Suzie Bates picks the best performance she saw this decade

As told to Annesha Ghosh29-Dec-2019

by Suzie Bates

Grant Elliott
84 not out v South Africa, semi-final, World Cup, Auckland, 2015
When Grant Elliott hit the six off Dale Steyn to win the semi-final at Eden Park in the 2015 World Cup, that’s probably the most memorable performance I remember vividly. To hit a six off the second to last ball to take New Zealand to the final in a home World Cup was something that has stuck in my brain.I had managed to get tickets to that game – myself and my two brothers were there. There was a rain delay and I remember thinking we might go home because it was a heavy rain.Then I remember the whole crowd being on the edge of their seats; the game was just so close. The moment he hit that ball, everyone started jumping up and down.I don’t think I slept that night; it was just the adrenaline that had got the whole nation so excited, knowing we’re going to be in the final. It excites me that now, as a female cricketer, we can have this opportunity too, in the 2021 home Women’s World Cup, with live television showing the game all across the world, and [a chance to] hit that ball at the right time to get into the final. Potentially someone from the White Ferns has the opportunity to be as inspirational as Grant Elliott was.More in the decade in review, 2010-19

Nabi, 39, is Afghanistan’s highest capped ODI cricketer and has been a constant since their debut in the format in 2009

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Nov-2024

Afghanistan allrounder Mohammad Nabi has said he wants to retire from the ODI format after the Champions Trophy 2025. Nabi revealed his plans at the end of the ODI series against Bangladesh in the UAE, while claiming his Player-of-the-Series award in Afghanistan’s 2-1 series victory.”In my mind, from the last World Cup, I was retired but then we qualified for the Champions Trophy and I felt if I could play that, it would be great,” Nabi told the host broadcaster after the third ODI.It is understood he has communicated the decision to the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) and will continue playing T20Is. To the ACB media team, he said: “We will see, but no, I will not play for long. God willing, after the Champions Trophy, we will say goodbye to the ODIs.”With 167 appearances in the format, Nabi is Afghanistan’s highest-capped ODI cricketer and the current World No. 1 ODI allrounder according to the ICC rankings.He has represented Afghanistan ever since their debut ODI against Scotland in 2009. With the bat, his 3600 ODI runs puts him at second on the list of Afghanistan’s highest run-getters. He has also hit 17 fifties and two centuries at 27.48. As an offspinner, he has 172 wickets, the second-highest for Afghanistan, at an average of 32.47.The 2025 Champions Trophy will be Afghanistan’s maiden appearance at the event. They made the cut by virtue of finishing sixth at the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. The eight-team Champions Trophy features the top seven teams from the latest ODI World Cup, along with hosts Pakistan.In both T20Is and ODIs, Nabi has been a constant in Afghanistan’s rise up the ranks that culminated in ODI, T20I and Test recognition. He was ODI captain in Afghanistan’s maiden 50-over World Cup appearance in 2015, and featured in the 2019 and 2023 editions too. He retired from Tests in 2019.

Tottenham Hotspur emerged triumphant in a heated North London derby, held for the first time no foreign soil, defeating Arsenal 1-0 at Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong. The highly anticipated friendly turned into a showcase for Pape Matar Sarr, who delivered a moment of brilliance to settle the contest in Spurs' favour.

Spurs beat Arsenal in a pre-season friendlySarr scored a sensational winnerTook aim at their fierce rivals on social mediaFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

While the goal was celebrated by the Tottenham camp, it wasn’t without controversy. Arsenal players immediately protested the referee's decision to let play continue after Richarlison’s challenge. They argued that the Brazilian forward had committed a foul in winning the ball from Myles Lewis-Skelly, but the official, Lau Fong Hei, remained unmoved and allowed the goal to stand.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Though the fixture may have been billed as a pre-season friendly, Tottenham's victory came with silverware, providing the club with more than just bragging rights. Spurs took full advantage of the occasion, lifting the trophy and taking to social media to revel in their success.

