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Spinner admits he thought he would be watching series at home – but now keen to prove his worth as a bowler

Matt Roller26-Aug-2019Vishwa Fernando’s 6, Monty Panesar’s 7, Clive Eksteen’s 4… and now Jack Leach’s 1.The list of the greatest unbeaten single-figure innings in Test history is not a prestigious one, but its members all share cult-hero status. In no other sport are players so prominently exposed for their inability in one facet of the game – Neymar wouldn’t make much of a centre-back, but he doesn’t ever have to spend 30 minutes trying to rescue a point there – and while those who fail are mocked, success as a tailender can turn an unremarkable player into a legend.ALSO READ: From Vishwa to Panesar – six great single-figure inningsLeach’s 60-minute, 17-ball epic in a remarkable last-wicket stand of 76 with Ben Stokes to haul England across the line at Headingley could so easily have been forgotten. Stokes offered a difficult catch to Marcus Harris at third man, repeatedly cleared fielders on the rope by the finest of margins, and would have been lbw but for the absence of DRS; if any of those had turned out differently, Leach’s efforts would have been an irrelevance.Instead, he found himself exalted.”I don’t know what it is,” he said. “It’s probably because I look like a village cricketer out there in my glasses, the bald head – maybe people think ‘that could be me!’ All the others look pretty professional.”The support’s been amazing, the support today for all of us was incredible. The noise was insane, and I’m just enjoying playing for England.”While wiping his glasses before facing each ball made him a subject of amusement, Somerset’s former strength and conditioning coach Daz Veness paid tribute to his “outstanding mental strength”.”Bat down, gloves off, helmet off, glasses off, glasses cleaned, everything back on in reverse order,” he tweeted. “You’ll bowl when I’m ready and my mate has caught his breath. And not before.”

Bat down
Gloves off
Helmet off
Glasses off
Glasses cleaned
Everything back on in reverse order

You’ll bowl when I’m ready and my mate has caught his breath. And not before.

Outstanding mental strength from The Nut

— Darren Veness (@DazVeness) August 25, 2019

In the manner that county team-mate Marcus Trescothick has done in the final years of his career, Leach – who cannot wear contact lenses because he suffers from astigmatism – managed to dictate the pace of the game throughout his stay at the crease.”I just have to make sure they are clean every time they were facing up because I would really regret it if it had been smudged,” he said, “and then they zoom in on the glasses and say ‘he didn’t clean his glasses’.”I just had to stay calm and do the job at hand. I felt good out there, I was really focused on what I needed to do.”Generally left to face a ball or two at the end of an over, Leach left, ducked, weaved and defended his way out of trouble. “I got on with it,” he said, “and it [the target] quite quickly seemed to go down. Suddenly it’s eight to win, and you’re like ‘oh my God’.”It is all a bit of a blur to be honest. I didn’t want to get in Stokesy’s bubble when he was doing really well, hitting those sixes. I didn’t want to say too much but I also wanted him to just focus on the next ball, especially when we got close.”He said in the changing room that he got nervous when it was down to eight. It seemed so close but the way we were playing it was still quite far away. I just wanted him to focus on every ball, and if it was there he would hit it for six.”Jack Leach wipes the sweat from his glasses during his innings of one not out•Getty ImagesThere was, of course, the run-out-that-wasn’t. If Nathan Lyon had managed to gather the ball as Leach found himself stranded halfway down the pitch, the narrative around his innings would be starkly different.”That was not a nice moment,” Leach said. “There were two balls left so I thought [Stokes] might squeeze a single so that I could face one and he’d have the next over. But it’s all good. I don’t want to focus on that moment – I want to focus on running down to Stokes when he hit the winning runs.”And so he might. If his team-mates’ hardships rarely seem to extend beyond a bad run of form, it is worth reflecting on the multiple setbacks that Leach has overcome on his ascent to the Test side.He suffers from Crohn’s disease, a bowel condition that is often triggered by stress. In 2015, he fractured his skull after fainting on his way to the toilet in the middle of the night. The next summer, his hopes of an international call-up were twice set back; first by comments from his county captain Chris Rogers that he was not “emotionally” ready, then by the news that routine tests at Loughborough had revealed an illegal kink in his bowling action.Last summer, he found out he had broken his thumb the day before he was set to be announced in the Test squad to play Pakistan. A concussion suffered after being hit by a Morne Morkel bouncer then cost him the chance to prove his form ahead of the India series, and he was again left out.Perhaps it is no surprise, then, that Leach revealed he thought he would “be watching at home” during this series.Childhood friends Jos Buttler and Jack Leach celebrate England’s win•Getty Images”I wanted to be ready to play and not presume anything,” he said. “It’s been a tough lead-in because obviously the county cricket has been all T20 stuff, my last long bowl was the Australia A game [for the England Lions in July] which was quite a while ago. That’s been a challenge but I’ve tried to stay ready through training, and my opportunity has come about so I’m trying to make the most of it.”If those comments are damning on the suitability of the county fixture list, they also serve to add to Leach’s status as a normal bloke. To stay match-fit between the Ireland Test and his Ashes debut at Lord’s, he went home to play for his club side, Taunton Deane. Once part of the Cardiff MCCU production line under Mark O’Leary, he is an example to every club, university, and county cricketer as to what can be achieved with sheer dedication.It is important, too, to remember that Leach has bowled well in his two opportunities this series. Since Graeme Swann’s retirement, England have longed for a spinner who can tie down an end at home; for all Moeen Ali’s mercurial talents, he has generally been a wicket-taker rather than a defensive option.So Leach’s economy rate of 2.64 in this series has been just as important as his five wickets. Moving into the final two Tests, at the traditionally more spin-friendly venues in the country, he will be expected to play a role of increasing importance.”I think I have more to offer with the ball,” he said, “and hopefully I’m able to show that over the next couple of games. Obviously the last couple of times I’ve been doing media stuff at the end of games it’s been for my batting, which is mad! I want to be helping the team out with the ball primarily, and I’m looking to bring my best to Old Trafford.”

