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Sunrisers still in contention despite six-wicket loss at Derby

ECB Reporters Network31-Aug-2024The Blaze 249 for 4 (K Bryce 87*, Beaumont 59) beat Sunrisers 245 (Griffith 65) by six wickets Double-chasers The Blaze kept alive their chance of qualifying for the knock-out stage of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy with a six-wicket win over Sunrisers at Derby, where they chased down a target of 246 with 39 balls to spare.Not for the first time, all-rounder Kathryn Bryce was their match-winner, top-scoring with 87 not out for the Charlotte Edwards Cup-holders to go with figures of four for 41 in the Sunrisers innings.England’s Tammy Beaumont (59) shared a 76-run first-wicket partnership with Kathryn’s sister, Sarah Bryce (41) to give the chase a strong platform, Ella Claridge helping Scotland skipper Bryce finish things off with an unbeaten 33 from 27 balls.Cordelia Griffith had been the Sunrisers’ star performer with the bat, making 65 with seven fours and a six, backed up by useful contributions from Eva Gray (37) and Jodi Grewcock (36) in the Sunrisers total.The result was a setback for Sunrisers, who started the day in third place in the group table, although the top-four finish they need to clinch their first semi-final appearance in the history of either of the women’s regional competitions remains in their hands with two matches left.The Blaze have momentum after winning six of their last eight completed matches but will still need other results to go in their favour even if they win their two remaining fixtures.Having opted to bat first on a green wicket after winning the toss, Sunrisers reached a solid 38 without loss before medium-pacer Bryce then removed Scrivens caught and bowled off a leading edge in the last over of the opening powerplay. Jo Gardner was then bowled off her front pad by Gordon as she sought to pull through midwicket.Griffith and 19-year-old Jodi Grewcock regained the initiative for Sunrisers, adding 89 for the third wicket, Griffith completing a 55-ball fifty after hitting Groves for six and four as the leg-spinner conceded 14 from her opening over.But Groves bounced back to have Grewcock leg before and picked up a second success as Mady Villiers top-edged to mid-on. Alice Macleod was run out thanks to Cassidy McCarthy’s smart work on the midwicket boundary.Sunrisers had slipped from 135 for two to 162 for six as Gordon claimed the vital wicket of Griffith when what must have been an optimistic appeal for leg before was upheld.Gray and Flo Miller bolstered the Sunrisers innings by adding an enterprising 60 in 11 overs before Miller (26) was bowled by Ballinger, her dismissal sparking a flurry of wickets in the final five overs as Gray, Kate Coppack and Amara Carr found fielders in the deep, all off Bryce.Beaumont and Scotland wicketkeeper-batter Sarah Bryce provided a strong platform for The Blaze reply, putting 76 on the board before the latter was leg before playing back to off-spinner Villiers.With the Sunrisers attack unable to build sustained pressure, Beaumont and Sarah Bryce had doubled the Blaze total almost by the halfway stage of their innings, at which point another 100 runs were needed exactly.Beaumont departed lbw from 71 balls, having hit three fours and a six in a workmanlike performance, missing a pull shot against a ball from Gray that struck her very high on the left thigh.Nonetheless, with 88 needed from 20 overs and eight wickets in hand, The Blaze were in control, even with Gray and leg spinner Abtaha Maqsood, in her first appearance of this year’s competition, beginning to apply some pressure. They lost Kelly, trapped in front as Gray claimed a second success, but still had plenty of batting to come.Ireland’s Orla Prendergast was caught on the midwicket boundary but Claridge hurried things along with three fours in an over off Grewcock before Bryce, who had brought her skill and experience to bear in a superbly measured innings, hit the winning boundary.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is leading the charge to reinforce Mikel Arteta’s ranks this summer, with the Gunners determined to end their two-decade-long-plus wait for a Premier League title.

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Berta officially unveiled his first signing as Edu Gaspar’s replacement earlier this week.

