Tottenham Hotspur are “contenders” to sign an “unbelievable” defender who’s now set to cost £50m, reporter Pete O’Rourke has revealed.

Spurs looking to bolster defensive options

Spurs completed the signing of West Ham United winger Mohammed Kudus last week, with the Ghanaian arriving for a fee of £55m, while they also remain confident about sealing a deal for Nottingham Forest attacking midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.

That is according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, who said: “They want to proceed with the deal, they want to sign the player. Nottingham Forest are prepared to fight. So, let’s see what’s going to happen there.

“But, for sure, the Gibbs-White deal now has an issue to be solved between the two clubs. That’s going to be one to watch in the coming days and hours, with Tottenham still hopeful and confident to get the player.”

Should Spurs get a deal for Forest star over the line, they may turn their attentions to bolstering their backline, given that they had the fifth-worst defensive record in the Premier League last season.

Club 24/25

Goals conceded

Southampton

86

Ipswich Town

82

Leicester City

80

Wolverhampton Wanderers

69

Tottenham Hotspur

65

Speaking to Football Insider, O’Rourke has now dropped an update on one of the centre-back’s Tottenham could target, Burnley’s Maxime Esteve saying: “Everton showed a lot of interest in him as well, now Tottenham are being mentioned as contenders for a signature if he leaves Burnley this summer.

“Spurs did try to sign him in the January window when he was doing so well; Burnley don’t want to lose Esteve, and they’ve put a £50million price tag on his head.

“I don’t think Spurs would go near that level to try and sign Esteve, but Burnley are in a really strong position to negotiate here. He’s under contract until 2029 and they can demand a substantial fee because of his contract – that price tag will probably scare off most clubs.”

"Unbelievable" Esteve could allay Spurs' defensive problems

At this stage, Burnley hold all the cards in the negotiations, but should the French defender push for a move this summer, there are clear signs that he could help allay Spurs’ defensive problems.

Remarkably, the Clarets shipped just 16 goals in the Championship en-route to promotion last season, and the Frenchman played every single game, during which time he managed to impress manager Scott Parker.

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Parker said: “First and foremost he’s a great kid and an unbelievable professional. Just his general aura about him and his humility about the boy and his professionalism, just everything about him is a top, top boy and of course you see his quality as well.”

That said, £50m would be a huge fee to pay for a player yet to prove himself at Premier League level, and with Burnley in a strong negotiating position, it would not be a surprise if Tottenham decide to move on to other targets.

Ben Manenti has masterminded a 4 for 7 collapse to spin South Australia into a strong position at the halfway stage of their Sheffield Shield match against Victoria at Adelaide Oval.The offspinner was the central figure behind the visitors’ 45-delivery collapse from 59 for 0 to 66 for 4 in the middle session, before wicketkeeper Sam Harper saved his side from embarrassment, joined in the middle late in the evening by Peter Siddle.Related

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Manenti had Jonathan Merlo caught at backward square leg by Lloyd Pope, before bowling Ashley Chandrasinghe, then taking a sharp catch at second slip to dismiss Campbell Kellaway. Manenti dismissed Peter Handscomb, squeezing a catch to Henry Hunt at short leg, and added Tom Rogers to his list, miscuing a pull shot to Pope at backward point.Victoria captain Will Sutherland feathered a catch to wicketkeeper Alex Carey, as did Mitchell Perry, Liam Scott striking immediately with the second new ball.Harper, who has looked in decent touch, remained the key scalp for SA.In the corresponding fixture last summer, Harper thumped nine sixes in an astonishing 151 off 109 balls to lead Victoria to a thrilling, low-scoring victory.”We’ve still got to get these last three wickets,” Manenti said after stumps on Saturday. “Harps is batting nicely and Sids has been around for years – he can obviously chip in as well.”Get these last three, then get to work with the bat and give ourselves a real good shot tomorrow afternoon or early day four to have a crack and put ourselves in a position to win it.”After resuming at 286 for 9 overnight, SA’s stubborn tail frustrated the Victorian attack on the second morning before their innings concluded when No.11 Pope, who scored a personal-best 17, edged Cameron McClure to Harper.Evergreen ex-Test quick Siddle, who turns 40 this month, was the pick of Victoria’s bowlers, capturing 3 for 57.

