Liverpool surely need to sign another midfielder before the transfer window slams shut this week, but whether Jurgen Klopp's side do as such is another question.
Will Liverpool sign anyone before transfer deadline day?
According to The Athletic's Carl Anka, Liverpool have held an interest in Bayer Leverkusen holding midfielder Exequiel Palacios this summer following Fabinho's £40m sale to Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ittihad.
Despite this, Klopp has received a blow after the Bundesliga club's managing director for sport, Simon Rolfes, has stated that Palacios is going nowhere this year.
The report alludes to embryonic Manchester United interest, and while the 24-year-old is deemed untouchable by Leverkusen, the late stage of the window means Liverpool need to test some outfits' resolve to complete their rebuild.
How good is Exequiel Palacios?
Palacios might be a name few have heard on Merseyside, but Xabi Alonso and the Leverkusen support are waxing lyrical over the Argentine's midfield skills over in Germany, with his manager lauding his "excellent" progress over the past year.
Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…
Having basked in footballing glory at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with Argentina, the 25-cap international would link up with compatriot Alexis Mac Allister at Anfield in a move that would likely enhance the cohesion at the club.
Liverpool were left hot under the collar after missing out on both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to Chelsea earlier in August, despite agreeing lucrative deals for both, and were forced to swoop for 30-year-old Stuttgart midfielder Wataru Endo for £16m to combat the absence of a No 6.
Caicedo, in particular, would have been a superlative addition to a prestigious club targetting a resurgence after falling by the wayside last term, having dazzled for Brighton & Hove Albion last season, earning an average league rating 7.08 – as per Sofascore – after completing 89% of his passes and averaging 2.7 tackles per match, also earning praise as a “machine man” by renowned scout Jacek Kulig.
The Ecuadorian ranks among the top 4% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 11% for passes attempted, the top 12% for tackles and the top 17% for interceptions per 90, as per FBref, emphasising his stunning skill set that left the Reds and Chelsea oh-so desperate for his services.
Caicedo happens to be listed as a comparable player via FBref to Palacios, who ranks among the top 7% of positional peers for passes attempted, the top 4% for tackles and the top 3% for interceptions per 90.
As a result, Liverpool could land a tailor-made alternative, if they are able to complete an unlikely swoop.
The £15m-rated hotshot recorded an average league score of 7.03 last season, completing 83% of his passes and averaging 2.3 tackles per outing, highlighting a similar level of robustness to the new Chelsea phenom.
Klopp must now push to sign the Leverkusen ace before the market closes later this week, eradicating the doubt that has seeped into the club's early-season efforts after a tumultuous transfer window.
The malaise that had seeped into Anfield after years of success under Jurgen Klopp has been wiped away in the early stages of Liverpool's Premier League campaign, with a promising start the result of impressive work on the transfer front.
The Reds finished fifth in the English top-flight last season – their lowest Premier League finish since coming eighth in the 2015/16 edition – and were a shadow of their former selves, so intense, oiled and incisive under Klopp's illustrious tutelage.
It was clear that change was paramount, and with the mass midfield exodus creating space for fresh faces, the strategy needed to succeed.
Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch were signed to reshape the Anfield centre, and with ten points from a possible 12 thus far, the cohesion and verve looks to have been rekindled – last term, it took Klopp's side nine fixtures to reach as many points.
Shipping 47 goals as opposed to 26 during the 2021/22 campaign, Liverpool's summer pursuit of a centre-back was understandable, and supporters anticipated an exciting addition to the backline.
This wasn't the case. Focus remained on the midfield and the club's German manager retained his belief that his current crop could thrive once more.
While this may yet prove a shrewd move in Klopp's favour, it's hard to shake off the feeling that a first-class star was there for the taking, with Sporting Lisbon's Goncalo Inacio the man touted for a move to Liverpool across much of 2023.
Did Liverpool nearly sign Goncalo Inacio?
In August, Inacio penned a new long-term contract with Sporting Lisbon to end speculation of a summer move, having been at the very centre of interest from a wealth of Europe's top outfits, including Liverpool.
