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The win over Sri Lanka, and the upcoming WBBL, will prime the players for the T20 World Cup, says Alyssa Healy

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Oct-2019

Alyssa Healy gets a hug from Meg Lanning after reaching her century•Getty Images

Australia women’s nine-wicket win in the final ODI over Sri Lanka women at Allan Border Field in Brisbane on Wednesday was a world record – their 18th win in a row in the format, surpassing the run by the team led by Belinda Clark between 1997 and 1999. Meg Lanning, the captain of the record-setting team, was modest at the post-match press interaction, but conceded that it was a “very special” achievement.”It’s a special group to be a part of, especially over the last couple of years, probably since that 2017 World Cup [they lost in the semi-final to India] – it was a turning point for our group and we really did change a few things around, and we needed to, to be in the position we are now,” Lanning said. “Everyone’s put in a lot of hard work to get to this point, and to be able to get the record off the Belinda Clark team is certainly very special because there have been some amazing cricketers who have come before us.”We speak a lot about making sure we look back at the past and understand what has come before us, because they certainly laid the foundation for where we are today. It’s important that we recognise that.”The latest win was as commanding as you’d expect from this team. First, Nicola Carey and Jess Jonassen kept things tight and Georgia Wareham and Megan Schutt picked up a couple of wickets each to keep Sri Lanka to 8 for 195 despite Chamari Atapattu’s 103. Then Alyssa Healy came out to bash an unbeaten 76-ball 112 and, with Rachael Haynes hitting 63 and Lanning 20 not out in 11 balls, the target was crossed in 26.5 overs. The series was wrapped up 3-0, and the lead at the top of the Women’s Championship table over England has now stretched to eight points (from one fewer game).”It’s something we have made a bit of a habit of, of finishing off series really well,” Lanning said. “I know there’s been a lot of talk in the media about the record, but I can honestly say that within our group, we haven’t really spoken about it. We go into every game to try to win it. So it was no different today. So to finish it off in style was a great effort. We spoke about making sure we do that because we do sort of split up now as a group [for the Women’s Big Bash League]. I thought everyone did a great job, the bowlers especially, and Midge [Healy] and Rach with the bat.”Adding a bit of flavour to the record-breaking win was Clark’s presence at the Field. Healy joked, “She just turns up at the opportune times! It’s the end of the series, and hey, there’s Belinda!” Lanning, meanwhile, pointed out that Clark had set yet another target for the team: “She sent me a message saying that her team only lost two games out of 33, so we need to keep going. So we’ve got one record, but we need to make sure we keep going. So we’re under strict instructions.”Not just that, there’s one more record up for the Australians to target: the most ODI wins in a row, irrespective of gender, which currently stands at 21 in the name of the Australia men’s team, achieved between January and May 2003 under Ricky Ponting. That has to wait, though, because of the WBBL, as Australia next play ODI cricket in March in South Africa. “We’ll give it a crack,” Lanning promised.Belinda Clark with the World Cup•AFP

It’s over to the WBBL then. And Healy, for one, is sure that the tournament will give the Australians the perfect way to prepare for the 2020 T20 World Cup, to be played at home in February-March next year.”World Cups are extremely difficult to win, and we’ve experienced the highs and lows of World Cups over the last four-five years, so we’ve obviously got a bit of a chance to go into a different environment and keep improving our games and adding things to our game and that sort of thing,” she said. “Our group is hungry as ever to keep improving, and keep being successful. Once we get back together as a group [after the WBBL], hopefully [we will] continue to be successful.”I think the WBBL prepares you extremely well for international cricket, it gets you on the big stage in front of crowds, on TV, and the style of cricket is great as well; the world’s best players from overseas and Australia playing, and it’s a great standard. I’ve got no doubt that that’s lifted the ability within our team and, as we have seen over the last two tours, we have brought players in who have been playing state cricket for a while and WBBL, and they have fitted in seamlessly and have looked at home on the international stage.”And Healy has built up nicely to the WBBL, doing one of the things in the last game she hasn’t always managed to despite her staggering form: finish an ODI chase.”I guess a little bit of a mental thing [getting out],” she said in response to a question. “I was saying to Meg today, often when I get to 60-odd I hit one in the air, so it’s all a bit weird. But to be able to be clinical and finish off the series really well, and be not out, is probably not something I have done a lot. So to do it today was obviously pleasing.”