Manchester United are looking to add to their squad while not overstepping the mark financially, and they have now reportedly made an enquiry for a Brazil international, according to reports.

Man Utd eye shock Dominic Calvert-Lewin deal

The Red Devils and INEOS are looking to add to the pack after Matheus Cunha’s arrival from Wolverhampton Wanderers and find themselves pushing to land Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford. Diego Leon has also finalised his move to the club.

Reports suggest a deal could be finalised by Monday that would see the Cameroon international head to Old Trafford. At the same time, Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins and Nigeria hitman Victor Osimhen have also been touted as potential offensive recruits.

However, Manchester United could sign free agent Dominic Calvert-Lewin as a squad rotation option. However, journalist Ben Jacobs believes he may need to lower his wage demands before a deal for the ex-Everton striker can become viable.

He stated: “Calvert-Lewin’s wage demands are very high, and therefore it is unlikely that Man United will move in that direction unless the demands decrease or they have a hole in the squad later in the window. As a free agent, the player will be rigid on his demands.”

Premier League experience will become paramount for the Red Devils in their rebuilding phase. Ruben Amorim is likely to have one game a week to manage most weeks, offering the possibility of focusing solely on the club’s league position without external commitments.

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Cup football will also present a chance at silverware. Nevertheless, there is plenty of work to be done in the market before Manchester United are back challenging for honours, though their latest pursuit wouldn’t be a bad step in the right direction.

Man Utd make Douglas Luiz enquiry

According to reports relayed by FootballTransfers, Manchester United and therefore INEOS have submitted an enquiry regarding Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz’s availability following a frustrating campaign that has seen the Brazil international be placed on the transfer list.

Everton and Fulham are also in pursuit of the ex-Aston Villa man, who made 27 appearances across all competitions for the Old Lady last season.

He has previously been lauded as a “very underrated” engine room presence by Paul Merson, with the former Arsenal man claiming Luiz was every bit as good as the likes of Declan Rice and Rodri while he plied his trade in the West Midlands.

Douglas Luiz in 2024/25 – key statistics in Serie A (Fotmob)

Tackles won

8

Duels won

36

Pass accuracy

90.4%

Recoveries

31

Long ball accuracy

75%

Earning £138,000 per week in Turin, there is also talk that Luiz could be used as a part of a swap deal that would see Juventus land Jadon Sancho, albeit aforementioned striker Vlahovic is also mentioned, making the saga a possibility and nothing more.

Injury problems hampered the 27-year-old last term, and a return to the English top-flight could now be on the cards, though there would be other considerations to take into account for Manchester United.

Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte are two existing deeper-lying midfield options, while Kobbie Mainoo can also operate in the six, so Amorim would potentially need to think about cutting someone loose to ensure his side had the space to acquire Luiz.

Angelo Mathews and Kusal Mendis had given Sri Lanka hope but the home side lost late wickets to finish on the brink

Tristan Lavalette08-Feb-2025Sri Lanka’s hopes of setting a tricky chase faded late on day three as Beau Webster provided key contributions with the ball and in the field to inch Australia close to a series victory.Angelo Mathews and Kusal Mendis had breathed life into the second Test with an outstanding 70-run partnership as Sri Lanka’s lead grew to 41 runs. But less than 30 minutes before stumps, Mathews lost his concentration on 76 and swept Nathan Lyon to fine leg, where a diving Webster completed a terrific catch.Related

