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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.

أعلن نادي ليفربول، في بيان رسمي منذ قليل، أولى صفقاته الصيفية لعام 2025 من أجل دعم صفوف الفريق تحت قيادة المدرب آرني سلوت، ومواصلة المشوار الذي وُضع أساسه قبل عام.

وتمكن ليفربول مؤخرًا من التتويج بلقب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، 2024/25، في الموسم الأول للمدرب آرني سلوت في ملعب “الأنفيلد”.

ويسعى ليفربول إلى حسم أكثر من صفقة خلال الصيف من أجل دعم صفوف الفريق قبل منافسات الموسم المقبل.

وأصدر ليفربول بيانًا رسميًا منذ قليل، للإعلان عن أولى صفقاته المتمثلة في اللاعب جيريمي فريمبونج، قادمًا من باير ليفركوزن.

وتشير التقارير الصحفية إلى أن القيمة المالية لتلك الصفقة تبلغ 35 مليون يورو.

Jeremie is a Red. pic.twitter.com/5hhB5QVpZP — Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 30, 2025

وأفاد ليفربول أن اللاعب الهولندي وقع عقدًا طويل الأمد مع النادي، في مركز التدريبات اليوم الجمعة، بعدما اجتاز الفحص الطبي بنجاح.

وقال فريمبونج في تصريحات للموقع الرسمي للنادي: “كان الأمر سهلاً للغاية، جاء ليفربول وأعرب عن اهتمامه، وبالطبع كان الأمر واضحًا بالنسبة لي”.

وأضاف: “كان الأمر بالنسبة لي أشبه بـ(نفذوا ما تريدون)، وكذلك قلت ذلك لوكلائي”، ووجه رسالة حماسية لجماهير ليفربول: “سأبذل قصارى جهدي وسأقدم كل ما لدي، آمل أن نفوز معًا ونحتفل معًا، ونحقق كل شيء”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. الكشف عن القيمة المالية لصفقة انتقال أرنولد من ليفربول إلى ريال مدريد

ووجه رسالة حماسية لجماهير ليفربول، حيث قال: “سأبذل قصارى جهدي وسأقدم كل ما لدي، آمل أن نفوز معًا ونحتفل معًا ونحقق كل شيء”.

وأفاد: “أنا متحمس جدًا لوجودي هنا، شكرًا لكم على استقبالكم لي، ولن أخذلكم، وسأمنحكم الطاقة التي تحتاجونها”.

وأكد: “كلاعب كرة قدم، كطفل، ترغب دائمًا في اللعب مع أفضل الفرق، عندما حاول ليفربول ضمي في سن أصغر، كان الأمر صعبًا بسبب طبيعة التنقل وكل تلك الأمور، اضطررت إلى اتخاذ مسار مختلف”.

وأشار: “انظروا إليّ الآن، لقد نجح الأمر بشكل رائع، أعتقد أن هذا هو أفضل ملعب (الأنفيلد) لعبت فيه عندما كنت مع ليفركوزن، الأجواء، الجماهير، والفريق أيضًا، كل شئ رائع، لا داعِ للحديث كثيرًا عن جودة ليفربول، لقد فازوا بالدوري”.

واختتم: ” بالنسبة لي كان اللعب ضد ليفربول عندما كنت في ليفركوزن صعبًا للغاية، كيف لي أن أقول ذلك؟ من الواضح أن ليفركوزن كان لا يزال جيدًا، ولكن كما ترى، ليفربول في مستوى آخر”.

ويُعد فريمبونج بديل ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد الذي رحل رسميًا عن ليفربول وانضم إلى ريال مدريد، اليوم.

Derbyshire unable to prise out five more wickets for victory after final-day declaration

