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Leeds United are in the market for reinforcements at the top end of the field and now know how much they will need to pay for a talented forward who can operate across the front three, according to reports.

Leeds United look for further additions after Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Adding some Premier League pedigree to their forward line, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is now a Leeds player after completing a free transfer to Elland Road upon the expiration of his contract at Everton.

Speaking after his arrival, Daniel Farke has claimed bringing in the England international is a risk worth taking as he stocks up on forwards capable of handling the pressure of top-flight football.

He said in his most recent press conference: “Let’s be open about it. It’s always a bit risky to sign players who’ve had difficult years with a few injuries. There are always question marks and doubts.

“But the second part of the truth is that if he had his prime season last season he wouldn’t be on the market for us. He wouldn’t be a free agent and affordable for a newly promoted side, so you have to think about the balance of risk and reward.”

Seeking creativity as well as goalscoring prowess, Leeds have been linked with both Gustavo Hamer and Bilal El Khannouss, though it remains to be seen if either player pitches up at Elland Road.

Bad news for Byram: Leeds closing in on deal to sign "adventurous" star

Leeds United are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign a star, and it is bad news for Sam Byram.

ByDan Emery Aug 16, 2025

Everton striker Beto is also on the Whites’ radar and a bid is expected to be submitted for the Guinea-Bissau international. However, that may now be on the backburner if recent reports are anything to go by.

Leeds United close in on Noah Okafor deal

Reports have claimed Leeds will need to pay between £13 million and £17 million for AC Milan star Noah Okafor, and Fabrizio Romano reports on Monday that a deal is now close after the Whites submitted a formal offer around that figure.

Capable of featuring through the middle of on the left-hand side of attack, the Switzerland international has netted 50 career goals in total for club and country. He has featured once this term off the bench for the Rossoneri against Bari in the Coppa Italia.

Labelled “incredibly prolific” by Jacek Kulig back in 2023, Okafor has been on Leeds’ radar across the window and may be someone Farke also feels is worth the gamble in his quest for offensive prowess.

Admittedly, he is at a career crossroads, but the chance of being able to play Premier League football at Leeds may be too good to turn down after a difficult period on Italian soil that also included a loan spell at Napoli.

Ruben Amorim has defiantly refused to abandon his 3-4-3 formation at Manchester United, despite overseeing the club’s worst win percentage since the Second World War. The Portuguese coach has won just eight of his 31 Premier League games in charge, and his system has come under heavy fire. But Amorim insists even the Pope could not persuade him to change his ways.

• Man Utd's horror start to the 2025-26 season

  Manchester United’s latest crisis deepened after a humiliating 3-0 derby defeat to Manchester City left them with only four points from their first four league games. The loss followed an embarrassing Carabao Cup exit to League Two side Grimsby Town. Sir Jim Ratcliffe summoned Amorim for talks at Carrington, but the 40-year-old remains determined to stick to his tactical principles.

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• AFP
  

  Amorim says the Pope won't make him change

  “No, no, no. No one, not even the Pope will change [me]," Amorim said when asked about changing his tactics. "This is my job, this is my responsibility, this is my life. So, I will not change that. There will be an evolution, but we need to make all the good steps. If I’m a player and I have a coach that, with a lot of pressure and all around the world they are saying ‘you need to change the system’ – if I change in this moment, the players will look at me in a different way.

  "When you think about the impact that any decision is going to have on the team, everything is important. So, I will say the same thing: this will have to be an evolution. I’m doing things my way. Some guys do it in a different way, but it [results] will change. I hope to have the time to change, but they will change. I’m just trying to win games, trying to see what is the best option to win the next game.

  "I’m trying to get the best connections to play better and, in the end, to win points. It’s about belief, confidence, aggression – it’s everything. And sometimes, what we call luck means we will play the game with more belief. Sometimes, with us, I feel the opposite. We are playing well, but something is going to go wrong in some moments. We need to change that, but it’s just with wins. I can do whatever, but if you look at the goals against City and Fulham, all these moments can be stopped. In all these moments, I think we can do better. It’s our fault. So we work on that during the week to improve.”

• Amorim at risk of losing his Man Utd job

  Amorim’s refusal to shift formation leaves him under huge pressure heading into another crunch week. Manchester United are languishing near the bottom of the table despite Ratcliffe and INEOS's £240 million summer spend, while unsettled high-profile players like Rashford, Sancho and Antony were offloaded. Unless results turn around quickly, the Portuguese coach risks losing both the dressing room and his job at Old Trafford.

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  Man Utd face Chelsea in crunch PL clash

  Manchester United host Chelsea at Old Trafford on Saturday in what already feels like a must-win clash. Mason Mount and Matheus Cunha are available again, but Diogo Dalot remains sidelined. Another setback could push Amorim closer to the brink, with Ratcliffe’s patience running thin.

While they have faced plenty of criticism for it and made a few mistakes along the way, Chelsea have built a seriously exciting team over the last few years.

Enzo Maresca has already led them to Conference League and Club World Cup glory in the space of a couple of months, and will surely be launching a Premier League challenge next season as well.

