All posts by h716a5.icu

Hope blows hot in cold Sylhet

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

West Indies put up a show for a fan holidaying in Bangladesh

Tawhid Qureshi19-Dec-2018Choice of game
Winter time in the UK isn’t much fun, the cold weather coupled with a chronic lack of daylight sends most people into a state of despair, which is why it’s always an ideal time to go away on holiday. And what better way to holiday than combining fantastic food, family and cricket? That’s why I decided to spend ten fun-filled days in Bangladesh.After watching the team excel in the ODI series, I was in the verdant and picturesque Sylhet International Cricket Stadium for the first T20I. Sylhet itself is a place of huge personal significance, being the birthplace of my parents and their forebears, and so a place I’ve visited plenty of times since childhood. The fact that international cricket has come to Sylhet is a source of enormous pride for its cricket-crazy residents. I was looking forward to sharing in the excitement that was gripping the city – the game was scheduled a day after Victory Day. I was ecstatic when a fantastically well-connected cousin was able to arrange a stadium pass for me (thanks Forhad!), particularly as I knew how difficult it was to get hold of match tickets.Key Performers
Sheldon Cottrell’s four wickets, which earned him the Man-of-the-Match award, and Shakib Al Hasan’s 61 were impressive contributions, but for me, Shai Hope’s brutal 55 from just 23 balls was the standout performance. He’s clearly in the middle of a purple patch and the way he disdainfully dispatched the often wayward Bangladeshi bowling was breathtaking. When I was in Dhaka a few days ago, I decided to go for a swim and I actually saw him in the adjoining hotel gym. He was training hard and sweating buckets, and it’s definitely paid off.Wow Factor
It was nice to see West Indies enjoy themselves on the field, even though it hasn’t been the most successful of tours. The way they celebrate the fall of wickets has always been a feature of how they play the game and we were treated to a couple of unique celebrations today. Cottrell celebrated with a salute after dismissing Soumya Sarkar but I was even more impressed by Rovman Powell, who ran Mushifiqur Rahim out and then performed a mid-air heel-clicking routine, all in one movement.One thing I would have changed
The weather. During the third ODI held at the same venue, the weather was a lovely mix of hazy sunshine and warmth. Three days later, however, the skies were similar to those of a summer’s day in south London, slate grey without any hint of the sun. In fact, the evenings in Sylhet were much cooler than expected; my lack of packing any warm clothes meant I ended up with a horrible cold. It’s a lesson learned for next time.My other bugbear would be the ticketing arrangements. Back home, tickets for matches are available online. I was expecting a similar case in Bangladesh but instead I witnessed long lines of people outside the stadium, patiently queuing for tickets. The lack of online tickets makes planning extremely difficult, especially for those travelling from abroad – although I know I’m in a minority in this case.Crowd Meter
There was deafening silence when Tamim Iqbal was out early in the innings, a top-edge looping gently into the hands of the fielder. And although the decibel levels were never truly ear-aching, each Bangladesh boundary and West Indies wicket was greeted with full-throated cheers from the passionate Sylhet crowd. The way the game petered out wasn’t conducive to a great atmosphere and was in stark contrast to a few days ago when Bangladesh dominance was met with plenty of noise. That game also illustrated how the build-up to the country’s general election was in full swing. Chants of “Nokah Nokah” (literally meaning “boat boat”, the emblem of the ruling Awami League party) came from the stands, more so when election candidate Mashrafe Mortaza fielded anywhere near the boundary.Marks out of 10
In terms of the Bangladesh performance, I’d have to give a 4. I was hoping for a good batting display and lots of balls being lost in the crowd. but it never happened. In terms of the way the game was hosted, it would be a 10, the stadium infrastructure surrounded by natural beauty surely means many more international matches will be played here in the future. I can’t wait for England’s visit sometime soon.

From repairing roads to building bridges: Jack Burnham battles back after drugs ban

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

After a year-long ban for cocaine use, Durham’s rising star has a new outlook on life and a determination to atone