Prior to agreeing to an extension, the 22-year-old held a £40m release clause, raised to €60m (£52m) upon his fresh deal, and many Reds supporters were left perplexed that intrigue was not followed up.
Sporting CP defender Goncalo Inacio.
Indeed, according to reports all summer, Liverpool were hot on the Portgual starlet's trail and were mulling over paying the big bucks to secure his services.
He certainly appears to fit the bill; a left-footed central defender, Inacio boasts ball-playing prowess and intelligence in his craft, even hailed as the "complete" package by talent scout Jacek Kulig.
It's clear that the Merseyside outfit will prioritise the signing of a centre-half next, and while Inacio's release clause has not been raised, he surely must remain the number one pick after his superlative early performances in his homeland.
How good is Goncalo Inacio?
Having made 125 appearances for his side, Inacio has scored 11 goals and provided nine assists from the backline, demonstrating a distinctive set of skills that fit the mould of the perfect modern-day central defender.
First-rate in surging forward with the ball at his feet and splitting the lines apart with his precise passing, Inacio would slot into Klopp's Liverpool system seamlessly, with the Reds implementing a transitional game with high pressures and direct, forward-thinking passing.
To emphasise this, the two-cap international ranks among the top 1% of centre-backs across the eight leagues most similar to the Portuguese top-flight over the past year for passes attempted, progressive passes and shot-creating actions, the top 3% for assists, the top 4% for progressive carries and the top 7% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.
Explaining how the gem would be a tailor-made addition for the Anfield side, BBC Sports' Raj Chohan took to Twitter to say: "Gonçalo Inácio is the perfect counter-weight to Konaté. Inacio-VVD-Konaté: Build-up conductor. Leader/aerial dominator/switches of play. Immense recovery speed & coverage of space."
Across the duration of his senior career thus far, the 6 foot 1 titan has recorded a pass success rate of 88.7%, averaging 3.5 long balls and 0.5 dribbles per match.
To put that into context, Liverpool's £75m star centre-back Virgil van Dijk has recorded a career passing accuracy of 87.6%, averaging 4.1 long balls per match.
In the Liga Portugal last season, Inacio completed 90% of his balls, won 59% of his contested duels and succeeded with a remarkable 89% of his dribbles.
He may be young and yet to earn a taste of football on English shores, but Inacio looks a bona fide prodigy and would have been a brilliant signing for the Kop, and while it is entirely possible that interest is revisited next summer – or perhaps even at the season's midpoint – his acquisition this summer would have offered Liverpool an exciting new tool, opening up a new channel of dynamism from the back.
Had Inacio arrived at Anfield and been handed a starting berth, it would have allowed Van Dijk to shift onto his favoured right side and provided the club with a natural presence on the left half of the central defence, potentially sending someone like Joel Matip packing.
Will Liverpool sell Joel Matip?
With Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez and Matip all making up the defensive ranks – and rising academy graduate Jarell Quansah – the Reds have the numbers in defence but, as last season brutally exposed, not quite the same level of overall quality and fluidity that was formerly at Klopp's disposal.
Matip, a stalwart since joining from Schalke on a free transfer in 2015, making 189 appearances and winning all the silverware under Klopp's wing, has now entered the final year of his contract at the club and was among the culprits of a poor season, branded "shaky" and "slow" by The Athletic's James Pearce in February.
Liverpool defender Joel Matip.
Now playing second fiddle to Konate anyway, it is unlikely that Matip will return to the starting line-up with regularity when all options are fit, and it is probable that he is approaching the culmination of his time on Merseyside.
Had Liverpool signed Inacio, that process might have been accelerated, with the Cameroonian even attracting attention from the likes of French side Rennes, who were seeking cover for the possible departee Arthur Theate, who ultimately remained in Ligue 1.
Klopp and co may have missed a trick by not ruthlessly shipping Matip on and replacing him with a prodigious talent in Inacio, and while it will not unravel a campaign that tantalises brighter fortunes, it is undoubtedly an area that needs renovation, and Sporting Lisbon's starring centre-back was the man for the job.
