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Duanne Olivier roused Derbyshire’s spirits after their Royal London Cup trouncing in the East Midlands derby

ECB Reporters Network09-Jun-2018
ScorecardDerbyshire hold a 79-run lead after 18 wickets fell on day one of their Specsavers County Championship Division Two match against Durham at Emirates Riverside.Duanne Olivier produced a fine performance with the ball to bowl the home side out for 96. The 26-year-old claimed figures of 5-20 to put Derbyshire on the front foot. Durham responded as Chris Rushworth, Nathan Rimmington, Josh Coughlin and Matt Salisbury all claimed two wickets apiece, but they could not stop the visitors edging day one, ending the final session 175 for 8.Olivier said of his first Derbyshire five-wicket haul: “I was very excited that I contributed towards the team. Obviously the wicket was a bit bowler friendly, but we put ourselves in a good position to win the game. We could see there was a lot of grass on the wicket. So the key was just to keep it as a simple as possible and bowl it in the right areas. That’s what happened for us.”Other wickets before were good grafting wickets. I think as a bowling unit over the course of the previous games we put in the hard work. In this game it’s paid off. An 80-run lead is like a 150-200-run lead on this wicket.”The home side were inserted in overcast conditions and the Derbyshire seamers were able to capitalise. Olivier made the initial breakthrough as he removed stand-in skipper Cameron Steel for one. Tom Latham did not last long at the other end as fell lbw to Hardus Viljoen, while Michael Jones and Will Smith were next to depart, leaving the north-east outfit 26-4.Graham Clark and Gareth Harte offered resistance to guide their side past fifty, but both batsmen fell just before the lunch as Alfie Gleadall claimed his maiden first-class wicket to remove Harte, with Tony Palladino dismissing Clark for 19. Derbyshire’s onslaught continued after the break as Olivier returned to the attack. The South African notched his five-wicket haul, sending Ryan Davies, Rimmington and Salisbury back to the pavilion. Viljoen ended the Durham innings by bowling Coughlin, ending with figures of 3-20.Rushworth struck back immediately for the home side, bowling Billy Godleman for two. However, Ben Slater and Wayne Madsen settled into a rhythm and saw the shine off the new ball to make inroads into the home side’s total. Slater was looking composed, but then played a loose hook shot off Rimmington and was caught behind by Davies.Salisbury got into the action after the tea break from the Finchale End. He notched his first wicket for Durham as he broke through Alex Hughes’ defences to bowl the batsman for four. Rushworth managed to find enough movement off the wicket to pin Madsen in front of his stumps for 36.Matt Critchley looked in good touch at the crease and Durham spurned a glorious opportunity when he was dropped on 24 by Latham. Salisbury was the unfortunate bowler, but Latham atoned for his error by snagging Callum Brodrick two balls later at second slip. The New Zealander was alert in the slip cordon once again to dismiss Daryn Smith as Rimmington notched his second scalp.Josh Coughlin claimed his County Championship wicket as he stopped Critchley’s progress for 38. He did not have long to wait for his second as a full delivery was too good for Viljoen. Palladino added important runs late in the day in a partnership with Gleadall to take the visitors’ lead to 79 at the close.

The former allrounder has worked with the team in the past after his retirement and has also coached many of New Zealand’s elite women cricketers