David Hopps at Chester-le-Street04-Apr-2019Three drug busts for cocaine use in one season was certainly going some. By the end of the 2017 summer, Jack Burnham’s cricket career hung by a thread. One of England’s most highly-rated young batsmen was in danger of being lost to the game.Now Burnham nets with Durham again, in readiness for the start of the county season. That should be enough to make everybody euphoric. Without an artificial stimulant in sight.Burnham has sought acceptance again in the accustomed manner for a working-class north-eastern lad. Not by highfalutin speeches or grandiose gestures, but by hard graft.If you’re in a hole don’t keep digging, they say. Burnham did the opposite. There are some roads and kerbs in the north-east that look a little smarter after a year of 5.30am alarm calls.”This time last year I was labouring for one of my mates,” he said. “He had his own company. I was doing block work, roads, kerbs, everything. It was hard work. After it all happened, I just thought I needed to do something to keep working and keep myself going. Long jobs, long days. It was a massive eye opener, seeing how lucky and privileged I am to have had this opportunity.”I did a little bit of work when I first left school, building work. But in all honesty I did get sucked into this life, this Good Life. To go away and see what other people have to do to make the money to get by in life was a big eye-opener.ALSO READ: Finn at 30: Can England’s Next Big Thing finally reach his potential?”I’m going to work as hard as I can with my cricket, make as much money and play as many games around the world that I can. But it has also made me realise, now I have developed skills outside of cricket, that if cricket doesn’t work, I have options.”But there is a deeper element to his recovery than mere physical exertion. He has hinted at “bottling things up since childhood”. With that emotional honesty comes a greater prospect of putting his bad times behind him.His mother responded to his fall from grace with a combination of plain speaking and emotional support. For the time being, he is living at home again, determined that there will be no relapse.”I’ve just recently done my mam’s garden. I put a new patio in for her and then a little garden for the flowers,” he said. “To have those skills, to be able to do things apart from cricket, was quite nice.”Burnham has a Level 2 coaching badge and has plans to take a Level 3 this winter unless overseas trips get in the way. With the help of the PCA, he can speak to a counsellor in Nottinghamshire or on Face Time chat. He has embraced a range of coping mechanisms to try to keep his career on an even keel.What studies exist are equivocal about the benefits of cocaine for an athlete. Although it is a stimulant, the illusion of better performance is not necessarily backed up by actuality. And it should be fairly observed that Burnham’s reliance on this illegal, Class-A stimulant was far from unique: the Sunday Telegraph reported last month after testing the Wembley toilets that cocaine use was at an “alarming” level among the crowd for England’s opening European Championship match against the Czech Republic.But sport sets a higher bar for its athletes and the ECB is committed to ensuring that cricket is a drug-free sport. All recreational drugs are outlawed irrespective of performance advantages, with health a prime motivation.

I was doing block work, roads, curbs, everything. It was hard work. After it all happened, I just thought I needed to do something to keep working

To comply with WADA international standards, it operates a strong in- and out-of-competition anti-doping testing programme which is conducted by the UK Anti-Doping agency (UKAD). Any cricketer can be tested anytime, anywhere.To be sure of achieving such a lifestyle consistently, Burnham has had to make difficult decisions. He has broken up with his girlfriend and is no longer as reliant on his childhood friends. He knows he needs to move in different circles.”I have had to make a lot of sacrifices with my friendship groups and things I was doing,” he said. “But the help I have had from the club and everyone around me, supporting me, it has been hard but good. It was tough moving away, it was like starting again, but I knew I was doing it for the right reasons. I moved house, I moved village.”Durham were entitled to sack him – and many counties would have done. Under ECB rules, they had to keep his failed drugs tests confidential on the first two occasions, but on the third occasion they were free to do as they please.But he has been at the county since the age of seven and his emergence as a player of international potential was a source of great pride – in Bangladesh three years ago, he broke Alastair Cook’s England run-scoring record in an Under-19 World Cup.”At one point I thought that was it with cricket, I’d ruined every opportunity I had,” he reflected. “But the support and help that the club has given me is very appreciated. To be here now, going into a season, fit, strong, having this opportunity again is just amazing.”He hasn’t always been a hard trainer, far from it. There were times when he perhaps got more licence than he should. But his commitment in the long pre-season has been exemplary. He looks fitter than at any time in his life. He knows that regaining respect will not happen overnight.Marcus North, Durham’s new director of cricket, judges: “Jack Burnham has been outstanding. He has gone through a very difficult period in his life, has had 12 months to reflect and work really hard on himself away from cricket due to the ban.”He has done more than we have asked of him, he is one of the fittest in the squad and his work ethic is exceptional. He is a real raw talent. We are really excited what the future holds for Jack.”

India's fast bowlers make the big leap

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami led the way in a year when India’s fast bowlers came of age

Hemant Brar31-Dec-2018″There are no fast bowlers in India,” a young Kapil Dev was once told when he asked for an extra helping of , reasoning that as a fast bowler he needed a better diet.The era when India relied solely on their spinners, when Eknath Solkar and Sunil Gavaskar once shared the new ball, is long gone. The tables turned 180 degrees in 2018, a year that featured two of only three instances in India’s Test history when they did not field a single frontline spinner – in Johannesburg and Perth.Over three challenging away tours, India’s pace attack, largely revolving around the trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami, was not only consistently faster than the opposition’s but also as incisive, if not more so.A year of plenty for India’s fast bowlers•ESPNcricinfo LtdIn the 14 Tests India played in 2018, their quicks claimed a record 179 wickets at an average of 23.70 and a strike rate of 47.5. India’s previous best fast-bowling haul was 125 scalps in 1979, followed by 119 in 2011. On both those occasions, the average was in excess of 30 and the strike rate above 60.In all the previous years when India’s fast bowlers took at least 50 wickets, they neither managed a better average than in 2018 nor struck as frequently.Bumrah (three), Shami (two), Ishant, Umesh Yadav and Hardik Pandya (one each) picked up eight five-wicket hauls between them – the most by India’s fast bowlers in a calendar year, surpassing the six they took in 1981.