WHAT TOTTENHAM SAID

Tottenham’s media team wasted no time in mocking their local rivals with one post captioned, “Another one for the trophy cabinet,” clearly aimed at Arsenal’s well-documented struggles to add to their honours in recent years.

DID YOU KNOW?

The jibe struck a nerve, as Tottenham, often on the receiving end of jokes about their own silverware drought, have started to turn the narrative. Having gone nearly 17 years without a major honour, Spurs ended their barren run last season under Ange Postecoglou by winning the Europa League final against Manchester United.

With Tottenham lifting two pieces of silverware in a matter of months, Arsenal have now become the ‘top six’ club with the longest ongoing wait for a major trophy. Their most recent triumph dates back to the 2019-2020 season when manager Mikel Arteta guided them to an FA Cup win in his debut campaign.

Celtic’s pre-season plans are starting to take shape, but will they get any new signings over the line before then?

On Monday, the club announced a green and white hoops Clásico, facing Portuguese champions Sporting at Estádio Algarve on 16 July, before confirming they’ll also take on Queen’s Park at Lesser Hampden 12 days earlier.

With trips to Cork, Como and now the Algarve already in the calendar for July, from a destination perspective, this is poised to be an exciting pre-season schedule for the Celtic support, but will they have a new midfielder to assess by then?

Celtic's continued interest in Lennon Miller

As has been widely reported, Celtic remain interested in midfielder Lennon Miller, with French outlet L’Équipe reporting that the 18 year old is valued at around £7.5m by Motherwell, amid interest from Ligue 1 side Strasbourg.

On Monday evening, Miller made his full-senior debut for Scotland, assisting Ché Adams’ second goal during the 4-0 demolition of Liechtenstein at Rheinpark Stadion, with his performance earning rave reviews.

Thomas Duncan of BBC Sport noted how the teenager exuded calmness while, speaking during the BBC’s coverage, Celtic legend Scott Brown said that “Lennon is really special…nothing fazes him”, adding that he undoubtedly has the quality to break into the Celts’ first team.

Transfer Focus

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

However, with countless other clubs courting Miller this summer, should Celtic turn their attention to another midfield target instead?

Celtic's dream Miller alternative

As previously reported last week, Celtic have ‘already initiated’ talks to sign midfielder Demir Ege Tıknaz.

As Mustafa Akgün of Karabük Postası outlines, Tıknaz spent last season on loan at Rio Ave from Beşiktaş, but the Portuguese club have an obligation to buy for around £4.2m, planning to do just that before selling him for roughly double that amount.

The 20-year-old, who is currently with the Türkiye national team squad in America for friendlies against the United States and Mexico, is reportedly being courted by many big European clubs, including Celtic and Sporting CP, so the Scottish champions will need to act fast.

In an interview with the Athletic, Tıknaz compared himself stylistically to Sergio Busquets, stating “I always want to have possession… I’m kind of a playmaker”.

Meantime, Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout compares him to another Spaniard, namely Rodri, labelling him a midfield “anchor”, praising his “passing, vision and football IQ”.

Analyst Ben Mattinson agrees, stating that Tıknaz ‘reads the game well’, praising his ‘timing of tackles​​​​​​​’ and ability to ‘steal the ball’.

As a result, according to Aryan Suraj Chadha of Goal, he has become one of the most ‘sought-after talents across Europe’, making 33 appearances for Rio Ave of the Primeira Liga this season, scoring four goals and registering two assists.

Nevertheless, the key question remains. How does he compare to Miller? Well, let’s find out.

Appearances

33

39

Minutes

2,340

3,398

Goals

4

4

Assists

2

8

Big chances created

2

12

Tackles won (per 90)

2.1

1.8

Interceptions (per 90)

1.7

1.3

% of ground duels won

51.1%

57.9%

% of aerial diels won

53.1%

41.2%

Possession lost (per 90)

7.3

17.4

As the table outlines, while Miller is more of an all-rounder and an attacking threat, Tıknaz does come out on top for the vast majority of defensive metrics, namely tackles, interceptions and aerial duels, giving away possession significantly less frequently too.

