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Tottenham Hotspur’s N17 draw against Sunderland to kick off 2026 was imperfect, but it did suggest that Thomas Frank has been receptive to the criticism that has come his way.

It was an improvement on the drab goalless draw at Brentford days before, though admittedly, it would have been a feat to have produced a more lifeless and uninspiring display than that one.

Premier League 25/26 – Lowest xG Totals

Team

Goals Scored

xG

West Ham

21

20.5

Wolves

14

19.0

Tottenham

28

18.9

Burnley

20

17.6

Sunderland

21

16.8

Data via FBref

Tottenham need more impetus and verve in the centre of the park, and the right acquisition could have a transformative effect on the wider

system.

One of the most exciting young midfielders in the Premier League has been earmarked.

Spurs lining up Premier League midfielder

Tottenham’s usual midfield duo consists of Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha. Both stars lack the multi-dimensionality to charge Tottenham’s midfield and provide playmaking support to sit alongside their natural defensive strengths.

Tottenham are searching for energy and inspiration. The current crop are too tentative and inanimate in the middle of the park.

Brighton talent Carlos Baleba could be the answer to the Londoners’ problems. According to Caught Offside, Spurs are in the mix for the 22-year-old, ready to challenge long-term suitors Manchester United.

Valued at around £87m, he wouldn’t come cheap, but it’s tacitly accepted at the AMEX that his dip in performances and the abiding interest in his signature point toward a departure in 2026.

Despite a poor season on the south coast, the Cameroon international has the potential to become one of the best in the world, perhaps even growing into Spurs’ new version of Mousa Dembele.

Why Baleba could be Spurs' new Dembele

Baleba was immense for Brighton last season, with his performances leading analyst Ben Mattinson to describe him as “one of the best midfielders in the league” last year.

After an intense Man United-centred transfer saga last year, Baleba has struggled for form this season, but with such potential and a proven ability to perform in the Premier League, he could bring the spark that has been lacking.

This complete midfielder might even establish himself as the next Dembele, especially given that he would join from a divisional rival.

Carlos Baleba’s Premier League Form

Stats (* per game)

24/25

25/26

Matches (starts)

34 (31)

16 (14)

Goals

3

0

Assists

1

0

Touches*

54.0

32.3

Accurate passes*

33.6 (88%)

19.9 (86%)

Chances created*

0.6

0.2

Succ. dribbles*

1.0 (62%)

0.4 (58%)

Ball recoveries*

5.8

3.2

Tackles + interceptions*

3.7

2.0

Duels (won)*

5.9 (55%)

3.1 (46%)

Data via Sofascore

Baleba hasn’t been at the races for a while, but he’s still a physical and athletic force. As per FBref, he ranks among the top 21% of midfielders across Europe for successful take-ons and the top 13% for ball recoveries per 90, as well as the top 15% for aerial duel success rate.

Dembele, too, knew something of the art of progression. The retired Belgian midfielder has secured cult status in north London, playing across seven campaigns and drawing praise from many around him, with countryman Kevin De Bruyne even claiming he was “the best in the world” during his prime.

So silky on the ball and industrious when against the run of play, Dembele made it tick in the middle, so intelligent and aware of his surroundings.

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Baleba isn’t there yet, but he’s shown that he can develop into a Premier League superstar. Indeed, the young Cameroonian has been described as a “monster” of a midfielder by football scout Antonio Mango.

Given that Dembele took a while to get himself up to speed after joining the club from Fulham over a decade ago, it’s clear that Baleba could be a consummate success if signed.

Sure, he’s not at his peak, and he’s inconsistent, but there is such talent there, and he would add not one but a range of dimensions to a static Spurs midfield.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair

Leeds United look set to be dealt a big blow ahead of their upcoming matches as supporters wait to hear exactly how long Joe Rodon will be out injured for.

After the Wales international went off with an ankle injury in the first half against Sunderland, Daniel Farke has since confirmed that the centre-back will be out of action for around three weeks with ligament damage.

Rodon, as outlined in the post above, is set to miss a league game after 104 consecutive starts, which is some achievement from the former Tottenham Hotspur defender.

This means that Leeds will have to adjust to defending without the Welsh titan in the backline for the first time in a long time, whilst having to defend against Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz.

Leeds eyeing move for Premier League defender

The Whites already have one eye on how they may replace Rodon in the short-term, as they are looking at signing another central defender.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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According to Football Insider, Leeds United are plotting a move to sign Chelsea centre-back Axel Disasi in the upcoming January transfer window.

The report claims that the West Yorkshire outfit have set their sights on signing the French central defender to bolster Farke’s options at the back as a result of Rodon’s ankle injury.

It adds that the Whites want to sign the former Monaco man on loan for the second-half of the 2025/26 campaign, to compete with Pascal Struijk, Jaka Bijol, and Rodon, when he is available.

