Centuries from Mark Cosgrove and Mark pettini saw Leicestershire enjoy a healthy opening day in the Specsavers County Championship at Wantage Road

ECB Reporters Network13-Aug-2016
ScorecardMark Cosgrove kept Leicestershire on top•Getty ImagesCenturies from Mark Cosgrove and Mark Pettini saw Leicestershire enjoy a healthy opening day in the Specsavers County Championship at Wantage Road. The pair helped the visitors recover from 61 for 3 to close 330 for 5.Cosgrove, Leicestershire’s captain, made his fourth century of the season and steered his side out of trouble with a stand of 281 for the fourth wicket with Pettini, whose own hundred was his second of the campaign.After tea, Cosgrove flicked a boundary to reach three figures in 167 balls, taking him over 900 Championship runs in the season. But he fell for 111 trying to pull Azharullah – he only found mid-on – shortly before the second new ball.Pettini was very patient after the second break but eventually seized on the chance to twice pull Richard Gleeson into the leg side fence to raise his hundred in 189 balls.The pair saw Leicestershire take control of the day in the afternoon session where they added 151 runs in 36 overs. It was fairly unspectacular with few memorable shots, yet exactly what the visitors were looking for having won the toss.Northamptonshire toiled as their early success was undone but did respond with the second new ball with Gleeson removing Niall O’Brien lbw for 5 and 78 runs came in 32 overs of the final session.Before then, Cosgrove, first to his half-century, in 90 balls with eight fours, found good touch having survived two loose hooks that fell short and then wide of long leg. He was joined by Pettini, whose own fifty took 85 balls and nine fours – the last of which a thick outside edge to third man.It was frustrating for Northants who were in control in the morning session with three wickets for Ben Sanderson reducing Leicestershire to 61 for 3.Fresh from a 10-wicket haul at Swansea, Sanderson picked up wickets in three consecutive overs in the middle of an 11 over spell from the Wantage Road end. All three came in similar fashion with straightening deliveries to take outside edges behind the wicket.First Paul Horton, after five boundaries, edged to Adam Rossinton at first slip, Angus Robson – after a very patient 10 in 56 balls – got a thicker edge to Rory Kleinveldt at third, before Neil Dexter received Sanderson’s best delivery, a lifted that took the shoulder of the bat to wicketkeeper David Murphy.

Tottenham Hotspur are currently gearing up for what could potentially be a crucial encounter in their bid for Champions League qualification, with the Lilywhites set to take on top-four rivals Newcastle United later today.

That mouthwatering meeting at St James' Park comes with just three points separating the north London outfit from the Magpies in the third, albeit with the hosts also having the advantage of a game in hand.

While a defeat would not end Tottenham's hopes of finishing in those coveted and lucrative positions, it would certainly be a real setback for Cristian Stellini and co if they were to walk away from Tyneside empty-handed.

Ahead of this afternoon's crunch clash, the interim Italian may have a handful of selection decisions to make following the defeat at home to relegation strugglers Bournemouth last time out, with Spurs unable to afford a repeat showing this time around.

One man who could make way following that last-gasp loss to the Cherries is academy graduate, Oliver Skipp, with the 22-year-old having been 'outmuscled' in the midfield battle last weekend, as per 90min's Sean Walsh.

The young Englishman was rather ineffective in his 77-minute outing as he made just 36 touches and won just two of his seven total duels, with it perhaps time that Stellini hands a rare opportunity to Pape Matar Sarr in his place.

Will Sarr start against Newcastle?

The Senegalese international has endured a frustrating time of it at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to date, having been restricted to just 11 first-team appearances across all fronts so far this season.

Having been signed from Ligue 1 side Metz on a £14.5m deal in 2021 – before returning to France on loan for the following campaign – the 20-year-old has largely been on the periphery since coming back to his parent club in the summer.

When the youngster has featured, however, he has clearly caught the eye having been hailed as a player who "can do everything" by Stellini earlier in the campaign, while also being praised as a "top player" by former boss, Antonio Conte.