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Mar-2018New Zealand women have roped in former allrounder Jacob Oram as their bowling coach. Oram has accepted an 18-month contract, which will see him join the team for incoming and outgoing tours as well as training camps.Oram has worked with the team in the past after his retirement and has also coached many of New Zealand’s elite women cricketers.”I’m really excited to come on board with the White Ferns and join Haidee Tiffen’s coaching team,” Oram said. “There’s an immense amount of talent and potential in the team and I’m looking forward to working with the bowlers in particular, and seeing what improvements we can make.”Oram represented New Zealand from 2001 to 2012 and played in 229 international matches. He was one of the three shortlisted candidates for the interview and head coach Tiffen said he was appointed because of his experience with some of the present players.”Jake’s a great guy and builds strong relationships,” she said. “We’ve seen what he can do through his work with Hannah Rowe at the Central Hinds and we’re looking forward to having him with us on a full-time touring basis.”Matthew Bell, the side’s batting coach, has extended his contract until the middle of next year.”Matt’s been working with the White Ferns since 2014 and always brings great energy and knowledge to the group,” Tiffen said. “I know the batting group, especially, will be excited to see him stay on in his role.”The team currently holds a 1-0 lead in the home ODI series against West Indies in the latest round of the Women’s Championship. They are also expected to tour England later this year before the World T20 in November.”I’m really keen to spend some time with the players in camp and get an idea of how we can all improve,” Oram said. “To go to any world tournament is a real buzz and I think it will be just as exciting as a coach.”

An “incredible” midfielder is now “set to join” Leeds United alongside their move for Newcastle United’s Sean Longstaff, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg on X.

Leeds closing in on two new midfielders

Leeds have been targeting Longstaff for quite some time, and the deal is now finally edging closer to completion, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealing the midfielder is set to undergo a medical ahead of a move.

Daniel Farke will be relieved to finally get a new central midfielder through the door, having missed out on Habib Diarra to Premier League rivals Sunderland, but the manager remains keen on securing the signature of another player.

It was recently revealed the Whites have agreed personal terms with Hoffenheim midfielder Anton Stach, who is valued at £17m by the German club, and there has now been a major new update on their pursuit of the 26-year-old.

In a recent update from Plettenberg on X, it was revealed that “new talks” over a deal for Stach took place on Wednesday, with Leeds stepping up their pursuit of the Hoffenheim star, amid rival interest from Bundesliga side Stuttgart.

Major blow for 49ers as £30m+ Leeds target now pushing other clubs to bid

Leeds have a fight on their hands to secure one of their top targets of the summer transfer window.

3

By
Brett Worthington

Jul 16, 2025

Stuttgart have also held talks over a deal for the German, but Hoffenheim are yet to strike an agreement with either club, although the feeling is that he is now “set to join Leeds”, which will come as welcome news for Farke.

However, it remains to be seen whether the Premier League side are willing to match the aforementioned asking price of around £17m plus bonuses.

Stach could be "incredible" addition to Farke's squad

The Hoffenheim maestro has received praise from former teammate Dominik Kohr, who lauded him for his “incredible” shooting ability, while he also excels in a number of other key areas, most often catching the eye from a defensive point of view.

The two-time Germany international is particularly impressive at winning back possession, as showcased by the number of interceptions he has averaged per 90 over the past year, while the defensive midfielder’s 6-foot-4 frame means he is also impressive in the air.

Statistic	Average per 90
Interceptions	1.65 (93rd percentile)
Blocks	1.60 (85th percentile)
Clearances	3.65 (99th percentile)
Aerials won	1.83 (88th percentile)

Leeds will need to be defensively solid if they are to stand a chance of avoiding an immediate return to the Championship, and Stach’s displays for Hoffenheim prove he could be a fantastic signing, so it is exciting news that the move has progressed in recent days.

Everton have yet to really get going with their transfer business this summer. David Moyes has only signed Carlos Alcaraz thus far.

With the new Premier League season drawing ever closer, the manager must bring in several quality players, especially considering he has lost a few.

Indeed, both Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Abdoulaye Doucoure have departed the club upon the expiration of their contracts. Elsewhere, Neal Maupay, Ashley Young and Mason Holgate have also left.

Moyes has plenty of work to do in the coming weeks. Might he start by signing a former Premier League midfielder?

Everton hold talks over signing former Premier League star

It’s safe to say it’s been a slow start for the Toffees in the transfer window but they are beginning to roar into life.

Indeed, Villarreal striker Thierno Barry is now reportedly close to joining and he will provide great quality to Moyes’ attack, having scored 19 goals in 41 games last term.

Yet, with the departure of the aforementioned Doucoure in mind, it is the midfield where Moyes must really strengthen next.

