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New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said the team will have to improve on clinching the small margins in close matches, after they lost both the ODI and T20I series deciders in India by six runs

Vishal Dikshit in Thiruvananthapuram08-Nov-20171:41

‘It was a tricky surface’ – Williamson

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson did not look like an unhappy leader despite losing both the ODI and the T20I series in India. What pleased him about his team’s performance across both series was the way the visitors gave India a fight by turning the last match of each series into a decider and further taking it to the last over. In the third ODI in Kanpur, New Zealand nearly chased down 338, losing by only six runs, and in the deciding T20I in Thiruvananthapuram, they fell short by the same margin when chasing 68 in a rain-curtailed match.”I thought in both of them [deciders] we were very good, just not quite good enough,” Williamson said on Tuesday night. “That’s the challenge; both of them came down to the last couple of balls and when that is the case, there are such small margins that we look to make those improvements. But on a whole, as a unit we are constantly trying to improve and get better. And I think, we have seen that throughout the series but there’s still a way to go to where we want to be.”We’ve showed some really good signs, like I said such a fine line, especially in white-ball cricket and we saw that throughout the series. It was a really tough-fought series, both teams played really good competitive cricket and for a lot of games to come down to the last three balls makes for good watching but a shame to be on the wrong side.”The margins in the deciding T20I were also slimmer, with rain curtailing the match to eight overs a side on a new ground. The pitch at the Greenfield International Stadium turned out to be damp and assisted bowlers with turn and moisture.”Naturally, when it gets shortened to eight overs, you can sort of plan prior to going out with eight overs and only having to bowl four bowlers,” Williamson said. “It kind of means that you’re not too fluid in how you’re going to operate. So, the guys coming out were essentially playing death in terms of their batting from ball one. So it was more to do with the surface and what we wanted to finish with today but it’s something different because you don’t experience it too much, you get 20 overs each and this is something different. You have to think on your feet.Martin Guptill loses his off stump•BCCI”I suppose when the game is that short as well, to try and get a read on the surface is quite tough because you’re trying to generate a strike-rate straightaway and it was a tricky surface so to get eight an over on that, from India’s perspective was a good effort. We knew it was going to be tough and we got very close, just a shame we couldn’t get across the line.”Eight an over on that surface is fairly difficult. Perhaps a lot more difficult than on another surface. It is just trying to adapt as best you can, take the best options but even with eight overs, you don’t have to go silly. You need to play smart cricket because there is still a lot of balls that you need to score off and then you get a couple of boundaries away, it goes a long way to chasing that total down. But it was a very tricky surface and for it to be so close, I guess we go back to how we want to execute. You can look at a number of areas but it was so close and I think we keep competing well, keep improving as a unit and we will get some more wins.”While defending their score of 67, India had the added advantage of using their prime and in-form bowlers, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah, to bowl half their overs. India captain Virat Kohli also used them differently: he finished Bhuvneshwar’s quota by the halfway mark and gave Bumrah the penultimate over. The last over was bowled by Hardik Pandya.”In terms of a T20 generally, you have the start of the game and the death phase which is the last whatever depending on how many wickets they have lost so…five or six and you tend to see those two fantastic death bowlers bowling again,” Williamson said. “When it’s eight overs, they’re kind of on the defense because batsmen are coming out so aggressively. And the nature of the surface…it was taking so much turn. All bowlers were a threat out there and I suppose batsmen were trying their best trying to generate a strike-rate.”Four bowlers being allowed two overs each also meant New Zealand did not have to use their fifth bowler, an area that has been a weak link on the tour. They have mainly utilised allrounder Colin de Grandhomme and Colin Munro to make up for that fifth bowler and Williamson admitted that combination was new to deal with for them. He also said players were trying to adapt to their roles in the team after New Zealand made changes to their top and middle orders.”I suppose that fifth-bowling role for us is fairly new,” he said. “Colin – both Colins I suppose and some of the part-time spinners – they are relatively new to that role to make up those 10 overs. But we certainly know in some conditions how effective they can be and we saw Colin de Grandhomme throughout the IPL bowl exceptionally well for Kolkata [Knight Riders]. It is a balancing act on different surfaces. The batting unit has a really nice balance to it but it is just trying to adapt, read the game the best you can and seeing our bowlers adapt well.”

Manchester United have been scouting a "tenacious" midfielder for "a long time" and could turn their attention to him should a deal for Sofyan Amrabat not materialise, per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Manchester United news – what is the latest?

It's been a brilliant transfer window for United fans so far this summer, and while it may have started a little slow, with some fans worrying that the spending of other sides would blow them away, they have ended up with a significantly improved squad with half of August left to try and add even more quality where they can.