ECB Reporters Network08-Sep-2022

Liam Trevaskis helped Durham escape with a draw•Getty Images

Derbyshire 306v (du Plooy 82, Came 78, Dal 56, Rushworth 3-60) and 214 for 9 dec (Madsen 58, Raine 5-43, Trevaskis 3-81) drew with Durham 223 (Jones 87, Conners 4-55) and 176 for 5 (Trevaskis 42*)Durham’s Liam Trevaskis and Paul Coughlin denied promotion hopefuls Derbyshire victory in a dramatic end to the LV=Insurance County Championship match at the Incora County Ground.The sixth-wicket pair batted through the final 17 overs to steer Durham to a fighting draw after they had been set 298 in 87 overs. Trevaskis faced 57 balls for an unbeaten 42 and Coughlin was 19 not out off 53 as Durham closed on 176 for 5 from 53 overs.Mark Watt took 2 for 37 in 13 overs but Derbyshire could not force the win that would have taken them to second in Division Two.Durham paceman Ben Raine claimed two more wickets to finish with 5 for 43 in 22 overs before Derbyshire declared on 214 for 9. Derbyshire had batted on for seven overs, adding 29 runs for the loss of Anuj Dal and Nick Potts before the declaration came.With showers forecast in the afternoon, they needed to make early inroads but Michael Jones again started positively, taking three fours from the second over from Nick Potts. Jones had scored 24 out of 26 when he tried to leave a ball from Ben Aitchison and got a bottom edge into his stumps.Aitchison should have had a second when Sean Dickson on 11 edged him low to first slip where Watt spilled the chance at the second attempt. But Derbyshire had a second breakthrough in the next over when Scott Borthwick played across a low dipping full toss from Conners and lost his middle stump.At lunch, Durham required a further 237 in 67 overs but their hopes took another blow when Dal removed Dickson. The allrounder thought he had the opener caught behind earlier and when Dickson missed a big swing and lost his off stump, he gave him a loud and visible send-off.Durham’s chances now rested with Nic Maddinson who drove Watt for consecutive fours before rain stopped play for 20 minutes with the loss of five overs.When play resumed under threatening clouds, Watt broke through in the first over when Maddinson pushed forward at a ball that went on with the arm and was caught behind. Watt struck again in his next over, tempting Jonathan Bushnell into a drive which he edged low to Wayne Madsen at slip.It was now a question of whether the rain would stay away but as the players were leaving the field for bad light, a storm broke over the ground, holding up play for two hours.The umpires decided the match could resume at 4.50pm, which gave Derbyshire 17.1 overs or 103 balls to take five wickets. And there was drama immediately with Coughlin put down at second slip on 1 as he pushed forward at Watt.Trevaskis and Coughlin showed application and good judgement to frustrate Derbyshire who, with seven overs left and the light deteriorating, were unable to use their pace bowlers. With spinners on at both ends, Derbyshire had every fielder in a catching position but the pair stood firm and the home side called off the hunt with one over remaining.There was a touching finale as the players and coaching staff applauded umpire Nick Cook off the field in his last appearance at Derby before he retires at the end of the season.

Chelsea are likely to challenge Italian heavyweights Juventus for a “high level” striker in January, as chairman Todd Boehly and BlueCo still ponder the addition of a world-class new marksman despite Nicolas Jackson’s excellent form lately.

Chelsea set for decision over signing striker amid Jackson run

The Senegal international is attempting to prove that he is more-than capable of leading Enzo Maresca’s forward line thus far, scoring four goals and registering a further three assists in all competitions for Chelsea.

Exit talks held as in-demand £200k-per-week Chelsea ace now wants to quit

The west Londoners want him gone as well.

1

By
Emilio Galantini

Oct 16, 2024

Jackson’s goals against Wolves, Crystal Palace and a brace at West Ham were complemented by assists at Molineux, the Hammers and Brighton, with the former Villarreal starlet silencing critics and giving Stamford Bridge hierarchy something to really think about.

The Blues were heavily linked with the signing of a new striker in the summer window, with Victor Osimhen subject to a deadline day bid from Chelsea, but neither they nor Saudi side Al-Ahli could complete a deal for the Nigerian in a last minute race, who ended up joining Galatasaray on a season-long loan.

According to reliable journalist Simon Phillips, Osimhen remains a target for Chelsea, and they have a few other names on their agenda as they ponder whether to back Maresca with a prolific new centre-forward.

Osimhen’s Serie A Statistics 2023/24
Appearances	25
Goals	15
Assists	3
Shots Per 90	3.86
Key Passes Per 90	1.05
Successful Take-Ons Per 90	0.73

“Chelsea are still looking at signing a new striker in one of the next two transfer windows coming up, with January still a real possibility,” said Phillips (via his Substack).

“As we know, Chelsea are still looking at a number of names to sign as a potential new striker, and have been doing their homework on them all in recent months and years.

“From SPTC sources, the most recent names that have been mentioned the most and are clearly still being seriously considered, is Victor Osimhen, Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Boniface, Evan Ferguson, and Benjamin Sesko.”

It is also believed that Ipswich Town star Liam Delap is being monitored by Chelsea ahead of the winter window, following the ex-Man City starlet’s excellent start to life at Portman Road in the Premier League.

