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An ODI average of under 28 between the two World Cups in 2017 and 2022, but an imposing average of 53 in the 18 World Cup innings she has played so far tell the story of a player who steps up on the big stage.Harmanpreet Kaur had been under pressure before the ongoing World Cup because of a severe lack of runs since the 2017 ODI World Cup, giving an impression that she had been given a long rope because of that epochal 171 not out against Australia in the 2017 semi-final.Related

• Mandhana has 'no explanation' for batters' inconsistency, but expects 'perfect game' against Australia

• Focus and fun- the Mandhana-Harmanpreet show

• Mandhana and Harmanpreet set new benchmarks

• Powar wants India's senior players to put their hand up

But crucial knocks of 109 and 71 against West Indies and New Zealand, respectively, have served a reminder of the value she adds to India’s middle order.”Big tournaments are very important and your role is more important, you need to take more responsibility and perform for your team. Maybe that’s the reason [I do well in World Cups],” she said a day before India’s game against England in Mount Maunganui. “I always want to give my best for the team but sometimes, things don’t go your way. But I’ll make sure whenever we play the World Cup, I’ll be there for my team.”As opposed to her career batting average of 35.17, Harmanpreet averages a whopping 53.07 in ODI World Cups and has struck three of her four centuries in the format in world tournaments, her World Cup runs coming at a strike rate to 97. In fact, many of the highlights from her ODI career have come in World Cups. ODI debut – 2009 World Cup. Maiden ODI century -2013 World Cup against England. Her only Player-of-the-Match award in the format – the 2017 World Cup semi-final, of course.Smriti Mandhana, who was involved in a record partnership of 184 with Harmanpreet against West Indies, scoring a century of her own, had said Harmanpreet brought out her “best” self when “her back is towards the wall”.Harmanpreet agreed that backing herself was the key to playing such big innings. “Sometimes, I just need to back myself and that’s what I’ve been doing, like before this West Indies game, and the New Zealand game,” she said. “When I bat with Smriti and someone who is already settled, it’s always easy for me to settle there and that’s what I enjoyed the other day.”Harmanpreet warmed up for the ongoing World Cup with a knock of 104 off 114 balls against South Africa, after she had scored a brisk 63 off 66 against New Zealand in the final ODI of the bilateral series.”The greatest thing was before the World Cup, we got a five-ODI series against New Zealand, and one T20,” she said. “Because of that, we got that momentum and got used to these conditions, and that is the reason which is helping us perform well.”Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana put together the best partnership for India in World Cups in the game against West Indies•ICC via Getty Images

With two wins from three games, India now take on defending champions England, who are in danger of crashing out early after three losses in a row. England had beaten India in the 2017 World Cup final by just nine runs, but Harmanpreet said India were focusing on current form instead of past results.”If we talk all over, we started that [2017] World Cup by beating England [in the league stage],” she pointed out. “And we can’t just focus on past performances. They had played good cricket [in the 2017 final] but right now, it’s all about momentum, and that’s on our side. We want to focus on our strengths. Past is history and if we focus too much on that, we’ll add to our own pressure. We want to live in the present and focus on the good things we’ve done rather than think about past results.”The only aspect of India’s game that Harmanpreet was wary of was losing wickets in clusters, which has happened consistently. They were 112 for 5 against Pakistan, 95 for 5 against New Zealand, and 78 for 3 against West Indies, before the lower-middle order rescued them.”Sometimes, we are losing back-to-back wickets and if we can work on that… otherwise, things are the way we want them,” she said. “Now is the time we just need to stay relaxed and enjoy the situation, because sometimes, that helps you perform better.”

On a surface aiding spin, the South African spinners were on point in the first game – can India’s pair match them this time around?

Saurabh Somani20-Jan-20221:50

Can Aiden Markram find some form? Will Venkatesh Iyer bowl?

