Poor form in the IPL, and the selectors’ decision to reward consistent domestic performers such as Faiz Fazal and Yuzvendra Chahal, resulted in the omission of Hardik Pandya and Pawan Negi for the Zimbabwe tour

Arun Venugopal25-May-20166:46

Agarkar: Would have liked to see Hardik in squad

Seam-bowling allrounder Hardik Pandya has played each of the 16 T20Is India have played so far in 2016. Left-arm spinning allrounder Pawan Negi was first picked for the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka at home and then included in the Asia Cup and World T20 squads, but he featured in only one of the 13 games India played during those tournaments. Both Hardik and Negi were left out of India’s squad for the limited-overs tour to Zimbabwe, where they will play three ODIs and two T20s in June.Their poor form in the IPL, and the selectors’ decision to reward consistent domestic performers like Vidarbha batsman Faiz Fazal, and Haryana spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Jayant Yadav, resulted in their omission.While Hardik managed only 44 runs and three wickets from 11 matches for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2016, Negi’s eight games for Delhi Daredevils yielded merely 57 runs and a wicket.Fazal, who has not played IPL since 2011, made 127 in Rest of India’s record chase of 480 to win the 2015-16 Irani Cup against Mumbai, and a century and a fifty in India A’s victory in the Deodhar Trophy. In the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2015-16, Fazal made 312 runs at an average of 52 in seven innings, and in the 20-over Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy he scored 205 runs at a strike rate of 102 in nine innings.Chahal is currently the second-highest wicket-taker in IPL 2016 with 20 scalps at 18.30. The legspinner was the side’s top wicket-taker in 2015 as well with 23 wickets in 15 games. Jayant, the offspinner, took eight wickets in Rest of India’s historic win in the Irani Cup in March. The offspinner then made sporadic appearances for Daredevils in IPL. He was the team’s second best bowler in terms of economy rate – giving away 7.35 runs an over in five matches.”The IPL is definitely one of our premier domestic tournaments,” a source privy to the team selection told ESPNcricinfo. “Fourteen matches is a pretty good opportunity to showcase a player’s talent. One thing is for sure – someone who is doing exceptionally well at that stage will get picked and lack of form will also be a reason [for a player being excluded].”The source, however, added the IPL wasn’t the sole criterion, and that the low-profile nature of the series was factored when it came to picking the squad. “We have not missed someone who has performed in the past and at the same time we have rewarded those who have done well currently, like Faiz Fazal or Kedar Jadhav. Their selections had nothing to do with the IPL,” he said. “It is more like an A tour rather than a full-fledged tour. Had it been some other series the thought process [towards selection] would probably have been different.”According to the source, Hardik needed a break after a prolonged slump in the IPL. “I feel Hardik has got what it takes to be a good allrounder but I think he needs some space to think,” he said. “The issue is he is not in form right now and it will be undue pressure on him if he still continues [being selected for India]. He has not been performing in 14 games, for almost 45-50 days. Mentally also, he might have been drained had he been asked to pull up his socks and get ready for an international call.”Former India left-arm spinner Maninder Singh felt Negi was bogged down by the pressure that came with being bought for INR 8.5 crore by Delhi Daredevils at the IPL auction, and that he needed a mentor to guide him. “There is no doubt he is talented but he suddenly got into the India T20 side and then went for the kind of money he went. [I think] that pressure he could not handle on his own,” Maninder told ESPNcricinfo.”I think this is the time for him to get into the game and find the right people who can tell him what to do and how to do it. I hear he is a boy who doesn’t talk much, so basically I think he is a shy character, so he needs a captain or a coach to keep motivating him and tell him what he is capable of.”That [IPL price tag] is big pressure and he has lived with the pressure throughout the T20 World Cup. Some people thrive under that kind of pressure but I think he is somebody who has been pressurised by it. He looked lost throughout the World T20 and the IPL.”The source privy to the selection, however, said Hardik and Negi were in contention for future tournaments. “Hardik and Negi are still young. They are hardly 22-23 so they will make it,” he said. “The moment they do well again they will be in the scheme of things.”Once you are away from the game you will understand yourself much better. There is no doubt that once a player plays for the country he comes into the top bracket and he knows what it takes to do well at this level.”

Liverpool are now eyeing a move for a “phenomenal” left-back, who could be brought in to replace Andy Robertson this summer, according to reporter David Lynch.

