All posts by h716a5.icu

The former Zimbabwe captain replaces Lakshmipathy Balaji, who has taken up a similar role with Chennai Super Kings

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Mar-2018Heath Streak, the Zimbabwe coach, will return to the IPL after being appointed bowling coach of Kolkata Knight Riders. Streak joins Simon Katich and Jacques Kallis in KKR’s backroom staff, and replaces Laxmipathy Balaji, who has taken up a similar role with Chennai Super Kings.Streak was previously bowling coach of Gujarat Lions in 2016 and 2017, the experience of which he feels would come in handy as he teams up with former Lions player and current KKR captain Dinesh Karthik.”DK is a lovely guy and he’s got a very astute cricket brain,” Streak told . “He is a very open-minded guy, and is open to listening. The best thing is he loves the game, loves talking about it and he was a good friend in the two years we had spent at Gujarat Lions.”Streak was also “excited” to work with India’s Under-19 fast bowlers Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Shivam Mavi and hoped to ease their transition into the big leagues.”They really look technically sound, so for me, it is about giving them good tactical support and helping them out,” Streak said. “Playing at the U-19 World Cup is very different from playing in the IPL against highly-experienced players.”They have got the skills and resources to be able to do that; it’s just helping them make smart decisions, especially under pressure. That’s what it is all about — playing in the big league.”KKR, however, have other questions to address, like the fitness concerns over Andre Russell and Chris Lynn. Russell left his PSL duties for Islamabad United midway after suffering a hamstring injury, while Lynn’s dislocated right shoulder – suffered while fielding in the T20I tri-series final – ruled him out out the PSL completely.ESPNcricinfo understands that KKR’s management are fully confident of the full availability of these two players come April 7. Another concern for KKR from the PSL was the reporting of Sunil Narine’s bowling action.In the past, Narine has been reported in the IPL as well and his offbreaks were banned by the BCCI in IPL 2015. The latest report, however, does not affect Narine’s bowling in the IPL immediately, unless he is called for a second time in the PSL, or CWI runs tests that find his action to be illegal.

Manchester United face losing one of their first-team squad members in January, and a reliable journalist has revealed the club that are looking to prise him away from the Premier League.

Who have Manchester United signed recently?

Over the summer, Erik ten Hag secured seven fresh faces in the form of Andre Onana, Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund, Jonny Evans and Altay Bayindir on a permanent basis, whilst taking Sergio Reguilon and Sofyan Amrabat on loan for the remainder of the season.

In terms of outgoings, David De Gea, Fred, Eric Bailly and Dean Henderson were some of the bigger names to depart for good, and even though the window closed on September 1st, there have already been future exit rumours circulating around one out of favour player in particular.

Following the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal at the start of the month, Jadon Sancho took to social media to vent his frustration after being completely omitted from the squad which following disciplinary action, has since seen him placed on his own individual training programme away from the group.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference on Friday, the boss admitted that he doesn’t know whether the 23-year-old will ever play for the club again, and should that be the case, it sounds like he’s already got a potential suitor waiting to secure his services.

Is Jadon Sancho leaving Man United?

Taking to X, 90min's Graeme Bailey claimed that Sancho is attracting interest from his former club Borussia Dortmund who appear ready to offer their ex-attacker a lifeline to reignite his career after falling down the pecking order at Man United. He wrote:

"We understand that Jadon Sancho's former club Borussia Dortmund are keeping close tabs on the situation as they would be inclined to offer him a route back in January. It is believed that Sancho too would 'love' to return to the Bundesliga."

How many goals does Jadon Sancho have in his career?

Since the start of his career, Sancho has posted a remarkable 167 contributions (86 goals and 81 assists) in 263 appearances which has seen him dubbed a “phenomenon” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, so whilst he’s acted out of line off the pitch, he has so much to offer on it.

The Red Devils’ left-winger, who pockets £250k-per-week, also ranks in the 96th percentile for pass completion which highlights how strong he is at linking up the play with his fellow attacking teammates in the final third, though it’s not just his usual role he can operate in.

The Elite Project Group Ltd client has been deployed in six various positions over the grass since first bursting onto the scene, including everywhere across the frontline and even two roles in the midfield, so the versatility that he provides makes him a wonderful option for the boss to have at his disposal.

