Paul Pogba could be facing another delay in his bid to make a competitive debut for Monaco, with the World Cup winner still working his way towards full match sharpness. Pogba has been out of action since September 2023, having been stung with a doping ban, and is yet to open a new adventure in Ligue 1 – with no unnecessary risks being taken on his fitness.
After Pandey’s hundred and Gill’s fifty carried India A to 295 for 6, Krunal tore up West Indies A’s chase with 5 for 25
ESPNcricinfo staff17-Jul-2019
Three days before the selectors meet to pick India’s senior squad for the Caribbean tour, Manish Pandey, the A team captain, made a statement with an 86-ball century that fashioned a 148-run victory. Opener Shubman Gill also staked his claim for higher honours with his second successive half-century in the West Indies to follow up an unbeaten 109 against Sri Lanka A at home last month. After the two batsmen carried India A to 295 for 6, Krunal Pandya wrecked West Indies A’s chase with 5 for 25 in seven overs. The 148-run win meant India wrapped up the five one-day series with two games remaining.ALSO READ: India’s selectors to meet on July 19After opting to bat, India A lost Anmolpreet Singh for a duck in the third over, but Gill and No.3 Shreyas Iyer forged a 109-run stand to give the innings direction. Iyer, who made a brisk 77 in the tour opener, was more sedate on Tuesday, scoring 47 off 69 balls. The stand ended when Iyer was dismissed by offspin-bowling allrounder Rahkeem Cornwall in the 27th over. Pandey and Gill then took charge of the innings, putting on a 110-run stand to take the team towards 250.While Gill fell 23 short of a hundred, Pandey reached the landmark off 86 balls, in the last over of the innings. Seamer Romario Shepherd then pinned him lbw with an inswinging yorker off his next ball to keep the visitors to under 300.With West Indies selector Robert Haynes in attendance, John Campbell and Sunil Ambris have the A team a positive start by adding 51 for the first wicket. Ambris was the more aggressive opener, making 30 off 32 balls before he was trapped lbw by Avesh Khan. However, fingerspinners Krunal, Washington Sundar, and Hanuma Vihari tore up the middle and lower order as West Indies A went from 51 for 0 to 117 for 9.With No.11 Akeem Jordan for company, Keemo Paul launched some big blows and top-scored with 34 off 16 balls, dragging his side to 147. It was Vihari who sealed the victory when he had Paul holing out in the 35th over. Ambris and Paul were the only West Indies A batsmen to pass 25 in the chase.
Worcestershire could be without their left-arm spinner for the entire season after he sustained a serious injury
ESPNcricinfo staff08-Apr-2019Worcestershire could be without Ben Twohig for the entire season after he sustained a serious injury. Twohig, the 20-year-old left-arm spinner, is understood to have suffered the anterior cruciate ligament injury while playing five-a-side football.A former England Under-19 player, Twohig made his List A and first-class debuts last season and did well enough to win a run of games in Worcestershire’s Championship side towards the end of the season.It is entirely possible the injury will renew debate over the wisdom of professional cricketers playing football. Ashley Giles, the director of England’s men’s teams, had already made it clear he does not favour the idea.”We’ve got to keep our best players on the park and I’m not sure playing football is the best way of going about that,” he told ESPNcricinfo in January. “If you look at what football does, the benefits from a physiological and fun point of view are outstripped by the dangers.”This injury was not sustained during a training or warm-up session, though. It is understood Twohig was playing a five-a-side game with friends. It is unclear if he was permitted to take part in such a game.
