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This summer just keeps getting better and better for Chelsea.

On the pitch, Enzo Maresca’s side have looked dangerous and off it, the board have been doing brilliant work in the transfer market.

For example, the likes of Jame Gittens, Liam Delap and Joao Pedro were all through the door before the Club World Cup final, and then the tremendously exciting Jorrel Hato was added last week.

As if that wasn’t enough, the West Londoners appear to be making progress on a deal to sign Alejandro Garnacho, are even further along in the process of signing Xavi Simons, and are now being linked with an international who’d be a brilliant teammate for the Dutchman.

Chelsea target perfect teammate for Simons

As it stands, Chelsea are supposedly in talks for Manchester United’s controversial but undeniably talented Garnacho, but with the club supposedly sure his price will come down before the end of the window, it looks like Simons might be signed first.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Reports from earlier this month have made it clear that the personal terms with the Dutchman have already been agreed, and that a fee of around £61m would be enough for RB Leipzig to let him go.

The 22-year-old would be an incredible addition to the Blues’ squad, and it already seems like the club are now looking at another international who’d be a perfect teammate for him.

At least that’s according to a recent report from The Express, which claims Chelsea are very interested in Morgan Rogers.

The story goes on to reveal that the West Londoners have been ‘keen admirers’ of the Aston Villa star for some time, and that should he be made available, they’ll be running for his signature.

However, it’d likely be a costly transfer to get over the line, with stories from earlier this summer claiming that the Claret and Blue value him at around £100m.

That said, if Chelsea have a chance to sign Rogers, they should take it, as he’d be an exceptional addition to the squad and a perfect teammate for Simons.

Why Rogers would be a dream teammate for Simons

Fundamentally, there are two key reasons why Rogers would be an excellent signing and teammate for Simons, and the first relates to his output.

For example, despite still only being 22 years old and playing in the Championship a couple of years ago, the Villa ace was monsterously effective for the Claret and Blue.

In his 54 appearances, totalling 4496 minutes, the Halesowen-born “machine,” as dubbed by The Athletic’s Jacob, put the ball in the back of the net 14 times and provided 15 assists for good measure.

Appearances

54

Minutes

4496′

Goals

14

Assists

15

Goal Involvements per Match

0.53

Minutes per Goal Involvement

155.03′

That means the former Middlesbrough gem was able to maintain a goal involvement every 1.86 games, or every 155.03 minutes.

Now, just imagine what those numbers could look like playing alongside the Dutchman, who racked up 19 goal involvements in 33 games last season, and vice versa.

With both players being more than capable creators and goal-scorers, they could form a seriously dangerous partnership, with opposition defenders never quite sure which one is going to create the chance or finish it.

The second reason the former Manchester City academy gem could be such a great teammate for the Amsterdam-born international is that he’s also comfortable playing in the middle of the park or on the wing.

Therefore, he’d have more opportunities to play with the Leipzig star, and more crucially, he’d be able to come in and cover for him when he needs a rest, in turn reducing the risk of injury.

Ultimately, it won’t be cheap, but Chelsea should be doing all they can to sign Rogers this summer, as he’d be a brilliant addition in his own right, but an even better one alongside Simons.

Shades of Hazard: Chelsea lead race for £40m "superstar" alongside Simons

The dynamic attacker would add another dimension to Chelsea’s squad.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 7, 2025

Los Blancos may have spent big on the Bournemouth centre-back but he already looks like a bargain buy for Xabi Alonso

Jude Bellingham calls him 'Spaghetti'. It is, admittedly, not the best or most fearsome nickname. Centre-backs should probably sound cooler, or, at least a little more intimidating. Pasta is, objectively, not the kind of thing that rattles the best strikers in Europe. 

But look at Dean Huijsen, and it's oddly perfect. The guy is wiry thin. He does not look like a professional athlete. Everything about him – awkward stance, spindly legs, dorky demeanour – suggests that he should be doing pretty much anything else with his life. Yet Huijsen is a truly excellent centre-back, and at a time when Real Madrid really need one. 

Most of the talk for Los Blancos over the last 18 months has been about the right-back they eventually signed, and how they would configure the attack. It didn't really occur to anyone – for some reason – that central defence might have been a far more pressing issue. Indeed, the centre-back pool appears frightfully thin. Antonio Rudiger is world class, but spent a lot of last season struggling with knocks. Raul Asencio isn't quite at the level required. Meanwhile, both David Alaba and Eder Militao are unable to stay fit. 