Robertson's form called into question

The Reds are showing no signs of slowing down in their pursuit of the title, having not lost in the Premier League since the defeat to Nottingham Forest back in September, but they have been involved in their fair share of draws.

Arne Slot’s side dropped two points at home against Fulham in December, after Robertson was dismissed early in the first half, at which point the left-back was called into question by Jamie Carragher.

“Robertson is having a tough time and it’s a very unforgiving position. He doesn’t look like he’s running back fully, he’s had a whack then gingerly goes to control the ball before getting a red card. He needs help. Liverpool haven’t got any back-up and it’s something they need to address in January.”

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FSG ultimately opted to hold fire on any winter additions, and the Scot has shown signs of improvement over the last few weeks, looking solid in the 2-0 victory over AFC Bournemouth at the weekend.

Slot will be hoping Robertson remains dependable for the rest of the season, but Liverpool are now looking at options for the summer, with Lynch recently revealing they are eyeing a move for Girona’s Miguel Gutierrez.

The reporter said: “The one obvious area for improvement understood to be being targeted is left-back. Andy Robertson is beginning to look less capable of producing his best form three times a week and perhaps better suited to the back-up role currently occupied by Kostas Tsimikas.

“There is well-documented interest in Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez, though Girona’s Miguel Gutierrez has also been watched closely.”

The 23-year-old has a €35m (£29m) release clause in his contract, but there is a feeling he could be available for slightly less.

Gutierrez impressing Slot

Ahead of the Reds’ Champions League tie against Girona earlier this season, Slot admitted the left-back had caught his eye, saying: “Last season I watched quite a lot of them, because I found it really interesting what he (Michel) did with the left full-back (Gutierrez).

“He’s still doing it this season as well, playing so inverted, having such a free role from that position – at that moment of time, you didn’t see that so often. That was interesting to see.”

The full-back has been one of Girona’s most consistent performers in La Liga this season, averaging a 6.89 WhoScored match rating, and he has showcased his attacking ability over the past year, ranking in the 89th percentile for assists per 90.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has also lauded Gutierrez as “phenomenal”, while insisting he “would be a starter” for some top clubs across the continent, so it is exciting news that Liverpool are in the race for his signature.

However, it will be a shame if Robertson is moved on, given how vital a part he played in the Reds becoming Premier League and European champions once again during the Jürgen Klopp era.

Everton are eyeing a late move for an “unbelievable” striker following Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s latest injury setback, according to reliable reporter Ben Jacobs.

Calvert-Lewin sidelined with injury

David Moyes has been left concerned by the injury sustained by Calvert-Lewin in his side’s 1-0 Premier League victory away at Brighton & Hove Albion.

The 27-year-old has an undesirable injury record, and his latest setback could keep him on the treatment table until the end of February, meaning a new striker may need to be brought in before the deadline.

There is also doubt about the Englishman’s long-term future at Goodison Park, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, and with rumours swirling about Beto also departing, Moyes definitely needs to strengthen at striker.

Jacobs has now dropped an update on a forward the Toffees could target before deadline day, revealing they are considering a “late-window” loan for Evan Ferguson, who is now increasingly likely to depart the American Express Stadium.

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West Ham United, AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal are also interested in Ferguson, and Brighton are now willing to sanction his departure, changing their stance after previously being unwilling to let him leave.

David Ornstein has reported Everton are keen on a striker, with Calvert-Lewin and Armando Broja sidelined, but while the Brighton forward is likely to remain in the Premier League, the Merseyside club are not among the favourites for his signature.

Ferguson tipped for future success

Although this season hasn’t been the breakout campaign the Irishman would have been hoping for, he is still very young at 20-years-old, and he has previously been tipped for success by former Brighton staff members.

The young forward has largely been limited to minutes as a substitute this term, but he has previously demonstrated a keen eye for goal in the Premier League, picking up six goals in each of the last two seasons.

Ferguson, who may be valued at £45m by the Seagulls, is not yet the finished article, but it may be worth taking a punt on him this winter, especially considering Everton are short on options.

A loan move could also suit the Toffees this winter, given their need to comply with financial rules, before re-assessing their options to replace Calvert-Lewin at the end of the season, should he be unwilling to sign a new contract.