Liverpool are reportedly set to break the club-record transfer fee to sign Canada teenager Olivia Smith from Sporting CP.

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The Reds set sights on SmithReady to pay a release clauseHave been in talks over a dealWHAT HAPPENED?

According to, the Reds are prepared to break their transfer record by activating Smith's release clause, set at approximately £210,000, to free her from her current contract with Portuguese club Sporting CP. She has been identified as Liverpool's top target for the summer transfer window, and the club have been engaged in positive negotiations for several months. They are optimistic about outmanoeuvring several top clubs vying for Smith's signature.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

At just 19 years old, Smith has already made a significant impact in women's football. She plays primarily as a forward or attacking midfielder for the Canadian national team. In 2023, she signed her first professional contract with Sporting CP, committing to a three-year deal. Smith wasted no time making her mark in the Portuguese league, scoring and assisting on her debut. Her stellar performances and impressive tally of 13 goals in 18 games earned her the titles of Player of the Year and Young Player of the Season in Liga BPI.

DID YOU KNOW?

This potential transfer would surpass Liverpool's existing Women's Super League (WSL) transfer record, previously set last summer when they signed striker Sophie Roman Haug from Roma for around £100,000.

Smith's talent has not gone unnoticed on the international stage. In 2019, she made her international debut at the age of 15 years and 94 days, which made her the youngest player to feature for the Canada senior national team. Her rapid rise continued as she was included in Canada's squad for the Women's World Cup last year, further showcasing her potential and solidifying her status as one of the brightest young talents in women's football.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Liverpool's pursuit of Smith is part of a broader strategy to build on the success of last season, where they finished fourth in the WSL. The addition of Smith would inject fresh energy and creativity into the squad, providing manager Matt Beard with more attacking options as the club aim to climb higher in the league standings and challenge for titles.

Aston Villa have enjoyed some success in the transfer window under Unai Emery as he looks to build a side which can be regular top-six challengers in the Premier League.

So far so good for the Spaniard as his side are currently sitting in fourth place in the table, two points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur and if they can maintain this sort of form into the closing weeks of the campaign, they will have an excellent shot of securing Champions League football next term.

Emery spent big during the summer transfer window prior to the 2023/24 season, luring the likes of Moussa Diaby and Pau Torres to the Midlands, but they both could prove to be wonderful signings.