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Kepa Arrizabalaga is a now-confirmed Arsenal player after completing his medical at the club last week (Sky Sports), and the 30-year-old David Raya back-up joins from Chelsea for just £5 million.

“We are really happy to have Kepa joining us,” said Arteta about Kepa’s arrival at the Emirates Stadium.

“He is a player we know, having come up against him many times in recent seasons. He brings a wealth of experience, which his teammates will benefit from, and he has a real hunger to win.

“Kepa works hard and will elevate our levels. I know he will fit in perfectly, already knowing some of his teammates, and we are really excited about his future with us.”

Arsenal are likely to announce Martin Zubimendi’s signing at some point this week too, with Brentford captain Christian Norgaard also expected to undergo his medical in the next few days (The Athletic).

Arsenal also want to sign a new attacking-midfielder/winger, amid talks for Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera, but supporters are especially keen to see Berta end the club’s long wait for a prolific star striker.

While there have been tentative links to the likes of Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, two big names stand out as Arsenal’s top centre-forward targets – RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres.

Sesko, fresh off the back of his best Bundesliga campaign to date, was a top target for Arsenal last summer and in January (Ben Jacobs), with Berta holding talks over the £94,000-per-week Slovenia international again this summer.

Gyokeres, meanwhile, is at the centre of a public fallout with Sporting and president Frederico Varandas, and the 27-year-old is believed to be very keen on a move to Arsenal, whilst being worried that his price tag could jeopardise a move (Record).

Sesko and Gyokeres eyeing Arsenal moves as Berta leads talks

As per GiveMeSport and reliable journalist Ben Jacobs, Arsenal’s intentions are clear when it comes to a deal for either man.

Berta has “advanced talks” for Sesko and Gyokeres, as widely reported elsewhere too, and Jacobs says that they would both welcome a move to north London. However, the key for a deal to be done is, of course, down to their final price tags.

Arsenal’s aim is to sign Sesko or Gyokeres for around £60 million, but personal terms shouldn’t be a problem for either really, especially considering the latter is only on around £40,000-per-week in Portugal right now.

Given the likes of Man United are also hunting for a top striker, amid links to Gyokeres in particular, Arsenal cannot afford to dilly-dally for too long here.

Arsenal have made a left-field transfer approach amid sporting director Andrea Berta’s hunt for new forwards, with Mikel Arteta’s side moving for one of Jose Mourinho’s key targets for Fenerbahce.

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The north Londoners want to reinforce their attacking options ahead of a potentially more fruitful Premier League title challenge next season, and new sporting director Andrea Berta has been targeting both wingers and strikers.

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Their pursuit of a number nine – likely to be one of Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres as Berta remains working on both deals simultaneously – is grabbing most of the headlines, but Arsenal definitely want a new winger as well.

Real Madrid star Rodrygo is their “dream” target, according to Fabrizio Romano, but the Brazil international’s £205,000-per-week wages and reported £77 million price tag make this move a difficult one to pull off, not to mention the task of convincing him to leave world football’s most elite side.

It may, however, be far easier to negotiate with Man United over a move for outcast Jadon Sancho, who are reportedly desperate to cut the Englishman’s £300,000-per-week salary from their wage bill.

Arsenal make "surprise" approach for Jadon Sancho

As per CaughtOffside, in collaboration with Nigerian journalist Buchi Laba, Arsenal have made an enquiry over Sancho, which the outlet states may come as a “surprise” to some.

Arteta’s side are yet to follow that up with formal talks, though, with Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe appearing to be in the driving seat as things stand. The Portuguese has personally spoken with Sancho about swapping England for the Turkish Süper Lig, and if the player gives his green-light, United’s eagerness to sell means this won’t be a difficult deal to do.

If Arsenal are to hijack this move, they’ll have to move in quickly, as Fenerbahçe have also made Sancho a tempting contract offer with high wages – a proposal which he’s “seriously” considering.

