Large crowds turned up at a dilapidated stadium in Patna with warning signs around safety put up by the organisers

Syed Hussain06-Jan-2024The beginning of the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy brought crowds in big numbers to Patna’s Moin-ul-Haq Stadium – a venue that hosted World Cup fixtures in 1996 – and hosts Bihar gave the people plenty of reasons to cheer. After all, Mumbai, the 41-time champions, had been reduced to 235 for 9 on the opening day of their Elite Group B fixture.However, unknown to the crowd, a controversy was brewing on the sidelines. The Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) was in a tussle with its suspended former secretary Amit Kumar, who had named a squad of his own to take the field. Contrary to reports, though, the two teams had been named only on paper, and only the BCA’s squad – the “official” team – took the field. At the gates outside the venue, though, chaos ensued, with a fuming Amit Kumar allegedly attacking an official.”There was a life-threatening attack on BCA’s OSD Manoj Kumar by those involved in the fake team,” an official BCA release said on Friday afternoon. “The miscreants have been identified, and action will be taken against them.”Related

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Amit Kumar had once been part of BCA president Rakesh Tiwary’s faction, which had contested and won the BCA elections prior to the association receiving BCCI’s affiliate membership, and the team was allowed to contest in the senior domestic competitions ahead of the 2018-19 season.At the time, the Committee of Administrators, which had been tasked to run the BCCI by the Supreme Court of India, had appointed an independent election observer in a three-member committee to conduct free and fair elections. Saba Karim, the former India wicketkeeper, too, had visited Patna to oversee the formalisation of the body in his capacity as BCCI’s general manager of cricket operations.But Amit Kumar’s relationship with Tiwary is understood to have strained in 2022, when he was alleged to have been involved with one of the warring factions. When the matter was brought to the notice of the dispensation led by Tiwary, Amit Kumar was suspended. He hasn’t held any position in the association since, by virtue of which teams he appoints on paper remain “null and void”.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi debuts for Bihar aged 12

There was also a landmark when Bihar handed a first-class debut to Vaibhav Suryavanshi, aged just 12 years and 284 days. His official age, confirmed by the BCA, makes him the youngest Indian first-class debutant since 1986.Suryavanshi, a left-hand batter, made 93 runs in five innings at the Vinoo Mankad Trophy for Bihar. That earned him a spot in the Under-19 Challenger Trophy as well as in the Under-19 Quadrangular, also involving Bangladesh and England, following which the junior selection panel named their India squad for the Under-19 World Cup to be held in South Africa later this month. He didn’t figure in that.This is the condition of the stands at a stadium that once hosted World Cup matches•Syed Hussain/ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Spectators warned at dilapidated stadium

On an eventful day for the BCA, it also had to also grapple with the lack of facilities to accommodate the large crowds that had presumably turned up to get a glimpse of Ajinkya Rahane, Mumbai’s designated captain. However, Rahane was forced to miss the game after waking up with neck spasms. He walked around the boundary ropes to acknowledge the crowd.The stadium is in a mess. So much so that the spectators who came in were walking past posters that warned them to enter at their own risk. ESPNcricinfo understands that the crumbly structure can’t be tampered with, as the ground belongs to the municipal corporation and not the state association.”Yes, the condition is bad but there is a plan to make this stadium world-class, and the tender for it has also been passed,” Tiwary said by way of explanation. “It will be revamped very soon, [but] because the match was still to be played, we have somehow made it playable. We have full hope that soon this stadium will start shining like its old history.”

يستعد مانشستر سيتي لمواجهة برايتون مساء الغد على ملعب أميكس ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة من منافسات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وكشفت وسائل إعلام فرنسية أن مانشستر سيتي يعاني من إصابة جديدة بصفوف الفريق قبل لقاء برايتون في الدوري الإنجليزي، ويحاول السيتيزن إستعادة إيقاعه في المراحل الأولى من موسم 2025/2026.

وكان وصول ريان شرقي قد لقى ترحيباً حاراً من النادي والجماهير، حيث يعتبر صانع الألعاب أحد ألمع المواهب الشابة في قارة أوروبا.

أقرأ ايضاً.. مواعيد مباريات مانشستر سيتي في مرحلة الدوري من دوري أبطال أوروبا 2025/26

وبحسب “ليكيب” الفرنسية فإن ريان شرقي سيغيب عن مباراة مانشستر سيتي ضد برايتون مساء الغد الأحد بسبب تعرضه لإصابة في الفخد.

وقد تثير هذه الإصابة شكوك حول جاهزية ريان شرقي للعب مع منتخب فرنسا خلال مباراتي التوقف الدولي في شهر سبتمبر المقبل.

وسينصب التركيز حالياً على مباراة الأحد على ملعب أميكس، وقد يضطر بيب جوارديولا للاعتماد على خيارات أخرى لتعويض انتكاسة ريان شرقي.

وكان مانشستر سيتي قد بدأ موسمه بفوز كبير على ولفرهامبتون برباعية نظيفة، قبل أن يتعرض لخسارة على ملعبه ووسط جماهيره ضد توتنهام بهدفين نظيفين.

Liverpool found a way to win in Paris.

