get him going in the right direction so we are giving him as much attention as we possibly can.”With de Kock’s spot safe and Duminy likely to come back, that leaves Rilee Rossouw in limbo but all indications are that he has a big future with the ODI side, perhaps even in this tournament. He may yet displace Farhaan Behardien, especially because of the depth Rossouw provides to the batting line-up.”Even though Rilee wasn’t getting runs at the start of his career, he really looked like a guy who could dominate in international cricket. He has always looked good in the nets, in the warm-up games, the way he has gone about his preparation and when he has gone back to domestic cricket, he has always looked like a man amongst boy,” Domingo said. “He has always shown the attributes that we like. Its a big x-factor for him that he is able to dominate against opposition and he has always played with the mantra that he is able to take the game forward. A little bit of luck has gone his way, a little bit of confidence, coming in at the right times has been important for him and he has grown his game nicely.”Nicely enough to be among a World Cup starting XI? Saturday may tell.

NBA legend and Mallorca co-owner discusses the club's resurgence and Messi's influence on American soccer

• Nash praises Mallorca's recent performances in La Liga
• Former NBA star shares insights on ownership challenges
• Discusses Messi's transformative effect on MLS

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Steve Nash, the NBA Hall of Famer and co-owner of RCD Mallorca, has opened up about the Spanish club's recent success in La Liga. Nash, along with fellow NBA legend Steve Kerr and former USMNT player Stu Holden, has been instrumental in Mallorca's resurgence since joining the ownership group in 2016. The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player opened up about his time with the La Liga side and how he, and the rest of the ownership group, attempted to turn things around for the Spanish side.

  “When we started, I was on the board and then when I coached, I had to get off the board, just too busy and not on the board anymore, but always in touch, always speaking with the chairman and he keeps us connected. And so really at this point, really being a fan, watching the games on the weekend and following the team. And that's great,” Nash told Flashscore.

  READ MORE:

  “I mean, it's fun. You know, I got my weekends are busy with my kids' stuff. And then I also follow Mallorca, Tottenham, and the Vancouver Whitecaps. So it's a nice fandom for me to follow our three teams and to root for them. So just being a fan of Mallorca and that connection to the place, to the island, to the history is really special."

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• WHAT STEVE NASH SAID ABOUT LIONEL MESSI

  “This guy [Lionel Messi] is unbelievable. For me, the greatest player to ever play the game. You know, he is still scoring a million goals and making highlights and has brought such an incredible lens or attention to the MLS. You know, what a feather in the cap of the league to have, you know, perhaps the greatest player of all time in your league and still scoring goals, you know, just coming off the back of a World Cup,” Nash said.

  “And so, you know, I know he's at the end of his career, but the things he still does, the way he still impacts games, scores goals, is remarkable. So it's been awesome to have him in America and in the MLS and I still can't take my eyes off him. So it's great for the league.”

• DID YOU KNOW?

  In addition to his love of soccer, Nash had a Hall of Fame NBA career — being named MVP twice in the NBA.

• Getty
  

  WHAT’S NEXT?

  Both Real Mallorca and Lionel Messi are having a good start to their respective seasons as Mallorca sit in 8th place with 10 wins, six draws, and 10 losses after 26 matches played. Messi’ Inter Miami, on the other hand, sit third on the Eastern Conference table after their second league game with four points and face Cavalier S.C. next in their next game in the Concacaf Champions League Round of 16.