The 25-year-old England international finds himself at a crossroads, despite flashes of brilliance during a mixed loan spell at Chelsea. Sancho scored in their Conference League final win over Real Betis, and his overall performances in west London were enough to convince Chelsea to hold talks with the winger over making his stay permanent.

However, they ultimately failed to reach an agreement, leaving Sancho in limbo, with a key decision set to be made on whether to leave England once again. For Arsenal, they must now decide whether to intensify their pursuit or focus all of their attention on the likes of Rodrygo.

If they do try their hand at competing for Sancho, Berta and co will likely want to negotiate a lower salary, as his current £300,000-per-week wages would make him Arsenal’s highest-paid player.

There is also the added complication from Juventus, who are poised to open talks for the ex-Borussia Dortmund sensation (Sky Sports).

Aston Villa’s first transfer window of the summer is now officially underway, with club president Monchi given a small chance to recruit new players from June 1 to June 10, with the window then reopening again on June 16 through to September 1.

Aston Villa transfer window challenges amid PSR concern

Villa eventually missed out on qualification for the Champions League during a tense final day battle, but Unai Emery does have Europa League football to look forward to, and there is every chance they can go on to win the competition.

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As we’ve seen from Tottenham’s recent triumph against Man United in Bilbao, it would hand Villa a unique route back into the Champions League for 2026/2027, so Emery will be taking their Europa League conquest very seriously.

Race for Champions League qualification – Final standings

Rank

Team

Points

GD

3

Man City

71

+28

4

Chelsea

69

+21

5

Newcastle

66

+21

6

Aston Villa

66

+7

7

Nottingham Forest

65

+12

It is set to be a big summer for NSWE, as their failure to qualify for Europe’s most prestigious competition next season makes the next two transfer windows ever so slightly trickier – both financially and in terms of attracting the continent’s best players.

There is also the matter of PSR, with Villa announcing substantial losses of £85.4 million for the 2023/2024 season back in April. Reports even suggest that they may have to sell their women’s team to comply with PSR (The Times), but BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty says that any player sales conducted this summer will be carefully thought out.

“Aston Villa may have to do deals to fend off any lingering PSR concerns, but I think the club are in safe hands with the current ownership and those sales will be smart without weakening the squad,” said McNulty.

“We have even seen Morgan Rogers linked with Chelsea, but I do not see Villa entertaining that sort of deal as they want to push on from what Unai Emery has already achieved.”

Mainstay Villa keeper Emiliano Martínez is a key player who’s been repeatedly linked with the exit door recently, with Espanyol star Joan Garcia recently eyed up as a potential replacement for the Argentine.

Unai Emery rates Joan Garcia "highly" as Aston Villa face Barcelona threat

There are suggestions in Spain that Villa have already made an offer for Garcia, whose contract includes a £25 million release clause, but this is yet to gain traction among reliable media outlets closer to home.

To make matters more complicated, Fabrizio Romano and other reliable media sources also state that Barcelona are thought to be very advanced over a transfer for Garcia – so NSWE may now need to launch a hijack attempt.

Commenting on Villa’s links to the “exciting” 25-year-old, and Martinez’s potential exit, a former chief scout at Villa Park, Mick Brown, has shared what he’s heard on the matter.

Speaking to Football Insider, Brown says that Emery rates Garcia “highly” as Aston Villa plot a move for him, with Martinez looking likely to leave the club.

“Emery and Monchi still have strong connections in Spain,” said Brown.

“They’ll be speaking to them about the possibility of the deal because they’ve identified this Joan Garcia as one of their options in goal. In normal circumstances, if you’ve got a goalkeeper like Emi Martinez, you’re going to want to keep him.

“But the financial situation they’re in after missing out on the Champions League, and a bit of interference from his agent, mean they might have to sell. There’s been a lot of talk about his future at the club.

“So with that, they’ve already started looking at players who could come in and replace him.