It’s the marker of a champion, absorbing the pressure, withstanding the onslaught, emerging with a precious advantage to take back to Merseyside.

There’s plenty to do, but Liverpool will be confident they can advance to the last eight of the Champions League, potentially setting up a grand-slam finish to the season, 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League and preparing for a Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United too.

However, Arne Slot will want more. He’ll want sustained success over so many years at Anfield. To do that, FSG must invest to stay ahead of their rivals.

Well, there’s positive news on that front, with preliminary moves being made to secure an upgrade at left-back, in the form of Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez.

Why Liverpool want Milos Kerkez

Talent scout Antonio Mango has hailed Kerkez as “one of the best young left-backs in football,” having only signed the 21-year-old from AZ Alkmaar in July 2023.

He’s ready for a fresh challenge – as per Fabrizio Romano – and Liverpool would only be too happy to oblige. However, this potential Andy Robertson upgrade won’t come cheap, priced at £40m.

However, Manchester United’s January acquisition of Patrick Dorgu does help the Reds’ cause since they will no longer be pursuing the Hungarian star.

Matches (starts)

27 (27)

26 (24)

Goals

2

0

Assists

4

0

Touches*

57.7

66.2

Pass completion

81%

89%

Big chances created

5

6

Ball recoveries*

4.6

3.3

Dribbles*

0.6 (52%)

0.1 (30%)

Tackles + interceptions*

2.5

2.0

Clearances*

2.9

1.3

Ground duels (won)*

3.0 (56%)

1.7 (51%)

Athletic, creative and balanced, he’s already outstripping Liverpool’s Robertson, 30, who is still committed and experienced but on the decline after so many years of toil under Jurgen Klopp.

Kerkez is just one part of a potential long-term rebuild in this new chapter. Efforts are being made for centre-backs too, for example, since Virgil van Dijk is nearly 34, and while a new contract is on the cards, the wider picture is being taken into account.

However, the beauty of FSG’s Liverpool system is its strength across a multitude of areas.

For example, Liverpool have an up-and-coming hero the same age as the young Kerkez, and he’s already worth even more than him.

Together, they could form the future of this great club long after the likes of Van Dijk and Mo Salah have departed Anfield…

The Liverpool starlet worth more than Kerkez

They might be baseless claims, but Liverpool have been accused by a few dissenters of being a one-man team under Slot’s wing. Looking at you, Salah.

However, that couldn’t be further from the truth, with Salah out of sorts against PSG and withdrawn for a younger member. That member stepped up to the plate.

Like Kerkez, Harvey Elliott is only 21 but proving himself to be among the most talented players of his position in that age bracket. And that’s across all of Europe.

His goal in Paris this week made it four for the campaign, having only started four matches in all competitions. Slot is well aware of Elliott’s quality, and given Liverpool are looking to sign Kerkez too, it’s safe to say the Dutchman is pushing for the tools to craft a lasting and youthful legacy.

Elliott, somewhat a hybrid playmaker, capable on the right or in Dominik Szoboszlai’s midfield role, hasn’t nailed down the starting berth he so covets at Liverpool, but he’s a valued and impactful member of the team who, only 21 (the same age as Kerkez), could become a Merseyside superstar in the years to come.

Though he has things to build on, Elliott is without question one of the most gifted young playmakers in the game. As per FBref, he ranks among the top 1% of midfielders over the past year across goalscoring, assisting and shot-creating metrics per 90.

Described as a “special talent” by The Athletic’s James Pearce, Elliott’s now scored in three successive Champions League matches. He’ll never have netted a more important strike than the one in Paris.

Remarkably, his potency is invariable despite the bit-part role he’s held in Slot’s system this season, somewhat down to stylistic preferences but much is due to the foot injury he picked up with England U21s near the start of the campaign.

Premier League

84

4

9

FA Cup

15

4

1

Carabao Cup

15

1

1

Champions League

13

5

0

Europa League

10

0

4

Community Shield

1

0

0

Although Elliott ebbs and flows from a match-action standpoint, that’s not to say he’s not regarded as a high-class player. As per Football Transfers, the English ace currently has a market worth of £41m, marginally higher than Kerkez’s value.

Although, in truth, Liverpool would be within their rights to demand much more.

His Midas touch in the Champions League and wealth of experience despite his young age suggest Elliott – just like fellow up-and-comer Kerkez – could be set for a prominent future at the core of Slot’s project.

Earns more than Nunez: Liverpool must sell £150k-p/w dud who does nothing

It hasn’t worked out for this Liverpool talent.

3 ByAngus Sinclair Mar 4, 2025

The former Aston Villa striker believes Ange Postecoglou deserves praise but stops short of an apology after Spurs beat Manchester United in Bilbao.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Tottenham beat Man Utd on Wednesday
• Postecoglou fulfilled second season promise

• Agbonlahor claims he isn't the right boss for Spurs

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Tottenham secured their first major trophy in 17 years by defeating Manchester United in the Europa League final. Despite this success and securing Champions League football, former Aston Villa striker Agbonlahor maintains his stance that Postecoglou isn't the right man for the job, refusing to offer an apology for his previous criticism. Agbonlahor believes Postecoglou deserves praise, but insists the club needs to invest heavily and potentially consider a managerial change for sustained success.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Postecoglou's first season at Tottenham was a rollercoaster. While Spurs initially impressed with their attacking football, a mid-season dip and concerns over tactical inflexibility led to criticism, including from Agbonlahor. The Europa League victory and Champions League qualification have undeniably strengthened Postecoglou's position in his second season, but questions remain about his long-term suitability to guide Spurs to consistent title contention.

