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da winzada777： Arsenal remain very active behind-the-scenes in terms of their summer recruitment plans, as manager Mikel Arteta and new sporting director Andrea Berta attempt to close the gap on Premier League champions Liverpool next season.

Arsenal set to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi

da bet7： The north Londoners, after months of talks, recently sealed a deal for Spain international midfielder Martin Zubimendi, as per numerous reliable reports.

Related Arsenal plot "shock" move for Premier League captain who "goes under the radar"

He’s a leader in the dressing room.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Jun 25, 2025

News of Zubimendi’s potential move to London Colney was first revealed by The Mail back in January, and Berta has been working to finalise a deal for the 26-year-old ever since – coming after his predecessor Edu and ex-interim director Jason Ayto laid most of the groundwork (Ben Jacobs).

The Real Sociedad favourite is now set to become Berta’s first signing as the Gunners’ new transfer chief, but he largely has both Ayto and Edu to thank for this, as they were the “driving forces” behind Zubimendi’s switch (Ben Jacobs).

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Despite some concerns about Real Madrid mounting a late hijack, especially after Zubimendi’s cryptic comments regarding his future, Fabrizio Romano is among the credible media sources to share news last week that the player travelled to London and put the finishing touches on his Emirates Stadium move.

Arsenal will also pay around £55 million for Zubimendi, despite his lower release clause, as a gesture of good faith to Sociedad which also allows the club to pay the fee in installments.

With Zubimendi’s done and dusted, attention is swiftly turning to who could follow him, and that man is apparently £150,000-per-week Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Romano has given his ‘here we go’ to Arrizabalaga’s Arsenal move today, with the player also travelling to the club this week as he puts the finishing touches on his N5 transfer.

Kepa Arrizabalaga travelling to London this week after agreeing Arsenal move

The 30-year-old has been poised to join Arsenal for a little while now as he looks to battle David Raya for the number one spot (David Ornstein), with The Athletic’s James McNicholas sharing more on the situation.

Kepa is personally in London “this week” to finalise his move to Arsenal, so the Stamford Bridge outcast appears set to become Berta’s second signing of the summer.

The former Athletic Bilbao ace’s capture has already been widely praised, with his meagre £5 million cost coming as a potential bargain given Kepa’s extensive top-level experience.

“Arsenal do need a replacement for Neto, what a loan spell that was, it didn’t work, that is for sure,” said pundit Adrian Clarke on Inside Gooners earlier this month.

“Kepa Arrizabalaga, he’s available for just £5m, that sounds like the deal of the century, doesn’t it.”

Root’s side look increasingly accomplished, bringing much-needed cheer for supporters locked down at home