From being brave in selecting their XI to holding more catches, Bangladesh did several things better in Colombo than in other Test outings this season

Mohammad Isam22-Mar-2017Improved in-the-moment applicationMehedi Hasan made two telling contributions to Bangladesh’s effort in the Colombo Test. His superb offbreak bowling removed Upul Tharanga and gave Bangladesh an important breakthrough on the fourth day. But it was on the fifth day when his presence of mind made an even bigger difference: Dilruwan Perera was becoming a hard proposition. When he had a misunderstanding with Suranga Lakmal, Subashis Roy threw poorly to the bowler’s end, where Mehedi collected the wide throw brilliantly and broke the stumps.It is worth remembering that this is the same Mehedi who couldn’t collect a similarly tricky throw when M Vijay was batting on 35 in the Hyderabad Test a month ago. Kamrul Islam Rabbi had made a fine stop at short square leg and threw towards the bowler Miraz who couldn’t break the stumps in time. Vijay went on to score 108 and India went on to post a massive 600-plus total, but here, Dilruwan’s wicket got them a much-needed breakthrough at a time when the Test was slipping out of Bangladesh’s grasp. Better application during the most recent Test match made all the difference, though.The safer cordon Bangladesh dropped a total of 20 catches during their tour to New Zealand, and there were mistakes in Hyderabad too. So when Soumya Sarkar took four catches at slip in Colombo, it was a big step up for the Bangladesh slip cordon. Soumya has yet to nail down his place in the Test team with his primary skill, but promises much with his fielding abilities. He is safe in the outfield too, as he showed in last year’s World T20, pulling off two stunning catches on the boundary.His slip-catching technique is quite simple. He appears to have plenty of time setting himself up for a catch, never looking hurried. Their coach Chandika Hathurusingha had once said that it was Soumya’s catching that made him stand out, because it suggested he would also have a lot of time playing fast bowling.Similarly, Bangladesh should also be encouraged seeing Liton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim display great anticipation to take catches off Niroshan Dickwella. While it is no secret that Dickwella has a predilection to play the sweep and reverse sweep, these are catches Bangladesh wicketkeepers haven’t often been seen taking previously. Not long ago, Mushfiqur’s missed stumping against Wriddhiman Saha in Hyderabad gave the India wicketkeeper a chance to reach his second Test century. Following that, for the second time in three years, the team management asked Mushfiqur to give up the gloves and hand them over to Liton. After he recovers from a chest injury, Liton is expected to resume duties behind the stumps in Tests.Balance between aggression and pragmatism Bangladesh batsmen have seemed unnecessarily hurried at different times in all five Tests this season. But in phases during this Test, they showed restraint that seemed to have been missing in earlier games. Shakib Al Hasan, in particular, played with great patience on the third day, mixing an attacking game with regular singles to keep up pressure on the opponents. The approach served him well in Colombo, and the allrounder ended up with 116 runs in the Test. He had played a similar innings in Wellington, which fetched him 217 runs. It is an approach worth honing, as attacking too much too soon – like he did in Christchurch – can be an unsustainable Test strategy.Brave selection Bangladesh made four changes to the XI that played in Galle. Liton Das’s injury got Sabbir Rahman into the team but the other three were tactical changes. Imrul Kayes, Taijul Islam and Mosaddek Hossain took the places of Mominul Haque, Taskin Ahmed and Mahmudullah.The replacements didn’t set the world alight but neither were those that were dropped missed. Mahmudullah was in woeful form while Mominul looked to be short of ideas against offspin. Subashis was picked ahead of Taskin, perhaps because the former displayed better control with the ball in Galle. Taijul, who ultimately took the place of Taskin in the XI, provided the bowling attack with his efficiency in cutting down runs, even if he did not pick up as many wickets as Bangladesh might have hoped.Mosaddek replacing Mahmudullah paid off as he struck an important 75 in the first innings, and looked nerveless under pressure in the second innings. Imrul did not contribute the runs he was brought in to score, but picking him meant that Soumya Sarkar would feel the pinch of competition despite scoring three fifties.One must commend those who picked the team too, as they showed courage to drop a senior figure in the Bangladesh dressing room. They also dared to drop Mominul and gave an aggressive batsman like Sabbir the No. 4 spot. Scoring runs is important now in the Bangladesh line-up, and this means every batsman is likely to be on their toes.Adaptation to the unfamiliar The Bangladesh batsmen have often been troubled by bowlers with slightly different actions or someone offering something different – like Lakshan Sandakan’s chinaman action. In the Hyderabad practice match, a similar bowler in Kuldeep Yadav troubled them. In the Galle Test, they reportedly had trouble picking Sandakan out of the hand. This game, they kept picking Sandakan off the pitch. It gave them less time to react to his deliveries, and he had Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim caught down the leg side. But they appeared to understand better how to play the Sri Lankan bowler, and although he took four wickets in the first innings, he was rendered ineffective in the second – Tamim even deposited him for a big six over long-on at one stage.

da aviator aposta： Everton would love to break their transfer record and sign a renowned Premier League player in the summer transfer window, according to journalist Graeme Bailey.