India’s fast bowlers in 2018

Player Mat Wkts Ave SR BBI 5/10J Bumrah 9 48 21.02 47.40 6-33 3/0M Shami 12 47 26.97 49.00 6-56 2/0I Sharma 11 41 21.80 49.00 5-51 1/0U Yadav 5 20 21.40 38.00 6-88 1/1H Pandya 8 13 33.29 57.30 5-28 1/0B Kumar 2 10 20.30 40.20 4-87 0/0S Thakur 1 0 – – – 0/0Overall 14 179 23.70 47.50 6-33 8/1Before 2018, there were only seven instances of India fast bowlers taking 40 or more wickets in a year, and on each of those occasions it was just one bowler reaching the 40-wicket mark in that particular year. This year, Bumrah (48), Shami (47) and Ishant (41) all got there. The trio accounted for more than 75% of the 179 wickets taken by India’s pacers.Bumrah, who was pigeonholed as a white-ball bowler before this year, emerged as the leader of the pace attack by the end of it, and had the most wickets (48) by an Indian bowler – fast or spin – in his debut year. Ishant, who had never averaged below 28 in any previous calendar year, took 41 wickets at 21.80. A strike rate of under 50 in the year was also a first for him. Shami’s tally of 47 wickets was his personal best, and he was even more lethal in the second innings this year than he usually is.One thing that makes this pace pack even more impressive is its bench strength. Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up ten wickets in two Tests in South Africa and was Man of the Match in India’s victory in Johannesburg. And when India rested their first-choice seamers against West Indies at home, Umesh Yadav became only the third India fast bowler to take a 10-wicket haul at home.

Pace attacks in 2018

Team Mat Wkts Ave SR 5/10India 14 179 23.70 47.50 8/1South Africa 10 147 19.98 41.00 8/2England 13 132 27.34 56.30 2/0Australia 10 112 30.74 62.70 3/0West Indies 9 104 20.57 37.29 8/2Pakistan 9 91 23.00 49.60 4/1New Zealand 7 87 26.41 61.00 4/0Sri Lanka 12 69 32.15 60.50 1/0Bangladesh 8 17 45.52 93.70 0/0The Indian pacers’ tally of 179 wickets was the highest for any team this year, ahead of South Africa (147) and England (132). In terms of strike rate, India’s quicks were third after West Indies and South Africa.Out of those 179 wickets, 158 came from 11 Tests in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia) countries, at an average of 24.81 and a strike rate of 50. While playing three or more Tests in SENA countries in a year, India have never managed a better average or strike rate.Even before the South Africa tour there was talk of this being India’s best-ever pace attack. While they missed Bhuvneshwar in England, Ishant, Bumrah and Shami held their own. And by the time India left for Australia, their fast-bowling unit was being spoken of in the same breath as of the opposition’s – a previously unheard-of idea in Indian cricket.In nine of the 14 Tests this year, India’s fast bowlers picked up as many or more wickets than the opposition’s pace pack. In eight of those games, they had a better average and strike rate, and India won seven of those Tests.

Another key parameter to measure a team’s bowling strength is how often they bowl the opposition out twice. At home, India could always rely on their spinners to do this, but their attacks were never as effective overseas. That too changed this year.Out of the 11 Tests India played in SENA countries this year, they took all 20 wickets nine times – a success rate of nearly 82%. Considering a minimum of three Tests in SENA countries, they have achieved a better success rate only once, in 1968, where they took all 20 wickets in five out of the six Tests (83.33%).

With India playing just three Tests at home this year, their pacers had the lion’s share of the wickets. Out of the 257 wickets taken by all India bowlers, their fast men claimed almost 70%. Given a minimum of four Tests, only once have India’s pacers had a bigger share. In 2014, they picked up 112 wickets, 79% of the overall 141.Of the nine five-wicket hauls by India bowlers this year, only one was by a spinner, Kuldeep Yadav’s 5 for 57 against West Indies in Rajkot, further highlighting how dominant the quicks have been.

The sounds of watching Virat Kohli bat

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Kohli has yet to make the defining hundred of India’s World Cup but his contributions have been no less significant

Sambit Bal at Old Trafford28-Jun-2019Few sounds are sweeter in sport than bat on ball. If you have played cricket yourself, you know the rich, velvety feeling of instant well-being, the bat feeling light in your hand, and the contact is not so much a collision between two hard objects as it is sweet union, the wood absorbing the impact of leather softly, and turning it into an ally. And the sound, sonorous and resonant, is the heartbeat of cricket.And when the bat belongs to a master craftsman like Virat Kohli, it’s like love. It cuts through every noise. It fills the stadium. It echoes in the chest of those in attendance. It’s more than an aural thing. It’s a feeling. Long after the moment is gone, you can close your eyes and feel its reverberations. I was glad that I left the comforts of the press box to watch him bat from stands.You know the sound of the bat of a player at the top of their powers. Amidst the din – conches, trumpets, chanting and screaming – Kohli’s bat sang. And from the sounds off their bats, you could decipher the difference between him and MS Dhoni. They batted together for just under ten overs for 40 runs. Of those, Kohli scored 21 from 25 balls, and Dhoni 17 from 32. From Kohli’s bat came the crisp and crunchy sound of certainty, from Dhoni’s came the sound of workmanlike toil, muffled, scratchy, with the ball travelling reluctantly, sometimes to areas not intended.Within the space of a few balls the difference was demonstrably established. In the 34th over, Kohli waited enough to cut a ball, with the swoosh of the wrists, not that short in length, from the left-arm spinner Fabian Allen, between two fielders – backward point and straightish cover – posted to guard against the very shot. It went to the boundary in a flash. Twice in Allen’s following over, Dhoni attempted to put similar balls away, but managed to squirt one to third man, and another to the right of point, both fetching him couples. In all, Kohli took Allen for 23 runs off 25 balls, whereas Dhoni managed 9 from 19.