One of the names that has been most heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford this summer is Fiorentina midfielder and World Cup star, Amrabat. The 26-year-old had a brilliant 12 months for club and country and has been touted with a switch to the Theatre of Dreams for weeks.

However, whilst the three-time European champions remain the favourites to land their man – and his preferred destination – a deal has had to wait due to other deals taking priority and the need to offload players before outlaying even more on any incomings.

Read the latest Manchester United transfer news HERE…

With that in mind, should a deal for the Moroccan not materialise for whatever reason, the Red Devils have a list with several potential alternatives, including Everton's highly rated Amadou Onana, per transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

He explained the situation live on The United Stand's YouTube channel, saying:

"Onana from Everton is another player that United have always appreciated, and they have been scouting him for a long time, so I think they have multiple names into the list."

How good is Amadou Onana?

It should come as no surprise that with the interest the Belgian has garnered from the likes of Arsenal, West Ham United, and now Manchester United, he is a quality operator and would be an excellent addition to the majority of football clubs.

Last year was his first in England, but you wouldn't be able to tell from his performances as he was consistently one of the few bright sparks in an otherwise dismal season for the Toffees.

In his 29 league starts last year, the 21-year-old scored one goal, provided two assists, maintained a passing accuracy of 84%, won 1.8 aerial duals and averaged an impressive match rating of 6.71, per WhoScored.

His performances are only made all the more impressive when you consider the dysfunctional team around him, and had he not been playing, there is a very good chance Everton wouldn't be a Premier League team this season.

Described as both an "aggressive & tenacious tackler" whilst also possessing "above-average technical skills" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, the £100,000-a-week titan could be precisely the kind of "one-man army" ten Hag needs to round out his squad this season.

Even if the Red Devils can secure the services of Amrabat before the window slams shut on September 1st, it might be a good idea to try and land Onana as well, to help the team fight on multiple fronts this year.

After Farhad Reza’s impressive bowling limited Rangpur Riders to 134 for 5, Rajshahi Kings ran down the target with fluent fifties from openers Mominul Haque and Lendl Simmons

The Report by Mohammad Isam11-Nov-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsRaton Gomes/BCBAfter Farhad Reza’s impressive bowling limited Rangpur Riders to 134 for 5, Rajshahi Kings ran down the target with fluent fifties from openers Mominul Haque and Lendl Simmons. This was Rajshahi’s first win of the season in three attempts, and Rangpur’s second successive loss.Rangpur became the first team to opt to bat first this season, but most of their batsmen struggled on a two-paced pitch. Reza struck twice in his first over and was complemented by the frugal Mehidy Hasan. After being reduced to 33 for 3 in four overs, Rangpur recovered with a measured fifty from Ravi Bopara.But Mominul and Simmons, playing his first match of the season, added 122 runs for the opening stand and ensured the chase was a cruise. Both Simmons and Waller fell in the 16th over, before Rony Talukdar sealed the win with a pulled four in the next over.The action-packed overReza’s first over – the fourth of the innings – contained a mighty six, a dropped catch, and the wickets of Adam Lyth and Mohammad Mithun. Reza started the over with a leg-side wide, and watched Mithun charge out and lift the next ball over the long-on boundary. Reza then could have had Mithun caught behind with an outswinger, but Mushfiqur Rahim, the stand-in captain, shelled the chance, and the ball rolled away to the third-man boundary. Reza found success when he had Adam Lyth holing out to cover with his fourth legitimate ball. He followed it with the wicket of Mithun to round off an eventful over.The recoveryBopara, too, could have been dismissed on 2 when a nip-backer from Reza shaved the outside of the off stump but the bails stayed put. Bopara then staged a slow recovery with Shahriar Nafees, adding 49 for the fourth wicket in nine overs. Nafees, who needed 26 balls to find the boundary, fell for 23 off 31 balls in the 13th over, but Bopara went onto bring up a fifty off 49 balls.He came into his own when he hit three boundaries in the last two overs of the innings. Ziaur Rahman assisted him with an unbeaten 11 off 10 balls. In all, Ranpur took 44 off the last five overs to give their bowlers something to bowl at.Simmons, Mominul cash inPlaying his first match of the season, Simmons kickstarted the chase with two boundaries in three balls of Lasith Malinga. Mominul then started to time the ball well, hammering sixes over long-on off Mashrafe Mortaza and Nazmul Islam. Simmons survived a chance in the 11th over when replays showed his shot towards long-off fell short of an on-rushing Lyth. Mominul, too, had been reprieved on 1 when Nazmul had dropped a sitter at deep square leg, leaving Mashrafe Mortaza irate.Mominul cashed in and went onto hit his seven half-century in T20s. He reached the landmark with his third six – clean swing over the long-on boundary. Earlier in the same over, Simmons had blasted one over mid-off and helped bring up the century stand. Mominul struck four fours and the three sixes in his 44-ball 63 not out, putting Rajshahi on board.What they said
There was a bit of miscommunication. The coach [Tom Moody] told me to field or bowl first. I heard bat first. I think we should have bowled first on this wicket.”