Cricket West Indies look set to take a substantial financial hit after Sky declined to pay for the two T20I games in St Kitts this weekend.The value of such games would usually be worth around US$1million each but, with neither match having been part of the package agreed when the broadcast deal was made several years ago, Sky are reluctant to pay anywhere near that amount. They argue they have already paid handsomely for the rest of the tour, which was originally scheduled to contain just one T20I, and have no intention of spending any more on it.The matches will still be broadcast in the UK. While CWI could refuse to allow Sky access to their pictures – the board are providing the cameras, the crew and the feed – they are not prepared to compromise their relationship with either their sponsors or the St Kitts government, who have invested in hosting the games. That means Sky could end up broadcasting the games for next to no cost.If that does happen, however, it is unlikely they will be exclusive. CWI would, in such circumstances, be able to live-broadcast the matches on YouTube, Twitter and through their own website. A compromise – where Sky pay somewhere between 10-20% of the anticipated value of the games – would seem likely.It still represents a painful blow for CWI. They are obliged to pay for the travel and hotel accommodation for both squads, as well as the match fees and other hosting costs. With the matches broadcast at close to peak time for Sky – they start at 8pm in the UK – they are aggrieved at the lack of value they are receiving. For a board with a turnover of around $40million, to lose up to $2million anticipated revenue is significant.West Indies captain Jason Holder during a net session•Getty Images
Meanwhile, the announcement of West Indies’ T20I squad for this series – which was revealed by ESPNcricinfo almost a week ago – was delayed after some board members resisted the decision to retain the ODI squad under Jason Holder as captain. While the logic of keeping the side together in the build-up to the World Cup was appreciated, there was a concern that preparation for the next T20 World Cup – which is to be held in Australia towards the end of next year – might be compromised as a consequence.There was also some concern that Holder might require more rest ahead of his commitments this summer. In addition to West Indies’ trip to Ireland in the build-up to the World Cup, he has also committed to a stint with Northamptonshire in county cricket.Equally, however, the delay in naming the squad might be reflective of the level of interference that selectors, coaches and officials in the Caribbean have from CWI board members.It also emerged that Andre Russell could miss the entire series with a recurrence of his long-standing knee problem. “He had some reaction to some treatment he had,” Richard Pybus, the team’s interim head coach, explained. It is understood that reaction came after Russell was given an injection into the knee and had been suffering unexpected swelling as a result.With opportunities running out for Russell to show his fitness and form, the setback could raise serious doubts over his likelihood of being in West Indies’ World Cup squad.
England’s win over India will mean nothing if they don’t beat an out-of-sorts Sri Lanka, says former spin bowler
Melinda Farrell25-Sep-2018Graeme Swann has called on Moeen Ali to cast aside any self-doubt and take charge of England’s campaign against an “out-of-sorts” Sri Lanka next month.While Moeen has been a consistent presence in England’s ODI side this year, he was dropped from the Test side during the New Zealand tour in March but returned for the fourth Test against India in Southampton, where he produced a Player-of-the-Match performance with both bat and ball.Swann questioned the mindset of both Moeen and Adil Rashid, the players whom he believes will be the key if England are to succeed in Sri Lanka.”I think it is a big series because after being 4-1 [in the Test series against India] I think it’s very easy to rest on your laurels,” said Swann. “That will mean nothing if they don’t go well against – let’s face it – a massively out-of-sorts Sri Lanka team.”They’ve had a stinker of a time at the Asia Cup and this is a very good time to play them. I don’t think we’ve got the resources to go out there and really challenge them if we don’t believe we have, because I don’t believe the spinners are in the right mindset.”Moeen was brought back into the England Test side ostensibly as the second spinner to Rashid and, in the second innings at the Ageas Bowl, was promoted up the batting order to No.3 ahead of Joe Root. He has expressed a wish to continue batting higher up the order and playing the supporting spinner’s role but Swann is not convinced Moeen is best suited to either role.”Mo is still in that [mindset of] ‘I’m No.2 spinner I want to bat No.3’. That is not the way to go. If Mo turns up at the airport and says, ‘I’m going to go to Sri Lanka and be Man of the Series, I’m going to take loads of wickets and I’ll bat No.6 where the team needs me, not at No.3 where I’m not suited’ then I think England will win. But I think it’s all about getting the best out of the spin bowlers who, let’s face it, when you go to the subcontinent are the major players.”Yes, the Test series is a different form and it’s in a different country but it seems with Mo that he’s so fragile that he needs confidence-boosting all the time. And I implore him to just come on, grab it with both hands. You’re a really, really good bowler and stop worrying about being known as the No.2 spinner. It doesn’t make any difference, the ball doesn’t change shape because you’re the No.1 or 2 spinner, the pitch doesn’t change length, the same batsmen are batting. Nonsense.”Swann was speaking at the launch of the Cricket World Cup Participation Plan, in which ECB and ICC hope to use the tournament to inspire 1 million children to play the game, and he feels that, whatever the results may be in Sri Lanka, England are right on track in their preparations seven months out from a home World Cup.”I think from a one-day point of view, with the World Cup coming here next year, we couldn’t be in a better place at the minute because the one-day series against India proved to us that we could beat India in England and come back from a pretty slow start to the series as well”, said Swann. “And Eoin Morgan is undoubtedly the best man for the job as skipper.”He has that team really believing they can do anything from any situation and England are favourites.”
As you have surely heard by now, Los Angeles Dodgers two-way Shohei Ohtani smashed a gorgeous walk-off home run to break a tie vs. the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night, extending L.A.'s now eight-game winning streak to start the season and just generally wow-ing baseball fans both at home and in the stands.