Latest Everton news

da gbg bet： There wasn’t a huge amount of action on deadline day for the Blues, although they did reportedly make a move for West Brom midfielder Tom Fellows. He ended up remaining at the Hawthorns, however, with the Baggies seeing him as a vital player in their promotion push between now and the end of the season.

It has been claimed that Everton looked to get as many as four pieces of business over line at the eleventh hour, but they were “heavily restricted by profit and sustainability constraints which limited the deals they were able to do”.

Meanwhile, a key update regarding the future of Dominic Calvert-Lewin has also emerged, with Bailey outlining the situation, saying: “Dominic Calvert-Lewin – they want to keep, but I would not rule out Idrissa Gueye or Abdoulaye Doucoure, I think the former is most likely to stay.”

There have been some rumours of late about Everton bringing Richarlison back to the club in the near future, and now a fresh claim has emerged that sheds further light on the situation.

Everton would love to sign "unbelievable" ace

Speaking to Everton News, Bailey claimed that Everton chiefs would love to re-sign Richarlison from Tottenham this summer, even though it is unlikely.

“The club love Richarlison and he loves the club – but to bring him back Everton would have to break their transfer record. Richarlison did not want to move to Saudi last summer but returning home to Everton could be an attractive option. Whilst unlikely I would not rule it out completely – it would certainly be some splash before moving to Bramley Dock.”

Richarlison was a popular figure at Everton first time around, possessing so much passion and heart, not to mention scoring 53 goals in 152 appearances. The £90,000-a-week Brazilian has struggled to consistently convince in a Spurs shirt, however, not helped by injuries, and sealing a return to Goodison Park could be a great outcome for all parties.

Richarlison adores the club, as Bailey alludes to, while Spurs may be willing to move him on, even though Ange Postecoglou has hailed his quality in the past, amid mental health struggles: “We’ve got to maintain a balance in life and even for him, he needs to understand his football is still good, he’s a fantastic footballer. He’s got so much to give and that can help ease the burden he’s feeling in other parts of his life, like so many of us.”

Richarlison’s key career stats

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Everton

152

53

13

Tottenham

80

18

9

Fluminense

67

19

7

Watford

41

5

4

America-MG

24

9

4

As things stand, it is unlikely that Richarlison will return to Everton, given it would have to be a record-breaking piece of business, but it is a transfer that would go down well with many, bringing much-needed firepower to the team at the same time.

Manchester United’s recent 2-1 FA Cup win over Leicester City saw a few tactical tweaks to Ruben Amorim’s side. One of those was to find an internal solution at left centre-back. With Lisandro Martinez’s injury, the Portuguese boss had to find a new source of progression in that area of the pitch.

In the first half, Noussair Mazraoui started in the role but swapped sides with young Leny Yoro, who started on the opposite side. Luckily for Amorim, the Frenchman seemed comfortable in that role.

Again, it was a game where Kobbie Mainoo started at number 10 after the experiment of playing him as a false nine did not work, although he did struggle. It also saw a debut for new signing Patrick Dorgu, although perhaps not in the position many expected.

Patrick Dorgu’s Man United debut in numbers

After making the move from Serie A club Lecce to Old Trafford at the end of the January transfer window, it was assumed that Dorgu would play at left wing-back, although Amorim sprung a surprise by starting him on the right instead.

The new Red Devils boss defended his selection decision at full time, explaining that “for his last team he played a lot of games on the right”. This certainly implies to United fans he could start there more often.

H, Football analyst and host of The Overlap: The Breakdown, seemed to be pleased with what he saw from Dorgu on his first night as a United player. He said the Dane “had a couple of actions where he was sharp”, describing his performance as “good”.

Minutes played

45

Touches

47

Accurate passes

23/28 (82%)

Key passes

0

Crosses

1

Shots

1

Ground duels won

4/9

Aerial duels won

1/1

Fouls

2

Was fouled

2

Interceptions

2

Tackles

2

Of course, there might well be pressure that comes with the 20-year-old, through no fault of his own. Not only are United signings naturally heavily scrutinised, but he was Amorim’s first acquisition. However, it was not a signing that broke the bank, with the Dane costing just £25m up front and a further £4.1m in add-ons.

