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Having snapped up the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane and Casemiro in recent years, it looks as if Manchester United could be plotting to sign another high-profile, experienced figure this summer, amid current speculation regarding the club's interest in Antoine Griezmann.

According to reports in Spain last week, the Red Devils are said to be among a raft of elite European sides who are interested in prising the 32-year-old from Atletico Madrid ahead of next season, with the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan also showing an interest in the playmaking forward.

The suggestion is that the former Barcelona man has a release clause worth in the region of just €25m (£21) in his current deal with the La Liga side, ensuring that the Old Trafford outfit could well be able to snap up the 121-cap maestro on the cheap in their quest to bolster their attacking ranks.

It is not the first time that United have seemingly shown an interest in signing the one-time Real Sociedad man in recent times, with Sky Sports journalist Melissa Reddy having suggested that Erik ten Hag and co had enquired about the prospect of signing the World Cup-winning Frenchman last summer.

With Ten Hag seemingly keen to strengthen his forward line and midfield ranks over the coming months, the Dutchman could perhaps kill two birds with one stone by snapping up the versatile sensation…

Should Man United sign Griezmann?

The £206k-per-week asset could well follow in the footsteps of his compatriot, Varane and last year's summer arrival, Casemiro, in making the move from the Spanish capital to the Theatre of Dreams, with the hope being that Griezmann can replicate the success of the latter man, in particular.

The Brazilian has made a "huge difference" since his arrival from Real Madrid on a £70m deal back in August – according to club legend Gary Neville – having proven himself to be a truly "great football player", in the words of his manager, after chipping in with seven goals and six assists in 51 games across all fronts last season.

Much like there may be with Griezmann, there were initial doubts about the 31-year-old midfielder joining towards the latter stages of his career – with pundit Graeme Souness describing the fee as "too much money" at the time – although the experienced machine has seemingly firmly quashed any such concerns.

The aim then will be for Casemiro's old Madrid adversary to also make a smooth transition to life in the Premier League if he is to make the move this summer, with the 5 foot 9 magician having the ability to showcase to those in England just why he is a "super talent", according to Alan Shearer.

Having arguably been his nation's "key player" after taking on a surprise deep-lying midfield role at the World Cup in Qatar – as per ex-United man Diego Forlan – Griezmann continued that impact at club level in Diego Simeone's side, having operated behind the striker for much of the 2022/23 campaign.

It is not wrong to suggest that the Macon native perhaps even outperformed Bruno Fernandes in his playmaking role having contributed 15 goals and 16 assists in 38 La Liga games last season, while the Portugal international, by contrast, registered eight goals and eight assists in 37 Premier League games.

That haul of 31 goal involvements ensured that Griezmann was able to record a standout average match rating of 7.74 – as per Sofascore – with that again putting him ahead of Fernandes (7.56), showcasing just what an astute addition he could be for Ten Hag.

Whether the fleet-footed ace is to operate as an option through the middle or in an advanced midfield role, such a quality recruit could potentially be able to emulate Casemiro's influence on the Red Devils.