• WHAT AGBONLAHOR SAID

  Speaking on talkSPORT, Agbonlahor said: "No, I think he deserves praise for what he's achieved. He's got the club into Champions League. First European trophy since 1984, So he deserves a lot of praise. But Spurs have to go now. They have to invest. They have to get rid of the players that aren't good enough. They have to go through it now.

  "Can they go next year like Newcastle, Crystal Palace, winning trophies? Can they go again next season and win another trophy, an FA Cup, a Carabao Cup? Can these players get used to winning trophies? Can they go out and get a Champions League squad assembled for next season and have a good go? Why not? You're in it now. This season's forgotten.

  "If you need to change the manager, bring in a different manager who's going to get you the right players and you're going to trust with the funds. But Spurs need to stay on top now. You've won the Europa League. You're in the Champions League. Why not go and have a good go?"

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR TOTTENHAM?

  Tottenham will celebrate their Europa League victory with a trophy parade. The club now faces crucial decisions regarding player recruitment, aiming to build a squad capable of competing in the Champions League and challenging for domestic honours. The Tottenham board must decide if Postecoglou is the manager to oversee that project, balancing his recent success with concerns about long-term sustainability. Spurs will be a team of interest for the foreseeable future with questions still to be answered and their new found momentum to be capitalised on.

Rashid is also part of the side but is unlikely to play as he continues to recover from a back surgery

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Jan-2024

Mujeeb Ur Rahman is likely to lead Afghanistan’s spin attack in India•ICC/Getty Images

Mujeeb Ur Rahman has been picked in Afghanistan’s squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series in India. The 22-year-old mystery spinner wasn’t part of the national side for the T20I series in the UAE and was instead in action for Melbourne Renegades in the BBL. Mujeeb’s BBL stint, though, was cut short after the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) revoked his No-Objection Certificate (NoC) for the remainder of the BBL.The ACB had announced on December 25 that Mujeeb, along with seamers Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq, would be sanctioned after telling the board they did not intend to sign central contracts for 2024. The three players were told they would be considered “non-eligible” for NOCs for the next two years, and that any current NOCs would be revoked.Farooqi and Naveen have since featured for Afghanistan in their most recent T20I series against the UAE after talks with the board in which they “demonstrated a strong desire to represent their country again”, according to the ACB.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The T20Is in India will be Mujeeb’s first since July 2023. Mujeeb is part of a strong spin attack that includes Rashid Khan, Qais Ahmad and Noor Ahmad. Rashid, Afghanistan’s designated T20I captain, has been included in the 19-member squad, but is unlikely to play as he continues to recover from a back surgery that had also put him out of the BBL and the UAE T20I series. It is understood that he will only start bowling again in 10 days. Batter Ibrahim Zadran, who had led Afghanistan to a 2-1 series win over UAE, will captain the side in India as well. Ikram Alikhil is the back-up wicketkeeper to Rahmanullah Gurbaz.Mohammad Ishaq, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli who were all part of the squad for the T20Is in the UAE have been left out for the series in India. Rahmat Shah retains his place in the squad; he is uncapped in T20I cricket and has not played a T20 since July 2022. Gulbadin Naib and Alikhil, who were among the reserves for the UAE series, have now been promoted to the main squad.Related

Rashid Khan ruled out of T20I series against India

Farooqi, Mujeeb and Naveen to get limited NOCs as ACB modifies sanctions

Suryakumar, Hardik ruled out of Afghanistan T20Is

Mujeeb's BBL season cut short by Afghanistan Cricket Board

Farooqi, Naveen in Afghanistan squad after 'demonstrating strong desire to represent country'

“We are delighted to be embarking on our maiden tour to India for a three-match series,” Mirwais Ashraf, the ACB chairman, said in a statement. “India is the top-ranked side in the world and it’s very pleasing to witness AfghanAtalan competing in a three-match T20I against them. We believe that AfghanAtalan are no longer underdogs & have excelled well in the recent past and we look forward to a highly competitive series against India.”This will be Afghanistan’s first bilateral T20I series against India. The three-match series will begin in Mohali on January 11 before the teams head to Indore and Bangalore for the last two games on January 14 and January 17 respectively.This will also be the last T20I series for both India and Afghanistan before the T20 World Cup gets underway in the West Indies and the USA in June later this year.Afghanistan squadIbrahim Zadran (capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Azmaullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Saleem, Qais Ahmad, Gulbadin Naib and Rashid Khan.