Celtic head coach Brendan Rodgers has been backed throughout the summer transfer window so far as the board have brought in five new signings.

Who have Celtic signed this summer?

Norwegian midfielder Odin Thiago Holm and Australia international Marco Tilio came through the door as the ex-Leicester City manager's first two pieces of incoming business.

South Korean duo Hyeok-kyu Kwon and Hyun-jun Yang then joined on the same day before Maik Nawrocki arrived from Legia Warsaw to bolster the club's defensive options.

The Hoops have also seen some talented players head out of the door as midfielder Aaron Mooy retired from professional football and Jota completed a mega £25m move to Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad.

Who could Celtic replace Jota with?

Journalist Rudy Galetti recently confirmed that the Bhoys are in the market for a winger and have an interest in Newcastle United forward Ryan Fraser, who could replace the Portuguese attacker at Parkhead.

Rodgers could unearth Jota's heir by helping the Scotland international, who was once described as a "pocket dynamo" by ex-Scotland attacker Charlie Nicholas, to get back to his best form after a few difficult seasons on Tyneside.

It would be a risky deal for Celtic as Fraser has struggled badly in recent years and there is no guarantee that he will be able to rediscover his Midas touch at the top end of the pitch. However, his time at Bournemouth earlier in his career suggests that it is a gamble worth taking.

The 29-year-old speedster joined Newcastle from the Cherries in 2020 and has only produced three goals along with six assists in 55 competitive matches for the club to date.

However, his Premier League form for Bournemouth during the 2018/19 campaign suggests that the ability is there for him to be an outstanding attacker for Celtic as he racked up eight goals and 15 assists in all competitions, which included 14 assists in 38 top-flight matches.

Fraser created a staggering 24 'big chances' and produced 2.4 key passes per game that season, which shows that he has the potential to be a phenomenal creator and fill the hole that Jota left this summer.

The former Benfica hotshot produced 11 assists in 33 Scottish Premiership outings last term and made 1.9 key passes per clash for the Bhoys – second only to Matt O'Riley in both statistics.

These statistics suggest that Jota, who created 13 'big chances', was one of Ange Postecoglou's biggest attacking threats when it came to teeing up his teammates at the top end of the pitch, which is why his exit has left a hole in the squad for another creative threat to come in.

Therefore, the £42k-per-week Magpies outcast could be a dream heir to the 24-year-old sensation if Rodgers can get him fit and firing at Parkhead this season.

The drop down in quality from the Premier League to the Premiership, given that England is ranked eight places higher than Scotland in the UEFA club coefficient, could allow Fraser to thrive and rediscover his confidence.

This could result in the exciting winger being a superb creative outlet for the Scottish giants out wide as his form for Bournemouth suggests that the potential is there for him to split open opposition defences at a phenomenal rate.

ODI cricket has been a tough stage of late for the women from the Caribbean. Two senior players tell us why that may be