A round-up of the West Zone games from the first round of the Inter-State T20 tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Jan-2017Ajinkya Rahane struck 78 off 53 balls, including 11 fours and a six and Aditya Tare bettered him with 79 off 41 balls to amass 211 for 3 for Mumbai and yet they could barely cling on to victory. Baroda were wilting at 84 for 5 in the 10th over when Vishnu Solanki took control, razing an unbeaten 69 off 34 balls at a strike-rate of 202. The game hurtled to a hair-raising finish at Reliance Stadium in Vadodara but, in the end, there were just too many runs to chase down.Much of that was down to Rahane, who lost his place in the Indian T20 side, and the Mumbai captain Tare. They galloped along during their second-wicket partnership, putting on 152 runs in only 84 balls. There was only one bowler who could maintain an economy rate under 9 – Irfan Pathan, on the 11th anniversary of his taking a hat-trick in the very first over of the India-Pakistan Test in Mohali, conceded a mere 27 runs in his four overs. That’s just over six runs an over in a match that threw up 416 runs at 10.4 per over.File photo: Ankit Bawne’s career-best score could not prevent a five-wicket win for Gujarat•ESPNcricinfo LtdBaroda’s challenge was based on a sound opening stand as Kedar Devdhar and Miten Shah put on 52 in 4.5 overes, but they were hurt badly as soon as they lost their first wicket. Pravin Tambe, the 45-year old legspinner, used that opening to dismiss Deepak Hooda and both Pathan brothers for single-digits to put Mumbai on top. He finished with 3 for 26 in four overs but had to spend much of his time on the field fretting as Solanki kept pushing. He put on 59 for sixth wicket with Swapnil Singh at 10.11 per over and 56 with the seventh with Soaeb Tai at over 16 an over. But eventually, he ran out of time.Gujarat overcame Ankit Bawne’s unbeaten 59-ball 90 to beat Maharashtra by five wickets. That Maharashtra posted 154 for 7 was down to a fifth-wicket partnership of 47 between Bawne and debutant Naushad Shaikh, and an unbroken eight-wicket stand of 45 off 20 balls between Bawne and debutant Jagdish. Offspinner Rujul Bhatt took 3 for 28, while the new-ball pair of Chintan Gaja and Ishwar Chaudhary impressed with figures of 2 for 30 and 1 for 16 in their respective quotas.Gujarat lost two early wickets in the chase, and when Dhruv Raval was taken out for 20, they were 56 for 3. A half-century stand between Bhatt and Chirag Gandhi then kept them on course. Although Bhatt fell for 54 off 34 balls, and Jesal Karia was dismissed for a duck, Rohit Dahiya partnered Gandhi to knock off the remaining runs. Gandhi was unbeaten on 39 off 22 balls, while Dahiya’s struck at 200 for his 32 not out.

Lockie Ferguson took two wickets off his first two balls in T20Is and helped restrict Bangladesh to 141. Williamson took over thereafter to seal a six-wicket win

The Report by Mohammad Isam03-Jan-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details0:49

Isam: de Grandhomme’s assault changed the game

Kane Williamson timed his unbeaten 73 beautifully to help New Zealand to a six-wicket win over Bangladesh in the first T20 in Napier. Along with Colin de Grandhomme, he rode out a early wobble as Bangladesh took three wickets in seven overs while defending 141.Williamson struck five fours and two sixes in his 55-ball knock, surviving two chances on the boundary that were down to errors in judgment by Soumya Sarkar and Imrul Kayes who stood too far inside the rope at deep midwicket and long-off respectively.Until 10.1 overs, Bangladesh were threatening New Zealand with a heist. Shakib Al Hasan had taken a stunning catch running from deep square leg to midwicket in the third over to get rid of Neil Broom. Mustafizur Rahman removed Colin Munro for a duck in the next over and Shakib had Corey Anderson caught at long-off. When Sarkar and Mashrafe Mortaza combined to run the debutant Tom Bruce out at the start of the 11th over, the visitors might have felt on top.But de Grandhomme slammed a big six over midwicket in the same Mashrafe over before Williamson struck Shakib for a four – the result of Sarkar standing too far inside – and six. He reached his sixth fifty in T20Is before de Grandhomme thumped two more sixes, the last one over cover to seal the game with 12 balls to spare. The pair added 81 runs for the fifth wicket with de Grandhomme unbeaten on 41 off 22 balls.Earlier Mashrafe believed he was giving his batsmen the best use of the flat McLean Park pitch but apart from Mahmudullah, who reached his third T20 fifty, the rest responded poorly.Kayes edged Matt Henry in the second over and things didn’t get much better after that as Bangladesh lost three wickets in five balls towards the end of the Powerplay.Tamim Iqbal was the first to go, giving debutants Ben Wheeler and Tom Bruce their first wicket and catch respectively. Then Lockie Ferguson became only the second bowler ever to take wickets off his first two balls in T20Is. Sabbir Rahman popped a full toss to mid-on rather tamely but Sarkar was undone by a sharp outswinger that took the edge to gully. The hat-trick ball was a yorker but Mahmudullah jammed down bat just in time.After the worst ODI series of his career with scores of 0 1 and 3, Mahmudullah bounced back with 52 off 47 balls that included three fours and three sixes over midwicket, long-on and long-off. He added 37 and 32 for the fifth and sixth wicket partnerships with Shakib Al Hasan and Mosaddek Hossain, who struck two sixes in his 17-ball 20. New Zealand had to wait until the final over to get rid of Mahmudullah. Ferguson was the successful bowler again, finishing with 3 for 32.Left-arm quick Wheeler also made an impressive debut with his two wickets while de Grandhomme, Santner and Henry picked up one each.