So, while Miller is unquestionably a big talent, possibly to such an extent that Celtic will ultimately miss out on him, the Hoops should therefore make signing Tıknaz a priority.

Celtic set to sign 14-goal star who'd be Moussa Dembele 2.0 for Rodgers

Celtic are set to complete a deal for a young star who could be a repeat of Moussa Dembele.

ByDan Emery Jun 9, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

da dobrowin： Renato Augusto foi ausência pelo segundo treino consecutivo do Corinthians durante a Data Fifa. O camisa 8 sentiu um desconforto na panturrilha durante o empate do Timão com o Flamengo, pelo Brasileirão, no sábado (7), e vem convivendo com lesões durante a temporada.

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Entre as atividades na academia e os exercícios em campo, Mano Menezes e Sidnei Lobo, auxiliar técnico do Timão, conversaram com Fausto Vera durante o treino. O momento foi divulgado pela Corinthians TV.

Contratado por R$ 30 milhões na temporada passada, o meia argentino não entra em campo pelo Timão desde o dia 3 de setembro, quando saiu do banco de reservas e atuou por 15 minutos no empate com o Palmeiras, pelo Brasileirão.

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Fausto Vera era titular absoluto com Vítor Pereira e elogiado pela torcida corintiana em 2022, mas caiu de rendimento na atual temporada. O argentino não inicia uma partida entre os titulares desde 29 de agosto, na eliminação do Corinthians diante do São Paulo, pela semifinal da Copa do Brasil.

Depois da derrota corintiana contra o São Paulo, pelo returno do Brasileirão, o auxiliar Sidnei Lobo garantiu que Fausto terá mais oportunidades no clube até o final da temporada.

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– O Fausto vai ter o espaço dele novamente. Tivemos só um dia de treino, foi uma opção que tivemos. Ele é bom jogador e mais para frente vai ter oportunidade – disse o auxiliar técnico de Mano.

Desde o Dérbi contra o Palmeiras, o meia argentino foi relacionado para seis dos sete jogos do Corinthians, mas não atuou em nenhum.

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Nesta quarta-feira (11), Mano Menezes e sua comissão organizaram um trabalho de duelos de um contra um ofensivos e defensivos. Houve também confrontos de dois contra dois para aprimorar a transição ofensiva e defensiva. O elenco corintiano retorna ao CT Joaquim Grava na manhã de quinta-feira (12), com a presença da imprensa.

da dobrowin： Manchester United’s hunt for new attacking options this summer has been ongoing before the window even opened, with the department in desperate need of investment.

da betano casino： Matheus Cunha may have been the first forward to move to Old Trafford during the off-season, but his £62.5m transfer isn’t expected to be the last ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The club’s tally of 44 goals in their 38 matches highlights the need for added reinforcements in such an area, but any signings would likely cost a pretty penny.

Rasmus Hojlund appears to be allowed to leave this summer with Napoli and Inter Milan circulating, but it’s unclear how much the Dane could command after scoring just four goals in their league last season.

Any funds generated will likely help Ruben Amorim in his quest to land new attacking talent, with numerous players already touted with a summer switch to Old Trafford.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

Roony Bardghji is a player who has emerged on United’s shortlist over recent days, but they appear to have missed out on the Swedish youngster after a deal was agreed between Copenhagen and Spanish giants Barcelona.

Jean-Philippe Mateta is another name mentioned with a switch to Old Trafford this summer, but the Frenchman is seen as a backup option to other targets despite netting 14 Premier League goals this season.

However, the same can’t be said for Brentford attacker Bryan Mbeumo, with a deal seemingly heading in the right direction, according to talkSPORT’s latest update.

They claim that the Red Devils have made a second offer in the region of £60m for the 25-year-old, who scored 20 league goals for Brentford throughout 2024/25.

It also states that talks have accelerated with the attacker, who’s already agreed personal terms over a move to join Amorim’s side, but it doesn’t mention if the latest offer is expected to be accepted.

