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South Africa wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock has been cleared to play the third Test Zealand after being a doubt due to a finger injury

Firdose Moonda in Hamilton24-Mar-2017While New Zealand have been ruling several injured players out of their XI, South Africa have found a way to include one of their wounded. Wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock will play the Hamilton Test after passing a fitness test to determine whether the tendon damage on his right index finger was severe enough to sideline him.De Kock, however, will need at least four weeks to recover from the injury and Cricket South Africa ruled him out of playing the 2017 IPL season for Delhi Daredevils in order to be available for the Champions Trophy and the England Tests that follow.Although in some pain on the eve of the Hamilton Test, de Kock was able to bat and catch with strapping and a finger splint, the brainchild of physiotherapist Brandon Jackson. When asked why South Africa were risking de Kock when they have a reserve gloveman in Heinrich Klaasen, Faf du Plessis explained the occasion was too important to leave de Kock out.”It’s a big game. Quinton is someone who you don’t just replace. From my side, I am trying to have Quinton in my team all the time,” du Plessis said. “He has had problems with his fingers for quite a while. It’s part of being a keeper. It’s never nice to catch balls on the fingertips all the time and it’s been painful for him for a while. Maybe the cold New Zealand conditions make it worse. It’s hurting for him a bit more now but because it’s a big game, resting him for someone else is not an option.”Du Plessis explained that if de Kock was carrying “three or four broken fingers then obviously he won’t play,” but because the issue could be kept at bay for a while, South Africa were willing to take their chances. More so, because three of the top six (Stephen Cook, Hashim Amla and JP Duminy) were out of form and de Kock, who was one half of a match-winning partnership with Temba Bavuma in Wellington, was among the runs.The news that neither Tim Southee nor Trent Boult would be playing for New Zealand also did not influence South Africa’s team composition, as they aimed to assemble the strongest side they could in search for a 2-0 series win.”We are trying to put as much pressure as we can on New Zealand,” du Plessis said.At the start of the series, du Plessis admitted South Africa would target Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, who they regarded as New Zealand’s keybatsmen, because they sensed vulnerability in the rest of the line-up.”It’s a huge blow (for New Zealand). I always take reference to our own team – if we lose guys like them in our side, it will be a huge loss. Seamers that have got experience and the numbers behind them – you don’t just replace that in Test cricket,” du Plessis said. “But we know whoever comes in can do a job for the day and we have to respect that and play at our best. If we do that, hopefully it will be easier but it’s never a guarantee.”

Steven Smith passed 5000 Test runs en route to his second hundred of the series, and along with Glenn Maxwell’s composed unbeaten 82, carried Australia into the ascendancy

The Report by Daniel Brettig16-Mar-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details4:41

Manjrekar: Very uncharacteristic innings from Maxwell

Test hundred number 19, nine of them made overseas, was a measure of the quality Australia’s captain Steven Smith has brought to Ranchi to give his team a chance of unseating India at home. Ball number 147, kept out by Glenn Maxwell in the day’s final over, was a measure of the resolve he brought to his first Test innings in nearly three years.Previously, the most deliveries Maxwell had faced in any international innings across all three formats was 98. By stumps, his new personal mark not only showed how much he had steeled himself to contribute alongside Smith, but also put Australia in a very strong position to dictate terms on what is comfortably the best pitch prepared for this Border-Gavaskar Trophy bout.When Maxwell joined Smith, the day had hung rather more in the balance. Umesh Yadav was reversing the ball sharply, and the 28-year-old Victorian’s propensity for batting brainstorms was recalled by many watching. Yet with Smith’s counsel, Maxwell was able to avoid his usual rush, so much so that he waited until his 56th delivery to reach the boundary – this from a man whose most significant moment for Australia had been a World Cup hundred off 51 balls against Sri Lanka at the SCG in 2015.What followed was a certain acceleration, but nothing too outlandish. The day’s viral video moment was instead saved for Wriddhiman Saha’s attempt to glove a Ravindra Jadeja ball lodged between Smith’s padded legs, so desperate had India’s search for a wicket become. The attempt proved fruitless, and Smith was soon toasting his century, and with Maxwell, walked off boasting a wicketless final session, an unbeaten stand of 159, and the promise of more to come.Their concentration and discipline made for a contrast to some of the more wasteful dismissals seen earlier in the day, as the Australian top order failed to make the most of their starts. David Warner and Matt Renshaw would be particularly frustrated to have wasted starts on a surface that played far better than widely predicted.Peter Handscomb also got established at the crease before being defeated by a fine inswinging yorker from Yadav, the most threatening member of India’s bowling attack. Ishant Sharma had a couple of concerted lbw appeals denied, but R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja found far less assistance than they had seen in Pune and Bengaluru. Pointedly they missed Virat Kohli, who left the field for treatment after landing heavily on his right shoulder when trying to stop a boundary.Glenn Maxwell’s fluency grew as his innings progressed, finishing with an unbeaten 82•AFP

