Misbah-ul-Haq has asked whether Australia’s abysmal recent record in Asia warranted a similar rethink the way one was suggested by Ian Chappell after Pakistan’s recent 0-3 whitewash

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Jan-2017

Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq has hit back at Ian Chappell’s criticisms of Pakistan, saying they were “uncalled for and unbecoming” of someone with Chappell’s stature in the game.Speaking to ESPNcricinfo minutes after Pakistan lost the third and final Test of the series in Sydney – their 12th successive Test loss in the country over 17 years – Chappell had said Cricket Australia should reconsider the utility of a future Pakistan tour to the country.”Pakistan have now lost 12 Test matches on the trot in Australia, and somebody’s got to give them a kick up the bum,” Chappell had said. “Cricket Australia have got to start saying ‘listen if things don’t improve we will stop with the invites’.”You can’t continue to [play poor] cricket. You can’t bowl poorly, have conservative field placings and field sloppily and expect to play decent cricket in Australia.”Writing in his column for , Misbah, whose captaincy bore the brunt of further criticism, asked whether Australia’s abysmal recent record in Asia warranted a similar rethink.Australia have lost their last nine Tests in a row in India, the UAE and Sri Lanka; since 2008 they have lost 13 of their 18 Tests in Asia and won only one.”The comments do not make any sense or suit a cricketer of his stature,” Misbah wrote. “Australia themselves have been on the losing side in the recent away tours. They were clean swept by a Sri Lanka side that did not have Mahela Jayawardena or Kumar Sangakkara and some of their players didn’t even have 10 Tests to their names.”Then Australia lost the one-day international series 0-5 in South Africa. In the recent past they have been whitewashed by us in the UAE and in India. If we apply Chappell’s comments to Australia, does that mean if they continue to get whitewashed on the subcontinent on a regular basis then they should also not travel there? And if Australia does not travel to Asia or the Asian teams do no travel to Australia then how are they going to improve?”Misbah has come under pressure at home as well, though in this case for comments he made post-match in Sydney. Asked whether he felt his team represented the best chance Pakistan had in Australia to reverse the long run of defeats, Misbah had said, “Yes, you can say, but in ’99 when Pakistan came, I think that was one of the strongest teams ever, strongest bowling attack, in terms of experience, in terms of the batting, so many superstars in that team. We lost then as well. “That side, led by Wasim Akram, counted Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmed among its attack; Saeed Anwar, Mohammad Yousuf, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Ijaz Ahmed were part of the batting order.The Australian side that whitewashed them was soon to become one of the greatest in Test history, though some might argue that that Pakistan side was past its peak.Misbah’s comments, however, have been construed as an attack on the 1999 side. It has forced him to issue a clarification on Twitter, unusual for him and also indicative of the pressure he is under to retire from Test cricket.”My reply was that 99 team was our best team,” Misbah tweeted. “My aim wasn’t to disrespect them. I wasn’t trying to use them as an excuse. They’re our legends… have nothing but respect for the 1999 team. ‪@wasimakramlive who was captain then, is someone who I’ve worked with, & has helped me a lot”.In his column, Misbah said he was taking a “time-out” from the discussion about when he goes. “I want to spend some time at home and then play in the PSL. I will then analyse how much passion for cricket I have left in me and whether I can play on… The PSL will be important for me in making a decision on my international future.”