Football Insider also reveals that Chelsea are keen to offload the £80k-per-week defender in January, but they are unable to send him out on an international loan as they have already filled all of their spots, handing Leeds a boost in the race for his signature.

Why Disasi is a perfect Rodon replacement

Leeds should sign Disasi because he has the potential to be the perfect replacement for the Welshman in the next three weeks and if he is out for any further time.

Even when the Wales international returns to action, the French defender would still be a brilliant replacement for him as a rotation option, or as competition for Bijol and Struijk.

It has not worked out for Disasi at Stamford Bridge, with zero minutes in all competitions this season, but his Premier League form for Chelsea in his debut season and on loan at Aston Villa last term suggest that he can be a good option for Leeds.

Flopping for a team competing for the top four and winning trophies, as Disasi has, does not mean that he is not good enough to be a key player for a side looking to avoid relegation, as Leeds are.

Rodon is the perfect example of that. He only played 24 times for Tottenham, per Transfermarkt, before his move to Leeds, and he has started every Premier League game so far this season for the Whites, although that streak looks set to end this week.

Axel Disasi (Premier League)

23/24

24/25

Appearances

31

13

Goals

2

1

Pass accuracy

91%

90%

Ground duel success rate

62%

52%

Aerial duel success rate

69%

62%

Error led to goal

0

1

Clean sheets

5

2

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Disasi has only made one error that led to a goal in 44 Premier League games so far, and has been incredibly dominant in the air.

Subscribe for newsletter analysis on Leeds’ transfer options Subscribing to the newsletter unlocks deeper Leeds transfer and defensive analysis—insightful breakdowns of potential signings, squad impact, and comparative stats, plus similar transfer and squad coverage across the Premier League.

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Rodon, meanwhile, has made one error that led to a goal and won 69% of his ground duels and 54% of his aerial duels in 18 Premier League appearances this season, per Sofascore.

This suggests that Disasi, who was described as a “complete” and “dominant” defender by talent scout Jacek Kulig, may even offer more quality to Leeds as an aerial presence, winning a higher percentage of his contests in the air, whilst both players rarely make catastrophic mistakes.

The chart above, comparing Disasi’s first season at Chelsea with Rodon’s form this season, suggests that they both excel in similar areas, which means that the Frenchman could be a perfect replacement for the Welsh star.

The 27-year-old star has the Premier League experience and proven quality to hit the ground running, as he did at Villa last term, as a fantastic short-term loan option for Leeds, offering them instant quality as an aerially dominant defender to take Rodon’s place in the next few weeks.

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Posts ByKelan Sarson

Ishan Kishan forced his way back into the T20I conversation with a dominant 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign, finishing as the tournament’s leading run-scorer and the most prolific six-hitter. The icing on the cake, however, was a stunning match-winning 49-ball 101 in the finale as Jharkhand beat Haryana by 69 runs in Pune to clinch their maiden T20 title.Put in to bat, Jharkhand bludgeoned their way to 262 for 3 – the highest total ever in a T20 tournament final. The onslaught was built on a breathless 177-run second-wicket stand between Kishan and Kumar Kushagra, who smashed a 38-ball 81. Their dismissals five balls apart after the monumental partnership offered Haryana their lone moment of relief in an innings that featured a staggering 20 sixes.In reply, Haryana lost their top three inside the powerplay but kept going as Yashvardhan Dalal and Nishant Sindhu played blinders to keep their hopes flickering. But when they both were dismissed to leave them at 104 for 5 at the halfway mark, the contest swiftly drifted into little more than a formality. Haryana were eventually bowled out in the penultimate over for 193.Kishan’s powerplay blitzHaryana had an ideal start when Anshul Kamboj had an advancing Virat Singh toe-end a lofted hit to mid-on in the first over. Thereafter, the rest of the powerplay – as well as the match – was the stuff of nightmares for Haryana. Kishan launched six sixes in the powerplay, raising the half-century stand with Kushagra off just 27 balls, as Jharkhand raced to 69 for 1.Kishan’s range of strokes were astonishing. He latched onto anything short against pace, like Kamboj found out when he was imperiously pulled in front of square. When a nervy Ishant Bhardwaj bowled full, he was tonked down the ground.In a bid to shake things up, Haryana turned to spin early. With Yuzvendra Chahal missing due to chikungunya and dengue, the pressure of arresting the run-torrent fell on Amit Rana’s right-arm everything, who only two nights ago had taken 3 for 14 in Haryana’s semi-final win over Hyderabad in similar conditions.In his very first over on Thursday, Rana was tonked down the ground twice as he pitched up to Kishan; his three overs would eventually end up costing 48. Kishan’s six tally in the powerplay alone helped him surge past Salil Arora’s tally of most sixes in the tournament (28).Kushagra joins the partyOne of the key reasons for Jharkhand’s surge to the final courtesy three back-to-back half-centuries, Kushagra came into the final having missed out in his two most-recent knocks: 8 and 17 against Madhya Pradesh and Andhra respectively.But right from his first ball, there was a keenness to take the attack to the bowlers. He stepped out to hit Sumit Kumar, one of Haryana’s most-accomplished seamers, for three fours in his first over – the seventh of the innings – to ensure Jharkhand never had even an inkling of post-powerplay lull. Sumit’s first two overs would cost 25.Where Kishan was all about clean backswing and imperious pulls, Kushagra was aesthetically pleasing in playing his cover drives and was quick to pick length early to access areas behind square on both sides. A neat little help over fine leg to a short ball raised his half-century off just 29 balls.File pic: Kumar Kushagra was aggressive from the very first ball•PTI