During the final week of the summer window, some reports also linked Chelsea with a move for Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Chelsea likely to challenge Juventus for Calvert-Lewin

According to GiveMeSport, Chelsea are likely to challenge Juventus for Calvert-Lewin, with the Old Lady attempting to offload out-of-favour striker Arkadiusz Milik and potentially make a January move for the Toffees star.

The 27-year-old has a famously torrid injury record, despite flashes of quality at points, and this will be a cause for concern for Chelsea supporters. On a reported £100,000-per-week at Goodison Park, who is thought to be valued at around £35 million by Sean Dyche’s side, is also a wanted man at Newcastle United.

“Dominic is a high level striker, an England striker, a Premier League regular goalscorer with all his natural attributes that we see in terms of the types of goals that he can score, his strengths, his speed, his aerial ability,” said ex-Chelsea boss Frank Lampard on Calvert-Lewin in 2022.

“You have to try and play to the best strengths of that without a doubt and I think also, Dominic is a forward that can connect the game and hold the ball and drop in between lines at times as well.

“So there’s a lot to his game and that’s what we can’t take lightly in terms of how much we’ve missed him.”

Michael Clarke’s battling century in this game was a world apart from his glorious counter-attacking 2011 Newlands ton, and he will hope the result of the match has a similar disparity

Daniel Brettig in Cape Town02-Mar-2014Rain and wind buffeted Newlands on day two, almost as savagely as Morne Morkel had rounded on Michael Clarke 24 hours before, under sunny skies and the gaze of Table Mountain. Both the ground staff and Clarke were made to look decidedly uncomfortable, whether it was the former hanging on desperately to errant covers or the latter reeling from blows to the head. But neither were swept away either, holding on to secure the preservation of the pitch and the establishment of a total that virtually inures Australia from series defeat.By the time the weather forced him indoors, Clarke had soared to an unbeaten 161, which given his desire to pursue a Test match and series victory in the time remaining may not progress too much further. It was a performance of rare courage and wonderful depth, its layered construction containing a series of compelling chapters in the traditions of great literature. If not quite so visceral as his repelling of Morkel’s assault, Clarke’s 24-ball vigil on 99 was another passage to savour, ending fittingly with a crisp cover drive and a bat raised in weary, even groggy triumph towards the dressing room.Clarke had played a very similar stroke on this ground in November 2011 to reach his other century at Newlands, the spiky, counter-punching 151 that provided one of the first indications that the captaincy would serve to grow him considerably as a batsman. Before this match, Clarke regarded it as his finest Test hundred, taking into account a sporty pitch, overcast skies and a South African bowling attack even stronger than the one he faced this time – a fully fit Dale Steyn the difference. He had received a few blows that day too, before pouncing on the bowling.But there was a hollowness to that innings, a sense of empty achievement provided by the fact that when Australia batted a second time they were rounded up for a measly 47. Clarke was still ruing that innings, and his inability to hold back the raging tide himself, when he spoke about it a year later, ahead of the home series with South Africa in late 2012. Cape Town had come to mean something bitter to Clarke, despite his personal achievement.Michael Clarke had a tentative 24-ball vigil on 99 before reaching his century•Getty Images”Personally I think it’s probably the best hundred I’ve made for Australia,” Clarke said at the time. “I needed to make runs for the team, they had a very good fast bowling attack in conditions that suited fast bowling, and while I managed to get through my first 10 balls I think I got hit in the head three or four times, hit in the gloves another six times or so, and I managed to turn that around and score some runs.”But when I say that I think it’s my best Test hundred, it’s one of the most irrelevant Test hundreds because of how the game panned out. I was very disappointed in the second innings, I didn’t make many runs. I’d just scored 150 so I was the one player who was in form and I needed to make runs in that second innings.”If he had used his bat like a rapier in the first innings of 2011, there was considerably less swash in Clarke’s buckle when he walked out to bat at Newlands this time around. A lack of runs in the lead-up had been getting to him more than he would admit publicly. It was telling to hear Shane Warne speak of Clarke as a “worrier” ahead of the Test, and to say he had spent much of their dinner together reminding Australia’s captain of the progress made by the team even though their leader had not been raising the personal tallies he expected.While David Warner’s supremely confident century and a pair of top-order partnerships had cushioned Clarke from the new ball, and Steyn’s tender hamstring reduced the firepower of his opponents, the sense of personal expectation, the series scenario and the threat of Morkel all weighed heavily. Clarke did not shirk the fact that he would be battered by Morkel, nor that he would look ugly while doing so. Day one was as much about survival as scoring, and in this Clarke achieved his goal admirably while also breaking his sequence of outs.A new morning brought gladder tidings for Clarke, facing up to bowlers tired by earlier exertions and also handicapped by a sharp cross-breeze to rival anything at the WACA Ground in Perth. But he had one more obstacle to overcome before reaching three figures in the shape of a searching spell from Kyle Abbott, who maintained the most disciplined line to create pressure when the scoreboard indicated that there was none.Clarke would not force a shot that was not there, South Africa’s fielders became briefly tigerish where for much of the series they had been slothful, and three maiden overs ticked by. One Abbott delivery passed over Clarke’s stumps by millimetres. Steve Smith, making his own mark on the match with a jaunty contribution to test the will of any bowler, kept the scoreboard moving at the other end. Ultimately, Clarke was given a sight of Vernon Philander, and creamed a drive through cover to reach 103. It was the shot most resembling those of 2011.As two innings they could not have been much more different, and Clarke now hopes for a similar disparity in the final result. “That’s probably a better question asked at the end of this game because if we don’t get the result we’re after then it will sit alongside the other 150,” he said afterwards. “I will never, ever take for granted scoring a hundred for Australia. I’ve never scored an easy hundred, it’s always been tough, especially against a very good attack.”For the moment, the Cape Town of Clarke’s mind is one of clouds, rain and a hellish result, the kind that will always haunt him. But his century has opened up the possibility of Australia achieving a victory as glorious as the vista seen when the clouds roll away. Should it be done, Clarke will not look more fondly upon a single innings. The Cape Town Test of 2014 will allow the 2011 version to be forgotten.