Josh Hazlewood has been rested for the first of five ODIs against Pakistan at the Gabba on Friday to help “freshen” him up after a long haul playing Test cricket.Hazlewood has bowled more than 40 overs in five out of six matches since the Australian summer began. Only three weeks ago, in Brisbane, he got through 42 overs in a single innings, the heaviest workload for an Australian quick in over a decade. His ability to maintain a strict line and length around the off stump has been vital to the success of his team, and has also resulted in tangible personal gains as well. On Sunday, Hazlewood became the top-ranked fast bowler in Test cricket. He has a week off to celebrate.Australia’s head coach Darren Lehmann said Hazlewood would be linking up with the squad in Melbourne for the second ODI on Sunday and “if one of our other fast bowlers picks up an injury in the run-up to Friday’s first game at The Gabba then he could be called up to slot in.”With one of the first-choice quicks on the bench, Billy Stanlake, the 22-year old fast bowler, might contemplate an ODI debut having played only four 50-over matches in domestic cricket. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, he confessed “shock” at how quickly he has broken into the national squad and even admitted to a little gaffe.”I got a phone call, I think, Friday morning. I actually missed the first one so I had to give him a call back,” Stanlake said. “I saw it was Trevor Hohns, the head of selectors, but I wasn’t too sure what he’d be calling about so I gave him a quick call back and he told me the news which was very nice news. It hasn’t really sunk in yet. I think it’ll sink in more when we get into the camp on Tuesday.”Billy Stanlake felt his height could make him an X-factor player•Getty Images

If Stanlake felt stunned, the rest of the world was even more so. He made his Queensland debut as recently as October 2015, but injuries have meant he has managed only two first-class and four List A matches since then. A back complaint had ruled him out of last year’s Matador Cup but he has been putting in impressive performances – six wickets at 17.83 – for Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League.”It’s funny how quickly things can happen,” Stanlake said. “It was only a couple of months ago that I was returning from injury in club cricket.” He hoped to make the best use of his opportunity to spend time with the likes of Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc and work on becoming a better bowler. “I feel I’d like to feed off of everyone as best I can. They’ve all got a wealth of knowledge and being a young guy, I’ll probably get around to most of them and learn as much as I can.”The selectors felt Stanlake’s height, which helps him extract disconcerting bounce, coupled with the ability to bowl at 140 kph could be assets and he agreed. “I think that’s probably what makes me a bit of an X-factor and probably a little bit of an unknown for the Pakistan side, they probably wouldn’t have seen me at all so that’s an upside as well.”Chris Lynn is another man who has found his way into international cricket via the BBL. Two shoulder injuries in 2014 and 2015 forced him out of the Matador Cup both times and has therefore not played a 50-over domestic game in three years. He has represented Australia A in List A matches during this period and has been in excellent form for Brisbane Heat, with 309 runs in five matches including a top-score of 98 not out. He came into the Australian set-up with a slight issue with his neck that might hamper him while throwing the ball, but was looking forward to giving it his all.”Just relying on my body to get me through a 50-over game and the selectors are happy where I’m at. I’m over the moon and hopefully if I get the chance to debut in my hometown at the Gabba, it would be a pretty special moment,” Lynn said, “It’s my neck that’s giving me a bit of grief. It’s more of a nerve issue, but it won’t stop me putting on the green and gold, that’s for sure.””It’s not giving me an issue while batting, that’s probably the most important thing. In cricket, you can always hide one or two blokes on the field, even though that’s a bit of baggage. I do feel a little bit uncomfortable with that but they’re happy to carry me around. Push comes to shove, I’ll be diving, throwing my body around and doing everything I can to contribute for Australia.”

Lionel Messi has called teammate Neymar a "beautiful person" in his goodbye message after the Argentine played his last game for Paris Saint-Germain.

What did Messi say to Neymar?

Having already sealed the Ligue 1 title, the 35-year-old took the pitch for the final time as a PSG player on the weekend – in a 3-2 loss at home to Clermont Foot.

His now former side confirmed the news on their official Twitter page, writing: "Paris Saint-Germain would like to warmly thank the seven-time Ballon d'Or, winner of a Trophée des Champions and two French championship titles wearing the Red & Blue colours."

Oddly enough, despite being universally loved for all his footballing achievements, the PSG fans actually booed Messi at his final game – apparently still unhappy with his performances in the Champions League and his recent unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia (via Daily Mail).

However, it seems teammate Neymar still has the utmost respect for the World Cup winner as the Brazilian sent an emotional message on Instagram.

He wrote: "Brother… it didn't turn out as we thought but we tried everything. It was a pleasure to share two more years with you.

Good luck in your new stage and be happy. I love you."