“I don’t know much about the Spanish goalkeeper, but he’s young and Emery rates him highly, so he could well be the one they go for.”

West Bromwich Albion have reportedly made contact with the representatives of a soon-to-be free agent ahead of a potential move to The Hawthorns.

West Brom seek new manager ahead of summer transfer window

The Baggies endured a frustrating 2024/25 campaign, which went downhill following Carlos Corberan’s departure just before Christmas. Corberan left West Brom for Valencia and in the second half of the season, the Baggies would only win seven more Championship games, falling out of the playoffs and finishing 9th.

Tony Mowbray was appointed and sacked in 2025, with the club saying in their statement: “The club would like to place on record its thanks to Tony and Mark for their efforts – but has made the decision to part company following a series of poor results. Tony and Mark will forever be welcome at The Hawthorns and their contributions to the club winning the 2007-08 Championship title will never be forgotten.”

With the Baggies looking for a new permanent boss, a number of managers have been linked with the vacant role, including Tottenham Hotspur assistant Ryan Mason and Stockport County boss Dave Challinor.

Former Bournemouth and Wolves manager Gary O’Neil has also been mentioned as a potential target, and whoever comes in will be looking to make their mark in the transfer market.

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However, despite not having a permanent boss in place for the upcoming season, West Brom chiefs are already looking at new signings and have made contact over a move to sign Tottenham Hotspur youngster Jamie Donley on loan. The Northern Ireland international isn’t the only player the Baggies want, though, following a new transfer update.

West Brom make contact to sign Gora Diouf on free transfer

According to a report from Africa Foot, West Brom have made an approach to the entourage of FC Sion defender Gora Diouf.

Out of contract at the end of June and set to leave on a free transfer, Diouf is also being eyed up by Turkish clubs Trabzonspor and Samsunspor, who have also been in contact.

The 21-year-old is primarily a centre-back but can also play as a left-back if required and has been with the Swiss side since 2022.

Interestingly, Diouf is represented by well-known agency Wasserman who look after Baggies stars Tom Fellows and Mikey Johnston, something which could help West Brom in any potential transfer.

Gora Diouf’s stats for FC Sion
Games	37
Goals	2
Yellow cards	7
Red cards	1
Minutes played	2,547

A deal for Diouf looks like it could be one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks, and who knows, he could rival the likes of Torbjørn Heggem and Kyle Bartley, with Semi Ajayi out of contract in a matter of weeks as things stand.

Tottenham Hotspur failed to win for the 24th time in 35 Premier League matches yesterday, being held to a 1-1 draw by London rivals West Ham United.

Ange Postecoglou’s side went ahead early on through Wilson Odobert, but were unable to hold on to claim a rare three points after Jarrod Bowen’s equaliser.

Given the lack of importance to the fixture with nothing left to play for in the league, it’s no surprise that the Lilywhites failed to deliver, with all eyes on the Europa League semi-final on Thursday night.

However, the remaining outings give the manager an opportunity to evaluate his first-team squad ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window in North London.

Numerous players will likely be moved on from the club, with investment and changes desperately needed if they are to reach the heights they have done in previous years.

Spurs’ poor performers against West Ham

Yves Bissouma produced an excellent showing against Bodo Glimt on Thursday, but the same can’t be said about his display against the Hammers yesterday.

The Malian featured for the entirety of the contest, but lost possession ten times and failed to complete any of his dribbles – looking extremely wasteful with the ball at his feet.

Fellow midfielder Dejan Kulusevski has struggled to match his high levels of performance after his recent injury layoff, with his showing in East London another cause for concern.

The Swede lost 12 duels during the draw – the most of any player on the pitch – whilst also completing just one of his six attempted dribbles, unable to catapult the side to all three points.

However, despite the showings of the aforementioned duo, one other Spurs star struggled to make an impact, potentially ending his stint at the club ahead of next season.