Huijsen's signing, at the time, raised a few eyebrows. It seemed, in abstract, a Galactico purchase, a classic Madrid 'because we can' pinching of a top Spanish player. Yet a few weeks into the season, and he looks like not only Madrid's most important signing of the summer, but also the best. There is a long way to go – and others may yet improve. But for now, Huijsen's purchase looks something of a masterstroke from the Madrid hierarchy.

GettyA strange summer of business

It was a weird few months of transfers for Madrid. They were always going to go big around the Club World Cup. A trophyless season, the departure of a great manager, and an ageing squad meant that new faces had to be added. The Trent Alexander-Arnold saga inevitably dominated headlines. But Huijsen was always there, too, chugging along in the background. 

His saga – such as it was – was a very modern thing. There is a trend these days of certain social media influencers turned journalists consistently piping out non-updates about players supposedly on the market. A new nothing Tweet about Huijsen popped up every day. One journalist, who seemed particularly in favor with the Spaniard, might have posted on X every time Huijsen went to the bathroom. He was simply everywhere, not really doing anything except maybe leaving Bournemouth at some point. 

Madrid started to crop up more and more in transfer talk, though. And then, the pieces fell into place comfortably. It made too much sense, in the end. Madrid needed a left-footed centre-back. They likely wanted someone young. They also wanted a pretty-much sure thing to lead a refreshed squad. Throw in the fact that Huijsen plays for the Spanish national team, and it was a no brainer. €60 million (£50m/$68m) seemed a lot, but this is Madrid and they can afford these things. Huijsen arrived before the Club World Cup – a statement of intent to ensure that Los Blancos would compete in the United States (an attempt that admittedly aged poorly).

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWhy they signed him

Huijsen was an excellent bargain bin find for the Cherries. An outlay of £13m ($18m) wasn't exactly cheap for the club from the south coast. It's hard to find diamonds in the rough at Juventus, too. 

However, Huijsen was far more effective than even the hipsters might have thought. He started his Bournemouth career by winning nine aerial duels in his debut, and never really looked back from there. 

But it wasn't just his ability in the air that stood out. Sure, Huijsen was effective defensively – and that was more important than anything else. But it became clear rather quickly that he was also immensely refined. 

Young ball-playing centre-backs are sometimes overvalued – such is their scarcity. But Huijsen established himself as an immensely cool presence. In other words, this wasn't just a tall guy who could pass a bit. 

Huijsen had all of the traits of an elite centre-back at a remarkably young age. He was never going to be long for Bournemouth – something even he would later admit.

Getty Images SportOther competitiors

Huijsen also had plenty of suitors. Any centre-back of his calibre under 25 tends to be the envy of Europe. A Premier League switch might have made the most sense. After all, Huijsen had just played an excellent nine months of football in the league. 

Liverpool were interested, presumably viewing Huijsen as a long-term replacement for Virgil Van Dijk – and potentially one of the best central defenders in the league for years to come. 

Arsenal, too, were reportedly in the running. This is mostly because Mikel Arteta cannot resist young ball playing defenders of any ilk (they compromised on Bayer Leverkusen's Piero Hincapie shortly before deadline day).

Once Madrid were involved, though, things started to feel inevitable. There's something ominous about Madrid in the transfer market. Once they show an interest, they always seem to tie things up quickly. 

Throw in the fact that everyone else had more immediate priorities – or pressing targets – and Los Blancos wrapped it all up within the first week of the transfer window opening. 

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Getty Images SportPerformances so far

And so far it has looked like excellent business. Xabi Alonso has heavily rotated Madrid in his early days as manager. But Huijsen's presence has been non-negotiable from the first Club World Cup fixture. 

Some of that, of course, is brought about by necessity. Madrid are still short of depth, and will certainly rely on not-a-centre-back Aurelien Tchouameni to play centre-back at some point, given Alaba and Militao's injury issues and the fact that Rudiger is showing increasing signs of wear and tear.

Huijsen, then, was effectively the only fit option to run out there. The eye test is impressive. A couple of sloppy moments aside, he has been the epitome of class at the back, solid defensively and calm on the ball. 

The numbers mostly back that up, too. Huijsen is in the 91st percentile among all centre-backs in progressive passes, the 96th in interceptions and 94th in clearances, according to . 

Basically, while Madrid are still a bit imbalanced and leaky at the back, Huijsen is offering some steadiness and solidity. 