Ranchi’s pitch played far better than appearances had suggested, meaning plenty more runs will be required. But at the very least, Smith and Maxwell have ensured something to bowl at for a team featuring another cricketer making a long-delayed return to the Australian Test team – the fast bowler Pat Cummins.Kohli conceded the loss of a key toss before play began, and that seemed more so as Renshaw and Warner rattled to 50 in less than 10 overs by taking advantage of the pitch’s even pace and a scorchingly fast outfield. Jadeja erred on the full side to Warner, but a full toss found the batsman in two minds about hitting square or straight, and the resultant return catch maintained his mediocre overseas record.Renshaw had been finding gaps either side of the wicket and looked in full control, so it was a surprise when he fiddled in undisciplined fashion at Umesh and edged to Kohli at first slip. Umesh had created uncertainty by gaining some movement. Shaun Marsh was unable to get established, well caught at short leg by Cheteshwar Pujara off bat and pad, the decision made after India’s successful DRS referral against Ian Gould’s initial not-out verdict.Handscomb’s cover drive off his first ball to the fence underlined the improved batting conditions, and though Smith edged one reversing ball from Umesh to the fine leg boundary between his pads, shortly before lunch, he was otherwise certain in his methods and safe in his defence. Handscomb also looked capable of going on to something substantial, but for the fifth time in as many innings this series he was dismissed at a frustrating juncture, unable to get his bat to a Umesh yorker that swerved back sharply to strike him in front of the stumps.Maxwell’s likely approach had seemed a mystery to even his team-mates before this match, but he quickly showed an impressive level of composure to build his innings in Smith’s slipstream while taking few risks. His only moment of nervousness came from the first ball of an Ishant spell that swung back into his pads, but India’s decision referral was waved off when replays showed the bowler had overstepped.In the evening session a steady stream of runs came with the occasional boundary, and Maxwell hammered a second six of his innings to go past 50 for the first time in a Test. Nothing affected Smith’s deep concentration, not even a period of more than an hour spent in the 90s. As attentive, mature batting partners do, Maxwell took up much of the scoring slack during this episode. Like so much else in his innings, it came as a pleasant surprise.

Arsenal are set to make a bid for Declan Rice after West Ham United's Europa Conference League final, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Who will Declan Rice sign for?

The Gunners have been making solid progress in their pursuit of Rice, with it recently being reported they have agreed personal terms with the West Ham United captain, meaning agreeing a suitable transfer fee is the last remaining obstacle.Although the Englishman's preference is to move to north London, there could still be competition for his signature, with Manchester United registering their interest, currently "waiting in the wings" to potentially hijack the deal.Bayern Munich have also been linked with a move for the 24-year-old, however talkSPORT's Simon Jordan has claimed the player's preference is to try and win the Premier League with one of the big clubs in England.Arsenal pushed Manchester City all the way last season, before coming up just short, however Mikel Arteta is keen to strengthen his squad to give them the best possible chance of competing for the title again next season.The West Ham midfielder is a key target, and Romano has now claimed that a bid will be made after the Europa Conference League final, which is set to take place on Wednesday night.Bayern are also name checked as potential suitors, however the transfer expert is keen to stress that "nothing is done or close yet."

