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One area of Everton’s squad Marco Silva is looking to improve is at left-back. Sky Sports have recently reported that the Toffees have targeted Bayer Leverkusen’s Wendell and Germany international Marvin Plattenhardt. But according to the Daily Mirror, the Merseyside club could now turn their attention towards Celtic prodigy Kieran Tierney in a move that must absolutely be pursued.  

The Breakdown

At 33, Everton’s current first-choice left-back Leighton Baines is coming towards the end of his Goodison Park career and possibly his time in the Premier League. TEAMtalk reports that the England international could be set to join former team-mate Wayne Rooney in the MLS.

Baines is at the age where he won’t be able to play 38 games a season or have the influence he once did on the left flank from a very physically demanding position and role. But he’d still be a useful asset to have and selling him would see Everton needing to sign two new left-backs during this transfer window.

Nevertheless, regardless of Baines’ situation, Everton need a left-back for both now and in the future.

In that regard, £4.5m-rated (via Transfermarkt) Tierney is the ideal candidate. At 21 years of age, Tierney is still in the very early days of his career, yet already has a tonne of experience under his belt having cemented the position of first-choice left-back at Celtic.

As well as making appearances in the Champions League, Tierney has also played for the Scotland national team, further indicating the sort of footballing maturity he possesses despite being so young.

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With all of that in mind, Tierney is a player that Celtic aren’t going to let go without putting up a fight. Any potential transfer is going to be an expensive one, while Everton would likely face competition for the Scotland international’s services, with the Times having recently reported on interest from Manchester United.

Everton, though, must put themselves at the front of the queue if there’s even a remote chance of signing Tierney this summer

According to reports in The Mirror, Everton are interested in signing £25m-rated West Bromwich Albion defender Jonny Evans in the summer, although he could be available for as little as £3m.

What’s the word, then?

Well, The Mirror says that the 30-year-old has a clause in his Baggies contract that will allow him to leave for just £3m if the west Midlands outfit suffer relegation to the Championship.

That is certainly on the cards right now as Alan Pardew’s side lie seven points from safety with just 10 Premier League matches left to play this term.

The Mirror says that Sam Allardyce is keen to bring the Northern Ireland international to Goodison Park if he is to stay in charge next season, although he could face competition for his signature from top flight rivals West Ham United and Leicester City, while Arsenal and Manchester City were also keen on the West Brom captain during the January transfer window.

How has Evans done this season?

The Baggies skipper missed their first three Premier League matches of the season – in which they picked up seven of the 20 points they currently have – and the club and the versatile defender went 19 games without tasting success before they beat Brighton and Hove Albion in January.

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Evans has played at both centre-back and left-back for the west Midlands outfit during the current campaign, but he was also involved in the incident during a mid-season training break in Barcelona where he and three of his teammates stole a taxi, which saw him stripped of the captaincy for one game before he was reinstated into the role by manager Alan Pardew.

Would he be a good signing for Everton?

He certainly could be, yes.

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Evans would arrive at Goodison Park with plenty of experience and quality, and his leadership skills would come in handy in a Toffees backline that has struggled in particular this season.

The 30-year-old is also a very good defender and is calm in possession, and the fact that he could cost just £3m should mean that he is a no-brainer target for the Merseyside outfit, whether Allardyce is in charge next term or not.

It’s almost here! After months of checking release dates, countless play throughs of the demo and anxiously waiting for the postman/shop to open, FIFA 15 lands tomorrow.

You probably don’t need us to tell you who to use, but we’ll offer some gentle guidance and point you in the direction of Manchester United. Unlike in reality, the Red Devils look to be a very good team of choice for your living room, and here are FOUR reasons why…

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CLICK ON FALCAO TO REVEAL THE FOUR REASONS

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It could be worse Nando, you could be one of these guys…

[ffcvideo file=”TopFiveVideosoftheWeek” type=”mp4″]

Attack, attack, attack

With Radamel Falcao, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, Manchester United have three players in the top 25 rated on the game. Rooney is the weakest option, but with a rating of 86 he’ll still be his usual self and could be a real threat in an attacking midfield role.