Big picture About three weeks ago, India were riding the crest of a wave. They had breached a South African fortress in Centurion, were 1-0 up in the Test series, and had every prospect of turning that into a series-winning lead. However, that belonged in 2021. In 2022, India haven’t won any game in South Africa. Defeats in the last two Tests have been followed up by a loss in the opening ODI, and now India find themselves within one game of returning home with defeats in both the series, a prospect that would have seemed somewhat far-fetched at any point before the tour began or even after the first Test.The second ODI follows close on the heels of the first one, and at the same venue too – Boland Park in Paarl. The heat and the dryness of the pitch meant spinners found purchase, and the South African duo of Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi (combined figures of 20-1-94-3) comfortably out-performed India’s pair of R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal (20-0-106-1). And if you add Aiden Markram’s part-time spin to the mix, South Africa’s spin figures become an even more impressive 26-1-124-4.Apart from expecting more from their spinners, India will also have to deal with the familiar issue of the middle order lacking runs. It has been the flip side to having a top three of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli – who have piled on runs relentlessly – that the middle order remains slightly uncooked, and it is not a problem with easy solutions.Related

van der Dussen, Bavuma feed off each other in fine partnership

Dhawan's knock underlines his value in India's ODI side

For South Africa, the theme that ran through their success in the Test series held good in the first ODI too: they are a team without too many superstars but one that still gets the job done. Rassie van der Dussen has played 30 ODIs so far, and averages a whopping 73.62 in them. In the first ODI here, he showed what he could do with inventive and attacking batting. His innings swung the game decisively South Africa’s way, with the run rate floundering until he took charge.While it is unrealistic to expect him to sustain this level of run-scoring in ODIs, it is not as if these numbers are completely out of the blue for van der Dussen. In a List A career spanning 119 matches, his average is just shy of 50.Form guideSouth Africa WLWLW (last five completed matches; most recent first)
India LLWWW
Runs haven’t been coming for Aiden Markram, and South Africa have other options in the squad•AFP/Getty ImagesIn the spotlight KL Rahul will face the heat as captain and opening batter. On the eve of the first ODI, he had lauded Venkatesh Iyer’s all-round utility to the ODI side, but then opted not to call him up for a single over with the ball even when the others were being dealt with easily by Temba Bavuma and van der Dussen. It left the question as to why Iyer was preferred to Suryakumar Yadav or Ishan Kishan, who arguably offer more as batters alone. And while batting, Rahul opted for some caution even though South Africa opened the bowling with Markram’s part-time offspin.A favourable match-up against a non-regular bowler with the field up during the powerplay and a steep target to chase should have unlocked Rahul’s free-stroking persona. Instead, he brought out the IPL image of recent vintage: the captain intent on caution. Tactically too, it wasn’t the best move as it allowed South Africa to get six overs out of the fifth bowler’s quota first up, and gave them much greater freedom to use their main bowlers at key moments. How Rahul responds to these as captain and batter will be interesting to see.While Aiden Markram’s bowling offered an unexpected bonus, and his fielding at point remains top notch, his main suit has been in trouble lately. He isn’t short of class but the runs haven’t been coming for Markram, and that is something that could trouble South Africa on another day. Hence, they could well consider a swap with a bowler. In the likes of George Linde and Dwaine Pretorius, they have bowlers who can bat.If they want to go for a pure bowler, there is Sisanda Magala. In effect, if Markram is not contributing via runs, there is an argument to be made that his part-time bowling can be replaced by someone with greater pedigree.Team news South Africa are unlikely to make changes to a winning combination from the first ODI. They followed the same philosophy in the Test matches, where Maharaj played the second and third Tests despite having little to do.South Africa (likely): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Janneman Malan, 3 Temba Bavuma (capt), 4 Aiden Markram, 5 Rassie van der Dussen, 6 David Miller, 7 Andile Phehlulwayo, 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 Lungi Ngidi, 11 Tabraiz ShamsiRahul had said before the series began that while India would look to be flexible tactically, they would ensure those selected got a good run. On that basis, it is not likely that they will make any changes to the side from the first ODI either.India (likely): 1 KL Rahul (capt), 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 Rishabh Pant (wk), 6 Venkatesh Iyer, 7 R Ashwin, 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Yuzvendra ChahalPitch and conditions It is set to be another hot day in Paarl. The surface is slow and aiding spin already, and the heat will dry it out further. The slowness of the pitch is balanced by the shorter boundaries. And so, like in the first ODI, the team winning the toss will look to bat in all probability.Stats and trivia Among the top ten pace bowlers in terms of ODI wickets since Jasprit Bumrah’s debut in January 2016, only he has an economy rate below five. Bumrah has the second-most wickets in this period, but his average and economy rate are both better than Trent Boult, who has the most. Keshav Maharaj has played six of his 16 ODIs at home – all in the last two years – and in four out of those six, he has paired with Tabraiz Shamsi. This is a pointer to the South African pitches not always being spin-unfriendly, as well as to South Africa having two quality spinners to call on. Quotes “Our thought process is that we are building a team for the 2023 World Cup. So there are going to be a few hiccups here and there. But we all have good clarity that we have got this bunch of players and how we have to refine them. It doesn’t matter if we lose an odd game while trying to do that because we are looking at the bigger picture.”
“Definitely a lot more in favour of the Indian players, more like a subcontinent pitch rather than a South African pitch. So that’s what makes the victory even sweeter, basically in foreign conditions, we outplayed them.”