Arsenal have been linked with a Serie A gem as Mikel Arteta aims to bolster his squad this summer.

The transfer window officially opened on Wednesday to commence a busy summer for Edu and Arteta to introduce reinforcements to push on from last season's success.

The latest player linked to the Gunners could prove to be a significant upgrade in adding depth to the squad, in a talent likened to a Premier League ace.

What’s the latest on Federico Chiesa to Arsenal?

As reported by Italian outlet La Repubblica, Arsenal are interested in Juventus forward Federico Chiesa.

The report claims that the Gunners have taken the ‘first step’ in contacting the Italian giants for information on the winger.

It’s suggested that Juventus have set an asking price of €60m (£51m) for the 25-year-old, who is contracted to the club until 2025.

What could Federico Chiesa offer to Arsenal?

Hailed as “magic” by members of the media, the Italian international could add a host of attributes to Arteta’s attack.

Deployed primarily on the left-wing, the Genova-born gem could add competition to areas in the Spaniard’s squad that are notably strong, to entice competition and further performances as players battle for starting spots.

The versatile ace is capable of playing in a variety of areas in the front line with the ability to play centrally as well as on either flank, making him a strong option for Arteta to snatch in a player that possesses attributes to suggest he could thrive in the Premier League.

As noted by WhoScored, the Italian is typically strong in skills expected from a wide player such as dribbling as well as being able to get stuck in and assist defensively, an element treasure in the Spaniard’s system at Arsenal.

Playing ahead of progressive overlapping full-backs is a dynamic approach to play going forward but can leave side’s defensively stretched on the counter, which is an area Chiesa could assist in as supported by his average of 2.8 duels won per game, via Sofascore.

As per FBref, the winger is likened to Manchester City whiz Riyad Mahrez, who is a prime example of how to exploit talent in depth in a player that in rotation is always up to par to perform when called upon.

The likeness between the pair is particularly showcased by the fact that the two men can both provide a creative spark from the flanks, with the City ace ranking in the top 3% among his European peers for assists, while the Euro 2020 winner ranks in the top 4% in that regard.

With Martinelli’s position cemented in the starting 11 following a delightful individual campaign that saw him produce 20 G/A in the Premier League, Chiesa could be deployed in a similar fashion to Mahrez at the Etihad with hopefully a similar effect.

The winger displayed traits that could see him thrive in Arteta’s side, averaging 4.52 prog carries per 90 as well as 2.26 successful take-ons per 90 to showcase his abilities on the ball, via FBref.

In signing a backup that possesses quality enough to be in the starting lineup, Arsenal could begin to close the gap between themselves and City by increasing in quality rather than just numbers.