Celtic’s place at the top of the Scottish Premiership remains secure after they came away with a relatively comfortable 2-0 win over Dundee on Wednesday night.

The Hoops have now won nine and drawn one of their opening ten matches in the top-flight, which has helped them to sit top of the table and on course for a fourth straight title.

However, that incredible start to the season has not produced the gap to second that you may expect, as Aberdeen have matched that run of results – only sitting behind Brendan Rodgers’ side on goal difference.

Alistair Johnston and Arne Engels scored the goals for the Scottish giants in the second half against Dundee earlier this week, with the former coming off the bench to open the scoring.

Rodgers opted to hand opportunities to a number of different players on Wednesday night, with games coming thick and fast domestically and in Europe, to see which of his fringe men have what it takes to step up when they are needed.

One of the players who was dropped down to the bench was Daizen Maeda, who has had a mixed start to the 2024/25 campaign for the Hoops.

Daizen Maeda's form this season

The Japan international has been the first-choice option for Rodgers on the left flank this season in the Premiership and has been inconsistent with his play in the final third.

Maeda has started seven of his nine appearances in the division and has produced two goals and two assists, with his finishing – in particular – leaving a lot to be desired.

The 27-year-old forward has missed a whopping seven ‘big chances’ to reach two goals, with those two strikes coming from 3.46 xG in total. This shows that the winger has not made the most of the high-quality openings that his teammates have provided him with.

Meanwhile, Maeda has registered two assists from two ‘big chances’ created and has only averaged 1.1 key passes per game for the Scottish giants, which does not suggest that he has been outstanding from a creative perspective either.

Appearances

28

Goals

6

Big chances missed

12

Assists

3

Key passes per game

0.5

As you can see in the table above, the Japanese whiz also failed to finish his chances and create opportunities on a regular basis in the Premiership last season for Rodgers.

These statistics, from the 2023/24 campaign and the current term, suggest that Maeda is an unreliable player in the final third, due to his wasteful finishing and lack of creativity week-in-week-out.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Rodgers handed Luis Palma an opportunity to shine against Dundee on Wednesday night and the Honduras international showed the manager exactly what he has been missing.

Luis Palma's performance against Dundee in numbers

The former Greek league star came away from the game without a goal or an assist to show for his efforts and may not have impressed some supporters, due to his lack of direct involvement in a goal.

However, that was not all his fault as the perception of his performance against Dundee could have been completely different if his teammates had made the most of his creativity.

Palma only played 57 minutes at Parkhead and managed four key passes and one ‘big chance’ created, whilst also completing 89% of his attempted passes, which earned him a Sofascore rating of 8.0.

If Kyogo Furuhashi – who missed three ‘big chances’ – had not been so wasteful in front of goal, the winger could have ended the game with an assist or two and the feeling around his display could have been very different.