After 12 months of poor ODI results, the Australia coach has conceded the team will need a fresh, more aggressive approach to be able to contend for World Cup 2019 in England
Daniel Brettig12-Feb-2018Australia’s coach Darren Lehmann has conceded the national team will need a fresh, more aggressive approach to be able to contend for next year’s 50-over World Cup in England, following 12 months of poor results for the ODI set-up.As the Twenty20 team shows the benefits of fresh bodies and minds in the current triangular series, Lehmann said discussions about the ODI squad were advancing quickly with little more than 20 games left between now and the global tournament in 2019. Australia’s next 50-over assignment will be in England in mid-year, and Lehmann indicated he wanted to see the national selection panel nail down a squad to keep together from that point until the global tournament begins.Warner given brief respite from T20s
Two nights in your own bed may not sound like much, but Australia’s coach Darren Lehmann is hopeful a “mini-break” for David Warner will rouse the stand-in Twenty20 captain from a run of low scores for both the pointy end of the triangular series and the Test tour of South Africa to follow it. “We’re going to let him go home after the Allan Border Medal for a couple of days and just arrive the day before the game,” Lehmann said of Warner, who will stay in Sydney for two days before flying to New Zealand on Thursday ahead of Friday’s next match. “Give him a couple days at home really. It’s always a challenge when you’ve got the schedule as it is, but David’s really keen to play as captain, so we’ll give him a couple days off and get him to New Zealand just before the game and he can play. “You’ve got your leaders in Steven [Smith] and David and you need one of them to captain, so that’s the reason behind it from the selection panel, making sure we’ve got constant messaging through our leaders and David’s been great in this series. Steven’s had his break, David will get a little mini-break, and Steven’s got to do the tour game while we’re playing the [T20] final. “You can only do so much work. He’s been working so hard it’s almost like give him a couple days away from the game. Ricky Ponting’s been doing some really good work with him. So we expect him to come out of that rut pretty quickly.”
In an admission that the Australian team had fallen behind in terms of batting tempo, Lehmann said that the likely flat pitches and small grounds for the World Cup in England would necessitate a greater level of aggression with the bat, not unlike that used by Eoin Morgan’s team over the past two years. This is a significant shift from Lehmann’s declaration, following Australia’s elimination from the Champions Trophy, also in England last year, that “when they win a World Cup, we can take the way they play”.”The results are more about execution for us. We had to chop and change a lot of the side depending on what’s happening with the Test arena and going from Test to non-Test and obviously Tests are a focus for us,” Lehmann said. “So we haven’t been able to have a settled one day side. I’d like to see us play with a settled side over six months and see what the result is then, see how we play.”[Team approach] will change in the fact you’ve got to be more aggressive in England because of the wickets, but then it can be overcast and swing, so you’ve got to have both ways covered for England as we’ve seen, you can play a certain way but you’ve got to be able to change, depending on what the pitch is and the conditions above.”He also indicated that the physical and mental toll of the preceding Ashes series had underlined how carefully Lehmann, the captain Steven Smith and the selectors would have to be about managing resources over the next 18 months, amid the competing priorities of Tests, the run-in to the 50-over World Cup and also efforts to raise Australia’s international Twenty20 standing ahead of hosting the World T20 in 2020 – after Lehmann’s tenure as coach is set to end in late 2019.”They were pretty tired by the end of it,” Lehmann said of the Test players who backed up the ODI matches. “We certainly didn’t win the crunch moments in that one-day series, we had opportunities in every game and in the past our one day format we’ve scored those extra 30-40 runs and taken earlier wickets. We didn’t do that, guys were a little bit tired and down I suppose, excited by the result of the Ashes, but didn’t perform as well as we’d like in the one-day format. So that’s another area we’ve got to look at and how we go about it.”