Annesha Ghosh11-Oct-2017It was the best of times; it has been the worst of times. It was the epoch of belief; it is the epoch of incredulity.Rather than a Dickensian narrative, the intervening period between West Indies women’s last two World Cup campaigns lends itself more seamlessly to the German novelist and playwright Gustav Freytag’s analysis of the five-act dramatic plot structure: exposition (a promising 47-41 win-loss ratio in the build-up to the 2013 World Cup), rising action (finishing runners-up in the 2013 World Cup), climax (clinching the 2016 World T20), falling action (finishing sixth among eight teams at the 2017 World Cup with only two victories), dénouement (the following dissection of the previous four acts).As they prepare to play Sri Lanka in the opener of the ICC Women’s Championship’s second cycle on October 11, Stafanie Taylor, the captain, tells ESPNcricinfo how crucial it is to clean-sweep the three-match series in the wake of a “disappointing” World Cup three months ago.”Not just me, but everybody was disappointed with our campaign – especially the fans,” Taylor says. “Apart from the points, winning all of these three games is vital for them; it could help us revive our fans.”It’s no surprise that Taylor attaches so much currency to the fans’ perception. In last year’s World T20, the team fought their way through tears to live out the perfect ending to the underdog story at Eden Gardens on April 3 and enthralled cricket-lovers the world over with a collective display of might. After all, dethroning the Australians requires rallying around each other as a unit and fierce team-work (unless your surname is Kaur).The follow-up to the 50-overs World Cup, however, has been starkly different so far.Like any other instance of a dismal campaign at a world event, the aftermath of West Indies’ World Cup performance prompted the axing of the team’s management, including head coach Vasbert Drakes who had overseen the side even at the World T20 in 2016 after his appointment the previous year. Weighing in on the management restructure, Taylor said the team can only “accept, adjust and adapt to” such uncontrollables.”I’m not sure why a decision like that was made. A few players may have been a bit disappointed [with the decision], given we were close to the previous management. To see how it happened is a bit disappointing, but these are things we can’t control. They [the board] did what they had to do, and I am not in a position to question the board on whom they fire and hire.”A scrutiny of their performance in the 50-overs format in the recent past reveals an anomaly that’s hard to overlook. Between their first Women’s Championship match in May 2015, through to the end of their World Cup campaign in July this year, West Indies lost 14 of their 26 games and were bowled out ten times inside 50 overs during those losses. Only in three of the remaining four defeats, did they manage to bat out the entire innings. Taylor, who took over the leadership reins from Merissa Aguilleira in September 2015, led the side in 12 of those 14 losses. However, she lost only thrice in her 15 T20I assignments, during the period, with one ending in a tie.Identifying reasons behind conceding big-margin defeats in ODIs requires the team and the board to look both without and within. Taylor believes a mix of technical frailties produced by inadequacies in the domestic set-up, clubbed with some sort of mental inhibition have been at the heart of their struggles in 50-overs cricket.”That mindset of batting through a whole day, which essentially means 100 overs, can be developed only when we play more longer-format games – both at the international and domestic level.”We need to play more 50-overs cricket. Yeah, we might be a good T20 team, but we play ODIs as well. We need to have more game time in that format so we can improve. I did have some conversation with the board regarding having three-dayers and four-dayers in the longer format, just to try and get that temperament stronger.”With 22 points from 21 matches, West Indies narrowly evaded having to grind it out in the qualifying tournament for this year’s World Cup, after earning automatic qualification through a fourth-place finish in the inaugural Women’s Championship.Taylor’s assessment of the team’s struggles rules out any insecurity borne out of non-performance, though. “If you look at the structure of our team, most of us, except maybe for two or three players, have been in the team for close to three years. Some of us have been together for a long time, around seven years. So I don’t think there is any insecurity at the back of their minds. However, as players we need to be honest with ourselves, and ask, ‘Are we doing enough to stay in the team?'”IDI/Getty ImagesWhen asked if the management has tried to identify players who may be better suited to the different styles of play required in the two limited-overs formats, Taylor’s response was grounded in reality, albeit one that doesn’t bode well for the health of women’s cricket in the West Indies and in general.”We haven’t been able to narrow down to any such player so far. It’s kind of hard to choose seven to eight players separately for ODIs and T20s, because we don’t have a substantial pool of players.”In the West Indies, scouting of young talent for the national side mostly relies on the West Indies Regional Women’s Tournament, comprising the Super50 and Twenty20 competitions, but the quality of cricket in these competitions, by Taylor’s own admission, may be subject to debate.”It’s not the best. Every year we come together for a tournament that lasts for about three weeks. That’s definitely not good enough to try and build international players and even younger players coming through.”We need to structure our cricket here better. If we can get it right, we could definitely get better as a 50-overs side. Our regional cricket is not so good, so a set-up needs to be put in place to create a pool of youngsters.”Elaborating on the paucity of “polished” players in the domestic inventory, Taylor, who hails from Jamaica, cited the Kiddy Cricket programme – a flagship initiation programme managed by the West Indies board at the primary-school level – as one that could be used as a template for building the senior side. Having produced men’s international cricketers such as Kraigg Brathwaite, Shai Hope, Roston Chase and Jermaine Blackwood, along with women’s fast bolwers Britney Cooper, Kiddy Cricket has been catering to both genders since 1999 – much before women’s cricket was integrated into the operations of the West Indies board in 2006.”In Jamaica, Kiddy Cricket has yielded players as young as five and six from primary school. If you ask some random kid in the country if they’ve played Kiddy Cricket, they’d say yes. The structure is there, so maybe West Indies could have a set-up at a bigger level like that.”Echoing Taylor’s thoughts on the need for an overhaul of domestic cricket, Aguilleira, the former captain, underlined the non-uniformity of cricketing engagements across the Caribbean as being detrimental to the national side’s growth.”The depth of cricket in different parts of the Islands is not the same. In Trinidad and Tobago, my country, there’s cricket through the year: the Under-19s, the secondary-school [competitions]. So the younger girls are able to experience cricket in the form of T20 competitions, the 40-over games, and the knockouts. We even have some of the other girls coming over [to our island] and playing in our competitions. But not all the countries have a proper set-up to sustain the players. When you think about the level of domestic cricket being played there, it’s not something that could compete with the Australians and the English set-up.”Aguilleira, who captained the side to the final of the 2013 World Cup and the semi-finals of the Women’s World T20 in 2010, 2012 and 2014, sounded a note of caution over finding replacements following the future retirements of senior players.”If you look at the age group of the current West Indies players, a bunch of them will be going out at the same time. You don’t want a scenario where the team’s moving but there’s nobody to fill their place. So that’s something Cricket West Indies could look into and ensure the younger generation is nurtured.”Aguilera further pointed to “inadequate mental preparation” and a lack of match fitness in the lead up to the World Cup as reasons for the team’s underwhelming performance.”We really need to be mentally tough; cricket is just so far beyond just your skills and your fitness level. Because we’re from different countries, we don’t come together as a team regularly enough. It’s just that [five-day] camp we had before the World Cup. So it’s vital we get to play more cricket together as a team and not just in our respective countries. That’s how we can identify our problems, fix those and be mentally ready.”In a little over a year West Indies will be defending their World T20 title on home soil, but for now the significance of the Championship games, Aguillera said, is not lost on the side.”As professional cricketers, the team understands the requirements of the different formats. As defending champions, we know how important the World T20 is for us. But we’ve also been a side who’ve dominated in 50-overs cricket.”We were 2013 finalists and I think that hasn’t gone beyond us. We’re still fresh and thinking about those situations. It’s only about blocking out the negative and getting back on the winning ways with help from Hendy Springer [head coach] and Mr [Gus] Logie [assistant coach], and this series could well initiate that.”Considering her team’s history of overcoming the odds and emerging champions, despite the system, that might not be mere fanciful thinking.