England are set to field yet another top-three combination on their New Zealand tour

Alan Gardner31-Jul-2019The boys Down Under
England went to Australia with something approaching a plan. Alastair Cook was joined at the top of the order by Mark Stoneman – the 12th opener to try and fill Andrew Strauss’ shoes – with a stylist at No. 3 in James Vince. Although that plan was quickly shown to be inadequate for regaining the Ashes, and Vince was then dropped in Auckland (where England were blown away for 58), they had a final outing in the Christchurch Test that concluded a lengthy tour of the antipodes. Vince made 76 in the second innings and finished with an average of 30.54 for the winter; England haven’t picked him in a Test since.A (brief) summer affair
After much badgering on the subject, Joe Root opted to once again move back up a spot. Stoneman only lasted one more Test, bowled in each innings against Pakistan at Lord’s, which prompted England to go back Keaton Jennings – last seen being tortured on or around off stump by Vernon Philander and co in the 2017 summer. Cook and Jennings did not really combine to any greater effect second time around, and Root’s returns tailed off after making 80 against India at Edgbaston – still, by recent standards, this was a period of stability, the top three unchanged for almost five Tests. And then…Things start to get weird…
Having been dropped in New Zealand at the end of a difficult winter (see above), Moeen Ali returned to the Test XI against India in Southampton. He made 40 at No. 7 and took 5 for 63 – so far so normal – but then appeared at the fall of the first wicket in England’s second innings, apparently at his own request. Root was only too happy to switch back to No. 4, but although Moeen made a half-century in the final Test at The Oval – where Cook rubberstamped his retirement with scores of 71 and 147 – he wasn’t long for the top order.New era, same problems
On tour without Cook anchoring the batting for the first time since 2005-06, England stuck with Jennings alongside the debutant Rory Burns. Jennings repaid some of the faith with an unbeaten 146 in Galle, were Moeen’s stint at No. 3 ended; for the Pallekele Test, Ben Stokes was asked to have a go. “Ben’s game is in good shape and he is more than capable of batting at No. 3,” Root said. “We are fortunate that many in the side could bat in that position.” Many would have to. In the second innings, Jack Leach‘s deployment at nightwatchman meant Stokes shunting down to five, below Root, and then another solution entirely presented itself in Colombo.Jonny B good (please)
Jonny Bairstow was understandably a little peeved at how things developed in Sri Lanka. An ankle injury saw Ben Foakes take the gloves, winning Man of the Match on debut, and Bairstow found his only route back in was to bat at No. 3 in Colombo. The pumped-up celebrations of his hundred – the first for England from that spot in the order since 2016 – told a story, but Bairstow’s tenure would also be short. He made a half-century in defeat in Antigua a couple of months later, before reclaiming the gloves and heading back to the middle-order at Foakes’ expense.Shuffling the deckchairs
England’s fumbling for a solution saw them drop Jennings after the first Test in the West Indies, handing a debut to Joe Denly (who hadn’t opened in first-class cricket since 2015). Denly was then moved down to replace Bairstow, while the woefully out-of-form Jennings was recalled – making scores of 8 and 23 – for the victory in St Lucia. Almost six month later, on the back of World Cup success, Jason Roy finally got the call, partnering Burns against Ireland at Lord’s, with Denly back at No. 3. Then Leach showed up everyone by making 92, Roy shone at No. 3… and when the bottle stopped spinning it was pointing at Root again.Back to the future?
While Burns locked down his spot with 133 at Edgbaston, chaos reigned at the far end: Roy made 57 runs in six innings as an opener, and was shunted down to No. 4 for Old Trafford, with Denly making the jump back to the top and Root staying put (other than one innings back at No. 4 while Craig Overton shifted up as nightwatchman). But with the first New Zealand Test looming, Root decided No. 4 “suits my game a little bit more”, so an arrow has been drawn next to his name with another one – Dom Sibley – scrawled in at the top. All that meant England fielded their most inexperienced top three at Mount Maunganui since the Ireland game, with just 20 caps between them: what could possibly go wrong?Football, bloody hell
Afflicted by a sickness bug in Centurion, and 1-0 down arriving in Cape Town, England were hoping to restart their tour on a more positive footing. Instead, it was Burns’ stumble during a game of warm-up football that forced another reshuffle at the top. With ankle ligament damage ruling him out for the rest of the series, Kent opener Zak Crawley was catapulted into the side (having made his debut at No. 6 in New Zealand a few weeks earlier) – meaning England’s opening pair went into the game at Newlands with just four caps between them. The last time they had fewer was 1963. It was also just the second time an England opening partnership had comprised two right-handers since 2002, the other occasion being Lord’s 2016 when Alastair Cook came in down the order due to injury.January 3, 2020 – This article was updated during England’s tour of South Africa

The reasons why Jadon Sancho rejected a loan-to-buy move to Roma have been revealed, with the Manchester United outcast still in transfer limbo. United, desperate to offload him this summer, seemed open to Roma’s proposal, as it had an obligation to purchase the player outright in 2026, but the England international was not convinced.