دخلت مصر دائرة الترشيحات لاستضافة النسخة المقبلة من البطولة العربية للأندية، المقرر إقامتها خلال صيف 2025، في ظل بحث الاتحاد العربي لكرة القدم عن الدولة التي ستحتضن الحدث القاري الذي يجمع نخبة الفرق من مختلف البلدان العربية.

ووفقًا لما نشرته صحيفة “الشرق الأوسط” السعودية، فإن هناك مقترحًا قويًا بإقامة البطولة في مصر خلال الفترة من 25 يوليو إلى 11 أغسطس 2025، لتشهد منافسة قوية بين أبرز الأندية العربية، ومن بينها أندية سعودية بارزة.

طالع أيضًا | رابطة الدوري السعودي تُحدد موعد انطلاق ونهاية الموسم المُقبل 2025-2026

وشهدت النسخة الأخيرة من البطولة، التي أقيمت في السعودية عام 2023، تتويج فريق النصر السعودي باللقب بعد فوزه على الهلال في المباراة النهائية، بقيادة نجمه البرتغالي كريستيانو رونالدو.

كما شهدت مشاركة الزمالك، الذي خرج من دور المجموعات بعدما احتل المركز الثالث في مجموعته خلف النصر والشباب السعوديين.

ويسعى الاتحاد العربي خلال الفترة المقبلة لحسم هوية الدولة المستضيفة للبطولة، وسط توقعات بإجراء مشاورات مع الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم بشأن إمكانية استضافة الحدث، خاصة في ظل امتلاك مصر للبنية التحتية القوية والملاعب المؤهلة لاستقبال هذا النوع من البطولات الكبرى.

The match was called off shortly before the toss due to Covid-19 cases in Brisbane

AAP29-Sep-2021

Dispute and discontent over a Sheffield Shield “debacle” in Brisbane has highlighted the immense challenge confronting Cricket Australia (CA) this summer.Stunning details of Tuesday’s sudden postponement of a Shield match between Queensland and Tasmania, set to feature star Marnus Labuschagne and a stack of Ashes hopefuls, have been laid bare.Queensland Cricket (QC) chief executive Terry Svenson first learned of what he termed a “rushed” and “panicked” decision via a groundsman at Ian Healy Oval.Svenson told he then called CA counterpart Nick Hockley, who at that stage was also unaware the game had been aborted because of Covid-19 cases in Brisbane that prompted Tasmania’s squad to flee the state.There is hope the sides’ first four-day match of the season will be played next week, with discussions between CA, QC and Cricket Tasmania (CT) continuing.But the circumstances that led to the postponement, which legend and QC board member Ian Healy lashed as an “absolute debacle” that “disrespected” the integrity of the Shield, underlined how this season’s schedule – domestic and international, male and female – remains a precarious beast.England are expected to name a men’s Ashes squad soon but the prospect of the final Test being staged in Perth has significantly diminished. The Shield chaos will have done little to soothe the various concerns of Joe Root’s squad.The AFL and NRL navigated another season of lockdowns, border closures and coronavirus-related scares.Part of CA’s problem is that it is trying to appease multiple state governments but also state associations – effectively its shareholders – in addition to players and foreign cricket boards. Common ground can often be hard to find.”We should still be playing,” Svenson told Healy on the latter’s radio show. “We have to be better at making decisions like this and not panicking.”That decision to postpone and ultimately cancel the match was done before we heard from the Premier and CHO [chief health officer].”There’s a flaw in the decision-making process. There has to be a sign-off process. Surely if there’s a material change in the game, has to be the CEO of Cricket Australia and the relevant state CEOs. That’s what I’ve appealed to Nick to do and Nick is aligned with my view.”Healy was stunned by the visitors’ haste. “Tasmania decides ‘we’re out’ … can you imagine the [Canterbury] Bulldogs flying home and deciding not to play a [NRL] game without Peter V’landys knowing? It’s unbelievable,” he said. “What the hell were Tasmania thinking?”CT made its decision because of fears that players could be forced to quarantine upon returning home, while it was also worried about future travel to South Australia and Western Australia.”To some extent, I certainly understand that,” Svenson said. “I would have liked to have seen them hang around for another 24 hours.”CT counterpart Dominic Baker claimed “players were happy to come home”, having debriefed with captain Matthew Wade on Tuesday.”He said the sentiment of the group was, if we can get out and get back, that’d be preferable. They don’t want to be sitting around, doing nothing,” Baker told . “No doubt there would be a level of frustration amongst the group.”