Leeds United could still be set to bolster their backline, with their first Championship game having given Daniel Farke plenty of food for thought…

Who are Leeds United signing this summer?

That clash saw all three new signings from this summer present at Elland Road, as Ethan Ampadu starred in the midfield, whilst Sam Byram and Karl Darlow watched on from the bench.

However, the disappointing 2-2 draw, no matter how battling it was, showcased a continued defensive frailty that has transferred from last campaign.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

Therefore, the reports that continue to link them with a move for Manchester City’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis should have the German boss scrambling to complete a deal for the ball-playing youngster with a bright future ahead.

Pep Guardiola is expected to command a fee of around £15m for his services.

How good is Taylor Harwood-Bellis?

Despite being just 21 years old, the defensive stalwart already boasts enough experience to suggest he would instantly upgrade Farke’s current squad.

After all, the England U21 captain’s most recent success, following winning the U21 European Championship with his country, was to guide Burnley back to the Premier League under Vincent Kompany’s tutelage.

His national team boss did lead the praise for his young captain though, with Lee Carsely noting: “I thought Taylor was good tonight. He was good in Italy as well. Like a lot of these young players, he has grown into being a leader.”

As a student of Guardiola’s, the Belgian manager quickly implemented a structured style where his outfit dominated the ball. They played out from the back on every occasion, and it resulted in their comfortable title win.

Harwood-Bellis stood at the base of that success, maintaining a 7.21 average match rating in the league, the second-best of any player within Turf Moor.

This was a figure buoyed by his 90% pass accuracy and 2.6 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

In fact, despite his youth, he has already established himself as quality figure in such a role, as when ranked against others in his position in the Men's next eight competitions he sits in the top 1% for pass completion percentage per 90, the top 4% for progressive passes per 90, and the top 8% for interceptions per 90, via FBref.

Such desperation to constantly play out from the back can be likened to a star from the club he is touted to depart, as John Stones has shot to prominence as one of the best centre-backs in the world over the last few years.

Former Inter Milan defender Ivan Cordoba even noted: “I follow the Premier League and I consider it to be one of the best leagues in the world. In England I really like John Stones of Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.

"A very strong defender. He is a complete defender in everything he does. I think he is one of the best in the world."

FBref helps emphasise this, and yet the 29-year-old stars in the very attributes that Harwood-Bellis excels in too, admittedly at a much higher level. When compared against centre-backs across Europe, he ranks in the top 4% for pass completion per 90, the top 12% for progressive passes per 90, and the top 8% for progressive carries per 90.

As a couple of Englishman who thrive with the ball at their feet, both of whom reside in the Etihad, perhaps Harwood-Bellis could seek first-team opportunities elsewhere to emulate the exceptional five-time Premier League-winner.

Reece James and Mykhailo Mudryk have contrasting reputations at Chelsea. One is an academy graduate, and potentially the club’s new captain. Meanwhile, the other is an £88.5m signing who has struggled ever since making the move to Stamford Bridge.

