Six months ago, Sam Heazlett was yet to make his one-day debut. Indeed, he is still yet to make his one-day debut for Queensland, having missed this summer’s Matador Cup due to injury. But in Auckland on Monday, Heazlett leap-frogged state cricket to become the 220th ODI cricketer to represent Australia, a late addition to the XI after stand-in captain Matthew Wade was ruled out due to a back injury.Heazlett struggled to have any impact against New Zealand, scoring 4 before he was caught behind off the bowling of Lockie Ferguson. His chances of playing again in the second ODI on Thursday will likely depend on whether Wade is passed fit. But for the time being, he finds himself in the unusual situation of having playing List A cricket only for Australia and for the National Performance Squad in a winter A series last year.It was that series that won Heazlett his surprise national call-up. On his List A debut in Townsville in August, he struck 101 off 87 balls against South Africa A, and he followed up later in the series with 60 against India A and 73 against South Africa A. Since then, Heazlett’s only innings of note were a couple of brisk BBL contributions for the Brisbane Heat, and two Sheffield Shield fifties.Heazlett’s ODI call-up was thus one of the most glaring examples of Australian fast-tracking in recent times, although other inclusions this summer – fast bowler Billy Stanlake was also rushed into the ODI team with only four List A games to his name, and none this summer – have also raised eyebrows. Heazlett is studying to be a physiotherapist, but his selection has rubbed a few people the wrong way.”When his name got read out, it was a bit like, you need to go to the Cricinfo site and have a quick look around to work out who he was,” former Australia fast bowler Stuart Clark said on the radio show on Tuesday. “I don’t know, they’ve obviously seen some potential in this guy … the next thing you know he’s in the one-day international team.”I don’t know how you come up with that selection. Personally I don’t like that sort of selection. You’ve got a lot of guys running around playing first-class cricket and you go, ‘Hang on, why are they not getting an opportunity?’ But the selectors have obviously seen someone and thought, ‘Well this guy’s a player of the future, let’s get him into the series’. But I’m a bit uncomfortable with that.”Heazlett, 21, was a late inclusion in Australia’s Chappell-Hadlee squad after Steven Smith was ruled out due to injury. He was picked ahead of prolific Matador Cup run-scorers from this summer, including Cameron White (457 runs at 76.16), Moises Henriques (414 at 69.00), Daniel Hughes (386 at 64.33) and Player of the Tournament Marnus Labuschagne (271 at 45.16).Although Heazlett was told on the day before the Auckland ODI that he would not be in the side, things changed when Wade was ruled out on the morning of the match. Heazlett said coach Darren Lehmann had told him to play his natural game.”I was a little bit nervous but no more than any other cricket game. I’m usually pretty nervous before any cricket game,” Heazlett said. “Darren had a chat and just said bat the way you have been, back yourself. It’s good to have that backing from the captain and the coach.”It was a bit annoying not to score a few more with the bat, but that’s the way it goes in cricket. Hopefully next time I can take the opportunity and contribute to a win for the team. We’ll see what happens for the rest of the series. If I get another go, then great. But we’ll see if Wadey comes back, what happens, and take it from there.”

Ben Foster has attempted to recruit former Manchester United star Nani for Wrexham with the winger potentially open to a move.

What happened between Ben Foster and Nani?

The club goalkeeper emerged as a key figure for the Red Dragons over the course of their promotion-winning season, after joining the club midway through the campaign.

Indeed, Foster saved a late penalty against Notts County to help seal a win in what turned out to be one of the club's most important matches under owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

Unsurprisingly, the 40-year-old has since been rewarded with a new one-year contract and it looks as though he's already working hard to improve the team for the following campaign.

Indeed, over the past weekend he was playing for England in the charity football match Soccer Aid. Also taking part at Old Trafford, was former Red Devil Nani.

The Portuguese winger is currently without a club after leaving A-League side Melbourne Victory at the end of the season, and Foster was happy to take advantage of that.

Indeed, while talking on his YouTube channel – Ben Foster – The Cycling GK – the shot-stopper could be heard saying: “Nani hasn’t got a club everybody, I think he should come to Wrexham…

"Do you want to come to Wrexham?"

To which, Nani then replied: “You never know…"

Foster then laughed and said: "Liar!"

How many times did Nani play for Man United?

Of course, it was only a joke and not an official proposition but seeing as Nani is potentially looking for a team and Wrexham have the sort of reputation to bring in some big names of the past, perhaps this could be something to keep an eye out for – after all, it's not as if the 36-year-old dismissed the idea out of hand.