According to reports from journalist Graeme Bailey, Everton have held initial talks with Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz regarding a potential move, but they are not alone.

Nottingham Forest, Fulham and West Ham United are also keen on the Brazilian, who only moved to Serie A last summer in a deal worth £42m.

Bringing Luiz to Everton would be a significant coup for Moyes. Not only that, he would be an ideal replacement for Doucoure in the heart of the midfield.

Why Everton must sign Douglas Luiz

Doucoure had been with the Merseyside outfit since 2020, making over 150 competitive appearances for the club, registering 35 goal contributions in the process.

During his final season, he ranked fourth among the squad for goals and assists in the top flight (five), while ranking third for key passes (0.8) and fourth for successful dribbles (0.7).

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2024/25

36

4

2

2023/24

35

7

3

2022/23

27

5

2

2021/22

34

2

4

2020/21

34

3

3

However, at 32, it was time for him to go, and by signing Luiz, they might even get an upgrade on the player. Of course, last season was a difficult one for the Brazilian, as he started just three games in Serie A.

Yet, looking back at his final season in England, however, gives a better indication of just what he can offer Moyes.

Adjudged by Sky Italia to be “one of the best [midfielders] in the world”, the 2023/24 season saw Luiz register 20 goal involvements – ten goals and ten assists – in all competitions.

Furthermore, he ranked first in the Villa squad for key passes per game in the top flight (1.5), along with ranking fourth for interceptions (0.7), tackles (1.7) and shots per game (1.4), suggesting that he can offer plenty both going forward and defensively.

Former Villa star-turned pundit, Lee Hendrie, hailed Luiz as “phenomenal” midway through the campaign for his exploits ,and it was no wonder he sealed a move to the Italian giants last summer.

Things haven’t exactly gone to plan in Turin, opening the door for the likes of Everton to perhaps test the waters.

Much will depend on the fee Juventus demand for their player, but if Moyes can secure a deal for the 27-year-old, it could turn out to be one of the finest signings of the summer window.

Everton now ready to pay £5m+ to sign new star with same agent as McNeil

The Toffees are ready to take advantage…

1 BySean Markus Clifford Jul 7, 2025

With the transfer window set to re-open next month, Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be already plotting potential moves that could be made in the new year, with centre-back a particular priority amid the current lack of depth and the loss of Micky van de Ven to injury.

Amid Ange Postecoglou's desire to bolster his backline, the suggestion is that the Lilywhites have already made contact regarding a possible swoop for OGC Nice sensation, Jean-Clair Todibo, as they look to win the race for the in-demand talent.

Spurs transfer news – Jean-Clair Todibo

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the north London outfit have already "opened talks" with the Ligue 1 outfit in a bid to step up their interest in the 23-year-old, with Spurs hoping to steal a march on Premier League rivals, Manchester United, who are also said to be interested.

This has been corroborated by a report from 90min journalist, Graeme Bailey, with the transfer insider revealing that Postecoglou and co have been told that a deal can be struck for a fee of around £35m in January.

While Bailey reports that the club are also keeping a close eye on the likes of Ben Godfrey, Lloyd Kelly and Union Saint-Gilloise's Koki Machida, it is Todibo who is 'rapidly rising up their shortlist'.

How Jean-Clair Todibo would slot in at Spurs

Not only would the Frenchman – who has been hailed as the "complete package" by talent scout Jacek Kulig – offer an able deputy to the stricken Van de Ven on the left side of the defence, but he could also be a direct rival to Cristian Romero at right centre-back.

The latter man was only recently dubbed the "best defender in the world" by compatriot, Lionel Messi, yet far too often has his recklessness nature proven costly for the Lilywhites, only recently serving a three-game suspension for his straight red card against Chelsea.

14 games (14 starts)

8 clean sheets

1 assist

1 big chance created

91% pass accuracy

1.3 interceptions per game

1.9 tackles per game

7.9 balls recovered per game

71% successful dribbles per game

65% aerial duels won

7.21 average match rating

Stats via Sofascore

If Postecoglou is looking for a more reliable option then Todibo is seemingly the way to go, the former Barcelona man having been in inspired form for a stubborn Nice side this term, helping to keep eight clean sheets from just 14 league outings thus far.