Afternoon and evening sessions belonged to Sri Lanka with their top four producing best collective effort

Andrew Fidel Fernando06-Dec-2024

Kyle Verreynne’s manic sprint to a third Test century lit up the second morning and sent South Africa speeding to a total of 358. But the afternoon and evening sessions belonged to Sri Lanka. Their top four produced their best collective effort in the series so far, with Pathum Nissanka hitting 89 off 157 balls, forging a 109-run second wicket stand with Dinesh Chandimal.With Angelo Mathews not out on 40 at stumps, and Kamindu Mendis unbeaten on 30, Sri Lanka have seven wickets in hand, and are well-placed to take a lead in the first innings. They have for the first time in the series, put serious pressure on a South Africa attack that seemed short of options on a flattening Gqeberha deck.Kagiso Rabada was the most menacing of their bowlers, conceding only 40 and taking the wicket of Dimuth Karunaratne for the third time in the series, in his 15 overs. He’d also had Nissanka dropped by David Bedingham at second slip, on 22. Sri Lanka negotiated Marco Jansen with much more confidence than they had in the first Test, in which he’d claimed 11 wickets. By stumps, Jansen had given away 75 off his 18 overs, and was the only frontline bowler without a wicket.Though there were occasional plays and misses against Rabada in particular, Nissanka was largely watchful, scoring only eight runs off his first 50 deliveries. He eventually began to attack the shorter deliveries, and it was the pull shot that he favoured through the remainder of the innings, taking to Jansen’s shorter balls in particular. Most of his run-scoring came square of the wicket, and he raised his batting tempo in Chandimal’s company, settling into accumulation mode against the spin of Keshav Maharaj in particular.That he got out to Maharaj, whom he had early clubbed for six over deep midwicket, will particularly rankle, especially as he was nearing a century. He merely ran at the bowler, attempted a cross-batted shot to a ball that was full, and essentially yorked himself, the ball going on to clatter into leg stump.Pathum Nissanka brought up his ninth 50+ score in Tests•AFP/Getty Images

Still, the stand between him and Chandimal had provided Sri Lanka a platform. Chandimal was looser with his strokeplay than either opener had been, and collected edged fours behind the wicket early on. He nevertheless stuck at it alongside Nissanka, until a tentative prod against Dane Paterson ended with him being snaffled behind the stumps.Mathews was also somewhat tetchy at the beginning of his innings, but found some boundaries down the ground, and settled into a rhythm later. Kamindu Mendis appeared assured from the outset. The two put on 43 runs together before stumps.The morning, however, had been reigned by Verreynne. Having lost Keshav Maharaj without South Africa adding to their overnight score, Verreynne put on 66 with Rabada, as Sri Lanka turned almost solely to bouncers and short deliveries to blast the final two wickets out. Verreynne crashed three boundaries between deep backward square leg and deep midwicket in one Asitha Fernando over to really get his engine roaring, before venturing even bigger hits when Rabada was bowled by Asitha, and he was left with the No. 11 for company.With 19 runs still to get for his hundred, Verreynne yanked the throttle with even more intensity, first smashing Prabath Jayasuriya over cow corner for six, before mowing Asitha into the banks to get within one strike of a 100. He reached triple figures with another mighty pull in that same over, sending the ball sailing over fine leg’s head.The milestone sparked wild celebrations, a bow from Verreynne to the dressing room, and a bear-hug from Paterson. Verreynne himself likely did not anticipate that a century would be on the cards when the morning’s play began, but finished unbeaten on 105 off 133 balls, having reaped 58 off 50 balls on day two.Lahiru Kumara claimed the last South Africa wicket, and ended with 4 for 79. Asitha and Vishwa Fernando shared five wickets between them.

اختتمت منافسات الجولة الافتتاحية بمرحلة الدوري لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، والتي شهدت الكثير من المباريات القوية والحافلة بين الأندية الأوروبية والتي أحرز فيها الكثير من الأهداف.

وأعلن موقع الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم بعد انتهاء منافسات الجولة الافتتاحية عن اللاعبين المرشحين وكذلك الأهداف المرشحة للفوز بلاعب الأسبوع في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ونجح الدولي الإنجليزي ماركوس راشفورد مهاجم برشلونة الفوز بلاعب الأسبوع في دوري أبطال أوروبا، بعد تألقه الاستثنائي ضد نيوكاسل يونايتد.

أقرأ أيضاً.. برشلونة يتلقى خبرًا سيئًا وآخر جيدًا قبل مواجهة خيتافي

وسجل ماركوس راشفورد هدفين في المباراة وكانوا في الشوط الثاني، في شباك نيك بوب حارس مرمى نيوكاسل يونايتد حيث جاء الأول برأسية رائعة من متابعة عرضية كوندي، وأحرز الهدف الثاني من تسديدة لا تصد ولا ترد.