Minz and Anukul deliver grandstand finishHaryana had an opportunity to stem some damage when Kishan top-edged Sumit. Having beaten Kishan for pace with the bumper, Sumit then nearly ran across 30 yards towards square leg but couldn’t hold on to the return catch. On 71 off 35 then, Kishan would soon raise his century off 47 balls before perishing.Despite losing both Kishan and Kushagra, Jharkhand were able to sustain momentum and end up with a grandstand finish courtesy the ever-reliable Anukul Roy and Robin Minz. Anukul, whose incredible 58-ball 95 against Karnataka earlier in the group stage set the campaign up for Jharkhand, muscled 40 off 20 balls, while Minz walloped three sixes in his 14-ball 31 not out as the pair added 75 off the last 29 balls.Yashvardhan, Sindhu flicker brieflyAt 3 for 2 in the second over, Jharkhand may have hoped for a smooth sail. But Yashvardhan, the left-hander, used his long levers to unlock a sensational burst of powerplay runs to make a 19-ball half-century. Sindhu matched him stroke-to-stroke in hitting six fours in his eye-catching 31 before Anukul’s change up with his left-arm spin had him holed out in the deep.That Anukul was able to get some purchase from the surface was largely down to a 4.30pm start that greatly negated the effect of dew, ensuring toss wasn’t as massive a factor as it would’ve been in a day-night game. Anukul aside, left-arm seamer Sushant Mishra too impressed, hitting hard-lengths and hustling batters to finish with 3 for 27. Bal Krishna, the 27-year-old, who also picked up three wickets delivered the winning moment when he dismissed fast bowler Bhardwaj to trigger wild celebrations in the Jharkhand camp.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

	Jacob Oram hit a fluent hundred, but New Zealand will rue not having more runs on the board © Getty Images

Junaid Siddique and Tamim Iqbal showed there was plenty of fight in the Bangladesh camp, adding a record 148-run opening stand on a slow track to reduce the deficit to 72 on day two at Dunedin’s University Oval. Inspired by a new-ball burst that checked New Zealand’s lower order – the first time in seven Tests they bowled a side out – the debutant left-handed openers bravely chipped away at a 220-run first-innings lead and left the hosts with plenty to think about.New Zealand dominated the first half of the day as Matthew Bell made his comeback Test one to remember, converting his excellent provincial form into a second Test century, and Jacob Oram thumped a brisk fourth century, but they will be kicking themselves for not getting a larger total.If Tamim and Siddique were under pressure in their first Test, it rarely showed. Their association didn’t start pretty – Tamim was dropped by Iain O’Brien and a slog off Daniel Vettori was misjudged by Chris Martin in the deep – but the openers fought through a testing passage against a moving new ball. Initially eager to manufacture runs, they wisely settled down to press for time. But that didn’t mean the scoring rate reduced. Ticking along at around five runs an over, Siddique played some convincing drives down the ground while Tamim, happier to get onto the back foot, hooked and pulled fours. The team fifty was on the board in the 11th over.The two played on New Zealand’s mind. Anything full was driven firmly by Siddique, prompting the seamers to hold back the length, at which time Tamim flashed hard and picked the gaps, more often than not. Siddique got to fifty first, thumping O’Brien for four, and his maiden effort was well appreciated by a raucous dressing room. Tamim slogged Vettori to bring up the 100 in the 20th over and soon celebrated his second fifty of the match, driving Vettori against the spin for four. While Vettori struggled to locate his angle Tamim put him away through cover-point.While they were near impeccable in defence, both waited for the short stuff from Vettori and when it came, they thrashed behind point. As the pitch flattened out, so did the bowling. About 15 minutes before stumps a record was achieved with a nudge past square leg – it was the highest opening stand for Bangladesh. Even in the last over of the day Tamim and Siddique were playing their shots, such was their positive mindset.There was nothing in the first half hour which suggested it wouldn’t be a good batting day. With six wickets left New Zealand were in the position to command. The pitch played a lot better on day one than expected. Bangladesh needed early wickets but there were far too many loose balls that allowed Bell and Oram to start confidently.When he decided to put them away, Oram was clinical, and such was his power and placement that the fielders had little chance of stopping shorts. Putting his height to good use, he drove and punched with power, his on-drives especially well-timed. Enamul Haque jnr bowled a touch too short and was easy pickings for Oram on a slow pitch.If Oram was eager to get to a hundred, Bell was understandably patient to reach his second, seven years after his first. Making the most of an umpiring reprieve on 97 – umpire Peter Parker failed to see pad first on a very good leg before shout from Mashrafe Mortaza – Bell moved out of a tense couple of overs in the nineties with another dab between gully and the slips, to cheer from his home town crowd. For a team whose opening combinations have been poor all season, Bell’s hundred was a whiff of fresh air.Mohammad Ashraful struck twice before lunch, getting Bell and Brendon McCullum, but Oram didn’t keep the crowd waiting long after lunch, easing one to the midwicket boundary to raise three figures at a healthy strike rate of 70. To celebrate, Oram lifted an Ashaful long hop into the car park.The new ball, taken with New Zealand 320 for 6, worked straight away as Oram bottom-edged onto his stumps. Kyle Mills pushed his first ball into the wicketkeeper’s hands to lift sagging shoulders and Vettori tried one shot too many and chipped a simple catch to mid-on. Mortaza’s fourth wicket curtailed the innings at 357, a total that seemed extremely healthy at the time.After a largely unsuccessful first day with the bat Bangladesh had put themselves under pressure, but thanks to two teenagers with an appetite for a scrap they’re almost matching New Zealand step for step.