Unsurprisingly, he was also the subject of plenty of media attention after the fact, both on the field and in the locker room.
In the latter location, Ohtani spoke a bit about the team's ability to seal the deal during this opening stretch of games, which has seen them trailing during six of the eight outings, but able to come back and win every time. To that point, the future Hall of Famer thinks the general vibe of the team, in addition to other factors, has helped them defy the odds.
"Just grateful as a player to be able to perform in an opportunity like this. … We've been able to come back from behind especially in these games because of the bullpen and how much they do a great job giving us the opportunity to win."
"Overall, not just tonight, a really good vibe within the team so I think that's allowing us to come back from these games to win."
Take a look at that below:
The Dodgers will hope to keep those good vibes going with their first of three games vs. the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday at 6:45 p.m.
Jos Buttler has barely played red-ball cricket since being dropped from the Test side in 2015, and he believes that has helped him discover his game
George Dobell in Mumbai09-Dec-20161:05
Buttler calls for more consistent bowling
Jos Buttler has credited a lack of first-class cricket as a crucial ingredient in his successful return to the Test team.Buttler made 76, his second highest Test score, to help England reach 400 in their first innings in Mumbai. It was an impressive contribution for a number of reasons, not least the restraint Buttler exhibited against testing bowling. It was also his first half-century in first-class cricket since May 2015.More pertinently, it was just his fifth first-class innings since he was dropped from the England Test team in the UAE in October 2015.But far from seeing that lack of red-ball cricket as a disadvantage, Buttler insisted it was a factor in his relative success.”I don’t feel like having not played first-class cricket mattered to me at all,” Buttler said. “Probably the best thing for me is having not played any red-ball cricket for a year and having some time to think about my game.”We play so much cricket that sometimes there isn’t enough time to think, break down your game and work out what is vital to get the best out of yourself. I feel like the last year I’ve probably learned the most about myself and about cricket in my whole career.”While Buttler’s words clash with conventional wisdom – Alastair Cook described Buttler’s lack of first-class cricket as “clearly not ideal” ahead of the Mohali Test – there appear to be a growing number of players arguing for the benefits of a fresh body and mind over the virtues of regular games. Certainly Eoin Morgan has previously said he felt “twice the man” for a month’s rest ahead of an ODI series – while Kevin Pietersen has often remarked that England’s cricketers are obliged to battle not only their opponents, but their own schedules.At the time Buttler was dropped from the Test side, he seemed confused and lacking in confidence. He had failed to reach 50 in his 12 most recent Test innings – he had not reached 10 on six of those occasions – and later admitted he was “relieved” to have been left out.”I got to a stage where I was not concentrating and did not want to be there,” Buttler told The Telegraph this time last year. “It was a relief to get dropped. I was not enjoying walking out there and feeling like I didn’t know where the next run was coming from.”Crucial to Buttler’s improvement now – and it does have to be said, these are early days in his recall and the returns, while pleasing, are relatively modest – has been a renewed belief in his own abilities. And while these haven’t been demonstrated in copious amounts – or even sparse amounts – of first-class runs (injury and white-ball commitments limited him to a single County Championship match in the 2016 season), they are real nevertheless.Jos Buttler’s highest Test score carried England to 400•AFPAfter all, Buttler is the scorer of the three quickest ODI centuries made by an England player. He has shown, in many T20 and List A situations, that he has a rare ability. Few doubt his talent.But, after a series of failures in Test cricket, he had begun to doubt himself. And without the time and space to reflect and then work on his game, he felt he was sinking deeper into the mire with every dismissal.”I’ve learned one of the big things you have to have, that the top players have, is belief in your own game,” he said. “You have to be confident that, when you get a chance, you’re going to perform.”You’re your own best coach. There’s plenty of people out there to speak to, but probably one of the things I was doing when I struggled was speaking to too many people. It is better bringing it back to a few close people you trust and to yourself. No one can do it for you.”You can receive great advice, but you’ve got to believe in yourself.”Part of the reason for Buttler’s limited appearances in first-class cricket in 2016 was a decision to appear in the IPL. While there still appears to be some controversy about such decisions in English cricket, Buttler’s decision was fully supported by the ECB – indeed, they currently encourage players to gain experience in high-profile T20 leagues – on the basis of their increased prioritisation of white-ball cricket.If Buttler goes on to help England to that elusive global ODI trophy – and he may well – it may well be credited as a contributory factor. Anyway, had he not subsequently broken his thumb playing T20 cricket for Lancashire, he would still have been able to play several Championship matches.Besides, he feels the experience