To which Messi replied: "Thanks Ney! Beyond all that remains, that we enjoyed playing together and sharing the day-to-day. I wish you all the best. Besides being a crackhead, you're a beautiful person and that's all that matters at the end. I love you so much."

Where will Messi end up next?

Obviously, it catches the eye that Messi appears to call Neymar something which is interpreted as something derogatory in English but this is just a mistranslation as he writes "Aparte de ser crack". Crack is a phrase often used in Spanish as a compliment, so if you were saying someone is good at football, you might say: “Sos un crack en futbol”.

Of course, the Brazilian doesn't have the best reputation when it comes to his off-field behaviour. According to French paper Le Parisien (via The Sun), he has been throwing house parties this season that have "infuriated" his neighbours of late. And that same article claimed he threw a party that didn't finish until 5am after PSG sealed the Ligue 1 title last season.

But Messi isn't referencing any of this as he calls Neymar "a beautiful person" and points out that this actually matters more than anything he's done on the pitch.

All in all, it's quite a sweet interaction between the players, which is nice as they haven't quite achieved what they set out to in Paris – with the club still unable to win the Champions League.

The big question now is, though, where will Messi end up next? Barcelona, Inter Miami and teams in Saudi Arabia have all been touted.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been linked with a Portuguese starlet ahead of the transfer window, as Julen Lopetegui prepares for his first summer in charge at Molineux.

It will be a window far from simple for the Spaniard following the revelation of Wolves’ FFP issues, however, with sales expected to be made, there may still be a chance for improvement despite the financial burden.

The latest news reveals the Midlands club’s interest in an 18-year-old starlet from Portugal, who could be the heir to Ruben Neves in more ways than one.

What’s the latest on Joao Neves to Wolves?

As reported by Portuguese outlet A Bola (via Sport Witness), Wolves have emerged as a potential buyer for Benfica youngster Joao Neves.

The report states that the Midlands side are joined by Bayern Munich in displaying interest in the 18-year-old, who has a €60m (£52m) release clause that the Portuguese champions are aiming to raise.

What could Joao Neves bring to Wolves?

Described as being a member of a “highly talented” group of Benfica teens by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the teenager could flourish under Lopetegui.

Wolves have enjoyed showcasing a Portuguese core since their promotion from the Championship, with Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho providing the perfect midfield pairing at Molineux.

This summer marks the end of an era, with Moutinho confirmed to be departing and Neves being the centre of an ongoing transfer saga to depart for bigger things.

While the duo are irreplaceable in their experience, having made a combined 465 appearances for the club in all competitions, reinforcements can be hired to replicate the baseline of their quality.

At just 18, Wolves target Joao Neves could be a strong shout to be a suitable successor to his namesake at Molineux, as suggested by their playing styles.

Playing as a deep midfielder on 17 occasions for Benfica this term in the league, Neves has been identified as having strengths in his passing ability and guarding of the ball as per WhoScored, with the Wolves captain possessing similar strengths.

As per Sofascore, the teen displays an array of strengths over a season average comparable to the 26-year-old.

The Tavira-born youngster averages a passing accuracy of 87% to the Wolves skipper’s 84%, as well as displaying a strong presence in the defensive areas of the engine room, winning 57% of his total duels to the Premier League ace’s 53%.

While the 26-year-old averages 2.3 tackles per game to the youngster's 1.5, it’s expected that the seasoned midfielder scores higher in some areas than the prodigy, with their numbers displaying the levels that the Benfica ace is already reaching.

Neves adds a direct threat in the final third for Wolves, which could be replicated by the club's summer target who is identified as being an indirect threat in set pieces, and a handful on the ball, as signified through being fouled an average of 1.3 times per game – as per Sofascore.

The signs are all green for the young talent to potentially thrive at Molineux and follow in Neves’ footsteps, with the only potential gripe being his price tag, which may prove too costly for Lopetegui should Wolves fail to solve their financial woes.