When his bat had finished its arc, it was perpendicular to his shoulders, just as it would be after a ramrod straight drive, except it was facing midwicket, against the angle in the which ball had been struck

It hasn’t been Kohli’s World Cup yet. For a man who has owned the stage in ODI batting, he lies ninth in the list of most prolific batsmen to date, and for the most voracious of century makers, his highest score in this World Cup has been 82. But these are modest returns only by Kohli’s own standards. He is India’s second-highest scorer behind Rohit Sharma and, more vitally, it’s around his batting that India have built their totals. After falling early against South Africa, his lowest score has been 67.Against both Australia and Pakistan, when India put up their highest totals in the tournament, Kohli provided the security and the strike to the centurions who dominated the match. But the true appreciation of his performance, and his value to India, can be gleaned from the last two matches where scoring has not been that easy. His 67 against Afghanistan came at over a run a ball in an innings where the second-fastest strike rate among the top six was 76.47 (Kedar Jadhav: 52 in 68 balls). India looked poised for at least 270 while he was at the crease, but scored only 57 in the 14 overs after he was dismissed.KL Rahul scored more runs in their partnership of 69 against West Indies – 38 against 30 – but it was Kohli who provided the thrust, scoring those runs in 37 balls against Rahul’s 51, with one stroke in this phase establishing his genius. He had begun his innings with a boundary against Oshane Thomas, quickly sizing up a drop in length and cutting it between cover and point. A couple of overs later, with his innings only six balls old, the opportunity arose again. But the ball was a fraction shorter, marginally wider, and considerably springier, and Kohli met it earlier, with a vertical bat, somehow slicing it over cover.When his bat had finished its arc, it was perpendicular to his shoulders, just as it would be after a ramrod straight drive, except it was facing midwicket, against the angle in the which ball had been struck; his front foot pointing down the ground, but the back foot within the crease, upper body leaning slightly backward, and the head turned in the direction of the ball, a picture of imperious majesty. Describe in the stroke in a sentence? Lofted drive to a short ball, but hit square. Don’t try to make sense of it. Watch the replay.His innings ended to another short ball. But this one got stuck in pitch, came slower and lower than anticipated, and Kohli, early into his stroke, dragged to the belly of the midwicket fielder. Kohli stared at the pitch in disbelief. It was an eternity before he would drag himself away, and it created the longest silence in the stands. The absence of sound was as profound as the sound off the sweet spot of his bat through the morning.

The Mighty #

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Hashim Amla leaves the international stage having made a mark on not just his fellow cricketers, but on athletes across the globe.

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Aug-2019

View this post on Instagram

‪Unreal career @amlahash ! So many doubted u early on, but your fighting spirit, humility & incredible one of a kind talent took u to the top of the mountain and ultimately to one of the best players in the world and certainly I’ve ever seen. Congrats on an amazing career, Humaam‬

A post shared by AB de Villiers (@abdevilliers17) on Aug 8, 2019 at 8:28am PDT

Panchal and Easwaran: Working together, fighting for the same spot

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The two open up about batting together, learning from Dravid and Rahane, and being kept together by the BCCI