وكان ماركوس راشفورد قد نافس العديد من اللاعبين على الفوز بلاعب الأسبوع أهم دوسان فلاهوفيتش مهاجم يوفنتوس بعد أدائه حيث سجل هدفين خلال التعادل ضد بوروسيا دورتموند بأربعة أهداف لكل فريق.

وتفوق راشفورد أيضاً على ماركوس تورام مهاجم إنتر ميلان بعد تسجيله هدفين خلال الفوز ضد آياكس أمستردام بهدفين نظيفين، وكذلك فرانسيسكو ترينكاو بعد تسجيله هدفين في فوز سبورتينج لشبونة برباعية لهدف واحد

يخوض منتخب إنجلترا مباراة قوية أمام صربيا مساء اليوم الثلاثاء، ضمن مواجهات تصفيات أوروبا المؤهلة لكأس العالم 2026.

ويحل منتخب إنجلترا بقيادة مديره الفني توماس توخيل، ضيفًا على صربيا، ساعيًا لرفع رصيد نقاطه في مجموعته، من أجل التأهل للمونديال.

وحقق المنتخب الإنجليزي فوزًا في الجولة الماضية أمام أندروا بهدفين دون مقابل، على ملعب “فيلا بارك”.

يتصدر منتخب إنجلترا المجموعة برصيد 12 نقطة، ويأتي منتخب صربيا في المركز الثاني بـ 7 نقاط.

تتضمن المجموعة أيضًا منتخبات ألبانيا (5 نقاط)، لاتفيا (4 نقاط)، وتتذيل أندروا المجموعة بلا نقاط. موعد مباراة إنجلترا وصربيا

تنطلق المباراة في تمام الساعة العاشرة إلا ربع مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية. القناة الناقلة لمباراة إنجلترا وصربيا

تذاع المباراة عبر قناة beIN sports 2. معلق مباراة إنجلترا وصربيا

يعلق على المباراة، عامر الخوذيري.

ويمكنكم مطالعة مواعيد ونتائج جميع المباريات لحظة بلحظة عبر مركز المباريات من هنا. 

Everton have now reportedly enquired about the availability of a Premier League star in the summer transfer window, with David Moyes an admirer of the player in question.

Everton in talks with ace and reach verbal agreement with player

The Blues appear to be pushing hard to complete some exciting summer transfer business, with the Merseysiders reportedly in talks with the agents of Fred over a move to Bramley Moore Dock.

The former Manchester United midfielder could be a shrewd and experienced addition who has proven himself in the Premier League in the past, making 139 appearances in the competition. Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho is keen on keeping hold of the Brazilian, though.

Meanwhile, Everton have reportedly reached a verbal agreement over the signing of Kenny Tete from Fulham, with the right-back out of contract in west London at the end of this month.

The Dutchman could come in as an upgrade on the likes of Ashley Young and Seamus Coleman, bringing a mix of defensive solidity and attacking thrust to Moyes’ team, and the fact that it would be on a free transfer is an added bonus.

Everton enquire about Premier League "fighter"

According to a new claim from Give Me Sport, Everton have enquired to Manchester City about the potential signing of Jack Grealish this summer.

Newcastle United and Napoli are also believed to be in the mix to sign the 29-year-old, who is expected to leave the Etihad after four years there, joining for £100m from Aston Villa back in 2021. However, the Toffees may find a transfer hard to complete as Grealish is looking to play in the Champions League next season.

Grealish’s stock has fallen over the past year or two, with a lack of end product under Pep Guardiola, but it could simply be that he needs a new challenge and regular game time.

Guardiola has described the Englishman as a “fighter”, often being relentlessly kicked and fouled during games, while Moyes heaped huge praise on him back in 2021, saying:

“He is a really good player and probably the best player in the Premier League at this time. He has done such a big job at that club (Villa) and is probably the best player in the league right now.”

There are definite risks in Everton signing Grealish, not least because he turns 30 this year and would demand big wages, but he possesses the swagger and unpredictable style to be a hit among Blues supporters.

Related Moyes' new Doucoure: Everton start talks to sign "magnificent" £13m star

David Moyes could win Everton’s new Abdoulaye Doucoure by securing this star’s services.

Posts ByKelan Sarson Jun 22, 2025

He may love the idea of being given more freedom to express himself in the final third, compared to Guardiola’s precise tactics, so it is a signing that could be worth the gamble, although it may be tricky to seal.

Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic were two key components of the Manchester United side that achieved huge levels of success during the Sir Alex Ferguson era.

The pair cemented their places at the heart of the defence for many years, helping the Red Devils win multiple Premier League and Champions League titles.

Partnerships like that are very hard to come by in the modern game, with current boss Ruben Amorim dreaming of having such a duo at the heart of his backline in 2024/25.

The Portuguese manager has already led the club to a Europa League final during his first few months in charge, with this summer crucial if he is to be a success at Old Trafford.

With just a couple of months left until the opening of the transfer window, the manager has already wasted no time in identifying targets who could improve his defensive department.

An update on United’s hunt for new defenders this summer

Given the fact United have conceded 51 times in the Premier League this campaign, it’s no surprise to see the hierarchy targeting reinforcements within the backline.

Dean Huijsen is just one player who they have already entered talks with, but the Red Devils face huge competition from other English sides such as Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle United.

However, he’s not the only option on their shortlist, with Inter Milan star Yann Bisseck the latest star appearing on their radar, according to one Spanish outlet.

Their report claims that Amorim’s men are considering making an offer for the German international, with his aggressive approach and ability to play out from the back catching the eye.

It also states that the 24-year-old would be open to a potential move to Old Trafford this summer, with personal terms not expected to be an issue if a fee is agreed between the two sides.

How United could form the next Ferdinand & Vidic

Within United’s current first-team picture, it’s unclear how many players will be kept and who will be sold to raise funds for Amorim to make his own impact on the squad.

However, centre-back Leny Yoro will certainly be a key part of his plans at the Theatre of Dreams after joining from Ligue 1 outfit LOSC Lille in a £52m deal less than 12 months ago.

The 19-year-old has already made 30 appearances across all competitions in 2024/25, leading to comparisons to former defender Ferdinand, having the potential to star for the club for many years to come.

Yoro will need his own version of a Vidic to partner him at the heart of the defence, with Inter’s Bisseck potentially providing just that and allowing for another excellent partnership for Amorim.

The Serbian was a dominant force at the back for United during his eight-year spell at the Theatre of Dreams, making 300 appearances and registering 21 goals – having a huge impact at both ends of the pitch.

Such achievements have undoubtedly cemented his place in the club’s history forever, with summer target Bisseck able to follow suit and be the Red Devils’ next version of the Serbian star.

When delving into his stats from the ongoing campaign, he’s showcased his talents, having the chance to further progress his game should he make the switch to England.

The German, who’s been labelled “one of the best centre-backs” by Lothar Matthäus, has managed to complete 92% of the passes he’s attempted – handing the manager another comfortable ball-playing option at the back.

Without the ball, Bisseck has also been just as impressive, winning 73% of the tackles he’s entered, along with 74% aerials won – highlighting his dominant nature in the air, in the mould of Vidic.

Games played

24

Goals & assists

4

Pass accuracy

92%

Tackles won

73%

Duels won

4.3

Aerials won

2.7

Aerial success rate

74%

Interceptions made

1.1

Recoveries made

3.7

He’s also managed to make 1.1 interceptions per 90 and has made 3.7 recoveries, offering an added defensive presence at the back – handing Amorim his own version of Ferdinand and Vidic with the German alongside Yoro.

It’s unclear how much a deal for the 24-year-old would cost the hierarchy this summer, but it’s evident that he has all of the tools needed to impress in England’s top-flight.

If he does get anywhere close to the levels produced by the Serbian in the Premier League, it would be a bargain regardless of the fee, with him and the Frenchman having the chance to catapult the club back to its former glory in the years ahead.

The new Amrabat: Amorim must axe 4/10 Man Utd man who lost the ball 15x

Manchester United booked their place in the Europa League final last night, setting up a clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

6 ByEthan Lamb May 9, 2025

New white-ball captain prepares to turn team’s results around in first assignment at the helm

Vithushan Ehantharajah28-May-2025During last year’s men’s Hundred, Harry Brook received a light-hearted but necessary reprimand from Sky Sports commentator Mel Jones.Brook, in his first season as captain of Northern Superchargers – his first leadership role in professional cricket – had made a habit of forgetting team news. On one occasion, Jones offered some polite advice: “Come on Harry, you need to get better at this – you’re going to do a lot more of them!”On Wednesday in Birmingham, in Brook’s first pre-match press conference as white-ball captain, he flexed his improvement, running through the XI for Thursday’s series opener against West Indies. Barring a momentary hesitation when moving from the middle order into the tail – “Bethell six… Jacks seven… ermmm… Overton eight” – a full team, in order, was read off the dome.Granted, this is the least you’d expect from an England captain in a sport so beholden to detail. But the bar is on the floor as far as English white-ball cricket goes. Every win, no matter how menial, should be savoured.Related