Pass accuracy

89%

84%

Touches

67

33.2 per game

Key passes

4

1.1 per game

Big chances created

1

0.22 per game

Long passes completed

6

0.3 per game

Possession lost

12x

8.8x per game

As you can see in the table above, the Honduran wizard produced far more creativity against Dundee than Maeda typically does when he starts on the left flank.

It was Palma’s first start of the season in the Premiership and he showed Rodgers the creativity that had been missing from the team on that side of the pitch, as the Japanese winger has struggled to provide much in that respect – last season and this season.

If the 24-year-old magician can now kick on and reach the heights that he managed in the first half of the 2023/24 campaign, the Northern Irish head coach could have another huge asset on his hands.

Luis Palma's form last season

After joining from Aris in the summer of 2023, the right-footed attacker enjoyed a fantastic start to his career in Scotland by showcasing his quality as a scorer and a creator of goals.

Palma produced an eye-catching return of five goals and nine assists in his first 16 games in the Premiership, along with two goals in the Champions League, before the turn of the year, after which he struggled.

In the second half of the campaign, the Honduras international only managed two goals and zero assists in 12 appearances in the division for the Hoops.

This shows that the potential is there for him to be an incredibly productive player at Premiership level but it is down to him to get back to the kind of form he showed in 2023.

Appearances

28

28

Goals

7

6

Big chances missed

8

12

Assists

9

3

Big chances created

14

5

As you can see in the table above, Palma ended the 2023/24 campaign with more goals, fewer ‘big chances’ missed, more assists, and more ‘big chances’ created in the same number of appearances as Maeda.

These statistics suggest that the potential is there for the 2023 signing to offer more than the Japan international, who has struggled at times this season, in the final third if he can find his best form again.

His promising showing against Dundee, with four key passes and one ‘big chance’ created, shows that he is on his way back to his best, which will surely please Rodgers.

91 touches, 7/10 rating: The Celtic star who was even better than Johnston

The Celtic midfielder put in a superb performance against Dundee on Wednesday night.

ByDan Emery Oct 31, 2024

Pace bowler has only played six first-class games but has 26 Pakistan limited-overs caps

Matt Roller23-Jun-2022

Mohammad Hasnain is available for the last six games of the season•AFP/Getty Images

Worcestershire hope that Mohammad Hasnain will help them “blast teams out” after securing his services for the final six games of the County Championship season as their second overseas player.Hasnain, 22, has only played six first-class games in his career but has won 26 Pakistan caps in limited-overs internationals and was cleared to resume bowling earlier this month after being called for a suspect action at the BBL at the start of the year.Hasnain is due to make his debut against Middlesex on July 11 and will stay in the UK for the rest of the season. He was previously signed by Oval Invincibles as a ‘wildcard’ overseas player in the Hundred and will join his compatriot Azhar Ali in the Worcestershire side.”Azhar knows him very well and helped us do a bit of research,” Alex Gidman, Worcestershire’s coach, said. “He spoke very, very highly of him as a young man and as a character and his skill set as well. He is going to be exactly what the group needs, some real power and energy.”The longer the season goes on, the harder it becomes, so to have some fresh impetus when we really need it is going to be good for the guys. He bowls very quick, so a different skill set to what we have, and he will hopefully give us a chance of winning more games.”Worcestershire are fifth in the eight-team Division Two after two wins, four draws and a loss in their first seven games but are a point off third and are hopeful of a strong finish to the season.Paul Pridgeon, the chair of the club’s steering group, said: “We are going to have a real crack at the Championship. On fairly flat surfaces with Dukes balls, he might just help to blast teams out.”Hasnain said: “I’m really looking forward to my first taste of county cricket. I want to help Worcestershire win matches first and foremost, but I also want to play more first-class cricket, and this is an ideal opportunity.”It will also be part of my cricketing education playing in England on different pitches. Azhar has had nothing but good things to say about Worcestershire. I’m looking forward to joining up, and hopefully, I can make a similar impact to him.”Azhar will miss two Championship games due to his involvement in Pakistan’s Test series in Sri Lanka next month but is due to return later in the season.Worcestershire have also been boosted by the news that Jack Haynes, their leading run-scorer in the Championship, has only strained knee ligaments after fears he had torn them. He could return in time for their fixture against Glamorgan this weekend.

