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India lose 7 for 54 after Sarfaraz and Pant’s 177-run partnership to leave NZ in sight of first Test win in India in 36 years

Sidharth Monga19-Oct-2024Stumps
Test cricket showed off in all its glory as India, led by the impish Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant, threatened to pull off the unthinkable in an audacious manner. But the second new ball claimed seven wickets for 62 runs to leave New Zealand 107 to win their first Test in India in 36 years. That, incidentally, is the lowest target successfully defended in India, but that was on a rank turner in Mumbai in 2004-05.This was Test cricket shorn of all of its niceties. The bowlers were under extreme pressure from Sarfaraz and Pant, who added 177 in 35.1 overs, as India tried to become only the second team to win a Test from a sub-50 first innings. This same approach resulted in a collapse when the second new ball started to nip around.Related

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This was high-variance Test cricket. India lost 17 wickets for 108 runs to the first and the third new balls, but scored 400 for 3 in 80 overs in between.India’s quick scoring rate meant the second new ball was New Zealand’s absolute last roll of the dice. Had they failed to cause any damage with the new ball, the best they could have hoped for was a draw. Keeping in mind how they had been pummelled and made to look toothless for 80 overs, it was a show of remarkable skill and persistence to roar back into the match.In under 20 overs, they drew 43 false shots from India, having done so only 72 times in the first 80 overs. Much of it was down to Sarfaraz swinging his bat hoping to blast the new ball, but who dare question that approach when he scored 150 showing similarly scant regard to the bowling. Pant himself tried to hit his way out, gloving a sweep off Tim Southee, slog-sweeping him out of the stadium, but then playing on the 6’6″ Will O’Rourke with the replacement ball on 99, his seventh dismissal in the 90s to go with six hundreds.O’Rourke was fiery, 3-3-0-3 at one point with the new ball, before Matt Henry found just the optimum seam to take out the last three. It showed just how far you fall behind when you get bowled out for 46. Sarfaraz and Pant carried on from the 231 for 3 on day three, and managed to one-up the progress. Team-mates at the Under-19 World Cup, they were innovative and thrilling.Sarfaraz turned his first Test hundred into a 150, his 11th first-class score of 150 or more out of his 16 hundreds. Pant, who missed keeping duties after a knock on his surgically repaired knee from his life-threatening road accident, matched him in audacity. However, his running hampered, he turned at least two couples into singles as he approached the hundred. He walked back with a wistful look at the sky.Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz Khan added 177 in 211 balls•Associated PressIf Sarfaraz toyed with the bowling with late-cuts and ramps while ducking and weaving, Pant slog-swept fast bowlers and charged at them to hit them past mid-off. His five sixes took him past Kapil Dev and placed him sixth in the list of top six-hitters for India in Tests.Before the new ball, the only time New Zealand came close to a wicket was a run-out opportunity at Pant’s end, but Tom Blundell reprieved him for the second time in the match by leaving his base to collect a wide throw, seemingly unaware of the opportunity at his end. Pant was on only 6 then.As Pant felt his way into the innings, scoring 12 off the first 24 balls he faced, Sarfaraz took only six balls in the morning to bring out his cheekiness: a nonchalant ramp off O’Rourke’s first ball of the day. When they reinforced the field with a deep third and a deep point, Sarfaraz still bisected them.Soon Pant joined him. They showed little regard for the field-sets, no fear of making mistakes, and the New Zealand bowlers again failed to provide Tom Latham any control. The biggest disappointment was Ajaz Patel, who turned the ball less than the part-timer Rachin Ravindra.It seemed the seam bowlers wanted to trap Sarfaraz lbw, but that only kept giving him easy singles on the leg side. When the keeper came up to the stumps to root Pant to the crease, the visitors were rewarded with an edge but the dying pitch didn’t have enough in it to make it carry. Soon, though, he lofted Southee from the crease for a six back over his head.In the eighth over of the day, Sarfaraz punched Southee to deep cover for what would have been a single for any other batter, but he had sent all the fielders elsewhere with his late-cuts. The boundary brought up an emotional hundred.Sarfaraz Khan sprinted to a 110-ball hundred•Getty ImagesWhen Ajaz got one to kick at Pant from the rough, the glove absorbed a lot of the impact and the ball went straight down. He now decided he had to attack. In one dramatic Ajaz over, he hit two sixes. Then he survived an inside edge and an outside edge in the same over. The inside one saved him from lbw, and his back pad denied New Zealand a catch off the outside edge. Pant still managed to hit one more four in the over, India’s 47th boundary, more than the runs they scored in the first innings.A shower brought them some relief, but India kept attacking before the new ball, taking their run rate back up to five an over. At first, it appeared New Zealand had exhausted all their luck in getting the conditions to bowl India out for 46 and in getting Rohit Sharma out in the second innings. For now, everything just started going past the bat or falling safe.Sarfaraz survived seven various kinds of false shots before he finally lobbed one to cover as the ball seamed away from him. Pant, not quite at home himself against the new ball, tried a sweep before actually dropping jaws on the floor with the slog-swept six to go into the 90s.Then came O’Rourke, who had been ramped for four first ball in the morning. This time, his first ball nipped back and kicked at Pant to take the fatal bottom edge to silence the crowd. His extra bounce and seam movement away also accounted for KL Rahul. Then one came slowly off the surface to take the toe end on a Ravindra Jadeja pull.Henry bowled an unbroken ten-over spell to keep a lid on the scoring and take the last three wickets to go with his first innings’ five. While the India fans had gone from praying for the rain to stop to now hoping for biblical thunderstorms, India didn’t seem pleased when they were asked to go off early for bad light, which did later turn into a massive storm. The new ball was moving, and India were hoping for some damage under artificial lights.

As they look to continue their summer business, West Bromwich Albion are now reportedly “plotting” a bargain deal to sign an experienced, versatile star for Ryan Mason.