Arguably "one of the most underrated CB's in Europe" – in the words of Kulig – the 6 foot 3 titan could well prove a dream partner for Pedro Porro in that right channel, with the Spurs target's immense recovery speed – as indicated in the clip below – ensuring he can mop up expertly behind the Spaniard when required.

Not only that, but the £35m-rated star also boasts the composure required on the ball to be able to link nicely with Porro, notably ranking in the top 18% among his European peers for progressive passes per 90 – showcasing that he could regularly pick out the full-back when he opts to invert.

If the latter man is to step into the centre of the park – as he so often does in Postecoglou's tactical set-up – then Todibo could well exploit the space down the right with his knack for driving forward with ease, illustrated by the fact that he ranks in the top 5% for progressive carries per 90.

Such an array of qualities would surely compliment the attack-minded Porro – who boasts six assists this season – making Spurs an even more formidable outfit when building up from the back.

The Roki Sasaki sweepstakes is over—the Japanese-born pitcher announced Friday that he has signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Two days after the international signing period opened on Wednesday, Sasaki took to Instagram to share his decision, making the announcement with a picture of a Dodgers cap in the bleachers.

"I have signed a minor contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers," Sasaki's post read, via Instagram’s translation. "It was a very difficult decision, but I will do my best to make it the right decision when I look back after my baseball career. I want to slip my sleeve on the Dodgers uniform at the opening conference, thanking everyone who has supported me this far."

The news comes after the San Diego Padres were eliminated from consideration earlier on Friday, leaving the Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays as the final two teams. Sasaki had previously eliminated the San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers, New York Mets, and New York Yankees earlier in the week.

Sasaki now bolsters a Dodgers' rotation that struggled with injuries to Tyler Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw, Gavin Stone, and River Ryan among others toward the end of the 2024 season. The Dodgers managed to win the World Series anyway with a three-man rotation, but will now have the additional help of Sasaki, Cy Young-award winner Blake Snell, and Shohei Ohtani, who is expected to return to pitching in 2025.

The Dodgers were long the favorites to sign Sasaki, and now they have officially signed him. Sasaki is regarded as one of the most talented pitching prospects in the sport, with an impressive splitter and a fastball that can exceed 100 miles per hour. The Dodgers were already viewed as a super team by many, and they should only continue to dominate with their exceptionally stacked roster.

Five key factors and observations from the Test series between Sri Lanka and Pakistan