George Dobell18-Jan-2021England supporters have never had it so good.Yes, the lockdown is rubbish. And yes, as the pandemic continues to ravage the UK, you can almost imagine plague-ridden Londoners of the 1660s looking on and sighing: ‘those millennials are having it tough’. There’s no disputing that life in general is pretty grim right now.But on the cricket pitch, at least, this England team is achieving things which their predecessors could scarcely imagine.Victory in Galle means England have won four successive away Tests for the first time in more than 60 years. To put that in perspective, when the first of those previous four victories was achieved (against New Zealand, in March 1955), Winston Churchill was Prime Minister. By the time of the last (in January 1957), the country was in the middle of the Suez Crisis.If this sounds like a modest achievement by comparison with some other sides, it should never be forgotten how awful England have been for really quite sustained periods in their cricketing history. Even recently, from October 2016 to November 2018, England went 13 Tests in a row without an away Test victory.Across the 1980s and 90s, they won 16 of the 96 away Tests they played. At least three of those came in dead rubbers, with four more against a post-Hadlee New Zealand side in transition and one against a Sri Lanka team still finding its feet. Between December 1986 and February 1990, they didn’t win away at all.Ahead of one Ashes tour, England said their aim was simply to “compete.” Which is one up from saying the aim was to turn up on time in the right clothes. And even that proved too much to ask at times. You’d need Wes Craven to direct a documentary that really conveys how awful it was following England in the 90s.So yes, Sri Lanka (who have now lost five times in a row to England at home) were remarkably poor in their first innings in Galle. And yes, South Africa are not the side they once were. But these are significant, historic victories from an England perspective. It would be churlish to explain them away entirely.At the centre of all this is Joe Root. With a double-century – his record-equalling second as captain – he went a long way towards defining the course of this game. In the course of doing so, he passed 8,000 Test runs in fewer innings than any England player except Kevin Pietersen and with a higher average than any of those above him on the overall list.Almost as impressively, he marshalled an attack which included two obviously rusty spinners – Dom Bess and Jack Leach – sufficiently well that both claimed five-wicket hauls – the first time a pair of England spinners have done this in the same Test since 1982 – and grew in confidence as the Test wore on.Root was rewarded for his faith in Buttler, Bess and Leach•SLCHe was also rewarded by keeping faith with Jos Buttler, who put in perhaps the most accomplished performance of his Test career with the gloves. This was England’s first away victory when batting second since 2016 and Root’s first as captain without his key allrounder, Ben Stokes. For one reason or another, he was without Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, James Anderson, Rory Burns, Ollie Pope and Chris Woakes, too. Whichever way you look at it, that’s a good effort.Root has now led England to victory in 24 Tests. Only Michael Vaughan, who led the side to 26 wins, has more victories as captain for England, while only Mike Brearley has a higher win percentage out of regular captains than his 53.33%.Of course, there are far fewer draws in Root’s era, meaning his loss percentage is higher too. But Brearley never captained against West Indies, the outstanding side of the age, and his Ashes results were skewed by Australia’s World Series absentees. And crucially, his batting average as captain (22.88) was less than half of Root’s (48.80).Regrettably, England’s Test captains are still judged disproportionately on their success in Ashes series, particularly away from home. As a result, Root’s legacy will be determined by events over the next 12 months, and it would take something approaching a miracle for England to win in both India and Australia.But with his boyish face and soft voice, Root can easily be underestimated. He doesn’t have the obvious authority – or World Cup-winning CV boost – of Eoin Morgan. He doesn’t have the gravitas bestowed on Brearley by his academic background, or the free-to-air platform of Vaughan. And, most of all, he doesn’t have the complete lack of expectation that accompanied previous England captains on tour.Related

• Stats – England's winning streak in SL, and captain Root equals Cook, Strauss

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But he’s a decent man, an indecently talented batsman and hugely respected by a team that see him as their natural leader and unifier. He has not only improved his team’s results, but improved their standing in the eyes of the public. In Galle, he actually raised his bat to the one England spectator on the fort when he reached his 200 and then took the time to phone him afterwards.He’s embraced the requirement to pose for every selfie, accept every interview request and ensure a team which was in a state of something approaching civil war at the start of 2014 has developed into something entertaining, likeable and generally pretty successful. And he’s accepted the sacrifice in his own returns – he averages 44.33 as captain and 52.80 when not – without complaint.Perhaps there is a lesson here. Root could doubtless have done with more preparation time coming into this game, but it is also relevant that he was fresh. Having missed out on selection for England’s T20I squad in South Africa, he came into this Test without playing competitively since September.His work ethic is admirable: at the end of the summer, he played for Yorkshire in the Blast the day after his release from the England bubble. His love for the game is charming: “I love playing cricket” is his typical answer when asked about his T20 future. But as someone already juggling the demands of fatherhood, captaincy and the pressures of being his side’s best batsman, he is a man of whom a huge amount is required.If England want to continue to get the best out of Root, he does need to be treated with the same care as Archer and Stokes seem to be. It may well make sense to officially lay his T20I career to rest and tell him he will not be required for ODI cricket again until at least the other side of the Ashes.Joe Root thrived on the sweep shot during his double-century•SLC”With the time off, the thing that’s really benefited me is having a period of time to work on my game,” he said after the Galle Test. “To have time to think about things and take stock and look where I can improve. That’s where I think I’ve benefited the most.”There will be occasions where I might have to miss out here and there. I’m desperate to play as much as I can. I love playing cricket, love playing for England and feel very privileged to get the opportunity. I suppose getting the balance right is very important. But the way I thought about things in that period of time off, I will look to replicate.”I don’t think you can ever be a finished article as a captain. I certainly don’t feel it’s the case with me. I will always look to improve and get better; I feel I am getting a better handle on things.”Captains of a previous vintage will look at the job now and wish they had central contracts in their day. And it’s true, they are a major asset. But Root has not been dealt a handful of aces by a set-up that renders it difficult to produce red-ball players and demands its best international players adhere to a schedule a Victorian factory owner might feel excessive.Don’t forget that England are likely to play 17 Tests this year, alongside a T20 World Cup and what amounts to a goodwill tour of Pakistan. Like several other sides, they have spent a large part of the last eight months in bio-bubbles that vastly inhibit the freedoms we used to take for granted. In doing so, they’ve ensured the English game – including the counties, women’s cricket and the disability sides – has been able to keep its head above water despite the storm that threatened to wash it away. There has barely been a squeak of complaint from any of them.Whatever happens over the next year, Root’s England side have provided some much-needed cheer for a land going through its bleakest period since World War 2. For that, he deserves rather more respect, rather more appreciation and, crucially, rather more nurturing than he sometimes receives.

Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi warned an in-demand Mason Greenwood that while leaving the French giants might be simple, finding a club that offers the same platform and passion could prove far harder. The English striker’s electric debut season in Ligue 1 has turned heads across Europe, but De Zerbi is making it clear, Marseille isn’t prepared to let its crown jewel walk out the door without a fight.

De Zerbi remains adamant about Greenwood's futureMarseille reluctant to sell star strikerLigue 1 opener against Rennes loomsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Greenwood’s first year at the Stade Velodrome couldn’t have been scripted better. Bagging 21 league goals, the former Manchester United man not only became a Ligue 1 sensation but also claimed a share of the coveted Golden Boot, along with Paris Saint-Germain striker Ousmane Dembele. 

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Such a form has inevitably stirred up interest, with clubs in Spain and Saudi Arabia monitoring his situation closely. In Spain, memories are still fresh of his standout spell at Getafe, where he showcased the same sharp eye for goal and creativity that has now lit up Marseille’s attack.

WHAT DE ZERBI SAID

Speaking to reporters ahead of the new season, De Zerbi underlined his desire to keep his core squad intact, name-checking Greenwood alongside key names like Leonardo Balerdi, Geronimo Rulli, Adrien Rabiot, and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. 

"I don't think they'll leave," he said. "Keeping Balerdi, Rulli, Rabiot Hojbjerg, Greenwood is important for OM and for them. It's easy to leave Marseille but difficult to find a similar place."

DID YOU KNOW?

The prospect of losing Greenwood is one that Marseille’s hierarchy clearly dreads. A clause in the agreement that took Greenwood from Old Trafford to the south of France means United are entitled to 50 per cent of any transfer fee the Ligue 1 club might receive for him.

Tottenham Hotspur are in the market for another new forward this summer after sealing a permanent deal for Mathys Tel, with Thomas Frank reportedly eager to reinforce his brand-new squad ahead of the tactician’s debut campaign in the Champions League.

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It will be Frank’s first-ever season managing in Europe’s most illustrious competition, and far more eyes will be on the Dane in comparison to his successful stint at mid-table Brentford.

The pressure that comes with leading a ‘big six’ side will be very new to the 51-year-old, but it is something that Frank will need to take in his stride over the course of this three-year contract.

“Thomas Frank has done a brilliant job at Brentford, but this is a whole different kettle of fish,” said BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Chris Sutton.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

“Because of the expectation at Tottenham, Frank won’t get time to get his feet under the table. He will be under pressure from the off. Postecoglou has just won them their first major European trophy for 41 years and has gone. So already you have to wonder what does Frank need to do this season to keep his job?

“The aim for Frank will be to keep them in the Champions League, and whether that is by making the top four or five, that is not going to be easy. That is a big ask for this squad, to compete on both fronts. We know this Tottenham team is better than 17th place, because they finished fifth in Postecoglou’s first year, but other Premier League teams have improved since then.”

Above all, Frank will need backing in the transfer market, and their indefinite deal for Tel simply won’t be enough.

Son’s very possible move to Saudi Arabia, which would put an end to his legendary 10-year stay at N17, has exacerbated Frank’s need for another proven winger, with Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo among their key targets in that regard.

Tottenham make contact over signing Antoine Semenyo

Tottenham have already been tipped to make a £65 million bid for Semenyo, but that won’t be enough, as journalist Pete O’Rourke explains to Football Insider this week.