The former Paris Saint-Germain boss has also managed to clear out some deadwood too, moving on various players since last January.

Danny Ings was sold for £15m in 2023, while Cameron Archer cost Sheffield United a transfer fee of £18.5m last summer and Emery clearly put those funds into much better use.

Although Emery has done well in the transfer market, both in terms of incomings and outgoings, he is not the only Villa manager to have enjoyed some success.

Indeed, Tim Sherwood also played a blinder with one of Villa’s players back in the summer of 2015, as he sold Christian Benteke for nearly five times as much as the club signed him for.

How much Aston Villa paid to sign Christian Benteke

Prior to the 2012/13 season, Paul Lambert was looking to bolster his attacking options at the Villa Park club and Benteke was earmarked as a main target.

He got his man for a transfer fee in the region of £7m and lauded the striker upon his arrival, saying:

"Christian is only but already he's an established Belgian international and he's had a terrific time at Genk. He's something very different to what we have here and that added dimension will enhance the football club.

"A young lad he may be, but he's definitely a handful. He's tall, powerful, he has pace and we'll be stronger with him in the side."

Over the next three full seasons, the former Genk forward emerged as one of the best attackers in the top flight.

Christian Benteke’s Aston Villa statistics

His debut season ended up being a huge success. Benteke scored a staggering 19 goals in just 34 league matches – adding another four in the League Cup – and he found the back of the net against the likes of Liverpool, Everton and Chelsea during the campaign.

Despite a strong opening few weeks when the striker netted twice against Arsenal along with grabbing goals against Chelsea and Newcastle United, he would only add another six league goals to his tally throughout the remaining months of the season, although an Achilles tendon rupture would end his campaign prematurely.

177

37

101

49

51

20

42

10

41

15

37

16

25

3

20

7

He returned to form during the 2014/15 season, scoring 13 league goals and this attracted attention from Liverpool, who were looking to improve on a dreadful season.

How much Aston Villa sold Benteke for

Brendan Rodgers eventually managed to lure the centre-forward to Anfield, but it would cost him a fee of £32.5m, which meant Villa and Sherwood sold the player for £25.5m more than what was paid for him just three years previously.

“I’m very happy to be here and I would like to thank the owners, Ian [Ayre, chief executive] and of course the manager for their massive effort to bring me here,” said Benteke in his first interview at the Reds.

“I think it was the right club for me because I had a good chat with the manager and I wanted to be part of his project.”

Unfortunately, his time on Merseyside failed to live up to such high expectations as he played just 42 games for the club, scoring only ten goals, and the move proved to be a major waste of funds by Rodgers.

He soon joined Crystal Palace after only one season in the North West of England, yet despite scoring 37 goals across six seasons, Villa arguably got the better end of the deal as they sold the player at exactly the right time for the maximum fee possible.

Christian Benteke's return form in the MLS

Hailed as “unstoppable” by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola during his first season in charge of the club, Benteke has always been a clinical finisher in the opposition penalty area, but after six seasons in London, he was on the move in 2022.

The 33-year-old ended up moving to America and joining MLS side D.C. United midway through the 2022 season, where he scored just once in seven matches, hardly a figure which warranted much hype.

During his first full season, however, Benteke suddenly found the form that he displayed during his time at Villa, scoring 14 goals and grabbing three assists in just 31 league matches.

Among his teammates stateside, Benteke ranked first in the squad for overall Sofascore rating (7.31), while also ranking first for goals and assists (17) and shots on target per game (1.3), proving that he was highly efficient in front of goal.

When compared to positional peers in the men’s next 14 competitions over the previous 365 days, Benteke ranks in the top 13% for total shots (3.42) per 90, along with ranking in the top 6% for touches in the opposition box per 90 (6.62) and this indicates that he spends the majority of his time in the penalty area, waiting for chances to be presented to him.

He certainly shows no signs of slowing down, but arguably his best form was during his three-season stint at Villa between 2012 and 2015.

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Selling him for such a lavish sum, Sherwood must have had an inkling that the Belgian frontman might struggle at Anfield, especially under the weight of a massive fee, and he was certainly proven correct.