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In another masterstroke from stand-in captain Steven Smith, Webster was handed the ball and unfurled his offspin – instead of seam – to dismiss Ramesh Mendis for a duck.Webster almost had Prabath Jayasuriya caught and bowled first ball, while Mendis survived a huge lbw shout off Lyon that was given not out by umpire Joel Wilson. Australia unsuccessfully reviewed in an umpire’s call, but Smith’s gut instincts again proved correct when left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann was tasked with bowling the final over and he promptly dismissed Jayasuriya.Sri Lanka lead by just 54 runs with two wickets in hand having lost 3 for 13 in the last five overs. Their chances of victory have effectively evaporated unless Mendis, who finished unbeaten on 48 having been left stranded on 85 in Sri Lanka’s first innings, can produce a miracle.Sri Lanka had earlier appeared headed for a defeat within three days. Trailing by 157 runs on the first innings, they stared down the barrel of a quick demise at 39 for 3 when Lyon claimed his 550th Test wicket after dismissing Dinesh Chandimal for 12.Highest score by an Australian wicketkeeper in Asia•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Retiring Dimuth Karunaratne had fallen for 14, caught behind off Kuhnemann, bringing down the curtain on his 100-Test career. After prolonging his last moments at the crease with a review in vain, Karunaratne received an embrace from Lyon and Chandimal before walking off to a big ovation from those at the ground, including the Australians.It was Kuhnemann’s second wicket after he bowled opener Pathum Nissanka with a good length delivery that slid on.Chandimal had scored a couple of 70s in this series, but needed an even bigger contribution if Sri Lanka were to turn around their dire situation. But after being pinned down, Chandimal lost his patience against Lyon and hit to mid-off, where Webster moved nimbly to take a sharp catch low down.Mathews and Kamindu Mendis provided some resistance with a 42-run partnership having both received reprieves after missed chances by Alex Carey with the gloves.Entering the series averaging over 70, Kamindu’s tame series ended when he chipped Lyon to mid-off but skipper Dhananjaya de Silva batted crisply in a 47-run partnership with Mathews.Steve Smith took a spectacular slip catch to dismiss Dhananjaya de Silva•Getty Images

They moved along with relative ease to chip away at the deficit and Mathews reached his half-century in style with a six over cover off debutant Cooper Connolly, who was used for a couple of overs.Just when Sri Lanka’s hopes were raised, Smith seemingly dealt them a crushing blow when he completed a sensational one-handed, diving catch at slip after de Silva edged Kuhnemann.But Mendis came out with an aggressive mindset to rattle a tiring Australia attack amid the humidity. He levelled the scores with a slog sweep off Lyon that sailed into the crowd before lifting Sri Lanka into the lead on the next ball.Sri Lanka were having arguably their best period with the bat in the series before Mathews’ rush of blood. It was a disappointment for Sri Lanka after their best day of the series ended on a sour note.Sri Lanka’s attempts at a fightback started when they claimed seven wickets in the morning session to bowl out Australia for 414. Jayasuriya found venomous bite with the second new ball to pick up four of his five wickets in the session.Smith and Carey’s magnificent partnership of 259 ended less than 20 minutes into the day’s play. In another batting record for Australia in this series, it was the highest fourth-wicket partnership by a visiting pair in Sri Lanka in Tests, bettering the 258-stand between Michael Hussey and Shaun Marsh in Pallekele in 2011.Australia resumed in a powerful position at 330 for 3, but they knew there was work to do in their bid to only bat once in this match. Carey overtook his highest first-class score of 143 in style with a firm sweep that rocketed to the boundary and he also moved past Adam Gilchrist’s 144 as the highest score by an Australian wicketkeeper in Asia.Dimuth Karunaratne walks off a Test arena for the final time•Getty Images

Jayasuriya was rewarded for his attacking line and lengths when Smith’s stout defence was finally breached on 131 by a brilliant delivery that pitched on off stump and gripped off the surface. Smith walked off immediately after feathering an edge and he received a rousing ovation, but his dismissal reinvigorated Sri Lanka and brought a different complexion to the game.Josh Inglis made his way to the crease one spot lower in the batting-order after spending time off the field during Sri Lanka’s first innings because of a back spasm. After scoring a memorable debut ton in the first Test, Inglis’ stumps were rattled on his second delivery when he played back to a full delivery that skidded on.Carey on 156 finally succumbed to the sweep, a stroke he had been almost faultless through the innings, when he played over the top of a Jayasuriya delivery and was clean bowled.All eyes were on Connolly, who boasted a first-class average of 61.80 from four matches but three of those was at the pace-friendly WACA ground.Connolly has proven to be a big-game performer in his fledgling career, backing his aggressive instincts, and he got off the mark in trademark cavalier fashion with a boundary albeit off a top-edge from a full-blooded sweep.But Connolly didn’t add to his tally and was too ambitious when he skipped down to Peiris only to slice to backward point in an ugly dismissal. Webster provided a steadying 31 and he was to have a bigger impact later in the day’s play.

Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer plans include the signing of another new winger, as chairman Daniel Levy looks to back Thomas Frank this summer with more fresh faces in preparation for their journey back to the Champions League.