• Jamie Smith to open as England, West Indies embark on another ODI reboot

• Switch Hit: Zim sing while England win

• Atkinson out of WI ODIs, but could return in time for India Tests

• Harry Brook to shelve franchise cricket as England captain

• Jofra Archer ruled out of West Indies ODIs due to thumb injury

Even more so on the field. Three poor global outings, an ODI record of 13 lost out of the last 17 – seven of them in a row – and the loose threat of not qualifying for the 2027 ODI World Cup mean the issues of the last era hang over this group. The first job of any new leadership team is to fix previous mistakes.And yet, arguably the biggest part of the last regime remains integral to this revamp. Jos Buttler’s part in the solutions to the problems he failed to avoid has him back in his most comfortable position behind the stumps. He has not kept in ODIs since 2023’s tour of West Indies, though he did marshal from that position during last summer’s T20 World Cup.”I think Jos is the best white-ball batter in the world,” crowed Brook. Whether that remains true, the fact is his numbers bear out that he is a better player with the gloves and without the captaincy, in every metric. His work with Gujarat Titans – “he’s been banging it in the IPL,” – is further testament to this particular combination of keeping without wider responsibility.Buttler was not at Edgbaston on Wednesday, another perk of being unburden by captaincy meaning he can lean on the fact sessions are optional. Having trained on Tuesday, Buttler opted for an extra night at home having only just arrived back from India at the start of the week.Both Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks got back to the UK in the last 48 hours, which is far from ideal but with them comes the variation in the slow-bowling department which was absent during the Champions Trophy and high on the wish list when Brook had his initial conversations with managing director Rob Key. Bethell’s return comes after injury, and as such is as you were. But Jacks’ – high-class and under-utilised – is a nod to doing things differently.Jamie Smith as an opener that straddles both camps, as a newer take on an old thought. An inkling head coach Brendon McCullum had during the Champions Trophy – where Smith averaged 8 at No.3 – that moving further up the order might suit him better. Pushing Smith towards the danger which, in this case, seems to be the new ball.”He [McCullum] actually said it in Pakistan to me, and a few lads… he just had this burning desire (sic) that Smudge could be an amazing opening batter in one-day cricket. So, we’re giving it a crack and see how he goes, hopefully he does well.”The travails at first drop against the white ball highlight the punt being taken. Smith’s professional opening experience amounts to 22 T20 and three first-class innings. Set against his success down at No.7 in Test cricket, and the fact a swap with Jacks, who is actually an opener, puts players in more familiar roles – it seems a peculiar move. But, crucially, a positive one in the minds of a captain, coach and management set-up who cannot quite fathom why a bunch of undoubtedly talented players have been in such a funk.The group will be challenged early on under Brook, as is his wont, and the loose promise to England’s new skipper at this juncture he will be afforded his full wares for each series. And while that is clearly at odds with the lay of the land, notably limited overs tours of New Zealand and Sri Lanka that sandwich the Ashes, patient improvement is the name of the game. Returning to those glory days set in motion by Eoin Morgan will take time.Nevertheless, West Indies arrive respectfully wary of their hosts for that recent history. Shai Hope had no problem lauding England as trend-buckers while also reiterating they are not here simply to be a character in someone else’s story. Indeed, they have their own redemption having missed 2023s ODI World Cup altogether. Now ninth in the ICC rankings, three points behind England, automatic passage to 2027’s edition is far from guaranteed.”As a opposition coming in to play against them, you certainly want to showcase your best skills because they kind of set the benchmark of one-day cricket,” Hope said.”But again, I’m not going to focus too much on what they’ve done in the past. I know they’re going to be looking at us as trying to start their new winning streak. It’s within our power to make sure that we don’t let it happen.”