Will Rice sign for Arsenal?

As previously highlighted, the England international's preference is to move to north London this summer, while personal terms have allegedly been agreed, meaning the Gunners should be well-placed to win the race for his signature.The central midfielder is deemed unlikely to move to Chelsea, but he wants to remain in London and play in the Champions League, so a move to the Emirates Stadium would make perfect sense.

Hailed as "sensational" by members of the media, the £60k-per-week maestro registered 79 tackles in the Premier League last season, the ninth-highest figure in the top flight, and WhoScored ranked him as West Ham's best-performing player.An average of 1.7 interceptions per game was the most of any Hammers player, and the midfielder also displayed his attacking prowess by averaging one key pass and 0.9 dribbles.The Gunners are in a very strong position to sign Rice, and his range of qualities would make him a fantastic addition to Arteta's squad.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has said day-night Tests are likely to be the future of cricket, just the way Twenty20s have gained popularity over ODIs in the last few years. Misbah also expressed reservations about the visibility of the pink ball, but said it would probably lead to “a fair competition between bat and ball”.”At the moment, it looks like [the future] keeping in mind the interest of the audience, who want to watch Test cricket,” Misbah said a day before Pakistan’s first day-night Test, against West Indies in Dubai. “After they [spectators] come from work, it’s a good opportunity and you will see it mostly in future. Let’s see how it goes with the pink ball, it’s an experiment. First the one-day came, then Twenty20 came, so [day-night Test] is a good step to keep the Tests alive.”When asked about the pink ball in particular, Misbah’s main concern related to the timing of the Test; he said the players would have to readjust to the pink ball once the lights come on later in the day. Misbah also did not hesitate to crack a joke, when asked if the pink ball needed more grass to survive on.”The only difference is the different timing [of the matches], just the visibility because it’s different for red ball and white ball,” he said. “Maybe when the pink ball gets older, you have to look at it carefully as a batsman because it could be difficult at times [under lights]. You need to make a few adjustments here and there. Overall, it’s good playing under lights also. It’s not like it’s terribly difficult for the batsmen. It’s a fair competition between bat and ball.”Maybe the pink ball survives on grassy pitches but we also have to make sure that we survive as a team,” Misbah said with a laugh. “You look at your strengths and I believe that it’s up to the team; the better team performs well in all conditions and that is the bottom line. I think if you are a good team, then you do well irrespective of the circumstances. Forget about the pink ball and lights, just go out and perform.”Pakistan had recently moved to No. 2 in the ICC Test rankings after drawing 2-2 in England, and rose to the top for the first time since the current ranking system was introduced when India’s last Test in the West Indies was washed out. Now No. 2 again after India’s home series win against New Zealand, Misbah said they would rather focus on the upcoming series against West Indies than the rankings.”That’s not important for us,” Misbah said. “The most important thing is to do well; we are more attentive to our performance in this series. You can’t take West Indies lightly because they are a young side and they have everything to prove and such a side is more motivated. We have done well in the last six years, did well on the England tour so the expectations are high.”Misbah on Babar Azam’s chances: ‘I think there could be no better time than this to make his Test debut’•Getty Images

Pakistan would, however, be without Younis Khan for the first Test as the batsman was advised 10 days of rest to recover from a bout of dengue fever. That would probably mean a debut for an in-form Babar Azam, who struck three straight centuries in the recent ODIs, and maybe a shuffle in the batting order too. Pakistan had already moved Azhar Ali to No. 3 during the England tour after Shoaib Malik’s Test retirement last year, and tried Asad Shafiq ahead of Younis only for the fourth Test, in which Shafiq shone with a century.”I think at the start it was tough, we had to do that in England and considering the conditions it was tough. Not only promoting Azhar but also Asad for No. 3,” Misbah said. “Once we did that and it was successful, we know can do that again. It was a chance to bring in the fifth bowler and bring in a youngster at No. 7. I think a window has opened. I think opening and batting at No. 3 here is a good opportunity before the [upcoming away] New Zealand series, so it’s an advantage to do this before a tough series and settle down on a structure and a balance.”I think there could be no better time than this to make his Test debut,” Misbah said of Azam. “He has played mature innings and has developed well. He has played well not only here but also in New Zealand and looks a good prospect. He is lucky to get a chance at this time, unfortunately because of Younis’ absence due to ill health, but I think this is the best time.”Pakistan will be playing their 400th Test starting Thursday and Misbah said it would be a source of “motivation” for the players to make the historic match “memorable” for them.