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Spurs, despite a torrid 2024/2025 domestically, where they lost a record-breaking 22 Premier League games, have suddenly found themselves among Europe’s most elite next term after their historic Europa League final triumph last month.

This has suddenly exacerbated the need for Levy and technical director Johan Lange to reinforce weaker areas of the squad.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Tottenham have already signed Mathys Tel in a £30 million permanent deal from Bayern Munich, whilst also sealing a £5 million agreement for Japanese sensation Kota Takai, but Frank may find himself in need of more wide attackers very soon.

Timo Werner’s return to parent club RB Leipzig, combined with Son Heung-min’s potential move to Saudi Arabia, could leave their new manager pretty short of quality wingers, even when taking into account Tel’s stay.

Man City outcast Jack Grealish, Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, Southampton sensation Tyler Dibling and Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo are just some of the names to be linked with moves to N17 recently, with Frank also recommending Lazio winger Gustav Isaksen to the Spurs hierarchy.

Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze also remains high on Tottenham’s radar, as per reports this week, but interest is also still firmly there when it comes to a possible swoop for West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus.

Tottenham plan bid for Mohammed Kudus after talks in the last week

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, writing for TBR, the Ghanaian is a serious option, and West Ham would be prepared to sell their star winger for a fee north of £60 million.

Tottenham have apparently held talks with Kudus in the last week, and Frank’s side are now thinking about making a bid for the ex-Ajax star after these discussions. His release clause is actually around £80 million, but given West Ham’s need to sell, they’ve reduced his asking price by a significant amount as they look to raise funds and reshape Graham Potter’s squad.

Chelsea are noted as contenders for Kudus too, but they’re yet to go back in with a bid after seeing their proposal for a player-exchange rejected earlier in the window.

The 24-year-old didn’t exactly hit the heights of his debut campaign in east London during his second season, but he still ranked as one of the best dribblers in the Premier League per 90, according to WhoScored.

Kudus can be a truly devastating player on his day, as echoed by his teammate, Aaron Cresswell, in 2024.

“I’ve just trained with him and you don’t want to go anywhere near him,” Cresswell told the Iron Cast.

“I’m up against him all the time and I’m like: ‘Mo, go on over to the left!’. He’s a top, top talent and I think we haven’t seen the best of him yet.

“I won’t go near him in training because I know if I’m going to try to knock him off the ball I had better make sure he’s not looking and doesn’t see me coming. You just can’t get near him. He’s so strong, so quick, so sharp.”

MatériaMais Notícias

da dobrowin： Membros da maior torcida organizada do Santos foram até o CT Rei Pelé para conversar com os jogadores após a humilhação que a equipe passou em campo diante do Internacional.

da brwin： + Veja tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro-2023 clicando aqui

O grupo de torcedores se posicionou diante da derrota elástica por 7 a 1, no Beira-Rio, e disse não haver espaço para um placar tão avassalador.

+ Acompanhe em tempo real o Brasil na disputa do Pan-Americano

– Nós sabemos que derrotas acontecem, até mesmo dentro de nossa casa, como foi na semana passada, e ainda sim sustentamos nosso apoio até o último atleta sair de campo. Entretanto, uma situação como essa é de completa impossibilidade dentro de qualquer cenário. Foi ressaltado, olhando com hombridade nos olhos de cada envolvido, que não há espaço para ocasiões como essa no Santos – relatou em nota a Torcida Jovem nas redes sociais.

Apesar da adversidade, o time foi surpreendido pela insistente postura de apoio que, de acordo com a organizada, continuará até o time sair da delicada situação na tabela do Brasileirão.

– Na 19ª rodada, firmamos um compromisso com o atual elenco com um objetivo: salvar o Santos. Sendo assim, pular do barco não é uma opção, nem para nós, nem para os atletas. Nós falamos que estávamos juntos, em meio a vitórias e derrotas, e assim será até a rodada em que sairmos desse pesadelo – reafirmaram os torcedores.

ATRITOS DURANTE A TEMPORADA

Em fevereiro deste ano, torcedores do Peixe invadiram o centro de treinamento para cobrar o presidente Andres Rueda por reforços para a temporada.