Times are changing, however. Mudryk is finally starting to impress, showing glimpses of what he is capable of in the Blues’ first pre-season under new manager Mauricio Pochettino.

The winger even scored his first goal for the club in a friendly against Brighton & Hove Albion, orchestrating the move, before firing an unstoppable volley into the back of the net.

Mudryk’s confidence was on show in Chelsea’s latest pre-season test, too, as he linked up well with James to show off in front of the American fans in attendance.

If the London club can get the best out of their January signing, it looks like they’ll have some player on their hands.

Reece James and Mykhailo Mudryk show off in final pre-season game

As you can see from the video, the move started with James in his natural right-back position, where he burst past a couple of Borussia Dortmund players, before sending an inch-perfect pass across to the opposite flank, where Murdryk was there to control.

Keen to showboat slightly, the Ukraine international controlled the ball with a skilful flick, much to the delight of the on-watching fans. If that doesn’t show improved confidence, then we’re not sure what does.

The Blues went on to draw the game, with substitute Marius Wolf handing Dortmund the lead in the 80th minute, before 19-year-old Mason Burstow equalised from the bench for the Premier League giants just nine minutes later.

Speaking on the result, Pochettino said, via BBC Sport: “We played a brilliant game and I think we deserved to win,” he said. “To lose the game would have been unfair.

“It’s not about the result, though – it’s about the feelings and they are good after five games on tour.

“There is only one option [for Liverpool]: to be ready and we are going to be ready.”

Closing their pre-season with a draw, Chelsea can now look ahead to their opening-day clash at Stamford Bridge against Liverpool. In a game between two sides who failed to show their best form last season, it will certainly be an interesting watch.

How did Chelsea perform in pre-season?

Now that their pre-season has come to an end, Chelsea can reflect on a fairly successful run of results, as they picked up the Premier League Summer Series on their way.

Playing five games in total, the Blues didn’t lose once, defeating Brighton, Fulham, and Wrexham, whilst drawing against both Dortmund and Newcastle United, in an impressive set of results.

It could be a sign of things to come for Pochettino’s side, who have shown that they’re more than capable of scoring goals compared to last season’s misery going forward, which saw them find the back of the net just 38 times.

Fans certainly seem excited and showed this as they reacted online to Mudryk and James’ link-up against Dortmund, some examples of which you can see below:

The pair are likely to be the first batsmen to attempt filling the gap left by Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan’s retirements in the upcoming Tests against Sr Lanka, even as Pakistan have bolstered their bowling with the inclusion of uncapped fast bowler Mir

Umar Farooq23-Sep-2017Haris Sohail, who last played first-class cricket in 2014, and Usman Salahuddin have inherited the hardest jobs in Test cricket – to follow in the footsteps of Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan. The pair are likely to be the first to attempt filling those giant shoes, as Pakistan named their first Test squad in the post-MisYou era, to take on Sri Lanka in the UAE.Pakistan Test squad

Azhar Ali, Shan Masood, Sami Aslam, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Usman Salahuddin, Sarfraz Ahmed (capt), Yasir Shah, Mohammad Asghar, Bilal Asif, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas, Wahab Riaz