Yet, while the team is full of talented players, it’s still apparent that Cole Palmer is the most important of all, having managed to rack up a tally of 18 goals and 14 assists in 52 games last season.

When the Englishman is playing well, it’s often the case that the team is also playing well, so fans should be excited about reports linking them to an international who’d be a dream teammate for the former Manchester City gem.

Chelsea target dream teammate for Cole Palmer

It’s been a great summer for Chelsea on the pitch this year, and so far, it’s been just as exciting off it.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

In addition to already shifting several unwanted players, such as Noni Madueke and Kepa Arrizabalaga, the West Londoners have significantly improved their squad’s firepower by splashing the cash on players like Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, and Jamie Gittens.

On top of that, they’ve also added a few more exciting prospects for the future, like Dario Essugo and Mamadou Sarr, who is set to rejoin Strasbourg on a season-long loan.

Yet, there are no signs of the Pensioners slowing down anytime soon, as they’re now being linked with another seriously exciting attacker who could be the perfect teammate for Palmer.

At least that is according to a recent report from Spain, which claims that Chelsea are very interested in signing Xavi Simons this summer.

In fact, the report claims that the Blues are now one of the leading clubs in the race for the RB Leipzig star, who has made it clear he wants to move this summer.

However, it won’t be a cheap deal to get over the line, as the report has revealed that the Bundesliga side want a fee of up to €110m, which converts to about £95m.

Whether that is actually the final price it will take to sign the Dutchman remains to be seen, but he would be an excellent addition to Chelsea’s squad and is someone who would be a perfect teammate for Palmer.

Why Simons would be a dream for Simons

It might sound rather simplistic, and that’s because it probably is, but the first reason Simons would be such a great teammate for Palmer is down to his output.

In just 33 appearances last season, totalling just 2763 minutes, the dynamic Leipzig ace found the back of the net on 11 occasions and provided eight assists.

That means that, despite starting the season as a 21-year-old, the Flying Dutchman managed to average a goal involvement every 1.73 games, or every 145.42 minutes, which is a seriously impressive rate of return.

Appearances

33

Minutes

2763′

Goals

11

Assists

8

Goal Involvements per Match

0.57

Minutes per Goal Involvement

145.42′

Just imagine how many more goals and assists he would rack up playing alongside the Blues’ talismanic Englishman, and how many more he could rack up playing with the Leipzig star.

The second reason he’d be a dream teammate for the Wythenshawe-born ace is that he’s incredibly versatile, so while one analyst has dubbed him “one of the best 10s in the world,” the former Paris Saint-Germain gem is just as capable of playing on either flank, or even up top.

Not only would this give him more time to play with and establish a genuine partnership with Palmer, but it would also mean that, at times, he could come into the team in place of him, allowing him time to rest and return at his very best.

Finally, the fact that he’s just a year younger than the Englishman is also crucial, as it means he could continue to develop alongside him and hopefully reach his full potential around the same time, which would only help further strengthen their understanding of one another’s game.

Ultimately, from his output to his versatility and age profile, Simons appears to be a perfect teammate in waiting for Palmer; therefore, Chelsea should do what they can to sign him as soon as possible.

Their new Hazard: Chelsea set to hold talks to sign £95m "superstar"

Chelsea could be set to hold talks to sign a Dutch superstar

ByRoss Kilvington Jul 21, 2025

Manchester United played out a 2-2 draw with Everton in Atlanta, Georgia, at the weekend, as Ruben Amorim’s side won the Premier League Summer Series over in the United States.

Football is encapsulated by peaks and troughs, and so too was this closing pre-season fixture over the pond defined by some good and some bad for the Red Devils, who are desperate to find themselves once again after finishing 15th in last season’s Premier League and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.

Change was always going to be necessary, and INEOS have indeed acted with intent to reshape the frontline, signing Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo from divisional rivals.

However, more is still needed. United require another central midfielder, and remain interested in replacing Andre Onana between the sticks.

But there’s no question that the most pressing, and most prominent, concern remains finding a new out-and-out central striker.

Man Utd's attacking transfer plans

Rasmus Hojlund, 22, has been vocal in his desire to stay at Manchester United next season and fight for his place at number nine, but the rumour mill suggests technical director Jason Wilcox has transfer-listed him for £30m.

The Danish striker flattered to deceive last season. Sure, he was let down by a dearth of creativity behind him, but lacked control and confidence, and scored only four times across 32 appearances in the Premier League.

And Amorim is focused on signing an upgrade, and the chosen target is RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, who has emerged at the centre of the transfer tussle also involving Newcastle United.

The Magpies made a £70m bid on Saturday, which was rejected. Man United haven’t, although INEOS know they can sign the Slovenian without having to sell first (whereas Newcastle must first cash in the Alexander Isak cheque).

But could the Old Trafford side yet have an even bigger deal in the pipeline?

Man Utd lining up British-record bid

According to Spanish sources, Manchester United are ready to shatter the transfer market by launching a bid for Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior.

