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Stats highlights from the 3rd T20I between India and Sri Lanka in Vishakapatnam, where India won the series 2-1

Bharath Seervi14-Feb-20160 Bilateral series wins for Sri Lanka in India, across all formats. This was their 18th bilateral series in India – India have won 14 and four were drawn. This was only Sri Lanka’s second bilateral T20I series in India. The first was drawn 1-1.82 Sri Lanka’s total in this match – their lowest in T20Is. Their previous lowest total was 87 against Australia in Bridgetown in the 2010 World T20. This is the second-lowest total by any team against India in T20Is; the lowest is 80 by England in Colombo in the 2012 World T20.1 Bilateral T20 series, where there were two instances of teams getting all-out in the first innings in T20Is: this is the first such series. India were bowled out for 101 in the first match and Sri Lanka 82 in the third match.9 Wickets by R Ashwin in this series – the joint second highest in a bilateral T20I series. Only Ahsan Malik had taken more – 11 for Netherlands against Nepal in 2015 in four matches. David Wiese also took nine wickets for South Africa against West Indies in 2014-15. Ashwin took 2 for 13 in the first match, 3 for 14 in the second and 4 for 8 in the third. His economy rate of 3.18 is the best by any bowler, bowling 10 or more overs in any series or tournament.0 Instances of India winning a T20I by nine wickets. This was their first such win in T20Is. They had won by eight wickets four times in the past. This is Sri Lanka’s third defeat by nine wickets in T20Is.4 for 8 Ashwin’s figures in this innings – best for India in T20Is. The previous best were also by Ashwin – 4 for 11 against Australia in Dhaka in the 2014 World T20. These are the best figures against Sri Lanka as well. These are also the second-best figures by a spinner in the first innings. Benn had taken 4 for 6 against Zimbabwe in Port of Spain in 2009-10.3 Man-of-the-Match awards for Ashwin in T20Is. Only Yuvraj Singh (7) and Virat Kohli (5) have more for India. He also got his first Man-of-the-Series award in T20Is.4 Wickets taken by Ashwin in the Powerplays – the joint highest by a spinner in a T20I. Suleiman Benn had taken 4 for 3 in the Powerplay against Zimbabwe in Port of Spain in 2009-10. Ashwin took 4 for 5 in this match. Both bowled three overs each.6 Wickets lost by Sri Lanka in the first ten overs of the innings – their second-most in T20Is. They had lost seven wickets against Australia in Cape Town in the 2007 World T20. They were all-out for 101 in that match after being 43 for 7 at the end of 10 overs.0 Instances of Sri Lanka losing two wickets in the first over in T20Is, before this match. Ashwin dismissed Niroshan Dickwella and Tillakaratne Dilshan in the first over. Ashwin is only the second spinner to take two wickets in the first over in T20Is. The first was Zulfiqar Babar against Australia in Dhaka in the 2014 World T20.20 Dot balls bowled by Ravindra Jadeja in this innings, the most for India in aT20I innings. The previous highest was 19, by two bowlers: RP Singh against South Africa in Durban in the 2007 World T20, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar against Pakistan in Bangalore in 2012-13. Only two others have bowled more than 20 dot balls in a T20I innings – 21 by Christopher Mpofu for Zimbabwe against Canada in King City in 2008-09, and Mudassar Bukhari for Netherlands against UAE in Dubai (ICCA) February 2016.

Why the Indian opener would be well advised to shelve the hook and pull in Australia

Aakash Chopra25-Nov-20141:55

‘Dhawan allows the short ball to come too close to him’

It was a bit odd to have Shikhar Dhawan standing next to me the other day with a mic in hand, audio check done, looking into the camera. We shared the Delhi dressing room for more than half a decade and played quite a lot of our cricket together. Dhawan in the Delhi jersey with a bat in his hand, padded and geared up, walking down to partner me was the more familiar image. But that was a few years ago. Before he and I stood in front of the rolling cameras, Dhawan had hit some important runs against West Indies after a rather dull summer, and I was making inroads into cricket commentary.Most of our talk off air revolved around Delhi cricket, but there was one question that the observer in me was raring to ask, on air: had he had made any changes to his technique while facing Jerome Taylor, who had troubled him way too much in the game in Delhi? I have known Dhawan for a while now, so should have known what was coming: “This time I troubled him,” followed by a loud chuckle.That reaction told me more about him than any technical explanation he could provide. Besides, it made for good television.For the most part, his response, for me, encapsulates the attitude of the youth of this country: one of supreme confidence and grit. It is also an attitude that those of us who grew up during the late ’70s and early ’80s, never seemed to have possessed. While a modest Sachin Tendulkar would refrain from giving himself any credit, even the free-spoken Virender Sehwag would acknowledge the support staff’s role in ironing out the chinks in his game. Let’s say it wasn’t fashionable among those players to be candid, to wear your heart on your sleeve: an air of nonchalance was often mistaken as dangerous over-confidence.The new generation, on the other hand, thrives on just that sort of confidence. It’s their driving force. I would have been happier to play in this era.