The former Man United star netted 41 goals and provided 71 assists in a 230-game spell at Old Trafford between 2007 to 2015. This means his path would have crossed with Foster – who was at the club from 2005-2010 – but played just 23 times.

Foster has shown a great attitude to playing for the club, admitting that he asked for "peanuts" in his new deal just to remain part of the story.

Indeed, he said: “To be honest, I don’t really need much anyway so the negotiations honestly took about five minutes. It was the easiest conversation in the world.

“With regards to wages and kind of stuff. It’s a short-term deal, a six-week deal. Wages wise it’s literally peanuts. I said I don’t want much.

And if Nani is just keen to find a club where he'll get plenty of media attention at this late stage in his career, perhaps he'll be the next big name to arrive at Wrexham.

Manchester United have reportedly identified a potential replacement for long-serving goalkeeper, David De Gea, following an update regarding the club's apparent interest in Yann Sommer.

What's the latest on Sommer to Man United?

According to journalist Alex Crook – in his transfer notebook for talkSPORT – the Red Devils are said to have revived their interest in the Bayern Munich man, with the 34-year-old having reportedly been on Erik ten Hag's 'radar' last summer.

The report suggests that the former Borussia Monchengladbach ace – who only made the move to the Allianz Arena in January – would represent a cheaper alternative to the likes of Andre Onana and Jordan Pickford in the search for a new number one.

As the piece also notes, the aforementioned De Gea has verbally agreed a new contract extension with the Old Trafford outfit, although a formal deal has yet to materialise, amid claims that the Spaniard won't be the first-choice option next season even if he does stay in Manchester.

Would Sommer be a better signing than Pickford?

There has been much talk of late that Pickford could be on his way to the Theatre of Dreams, with the 29-year-old – who only recently signed a new deal at Everton – set to be available for a fee of around £30m this summer.

While the former Sunderland ace remains the undisputed regular for his country having now made 52 appearances for the Three Lions, there are lingering concerns over his consistency at club level, with pundit Chris Sutton stating that the Englishman simply "makes too many errors".

Ten Hag may then be wise to consider a figure such as Sommer to provide at least a strong, short-term solution in the sticks, with the £83k-per-week colossus having been hailed as the "best in the world" by former Gladbach teammate, Joe Scally.

That hefty praise had come following the 82-cap gem's astounding display against his current employers earlier in the campaign, as the 6 foot ace made 19 saves in the 1-1 draw between the two sides back in August – breaking a Bundesliga record in the process.

Having since gone on to replace the stricken Manuel Neuer at Bayern, the experienced ace has particularly impressed due to his ability to play out from the back, as he ranks in the top 4% for touches made among those in his position across Europe's top five leagues – with Pickford ranking in just the top 44% in that regard.

Sommer's innate composure on the ball is also showcased by the fact that he achieved a standout pass accuracy rate of 83% across his 29 Bundesliga appearances in 2022/23, with far better than the at times erratic Toffees asset, who averaged just 52% for that same metrics.

That superior record would suggest that the one-time Basel man – who was also described as "one of the best goalkeepers in Europe" by former boss Marco Rose in the past – could be a perfect alternative to Pickford in Ten Hag's quest to find a reliable number one this summer.

Jason Roy is set to play only white-ball cricket until the end of the ICC Champions Trophy