MatériaMais Notícias

da imperador bet： O brasileiro Erik é uma das novidades do projeto do Machida Zelvia, que luta para conquistar o acesso à elite do futebol do Japão. O atacante de 28 anos de idade, com passagens por Palmeiras, Atletico-MG e Botafogo, se disse empolgado com a oportunidade de voltar ao país. Na J-League, Erik foi campeão na temporada de 2019, pelo Yokohama Marinos, fazendo o gol do título.

– Estou extremamente empolgado com essa nova oportunidade e projeto. Fui muito feliz no Japão. Foram dois anos atuando em alto nível e agora surge essa nova chance. Estou muito motivado com o projeto apresentado e principalmente pela confiança depositada em mim e no meu futebol. Vamos seguir o planejamento traçado para esse primeiro ano e com a certeza teremos sucesso. Vencemos o nosso primeiro jogo no Campeonato e isso vai trazendo confiança a equipe – disse.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFora de CampoWeb detona Fifa The Best por ausência de Vini Jr em premiação: ‘Absurdo’Fora de Campo27/02/2023Atlético MineiroAtlético-MG: Coudet explica motivo da saída do lateral Paulo HenriqueAtlético Mineiro27/02/2023Futebol InternacionalFifa The Best: Lionel Scaloni, da Argentina, é eleito melhor treinador do mundoFutebol Internacional27/02/2023

da heads bet： Erik atuou pelo Changchun Yatai, da China, nas últimas duas temporadas e teve números de destaque. Foram 17 gols e 11 assistências em 50 jogos. O atacante acredita em um 2023 ainda melhor.

– Foram dois anos que me fizeram crescer e em um projeto parecido com esse atual que estou abraçando. Objetivo de crescimento e consolidação do time na elite do país. Meus números pelo Changchun comprovam minha importância para a equipe e mostram que tive sucesso por lá. Fizemos uma boa pré-temporada e a tendência é de crescermos como equipe ao longo do ano. As expectativas são as melhores possíveis – revelou.

O Machida Zelvia, com o atacante Erik, volta a campo pela J-League 2 neste domingo, às 2h de Brasília, para enfrentar o Zweigen Kanazawa. O time está na quarta posição após duas rodadas.

One team is very much in the race for the World Cup semi-finals, the other is desperate for Champions Trophy qualification

Andrew Miller03-Nov-20235:47

Harmison: ‘England have to turn up, they have no choice’