According to the reporter, Spurs have made contact over a deal for Semenyo, with the Cherries having placed a £70 million valuation on their star front man. However, if Frank’s side meet this price tag and make the Ghanaian their club-record signing, Bournemouth are confident they can sign a “swift” replacement and have a “contingency plan” in place.

O’Rourke adds that there is a “real possibility” that Bournemouth could lose Semenyo amid Spurs’ approach, and he could be their fourth high-profile exit of the window after Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez and potentially Illia Zabarnyi, who’s in advanced talks to join PSG.

The 25-year-old bagged 13 goals and seven assists in all competitions last season, playing a decent mixture of roles on the left and right-hand side.

Semenyo’s versatility and proven Premier League experience would be invaluable for Frank, but Daniel Levy will need to dig deep into his pockets.

Former Tottenham striker Jermaine Defoe has revealed Granit Xhaka asked for his input before moving to the "sleeping giants" of Sunderland.

Xhaka signs for SunderlandEx-Tottenham man talks up moveSays Black Cats are "sleeping giant"Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Swiss international secured a surprise move from Champions League side Bayer Leverkusen to newly-promoted Premier League outfit Sunderland last month. Now, former England forward Defoe has spoken about the midfielder asking for advice about places to live in the north east, the fanbase, the club, and more.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT DEFOE SAID

He told Sky Sports: "He [Xhaka] reached out to me because he was on my A license (coaching) when we did it last year. Just if people think, 'Arsenal and Tottenham, that's a bit strange!' but he's a nice guy and a family man. He reached out to me and said 'It looks like I am going to sign for Sunderland, is there anywhere I can live?'. It was important to his wife and kids and for school. I pointed him in the right direction and he obviously spoke to me about the club, I said 'It's a sleeping giant' and a Premier League club at the end of the day. When it's going well there, it's one of the better places to play football. The atmosphere and the fanbase is huge, I am sure he will enjoy it."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Former Arsenal star Xhaka has enjoyed a distinguished career, playing in World Cups, European Championships, the Champions League, and winning trophies. So for many, it was a surprise to see him move to a side that is one of the favourites to be relegated from the Premier League. But it seems he still wants another crack at English football.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?

The 32-year-old, who joined Regis Le Bris' team on a three-year deal, could make his full Sunderland debut as the north east outfit host West Ham in their Premier League opener on Saturday, August 16. 

da betcris： Chelsea find themselves in the hunt for a striker this summer and could now have landed a boost after one target has agreed to leave his current club.

Chelsea looking to sign a striker

da esport bet： Nicolas Jackson’s red card against Flamengo last week at the Club World Cup has raised conversations over whether the Blues should look for another striker despite Liam Delap arriving earlier in the window from Ipswich Town.

The Senegalese attacker was also sent off against Newcastle towards the end of the Premier League season, missing some crucial games during the run-in, but he did contribute with an effort in the Blues’ Europa Conference League final victory over Real Betis upon his return.

While Jackson continues to divide opinion, Chelsea have opened talks to sign Randal Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain as his loan spell at Juventus draws towards a close.

Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike is also mentioned. Nevertheless, Liverpool have emerged as rivals for his signature amid their recent mission to get things done swiftly after claiming the Premier League title.

Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens is a key priority for Chelsea and Mohammed Kudus could move to Stamford Bridge from West Ham United, with the latter capable of stepping in through the middle when needed.

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Whether it be finding the creative foil behind the main man or securing another option to provide competition up top, Enzo Maresca is clearly in the hunt for goalscoring prowess at Stamford Bridge.

Now, he could possibly have landed a boost on that front after recent developments involving a star operating in Europe’s top-five leagues that is open to a move elsewhere.

Chelsea's long-standing Dusan Vlahovic interest could take a twist

According to Sky reporter Sacha Tavolieri, Chelsea are attentive to Dusan Vlahovic’s situation at Juventus and could now have an advantage in their hunt for a striker after it was revealed both he and the Old Lady have found agreement that he will be allowed to leave this summer.

Currently, he is on Club World Duty and won a penalty in the dying stages against Wydad Casablanca before stepping up to slot home his 16th goal of the season in 43 appearances across all competitions.