West Brom pushing on after Heggebo deal

Whilst it’s not been the most frantic summer transfer window at The Hawthorns so far, West Brom have at least welcomed both Nat Phillips from Liverpool and Aune Heggebo from Norwegian side Brann. The forward stands out as their biggest arrival so far, given that he scored eight goals in all competitions last season and should play a prominent role in Mason’s frontline.

Following his arrival, the forward told West Brom’s official website: “Coming here with the fanbase and the history, such as being one of the oldest clubs in Great Britain, I feel very proud to get the chance to represent Albion. It felt like a really good opportunity to go and try something new – an adventure maybe. I can get some new life experience.

“To experience English football culture with the stadiums, fanbases, atmospheres and passion there is for football, I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve always been really big on English football when I was growing up, watching the Premier League and a bit of the Championship. It’s great to be here.”

With Heggebo signed and delivered, meanwhile, West Brom have reportedly set their sights on further reinforcements as pre-season gets underway in the Midlands.

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On that front, Preston North End’s Ali McCann and Tottenham Hotspur youngster Mikey Moore have both been mentioned in recent weeks. The latter would particularly make sense on loan given that Mason worked with him during his time at Spurs. As options go, the young winger stands out as someone who would be an exciting arrival.

At the other end of the spectrum, though, the Baggies are also reportedly targeting an experienced former Premier League midfielder who could arrive in a bargain deal this summer.

West Brom "plotting" move to sign Jeffrey Schlupp

According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, West Brom are now “plotting” a move to sign Jeffrey Schlupp, who remains a free agent after leaving Crystal Palace.

Mason reportedly believes that the midfielder could be a key member of his West Brom squad due to his experience and versatility and that should come as no surprise. The former Palace midfielder enjoyed a successful loan spell at Celtic last season, helping them retain the Scottish Premiership and even featuring in the knockout phase of the Champions League as the Bhoys narrowly lost out to Bayern Munich.

It was during his time on loan at Celtic that Schlupp earned high praise from manager Brendan Rodgers, who told reporters after welcoming the 32-year-old: “I am really pleased that we have been able to bring Jeffrey to the club. I know he will love it at Celtic and I am sure our fans will love him and what he can bring to us.

“He is a fantastic guy, someone with real high-level experience and with great attributes including power, pace and versatility. I know that he can be a really important addition to our squad this season.”

Manchester United need key additions in all areas of the pitch if they are to stand any chance of rising up the Premier League table during the 2025/26 campaign.

The Red Devils have showcased in recent times that they’re no longer one of the sides to be feared in the division, with Old Trafford no longer the fortress it once was.

Ruben Amorim’s side slid down the table last time around, ending the season in 15th place, a finish that was the club’s lowest since the division’s formation back in 1992.

However, it remains to be seen how much funding the boss will have at his disposal this window, potentially needing to rely on outgoings before he can make the desired additions he craves.

The likes of Christian Eriksen, Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans were all released at the end of their respective deals, freeing up needed budget to allow Amorim to get busy in the market.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

Midfielders have seemingly emerged as key targets for United in recent days, with Lyon star Corentin Tolisso being named as a potential addition this summer.

Reports in recent days have linked the 30-year-old with a £20m move to Old Trafford, after the hierarchy entered talks with his current side over a deal for his signature.

However, he’s not the only player currently on their radar, with Juventus star Douglas Luiz still remaining as a possible target, according to Football Insider.

Their report claims that the Red Devils are leading the race for the Brazilian midfielder, who looks almost certain to leave the club this summer, after making just three starts following his £42m move last year.

It also states that they could face competition from Everton and Nottingham Forest for the 27-year-old’s signature, leading to a loan-to-buy offer currently being mooted.

Why United’s latest target could be Amorim’s own Pogba

Paul Pogba is a player who will remain in United’s history for a very long time, after he joined the club in a record £89m deal from Juventus back in the summer of 2016.

The Frenchman rejoined the club just four years after leaving them on a free transfer, with his return costing them a pretty penny and one which certainly raised eyebrows.

He made over 200 appearances during his second stint with the Red Devils, lasting just under six years, scoring on 39 occasions – including a superb strike against Swansea City.

However, Pogba would ultimately fall down the pecking order once more, leaving on a free transfer for the second time in 2022, re-joining former club Juventus in the process.

There’s no doubt he possessed a lot of quality, something which can also be said about current target Luiz – who could follow in the 32-year-old’s footsteps in joining from the Old Lady.

He also possesses a superb strike on him, but the Brazilian’s underlying stats from his time in Serie A could make him a superb piece of business for Amorim’s side next campaign.

The Brazilian, who’s been labelled “sensational” by Gary Lineker, registered 5.9 progressive passes per 90, with 2.7 progressive carries per 90, showcasing his talents in driving forward and finding a teammate at any given opportunity.

Games played

19

Progressive passes

5.9

Progressive carries

2.7

Tackles won

2.1

Tackle success rate

68%

Take-on success

79%

Aerials won

56%

He also won 2.1 tackles per 90, whilst winning 68% of the dispossession attempts he’s entered, capable of regaining possession before handing chances to those in forward areas – as seen by his superb tallies with the ball at his feet.

Luiz would be the perfect box-to-box option, as demonstrated by his 79% take-on success rate, having the capability to drive forward before making the killer pass to a teammate.

Given the interest from elsewhere, United will have to act quickly to avoid missing out on a deal for his signature, with one of their rivals subsequently strengthening as a result.

If he can get anywhere near the levels produced by Pogba during his time at Old Trafford, it would be a superb addition and one that could catapult the side up the table next time around.

Amorim's next Gyokeres: Man Utd make contact to sign "world-class" £86m CF

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ByEthan Lamb Jul 15, 2025

It is the start of a new era at Glasgow Rangers after Russell Martin was officially unveiled as the new head coach at Ibrox last week, shortly after the takeover was made official.

The former Scotland international has joined the club as their long-term replacement for Philippe Clement, having left Southampton at the end of last year, and is tasked with bringing glory back to Ibrox.

Rangers have failed to win the Scottish Premiership title in each of the past four seasons, and they ended the 2024/25 campaign without a single trophy to show for their efforts.