With the MLS season starting in just a few weeks, Benteke will be hoping to replicate the form he displayed throughout 2023 and better his tally of 14 goals.

Temba Bavuma admitted watching the lower order battle had given the batsman’s ego a hit, and understood where criticism of him was coming from

Karthik Krishnaswamy in Pune12-Oct-2019Thirty-four for three, 20 for 3, and then 53 for 5.This hasn’t been a uniformly terrible tour for South Africa’s batsmen. Dean Elgar and Quinton de Kock have both scored hundreds, and Faf du Plessis has made a couple of fifties. The lower order has stuck around to the extent that South Africa, on this tour, have achieved two of the five longest ninth-wicket partnerships ever seen in India.But it has been a nightmare tour for South Africa against the new ball, and Temba Bavuma, their No. 4, isn’t shying away from that.”Look, from the guys at the top, the top-order batters, the guys who are entrusted with scoring the bulk of the runs, it does kind of hurt,” Bavuma said at the end of the third day’s play in Pune. “It does dent your ego when you’re seeing the lower order go out and fight it out to do what you’re really playing to do.Watch cricket on ESPN+

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“The boys are trying with the bat and I think, looking forward, looking at the second innings, there’s a lot of confidence we can take in the fact that it’s not all demons out there. We can actually bat. We’ve just got to find a way to dominate with the bat, as much as India have done so.”I don’t have the answers as to where it’s going wrong. The obvious one is that we’re not able to put up partnerships. We haven’t been able to absorb and sustain the pressure that the Indian bowlers have put on us for a consistent period of time. And that’s obviously something that we’ll be trying to rectify. We’re going to have an opportunity now in the second innings, whether India decide to bat again, whether they decide to [enforce the] follow-on, we’re going to have an opportunity as batters to really stake our claim.”In three innings on this tour, Bavuma has made 18, 0 and 8. He knows a lot more is expected of him.”I can understand all the criticism and all the flak that is coming my way,” Bavuma said. “Like I’ve always said, as a batter your currency is runs and that’s what you’re judged according to. And when your performances are not at the level that we’re so accustomed to as South African batters, people are going to come hard.”The South African public, the fans, are very proud and they’re used to a higher standard of cricket. Us as sportsmen represent the South African country – that’s the pressure we deal with. From my side as a player, it’s not as if I am going out there and trying to nick balls and trying to miss straight ones.Temba Bavuma is bowled•BCCI”I can honestly probably say, being critical of myself, that I’m giving my best but probably my best at this point in time is not good enough. In saying that, it is not something that I’ll shy away from. Criticism is a good thing. I’ve always felt that it’s just a matter of me, as a professional cricketer, stepping up to the pressure that is before me and trying to win back the support of the fans back home.”At the end of the second day’s play, when South Africa were 36 for 3 in response to India’s 601 for 5 declared, their team director Enoch Nkwe had stern words for the players.”We had an honest and truthful chat from the coach,” Bavuma said. “He gave us his true feelings, his true thoughts on how we had gone about our last two days. He was really critical of our effort. Basically he said with everything that’s happened, we’ve got to find a way.”We haven’t come to India to lose, we haven’t necessarily come to India to just learn; we’ve actually come to compete and to win. That’s what our goal is. Yes, we haven’t done it in the first Test. We haven’t been able to do that in the first two-and-a-half days [here], but there’s an opportunity going forward to do it. Like I said, there is a responsibility from us to stake our claim and do everyone justice.”The top-order batsmen, Bavuma said, could look to the lower-order pair of Keshav Maharaj and Vernon Philander, who put on 109 in 259 balls, if they need any inspiration for the second innings.Keshav Maharaj and Vernon Philander forged a century stand•BCCI”It was a spectacular effort from Vernon and Keshav to fight it out there out in the middle, and face as many balls as they did, and in saying that still accumulate runs. I mean, us in the change room and even on the sides, we were enjoying every moment of it.”But as I said, we were feeding from the confidence they were giving us. You saw the balance between their defence as well as their attacking shots. That’s something we’ve been speaking about as batters. That’s been our aim in what we’re trying to do. The mood is definitely positive, the mood has been positive, to be honest. It was enjoyable, the 260-ball partnership between those two.”There was more inspiration to take from the fact that Maharaj, who scored his first Test fifty, was batting with an injured right shoulder.”There’s definitely a lot of positives to take,” Bavuma said. “This is a confidence-booster. Keshav is a big player in the team, obviously Vernon as well. For big players, for senior players in the team to step up when the occasion arises is definitely is something that you can stick out your chest on.”Like I said, over the next two days we’re going to need a lot more of that, with the ball, with the bat, in every department, we are going to need guys to put up their hand and no matter which way the result goes, let’s just make sure that our pride is intact.”