Big picture: Can England spoil Australia’s semi-final push?Suffice to say, this is not the occasion it was earmarked to be. England versus Australia at the back-end of the group stages, at the most grandiloquent venue that this World Cup can offer. This was intended, at the very least, to be a shoot-out for the semi-finals, and maybe even a dress rehearsal for a yet more significant showdown at this same venue further down the line.And long, long ago, when Australia were the team sitting rock-bottom of the World Cup standings after back-to-back losses to South Africa and India, England might even have assumed that this would be their opportunity to land the final smackdown on their oldest foes.How the worm has turned since then. Australia have gone on to win four from four, while it’s England who have spent the past fortnight circling the drain. Somehow, they go into this contest with a 0.4% chance of reaching the knock-outs – but the fact that they aren’t dead yet despite five losses in six only goes to show how loaded towards the established teams this format really is.”The problem is, we’ve been crap,” as Ben Stokes succinctly put it, in summary of an epochally terrible campaign.And yet, there’s still an awful lot at stake for both sides – and it’s not simply a matter of pride on England’s part. Last week’s shock revelation, that the final placings in this group stage will determine the participants for the 2025 Champions Trophy, means there’s still more humiliation to come if England cannot somehow scramble their way from tenth to eighth in the table.As for Australia, it won’t be entirely plain-sailing into the semis if they drop the ball now. A pumped-up Afghanistan lie in wait in their next round (and they look set to be level on points by the end of their ongoing clash with the Netherlands) while a late-charging Pakistan offer another unexpected top-four challenge, albeit their own clash with fourth-placed New Zealand will mean two points dropped by one rival or the other.Very different degrees of jeopardy are at play therefore, but as tends to be the case in Anglo-Australian World Cup clashes, the immediate tournament context is sure to be rolled into the wider, wilder, narrative of an ancient and implacable rivalry.Australia have won four in a row since losing their first two games at the World Cup•AFP/Getty ImagesAnd for most recent instalment, you don’t need to dredge too far into the memory banks. Up to 15 of the 22 players on parade in Ahmedabad on Saturday will have played their part in an Ashes for the ages in the English summer just gone, and with that series locked at 2-2 – amid talk of moral victories on the one hand and disdain for the “Bazball” narrative on the other – it won’t take much for this rematch to be dressed up as a decider.Certainly, the near-messianic sense of purpose that encapsulated England’s Test summer has deserted them since the switch from red- to white-ball cricket, and speaking in Dharmasala last week, Pat Cummins, Australia’s captain, visibly struggled to choke down his mirth when asked to comment on his rival’s plight.He’s had rather less to smile about in an uncomfortable build-up to this match. Glenn Maxwell, the recent compiler of the fastest century in World Cup history, is out of contention after his freakish golf injury (why always golf? How do actual professional golfers not suffer these endless on-course mishaps?), while Mitchell Marsh’s return to Perth for family reasons is an untimely disruption after his richly productive role in the top three.In David Warner and the fit-again Travis Head, Australia still boast a pair of openers with three times as many centuries as England’s entire line-up has contributed across six matches – and the confidence that they will be able to project in the powerplay could yet be crucial.England, however, will enter this match with judgement swirling around their misfiring troops – and David Willey’s impending international retirement is a reminder, too, that stages such as these don’t present themselves forever in the cut-throat world of professional sport. There’s no time like the present, therefore, for the still-just-about-reigning World Champions to serve a reminder of their ability. Especially if, in the process, they can make their arch-opponents’ progress that little bit less serene.Form guide: Australia on a hot streak, England less soAustralia WWWWL (last five completed ODIs, most recent first)
England LLLLWBen Stokes hasn’t minced words when talking about England’s performance at this World Cup•Getty ImagesIn the spotlight: Joe Root and Adam ZampaSpeaking in the build-up, Joe Root insisted that, “man for man”, England are still a better team than Australia. However, his caveat, “when we play our best stuff” might as well have been a deeply self-referential comment. Root is not the only senior player to have suffered a collapse in form in this most desperate of campaigns, but his downturn still feels the most surprising, because he’s never really done peaks and troughs in the course of his formidable career. Remember when his failure to convert endless Test fifties into hundreds was the single biggest gripe about his record? Right now, England’s most stealthy run-accumulator is unable even to get out of the powerplay – in 16 ODIs since the start of 2022, he’s been dismissed eight times in the first ten overs, for a total of 33 runs from 72 balls, which are unsustainable figures by the standards of any international No.3, let alone one of England’s very greatest.In their former guise as ODI world-beaters, England would almost certainly have considered Adam Zampa a marked man. They never used to stand on ceremony against their opponents’ star wristspinners – look at the treatment of Kuldeep Yadav (1 for 72) and Rashid Khan (0 for 110) in 2019, both of whom have exacted notable revenge this time out. And after a tough start to this tournament against India and South Africa, Zampa has grown in confidence with every subsequent outing – his current haul of 16 wickets includes 15 in four consecutive wins, giving him twice as many as Australia’s next most effective bowlers, Cummins and Josh Hazlewood (eight apiece). Zampa also has recent success against these opponents. Albeit England were rather distracted by their T20 World Cup win when they last met in an ODI series in November 2022, he still emerged with 11 wickets at 11.90 in a 3-0 whitewash.Team news: Maxwell, Marsh out for AustraliaThere might be temptation for England to look to the future, and give opportunities to some of the players more likely to feature in the post-World Cup rebuild – most notably their Under-30 pairing of Harry Brook and Gus Atkinson, who has been passed fit despite wearing a cast on his little finger following a blow during training on Thursday. But that would require some statement omissions from the existing XI, and the sense in the build-up is that the players who got England into this mess will be given a chance, for now, to atone for their shortcomings. Brydon Carse, Reece Topley’s replacement, is waiting in the wings, but Mark Wood – three-year contract and all – is just as likely to be unleashed once more with Ashes-style orders to “bowl rockets”.England (probable): 1 Jonny Bairstow, 2 Dawid Malan, 3 Joe Root, 4 Ben Stokes, 5 Jos Buttler (capt, wk), 6 Moeen Ali / Harry Brook, 7 Liam Livingstone, 8 Chris Woakes, 9 David Willey, 10 Mark Wood, 11 Adil Rashid2:07

Who will Australia bring in for Glenn Maxwell?

All manner of upheaval for Australia in their build-up, with Maxwell’s golf-buggy-induced concussion now compounded by Marsh’s return home for family reasons. It leaves their 15-man squad stretched very thin, a point that captain Cummins has commented on, but the short-term fixes are fairly self-evident. Two further allrounders in Marcus Stoinis and Cameron Green are the obvious stand-ins, leaving Sean Abbott once again on the sidelines, while Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne are likely to move up a place each in the order, to Nos. 3 and 4 respectively.Australia (probable): 1 David Warner, 2 Travis Head, 3 Steven Smith, 4 Marnus Labuschagne, 5 Josh Inglis (wk), 6 Marcus Stoinis, 7 Cameron Green, 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh HazlewoodPitch and conditions: The red or the black?As so often in Ahmedabad, the soil type will be a key factor in how the pitch plays. Black soil promises slow and low, red soil promises quick and bouncy, or so the lore goes. At least there won’t be any of the smog concerns that are dogging the build-up to Bangladesh-Sri Lanka in Delhi. A toasty 35 degrees is promised by day in Ahmedabad, with some prospect of dew under lights in the evenings – although England in particular have been caught out by that assumption before.Stats and trivia: Buttler closing in on 5000 Australia have won six of their previous nine meetings with England at the 50-over World Cup, including four in a row from 2003 to the group stage in 2019. However, England did win the most recent clash, by eight wickets at Edgbaston in the 2019 semi-final. Jos Buttler needs another 72 runs to become the third-fastest Englishman to 5000 ODI runs, in 150 innings. Overall, only six wicketkeeper-batters have 5000 or more runs in ODIs. David Willey, who has confirmed his retirement from international cricket at the end of the tournament, needs six more wickets in a maximum of three games to reach 100 in ODIs. Quotes”That was a couple of months ago. It’s done: it’s a new game, new tournament. But I always think a healthy amount of rivalry is good – especially our playing group. We’re quite a chilled, calm group, so when we get a little bit more fired up, I actually don’t think it’s too bad a thing.”
“It’s just been a disaster, and there’s no point sugarcoating it because it’s probably what you’re all going to write anyway – and it’s true.”