The Light Blues know that they will need to be active in the summer transfer window to improve their squad, as the current playing group ultimately failed this season.

This means that there could be several new stars added to the club before the deadline in September, which could create uncertainty for some of the fringe players.

One player whose future at Ibrox could be thrown into doubt by possible new additions in their position could be Brazilian forward Danilo, who has not had the easiest of times in Glasgow so far.

Why Danilo’s future at Rangers could be in doubt

The Light Blues swooped to sign the centre-forward from Dutch outfit Feyenoord in the summer of 2023 for a reported fee of £6m, as Michael Beale looked to improve the club’s attacking unit.

Danilo is a bit of a tricky player to judge at Rangers because there is little doubt that he has the quality to make a big impact on his day. In fact, the striker scored five goals and provided four assists in just 878 minutes in the Premiership this season.

However, the fact that he only played 878 minutes, despite his impressive statistics in that time, is part of the problem for the Light Blues marksman.

Type of injury

Broken cheekbone

Knee injury

Knee injury

Date of injury

September 2023

December 2023

September 2024

Return date

October 2023

May 2024

November 2024

Days out

43

171

65

Matches missed

9

32

12

As you can see in the table above, Danilo’s injury record during his time at Ibrox so far is less than ideal, as he has missed a whopping 53 matches in two seasons.

Put simply, his injury history suggests that he will not be a player who can be relied upon by Martin moving forward, because the attacker has yet to prove that he has the durability to be available week-in-week-out at Ibrox.

This is why the Scottish head coach should consider ruthlessly parting ways with the Brazilian forward before the end of the summer transfer window, particularly when you consider the club’s reported interest in other players in his position.

Rangers eyeing up Pro League centre-forward

According to the Daily Record, Rangers are keeping tabs on KVC Westerlo centre-forward Matija Frigan, as Martin lines up a potential swoop for the gem in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that he is one of the strikers the club are watching, after a £20m cash injection from the new owners, and that they are also in talks to sign Maccabi Tel Aviv marksman Dor Turgeman after seeing an initial offer turned down for the Israel international.

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It does not state that they have made an offer, or that they are in talks, to sign Frigan as of yet, which means that he could be behind Turgeman on their wishlist in the number nine position.

The Croatian marksman, though, is being tracked by the Premiership side, as they weigh up their options, and could be a genuine target for Martin and Kevin Thelwell.

However, the outlet does not reveal how much the Belgian side are set to demand for their centre-forward this summer, so it remains to be seen how much the Scottish giants would have to pay for his services.

Why Rangers should sign Matija Frigan

The Gers should swoop to sign the 22-year-old forward because he could arrive at Ibrox as a big upgrade on Danilo, not least because of his reliable availability record.

He has played 69 matches in all competitions for Westerlo since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, including 39 times this term, which shows that he has been consistently available for the Belgian outfit.

Frigan’s form in front of goal in the Pro League this season also suggests that he has the quality to be a big goal threat for Martin next term, whilst also potentially exciting supporters with his skills in the final third.

The young marksman marksman, as shown in the clip above, has the technical ability to beat defenders to create moments of magic, which could be particularly useful when facing low blocks of defenders sat behind the ball in the Premiership.

Frigan’s statistics in the Pro League this season in comparison to Danilo’s also suggest that he has the potential to offer even more in front of goal than the Brazilian.

Appearances

39

23

Goals

13

5

Goals per game

0.3

0.2

Big chances missed

12

5

Conversion rate

14%

11%

Big chances created

6

8

Penalties won

3

0

As you can see in the table above, the Croatian forward scored more than twice as many goals, averaged more goals per game, and had a better conversion rate of shots to goals than the Rangers flop.

Frigan, who was once described as a “complete” striker by talent scout Jacek Kulig, could come in as a big upgrade on Danilo as a goalscorer in the Premiership, as evidenced by their respective league form, because of how clinical and reliable he is in front of goal.

The Westerlo attacker would also be a big upgrade on the Gers number 99 because of his aforementioned availability record, which suggests that he is more likely to be available to Martin on a regular basis throughout the campaign.

Therefore, Rangers should sign Frigan and attempt to part ways with Danilo before the end of the summer transfer window because it would represent an improvement in the squad ahead of the 2025/26 season.

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Chelsea are showcasing real ambition in the transfer market after qualifying for the Champions League next season, with the Blues looking back to manager Enzo Maresca after a successful debut campaign in the dugout.

Chelsea seal Liam Delap deal with more signings identified

On Wednesday, Chelsea officially announced the arrival of striker Liam Delap, who joins in a £30 million deal from Ipswich Town.

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Delap, who scored 12 league goals for the Tractor Boys last season, but couldn’t save them from relegation, will wear the number nine shirt and becomes eligible to take part in the Club World Cup later this month.

Ipswich Town 2-0 Chelsea

8.08

Bournemouth 1-2 Ipswich Town

8.05

Ipswich Town 2-2 Aston Villa

8.04

Ipswich Town 1-2 Southampton

7.83

Fulham 2-2 Ipswich Town

7.55

via WhoScored

Chelsea can register players in time for FIFA’s competition due to a unique mini-transfer window, which is open until June 10, with Maresca having four more days to reinforce his squad ahead of the tournament.

BlueCo want one or two more new arrivals through the door before their CWC campaign kicks off, and Stamford Bridge chiefs have a number of plates spinning.

Journalist Simon Phillips claims Chelsea held fresh talks over a deal for Ajax starlet Jorrel Hato recently, with personal terms not seen as an issue considering the defender’s desire to join Maresca’s side.

Meanwhile, links continue to surround Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitike, who could be their second striker signing after Delap.

As well as in attack and defence, Chelsea haven’t given up on signing AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan, who’s about to enter the final 12 months of his contract at the San Siro.

The France international, who captained Milan last season, is valued at around £25 million by the Rossoneri, despite his contract situation. Right now, Chelsea appear unwilling to go that far, but there is a major willingness from the 29-year-old himself to make the move happen.