[The improved T20 performance] gives you food for thought after a long, tough Test series… fresh guys coming in. That’s been exciting for us as a coaching group, the way they’ve gone about it has been pretty special so far. It gives you a lot of thought moving forward and that’s a great thing.”We’ll sit down at the end of the South African series [to review], but we’ve always got to look forward. World Cup’s coming along pretty quickly, I think there’s about 22 games to go before we play our first game. So we’ll have to settle on a group of players, we think we’ve got a really good group, it’s just where we fit in, how we look, the style of play. We know what England’s going to produce in terms of pitches, they’re going to be pretty good, so it’s going to be a pretty high-scoring World Cup, so we’ll have to look at that.”To that end, the power hitting of Chris Lynn looms as a key part of Australia’s plans, more than likely batting at No. 3. Lehmann said he wanted to see Lynn, who rejected a Queensland state contract last year to concentrate on T20 tournaments, play in all forms for his state, particularly once his lengthy rehabilitation from shoulder surgery returns the joint to full strength and health.”You’d love to, yeah,” Lehmann said when asked whether he wanted to see Lynn play the domestic 50-over tournament this year. “It just gets down to fitness with Chris at the moment. His shoulder is getting better, and we hope he plays as much cricket as he can in all formats. He’s exciting as we’ve seen, he missed out in the second game, but first game he came out and took the game on.”This game on Saturday, he took the game on and took it away from England, so he’s an exciting talent. He’s getting there, within three or four months I think he’ll be back with his shoulder and more confident with what he’s doing .It’s getting better each and every day, it’s just a time factor with this shoulder.”Another player who has resumed his central place in Australia’s limited-overs plans is Glenn Maxwell, after a summer in which he has been the centre of much discussion about his role and relationships with Lehmann and Smith in particular. “He’s finished games off for us and won us games, and that’s what we’ve been asking for and he’s delivered on the big stage for us, it’s been excellent the way he’s gone about it,” Lehmann said of Maxwell’s T20 displays.”His preparation has been excellent and the way he has actually played, put more responsibility [on him] batting at No. 4 in the T20s and he’s been exceptional. It seems like he’s taken the knocks really well and come back and proved his point. Now we just want him to continue that and be really consistent, and I’m sure he will be.”Lehmann also indicated that the move of Aaron Finch down the T20 batting order to leave D’Arcy Short as an opener would likely continue, given the older man’s strong recent IPL record in the middle order and the large number of opening batsmen in the team. “His record in the IPL batting Nos. 4 and 5 is unbelievable so we wanted to shape up and see how that looks like,” he said. “D’Arcy’s been very good for us at the top, so I think we’ll continue with that, in the short-term anyway.”Looking overall at the home summer, Lehmann said that the ODI series had been the only disappointment in between a comprehensive Ashes series win and positive steps forward for the T20 squad, which will depart Australia for New Zealand on Tuesday in the same week the bulk of the Test squad will travel to South Africa for next month’s four-Test assignment.”It was an unbelievable summer. Record crowds, record viewership,” Lehmann said. “You’ve got to win the Ashes at home, that’s the biggest thing for us. One-dayers were a little disappointing as we know, T20s have been exciting, but overall you’d be pretty happy with the summer I would’ve thought. I know the fans have enjoyed BBL, the one-dayers, the whole lot. From our point of view, it’s been exciting times and exciting cricket.”