Kanishkaa Balachandran14-Jul-2012The Decision Review System
Pakistan’s coach Dav Whatmore demanded to know why it wasn’t available. Mohammad Hafeez was more moderate but shared his coach’s views. During the first Test in Galle, both of them said the inconsistent implementation of the DRS was affecting the game. The system was available, without Hot Spot, in Sri Lanka’s previous home series, against England. When Pakistan arrived, three months later, Sri Lanka Cricket couldn’t provide it because of the costs involved. Pakistan had reason to feel aggrieved. They had seven decisions going against them in the first three days of the Galle Test, with several inside edges on to pad going undetected and doubts over the trajectory of the ball during lbw decisions.It was quite a contrast to Pakistan’s previous Test series, against England in the UAE, in which the DRS played an integral part. In that series, the host board (the PCB) secured sponsors to offset the high costs of the technology needed for DRS. Perhaps SLC and other boards can follow suit.The umpiring errors aside, Pakistan were beaten in Galle because some of their batsmen failed and they collapsed for 100 in the first innings. They were also missing Misbah-ul-Haq, who was banned for an over-rate offence. Better umpiring and DRS could have at least minimised the damage.Barely days after the pleas from Hafeez and Whatmore, the proposal for a universal implementation of the DRS fell through at the ICC’s executive board meeting in Kuala Lumpur. The issue wasn’t even put to vote.Weather and scheduling
The groundstaff was kept busy right through the tour. Rain washed out the third one-day international in Colombo, and the clouds were unwelcome visitors in two of the three Tests. The weather didn’t effect the Galle Test, but in spoiled the contests in Colombo and Pallekele. It ruined several hours of play on the second, third and fourth days at the SSC, making a draw inevitable. The flat pitch raised doubts about the likelihood of a result, but with Pakistan taking a 160-run lead, they could have tried to force a result if it wasn’t for the stoppage time. In Pallekele, rain wiped out the entire second day, which meant both teams were short of time to push for a result.SLC could learn from this experience and keep June and early July – the months of the southwest monsoon – free from international cricket. Pallekele, however, continues to baffle. The location of the country’s newest Test venue, around half an hour from Kandy, was chosen because it’s one of the drier regions in the district. Ironically, all three Tests played there have been rained-affected draws. The region was going through a drought before the third Test began.Pakistan’s youngsters
Though Pakistan lost the ODIs and Tests, the Test series defeat wasn’t as demoralising because of the performances of their younger players. Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali have been on the national circuit for the last two years, and their performances made up for the patchy form of Misbah and Younis Khan. Azhar impressed with his temperament and patience needed to play long innings; Shafiq displayed similar qualities and tightened his technique. Their innings in the final Test gave Pakistan the belief that they could save the game. Junaid Khan was a revelation with his pace, swing and aggression. Inspired by Wasim Akram, he got the ball to reverse from the round the wicket to the right-handers. He overshadowed Saeed Ajmal with his top-order strikes but lacked support. Junaid had to shoulder a lot of the burden because Aizaz Cheema, Umar Gul and Mohammad Sami turned in underwhelming performances.Jayawardene steadies Sri Lanka
When Mahela Jayawardene took over the leadership after the tour of South Africa early this year, he was Sri Lanka’s third captain in the last 12 months. His task of restoring the team’s competitiveness was made tougher by the payment crisis. SLC was having financial problems and its national players were the biggest victims. The results, however, began to improve – Sri Lanka made the finals of the CB Series and won a Test against England. Jayawardene wanted a series win, which had eluded them for nearly three years. His aggressive and innovative fields showed that he was trying to create opportunities. His decision to call off Sri Lanka’s chase of 271 in Pallekele had puzzled many, including Misbah, but having secured a 1-0 lead, Jayawardene didn’t want to wreck several months of hard work for the sake of adventure.Sri Lanka move on from Murali
Muttiah Muralitharan can relax now. Sri Lanka had found it hard to cope with his retirement two years ago. Ajantha Mendis’ form was erratic and his fitness poor, leaving Rangana Herath with most of the responsibility. Herath has done well to come out of Murali’s shadow and lead the spin attack. His challenge will be to create a threat on pitches that may not be as spin-friendly anymore. With Murali’s departure, the emphasis has started to shift from spin to pace, and Sri Lanka will need more support from their seamers going forward. Bringing in the allrounder Thisara Perera for the third Test was an inspired move. His 4 for 63 and attacking 75 were good for his transition to the Test squad as a lower-order hitter and opening bowler. Nuwan Kulasekara was incisive in Galle, challenged at the SSC, but he is only building his experience at Test level. When Chanaka Welegedera and Suranga Lakmal return from injury, the competition for places will increase.

And then head straight to breakfast, before taking a cruise and gorging on spicy street food. There’s a lot to do in and around Kolkata

Deep Dasgupta11-Nov-2010Party in night clubs
This is for the young at heart. There are plenty of nightclubs – Tantra, Roxy, Shisha. Unlike other cities where everything shuts down at 11pm or 12 midnight, Calcutta is a place where you can actually get out of a night club and go straight to breakfast. You can have a really nice night out and then head to a place like Flurys in the morning.The underground music scene in Calcutta is perhaps the best in the country. The bands from Calcutta are loved throughout the country, and are must-haves in music concerts anywhere. Especially Bengali bands. So mark down a visit to Someplace Else. Every night of the week live bands perform there. And they are really, really good. Anyone who is in to rock music goes here. Bengali bands usually play in auditoriums. So if you can’t catch them at a concert, there is always Someplace Else.Visit the north-east