The 24-year-old is one of the best players in the world, and no mistake. However, he has been the subject of persistent transfer speculation concerning the Saudi Pro League in recent years, owing largely to a new Los Blancos contract that remains unpenned.

Man United want to take advantage and remind the world that they are a superpower. A package worth €200m (£174m) is being put together, and that would make the Brazilian the most expensive player in British football history.

Why Man Utd want Vinicius Jr.

Vinicius Jr, 25, is one of football’s true superstars, having joined Real Madrid from Flamengo for a £39m fee as a teenager in 2018.

Madrid president Florentino Perez said: “He’s a player who is already considered one of the great hopes of Brazilian and world football.”

Though Sesko is a centre-forward, and Vinicius Jr is more of goalscoring winger, this would be an opportunity too good to pass up, and there’s no question that the South American is the target INEOS must prioritise.

Indeed, it’s not like he doesn’t have the skills to serve as a goalscoring sensation at the club. As per FBref, the Real gem ranked among the top 10% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for goals scored, the top 13% for shot-creating actions, the top 2% for progressive carries and the top 3% for successful take-ons per 90.

Perhaps he’s coming off the back of a campaign that left something to be desired, but the man still notched 22 goals and 19 assists across all competitions. In fact, he’s now surpassed 35 goal involvements for four seasons in succession.

Sesko, conversely, has yet to prove he has what it takes to take a seat at the elite table, having scored 13 goals from 33 Bundesliga fixtures in 2024/25.

The potential is there, and, of course, Sesko may well shape into one of the finest goalscorers in the business if he signs for Man United this summer, but in Vinicius Jr, Amorim would land a tailor-made figurehead with an absurd amount of technical quality. He’s the real deal.

Of course, the Brazil international is typically found coming off the left flank, and that’s an area that Cunha will be expected to play in, but the Madrid man’s compatriot started up front for Amorim’s team against Everton the other day, and Vinicius Jr, too, could be interchangeable positionally.

Vinicius Junior – Career Stats by Position

Position

Apps

Goals

Assists

Left winger

284

86

73

Centre-forward

60

29

15

Right winger

14

3

2

Attacking midfield

2

1

0

Data via Transfermarkt

If the talk of his shooting ability wasn’t enough, the 25-year-old also averaged two key passes per game in La Liga last season, as per Sofascore, also averaging 2.7 dribbles and a whopping 5.8 duels per match. Earning £349k per week, you’d expect him to bring such a degree of completeness to the table.

Further, he’s one of the most recognisable faces currently competing in the Champions League, scoring in the 2018 final against Liverpool and the 2023 final versus Borussia Dortmund, triumphant on both occasions.

That’s the kind of pedigree Man United need if they are to restore themselves, rekindle that fire that once burned so bright at the height of the global game.

Described as a “legend in the making” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Vinicius Jr has already left an indelible mark at Real Madrid, and could take his development to the next level by becoming a talisman at Old Trafford.

Sure, Sesko is a talented young striker with plenty of power and much determination besides, but we’re talking about a star on a different scale here, and if there truly is a chance to bring Vini over to the Premier League, the Red Devils must pounce as they march back to the top of the European scene.

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Stand-in captain Lewis targets 2-0 win after coming through in final-ball ODI triumph

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Sep-2024

Captains Kate Cross and Gaby Lewis pose with the T20I trophy•ECB/Getty Images

Gaby Lewis says that Ireland’s aim is to keep the buzz going after their thrilling final-ball victory in Belfast on Wednesday, as the format switches from 50-overs to 20 for the Dublin leg of England women’s tour.Lewis, who is currently standing in for Laura Delany, led from the front with a matchwinning 72 from 56 balls in the third ODI, but it was left to Ireland’s lower-order to scramble over the line by three wickets, despite a spirited England fightback led by Lauren Filer and Mady Villiers.The result didn’t impact the series, which England claimed 2-1 after emphatic wins in the first two fixtures, but the feelgood factor has been palpable for the hosts, especially after the disappointment of failing to qualify for next month’s T20 World Cup.Not only can they look forward to eager crowds in Clontarf for the T20Is, but the fact that Ireland came out on top in a contest that was reduced to 22 overs a side clearly augurs well for their prospects in the shorter format.”It’s huge,” Lewis said. “If you suffer a defeat in the last game of the series, you’re on a bit of a downer coming into the next series. But that just puts the defeat to the back of your mind. It’s not forgotten, we have obviously learned from it, but all you can all you can remember is the buzz we had on Wednesday.”So, we’re looking forward to bringing that positivity into these two games this weekend. And especially because it was a shortened game, it gives us that confidence in the T20 format. We’re looking forward to a 2-0 series win this weekend!”Kate Cross, who is leading a new-look England squad in Heather Knight’s absence, admitted that Ireland had been the better team on the day. However, she was proud of the fight they had shown in adversity, and backed a team that has featured six new caps across the three matches to learn more from the setback than they could have picked up in victory – not least Hollie Armitage, whose glaring misfield off the final ball handed Ireland their matchwinning boundary.”Ultimately the result was probably a fair one,” Cross said. “Ireland were the better team in that third ODI, but what our girls did really well was they fought to stay in the game. If you can take games of cricket as deep as possible, then you just don’t know.”We got a little bit of a sniff at the end of that game, but incidents like what happened with Hollie are just part of the game. Obviously it’s more upsetting that it’s off the final ball, but I just said to her that we all made some mistakes in the field at some points, which contributed to us losing that game.”England’s T20I squad will feature some more fresh faces, with Seren Smale and Charis Pavely among the players who could make their international debuts this weekend. Katie George has also been called into the squad, partially as cover for Mahika Gaur, the 18-year-old left-arm seamer whose comeback from a side strain is being carefully handled by the team management.”Mahika is coming back from an injury,” Cross said. “She’s not played much cricket this summer, and to throw her into back-to-back games feels like it might be a bit of a risk for her, especially when there’s a World Cup around the corner, plus a South Africa series and an Ashes to play for this winter.”Katie’s been added to the squad to just give us a little bit more depth in the seam attack. She’s had to fight back through a lot of injuries herself. Stress-fracture rehabs are never easy, you end up doing a lot of lonely work, So for her to have her name back in an England squad is absolutely exceptional for her.”