Interview by Saurabh Somani24-Dec-2019The Indian team’s move to have Rohit Sharma open the batting in Tests has yielded rich dividends. The Rohit-Mayank Agarwal combination looks set for now, and Shubman Gill has been pencilled in as the reserve opener. Then there is Prithvi Shaw, who fell off the rails after making a resounding Test debut.But, in recent years, Indian domestic cricket has nurtured a rich pool of talent and, consequently, the Indian selectors and team management have two more young openers to turn to in case the top choices fail for any reason or injury.Priyank Panchal and Abhimanyu Easwaran have ticked every box on the way to the doorstep of the national team. They have both made big runs for the past few years for their states (Gujarat and Bengal), in the Duleep Trophy, and for India A. Since his breakout season in 2016-17 when he scored 1310 runs, Panchal has made runs by any batsman in first-class matches in India, and he’s done it despite a bout of malaria right after his most successful season, which meant he had to earn his place back in the India A sides – which he promptly did with continuing high-scoring seasons. Easwaran is fourth in the list of highest run-getters, and came into his own in the last Ranji season, reeling off one superlative effort after another: he got 186 against Hyderabad, put in on a damp pitch, weathering the tough period, and capitalised when conditions got easier. Two weeks later, he hit 183 not out in a successful fourth-innings chase of 323 against Delhi. And a week after that, he made 201 not out against Punjab in the second innings after Bengal had conceded a lead of 260 runs.They might be competing for the same spot, but the two players share a good relationship, and partnership. When ESPNcricinfo sat them at the start of India’s domestic season, conversation flowed.You’ve both been piling on the runs in domestic cricket and for India A. Do you feel that a spot in the Indian team is within reach?
Panchal: My job is to score runs, and that’s the only thing I know to do. That’s also the only thing in my control. I want to play for the country, every cricketer does. That’s the dream when you start playing. When you score runs, you are in the zone and each time you think, ‘this is my innings, this is my game’. You do that match by match, then you string together scores for eight-ten matches, and then keep on doing that. So after that when you get a call-up, you feel like your hard work has brought results.Easwaran: It’s similar for me. I don’t set goals for the season. What I can do best is get runs. Selection is out of control, so I don’t think too much about it. If the chance comes, I’ll be really happy, because the dream has always been to play for the country. I hope I can keep piling those runs and get the chance soon.What have been your experiences as part of the India A team?
Panchal: You face challenges that are different from what you face in domestic cricket. You watch other players, see their mental approach, and their attitude on the field. If you learn from that, it really helps. It’s a big step up in quality from domestic cricket because you’re going to face 15 players who have been chosen because they have performed in their domestic leagues. They are the top players there, and we are the top players here.Easwaran: It’s been a learning process with India A, playing against different oppositions, against good quality bowlers, who have played international cricket. I’ve played in West Indies, England and New Zealand, so we get to play in lots of different conditions. That is something you’ll face when you play Test cricket. That is a big gain. Then spending time with cricketers who have done really well – our team-mates and the opposition as well – that also helps. With Rahul [Dravid] sir being there, he was a big plus for us. You have a person like that with you, it’s always really nice.What have you learnt from Dravid?
Easwaran: There was a Ranji season where I was just getting 50s, 60s in whatever tour I was going on. But he told me to just stay in the present. It’s not about the score, it’s about what I need to do right now. Like against a particular bowler, or on a particular pitch, what does my team need me to do? If I focus on that, I have a chance of batting longer and getting those runs.But this is the sort of input anyone can give. What did he say that was special?
Easwaran: It was not that I wasn’t batting well, I was. But I had this phobia, I think – before the match itself, I would come to him and say, ‘I’m getting out in the 60s’. So he just told me not to look at the scoreboard and keep focusing on the job in hand. It’s very simple, but the most effective thing that he could have told me. It worked for me and I’ve been doing it for a while now. It’s not about he said, but more that he told me exactly what I needed that time. We can always message him, say something like, ‘Sir, I need to talk to you for five minutes, what time can I call?’ He is open to us. He’s told us he’s available whenever we want. Right now, he’s not with us, but still we can call him if we want anything.Panchal: It’s human psychology also. When someone like Rahul Dravid tells you something, it makes a difference. We will naturally tend to believe what he has said. It comes with the weight of experience and of having done that, been through that. When I was appointed captain of an India A team, he came in the practice session and just told me, ‘don’t rush too much; I know you are the captain, and you have been given the opportunity, but it’s not necessary to try to do lots of things together.’ And I was doing that. You tend to become very excited. But he told me to just be normal, do as I’ve always been doing things. Let it come to me rather than go to fetch it. That was really important advice at that point of time.Easwaran: The thing with Rahul sir is that he won’t just come and talk to you randomly. He’ll say a few things, and those will be what you need at that time. He won’t speak for ten minutes, maybe just one minute. But that minute will be really important for you. When he’s in the dressing room, the mood itself is different.Panchal: (It’s a lot of fun).Abhimanyu Easwaran and Priyank Panchal – the man of the final and the victorious captain•Saurabh Somani/ESPNcricinfoYou’ve both had productive outings with India A in the past year, against Sri Lanka at home, and against West Indies away. Can you talk a bit on that?
Panchal: We had a great time against Sri Lanka. The pitches were not flat, but we managed to score 370-odd runs in a day. He made a 200, I made 160 and we had an amazing opening partnership. It was great to play their spinners, Akila Dananjaya and Lakshan Sandakan – we batted really well against them.West Indies was different from what we face in India. The pitches were difficult, but it was still possible to score runs. Chemar Holder particularly was bowling well. [Rahkeem] Cornwall also bowled well. The 58 runs I scored on the day 19 wickets fell was a top innings for me. We were five down for 20 or something [India A were 20 for 5 in the first innings, after West Indies A had made 318], and Holder was bowling really well.Easwaran: The Sri Lanka series was played at home so the pitches were similar to what we’ve been playing on for a long time. That partnership we had, for 350 or something, was a memorable one for me. Batting first on any wicket, if you put on 350 runs while opening, it’s a moral victory for your team. Dominating and winning that series 2-0 was something I really enjoyed.In West Indies, it was a different challenge. Playing with the Dukes ball in different conditions against bowlers who know their conditions better than we do – I think we did really well to win the series there. We had to adjust every single day. The pitches kept changing with the weather, and the Dukes ball under lights in a four-day game, that was a challenge I had never faced before. The quality of bowlers was really good. In the three games we played, the ball behaved differently in all three games.During your India A stints, you’ve had team-mates from the Indian side too. What have you learnt from them?
Easwaran: I played with Ajinkya Rahane, and I could see the seriousness he had for that match. For him, playing India A shouldn’t be that big a deal, but the way he was preparing was as if it was a Test match for him, which was really good to see. And his intensity on the field… I got to learn a lot from that. He’s come a level down from the Indian team, and he still had that intensity. He was very involved with us, talking to us, he knew all our names and everything.Panchal: We keep on asking the questions. It depends on your hunger, if you want to know something, you should go up to more experienced players and ask them. Nobody is going to come and just start telling you things, so you have to ask. I asked several players about how is it different in international cricket, how bowlers are at that level, how I can improve my game, things like that. And they are down to earth enough that you can ask those questions and they share everything. It ends up helping all cricketers, because the experiences they have shared with us, we will share with others.As opening batsmen, you need to have a bit of a bond going – Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer are the prime examples – to have greater success. So how do you build that bond since you don’t play for the same state?
Easwaran: The BCCI has helped us get that bond. We’ve been having seats together in the flight, and we were in the same team for the Duleep Trophy also… two eight-hour flights while going (to West Indies) and two eight-hour flights while returning. We were sat together throughout.[To Panchal] What’s your room number [in the hotel they were staying in]?Priyank: 192.Easwaran: I’m 194! The BCCI’s trying to keep us really close! It’s a great thing. If we stay as close in the middle the whole day, nothing better.