The wing-back on the opposite side is actually worth even more than what United paid for Dorgu, and he has certainly been a good investment for the Old Trafford club.

The Man United star who's worth more than Dorgu

The player in question here is Portugal international Diogo Dalot. He has been a crucial player under Amorim since he came into the club, playing at wing-back on both flanks and even for a short time against Rangers, at right centre-back.

The 25-year-old, who came through the youth ranks at FC Porto and cost United £19m in 2018, has played 19 games under Amorim so far. Dalot also got himself on the scoresheet in the most recent Europa League win for United, a 2-0 victory over FCSB.

The Red Devils’ number 20 was described as “influential” by football statistician Statman Dave. That certainly seems true, given the number of games he has played recently.

Gary Neville has been full of praise for the former Porto player this season. At the end of December, he said that Dalot, along with attacker Amad and Mazraoui, were the only players “that can probably say that they have done ok” under the management team.

Last season, Neville acknowledged that the Red Devils “might have the right-back for the future” in Dalot, suggesting this season is a continuation of good form.

His stats from this season compared to last, courtesy of Squawka, make for good reading. For example, he averages 5.9 ball recoveries in the Premier League this season compared to 5.6 in 2023/24.

Passes completed

37.7

35.5

Foward passes

15

14.4

Duels won

4.4

4.5

Interceptions

1.4

1.1

Ball recoveries

5.9

5.6

The Portugal international has certainly been important for the Red Devils, and, in Neville’s opinion, he has played well. Thus, it might be unsurprising to learn he is valued as highly as £47m according to Football Transfers.

Of course, that is far more than the £29.1m they paid for Dorgu, and the early signs are that he will be a good player. It is also a substantial increase on the £19m they invested in Dalot under Jose Mourinho, which is a 147% increase on the initial fee.

This seems like it has been a worthy investment from the Red Devils. Not only is the full-back a key player now, but he could be vital for years to come. His value, which is far higher than what Dorgu cost, has shot up since they first bought him. All things considered, United really struck gold on Dalot.

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The unveiling of new net facilities at Bradford’s Park Avenue ground sent a message of togetherness and decency in troubled times that went beyond cricket

David Hopps23-May-2017A day of Yorkshire pride began, as it had to do, with a brief silence for those who had lost their lives across the Pennines at Manchester Arena in Britain’s worst terrorist atrocity since the London bombings 12 years ago. And then, as if in answer to those who seek to tear communities apart, Yorkshire officially celebrated plans to revive Bradford Park Avenue in a way that aims to glue them together.Park Avenue had become a sad, largely derelict, site long before it staged its last county match in 1996. Folklore has it that this was always Yorkshire’s most unforgiving crowd and there was much not to forgive as a city fallen on hard times with a fast-growing immigrant population lost the cricket ground that should long ago have become a symbol of hope.Thanks to a partnership between Sport England, Yorkshire, the ECB and Bradford Council, the story is now about the future, as well as the past. Bradford has been targeted by the ECB as one of five cities in which to engage more closely with South Asian communities and the benefits are already clear to see. There is much to do, much funding to secure, if a £5.5m plan – in five stages – is to reach fruition, but stage one has been accomplished with the completion of eight practice wickets at the bottom end of the ground where Bradford Park Avenue FC once played.Mark Arthur is a Yorkshire chief executive with a strong community commitment. If anybody can quicken the day in which those of South Asian heritage queue to watch Yorkshire play Twenty20 then he can. “There have been many attempts to regenerate this famous old ground,” he said. “We came along here a couple of years ago because there was a vast shortage of playing space in the Bradford area for local cricketers and we said, ‘Why don’t we do something special here – something inspirational – which will get the community involved in this traditional cricket club?'”England Women will play here as well as England Disabled Cricket and, if a combination of public and private finance is forthcoming, the return of county cricket is a distinct possibility. If investment is measured by the potential accrual of social benefit then it deserves to happen. Arthur, who secured funding for a major redevelopment of Headingley last month, will hope to succeed once more.The square is under the supervision of Nasa Hussain, a groundsman of avuncular figure and equally avuncular mood, who was once part of a Bradford League title-winning side at Undercliffe. “They said I bowled dibbly-dobblies,” he volunteered. When he first worked on Park Avenue, it looked more like an allotment, but the soil was still good and slowly the grand old ground re-emerged. His satisfaction in his work is unmistakable. Now he wants to grow Yorkshire cricketers, not turnips.Bradford Park Avenue groundsman Nasa Hussain•ESPNcricinfo LtdFor Yorkshire old-timers, wandering around the outfield on which they had once played, happy memories were stirred. Geoff Cope, the former England offspinner, his faithful guide dog alongside him, recalled how his flat six into the sightscreen against Robin Jackman in a one-day game against Surrey led the bowler to exclaim from a prone position how the shot was irrefutable evidence that it was time to retire.And there was Dickie Bird, of course, hamming it up like a good ‘un as he retold the story of his career-best 181 not out against Glamorgan – the opponents blessed with the finest attack on earth, the ovation from the crowd deafening, the praise from the Yorkshire greats such as Trueman, Illingworth and Close unstinting – until the moment when Brian Sellers, Yorkshire’s formidable chairman, entered the dressing room as he took his pads off and then, without drawing breath, and said: “Well, Birdie lad, tha’s played well but we’ve dropped thee into t’second team next week.”There were cricketers so young at Park Avenue that they had never heard that anecdote before. Theirs were the voices that mattered most of all as they were thrilled to see the unveiling of a community hub that aims to grow participation numbers among players of predominantly Pakistani origin in a city that is largely starved of cricket facilities at state schools.Bradford, for too long dismissed as Leeds’ down-at-heel neighbour, is the youngest city in Europe – one in four of its population is under 16, driven by the South Asian influx. There are young cricketers here, in fact there are a lot more than cricketers, many of them yearning for the opportunity for advancement.It bears repeating at times like this that England Test cricketers are overly drawn from three main resources: the northern counties, where the game is less class-based, private schools and relations of former cricketers.