Russell Martin and Kevin Thelwell both have a lot on their plate in the summer transfer window as they look to build a Glasgow Rangers team that can compete for the Scottish Premiership title.

The Gers have failed to win the title in each of the last four seasons and the new Light Blues duo are tasked with bringing glory back to Ibrox in the years to come.

They recently made their first signing of the summer transfer window with the arrival of Max Aarons on loan from Bournemouth to bolster their defensive options. Lyall Cameron has also joined the Scottish giants, but he had agreed to sign from Dundee on a pre-contract deal in January.

As well as potential incoming signings, Martin and Thelwell will also have to deal with the potential of some of the club’s key players moving on from Ibrox.

Nicolas Raskin, for example, is a reported target for Premier League clubs Aston Villa, Leeds United, and Wolverhampton Wanderers, as they aim to snap him up from Ibrox in the coming weeks.

Why losing Nicolas Raskin would be a big blow for Rangers

If the Belgium international completes a move to England before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September, Martin’s squad could be weaker.

The 24-year-old star walked away from last season with the Men’s Player of the Season and the Men’s Players’ Player of the Season awards to show for his efforts on the pitch for the Gers.

This demonstrates the high regard in which he is held at the club, among players, and by supporters, and it is well-deserved following his impressive displays in the Premiership and the Europa League.

Raskin did produce four goals and ten assists in the Premiership for Rangers, flexing his attacking quality, but it was his defensive work that really caught the eye domestically and in Europe.

Nicolas Raskin (24/25)

Premiership

Europa League

Appearances

33

12

Tackles per game

2.8

3.7

Interceptions per game

0.6

1.3

Ball recoveries per game

5.6

7.4

Ground duel success rate

57%

50%

Aerial duel success rate

56%

55%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Belgian midfielder offered defensive protection in front of the back four with plenty of tackles, interceptions, and ball recoveries.

These statistics illustrate why losing the former Standard Liege star would be a big blow for Martin, as he is a combative and quality midfield operator, but the Gers are reportedly interested in a gem who could be a dream replacement for him.

Rangers eyeing deal for Brazilian midfielder

According to The Scottish Sun, Rangers are lining up a move to sign Troyes central midfielder Metinho on a permanent deal in the summer transfer window.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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The report claims that the Light Blues are long-term admirers of the 22-year-old talent, and have been eyeing him up as a target throughout this summer.

It states that the Scottish Premiership giants are now ready to ramp up their efforts to bring the former Basel loanee to Ibrox, who joined Troyes for a fee of £4m from Fluminense in 2021, ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The Scottish Sun adds that Troyes are willing to cash in on the Brazilian star and that Basel are ‘desperate’ to win the race for his signature, which may be why Rangers are now looking to speed up their pursuit of the midfielder.

It now remains to be seen whether or not Thelwell will be able to do enough to beat the Swiss giants to his services before the end of the summer window.

Why Rangers should sign Metinho

The Ibrox side should push to beat Basel to this signing because the 22-year-old midfielder has the potential to be a dream replacement for Raskin this summer.

Metinho spent the first half of last season on loan at Sparta Rotterdam and only started two of his 12 appearances in the Eredivisie, in what was a frustrating few months for the midfield talent.

However, a move to Basel in January helped him to kick on and flourish in the second half of the campaign, as he caught the eye with his impressive performances in the Swiss top-flight as a combative midfielder.

The right-footed star played 12 league matches for the club and completed 86% of his passes, whilst delivering two assists, but his most impressive contributions on the pitch came out of possession in the middle of the park.