Pakistan, led by Sarfraz Ahmed now, have also picked uncapped fast bowler Mir Hamza and allrounder Bilal Asif in a 16-man squad for the Test series, which starts with the first Test in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Rizwan were the two exclusions from the list of probables that went through a five-day conditioning camp in Lahore recently.Much of the early focus will be on Sohail and Salahuddin, as Pakistan look to make up for losing over 15000 Test runs and nearly 200 Tests worth of experience in the middle order. Both are uncapped in Tests, but have represented Pakistan. Salahuddin played two ODIs for Pakistan in 2011, but Sohail was, for a while after his debut in July 2013, a near-fixture in the ODI side.Yasir Shah and Azhar Ali have both made it into the squad as well, and though both ordinarily would’ve been automatic selections, there was some doubt about their participation in the run-up to the announcement. Azhar, Pakistan’s most successful Test batsman over the last year or so, was in doubt with a knee problem and he sat out a two-day practice match at the camp. He has, however, been receiving treatment, according to chief selector Inzamam ul Haq, and a speedy recovery would enable him to be available for both of the Test matches. Pakistan will need, more than anything, his experience.Yasir, on the other hand, was on the verge of becoming the biggest victim of the new fitness drive coach Mickey Arthur and the management have implemented since their arrival. Already, the push to make Pakistan fitter has claimed victims in Sami Aslam and, most famously, Umar Akmal. Yasir’s fitness levels were said to have been a major concern over the last five days, but he has, apparently, pulled through and proved his fitness. Since 2014, he has been Pakistan’s most successful Test bowler.The squad was meant to be announced on Friday but was pushed until Saturday morning, allowing Yasir to undergo another fitness test to reach a value acceptable for a player to be selected. He was the Player of the Series in Pakistan’s last Test assignment in the West Indies earlier this year with 25 wickets in three Tests.”We want to maintain our standard on fitness and we told Yasir to make it or it would be impossible for us to select him,” said Inzamam. “Yasir’s success over the last three-four years has been great but we don’t want to create an exception on fitness. So we waited a day, and that is why we are announcing the team today, on the day of the team’s departure. Yasir is cleared now, having scored a value of 17.5. Azhar has a cyst in his knee and doctors have recommended he can play after taking injections to the knee. So he is fine now and available for selection, and hopefully he will remain fine all the way.”Aslam, the opener, has also been called back into the squad, suggesting the management is happier with his fitness.The two Tests will be the first time Pakistan step onto a field without both Misbah and Younis in seven years, the previous such instance coming at Lord’s in 2010. Both were the backbone of the Test squad that saw Pakistan reach the No.1 Test ranking last year. Inzamam picked Salahuddin and Sohail as prospective replacements.”I have been thinking of both Usman and Haris over the last few series, envisaging the situation after seniors [retired]. Both have done well. Usman has done well as a middle-order batsman while Harris could have made it into the side in 2015 but was injured. So the idea is to give our youngsters an opportunity in our own conditions rather than playing them in away series. This will increase their confidence and both have the potential to fill in for Younis and Misbah. But it does not mean the door is shut on other players making it into the side. Performances will obviously be considered and, if a player is good enough, he can definitely be selected.”Pakistan named five fast bowlers and three specialist spinners, a move Inzamam said was aimed at managing the workload of the bowlers who are better on flat tracks in the UAE.”We all understand that pitches in the UAE are a batting paradise, and there is a big opportunity for batsmen to score runs. It’s really a big challenge to get any team out twice so we have to strengthen our bowling. That’s why we have five fast bowlers with three spinners in our squad. Since the temperature will be around 40 degrees Celsius, we probably have to consider rotating our fast bowlers as well.”

West Ham United have “held initial talks” regarding a summer deal to sign Manchester United defensive midfielder Scott McTominay, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

Is Scott McTominay leaving Manchester United?

The Red Devils product has made 209 senior appearances since graduating from the club’s academy to become a regular feature of the first team, but last season, he fell significantly out of favour under Erik Ten Hag at Old Trafford.

In the Premier League, the 26-year-old was handed just ten starts and was forced to sit on the bench for the majority of the time, being introduced from the sidelines on 14 occasions, via WhoScored, and with the recent arrival of Mason Mount alongside Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, he’ll only continue to be out of favour and low down in the pecking order moving forward.

The Scotland international does still have another two years to run on his contract, but it’s likely that he will be on the move during this window in order to receive more game time elsewhere, and should he depart, he has an admirer in David Moyes at the London Stadium.

The Independent’s Miguel Delaney has reported that the Irons hold a “strong interest” in the central talisman who has been made a priority target by chiefs in the capital, and if the following update is to be believed, it sounds as if they have taken their admiration one step further by initiating contact.

Are West Ham signing Scott McTominay?

Taking to Twitter, Sheth revealed that West Ham have reached out to Man United to discover what it would take to get a deal over the line for McTominay in the coming weeks. He wrote:

“West Ham have held initial talks with Manchester United over Maguire & McTominay. Gap in valuations for both players. United see them as very important members of [the] squad. While not encouraging offers, it would require very big bids for United to even consider a sale.”

Who would Scott McTominay replace?

West Ham are yet to replace former captain Declan Rice following his move to Arsenal so Moyes will be aware that he needs to recruit a suitable successor, and having been dubbed a “hero” by journalist Josh Bunting, McTominay could be the ideal candidate he’s looking for.

Man United’s 6 foot 3 colossus ranked in the 99th percentile for clearances and the 98th percentile for aerial wins by midfielders last season, highlighting how strong he was at getting rid of the danger and protecting his backline, despite having a short amount of time to prove himself to Ten Hag.

The Lancaster-born talent, who also scored three goals and provided one assist across all competitions during the previous campaign, would additionally provide the boss with versatility with his ability to play in five various positions, including three roles in the midfield and at centre-back, just like Rice.

The Red Devils are reportedly looking to receive a fee of £40m in order to sanction the sale of McTominay which shouldn’t be a problem having received £105m for Rice, so if the opportunity presents itself, this is a deal that the hierarchy should be all over.