Forget Wirtz: Pep can replace De Bruyne with Man City's "future superstar"

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Last week, ahead of the Manchester derby, Kevin De Bruyne announced he will be leaving Manchester City at the end of the season, upon the expiration of his contract.

Pep Guardiola declared this a “sad day” for everyone connected to the club, hailing the Belgian as “one of the greatest” players to ever grace the Premier League with his presence.

kian-breckin-leeds-united-manchester-city-transfer-gossip-farke-kevin-de-bruyne

Considering De Bruyne scored 106 goals and registered 176 assists in 414 appearances for the Citizens, so far, winning 16 trophies, it’s easy to understand why.

This news, of course, immediately sparked plenty of transfer rumours, speculating who the Sky Blues may target to fill this gigantic void, but do Man City already boast a “future superstar” capable of becoming the next De Bruyne? Could they save themselves millions this summer?

Manchester City's interest in Wirtz and Gibbs-White

As reported by David Ornstein of the Athletic, Manchester City have both Florian Wirtz and Morgan Gibbs-White ‘among the options [they] will consider to replace’ the outgoing Kevin De Bruyne.

Morgan Gibbs-White for Nottingham Forest.

Adrian Kajumba and Lyall Thomas of Sky Sports outline how incoming sporting director Hugo Viana is driving much of the Citizens’ recruitment strategy, stating that he is ‘monitoring many players’.

TalkSPORT host Max Scott believes Gibbs-White has been “one of the best players in the Premier League” this season, with the Englishman having scored five goals and accumulated nine assists for Nottingham Forest.

Meantime, Ruairidh Barlow of Football España labels Wirtz a ‘generational talent’, citing Stephan von Nocks’ report in Kicker that claims the 21-year-old is likely to leave Bayer Leverkusen at the end of this season.

Of course, both are unquestionably high-quality talents, but do Man City already boast a bigger future star on their books?

Man City teenager could be the perfect De Bruyne replacement

Manchester City signed Claudio Echeverri from River Plate for a reported fee of £12.5m back in January 2024, before the teenager spent the remainder of the calendar year back on loan with la Banda.

His arrival in Manchester was then delayed further, as he was allowed to compete at the South American U20 Championship in Venezuela, a key figure in the Argentina team that finished second at the tournament, scoring six goals in nine matches.

Analyst Ben Mattinson labels Echeverri a “future superstar”, while journalist Guillem Balague believes he will be among the “next sensations” of Argentine football.

Meantime, writing in the Guardian’s Next Generation of 2023 series, Juan Carlos Pasman praises his ‘excellent close control and dribbling skills’ as well as his ‘exceptional first touch’ and ‘first-rate’ passing ability, labeling him a ‘classic number ten’.

As noted by Pro Future Stars, Echeverri ranks as the third-best ‘infiltrating midfielder’ aged 21 or under, as per CIES powered by Wyscout, so let’s assess his career statistics so far.

River Plate

48

4

8

Argentina U20s

12

6

3

Argentina Olympics

4

1

0

The table outlines both that Echeverri has end-product, especially showing this for Argentina’s U20s, but that he is also very inexperienced, having played a little over 2,500 minutes at senior level for River Plate.

Thus, he is still yet to feature in a matchday squad for Manchester City, hoping that Guardiola will hand him his debut before the end of the season, or perhaps during this summer’s Club World Cup.

So, while it is probably a big ask to expect Echeverri to replace De Bruyne straight away, he is certainly showing the potential to do so one day. As such, the Citizens could potentially save themselves from forking our for the likes of Wirtz and Gibbs-White this summer.

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Ferguson must finally ditch Dessers to unleash 14-goal Rangers hero

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Glasgow Rangers return to Premiership action this weekend after their midweek heroics in the Europa League.