As Stokes himself acknowledged, “3-2 sounds better than 3-1 or 4-1”, so another high-octane contest ought to be in prospect

Andrew Miller06-Mar-20242:39

Manjrekar: India should play two seamers, three spinners if it’s a typical pitch

Big picture: Bowing out on a high

One way or another, England will be ending their tour of India on a high, as they head to the foothills of the Himalayas for the fifth and final Test in Dharamsala – the first of the Bazball era in which Ben Stokes’ men are not in the running for at least a share of the series.It’s been a curiously fallow few days ahead of what, after two days in Ranchi, had looked like being the sharp end of this campaign. With their squad split between two bases in Bengaluru and Chandigarh, England have licked their wounds after their untimely unravelling in the fourth Test, where their tightest grip on any of the contests to date – including astonishing win in Hyderabad – was unpicked finger by finger in India’s most stirring display of supremacy yet.From Akash Deep’s first-day fireworks to Dhruv Jurel’s twin displays of big-match cojones, via the inevitable onset of India’s spin supremacy in the decisive third innings, England’s fabled self-belief endured its most relentless examination of the tour. In his post-match remarks, Stokes even conceded that competing on equal terms had been nigh on “impossible” – perhaps the most defeatist sentiment to have passed his lips in his captaincy tenure.Related

• England's hands-off ethos braces for challenge of dead-rubber syndrome

• 'I don't know much' – Rohit unsure if Dharamsala pitch will require three seamers or two

• Robinson makes way for Wood as England retain two spinners

• Just sit back and get ready to marvel at R Ashwin, for the 100th time

• Bairstow at 100 caps: A century of spirit and resilience

And so, it’s back to Base Camp for the Bazball philosophy, whatever that may entail. In some ways, the circumstances of the fifth Test should suit England’s no-consequences approach – a shot to nothing in a match that truly does count for little more than pride, against an India team that might conceivably lack some of its intensity now that their stupendous home record has been preserved for another series.That said, between the occasion of R Ashwin’s 100th Test, and the return to their ranks of the lethal Jasprit Bumrah, whose absence in Ranchi was arguably a major factor in England’s first-innings recovery, India will have all the weapons and incentive necessary to gun for a 4-1 series scoreline, the sort of margin witnessed on numerous past England tours, and which the visitors’ new approach had been designed to do away with.As Stokes himself acknowledged, “3-2 sounds better than 3-1 or 4-1″, so another high-octane contest ought to be in prospect – notwithstanding the stirrings of a stomach bug within the England camp that caused both Shoaib Bashir and Ollie Robinson to be quarantined in their hotel rather than risk them mingling with the rest of the team during their final practice session.No such concerns for India, who have grown into this series with poise and purpose, making light of the loss of Virat Kohli and latterly KL Rahul to forge an enviable spirit, studded with stars who look ready to carry the side into the coming years. The occasion of Ashwin’s 100th Test serves as a reminder of the enduring class that has underpinned their challenge, while Rohit Sharma’s authority as captain has arguably grown in the absence of his senior colleagues, not least in his gentle handling of the one anomaly in India’s otherwise settled line-up, Rajat Patidar.”I like to call him a talent player,” Rohit said of Patidar on the eve of the match. “He’s lost some opportunities here, but that happens when you’re in the early stage of your career, you’re nervous, you’re trying to think about so many things. That is where the team has to back the individual and make sure there’s no pressure internally on him.” Had they not already been warned off from taking credit for India’s success, England might even suggest there’s an element of their own continuity of selection at play there too.The series’ most thrilling subplot, however, has been the emergence of Yashasvi Jaiswal as India’s newest batting star. For all the confidence they carried into this series, England have not yet found an adequate response to the challenge he has thrown towards their emboldened style of play. His runs, and the manner in which he has made them, has truly been the difference between the teams. Another score of note for Jaiswal this week, and it will truly take something special to mitigate the gulf between the sides.2:03

Harmison: ‘Jonny has always had England’s best interests at heart’