FFF president Philippe Diallo has discussed Didier Deschamps' future following France's defeat to Spain.

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FFF president clarifies Deschamps' futureRumours Deschamps could leave postFrance crashed out of Euro 2024 semi-finalWHAT HAPPENED?

The 2018 World Cup-winning manager's future as France boss has come under scrutiny after Les Bleus crashed out of the Euro 2024 semi-final on Tuesday after losing to Spain 2-1. Randal Kolo Muani handed his team the lead early in the match but Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo's strikes in quick succession allowed La Roja to clinch the tie and reach the final of a European Championship for the first time since 2012.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

With the French side failing to win yet another major competition despite being one of the pre-tournament favourites, Deschamps' performance as France's head coach has been questioned. However, Diallo confirmed that the 55-year-old will continue in his office at least until the end of his contract which runs until 2026.

WHAT FFF PRESIDENT SAID

Speaking to L'Equipe, Diallo said, "I don't see any reason to question his contract. The past results speak in his favour and the objectives have been achieved. Didier will continue his mission. We will talk together in the coming days to analyse in more depth what we lacked during this semi-final and what would have allowed us to go higher."

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR FRANCE?

The two-time World Cup winners will be back in action in September when they are scheduled to face Italy and Belgium in back-to-back Nations League clashes.

A hugely exciting update has emerged regarding Leeds United's spending this summer, with a record-breaking transfer window potentially taking place.

Leeds transfer news

The Whites sit second in the Championship table heading into the weekend action, and while they lost in heartbreaking fashion at Chelsea in the FA Cup in midweek, Daniel Farke's side still look in a great place to be promoted back to the Premier League.

Should that target be achieved, Leeds will no doubt delve into the transfer market for formidable signings who can keep them in the top flight, adding quality and depth to Farke's squad.

A return to Elland Road for Kalvin Phillips has been mooted recently, with the 28-year-old really struggling to impress at Manchester City, and also experiencing a tough start to life on loan at West Ham since January. A Leeds reunion would likely go down well with supporters, considering how popular he was before he departed in 2022.

Sunderland star Jack Clarke could also be a summer target for the Whites, with journalist Dean Jones saying he is the "profile" of player Farke is looking for ahead of the summer transfer window.

49ers planning record-breaking summer at Leeds

According to a fresh update from Football Insider, 49ers Enterprises are planning on spending big at Leeds this summer, and could be boosted by a transfer budget of over £100m if they seal a return to the Premier League.

"Leeds United can boost their summer budget massively by achieving automatic promotion back to the Premier League this season. The Whites could have a figure of around £75-100million to play with if they do secure a top-two finish in the Championship.

"Players will be due wage increases and new contracts if they do achieve that feat, but Leeds will nonetheless be in a strong position to spend big if they return to the top flight. That budget could be increased even further if those out on loan – the likes of Brenden Aaronson, Jack Harrison, Rasmus Kristensen, etc – are sold permanently."

This really does highlight the importance of Leeds getting back into the Premier League next season, in terms of the level of spending that could take place. Should this update end up coming to fruition, the Whites could set a new record for spending in a summer, pipping the £102.9m net spend that they splashed out on new faces back in 2020, when the likes of Rodrigo, Raphinha and Helder Costa came in.

It is encouraging to see 49ers planning on being ambitious and backing Farke, and the fact that even more money could be available if players such as Brenden Aaronson and Jack Harrison are moved on could make it an even more memorable window.

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Leeds have to seal a return to the Premier League and then stay there, rather than becoming a club who constantly jump between the top flight and the Championship, and big spending on excellent players should only aid that.