The lack of a back-and-across movement of the back leg almost ensures that Dhawan is never in the right position to pull or hook fast bowlers

However, there’s something the older generation had that this one doesn’t seem possess: the ability to get rid of inadequacies. When one plays the game at the highest level, weaknesses are bound to emerge, as the opposition gets better with each passing game. It’s imperative that you iron these faults out as your career progresses. Rahul Dravid was predominantly an on-side player when he started out but ended up as a batsman who was just as fluent through the off side, if not more. Tendulkar used to lean on his bat a bit too much in the beginning but ended with the best batting stance ever.There are flaws that resurface from time to time, like the habit of fishing outside off. While that particular one has more to do with form and the position of the head and feet, there are some defects that resurface because of a lack of application, like getting out hooking or pulling against a short ball. If you aren’t a good puller and hooker, you consciously stay away from attempting these shots while going through a bad patch, for you’re acutely aware of the repercussions. But the moment you find form, you shift into autopilot and soon succumb to temptation.Dhawan’s off-side play is his strength. But at times it becomes his weakness too. He stays inside the line of the ball, which allows him to free his arms, and that’s why the majority of his runs come through the off side. While this works in his favour on the subcontinent, and in the shorter formats worldwide (the pitches are reasonably flat in both instances), it becomes an issue when the ball starts moving around.There’s a way out, especially in Australia, and Dhawan knows it. He left a lot of balls alone in the two Test matches in New Zealand earlier this year, and if he’s able to do the same in Australia, he’ll manage.The best part about playing in Australia is that you can always trust the bounce. So even if you misread the line, you can let the ball go on length. Once Dhawan has got his bearings right, I expect him to do this.The hook is a reasonably instinctive shot and if you haven’t told yourself to refrain from it completely, it’s only a matter of time before you go after a short ball•AFPThere’s another small chink that has the potential to bother him, and if the last Ashes series is anything to go by, Mitchell Johnson will do his bit to get the better of Dhawan in this area. I’m talking about bouncers and Dhawan’s fallibility when he decides to take them on. That’s how got dismissed in Dharamsala. He played a pull and a hook for a four and six before attempting another such shot and perished in the process. This time the ball was too high and slightly outside off . He was already on a run-a-ball 35 and looked good to get a big one, but not having the right technique to hook caused his dismissal. The hook is a reasonably instinctive shot, and if you haven’t told yourself to refrain from it completely, it’s only a matter of time before you go after a short ball.Dhawan is predominantly a front-foot player, so much so that his back leg is rarely behind the popping crease, even when he’s playing shots like the cut or punch off the back foot. The lack of a back-and-across movement of the back leg almost ensures that he’s never in the right position to pull or hook fast bowlers. To add to it, his leading arm doesn’t open up at all while playing the hook or pull, which means that the ball is far too close to his body at the point of impact.In the commentary box, this point – that Dhawan cramps himself for space – comes up off and on.David Warner, Ricky Ponting and other good pullers and hookers extend their top arm completely to ensure that the bat is always on top of the bounce, and that they have reasonable control over the shot. It’s not that they won’t get out to short balls but it’s a given that the bowler will think twice before bowling a bouncer to these men. That’s not the case with Dhawan. For a brief period during the Test series in New Zealand it looked like he had shelved the shot completely, which would have been the smart thing to do. Clearly he hasn’t, which means plenty of bouncers will come his way in Australia.Dhawan’s success as an opener is critical to India’s chances, and while his confidence will make up for lack of playing experience in Australia, he may want to start developing the habit of ducking under while down under.