Michael Carberry delivered the big hundred of which Shane Warne said he was capable – and then credited Warne with rescuing his county career

Daniel Brettig06-Nov-2013Shane Warne’s recognition of a young Michael Carberry’s talents at Hampshire was the making of him as a first-class batsman. Now Warne’s endorsement at the start of the Ashes tour seems to have helped blow the winds of cricketing fortune in Carberry’s direction as he emerges as the apparent answer to the dual England batting problems of the last series against Australia.Amid countless quotable lines about Ricky Ponting, Alastair Cook and George Bailey, among others, Warne had posited the view that Carberry stood a far better chance of ensuring solid openings for England’s batting on the tour than the younger right-hander Joe Root. While Warne’s emotive use of “crucifying” to outline the risk of keeping Root at the top grabbed most of the initial attention, his supportive words about Carberry seem to have mirrored the thinking of the team director Andy Flower.Retained to open alongside Cook in Hobart while Root was shuffled down to No. 5, Carberry set about his task grandly, and by the close of play had all but guaranteed his Brisbane berth by batting all day in the company of his captain. This allows Root to avoid the perils of the new ball and also bolster a middle order that stumbled at times in the earlier Ashes meeting.Carberry credits Warne with giving him the early impetus to find himself as a county batsman after frustrating stints at Kent and Surrey. “Shane Warne is basically the reason why I got a chance to play Test cricket,” he said. “I was a young guy who was a little bit lost in county cricket, didn’t really get an opportunity. I came to Hampshire and from day one he made me feel very much at home. He gave me the backing I think any young player needs and allowed me to play a brand of cricket I wanted to play.”He was very influential in me doing what I’ve done and getting the chance to play for England a few years on. The times I’ve caught up with him, he has always had very kind things to say about my game, I still keep in contact with him, even though he might be overseas. He’s always been a great friend to me.”That friendship helped Carberry through a career not lacking in difficulty, most notably when a blood clot on the lung ruled him out of the game for an extended period in 2010, soon after he had made his Test debut alongside Cook in Bangladesh. The ailment not only kept Carberry out of contention for the 2010-11 Ashes tour but threatened his entire career. He emerged from it stronger, wiser and with a balanced outlook.”It’s been well documented that I have had some tough times off the field, but by the grace of God I’m here to enjoy what I’m doing now,” he said. “When things like that happen it gives you perspective on your cricket, maybe to relax more and try to enjoy the game for what it is, rather than as young players perhaps putting pressure on yourself to try and get where you want to get to. If you do the processes right you’ll get there.”I came here with pretty much a blank canvas. I try to be flexible, to do whatever job is put in front of me for the team. If it’s to be opening great, if it’s to bat down the order even better. Nothing much was explained to me, I was just told ‘Carbs you’re going in with Cooky’ and that was good enough for me. I set my mind as any opener does to see off the new ball, which was going to be the biggest threat on that wicket, and then try to bat through the day.”Aiding Carberry this day was an indifferent display by Australia A’s bowlers, who tended to drop too short especially with the new ball. The wicketkeeper Tim Paine admitted as much after play, pointing out that a better attack might have been able to test Carberry more fully in the gully region, where he offered numerous edges as it was.”We thought we were probably half a sniff around that gully region if we bowled the right length to him,” Paine said. “We just couldn’t get one to go to hand today, but he’s obviously a class player. He is opening the batting for England and they’re a very good side. If he does play in the Ashes he’ll be hard to get out, but there is an area there definitely: if you stack up your gully region I think at some point you’ll get a chance.”

The start to the 2024/25 campaign has been underwhelming, to say the least, for West Ham United, with the club failing to have the immediate success desired after an ambitious transfer window.

Over £100m was spent on new signings to provide new boss Julen Lopetegui with all the ammunition needed to be a success during his debut campaign as the Hammers boss.

However, the Spaniard has endured a difficult start to life at the London Stadium, winning just two of his opening eight outings – with his only Premier League win coming over Crystal Palace back in August.

Pressure is already mounting on the 58-year-old given his below-par start to life in the capital, with this weekend’s fixture against Ipswich Town a pivotal outing if he is to be a success with the Hammers.

Whilst Lopetegui is yet to pull up any trees as West Ham boss, multiple of his new additions have also failed to impress, including one player who arrived at the London Stadium with high expectations.

Guido Rodríguez’s stats at West Ham

After arriving on a free transfer from Spanish side Real Betis this summer, midfielder Guido Rodriguez joined West Ham with real pedigree after his consistent displays in LaLiga which saw him rack up 173 appearances for Los Verdiblancos.