Ross Taylor’s 16th Test hundred drove New Zealand to a declaration 20 minutes from stumps on day four, setting Pakistan an improbable 369 to win the Hamilton Test

The Report by Karthik Krishnaswamy28-Nov-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsRoss Taylor scored the bulk of his 102 runs behind the wicket•Getty ImagesRoss Taylor’s 16th Test hundred drove New Zealand to a declaration 20 minutes from stumps on the fourth day, setting Pakistan an improbable 369 to win the Hamilton Test. The declaration left Pakistan three overs to survive at the end of the day, and their openers got through the task unscathed.Given that the Test match had lost roughly four sessions to rain, New Zealand had done excellently to give themselves a solid chance of winning the series 2-0. The pitch seemed to have flattened out considerably, and was offering much less seam movement than it had done on the first two days, but there were signs of inconsistent bounce as the fourth day wore on, with Taylor taking a number of blows to his gloves.Taylor walked in at the end of a 96-run second-wicket stand between Tom Latham and Kane Williamson and built on that platform with one of his most fluent innings in recent memory. Only three of his runs came in the V, partly a reflection of the length Pakistan’s seamers bowled to him, but that didn’t make any difference to his run-flow as he rumbled along at a strike rate of over 75, peppering the boundaries square and behind square with flicks, glances and every variety of the cut.Pakistan began the day bowling with skill and discipline, starting with four straight maidens and removing Jeet Raval in the eighth over of the New Zealand innings. But their resolve weakened as New Zealand piled on the runs in conditions that seemed far easier to bat in than on the first two days. New Zealand steadily accelerated through the day, scoring at 2.94 per over in the first session, 3.50 in the second, and 4.63 after tea, with Colin de Grandhomme contributing a 21-ball 32 at No. 6.New Zealand started the day on 0 for 0, and the scoreboard didn’t budge until the 27th ball of the morning. Mohammad Amir bowled a particularly testing first spell, swinging the new ball both ways, and gave Pakistan an early breakthrough with a beautifully set-up dismissal: first a wide-ish outswinger that the left-handed Jeet Raval ignored; then another outswinger, closer to off stump, forcing a play-and-miss; followed by an inswinger from a virtually identical line and length. Raval played down the wrong line, and the ball missed his inside edge and thudded into his front pad.Pakistan’s discipline wavered just a touch when Williamson walked in, but that was also down to the new batsman cutting down their margins for error. He hit three fours while moving to 16 off 19 balls: a late cut, a back-foot punch and a steer through point, none of which came off a genuinely bad ball.Having recalibrated their length to Williamson, Pakistan conceded only six runs off the next 36 balls they bowled to him, building just enough pressure to cause him to attempt a risky single that endangered his partner. Yasir Shah, on the field as a substitute, swooped in from point and hit the stumps at the keeper’s end with an underarm flick, and it took multiple replays from multiple angles for the third umpire to give Latham the benefit of doubt. It was one of those calls where Latham’s bat was short of the crease when the ball struck the stumps, and past the crease with the bail off its groove in the next frame, with the cameras incapable of producing the decisive in-between frame.As the session progressed, Pakistan may have wished Yasir’s legspin was available to them, as the batsmen began to assert themselves. Latham picked up a steady stream of leg-side singles, while Williamson strode forward to play the shot of the morning, an on-the-up drive through the covers off a blameless delivery from Wahab Riaz.Pakistan had to make do with Azhar Ali’s legspin in Yasir Shah’s absence•Getty ImagesImran Khan ended the partnership in the fifth over after lunch, angling one into Williamson, forcing him to play, and nipping it away from just short of a good length to find his outside edge.That could have been the second wicket in a short span of time, had Sami Aslam clung on to a chance offered by Latham with 2.3 overs left for lunch. Amir, inevitably, was the unlucky bowler. Latham pulled him in the air, to the left of midwicket. Aslam dived and got his left hand to the ball, but couldn’t hold on. In Amir’s next over, Latham rubbed it in, straight-driving, flicking, and pulling him for three fours to reach his half-century.Williamson’s dismissal brought Taylor to the crease, and he soon announced himself with a flurry of square and late-cuts, needing the bare minimum of width or shortness of length to get on top of the bounce and chop the ball away.Latham had moved to 80 when Wahab Riaz bounced him out in the middle of a typically hostile spell. With the ball rearing towards his head and cramping him for room, Latham flung his hands up and popped a catch to the wicketkeeper off his top glove.Wahab should have had the wicket of Henry Nicholls as well. New to the crease, Nicholls’ footwork was severely tested by Wahab’s pace, and he edged him past second slip’s left hand before playing and missing with feet rooted to the spot. In his next over, he took on the short ball, and just about cleared the leaping long leg fielder with a hurried hook. For some reason, Sohail Khan was standing some ten yards inside the boundary rather than on the rope, where the chance would have been fairly straightforward.Nicholls didn’t last too long after tea, going after an extremely wide ball from Imran and toe-ending to the keeper, but Pakistan didn’t have too long to celebrate, as de Grandhomme slashed, punched and pulled his way to six fours in 21 balls as the seamers began to lose their lengths.With the lead passing 300 and then 350, New Zealand knew they had enough on the board, and BJ Watling’s caution at the start of his innings suggested they were only waiting for Taylor to reach his hundred. He did so in the most appropriate manner, getting on top of a marginally short ball from Imran and crashing it to the backward point boundary. He gestured to the dressing room that he was ready to come off the field, but Williamson told him to carry on batting, prompting the thought that New Zealand wanted to bat till stumps and have the choice of roller in the morning. Not quite. The declaration came two balls later.