24/25 Super League

Metinho per 90

Percentile rank vs CMs

Tackles made

2.77

Top 10%

Tackle success rate

71%

Top 20%

Duels won

6.66

Top 24%

Duel success rate

65%

Top 3%

Interceptions

1.51

Top 15%

Ball recoveries

6.66

Top 20%

Dribbled past

0.50x

Top 14%

Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, the Troyes loanee ranked incredibly highly among his positional peers in a host of defensive metrics, which show that he excelled off the ball as a screener in front of the back four.

His tackle and duel success rates are particularly impressive because they show that he is efficient with his defensive work, rather than competing in and losing a lot of duels. The Brazilian gem is tough to get past, which is why he is a formidable defender.

These statistics also suggest that he would be a dream replacement for Raskin to take up the defensive responsibilities that the Belgian has in midfield at Ibrox. The current Gers star averaged 2.84 tackles and interceptions and was dribbled past 0.86 times per 90 in the Premiership, whilst he won 66% of his tackles.

Metinho, who was once described as an “exciting” prospect by talent scout Jacek Kulig, posted more impressive defensive numbers than that in the Super League, as shown by his aforementioned statistics, which suggests that he has the potential to offer even more than Raskin out of possession.

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Of course, the £4m-rated star needs to add a goal threat to his game, as Raskin managed four league goals to go along with his ten assists, but he is only 22 and has time left ahead of him to develop into the dream replacement for the Belgian.

From Perth to Sydney, all you need to know about the five grounds for the India-Australia Test series

Andrew McGlashan14-Nov-20242:06

Straight Talk: Will the lack of warm-up matches impact India’s performance?

Optus Stadium, Perth: Australia’s new fortress?

Cricket Australia recently made a change to the tradition of starting the Test summer at the Gabba, with Perth now the first venue for the visiting team.Optus Stadium is still a relatively new ground having hosted its inaugural Test in 2018-19 when India toured – a high-octane match on a lively surface which Australia won despite one of Virat Kohli’s finest hundreds – before it missed out for two summers due to Covid-19 border restrictions.Optus Stadium (2018-19 onwards)•ESPNcricinfo LtdAustralia have continued a formidable record at the ground which could play into their favour when it comes to setting the tone for the series. All four of their wins have been by handsome margins, with the last three coming against New Zealand (a day-night Test), West Indies and Pakistan. All followed similar patterns: a big first innings total, a hefty lead when the opposition can’t respond, swelling the advantage rather than enforcing the follow-on and then taking advantage of an increasingly difficult surface.While pace bowling has been traditionally associated with Perth (both at the new ground and the WACA), Nathan Lyon has an outstanding record at Optus Stadium where he has enjoyed the bounce on offer.Leading run-scorer since 2018-19: Marnus Labuschagne (519 at 103.80)
Leading wicket-taker since 2018-19: Nathan Lyon (27 at 18.00)
Average first innings of match total since 2018-19: 456

Adelaide Oval: The day-night battleground

The venue of 36 all out. A few hours where India nicked everything. As was the case in 2020-21, this season it will be a day-night Test at the home of the format. Australia have never lost a pink ball game at the ground; their day-night Test defeat to West Indies came in Brisbane.Adelaide Oval stats (2018-19 onwards)•ESPNcricinfo LtdIndia won in Adelaide on the 2018-19 tour when it was a day game, in what was an absorbing Test where Australia’s lower order threatened to get them home. Last year’s day Test against West Indies was over before lunch on the third day.Related

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• Fast and furious: A spicy pitch awaits India in Perth

Barring the extremes of the 2020-21 Test against India, Australia have a tried-and-tested formula in day-night Tests in recent seasons. They look to bat big in the first innings – England even offered them that opportunity by bowling first in the 2021-22 Ashes – which has often given them a crack with the new ball under lights on the second evening.Since 2018-19, the night-time third session has a batting average of 26.84 compared to 28.04 for the first session and 30.15 for the middle one. Timings can become a key factor in pink-ball Tests to try and exploit the new ball under lights.Leading run-scorer since 2018-19: Marnus Labuschagne (574 at 71.75)
Leading wicket-taker since 2018-19: Mitchell Starc (30 at 17.20)
Average first innings total since 2018-19: 375

Gabba, Brisbane: No longer an Australian fortress?

In recent seasons, Australia’s aura at the Gabba has diminished somewhat, with India famously winning in 2020-21 and equally so West Indies through the efforts of Shamar Joseph. But the future is in doubt. The venue only has guaranteed Test cricket for one more summer after this one amid the uncertainty over redevelopment plans for the 2032 Olympics.Gabba stats (2018-19 onwards)•ESPNcricinfo LtdIt reverts to a day Test for this series having been a flood-lit encounter against West Indies. In 2022-23, the match against South Africa ended in two days on a heavily-grassed surface that produced uneven bounce. It was borderline dangerous when facing the quicks. The overall bowling average at the ground since 2018-19 has dropped by nearly 10 runs per wicket compared to the figure for the previous four years (36.21).Leading run-scorer since 2018-19: Marnus Labuschagne (497 at 62.12)
Leading wicket-taker since 2018-19: Pat Cummins (36 at 17.25)
Average first innings total since 2018-19: 227