The 6 foot 1 gem was particularly impressive during the Champions League defeat to AC Milan back in February, having produced a 'standout display' in that 1-0, first-leg loss, as per the Evening Standard's Dan Kilpatrick, due to his 'composure and crisp passes'.

Even despite the loss of Rodrigo Bentancur to a season-ending injury, however, Sarr has still been unable to dislodge the starting pair of Skipp and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, with both Stellini and Conte showing a real reluctance to rotate in the centre of the park.

While it would be a bold move to thrust the 14-cap starlet back into the fold for such a high-profile fixture, the midfield maestro's previous display at San Siro should showcase that he would not be overawed by the big occasion.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsUmar Akmal hit seven sixes and three fours during his unbeaten 73 off 35 balls•CPL/Sportsfile

With Trinbago Knight Riders staring at the prospect of heading to the final leg of the CPL season in Florida with their playoff hopes in jeopardy, Umar Akmal’s brilliant fightback secured a crucial three-wicket win over St Lucia Zouks to draw Knight Riders level with the Zouks on eight points in a tie for third. This meant that Barbados Tridents were pushed back to fifth place with two games to play. Akmal struck an unbeaten 73 off 35 balls in Knight Riders’ chase of 168 having dug his side out of a deep hole at 63 for 5 in the 10th over.Zouks were well placed to defend their total after the fall of Anton Devcich for 25 in the 15th to end a 51-run stand, leaving Knight Riders needing 50 off the last five overs with four wickets in hand. Only four runs were scored in the 16th to further tilt the scales in favour of Zouks but Akmal swung things back Trinbago’s way in the 17th when he targetted Jerome Taylor for three straight sixes and a four, bringing up his fifty off 27 balls. Akmal’s fireworks reduced the equation to 23 off 18 balls.Shane Watson then pinned Sunil Narine down for three dots, but could not sustain the pressure and Narine ended the over by bashing two sixes to make it 9 off 12 balls. Narine fell in the 19th over but Kevon Cooper hit the winning runs two balls later to clinch victory with six balls to spare.Having been inserted, Zouks had powered to a strong start with Johnson Charles and Andre Fletcher notching 58 in the first seven overs. Charles was fortunate after having been dropped in the first over on 1 off Ronsford Beaton and was reprieved again on 11 in the fourth over when replays showed Devcich had overstepped after having Charles caught by Dwayne Bravo at mid-off.Fletcher was run-out in the eighth over for 25 and Charles’ luck ran out 10 balls later when Bravo claimed him for 27. From there, Zouks struggled to regain the flow to their innings until Darren Sammy’s arrival in the 16th after Grant Elliott was removed for 12. Sammy clubbed Cooper for four and six in the 18th to spur a late surge, and then bashed two more fours and a six off the final seven balls of Zouks’ innings to finish 37 not out off 18 balls. However, his spectacular form the stadium renamed in his honour could not extend the hosts’ winning run, with Akmal halting it at three games.

Ben Stokes hopes to return to bowling in the third ODI of the series against Pakistan having recovered from injury