Angelo Mathews (personal grounds), Nuwan Pradeep and Danushka Gunathilaka (injury) will be flying back to Sri Lanka ahead of the third T20

Andrew Fidel Fernando23-Jan-2017Angelo Mathews will be one of three players returning to Sri Lanka after the second T20 international in South Africa, with Nuwan Pradeep and Danushka Gunathilaka also flying home due to injury.Mathews’ return was a prior arrangement based on “personal grounds”, a Sri Lanka Cricket release said, though he had also suffered a hamstring injury during his match-winning 54 not out on Sunday. He is not expected to be available for any of the five-match one-day series.Pradeep, meanwhile, injured his hand in the opening T20, and Gunathilaka has been laid low by a back complaint. Both are ruled out the rest of the tour. Vice captain Dinesh Chandimal will lead the side in Mathews’ stead.The triple blow is a significant for Sri Lanka’s chances in the limited-overs series – all three players have featured in Sri Lanka’s ODI sides, and Mathews especially, provides balance to the XI in his all-round role.The three-wicket win on Sunday was Sri Lanka’s first victory of the tour. The third T20 international is scheduled for January 25, and five ODIs are to follow.The injuries to Gunathilaka and Pradeep may also affect availability for the forthcoming T20 tour of Australia. Sri Lanka are expected to name their ODI squad for the South Africa series on Tuesday or Wednesday.

GOAL tells you everything you need to know about the new season, including which superstars have joined Cristiano Ronaldo in the Middle East…

Pep Guardiola knows a thing or two about spending sprees, so when the manager of Abu Dhabi-backed Manchester City says that Europe's elite clubs "need to be aware of what's happening" in the Saudi Pro League, you can be sure that something seriously significant is going down.

As the Catalan has correctly pointed out, the SPL has "changed the transfer market" this summer, paying one inflated transfer fee after another for players convinced to move to the Middle East by stunning salaries. As Odion Ighalo put it when asked why he and the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo are in Saudi Arabia, "It's for money, bro."

The reasoning has been obvious from the start, though. The real interest lies in whether it's sustainable. It obviously is from a financial perspective. Saudi Arabian clubs have deep pockets, particularly Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal – who have just been taken over by the country's Public Investment Fund in a clear attempt to create a 'Big Four'.

The historic spending spree that has followed has undeniably captured the attention of the footballing world – the question now is whether the SPL can keep a hold of it. An entertaining and competitive 2023-24 campaign would certainly help in that regard, with the emphasis on the new arrivals to not only elevate the standard of play but also make new fans out of the many interested overseas observers.

So, what can we expect from the new season? And who's likely to come out on top? GOAL tells you everything you need to know below…

GettyAl-Ittihad

Al-Ittihad are the reigning champions and obvious favourites to win this season's title after a very productive summer. After all, Nuno Espirito Santo had already turned them into the most well-balanced team in the Pro League. They scored 60 goals last season – only Ronaldo's Al-Nassr managed more – but conceded just 13.

It's not difficult, then, to see the champions being even better in 2023-24, with N'Golo Kante and Fabinho having arrived to give even greater protection to the backline, and current Ballon d'Or holder Karim Benzema set to spearhead an attack that has also been bolstered by the signing of former Celtic winger Jota, who could prove one of the surprise stars of the season, and still features last season's top scorer, Abderrazak Hamdallah.

Benzema, though, is obviously the key. He had his injury issues last season but he remains a world-class talent, which is precisely why Real Madrid were so desperate to keep him for another season. Indeed, the French forward is already banging in the goals in the Arab Club Champions Cup, so do not be at all surprised if Benzema beats former club-mate Ronaldo to the Pro League's top scorer award this season.

AdvertisementAl Nassr TwitterAl-Nassr

It's still hard to believe that Al-Nassr were top of the table when they signed Cristiano Ronaldo to great fanfare in January and yet failed to win the league. The Portuguese scored freely, of course, netting 14 times in just 16 games, but his frustration with Rudi Garcia's tactics quickly became obvious, and the French coach was sacked before the end of the 2022-23 campaign.

So the pressure now falls on Luis Castro to lead Al-Nassr to a first title since 2019. Ronaldo's compatriot doesn't exactly boast a stellar CV, but he did win the Ukrainian Premier League with Shakhtar Donetsk in 2020 and besides, he's taking over a squad that has been significantly strengthened over the summer.