Melbourne Cricket Ground: New fast-bowling paradise

Since the insipid Ashes Test in 2017-18, the pitch at the MCG has undergone a transformation and is now among the most interesting in the country, leaning in favour of the fast bowlers. To highlight the shift, in the last six seasons the bowling average has dropped 15 runs. Between 2013-14 and 2017-18, it was a whopping 41.19.Melbourne Cricket Ground stats (2018-19 onwards)•ESPNcricinfo LtdAlready this season there have been three fascinating surfaces for a Sheffield Shield match, the ODI against Pakistan and the Australia A-India A fixture with runs at a premium and the ball holding sway. India have won their last two Tests at the ground: by 137 runs in 2018-19, when Jasprit Bumrah produced a magical spell on what remained a sluggish surface, and eight wickets in 2020-21.Interestingly, since 2018-19, it’s the ground where the toss appears to have mattered least with a 3-3 record for teams batting first. Against England in 2021-22 (Scott Boland’s Test where he claimed 6 for 7) and South Africa the following year, Australia bowled first and won by an innings.Leading run-scorer since 2018-19: David Warner (361 at 60.16)
Leading wicket-taker since 2018-19: Pat Cummins (31 at 15.41)
Average first innings total since 2018-19: 299

Sydney Cricket Ground: Will it spin?

The SCG remains a ground where the pitch is still trying to regain its former glories when spin would come to the fore. There were promising signs last season against Pakistan where it was a result surface that offered some assistance for all the bowlers. The other factor with Sydney in early January is often the weather: India were denied a likely victory in 2018-19 by two days of rain and the 2022-23 South Africa match was badly affected.Sydney Cricket Ground stats (2018-19 onwards)•ESPNcricinfo LtdThe average for pace bowlers at the ground since 2018-19 is by far the highest of the five venues for this season. Reverse swing can be a factor depending on how abrasive the square becomes. Like the Gabba, the SCG doesn’t utilise drop-in pitches.Leading run-scorer since 2018-19: Marnus Labuschagne (734 at 81.55)
Leading wicket-taker since 2018-19: Nathan Lyon (26 at 32.42)
Average first innings total since 2018-19: 436

He may have hit three fifties in four games, but the Delhi Capitals captain seems a shadow of himself

Alagappan Muthu11-Apr-20232:50

Tait: Warner seemed ‘pretty frustrated’

David Warner is fun to watch. And we don’t even need to put him on a cricket field for that. At the height of Covid-19, his social media was getting more views than cat videos as he and his family made the best of being stuck home.On Tuesday against Mumbai Indians, he walked onto the pitch in full hype mode. Short purposeful steps that allowed him to practically lap Prithvi Shaw to the crease. Whirling the hand in his right hand. Then his left. Then holding it horizontally with both hands and hoisting it over his head as he stretched his back out. All part of the routine that gets him ready to do what he does well.Set up a T20 innings.About an hour or so into the game, he unleashed a big pull shot and screamed. He arrived at the non-strikers’ end and punched that piece of wood in his hands. In the dugout, his team-mates were on their feet applauding. The big screen was showing that he had completed a third fifty in four innings this IPL.But nothing lifts his mood because he took 43 balls to get there.Warner was T20 before T20 went mainstream. A batter who saw the game in black and white. There’s a little round thing coming down at him. His job was to whack it as hard as possible. Usually, that resulted in him hitting a silly number of boundaries. The count is 820 right now in the IPL. Only one person in the history of the tournament has managed more – Shikhar Dhawan with 873, but he’s only there because he’s played 46 more innings.ESPNcricinfo LtdWarner at his peak is minimalist. He isn’t 360. And yet even now he is a threat every time he walks out to the middle. That’s largely because he is able to hit fours and sixes even while targeting orthodox areas in the field. The only luxury he affords himself are those switch hits.In 2016, when he led Sunrisers Hyderabad to the IPL title, he scored 63.4% of his 884 runs with shots he could just stand and admire. Right now, although he is the second-highest scorer of the season, only 51.7% of his 220 runs have come in boundaries.In 2021, after becoming the first player to score 500 runs in six straight IPL seasons, he had the same problem. Only 49.2% of his 195 runs came from hits to the fence.Other batters do singles and twos. Warner does fours and sixes. The irony is that he is actually trying. Look at his lofted shot percentage through recent IPLs. They’re all similar. He’s actually trying to hit more out of the park than he did in 2016. The problem is they aren’t happening. His strike rate when trying to go over the top in 2023 is 245.9 – the lowest it’s been in seven years.In Delhi, he was faced with a pitch that was slow and did not enable stroke play once the ball got older and the field restrictions were removed. These aren’t the best conditions for a batter like Warner, especially in this kind of form, and it became painfully apparent in the 18th over when he missed back-to-back slower balls and one of them knocked the wind out of him.The exact opposite was happening at the other end. Axar Patel was smoking everything. Dude was responsible for nine out of the 10 boundaries that Delhi Capitals hit while he was at the crease and the secret to his success was very simple.”When I saw the surface, the ball was stopping and coming,” Axar told the broadcasters in the mid-innings interview. “So I had to figure out what shots of mine will come off on a slow pitch. I was trying to hold my shape and going for balls in my hitting area. On this surface, it was important to hold my shape and I was trying just that. I was not trying to hit too hard.”Warner just wasn’t able to do that. He was kept quiet early on by a set of bowlers working to a plan – do not give width; do not let him free the arms. Later, when he knew he couldn’t bide his time anymore, he was too anxious to make contact; he was too anxious to find the release shot that sets him on his way. It even clouded his thinking. There was a ball in the 13th over where he shaped to flick, then changed his mind to sweep, and finally did nothing with it.Axar was India’s second highest scorer in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He sometimes bats at No. 5 for them in limited-overs cricket. Capitals might even think of pushing him up there based on his 54 off 25. It is probably no coincidence that this man whose career is on the rise played the innings of the game on a tough pitch whereas the other guy under pressure to be the team’s best batter, to be their captain and make up for the loss of Rishabh Pant and to prove that he’s still good enough to play in the next Ashes is messing up.Above all, there’s a sense that Warner seems to be wanting it a bit too much. And it keeps backfiring. In the eighth over, he faced a free hit right-handed hoping to make the favourable match up work against the offspin of Hrithik Shokeen. All he got was a miscued single. It feels like he’s overthinking, which is blocking him from doing the one thing that makes him a great batter. See ball. Hit ball. The moment he gets back to that, he’ll be fine and we’ll be spoiled.