This has become something of a recurring theme for the Ibrox side over the previous few seasons, as they have reached the last 16 of the competition every season except one since 2019/20. Although they did compete in the Champions League during the 2022/23 season.

The tie against Aberdeen is effectively a dead rubber for the Light Blues, as they will finish second in the table regardless of what happens this weekend.

Barry Ferguson

All eyes will be on the return leg against Athletic Bilbao in Spain on Thursday evening. A 0-0 result during the first leg, which saw Robin Propper sent off after 12 minutes, along with Liam Kelly saving a penalty, means the Gers have a fighting chance of making it to the semi-finals.

There were a few poor performers during the first leg, however, and this should force Barry Ferguson into making a change or two, especially with the return tie in mind.

One player who should be dropped against the Dons is Cyriel Dessers, who was dismal against the La Liga side.

Cyriel Dessers' game in numbers vs Bilbao

The 30-year-old was tasked with leading the line in place of Hamza Igamane, which was perhaps seen as a bit of a surprise given their contrasting form in the competition.

Nevertheless, Dessers had scored against Manchester United and Fenerbahçe, with hopes high that he could repeat the feat against Spanish opposition.

Unfortunately, he didn’t have the best of games for the Light Blues. Typically, Dessers missed a big chance, while failing to even register a single shot on target during his 85 minutes on the pitch.

The striker managed to take just 18 touches, completed four of his ten passes and won only 40% of his total duels contested against Bilbao, offering next to nothing in the final third.

Despite his decent scoring record for the club – netting 45 goals in 102 appearances – he is always going to be a point of discussion among the fanbase.

Assistant manager Neil McCann said of the striker last week: “Cyriel Dessers will always divide opinion because he will miss chances, but this is the life of a striker. I was so proud of him after the game because he didn’t stop pushing and making runs – we need to create chances for him and that is what we are doing.”

That said, should he now be replaced?

Why Cyriel Dessers must be dropped by Rangers

In December, journalist Scott Bradley criticised the striker, saying: “I’ve had a lot of patience with Cyriel Dessers, but Rangers need to cut ties with him in January. He’s the most frustrating player I’ve watched at Ibrox. I’ve never seen a player quite like him, but it’s clear as day he’s not got the mentality to play for Rangers.”

Rangers didn’t move him on during the January transfer window, but it might be a possibility that he moves on in the summer, especially considering it could be the ideal time to cash in with two years left on his deal.

With changes expected ahead of the Aberdeen clash, Ferguson will be keen to give minutes to those who haven’t featured as often in the last few weeks.

Could this see Igamane return to the starting XI? He will need some minutes in the legs ahead of the second leg next Thursday. Igamane has already scored once against the Dons this season, netting in the comfortable 3-0 victory back in January.

Before his winner against Celtic midway through March, that was his last Premiership goal and there has been a slight downturn in his form in recent weeks, no doubt about that.

Goals

10

4

Assists

1

1

Shots per game

2.8

1.4

Goal conversion percentage

13%

31%

Big chances created

9

1

The overall feeling, however, is that his maiden season at Rangers has been an overwhelming success. Across 40 matches in all competitions for the club, the 22-year-old has scored 14 goals and grabbed three assists.

This works out as a goal contribution once every 2.3 matches. Given how poorly received he was on arrival last summer, he has proven plenty of his critics wrong.

In recent weeks. Ferguson has deployed Igamane on the left wing in order to cater for Dessers as his main option through the middle.

Hamza Igamane

The Moroccan international is at his best when operating in a central role, especially as his hold-up play is far better than his senior teammate.

Indeed, journalist Joshua Barrie noted after the 0-0 result in midweek that Igamane had made nine successful passes/carries during his 15-minute cameo at Ibrox.

In comparison, Dessers only managed eight successful passes/carries across 85 minutes of action on the pitch. It is clear that the youngster is far better at linking up play, carrying the ball into the final third and is much more energetic.

Starting him against Aberdeen would allow the centre-forward to get some vital minutes in his legs ahead of the second leg against Bilbao, where he must start.

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A goal or two against the Pittodrie outfit would certainly bolster his confidence, that’s for sure.

Football Insider reported last month that Everton are looking to make a move for the African sensation when the summer transfer window opens up in a few months.

No fee has been mentioned as yet, but whoever arrives as the new permanent manager of Rangers will surely be looking at maximising the profit so that he has some funds to work with this summer.

And what about Dessers? Will the new boss retain his services? That will depend on his style of play and whether there is scope for him in the first-team squad next term.

Whatever happens, Igamane must be used to leading the line, especially against Bilbao next week. Replacing Dessers for the trip north this afternoon must be the one change that Ferguson has to make, especially if he wishes to lead the Ibrox side to their second European semi-final in just three years.

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Rangers trio worth £5m to leave Ibrox after Athletic Bilbao defeat

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Rangers are now certain to end the Scottish Premiership campaign trophyless after bowing out of the Europa League on Thursday night, with all eyes now turning to the summer window and how Barry Ferguson’s side can rebuild.

Rangers out of Europa League after defeat to Athletic Bilbao

The Gers battled for every inch of grass against Bilbao during their blockbuster quarter-final second leg in Spain, but the hosts and star young winger Nico Williams’ quality eventually proved too much for them.