Em junho, as organizadas do Peixe fizeram um grande protesto na entrada do CT Rei Pelé. Na ocasião, um grupo composto por 11 torcedores uniformizados entraram no local e desafiaram os atletas para uma partida, mas o confronto foi recusado pelos jogadores.

Pouco depois, o Peixe foi derrotado pelo Corinthians, em plena Vila Belmiro. Por conta disso, torcedores arremessaram bombas e artefatos pirotécnicos no gramado para protestar contra o resultado.

A paz começou a ser selada com os jogadores do Santos um dia antes da partida contra o Grêmio, que deu início ao segundo turno do Brasileirão. A finalidade da ação é gerar o apoio necessário para motivar os atletas a escaparem de um inédito rebaixamento.

خيم التعادل السلبي على نتيجة مباراة الأهلي والمصري، في المواجهة التي جمعت بينهما مساء اليوم ضمن منافسات الدوري الممتاز.

وأقيمت المباراة بين الأهلي والمصري، على أرضية استاد برج العرب في الإسكندرية، في إطار لقاءات الجولة الـ13 من الدوري الممتاز.

وعقب مباراة اليوم، وصل رصيد الأهلي إلى 23 نقطة، من الفوز بـ6 مباريات والتعادل 5 مرات بجانب هزيمة وحيدة حتى الآن، خلال مشواره في الدوري المصري.

ويخوض الأهلي المواجهة القادمة أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا على استاد هزاع بن زايد بمدينة العين الإماراتية، ضمن منافسات السوبر المصري بنظامه الجديد بمشاركة 4 أندية.

طالع | ترتيب الدوري المصري بعد فوز الزمالك وبيراميدز وتعادل الأهلي

ويأمل الأهلي في التتويج ببطولة السوبر المصري، ساعيًا لكسب ود جمهوره بسبب تذبذب أداء ونتائج الفريق منذ بداية الموسم الحالي. موعد مباراة الأهلي وسيراميكا كليوباترا في السوبر المصري

من المقرر أن يلتقي الأهلي مع سيراميكا كليوباترا، يوم الخميس 6 نوفمبر 2025، في تمام الساعة الخامسة مساءً بتوقيت مصر، السادسة مساءً بتوقيت السعودية، والسابعة مساءً بتوقيت الإمارات.

وتُنقل المباراة عبر قناة أون سبورتس الناقل الحصري للبطولة.

Who should open the batting? Should Sam Curran play ahead of Moeen Ali?