Form guide

India WWWLW (last five Tests, most recent first)
England LLLWW

In the spotlight: Rajat Patidar and Jonny Bairstow

Is this the last-chance saloon for the most precarious selection in India’s ranks? Previous regimes might have seen enough of Rajat Patidar already, after six innings of increasingly diminishing returns – 32 runs in a passable maiden knock in Visakhapatnam, then 31 all told in the remainder, including a brace of second-innings ducks in Rajkot and Ranchi. His arrival at the crease has consistently offered England hope of exerting a hold on India’s innings. And yet, it wasn’t so long ago that Patidar was looking a class apart for India A against a strong England Lions XI, including with an astonishing 151 out of 227 in their unofficial Test in Ahmedabad, having rescued his team from a scoreline of 50 for 6. On that evidence, it’s a case of big-match nerves rather than any lack of Test class that has held him back so far, but he’ll need to reward the management’s faith soon.For the second time this winter, Jonny Bairstow is due to bring up a century in Dharamsala, though not of the strictly batting variety. As with his 100th ODI cap during the World Cup, Bairstow’s Test caps milestone will be a source of immense pride for one of the more emotionally-driven players of recent vintage, but it comes also with the nagging sense that he’s nearing the end of his England journey. For all the unfathomable determination he has shown to get back to fitness after his horrific leg injury in September 2022, Bairstow’s returns on this trip have been awkwardly unfulfilled – five scores between 25 and 38, and an overall average of 21.25 in eight innings, speak of a player whose fires still burn bright but whose physicality is letting him down. And while it’s reductive to suggest that he always saves his best for when the doubters are lined up against him, it’s a seductive notion too. With Harry Brook waiting in the wings for the English summer, can Bairstow find one last burst of furious brilliance to ensure his 100th Test won’t be his last? The beauty of his career is that you wouldn’t ever bet against it.3:07

Harmison: No surprise that Robinson is out

Team news: England make solitary change

Jasprit Bumrah will be welcomed back to lead India’s attack alongside Mohammad Siraj, and with Rohit Sharma dropping a sizeable hint that India would field three seamers for this contest, the big decision comes down to a call between Akash Deep and the extra spinner Kuldeep Yadav. Deep proved himself worthy of further honours with his three-wicket burst on the first morning of his debut in Ranchi, but Kuldeep’s wristspin was instrumental in unpicking England’s resistance when the surface was at its flattest in the back-end of the contest.India (possible): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 Shubman Gill, 4 Rajat Patidar, 5 Ravindra Jadeja, 6 Sarfaraz Khan, 7 Dhruv Jurel (wk), 8 R Ashwin, 9 Kuldeep Yadav / Akash Deep, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11 Jasprit Bumrah.Despite speculation that England would opt for three quicks on a more seam-friendly surface in Dharamsala, both Bashir and Tom Hartley have been retained for the fifth Test, in Bashir’s case despite nursing a Moeen Ali-style cut on his spinning finger, which is hardly surprising given his 70-over workload across the two innings in Ranchi comprised more than a fifth of his previous first-class career. Robinson endured a bleak time with the ball in the same Test, apparently after tweaking his back during his spirited half-century, and makes way for the return of England’s point-of-difference paceman Mark Wood. James Anderson, two wickets shy of 700 in Tests, will play his fourth match in a row at the age of 41.England: 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Jonny Bairstow, 6 Ben Stokes (capt), 7 Ben Foakes (wk), 8 Tom Hartley, 9 Mark Wood, 10 Shoaib Bashir, 11 James Anderson

Pitch and conditions: Home far from home for England?

There’s a distinct chill in the air at 5000ft altitude, which would count as handy preparation for the opening rounds of the County Championship, if any of England’s incumbents were likely to be made available. Either way, Dharamsala is a long way removed from the heat and dust of Ranchi or Rajkot – in the last fixture at this venue, some three weeks ago, all 36 wickets fell to seam as Delhi beat Himachal Pradesh by 76 runs in the Ranji Trophy. Nevertheless, Stokes expects the surface to be full of runs, but some barer patches on a full length have persuaded England to retain their frontline spin options.2:58

Manjrekar: ‘Other than cricket, Ashwin knows far beyond what’s outside his own sport’

Stats and trivia: Milestones galore in prospect

• Both R Ashwin and Jonny Bairstow are in line for their 100th Test appearances. Ashwin, who passed 500 Test wickets earlier in the series, is set to be the 14th Indian caps centurion, and Bairstow the 17th for England.
• Bairstow needs 26 runs to reach 6,000 in Tests, a mark also reached by 16 previous England players.
• Yashasvi Jaiswal is on course to set a new record for most runs by an Indian batter in a series against England. He begins the match on 655, level with Virat Kohli’s tally from the 2016-17 campaign.
• James Anderson is two wickets away from 700 Test wickets. Only Muthiah Muralidaran (800) and Shane Warne (708) have taken more.
• Stokes remains three short of 200 Test wickets, and on the cusp of being only the third allrounder after Garry Sobers and Jacques Kallis to complete the double of 6000 runs and 200 wickets. Though he has not bowled in any of his previous seven Test appearances, he is close to a return after knee surgery.
• Ravindra Jadeja is eight wickets away from becoming the seventh Indian to reach 300 Test wickets.

Quotes

“I just don’t know what Bazball means. I haven’t seen wild swinging from anyone. England have played better cricket than they were here last time. But I still don’t know what Bazball means.”

Rohit Sharma takes one last dig at England’s perceived style of play“I’ll be going out there, chewing my gum, puffing my chest out and trying to have a good time with the other ten blokes out there. Whatever the situation is, we’ll be going out there with smiles on our faces, like we have done in the whole series.”