Members of the media have slammed Tottenham Hotspur left-back Ben Davies with Brentford winger Bryan Mbuemo enjoying a north London masterclass.

Tottenham 1-3 Brentford

Spurs and interim coach Ryan Mason endured another afternoon to forget in what has been a humbling season for the Lilywhites overall.

Tottenham succumbed to their 14th loss of the Premier League season with only Fulham losing more games out of any side in the top half.

Mason’s side had been dominating for a period – performing brilliantly in the first half as Harry Kane opened the scoring with an absolutely sublime free-kick.

However, Spurs ultimately failed to build upon that 45 minutes and capitulated after half-time – with goals from Mbuemo (2) and Yoane Wissa sealing a devastating defeat.

The players marched off to a chorus of boos after the full-time whistle, but during the contest, various sections of the media criticised Davies in particular – who seemed “exposed” against Mbuemo playing as a left-back in four-man defence.

Independent Tottenham website COYS.com claimed he is “not good enough” while The Athletic’s Charlie Eccleshare said he was caught out again for Mbuemo’s second.

Journalists Vitor Soares and Nacho Gonzalez from overseas then got in on the act, with the latter reporter drawing attention to his “weak” defending in one-v-one situations.

Could Ben Davies leave Spurs this summer?

The 30-year-old has been a faithful servant for Spurs since signing from Swansea in 2014, but with reports suggesting they could target new defenders this summer, his time could be coming slowly to an end.

Davies has just two years remaining on his contract, giving chairman Daniel Levy a limited time to cash-in on the player whilst potentially funding new additions.

However, much could also depend on Tottenham’s next manager and whether they feel he is the right fit.

Celtic have been dealt a blow after Ange Postecoglou confirmed that Reo Hatate is ruled out of the Scottish Premiership game vs Rangers today.

What's the latest injury news on Hatate?

The Hoops will be the hosts this afternoon when they welcome their rivals to Parkhead for the hugely anticipated showdown but are set to be without the services of the 25-year-old. The Japanese international sustained a suspected hamstring injury during the 3-1 victory over Hibernian before the international break where he was forced off the pitch after just 13 minutes and has not featured since.

The Bhoys boss revealed last weekend that the midfielder was “close” to staging his comeback and that he would “hopefully” be able to make the squad for today’s game, though it sounds like the fixture has arrived ever so slightly too soon.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Postecoglou revealed that Hatate hasn’t recovered in time and therefore won’t be available for selection for the Old Firm derby. As quoted by The Daily Record, he said:

"Reo hasn't come up but Aaron is fine so from last week, the only change is Aaron's available. It is disappointing for Reo more than anything, he loves playing these games, he's had an impact every time he has. You get disappointed for the player and you want everyone available, but from a team perspective, we have depth in that area."

Huge blow for Celtic and Postecoglou…

Hatate has been dubbed a “magical” player by journalist Josh Bunting and having started 24 of Celtic’s 30 league matches this season prior to today's game, it’ll be a massive blow for Postecoglou to not have him at his disposal for such a big fixture.

The £12k-p/w talent has clocked up 17 goal contributions (eight goals and nine assists) in 38 appearances across all competitions in 2022/23 whilst averaging 2.25 shots per game, highlighting the constant prolific threat he provides in the final third. The Glasgow based-star is also an extremely versatile and therefore useful option to have available having operated in defensive and central midfield alongside at right-back since the start of this term.