Why United’s £60m target would be a better signing than Nkunku

Despite the latest bid to sign Mbeumo this window, United have entered the race to sign Chelsea outcast Christopher Nkunku, looking as one of the main sides in the running for his signature.

It’s been reported that the Red Devils have approached the 27-year-old’s representatives over a move to join the club after starting just nine league games this season.

The player himself is said to be keen on a move away from Stamford Bridge, after failing to nail down a regular starting role following his £52m move to the Blues two years ago.

Nkunku is a versatile option, being able to operate in either the number ten position or as a centre forward, potentially handing Amorim the depth he craves in attacking areas.

However, it’s unclear how much Enzo Maresca’s side would demand for his signature, with Mbeumo a massively better option when comparing their respective figures from 2024/25.

The Brentford star has massively outperformed the French talent in numerous key areas, highlighting why he’d be a better choice for the Red Devils in the coming weeks.

Mbeumo, who’s been labelled “sensational” by Sky Sports’ Mark McAdam, has massively outscored Nkunku and registered a higher goal per shot on target rate, subsequently demonstrating his clinical edge in front of goal.

How Mbeumo compares to Nkunku in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Mbeumo

Nkunku

Games played

38

27

Goals & assists

27

5

Shot on target accuracy

45%

44%

Goals per shot on target

0.4

0.2

Progressive carries

3.4

1.6

Progressive passes

3.7

2.4

Key passes

1.9

1.3

Take-on success

47%

37%

Carries into final third

1.8

1.5

Stats via FBref

He’s also registered more progressive passes and more key passes per 90, having the creative ability to provide the other talents around him with added opportunities – undoubtedly aiding Amorim’s quest for the added threat he’s been hunting for.

The Cameroonian’s dominance is further reflected in his take-on success and carries into the final third, able to get himself into key areas which has bolstered his respective tallies.

Whilst £60m may appear to be a hefty investment in a player who’s off the back of one impressive season, the chance to play alongside more top-level talents will certainly help him sustain such success.

Nkunku would provide an experienced option within the final third, but if the club have to choose one option between the pair, it’s evident that Mbeumo would be the option to improve the club’s chances of success in the future.

Related A better move than Ekitike: Man Utd preparing bid for "top-class" £44m ST

Manchester United appear top be making more moves for a striker ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Posts 1 ByEthan Lamb Jun 23, 2025

Jay Shah could end up being the ICC chair for two terms of three years each instead of three terms of two years each, which is the current norm, after he takes over on December 1. This after the ICC Board, which met in Dubai over the weekend, recommended that the term – for the chair and the independent director – be changed.In a statement on Monday, the ICC said that the recommendation will now be “circulated for approval” among its members, comprising Full and Associate Members.While no reason behind the recommendation was made public, it is understood that the move is part of the ICC’s drive for better governance. The ICC Board believes it will provide security and stability to both the chair and independent director, who sit on the ICC Board, without having to worry about elections every two years. Also, while the overall term of six years remains the same, there will be more continuity.Shah, who is 35, was elected unopposed to replace outgoing ICC chair Greg Barclay, who has served two of his three terms since being elected in 2020 for the first time. The independent director’s position, meanwhile, has been lying vacant since former Pepsico chair Indra Nooyi finished her three terms earlier this summer.There were changes to the ICC men’s cricket committee, too, with New Zealand businessman Scott Weenink appointed Full Member representative, and Scott Edwards, the 28-year-old Netherlands captain, named Associate Member representative.In a statement issued by the Royal Dutch Cricket Association*, Edwards said, “I am extremely excited and grateful to have the opportunity to join the ICC Men’s Cricket Committee. Having been in the ICC Associate Member system, and playing with and against many Full Member and Associate Member sides over the past six years, I believe I have a good understanding of the challenges Associate countries and players face. I look forward to representing these countries to the best of my ability.”The women’s FTP – the second, after the one announced in 2022 – will be out soon•Getty Images