Australia U-19 will feature in a tri-series alongside hosts South Africa and England, this April, for their first overseas tour
ESPNcricinfo staff01-Mar-2018The Australia women’s Under-19 team is set to play for the first time in 15 years when they travel to South Africa for a tri-series, also featuring England, in April. Having last played a match in 2003, against England at home, the tour will also be the maiden overseas foray for the Under-19 side.The Cricket Australia Women’s youth selection panel named a 14-member squad that will take on South Africa’s Emerging Women and England Women’s Academy across four 50-over matches – between April 12 and 18 – and two Twenty20s, on April 24 and 26. The final will be a 50-over match and will be played on April 28. The team will be coached by former Australia batsman and current Cricket Australia high performance coach and Under-19 head coach Leah Poulton, with Ben Sawyer and Luke Williams acting in the assistant roles.The leadership duties will be split across the formats, with 16-year-old allrounder Rachel Trenaman named captain of the 50-over side, with Tasmanian Courtney Webb her deputy. The T20 side will be led by Saskia Horley, with Annabel Sutherland shouldering vice-captaincy responsibilities.”I think it just goes to show how fast the female pathway has moved over the last few years,” Poulton said of the decision to reintroduce the Under-19 team. “It’s an exciting time for women’s cricket and if Australia wants to stay at the top we really need to invest in our pathway, which I believe we’re doing well.”The tour presents a really good opportunity for the players to get a taste of what it’s like to be in an elite touring environment. Putting your skills to the test in a variety of different conditions and situations is an essential part of being an elite cricketer.”England and South Africa are two very good teams who will present some good challenges for the group. We want the players to be tested and to be pushed outside their comfort zones and to have to adapt to the different situations they find themselves in. This is a really exciting group of players who I think all have big futures in the game so I’m looking forward to seeing how they perform.”The re-integration of an Under-19 side comes on the back of structural changes made to the female pathway which brought it in line with the male pathway, with an Australia A side, Cricket Australia XI and National Performance Squad replacing the previous Under-21 Shooting Stars.Australia Under-19 squad: Stella Campbell (NSW), Maddy Darke (NSW), Hannah Darlington (NSW), Josephine Dooley (Queensland), Ellen Falconer (South Australia), Nicole Faltum (Victoria), Saskia Horley (NSW), Hayley Silver-Holmes (NSW), Annabel Sutherland (Victoria), Rachel Trenaman (NSW), Tayla Vlaeminck (Victoria), Georgia Wareham (Victoria), Courtney Webb (Tasmania), Tahlia Wilson (NSW)
Newcastle United have not started the 2023/24 Premier League campaign in the finest form but it is worth remembering that last term just two wins were picked up from the first eight games, and how did that season go again?
There has been a wealth of acquisition over the summer but the sunlight has not quite suffused across St. James' Park just yet, with three defeats after a 5-1 dismantling of Aston Villa in the season opener.
One of last year's staples, Joe Willock, has yet to feature since the summer break, with the absence of his dynamic, electric presence felt on Tyneside thus far.
What happened to Joe Willock?
Signed from Arsenal in a £25m deal in August 2021 – just months before the fortune-changing PIF club takeover – Willock has been an important member of Eddie Howe's outfit over the past 22 months, having played 64 matches under the former Bournemouth boss.
Prior to his permanent signing, Willock captured the awe of the masses on his initial loan, revelling in a swarm of goalscoring form and posting eight strikes from 14 matches since joining the Magpies in January – including a seven-match goalscoring streak to close the campaign.
Newcastle midfielder Joe Willock.
Last season, the 24-year-old was the source of goals no longer, but utilising his energy and creativity from midfield, he served an important role for such a cohesive, high-octane side.
Willock ranks among the top 5% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 2% for progressive carries, the top 10% for successful take-ons and the top 7% for blocks per 90, as per FBref.
Unfortunately, the £80k-per-week gem sustained a hamstring injury in May after starting 31 top-flight fixtures, missing the final two games and yet to play this term.
Originally slated to make his return after the current international break, Willock has suffered a setback and Howe begrudgingly confirmed that he will not make his return until October at the earliest. As such, now might be an opportune moment for Elliot Anderson to stake his claim.
How good is Elliot Anderson?
Last year, Newcastle's midfield was the engine that just kept on purring. Monumentally achieving Champions League qualification with a top-four finish, the Toon are now one of the most exciting teams in the Premier League and will target European football season upon season.
However, given the trio of losses – against Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion – the club will be desperate to secure victory over Brentford in the forthcoming Premier League match, and indeed craft a purple patch to propel them up into top-four contention.
Eddie Howe and Elliot Anderson celebrate Newcastle United's Premier League victory over Manchester United.
The current central axis of Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and £55m summer signing Sandro Tonali has not quite clicked yet, and that's not to say that it won't, but perhaps it's time for Howe to shake things up and make an alteration.