Five similar players to Dusan Vlahovic (FBRef)

Ermedin Demirovic

Stuttgart

Ollie Watkins

Aston Villa

Valentin Castellanos

Lazio

Artem Dovbyk

Roma

Patrick Cutrone

Como

Vlahovic earns roughly £369,000 per week at Juventus and appears primed for a move, given he has one year left on his contract. He has recently turned down two big proposals from Fenerbahce and Galatasaray.

It feels like the Belgrade-born man has been someone in line to move to the Premier League for a number of years. However, that dream could finally be realised if Chelsea firm up their interest in his services over the next few months, which they could now do ‘under certain conditions’, per the outlet.

Phil Parkinson has been warned that he could soon be sacked, with Wrexham tipped to target a “big name” that will “enhance” their documentary.

Promotion specialist appointed in 2021Overseen three successive promotionsChange being mooted in ChampionshipFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney worked hard to bring EFL promotion specialist Parkinson to North Wales shortly after their stunning takeover was completed in 2021.

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They have seen him deliver a historic rise through the Football League, with 136 victories being picked up through 221 games at the helm. Parkinson’s place in Red Dragons folklore is safely secured.

DID YOU KNOW?

Questions have, however, been asked of his tactical approach at times. More of those are doing the rounds as Wrexham step up into the Championship. It is being suggested that the 57-year-old will not see out the 2025-26 campaign at SToK Racecourse.

Getty/GOALWHAT EFL PUNDIT SAID

EFL pundit Ryan Dilks has told the when discussing managers that face axe threats: “Let’s go with someone who can probably get packing their bags now, Phil Parkinson at Wrexham. Probably one that’s not going to go down well with some Wrexham fans. But the reason I say that is because I just look at the job he’s done so far and great, he’s a Wrexham legend without a doubt, of course back-to-back-to-back promotions, it’s a pretty impressive thing to do. But I think he is above his level now, I think he’s out of his depth in the Championship based off all the evidence that we’ve seen from him before at Championship level and to be honest.

“I’m quite surprised he’s managed to last this long at Wrexham because he’s not a big name, he’s not someone who I think is going to enhance a documentary put it that way.

“So with that being said, I think this could be Phil Parkinson’s last season at Wrexham. I think the most likely scenario is they don’t do as well as expected, and then they sack him and get in a manager who’s a much bigger name and is more entertaining for a documentary. So yeah Phil Parkinson, I’m pretty sure about losing his job at some point this season.”

Senior seamer and star allrounder lead way in England’s comeback, while openers were also on song