Matt Roller24-Nov-2020The top-order conundrumEngland are overflowing with opening options. Their 50-over opening pair, Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy, have been separated by the emergence of Jos Buttler as one of the world’s most destructive T20 openers over the last two-and-a-half years. Dawid Malan – the ICC’s No. 1-ranked T20I batsman – is best suited to the top three, while Ben Stokes flourished at the top of the Rajasthan Royals order in the IPL.The likely outcome is that England will try to fit all five into their top six, with captain Eoin Morgan filling the extra spot. Despite Buttler’s success in the middle order for Rajasthan, he looks certain to continue at the top, most likely alongside Roy. In their T20I series in South Africa in February, England went with Bairstow at No. 3 and split the ‘spare’ batting position at No. 4 or No. 5 between Malan and Joe Denly, but Bairstow’s impressive record against spin and Malan’s tendency to start slowly before exploding into gear could see those roles reversed.Stokes, meanwhile, presents a headache: his record in the middle order is underwhelming, and like Malan, he tends to have a few sighters before teeing off. He batted at No. 3 in Monday’s warm-up game, but is more likely to slot into the middle order with Sam Billings left on the bench. Keeping Malan at No. 3 with Bairstow at No. 4 would also avoid England having three right-handers at the top of the order followed by four left-handers in the middle, a situation which would allow top teams to create favourable match-ups by using spinners who turn the ball away from the bat throughout the innings.Moeen Ali or Sam Curran – or both?The area in which England have the least depth is their spin bowling. While Adil Rashid is a lock in the starting XI, his shoulder has presented some level of concern over the last 18 months, and he is the only frontline spinner in the 15-man squad, with Liam Dawson (injured) and Matt Parkinson (omitted) both absent.Moeen Ali has been ever-present in the side this year but after being used in the Powerplay for a match-up against Quinton de Kock in February’s series, he bowled only one over of offspin in each of England’s five bowling innings in their home summer, and his returns with the bat have been sporadic.Sam Curran swings one over the leg side•Getty ImagesEngland have a balancing act to strike between looking to win the series at hand and preparing for the long term, with next year’s T20 World Cup in India likely to present a significantly different set of conditions to Newlands and Paarl. If they lean towards the latter, then Moeen will likely keep his spot at No. 7 and share four overs with Stokes; if they go for the former, his place could well be taken by Sam Curran, whose breakthrough IPL season with Chennai Super Kings demonstrated his game-changing abilities with both bat and ball, as did his match-winning cameo in Monday’s warm-up match.They could, of course, pick both, but it would leave their balance slightly off: that would mean they either had seven bowling options and left out one of their specialist batsmen, or had to split eight overs between Moeen, Curran and Stokes. As a result, Curran may edge Moeen out.Where does Morgan fit in with the bat?Morgan has spent the vast majority of his T20I career at No. 4, and his sparkling recent form in the format – he averages 44.27 with a strike rate of 183.77 since May 2019 – has primarily come in that role. But his particular strength has been hitting at the death: in that timeframe, he has scored at a mind-boggling 230.76 strike rate in all T20s in the final four overs of an innings. And his explosiveness does not seem to be reliant on having set himself in the middle overs, either; his strike rate in the first 10 balls of his innings has shot up in the past couple of years, with the influence of two T10 seasons seemingly rubbing off on him.ESPNcricinfo LtdPerhaps with that in mind, he shuffled down to No. 5 against Australia, and batted at No. 4 only twice in the IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders. Given England’s wealth of top-order options, and their desire to give Stokes sufficient time to set himself, Morgan may push himself as far down as No. 6 in this series, depending on the situation in each innings. While that might mean he faces fewer balls on average than he would at No. 4 or No. 5, it should also give the top order licence to attack even more, in the knowledge that there is no shortage of batting depth.Who are their Powerplay bowlers?England struggled badly with the new ball in February’s series, taking only one Powerplay wicket in three games with Jofra Archer missing through injury. They again lacked new-ball bite in their home series against Pakistan this summer, though Archer’s success up front alongside Mark Wood against Australia in September suggested the issue might simply be down to a lack of depth.Jofra Archer lets one fly•BCCIWood was impressive in the Powerplay in the Australia series, taking two wickets in seven overs, but has only played 11 T20Is and his record in South Africa earlier this year – 4 for 118 across ten overs – might be cause for concern. With Reece Topley, the 6ft 7in left-arm seamer, likely to start on the bench, and the injured David Willey waiting in the wings, Wood will hope that the success of 90mph/145kph bowlers in the IPL extends into this series.England may also be tempted to give Archer three overs in the Powerplay, something that his IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals never did due to their reliance on him at the death. With at least one of his death specialists – Tom Curran and Chris Jordan – likely to play, Morgan may opt to attack with Archer early. There is little in the way of previous evidence as to how likely this is – Archer has played only four T20Is due to injuries and rotation – but it is the sort of aggressive move that Morgan will doubtless consider. If he plays, Sam Curran may also be used with the new ball, as he was in New Zealand last winter.How will they cope with Shamsi’s threat?England may well consider it a shame that South Africa have not selected Imran Tahir for this series: they lost wickets regularly when facing Shadab Khan in the summer, and legspin will be a feature in next year’s T20 World Cup. Instead, the left-arm wristspinner Tabraiz Shamsi is the main spin threat to counter over the next week, though he should not be taken lightly. As the below table shows, only two England batsmen managed to take him down in the high-scoring series earlier this year.ESPNcricinfo LtdIn particular, it will be interesting to see how England fare immediately after the Powerplay. Buttler raised that phase as a possible area for improvement earlier this month, while Malan, Morgan, Roy and Stokes will all hope to do better against Shamsi than they did last time out.