READ MORE: Why Newcastle should BENCH Bruno Guimaraes…
This could lead to a maiden start of the season for homegrown talent Anderson, who has been hailed for his "unbelievable" performances in pre-season by Toon captain Kieran Trippier.
Anderson withdrew from international duty with Scotland last week after picking up a knock in training but is hoping to be fit for the match against the Bees and the following Champions League tie against AC Milan.
Anderson plundered multiple goals and assists during Newcastle's summer preparations, with Howe personally noting the player's performances and suggesting he could receive a starting role sooner rather than later.
Through balls
Key passes
Finishing
Dribbling
The 20-year-old's listed attributes could prove to be the perfect solution to Willock's present absence, utilising a forward-surging tendency to add a dimension to the midfield, blending incisiveness with creativity.
Playing 22 times in the league last year, Anderson produced the assist for Anthony Gordon's goal against Chelsea on the final day of the season, and since he has featured across all four contests since the summer, Howe clearly holds this dynamo in high regard.
Now is the time to unleash Anderson from the opening whistle; a talented midfielder with a nice mix of quality and intensity, he could produce some performances to provide his manager with something of a selection conundrum going forward.
Arsenal are now "very optimistic" a key first-team player will sign a new contract, with talks set to continue now the international break is over, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.
Which Arsenal players are signing new contracts?
Mikel Arteta has been able to protect the core of his squad by securing new contracts for a number of first-team players in recent months, including the likes of Aaron Ramsdale, William Saliba, Gabriel Martinelli, and Bukayo Saka.
However, the manager does not want to stop there, and a few more key members of the squad are in line for new deals, with The Daily Mail reporting Ben White is set to enter formal talks over extending his contract, which is set to expire in the summer of 2026.
Not only that, but club captain Martin Odegaard has been touted for a new deal for quite some time, with transfer insider Dean Jones revealing the Norwegian is set for a "significant pay rise" if he does choose to extend his stay at the Emirates Stadium.
Journalist Graeme Bailey even hinted Odegaard could be set to treble his wages, meaning he would earn over £300k-per-week, and there has now been an update on the progress that has been made towards agreeing an extension.
In an interview with GiveMeSport, Ben Jacobs has now suggested that talks are set to continue in the coming days, with Arsenal becoming increasingly hopeful their captain will agree a new contract to remain in north London
When discussing the pay rise the 24-year-old could receive, the journalist said: "If you've brought in someone like Declan Rice, you might have broken your wage structure a little bit. Someone like Odegaard, on £115,000-a-week, might be wanting up to £250,000-a-week – you just don't know because a lot can change when your project grows very fast.
"But there's optimism. and there is no reason to think that Odegaard won't sign. I would expect, now the international break is over, for talks to continue and move relatively fast towards some kind of agreement in principle.
Jacobs later added: "Arsenal are very optimistic that Odegaard will be another key member of the club to renew."
How many goals has Martin Odegaard scored for Arsenal?
The attacking midfielder has scored 26 goals in 110 appearances for the Gunners, during which time he has registered 15 assists, and there were clear signs he is starting to come into his prime in the 2022-23 campaign.
Last season, the Norway international amassed a remarkable 23 goal contributions in 37 Premier League games, solidifying his place as a key player for Arsenal, so it is exciting news that he is now close to agreeing a contract extension.
Former Gunner Alan Smith has lauded the maestro as "superb" in the past, and Arteta is well aware of the calibre of player he has on his hands, having described him as "exceptional" when discussing the progress he's made.
At 24-years-old, Odegaard should now be entering his prime years, and it will be a real boost for Arsenal if he signs a new deal.