George Dobell29-Jul-20209Stuart Broad (73 runs at 73.00; 16 wickets at 10.93)
It speaks volumes for Broad that a campaign which started with him being omitted from the team for the first Test, ended with him named Player of the Series. After producing a match-turning spell in the second Test, he came up with a match-winning one in the third, achieving his best bowling performance since January 2016 and a first ten-wicket match since 2013. He also thrashed 62 – his highest score for seven years and the fifth quickest half-century in England’s Test history – in the process and became just the seventh man to reach the 500-wicket milestone.8.5Ben Stokes
Although England lost his maiden Test as captain, Stokes took some brave decisions over selection and the toss in Southampton which might have been vindicated if his side had batted better. Spurred on by his own failure to convert two starts in that match, Stokes was outstanding in the second Test. After producing a disciplined century in the first innings – his longest innings in first-class cricket – he thumped the fastest half-century by an England opener in Test history in the second to set-up the declaration. He also claimed some key wickets in filling in for Jofra Archer as England’s middle-order enforcer. Played the third match as a specialist batsman.7.5Chris Woakes (1 run at 0.50; 11 wickets at 16.63)
Sharp, skilful and consistent, Woakes would have taken the new ball for years in another playing age. But, destined to spend much of his career in the shadow of Broad and Anderson, he has to be content with a supporting role and occasional days in the spotlight. In this series, he generated bounce and lateral movement and claimed a five-for in the final innings of the series. His grim form with the bat continues, though: only once in his last nine Test innings has he made more than 6.Dom Sibley (226 runs at 45.20)
In reaching 50 three times in five innings, Sibley demonstrated the solidity and consistency for which England have been looking for some time. Yes, there were two ducks as well, but occasional failures are probably inevitable for an opening batsmen. His century in Manchester went a long way towards laying the platform for his side’s victory. Since he came into the side in November, England have registered 400 four times (and 391 for 8 declared on another); before that, they had only managed it once since the start of 2018. His partnership with Burns looks as though it’s here to stay.Dom Sibley is congratulated by Ben Stokes after reaching his hundred•Gareth Copley/Getty Images7Rory Burns (234 runs at 46.80)
By reaching 30 in four of his five innings this series, Burns played his part in seeing off the new ball and the bowlers at their freshest. While he may be frustrated at not going on to make a significant score, he showed a welcome ability to accelerate when required in Manchester. He scored two half-centuries in the match and was part of England’s first century opening stand at home in four years.6James Anderson (5 wickets at 30.00)
Looked England’s best bowler in the first innings in Southampton and, after being rested for the second Test, bowled nicely without reward in the third. Is it relevant that he didn’t take a second wicket in either Test? We’ll see. The skills and control remain as good as ever but it could be he takes just a little longer to recover between spells these days.Dom Bess (83 runs at 83.00; 5 wickets at 41.60)
England are asking a lot of Bess to front their spin attack at such a young age (he celebrated his 23rd birthday during the series). Bowled nicely enough without enjoying much fortune. The batting average is boosted by three not-outs, but he showed both ability and selflessness in batting with the tail and accelerating to set-up declarations. And, as his final day run-out showed, he is excellent in the field.Jos Buttler (151 runs at 30.20; 12 catches)
Buttler went some way towards repaying the faith of the England selectors with an innings of 67 – his first half-century in 15 innings – in the final Test. He had looked relatively comfortable with the bat in previous games, but twice fell in the second Test as he tried to increase the rate of scoring. Dropped one chance in Southampton, but generally kept tidily.Ollie Pope (134 runs at 33.50)A match-defining innings of 91 in the final Test was the highlight of a slightly disappointing campaign. Before that, his highest innings in the series was 12. But expectations probably have to be tempered by the memory Pope is just 22. He impressed in the field and took an excellent catch at short leg to clinch the second Test.Joe Root (130 runs at 43.33)
A series in which he was dismissed three times between the score of 17 and 23 – twice run-outs – can only be described as frustrating. But while Root missed out on a major score with the bat, he will have been pleased by the way his team responded to going 1-0 down after he missed the first Test on paternity leave. He looked in decent touch in hitting an unbeaten 68 while setting up the declaration in the third Test, too.Joe Root talks to head coach Chris Silverwood during a practice session•Getty Images5.5Sam Curran (17 runs at 17.00; 3 wickets at 33.33)
If Curran had to be content with a supporting role in his only Test of the series, his angle and variations contributed three wickets and sustained his remarkable record: England have won all eight home Tests in which he has appeared.5Jofra Archer (4 wickets at 50.50)
Bowled a little better than the figures suggest. Archer produced a couple of really impressive spells at Southampton and fulfilled the role of enforcer in the final Test. He may remember the series most, however, for his unauthorised trip home between the first and second matches and the disciplinary action than ensued; he’s lost a mark here for making himself unavailable for the second Test. It need not be anything more than a footnote to his career.Zak Crawley (97 runs at 24.25)
An innings of 76 in Southampton helped Crawley win the battle for selection ahead of Denly. He was unable to take advantage, however, with two cheap dismissal in the second Test – he fell attempting to set-up the declaration in the second innings – and he was left out to make space for another bowler in the final Test. Still best placed to bat at No. 3 in the Pakistan series.Mark Wood
Preferred to Broad and Woakes in Southampton, Wood bowled with impressive pace on a slow wicket passing 90mph as often in his 20th over as he did in his first. The pitch probably didn’t suit him and the wickets didn’t come, but Wood will have days when he is the key man for England.4Joe Denly (47 runs at 23.50)
There was never any doubting Denly’s determination but, after a weakness against the ball nipping back through the gate was exposed once more in the first Test, he was the one to pay the price for England’s defeat. By then he had played 15 Tests without a century, and his average had dropped below 30. Despite adding some grit to England’s top order, he had been unable to register the significant personal score which would have cemented his place.