Whilst Man United will take some time to assess their next steps regarding Sancho, it looks highly unlikely that he'll pull on the shirt again, therefore, it would be a real shame if this was how his journey was to come to an end at Old Trafford.

After having lost to the hosts in the tournament opener, India face a side that have come into this series a little bruised

The Preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando07-Mar-2018Big PictureAlmost everyone remembers Bangladesh-India match. World T20, 2016, Bangladesh need two runs from three balls to knock out the hosts. Instead, a senior batsman allows his emotions to get the better of him, and India pounce to claim a heart-stopping one-run victory.Two years later, Bangladesh players are still asked questions about this match. Have the wounds from that game healed? Will the World T20 clash play on their minds if they find themselves in a similar situation? Perhaps they have the skill, but do they possess the nerve to overcome this opponent?It does not help that even without some of their most formidable T20 players, India appear the more confident side. Though defeated by the hosts on Tuesday, they have a powerful top order, and a promising attack – even if it is a little short on experience.Bangladesh have the raw materials in place, but following a poor home series against Sri Lanka, they have come into this series a little bruised. Without Shakib Al Hasan in the top order, they are not producing runs as consistently as they have done over the past two years, and their bowling appears a little light – particularly as Mustafizur Rahman’s efficiency has recently waned.They do, however, have one thing this Indian side does not have – a win on Sri Lankan soil, on this trip. A comprehensive victory in their practice match in Colombo on Tuesday will have helped repair some of the damage sustained in their most-recent series. Whether that is sufficient to put them on even terms with India, remains to be seen.Form guideBangladeshLLLLW (completed matches, most recent first)
India LWLWWAssociated PressIn the spotlightShikhar Dhawan came into the tournament with good T20 form, and on Tuesday hit a 49-ball 90 – his highest score in the format. Although he was by far India’s highest scorer, his innings was not without a little luck. He was often awkward against the short ball, top edging no fewer than three for six. If he shows a similar vulnerability on Thursday, in Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, Bangladesh do possess the quicks that could exploit it.If there is anyone who must exorcise the memory of Bangalore, it is Mushfiqur Rahim who had the game in hand, but then celebrated too early, and ushered in Bangladesh’s failure. With Shakib now out of the side, there is also the added pressure of being one of the few senior men left in the middle order. He arrives with a little form behind him, but should India take early wickets, Mushfiqur’s ability to handle the occasion may prove crucial to the outcome.Team newsBangladesh could opt for Nurul Hasan ahead of Sabbir Rahman, while Mehidy Hasan could be picked ahead of a seamer, for his batting. Ariful Haque and Soumya Sarkar are seam-bowling options, if they opt for only two frontline pace bowlers.Bangladesh (possible): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Soumya Sarkar, 3 Liton Das, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Mahmudullah (capt.), 6 Ariful Haque, 7 Nurul Hasan, 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Nazmul Hossain 10 Taskin Ahmed, 11 Mustafizur RahmanIndia may think about fielding seamer Mohammed Siraj in place of Shardul Thakur, who was expensive on Monday. Otherwise, they may remain unchanged – though it is also possible that KL Rahul could enter the top order.India (possible): 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 Rohit Sharma (capt.), 3 Suresh Raina, 4 Manish Pandey, 5 Rishabh Pant, 6 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 7 Vijay Shankar, 8 Washington Sundar, 9 Yuzvendra Chahal, 10 Jaydev Unadkat, 11 Mohammed SirajPitch and conditionsA standard Khettarama pitch is expected – half decent for batting, but a little on the slow side. It is possible – but not likely – that an evening thunderstorm will blow through.Stats and trivia Bangladesh have lost all five T20s they have played against India. India have not lost two T20s in a row since 2016. They have played 19 completed T20s since then. Shikhar Dhawan’s 90 on Tuesday is the second-highest T20 score at Khettarama, after Luke Wright’s 99 not out against Afghanistan in 2012.Quotes”The Bangalore match was over that day. Accidents occur in cricket. There’s no point sitting with it. It is better to learn from it though.”

Sheffield United may not be the biggest club in Yorkshire but they certainly boast a notable number of celebrity supporters. It’s a club that generates local passion, after all – and that’s seen in those who grew up there.