George Dobell28-Aug-2016Ben Stokes hopes to return to bowling in the third ODI of the series against Pakistan having recovered from injury.Stokes has played in the first two matches as a specialist batsman – a decision he admits was something of a surprise given the form of Jonny Bairstow – but has bowled at full pace in training in recent days and feels he will be able to play a full-part with the ball at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.He has endured an injury ravaged summer. Having had to pull out of the Sri Lanka series with a knee injury that required surgery, he limped out of his comeback game in international cricket, the second Test at Old Trafford against Pakistan, after sustaining a calf injury.”The plan from the start was to be fit and ready to bowl by the third ODI,” Stokes said. “By the way things are going it is looking likely I will be an option for Eoin Morgan in Nottingham if needed.”I have done all the prep to get myself fit and put my hand up and say I am ready to bowl. I bowled for about 15 minutes flat out and all the build-up stuff I needed to do has been done.”The selection of Stokes ahead of various other batting options is intriguing. He is, after all, averaging an underwhelming 22.48 after 41 ODIs.But the England management talk highly of the energy and edge he gives the side – an edge they felt was badly missed when the Test team were defeated by Pakistan at The Oval recently – and see him as a key player at both the Champions Trophy in 2017 and the World Cup of 2019. For that reason, they are keen to provide further opportunities for him to learn his trade as an ODI batsman reasoning that his potential justifies a prolonged apprenticeship.While Stokes admits his selection as a specialist batsman was a surprise, he also found it a boost to his confidence. And even though he confesses he finds 50 overs in the field without bowling “boring,” he accepts that the extra time to work on his batting has probably been no bad thing.”I was a bit surprised I got the nod ahead of Jonny,” Stokes said. “Since South Africa he has shown amazing form. But at the same time it’s nice to get that confidence from your captain and coach saying we want you to play as a specialist batsman.”Not bowling makes the fielding innings seem a lot longer. It’s so boring. If you bowl 10 overs, it kind of takes 20 overs out of the game for you.”But knowing I wasn’t going to bowl in these first two games, I worked longer on my batting in the build-up days. It’s normally quite hard to get everything into training that I want, so it’s been quite nice to solely concentrate on the batting in these first two games. But I will be going into the next training session trying to put my hand up and say I am fit to bowl.”Given England’s winter schedule – with Test and limited-overs series looming against Bangladesh and India – it bodes well that Stokes feels that his batting against spin, in particular, has progressed. He struggled in the three Test series in the UAE last year – he averaged just 14.66 and was dismissed by spin in four of his six innings, although two of them was with a badly damaged shoulder – but greater trust in his defence has given him the confidence to believe he doesn’t have to attack the spinners as a default position.”I think sometimes I have been drawn into trying to be too aggressive too early,” Stokes said. “So something that I have learnt is that I can give myself time. I don’t need to be going out and reverse sweeping and sweeping for four and six. I can just try to rotate the strike. Singles are just as valuable as boundaries if you are rotating the strike and not letting the bowlers settle.”I have also worked hard on my defensive game. After the UAE tour where I struggled against the spin, I knew it was something I needed to work on.”

Kevin Pietersen has admitted that he would not be comfortable touring Bangladesh in the current circumstances.

George Dobell26-Aug-2016Kevin Pietersen has admitted that he would not be comfortable touring Bangladesh in the current circumstances.The ECB announced on Thursday that England’s Test and ODI tour of the country would go ahead as planned after assurances from the Bangladesh government. A terrorist attack in Dhaka in July left many dead but a delegation of ECB and PCA officials visited Bangladesh in recent days and concluded that the security measures in place assured the team of safety.But Pietersen says that he would be unwilling to go at present and feels that senior England players, especially those with families, will be equally reluctant.”It’s not somewhere I’d like to be for the next six weeks,” Pietersen told ESPNcricinfo. “The young ODI side might not have too many issues, but the older Test side might have a few issues.”Some of the older guys might have kids and other responsibilities, and might think ‘How can I get out of going to Bangladesh?’ They may think of this as an opportunity to get out of a Bangladesh tour. They’ll be looking at it. I know a lot of journalists don’t want to go to Bangladesh. So it’s going to be tough.”This is going to be one of the hardest decisions Alastair Cook has to make. Would I want to go? No. But I don’t think one guy can pull out. If one goes, you’ve all got to go. It would be difficult to pull out of the tour.”Pietersen was captain of the England team that returned to India in late 2008 after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Having originally abandoned the tour during the ODI series, Pietersen was at the forefront of those arguing that the team should return to play the two Test series.But now, as a father of two, he admits it would be a much harder decision. And he accepts that he now has greater sympathy for those players who were originally less keen to return to India – not least Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff – due to their responsibilities as parents.Ultimately, the whole squad, including Flintoff and Harmison, returned to India. But there was cynicism from some players over Pietersen’s motives for wanting to return and he feels the episode “damaged a lot of relationships”.”That’s why I’ve said I wasn’t the right person to captain England at the time,” Pietersen said. “I didn’t understand the circumstances of the guys who had kids at that time. I didn’t understand it at all.”I think it damaged a lot of relationships for me with the side and senior players. I wish I wasn’t captain of England at that time.”I did it before I had kids. It makes a huge difference. Your responsibilities change. Your priorities change. It would have been a harder decision.”Pietersen was speaking at Wellington College where his charitable foundation (The KP24 Foundation) is running a residential camp for 70 young people, many of them from ethnic minorities and quite a few refugees fleeing war, identified by county cricket boards and the Chance to Shine charity.”This is about helping kids,” he said. “It’s what I’ve dedicated myself to since I’ve calmed down on my cricketing front. I hope this is my legacy. It’s far more important than a stupid sport.”For more information visit kp24foundation.com