Brendan Taylor and Samit Patel put on a Finals Day record 132-run stand that lifted Nottinghamshire away from trouble and towards a maiden T20 title

George Dobell at Edgbaston02-Sep-2017A record-breaking stand between Samit Patel and Brendan Taylor helped Nottinghamshire win the NatWest Blast T20 competition for the first time.Coming together with their side reeling on 30 for 3, the pair added 132 in 81 balls – the highest partnership in the history of English Finals Days – to set the platform for an imposing final total of 190 for 4. Birmingham never really threatened in reply, leaving Notts – who had previously reached the knockout stages eight times but only once made it to the final – the winners by 22 runs.It says much for Nottinghamshire’s strength that, despite having to live without Luke Fletcher – who sustained a horrid head injury on this ground in the opening days of the tournament – and Michael Lumb, who was forced to retire mid-season, they were still strong enough to omit Stuart Broad from their side. Despite that, they used just 14 players throughout the competition and overcame the loss of their first two matches to emerge as worthy victors.Samit Patel summoned a measured half-century with Notts under pressure•Getty ImagesThe result gave Nottinghamshire an outstanding opportunity to complete a treble this season. Having already won the Royal London Cup, they are also 32 points clear at the top of the table in Division Two of the County Championship. It might be considered an eloquent response by Peter Moores, in his first full season as head coach at the club, to his second sacking as England coach. They knew, at Sussex and Lancashire, that he was a fine coach. Now they know in Nottinghamshire, too.Patel might also have felt he had a point to prove. He has seen his international career stall due to perceptions that his fitness is not all it might have been. But here he showed what a fine all-round – no pun intended – cricketer he remains. Following a semi-final performance which saw him dismiss the dangerous Shahid Afridi with the first ball of the Hampshire innings, he contributed an unbeaten 64 in the final.But the moment that appeared to give him the most satisfaction came in the field. Picking up the ball at mid-off, he produced a direct hit to run out Ed Pollock, whose half-century had done so much to help his side win their semi-final, and reduce Birmingham to 16 for 2 in the third over.It looked, initially, as if Chris Woakes might have settled this match in the opening moments. Woakes claimed three wickets in his opening couple of overs – including the in-form Alex Hales – to ensure Nottinghamshire were able to take little advantage from their Powerplay overs.But all it did was bring Patel and Taylor together. Patel might, perhaps, have been caught and bowled by Grant Elliott on 13. But the bowler was, quite understandably, more concerned with self-preservation than the possibility of clinging on to what can only technically be considered a chance.That moment apart, Patel batted with calm imperiousness. Knowing his side could ill afford the loss of more wickets during the early part of his innings, he initially contented himself with punishing anything short or wide. Elliott was pulled for six when he dropped short, while Aaron Thomason was guided through backward point and driven through the covers.As he settled, though, Patel became more expansive. Woakes, having conceded just 12 from his first three overs, was punished for 17 from his final one as Patel carved him for six over cover, while Jeetan Patel and Dominic Sibley were heaved for sixes over midwicket. His half-century took 36 balls.With Taylor, who took Thomason for three boundaries in his first over and clipped Sibley over mid-on for a six, providing fine support in a 42-ball half-century of his own, the pair were not parted until the start of the 19th over.Samit Patel celebrates one of two run-outs on Finals Day•Getty ImagesBut that just allowed Dan Christian to thrash 20 from the final four balls of the innings. Feasting on a succession of length deliveries from Olly Stone – who, to that point, had bowled with impressive pace and control – Christan crunched two fours and two sixes as the last over cost 23. It meant Nottinghamshire had scored 132 from their last 11 overs and 69 from their last five.Birmingham’s resurgence – a resurgence that should encourage their supporters despite this result and the club’s lowly Championship position – had been built largely upon the success of their youthful top order. But with Sibley defeated by a lovely slower ball out of the back of Harry Gurney’s hand, Adam Hose apparently beaten for pace and Pollock punished for dawdling the first half of an attempted single, Birmingham were soon 36 for 3 and in need of a similar partnership as that provided by Taylor and Patel.While Sam Hain, hitting the ball beautifully cleanly, contributed the highest individual score of the day – 72 from 44 balls – he lacked the support required to mount a realistic challenge. Thomason and Colin de Grandhomme threatened for a while but when Gurney – a far more accomplished bowler than when he represented England – produced two more slower balls to account for them, and then beat Hain with a low full toss, Birmingham were left needing an unlikely 29 off the last over.And, as a record crowd of 24,432 cheered every one of a record number of runs on a Finals Day – the teams passed 1000 runs across the three games for the first time – on an excellent surface, the thought occurred once more: was a new competition, one without any of the traditional rivalries and that threatens to overshadow this excellent competition, really necessary?