Scorecard

Mark Cosgrove made 109 with 21 fours © Getty Images

Mark Cosgrove’s first Pura Cup century of the season ensured a competitive score for South Australia but Ashley Noffke’s five-wicket haul kept the honours even on day one at Brisbane. Cosgrove made 109 but had too little support and Noffke’s 5 for 69 reduced the Redbacks to 9 for 323 at stumps.Cosgrove became only the third South Australia player to make a Pura Cup hundred in 2006-07 and their below-par batting was again on display as the top order threatened to collapse once more. The visitors lost 4 for 12 shortly after lunch and it looked like the 102-run opening stand between Daniel Harris and Jason Borgas would be wasted.Cosgrove’s 144-ball innings and Shane Deitz’s unbeaten 65 steadied the Redbacks but the team was unable to capitalise as five batsmen failed to score. Noffke’s removal of Cosgrove started another mini-collapse of 4 for 4 and Andy Bichel helped Noffke with 3 for 76. Deitz held his nerve and was with Shaun Tait (4 not out) at the close.South Australia began promisingly after Darren Lehmann, who was returning from a hamstring injury, won the toss and chose to bat. Borgas was the first to go for 38 and he was followed by Matthew Elliott and Lehmann, who each made 0. Harris, who had batted well for his 59, completed the eventful little post-lunch spell when he was caught behind off Noffke.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

On this red-letter day, with both bat and ball Irfan Pathan couldn’t do much wrong © Getty Images