The Spurs who needs to be sold after a 4/10 display

No Spurs fan could’ve envisaged how poor the current campaign has been, but a repeat simply can’t happen next season, with huge work needing to be done during the off-season.

Incomings and outgoings are needed across the board, with owner Daniel Levy needing to put his hand in his pocket to hand Postecoglou the tools he needs.

Given the lack of spending from the board in recent years, it’s likely that sales will be needed, resulting in the manager cutting a lot of the deadwood currently on the books in North London.

One of those who should be sold is striker Richarlison, who failed to take advantage of the start handed to him against the Hammers yesterday afternoon.

The Brazilian only managed to register a total of 22 touches during the draw – a tally lower than that of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who notched a total of 44, highlighting his lack of impact in the final third.

He also only managed to post a tally of four passes completed, and failed to complete any of the dribbles he attempted, leading to his withdrawal in the 68th minute.

Richarlison was also caught offside twice during the contest, unable to direct any of his efforts on goal and deserving of his substitution – subsequently replaced by youngster Mikey Moore.

Richarlison’s stats for Spurs against West Ham

Statistics

Tally

Minutes played

68

Touches

22

Pass completed

4/10 (40%)

Dribbles completed

0/2 (0%)

Times caught offside

2

Shots on target

0

Possession lost

11x

Stats via SofaScore

As a result of his showing, he was handed a measly 4/10 match rating by London World’s Tony Bryant – topping off what was a disappointing showing at the London Stadium.

After such a showing, it’s evident that he doesn’t have the tools required for a side needing to return to the top level after a hugely embarrassing season in the Premier League.

If the side are to jump back up the standings, departures are needed, with Richarlison needing to be one of the first to be sacrificed by Postecoglou and the club’s hierarchy.

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Newcastle United advanced their claim to secure a place in the Champions League next season with a 2-1 win over Brentford at St. James’ Park on Wednesday night.

The Magpies took the lead through their star striker Alexander Isak, who bundled the ball in from around six yards out after Jacob Murphy whipped a terrific cross in.

Thomas Frank’s team found a leveller, though, after Nick Pope gave away a spot-kick and allowed Bryan Mbuemo to score from the spot to make it 1-1.

Eddie Howe’s men eventually found the winner in the second half when Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali scored a bizarre goal to seal all three points for the home team.

How Sandro Tonali scored his wondergoal

The Italy international found himself in a crossing position out by the corner flag on the right flank, with Joelinton, Callum Wilson, and Joe Willock all in the box awaiting a ball in from the former AC Milan man.

Instead of a cross, though, those three players watched a shanked effort fly into the roof of Mark Flekken’s net, as the Bees goalkeeper was caught out by what appears to have been a mishit from the central midfielder.

It caught everyone, perhaps even Tonali, by surprise but it is a piece of fortune that the Magpies will certainly take, as it puts them one step closer to securing a top-five finish in the Premier League.

The former Serie A dynamo may have secured himself a place as one of the undroppable stars, alongside Isak – who has scored 20 goals and started all 26 of his Premier League appearances, after scoring that either unbelievable or fluke of a goal.

Isak and Tonali are not the only Newcastle players who should be undroppable after that performance against the Bees, though, as Joelinton bossed the middle of the park.

Chalkboard

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Why Joelinton is undroppable for Newcastle

The Brazil international showcased his quality in and out of possession in the win over Brentford with a terrific display in midfield alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Tonali.

Joelinton, who has started all 25 of his outings in the top-flight this season, reaffirmed why Howe has so much faith in him with a dominant defensive showing, winning six of his eight ground duels and six of his nine aerial contests.

The former Hoffenheim ace also won three tackles without being dribbled past a single time by a Brentford player, which shows that he was a man mountain in midfield for Newcastle.