It happens every year. More or less. Everton started poorly in the Premier League once more in 2024/25 but stretched their unbeaten run to three matches in a drab draw against Newcastle United before the October international break.

The series pause is now upon us, and though some Toffees fans might anticipate watching Lee Carsley’s England – and whoever else they support – in action, it’s fair to say that the majority simply wish for Everton to get back in action and continue this budding resurgence.

Many a team’s momentum has been curbed by mid-season pauses, but with an ostensibly favourable run of fixtures up ahead in the English top flight, Sean Dyche will be confident that his team, 16th in the standings after seven games, can make headway.

19/10/24

Ipswich Town (A)

17th

26/10/24

Fulham (H)

8th

02/11/24

Southampton (H)

19th

09/11/24

West Ham (A)

12th

23/11/24

Brentford (H)

11th

The Blue, however, will be desperate for the return of Jarrad Branthwaite, who has only made one appearance this term as he battles against a groin injury that sidelined him for the opening weeks before a recurrence pegged him back after his sole display, the turning point victory over Crystal Palace.

The importance of Jarrad Branthwaite

Last season, Branthwaite was awarded Everton’s Young Player of the Season after a titanic year in the Everton rear, blending youthful exuberance with the experienced iron of James Tarkowski.

Hailed as “a monster” by pundit Ian Wright for his performances, Branthwaite, still only 22, was courted by teams such as Manchester United during the off-season, with the Red Devils failing after a series of bids, not meeting Everton’s £75m valuation.

There was just cause. The heavyset defender kept 13 clean sheets across 35 matches in his first full year in the Premier League, also winning an extraordinary 68% of his total duels contested, as per Sofascore, averaging 5.3 per game.

It’s clear that he’s been missed this year, although the fact that he has barely played does count for something: Everton have a real chance of rising to new heights upon his return, which should be imminent – a positive to take from this wretched international break.

Everton have had to make do with Michael Keane, who has long been tagged with negativity, but rightly so, he’s not good enough.

Michael Keane's season in numbers

Keane has entered his eighth campaign on Merseyside, having joined from Burnley for a club-record-equalling fee of £30m in 2017 under the management of Ronald Koeman. The centre-half’s efforts in Lancashire had earned him acclaim, earning a Three Lions call-up to boot.

He’s now completed 224 appearances in all competitions for Everton, scoring 14 goals and adding ten assists, but has fallen down the pecking order over the past several seasons, playing 14 Premier League matches from the outset across the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons.

There’s a reason for this. He’d been noted to be “always struggling”, according to talkSPORT’s Perry Groves, and has continually been culpable for porous performances, lacking the resilience and crispness that is required in a Dyche system, which is ironic, since he starred under the craggy-faced manager at Burnley.