The cricketing world may soon remember December 12 as Irfan Pathan’s day. Exactly two years after he made his Test debut, and exactly one year after his first ten-wicket haul, Pathan, opening the batting for the first time in a Test, produced a triumphant career-best 93 to propel India to a dominant position in the Delhi Test, with a lead of 297 with two days to play.As a young colt sparkled in a new role, two old warhorses played their part admirably: Anil Kumble, ending with a six-wicket haul, extended his astonishing record at Delhi – he now has 44 in nine innings – while Rahul Dravid, displaying a silken flourish, produced his highest score as captain. There was a landmark moment for another battle-scarred campaigner – Chaminda Vaas snapped up his 300th Test wicket – but Sri Lanka, playing catch-up for most of the day, will now have to score more than any other team to win a Test at the Feroz Shah Kotla.Just as he had done in the one-day series, Pathan responded brilliantly to the challenge of batting at the top of the order and attacked the bowling with gusto. He spanked Muttiah Muralitharan for a lofted six in his first over, ensured he always countered him with a straight bat, and also backed himself to pull the faster bowlers. Dilhara Fernando’s bouncers were daringly pulled away – some off the meat of the bat, others off the edge – and Vaas and Murali weren’t allowed to cast their pressure net. Batsmen came and went at the other end – Gautam Gambhir overbalanced and missed a cutter, VVS Laxman feathered one to the wicketkeeper, and Sachin Tendulkar missed a flipper – but Pathan, showing great poise at a critical juncture, motored along at a fair clip.In Dravid, he had an ally who read the situation to a nicety. Knowing that they couldn’t afford to get bogged down, as they had done in Chennai and in the first innings here, the duo rotated the strike amid dispatching the loose ones. Dravid, as Tendulkar had done before him, came out with a positive approach and was always on the look out for runs. There was hardly any risk in his half-century, with a few glorious boundaries struck with minimum fuss, and it was only an because of an error in judgement, taking off for a single after tapping one to mid-on, that he had to go back.Pathan had fallen a little earlier, pushing tentatively at a wide one from Fernando, and a hushed silence was followed by rousing applause as he walked off the ground. India have a history of makeshift openers coming off – Nayan Mongia in 1996 and Parthiv Patel in 2003 – and despite missing out on a well-deserved century, Pathan’s effort will be hard to forget. Sourav Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh added 47 assured runs in the fading light, both particularly impressive in the off side, and stretched the lead close to the 300-mark.All this might have been much harder if not for the 60-run cushion that Kumble had created. After a masterful display last evening, he continued to torment Sri Lanka with a series of googlies and flippers and it was just a matter of time before the tail gave in. Vaas had no clue against one googly after another while Murali, who swung his bat with characteristic abandon, had no chance when he charged down the track to a faster one.At the other end, Pathan, who was unlucky to not have more than two wickets yesterday, managed to swing the ball both ways and hassle the batsmen. He cleverly set up Malinga Bandara’s downfall – moving one away before getting one to jag back in and rattle the bails – and ended with an impressive 3 for 34, his best figures in a Test in India. On the twelfth day of the twelfth month, as if there were some celestial forces involved, he couldn’t do much wrong.How they were outSri LankaChaminda Vaas c Harbhajan b Kumble 2 (200 for 7)
Malinga Bandara b Pathan 1 (204 for 8)
Muttiah Muralitharan b Kumble 9 (219 for 9)
Dilhara Fernando c Ganguly b Harbhajan 0 (230 all out)
IndiaGautam Gambhir lbw b Vaas 3 (12 for 1)
VVS Laxman c Sangakkara b Vaas 11 (42 for 2)
Sachin Tendulkar lbw b Bandara 16 (86 for 3)
Irfan Pathan c Sangakkara b Fernando 93 (178 for 4)
Rahul Dravid run-out (Jayawardene) 53 (190 for 5)

Reports that Stephen Mangongo, the former head of Zimbabwe’s selectors, had been suspended from Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) were confirmed in the weekend’s newspaper in Harare.Mangongo, along with Givemore Makoni, the general manger of Mashonaland Cricket Association (MCA), were suspended for unspecified reasons, although it is thought that it relates to the recent move by the MCA to bring a vote of no confidence against the ZC board.The unrest against the board surfaced last week, and it is believed that senior MCA officials want to take their case to the ICC. The official meeting to discuss the vote of no confidence is due to take place on Wednesday (December 22).But Peter Chingoka, ZC’s chairman, sought to turn the tables on the dissenters, claiming that the MCA’s move was no more than a bid to cover up an investigation into the conduct of some officials, including Mangongo, at the Takashinga club.A local reporter told Cricinfo that the news of Mangongo’s suspension was not surprising. "They are out to fix him," he said, pointing out that his position and influence within the board had been weakening steadily in recent months. He was replaced as head of selectors at the AGM in August, when it was stated that he would be in India on a coaching course for most of the year, but he has remained in Zimbabwe. "That was a way of getting rid of him," the source added, "and it succeeded."There are also reports – unsubstantiated – that was an attempt to remove Max Ebrahim, the current head of selectors, as chairman of Masvingo.

Frizzell County Championship Division One
Table

99 and counting: Mushtaq Ahmed searches in vain for the wicket of Stuart Law at Old Trafford