Mike Maignan tells AC Milan he wants to join Chelsea

According to Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol, backing up other reports, Maignan has informed Milan that he wants to join Chelsea.

Convincing him is no issue, with the clubs now having to find common ground when it comes to his asking price. Maresca’s side only want to pay around £10 million for the keeper as things stand (The Mail), so there are plenty of negotiations still to be had if a deal is still possible.

This comes after another report from the reliable Fabrizio Romano, who told GiveMeSport that Maresca has personally approved Maignan’s potential switch to west London.

With Chelsea’s manager and the keeper wanting this deal done, they’re simply waiting for club-to-club talks to reach a positive resolution.

Maignan, described as a “world-class” shot-stopper, has plenty of top-level experience – which is something lacking in Chelsea’s overall squad – and is widely regarded as one of Serie A’s top keepers.

Liverpool have yet to officially lift the 2024/25 Premier League trophy but already sporting director Richard Hughes is looking at ways to improve Arne Slot’s side.

There’s no question that the Merseysiders have put on a season-long clinic, deserving, runaway winners. However, it’s also true that the likes of Arsenal and dethroned Manchester City will be frustrated with their respective top-flight campaigns and will be determined to come back stronger next year.

However, FSG and Anfield’s senior figures will be sure to take comfort in the manner of their triumph: winning the Premier League after bringing only Federico Chiesa into the first team – and he’s yet to even start a league fixture.

The mastery behind Slot’s genius has been in his soft and significant tactical tweaks to Jurgen Klopp’s system, also shaping existing squad players into superstars.

Ryan Gravenberch is the standout star, going from drifting prospect to the “exceptional” midfield player for the Reds, so says The Athletic’s James Pearce, but he’s not the only one.

Cody Gakpo has also been a revelation in his own right.

Cody Gakpo's season in numbers

Gakpo’s goal against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, expertly taken to make it 3-1 and put Liverpool within an inch of sealing the title, was his 17th of the season.

What’s telling is that that goal saw him beat last year’s 16-goal haul, and in over 600 fewer minutes at that.

Klopp utilised Gakpo’s dynamic talents in his own way, throwing him around the park like an erratic darts player across a board. This may well have proved fundamental development for the Netherlands international, but there’s no question he’s gone up a gear in a more structured role for his new coach on the attacking left flank.

Pundits Joe Cole and Peter Crouch agreed earlier in the term that the 25-year-old has “gone up a level,” and it’s exciting to think that Gakpo can ascend higher still.

Gakpo’s success this season owes largely to Slot’s tactical acumen, but there’s more still to come. The likes of Gakpo and Luis Diaz are bound to find more stable results with a high-class goalscorer in the centre.

However, Liverpool could also find another way to elevate Gakpo’s game even further, preparing to bid for one of the most talented young playmakers in the business.

Slot driving exciting Liverpool deal

As per Football Insider, Liverpool are interested in signing RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons this summer, with the Dutch playmaker emerging as one of FSG’s top targets.

Aged 21, Simons is one of the most exciting young talents in the world and would cost the Anfield side £60m, should they wish to advance their interest into something more solid. Manchester United are also sniffing around.

However, with Slot personally driving the deal for yet another Dutchman to join Gakpo, Gravenberch and co, it’s one to keep an eye on for sure.

Imagine Gakpo & Xavi Simons

Should Trent Alexander-Arnold leave Liverpool as expected when his contract expires this summer, Liverpool will lose one of their primary (if not the primary) creative sources.

Simons could prove to be the new playmaking hub, reorienting Liverpool’s creativity from the right channel and into the centre. Given that Simons has already forged something of a “symbiotic partnership” with his international peer, in the mind of journalist Bence Bocsak, it might prove to bear dividends.

The duo played together during their time at PSV Eindhoven, during the 2022/23 season, before Gakpo earned himself a £35m transfer to Anfield after his performances for his nation at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

Ranking among the top 12% of attacking midfielders and wingers cross Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted, the top 13% for progressive passes, the top 20% for shot-creating actions and the top 6% for ball recoveries made per 90, as per FBref, Simons could certainly add some panache from the middle, bearing the athletic energy to cover for Dominik Szoboszlai too.

Looking at his statistics in the Bundesliga this season, you get a closer look at why Simons is such hot property, prolific, creative and combative in a way which would work a treat in Slot’s squad.

Matches (starts)

21 (21)

Goals

9

Assists

5

Pass completion

84%

Big chances created

10

Key passes*

2.2

Dribbles*

1.3

Ball recoveries*

5.1

Tackles + interceptions*

1.5

Duels won*

4.4

While Liverpool will need to sign a striker to complete the set, a player such as Simons would go a long way toward cementing a peerless level of attacking fluency at Liverpool, connecting the dots together and allowing Gakpo to continue his rise as one of the Premier League’s finest wingers.

Gakpo already ranks among the top 6% of positional peers across Europe for non-penalty goals scored (0.52) per 90, also ranking outside the top 20% for shots taken, which effectively means he’s making the most out of the chances that fall his way.

With a playmaker like Simons, who has been dubbed a “game-changer” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, one he has already formed a prosperous on-field relationship with, taking a seat as the central creative force in Slot’s Liverpool project, there’s no telling how high Gakpo could reach.

Or Simons, for that matter. Having made his name known over the past several years, it’s easy to forget that the diminutive Dutch player is still so young. Given the direction Liverpool are going and the success Slot has already had with elevating his countrymen to new levels, this could be one to keep an eye on as the market looms large.

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Looking at the promotion-chasing Leeds United side at the moment, it could be argued that the defensive unit will prove vital if the club are to return to the Premier League.

Of course, the only goalscorer during the Whites’ recent 1-0 triumph over Middlesbrough was 56-time Wales international Daniel James, yet the imperious centre-back duo on the night, consisting of both Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu, helped to keep the 22nd clean sheet of the season.

Whilst Daniel Farke will be glad a shut-out and a victory was secured at the Riverside Stadium courtesy of those named, he will be worried about the injury status of Pascal Struijk all the same, with the Leeds captain out again with another serious knock.