Angel di Maria

Away from the strikers, Angel di Maria is one to look out for. Rated at 86 with four stars for skill moves, the Argentine will be a real threat from a deeper role, and the sort of player you can use to humiliate opponents with just a touch of the right joystick.

A challenge on career mode

United’s quest to get back into the Champions League can become your aim in career mode. To be fair, it should be a lot easier than Louis van Gaal is actually making it look, with the club’s armoury the envy of many sides across Europe.

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Defence shouldn’t be the issue it actually is

United’s backline in the right hands should be okay on FIFA 15. Get your tactics right and drop Tyler Blackett, and who knows, you may be able to keep a clean sheet at Leicester… Besides, Mats Hummels should be easier to sign in career mode than in real life.

As the ‘Golden Generation’ of the last decade begin to close the book on their England careers, the need for an injection of fresh blood to the squad has never been more apparent.

The temptation to repeatedly select players long in the football tooth has seemingly become difficult to resist for Roy Hodgson as he attempts to guarantee safe passage to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Stalwarts like Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard have had their time in the sun on the international scene and, while effective against inferior nations; their influence is minimal against countries sitting in the upper echelons of the FIFA rankings.

That’s not to imply that Gerrard or Lampard are necessarily bad players, but a perennial lack of success warrants change. Continually relying on senior players year after year has proven to be a backwards step for the Three Lions in the quest to end 46 years without a major tournament success.

Upon Hodgson’s appointment in May it was expected that he would re-evaluate the selection process and alter the makeup of a squad that has operated with an indistinguishable core since the turn of the Millennium.

Establishing a new youthful backbone and building a fresh, vibrant team from the nations most promising talent is an unsatisfied craving that supporters have been unable to shake.

Taking a leaf out of the Capital One Cup’s book would be a positive step for a start. A competition now regarded as the premier breeding ground for clubs to educate their young players.

Sir Alex Ferguson and then Arsene Wenger pioneered the idea that the competition would better serve the younger members on the fringes of the first team squad and exposure to top-level football would aid in their development. Furthermore it’s an exhibition of faith from a manager to a wild-eyed teenager taking his first steps into the professional game

Initially the concept was dismissed as undermining and disrespecting the heritage of a cup held in high regard by English football’s elite. Ferguson’s decision to use it to nurture his young stars caused such a stir that his selection policy was even raised at the Houses of Parliament in 1994.

It even went as far as Port Vale fans signing a petition against the Manchester United manager’s plans to field a weakened side. Yet more and more teams are following his and Wenger’s lead in giving their fresh faced brood an opportunity to impress, showcase their talent and ultimately prove whether they have what it takes to become a regular part of the senior setup.

David Beckham certainly reaped the benefits of Ferguson’s plan, as did Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Nicky Butt, Simon Davies and Keith Gillespie. They all featured in that controversial tie with Port Vale and all went on to become regulars in the Premier League and for their countries at international level.

That’s not forgetting Cesc Fabregas either who, at 16 years and 177 days old, become the youngest player in Arsenal’s history, making his debut in the League Cup against Rotherham United at Highbury and literally ran the show.

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Sticking with youth and fostering a new ‘Golden Generation’ is the unenviable task laid out in front of Hodgson. Replacing the likes of Gerrard, Lampard and John Terry was never going to be easy, but persevering with youth is certainly the way forward if England are to progress.

Thankfully it seems as if Hodgson has heeded the demand for change with 28 of his recent call-ups aged 25 or under and 14 members of the current squad coming in under that radius. Of course a few familiar faces remain but it’s clear that the core of the team is taking on a new identity.