This season, the 31-year-old has obviously been called upon due to the injury issues that have plagued Branthwaite, and although he kept a clean sheet against Newcastle last time out, covering for a struggling Tarkowski in several instances, it’s worth noting that he lost both of his ground duels.

Dyche employs a defence-heavy system and it’s simply not going to work out if he doesn’t get his act together. Indeed, across his six appearances, Keane has actually only won 38% of his ground duels – harking back to Branthwaite’s 68% average last year, and the polarity is stark indeed.

He’s a fierce and capable competitor in the air but Keane has flattered to deceive on the ground, with FBref even recording that he ranks among the bottom 4% of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for tackles won per 90 (0.45), which affirms the contention that he is not fit for purpose in Dyche’s team any longer.

Of course, Branthwaite will supersede him instantly upon being handed the green light, but with Keane out of contract at the end of the campaign, it’s unlikely that he will be rewarded with fresh terms. All told, Everton haven’t got their money’s worth.

Michael Keane's market value in 2024/25

Keane’s once eye-catching market worth has plummeted off a proverbial cliff, with that £30m figure looking some way away at this point.

As per Football Transfers, the veteran is currently worth just £1m on today’s market, and though his imminent contract expiry will have something to do with this, he was worth merely £5m one year ago.

Contextualising this further, teammate Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whose deal runs up at the same time, is still worth £9m, emphasising the gap that has seen the centre-back’s value drop by some £29m, or, to put it another way, 97%.

That’s without even addressing the defender’s £80k-per-week salary, something that sees him take home a pay packet worth over double what Branthwaite, for example, earns.

With The Friedkin Group on the cusp of purchasing Farhad Moshiri’s majority stake in the club, some impactful changes are going to be required in 2025 – and getting rid of Keane must be one of the priorities.

Everton can unearth the next Gordon in academy star who's "a born winner"

He is highly rated by the club

ByJoe Nuttall Oct 10, 2024

يحل فريق ليفربول ضيفاً على خصمه مانشستر سيتي، ضمن منافسات الجولة السادسة والعشرين من مسابقة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “بريميرليج”.

وسيخوض ليفربول مواجهة اليوم أمام مانشستر سيتي على ملعب “الاتحاد” في تمام الساعة السادسة والنصف مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة.

ويحتل ليفربول صدارة ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز برصيد 61 نقطة، ويتواجد مانشستر سيتي في المركز الرابع برصيد 44 نقطة.

اقرأ أيضًا.. سلوت يلمح لإمكانية رحيل أليسون عن ليفربول ويصرح: هذا ما أتمناه من نونيز

وتعد هذه المباراة هي الصدام الأول بين نجمي المنتخب المصري، محمد صلاح وعمر مرموش في الملاعب الأوروبية.

وفاز ليفربول في مباراة الدور الأول هذا الموسم على مانشستر سيتي على ملعب “الأنفيلد”، بهدفين دون رد.

ويسعى ليفربول إلى توسيع فارق النقاط مع وصيفه آرسنال من 8 إلى 11 نقطة ولو بشكل مؤقت، حيث يمتلك آرسنال مباراة إضافية.

بينما تطمح كتيبة بيب جوارديولا في تحقيق الفوز أملاً في التواجد ضمن المراكز الأربعة الأوائل وذلك عقب خروج الفريق من منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا أمام ريال مدريد الأسبوع الماضي.

ودفع آرني سلوت المدير الفني لفريق ليفربول، بالدولي المصري محمد صلاح بالتشكيل الأساسي في مواجهة اليوم. تشكيل ليفربول اليوم أمام مانشستر سيتي في الدوري الإنجليزي

حراسة المرمى: أليسون بيكر.

خط الدفاع: أندي روبرتسون – فان دايك – إبراهيما كوناتي – ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد.

خط الوسط: أليكسيس ماك أليستر – دومينيك سوبوسلاي – ريان جرافينبيرخ، كورتيس جونز.

خط الهجوم: محمد صلاح – لويس دياز. بدلاء ليفربول اليوم أمام مانشستر سيتي في الدوري الإنجليزي

كيليهر، واتارو اندو، ديوجو جوتا، داروين نونيز، كييزا، هارفي إليوت، تسيميكاس، كوانساه، كودي جاكبو.