Struijk's importance at Leeds

After all, the 25-year-old centre-back just seems to be cursed with constant setbacks in this department.

Last season, Struijk was only fit enough for 25 clashes in all competitions owing to a recurring groin concern, with a new development now revealing that the reliable number five could miss the rest of this season with a potential foot fracture.

This would be a demoralising blow for Farke and Co, considering Struijk has popped up with five crucial goals this campaign from 35 Championship contests, including bagging a double against Sunderland in February to clinch a late win.

Moreover, the injury-prone defender has been dogged at the back away from these goalscoring heroics by collecting a hefty 14 clean sheets.

Whilst Ampadu is a sterling option in the short-term, Leeds aren’t exactly blessed with numbers in the centre-back spots with Struijk sidelined, making the decision to let this rising defensive star leave last summer for just £4m look more bemusing by the minute.

Leeds may have sold a £50m star in the making

Looking more long-term too, there had been rumours in the not-so-distant past that Struijk could leave Elland Road behind, with Serie A side Torino keen admirers.

Therefore, having more bodies at the back in the here and now would be extremely handy in preparing for this possible outcome, with Charlie Cresswell an ideal face to have around to shore up the promotion candidates even more defensively.

The former Whites number five would never quite make the grade at a senior level for his boyhood employers, despite having an “excellent” loan spell at fellow second tier side Millwall during the 2022/23 campaign – as it was labelled by Lions boss at the time Gary Rowell – which bumped up his experience of the testing division.

Much like his 6 foot 3 counterpart, Cresswell showed on loan at the Den that he had an eye for goal with five strikes tallied up from 30 appearances, meaning he could have been the perfect long-term successor to Struijk.

But, regardless of this standout spell in the English capital, the Preston-born titan would never make it at Elland Road, unfortunately, with only 14 senior chances handed to him before a bold £4m move to French outfit Toulouse came to fruition.

This left-field switch to Ligue 1 has worked in Cresswell’s favour, however, when glancing at his impressive FBref numbers below, with direct comparisons to be made between the 22-year-old’s improving game in France and Dean Huijsen’s current breakout season at AFC Bournemouth – the Cherries star noted among the most similar defenders to the Preston native across Europe’s top five leagues.

Attempted passes

54.58

59.81

85.57

Pass completion %

82.5%

84.1%

90.1%

Progressive passes

2.40

4.49

6.15

Progressive carries

0.34

1.45

1.18

Shot-creating actions

0.88

1.64

1.34

Tackles

1.39

1.54

1.05

Interceptions

1.01

2.10

0.89

Blocks

1.64

1.50

0.80

Clearances

6.76

6.78

4.49

Aerials won

3.57

2.71

3.60

Looking at the table above, Cresswell – who was dubbed “amazing” by Jesse Marsch in the past – isn’t a million miles off matching the £50m-rated Huijsen in various aspects of his defensive game, on top of also managing to better Strujjk in some defensive basics.

Therefore, if Leeds had just exercised more patience and didn’t offload the 22-year-old for £4m, they would already have a ready-made Struijk replacement to further boost their depth ahead of the edgy promotion run-in.

Meslier included: Leeds must axe £150k-p/w quartet if they go up

Daniel Farke will tempted by a slight clear-out at Leeds United if Premier League football returns to Elland Road.

ByKelan Sarson Apr 8, 2025

Akash Deep produced the best match figures by an Indian bowler in England

Sampath Bandarupalli06-Jul-20251:56

Aaron: Gill showing signs of a great leader

1-7 – India’s win-loss record in Test matches at Edgbaston. They had lost seven of their first eight games (with one draw) before beating England for the first time at the venue on Sunday.India’s win at Edgbaston is also the first time they have levelled a series in England immediately after losing the first Test. They had lost the first Test on 13 previous series in England and went on to lose the second in six and draw it in seven.336 – India’s margin of victory at Edgbaston is their biggest by runs away from home. Their previous biggest was a 318-run victory against West Indies in North Sound in 2019.Related

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10 for 187 – Akash Deep’s match figures at Edgbaston are the best for India in a men’s Test in England. Chetan Sharma, also at Edgbaston in 1986, is the only other India bowler with a ten-for in England.17 – Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj’s tally of wickets at Edgbaston is the joint highest by India’s new-ball bowlers in a Test. Irfan Pathan and Zaheer Khan against Zimbabwe in Harare in 2005, and Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav against Bangladesh in Kolkata in 2019, also took 17 wickets.272 – Runs scored by Jamie Smith at Edgbaston, the third-highest by a wicketkeeper in a Test. Only Andy Flower is ahead of him with aggregates of 341 against South Africa in 2001 and 287 against India in 2000.1692 – Runs scored by England and India at Edgbaston – the highest for a Test between the two teams, bettering the 1673 in the previous match at Headingley. It is also the fourth-highest aggregate for a Test match not to end in a draw.3365 – Total runs in the first two Tests, the highest for the first two matches in any bilateral Test series. The previous highest was 3230 by Australia and England in the Ashes of 1924-25.India scored 1849 runs at Headingley and Edgbaston, the most by any team across the first two Tests of a series.

The rapidly changing global T20 landscape leaves England’s domestic offering on an uncertain footing

Alan Gardner16-Jul-2023How do you like them apples? Somerset’s cider boys finally ended their Finals Day hoodoo to cap one of the most-dominant seasons in the history of T20 (no team anywhere in the world has won as many as 15 games in a single campaign), providing a feelgood story in the middle of another English summer in which discontent about the schedule is impossible to ignore – even after 12 hours of getting bladdered in the Hollies Stand.The T20 showpiece remains one of the domestic game’s great days out. Where else can you see three thrillingly contested 20-over fixtures and a conga in the crowd led by a fancy-dress giraffe? Saturday at a packed Edgbaston felt like a triumph of elemental proportions, too, as the groundstaff – who began their day at 3.30am following hours of heavy rainfall in Birmingham – kept the show on the road even as stormy weather repeatedly threatened to trigger the use of a reserve day for only the second time in the competition’s 20-year history.T20 is a fickle game, as more than one participant from the four teams involved reflected – except Somerset’s unstoppable form suggested quite the opposite. They were the first team ever to win 12 games (out of 14) in the Blast group stage, and then in all three of their knockout encounters successfully fought back from losing positions.Related