And as Ferguson and Wenger have shown in the League Cup in years gone by, being bold and persisting with youth propagates success. Whether Hodgson stays bold and sticks with this policy remains to be seen.

He will be accompanied by Pakistan assistant coach Azhar Mahood, who is currently with the team in Cape Town

Danyal Rasool05-Jan-2025Pakistan opener Saim Ayub will travel to London to have his ankle fracture treated. The PCB, who had earlier said he would stay with the team and fly back to Pakistan at the end of the Newlands Test match, has decided instead to send him to London for specialist treatment straightaway. He will be accompanied by Pakistan assistant coach Azhar Mahood, who is currently with the team in Cape Town.The PCB has in the past taken criticism for the manner in which player injuries have been handled, and are looking to draw a line under that chapter. In 2022, Shaheen Afridi, who also suffered an on-field injury, travelled with the team initially before ultimately being sent to London, though not before mounting criticism of the decision not to proceed with immediate treatment.PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi emphasised the quality of care he believed Ayub would get, saying he would be treated at the “best hospital in the world”.Related

• Fakhar Zaman aims for Champions Trophy comeback

• Saim Ayub in Champions Trophy fitness race after suffering ankle fracture

• Ayub ruled out of Cape Town Test after suffering ankle injury

“Saim Ayub will be checked up by the sports ortho specialist doctors in England as an immediate appointment has been made by the PCB. All resources will be used for his treatment.”Ayub had to be stretchered off the pitch in just the seventh over of the match, when Ryan Rickelton edged a delivery through the slips, sending Ayub off on a chase to deep third alongside Aamer Jamal. Jamal pulled it back in as Ayub stood poised to be the relay fielder, but lost his balance and twisted his ankle. He went down immediately and appeared in anguish holding the lower part of his leg as the physio rushed on.Despite prolonged treatment outside the boundary line, Ayub was unable to put any weight on his right ankle, and appeared to be in tears as he was placed on to a stretcher and taken off. He was later seen on crutches in the medical boot. The PCB later said he would be ruled out for six weeks, which puts him in a race against time to be fit for the Champions Trophy, which begins on February 19.

Where previously Pakistan have collapsed upon the dismissal of the top order, today Pakistan’s middle order took charge from the depths of 38 for 3 to set up the win