Women’s FTP for 2025-2029 to be out soonThe ICC Board has approved the next women’s future tours programme (FTP) for the 2025-2029 cycle, which will be announced in a few days. It will be the second FTP for women following the one announced in 2022.The ICC chief executives’ committee (CEC) also approved shifting the calendar for the women’s rankings annual update from October 1 to May 1 each year. In order for the rankings to reflect, the teams will have to play a minimum of eight matches per format (ODIs and T20Is) as opposed to the six currently. This is because of the increase in the volume of women’s cricket.The mechanism for Associate teams to gain ODI status has also been formalised. Currently, there are 16 women’s teams with ODI status. Apart from the 11 Full Members, five Associate Members – Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Thailand and USA – were included in the 2022-2025 cycle. For the 2025-2029 cycle, the top-two Associate teams that qualify for the women’s ODI World Cup qualifier 2025 will gain ODI status, while the remaining three slots will be filled based on the T20I rankings at the time of annual update [May 1, 2025]. This will mean that their ODI status will hinge on their T20I performances.The creation of two annual T20I tournaments between 2025 and 2028 for Associate teams has also been approved. This is to boost competition ahead of the 16-team women’s T20 World Cup in 2030.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly identifying targets for incoming new manager Thomas Frank already, with the Dane also having his own input on their summer recruitment plans as he prepares for his debut season in the Lilywhites dugout.

Thomas Frank already identifying transfer targets at Spurs

According to Fabrizio Romano and other reliable media sources, Frank is closing in on the Spurs job and an agreement has been reached for him to replace Ange Postecoglou – just days after the Australian was given his marching orders.

Tottenham now offered £42m star who Mourinho held talks to sign for Spurs

The former Spurs boss FaceTimed him constantly.

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Emilio Galantini

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Romano has given his renowned ‘here we go’ to the appointment and there is an expectation that Frank could even be confirmed as Tottenham’s new manager in the next few days (BBC), with the 51-year-old poised to swap Brentford for north London.

The move is so advanced, in fact, that reports are already flooding in regard to Frank identifying his preferred summer transfer targets for Spurs.

GiveMeSport reported earlier this week that Frank has recommended Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze to Tottenham and chairman Daniel Levy as a possible signing, in the event they cannot beat Man United in the race for Bryan Mbeumo.

This comes amid reports that they’re after a new left-winger after the departure of Timo Werner, with Spurs said to be eyeing Man City star Jack Grealish, who is almost certain to depart Eastlands this summer (talkSPORT).

The arrival of a new forward in that area would also raise questions about the future of Mathys Tel.

The Frenchman arrived at N17 on loan in January, and the deal includes an option to buy for around £45 million. However, it is believed that Spurs would want to whittle down that fee if they do opt to keep Tel, following a mixed first six months at the club.

Tottenham to open talks over cut-price Mathys Tel deal

According to TEAMtalk this week, that is most certainly the plan, and Tottenham are set to open talks over a reduced-price move for Tel in the coming weeks.

They also state Frank has personally told Spurs chiefs that the 20-year-old’s permanent arrival would sufficiently reinforce his attacking options ahead of a 2025/2026 campaign where they’ll be competing in the Champions League.

Frank apparently believes Tel is a perfect fit for his high-pressing system, and is a major fan of the winger’s work rate among other desirable traits, like his versatility.

Taking this into account, Frank has requested that the club keep Tel right where he is, which could end up being the right call considering his glowing reputation among Bayern Munich circles.

Ex-Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann once tipped Tel to bag ’40 goals a season’ at some point in his career, while Bayern back-up keeper, Sven Ulreich, called him a ‘role model’ for younger players.

“Mathys is a fine guy, is inquisitive, willing to learn, down-to-earth and works a lot on himself,” Ulreich said.

“He is a role model for all the young players who come here. He comes up and does his job. We’ve had other examples that didn’t handle it that way.”

The Red Dragons are now just one step away from the Premier League, but taking it promises to be the toughest task yet

For the first time in 43 years, Wrexham will be competing in the second tier of English football. Three years ago, when the Red Dragons were still a National League club, that seemed like an impossible goal, but Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have raised expectations at the Racecourse Ground to never-before-seen levels.