of representing Mumbai Indians in the IPL may have helped him deal with the conditions and the environment in Mumbai.”It probably helps, having practised and played here,” Buttler said. “Having experienced IPL, you get used to the noise and chaos going on around you. You learn to deal with it and not get distracted. I think familiarity is good and definitely helps.”Might there be a bit of contradiction there? After all, he argues that “familiarity is good” when it comes to batting in Mumbai, but freshness is best when it comes to building an innings against a red ball.It doesn’t really matter. Just as Ben Duckett’s success in the English domestic season didn’t much matter when he came up against Ravi Ashwin and co. And just as Mark Ramprakash and Graeme Hick’s century of first-class centuries didn’t matter when it came to Test cricket. Success in county cricket is no guarantee.All that matters is whether their method works in Test cricket. So while you would think that Buttler would benefit from more experience, while you would think he would benefit from learning how to build an innings – he has, after all, a modest first-class record (just four first-class centuries and an average of 32) – if he can demonstrate that his method works, he should be encouraged to embrace it.This was an impressive innings. While Parthiv Patel’s description of the early part of it as “very lucky” is somewhat graceless (and antagonistic), it is not entirely without truth. But while Buttler found batting a desperate struggle against the spinners on the first evening, he had the confidence and composure not to try and thrash his way out of trouble.While there were glimpses of the fine limited-overs player he has become – a few reverse-sweeps and one heave over mid-on for six – it was the less eye-catching skills that helped him here: his patience; his soft hands (not least when playing Jayant Yadav in front of leg slip when he had scored only 1), his ability to manoeuvre the ball and his maturity in dealing with the periods of pressure. Only once – in his 73 against New Zealand at Leeds in 2015 (his most recent half-century before this) – had he faced more deliveries in a Test innings.The game has changed. We live in an age where players reach centuries on debut with reverse-sweeps, where catches are routinely taken by fielders using the both sides of the boundary, where switch-hits and doosras have become part of the lexicon of the game. If Buttler wants to do things his way – and if it works – that should be just fine.
Liverpool are well on course to clinch a second Premier League title in the club’s history as they sit six points clear of Arsenal, with a game in hand still to play.
The Reds ensured that the gap remained at six points over the weekend with a convincing 4-1 win over newly-promoted side Ipswich Town at Anfield.
Two goals from Cody Gakpo, after strikes from Dominik Szoboszlai and Mo Salah, secured all three points for Arne Slot’s team, which meant that the Gunners did not gain any ground on them.
The Reds, who are also top of their Champions League group, have benefitted from Manchester City having their first huge wobble in the Premier League in many years.
Pep Guardiola’s team have lost six of their 23 matches in the division, leaving them 12 points behind Liverpool, having played a game more, as it stands.
The reigning champions have, however, dipped into the market to bolster their squad ahead of the second half of the season and that may be a concern moving forward, more so for next season, after they swooped to sign Omar Marmoush this month.
Back in October of 2024, Sky Germany reported that Liverpool were in talks with Eintracht Frankfurt over a deal to sign the Egypt international to bolster their attacking options.
This suggests that the recruitment team, and Slot, viewed Marmoush as a player with the quality, or potential, to come in and improve the team’s attack with his play as a centre-forward or out wide on the left.
Manchester City, however, ultimately won the race for his signature and reportedly paid a fee of £59m to bring him to The Etihad, before he made his debut in a 3-1 win over Chelsea on Saturday.
The 25-year-old star was signed by the Cityzens, and wanted by Liverpool, after a return of 37 goals and 20 assists in 67 matches for Frankfurt in all competitions during his time with the German outfit.
Marmoush racked up 20 goals and 14 assists in 27 outings in all competitions in the first half of the 2024/25 campaign, which shows that he has arrived in England in red-hot form in the final third.
As you can see in some of the clips above, Marmoush is a direct, fast, and dynamic forward who can score all types of goals from different positions across the pitch with his exceptional footwork, speed, and finishing ability.
This is why Liverpool may be concerned about City’s deal to sign the forward, because he has the potential to be a big signing for Guardiola who can help to bring them back to their best, whether that happens this season or for their title-challenge next term.
The Reds could, however, sign their answer to Omar Marmoush by dipping into the market to land their own right-footed left-sided attacker from the Bundesliga.
German journalist Christian Falk recently revealed, whilst speaking on The Daily Briefing, that Liverpool are one of a number of clubs that are interested in a deal to sign Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund.
Transfer Focus
The reporter claimed that Dortmund would prefer to sell him to a team from abroad, amid interest from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, which could provide the Reds with a boost in their pursuit of the England U21 international.