“The main thing is they actually have somewhere to come and play their cricket in Bradford. There are a lot of faces here that I know from my younger days”Adil Rashid

Adil Rashid is someone who made it. He is a hero in his home city and, less than 24 hours before England’s opening ODI against South Africa down the road at Headingley, both he and Joe Root were among those on hand for the opening ceremony. Rashid fulfilled so many requests for selfies that long before the end he didn’t know which of his two cricketing looks to employ – the broadest of smiles, or the one where he tries to appear stern in the face of adversity.”It makes me proud knowing there are facilities and coaching here,” he said. “Hopefully they can go onwards and develop their game, but the main thing is they actually have somewhere to come and play their cricket. There are a lot of faces here that I know from the younger days.”Across the throng of youngsters it was just possible to see David Byas, a Championship-winning captain and Yorkshire’s head coach when Rashid made an outstanding Championship debut, against Warwickshire in Scarborough 11 years ago. Byas, not one for fripperies, refused access to Rashid after the match, fearing – perhaps understandably – that the publicity would be too much, before offering an assessment that was not as much guarded as locked down.Many Yorkshire administrators have voiced ambitions to revive Park Avenue and seen them abandoned long before the artist’s impression has gathered dust. Arthur knows much is yet to be done. The second phase – upgrading the ground to first-class level as well as renovating the scoreboard and groundsman’s store – is within reach. Then come more challenging ambitions:A community pavilion with 250-capacity restaurant and more than 1000 new seatsA £1m revamp of the East Stand with more than 4000 seatsECB-standard floodlights That is for the future. In Bradford, on the warmest day of the year, the cries of pleasure of young cricketers told of a joyful present. While the speeches dragged on, the games on the outfield provided alternative entertainment. One young lad cried out, “Can we play football here too?” only to be quietly admonished by his mates who thrust a bat in his hand: there is always one rebel.It was a scene that you wanted to bottle up and send to Manchester with a message that togetherness and decency can and will prevail.

Fourteen South African players – a mixture of spinners and batsmen – visited Mumbai for a spin camp organised by CSA and overseen by Indian domestic veterans Amol Muzumdar and Nilesh Kulkarni

Vishal Dikshit27-May-2016Most of the South African batsmen struggled during the 3-0 Test series loss in India last year; Temba Bavuma was an exception. He made 56 runs in the only Test he played, in Delhi. He described it as as the “toughest piece of batting I’ve had to do in my life”, but his patience and temperament spoke louder than his scores.In India again, six months later, for a spin camp organised by Cricket South Africa in Mumbai, Bavuma said he was using his recent international experience to build on his skills and knowledge to play spin better.”I was quite impressed after the last tour of India, of myself personally,” Bavuma told ESPNcricinfo. “Unfortunately, I didn’t get to feature in the majority of the series; I only got to play the last Test. I hold my head quite high after that Test. Coming here I wanted to build on my knowledge of spin, work on my defence and my attacking options against the spinners, whether they are turning it away or into me.