George Dobell in St Kitts26-Feb-2017

Jason Roy is set to play only white-ball cricket until the end of the ICC Champions Trophy.Roy, England’s limited-overs opener, retains ambitions to play Test cricket. But, with the Champions Trophy identified as one of England’s prime goals for the summer, he is likely to be encouraged to concentrate on his white-ball skills until the end of the tournament in June. That means his next first-class match could come in the round of pink-ball games scheduled to be played under lights at the end of June.While Roy will be required to return from the IPL to play in the two ODIs against Ireland at the start of May, he is expected to be allowed to return to India for another couple of matches as soon as his England duty is over. He will then join the rest of the ODI squad in a training camp in Spain.He looked in fine form during the opening match of England’s Caribbean tour. Murderous against the short ball, he also drove well and improvised effectively against the spinners on his way to 79 from 43 deliveries. And while he did not field due to a bruised hand caused by a succession of tough fielding sessions, he is confident of being fit for Monday’s final warm-up match ahead of the ODI series.”It’s definitely difficult getting into different mind-sets,” Roy said. “It’s not really a technical thing; it’s more a mind-set thing. Especially going from red ball to white ball. T20 and 50-over cricket can be quite similar. So just playing white-ball cricket would be beneficial coming into the Champions Trophy.”Playing Test cricket is in my head. I want to play. I’ve told the coaches that it’s at the forefront of my mind that I want to be playing Test cricket. It’s on my radar. I just need to score some runs. Hopefully, I’ll get a good volume of white-ball runs and maybe that can push my case later in the year.”Roy hopes to resume his opening partnership with Alex Hales in the coming days. Hales is likely to join the tour party in Antigua after recovering from a hand injury and, while there is still some doubt as to whether he will be fit to play in the ODIs, Roy feels his partner’s record warrants a speedy return.”Hales will probably come straight back in, I would have thought,” Roy said. “He deserves that spot. So yes, I’d expect to open with him.”But competition for places is high. There is a big opportunity for Sam Billings. He is the real deal as well.”Life is pretty good for Roy at present. Enjoying every moment of his first visit to the Caribbean – “I wake up with a smile on my face every morning here,” he says – he is also looking forward to his first experience of the IPL and his first global ODI tournament.”I can’t wait for the Champions Trophy,” he said. “It’s a first Champions Trophy and first major 50-over competition for me so I’m hugely excited. We’ve such a good team spirit going, so it’s really exciting. To win the Champions Trophy would be a hell of an achievement for our group considering where we were a couple of years ago with the World Cup.”It’ll be my first time going to the IPL, as well. It’s a huge competition.”I woke myself up at 4am on the day of the auction and had at look at my phone. It said ‘Jason Roy: unsold’. I threw my phone on to the floor and was like, ‘I’m just useless’. Anyway, I was lucky enough to get picked up in the second round.”It’s not just about the money. Obviously that’s nice, but it’s about getting used to playing in front of massive crowds and, being an overseas player, the pressure is on to do well. I’ll get to play with and learn from different players. Being in the PSL with Brendon McCullum for a couple of weeks taught me a lot about cricket. These things all provide the foundation blocks for a big tournament.”Billings is also expected to return to the IPL after the Ireland games, but faces a fight to force his way into the Champions Trophy squad. He knows, though, that he can’t think about trying to retain his place if he is to bat with the freedom required in modern limited-overs cricket.”You can’t afford to think about repercussions,” Billings said. “If you’re thinking about keeping your place, you’re not concentrating on the ball coming down at you.”When I play at my best, I’m just expressing myself and taking the attack to the bowlers. I just try to keep as clear mind as possible and just go out and whack it, really.”George Dobell is a senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo. He will be covering England’s tour of the Caribbean in association with Smile Group Travel, specialists in hosted supporters’ packages.

Manchester United remain interested in signing AS Monaco defender Axel Disasi this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news?

The Red Devils and Erik ten Hag appear to be after a new defender this summer, with Harry Maguire’s future up in the air. The England international is attracting interest from Aston Villa, Newcastle and Tottenham, and should he depart, United would be left with just three senior centre-back options.

Napoli’s Kim min-jae appeared to be the top target at Old Trafford, and a deal looked like it was gathering real pace, however, it now seems as if the South Korea will make the move to Bayern Munich.

Should that be the case, a swoop for Disasi could be on the cards, according to Romano. The transfer expert took to Twitter in the last 48 hours to share a Red Devils transfer update. He stated that Man United remain interested in the Monaco defender, while Nice’s Jean Clair Todibo is another option.

“Axel Disasi remains concrete name in the list at Manchester United in case Kim Min-jae will end up joining Bayern as expected [next week will be crucial for Kim deal].

“Man Utd also sent their scouts to follow Jean Clair Todibo multiple times — no decision made yet.”

Who is Axel Disasi?

Disasi is primarily a centre-back but can also turn out as a right-back so would bring plenty of versatility to Ten Hag’s side, should a transfer materialise.

The 25-year-old appears to be at the peak of his powers with a career-high €25m Transfermarkt valuation and has been on the books with Monaco since 2020.

During that time, the 6ft 2 France international has made 129 appearances for the Ligue 1 side – 49 of which came during the 2022/23 campaign.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig described Disasi back in 2020 as a “complete” and “dominant” centre-back, comparing him to Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk. Kulig labelled his pace, tackling, heading, athleticism, tenacity, timing as his main strengths, saying he “would be an amazing signing for any top Premier League club”.

As per WhoScored, Disasi averaged a match rating of 6.83/10 last season, a better score than Man United’s Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof and Maguire, and on the ball, he looks comfortable, ranking in the 96th percentile for progressive carries and passes into the final third, as per FBref.