Despite short-ball barrage, Australian produces innings that could make the difference

Andrew McGlashan09-Jul-2023It’s a good list: 152 vs England in Brisbane; 101 vs England in Hobart, 92 vs South Africa in Brisbane, 163 vs India
at The Oval.Those are the matches where Travis Head, since late 2021, has produced a match-defining innings (and there are others in which he has played an important role). By Sunday night, weather permitting, we’ll know if his 77 against England at Headingley stands among them. Should Australia manage to defend 251 and win the Ashes, it may have to top the lot.This time Head was almost last man standing, having watched the middle- and lower-order get dispatched by Chris Woakes and Mark Wood. He was on 34 off 82 – quite an un-Travis Head innings, at least of the last two years – but there was now only one way to go. His next 30 balls brought 43 of the 54 runs added for the final two wickets.With memories of Brisbane and Hobart fresh in the mind, it was the type of performance Ben Stokes had been wary of before the series.”I think Travis Head is someone who, since he came into the team, has really taken his opportunity, and gone: ‘This is how I’m going to play’,” Stokes said in a Sky Sports interview.. “Him being allowed to go out and play the way he has, he’s been so successful. He was so hard to bowl to in Australia when we were there last time because he just threw counterpunches, and those innings he played against us were really hard to bowl to, really hard to set fields to. But we are prepared for that.”Although Head eventually hoicked to deep midwicket to give Stuart Broadhis third wicket of the innings, it felt as though England had overdone the short-ball strategy to him at Headingley. With the ball zipping around in the first innings, they had been quick to set the field back and bang it in, which seemed to remove some of the natural advantages on offer. On that occasion, he was eventually caught poking to slip.Again, on the third evening, even though play was under slate-grey skies with Woakes and Broad making the ball talk, they immediately went short to Head. He may not always look comfortable playing it, but he has a method that works.”I’ve got to score off them, I can’t just sit and cop it because, as we’ve seen, it’s going to be the whole day,” he said. “It’s hard to say ‘get under it’, they’ve proved they won’t change. I’ve played my hand on how I’m going to play it…it felt like today they hedged their bets because they did pitch some up and play with my feet.”Head conceded playing the short ball was the one area of his game he felt was not in top working order when he arrived in England. After the India tour, on pitches a world away from the bounce on offer on this tour, even taking into account some slower surfaces in this Ashes, he took a break and did not pick up a bat for a number of weeks.After Head had made 163 in the World Test Championship final, India’s bowling coach Paras Mhambrey admitted their quick bowlers had been too slow in taking him on with the short delivery, and he looked uncomfortable when they did later in his century and in the second innings of that game.”It was one part of my game that I felt just hadn’t clicked yet,” he said. “India didn’t come to that tactic till later in my innings. I didn’t play [it] particularly well, which then lends itself to a little bit of talk [and I] find myself in the position I’ve been in.”Related

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In the Ashes, Head has contributed half-centuries in the first two Tests at Lord’s and Edgbaston before falling to offspin both times – swatting Moeen Ali to midwicket and charging Joe Root – then faced the bouncer-barrage in the second innings last week, when he fended to short leg, which has largely been replicated here.”There’s not many periods I think we’ve seen in Test cricket where it’s just been 100 percent short balls,” he said. “I wasn’t surprised with the plan. I prepared and thought it was going to come. Maybe not to the extent that it did, but I felt like, throughout the series, I’ve had moments where I’ve been able to get them off that plan.”Head said that if there was one thing he would leave this tour with, “it might be with a pull shot”, which is a surprising thing for an Australian batter to say given the largely faster, bouncier pitches back home, although Head has played a lot of cricket on slower surfaces in Adelaide.Head is the team’s second-highest run-scorer in the series behind Usman Khawaja, which emphasises the importance of his contributions at a time when Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne have provided one major score in 12 innings between them.Australia’s advantage in this series has come down to very small margins and there could yet be another if the bowlers can deliver on day four. They will hope for the cloud cover that greeted England’s attack and not sunshine.”It’s a huge day in the series tomorrow,” Head said. “It would be silly for both camps to not say there’s nerves in the camp. Hopefully we can redeem ourselves from ’19 at this place.”

Rabada hasn’t been at his best after Philander’s retirement and South Africa must find a way of not overburdening him