Sancho rejects Roma's £20m loan-to-buy offerAgent’s demands scare off major suitorsTime running out for Sancho as he faces transfer uncertaintyFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to Roma had expressed interest in signing the 25-year-old, with the £20 million ($27m) transfer fee and terms looking favourable for United. However, Sancho’s decision to reject the proposal reportedly stems from a mix of "financial and technical factors".

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Reports in further claim that the hefty demands of Sancho’s agent are also a stumbling block, with a supposed request for a €10m (£9.5m/$11.6m) commission already spooking potential suitors. Those demands have turned off some of Europe’s top clubs, including Atletico Madrid and Juventus, who have reportedly backed away from negotiations. Roma, despite their willingness to stretch their financial limits, find themselves at a crossroads, unsure whether they can meet those sums.

DID YOU KNOW?

From United’s perspective, the £20m offer from Roma was an opportunity to offload Sancho, who has struggled to live up to his potential since joining in 2021 for a massive £73m ($99m). The deal would have helped balance the books while clearing space for incoming transfers. Yet, with Sancho now rejecting the move, United are in a spot of bother.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR SANCHO?

As the summer transfer window nears its close, time is running out for Sancho to secure a move away from Old Trafford. While Roma were seen as one of the last remaining lifelines for Sancho to stay in Europe's top five leagues, he can still engineer a move to Turkey as the transfer window in that country does not close until September 12. 

West Ham are nearing a swoop for Elche winger Tete Morente as David Moyes aims to start his transfer business early.

What’s the word?

That’s according to the Sunday Mirror, who reported in their print edition (May 1st, page 74) that the Premier League side has been in early contact with the player over a potential move.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-this-weeks-latest-west-ham-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-more” title= “Read the latest West Ham news!”]

Elche are asking for a fee of around £7m for the 25-year-old who is keen on making the move to England and playing in the top flight.

A new mega-money talent?

Morente isn’t exactly a household name and despite scoring against Barcelona earlier this season, he only has three goals and three assists throughout the whole campaign, not numbers that will put the fear into Premier League defenders.

Despite this, he is only 25 and has plenty of time on his side to continue his development, it could well be a shrewd signing for the Hammers in the long run.

Moyes has seen his side reach unprecedented heights this campaign, still in the hunt for a top-six spot and chasing a historic Europa League final, it’s looking like exciting times for the West Ham faithful.

The squad does need to be bolstered in an attacking sense though, with Michael Antonio their only designated centre forward, it could well be that Morente gets to put his versatility to good use.

Although a left-winger by trade, Morente has some solid defensive stats which could help West Ham on top of his 14 career goals.

He features in the 89th percentile of blocks in Europe’s top five leagues (1.75 per game) and in the 81st percentile of aerials won (1.13), proving that Moyes could be getting more than just a goalscoring threat.

Furthermore, he is compared to one of the very best in Spain, with the flanker who has 14 career goals being compared to Real Sociedad’s £63m-rated talent Mikel Oyarzabal.

On that basis, this signing begins to look a little more appealing for the Irons faithful.

AND in other news, West Ham eye swoop for “brilliant” 21 y/o, he’s “similar to Eden Hazard”

A large portion of Daniel Farke’s summer signings at Leeds United stood out in the Whites’ dramatic 3-3 draw against Liverpool last time out.

Indeed, Dominic Calvert-Lewin would have loved following up his instinctive effort against Chelsea with a penalty goal against the Reds, having just recently waved goodbye to Everton.

Anton Stach also got in on the goalscoring act as another new recruit from Hoffenheim, before Ao Tanaka – who triumphantly lifted the Championship title last season – hammered home the crucial equaliser.

Unfortunately, not every fresh face that arrived at Elland Road this off-season has instantly gelled, with Farke now in danger of having his very own Vurnon Anita, six years on from the ex-Newcastle United midfielder’s uneventful stint in West Yorkshire.

Remembering Anita's shambolic stay at Leeds

Leeds would have felt they’d struck gold by being able to land the now 36-year-old on a free transfer in 2017, considering Anita was just fresh off a Championship promotion with the Magpies, and the Whites were desperately looking to break back into the Premier League.