Lancashire 225 for 2 v Sussex at Old Trafford
Scorecard
Leaders Sussex, requiring 10 points from their remaining two games to secure their first title, were frustrated by the rain and then Lancashire in a shortened day’s play at a gloomy Manchester. After the morning had been washed out, Lancashire soon lost openers Mark Chilton, superbly caught behind, and Iain Sutcliffe (52 for 2). But then Mal Loye (110 not out) and Stuart Law (65 not out) revived the innings with an unbroken stand of 157 for the third wicket. Mushtaq Ahmed toiled in vain for his 100th wicket of the season, but despite remaining wicketless he was the pick of the Sussex bowlers.Leicestershire 151 for 6 v Kent at Leicester
Scorecard
Only 47 overs were possible at Grace Road today due to rain, in which time John Maunders scored 76 not out for Leicestershire, but Muttiah Muralitharan struck back with 3 for 17 to give Kent the edge. Maunders and Brad Hodge (31) made a good start to reach 71 for 1, but then Murali turned it on. He took three wickets in nine overs as Leicestershire faltered to 151 for 6.Nottinghamshire 316 for 5 v Middlesex at Lord’s
Scorecard
They may be down, but Notts finished their first day against Middlesex on a high, reaching a healthy 316 for 5. In the 77 overs possible, Russell Warren led the way with an unbeaten 100 from 161 balls, including 13 fours. Jason Gallian gave Notts a good platform with 73 at the top of the order, and Kevin Pietersen (70) then added 128 with Warren to give Notts a rare good day’s work in the Championship.Frizzell County Championship Division Two
Table
Somerset 409 v Derbyshire 32 for 0 at Taunton
Scorecard
Ian Blackwell marked his return to the England one-day international team with a blistering 247 not out from 156 balls, including an astonishing 27 fours and 11 sixes. Blackwell came in with Somerset struggling at 31 for 4 after Dominic Cork, who took 6 for 92, ripped out three early wickets. Blackwell then put on partnerships of 64 with Richard Johnson (25), and 70 with Simon Francis (18), but they were then eclipsed when Nixon McLean, dropped at slip by Andrew Gait before he had scored, settled in to score 39 and add 163 with Blackwell, a last-wicket partnership record for Somerset. Blackwell clubbed his maiden double-century off only 136 balls, with the second hundred coming off 41 deliveries. The amazing onslaught took the shine off Cork’s excellent bowling in the morning session and loosened Derbyshire’s grip on the game.Northants 319 v Glamorgan 20 for 0 at Cardiff
Scorecard
Mike Hussey followed such esteemed names as Sir Donald Bradman and Brian Lara by scoring his fifth consecutive century, for Northants against Glamorgan. He hammered an imperious 147, including 25 fours, as Northants amassed 319. Hussey was finally the last man out, receiving support from only Tim Roberts (41) and Phil Jaques (28). Meanwhile Robert Croft showed the England selectors what they will be missing in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka this winter with 5 for 93 to peg back Northants’s progress. Jimmy Maher and Mark Wallace guided Glamorgan to 20 for 0 at the close.Gloucestershire 374 v Durham 2 for 0 at Bristol
Scorecard
As Jonty Rhodes nears his retirement, he bid farewell in style with a stylish 103 to put Gloucestershire in command against Durham. Rhodes hit 10 fours and three sixes, and added 131 with Tim Hancock, who scored 97. Craig Spearman also hit 59, while Shoaib Akhtar and Graeme Bridge took three wickets each as Durham closed the first day on 2 for 0.