The north-east of the country has some of the prettiest places not only India, but perhaps the whole world: places like Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Gangtok and Shillong. Darjeeling and Kalimpong offer stunning views of Kanchenjunga and Everest. You have to take two days off and go to one of these places in the north-east, and enjoy the lifestyle, language, culture. It will be laidback, will give you a couple of days off the hectic schedule, and you will love having spent time there.Take a boat ride
Cruise down to the Sunderbans through the Hooghly. Calcutta was built on either side of the river. You can see old buildings, small towns on the banks through the cruise.Visit Santiniketan
Bengali people are very proud of their culture, and there is lots of to see in and around Calcutta. If you have come here, it is worth driving down for a coupe of hours, or a taking train, to Shantiniketan, the university town established by Rabindranath Tagore. The best part is they have kept it exactly as it was. They haven’t commercialised it at all. You still get that old-world feel. It is known for its celebration of the festival of Holi, or as we call it. You have got to experience Holi here at least once.Indulge in some street food
Calcutta is famous for its amazing food: tandoori, continental, Indian, all of it, but its speciality is the street food: , the Bengali version of Bombay’s and Delhi’s , is a fried hollow dough ball filled with potato, grams, and spicy tamarind water. You can’t miss it when in Calcutta. You have many variations of it. with (yoghurt), with water and with sweet water. What’s common to all is that they have a basic potato filling. Then there are the : the , the and sweets. Another street-food favourite is the (rice with meat and spices), which is completely different from its other cousins, the Hyderabadi and Lucknowi biryanis. If you are a food freak you cannot afford to miss the Calcutta . What makes it unique is that it has potatoes as well as meat. It caters to various palettes, so to say, ranging from the extremely rich, oily ones, to the less spicy ones for the health-conscious people.

The P Saravanamuttu Stadium has hosted Bradman’s Invicibles, and was the setting for a local renaissance

Dileep Premachandran07-Aug-2008

	An overview of the P Saravanamuttu Stadium © Cricinfo Ltd.

For perhaps the first time, two Test captains addressed the pre-match media conference while perched on bar stools. No, they weren’t under the influence. It just so happened that the long verandah in front of the bar at the P Saravanamuttu Stadium made it the ideal location. Less than a day earlier, Chandra Schaffter, who managed the Sri Lankan team on their first Test tour of India in 1982, had spoken of how much it meant to the Tamil Union Club to host the Test match, and the venue where Sri Lanka clinched their first win (against India in 1985) will now be the cynosure of all eyes as this scrap for Asian supremacy enters a third and decisive round.The renaissance of the Tamil Union is a story that makes phoenix-rising-from-ashes look commonplace. When the island slid into a violent spiral of ethnic conflict a quarter century ago, hate-filled mobs burnt the stadium to the ground. It had been Sri Lanka’s premier venue for decades, even hosting Sir Donald Bradman’s Invincibles in 1948, but all that meant nothing to those blinded by propaganda.It was years before the Tamil Union limped back to anything approaching normalcy, and the revival was perhaps complete when the modern-day Invincibles came-a-calling in October 2002. I was fortunate enough to be there, a straggler from the just-finished Champions Trophy. Shoaib Akhtar bowled with real pace and menace on the opening day but it was Waqar Younis who picked up two wickets bowling absolute rubbish.Ricky Ponting struck a magnificent 141, but many of those present will remember the opening day for Mark Waugh’s last significant innings at Test level. He caressed the ball with some of the old elegance on his way to 55, before Saqlain Mushtaq – into which Bermuda Triangle did his Test career disappear? – took a return catch.