Minutes

90

90

90

Pass accuracy

70%

68%

85%

Dribbles completed

0/0

1/1

1/1

Duels won

4/10

5/7

12/17

Clearances

1

1

3

Tackles

3

2

3

Dribbled past

4x

1x

0x

As you can see in the table above, Joelinton was also far more efficient in possession in comparison to his midfield partners, whilst also outperforming them defensively.

The 28-year-old bruiser has consistently delivered on the defensive end all season with the most combined tackles, interceptions, and clearances (4.7) per game of any midfielder in the squad, providing Howe with an immovable anchor in the middle of the park.

Joelinton’s physicality allows the Magpies to take the game to opposition teams by pressing high and winning the ball back in great areas to create counter-attack opportunities for the likes of Isak and Murphy to make the most of.

He is, therefore, an undroppable cog in Newcastle’s machine, as further evidenced by his sensational display against the Bees, and Howe must continue to select him for the rest of the season.

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England’s incumbent has been given the backing of his captain for now, but he knows he needs to produce

Vithushan Ehantharajah19-Jun-2025Ollie Pope’s journey as an England cricketer began against India in 2018. Seven years on, as he prepares to lock horns with them once more, we might finally be about to find out what he’s about.There’s an important differentiation. Because after 56 Tests, all we know of Pope is what he does. A bit of everything, really. Some bits he’s done before, others he has not. He’s become English cricket’s own handyman. And a damn good one.That debut at Lord’s came at No.4, despite having made his case at No.6 for Surrey. The selectors saw a 20-year-old wunderkind and sought to let him loose. His first walk out to the middle in England creams was also the first time he had gone into bat in the first 20 overs of an innings.He is by no means a full-time wicketkeeper, yet he donned the gloves in Pakistan in 2022 and New Zealand in 2024 to help the team out of issues of illness and injury. He has deputised for Ben Stokes as captain on four occasions and won three.His recent active, altruistic service has included three years (and counting?) at No.3, smoothing over a problem position by being the responsible one when, deep down, he’d much rather hang with the rest of the dashers in the middle order. And it is this reason that even external talk of jeopardy around Pope’s position, ultimately triggered by the internal temptation to throw the latest wunderkind, Jacob Bethell, into the mix, had Stokes on the front foot a day out from Headingley’s series opener.”It would be remarkable to choose someone else if their last knock was a one-seventy (171),” Stokes said, thrusting Pope’s last knock against Zimbabwe like a shiv, in response to a question on whether there was a decision to be made at first drop. “And that’s pretty much all I need to say on that.”Ollie Pope received his Test cap from Alec Stewart at Lord’s in 2018•Getty ImagesStokes’ admiration for Pope developed before his tenure as captain. He has always rated him, and took him under his wing during the 2021-22 Ashes when Pope was in a rough patch of form. Stokes even negotiated with then-captain Joe Root to fix Pope at No.5 for the third Test of that Australia tour, with Stokes volunteering to move up to four. He went as far as telling Pope the plan had been agreed, only for the management to drop Pope for the next two Tests.Pope was also the first Bazball “project player” – the first raw talent hot-housed in the greenhouse of good times. As newly appointed managing director Rob Key explained in May 2022, Pope’s placement at No.3 came in a bid to “unlock him”. You could argue they’ve done that – an average of 28.66 across 40 innings leading into that summer has been followed by 39.80 (and seven centuries) in the next 58 knocks.Pope’s specific No.3 average is 43.06, though this figure includes the 205 he made against Ireland in 2023, as well as the recent Zimbabwe 171. Without those knocks, his average slips to 36.62, which puts us back in the zone of yearning for a little more, as do his averages of 24.60 and 15.70 against India and Australia respectively. And so the allure of Bethell’s remarkable talent and unblemished (almost empty) record comes back into the frame.There’s an argument to say Stokes and Brendon McCullum have played it safe behind closed doors. For all Stokes’ bolshiness in his press conference, picking Bethell would sit neatly alongside the various calls over the last six months – the selections of Shoaib Bashir and Jamie Smith at the expense of Jack Leach, Jonny Bairstow and Ben Foakes. Even McCullum left last year’s New Zealand tour admitting a serious decision needed to be made after Bethell’s impressive showing. Well, the decision has been made and, surprisingly, it is a safe one.Perhaps that reflects the life cycle of this team. An initial period of wild, enthralling adolescence, followed by the familiar lurch into conservatism with age. A group of one-time free-spirited vibe mongers are now, on the eve of a five-match series against India that leads into a winter Ashes, considering things like “consequences”.Related