Chelsea could potentially make a move for Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez in June, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Is Martinez enjoying a good season?

The Argentine has enjoyed as 2022/23 season to treasure to date, enjoying plenty of memorable moments for both club and country. Firstly, he has helped Inter reach the Champions League final against Manchester City next month, scoring in last week's semi-final second leg triumph over rivals AC Milan.

Meanwhile, Martinez also became a World Cup winner with Argentine back in December, in what was surely the crowning moment of his career to date. The £184,000-a-week attacker's future is up in the air, however, and Chelsea have been linked with a move for him in the recent past.

The Blues are badly in need of signing an elite striker once the summer transfer window arrives and it looks as though he could be a leading candidate to come in. His current deal expires in the summer of 2026, though, so it could take a huge bid to be able to sign him.

Is Martinez off to Chelsea this summer?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Romano admitted that there are no strong links between Chelsea and Martinez yet, but that a move is still far from out of the question:

"At the moment, with Martinez, it is not concrete because we know Inter are busy with the Champions League. At the moment, they have no intention of negotiating for any player. This will be something for June.

"Honestly, at the moment, I'm not aware of any concrete discussion between Martinez’s camp and Chelsea. So, we have to wait and see on that one. I think this is a very normal link because he’s Argentinian. But it's not something concrete at this stage."

Martinez could be exactly what Chelsea are after this season, having been hailed as "spectacular" by compatriot Lionel Messi in the past. At 25, he is at a brilliant age to come in and be a key figure for five or six years at least, leading the line and adding more of a goal threat in that position than someone like Kai Havertz.

His tally of 99 strikes in 223 appearances for Inter highlights his attacking prowess, while a total of 34 assists also shows that he can create for teammates. Whether he opts to join the Blues remains to be seen – a lack of Champions League football could be a drawback – but he ticks all the boxes when it comes to summer additions.

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.

The USA selectors have narrowed down their initial 30-man squad down to 22 for a five-day national-team camp from September 17 to 21 in Indianapolis

Peter Della Penna15-Sep-2016

USA’s 22-man squad

Danial Ahmed, Timroy Allen, Alex Amsterdam, Fahad Babar, Davion Davidson, Akeem Dodson, Muhammad Ghous, Elmore Hutchinson, Naseer Jamali, Ali Khan, Prashanth Nair, Timil Patel, Usman Rafiq, Saqib Saleem, Srini Santhanam, Hammad Shahid, Jasdeep Singh, Nicholas Standford, Steven Taylor, Ravi Timbawala, Shiva Vashishat
In: Abdullah Syed
Out: Adil Bhatti, Japen Patel, Nosthush Kenjige, Keon Lake, Aman Lobana, Francis Mendonca, Nisarg Patel, David Pieters, Arjun Thyagarajan