Workloads, a weak bowling attack and the golden generation’s exodus will be among his immediate worries as West Indies’ new white-ball captain

Santokie Nagulendran04-May-2022Replacing Pollard, on and off the pitch
The first task facing Pooran will be to build on the team unity created by Pollard, who galvanised the side in a series victory against England in January. But especially in T20Is, this is a largely inexperienced side that will need a captain who can continue to provide vision and clarity. Pooran excelled with the bat in his last international assignment, in India earlier this year, averaging 61.33 with a strike rate of 140.45 across three T20Is. He will hold the team to the same high standards Pollard did.Related

Nicholas Pooran: 'Just because I had one bad season, it's not going to change the player I am'

Nicholas Pooran appointed West Indies white-ball captain

Pooran will also need to decide who takes over from Pollard in the T20I squad as the designated finisher; the powerful Rovman Powell could be moved down the order to fulfil such a role. In ODIs, Pollard tended to move up the order when the innings needed impetus, so with an abundance of allrounders already in the side, rather than a finisher, he could be replaced by a specialist batter like Nkrumah Bonner, who was recalled for the ODI series against India.Pollard also had the support of senior players such as Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, Lendl Simmons and Dwayne Bravo during the majority of his captaincy, which Pooran will miss. Former captain Jason Holder will be vital in providing assistance, while Shai Hope will serve as vice-captain in ODIs.Managing his own workload
Days after the conclusion of the IPL, West Indies will travel to play ODI series in Netherlands and then Pakistan. Although they are now unlikely to directly qualify for the 2023 World Cup, the series are worth Super League points and Pooran will want to make an immediate impact as leader. Having seen how Pollard was treated by some sections of the media in the Caribbean, he will be fully aware of the pressure he will face if early results do not go his way.West Indies will then go on to face Bangladesh, India and New Zealand in white-ball series as part of their home summer. This unrelenting fixture list continues with the Caribbean Premier League, where Pooran will turn out for the Trinbago Knight Riders, followed soon after by the T20 World Cup in Australia, where West Indies play in the first round.With the workload of captaincy to manage apart from his batting, will Nicholas Pooran continue to keep wicket?•AFP/Getty ImagesAs well as captaining and leading the middle order through these games, Pooran will also be keeping wicket in T20Is, a fair responsibility. All signs so far suggest he excels under such responsibility – both his average and strike rate are significantly higher in the T20Is he’s captained in – though he may well relinquish the gloves for some matches in order to balance that workload.West Indies’ bowling woes
A clear problem with the side in both white-ball formats is the inability to take wickets. The struggles have seen veteran bowlers such as Fidel Edwards, Kemar Roach and Ravi Rampaul recalled to white-ball cricket since the turn of 2021. One advantage that Pooran has is that Obed McCoy is now fit and available to play for the first time since last year’s T20 World Cup. As a strike bowler who is effective in the Powerplay, he will be a massive asset.Alzarri Joseph has built a reputation for big-name wickets in ODI cricket, but he has lacked consistency in the format. It will be up to Pooran to try and get the best out of him. Some good performances for the Gujarat Titans in this season’s IPL indicate that Joseph could also be handed a T20I debut in the coming months.Also intriguing will be whether Pooran has any influence in handing the talented Jayden Seales a white-ball debut to partner McCoy. Seales was included in white-ball squads earlier this year but not chosen for the starting XI. With squads set to be rotated in order to manage the schedule, it would be surprising if we did not see Seales play under Pooran sooner rather than later.Given the experience West Indies have lost in their middle order, Shimron Hetmyer could find a way back into the set-up•AFP/Getty ImagesMiddle-order consistency
Evin Lewis returning should aid the side’s top-order issues, but the middle is the real problem, with players such as Darren Bravo and Roston Chase consistently unable to build innings in white-ball formats. Pooran will need to improve his own batting form in ODIs, having only scored one half century in his last ten innings. While there is an abundance of lower-order allrounders who can accelerate an innings, the inability of the side to run singles and rotate strike has been a massive hindrance, particularly in 50-overs cricket where the side has lost their past two series, to Ireland and India.It will be up to Pooran to lead by example by scoring runs and guiding players by building partnerships. Pooran has improved his batting in this year’s IPL, working closely with Brian Lara at Sunrisers Hyderabad. Could we see Lara integrated into the West Indies set-up in some capacity?Missing stars
Pollard, Bravo and Gayle had a combined 271 T20I caps between them and a staggering 588 ODI caps. Losing the core of the golden generation in the space of six months has created a massive void in the side. The likes of Dominic Drakes, Odean Smith and Romario Shepherd have debuted but they have not had too many experienced heads to turn to for advice.West Indies do still have experienced players who are flourishing, just not in maroon. Sunil Narine, Russell and Shimron Hetmyer, for various reasons, are not currently playing international cricket. Pooran will be aware of how valuable they are to the side, but will he decide to start conversations with them about a path back in?