Wrexham ended up becoming National League champions in 2022-23 with a record haul of 111 points, and followed up that success by finishing second in both League Two and League One over the next two seasons to earn an incredible slice of history. No other club in the English ladder has ever achieved three successive promotions, and it may never happen again.

Reynolds, McElhenney – who recently changed his name to Rob Mac – and Wrexham head coach Phil Parkinson deserve immense credit for getting the club this far, and the beloved co-owners are optimistic that the unprecedented run will continue in the Championship, too, with McElhenney recently saying on : "If I’m being honest, I don’t even know what the word consolidation means."

But the reality is, reaching the Premier League at the first time of asking would be nothing short of a miracle considering how big the jump from League One to the Championship is. Indeed, only five clubs have ever done it, the latest being Ipswich Town in 2023-24, but they have a far larger fanbase and greater financial weight than Wrexham. The considerable resources provided by Reynolds and McElhenney gave Wrexham an edge in the lower leagues, but their revenue does not compare to the bigger Championship sides.

"We’re going into one of the most competitive leagues in world football. One of the most supported leagues. The jump in salaries is mind-blowing. I don’t think people outside football quite realise," Parkinson has said in an attempt to give supporters a reality check.

All of that will have to be factored in when judging what should be considered a successful season for the Welsh outfit this time around. GOAL has taken a look at what realistically lies in store as Wrexham face the most daunting challenge of their Hollywood era to date…

Getty Images SportMood around the Racecourse Ground

Wrexham supporters could hardly be more excited heading into their first second-tier campaign since 1982. They have been in dreamland over the last three years, and some will understandably believe that promotion challenge is possible at the Racecourse Ground after a busy summer in the transfer market.

However, most fans acknowledge that this is the year that the ride may start to slow down. Indeed, Wrexham fan account @StopUsingWxM has declared on X that "I would be happy finishing 21st for the next 15 years", while Matthew Jones, creator of the Racecourse Ramble Podcast, has declared he'd take "mid-table safety now" after predicting "we're going to lose more often and have longer spells without a win than we've been used to".

Jones' opinion seems to reflect the consensus among the Wrexham faithful, with any kind of play-off push considered to be miracle territory. That was, though, also the feeling before their return to League One. Avoiding a relegation battle may be the main goal now, but caution will give way to fresh confidence if the Red Dragons get off to a good start in the Championship, because this is a squad that knows how to build momentum.

AdvertisementGettyTransfer business

Reynolds and McElhenney have never made any secret of their desire to take Wrexham all the way to the Premier League, and they have given Parkinson a heavy transfer war chest to make it happen at the earliest possible date. The Red Dragons have made eight signings already this summer, breaking their transfer record twice, first with a £2.2 million move for Empoli left-back Liberato Cacace before splashing £5m on Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O'Brien. 

Wrexham have spent another combined £2m on Plymouth striker Ryan Hardie and George Thomason from Bolton, while securing free transfers for ex-Leicester City goalkeeper Danny Ward and former Sheffield Wednesday forward Josh Windass, son of Hull City legend Dean. But all of those deals were eclipsed in prestige by the arrivals of Conor Coady and Kieffer Moore over the past week.

Bringing in those two former Premier League stars has set Reynolds and McElhenney back another £4m, but their experience could prove invaluable. Convincing 10-cap England international Coady to leave Leicester and join the ambitious Racecourse project was a huge coup, and ex-Sheffield United frontman Moore is the ideal replacement for cult hero Steven Fletcher.

The Red Dragons may not be done yet, either. Talks over a blockbuster deal for ex-Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen have been confirmed, and it would be another huge statement of intent if they can get it over the line.

Fitting Eriksen into the wage bill shouldn't be an issue because Parkinson has cleared a lot of deadwood. Seven players have been released, including Fletcher and Mark Howard, while Will Boyle has been sold to Shrewsbury and Mansfield have snapped up Luke Bolton. Wrexham legend Paul Mullin has also moved on, securing a loan move to Wigan after falling down the attacking pecking order.