The opener scored 94 off 50 balls, the highest this season, to give Lahore Qalandars their third successive win
The Report by Danyal Rasool14-Mar-2018 Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsLahore Qalandars continued their late resurgence in the PSL, notching up their third successive win after downing Quetta Gladiators by 17 runs. They had opener Fakhar Zaman to thank primarily for their two points. He put on a show of fabulous power-hitting to clout 94 off 50 balls – the highest individual score this season – and lead his side to 186.Lahore haven’t made any changes to their team since picking up their first win, and their openers Fakhar and Anton Devcich gave them a solid start again. However, when Devcich, Agha Salman and Brendon McCullum – the captain who was controversially given out off a no-ball – fell in quick succession, Fakhar held the innings together, brilliantly supported by a 27-ball 42 from wicketkeeper-batsman Gulraiz Sadaf. A cameo in the end from Sunil Narine (20*) ensured Lahore finished with a flourish.With Jason Roy back in the Quetta side, their top order boasted a frightening quartet of Roy, Shane Watson, Kevin Pietersen and Rilee Rossouw. While the England opener got Quetta off to a fast start – they raced to 52 for 0 in five overs – the wicket of Watson immediately set them back. And from thereon the Quetta chase began to unravel. Narine took care of both Pietersen and Roy, and as the asking rate climbed, Quetta found themselves out of the contest. Rossouw launched a counterattack, smashing five sixes in a 22-ball 42, but it only gave Lahore a late scare. Quicks Shaheen Afridi and Sohail Khan eventually wrapped up a comfortable win.Where the match was won It may have taken till after Lahore were eliminated to begin working on their weaknesses, but they did illustrate the extent to which they have improved in the middle overs on Wednesday. After losing three quick wickets, Lahore’s run rate had dipped below seven, and after 11 overs they were stuttering at 76 for 3. But instead of capitulating, Fakhar and Gulraiz launched an astonishing onslaught, hitting 64 in the next four overs. It included an over of fearsome hitting from Fakhar that cost 24 runs, with Rahat Ali the hapless recipient. It was the phase of the game Sarfraz Ahmed might have deemed Lahore to be most vulnerable, but they turned that weakness into a comprehensive strength.The men that won it While it is hard to look past Fakhar, one would be remiss to overlook vital contributions from Narine and Gulraiz. After all, Fakhar was dismissed with nearly five overs left in Lahore innings and the score only at 141, when the pair put on an unbroken 45-run stand in 28 balls.The brain freeze A team led by McCullum on course to win three in a row is likely to be a happy unit. That was how Lahore had been appearing all tournament. Even when they had lost six on the bounce, they never looked like a dressing room falling out with each other. But towards the end of today’s contest, when both teams were almost going through the motions with the game virtually in the bag for Lahore, a bizarre scuffle erupted. Sohail Khan, who had been trying to get the attention of Yasir Shah on the boundary without success, inexplicably lost his temper and threw the ball on the full towards him. It very narrowly missed Yasir’s head, and the legspinner, to put it mildly, was incandescent. It took all of McCullum’s diplomatic powers to assuage the pair, but the lack of judgment from Sohail couldn’t help leaving one nonplussed. The pair reconciled at the end of the game, and Yasir even laughed it off. It would have been rather different, of course, if the ball had actually made contact with Yasir.Where they stand Lahore drew level with Peshawar Zalmi, though they are still in last place on net run-rate. Quetta remained second, two points behind table-toppers Islamabad United.