How much Alex Telles will add to the defence is, of course, debatable after his trying time at Manchester United, but Seko Fofana should make a big impact in a midfield that will now be run by the excellent Marcelo Brozovic, who was Inter's best player in the Champions League final.

However, the signing that's generated most headlines is, of course, that of Sadio Mane. The Senegalese has endured a dramatic decline over the past 12 months that saw him go from a hero at Liverpool to a zero at Bayern Munich. However, the 31-year-old should still have more than enough left in the tank to run riot up front alongside Ronaldo, meaning Al-Nassr should once again be challenging for the title.

Hilal TwitterAl-Hilal

Al-Hilal's bid for a fourth consecutive Pro League title unravelled over the second half of last season, but that had a lot to do with the fact that they reached the final of both the Club World Cup, where they stunned Flamengo in the semi-finals, and the AFC Champions League.

However, the most successful side in Saudi Arabian football look far better equipped to win a record-extending 19th title this term – not least because they now have Jorge Jesus back in charge. The Portuguese fell out with his employers during his first spell at Al-Hilal, but he returns after four years away having only further enhanced his reputation as one of the game's great coaches by winning a Copa Libertadores with Flamengo, in 2019.

Jesus will also have a stellar squad at his disposal. Kalidou Koulibaly may have underwhelmed at Chelsea but the Napoli legend is an incredible acquisition for the centre of the defence, while Ruben Neves and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic have the makings of the best midfield pairing in the league.

Unlike many of the other players to have moved to Saudi Arabia this summer, both Neves and Milinkovic-Savic are still in their prime and the Serb, in particular, should quickly prove himself one of the most dominant players in the Pro League.

There have been no superstar signings up front as of yet – unless you count former Barcelona winger Malcom, who has joined from Zenit – but in Ighalo they already possess a proven goalscorer at this level. All things considered, a title challenge appears inevitable.

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Al Ahli TwitterAl-Ahli

Back in the top flight after winning last season's First Division, Al-Ahli were without a manager until the end of July before managing to lure Matthias Jaissle away from Red Bull Salzburg, which caused quite a bit of controversy. The German had won back-to-back Austrian titles with Salzburg, so they were furious when it emerged that he was in talks over a move to the Jeddah just two days before the start of the new Bundesliga season.

Al-Ahli won't care, though, after finally filling their coaching vacancy with the highly-rated Jaissle, who could work wonders with arguably the most exciting attacking line-up in the league. Star summer signings Roberto Firmino, Riyad Mahrez and Allan Saint-Maximin really should form a fantastically fluid forward line with enough flicks and tricks to bamboozle even the best defences in Saudi Arabia.

However, Al-Ahli have also strengthened elsewhere, with the signing of Franck Kessie from Barcelona representing a real coup, given he was tipped to join Juventus. The Ivorian will add quality and physicality to the midfield, while ex-Roma centre-back Roger Ibanez is a great addition to the backline.

As for Eduouard Mendy, the Senegalese goalkeeper may have suffered a serious slump at Stamford Bridge, resulting in him losing his starting spot to Kepa Arrizabalaga, but if he can get back to anything resembling his Champions League-winning best, he could prove a real difference-maker.

A title triumph is perhaps too much to expect from the newly-promoted side, but the PIF-backed team will be expected to at least challenge for top spot.

JP Duminy would welcome an ODI league and the addition of two extra Test teams, as proposed by the ICC’s Chief Executives Committee (CEC) at the latest round of board meetings last week