Therefore, he could be a shrewd alternative target to someone like Kim, and by the looks of it, an Old Trafford transfer could be one to watch over the coming months.

Glasgow Rangers supporters of a certain vintage will remember the marauding Croatian striker Dado Prso as he bulldozed his way through opposition defences with ease, while also showcasing a clinical nature in front of goal.

Indeed, across his three seasons with the Ibrox side, Prso managed to score 36 goals in 124 matches, which on the surface, doesn’t sound like the best of ratios, however, it was more the manner which he scored them, with vital strikes coming against Celtic and in the Champions League during his spell in Glasgow.

With the Gers on the lookout for a new striker ahead of next season due to Alfredo Morelos’ departure after six years with the Glasgow giants, they have been linked with a move for young forward Matija Frigan according to Football Insider and he could cost the club £5.2m.

Could the 20-year-old perhaps be the next Prso to grace the club and follow in the footsteps of fellow Croatian strikers such as Nikica Jelavic and Antonio Colak.

Could Matija Frigan join Rangers?

There is no doubt that Michael Beale wants to add another one or two strikers to his first-team squad following the capture of Sam Lammers recently, and Frigan would be a wise investment.

The youngster managed to score 15 goals across just 31 games last season for Croatian outfit HNK Rijeka, showing his ruthlessness in front of goal, while he was praised by Jacek Kulig as “another extremely interesting youngster from Croatia” and Beale could certainly do with a player of his talent chipping in with goals.

Like Prso, Frigan doesn’t just rely on goals to get by as a centre-forward, having created three big chances and averaging 0.6 key passes per game while also making 0.5 successful dribbles per game last term and it proves that his skills could be utilised as either an out and out number nine or a deep-lying forward, looking like he could adapt to both extremely well.

Frigan also has gained three caps for the Croatian U21 side as he is clearly impressing enough to be achieving international recognition and if he continues his current scoring rate, it might not be long until a bow for the senior side is made.

Prso – who was hailed as "awesome" and "like a beacon" by former boss Alex McLeish – was a cult figure at Ibrox due to his unorthodox nature and knack for scoring vital goals. Frigan might be a slightly more clinical player, however, Kulig also described him as a “complete forward” and this could suggest the starlet could be very much like Prso should he join the Gers.

The French champions' European campaign started with a 2-0 win at Parc des Princes, buoyed by a strong showing from the young midfielder

Although Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi grabbed the goals, it was the silky performance of polarising midfielder Vitinha that was key in Paris Saint-Germain's 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund. After a drab first half, PSG sprung into life in the second, and ran out deserved winners against a well-drilled Dortmund side.

Vitinha came closest in the first half, rattling the post from distance after a quick interchange in the final third. Things changed swiftly in the second, though, as Niklas Sule handled the ball in the box after a sweeping PSG move and Mbappe buried the ensuing penalty with ease.

They doubled their advantage 10 minutes later, Hakimi strolling through the Dortmund defence and finishing after a quick interchange with Vitinha. PSG were a constant threat for the remainder of the half, the front three of Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Randal Kolo Muani causing problems on the break. But it all rooted from Vitinha, the midfielder offering a valuable link between the two areas of the pitch.

Dortmund came close to making things interesting when substitute Jamie Bynoe-Gittens rattled the post from outside the box with 10 minutes remaining. But PSG were otherwise reasonably comfortable, the first European showing of this new-look side offering plenty of promise.

GOAL rates PSG's players from Parc des Princes…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Gianluigi Donnarumma (6/10):

Only had the one save to make. Distributed well — a part of his game that will need to improve under Luis Enrique.

Achraf Hakimi (8/10):

His goal was wonderful, beating two players before adding a calm touch. He got forward effectively, tracked back well. One of the world's best, on his day.

Marquinhos (7/10):

Had little to do, but one excellent clearance ensured that PSG's lead remained secure late in the second half. Was solid at full-back in the closing minutes.

Milan Skriniar (6/10):

Pulled around by Adeyemi and Malen in the first half. More effective against a bigger forward in the second.

Lucas Hernandez (6/10):

A steady presence behind Mbappe. Didn't do loads going forward, but kept things tight at the back.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Warren Zaire-Emery (8/10):

Put a shift in, but was also immensely effective on the ball. Dortmund tried to match up man-for-man in midfield, the teenager still managed to find space.