The top-order batter has been carrying a long-term foot injury and will now aim to be fit for the Australia Test series

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Feb-20242:15

Stead: Williamson unlikely for Australia T20Is, Boult is available

Daryl Mitchell has been ruled out of the second Test against South Africa and the T20I series against Australia in an attempt to recover from a long-standing foot injury.Mitchell, who averages 53.46 in Tests, has been carrying the problem for around six or seven months and was rested from the final T20I against Pakistan in January, but it has been decided he needs a longer period on the sidelines to give himself the best chance of being fit for the two-Test series against Australia.Related

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“We took the opportunity to rest him a little earlier but after seeking medical advice on this as well it’s likely that he needs a longer period of time,” New Zealand coach Gary Stead said. “It’s really tough, because there’s not a lot breaks coming up in the next wee while so thought this gives us nearly three weeks to try and give him the chance of the best recuperation from it.”There’s no guarantees this will still work in that period of time but we are very hopeful that it will improve his chances of getting through a longer stint with us.”New Zealand have not called up a replacement for Mitchell with Will Young the spare batter in the squad and he could come in as a like-for-like swap. However, there remains a chance the side may be rebalanced with Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Santner moving up the order and another pace bowler brought in with Stead confirming the uncapped Will O’Rourke remained in contention for a debut.”[Will Young] is definitely one of the options,” Stead said. “Will’s there as back up [and] Glenn Phillips has shown he’s more than useful and it could be shaped differently. We are very happy with the squad we have. Daryl’s obviously a huge loss, though, he’s been instrumental in a number of outstanding batting performances but it’s important for him and us that we get this right long term.”Meanwhile, Kane Williamson is unlikely to be available for the T20Is against Australia – a format where he is captain – as his wife is expecting their third child. However, Trent Boult could come into consideration for those matches with the left-arm quick not having any franchise commitments at that time.”Trent’s available if we want to select him,” Stead said. “Him and I are still having conversations…hopefully in the next couple of days to nail down what that looks like.”

Manchester City added a new midfielder to their squad in the January transfer window.

Spaniard Nico Gonzalez joined the club from Portuguese giants FC Porto for a fee in the region of £50m. He was, in many ways, signed as a replacement for Rodri, who is sidelined this season with a knee injury.

The new City midfielder has certainly made a great impression to start the campaign. He has played nine times for the reigning Premier League champions so far this term and was even described as a “mini Rodri” by Pep Guardiola.

The Spain international might not be the only midfield recruit in 2025 for City. They have recently been linked with another player who can strengthen the centre of the park.

Man City’s new midfield target

After the success of the Gonzalez signing in the winter, City could now turn back to the market to add Tijani Reijnders to their midfield. The AC Milan sensation has been making waves for the Serie A giants this term and could now depart the club this summer.

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According to a report from Football Insider, the Citizens ‘have identified Reijnders as a top target’ for the 2025 summer transfer window and is ‘seen as a player who would fit seamlessly into City’s midfield’, alongside the likes of Rodri and Gonzalez.

However, this will not be an easy deal for the East Mancunian outfit to do. Football Insider reports that the Milan ace will only be able to move to the Etihad Stadium if they pay £50m and sell three players to make room in their squad.

Why Reijnders would be a good signing

Should the Citizens bring Reijnders to the club head of the 2025/26 season, he would surely be a huge upgrade to their midfield. Football analyst Ben Mattinson believes he is one of the “top 5 midfielders this season”, high praise indeed.

The Dutchman has played a key role for Milan this term. He has scored 13 times and grabbed four assists across 43 games for the Serie A giants. One of those strikes was away to Real Madrid, in a fantastic 3-1 win at the Santaogo Bernabeu.

The Netherlands international is not the only midfielder City have been linked with in recent weeks. According to reports in Spain, they are targeting £50m-rated Hugo Larsson of Eintracht Frankfurt. The young Sweden star has six goals and one assist for the club.

Whilst both players will reportedly cost the same price, perhaps Reijnders will be the better option. Not only is he more experienced, but he offers more of a goal threat and lots of creativity in the final third. Just look at this assist for Christian Pulisic to see how technically gifted and creative he is.

Another way to get a picture of who will be the better signing out of Reijnders and Larsson is to compare their stats via FBref from the 2024/25 campaign. To preface these numbers, it is worth noting that Reijnders has played an average of 16 full 90 minutes more than Larsson.

Well, the metrics certainly make for interesting reading. For example, this term, Reijnders has averaged 6.40 progressive passes and 3.30 progressive carries per 90 minutes, compared to Larsson’s 4.89 progressive passes and 0.65 progressive carries each 90 minutes.

Progressive passes

6.4

4.89

Key passes

1.43

0.94

Shot-creating actions

3.27

2.44

Progressive carries

3.3

0.65

Successful take-ons

1.13

0.22

With both players potentially costing the same amount, you could argue there is not much difference in whom you sign.

However, the experience and all-rounder quality that Reijnders offers, particularly as a ball-carrier, perhaps give him the edge.

If City do decide to sign the Dutchman, he will bring technical quality on the ball and a goal-scoring threat as a box-crasher. He would certainly enhance the calibre of midfielder Guardiola has at his disposal.

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