Danyal Rasool06-Oct-20231:05

Steyn: De Leede rewarded for consistent line and length

It wasn’t the perfect performance but, at the moment, good enough will do for Pakistan, and good enough is exactly what they achieved. In a staccato showing where bursts of inspiration were interspersed with spells of shaky mediocrity, Babar Azam’s side eventually eased to an 81-run win over the Netherlands despite Bas de Leede’s all-round heroics. The 23-year-old allrounder was at times a one-man bulwark against Pakistan, but thanks to fifties from Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan managed 286. Pakistan had enough bowling firepower to overwhelm Netherlands, with Haris Rauf blowing the game open through the middle overs and always leaving the game just out of Dutch hands.Netherlands looked dangerous in the first powerplay, opening with spin that troubled both Pakistan’s left-hand openers. There was nothing to suggest a return to form for Fakhar Zaman, who tamely lobbed one back to Logan van Beek. But the Dutch got an even bigger boost with two wickets in five balls towards the end of the powerplay. Babar Azam failed to get underneath a long hop from Colin Ackermann and spooned one up to short midwicket, before a bouncer from Paul van Meekeren grew big on Imam-ul-Haq, who hooked it down fine leg’s throat.But where previously Pakistan have collapsed upon the dismissal of the top order, today Pakistan’s middle order took charge from those depths of 38 for 3. Saud Shakeel, who was drafted into the World Cup squad late, put on something of a clinic, a delightful innings that stabilised the innings alongside the predictably reliable Mohammad Rizwan. It slowly took the momentum back from Netherlands, and fairly soon, the runs and boundaries began to flow.Saud, who until two months earlier was viewed as someone too stodgy for the shorter formats, took charge, and raced along to a 32-ball half-century without seemingly taking a risk. Anything full from the fast bowlers went back down the ground, while the footwork to the spinners was immaculate. The innings was a thing of technical brilliance, and remarkably effective. Before long they brought up a 100-partnership, and Pakistan were back in control.He found himself punished by the first false shot he played, a toe-edge off Aryan Dutt flying into the air, and suddenly Netherlands clawed momentum back again. Soon after Rizwan, who had played his part in that stand, found himself undone by a sensational indipper from de Leede, who also removed Iftikhar Ahmed later in the same over.It was only a punchy 64-run stand between Pakistan’s spin-bowling allrounders Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan that guided them back to smoother waters, bringing up the 250 and ensuring they’d have something to bowl at. But Netherlands, and de Leede in particular, kept hitting back with wickets, and prevented Pakistan from batting out their full quota, bowling them out for 286 in 49 overs.Netherlands started brightly despite the early loss of Max O’Dowd. It was Hasan Ali who felled him with a shorter ball that flew to deep fine leg, but Vikramjit Singh took the attack to Pakistan and ensured his side were making the most of the powerplay. Ackermann joined him before a rash shot off Iftikhar brought about a relatively early departure.Poor shot selection was something of a running theme through the Dutch innings, but the third wicket partnership that was about to arrive gave Pakistan a true scare. It was the irrepressible de Leede, perhaps predictably, at the heart of it, taking over from Singh as the aggressor-in-chief, a remarkable six off Nawaz over long-on making his intentions plain. Singh, who had a brief lull in the middle and struggled with footwork and timing, rediscovered his form alongside de Leede, smacking Shadab for a six soon after as Netherlands began to pile on the pressure.But as soon as he brought up his half-century, he fell to a long hop from Shadab. The shot was on, but the execution failed as a bottom edge found the cow-corner fielder, and from thereon, the game began to slip from Dutch control. De Leede continued to motor along with ease and elegance, but Rauf, returning for a short middle overs spell, took two in three balls to blow through the Dutch innings. A short ball was pulled to midwicket by Teja Nidamanuru before captain Scott Edwards was trapped in front second ball. Haris might easily have had a third the next delivery if Iftikhar hadn’t dropped a dolly at first slip, but either way, the game was in Pakistan’s hands now.De Leede remained true to the belligerence that makes him such a compelling watch, tonking Rauf for a six one ball after a nasty bouncer, and bringing up his own half-century. But there was little support from the other end, and Logan van Beek was severely hampered by a hamstring issue. Shaheen struck to remove the struggling Saqib Zulfiqar before Nawaz took the prize scalp of de Leede, a little extra turn knocking back his off stump.Van Beek could only stand and deliver, and he tried that for a while, particularly during a last wicket stand with van Meekeren. It ensured Netherlands moved past 200 and the defeat was cut down to a two-digit margin. Perhaps inevitably, the final wicket went to Rauf as he cleaned up van Meekeren with a bail-trimmer, securing Pakistan an imperfect, if decisive, win. There is much room for improvement, and with two points and a healthy net run rate on the board, they have three days to achieve it before they take on Sri Lanka also in Hyderabad.

The Queensland wicketkeeper-batter reflects on his late Australia A call-up and the runs which then flowed

Andrew McGlashan18-Jul-2022Which Australian batter had the best tour of Sri Lanka?Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith both made excellent centuries. Cameron Green played a match-winning hand in the first Test. Glenn Maxwell had his moments in the white-ball matches.However, none of them made 208 runs in three innings without being dismissed.That honour went to Jimmy Peirson, the Queensland wicketkeeper-batter, who was a late addition to the Australia A squad and produced a magnificent performance in the second four-day game against Sri Lanka A in Hambantota, where he made unbeaten scores of 67 and 128 – the latter as the Australians successfully chased 367 for victory.Related