FULL NAME: Ian Andrew Engelbrecht
BORN: At Bulawayo, 23 August 1980
MAJOR TEAMS: Matabeleland. Present club: Queens Sports Club
KNOWN AS: Ian Engelbrecht. Nicknames: Engels, Angels.
BATTING STYLE: Right Hand Bat
BOWLING STYLE: Slow Left Arm
OCCUPATION: Qualified diesel mechanicFIRST-CLASS DEBUT: 10 March 2000, Matabeleland v Manicaland, at HarareSports Club
TEST DEBUT: Still awaited
ODI DEBUT: Still awaitedBIOGRAPHY (March 2000)Perhaps one of the most underestimated, and also unrewarded, of Zimbabwe’s young cricketers is slow left-arm bowler and all-rounder Ian Engelbrecht, of Bulawayo. He was the most successful bowler in the Logan Cup competition of 2000/01, taking 26 wickets in his five matches, yet at the time of writing his only acknowledgement by the national selectors was to be called into the squad to play Northerns B in Mutare in the UCBSA Bowl competition.It is perhaps to Ian’s disadvantage that he lives in Bulawayo, often out of the eye of the Harare-based selectors, and that he has not attended the CFX Academy, although he may well do so in the future. But there is no doubt that he is talented, dedicated and enthusiastic, and it is to be hoped he will soon get the chance to test his skills at a higher level.Ian’s father was never a great player of the game, and followed it mainly via the television set, but he did much to set Ian and his older brother Paul off on the right track. His parents gave them both a great deal of support, to the extent of constructing a cricket pitch in their back yard when Ian was five or six. The brothers played together every day when they returned home from school, with their father often joining in.This gave Ian a great advantage when he first played cricket at Whitestone Primary School in Bulawayo, in Grade 3, progressing to the school colts team the following year. He spent two years with the colts and two with the seniors, but did not develop quickly enough to win even provincial representation for Matabeleland at junior school. He bowled left-arm seamers in those days, changing over to spin only at the start of high school, and remembers taking three wickets for 20 runs against REPS (Rhodes Estate Preparatory School) in his first match for the colts team. He was not much of a batsman then, but this area of his game has steadily developed over the years.He attended CBC (Christian Brothers College) on leaving Whitestone, where he captained his age-group teams and began to impress the selectors. He played for the school first team for two years before leaving school after writing his O-levels to take up an apprenticeship as a diesel mechanic. In Form Three he was selected for the Matabeleland Under-16 provincial team and did well at the Zimbabwe Under-16 trials. Ever since then he was a regular member of the national Under-16 and Under-19 teams as long as he qualified.He was now a recognized batsman as well as a left-arm spinner; he remembers his second game for the first team when, at the age of 15, he took eight wickets in an innings against Plumtree. "That was basically the highlight of my high school career," he says. He scored his first fifty in Form Three and has steadily progressed from there.In 1997, although still only 16, he was selected for the Zimbabwe Under-19 team to tour England. "That was an overwhelming experience," he says. "It was something else, at 16 to be selected for the Under-19 national side. It was a very good experience for me, most enjoyable." He remained a member of the Under-19 team, attending the Coca Cola Week for South African schools and the Under-19 World Cup.Ian plays for Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, although he started off with Bulawayo Athletic Club at the age of 16. He moved to Queens to get some more competitive cricket, as his new club was in the national first league while BAC was undergoing a period in the doldrums of the second league. He followed his brother Paul there; due to work commitments, studying for his law degree, Paul is no longer able to give as much attention as he would like to the game, but he is still playing for Queens.He remembers scoring 90-odd off 60 to 70 balls in a tough match against Old Georgians last season, which won the match for his team, which really overwhelmed him. "I wasn’t really recognized on the batting side of things and it just came off for me that day," he says. He has also taken several five-wickets hauls, not easy in the limited-over competition.Also during that season he scored 205 not out opening the innings against Macdonald Club, his highest score in any standard of cricket. "It was a 45-over game," he remembers. "I got a couple of hundreds for Queens, national first league as well. 205 in 45 overs – it was just a lot of hitting going on there!" Usually he bats at number five at Queens nowadays.His Under-19 performances helped to earn him selection for the Matabeleland provincial side. "In my last year, when I was 18, I did really well in the Coca Cola Week and got the Matabeleland selectors’ attention. From there I had some Mat B games against some English sides, and then into the Logan Cup side last year. It’s been going really well."His best performance in the Logan Cup, he feels, was the six wickets he took for 48 runs against Midlands, his first five-wicket haul in first-class cricket. "I don’t bother them that much in the first innings, but I came back in the second innings, and I did what I was asked to do and it came off really well for me." He took most pleasure in taking the wickets of such batsman as Douggie Marillier and Craig Wishart in that match.And Andy Flower . . ."he won’t want to remember how I got him out; it was a low full toss he towed to Pom [Mbangwa] at midwicket! They all count, though! But you know, if you get a recognized player, one who’s recognized worldwide, it’s a great achievement."He has played winter cricket for Esigodeni in the Matabeleland league, in three or four leagues. "It’s the sort of situation where everyone’s very relaxed and you always seem to play a lot better when you’re very relaxed and the competition’s not as great as it should be," he says. "I just play when I can. I’ve never turned down a game of cricket; if anybody phones me up and wants me to play, I’ll play. I’ll never turn this game down – never."Ian names Donald Campbell as the most influential coach of his career. Don is the younger brother of Alistair, and the two first worked together when Don was assistant coach of the Under-19 team to tour England. "He’s one of those guys who has a tremendous way about him so that I always want to do anything for him. He’s a great guy and has been a big influence on where I am now. He has a very good manner about him and a lot of drive; he passes a lot of his confidence on to you and it’s a case where wyou’re always having a good time with him and you want to do better the whole time."With the bat his favourite stroke is the cover drive. "The cover drive is a very special stroke to me," he says. "I watch Daryl Cullinan in the South African side, and he’s got to be one of the most fluent players ever. Mark Waugh as well. Daryl Cullinan has that great cut and the drives, but his cover drive is something really special. It’s something I model myself on as well."As a bowler he feels his main strength is patience. "I enjoy bowling long spells and I really enjoy the longer game," he says. "I’m a bit more recognized in one-day cricket, though. And I have the ability to want to learn. I’m very young and they say spinners only really mature later on, but I always want to learn and I’m very interested in what people have to say. I’m just trying to go from strength to strength. You don’t want to sit and dwell on the bad performances, but you look at your good performances and try and see where you can improve from there. I think I’ve got what it takes to go quite a long way and I just hope I get a few more opportunities than I’ve been given to prove a few points to a few people."In the field, Ian normally goes into the slips to start with when playing national first league, and after that prefers the boundary. "I enjoy the long throws and the chase. If I’m not right up there I want to be right out of there!"In 2001 Ian qualified as a diesel mechanic, but has not followed up that career yet, opting to concentrate on cricket. He has a contract to play for Newcastle in English club cricket in 2002, and plans to return and apply for a contract in Zimbabwe, and perhaps a place at the CFX Academy. He was unable to apply in the past due to the demands of his apprenticeship, a four-year course. "It was a difficult decision," he says, "because often through your trade you just want to play cricket. It was from the age of 16 through to 21 that I did this, and it was a real excitement for me on the cricket side of things. But I got my head down and managed to get through it. I just look to concentrate on cricket from here."Cricket heroes: "Daryl Cullinan, as I mentioned. Daniel Vettori, definitely. He’s something special. You see left-arm spinners in so many sides, but Daniel Vettori for me sticks out head and shoulders above the rest. I’ve always been a spinner’s fan, never a fast bowler’s fanatic! Daniel Vettori and Saqlain Mushtaq are the two top sinners for me. They may be different spinners, but their perception of where they are and what they’re doing is something special."Personal ambitions: "Playing for Zimbabwe! You must have heard it so many times, but everyone wants to play for his country. It’s a case of where, for me, I just want to see how far I can go in this game, and I’m not just going to sit around waiting for an opportunity to come. I play the game because I love it, and ultimately I want to play the most competitive cricket I can, and hopefully to be given a few opportunities here and there to play."Most difficult opponents: "The most difficult batsman: Alistair Campbell is most definitely one who sticks out, and Andrew Flintoff as well [met in England Under-19 tour 1997]. They are two contrasting players, but I find them both very difficult to bowl to. They get on top of you quickly in different ways, and you have to learn to deal with it."Most difficult bowler: this could be tough. Ryan Sidebottom and Alex Tudor. It’s a case where you mature later on, and at 16, to be thrown in with those quality cricketers it was just a case of standing there not knowing what to expect. The pace was amazing and I was just in awe; I was 16 and they were 19, and look what they were doing to me. It made a big impact on me then. But nobody now."Proudest achievement: "To be playing in the Zim B side. It’s a step in the right direction. And also the Under-19 side: to be selected for the first time was great."Best friends in cricket: "Donald Campbell; Neil van Rensburg from Queens; Brad Robinson and Shane Cloete, the physio and assistant coach. They mean a lot, those sort of people."Other sports: "Squash, mainly in the off season, to try and get a bit of fitness. When I can, to play a bit of golf with a few mates." At school, hockey. "I represented CBC first team for two years."Other hobbies and interests: "It’s a sad state of affairs that I don’t have much time to do anything else except play cricket and work as a diesel mechanic. It’s unfortunate that I don’t have much time off to do those extra hobbies I’d love to do. Fishing is a big part of everybody’s life here in this country, so I enjoy a little bit of fishing with the family here and there; a couple of trips to Kariba and the Zambezi, whenever I get the chance."Views on cricket: "It’s difficult for me to judge on that because I’m not really fully involved with the ZCU at the moment. I know things are not going as smoothly as they should, but Zimbabwe is a beautiful place and I do hope that things eventually sort themselves out here. Nobody wants to see this place go down and there are a lot of positives still to come out of this country. I just hope that people realize the full potential of this place, and the potential of the cricketers as well, and just give a few chances where they are deserved."I just look forward to playing this game as long as I can. I play this game because I love it and it’s in my blood. I just love this game and I don’t want to go anywhere from it. For me now, the achievement is just to play the best cricket I can and go from there."