“I am just thinking how I am going to recover and sleep through the night,” Ashwin said

Sidharth Monga15-Feb-20212:54

Manjrekar: Ashwin a player who loves responsibility

R Ashwin spent the limited-overs leg of the Australia tour, which he was not part of, working hard on and frustrated with his batting. He was being left out of the side because of Ravindra Jadeja’s added batting advantage. It was not an unreasonable selection call: there was room only for one spinner in away Tests, and of late Ashwin had made a fast descent from could-be-an-allrounder to is-he-a-tailender zone.Consequently India’s last four wickets were offering nothing while players such as Sam Curran and Kyle Jamieson were proving to be the extra depth that beat India in Tests they were competitive in. In 19 Tests leading up to the Australia tour, Ashwin had averaged 15.4 with a top score of 38. The batsman who not long ago could cover up for selection errors – like he did here – had gone missing.Like the earnest competitor that Ashwin is, he felt he needed to prove he was worthy of a place in the side. He would ask batting coaches what he needed to do and would tell them he would do it. Every chance he got, Ashwin worked on his batting, much like he did on his legspin to try and add value to himself as a limited-overs cricketer. His team-mates and coaches have sometimes in the past secretly ridiculed him for being too ambitious, but this was an understandable desperation and ambition.Related

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As it is, Ashwin was playing only one format for India, and there too he was now at the risk of being limited to Tests in India only. If not for the injury and concussion to Jadeja in the T20Is, there’s a fair chance Ashwin wouldn’t have played the Adelaide Test. That dismissal of Steven Smith in the first over and then the continued grip on him in Melbourne might not have happened had Jadeja, the better batsman of the two, had not been injured. And it might not have been that unreasonable a selection either.Vikram Rathour, the India batting coach, worked hard with Ashwin, gave him the freedom to try new things, but then concluded that his batting looked fine. He just needed to worry less about the results even though he could understand Ashwin’s concern because it was playing him out of the side.ESPNcricinfo Ltd”He has been very very helpful in terms of trying to explore new options,” Ashwin told Star Sports after his hundred in Chennai, confirming Rathour’s role in his batting turnaround. “As it is I am someone who tries a lot, and he is facilitating me to go out and express myself and explore various options. I’d love to credit him for my batting in the last four-five Tests. He has kept me in the loop, he has said I have been batting very well, and not to overthink it.”In that Adelaide Test, there were signs of the return of Ashwin the batsman when he added 27 with Wriddhiman Saha in the first innings, but again he was part of that horrible collapse in the second innings. Ashwin did feel, though, that he was batting better and that something good was around the corner. The last day of the Sydney Test, all the pain in his back, and the team situation, just took his mind off all the nuts and bolts he was worrying about.In the lead-up to the second Test, all Ashwin worried about with the bat in hand was how to counter Jack Leach, who had got him on the forward-defensive and also on the book foot. It is actually instructive that Ashwin spoke of the whole batting unit looking to find ways to counter Leach, not Dom Bess, who also got five wickets in the Test. Again, Ashwin credited Rathour for working with him on the sweep, a shot he hasn’t played much since he was 19.”After the last Test we were talking about how we are going to counter Leach and probably start bringing the sweep into our game,” Ashwin said. “The last time I swept was when I was 19 years old. And I missed a couple of sweep shots, got dropped from the side and didn’t play the sweep for the last 13-14 years. [I’ve] been practising only that shot over the last week to 10 days. Very very thankful that the plan has paid off. The wicket is such that you can get your runs square. A very very good day.”You might argue that this hundred was not exactly the typical lower-order runs India were after on their trips in England and New Zealand, but it did keep at bay any critics of the pitch his home ground rolled out. Surely they can’t doctor the pitch for both his bowling and his batting? And for a dreamy ambitious boy who grew up playing cricket in the streets of Chennai, to score a Test hundred at his theatre of dreams was extra special.”I am just thinking how I am going to recover and sleep through the night,” Ashwin said. “I am glad it has happened at my home ground. I don’t know if I am going to play another Test here. I don’t know when the next Test will be here.”As Ashwin said, the side has been living a dream over the last two-three months. Why not make it better and knock a home hundred and five-for off the list then?