• Peirson lauds impact of Labuschagne and Khawaja for Queensland

• How Green's foresight helped reach the zone of proximal development

• Progress made, but subcontinent cracks still present for Australia

Add in a little unbeaten 13 not out during the first four-day match when he was subbed in after Travis Head was called into an injury-hit ODI squad and Peirson had the ultimate red-inker.Peirson knew he was a reserve for the A tour, and had been training in Brisbane alongside the rest of the squad before they departed, and some of the senior group who used the year-round facilities to get up to speed. He also had to renew his passport, which, as many people are finding out now that travel is reopening, can easily be overlooked.”It was a good job I got that done because it all happened pretty fast in the end,” Peirson told ESPNcricinfo. “My mindset going into the tour was, I’m not even meant to be here so, I didn’t even expect to play, thought I’d be running drinks. So to get one-and-a-half games I was just over the moon. Just so pleased to have an impact.”I wouldn’t say it exceeded my expectations, but I certainly didn’t go out thinking I’d score [those] runs and not be dismissed. But I knew in the conditions we had, there was no reason if I applied myself and did the basics for a long period I couldn’t score runs.”Ahead of the tour, Peirson had trained extensively alongside Nathan Lyon before he flew out for the Tests and had also leant on the experience of Queensland team-mates Usman Khawaja and Joe Burns. He worked on improving his sweeping, including adding a reverse, but in the end, more traditional skills worked well on the tour where the pitches for the A series were much flatter than those produced for the Tests.”Conversations I had with the guys who had been there were probably the most beneficial rather than the actual skill component itself,” he said. “In terms of how I’d play spin, I spoke to Gaz [Lyon] and Uzzie [Khawaja] about some technical tweaks and they spoke about how you defend the ball over there when it’s spinning.”Joe Burns said go there expecting the wickets to be flat for the A series because often that’s the way they do things. So don’t go across with preconceived ideas, and I was so glad we had that chat because I was like, okay, it’s going to be good batting conditions and if it spins I’ve done the work. If it’s flat, fill your boots.”It was Peirson’s first trip to Sri Lanka and his first time in the subcontinent since a Queensland Cricket sponsored trip in 2016. He had also previously been on an Under-19 tour in 2011-12 but admitted he was now a very different cricketer.”Felt my game is entirely different now to when I was over there as a youngster,” he said. “I was very immature and didn’t really think about the game a whole lot. Going across now is massively important to my game in terms of the learning side and loved every minute.”Of the second match, where Australia A ended up knocking off their hefty target with relative ease, Peirson said that conditions had remained good for batting for right-handers throughout, but the challenge was greater for the left-handers. That is borne out by the scorecard where he, Henry Hunt and Aaron Hardie did the bulk of the scoring while Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw fell cheaply to offspinner Lakshitha Manasinghe, who was later added to Sri Lanka’s Test squad.”The whole time we were speaking about winning the game, how we’d do that, so to contribute was a lovely reward for confidence in my own game,” Peirson said. “It’s an A series, but to do it at that level, if a chance was to come at Test level, it’s another thing ticked off. I feel as though I have a game that can adapt and be successful in various conditions. It was such a great experience.”Alex Carey, the No. 1 wicketkeeper-batter in Australia, seemingly has the Test spot locked down for the foreseeable future•AFP