Manuel Ugarte (7/10):

Avoided a late injury scare to earn his spot in the XI. Started slowly, but was more effective in the second half. Clean in possession, which Luis Enrique will like.

Vitinha (8/10):

Excellent in the build-up to Hakimi's goal. Hit the post in the first half. A performance to answer the critics after a slow opening to the season.

Getty ImagesAttack

Ousmane Dembele (5/10):

The busier, if less effective, of the two wingers. Dribbled around people a lot, but some of his decision making was very poor.

Randal Kolo Muani (6/10):

Preferred over Ramos for his full debut. Happy to run in the channels, and played some good stuff with either winger. He would've liked a goal, though.

Kylian Mbappe (7/10):

Scored the opener — his eighth of the season — from the penalty spot after not having much of an influence in the first half. Although he lacked sharpness in front of goal, some of his passing was wonderful.

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Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Goncalo Ramos (6/10):

Unlucky not to start ahead of Kolo Muani. Had the ball in the net, but saw his effort chalked off.

Lee Kang-in (7/10):

A solid cameo that suggests he deserves to see the pitch more often.

Danilo Pereira (N/A):

Late legs for Hernandez. He'll be a valuable player in the coming months.

Luis Enrique (8/10):

Deployed his strongest side, and after a poor first half, they came alive in the second. PSG were comfortable, and he will feel that there's plenty more to come. Promising from the Parisians.

Four years after leaving Signal Iduna Park, the American is back for a huge Champions League match as a key player for the Rossoneri

The prodigal son is returning. Well, at least one of them. Borussia Dortmund have had a whole bunch of prodigal sons over the last few years, perhaps more than any other club. Erling Haaland, Ousmane Dembele, Jude Bellingham, Jadon Sancho… it's a wild list.

This story, though, is about Christian Pulisic. Once a rising star at Dortmund, now a key figure at AC Milan. And, on Wednesday, Pulisic will return to Signal Iduna Park four years after he initially left the club in search of a next step.

That step came at Chelsea, but it was one full of highs and lows. It was one that produced a Champions League trophy, but it's also one that saw Pulisic's career stop and start more times than he can count. Despite the team's success, Pulisic's career at Chelsea never quite went the way everyone expected it to.

And that leads us here. Now a star with AC Milan, Pulisic is beginning to look like the player many knew he could be when he left Dortmund all those years ago, and he could play a key role as his current and former employers prepare for an absolutely humongous Champions League clash.

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  A boy arrives

  It feels hard to believe, but it's been nearly nine years since Pulisic first signed with Borussia Dortmund. Much has changed in that time, and that was the aim of it all when Pulisic first moved to Germany at age 16. The goal wasn't to follow the typical path set out for him in American soccer; it was to blaze a new trail and become the new face of the U.S. men's national team.

  That process began in Dortmund and, in some ways, it began faster than many could have expected. Less than a year after arriving, Pulisic was tossed into the first team, making his debut after the Bundesliga's winter break. He never looked back from that moment, becoming something of a regular for Dortmund in the coming years.

  We know how it all went: 127 appearances, 19 goals and a DFB-Pokal later, Pulisic had proven himself at one of Germany's biggest clubs. He was also beginning to prove himself as an American soccer star, the phoenix to emerge from the ashes of the 2018 World Cup failure to lead a new generation that, ultimately, proved itself in 2022.

  In January 2019, though, it was confirmed that Pulisic would be moving on, as he agreed to a deal to move to Chelsea the following summer for a record-breaking £58 million (€64m/$73m) transfer fee. In the process, he became the most expensive American player ever and Dortmund's second-biggest sale, behind only Dembele.

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  Ups and downs at Chelsea

  If there was a word to describe Pulisic's life at Chelsea, and the Blues in general over the last few years, it would be 'inconsistent'. There were highs, of course, especially early on. Brought in to replace Eden Hazard, Pulisic showed glimpses of being able to do just that, notably during the club's run to the 2020-21 Champions League.

  Pulisic, however, never locked down a regular spot on the field and, by the end, was buried behind a plethora of other big-money attacking signings. There was never really a period where Pulisic got the consistent run of games needed, whether due to injury, managerial changes or overall Chelsea chaos.

  By the end, all involved were ready to move on. Chelsea had spent big on new attackers, and there's no end in sight to that pursuit. Pulisic, meanwhile, clearly needed a fresh start. So, after four seasons, 26 goals and three trophies, Pulisic said goodbye to Stamford Bridge and hello to San Siro.