There is no question about it. Arsenal are well and truly back in the Premier League title race this season.

Mikel Arteta's side have finally managed to match their league-leading defence with an attack able to measure up against anyone they face.

However, with Liverpool claiming a last-gasp victory away to Nottingham Forest on Saturday and Manchester City securing a comeback win against Manchester United yesterday, the Gunners' game against Sheffield United has become even more critical.

That said, while it might make sense for Arteta to play his strongest XI against the Blades, he should consider dropping his standout performer from last weekend to give him a rest and to give another star just his third league start of the season.

Jorginho's game vs Newcastle United in numbers

Yes, the player in question is one of Arsenal's most inform players, Jorginho, who has put in some seriously impressive performances this season, notably against Manchester City, Liverpool and Newcastle United last weekend.

The "immense" Italian, as journalist Simon Phillips described him, received a 9/10 for his performances against the Reds and the Magpies from the Standard's Simon Collings, with the journalist claiming that the 32-year-old was the 'star player' last weekend, and that 'he will be vital for Arsenal during the run-in.'

Collings' assessment is a tough one to disagree with through the eye test alone, and it becomes even more so when looking at the former Chelsea ace's statistics from the game last Saturday.

For example, in his 89 minutes of action, he produced 0.29 expected assists, took 109 touches, was accurate in 92 of his 103 passes, played one key pass, won four of his seven duels, made one interception and one tackle.

Minutes

89'

Expected Assists

0.29

Touches

109

Accurate Passes

92/103 (89%)

Key Passes

1

Duels (Won)

7 (4)

Interceptions

1

Tackles

1

So, with that said, why shouldn't he start tonight?

Well, there are three reasons. First, his minutes need to be managed as he's only started 12 games all season, and with the second leg of the Porto tie and a must-win match against City on the horizon, it would be silly to risk him.

Second, while there is no such thing as an easy game in the Premier League, Sheffield United are probably the closest thing to one, and so if there were a game to rest the veteran, it would be tonight.

Finally, taking Jorginho out of the lineup will allow Arteta to give another star some much-needed game time and potentially kick start his campaign.

Why Arteta should start Emile Smith Rowe

So, the midfielder who should come into the XI at Brammall Lane is Hale End graduate Emile Smith Rowe.

Matches Played

112

Minutes Played

5727

Goals

18

Assists

12

Goal Involvements per Match

0.26

Minutes per Goal Involvement

190.9

The young Englishman has been crying out for more minutes this season, and a game against statistically the worst side in the division, while the team is flying high, is arguably the perfect situation to give him.

The 23-year-old has made 16 appearances this season, but only three of those have been starts, and only two of those have come in the Premier League, which simply isn't enough time for a player who has been blighted by injuries over the last few years to get back to his very best.

He has only registered one assist in his 357 minutes of action this year, but he was agonisingly close to scoring the Gunners' fifth against Newcastle last weekend, only for Dan Burn to clear the ball off the line.

Described as an "outstanding" and "quality" player by former professional Paul Robinson, Smith Rowe, if given the opportunity, could well get back to his very best and recreate the sort of form that saw him score 11 goals and provide two assists in just 37 appearances in the 2021/22 season, but he'll only do that with game time.

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Ultimately, Arteta once described the Croydon-born gem as a "key player" for Arsenal, and while he isn't that at the moment, a start against the Blades tonight could help him on the journey to get back to being just that while giving Jorginho a rest.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s “one in 60” free-kick record makes him a “weakness” for Portugal and is impacting Bruno Fernandes, says Gary Lineker.

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All-time great dominates at set-piecesTeam-mates having to take a back seatOthers better placed to find the targetWHAT HAPPENED?

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has scored some spectacular goals when stood over set-pieces down the years, with his knuckleball approach from long distance becoming legendary. Consistency has, however, been lacking for club and country.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Ronaldo’s strike rate is phenomenal, but he can never be relied upon to hit the target – nevermind the the back of the net – when taking on free-kicks. Despite that, the 39-year-old Al-Nassr forward has continued to step up for Portugal at Euro 2024.