Athletes, actors, musicians, and one Argentinian footballer all feature on a list of those struck by the Blades. Here is our pick of the bunch for Sheffield United’s most famous supporters.

8 Juan Sebastián Verón

Let’s get the strangest one out of the way first. Former Argentina international Juan Sebastián Verón was a Sheffield United fan in childhood and openly admitted wanting to play for them.

There’s a good reason for it, too. Verón’s uncle, Pedro Verde, spent time there at the tail-end of his career and it sparked interest in the young footballer-to-be.

“I was a fan of Sheffield United but I sadly never had the chance to play for them, but I would have wanted to!” Verón went on to say. Oh what could have been…

7 Jessica Ennis-Hill

An Olympic champion and a three-time World champion – Jessica Ennis-Hill is one of the most successful individual athletes to come out of Britain in recent years. She’s also born and raised in Sheffield.

Ennis-Hill is a Blades fan, too, and even had a stand named after her post-Olympic gold. However, that did change in 2015 when it was instead named after a sponsor.

6 Kell Brook

Sticking on the wildly successful athlete theme, Kell Brook is a Sheffield native who went on to hold the IBF Welterweight title for nearly three years between 2014 and 2017.

Brook is a lifelong fan of the Blades, as with just about everyone on this list, and even fought at Bramall Lane back in 2017.

“I’ve imagined this for weeks and I’ve dreamt about this since being a young kid,” he said ahead of that fight.

“I never thought I’d see a boxing ring on the pitch at Bramall Lane, but I’m ready and I’m determined and I’m excited. I’ve got a lot of memories of watching the Blades, my uncle used to throw me up in the air when we scored and at the weekend I want to be throwing my belt above my head once again.”

5 Joe Elliott

Joe Elliott, as the lead singer of Def Leppard, is in the discussion for the most successful person on this list. The band was formed in Sheffield back in 1976. Elliott is from the city and has called United his team all his life.

Sheffield has had more than their fair share of world-renowned music acts and Def Leppard are arguably the biggest. That other group that has an argument are all Wednesday fans, if you’re wondering.

4 Paul Heaton

Paul Heaton was born on the Wirral but moved to Sheffield when he was very young. He and his brothers all struck up an interest in football but while they all went with Wednesday, Paul followed United.

Heaton would go on to form the Housemartins and The Beautiful South, with massive success in the ’80s and early ’90s. And in terms of Blades fans, he might be one of the biggest on this list.

3 Joe Root

Former England Test Cricket captain Joe Root is another from Sheffield and has made no secret of his love for United. In fact, Root has appeared on the club’s social media channels several times, while one of the first interviews he gave after receiving the captaincy was at Bramall Lane.

His support runs through the family, too, it seems. “I’ve always been a Blade,” Root told the Athletic in 2020. “There were three generations of Roots there when I watched my first game. Myself and my brother, dad and grandad.”

Root, of course, will go down as an all-time great Test batsman – yet one more wildly successful name on this list, then.

2 Michael Palin

Michael Palin might be a bit of a controversial one on this list as he’s very openly talked about also wanting Wednesday to do well. The comedy legend is from Sheffield and grew up supporting the Blades – but he’s a little bit more about the city doing well than his club.

Here’s what he told When Saturday Comes back in 2000:

“United were the club I supported when I was growing up, mainly because their ground was the nearest to our house. I used to see Wednesday supp­orters as a different type of person, just… deeply dis­turbed. But then I was always excited when either club was involved in a big game and Wednesday tended to be involved in bigger games. When I first came to London, it was 1966 and Wednesday were in the Cup final, so I couldn’t say I wasn’t interested because they were from my city. Eric Idle was a big Chelsea fan and I used to go there to see either Sheffield team play. I found myself being sucked in as a sort of associate Wednesday fan, though I would have been disem­boweled in Sheffield if they’d known that.”

Fans can make their own minds up whether they’re accepting that one or not.

1 Sean Bean

We thought we’d save the most famous Sheffield United fan until last. Sean Bean isn’t just the most famous person on this list, after all, but he’s also incredibly public with his love for them.