GettyPre-season performances

After spending the last two summers in the United States, Wrexham decided to instead embark on a pre-season tour of Australia and New Zealand this time around, with the former country supposedly having the third-most followers of the club's 'Welcome to Wrexham' docuseries on Disney+. Parkinson and his players received a very warm welcome Down Under, and they responded by giving the Aussies their money's worth in their first friendly outing against the Melbourne Victory.

Wrexham romped to an impressive 3-0 win against the A-League side, with debutant Hardie among the goals. However, it was a performance that took a lot out of the Red Dragons, who looked lethargic and uninspired four days later against Sydney FC, going down 2-1 courtesy of a late winner from Joe Lacey in a match that was overshadowed by a worrying injury to star midfielder Ollie Rathbone. 

Parkinson's side then travelled to New Zealand to face the Wellington Phoenix, but slumped to a 1-0 defeat after a woeful error from No.1 goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo. That was a sad end to their tour, and Wrexham failed to bounce back in a same-day double header against Groningen in the Netherlands on August 2. The Red Dragons were beaten 1-0 and 3-1 by the Eredisvie outfit, with Parkinson left frustrated over their fragility at the back.

"We were too easy to score against. We have got to have that edge about us and have got to defend our goal better than we did today," the manager told the club's YouTube channel. 

One win and four defeats were certainly not the best preparation for Wrexham's Championship opener against Southampton, but Parkinson felt his team had a "decent" pre-season overall, as he added: "I think the minutes we have got in the players has been good. It has been consistent so I am pleased with that."

Getty Images SportTalking tactics

Parkinson is an old-school coach who prioritises a solid defensive set-up and looks for the most direct route to goal. Indeed, no other team in League One hit more long passes than Wrexham per 90 minutes last season (57.93), with the majority of those coming from goalkeeper Okonkwo as he fed the target men upfront.

One of Ollie Palmer, Jay Rodriguez, or Fletcher would typically knock the ball down to first-choice No.9 Sam Smith, who joined the club from Reading in January, and he would then use his pace to wreak havoc behind enemy lines. It was an effective formula, but Parkinson will have to tweak it if Wrexham are to make a big impression in their first season back in the Championship.

The Red Dragons are formidable at the back, so a deviation from their preferred 3-5-2 formation may not be necessary, but they can't afford to remain so one-dimensional going forward. Parkinson must work on proper patterns of play for Wrexham to compete with the Championship's elite teams.

He is rightly considered one of the greatest managers in Wrexham's history, and has also enjoyed success at Colchester, Bolton and Bradford, but only in the lower leagues. Across 49 Championship games in spells with Charlton and Hull, Parkinson only delivered nine wins, which was a consequence of the fact that neither team could hold onto possession for any significant length of time.

Parkinson's credit at Wrexham could run out quickly if he makes the same mistake this season. 

Despite a relatively low control percentage among elite top-order batters, he has made 2021 his own with limited resources

Andrew Fidel Fernando24-Nov-2021The first ball he faced in the second innings, Dimuth Karunaratne makes a mistake. He doesn’t quite account for the turn Rahkeem Cornwall would get from his offbreak and edges it. But the ball falls short of gully.Luck? Maybe. This guy’s always lucky. What’s he got on his side? A rabbit’s foot? Witchcraft?In Cornwall’s next over, the first ball, he makes another error. He tries to hit Cornwall inside out, but is through the shot early, and just chips it over short cover. It begins to seem like another one of those Karunaratne innings, in which he isn’t batting so well, because not long after that, he’s hit on the pad by a straighter Cornwall delivery, and because he has played no shot, West Indies review the not out decision. The ball’s going on with the arm, but it’s not turning in, and as such, not hitting the stumps. Karunaratne survives again.Related

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Karunaratne thrives on game of patience