So what of the chance to play Test cricket? It’s a fight for a lone position. Alex Carey, despite a difficult second Test in Galle, came out of the Pakistan and Sri Lanka tours in credit and seemingly has the spot locked down for the foreseeable future. Josh Inglis has been the back-up gloveman across all formats over the last few months, but Peirson has put together two impressive seasons on both sides of the stumps for Queensland.He has an eye on more opportunities for Australia A with that programme set to expand after being largely dormant during the pandemic and the lure of next year’s Ashes tour to England is strong.”It’s the age-old thing, especially in places like Australia and England, you’ve always got all these keepers,” he said. “Think it’s a good problem to have, all scoring runs and keeping well, and all you can do is if you get opportunities take them. Prepare the best I can do.”Obviously there’s an away Ashes next summer. I’d love to get over and play some sort of cricket in England. I’ve played premier league cricket quite a few years ago now but would love to experience those conditions again and develop my game.”If I don’t play Test cricket that would be a frustration, but all I can do is when I’m done, sit in my armchair and know that I did everything I could. If that opportunity doesn’t come, that’s the way it is. The game has been very good to me.”It’s not to say I don’t want to do it, [it] drives me every day to play Test cricket. But if circumstances don’t see that happen, that’s the way it goes. You can’t control those things. I’m just loving my cricket, in a really nice place with my game, my family life, so just appreciating every opportunity I get.”

In ODIs, Jonny Bairstow and Matt Henry entered the top ten among batsmen and bowlers respectively

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Mar-2021Virat Kohli has moved up to No. 4 in the latest T20I rankings for batsmen following his unbeaten 80 in the final T20I against England in Ahmedabad, which helped India clinch the five-match series 3-2.Kohli went past KL Rahul, and now has 762 rating points. Rahul, who had a horror run with the bat with scores of 1, 0, 0 and 14 in the series, has slipped to No. 5.Despite England losing the series, Dawid Malan, who scored a 46-ball 68 in the last game, continued to top the table with 892 rating points. Aaron Finch (No. 2, 830 points) and Babar Azam (No. 3, 801 points) are the others in the top five.In the ODI rankings, Jonny Bairstow climbed four places after his blazing 66-ball 94 in the first ODI against India in Pune. He is now in the seventh spot with 775 rating points.Kohli continued to occupy the No. 1 spot among ODI batsmen, with Azam and Rohit Sharma battling for the second position. With 837 rating points, Azam is No. 2, and Sharma, with one point fewer, is at No. 3.Among bowlers, Adil Rashid gained one spot to be at No. 4 in T20Is, where South Africa’s Tabraiz Shamsi is at the pole position, with a lead of 14 points over No. 2 Rashid Khan.New Zealand seamer Matt Henry is now ranked eighth among ODI bowlers, having gained three places since the last update, while Trent Boult continued to head the list.

India’s captain has echoed Rohit Sharma’s opinion that the wicketkeeper-batsman needs to be ‘left alone’

Deivarayan Muthu in Hyderabad05-Dec-20193:35

We certainly believe in Rishabh Pant’s ability – Virat Kohli

“”India’s captain Virat Kohli has joined white-ball vice-captain Rohit Sharma in backing wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who has come under intense scrutiny over the last few months, both in front of and behind the stumps.On the eve of the T20I series opener against West Indies in Hyderabad, Kohli urged fans not to chant MS Dhoni’s name in the stands and ramp up the pressure on Pant. Dhoni, Pant’s predecessor behind the stumps in the white-ball teams, hasn’t played for India since the ODI World Cup in July, but he hasn’t announced his retirement yet and could still have an outside chance of playing next year’s T20 World Cup in Australia.ALSO READ – 15 out of 30: Who will make the cut for India’s T20 World Cup squad?In the ODI series decider against Australia earlier this year at the Feroz Shah Kotla, Pant’s home ground, spectators had chanted “Dhoni! Dhoni! Dhoni!” after a failed review from Pant.Reportedly, the crowd in Rajkot also chanted Dhoni’s name after Pant fluffed a chance to stump Bangladesh’s Liton Das, having gathered the ball marginally in front of the stumps. As a result, the delivery was deemed a no-ball.”We certainly believe in Rishabh’s ability,” Kohli said. “When you say it’s the player’s responsibility to work hard, perform and do all those things, I agree. But I think it’s the collective responsibility of everyone around as well to give that player some space to do so as well. If he misses a chance or something, people can’t shout ‘MS!’ in the stadium. It’s not respectful, if I have to put it that way.”No player would like that to happen. If you’re playing in your own country, you should get support rather than always thinking what mistake is this guy going to make. No one wants to be in that position.”A bat- and gloves-wielding Rishabh Pant wears a grin•BCCI