However, his start to life with the Hammers hasn’t been plain sailing, often failing to impress despite starting all six league matches since his summer transfer.

His most embarrassing moment undoubtedly came in the 3-0 defeat to Chelsea, with the Argentinian star hooked after just 38 minutes by Lopetegui, subsequently being replaced by Tomas Soucek.

Rodriguez still has time to turn around his below-par start to life in England, but given the club’s current poor form since Lopetegui’s arrival, he may find himself in and out of the team as the Spaniard looks to find a settled starting eleven.

The experienced boss may regret sanctioning the sale of one player who has starred away from the London Stadium after securing a permanent move during the summer transfer window.

The former West Ham star who’s outperformed Rodriguez

Boyhood West Ham fan Flynn Downes spent one season in the club’s first team before a loan spell at Southampton last season, in an attempt to gain more regular game time.

After helping the Saints secure an immediate return to the top flight, he departed the Hammers in a £18m deal, ending his stay in the capital without an appearance under the new boss.

However, it may be a decision that Lopetegui could regret given his form for Russell Martin’s side, which has seen him outperform new signing Rodriguez in numerous key areas for a midfielder.

Games played

6

6

Minutes played

540

460

Progressive carries

2

0.2

Progressive passes

4.8

2.4

Pass accuracy

93%

84%

Tackles won

1.2

1

Interceptions

2

1.6

The “monstrous” talent, as described by current boss Martin, has completed more of the passes he’s attempted this season, with more of his attempts being progressive compared to the Argentinian.

Downes has also started defensively, winning more tackles and completing more interceptions per 90, potentially showing Lopetegui what he’s missing by offloading the 25-year-old.

Does the club miss him? Potentially, with his box-to-box profile providing that dimension that the Hammers have been desperately lacking since his appointment during the summer.

It’s still early days for the 58-year-old during his time at the helm, but Downes’ desire to succeed for his boyhood club could’ve proved to be the difference for the club during their current slump in form at the start of the 2024/25 campaign.

Moyes wanted West Ham to replace Rice with £50m ace but got Alvarez instead

West Ham could have signed “monster” but got Alvarez instead

ByConnor Holden Oct 3, 2024

Nearly six years after his last ODI, Robin Uthappa returns to the Indian side, refreshed, more assured, and eager to contribute to the team’s success

Interview by Nagraj Gollapudi10-Jun-2014The success in the IPL has now earned you an India cap after six years. How exciting is it to be playing again in the national shirt?
I am very excited. It means a lot to me that I’m playing for the country again. It makes me extremely proud that I am able to do what I love doing at the highest level. But I just see this as an opportunity. I cannot sit back and I say I have made it now. It is an opportunity to start all over again.You built your success in the IPL as an opener. The last time you played for India, you batted in the lower middle order. Would you be more comfortable opening?
Winning the treble with Karnataka gave me a massive understanding of what I need to do in terms of being able to perform my role to the best of my ability. I am very certain about my role as an opening batsman, because I do it day in, day out throughout the season for Karnataka. So it is just a matter of repeating the same process at a different level. Are you better aware about your role in the Indian side now?
I know that if I stick to what works for me, I will be successful. I need to stay in the present. I need to make sure that I focus on the most important thing: to play on the merit of the ball. If I can do that, the scores will come. I am pretty confident that I can perform the role of an opening batsman to my fullest potential. I believe that I can set up games for India to win. Winning games for India is what I want to do. That is an intense desire.You did that with Kolkata Knight Riders. You finished as the IPL’s best batsman. How important an achievement was that?
It is a wonderful feeling. I am happy that I was able to contribute to my team in a way that was meaningful. And I was able to do it consistently. I want to build on it. I want to move forward with that growth now. At the same time, I recognise places I can improve on, work on, get better at.It was an uncertain beginning for both Knight Riders and yourself. You started in the middle order and were only the fourth-choice opener?
I spoke with the team management and told them I wanted to open. So I did feel the pressure in the first match I opened. But that kind of nervousness is only a good thing. It makes you go out there and express yourself better. It makes you more alive in the moment. I came out better with that pressure on. I have got more clarity about my cricket and that has contributed to my success.