The USA selection panel headed by Ricardo Powell has narrowed down its initial 30-man squad from July down to 22 for a final five-day national-team camp from September 17 to 21 in Indianapolis, which will be used to pick a 14-man squad for USA’s Auty Cup series against Canada in mid-October followed by World Cricket League Division Four in Los Angeles from October 29 to November 5.According to multiple sources, only 20 players were originally invited to Indianapolis, but an opportunity was given to players participating in tour matches against the MCC in New York last weekend to earn a last-chance opportunity in front of new USA coach Pubudu Dassanayake. Two players did enough to get a late call – offspinner Muhammad Ghous and batsman Abdullah Syed.Ghous was named captain for last summer’s squad that competed at the World T20 Qualifier in Ireland and is one of USA’s most experienced players – he has taken 30 wickets in 39 T20s and 35 wickets in 32 50-over games for USA – but his spot has increasingly come under threat due to recent sub-par performances. He chose not to bowl his full quota of four overs in three of USA’s six games at the World T20 Qualifier in Ireland, and finished with four wickets, tied for third on the team.Ghous beat the CPL-contracted offspinner Nikhil Dutta for a spot in a combined ICC Americas team that played in the WICB Nagico Super50 in January, but played in just two games and was ineffective with combined figures of 0 for 53 in 7.5 overs. However, in the first of the two 50-over MCC tour matches played at Baisley Pond Park in New York on Saturday, Ghous took 3 for 20 in 10 overs with three maidens. It was enough to convince Dassanayake and national selector Barney Jones, who was also present in New York, that Ghous should still have a chance to compete in Indianapolis to retain his place in USA’s squad for Division Four.Syed, a hard hitting right-handed batsman, struck 34 off 23 balls, including three fours and three sixes, in the first match against MCC on Saturday and followed it up with 23 off 26 balls on Sunday, striking another two sixes. Former USA U-19 batsman Randall Wilson, who top-scored against the MCC with 76 off 105 balls while opening the batting alongside Syed on Saturday, was not invited to Indianapolis.According to multiple sources, Wilson was one of several players, including Syed, whom selectors wanted to have a further look at evaluating as a middle-order option on Sunday’s second match, taking into consideration USA’s top-order batsmen – Steven Taylor, Akeem Dodson, Fahad Babar, Alex Amsterdam – are unlikely to change. While Syed seized the opportunity to bat in the middle-order playing against the MCC on Sunday, Wilson chose to play for his local club side Atlantis CC in their league final on Sunday – he made a second-ball duck – rather than suit up once again for the New York XI and thus missed out on an opportunity for a final middle-order audition.In addition to Dassanayake, the camp will also have Trevor Penney serving as guest fielding coach. Penney, who is based in Montreal, Canada, has previously served as fielding coach for numerous international sides, most recently Sri Lanka. He was also India’s fielding coach from 2011 to 2014.

ScorecardJames Franklin ensured Middlesex did not slip up as they stayed top of the table•Getty Images