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Key to their success was a cutting edge with the ball. Somerset had the competition’s two leading wicket-takers – Matt Henry overtaking Ben Green with his four-for in the final to finish on 31 for the season – and claimed an almost unbelievable 151 out of 170 wickets going. Only one team in the South Group avoided being bowled out by Somerset this summer and that was Sussex, who played them once (and made 183 for 8 in a five-wicket defeat). Essex were on the receiving end three times.With the bat, the big guns at the top of the order are all England candidates of varying merit – Tom Banton, Will Smeed and Tom Kohler-Cadmore scored almost 1500 runs between them at strike rates of 150-175 – and yet their hero on Saturday was journeyman pro Sean Dickson, whose 53 in the final was the joint top-score of his nine-year T20 career.Somerset’s head coach, Jason Kerr, has been involved with the club since 2006, a time that encompassed seven fruitless trips to Finals Day. He said afterwards that his overriding emotion had been one of relief.”I genuinely believe you get what you deserve, and I genuinely believe we’ve been the best team in the competition this year,” he said. “But we had to go out there and demonstrate that, and that’s what we managed to go out there and do.ESPNcricinfo Ltd”We’ve been building as a side. We’ve been to Finals Day for the last three years, and last year we didn’t turn up at all. We didn’t do ourselves justice, so I was adamant that we were going to do that this year. I think Lewis [Gregory] has led the group immensely well, but it really has been a team performance throughout the campaign, and that has shown with glory today.”Gregory, Somerset’s captain, called the experience “pretty damned good”. This was not, however, the first time he had held a T20 trophy aloft, despite having spent his entire county career at Taunton. That is because Gregory is also the captain of Trent Rockets, the reigning champions in the men’s Hundred, whose campaign to defend their trophy gets underway in just over a fortnight’s time. Another T20 showpiece, anyone?When the counties voted to create a second, city-based short-format competition back in 2017, the inevitable result was the Blast having to live in the shadow of a shinier, better-resourced competitor. But the global T20 landscape has shifted a huge amount in the intervening period and both English tournaments now find themselves hemmed in on all sides – by the behemoth that is the IPL at the start of the season and an increasing number of competitors in the middle of the year: the CPL, Major League Cricket and the Global T20 Canada.Surrey, defeated by Somerset in the second semi-final, felt the knock-on effects directly in the farrago of Sunil Narine’s non-appearance – despite the club believing they had an agreement for the West Indian spinner to fly back for Finals Day between his commitments to LA Knight Riders in the MLC. And speaking on BBC radio at Edgbaston, Glenn Maxwell, the Australia allrounder who joined Birmingham Bears straight from the IPL but recently opted to pull out of a planned stint at the Hundred for workload reasons, underlined the difficulties facing the ECB and the county game.The umbrellas were in regular action on Finals Day but only 10 overs were lost•Getty Images”I think now the Major League Cricket tournament’s come in, that’s going to affect the Blast really badly,” he said. “When you’ve got an opportunity to go over to America for two weeks, compared to 14 games here with a stressful schedule where you’re travelling all over the place. There was one week where we played on a Tuesday in Durham, Thursday in Leeds and then Friday here in Birmingham – that’s three games in four days with a day’s travel in between.”It can really drain you, your body and mentally. I found that very tough this year and I think with the Major League being a lot more attractive, bigger crowds, I think there’s eight [six] overseas players per team, the excitement of a new tournament, it’s only two weeks long. Less of a burden on your schedule. I think it’s going a lot more attractive to some overseas players.”Maxwell also pointed out the absurdity of England running its entire 50-over competition in parallel with the Hundred, with the result that the some of the country’s best white-ball players have barely played any List A cricket (a format which, unlike the Hundred, is played internationally and features a World Cup every four years). “I would say it does the same thing as T20 cricket but it’s not relevant to the international schedule,” he concluded.That is almost a whole other conversation, none of which really helps the Blast. There are signs that the competition has bounced back a little post-Covid, with the ECB reporting a 15% increase in advanced tickets sales and overall attendance expected to be in the region of 800,000 – similar to 2022 but down on the pre-pandemic high of 920,000. Edgbaston can still throw a party like no other in T20 but the logistics are more challenging than ever.Rumours about the Hundred being wound up have persisted, despite public denials from the ECB management and a broadcasting deal that runs until 2028. And even then, as Maxwell alluded to, an 18-team system is hardly the optimum starting point for a competition to achieve cut-through in an ever-more crowded market.Somerset’s success this weekend, after an 18-year gap since winning the third edition of the Twenty20 Cup in 2005, was a story that will resonate with many beyond the heartlands of county cricket. But whether the Blast will look the same in 18 months – let alone 18 years – is at the crux of the challenge for those running the game.

Since the 2019 World Cup, poor selection decisions have seen players drift in and out of limited-overs squads, with few sticking around long enough to show results

Mazher Arshad06-Aug-2021Pakistan’s limited-overs squads have gone through numerous changes in the last couple of years. Since the 2019 World Cup, they have tried 27 players in 11 ODIs and 38 players in 34 T20Is (in the first seven of those game alone, there were 25 different players, and a change in captaincy, though the team was No. 1 in the T20I rankings at the time).Related