Firdose Moonda08-Jun-2021The blame for South Africa’s Test decline has been laid at the feet of the batters, who have collectively crossed 300 just twice in their last 15 innings, and have often left the bowlers with too little to work with. While that’s correct, it doesn’t adequately express how deeply the dearth of runs have blunted the team’s strongest suit – the seamers. And to see how deep the impact has been on the bowling, one needs only look at Kagiso Rabada’s last three years.Rabada is the undisputed leader of South Africa’s attack. Since his debut in November 2015, no one has taken more wickets for the team than Rabada, and the next best, Keshav Maharaj, is more than 80 strikes adrift. That in itself says something about the changing styles of success in South Africa’s bowling.Not too long ago, having a spinner among the top-two wicket-takers would have been unthinkable. But with several series in the subcontinent over the last six years, Maharaj has been able to do much more than keep an end quiet. But that raises all sorts of questions about the pace pack South Africa put on the park and whether they are providing enough support to Rabada.Look at the list again. The next most successful quick since Rabada’s debut is the now-retired Vernon Philander, who took 101 wickets in 61 innings between 2015 and 2020. He opened the bowling alongside Rabada in 17 of those and, as the table below shows, maintained a great economy rate and still struck regularly, allowing Rabada to reap even greater rewards at the other end.ESPNcricinfo LtdPhilander was not always able to partner Rabada, though. He suffered an ankle injury in India in 2015, missed matches in Sri Lanka, and had fitness concerns on a tour of England in 2017. In his absence, Rabada has had a revolving door of new-ball partners, ranging from Morne Morkel to Duanne Olivier to Kyle Abbott to Lungi Ngidi; and none of them have done as well as Philander.When Rabada has opened the bowling with anyone else, the opposition’s scoring rate has been higher. As the numbers below show, while Rabada has stepped up in those situations, he hasn’t had the consistency of a bowler like Philander to back him up. That may be for a variety of reasons, including experience and skill. There are few bowlers with the ability to move the ball as subtly and effectively as Philander did, and fewer in the South African set-up with years under their belt to have perfected their craft. Philander had played first-class cricket for five years and 61 matches before his Test debut; Ngidi, as one example, had two years and 11 caps before his.Getty ImagesWith Philander offering his services from the commentary box now and South Africa yet to find a replacement – the most likely candidate, Glenton Stuurman, has not been picked for the West Indies tour – the burden lies even greater on Rabada.South Africa have not played a significant amount of Test cricket in the last 18 months to be able to minutely assess Rabada’s form, but we can let the numbers do some of the talking. Rabada has slipped to their third spot among South Africa’s Test wicket-takers since Mark Boucher became head coach – from December 2019. Anrich Nortje is No. 1. Nortje has taken double the number of wickets as Rabada, although he has played three more Tests. In that time, Rabada’s average has crept up over 30 and he has not managed a five-wicket haul.ESPNcricinfo LtdIn fact, his last five-for came more than three years ago, against Australia in the Port Elizabeth Test of March 2018. South Africa won that series 3-1 but that was their last major achievement in Test cricket. Since then, they beat both Pakistan and Sri Lanka at home (which some would argue was expected at the time) but also lost to both those sides, Sri Lanka at home and Pakistan away, and to England. And the dip in South Africa’s form has coincided with a downturn in Rabada’s fortunes.Though he has had to shoulder more of the responsibility since his last five-for – only Maharaj has bowled more balls in this period – Rabada’s personal numbers have gone down too; although he remains South Africa’s leading bowler and, compared to bowlers around the world who have played at least ten Tests, his strike rate sits sixth. He has taken 67 wickets in 17 Tests since the Port Elizabeth five-for at an average of 27.2, compared to 135 wickets in 20 matches before that, at 21.45.ESPNcricinfo LtdAt the same time, South Africa have gone from having the best bowling average in the world from Rabada’s debut to the Port Elizabeth Test, to having the fourth-worst bowling average in the last two years. In that time, they have taken six five-wicket hauls,the fewest among the eight teams that have played at least ten Tests.Clearly, South Africa need Rabada to be at his best for the attack as a whole to perform well. That probably means they have to avoid over-bowling him, as has sometimes been the case, and for their other seamers to find a collective consistency that allows Rabada to operate in fiery bursts for maximum impact.South Africa’s new Test captain Dean Elgar did not initially think the West Indies was the place to make pace a focus and said he was expecting slow, low pitches – this, even though the Caribbean has been good to fast bowling in the last few years.Since then, South Africa have seen first-hand that the Dukes ball allows for damage to be done early on. During an intra-squad practice match, bowling coach Charl Langeveldt said the seamers could end up playing a big role in the two-match series, given the ball, and the weather, with high humidity in the rainy season contrasting with the dryness South Africa have experienced on previous tours. “With the Dukes ball, there is a lot of movement – seam movement off the wicket – and it stays harder for longer. Ball maintenance is key. Obviously we can’t use saliva anymore, but we need to find a way to shine the ball and that could be beneficial for us.”Rabada has previously been effective at executing reverse-swing. If he finds some of that magic or manages to effect maximum damage with the new ball, South Africa can rekindle their reputation of being a team with a core of seamers as their strongest suit.