The differing emotions between the two sides told the story: as the Middlesex dressing room reverberated with an exuberant rendition of the team song, Nottinghamshire’s players sat looking tired and dejected.Why? Because victory means Middlesex’s title challenge remains alive and well. And defeat leaves Nottinghamshire relegated to Division Two for the first time in a decade.A five-wicket margin may appear comfortable. And, it is true, in the last hour or so, as Nottinghamshire’s head dropped, Middlesex ran away with this result.But until then, until we had enjoyed 10 sessions of uncompromising, unpredictable, undulating cricket where the initiative passed between the sides almost as often as ball beat bat. It will be no consolation to Nottinghamshire, but this was a terrific game of cricket.In a match of blow and counter blow, the defining punch was – arguably, at least – thrown by Nick Compton. Coming to the crease with his side under pressure, Compton negotiated some testing bowling and a demanding chase to break the back of the run-chase.Gone was the stuttering, indeterminate Compton that we have seen at other times this summer and in his place was a man sure of his purpose and his method. He moved with certainty into his defensive strokes and, as he settled, used his feet to skip down the pitch and negate the threat offered by Imran Tahir with a series of fluent drives. It was, like elegantly sedate.His tussle with Jake Ball was a compelling advert for county cricket. Ball, generating sharp pace and generally cutting the ball in, certainly didn’t deserve to be on the losing side. Finishing the game with nine wickets – his team-mates claimed five between them – he looked a threat in every second-innings spell he bowled.His first spell of the day – only three overs – did not concede a run, while his second produced the wicket of the increasingly fluent Stevie Eskinazi caught behind after following one outside off. Generally Compton, standing a long way over towards off stump and playing everything as if it would nip back, looked to see Ball off and pick-up runs against the other bowlers and it was noticeable that, as the ball aged, Ball gained less away movement from deliveries pitched on the stumps. Gradually, Compton took control and the target was whittled away.Nottinghamshire’s spinners were a little disappointing. Perhaps the slow nature of the surface did them few favours – they are not the first spinners to struggle here – but on a used pitch, more was expected of them in the fourth innings. Samit Patel, who batted so well in the first innings, did himself few favours in the fourth in front of the watching Andy Flower. You can understand the logic of England taking him to India, in particular, as third spinner but you wouldn’t think Virat Kohli is having any sleepless night about the prospect. To be fair, he is probably not too worried about any of England’s spin options.”These are the moments when you want to be counted,” Compton said afterwards. “As a senior player, it was my job to win us that game and I’m proud of the way I held the team together. I wanted to win this game for us.”I felt under pressure this morning. I thought ‘let this me my calling; let’s get them over the line.’ It feels great to have come back into the team and contributed.”I’ve not been on it like that this season. But that was the real me out there. I decided I was just going to do it and I needed that focus here because Ball bowled really well, especially on the third evening.”It wouldn’t have been Nick Compton though if he had finished with a raised bat and standing ovation. Instead, with the bulk of the job done (Middlesex required 89 when he was dismissed), he ran himself out after being sent back attempting an optimistic single. “I’m happy to do my job for the team and leave out of the back door without any fuss,” Compton said.”He has a technique as good as anyone in England,” John Simpson agreed. “He is a fantastic batsman and he laid the foundations for us.”Simpson himself more than played his part. Not for the first time this season – his unbeaten 79 in Middlesex’s two-wicket victory in Taunton may prove to be one of the defining moments of this campaign – he eased the pressure with the tempo of his batting. He survived one early edge – Eskinazi was also dropped in the morning session – but otherwise looked impressively untroubled. James Franklin, with a typically pugnacious half-century, made sure there was to be no let-up and, in the closing overs, punished a dispirited attack.So for Middlesex, one point clear at the top of the table, the challenge goes on. And, given something most unlikely in the penultimate round of game, the title will be decided in the closing week of the season when they host Yorkshire at Lord’s. It could hardly be set-up better, could it?Nottinghamshire have less to savour. This relegation will sting for some time. There have been setbacks this season, for sure, not least the retirement of James Taylor. But for a squad blessed with this talent and these resources to have failed to win after the opening week of the season is a colossal failure to fulfil their potential.Might a few have simply become a little comfortable? There are some on this staff who are an odd shape for professional sportsmen – sumo wrestlers aside – and their fielding on the final day let down an attack who will at full strength (and Notts expect to have Stuart Broad available a fair bit at the start of next year) prove some way above anything else in Division Two next season.It left Mick Newell, the out-going head coach (and in-coming director of cricket) to face the media. In his gruff, northern way, it was clear that this reverse hurt him deeply.”Relegation isn’t about money,” he said. “It’s about shame and embarrassment. It’s 10 years since I’ve stood here and had to explain a relegation… But that’s the way it is. I guess you have to take it on the chin. It’s disappointing to hand over to Peter Moores this way.”We haven’t played anywhere near well enough this season. You look at our dismissals in the second innings here and they were very slack. They weren’t dismissed by fantastic deliveries. They were a bit casual. That’s what cost us the game.”There won’t be too many changes in personnel at the club. Greg Smith, the batsman, and Ben Kitt, a young fast bowler of some potential, have both agreed new, two-year deals and most of the senior players will be given a chance to put this right. Moores will, without doubt, be focusing on the fielding and fitness. Every team he has coached tells us that. A winter in the gym looms for a few.To talk to some Nottinghamshire supporters over recent days, the blame for recent events lies almost entirely at the feet of Newell. And it is true there have been some unsuccessful signings: Will Gidman and Jackson Bird for a start.Those with longer memories may recall the enormous amount of good he did. The two Championship titles; the List A trophy; the T20 knock-out stages. Sports careers, like those of politicians, almost always end in failure. But one or two of the players, all of which owe him for the opportunity he has provided them, may reflect that they have let him down in recent months.This was also a result that said much for Middlesex’s resilience. They were 39 for 4 in their first innings and 25 for 3 in their second. They were obliged to bat last on a used pitch and in the knowledge that Yorkshire were breathing down their neck. To win in such situations shows character. That last match at Lord’s is already shaping up to be a classic.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have one game remaining of the Premier League season, and are reportedly looking ahead to the summer transfer window.