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A pattern has emerged of too many players being dropped after too few opportunities or despite producing decent results. Much of this has come during the tenures of Misbah-ul-Haq (September 2019 to December 2020) and Mohammad Wasim (since January 2021) as chief selectors.In that time Pakistan have still won more white-ball games than they’ve lost – their win-loss record is 22-18 – but it has been an uneven, unsettled ride.Below are some of the more difficult-to-explain selectorial decisions Misbah, who is also head coach, and Wasim have taken in that time.Khushdil Shah
Pakistan’s issues with finding a middle-order batter and finisher in white-ball cricket are well-known. They looked at Khushdil as someone who could fix those problems, but he was dropped after a single ODI, in which he scored 33 batting at No. 7 against Zimbabwe in 2020.Khushdil Shah played a solitary ODI, against Zimbabwe, and nine T20Is before he was dropped•AFP via Getty ImagesSince making his debut in 2016, Khushdil has scored 2225 runs in List A cricket at an average of 51.74 and a strike-rate 99.19. No middle-order batter in Pakistan’s domestic one-day game has more centuries than his eight in this period, and no batter from Pakistan has hit more sixes than his 94.He scored a 35-ball 100 in the National T20 Cup last year and is one of the most successful power-hitters from Pakistan in the last couple of seasons – since 2020, only Mohammad Hafeez, with 62, has hit more sixes than his 56 – but he was given only nine T20Is to prove his worth – too small a sample size to judge a batter whose role is to play high-risk cricket.ESPNcricinfo LtdUsman Shinwari
Shinwari is one of those players who, because of poor performances in one format, has been dropped from others – a recurring theme in Pakistan over the last few years. He does not have a great record in T20Is, and an economy of 10.37 in the last two PSLs didn’t help. But his ODI numbers are too good to be ignored – in 17 games he has claimed 34 wickets at an average of 18.61 and an economy of 4.94.Usman Shinwari hasn’t played an ODI since picking up a five-for in the series against Sri Lanka in 2019•AFPThat includes ten wickets in his last three ODIs alone, including 4 for 49 against Australia in Dubai in 2019, and a Player-of-the-Match effort of 5 for 51 against Sri Lanka in Karachi. Earlier that year he took four wickets in Pakistan’s win in Johannesburg. Most players doing this in a World Cup year could rightly dream of playing in the tournament, but Shinwari wasn’t considered.Even when Pakistan decided to drop Faheem Ashraf and Junaid Khan, who played against England in the five-match ODI series right before the World Cup, Inzamam-ul-Haq, the chief selector at that time, picked Wahab Riaz over Shinwari. Wahab hadn’t played an ODI in two years, while Shinwari had ten wickets in the last five ODIs before the World Cup, and two four-wicket hauls.ESPNcricinfo LtdHe was selected again by Misbah for Pakistan’s first ODI series after the World Cup and his five wickets in that first game back, against Sri Lanka, proved the selection right. After that, however, he played only one more ODI and then wasn’t considered for the next series, against Zimbabwe. That call was made ostensibly on his PSL 2020 performance, where he went wicketless in four T20s and conceded 11.45 per over.No Pakistan bowler has had a better average in ODIs than Shinwari in the last five years. Why he is hardly even in the conversation for a place in the ODI side is anybody’s guess.Despite an average of 50. 54 and a strike of 121.39 in the last three years, Imad Wasim has played only three ODIs since the 2019 World Cup•AFP/Getty ImagesImad Wasim

Although widely seen as a bowler, it is with the bat that Imad has excelled in ODIs. He has averaged 50.54 in the last three years with a strike rate of 121.39 – the third highest in the world after Jos Buttler and Glenn Maxwell (for batters with a minimum of 500 runs in that period).His average may be boosted by not-outs, but that indicates he is a much better batter than a regular No. 7 or 8, the two positions where he has mostly batted. No other player has averaged more at these two positions in ODIs in the last three years.ESPNcricinfo LtdGiven the evidence of an unbeaten 117 off 78 in a warm-up match against Kent before the England series in 2019 and the 49 not out in the World Cup against Afghanistan, there’s an argument that Pakistan could have promoted him to No. 6, considering they still haven’t found anyone for this role. Yet, after the World Cup, he played only three ODIs before being left out.Shan Masood has averaged over 80 in List A cricket for Pakistan in the last five years but has only made five ODI appearances•Gareth Copley/Getty ImagesShan Masood
The highest run scorer in List A cricket in the last five years in Pakistan – since 2016, Masood has scored 3376 runs at an average of 80.38, at a strike rate of 86.21, and hit 13 centuries – has played only five ODIs. Masood was picked for the series against Australia in the UAE before the World Cup in 2019 and was never considered again after.It is true that Pakistan’s current ODI openers, Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq, are doing a decent job (though the latter’s List A average and strike rate are lower than Masood’s) and their back-up, Abid Ali, has also proven his selection. But before the series against Zimbabwe in 2020, Pakistan picked a new opener, Abdullah Shafique, who had not played a single List A match. An uncapped List A player being selected for ODIs ahead of someone who is still only 31 years old and is averaging over 80 in the last five years? There are few better illustrations of the strange ways in which Pakistani selection operates.Abid Ali made a hundred on ODI debut, against Australia, in 2019 but wasn’t considered for the World Cup that year•Getty ImagesAbid Ali
Abid’s case is similar to Masood’s. Though his Test batting does not hint at it, he earned an ODI cap after good performances in domestic cricket. He scored 789 runs at an average of 65.75 in List A cricket in 2017-18, including a double-century. The next season, he scored 562 runs at 56.20 followed by a century against England Lions. Based on these performances he became a candidate to play in the 2019 World Cup and made his case even stronger with a century on ODI debut against Australia.After that century he played two more ODIs before Pakistan decided to leave him out of the World Cup, though he was supposed to be the back-up wicketkeeper to Sarfaraz Ahmed. He returned after the World Cup and was Player of the Match in his first outing, against Sri Lanka in Karachi. Two ODIs later, he was dropped despite his 234 runs in six innings at an average of 39.00 and a strike rate of 93.60, better than many current Pakistan batters.Danish Aziz played two T20Is and two ODIs before falling out of the reckoning•AFP/Getty ImagesDanish Aziz
While his overall white-ball numbers might not be impressive, Aziz was one of the best finishers in the 2020 National T20 Cup, where, he scored 220 runs for Sindh at an average of 73.33 and a strike rate of 154.92. The highlight was chasing 19 runs in the last over against Khyber Pakhtunwala. In the PSL recently in Abu Dhabi, Aziz was one six away from scoring Pakistan’s fastest fifty in T20s. In between he was given only two T20Is before being discarded from the national squads.It can be argued that it was wrong to pick him in ODIs in the first place but that he was dropped after only two games underlines that players are either getting selected without significant performances in domestic cricket or being dropped after getting too few chances.Muhammad Musa’s performance in the 2018 Under-19 World Cup carried him to the national squad, but he was dropped after two T20Is and two ODIs•Getty ImagesMuhammad Musa
Musa was one of the finest prospects to emerge from the 2018 Under-19 World Cup, where he took four wickets in the semi-final against India. He played two ODIs against Zimbabwe and took a wicket in his very first over. It wasn’t that he was only given an opportunity because Pakistan were testing their bench strength; he played against Australia too in T20Is, another format where he was dropped after two games.You could argue that his selection was premature, but three emerging fast bowlers – Shahnawaz Dahani, Arshad Iqbal and Mohammad Wasim Jr – have now suddenly risen above him in the pecking order. It says a lot about the current selection process, where the selectors seem easily swayed by performances in the most recent games they’ve watched, and go on to pick a new player to replace someone tipped for the same role just the previous season. For instance, it is tough to believe that Abdullah Shafique would have been selected had his hundred on debut in the National T20 Cup not been televised.Mohammad Amir: a victim of politicking?•Getty ImagesMohammad Amir
Amir’s current form in T20s – 22 wickets at an average of 44.54 and an economy of 8.27 in the last year – is poor, but that shouldn’t undermine his ODI record, where, in his last ten games, he has 21 wickets at an average of 20.42 and an economy of 4.76. This stretch includes the 2019 World Cup, where he was Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker, with 17 wickets.After the World Cup, he has only played two ODIs, in the home series against Sri Lanka, taking four wickets at an average of 17.75. Pakistan didn’t play another ODI for nearly a year, though Amir was part of Pakistan’s T20 squads that toured Australia in 2019 and England in 2020. He struggled on those trips and by the time of Pakistan’s next ODI series, against Zimbabwe in 2020, was out of favour.Should a player be dropped from ODIs for not performing well in T20Is? Admittedly, an ongoing spat with current management has also led to his continued exclusion. Amir retired from Tests after the 2019 World Cup. For a while that didn’t matter, as Pakistan continued to select him for T20Is. But a change in the team management’s stance has subsequently led to his exclusion from all Pakistan teams, based – according to Misbah – solely on his form. Not, clearly, his ODI form.