WHAT LINEKER SAID

Questions have been asked of whether the all-time great is allowing ego to take over, with former Manchester United team-mate Bruno Fernandes considered to be a more reliable option over a dead-ball. Ex-England international Lineker has told podcast of Ronaldo dominating free-kick duty: “It is almost impossible, despite the fact his record is something like one in 60 that he’s scored in tournaments. Bruno Fernandes is a better free-kick taker and a more varied free-kick taker than Ronaldo. So while he’s [Ronaldo] a massive strength, he can also be a weakness as well.

“Nothing against Cristiano because what an unbelievable player. I was watching him and his movement in the box is absolutely perfect. He does it better than anybody else I’ve ever seen as a nine, the way he goes forward one way, then the other way. He does it with a sharpness. It’s more the ego side of him which is more of a weakness, probably for himself, Portugal and [head coach] Roberto [Martinez]. As a manager, you know you’ve got someone whose powers are waning and he’s 39, but he’s still Cristiano Ronaldo. He’s a superstar. He is almost the most famous person on the planet, not just as a footballer.”

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

Ronaldo is yet to register a goal at Euro 2024, having missed an extra-time penalty in a last-16 showdown with Slovenia that left him in tears. He did, however, score in the final shootout of that contest – which means he will get another opportunity to break his duck when facing France in the quarter-finals on Friday.

Chelsea continue to be an enigma this season.

Mauricio Pochettino's men can bounce from a brilliant result to a terrible one and back again in a couple of weeks.

The Argentine has a promising squad at his disposal but hasn't been able to crack it this year, although the absence of club captain Reece James for large parts of the campaign hasn't helped.

The fan favourite is one of the Blues' best players, but his inability to stay fit has seen his value tumble, and now he's worth less than a star who left west London in 2021, who Pochettino probably wishes didn't.

Reece James' transfer value at Chelsea

James joined the Blues' academy as a youngster, and after spending several years battling through the various youth sides and moving from striker to defence, he was loaned to Wigan Athletic for the 2018/19 campaign.

The Redbridge-born gem thrived with the Latics, scoring three goals and providing three assists in 46 games before returning to Stamford Bridge in the summer and transitioning into the first team after recovering from an ankle injury.

GK – Willy Caballero

RB – Reece James

CB – Marc Guehi

CB – Kurt Zouma

LB – Marcos Alonso

CM – Ross Barkley

CM – Billy Gilmour

RM – Christian Pulisic

LM – Callum Hudson-Odoi

CAM – Pedro

ST – Michy Batshuayi

In his first season with the Pensioners, the 5-foot-10 defender made 37 appearances, scored two goals, provided three assists, and established himself as one of the most exciting full-backs in English football.

In all, the 24-year-old has made 156 appearances for the Blues, scored 11 goals, provided 21 assists and won the Champions League, but there has been one significant problem: his injury record.

Across the five seasons he has regularly played for the club, James has missed 111 games or 561 days of action due to 18 separate injuries.

This genuinely concerning record has seen his value collapse in recent years. Football Transfers' expected value model priced the Englishman at around €68m, or £58m, in May of last year, whereas it now prices him at around €40m, which is about £34m.

James' dramatic fall in price has seen a former Chelsea defender, and one Pochettino could surely use at the moment, surge past him in value.

Fikayo Tomori's transfer value in 2024

Yes, the player in question is fellow England international and Cobham graduate Fikayo Tomori.

Just like James, the Calgary-born wall fought his way through Chelsea's various youth sides before being sent on several loans to Brighton & Hove Albion, Hull City, and finally Derby County, where he caught the eye of Frank Lampard.

When the Chelsea legend was named the club's new manager for the 2019/20 season, one of his first decisions was to bring the 6 foot 1 titan into the first-team squad. Over the course of that season, he made 22 appearances.

However, the "fantastic" gem, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, couldn't quite nail down a starting spot, made just four appearances in the first half of the following season, and opted to join AC Milan on loan in January.

Tomori decided to remain in Milan that summer after the Italians activated the £25m buy option in his deal. He has since made 132 appearances for the Rossoneri, playing a vital role in the club's first Scudetto triumph in 11 years.