The Midlands side have endured a rollercoaster of a campaign, going from the lows of Bruno Lage’s final moments in his reign, to Julen Lopetegui’s impressive turnaround of fortunes at Molineux.

The Spaniard has made significant improvements since his arrival in November, however, the issue of goal-scoring has not been something the former Real Madrid boss has been able to relieve since joining mid-season.

With the transfer window presenting Lopetegui with the chance to make his own amendments to the squad, a number of forwards have been linked already with a move to Molineux, with one La Liga starlet part of an ongoing saga.

What’s the latest on Ansu Fati to Wolves?

As reported earlier this month by Spanish news outlet Sport (via Sport Witness), Wolves hold an interest in Barcelona forward Ansu Fati, in what could be a potential €30m (£26m) swap deal including Ruben Neves.

Earlier this week, it was revealed by The Athletic, that the 20-year-old has been mentioned as a “possible player” to make the switch to Molineux so Neves could depart to Catalonia.

The deal simmers down to whether the Portuguese ace goes to Barcelona, and importantly if Fati accepts a move to Molineux, with the player’s father insistent that he wants his son to move on – as per Spanish radio outlet COPE.

What could Ansu Fati bring to Wolves?

Once described as potentially being Barcelona’s heir to Lionel Messi, the 20-year-old was the club’s next big thing when he made his debut at 16 years old against Real Betis in 2019.

Hailed by Xavi as “extraordinary”, the forward has limitless potential in the game, however, has been deprived of game time at Camp Nou due to injury and competition within the squad.

The £199k-per-week youngster could be a star man under Lopetegui, who favours playing a system with traditional wingers playing to the touchline and imposing a 1v1 threat.

Likened by FBref to Arsenal hero Gabriel Martinelli, the Bissau-born ace could be the Spanaird’s answer to the young Brazilian in the Premier League, as communicated by his statistics.

The Gunners’ forward has started 34 of his 36 appearances in the league this season, with Ansu Fati making just 11 starts in 34 in La Liga, explanatory to the difference in goals scored, with Martinelli netting a phenomenal 15 goals this term to the latter's seven.

However, over an average of 90 minutes in the past year, the two are extremely similar in their effectiveness in game plan, both being go-to men in the box due to their abilities on the ball.

As per FBref, the Brazilian averages 6.99 touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, putting him in the top 3% of Europe’s top five leagues in his position, with Fati ranging in the top 2%, with 7.73 per 90.

Similar statistics that showcase their attributes in being direct and dangerous on the wing is the number of progressive passes received, highlighting their advanced positioning to cause havoc.

FBref shows that Martinelli receives an average of 11.29 progressive passes per 90, with the Barcelona youngster scoring marginally less in that area with 10.54.

The two forwards are comparatively prolific from wide areas, telling of the magnitude of the Spaniard’s talent relating to an established Premier League star.

In Lopetegui’s system, the 20-year-old could blossom into a real threat, though in being part of a complicated deal, only time will tell if he will reside at Molineux next season.