Karunaratne isn't perfect but he's the best Sri Lanka have got

A few overs after that, Cornwall beats Karunaratne’s outside edge with a ball that leaps off the surface. And then, Karunaratne misses a sweep, is hit in line with the stumps, and although West Indies appeal, they don’t review. This time, they should have. Wait. This is uncanny. Was this guy a Mandela-level human rights champion in a former life? Did he save orphans from a burning building in his teenage years? Why does the universe have such a hard-on for him?But take a step back, and you begin to see that this is the pattern that so many Karunaratne innings take. In the first innings, he was dropped at slip on 14 and scratched around desperately – particularly against Cornwall – in the first session. Even on day two, when he was already batting on more than a hundred, he seemed a supremely uncomfortable starter. On day four, he made a worse start than Oshada Fernando and Angelo Mathews – the only other Sri Lanka batters to last more than 30 deliveries. But then, he outscored both of them (Mathews was not out). There’s been a lot of that lately.In 2021, Karunaratne has now hit 854 runs, which puts him at No. 3 on the year’s run-chart, behind Joe Root and Rohit Sharma. What is special about his record this year, however, is his average of 77.63; no one else with more than 400 runs is close (Root’s average – the closest – is 66.13). And yet, if you look at the control percentages, Karunaratne doesn’t fare especially well. Root has been in control of 86.9% of the balls he has faced this year. Mominul Haque, the only other batter to have hit more than 400 runs and averaged over 60 in 2021, has been in control of 86.6% of his strokes. Karunaratne, meanwhile, has a control percentage of 82.1. This doesn’t seem like a huge difference, but among elite top-order batters, 4.5% in control is substantial.And yet, there are the runs. All those runs. His last five Test innings are basically a fantasy. A 75 when Sri Lanka were trying to draw a match in Antigua. A 244 in a drawn Test on a flat Pallekele track, followed by 118 and 66 in a Test that Sri Lanka won. And then, here, 147 off 300 in the first innings, and now, 83 off 104 in the second. Note the difference in those strike rates (49 in the first innings, 80 in the second).

“When he started off, he was a good player, but now he’s turned into a great player”Angleo Mathews on Dimuth Karunaratne

When Sri Lanka were trying to get a foothold in the game, Karunaratne was watchful and conscientious. When they needed to race to a big lead in the second dig after losing much of day three to rain, he was proactive. You expect a captain to always do what is right for the side, but in 2021, he has also been good at doing what is right. Besides this recent run of scores, Karunaratne had also hit a January hundred in the second innings in Johannesburg, when Sri Lanka were trying to save a Test.Mathews, who has played with him since Karunaratne earned a cricket scholarship for the same Colombo school, after having excelled for a smaller school, put it this way: “I’ve been with him since he started playing for college as well. We go back a long way. He’s improved tremendously. When he started off, he was a good player, but now he’s turned into a great player. He’ll definitely end up in the top three or four run-scorers for Sri Lanka. He’s found his rhythm, and he’s not been complacent. He’s hungry for runs. The way he applies himself on a wicket like this is amazing.”Karunaratne is perhaps not the kind of batter whose innings you’d ever call “masterful”. Those adjectives are reserved for the Kane Williamsons of the world, or the Virat Kohlis, Joe Roots, Babar Azams, and Steve Smiths. No one is suggesting he has that kind of talent. No one is saying his name should be taken in the same breath.But despite what the control percentages say, regardless of the nerviness of his starts, although he frequently looks like he doesn’t belong, in 2021, you can’t argue with those numbers. Karunaratne has had the kind of year in which he has put his arms around a modest top order, lifted them onto his back, and carried them to competence, when they have so often seemed clueless without him, such as in that terrible home series against England.Is he lucky, or does he make his own? Does he squeeze every run out of a limited technique, and by international batting standards, pretty average hand-eye coordination.He was a caretaker captain in ODI cricket for a while, and Sri Lanka kind of did alright. They are not a world-beating Test side, but in the series he’s been in charge, they’ve suggested they aren’t terrible either. Getting the most out of limited resources kind of seems like his thing.