After the Rajkot T20I against Bangladesh, Rohit, who led the team in Kohli’s absence, threw his weight behind Pant, saying he must be “allowed to do what he wants to do on the field”. Kohli echoed Rohit’s comments and believed that Pant could translate his success as an attacking force in the IPL to international cricket if he’s given the space to do so.”As Rohit rightly pointed out as well, he needs to be left alone. We know he’s a match-winner and once he comes good you will see a different version of him – which you’ve seen in the IPL already because he’s free, he’s relaxed there,” Kohli said. “He feels that there’s a lot more respect when it comes to his ability and what he can achieve for the team. I think he needs to feel that a bit more around him.”He can’t be isolated to an extent that he gets nervous on the field. If you want him to do well and win matches for the team, all of us collectively need to make him feel like he belongs, and we’re here to do things for him rather than against him.”When asked if India might consider bumping Pant to the top of the order, in the absence of the injured Shikhar Dhawan, Kohli reckoned that the top four pick themselves, with KL Rahul slated to open with Rohit.”Not really, in the Indian team if you look at the top three or four batsmen right now, [they have set positions],” he said. “I mentioned this about [Wriddhiman] Saha as well when I was asked in Kolkata ‘how do you see him playing shorter formats and so on’. And I said, in IPL you have eight teams. And you have a lot more players who can play in lot more positions. You have to figure out who are the best guys to do the job at a particular position.”

The allrounder has picked up a side strain and will be replaced in the squad

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Oct-2018Allrounder Liam Dawson has been ruled out* of the rest of England’s tour of Sri Lanka after suffering a side strain. Joe Denly, who is in the Test squad, has been called up as his replacement.Dawson, who has been in the XI for the opening two matches, sat out training on Monday, ahead of the third one-day international against Sri Lanka in Pallekele. After the injury was assessed by medical staff, the decision was taken to send him home, with PCA Players’ Player of the Year Denly coming out to Sri Lanka early.Denly has been preparing for his return to the England set-up after more than eight years, having been selected for the Test party following two impressive seasons with Kent in which his batting has been rejuvenated and his legspin a surprise success across the formats. He will arrive in Pallekele on Wednesday, hours before the third ODI, and could at some stage win his first one-day cap since the 2009 Champions Trophy.England have fielded three frontline spinners at the start of the series – Dawson joining Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid in the side – so unless Denly steps off the plane and straight into the side, it will likely mean a different balance and the chance for one of the other seamers to come into the team. Joe Root’s offspin could help cover for Dawson’s absence if required.Mark Wood, Tom Curran and Sam Curran have been carrying the drinks so far after England opted for a spin-heavy attack and also preferred Olly Stone to share the new ball with Chris Woakes.Dawson claimed one wicket in England’s victory in Dambulla, hustling through the overs alongside Moeen to ensure the 20-over mark was reached before rain arrived, meaning the result would stand without needing the reserve day. Early wickets for Woakes and Stone, during an impressive first spell at international level, had left Sri Lanka well behind the DLS target.
There was an extra visitor to England’s training session on Tuesday when a cobra was spotted by groundstaff behind the pavilion. It was removed with the help of a drain pipe and a sack. England’s players had spent some of their downtime in Dambulla getting up close with local wildlife around their hotel and on safari – some posted on Instagram holding a python – but it’s unlikely many would be volunteering to get too close on this occasion.It isn’t the first time, however, that England’s cricketers have encountered snakes in Sri Lanka. On the 2007 tour, two were spotted on the boundary’s edge during a warm-up match in Colombo. Matthew Hoggard was among the players keen for a closer look that day.*6PM BST – This story was updated with news of Denly replacing Dawson