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  Lifeline in Milan

  By joining Milan, Pulisic didn't have to take a step backwards. No, this was a step sideways and, depending on how you look at it, maybe a step forward.

  Milan are in the Champions League, after all. They were semi-finalists last season and Serie A champions the year before. For years, Italy's giants were relatively dormant, but over the last few campaigns, they've shown signs of life.

  This summer, with stars like Sandro Tonali and Brahim Diaz on the way out, the club went out and added a few new pieces. Samuel Chukwueze was one, as was Pulisic's USMNT team-mate Yunus Musah. However, the American winger was the big one, signed for a reported €20 million (£17m/$22m). Thus far, that move has looked like a stroke of genius for both Milan and Pulisic.

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  Life in Italy (so far)

  Serie A has been a good landing spot for Pulisic. He scored in his first two appearances, netting against Bologna and Torino in a pair of wins to start the season. There was a bit of a blip after the international break, but Pulisic was back among the goals on Saturday, scoring the opener in a 2-0 win over Lazio.

  The goals are good, particularly for a player that will take every chance to boost his confidence after years in and out of the Chelsea XI. But that's just one part of all of this; the other is how he's getting them.

  For the first time in a while, Pulisic has been able to bring his USMNT swagger to the club level. He's playing with purpose, not fear, as he continues to create danger for Milan. He already has a relationship with Olivier Giroud from Chelsea, and with Rafael Leao drawing plenty of eyeballs on the other wing, Pulisic has been free to do what he does best. His most recent goal came via a Leao cross, ensuring that he heads into this Champions League reunion in good form.

Hampshire opener Michael Carberry marked his return to first-class cricket after being diagnosed with cancer by scoring a century against Cardiff MCCU at the Ageas Bowl

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Apr-2017

Hampshire opener Michael Carberry marked his return to first-class cricket after being diagnosed with cancer by scoring a century against Cardiff MCCU at the Ageas Bowl.Carberry was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour last July and missed the second half of the season. He returned to training shortly before Christmas and was part of Hampshire’s pre-season tour to Barbados last month where he showed good form.On the first day against Cardiff he opened the batting, scoring 100 off 121 balls before falling to David O’Sullivan and was given a standing ovation as he walked off.Last week, Carberry issued a statement thanking people for their support and looking ahead to the season.”I would like to thank my family, the club, the supporters and my team-mates worldwide for all the kind messages of support and love through another very tough time in my career and life,” he said.”There is still a long way to go to being ‘recovered’ fully, but the outpour of support from the cricket family has helped massively in getting me back playing, and I’m looking forward to another great summer with Hampshire.”Carberry has played six Tests for England including all five on the 2013-14 Ashes tour where he was England’s second-highest run-scorer behind Kevin Pietersen.

Jack Leach, the Somerset left-arm spinner, has been left out of the England Lions team for the first unofficial Test against Sri Lanka A in Pallekele after struggling with his new bowling action.Leach, the second-highest wicket-taker in Division One of the County Championship in 2016 with 65 at 21.88, was thought by some to be unfortunate not to win selection in the England Test squad that toured Bangladesh and India. But his action was found to be illegal during routine tests at the national performance centre in Loughborough after the season and he was obliged to remodel it before departing on tour.While Leach initially thought the remedial work had gone well, the pressure of playing in a match situation and for a national side appears to have exposed some unfamiliarity with the new action. He conceded 68 in 14 wicketless overs in the second-innings of the warm-up match against the Sri Lanka Board President’s XI – the other specialist spinner, Ollie Rayner, took 3 for 55 from 22 overs by comparison – which led to the tour management going into the unofficial Test with Rayner as the only specialist spinner. Tom Westley and Liam Livingstone will provide spin back-up as required.The Lions management have stressed that there is no suggestion Leach has been left out due to any fears of illegality with his new action. It is, they say, to provide him more time to groove it in the nets before testing it under the pressure of a match situation. He has not been ruled out of the second match in Dambulla.While a period of readjustment was probably inevitable for Leach, it may be worth noting his county captain’s views towards the end of the season. Chris Rogers suggested Leach “emotionally… still has a bit of a way to go”, and suggested he may not quite be ready for international cricket where “the challenges… are a lot more difficult.”The ECB is also painfully aware of the case of another left-arm spinner, Simon Kerrigan, who endured a chastening Test debut at The Oval in 2013 and has never fully recovered. England are keen to ensure Leach has a more robust action and, as a consequence, a more robust sense of confidence, before he is thrust into relatively high-pressure situations.