Chelsea should not be too concerned after missing out on midfield transfer target Manuel Ugarte and will have already moved on to other targets, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Who did Ugarte sign for?

Chelsea pulled out of the race to sign Ugarte this week despite submitting an offer to Sporting CP for the Uruguayan midfielder.

The Blues fought against French champions Paris Saint Germain for the player’s signature, but Ugarte is expected to make the switch to Ligue 1 despite strong interest from new Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino.

PSG pushed hard to sign the 22-year-old and refused to be beaten on wages, per Jacob Steinberg of The Guardian. The club are now expected to chase other midfield targets, including Brighton’s Moises Caicedo

Jones believes it will not come as a shock to Chelsea that they have missed out on securing Ugarte’s services and expects the club’s summer business to continue as usual.

Speaking to Football FanCast, Jones stated: “I think it's important that we remember clubs don't just go after one player at one time. And that wasn't the case here, either. So Chelsea were just going about their business in a normal way.

“It’s just so widely reported now from every angle that it just seems to have gone further than people expected.

“PSG were always in that conversation; it looks like they are going to win that particular battle. Chelsea will move on and they won't be too concerned.”

Would Ugarte have been a good signing for Chelsea?

Chelsea will be disappointed that Ugarte has chosen to move to PSG given the size of the rebuild needed in the Blue’s midfield.

N'Golo Kante looks set to leave the club to join Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League, while Mason Mount and Reuben Loftus-Cheek have been tipped to leave Stamford Bridge.

Ugarte was an important player for Sporting last season in a season in which they reached the Europa League quarter-finals.

The defensive midfielder played a total of 47 games for Sporting in the 22/23 season, picking up an eye-watering 16 yellow cards in that time per Transfermarkt.

The 22-year-old is, without doubt, a talented player, but his wages would have been significant in a Chelsea team that have an eye on Financial Fair Play regulations.

PSG reportedly offered £2.6 million more in base salary than Chelsea, and although Pochettino will be disappointed on missing out on the talent of Ugarte it could be a blessing in disguise due to the cost of the young star’s wages.

South Africa’s bowlers flexed their muscles with the pink ball the day after the touring batsmen had done likewise to round out the warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI under lights at Adelaide Oval

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Oct-2016
ScorecardRilee Rossouw scored a brisk 77 after CA XI were rolled over•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesSouth Africa’s bowlers flexed their muscles with the pink ball the day after the touring batsmen had done likewise to round out the warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI under lights at Adelaide Oval.The local collective lasted a mere 30.4 overs meaning Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander, Morne Morkel and Kagiso Rabada were denied the chance to see how the pink ball would perform after dark.However an even spread of wickets – the aforementioned quartet plus Kyle Abbott all claimed two wickets each – augured well for the South Africa bowlers ahead of the Test series against Australia, even if the CA XI provided modest opposition.Only the CA XI captain Matthew Short was able to resist for any length of time, battling his way to 57 from 61 balls as wickets fell around him. No other member of the invitational side made it to double figures.The swift collapse of the CA XI innings left the tourists with the remainder of the evening for a second innings, in which Rilee Rossouw made the most of his chance to post a swift 77 before retiring.Faf du Plessis, Temba Bavuma and JP Duminy were all able to indulge in some gentle centre-wicket practice before the close. Arjun Nair, the young NSW spinner, was able to put in a second economical display while also deceiving Bavuma.