Date

Valuation

July 2018

€5m (£4m)

January 2021

€27m (£23m)

July 2021

€32m (£27m)

September 2022

€38m (£32m)

April 2023

€42m (£36m)

November 2023

€46m (£39m)

March 2024

€42m (£36m)

His consistently impressive performances for the red and black half of Milan have seen his value steadily rise over the last few years. Football Transfers' expected value model priced the five-capped international at €32m, about £27m, when he made his move to Italy and at €42m, or about £35m now, slightly higher than James'.

Chelsea could sell "unlucky" ace who earns 4x more than Gallagher

The talented star has cost the Blues a lot of money over the years.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 12, 2024

Ultimately, while Tomori's decision to leave Chelsea in 2021 has worked out brilliantly for him, there is every chance he would've become the Blues' star defender had he stayed.

A large part of the onus to put up a fight against India in Kolkata will be on the youngsters, says the allrounder

Mohammad Isam in Indore19-Nov-2019Bangladesh cannot just keep waiting for their senior players to perform for the team to start doing better overseas, believes Mehidy Hasan, the offspin-bowling allrounder. After their innings-and-130-run defeat at the hands of India in the Indore Test, the team’s over-reliance on their senior players stood exposed again, and showed up the team’s lack of balance in the absence of Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal.Come the pink-ball Test in Kolkata, the onus to put up a fight, according to Mehidy, will be on him and the rest of the younger brigade, players like Liton Das, Mustafizur Rahman, Shadman Islam and Mohammad Mithun.”I wouldn’t necessarily say I am a junior player now. I have played three years of international cricket. I am learning a lot and gaining experience day by day,” Mehidy, who returned 1 for 125 from his 27 overs in Indore, said. “The seniors have put us in a good position but we should also support them. We have to perform better, which will help the team combination.ALSO READ: Can Bangladesh bank on T20I hero Mahmudullah in Test cricket?”If you look at our Test wins recently or [those in which we] played well, we combined and communicated quite well with the senior players. Some of us like myself, Liton, Mustafiz, Shadman and Mithun have an important role in the team.”With the experience of 20 previous Tests under his belt, Mehidy played his part to some degree – with the bat, albeit in a one-sided contest – in the second innings of the Indore Test; he made 38 in a fighting 59-run seventh-wicket stand with half-centurion Mushfiqur Rahim.Mehidy’s performance with the bat, by his own admission, came after he was instructed to strengthen the lower order by propping up the more established, set batsman, and spend more time at the crease. Without Shakib, Bangladesh are relying on Mehidy to provide some all-round spark, but that, for the best part of the Indore game, had been missing.

They [Indian batsmen] were attacking in the last match, hitting balls on a good length. But if we can curb the run rate, the spinners will have more chance to take wickets

“As lower-order batsmen, we need to support the batsmen at the other end,” Mehidy said. “Mushfiq was batting so well, but we couldn’t help him. He could have scored more runs. Coach [Russell Domingo] has spoken to all of us, and said we must support them by playing 20-30 balls. It would give the batsmen more confidence. Coach said that I should let the batsmen do the job, but also spend more time in the middle.”Mehidy also revealed that discussions with Mushfiqur, during Monday’s net session, were mainly about how the young allrounder could be more focused against a quality bowling attack that doesn’t allow the batsmen any breathing space.”Some of my biggest partnerships are with Mushfiq in ODIs or Tests – we have a good combination – and he was telling me that my batting was fine but I have to be careful of more good balls. I have to be prepared to survive through long spells of good bowling. He suggested that I should be focused in my training.”Mehidy, who has a distinctly better home bowling average – 21.44 – compared to his overseas record – 57.68 – also said that he has had discussions with Domingo about being more effective in foreign conditions where the ball doesn’t grip or turn off the pitch from the first day, as it does in Dhaka or Chattogram.”When we play at home, there’s an obvious advantage, but in overseas Tests, we only get to spin the ball from the third or the fourth day,” he said. “I have been told by the coach and others to bowl economically when I am playing abroad, to check the run rate.”They [the Indian batsmen] were attacking in the last match, hitting balls on a good length. But if we can curb the run rate, the spinners will have more chance to take wickets.”