Firdose Moonda06-Feb-2017

JP Duminy would welcome an ODI league and the addition of two extra Test teams, as proposed by the ICC’s Chief Executives Committee (CEC) at the latest round of board meetings last week. If approved, international cricket could run on a new schedule with a two-year Test league, a three-year, 13-team ODI league, culminating in qualification for the 50-over World Cup, and regional tournaments to determine places for a World T20. That will mean all limited-overs series will carry some weight and that is something Duminy is in favour of.”The best way to answer that is something that Russell [Domingo, South Africa’s coach] harps on quite a lot. Every game that you play for your country is of importance,” Duminy said. “If that [the new system] is in place, that puts a lot more emphasis on that. If we are focusing on that, that means we are giving our best throughout the series and for every game so that’s a big bonus.”The current series between South Africa and Sri Lanka is an example of why an ODI league would be a good idea. South Africa’s dominance in the three matches played so far has meant interest in the series has dwindled, although the prospect of a whitewash and South Africa ascending to No.1 on the rankings has provided some narrative.”The end result is definitely about 5-nil. Tomorrow is the most important game for us but we’ve always had one eye on 5-nil,” Duminy said. “It’s always a nice thing to be ranked No.1 and that will be an added bonus for us but for now it’s about making sure we focus on what’s important for us and that is the preparation leading up to the Champions Trophy.”Asked if he would be keen to play Tests against the likes of Ireland and Afghanistan, Duminy said he was eager for the chance to take on different opposition. “If that’s the situation, we would be up for it,” he said. “No matter who we are playing against, it’s an opportunity to represent your country and we don’t take that for granted. Whatever comes our way, we will be up for it.”And what about touring Afghanistan? “Why not? They’ve got some good players and we’ve played against them in the shorter formats and they’ve definitely given us a run for our money so why not?”South Africa have played two T20s against Afghanistan, at World T20s in 2010 and 2016. They won both matches, by 59 and 37 runs respectively. This summer, South Africa also hosted Ireland for the first time. Ireland played two ODIs in the country, one against South Africa and one against Australia. CSA have also begun the process of putting together working groups with neighbours Zimbabwe to see how they can assist them with everything from corporate governance to on-field cricket activities.

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim has brushed aside suggestions that the one-off Test has historic relevance, saying that their focus is on putting up a strong performance against a good team instead

Mohammad Isam01-Feb-2017Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim has brushed aside the portrayal of their maiden Test in India next week as a “historic” one, saying that he feels it is more important to treat the game as an opportunity to show Bangladesh’s measure in world cricket. He also hopes that a good performance in the one-off game will prompt the BCCI to invite them frequently.The team leaves Dhaka on February 2, to play a two-day practice match against India A and the Test in Hyderabad, which will be Bangladesh’s first in India since gaining ICC Full Member status in 2000. Interestingly, it was the BCCI’s push that was vital in their ascent from Associate Member, and India played against them in their inaugural Test on November 10, 2000. India toured Bangladesh four more times to play Tests thereafter.”I’m a little surprised, I don’t believe that this is a historic Test,” Mushfiqur said. “Take for example when we play against Zimbabwe. The pressure is more because if we lose against them then there is nothing more shameful than that. I will say that it is better that we are going there now and not five years ago.”We want to tell world cricket what we can do in India. I don’t think about how many years later we are going to play in India. We want to play in such a way that India invites again and again. This to me is just another Test match.”Mushfiqur, who has returned to the Test squad after missing Bangladesh’s last game in New Zealand due to a finger injury, said that he hopes the team puts together a collective performance. Bangladesh lost both Tests in New Zealand but gave the home side some tough sessions.”I hope that the recent performers will hold on to their form and put together a team performance. And to those who haven’t done well in the recent past, you have a chance to give a good account of yourself.”A team effort will give us a good result. They have a strong squad, and are always really good in their home conditions. We want to do well against them over five days, and not just two or three days,” he said.Mushfiqur said Bangladesh’s squad is balanced, with four pace bowlers and three specialist spinners and depth in the batting department.The return of Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur himself means that Bangladesh have their full batting strength back. Soumya Sarkar and Imrul are likely to be in competition for the role of Tamim Iqbal’s opening partner, while Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan and Sabbir Rahman will be expected to make runs in the middle order.”No matter what conditions they offer, we have a balanced side. We have enough pacers and spinners and depth in batting.”I think our batsmen will have a challenge in their hands against their world-class attack. As a bowling unit we are inexperienced, but one or two bowlers did do well in New Zealand. If we can perform as a team we can do well against any other good team.”