Celtic forward Kyogo Furuhashi has been spotted in a behind the scenes training clip, The Daily Record report. 

The Lowdown: ‘Nowhere’ near return

Furuhashi has played just 15 minutes of Premiership action in Celtic’s last 14 league games due to a hamstring injury.

Ange Postecoglou admitted towards the end of February that the striker was ‘nowhere’ near a return, whereas David Turnbull was almost back in training.

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Turnbull has now returned to full training at Lennoxtown this week along with Jota after he missed the win against Dundee United in what is a timely double boost, and it seems as if things are getting better and better for the Hoops.

The Latest: Blink and you’ll miss it

The Daily Record shared images from Celtic’s official Instagram page, where they focused on right-back Josip Juranovic.

Eagled-eyed viewers spotted Furuhashi in the background training on his own, with the forward having a ball at his feet.

The Verdict: After the international break?

Journalist Mark Guidi suggested earlier this month that Furuhashi could return at the beginning of April, and it seems as if this may well be the case following the official images of him in training.

Celtic have a Parkhead clash with Ross County to navigate prior to the international break, which will give the forward more time to recover ahead of the trip to Ibrox on April 3.

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Seeing the forward back out on the grass at Lennoxtown is unexpected, however, it is a huge boost knowing their top scorer could be weeks away from a return.

In other news: BBC Radio 5 Live man hits out at Celtic player after penning Parkhead deal worth whopping £2.9m.