Team news is IN 👊🔴 #MCILIV — Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 23, 2025

كشفت تقارير صحفية، أن نادي مانشستر سيتي حدد بديل كيفين دي بروين للتعاقد معه خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية المقبلة، مع اقتراب رحيل البلجيكي.

دي بروين ينتهي عقده في يونيو المقبل، وسيكون في عمر الـ34 عامًا، ولا يبدو أنه سيستمر مع مانشستر سيتي، في ظل عدم المشاركة أساسيًا، وتراجع مستواه بسبب الإصابة.

ومثلما يذهب مانشستر سيتي دائمًا للدوري الألماني، حيث جلب دي بروين من فولفسبورج، وعمر مرموش من فرانكفورت، سيتكون البوندزليجا الحل لحامل لقب الدوري الإنجليزي.

طالع أيضًا.. آلان شيرر مشيدًا بـ عمر مرموش بعد الهاتريك: ذكائه تسبب في تمزيق نيوكاسل

وحسب ما أفادت صحيفة “ديلي ميل” البريطانية، فقد وضعت إدارة مانشستر سيتي نصب عينيها، الدولي الألماني فلوريان فيرتز نجم باير ليفركوزن.

وأشارت التقارير إلى أن مانشستر سيتي مستعد لرصد 85 مليون جنية إسترليني للتعاقد مع اللاعب الألماني، في ظل رغبة ليفركوزن بتحصينه بعقد جديد.

ويرى مانشستر سيتي أن فيرتز سيكون هو الحل الأمثل بجانب مرموش خلف النرويجي إيرلينج هالاند، من أجل إعادة مانشستر سيتي للمنافسة في الموسم المقبل.

مستقبل فيرتز غير مضمون في باير ليفركوزن، خاصة إذا رحل تشابي ألونسو في الصيف المقبل إلى ريال مدريد الإسباني.

With a deal reportedly agreed to sign Mikel Merino, Arsenal have turned their attention towards another reinforcement for Mikel Arteta's side, even preparing an offer to secure his signature, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Arsenal transfer news

The Gunners were in no position to panic heading into this summer's transfer window. Coming off the back of two consecutive Premier League title races, Arsenal needed to fine-tune their current squad rather than overhaul Arteta's side like they have needed to do in the past.

Report: Arsenal make £40m+ player-plus-cash offer to sign 26 y/o forward

The versatile forward could provide cover across the Arsenal frontline.

1

By
Ben Browning

Aug 23, 2024

The aim in recent months has, like in the last two years, been welcoming those who would help close the gap on Manchester City. And as Arsenal attempt to make it a third time lucky up against Pep Guardiola's winning machine, that gap is arguably smaller than ever.

Arrivals such as Calafiori will undoubtedly play a part, as will the pending arrival of Merino. The Real Sociedad midfielder is reportedly set to complete a move to The Emirates in a package worth €37m (£31m) ahead of transfer deadline day.

The Spaniard may not be the only arrival from La Liga, however. According to Romano, Arsenal are now preparing an offer to sign Joan Garcia from Espanyol this month, having already agreed personal terms with the goalkeeper.

Romano wrote in his Caught Offside column via GiveMeSport: “Arsenal already have an agreement with Joan Garcia to replace Ramsdale if he leaves. The Espanyol goalkeeper, 23, won the Olympics final with Spain this summer, and he has an agreement on a contract with Arsenal.

“Now it’s down to a club-to-club agreement, but that’s not going to be a problem from what I’m hearing, so when Ramsdale leaves, they will be ready with an official bid for Garcia, this is the idea.”

"Raya 2.0" Garcia would replace Ramsdale

Of course, the reason that Arsenal have turned to Garcia this summer is because Aaron Ramsdale is likely to leave before the window slams shut amid interest from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Opening the door for Garcia, Arsenal may be left paying his reported £26m release clause in the coming days to secure a shot-stopper dubbed "Raya 2.0" by analyst Ben Mattinson.

It's easy to see where Mattinson got his comparison from, with Garcia's pass accuracy incredibly similar to Raya, which is where Ramsdale crucially fails to replicate the Spaniard.