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Ironically, Pope’s life under Baz and Ben has almost entirely been about dealing with the consequences of his various roles, or at least minimizing the fallout that they caused. When Stokes took the job and spoke of wanting to be flanked by 10 selfless cricketers, Pope stood tallest. It is no coincidence Stokes chose him as his deputy.And look where that got him? Under-appreciated and under pressure. Had he not put team balance first and assumed the gloves in New Zealand, Bethell would not have got the opportunity to strum 260 compelling runs. This conversation would not be happening, and Pope could be looking ahead to the 10 legacy-defining Test matches to come. Now, even this first one feels tetchy.Of course, Pope still has a say here. He might not have had it in him to say, “you know what Jacob, settle down, I’m at 3” six months ago. But here and now, as the man in possession, he can make a statement.Does he have it in him? Maybe, you know. It is clear Pope’s patience for the discussion around his position has, naturally, diminished. He appreciates this is the lot of an international sports star, but there is a growing annoyance – and it’s spilling into anger – at the lack of respect given to his name and what he has done for this team.Rather than ignore it, he could do with harnessing some of that negative energy. One of England’s most selfless cricketers needs to be a lot more selfish, and seek the “I’m him” glory that came with that incredible 196 in Hyderabad.Even the babiest of baby faces need a heel-turn once in a while. Now is the time for his. With his Test future still in the balance, he should remember there’s a “me” in team, and an “I” in Ollie Pope.

The team’s new approach wasn’t his natural game, but they believed he could adapt and now he believes it too

Danyal Rasool26-Jul-2023Pakistan’s much-vaunted new way draws parallels to England most easily, but Abdullah Shafique would have been wise to be under no illusions of the differences between the two teams. It remains to be seen whether the Pakistan Way survives its first downturn in results – or even the next administrative shuffle – and any long leash their batters might feel they’ve been given has not been stress-tested.Shafique will have felt the tautness in that rope by the time this Colombo Test came around. After a fairy tale start to a Test career that put him on course to become the fastest man to 1000 Test runs, the dip that followed was equally dramatic. Following a first-innings hundred against England in December, he went 11 innings without a half-century, averaging 15.4 in that period. While the dry spell against England and New Zealand was internally dismissed as a case of an inexperienced batter coming up against world-class bowling, the run continued in Galle, where Shafique contributed 27 across two innings to Pakistan’s six-wicket win.Related