Chelsea are considering submitting a bid to sign Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia this summer, according to reports.

Is Romeo Lavia leaving Southampton?

Lavia only arrived on the south coast last summer from Premier League rivals Manchester City, but having impressed during 34 appearances in his debut season, where he established himself as Ruben Selles’ second best-performing defensive player, he’s bound to attract interest now that they have been relegated to the Championship.

The Belgium U21 international still has another four years remaining on his contract at St. Mary’s, though the Sky Blues reportedly have a £40m buy-back clause available to them which they could trigger should they want him to return or to sell him on for a higher fee.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Fabrizio Romano recently revealed that the Blues and Mauricio Pochettino do “really appreciate” the 19-year-old but made it clear that nothing was “advanced or imminent”, though it sounds like they are now thinking about testing the waters in an attempt to bring him to Stamford Bridge.

Are Chelsea signing Lavia?

According to Football.London, Chelsea have Lavia firmly on their "radar" and are "considering making a move" as a cheaper alternative to Moises Caicedo. Todd Boehly and his recruitment team have conducted "extensive scouting sessions" on the midfielder and clearly must have been impressed with what they have seen in order to be weighing up an offer. Southampton are "likely" to demand a fee of £50m to ponder parting ways with their prized asset in the weeks and months ahead.

Should Boehly cash out on Lavia?

Chelsea are reportedly targeting other defensive midfield candidates in the form of Brighton and Hove Albion’s Caicedo, but should they not be successful in their attempts to land Roberto De Zerbi’s star, Lavia would be an excellent alternative having been dubbed a “monster” at the base of midfield by journalist Benjy Nurick.

The Elite Project Group Ltd client ranks in the 96th percentile for blocks and won 35 out of his 60 tackles made throughout the course of the previous term, which was the second-highest success rate out of all of his fellow teammates, as per FBRef, highlighting how strong he is at protecting the backline.

The Adidas-sponsored gem, who has the versatility to operate slightly higher up in central midfield alongside his natural role in front of the defence, can also get involved at the opposite end of the pitch having scored one goal and provided the same number of assists in his opening campaign at Southampton, and he would only excel further under the guidance of Pochettino.

Manchester City are edging closer to reaching an agreement with Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Is Kovacic linked with Man City move?

The 29-year-old has been part of a Blues side that has struggled enormously in 2022/23, eventually finishing a lowly 12th in the Premier League. He certainly didn't find his best form during the season, although injuries didn't help at times, with only 17 starts coming his way in the competition.

Kovacic is out of contract at Chelsea next year and it has become increasingly clear that he will move on to pastures new before the start of next season. It's City who have emerged as the strong contenders to snap him up, as Pep Guardiola looks to further bolster his midfield options.

With the in-form Ilkay Gundogan not yet agreeing an extension at the Etihad, a void could appear in the middle of the park that needs to be filled moving forward, and it looks as though the Blues star could be that man.

Are Citizens closing in on Kovacic signing?

Taking to Twitter, Romano provided an update regarding City's pursuit of Kovacic, saying that personal terms are now "close" to being agreed and that the move could happen very soon:

"Kovacic and Man City, personal terms agreement is close as revealed days ago — more will follow next week. Nothing has changed despite reports."

Kovacic, who has won four Champions League titles, could be a really effective signing by City this summer, with the £100,000-a-week midfielder someone who could easily adapt to Guardiola's style of play. He enjoyed an 86% pass completion rate in the Premier League this season while he ranks in the 98th percentile for passes into the final third – and at 29, he still has a number of years left in him at the top level.