Players who attended CSA’s spin camp

Bjorn Fortuin, Simon Harmer, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Tshepo Ntuli, Aaron Phangiso, Dane Piedt, Prenelan Subrayen, Temba Bavuma, Reeza Hendricks, Smangaliso Nhlebela, Hector Ngobeni, Stiaan van Zyl, Dane Vilas

“I’ve experienced the conditions before and I had an understanding of what to expect. Speaking to Amol [Muzumdar, the former Mumbai captain] has been refreshing; it is always good to get a different perspective. Just to understand his mindset, his strategies and tactics against playing spin was quite beneficial. He emphasised the importance of keeping your shape, watching the ball coming onto the bat and the significance of a good defence.”The week-long camp that concluded in Mumbai on May 21 comprised 14 players – a mix of upcoming spinners and batsmen. CSA hired the services of two former Mumbai players and veterans of Indian domestic cricket, the left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni and the batsman Amol Muzumdar, to put the players through their paces.During practice matches against local players, Kulkarni would give feedback to the spinners, explain the importance of constructing an over and setting of fields in specific ways. South African batsmen and bowlers would mostly play in pairs and would stimulate Test-match situations, planning how to play in the first two hours of the day, how to strategise after lunch, and thereafter.Claude Henderson, South Africa’s spin bowling coach, oversaw the camp and often stood in the slips to observe players during practice games, and would advise them during breaks. “For the more experienced cricketers, you will take it to the next level and talk about variations, changing of pace and exposing the batsman’s weaknesses,” Henderson explained. “With the younger guys, who have never been to India and are just starting out their careers, we focus on technique and getting them to understand the game of cricket.”To help South Africa prepare for the India tour in October last year, CSA tried to set up spin camps in India twice, but wasn’t successful. A lack of familiarity with Indian conditions contributed to a one-sided Test series. Successful on the third attempt, CSA sent the players to India in May, months after their series loss and with no tour to the subcontinent in sight.”Unfortunately, in the first year we wanted to come here and it couldn’t be done,” HD Ackerman, CSA’s batting consultant, said. “There was a bit of a problem between the Indian and South African cricket boards which I think had to do with our CEO, who at the time had been with the ICC. So getting here was tough. So we ended up going to Sri Lanka on short notice. It wasn’t bad but the facilities weren’t quite what we were expecting – the accommodation for the players was a little bit of a problem.”Dates did not work out between the boards the second time CSA tried to schedule a camp in India, in 2015. CSA were forced to conduct the camp in Pretoria instead. Two batsmen who were part of both camps – Stiaan van Zyl and Dane Vilas – then toured India with the Test side, and both had a difficult time against skillful spinners on turning tracks. While Van Zyl, who was dismissed all five times by R Ashwin, scored 56 runs at an average of 11.20, Vilas, who was preferred over Quinton de Kock as the first-choice wicketkeeper, managed 60 runs from seven innings at 8.57.Batting against spin has been touted as one the major weaknesses whenever South Africa tour the subcontinent. Even though they are not scheduled to visit India or Sri Lanka anytime soon, South Africa will hope learnings from these camps will benefit the younger players.

Celtic are set to wave goodbye to one of their fan favourites this month with Kyogo Furuhashi reportedly closing in on a £10m move to Rennes.

The Japanese striker is poised to end his Parkhead career and try his luck in France, after a return of 85 goals in 165 matches for the club in all competitions.

Meanwhile, Jota is set to return to Celtic for a second spell. The Portuguese winger is on his way to Glasgow for a medical ahead of an £8m transfer from Rennes, with Celtic banking a £2m profit by, essentially, trading Kyogo for the ex-Benfica man.

He may not be the only forward to arrive at Paradise before the end of the January transfer window, though, as the Hoops are eyeing up another winger.

Celtic's interest in Premier League forward

According to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph, Celtic are one of the clubs keen on a deal to sign Aston Villa forward Louie Barry before next month’s deadline.

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The reporter claims that the Scottish giants have held talks with the Premier League side over a potential deal for the English youngster, but the Villans are ‘reluctant’ to cash in on him.

Joseph adds that they want to keep hold of the winger and loan him out for the second half of the season, amid interest from teams in England and abroad.