“If he is available, no doubt the selectors will put him in,” Alex Carey says of Pat Cummins, who has been included in the squad for the third Ashes Test

Matt Roller10-Dec-20253:24

Miller: Bazball is dead because England don’t believe

Alex Carey believes England’s players will benefit from their mid-Ashes trip to Noosa but insists that memories of the 2023 series will help Australia guard against complacency at 2-0 up.England arrived in Noosa, the affluent resort town on the Queensland coast, on Tuesday for a four-night mini-break, and will train three times in Adelaide ahead of the third Ashes Test. Their preparation has consistently been questioned throughout this tour, despite Brendon McCullum’s claim that they had “over-prepared” ahead of their eight-wicket loss at the Gabba.Players were photographed by Australian media on Tuesday swimming at the beach and drinking at bars, while former England captain Nasser Hussain wrote in his column: “I can’t understand England’s schedule for the week ahead.”Related

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But Carey, who scored 63 and took seven catches in Australia’s eight-wicket win at the Gabba, said that a mid-series break was “not new stuff” and that his team-mates were expecting England to respond strongly in Adelaide next week.”I think it’d be a nice holiday,” Carey said at a Woolworths Cricket Blast event in Adelaide. “It’s a pretty big series, with lots of time between games. For the Australian cricket team, we get to go home for a few days and be with families, so touring parties have got to find time to fill in those little windows.”I’m not sure you need to do it [but] it’s totally up to the touring groups to find ways to take your mind off cricket for a little bit. The Ashes is very hotly contested. You don’t want to be thinking of cricket every single day of the tour. If you do have a little break, it’s probably not a bad time to refresh the batteries.”Carey said that media interest in England’s Noosa trip was unsurprising. “Look, we’re in a pretty lucky position that we’re playing professional sport and people want to follow the journey,” he said. “If the media likes to follow certain teams around, that’s totally up to them to do. We understand that comes with the privilege of playing the game.”1:26

Swann: Tongue and Bethell should play in Adelaide

Australia’s efforts in the first two Tests extended their recent record in home Ashes series to 15 wins, two draws and no defeats in their last 17 Tests. But Carey played down the prospects of a 5-0 whitewash, instead reminding his team-mates that they left a 2-0 lead slip in the 2023 series in England, which ended in a 2-2 draw.”We know England are a very good team. We also understand we were in a position like this a couple of years ago in England,” Carey said. “We weren’t able to win that series, but we were good enough to retain the Ashes. We’re really excited for the opportunity we’ve got, but we understand we’ve got to keep playing good cricket.”We are not looking too far ahead either. I think this playing group has been able to adapt really well, stay really present and again find ways to improve. We all know the threats that England pose, but for us to focus on our best stuff is a pretty good way to go about it. We’re definitely not taking the foot off the gas at all.”2:19

Australia face big selection call on Khawaja

Australia named a 15-man squad for the third Test on Wednesday, with Pat Cummins’ return as captain confirmed. Nathan Lyon will come into contention to play in Adelaide after he was left out of the pink-ball Test in Brisbane, while Usman Khawaja has been included after recovering from his back problems. Jhye Richardson will also join the group in Adelaide to “continue his preparations” as he continues his return from shoulder surgery, CA said.”He looks like he’s moving really well,” Carey said of Cummins. “You’ve probably seen that in the nets. It’s probably just about the body of work he’s put together and being Test-fit. He’s been around the group the whole time, with lots of energy, so if he is available, no doubt the selectors will put him in.”He also expected Lyon to have “a really big role” in the final three Tests, having bowled two overs in Perth before losing his place in Brisbane. “You want guys being disappointed, not being selected,” Carey said. “You want that hunger and we are really lucky to have a squad of 15 who are all ready to go… No doubt, Nathan probably has a big role to play in this Test match.”Meanwhile, Jhye Richardson will join the Test squad to continue his return to action from shoulder surgery. Richardson was impressive against England Lions with 4 for 35 in the first innings and, significantly, sent down 26 overs in the game in his first first-class match in over a year. Australia’s selectors have previously said they hoped he would be an option for the later stages of the Ashes.Richardson will miss Perth Scorchers’ opening BBL match against Sydney Sixers on December 14 but is expected to be available for the game against Brisbane Heat on December 19.Australia squad for third Ashes Test Pat Cummins (capt), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster