Rahul Dravid says Indian cricket has evolved into an “extremely powerful” force, thanks to the growing talent pool that now extends to even the remotest corners of the country.Dravid, who coached India to the T20 World Cup triumph in June, said a strong club cricket culture has a lot to do with bucking the old trend of city cricketers dominating the passage to the national team.”If you look at Indian cricket today, Indian cricket is extremely strong, it’s extremely powerful,” Dravid said during the 50-year celebration of Mount Joy Cricket Club. “One of the big reasons for that is that talent comes from everywhere, from all over the country.””If you go back to the time of, say, GR Vishwanath or even when I was starting out, most of the talent came from the big cities or a few states.”Even if there were talented boys in smaller places, they had to come to the big cities to play cricket. But today I think you see in Indian cricket that boys are coming from everywhere.”Dravid said it’s getting reflected in the standards of domestic cricket in India.”You just look at the standard of the Ranji Trophy. In the old days when you played in the South Zone, other than playing Hyderabad or Tamil Nadu, I think it is fair to say, without being disrespectful, that a lot of other teams you could take it not for granted but you could certainly take it a little bit more lightly.”I don’t think there is any team in the South Zone today that you can walk in and say you will beat comfortably.”Hailing the club cricket structure in the country, particularly in Karnataka, Dravid said the system has allowed the sport to remain accessible to all.”We need clubs to be strong. We need cricket not to be concentrated in the hands of a few people. We need cricket to be egalitarian, we need it to be all over the place.”You cannot have talent or facilities concentrated only in one or two places. To get the best out of talent, we need to ensure that young boys and girls are getting access to good infrastructure in every part.”Dravid briefly revisited his club career to underscore the need for that system to thrive.”After the practice, HAL [Hindustan Aeronautics Limited] would give us two eggs and one small glass of milk. I would always stay back for that glass of milk and those eggs. Not because I wanted the milk and eggs. But because I wanted to sit and listen to the likes of BK Kumar or Nandan talking about cricket. And it used to be great fun to listen to them and learn so much from them.”
West Indies fast bowler Shannon Gabriel has retired from international cricket, ending a career that began in 2012. The 36-year-old played 59 Tests, 25 ODIs and two T20Is picking up a total of 202 wickets.”During the past 12 years,” Gabriel said on Instagram on Wednesday, “I have dedicated myself to playing international cricket for the West Indies. Playing this beloved game at the highest level has brought me immense joy, but as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Today, I am announcing my retirement from International cricket.”Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude to God for the numerous blessings and the opportunities my family and I have received during my time playing for the West Indies. Secondly, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Cricket West Indies administrators, coaches, and staff members. Words cannot adequately convey the appreciation I have for your hard work and support over the years. Last but not least, I am grateful to my teammates and all those who have stood by me and supported me along the way. You have made my journey to the top truly special.”Moving forward, my plan is to continue representing my country [Trinidad and Tobago], club, and franchise teams around the world with the same love and passion I have shown throughout my career.”2:31
Archive: What’s the big deal about Shannon Gabriel?
Gabriel was at his best in Test cricket, where he used his height and his strength to great effect, sometimes even on lifeless pitches. He holds the fourth-best match-figures for a West Indian – 13 for 121, which he picked up at home against Sri Lanka in June 2018. His ability to generate pace and bounce were impressive enough that West Indies fast bowling legend Courtney Walsh compared him to Patrick Patterson and Ian Bishop. It took a while for him to tap into these gifts consistently but by 2017 he became a regular member of the team and was part of famous wins like the one against England at Headingley.The other big moment of Gabriel’s career came with the bat, when he took strike in Dominica with West Indies nine down against Pakistan. There were only seven balls left to draw the Test, and with it, the series. He went for a big slog and got bowled. This was 10 days after he put in a Player-of-the-Match performance to help West Indies to a bounce-back victory.Gabriel ran into further trouble in 2019 when he was banned for four ODIs after making an apparently homophobic remark at Joe Root. He accepted the sanction and apologised for his behaviour but did insist, later, that the incident was blown out of proportion.Gabriel last represented West Indies in July 2023 but has since been active in domestic cricket, playing for Trinidad and Tobago. Last year, he was part of the Abu Dhabi T10 as well.
It is make or break for Sunderland this afternoon as their 2024/25 campaign will be defined by the outcome of today’s Championship play-off final clash with Sheffield United.
The Black Cats beat Coventry City 3-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals of the play-offs, thanks to a dramatic late winner in extra-time from central defender Dan Ballard, sending the Stadium of Light into raptures.
Regis Le Bris now faces the unenviable task of selecting the right starting XI to take to the field against Sheffield United this afternoon at Wembley, and Chris Rigg is one player who should be brought back in.
Why Chris Rigg should start
Sunderland know that this is a high-stakes game and that any small errors could be the difference between another season in the Championship or playing Premier League football in the 2025/26 campaign.
Sunderland'sChrisRiggand Wilson Isidor celebrate after the match
Therefore, it could make sense to bring in another midfielder who can provide solidity just ahead of Dan Neil and Jobe Bellingham, making it even harder for the Blades to break them down.
In the regular Championship season, Rigg won four duels per game on average, winning 47% of his battles overall, and averaged 1.6 tackles and interceptions per game, without a single error that led to a goal or a penalty for the opposition.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
This means that the teenage midfielder would add another layer of defensive insurance ahead of the back four by coming into the side, but it would also mean that Eliezer Mayenda would have to drop to the bench to make way for the English ace to play behind Wilson Isidor.
Why Eliezer Mayenda should be dropped
Le Bris should ruthlessly drop the 20-year-old starlet to the bench for today’s final in order to make room for Rigg to provide a reliable presence at the top of the midfield.
This would also provide Mayenda with the opportunity to come on as an impact substitute, which suits his style of play with his directness and pace on the counter-attack, as he could cause problems for a tired Sheffield United defence late on.
Sunderland's Eliezer Mayenda celebrates scoring their first goal
His disappointing performance against Coventry in the second leg of the semi-final, though, suggests that it may be too much of a gamble to play him from the start.
Minutes
120
Goals + assists
0
Successful dribbles
2/6
Pass accuracy
29% (2/7)
Duels won
6/18
Key passes
0
Possession lost
15x
As you can see in the table above, Mayenda played the full 120 minutes against the Sky Blues and only completed two passes, without creating any chances, and lost the vast majority of his duels.
This suggests that he could be a liability in the final from the start if he produced a similar kind of performance, as the Sheffield United players could find it too easy to beat him in duels and to intercept his passes.
Therefore, dropping him for Rigg, who has won 47% of his duels and completed 79% of his passes in the Championship, could increase Sunderland’s chances of being solid from the start.
Le Bris would then have the option to bring Mayenda’s pace off the bench to make an impact late on, by taking Rigg off to play the Frenchman in a front two with Isidor, which is why this could be a good tactical move for multiple reasons.
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Sunderland could be about to pick up their next Enzo Le Fee with this summer buy.
Uncontracted trio of Behrendorff, Agar and Tye also named, while Ellis and Meredith won’t play for Tasmania next week
Alex Malcolm19-Sep-2024Injury-prone Cricket Australia contracted pace duo of Lance Morris and Jhye Richardson are set for domestic white-ball returns. Both quicks have been named in Western Australia’s 14-man squad for their opening One-Day Cup matches against New South Wales and South Australia, on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively, at Cricket Central in Sydney.Morris has not played cricket at any level since suffering a side strain in February during what was his second ODI, with the injury ending his season. Routine scans during the off-season showed a hot spot in his back despite not feeling any pain. Morris was ruled out of playing in the Major League Cricket, and was also not considered for Australia’s limited-overs tour of the UK.He will begin a slow build back towards a red-ball return, and will likely only play one of the two 50-over matches next week, with WA naming six fast bowlers in their squad. That includes the uncontracted veteran duo Jason Behrendorff and Andrew Tye.Related
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Richardson, meanwhile, did play over the winter after coming off a horror run of hamstring and shoulder injuries in recent seasons. He played one game in the IPL for Delhi Capitals, and then three matches for Perth Scorchers in the Top End T20 Series in Darwin in August.Richardson’s return to domestic 50-over cricket is another step forward for him, but it remains to be seen whether he will be fit enough to return to first-class cricket with the Sheffield Shield in October.Uncontracted left-arm spinner Ashton Agar has also been named in WA’s squad, alongside Behrendorff and Tye after also opting to become a freelance cricketer.Cameron Bancroft looks set to keep wicket for WA, with Josh Inglis away on national duty. Former WA back-up wicketkeeper-batter and 50-over opener Josh Philippe is set to face his old side on Sunday for the first time after moving to New South Wales. Philippe was a key part of WA’s hat-trick of One-Day Cup titles, having played in all three and been Player of the Tournament in 2022-23.WA are looking to become the first men’s side in Australian One-Day domestic history to claim four consecutive titles, even as they have won five of the last seven.Elsewhere, Nathan Ellis and Riley Meredith won’t play in Tasmania’s opening two One-Day Cup matches against Victoria and Queensland in Melbourne, on Monday and Wednesday, respectively.Ellis is still recovering from the hamstring injury that saw him ruled out of Australia’s limited-overs tour of the UK, while Meredith only arrived back in Australia this week and is set for another scan on the side he injured in the opening match of the tour against Scotland. Ellis did not play in any of Australia’s next four T20I matches due to side soreness before returning home, and his recovery time is still to be determined.
It is no understatement to say that Glasgow Rangers require a major overhaul this summer.
Not just in the playing squad or staff members, but in mentality. Since the Ibrox side won the Premiership title in 2021, the Gers have won only two trophies since.
In comparison, Celtic have won every available league title on offer and have clinched a domestic double this season, although they did lose to Aberdeen in the SFA Cup final.
Rangers interim managerBarryFergusonbefore the match
Things have to change at Ibrox, and fast. The 49ers’ involvement should give those at the club a boost, but the priority is a new manager.
The likes of Steven Gerrard and Davide Ancelotti have been linked with a move to Glasgow, while several other candidates have been touted for the vacant role.
Whoever becomes the next permanent manager will have work to do in order to improve the first-team squad this summer.
There are various positions that need urgent improvement, no doubt about that. Furthermore, several players could be sold to raise funds and help reduce the wage bill.
Cyriel Dessers may finish the season as the top scorer in the Premiership, but if a reasonable offer comes in this summer, the club should cash in.
Why Rangers must sell Cyriel Dessers
Never has a Rangers player exuded more Jekyll and Hyde-like qualities than Dessers. One minute, he is simply unplayable, causing chaos for opposition defenders domestically and in Europe.
Next, he struggles with the easiest of chances and offers next to nothing in the final third.
There is no doubt about his record in front of goal for the Light Blues since he joined in a deal worth £4.5m from Cremonese in the summer of 2023. Indeed, the Nigerian striker has scored 51 goals and grabbed 16 assists across 109 games for the club during his first two seasons.
On the surface, this is an impressive record in front of goal. He has shone in Europe, with his display against Fenerbahce one of the finest by a Gers forward in quite a while.
Unfortunately, these performances are few and far between. Throughout the 2023/24 league season, Dessers missed a staggering 27 big chances across 35 matches.
Over the same number of games in 2024/25, he missed 21 big chances, a slight improvement, but still not great.
Metric
2023/24
2024/25
Goals
16
18
Assists
4
2
Shots per game
2.9
2.4
Big chances missed
27
21
Goal conversion percentage
16%
22%
During the winter transfer window, several clubs were linked with making a move for Dessers. Saint-Étienne, Cagliari, and Empoli were all showing interest in securing a move for the 30-year-old.
Much to the disappointment of large sections of the support, the centre-forward remained in Glasgow until the end of the season at least.
He has two years left on his current contract, which suggests now would be the ideal time to cash in and secure a decent fee for the player.
This could be used to fund future signings, especially a couple of younger players with a higher ceiling for growth.
Dessers shouldn’t be the only player to be moved on this summer by the new manager. Nedim Bajrami is reportedly attracting interest from afar, and now might be a good time to part ways with the Albanian.
Nedim Bajrami has offers on the table
According to reports in Albania (as relayed by Glasgow Times), Bajrami has two options on the table with regard to a summer exit away from the Light Blues.
One comes from the Italian top flight, while the other is from the Bundesliga, and the report states that the midfielder is likely to leave Glasgow when the transfer window finally opens.
Much will depend on the price, however, as the 49ers will be keen on recouping much of the £3.4m that was spent on the Albanian last summer.
It’s safe to say he hasn’t exactly enjoyed the most productive of campaigns in Scotland, despite arriving with plenty of hype.
What exactly went wrong with Bajrami?
Why Rangers must sell Nedim Bajrami this summer
The 26-year-old had impressed for his country at Euro 2024, scoring an incredible opener against Italy after just 23 seconds.
A move to Ibrox in the final days of the summer transfer window looked like a real coup for Philippe Clement.
What looked like a potentially transformative signing for the club eventually turned into a waste of money. Across 44 games for Rangers, he only scored five goals and chipped in with four assists, showing that he has rarely made a big impact at the top end of the pitch.
Considering the sum of money the club had paid, this was hardly the best of returns, especially following a decent start to life in Glasgow.
The midfielder only started 15 Premiership matches, creating only four big chances, averaging one key pass and succeeding with just one dribble per game in the top flight.
In Europe, Bajrami didn’t fare much better. Indeed, he could only muster a single goal from 11 appearances, winning less than half of his total duels per game and averaging 1.3 key passes per game, which shows how ineffective he has been on the European stage since his move to Ibrox.
Bajrami
The nadir came against Queen’s Park in the Scottish Cup back in February. Rangers suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat – arguably one of their worst domestic losses – but Bajrami was subbed at half-time following a dismal display.
Stevie Clifford, who runs Four Lads Had a Dream, criticised the Albanian a month before, saying:
“I’ll highlight it again, it’s not singling him out, but Nedim Bajrami is not offering enough at all.
“We need him to influence games & be involved, largely anonymous so far, again.
“£4m is big money to do it in these type of games & he’s miles off it so far.”
All of these points point towards a likely summer exit when the window opens next month. Should Rangers receive a bid that is deemed acceptable, then they must be ready to cash in.
He didn’t live up to initial expectations, and regardless of who the new manager is, Bajrami’s future already looks settled with the offers that are on the table from other clubs.
Hopefully, he can make better signings this summer.
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da pinup bet： Ao entrar em campo nesta quinta-feira (25), às 19h (de Brasília), o Fluminense se deparará com um duro obstáculo no confronto com o The Strongest. O fato da partida ser realizada no Estádio Hernando Siles, em La Paz, cerca de 3.600 acima do nível do mar, vem sendo um trunfo para o Tigre em edições da Copa Libertadores.
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da bet nacional： A equipe não é derrotada como mandante por brasileiros na Libertadores desde o longínquo ano de 2013. Desde então, o The Strongest obteve cinco vitórias e dois empates em jogos válidos pela competição.
Para minimizar os efeitos causados pela altitude, a delegação tricolor viajará nesta quarta-feira (24) e, após se prepararem em Santa Cruz de La Sierra, irão perto da partida para o Hernando Siles.
+ 10% OFF nos mantos internacionais a partir de R$299,90 com o cupom: LANCEFUT
+ Veja os próximos jogos da Copa Libertadores!
Porém, há bons presságios que levam supersticiosos tricolores a ficarem otimista em um resultado positivo. A equipe brasileira que derrotou o The Strongest se tornou campeã da Copa Libertadores posteriormente. Em plena altitude, o Galo capitaneado por Ronaldinho Gaúcho saiu na frente com Diego Tardelli. A equipe boliviana igualou com Reina. Na reta final, em meio ao sacrifício, Méndez marcou contra e definiu a vitória por 2 a 1.
Outro fator contribui para a confiança da torcida. Atualmente nas Laranjeiras, o meia Lima defendia o Ceará na partida na qual o Vozão desbancou os donos da casa com uma vitória por 2 a 1. A virada veio nos acréscimos, em jogo suado pela Copa Sul-Americana.
Aston Villa are now looking to beat Championship leaders Leeds United to the signing of a £20 million midfielder this summer, according to a recent report.
Emery eyeing new-look Aston Villa attack
Since the arrival of Unai Emery, Villa have been a side that have always maximised the most out of the transfer windows. It looks as though this summer is going to fall in a similar style for the Villans, as they already have their eye on several new attacking players for next season.
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Last week it was reported that Emery has approved Villa chasing after Ferran Torres of Barcelona, as he feels the Spain international will fit into his attacking system. As of now, Villa have only expressed an interest in Torres, and if they want to complete a transfer, Barca are looking to get around 35 to 40 million euros.
Ademola Lookman is also another winger that is of interest to the Villans, as they keep a close eye on his situation between now and the end of the campaign.
Atalanta's AdemolaLookmanin action
The Nigeria international is expected to leave Atalanta at the end of the season, and the Midlands side are among a long list of teams keen on securing a transfer.
Chelsea’s Noni Madueke is another who has now emerged on Villa’s radar, and they are considering making an offer to sign the winger, despite the fact that AC Milan have already made a £33 million bid.
Aston Villa pushing to beat Leeds in race to sign £20m ace
It is not just attackers on Villa’s shortlist ahead of the summer, as Emery also wants to improve his midfield options. According to TEAMtalk, Aston Villa are interested in signing Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin this summer.
The report states that Raskin was watched by several European sides during this international break, as he received a standing ovation for his performance for Belgium in what was his first full senior start for his country. It is claimed that Rangers may struggle to keep hold of the midfielder beyond this summer, as Villa, along with Leeds and Brentford, have been left impressed by his performances in Scotland and in Europe.
There are clubs from Germany and Italy who are also taking notice of the midfielder, but Villa know already how much it will take for them to beat the opposition in this transfer race. Given Raskin is under contract until 2027, the Gers are looking to get £20 million or more for the player, who has been described as the “best midfielder” in Scotland by Rangers’ sporting director Nils Koppen.
Nicolas Raskin’s 24/25 Scottish Premiership stats
Apps
26
Starts
22
Goals
1
Assists
5
Interceptions per 90
0.8
Tackles per 90
3.0
Duels won per 90 (success)
4.5 (59%)
“With his big fighting heart, he has made himself enormously popular with our fanbase. After his strong performances in the Old Firm against Celtic and in Europe against Man United, Tottenham and Fenerbahçe, he is seen by our supporters as the best midfielder in Scotland,” said Koppen.
“He is different from the other midfielders in the national team. That combination of footballing qualities with a healthy aggression makes him a unique profile.”
There will be no domestic trophies for Manchester United this season as they have already been knocked out of the FA Cup and the League Cup, whilst being out of contention for the Premier League.
Their top-flight season has been particularly disappointing as they are currently sat in 13th place with just ten wins and 12 losses in the division so far.
Manchester United manager RubenAmorimduring the press conference
The Red Devils have struggled in numerous areas, hence why they are so low down in the table, but goalscoring has been a significant problem for Ruben Amorim’s team, as it was for Erik Ten Hag’s.
Manchester United have only scored 37 goals in 29 matches in the Premier League, which is the second-lowest tally (behind Crystal Palace’s 36) in the top 14 teams in the division.
Despite beating Leicester City 3-0 last time out, goalscoring remains a problem for United moving forward and it has been an issue throughout the squad, not just in the forward department.
Why Manchester United have scored so few goals
The Red Devils have created 42.79 xG worth of chances in the Premier League so far this season, which shows that the overall team have underperformed in front of goal.
Essentially, United have not done enough to make the most of the high-quality opportunities that they have created in matches, and that has cost them throughout the season – as evidenced by their goal output and league position.
Most xG for Manchester United
24/25 Premier League
xG
Goals
xG differential
Bruno Fernandes
8.95
8
-0.95
Alejandro Garnacho
7.35
4
-3.35
Joshua Zirkzee
4.36
3
-1.36
Amad Diallo
3.87
6
+2.13
Rasmus Hojlund
3.47
3
-0.47
Stats via WhoScored
As you can see in the table above, four of the five players with the most xG in the Premier League for the Red Devils this term have underperformed, with only Amad Diallo elevating the quality of his chances to score two more goals.
These statistics can either suggest that United are creating chances for the wrong players and should be looking to create more for other stars, or that the board – simply – need to invest in the squad to improve their attacking options in the upcoming summer window.
Manchester United's RasmusHojlundwith assistant head coach Carlos Fernandes during training
Rasmus Hojlund, signed from Atalanta for £72m in the summer of 2023, is the club’s number nine and has only scored three goals in 24 appearances in the top-flight, underperforming against his xG.
Manchester United are, now, reportedly interested in adding another centre-forward to their ranks in the summer, and that could be very bad news for the Danish marksman.
The latest on Man Utd's pursuit of Bundesliga star
According to Football Insider, Manchester United are one of a number of European sides showing an interest in Eintracht Frankfurt number nine Hugo Ekitike.
The report claims that the Red Devils are planning to add a new striker to their squad in the upcoming summer transfer window, and that they are keeping close tabs on the Bundesliga star.
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It adds that Frankfurt will demand a ‘huge’ fee for their centre-forward, although it does not state exactly how much, and reveals that Newcastle United and other ‘elite’ European teams are in the race to secure the former Paris Saint-Germain ace’s signature.
This suggests that Manchester United will face plenty of competition as they plot a swoop to land the France U21 international to bolster their attacking options ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Ekitike, who has been compared to the likes of Alexander Isak and Omar Marmoush, rejected a move to Newcastle in 2022, which suggests that the Red Devils may have the edge over the Magpies in this race unless the 22-year-old forward has changed his mind on a switch to Tynecastle since then.
The news that United are plotting a ‘huge’ swoop to sign the Frankfurt centre-forward should, now, come as very bad news to Hojlund, as it could end his chances of nailing down the number nine position as his own moving forward.
Why signing Hugo Ekitike would be bad news for Rasmus Hojlund
The Denmark international has been competing with Joshua Zirkzee for the striker role this season and they have combined for just six goals between them, which shows that neither of them have been the reliable forward that Amorim has needed.
Because Zirkzee has also struggled for goals, Hojlund has had plenty of chances to start games – starting 17 times in the top-flight – but those opportunities could be limited by the arrival of a new marksman.
Ekitike, who scored a hat-trick against England’s U21s during the break, is a centre-forward who has the potential to nail down the position as his own as a regular starter, leaving Hojlund and Zirkzee feeding on scraps as substitutes or as rotation options in cup competitions.
Analyst Ben Mattinson recently claimed that the 22-year-old star “is one of the best strikers out there” and it is hard to argue with that when you look at his form for club and country.
Along with his hat-trick for France’s U21s, Ekitike has produced 19 goals and eight assists in all competitions for Frankfurt this season, including three goals from 2.58 xG in the Europa League.
24/25
Hojlund (Premier League)
Ekitike (Bundesliga)
Starts
17
23
Goals
3
13
Minutes per goal
483
145
Big chances created
3
7
Key passes per game
0.5
1.4
Assists
0
4
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the French starlet has significantly outperformed Hojlund at league level so far this term, with ten more goals and four more assists.
These statistics suggest that the Ekitike would come in as a huge upgrade on the Danish marksman and that is why his arrival at Old Trafford in the summer transfer window would be very bad news for the former Atalanta man.
It could result in his game time being heavily restricted, as Amorim may want his best number nine to start week-in-week-out, and that could force the £72m signing to consider his long-term future at the club.
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Therefore, Hojlund may hope to enjoy a strong end to the Premier League and Europa League season to show the manager and the board that he has what it takes to be the first-choice, because his form to date suggests that the signing of Ekitike is very much needed.
Did Dwayne Bravo’s absence help Super Kings, and how crucial is Sarfaraz Khan to Kings XI’s prospects?
ESPNcricinfo staff06-Apr-20192:05
Five reasons why Super Kings beat Kings XI
The target: 161After 12 overs of the chase, Kings XI: 91 for 2, just 70 away with 48 balls leftFrom there, Kings XI added just 47 more runs, lost three more wickets and finished 22 behind Chennai Super Kings’ 160 for 3, undone at Chepauk with a botched chase. Chepauk isn’t the easiest pitch to score runs on when the ball gets old. Kings XI found that out to their consternation on Saturday.But the slowdown was dramatic as it was dismal.ESPNcricinfo LtdKL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan, the batsmen in the middle – and seemingly in control – hit not a single four or six for 37 balls, between overs 11.5 to 18.1. The required rate at 11.5 overs was a gettable 8.69. At 18.1, with 11 balls left, it had soared to 19.25.It was abject all right.Bravo’s injury a blessing in disguise for Super Kings?”It’s a big loss, he offers so much balance to the team,” Mike Hussey, the Chennai Super Kings batting coach, said when Dwayne Bravo was ruled out for two weeks, just before their match against Kings XI Punjab, saying that “a little bit of rejigging” was on the cards as a result.Bravo, at his best, is a superb late-order batsman, a wicket-taking medium-pacer, and an outstanding fielder. He’s also 35, and not at the peak of his powers any more.In fact, as a death bowler, which has been his primary role with Super Kings of late, Bravo has been far from at his best since the start of the last IPL season.ESPNcricinfo LtdWith Bravo gone, Super Kings needed two replacements. Quite usual when it comes to a star allrounder. So MS Dhoni had Faf du Plessis to open with Shane Watson, pushed Ambati Rayudu down the order, and handed Scott Kuggeleijn an IPL debut.”We have communicated to all the players as to what are the scenarios where they will feature in. And I think it’s that one slot, you know, that will keep changing according to the opposition and the conditions,” Dhoni had explained after Super Kings’ first win of the season, at the time speaking specifically about Harbhajan Singh taking the field against Royal Challengers Bangalore.By playing only three overseas players in their last game, Super Kings had left room for a double substitution for one man’s absence. Useful. And very Dhoni. Not to forget du Plessis’ contribution in his first match of the season: 54 in 38 balls, and a big part in Super Kings’ best opening stand for the season so far, 56 in 7.2 overs with Shane Watson. And Kuggeleijn’s – his first delivery in the IPL went for a six courtesy Sarfaraz, but he ended with 2 for 37, picking up two wickets later on.Sarfaraz gives Kings XI middle-order solidity Kings XI finished one from bottom in IPL 2018, with six wins from 14 games. Among the reasons for that could well have been the excessive dependence on Chris Gayle and KL Rahul at the top and the poor run by the middle-order batsmen (Nos. 4 to 6).Speaking specifically about the No. 4, perhaps the most crucial position among those three in terms of putting up the big runs, last season, Kings XI needed a No. 4 to go in 13 times, and played Karun Nair there on eight occasions (149 runs), Yuvraj Singh twice (24), and Aaron Finch (26), Marcus Stoinis (1) and Manoj Tiwary (35) once each.This year, it has been David Miller once, against Mumbai Indians when he scored 15 not out off 10 balls, and Sarfaraz Khan on every other occasion. And Sarfaraz has delivered on the whole, with scores of 46 not out, 13, 39 and, in Chennai against Super Kings in the latest outing, 67. It can, of course, be argued that his last innings took 59 balls, and contributed in the slowdown that led to a 22-run defeat.ESPNcricinfo LtdWith Gayle slotted in to provide the early impetus, Rahul there to bat through the innings if possible, and Mayank Agarwal, Miller and Mandeep Singh around to play specific roles, it’s the No. 4 hole that Kings XI desperately needed someone to make his own. Sarfaraz has put his hand up. Now to clean up the finishing act.Whose ‘home’ is it anyway?It was a good day out for the two lead offspinners from the two sides.Ashwin, the Chennai boy in the opposition camp, came on and bowled the second over of the Super Kings innings, sent back Watson in his second over, the eighth of the innings, and then bowled a double-wicket over, his last and the 14th of the innings, to finish with 3 for 23. Watson, du Plessis and Suresh Raina not a bad bagful at all.After the change of innings, it was the turn of the Punjab boy in the Chennai line-up, Harbhajan. Second over of Kings XI’s chase, and the veteran, with lower speeds and more turn than usual, first got Gayle to nick behind to Dhoni, and then had Mayank Agarwal holing out at long-on for a double-wicket maiden. Damage was done very, very early on.ESPNcricinfo LtdHarbhajan delivered only the sixth maiden over in Powerplays in IPL history. Amazingly, three of those are against his name. Together, Ashwin and Harbhajan conceded five runs an over in a game where the scoring rate hovered around 7.5.
With their sights set on promotion, Leeds United are set to be handed the boost of a returning player when they square off against Queens Park Rangers this weekend.
Leeds recieve fresh injury boost
There may have been a sigh of relief around Elland Road when Leeds overcame Millwall to win 2-0 and instantly got back to winning ways after suffering shock defeat against Portsmouth just days before. Back on track, Daniel Farke’s side now sit two points above second placed Sheffield United and four clear of Burnley in third with just nine games left to play in the Championship.
Those in Yorkshire will be more aware than most that it’s not done until their place in the Premier League is confirmed and, as ever, they face a nervous final stretch towards potential promotion.
With nine finals remaining, Farke will need to use the quality of his squad more than ever. It is a side full of talent, from the likes of Manor Solomon – who has rediscovered his best form – to important midfielder Ao Tanaka. Now, that side must simply hold their nerve.
What will undoubtedly help them do just that is the boost of recent injury news. As revealed by Farke, Isaac Schmidt is now set to make his return against QPR after returning to training. The defender missed the victory over Millwall through illness but has seemingly since recovered in time for this weekend.
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Speaking to reporters about his side’s injury status, Farke said: “As it stands I hope I have that whole group plus Isaac Schmidt to pick from for the travelling squad.
“In terms of the starting line-up and who has recovered, we’ll make some late decisions. This turnaround is a bit more tricky. We had more or less 80 hours to recover for Millwall, this time around just over 60 hours. It will be a bit more tricky. Travelling is involved of course.”
Every player counts for Leeds in vital run
Whilst Schmidt hasn’t been one to steal the headlines throughout the current campaign, often watching on from the bench, he could be thrust into Farke’s side at any given moment and he, like others, must help the Whites in their push for promotion.
Having arrived in the summer, Schmidt has found himself at the centre of Farke’s praise even whilst playing a cameo role. The former Norwich City boss told reporters earlier this season: “Great guy, a bit like I mention also about all our new signings.
Isaac Schmidt for Leeds United.
“I think still at a really good age because he is more likely still on his way up the hill in his career. Great mentality, also desperate to play for the shirt, desperate to play for us, great character, so really nice guy and really nice team-mate.”
Now back from a brief absence, Schmidt will no doubt have his sights set on putting every minute that he does receive to good use as he aims to leave his mark on Leeds’ promotion push.