But there are more reasons at play than just the sentiment around former coach Justin Langer

Tristan Lavalette28-Nov-20220:42

Green: I’m trying to learn how to leave the ball again

Allan Border once observed that Australia playing a Test match in Perth was akin to them being overseas.Whether it was said in jest or not is hard to tell because Perth Test matches hit differently due to the innate parochialism of locals, who have a particularly strong identity unique from the rest of the country.Western Australia, separated to the east coast by the vast Nullarbor Plain, in the 1930s became the only Australian state to ever attempt being its own country.Talk of secession half-jokingly resurfaced during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic when WA closed its border for much of 2020 and 2021.While tough talking premier Mark McGowan became a divisive figure nationwide, he had celebrity status within his state that is extraordinary in Australian politics, as he shrewdly antagonised those ‘over east’ which was lapped up by increasingly secluded West Australians.Related

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The one-eyed fervour spills over into sports, where local teams are passionately supported to the degree that you sense WA cricket fans care more for Perth Scorchers than the national Australia team.With low crowds tipped for the first Test at Optus Stadium against West Indies starting on Wednesday, amid favourite son Justin Langer’s messy exit as Australia coach going through the wringer, the relationship between West Australians and the national team is in focus.Amplified by social media, there is a perception that West Australians aggrieved over the Langer saga will essentially boycott the first Test played in Perth since December 2019. With ticket sales sluggish, the 60,000-seat Optus Stadium could look something of an eyesore with dire predictions of less than 10,000 fans attending day one.There are low expectations of what the crowd will be like this week•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesWhile public support is undoubtedly behind Langer, whose gravitas once saw him flagged as a potential saviour of the state’s lifeless opposition political party, there are several factors contributing to the lack of interest over a Test starting mid-week that might struggle to reach the weekend if West Indies’ past struggles in Australia rear.Unlike when they used to dominate at the WACA during their heyday, West Indies simply aren’t a drawcard and lack marquee players. Marketing this event has not been easy.When Perth missed out on hosting an Ashes Test last summer, due to its hard border, it was instructive that WA Cricket chief executive Christina Matthews publicly campaigned to host South Africa this season.In a notable contrast to years gone by, there is a lack of WA players in the national selection frame despite the state currently dominating men’s domestic cricket. The notable exception is Cameron Green who will be the sole WA cricketer playing in the first Test.Even though on the cusp of superstardom, as he eyes riches in the IPL, Green is still relatively unknown to the masses as the unassuming 23-year-old starts slowly becoming more comfortable in the public spotlight.As he prepares for his first home Test, Green has been something of a hook to fuel media coverage of the match, fronting the cameras several times in recent weeks and given a lengthy profile in the magazine of the local Sunday newspaper.It was noteworthy press for cricket, which has increasingly been pared back in Perth amid a saturation of coverage for the obsessively followed Australian Football League, which has eaten into cricket season with its never-ending post-season transactional period.The two-day AFL draft, where the best youngsters are selected into the system, concludes on Tuesday and has predictably dominated the local airwaves and print.Justin Langer had a stand named after him at Perth Stadium•Getty ImagesAnticipation for a long-awaited Test in Perth has been tempered too by a number of international matches having already been played there well before it is officially summer.It will likely cause a chuckle from those on the other side of the country, but there could already be international cricket fatigue in Perth after hosting five games of the men’s T20 World Cup, highlighted by an India-South Africa blockbuster and Australia-Sri Lanka in matches attracting a combined 70,000 fans.There was also a quickly forgotten Australia-England T20I before that in early October, which more than 25,000 attended, consistent with the mishmash of a saturated international calendar that most people can’t keep track of.But, perhaps most importantly, it’s increasingly difficult to pinpoint the public sentiment over the current Australian team, who some believe are on the nose nationwide after they generated modest home support during the T20 World Cup.There has been some ire directed at captain Pat Cummins, reasons which don’t totally make sense, but could chip away at the team’s overall popularity.It all means there is the potential awkwardness of Australia getting a frosty reception on home soil. But given the apparent apathy for this inconspicuous Test, that’s probably unlikely.