On top of his EFL experience, the three-time Eredivisie winner had also amassed 106 Premier League appearances on Tyneside as a useful utility presence, with one of his former Toon coaches, John Carver, once stating that he always has the “same attitude and commitment” wherever he’s thrown into the XI.

Games played

22

Minutes played

1620 mins

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Wage per week

£25k-per-week

Wage costs for a year

£1.3m

Unfortunately for the Whites, though, they never managed to get the best out of Anita, who could play at left-back or right-back at a moment’s notice, away from his central midfield duties, with an unmemorable 22 first-team appearances all she wrote on his forgettable Leeds career.

His high £25k-per-week salary came under plenty of scrutiny, therefore, with Anita – who wasn’t even registered as an outfield player for Leeds during the 2018/19 campaign – branded as a “huge waste of money” by ex-Leeds player Noel Whelan, after he was chucked to one side by Marcelo Bielsa.

Surely, if Leeds could turn back time, they would never have gambled on the Curacao international to come good, with a worryingly similar tale playing out in the here and now for Farke…

Farke's very own Anita

Thankfully, Leeds already look to be vindicated in their decision to bring in the aforementioned Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer, with no Anita-style repeat on the cards here, as the Sheffield-born striker already boasts four Premier League goals for Farke’s men.

The same, however, cannot be said for Sebastiaan Bornauw, who appears to be destined for the exit door, just a matter of months after sealing a move to England for a modest £5.1m fee from Wolfsburg.

Yet, at the time of the capture, Leeds would have thought they’d acquired a diamond in the rough, with the 26-year-old accumulating 140 Bundesliga appearances for both Wolfsburg and FC Köln, meaning the hope would be that he could be a dependable cover option at the back for Farke.

Fast forward to the present, though, and the deal to bring the four-time Belgium international to English shores has already been dismissed as “laughable” as per Leeds-based content creator Lewis Deighton, with Bornauw only fit enough for a paltry two minutes of Premier League action so far.

This is a far cry from when Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley was hailing the capture of Bornauw as an indicator that Leeds had conducted some “excellent” summer business back in July, with the lofty number 23 already out of action for four games this season, owing to recurring knee issues.

Estimated to be on a bumper £45k-per-week pay packet, too, all the current signs are pointing in the direction that Bornauw is Leeds’ modern-day iteration of Anita.

For context, both Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu are on a lesser £40k-per-week salary each, reportedly.

Further dubbed as looking “terrible” against Sheffield Wednesday in the EFL Cup by commentator Sam Matterface, on what has been his only start to date, he only won 50% of his duels against lower league opposition.

It really does feel as if Bornauw’s stay at Elland Road will be extremely short-lived, as he just goes down as a forgotten flop, like Anita before him.

The "best finisher" at Leeds now finally looks finished under Farke

This Leeds star has not been involved much this season

ByJoe Nuttall 1 day ago

Having agreed a deal to sign Sassuolo’s Armand Lauriente, Sunderland are now reportedly preparing a fresh offer to sign another Serie A star for Regis Le Bris this summer.

Sunderland closing in on Lauriente

To say that Sunderland have made a survival statement this summer would be an understatement. The Black Cats have welcomed as many as six fresh faces and there seems to be more on the way.

According to Fabrizio Romano, next on their list is Lauriente. Those at the Stadium of Light have reportedly agreed a deal worth as much as €20m (£17m) to sign the French winger, who looks set to join the likes of Habib Diarra and Simon Adingra on Sunderland’s list of incomings.

It’s been quite the overhaul for Le Bris’ side as they prepare to become the first side in six promoted teams to survive in their first season back in the top tier.

Lauriente should play an important part in achieving that too. The 26-year-old winger enjoyed an excellent campaign last time out as Sassuolo earned promotion from Serie B. And whilst stepping up to the Premier League will be no easy task, last season’s 19 goals and six assists in all competitions suggest that he’s more than ready for the move.

Sunderland now submit formal bid for £17m "technician" who scores "worldies"

It is a big development at the Stadium of Light.

ByHenry Jackson Jul 18, 2025

Despite already spending as much as €115m (£100m) with €20m (£17m) to come on Lauriente, Sunderland’s spending looks unlikely to end there. Reports are now indicating that the Black Cats are already preparing a fresh offer to sign a third Serie A star ahead of next season.

Sunderland now preparing fresh Lucumi offer

As reported by Corriere di Bologna and relayed by Sport Witness, Sunderland are now preparing a fresh €20m (£17m) offer to sign Jhon Lucumi from Bologna this summer. The newly-promoted side have already seen one offer turned down, but are seemingly set to edge closer to Bologna’s €25m (£22m) valuation in hope of advancing their move.