At just 23 years old too, the Spaniard arrives as an Olympic gold medalist, having helped his side defeat France in the final at the Paris Olympics this summer. Now, it's Premier League gold that he could find himself gunning for this season.

Home side’s batting malfunctions on cloudy day as Gloucestershire cement table-topping form

Andrew Miller06-May-2021

Gloucestershire 19 for 1 trail Middlesex 210 (White 76*, Payne 5-31) by 191 runsThis wasn’t exactly an advert for Championship cricket. More a case of Championship cricket for adverts (specifically of the erectile dysfunction variety, as it happens) as Sky Sports cobbled together a lo-fi means to fill an IPL-shaped void in their scheduling. The solution? The dispatching of their heavies – Athers, Nasser, Keysy and Wardy – to HQ, to see what the Middlesex live stream had to offer their cricketainment-starved masses.The answer “Robbie White” might not have been top of anyone’s list, to be fair. Nor a run-rate that protested, like a two-stroke moped, whenever it got close to 2.5 an over. Nor a dank and confused day that started as black as midnight and erupted, via two half-hearted rain-breaks, into the sort of hypothermic blue skies that cause accidental picnickers to stammer “isn’t this lovely?” through chattering teeth.But at least there was David Payne, bending his left-arm bananas around a series of skittish defensive techniques, to claim the day’s outstanding figures of 5 for 31 in 18.5 overs. And at least there was the chance, too, for the under-sung Ryan Higgins to seize this unlikely version of the limelight. By picking off two well-crafted wickets, including the in-form Sam Robson for the day’s first scalp, Higgins took his season’s tally to 26 at 17.34, and with his batting yet to come, he could yet reinforce the sense that his numbers are more than just a trick of the Bristol light.But overall, this was a day on which Middlesex stared their recent batting failures in the mirror, like a self-motivating drunk in a pub toilet, and ended up decorating the dancefloor once again in spite of resolving to hold it all in this time. Their innings of 210 in 80.5 overs was attritional in outlook, but lacked attrition in execution – with the honourable exception of White, who remained high and dry on 76 not out from 149 balls, as the rest of Middlesex’s top seven reached double figures without getting past 20.White is still waiting for that elusive first-class century – he made a career-best 99 in last season’s Bob Willis Trophy, and has now passed 70 in the last four of this season’s five matches. His nine boundaries were cherry-picked at first, as he focussed on punishing the ball in his eyeline, but his confidence was beginning to flow as he eased to his fifty with a brace of fours off Daniel Worrall – a liberated cut and a pumped drive through the covers. With a bit more support at the other end, he’ll reach his promised land soon enough.Gloucestershire, top of Group 2 after a startlingly composed start to their campaign, have leant heavily on their batting in their three wins from four, not least in their 348-run chase against Leicestershire in the last round of matches. But when given the chance to bowl first on a stereotypically “look up, not down” morning at Lord’s, Chris Dent seized the chance, and was vindicated in the final analysis, even if for long periods of their innings, Middlesex seemed to be toughing their way through to better times.Their frailties, however, were rarely far from the surface. Robson and Max Holden peered through the gloom of the first hour to reach 23 for no loss when rain stopped play for the first time, only for Higgins to bend his second ball of the resumption down the slope and into Robson’s planted front pad for 13.Max Holden was then suckered by a zippy nipbacker from Matt Taylor, the second left-armer in Gloucestershire’s ranks – his lack of intent condemning him for offering no shot as the ball speared back down the slope. And though Peter Handscomb avoided his third duck since arriving as Middlesex’s new captain, his dismissal was not that of a man at ease with his game. A grotesque leave as Payne curled an inswinger into his off-stump for 10 left him nursing a tally of 27 runs in four innings.Middlesex by now were going nowhere fast, unable to stick and not daring to twist as Gloucestershire’s seamers hounded their techniques with increasing frequency. Nick Gubbins was another to succumb to Payne’s natural bend through the air, as he jabbed with hard hands for George Hankins to cling on at the second attempt at second slip, and though John Simpson showed signs of fluency with three well-timed fours in his 17, he was done like a rookie by the spin of Tom Smith. A flat tonk through mid-on one ball as Smith gave him oodles of air to chase, a confused thud of the pad the next, as Smith slipped a faster, flatter one down the slope.Related