Bean has tattooed his support on his shoulder, while he’s also competed in charity matches and above all, served on the club’s board in the 2000s. He als, chewed-out manager Neil Warnock after the club were relegated from the Premier League back in 2007 – though, Bean claims this wasn’t as aggressive as the manager claimed in his book.

“Yes, I was looking for him after we were relegated – and I wasn’t the only one,” he said, per the Mirror. “We were all devastated. But I didn’t storm into Warnock’s office and confront his wife as he claims in his book. I was outside in the corridor when I told her what I thought of him.

“What I didn’t know was that his kid was behind the door and when someone pointed that out to me, I immediately apologised.”

Joe Root has been withdrawn from England’s T20 squad in Australia and New Zealand next month, as he prepares to enter the IPL auction

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jan-2018Joe Root has been withdrawn from England’s T20 squad to play in the inaugural tri-series against Australia and New Zealand next month, as he prepares to make his IPL bow after being entered in the auction that takes place in Bangalore on January 27 and 28.Root, who had initially declined the opportunity to sit out the tournament after a draining winter of international cricket, including captaining England to a 4-0 defeat in the Ashes, will instead return home for a break before resuming his place in the squad for the ODI series against New Zealand that gets underway on February 25.Root, who is an automatic pick for England across all three formats, admitted his unease at missing out on international duty, especially given that his stated intention is to make his first foray into the IPL in April and May, at a time when he could instead be taking a break.The financial allure of the IPL is a significant factor in Root’s choice. However, with England fully focussed on the 2019 World Cup, the opportunity for the team’s integral members to broaden their experience by taking part in the world’s foremost T20 league is now considered a vital part of their development, and Root’s decision was made in consultation with the head coach, Trevor Bayliss.”I hate missing games of cricket for England,” Root said. “It is something that doesn’t really sit well with me either. It was a long, hard decision that me and Trevor had to come to.”You look at the amount of cricket that we have got coming up and the opportunity that the IPL brings and you almost have to look at it as more of an investment for my game and for all the England team moving forward.”If being involved in that block of cricket, with everything that tournament brings, is going to add more to my game for the next four or five years then missing a few games here might be worthwhile.”Root has entered the IPL auction at the highest reserve price of £170,000, and could be one of a raft of prominent England players to be picked up by franchises for the first time this year.However, he has never before played in an overseas league, and due to his England commitments, he has featured in just five T20 Blast matches since 2012. Part of his reasoning for wanting to remain a part of the England T20 squad was that he feared the shortest form of the game was evolving without him, but he admitted the monetary side of the IPL is a significant draw too.”Of course, there is a money side to it, there is no point lying about it,” he said. “That is obviously a benefit of playing in the IPL but that is not why I went into the auction. I really believe playing a block of Twenty20 cricket with that scrutiny, being under pressure for long periods of time against the world’s players in that format would be a great opportunity to develop and learn my white-ball game.”With the two major tournaments in white-ball cricket around the corner that is what going there is all about, to gain experience in the short form and work with other players around the world who have had a huge amount of exposure to Twenty20 cricket, and see some different coaches.”

Brentford vs Bournemouth is one of the newest fixtures in the Premier League – in fact, it's only happened twice. But these two teams actually go back quite a way.

Of course, the vast majority of their meetings have come away from the Premier League. Six different competitions have hosted this one, though, as Brentford and Bournemouth have consistently found ways to come up against one another over the years.

This is actually the most-played fixture in Bournemouth's history, while Brentford have only faced four teams more often than they have the Cherries. We're going all the way back to 1925 for the first meeting, meaning we're coming up on a century of football between the two.

So what does that tell us about the upcoming fixtures? We at Football FanCast have taken a look at what's come before to find out.

Brentford vs Bournemouth: What's the head-to-head record?

In total, there have been 37 meetings between the two (38 if we count a friendly), dating back to 1925. That initial game came in the FA Cup, with Bournemouth winning 2-1 away at Brentford.

Incredibly, they then wouldn't meet again for nearly 40 years. A 1963 League Cup tie went to a replay, leading to two games that again saw Bournemouth come out on top. Their next string of meetings wouldn't happen until the '90s, where they met three times in the FA Cup within six years.