The Noman Ali career arc ft. Naseem Shah

Thrill, thrill Pakistan

Shafique 201, Salman 132* put Pakistan well on top

Shafique is no Zak Crawley. For one, he averages about 20 more runs and has as many hundreds in 44 fewer innings, so perhaps the comparison is unfair in any case. More importantly, though, he differs from his English counterpart in the sense that the new aggressive style Pakistan are trying to grow into is perhaps the antithesis of what fuelled his rise through the ranks and made him their first-choice opener. He can’t hit his way through a bad patch of form. The Pakistan Way wasn’t formed with Shafique in mind; he just had to adapt to it. And the guarantee Crawley enjoys that long strings of low scores won’t jeopardise his place in the side? Forget it.But Shafique bought in. After never having ended an innings with a strike rate north of 60, he’s breached that mark in two of three innings in Sri Lanka. Two days and two hundred runs ago, he began his innings by driving balls he wouldn’t have gone near, scoring three sumptuous boundaries in his first 14 deliveries. The first over he faced from Ramesh Mendis, Sri Lanka’s economical spinner, he plundered a six and a four, and carted Prabath Jayasuriya for six in the following over. He’d been told he was good enough to bat this way, and now he was finding out just how good he could be. Craven conservatism had got neither Shafique nor Pakistan anywhere over the past year, and the time for polite negotiation was over.Day three began differently at the SSC. Shafique was nearing a hundred, batting alongside his captain. Babar Azam is perhaps the only batter not to have been drawn into Pakistan’s new style, but then again, Babar gets runs however he bats, so he might as well do whatever he wants.Pakistan scored only six off the first 33 balls, but just as Sri Lanka fancied turning this day into grinding trench warfare, Shafique made his first belligerent forays across opposition lines. Back in the barracks, they’d prepared for this.”The team management and staff helped me out, raised our practice standards to a level that it would benefit us in-match,” Shafique said after play. “In the camps we practiced, where we said if anyone plays three dot balls you’re out. This was helpful because you can’t defend every ball, you have to score as well.”When we score, it puts the bowler under pressure as well. Whether that means employing sweep shots or reverse sweeps, using our feet, and adjusting positions within the crease. This helps strike rotation, and also puts the bowlers under pressure.”Abdullah Shafique punished all of Sri Lanka’s bowlers save Prabath Jayasuriya•Associated PressAsitha Fernando was about to be put under pressure. Two boundaries took Shafique swiftly through the 90s, before a tickle to square leg brought up three figures. He punched the air, raised his bat towards the dressing room and his head skywards. In the early stages of his career, these runs came so easily it was tempting to think this was how it’d always be. Now, Shafique was discovering how hard-earned these moments can be, and how much sweeter they are for it.Unshackled, he launched Jayasuriya for a six over long-off, making him look like a regular slow-left-arm trundler than the world-class spinner he is. This, is the man who dismissed the Pakistan captain two balls later; no one has got Babar out more often in Test cricket. He was the only bowler whom Shafique showed some deference to, scoring just 49 runs off 105 balls from Jayasuriya on day three. Against Mendis, his strike rate was nearly 83 and his combined strike rate against everyone besides Jayasuriya was in excess of 75.”The captain supports me a lot, and all of the players. After the first innings, he came and had a chat with me which was immensely helpful,” Shafique said. “What you have in mind is you play aggressively no matter the bowler.”The pressure was now off Shafique and Pakistan. This was the scenario the Pakistan Way was geared towards setting up, and for players of his quality, and indeed Salman Ali Agha’s, pressing home the advantage came naturally. Shafique’s 150 came and went, and after a brief stutter in the 190s, he became the 17th Pakistan batter to score a double hundred away from home.Shafique had found himself in a rut, been told to adapt to a new playing style that didn’t come as naturally to him, and got 201 runs out of it. He stormed back into form, and casually added another gear to his game along the way. It’s easy to see why his captain rates him so highly.It had been a while since he hit Jayasuriya for six, and the itch needed to be scratched once more. He danced down the track, but Jayasuriya landed the ball just a touch wider, and spun it just a little more. An edge, a slice to mid-off, ended an epic. It had taken 326 balls for Jayasuriya to get his man, and even that had happened on Shafique’s terms.He’s not going anywhere. And now it’ll be even more fun to see him stick around.

In the last five Tests in Cape Town, fast bowlers have averaged 22.95 runs per wicket, the best among South African venues

S Rajesh10-Jan-202223-5 South Africa’s win-loss record at Newlands since their readmission to international cricket. Their win-loss ratio of 4.6 is second only to Centurion (21-3) among the home venues where they have played at least six Tests. Since 2010, they have a 9-2 record here. However, the last time they played a Test here, in January 2020, South Africa were beaten by 189 runs by England. Their only other defeat in this period was in 2014, when Australia defeated them by 245 runs.