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Martin Andersson, not quite at the races in either of his two disciplines this season, hung around with White for a while in a 42-run stand for the sixth wicket, the best of the innings. But Taylor switched his angle to round the wicket to crash into his thrusting front pad for 20, before James Harris received the best ball of the day, a wicked full-length inswinger that burst through his gate from over the wicket before his technique could respond.The tail came meekly – Higgins bagged his second to dislodge Ethan Bamber with an inswinger, before Payne fittingly sealed his five-for with two in three balls, as Thilan Wallalawita and Tim Murtagh were rounded up with only Wallalawita’s calypso cover drive for four to show for their efforts.The only saving grace of a day that started terribly for Middlesex with the news of Toby Roland-Jones’ latest injury setback came in the closing minutes, as Dent and Kraigg Brathwaite got into a fearful muddle on a quick single to midwicket. Dent was run out for 10 as he scurried back whence he came, trapping his bat in the turf to hamper his progress. With the forecast set to be mixed for the coming days, the atmospherics around Lord’s could yet assist a fightback from Middlesex’s own seamers. But they’ll need to find greater resolve when their own second innings comes.Given the expense that Sky have spared in their production, they could have picked pretty much any ground in the country this week. They could have spirited themselves to Trent Bridge, to watch the champions Essex fold for 99 as Stuart Broad got the better of Alastair Cook; to Northampton, to watch Sussex slump to 25 for 7 on a 15-wicket day, or the Ageas Bowl, where Hampshire’s April run-harvesting already feels as much of a bygone era as warm hugs and finger buffets.But they’ve settled for the hallowed turf, with its building works and statue rumpuses, and misfiring home batters. And they’ll take what they’ve been given, come what may.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly agreed a deal to sign a left-footed attacking gem for Gary O’Neil, following on from their £10m agreement for Crystal Palace goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.

Wolves signings so far

The Old Gold have made three permanent signings so far this summer, with Rodrigo Gomes, Pedro Lima and Tommy Doyle signing from SC Braga, Sport Recife and Manchester City respectively. Jorgen Strand Larsen also arrived on loan from Celta Vigo and scored his first Premier League goal for Wolves in the club’s heavy 6-2 defeat to Chelsea.

In regards to exits, Wolves have once again cashed in on a number of stars, with centre-back Max Kilman joining West Ham in a £40m deal and winger Pedro Neto signing for Chelsea for around £54m.

Speaking after the loss at Molineux on Sunday, O’Neil addressed the club’s transfer plans, saying: "Everyone knows the financial restrictions we have and have been there since I arrived. We have raised good funds in this window and the squad will need help.

"Once the window shuts it doesn't open for a good few months, when it shuts we need to be comfortable with where we are. There's a lot of work for myself, I need to get more out of the group we have. Then there's an understanding the Premier League is tough and if you sell good players it makes you weaker.

"We'll see if it's a breakeven window by the time it shuts next Friday. We have raised some good funds and hopefully we can use them well in the next few days."

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A transfer breakthrough has now been made for Wolves though, with an agreement reached on Wednesday for Johnstone, but they also look to be closing in on one who may not bolster O’Neil’s first-team squad straight away.

Wolves agree deal to sign Ethan Sutherland

According to Football Insider on Wednesday, Wolves have agreed a permanent deal to sign 18-year-old winger Ethan Sutherland from St Mirren. The report claims that the youngster is heading south for a medical, with personal terms also agreed over a transfer. Since then, Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph has added that a fee will be in the region of £300,000.

Sutherland is a left-footed winger who has progressed through the St Mirren youth system since 2022 after leaving Rangers. He spent the second half of last season on loan with League One side Alloa Athletic, scoring two goals and registering six assists.

You'd expect Sutherland could start out in the Molineux academy after signing, but he’ll be looking to progress into Wolves’ first-team setup in years to come. Hopefully, Wolves will follow this deal up with a few more senior signings before the deadline to keep O'Neil happy over the coming months and heading into 2025, possibly looking to replace Neto and Kilman.