Former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel once described the 93-cap Croatia international as "outstanding" during his time at Stamford Bridge, and he is the type of player who could excel even more surrounded by players who are on his wavelength technically.

The hope is that Gundogan also stays put, of course, but either way, Kovacic could represent a great option who wouldn't necessarily start every week, but be more than capable of coming in and doing a good when called upon. The fact that he has played for Real Madrid in the past, spending four years there, also says so much about his quality.

Despite having a decent County Championship season at best, Zafar Ansari has impressed the England management with his temperament and all-round skills, and is in line to play his maiden Test

George Dobell26-Oct-2016It will come a year later than anticipated, but Zafar Ansari looks set to make his Test debut in the second Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Friday.But for a badly-broken left thumb, Ansari would almost certainly have played his maiden Test in the UAE 12 months ago. But, just hours after he was picked for the tour, he sustained the injury in the field, and was subsequently obliged to undergo two operations. Samit Patel was recalled, instead, and he played the Sharjah Test.While Ansari enjoyed a decent rather than spectacular season for Surrey in the County Championship – he averaged 27.43 with the bat and claimed 22 wickets at 31.40 – the England management admires his calm temperament almost as much as his all-round abilities. While they were reluctant to thrust Jack Leach, the Somerset spinner, who enjoyed a more remarkable season – he claimed 68 wickets in the first-class season at an average of 22.58 – into international cricket, they seem to have no qualms about Ansari.The case of Simon Kerrigan continues to influence selectors in such cases. Kerrigan, drafted in for his debut in the final Ashes Test of the 2013 summer, was mauled by Australia’s batsmen, and appears to have never fully recovered from the experience. Even Leach’s captain at Somerset, Chris Rogers, remarked that “emotionally, he still has a bit of a way to go” before he would consider him suitable for selection. He will instead be given an opportunity to familiarise himself with the England environment as part of the Lions programme.Ansari, though slightly younger, is seen as more worldly and experienced. He gained a first from Cambridge University, and, having graduated through the England age-group system – he played for England at the Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 levels – made his international debut in the rain-ruined ODI in Ireland in May 2015. He bowls at a relatively sharp pace, and, as a left-arm spinner whose turn will take the ball away from the right-handers, could prove more useful than a second spinner when England face an Indian top-order heavily stocked with right-handers.Ansari fits the mould of this team, too, in that he can bat, bowl and field to a decent standard. Generally patient and compact in red-ball cricket, he has opened the batting for Surrey. But, after a modest County season – his highest score was 53 – it seems Ansari will bat at No. 8 for England. That will move Chris Woakes to No. 9, and Adil Rashid, a man with 10 first-class centuries, down to No. 10. It seems Gareth Batty will be the unfortunate one to make way.There might have been a good case for resting Rashid instead. The pitch looks remarkably dry and cracked already, and, while the weather forecast for Dhaka is not wonderful – the city is braced for cyclonic storm Kyant – it seems likely that Bangladesh may take a bit of a risk in preparing a result-surface in the hope that they can square the series. On such turning surfaces, the control of Batty might prove more useful than the turn of Rashid, though Rashid did look as though he would benefit from anther long bowl ahead of the India series.England are also set to recall Steven Finn. He has been bowling with good pace in the nets and will probably replace Stuart Broad, who will have to wait until the India Tests before gaining his 100th Test cap. While there will be a temptation to give Jake Ball a game and rest Chris Woakes, the team management may be wary of making too many changes against an improving Bangladesh side that went within an ace of achieving their first Test victory against England in Chittagong.That means little opportunity for Jos Buttler. While he continues to hit the ball well in the nets – as one of the local net bowlers discovered on Wednesday when he received a black eye after being unable to get out of the way of a straight drive – Jonny Bairstow took another step towards cementing his place with the gloves with an impressive performance standing up to the stumps in Chittagong. And Trevor Bayliss has already indicated that he is keen to stick with the top-six in the batting line-up for the Dhaka Test.