Adam Voges has indicated that his days as an international cricketer are over. A day before he is scheduled to lead the Prime Minister’s XI against the visiting Sri Lankans in Canberra, Voges said it would be his last game against an international team.”This will be it for me,” Voges said. “I’m certainly looking forward to getting out there and playing this game. I’ve had an amazing couple of years with Australia with the Test team and I’ve loved every minute of it.”I see this as a last opportunity to play against an international team and I’m certainly looking forward to that.”Voges, 37, has not played a Test match since suffering a concussion during Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania in November. Having failed in the first two Tests against South Africa, this game served as a chance to score runs and keep himself in the reckoning for the third Test. Peter Handscomb took Voges’ spot at No. 5, scored a half-century on Test debut, and has established himself as a first-choice member of Australia’s line-up.Voges, who won his Baggy Green in 2015, aged 35, became the oldest debut centurion when he scored an unbeaten 130 against West Indies in Dominica. He struggled through the Ashes tour of England that followed but kept his place in the side and went on to enjoy a storming 2015-16 season that fetched him a century against New Zealand at the WACA, an unbeaten 269 against West Indies in Hobart and another double-hundred in Wellington.His batting average, after the tour of New Zealand, stood at 95.50 after 15 Tests. It fell to 61.87 after sub-par series against Sri Lanka away and South Africa at home, but he ends his career, nonetheless, with the second-highest average – behind only Don Bradman – among all batsmen with a minimum of 20 Tests.Voges’ stint in the Test side was the second half of a two-part international career. Between February 2007 and November 2013, he played 38 limited-overs games, scoring 870 ODI runs at 45.78 and 139 T20I runs at 46.33.

Arsenal remain interested in a number of key men, with a fresh update having been dropped on Tuesday…

What's the latest on Moises Caicedo to Arsenal?

Writing in The Telegraph, journalist Sam Dean sought to outline the summer transfer plans of Mikel Arteta and Edu in what could be a groundbreaking window to shorten the gap between them and the treble-winning Manchester City.

Whilst the main information in the report is regarding Nicolas Pepe's supposed exit, as well as the nearing completion of the Declan Rice deal, it does also suggest that once the West Ham United star is welcomed to north London, they will turn their attention towards prying Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Hove Albion, with an offer being prepared.

Their interest remains from those two failed bids in January, and despite the Ecuador international having signed a new deal since, the Seagulls will reportedly demand at least £70m.

To sign both of these Premier League midfield monsters would be a huge statement of intent from the Gunners.

How good would Moises Caicedo and Declan Rice be together?

With the notion that these two will join as a midfield partnership together, it is easy to see why Arteta sees them as complementary assets who would bring out the best in one another.

As Rice has grown in stature over the years, shining as captain of the Hammers and an instrumental cog in the England setup, his creative qualities have been emphasised this term too.

It is this offensive impetus that would offer a fine balance alongside Caicedo, who would offer a platform for such exploits.

The 24-year-old scored five goals and assisted four more in all competitions as the Irons comfortably avoided the drop and won the Europa Conference League. It seems like the fairytale ending for the England international, who can now depart the London Stadium having truly given his all to the club that first gave him a football career.

However, if he is to shine as the centrepiece of this new-look engine room, bursting forward towards the penalty area with aplomb, the 21-year-old alternative cannot be ignored for the work he will get through behind Rice.

A tireless yet classy presence in the heart of midfield, Caicedo's 7.08 average rating this term gives way to 2.7 tackles, 1.2 key passes, and 1.5 interceptions per game, via Sofascore, with such defensive aptitude potentially allowing Rice to go about his business in the final third.

Such relentless energy even led South American football expert Tim Vickery to brand him a "terrific athlete".

To place these two in midfield would be yet another Arteta masterstroke, pairing hard work and quality with both defensive and attacking boosts.

This is even without mentioning their youth, and the fact they could hold down their spots for the next decade of what could be a dominant period should they topple Pep Guardiola's history makers.