Speaking on The Daily Briefing, as transcribed by CaughtOffside, Falk said: “It’s true. Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea are also in the transfer race with Bayern for Jamie Gittens.
“Dortmund are currently looking for a transfer fee of €100m. Should Premier League clubs bid for the Englishman, Bayern are aware that completing a transfer on their end will be difficult.”
This means that Liverpool would have to splash out a mega transfer fee of £84m to secure a deal for the 20-year-old youngster, although it remains to be seen whether the interested parties want to get a transfer done now or if they are willing to wait until the summer.
If the Reds can see off interest from the likes of Chelsea and Bayern Munich, Slot could land his own version of Marmoush by signing the former Manchester City academy starlet.
The obvious connection between the two players is that they have both starred in the Bundesliga this season and are both right-footed players who can operate on the left side, cutting in on their favoured foot, or in central areas.
Gittens has not quite matched Marmoush’s incredible haul of 34 goal contributions in 27 matches in all competitions for Frankfurt, but the Dortmund dynamo is five years younger than the Manchester City signing and has shown immense potential with his performances in the German top-flight and the Champions League this term.
In Europe, the English whiz has racked up four goals and two ‘big chances’ created in seven appearances – six starts – in the league phase, which shows that he has made a big impact in the final third in that competition.
The £84m-rated star, who was once described as a “pure difference-maker” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has the pace, technical quality, and movement to constantly make things happen at the top end of the pitch, much like Marmoush.
|
24/25 Bundesliga |
Jamie Gittens |
|---|---|
|
Starts |
15 |
|
xG |
2.44 |
|
Goals |
7 |
|
Big chances created |
5 |
|
Assists |
3 |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
|
As you can see in the table above, Gittens has also offered plenty of quality in the Bundesliga this season, with 12 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in 15 starts.
Overall, the England youth international has contributed with 11 goals and seven ‘big chances’ created in 21 starts in the Bundesliga and the Champions League combined, which shows that he could arrive at Anfield to make a big impact in the final third on a consistent basis.
Best January move since Van Dijk: Liverpool plot bid for amazing defender
Liverpool could sign a “magnificent talent” who would be their best January signing since Van Dijk
By
Connor Holden
Jan 27, 2025
Therefore, the 20-year-old starlet, who still has plenty of time left to develop and improve, could be Slot’s own version of Marmoush on the left flank if the club can secure a deal for his services this month or in the summer.
In a repeat of their deal to welcome Claudio Echeverri, Manchester City are now reportedly battling to sign another South American gem ahead of rivals Manchester United this summer.
Man City transfer news
The Citizens have their focus set on the future and have done since the January transfer window, splashing out to welcome the likes of Vitor Reis, Abdukodir Khusanov and Juma Bah to commence their defensive rebuild. With three future stars in their backline, City could look to pick up where they left off when the summer transfer window arrives.
Pep Guardiola’s side could certainly do with a rebuild too. The Spaniard has lost more games in a single season than he has ever done before, with his Manchester City side ravaged by injuries and simply overpowered week in, week out in what still takes some getting used to when watching a side managed by the Spaniard.
Against Real Madrid in midweek, the Premier League champions were simply a class or two below their opponents and as Liverpool prepare to arrive at The Etihad, Manchester City must hope to avoid a repeat of Wednesday’s defeat.
That said, whilst their suffering continues on the pitch, the Citizens are at least reportedly preparing to unveil the light at the end of the tunnel in the form of further reinforcements.
Man City set for transfer battle to sign teenage prodigy who may cost £15m
Man City are among the European clubs chasing the signature of a rising star.
ByBrett Worthington Feb 20, 2025
According to InterLive, as relayed by Sport Witness, Manchester City are now battling to sign Franco Mastantuono ahead of rivals Manchester United this summer. The River Plate youngster reportedly has a release clause worth €40m (£33m) and has also attracted the interest of Inter Milan to create quite the race for his signature.
"Gifted" Mastuantono is one to watch
The influence of South American talents in the Premier League is there for all to see and does not look likely to come to an end any time soon. The next generation of Argentina’s best looks particularly like one to watch and Mastuantono – alongside Echeverri – is one of the rising stars at the forefront of that.
At just 17 years old, the attacking midfielder was described as “gifted” and dubbed “Argentina’s best talent” by analyst Ben Mattinson last month.
Although things are at their bleakest under Guardiola right now, Manchester City’s slumber may not last long. When the summer arrives and they once again have the chance to rebuild, a dominant side could be awoken and seek instant vengeance. Whether the likes of Mastuantono play a part in that remains to be seen, however.
Cole Palmer came under fire from Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca as the star attacker's goal drought continues in 2025.
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