Minutes

3,934

2,614

Progressive Passes

229

108

Tackles Won

31

30

Ball Recoveries

155

176

Last season’s numbers indicate that Lucumi would push the versatile Luke O’Nien all the way for a starting place in Le Bris’ side, with his experience in Italy’s top flight likely to eventually pay dividends.

Described as “composed” and “ridiculously impressive” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Lucumi would join a growing list of excellent arrivals at the Stadium of Light if he swapped Bologna for Sunderland in the coming weeks. The club may also have a smooth path to negotiations on the personal side of things, given they already have dealings with the player’s agency through their representation of Dennis Cirkin.

With the Premier League campaign set to get underway in around one month’s time, Sunderland have until then to ensure that Le Bris’ side is perfectly suited to end the trend of promoted sides suffering instant failure. And Lucumi should be among their final priorities as a result.

Middlesex bowler claims 7 for 52 as visitors are dismissed for 201, hosts lead by 67

ECB Reporters Network08-Jul-2019

Toby Roland-Jones on his follow-through•Getty Images

Middlesex 172 and 96 for 3 (Higgins 3-16) lead Gloucestershire 201 (Higgins 61*, Roland-Jones 7-52) by 67 runsToby Roland-Jones claimed career-best bowling figures on day two of Middlesex’s County Championship game with Gloucester at Merchant Taylors’ School.However, former Seaxe Ryan Higgins produced crucial contributions with bat and ball to leave the visitors still ahead of the game at stumps.Roland-Jones turned back the clock to claim 7 for 52 as Gloucestershire were bowled out for 201, a score bolstered by Higgins’ combative 61 not out.And the all-rounder, who left the Lord’s tenants at the end of the 2017 season, then took 3 for 16 to reduce the hosts to 96 for 3 in their second innings, a lead of just 67.It had been almost three years since Roland-Jones had taken five wickets in an innings – the last occasion being the Seaxes famous last-day of the season championship-clinching win over Yorkshire.A Test call-up followed and at the end of the 2017 season, the right-arm seamer was on the verge of an Ashes call-up – a dream ruined when he was diagnosed with a stress fracture of the back.A winter’s rehab appeared to have done the trick only for him to break down again in just the second game of the 2018 campaign, so missing the rest of the season. He returned at the start of this season, but the early signs hadn’t been good – just five wickets at 101-apiece.However, here Roland-Jones looked a man transformed, building on his two wickets on the first evening with three more in a devastating nine-ball mid-morning burst.Sending Gloucestershire skipper Chris Dent’s off-stump cartwheeling backwards was the perfect fillip for a fast bowler in need of a change of fortune. As it turned out it was only the start.The fourth ball of his next over saw Ben Charlesworth nick one into the hands of Middlesex skipper Dawid Malan at slip and Benny Howell, so often the scourge of the hosts, lasted just two balls before he edged another to the gloves of John Simpson.Tim Murtagh, back in Middlesex colours after his international stint with Ireland, then removed the obdurate Gareth Roderick lbw for 40 make lunch that bit more indigestible for Dent’s side.’Ro-JO’ as he’s affectionately known wasn’t out of the action for long, returning early in the afternoon to have Graeme van Buuren brilliantly taken at first slip by Stevie Eskinazi, two-handed just millimetres from the floor.When Tom Helm had David Payne caught at slip by Malan, Gloucestershire were still 27 in arrears, but Higgins struck six boundaries en route to an excellent fifty.Josh Shaw proved a great ally in a ninth-wicket stand of 43, before Roland-Jones trapped him lbw to secure the amendment to his career stats.By the time last man Chadd Sayers fell to Nathan Sowter for a duck, Higgins had secured a batting point – and he hadn’t finished haunting his former employers.When the hosts began their second dig immediately after tea, Sam Robson and Eskinazi survived a testing period of playing and missing to wipe out the arrears with an opening stand of 53.Higgins, though, took ball in hand to break the stand, finding the edge of Robson’s bat for Miles Hammond to snaffle the catch at slip.One brought two as Higgins struck again soon afterwards, Eskinazi getting a thin edge through to wicketkeeper Roderick who was standing up to the stumps. And when Higgins bowled Gubbins in his next over Middlesex were back in trouble just 44 ahead.Malan and George Scott dug in before fading light drove the players off seven overs early. An intriguing day three awaits.