	For men like Sathasivam, Coomaraswamy, Derrick de Saram and Channa Gunasekara, the odd game against touring sides was as good as it got. And while reams have been written on the batsmanship of Vijay Merchant, CK Nayudu and Mushtaq Ali, little is known of these Sri Lankan giants

Pakistan’s reply revolved around a wonderfully assured 83 from Faisal Iqbal but, when they finished 188 adrift on the third morning, no one expected anything other than an Australian saunter to victory. It certainly looked that way as Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden added 61 for the first wicket, but this time ill luck wasn’t about to thwart Shoaib. Ponting and the Waugh twins were beaten for pace in one stunning over and, in the next, Adam Gilchrist was befuddled by a yorker that might have reached Trincomalee if the stumps hadn’t been in the way.Shoaib’s 5 for 21 left Pakistan needing 316 to win, a run more than they had famously managed at Karachi in 1994. But despite brave innings from Taufeeq Umar, Younis Khan and Faisal [again], an attack of Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Brett Lee and the incomparable Warne just had too much quality.The 41-run win was a good deal better than what Bradman’s team managed during their one-day game en route to the Ashes in 1948. Bradman fell to Bertram Heyn for 20, and Sathi Coomaraswamy, who has one of the new stands named after him, took 4 for 45 as the line-up that would go on to rout England 4-0 was restricted to 184 for 8. But in a rain-hit match, Ceylon’s batsmen got no real opportunity to show off their ability against the likes of Keith Miller and Ian Johnson.

	Ricky Ponting made a magnificent 141 in the first Test against Pakistan in 2002 © Getty Images

The photograph that has pride of place in the bar features Bradman and Mahadevan Sathasivam, the Tamil Union captain, walking out for the toss. For men like Sathasivam, Coomaraswamy, Derrick de Saram and Channa Gunasekara, the odd game against touring sides was as good as it got. And while reams have been written on the batsmanship of Vijay Merchant, CK Nayudu and Mushtaq Ali, little is known of these Sri Lankan giants who could have stood shoulder to shoulder with them.Schaffter remembers one particular game as though it were yesterday. He was two months short of his 20th birthday when Jock Livingston’s Commonwealth side dropped anchor in Ceylon. Frank Worrell, John Holt and Bill Alley were the batting stars, and the home team struggled as they piled up 355 for 5 in 103 overs, with Winston Place’s 96 leading the way. With Henry Lambert, Fred Freer, and the two Georges, Pope and Tribe, bowling alongside Worrell, the Ceylon innings never got going. “Those were the days of uncovered pitches,” recalls Schaffter. “Sathasivam came out and made 96. I don’t think I’ve seen a more complete batsman.”Sathasivam was almost 35 at the time, and that innings at the P Sara [out of a total of 153] along with his celebrated 215 at Chepauk defines a largely obscure career. These days, saturated media coverage means that you know whether a player prefers baked beans or pate with his toast. Sadly, when it comes to some of the legends of the past, we’re left mostly to rely on the memories of those that lived in the proximity of greatness.After their net sessions, both Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman walked in to have a look at the portraits inside the bar. Two of the finer batsmen of their generation, they will surely have felt history’s gentle touch on the shoulder as they glanced at the greats of long ago. The cavalier Sathasivam has been dead more than 30 years, but tomorrow, they have an opportunity to venture on to his favourite patch and write their own chapter in the history of a storied venue.

There are a number of players within the Glasgow Rangers squad at Ibrox who are facing uncertain futures at the club during the summer transfer window.

The likes of Nicolas Raskin, Mohamed Diomande, Hamza Igamane, and Cyriel Dessers have been linked with moves away from the club, as European sides are looking to snap them up.

However, at the time of writing, the Scottish Premiership giants have not accepted any bids from teams for any of their star performers this summer.

One player who does look set to be on his way out of Ibrox, though, is central defender Robin Propper, after FC Twente and Rangers agreed a fee for the defender, who is now negotiating an exit with the club.

There are also players in the squad who have not been linked with moves away, yet they may still be playing for their long-term future under Russell Martin during pre-season.

Oscar Cortes’ 18-month loan deal finally turned into a permanent transfer, for a reported fee of £4m, this summer, but it remains to be seen if he has a future at Ibrox.