Hatate has played a significant role in the Hoops’ success this season and the boss will be gutted to not have him available for a tie of this calibre and importance but it doesn’t sound like he’s facing too much longer on the sidelines so supporters will be hoping to have him back as soon as possible.

Tino Best and Mason Crane undermined a Nottinghamshire run chase to give Hampshire a morale-boosting first win and leave Surrey bottom of the table

Vithushan Ehantharajah at the Ageas Bowl25-May-2016
ScorecardTino Best picked up four wickets to set Hampshire on the way to victory (file photo)•WICB Media Photo/Randy Brooks

So much about Tino Best is saying and doing what makes him feel alive. And if from time to time the saying leads him to trouble, the doing gives him and us so much more than a few crude anecdotes because match-winning performances like Best’s today, in which he took 4 for 47, do not come around often.Virtually every morning brings a tabloid headline, but 90-plus-mph spells that have you on the edge of your seat are disappointingly rare. Hampshire bested Nottinghamshire at the Ageas Bowl with a team that fought for every moment in the game, but Best’s influence was devastating.Consider where the game was headed before Best turned it on its head with a stunning final assault. Just 88 were required from 28 overs and Nottinghamshire, five down, were winning. Samit Patel (65) and Dan Christian (31) had their teeth into the chase and, with runs coming as and when they wanted, Hampshire were starting to fade.Will Smith handed the ball to Best and walked away in deep contemplation, knowing that this would tilt the game. Had he been too generous earlier in the piece?With Hampshire ahead by 304, Smith had called the second innings to a halt to give Nottinghamshire the chance to bat 86 overs. Prior to the declaration, the formality of Harry Gurney’s five wicket haul – his fifth of his career – had been completed, giving him career-best match figures of nine for 136.With the first ball of the chase, Best hit Steven Mullaney on the back. There was a stop and stare – there’s always a stare – then Best returned to his mark. That’s where the ball stayed for the next few overs: between the kidney and ribs. Jake Libby, struggling, looked to have found sanctuary on the back foot with a baying Bajan at the door. All the bolts looked to have been applied. But a bit of width tempted to prop forward. Caught behind. Best had begun.For the second time in the match, the bowler locked horns with Michael Lumb. This time, though, Best would be able to send him on his way – trapped in front from around the wicket. And when Ryan McLaren replaced Best at the Pavilion End to remove Mullaney and Rikki Wessels – the scoreboard reading 68 for 4 – the hosts looked set.But Brendan Taylor and Patel dug deep. Boundaries came: first one at a time, then seemingly in threes and fours. Patel, on 35, nicked Mason Crane between the keeper and first slip. Taylor brought up a first half-century of the season, from 77 balls, which Best seemed to take as a slight against him. A wayward barrage followed which saw the riled quick concede 12 byes from three sharp bouncers in the space of nine deliveries. Nottinghamshire used them to breeze past 150.With 129 to get, Taylor though he could take Crane’s leg spin over mid on for a second time. A misjudgement saw him skew the ball high… to Best. The catch was taken and then promptly sent towards the sky. Best, despite only being brought off a few overs early, had begun warming up to grab the eye of his captain. With 28 overs left, Smith had no choice but to oblige.In his previous spell, Best looked to have lost the feel for the game. To some, it felt like he was on the cusp of trying too hard once more. The body language of his teammates had also started to wane. Christian, offered a reprieve when he was dropped on one by Sean Ervine, off the bowling of Crane, had begun unfurling booming shot after shot, culminating in a sweetly time six own the ground of the 19-year-old leggie.But rather than losing his nerve, Crane decided to come around the wicket and make use of the rough. Christian was kept in check. Best, watching on as someone 15 years his junior kept his composure, when more senior figures around him were losing theirs, took heart.The first ball of the second over of his new spell saw Christian’s middle stump taken out of the ground. Four balls later, after testing Brett Hutton’s toes, he went to spite his nose. Hutton hooked high and out to the deep fine leg. Crane was there steadying himself. The catch was taken. Just like that, Notts were 222 for 7 and just two wickets remaining as Chris Read was unable to bat.Fittingly, it was left to Crane to finish the job, as he had done in the first innings. Patel, now swinging for the hills, could only skew to Ervine at slip who, this time, made no mistake. The very next ball, Gurney found Michael Carberry at point. And with that, Hampshire had won their first game of the season.Best on escaping relegation

“We got a guy call Tino Best. We got a guy called Mason Crane. We got a guy called Michael Carberry. We got a brilliant all rounder named Sean Ervine. We got a smashing captain called Mr Vince. We got a grafter by the name of Will Smith – he’s got the same name as my favourite actor. I think our chances are brilliant.”

At stumps, Best was as you’d expect: smiling, charming, talking about the love of fast bowling and throwing out the sort of lines that endear him to the quoting public. “I love fast bowling. It makes me feel free,” was one. “I’m here to play cricket – I’m not here to drink milk,” was another, when asked if he was available for all three forms, no just Championship cricket. He even spoke of “giving 150%”. While the cynics might roll their eyes, they cannot watch Best and conclude that he doesn’t give as much as he can.But for all the stereotypical characteristics of a fast bowler that Best possesses – the rage, the rump, the motor-mouth – there are a handful of qualities that make him something of an anomaly. For example, he does not believe in rhythm. He works from delivery to delivery: focusing on keeping a still head in his gather and ensuring the front arm is pulled down “nice and strong”.He does not put too much emphasis on match-hauls or season milestones: instead, he looks to ensure each spell brings a wicket, whether “Best” is featured alongside it in the scorecard or not. In the years of playing the part of “strike bowler”, the attitude of a support bowler has come late. “I just try to make sure I’m an asset to the team.” Still, his six wickets in the match and 12 so far this season is assisting Hampshire greatly.What is evident is that Hampshire – specifically Dale Benkenstein and Giles White – have created a team with the atmosphere and personnel to bring out Tino’s best. McLaren is disciplined, James Tomlinson keeps opposition honest and Crane, in Best’s words, “makes me express myself even better”. In Best’s career, he believes he has only come across two better leg spinners – Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill.For Nottinghamshire, they have played their part in another classic. Director of cricket Mick Newell, for all his frustrations at how the season has panned out since an opening win against Surrey, can see that. “Sure, we’ve had some great adverts for the game,” he started. “But we’ve not won any of them. For us to be 81 behind in the first innings – that’s where the game has been lost.”Whether they like it or not, Nottinghamshire are in the midst of a scrap nearer the bottom of Divison One than they would like. They will embark on it for the tim being without Read, who is suffering from a broken hand after being struck while batting in the first innings. Once a doctor sees Read in person – scans have already been done and he was walking around the Ageas Bowl with his left hand in a cast – Notts will have a better idea on when he might be back.As for whether Hampshire have what it takes to avoid relegation, well, it is only right to let Best have the final say:”We got a guy call Tino Best. We got a guy called Mason Crane. We got a guy called Michael Carberry. We got a brilliant all rounder named Sean Ervine. We got a smashing captain called Mr Vince. We got a grafter by the name of Will Smith – he’s got the same name as my favourite actor. I think our chances are brilliant.”

Newcastle United have long been linked with a move for Moussa Diaby and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of the player.

What's the latest on Newcastle's interest in Moussa Diaby?

According to reports coming out of Spain, Newcastle are now willing to pay £60m for the Bayer Leverkusen winger this summer.

As the report, the Magpies hierarchy have become obsessed with snapping up the services of the player ahead of next season and are willing to pay the price tag set by his current Bundesliga club to secure his signature.

Could Moussa Diaby replace Allan Saint-Maximin?

It is no secret that the North East club have been open to the idea of selling Allan Saint-Maximin with a reported £50m price tag being set a year ago for potential suitors to meet if they are interested in signing the player.

The Newcastle winger's talent has never been in doubt, however, the 26-year-old – dubbed "frustrating" by journalist Dominic Scurr – has tallied up 13 separate instances of illness and injury since joining the club in 2019 and although considered a crucial player in Eddie Howe's set-up is one of the more unreliable presences in the squad.

As a result, the signing of Diaby could be a breath of fresh air in the Newcastle front line and bring a new perspective to the attacking threat next season.

Over 24 league appearances, the 23-year-old ace has been phenomenal in forward areas of play, scoring eight goals, registering four assists and creating a whopping 12 big chances, as well as averaging 1.8 key passes and producing 1.2 shots on target per game.

Combine that with his tricky nature, having completed 1.2 successful dribbles and won 2.3 duels per game, it proves that he is an incredibly influential attacker on the pitch.

Not only that, Diaby ranks number one for chance creation and key passes in the entire Bundesliga, as well as ranking fifth for shots on target and eighth for crosses completed.

The talented Frenchman – who has equal experience on both the left and right wing – has been the recipient of high praise for his impact on Leverkusen's output this season, with the German club's sporting director Simon Rolfes stating:

"Moussa is an extremely quick, technically gifted attacker whose qualities are perfectly suited to our playing style. He’s one of France’s most talented players and he’s got the ideal conditions here in Leverkusen to develop into an absolutely top-class player."

With that being said, it is without a doubt that Diaby would be a major coup for Newcastle this summer and could be the key to not only selling the frustrating Saint-Maximin but also unlocking regular Champions League football and dominance in the Premier League.

Aston Villa are thought to be interested in signing Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney this summer, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Lack of game time

Tierney appears to have dropped down the pecking order under Mikel Arteta this season following Oleksandr Zinchenko’s arrival in the summer.

The Scot, who shares the same agent as Villa centre-back Ezri Konsa, has played just 468 minutes of Premier League action and has started only four top-flight games.

He has featured more in the Europa League, but it looks as if Villa are interested in his services despite signing left-back Alex Moreno in January.

The Latest: Villa update

Football Insider shared a story in the last 24 hours regarding Tierney, revealing that Villa are interested in his services.

Arsenal could green-light a summer sale and value the player at £30m, with the report adding that Villa could be willing to sell Lucas Digne to make room for the Scot.

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The Verdict: Good move?

Unai Emery is preparing for a busy summer window ahead of his first full season in charge, and should Digne move on, a swoop for Tierney could be a wise move.

Labelled as a ‘warrior’ by Ashley Cole, Tierney would bring a winning mentality to the Midlands after enjoying plenty of success with Celtic and even a potential Premier League winners medal with the Gunners.

He could be about to enter his prime at the age of 25 and has 81 games of Premier League experience. Not only that, but Tierney can also turn out as a centre-back or further forward on the left-hand side, so would be a versatile option for Emery, but it looks as if Villa would need to make him one of their most expensive signings of all time with a £30m valuation.

Two late wickets were reward for New Zealand’s application – particularly that of Chris Martin whose wiry frame belied an extra yard of zip that none of England’s bowlers could replicate (least of all Steve Harmison). But perhaps more significantly, the b