Their first league meeting wasn't until 1999 but Brentford and Bournemouth have since been almost ever-present for one another. They've faced off in all four professional divisions, building up 37 professional contests.

And funnily enough, they're dead even. Each side has won 14 games, with nine draws. Bournemouth do move onto 15 if you count a 2019 friendly, but we're not going to do that.

Brentford wins

14

Draws

9

Bournemouth wins

14

Brentford vs Bournemouth: What's the record at Brentford?

18 of the 37 meetings have been at Brentford over the years and as with most home records, the Bees boast the superior record there. Quite comfortably, too.

They've won 10 of them, so just over half, while losing only three times. That leaves five draws, of course.

In fact, their home record is strong against Bournemouth in every competition – and there are a lot of them here. Though, given their overall record is dead even, you won't be surprised to hear similar things about the Cherries at home.

Brentford wins

10

Draws

5

Bournemouth wins

3

Brentford vs Bournemouth: What's the record at Bournemouth?

There has been one more game at Bournemouth than at Brentford, with 19 taking place on the south coast. The numbers are still remarkably similar to the Bees' home record, though.

In all, Bournemouth have won 11, so one more home win than Brentford have managed. However, the visitors have also managed one more away win than the Cherries, with four. That leaves four draws, so you're marginally less likely to see a draw when this one takes place at Bournemouth.

Brentford wins

4

Draws

4

Bournemouth wins

11

Brentford vs Bournemouth: What's their league record?

Usually for these, we'd cover the two sides' Premier League record against one another. These two only met in the top flight for the first time last season, though, making it a bit of a stretch to call that a 'record'.

But they have met plenty in league competition, from League Two all the way to the Premier League. All four professional divisions have hosted this fixture, with the majority coming in League One.

They first found themselves in the same league back in 1999/00. They'd spent the next three seasons facing one another in League One, splitting the wins evenly three apiece. After a one-year break in 2002/03, they'd then compete in League One again from 2003 through 2007.

However, both were relegated by 2008 and there would be a pair of games in 2008/09 in League Two. Brentford won both.

The clubs were then back in League One against one another from 2010 through 2013, and were then each in the Championship for the 2014/15 campaign – one that saw the Cherries promoted. Thus their league meetings were on pause until 2020, by which point Bournemouth had been relegated again.

We'd only get a pair of meetings, though, as the Bees would get their turn at promotion to the top flight in 2021. Bournemouth followed soon afterward and now we're back in the modern day – two Premier League sides who just can't seem to avoid one another.

Brentford wins

11

Draws

7

Bournemouth wins

10

Brentford vs Bournemouth: What's their record in the cups?

These two met exclusively in the cups up until 1999. Since then, quite strangely, they've only been drawn with one another once, and that was all the way back in 2002.

But as we mentioned, there was a span of 70+ years where this fixture had only taken place in the cup competitions, primarily the FA Cup. There have been seven total meetings across the FA and League Cups – and it's led to a relatively balanced record (isn't it always?).

Bournemouth won the first-ever fixture, while the second was a draw that led to a replay – which the Cherries also won. The next meeting was also a Bournemouth win and that was back in 1991 – Brentford have won every cup game since.

They'd beat the Cherries in the FA Cup in both 1995 and 1996, then beat them on penalties in a League Cup tie in 2002.

Brentford wins

3

Draws

1

Bournemouth wins

3

Brentford vs Bournemouth: Which team has the most goals?

As you've likely guessed already, things are incredibly close. Though perhaps that genuinely surprising thing here is just how low the goal tally is for each side – they barely average a goal per game each in this one.

Across 37 games, Bournemouth have scored 42 goals. Brentford are right behind them with 41. As you'd expect things are also reflected pretty well when you look at it in home and away terms.

At Bournemouth, the Cherries have 28 goals in 19 games. Brentford have responded with 17. In 18 games at Brentford, the home side have 24 goals – the visitors have just 14.

So this one is particularly low-scoring at Brentford, with the average score at both grounds being 1-0.

Brentford goals

41

Bournemouth goals

42

Brentford vs Bournemouth: How did they do last season?

These are two of the smallest sides in the Premier League but both managed to succeed in their goals last season. In fact, both arguably exceeded them.

Brentford were by far the better of the two, though. They finished 9th overall, just two points away from the European spots. But perhaps that doesn't sell it enough. Brighton, for instance, were heralded for their efforts last season, with several of their stars moving for incredible fees. The Bees finished only three points behind them, however – and just eight behind Liverpool.

Bournemouth enjoyed their first season after promotion, even if it started incredibly badly. Manager Scott Parker stepped down shortly after a 9-0 defeat at Anfield and people were understandably worried for them. But things turned around and the Cherries didn't spend very long under threat of relegation. In fact, they managed to finish five points clear of the drop despite a very poor run of form to end the season. It wasn't the most comfortable first season back but certainly one to build on.

Brentford vs Bournemouth: How have they started this season?

Brentford have started things reasonably well, with draws against Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace sandwiching a 3-0 win at Fulham. Though, they haven't managed to win one at home yet – this meeting with the Cherries will be a very good opportunity to do just that.

But after three games, they sit ninth, one point behind Manchester United and one above Chelsea. You can't really ask for much more so early in the campaign.

Bournemouth haven't made quite the same start. They're down in 16th and without a win. The silver lining is that of the five teams without a win, they have the most points – one.

Perhaps a greater silver lining, though, is the quality of their three opponents. They started at home to UEFA Conference League winners West Ham, picking up a draw. Then they went to Anfield and were unfortunate not to get at least a point, before losing 2-0 at home to Tottenham. All three are very tough games against sides they won't necessarily expect to finish around this season.

Brentford vs Bournemouth: When is it?

Brentford host Bournemouth on Saturday, September 2nd at 15:00 UK time. It'll be the 38th competitive meeting between the two teams and only their third in the Premier League or top flight.

A win for either side would be a bit of a statement, even if it's not necessarily season-altering. Brentford, for instance, would continue their unbeaten start and almost certainly climb into the European places after four games.

Bournemouth, though, are looking to get off the mark and create an early buffer between themselves and the relegation zone. Given the early-season form of the sides down there, winning at Brentford almost certainly gives them that four-point cushion.

Sunderland secured their first three points of the season with a hard-fought victory over Rotherham on the weekend.

But, if the club is to mount another promotion push then they must bolster their attacking options. This campaign, the Wearside Giants have recorded 45 shots in three Championship outings, scoring just four times and losing twice.

Last season, the Black Cats were massively aided by the imperious form of Amad Diallo and seem to desperately miss his prolific nature in offensive sequences. The Ivorian was Sunderland’s top scorer with 14 goals, and they require a new player to replicate these heroics…

What’s the latest Sunderland transfer news?

According to journalist Alan Nixon (via his Patreon site), Sunderland are in the running to sign Crystal Palace’s Jerurun Rak-Sakyi.

There is a hotly contested race for the tricky winger, with league rivals Blackburn Rovers also said to be interested.

Would Jesurun Rak-Sakyi be a good signing for Sunderland?

Last term, the 20-year-old gem emphatically burst into national prominence thanks to a glorious loan spell at Charlton Athletic in League One.

Across 40 starts, Rak-Sakyi registered 15 goals and eight assists, and averaged 1.9 dribbles per game, ranking the highest in the squad for each metric.

Rak-Sakyi's ex-manager Ben Garner was mesmerised by his natural ability and end product, saying:

“He takes everything in his stride and has adapted very quickly to the challenges and physical demands of the game.

“His standout attribute is his wonderful balance and ability to change direction. He can beat people with his body movement. He can go both ways, finish off both feet, but he’s also got his eyes up and has vision. I worked with a lot of players in academy football who were fantastic dribblers but didn’t see movement around them. Jes can carry the ball but he’s got awareness.”

These numbers, coupled with the attacker’s impressive profile, mean he is resoundingly above third-tier level and a move to Sunderland could be perfect, given the limited opportunity he is being afforded at Selhurst Park.

The joyous technician has been at Crystal Palace since 2019 but has only mustered three senior appearances, totalling just 87 minutes. He was an unused substitute in the loss to Arsenal on Monday evening and has been unable to forge any notable game time, despite the injury to Michael Olise.

Therefore, the Stadium of Light could be the perfect destination for Rak-Sakyi, whose right-wing berth is missing the indomitable Diallo, who was magnificent in his brief spell in Wearside.

Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman was full of adulation for the Manchester United loanee and said:

“Amad's performances in the games – not just with the ball but some of his defensive work, his energy, his pressing – the way he has taken to the supporters, he's absolutely bought in to what we required of him.”

Rak-Sakyi is more than capable of repeating Diallo’s magic and has already shown his glistening potential when awarded with trust.

Meanwile, current Addicks boss Dean Holden has described the 5 foot 10 livewire as a “fantastic” young player, who is “dedicated, professional, and diligent.”

With this mentality and talent, he could be a monumentally useful asset for Sunderland and the driving force of another promotion challenge.

The injury has ruled him out of the third T20I against India on Sunday and could also put him in doubt for the start of the forthcoming Bangladesh tour

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Dec-20172:55

The Angelo Mathews story

Angelo Mathews will be out of action for at least two weeks with the hamstring strain he sustained on Friday – another chapter in his long-standing woes with leg injuries.Mathews pulled up injured as he ran in to deliver the third ball of his third over in the T20 in Indore. He left the field without completing that over, and did not return to bat. Sri Lanka’s team management has since confirmed the presence of a grade one strain – an injury that will not only rule him out of the third T20 against India on Sunday, but will also put him in doubt for the start of the forthcoming Bangladesh tour. The official word is that Mathews may be fit again in two weeks, but his recoveries have often taken longer than expected.Though it is calf injuries that have given Mathews most grief over the past 18 months, hamstrings have also been problematic throughout his career. Since the middle of 2015, he has missed a full tour of Zimbabwe, come home early from a tour of South Africa, missed Bangladesh’s tour of Sri Lanka, and missed a full tour of the UAE – all because of various leg injuries.The team management had already decided not to deploy Mathews’ bowling in Tests, in order to minimise risk of further complaints, but this latest injury also raises doubts over whether his body can sustain even a limited-overs workload.There is also the issue of his batting form. The stuttered nature of his international involvement over the past two years has coincided with a long lean stretch. He had just begun to produce runs again when this injury was sustained.*This article had originally said Mathews had sustained a tear in his hamstring. However, he has merely strained it – a less serious injury.

Aston Villa could revisit one of their long-term transfer targets this summer, as Unai Emery bids to resolve the injury woes already plaguing the squad.

Just one game into the season and the Villans are without both Tyrone Mings and Emiliano Buendia for the foreseeable future, with both starting players suffering significant knee injuries.

While the Argentine’s fate was confirmed last week, Mings was stretchered off the pitch at St James’ Park just half an hour into the Premier League opener against Newcastle United, leaving Emery two players short so early into the campaign.

Despite hiring strongly already this summer, the Spaniard could opt to delve back into the market to gather further reinforcements following the double blow.

Who could Aston Villa sign this summer?

The name surrounding Villa’s current transfer narrative is Nicolo Zaniolo, who is close to being unveiled in claret and blue this week on an initial loan deal from Galatasaray.

Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…

Considering Buendia’s injury, paired with the expected departure of Philippe Coutinho, Emery could consider revisiting a former target of the Villans in the form of his former player, Dani Ceballos.

The Spaniard was linked to Villa in the January window, with Sport reporting earlier this month that the Midlands club were readying an offer worth €15m (£12.8m) for the midfielder.

Emery was behind the 27-year-old’s first spell on loan at Arsenal, with the player already having Premier League experience under his belt.

What is Dani Ceballos’ style of play?

Having been praised by the Villa boss himself as a “very good player” due to his capabilities of playing as both a number 10 and eight in central midfield, the Spaniard is a real handful in the middle of the park.

With talents in both the offensive and defensive roles in and around the engine room, the Real Madrid ace could be the perfect acquisition for Emery to reconsider showing interest in, in the absence of Buendia.

Also lauded as “too good” and as an “amazing” talent by scout Jacek Kulig, the 27-year-old could be a valuable asset for the manager to once again have at his disposal, in a player that already has sufficient experience in the English game.

On two separate loan spells, Ceballos made 77 appearances for the Gunners, playing as both an attacking midfielder and adhering to the deeper role in midfield on occasions to showcase his versatility.

Like Buendia, the Utrera-born star is a creative-minded talent, as highlighted by his numbers last season for Los Blancos, in which he averaged a mighty 11.74 progressive passes and 1.73 key passes per 90 in LaLiga, via FBref.

Deployed with the role of a box-to-box player in mind, the Spaniard is a strong carrier of the ball, as conveyed by his 3.45 progressive carries per 90 last term, suggesting that he could be the perfect addition in Emery’s free-flowing system in the middle of the park.

Identified as a manager that sets his teams up to build through the middle channel, the four-time Europa League winner could integrate Ceballos into his plans to great success.

The £172k-per-week gem has all the tools to thrive at Villa Park and could be a strong acquisition to reconsider following Buendia’s injury blow.

Craig Overton has described a ban handed to him for using abusive language in 2015 as “the turning point” of his career

George Dobell in Perth03-Nov-2017Craig Overton has described a ban handed to him for using abusive language as “the turning point” of his career.Overton has emerged as a genuine contender for a place in England’s team for the first Ashes Test at Brisbane in three-weeks’ time. But he admits the wake-up call of the ban – the result of an incident in a game in September 2015 – forced him to reflect on his behaviour and led to his maturing both on and off the pitch.Overton was accused by one of the umpires, Alex Wharf, of having told the Sussex batsman Ashar Zaidi to “go back to your own f***ing country”. While Zaidi, Pakistan-born but a British citizen, did not hear the comments and Overton denied any memory of having made them, he did admit his behaviour had become unnecessarily cantankerous. He was subsequently banned for two games for using abusive rather than racist language and later admitted the verdict was “fair enough, really”.As a result of the incident, Somerset arranged for Overton to see a psychotherapist. And, as a result of those sessions with Abbie Kench, Overton has emerged as a far more mature cricketer who, aged 23, has developed into Somerset’s attack leader. Only two England-qualified bowlers (Jamie Porter and Ben Coad) claimed more Division One wickets in 2017 – he took 46 at a cost of 22.39 apiece – and where once a promising spell might be spoiled by a frustrated barrage of short-balls and abuse, he now has the discipline to retain his control and his composure.”That’s not how you behave on a cricket field,” Overton admitted, reflecting on the Zaidi incident. “You can’t act like that. It was not just that incident. The whole summer there were a few instances.”I’ve calmed down the last couple of years and I think what happened has made me realise you can’t go on acting like that. I don’t want to lose the edge. It’s just finding the right balance and not going too far. That incident matured me a little bit which I’m really happy with and I’ve moved on from that. It was massively a turning point.”Craig Overton waits to bowl in the nets•Getty ImagesSo much of a turning point, that Overton has a good chance of forcing his way into the Test team over the next few days. While he isn’t the quickest – his natural pace would probably be in the mid to low 80s mph – he has a good range of skills, gains sharp bounce from his height and has the ability to deliver a sharper spell when required. Crucially, despite failing to make a half-century in the 2017 season, he also offers more with the bat than Jake Ball – his rival for the fourth seamer’s spot – and he has developed into a decent slip catcher off the spin bowlers at Somerset. With Ben Stokes absent, that remains another hole for England to fill.”I try and work on my slip catching as much as possible,” Overton said. “Someone has got to field there. I’ll put my hand up if I have to.”My batting is one thing that maybe I see where I have an edge over the others. Growing up, I always wanted to be an allrounder. I’ve still got that skill with the bat so I’ll make sure I use the coaches here to get the most out of my batting and score a few runs if I play.”But for injury to his twin, Jamie, it is entirely possible both brothers could have made the tour. Jamie is, by some distance, the quicker of the two and, in the brief moments he was fully fit during the 2017 season, looked as good a prospect as any fast bowler in England. As it is, though, his role on this tour could well be limited to that of net bowler.”Jamie is here for Christmas,” Overton said. “He says he might bowl at us a little bit. He’s getting back to full fitness now which is really nice.”We were very competitive growing up. But I think that’s very normal for twin brothers. They want to get the best out of each other. He’s happy for me. We work pretty well together. He’s been through a pretty tough few years and he’s really happy with the way I’ve gone. Hopefully he’ll be following in my footsteps.”