“I have become more of a touch player than someone who plays with so much power. That has been my biggest improvement”

I believe your personal coach, Pravin Amre, stressed on focusing on the basics?
Sir [Amre] has always taught me that if I had the right [technical] action, the end result would be good. The initial part of our training was a lot about making sure that my initial movements were correct, my set-up was correct, the way I picked up the bat, the way the backlift was, the [way the] downswing was. When all of that is proper, 60-70% of your work is done. The rest is about getting your head into position, holding that position well and playing the ball late into the gaps. It is important to remind myself about these things because when you achieve a momentum there is danger of getting carried away when it is important to stick to the basics.You are now showing the full face of the bat in your strokes as opposed to earlier, when it used to be closed. How big a difference has that made?
It has made a massive difference. As a cricketer I can experience certain stuff but I cannot explain to you in words what it feels to hit the ball from the middle of the bat with the right technique. Very early in our training, I remember telling Sir immediately after hitting a fluent cover drive that I have hit so many sixes in my life but this shot I just hit I would never forget. I hit it so sweetly. He told me not to worry because I would do it more often. It is just a feel, more like a sensation.Which is the most improved stroke?
Every shot in the V past the bowler on both sides has improved. I have worked a lot on the on drive. We spent hours on that stroke where earlier I was vulnerable against the lbw. You have to get a lot of things in place for that shot: your head needs to be on top of the ball, your legs in the right position, your body aligned correctly to get the power into the stroke. But the cover drive is the one that stands out for me. I have become more of a touch player than someone who plays with a lot of power. That has been my biggest improvement. But it will only stay with me if I continue to work on it.One of the most visible changes is that you have consciously cut down on hitting sixes. Was that planned?
It was not a conscious effort. The aim was to play to the merit of the ball and importantly bat responsibly. As much as opening is a challenge it is also about focusing on holding an end up. That only allows my team to be in a better position. In some games I was trying to chip the ball over the infield but it went straight to the fielder. I felt that in those instances, if I had gone all through, it could have only proved beneficial. One of the goals I set for myself at the outset was that I wanted to bat through 20 overs. But I started the tournament by coming to play in the middle overs before I started to open. Like I said earlier, there is a lot of scope to improve.You would appreciate the innings Suresh Raina played in the second qualifier for Chennai Super Kings – playing good cricketing shots. Was that the best innings of this IPL for you?
As far as skills are concerned, definitely. Raina held beautiful positions, played late, stood deep in the crease, made use of the bounce, played very clever cricket. I enjoyed watching him play without fear. Also, when you are chasing a massive score it gives a batsman the freedom to be brave. It was inspiring and I picked up some good things from Raina’s innings.”Every shot in the V past the bowler on both sides has improved”•BCCIYou batted with an injured toe against Mumbai Indians in a crucial match that Knight Riders won. You picked it as your best innings this IPL. Why?
Two days before the Mumbai match in Cuttack, I was hit flush on my left big toe by a yorker-length delivery from Pat Cummins. He was bowling with a new ball that swung in. I batted through, but when I removed my shoe I had a broken nail and it was bleeding profusely. Andrew Leipus [Knight Riders’ physiotherapist] gave me some painkillers.I was positive about playing the match considering we had to win it. I was wearing slippers the next day. But on match day, when I reached the ground, I realised I could not even get a sock on easily, let alone a shoe. I am a UK size 10, so Andrew suggested I try a bigger size. I tried one size bigger but that too was not going in. Then I tried Morne Morkel’s size 12. But I could barely walk in them even though I hit some throwdowns. I could not put too much pressure on my leading leg as I was unable to get up on my toes.I had doubts whether I would be able to play the match. I was feeling uncomfortable in Morne’s shoes. Andrew suggested I wear something with an open toe to take the pressure off. Jacques Kallis had his bowling boots, which were size 11. Andrew built a nice, thick protection cap over the cut part of the shoe to provide a good cushion.Fortunately we bowled first and it gave me little more time to adjust to the shoe. I finished with the Man-of-the-Match award with an 80. I thanked Kallis and played in them till the qualifier.WV Raman, an experienced domestic coach and part of the coaching bench at Knight Riders, says in all these years he has seen you, you have never been more calm about your batting.
I am in a place in my life where I understand how I can handle everything. If I can stay in the present I have got most things taken care of. I have grown as a human being in the last couple of years as well. I am surrounded by positive people, who add value to my life, which helps me perform better.Do you realistically believe you will be part of the Indian squad for next year’s World Cup?
I believe in my ability and that I will play in the World Cup and contribute to our country’s success in a meaningful manner. That is the hope. I am very, very consciously living in the present. I am confident but for the moment I am focusing to perform and succeed in Bangladesh to begin with and carry forward the confidence into subsequent tournaments.