Andrew Miller in Hamilton06-Mar-2008
Alastair Cook fell for 38 – a stark reminder of the frailties of England’s batting lineup © Getty Images
For 85 overs of the second day at Hamilton, the first Test between England and New Zealand was dying a slow death. The application shown by Ross Taylor and Daniel Vettori during their 148-run stand was admirable but foreboding. England’s bowlers found no swing, seam or spin to help them on their way, and when their own batsmen replied in kind with an 84-run opening stand, the worst sort of stalemate was already being envisaged.But then, Alastair Cook went and played a pull shot that had “mug” tattooed all over it, and suddenly there was life in the match once again. Two late wickets were reward for New Zealand’s application – particularly that of Chris Martin whose wiry frame belied an extra yard of zip that none of England’s bowlers could replicate (least of all Steve Harmison). But perhaps more significantly, the breakthroughs were a reminder of the frailties of England’s batting line-up.Daniel Vettori made a point of bigging up England’s top six on the eve of the series, remarking how they all averaged in excess of 40. What he omitted to mention is that they all too frequently reach that score then give their wickets away. In Sri Lanka before Christmas, England were overwhelmed by three totemic innings – 152 from Kumar Sangakkara at Kandy, and then 197 and 213 not out from Mahela Jayawardene at Colombo and Galle respectively. In reply they mustered a solitary hundred in six attempts, and that came from Cook at the last gasp, when the series was already irretrievable.Taylor’s hugely mature 120 wasn’t quite in the class of those three knocks, but it was a performance of great resolve and substance, the like of which England aren’t too keen to replicate these days. As a squad they have mislaid the art of the meaningful innings – and they can’t even manage it in one-day cricket, where their last centurion was Owais Shah at The Oval against India last summer, 11 matches ago.Andrew Strauss used to score centuries for fun, with 10 in his first 30 Tests, but he was dropped after failing to reach three figures in 25 subsequent innings. Now he’s back in the mix, thanks entirely to the shortcomings of others, and he’s out in the middle already – at least a session sooner than he had envisaged. There’s no time like the present for ending his run-drought either. Ian Bell is incapacitated, Tim Ambrose is on debut, and Ryan Sidebottom – for all his merits – is hardly fit to lace Vettori’s boots at No. 8.New Zealand are flushed with unexpected confidence after the success of their batsmen this morning, and they sense that England are beatable.”We think we can win the game,” said Taylor. “If they were none-down or one-down it would be a pretty even game, but to have them two-down when it is starting to slow up and take a bit of turn, I’m sure the first session tomorrow will be big. If we can put some pressure on England early on then you never know.”Pressure was what England’s bowlers singularly failed to apply after resuming on 282 for 6. “We’re disappointed that we didn’t bowl as well as we did yesterday,” said Ryan Sidebottom, who with 4 for 90 was England’s stand-out bowler and, for once, had the figures to prove it. “We were fired up to get the four wickets and we were stupidly searching for wickets this morning, rather than doing what we did yesterday. We were trying to bowl too quick instead of plugging away, and they scored 100 more than we expected.”Apart from watching him on TV, I haven’t had a lot to do with him [Steve Harmison] but he can bowl at 130kph as much as he wants, because it makes it easier for me. He’d be a hell of a bowler to face if he was bowling at 145-150kph, especially on a bouncy deckRoss Taylor gives a damning assessment of Steve Harmison”Bowling too quick.” That may have been true of the two specialist swing bowlers in the line-up, but oh for such an accolade to be uttered in Harmison’s direction. Taylor could hardly believe his luck when reputation finally met with reality, and he faced up for the first time to the bowler who was once the most fearsome in the world. “Apart from watching him on TV, I haven’t had a lot to do with him,” said Taylor, “but he can bowl at 130kph as much as he wants, because it makes it easier for me. He’d be a hell of a bowler to face if he was bowling at 145-150kph, especially on a bouncy deck.”It was a pretty damning yet utterly honest assessment from a man in only his third Test match. Taylor came to the crease with a reputation for big hitting and a career-best score of 17, and yet he bedded in to bat for more than five hours. “I got off to a bit of shaky start in my first four digs in Test cricket, so it was good to silence a few people who doubted me and whether I was good enough to play at this level,” he said. “It was definitely the most circumspect I’ve ever batted.”England are capable of emulating such feats. Strauss was back to his compact self during the warm-up in Dunedin, while Kevin Pietersen is bristling for a big one after failing to reach even fifty in Sri Lanka. But to judge by the verve and aggression showed by Martin and Mills with the new ball, and the steep bounce and not-insignificant turn extracted by the spinners, Vettori and Jeetan Patel, New Zealand’s bowlers are more up for the challenge than their English counterparts proved to be.England were, after all, bundled out for 131 in their warm-up at Dunedin. “That showed us that England can be beaten,” said Taylor. “It was only a three-day game and it did do a lot on the first morning of that game, but it gave the players in that match a bit more belief they could foot it with England. It showed we are still in the game.”