It remains to be seen whether or not Celtic are willing to take the 21-year-old dynamo on loan, rather than doing a permanent deal, but he could be an exciting addition if they manage to strike an agreement with Villa to sign him on a temporary basis.

Why Louie Barry would be an exciting addition

Barry would be an exciting signing for the Hoops because he could help Adam Idah, who is set to become the only recognised, senior, number nine in the squad, to shine in the second half of the campaign.

The Ireland international has found it difficult to be the main man for Celtic this season because Kyogo has been ahead of him in the pecking order more often than not, and he has only scored five goals in 20 Scottish Premiership matches.

However, as you can see in the table above, Idah has been incredibly unfortunate in the sense that his teammates have let him down with their wasteful finishing in the final third, with zero goals scored from the six ‘big chances’ that he has created.

This suggests that Celtic could help their summer signing from Norwich to thrive in the second half of the season by signing a winger who can make the most of the high-quality opportunities that his impressive link-up play in the centre-forward position creates.

Barry, whose composure was once hailed as “incredible” by Declan Rice, scored 15 goals and only missed six ‘big chances’ in League One for Stockport County on loan in the first half of the season, which shows that he is an efficient finisher who can score on a regular basis from out wide.

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Therefore, the Aston Villa youngster could help Idah to shine by making the most of the ‘big chances’ he creates, which could bring more attention to the Irishman’s creative quality and put him on the road to being the main man for the Hoops.

After suffering a disappointing 2-0 defeat away at Middlesbrough, Tony Mowbray might well have been fearing a potential banana skin clash with Portsmouth as his second game back at the helm of West Bromwich Albion.

The 61-year-old didn’t need to fear anything after all as his Baggies side swept the floor with Portsmouth in devastating fashion in a 5-1 victory, as the Hawthorns masses afterwards sang Mowbray’s praises after such an exhilarating performance.

Mowbray had made a number of changes for this contest to try and get a reaction out of his troops, with the decision to play Grady Diangana up top working an absolute treat.

Diangana's stunning performance vs Pompey

This was only the ex-West Ham United attacker’s eighth start of the season in the Championship, and based on what he offered up versus Pompey, he will be a shoo-in for more starts moving forward.

His campaign had been disrupted by injury when Carlos Corberan was still in the building, but under fresh management, Diangana could really kick on and get back to his previous best.

The cool finish above saw Diangana pick up a brace on the day to gift his side a bumper 4-0 lead, with the Congolese ace also turning provider in the one-sided affair with two assists next to his name come full-time.

Praised after the full-time whistle by Mowbray for his ability to “dance on the ball”, it will be intriguing to see if Diangana can put in more breathtaking displays like this in games to come, as the 26-year-old attacker goes about trying to win himself a new contract at the Hawthorns.

No doubt goal-laden performances such as these will ensure contract talks whir into motion, with the potential for Diangana to cause more havoc alongside a new recruit.

West Brom looking at "powerful" striker

As per a new report by Football Mercato – relayed by Sport Witness – West Brom still remain in the hunt to snap up St. Gallen forward Willem Geubbels this window.

But, they may need to move quick in order to strike up a deal with the potent Frenchman as Luton Town are now reportedly in ‘advanced talks’ themselves over winning the 23-year-old’s services.

Regardless of any new developments, the Baggies will presumably try to tempt Geubbels to call the Hawthorns home over Kenilworth Road, with the potential there for an imposing 6 foot 2 striker to form a deadly relationship in attack with a reinvigorated Diangana.

After all, this season playing out in Switzerland, Geubbels has helped himself to a reasonable six goals from 13 league contests, with only an injury-stricken Josh Maja scoring more at 12 in the current Baggies ranks when glancing at the league numbers.

There’s plenty more to be encouraged by when delving deeper into his Swiss Super League statistics too, with a healthy scoring frequency next to his name of every 145 minutes, whilst his tag as a “powerful” attacker – as he has been billed in the past by The Rangers Journal – is also apparent with 3.7 duels won per league game.

In contrast, Diangana – although he can be nippy and direct – comes in just short with 3.6 for the season, with the 26-year-old’s trickery and creativity away from his ability to be imposing meaning Geubbels could immediately hit the ground moving to England.

Whilst losing Corberan was demoralising in the moment, West Brom look to have bounced back now with the popular appointment of Mowbray, who will aim to get even more out of his group after such a fantastic victory on Saturday.

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