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One of Europe’s most in-demand young forwards was a nightmare to deal with, and sealed Bilbao’s place in the semi-finals with a late header at Ferguson’s expense – ending the 90 as deserved winners overall.

There are many pundits and supporters alike who are convinced Rangers should’ve been awarded two penalties, one for the glaring shirt pull on Cyriel Dessers, and another for handball inside the box. It’s hard to argue against their case, particularly for Dessers, so the game wasn’t without its controversy.

While they couldn’t quite get past Bilbao on the night, there were promising signs from Ferguson’s men, who fashioned chances of their own against very tough opposition in the La Liga heavyweights, but didn’t quite have the ruthlessness to finish them off.

“The work-rate was there, but the quality at times wasn’t, and I spoke about that to the players after the game,” said Ferguson on Rangers’ defeat to Bilbao.

“They understand that as well. It’s going to hurt, this one, but we need to go away and reflect a bit. That’s not just the players but myself too. Then we need to come on Monday morning and finish the season as strongly as possible. They’re disappointed because they know the qualities we’ve got.

“They worked hard enough and that’s never been in doubt since I’ve come through the door. It’s just that quality in the middle third, and final third that we just didn’t quite get right. I want them to hurt because I’m hurting. We’re all disappointed but we have five games not and we need 15 points.”

Rangers players tipped to leave as part of Ibrox overhaul

With the summer window looming, Rangers must now regroup and prepare for next campaign, where they will be looking to knock Old Firm rivals Celtic off their perch.

BBC journalist Tom English, speaking to Sportsround on Thursday night after the defeat to Bilbao (via Ibrox News), suggested that out-of-contract trio Tom Lawrence, Ianis Hagi and Neraysho Kasanwirjo – who all carry a market value worth of a combined £5 million according to Transfermarkt – could be in line for Ibrox exits, alongside Leon Balogun.

Tom Lawrence

“Tom Lawrence is out of contract,” he said. “[Ianis] Hagi is out of contract, [Neraysho] Kasanwirjo, [Leon] Balogun, so they can maybe do something there, but they need to get rid of more, and they need to bring in more.”

However, before any new arrivals come in, the club must make a decision on whether to hand Ferguson the full-time manager role or employ another name for the hot seat. According to recent reports, Steven Gerrard is among the managerial names in contention for the Rangers job.

Chelsea preparing £43m offer for "surprising" new striker target

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Chelsea are reportedly preparing a bid to sign a new striker target who’s been “surprising” on-lookers with his form this year, as manager Enzo Maresca and Stamford Bridge chiefs begin to make transfer plans for the summer.

Chelsea's rumoured striker targets for the summer window

Nicolas Jackson is still yet to score a single Premier League goal this calendar year, while Christopher Nkunku was left out of the matchday squad entirely for Chelsea’s last game against Fulham.

Chelsea join race to sign £43m forward who scored winner at Stamford Bridge

The Blues have set their sights on a Premier League forward who has “blistering pace”.

ByDominic Lund Apr 22, 2025

Maresca’s shortage of prolific strikers has forced the Italian to get creative in recent weeks, with Pedro Neto even being utilised as a centre-forward in that time. Chelsea’s boss will be very eager to fix this hole in the squad ahead of his second full campaign in charge, and it is believed the west Londoners are eyeing a few top striker targets for next season.

Everton (home)

April 26th

Liverpool (home)

May 4th

Newcastle (away)

May 11th

Man United (home)

May 16th

Nottingham Forest (away)

May 25th

According to reliable journalist Simon Phillips, Chelsea have the likes of RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, Ipswich Town starlet Liam Delap, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitiké and long-term target Victor Osimhen on their radar.

Sesko is a “very serious” potential signing for Chelsea, following another excellent campaign with Leipzig in the Bundesliga, while Delap is likely to be up for grabs this summer after Ipswich’s relegation to the Championship.

Sesko

The latter’s contract has a £30 million release clause tied with Ipswich’s relegation, so Delap could be a very astute option after his impressive season in an otherwise struggling team at Portman Road.

However, other elite clubs who are on the look-out for number nines will be fully aware of the 22-year-old’s exit clause too, and Sesko’s, which is rumoured to currently stand at around £62 million.

With Arsenal, Man United and Tottenham also in the market for proven forwards, according to reports, the competition will be fierce, so Chelsea may also have to think outside the box when it comes to solving their striker woes.

Chelsea preparing £43m bid for Como star Assane Diao

According to reports out of Spain, it is now claimed that Chelsea are targeting Como’s new striker, Assane Diao.

Assane Diao for Como.

The Senegal international only just signed for Cesc Fabregas’ side in January, and has enjoyed a rip-roaring first few months of his Serie A career with eight goals from his last 15 top flight matches.

There is now a belief that Chelsea are preparing a £43m summer bid for Diao after being impressed by his excellent form at Como, with the 19-year-old “surprising” critics after a prolific start.

Liverpool have also been linked with a move for Diao, so he’s clearly turning heads in the Premier League, with journalist Antonio Mango also calling the teenage talent “ridiculous” within his first few weeks as a Como player.

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