****

During his recent stint as batting coach, Younis Khan admitted that Pakistan’s selection policy is reactive to criticism on social and mainstream media. Pressure is built through these platforms to select players who are too raw, and expectations of them are so high that when they fail, they are buried. That goes for established players as well, and there are a couple of players who, given Pakistan’s recent selection track record, could be in trouble despite actually not performing that poorly.Despite a recent dip in form, Shadab Khan has been the leading wicket-taker in T20Is among spinners since his debut in 2017•AFP/Getty ImagesShadab Khan
There are two major factors behind Shadab’s dip in bowling form in white-ball cricket. The first is that he has been through a succession of injuries from which he has still not fully recovered. Second, he hasn’t played any international cricket in Pakistan or the UAE in 12 months.Since Shadab has played all his recent international cricket in England, New Zealand and South Africa – arguably the three most difficult places for spinners – he hasn’t been able to meet his initial standards. A case in point is the T20I series in New Zealand last year, where he went wicketless. In that entire series, Pakistan’s and New Zealand’s spinners together took only two wickets, while the seamers took 32. In the 2021 PSL after that, with nine wickets, Shadab was still the leading Pakistani wicket-taking spinner.Someone who is still only 22 and the world’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is among spinners since his debut in 2017, who adds depth to batting, and is the best fielder in the team, deserves some leeway given during a rough patch. Jasprit Bumrah, for instance, has only five wickets in his last nine ODIs at an average of 96.40 in the last couple of years but will still be one of the first names on India’s team sheet.Shadab’s T20I numbers are in line with most of his contemporaries since his debut – Ish Sodhi, Yuzvendra Chahal, Adil Rashid and Tabraiz Shamsi. Only Rashid Khan has an exceptional record but he hasn’t played against Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa or Sri Lanka in this period.The same goes for Shadab in ODIs. He had the third best average among spinners in the 2019 World Cup and since then has played only seven ODIs (five of them in England and South Africa) with little success. It’s a small sample size, and because of where he has played, a skewed one, on which to write off a spinner. As an example, check Rashid Khan’s figures in the same World Cup – arguably the greatest spinner of this era, struggling in conditions that didn’t suit him, against a superior quality of opponent.Haris Rauf has 80 T20 wickets since 2020, the most of any fast bowler•Daniel Pockett/Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesHaris Rauf
Haris is the leading wicket-taker among fast bowlers in T20Is and T20s since 2020. In internationals he has 28 wickets at an average of 25.07, while overall in T20s he has 80 wickets at 23.20. That isn’t enough to shield him from severe criticism on Twitter and YouTube.Yes, his economy (8.94) is an issue, but he is only in his second year of international cricket, having been fast-tracked in. Anyone that raw and with the ability to bowl at 90mph is likely to be wayward at the start.ESPNcricinfo LtdHe has also shown that he is among the best bowlers in the death overs in T20Is, and it is the coaches’ job to define his role in the team and work on his areas of weakness, such as his middle-overs effectiveness, where he has only three wickets and an economy of 8.68.Even in ODIs, since the 2019 World Cup, no one has more wickets for Pakistan than him. These are decent numbers for a bowler who started playing professional cricket only three years ago and was picked for international cricket after four List A matches. None among Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Imran Khan had ten wickets in their first eight ODIs, and Shoaib Akhtar had only 11. Trent Boult, currently the world’s top-ranked ODI bowler, had six wickets at 47.66 in his first eight ODIs.This not to say that Rauf is guaranteed a career like these players have had, but these numbers underscore that success has never come easy, not even for the greatest bowlers, and that you need to back talent to build a successful career.