Why Oscar Cortes may not have a future at Ibrox

The Colombian forward first arrived in Glasgow on loan from French side Lens in the January transfer window in 2024, and spent 18 months on loan at the club before his permanent transfer became official at the start of July.

However, injury issues have plagued his career in Scotland to date. Cortes has only played 16 times in competitive games for the Light Blues so far, including just 11 appearances in the entire 2024/25 campaign.

This means that Martin cannot rely on the winger to be available on a regular basis for the Gers moving forward, until the 21-year-old gem proves that he can avoid injuries for a prolonged period of time.

For now, there is no guarantee that he can be relied upon as a starter because he has only been available for 16 games in the last 18 months, which is simply not enough.

Appearances

10

Starts

4

Goals

0

Big chances created

0

Key passes per game

0.4

Assists

0

Dribbles completed per game

0.6

As concerning is the fact that his performances on the pitch have also left a lot to be desired, as you can see in the table above, as he did not deliver any goal contributions in the Premiership last season.

Cortes was given opportunities when fit and available, as shown by the fact that he started 40% of his appearances despite his injury issues, but did not repay the faith shown in him with quality performances.

This is why the former Lens man, who can play on the left or the right flank, may not have a long-term future at Ibrox unless he can turn his career around by keeping fit and delivering quality displays on the pitch.

A fresh report linking Rangers with interest in another right-sided attacker does not spell good news for Cortes, though, as the club could land an upgrade on him.

Martin pushing Rangers to sign Premier League winger

According to Football Insider, Glasgow Rangers are interested in a potential swoop to bring Jesurun Rak-Sakyi to Ibrox from Crystal Palace this summer.

The report claims that Martin is the driving force behind the club’s eagerness to secure a deal with the Premier League side for the 22-year-old attacker, as he would like to work with the gem next season.

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Martin tried and failed to sign him on loan from Palace during his time in charge of both Swansea and Southampton in the English Championship, which shows that Rak-Sakyi has been a long-term target for the former Norwich defender.

Football Insider adds that Rangers would like to bolster their options in the wide areas, particularly after Vaclav Cerny returned to Wolfsburg after his loan spell at the club, and that they are keen to bring the Eagles youngster, who is valued at up to £10m, in on loan for next season.

It now remains to be seen whether Martin will finally get his wish at the third time of asking, or if he will fail in his pursuit of a deal for Rak-Sakyi once again in his managerial career.

Why Rak-Sakyi would be an upgrade on Cortes

The 22-year-old English winger would arrive at Ibrox as a big upgrade on Cortes if the club can strike a deal with the Premier League side to sign him on loan.

Rak-Sakyi’s availability, first and foremost, would make him an upgrade on the Colombian. The former England U21 international played 36 times for Sheffield United in all competitions during the 2024/25 campaign, which means that he played 21 more games than the Rangers flop managed.

This suggests that the Palace attacker is far more likely to be available for Martin to select on a week-to-week basis next season, as he does not have as bad of a recent injury history as the ex-Lens flanker.

Rak-Sakyi, once dubbed “remarkable” by Roy Hodgson, would also join Rangers as an upgrade on Cortes because of the quality that he can provide whilst playing on the right wing, cutting in on his left foot to provide a big threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals for his side.

xG

0.32

Top 13%

Goals

0.36

Top 11%

xA

0.18

Top 22%

Assists

0.10

Bottom 46%

Chances created

1.51

Top 31%

Dribbles completed

2.44

Top 7%

Touches in the opposition box

7.69

Top 2%

As you can see in the table above, the £10m-rated star ranked incredibly highly in a host of key attacking metrics in the Championship last season, although he was unfortunate to rank lowly for assists given how many high-quality chances he created.

Rak-Sakyi scored seven goals and provided two assists in 22 starts in the division for Sheffield United, which is nine more goal contributions than the zero Cortes produced for Rangers in his ten outings in the Premiership.

Therefore, Rangers could land a big upgrade on their £4m winger by signing the Palace winger this summer, both because of his potential to be available with greater regularity and because of the quality that he can offer at the top end of the pitch.

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