Stats highlights from India’s convincing win in the second Test of the four-match series

S Rajesh05-Mar-2013

• India’s victory by an innings and 135 runs is their sixth-largest in Tests, and their second-best against Australia – they’d won by an innings and 219 in Kolkata in 1998. All of those six wins have come in the subcontinent – four in India and two in Bangladesh.
• MS Dhoni has won 22 of his 45 Tests, the most by an Indian – Sourav Ganguly had won 21 out of 49. Seventeen of Dhoni’s 22 wins have been in home Tests, where he has a 17-3 win-loss record in 26 matches. Mohammad Azharuddin is the next-best at home, with a 13-4 record. In away Tests, though, Dhoni’s won only five out of 19 Tests, which is joint-second with Rahul Dravid (five out of 17). Ganguly won 11 out of 28 overseas.
• Australia have lost at least two Tests in five of their last six series in India. During this period, South Africa, England and Pakistan all have better win-loss records in Tests in India.
• This is the 11th instance of a team losing a Test after declaring in its first innings, but the first in which the team declaring has lost by an innings. The only other such instance for Australia was in the famous Headingley Test of 1981, when they declared at 401 for 9 in their first innings, and eventually ended up losing by 18 runs.
• After an opening partnership of 56, Australia’s next nine wickets put together only 75, their second-lowest ever against India (in innings in which they’ve been bowled out). Their only poorer effort was in the MCG Test of 1981, which they lost by 59 runs. In the fourth innings of that Test, Australia’s last nine wickets put together 72.
• Leaving aside the openers, the highest score by the other nine Australian batsmen in their second innings was Michael Clarke’s 16. Only twice against India have Australia’s nine batsmen from No.3 to No.11 had a lower top-score, in an innings in which they’ve been bowled out. In Mumbai in 2004, and in Delhi in 1969, the top-score by the non-openers was a run lesser.
• Australia’s batting average of 25.35 so far is their lowest in a series against India in which they’ve played at least two Tests.
• R Ashwin’s 5 for 63 in Australia’s second innings is his eighth five-for, in his 14th Test. Only nine Indian bowlers have taken more five-fors. Among Indian bowlers who’ve taken at least eight five-fors, Ashwin’s rate of 1.75 Tests per five-wicket haul is easily the best; the next-best is Subhash Gupte’s 12 in 36 matches, a rate of one every three Tests.

A look at every 100th Test down the years: No. 1100 to No. 1900 includes Inzamam’s triple-century, Nasser’s farewell, and a Cape Town Test played in May

Andrew McGlashan27-Jun-2011 No. 1100: England v West Indies, 1988, Old Trafford
By the end of the 1980s, England-West Indies battles were still as one-sided as they had been for the whole decade. Draws were taken as markers of huge success by England. This Test, though, was one of the ritual hammerings. The hosts also went through four captains in the series: this match was John Emburey’s second in charge. The highest score by an England batsman was David Gower’s 34 in a second innings of 93 all out. Malcolm Marshall took 7 for 22; he was well supported by a young Curtly Ambrose. “The 6ft 7in, 24-year-old Leeward Islander, although unknown to most English followers, was not without local knowledge, having taken more than 100 wickets the previous year in the Central Lancashire League,” said. England would get to see a lot more of Ambrose over the following decade, and leave with many painful memories. No. 1200: South Africa v India, 1992-93, Durban
This was one of the most significant Tests in the game’s long history: South Africa’s first home match in 23 years, after they were readmitted into the international fold. Rain over the final three days meant a contest never really developed, but it was about more than the game. Omar Henry became the first non-white to play for South Africa, and Kepler Wessels became the first player to make Test hundreds for two countries. Jimmy Cook, one of the finest batsmen of the apartheid era, fell first ball of the Test on his debut. The match also included a huge technological milestone for the sport, with the TV umpire introduced for line decisions. Sachin Tendulkar, already established as one of the game’s biggest names, was the first batsman dismissed by TV evidence. “After a slight pause, Cyril Mitchley, the square-leg umpire, signalled to Karl Liebenberg, the umpire in the pavilion, by shaping a TV screen with his fingers,” was how reported the moment. “Thirty seconds later Liebenberg lit the green light to signify that Tendulkar was out.” No. 1300: England v West Indies, 1995, Edgbaston
The series was level at 1-1 following England’s famous victory at Lord’s, and it was believed instructions had been sent out to Warwickshire to prepare a pitch that would help both seamers and spinners. What they got was 22 yards bare at either end but covered in lush, green grass where the tall West Indian quicks liked to pitch the ball. The first delivery of the game, from Curtly Ambrose, ballooned over Mike Atherton for four byes. Atherton didn’t survive the first over, and England crumbled for 147. Against bowlers of lesser pace, West Indies built a strong lead. England’s second innings was even worse than their first; the dressing room resembled a casualty department – Alec Stewart, Jason Gallian and Richard Illingworth suffered broken fingers. Robin Smith’s twin 40s were two of his gutsiest innings, but West Indies won by an innings and 64 runs. No. 1400: South Africa v Pakistan, 1997-98, Johannesburg
One of the many developments in Test cricket has been the rise of lower-order batting, and this Test was a prime example. Both sides were bailed out of trouble before rain wiped out much of the final two days. South Africa were 166 for 8 when Mark Boucher, in his second Test, and Pat Symcox joined to add 195 for the ninth wicket – a record partnership that stands to this day; Symcox reached his only Test hundred. In reply, Pakistan also faced problems and slipped to 112 for 5 before the recovered thanks to Azhar Mahmood, who scored 136. It was his second hundred in four Tests against South Africa and he would add another in the next game, in Durban. However, after that he didn’t pass 41 for the rest of his Test career. With two innings completed by the end of the third day, the match was set up for an interesting finish, but Highveld rain blew in to end those hopes.No. 1500: England v West Indies, 2000, Edgbaston
By the turn of the millennium West Indies’ aura was well and truly diminishing, but they began this series with a convincing victory, before the balance of power started to shift significantly towards England. It was still the early days of the Nasser Hussain-Duncan Fletcher partnership and this defeat suggested much work remained to be done. It was that familiar foe Courtney Walsh who did a lot of damage, with eight wickets in the match, but Curtly Ambrose bowled far better than the one scalp he took suggested. They were well supported by Franklyn Rose and Reon King, and Jimmy Adams’ painstaking 98 extended West Indies’ lead. However, this was to be their last victory against England until Jamaica in 2009. It took 16 years for the next 500 Tests, after the first thousand, compared to 24 for the previous 500. The rate would only increase. No. 1600: Pakistan v New Zealand, 2002, Lahore
A huge win for Pakistan, by an innings and324 runs, and it remains New Zealand’s heaviest defeat in Test cricket. The result was set up by Inzamam-ul-Haq’s career-best 329, which led Pakistan to a huge 643, before the visitors were simply blown away. Shoaib Akhtar claimed 6 for 11 – five bowled and one lbw – as New Zealand managed just 73. “Akhtar was always fast, but it is this new-found accuracy which makes him such a dangerous customer, the one who well and truly inspires chill in the hearts of batsmen,” said a match report. Second time around was a little better for New Zealand – Shoaib couldn’t bowl due to a swollen ankle. Though there was never any hope they would survive, Danish Kaneria had to work hard to collect 5 for 110. That, though, was as far as the series would go. Hours before the second Test was due to start in Karachi, a car bomb exploded in front of the New Zealand team hotel killing 14 people. The players only narrowly escaped, and were soon on a plane home.Test No. 1700: Nasser Hussain brought up his century with the winning runs in his final Test•Stu Forster/Getty Images No. 1700: England v New Zealand, 2004, Lord’s
This was the beginning of England’s “magnificent seven” summer, where they won every Test against New Zealand and West Indies. They had to work hard to earn the first of those victories, which wasn’t sealed until the final afternoon, when Nasser Hussain signed off his Test career with an unbeaten 103, hitting the winning runs and then retiring. As one career ended in fine style, another started: Andrew Strauss marked his Test debut with a first-innings hundred. He was on the way to a match double before Hussain ran him out for 83. However, New Zealand played their part in the match. Mark Richardson produced one of his finest performances, with scores of 93 and 101, while Chris Cairns lit up Lord’s with 82 off 47 balls on the second morning. But England’s bowlers chipped away, led by Steve Harmison, fresh from his heroics in the West Indies, who took eight wickets for the match. No. 1800: South Africa v New Zealand, 2005-06, Cape Town
A back-breaking Test for the bowlers, which brought 1226 runs for 21 wickets. Yet for the first day it was very much an even contest, and New Zealand were 279 for 7 when Stephen Fleming was joined by James Franklin. Fleming was already past his hundred and over the next 71 overs the two would add what was at the time the second-highest eighth-wicket stand, worth 256. Fleming finished with 262, and Franklin a career-best 122. The runs continued to flow when it was South Africa’s turn. Hashim Amla registered his maiden Test hundred and Ashwell Prince also reached three figures. Daniel Vettori clocked up a marathon 63 overs, and by the time South Africa were finally bowled out, interest had long since dried up.No. 1900: New Zealand v West Indies, 2008-09, Napier
There were enough individual performances of note to keep this match alive until the final afternoon, when it finally petered out into a draw. The headline act came from Chris Gayle, who made 197 in West Indies’ second innings when they were flirting with trouble, and although he struck seven sixes, it was also an innings of rare restraint, taking 396 balls. Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Tim McIntosh traded first-innings hundreds, but the bowlers also made a mark. Iain O’Brien took a career-best 6 for 75, as did Fidel Edwards with 7 for 87. The series was drawn 0-0.

Though West Indies hold a 52-38 overall advantage in Tests, England have won ten of the last 12

S Rajesh17-May-2007

Steve Harmison has been in excellent form this season, and has a superb record against West Indies as well © Getty Images
West Indies still hold a 52-38 advantage in Tests against England, but since 2000 they’ve seen their lead whittled away quite alarmingly: in the last 12 Tests between the two teams, England have won ten, while two have been drawn. West Indies’ last victory was in June 2000, when they thrashed England byby an innings and 93 runs at Edgbaston. (Click here for a summary of all England-West Indies Test series.)England will go into the series as favourites, and they won’t mind beginning the series at Lord’s either. The venue used to be an unlucky one for them: they lost 11 Tests and won four from 1984 to 1999, but the tide has turned in the new decade – they’ve won eight of their last 14 Tests here. (Click here for England’s results in all Lord’s Tests.) Lord’s has been a good venue for them against West Indies too – there was a period from 1963 to 1991 when England didn’t win a single Test against them at Lord’s, but since then they’ve won three in a row, including the last time in 2004 by a whopping 210 runs.Thanks to their pre-eminence in the decades gone by, though, West Indies hold most of the records in Tests between the two teams: the six top run-scorers and the seven top wicket-takers are all West Indians. Garry Sobers leads the run-getters’ chart with an aggregate of 3214 at an average of over 60, while Curtly Ambrose is on top of the bowlers’ ladder with 164 wickets at 18.79. (In fact Ambrose is the only non-Australian bowler to take more than 150 wickets against a specific opposition team; three Australians – Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Dennis Lillee – have achieved it, all against England.)Fortunately for England, the current crop of West Indians won’t evoke such fear. Ramnaresh Sarwan leads a team whose credentials aren’t exactly top-drawer – to start with, he himself hasn’t flourished in English conditions, averaging only 35.83 in 14 Test innings in England. The two other regulars in the West Indian batting line-up who have experience of playing in England before are Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Chris Gayle, and both have done much better, though: Chanderpaul averages 58.54 in 14 Test innings in England, but less than 35 against them at home; similarly, Gayle averages 44 in England, and only 26 against them in the West Indies.Gayle’s opening partner, Daren Ganga, hasn’t played a Test in England yet, but their combination at the top of the order has been pretty successful: they are the second-most successful opening pair for West Indies, in terms of partnership runs in Tests. They’ve put together 1627 runs at an average of 42.81, and are second only to the Gordon Greenidge-Desmond Haynes combination, which scored 6482 runs in Tests at an average of 47.31.England’s players are coming off a poor World Cup and a 5-0 drubbing in the Ashes, but they can heart from their recent domination of West Indies. Like England, Andrew Flintoff, their talismanic figure, has been in awful form too, but if his past record is anything to go by, he too should relish the opportunity to face West Indies – Flintoff averages 51.25 with the bat and 24.69 with the ball against them.The two other fast bowlers in the England attack will have fond memories of playing against West Indies too – Steve Harmison had a wretched Ashes series, but he’s back in form, as is evident from his 27 wickets in four first-class matches this season, and West Indies better beware: in eight Tests against them, Harmison has nabbed 40 wickets at 21.10 apiece, almost ten runs better than his career average. Matthew Hoggard hasn’t done badly either, his 29 wickets against West Indies coming at an average of 29.89. Among the three experienced West Indian batsmen batsmen, only Gayle has a good overall record against Harmison, Hoggard and Flinoff.

West Indian batsmen versus Harmison, Hoggard and Flintoff

Batsman Runs Balls Dismissals Average

Ramnaresh Sarwan 237 493 13 18.23 Shivnarine Chanderpaul 286 608 8 35.75 Chris Gayle 419 514 9 46.56 The West Indian pace attack pale in comparison. Among the frontline fast bowlers, Corey Collymore and Fidel Edwards are the only ones to have played Tests against England, and both have struggled: Collymore has managed nine wickets in seven Tests at an average of 63, while Edwards’s 13 wickets have come at more than 50 apiece. A bigger threat might be Dwayne Bravo, whose 16 wickets in four Tests have come at an impressive average of 26.

RB Leipzig are monitoring Leicester City's Bilal El Khannous to replace Xavi Simons, whose future appears uncertain amid Chelsea interest.

RB Leipzig shortlist El Khannous to replace SimonsChelsea advance in talks to sign Dutch playerCrystal Palace also interested in Foxes starFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Chelsea are reportedly advancing in talks to sign Simons from Leipzig. This has prompted the Bundesliga side to scout the market for a worthy replacement for their midfield vacancy. According to , the German club have identified Leicester's El Khannous as a possible replacement for the Dutchman. However, multiple clubs are monitoring El Khannous' situation, including FA Cup winners, Crystal Palace.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

El Khannous, 21, was signed by Leicester from Belgian side Genk for €24 million (£21m/$28m) last year. The Moroccan midfielder became a regular starter at the club and scored three goals and registered six assists in 37 games. With Eberechi Eze attracting interest from Arsenal and other Premier League clubs, Palace have also shortlisted the Belgian Pro League Young Player of the Year 2024 to replace the English midfielder.

TELL ME MORE

The 2025 Club World Cup winners are closing in on Simons and have reportedly advanced on personal terms with the Dutch star, who also wishes to move to Stamford Bridge this summer and play under coach Enzo Maresca. The German club have reportedly set a price tag of €69m (£60m/$80m) to part ways with the 22-year-old.

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Getty ImagesWHAT'S NEXT FOR LEIPZIG?

Leipzig are focusing on signing young talents to rebuild and strengthen their squad in key areas, aiming to improve stability, creativity, and goal-scoring for the 2025-26 season. The Bundesliga club also had a disappointing campaign last year and failed to qualify for the Champions League, prompting them to sell many of their key talents. Benjamin Sesko is another player Leipzig can lose out on, should a good proposal come their way.

تحدث الإسباني خوان جارسيا، حارس مرمى الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة  عما دار بينه وبين مدربه الألماني هانز فليك في أول حصة تدريبية له مع برشلونة.

وتعاقد برشلونة مع الحارس الإسباني جارسيا، بعقد يمتد حتى عام 2031 في صفقة كلفت خزينة برشلونة 25 مليون يورو قادمًا من الغريم إسبانيول.

وظهر جارسيا، في حوار طويل أجرته صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية، وقال: “الانضمام للمنتخب؟ لا أعرف، أعتقد أن لديك تأثيرًا أكبر في برشلونة، ومباريات أكثر أيضًا وتشارك في المسابقات الأوروبية، لكنني لا أفكر في ذلك، أفكر في بذل قصارى جهدي هنا في برشلونة، وبعد ذلك أيًا كان ما يأتي سأكون سعيدًا به”.

وعن عدم تواجده بقائمة دوري الأمم، أكمل: “سأكون كاذبًا إن لم أقل إنني كنت منتبهًا، كنتُ منتبهًا عندما صدرت القائمة آملًا أن أكون هناك، لكن مع علمي بوجود هذا العدد الكبير من حراس المرمى المتميزين، كان الأمر صعبًا للغاية، كنت متحمسًا لكن عدم وجودي هناك لم يزعجني، وسأواصل العمل لأكون هناك يومًا ما”.

اقرأ أيضًا | خوان جارسيا يوضح لماذا قبل عرض برشلونة.. وحقيقة معاناته من أزمة التسجيل

وعن لامين يامال: “لامين يبدو جيدًا جدًا في المباريات لكنه في التدريب يُبلي بلاءً حسنًا في كل حركة يقوم بها، من الواضح أنه بحاجة إلى تحسن كبير لأنه صغير جدًا لكنه فاجأني حقًا”.

وحول أكثر اللاعبين الذين تفاجأ بمستواهم: “كثيرون، لم أقابل الكثيرين ولكنني قابلت آخرين، وكنت أعرف جودتهم بالفعل ولكن قبل كل شيء أود أن أقول أولئك الذين يأتون من اللاماسيا فوجئت بجودتهم، لأنني لم أكن أعرفهم جيدًا”.

وبشأن الرسالة الوداعية لجماهير إسبانيول: “كان من المهم لي أن أودعهم بالطريقة التي أردتها، بكل ما أردت قوله، كان الأمر معقدًا، لأنك تحتاج أيضًا إلى قليل من الخيال لتكوين كل شيء، وواجهت صعوبة في صياغة كل ما أردت قوله وجعله يبدو صحيحًا، لذلك تلقيت بعض المساعدة وفكرت كثيرًا فيما سأقوله، وأنا سعيد بما فعلناه”.

وعندما طُلب منه أن يصف مدربه الألماني هانز فليك بكلمة واحدة ويوضح ماذا دار بينهما في أول حديث، أتم: “حسنًا سأقول إنه حاد، قبل كل شيء آمل أن أواصل كما كنت في الموسم الماضي، عندما أخبرني أنني جيد جدًا، وأنني لعبت مباريات رائعة، وأيضًا آمل أن أساعده بكل ما أوتيت من قوة، أؤمن أنني سأفعل ذلك، وسأفعله على أكمل وجه”.

The relief is palpable when you ask India’s bowling coach Paras Mhambrey about finally getting to work with a full-strength bowling unit. India have been going through a freakish run of injuries for the best part of three years now, but getting Jasprit Bumrah back for the World Cup is a blessing India were beginning to prepare to live without.”Ask me about it, man,” Mhambrey, making no attempt to hide his relief, said, when asked how good it was to finally get the full band back together. “It has been tough. The last couple of years, it has been really tough. It is tough to miss [out on] someone like Bumrah. You have seen him in the last three games that he has played. What he brings to the table. He is a world-class bowler. He gives you that breakthrough that you require in the powerplays. He’s well adapted to bowl in the middle overs and he’s a top, gun death bowler. We really missed him.”A World Cup without Bumrah was not just a nightmare or a thought but a distinct reality. Mhambrey credited the medical staff both at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and with the team for the return of Bumrah.Related

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“We must credit the staff back at the NCA, the medical department, the physios out there, and out here as well,” Mhambrey said. “And they really worked hard behind the scenes for the last few years, from where he was and to get him out here. So, credit goes to them as well.”While Bumrah was sidelined, going in for surgery to recover from a stress fracture of the back, Mohammed Siraj had the opening to emerge as a world-class ODI bowler. Siraj hasn’t quite maintained the form he was in coming into the World Cup, but the team management was impressed with how he pulled his length back and made a comeback in the match against Pakistan after conceding 18 in his first two overs.Mohammed Siraj didn’t have the best of starts against Pakistan but came back with key wickets•AFP/Getty Images

One possible reason why Siraj has not been at his best is that this lot of balls is hardly swinging. In the lead-up to the World Cup, the balls were moving a lot more and for longer for the quicks, allowing Siraj to become the threat he was. His economy of 6.46 and average of 50.66 so far this tournament sit in contrast with the figures of the rest of India’s bowlers.If there has been one criticism of India’s superb campaign so far, it has probably been that Siraj has been slow at adjusting to the lack of swing. However, India are unlikely to lose sleep over it. Firstly because their solid attack allows them to have one bowler go for runs. Secondly Siraj did begin to make the adjustment needed against Pakistan.More importantly, perhaps, India’s next set of matches features the only venues where the ball has swung properly this World Cup. They will face New Zealand in Dharamsala and England in Lucknow, two venues where fast bowlers have found some joy. Even the match against Bangladesh will be played in Pune, which is an open venue, bereft of high stands or roofs blocking the wind.Mhambrey did speak about having to leave Mohammed Shami out, a bowler who can use the new ball and has one of the best strike rates in ODI cricket. “It is never an easy decision,” Mhambrey said. “But I think the conversations are around, we had a clear chat with him. Whenever we select a squad, the message from us is very clear. That we pick a squad we feel is the best for that wicket.”And I think sometimes you will miss out. Someone like him is missing out, someone like Ash [R Ashwin] will miss out. And that’s the communication that we have with him. We are very clear. Difficult decision, honestly, given the quality that he [Shami] brings to the team, new ball, death, it is difficult to take that decision. But you have to take that decision, you only have 11 on the field.”The fourth specialist bowler will continue to be someone who can also contribute with the bat: Shardul Thakur or Ashwin. While Ashwin can use the breeze to his advantage, Pune still might be a ground that favours the extra seamer because of its short boundaries and historically flat pitch.”It’s been a really tough one when you have a world-class bowler amongst your 15 and are unable to… we don’t get an opportunity to give him a game,” Mhambrey said of Ashwin. “That’s a tough call, you have to take that tough call. But for us, the conversation has always been around the team, not only prior to this game, but the last few years.”We go with the best combination for the surface. In that sense, he’s been a great lad. He understands that, he’s a great team guy. I’ve never seen him grumpy; I haven’t seen him complaining any time for any of the last few years that he’s been with us.”So having someone like that, a team guy in a team really helps. The credit goes to him. Even after so many years, he’s there, he wants to do well for the team, he turns up every practice session, goes through the rigorous grind, and he keeps bowling.”

Arsenal have penciled in negotiations with a “top” striker, with manager Mikel Arteta believed to hold a significant link to the player which could well hand the Gunners an edge in the race for his signature.

Andrea Berta pursuing new centre-forward for Arsenal this summer

The arrival of new sporting director Andrea Berta recently has intensified transfer talk around the Emirates Stadium, with nothing left to play for in the Premier League and the next summer window set to be a crucial one.

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The signing of a prolific new centre-forward will also have real significance, as long-term injuries to both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz highlight the importance for Berta to acquire a proven and reliable option for Arteta.

Newcastle United star Alexander Isak is continuously being linked with a move to Arsenal, but the Magpies are reluctant to sell their star forward and will demand a serious premium to even entertain talks.

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Brentford (home)

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Ipswich Town (away)

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Reliable journalist Ben Jacobs is among the many credible media members who state that Newcastle’s starting price for Isak is around £150 million, which would require Arsenal to smash their transfer record.

Even if some reports state that Isak has expressed a desire to join Arsenal, a lot of signs point towards the Sweden international being unattainable this summer, but there are tempting alternative options.

One of them is Sporting CP superstar Viktor Gyokeres, another prolific Sweden international who’s racked up an incredible 40 goals across 41 appearances in all competitions this season.

While his release clause stands at around £83 million, Sky Germany stated late last year that Sporting could green-light Gyokeres’ sale for a fee between £50-58 million this summer.

Arsenal schedule "formal" talks with Viktor Gyokeres' agent

According to Portuguese news outlet Correio da Manha, via 90min, the Gunners appear to be prepared to take full advantage of this potential price tag.

Indeed, as per their information, Arsenal have scheduled “formal” talks with Gyokeres’ agent to discuss terms, and the representative is actually said to be a “close friend” of Arteta.

The north Londoners believe this could even hand Arsenal an edge in the race for his services, even if they’re likely to face very stiff competition for the 26-year-old following another very prolific campaign in the Primeira Liga.

Gyokeres already attracted praise from members of the Arsenal squad, like goalkeeper David Raya, who branded him a “top player” before their meeting in the Champions League.

“We know his strengths, how he runs a lot in behind and scores a lot in one v. one, and he is a top player in form,” said Raya.

“We are going to try and keep him very, very quiet. Don’t give him any chances. We have to step up defensively. Hopefully we can do a great job and keep a clean sheet.”

Captain Hayley Matthews’ all-round show where she scored 109 and followed it up with a three-wicket burst helped West Indies ease to a 58-run win over Ireland in the opening women’s ODI in Gros Islet.Batting first, the hosts lost debutant Zaida James cheaply, but Matthews and Stafanie Taylor brought out their experience to shepherd the innings after a slow start. The duo added a 156-run stand off 153 balls for the second wicket.Matthews was the aggressor as she reached her half-century off 53 balls and picked up the pace after reaching the landmark. It did not take her long to breach the three-figure mark, reaching there in 96 balls, with the help of nine fours and two sixes. Taylor reached her fifty off 62 balls but fell soon after for 55 to legspinner Cara Murray.Taylor’s wicket produced an opening for Ireland, with West Indies losing 3 for 6 in ten balls, but Chinelle Henry came in and slammed an unbeaten 37-ball 53, her innings laced with seven fours as West Indies reached a formidable 297 for 6. Murray was Ireland’s most successful bowler, picking up three wickets.Ireland were circumspect in the chase, only managing 35 runs in the powerplay. Opener Gaby Lewis held the innings together, adding a 67-run stand with Orla Prendergast (37) for the second wicket and following it up with a 71-run partnership with captain Laura Delany (40).Matthews then struck with the ball, too, taking out Lewis for 83 before removing Delany. None of the other batters could put up much of a fight as Ireland finished on 239 for 9 in their allotted 50 overs. Matthews finished with 3 for 53 in her ten overs, while Afy Fletcher and Qiana Joseph chipped in with two wickets apiece. Matthews was named Player of the Match for her all-round effort.