When even Hashim Amla is in a hurry then no wonder low scores predominate around the country
George Dobell05-May-20181:32
Harry’s Game for Yorkshire and Sussex
ScorecardImpatience is a virtue in the modern world.Where once we were content to wait for letters, for food, for success, it seems we now want everything yesterday. The next generation of aeroplanes will not have windows (except, you presume, at the front) as their absence will increase speeds by around 10%. There’s no time to look around anymore.This attitude appears to extend to cricket. Where once batsmen might be prepared to look around a bit, to allow the bowlers an hour or a session, to build an innings rather than attempt to get rich quick, it now seems the response to every challenge is to try to hit the ball harder and further. Lost early wickets? Counter-attack. Bowlers on top? Hit them off their length. Pitch proving tricky? Thump those runs before the wicket-taking ball claims you. Eat, drink and be merry, for next over one may skid on and take you on the pad.Right around the country we are seeing low scores. It is true that conditions at this time of year are demanding for batsmen. But they’re no more difficult than they were in the days of uncovered pitches. Or when the world’s best bowlers – the likes of Imran Khan and Joel Garner and Malcolm Marshall and Richard Hadlee – were on the county circuit every week. It’s just that some of cricket’s old virtues, notably patience and application, have become less fashionable. It’s not a coincidence that England’s Test batsmen rarely make centuries. It is a reflection, in part, of the modern way of thinking.Certainly it seemed that way at Trent Bridge. Even Hashim Amla, a man so patient it he once made England bowl to him through a summer (or so it felt in 2012, anyway), succumbed. Having seen off Nottinghamshire’s excellent seam attack in typically masterful fashion, he gifted to a simple catch to mid-off after attempting to loft a delivery from Samit Patel over the top.It was a surprising and pivotal moment. While Rilee Rossouw had fallen pushing hard at a good one on off stump that may have left him a fraction, Amla had let the ball come to him and been content to nudge and deflect his way to a typically unfussy half-century. With Liam Dawson having already flicked to square leg, Hampshire needed Amla to take root. And, once he had gone, Kyle Abbott departed in similar fashion – he chipped to midwicket – Chris Wood played across a straight one and Hampshire conceded a first-innings lead of 79.Hashim Amla acknowledges his half-century•Getty ImagesTo be fair to Amla, there was some logic in his approach. With runs proving hard to come by against the seamers (Luke Fletcher conceded under two an over; Stuart Broad only a little over) and Patel having settled into a frugal spell (he barely conceded one an over in his first 10), Amla hoped to disrupt the spinner’s rhythm and perhaps force mid-off back to the boundary and open up an opportunity for easier singles. It would be unfair to praise the intent when it works and criticise it when it fails.Equally, it is unfair on Nottinghamshire to underplay their role in Amla’s dismissal. To test the patience of a man renown for the quality underlines the quality and control of their bowling. By providing so few release deliveries, they applied pressure on Hampshire’s batting and by trusting Patel, a modest spinner of the ball but an increasingly patient, disciplined bowler, they dangled the bait.But there is another way. Or at least there used to be another way. And, for all the entertainment value offered by modern cricket – and the game has surely never moved so fast – it does appear that batsmen are losing the mentality where they are prepared to graft. Where they are prepared to concentrate on nothing but survival. Where they are prepared to dare to be dull. And, while red ball cricket is played, there will still be a place for such virtues.Lewis McManus ensured the deficit was at least reduced for Hampshire. Shrugging off two blows to the helmet – both inflicted during a spell of impressively sustained short bowling by Broad – McManus recorded a plucky half-century.Stuart Mullaney and Jake Libby consolidated Nottinghamshire’s advantage in the final session. Already the pair have recorded their side’s only century partnership of the season so far; already Mullaney has the highest individual score. Mullaney, in particular, elected for a positive approach, but Hampshire might reflect they made life a bit too easy by failing to match the discipline and control of their Nottinghamshire counterparts.It was a particularly important innings for Libby. A tricky start to the season has left him under just a little bit of pressure, but he took advantage of easing conditions and a few loose deliveries to record his first half-century of the campaign. And, while the pitch is slow, there is still enough nibble and enough uneven bounce to suggest Hampshire are likely to face a desperately tough proposition in the fourth innings. How they respond to such a challenge may prove intriguing.
Chelsea are now "100%" keen on signing a wonderkid who has been tipped to be a future icon, according to reporter Ben Jacobs.
What's the latest Chelsea transfer news?
The Blues have recently been linked with a move for a new left-back, as US Lecce's Patrick Dorgu has revealed that he dreams of signing for the club, despite the fact Barcelona are also keen, although it is unlikely Mauricio Pochettino targets a player in that area of the pitch.
Another youngster the west London club are interested in signing is Corinthians midfielder Gabriel Moscardo, who has attracted the attention of a number of Premier League sides, with Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and Everton also interested.
At the end of the summer transfer window, it was revealed that Chelsea set their sights on Club Brugge winger Antonio Nusa, going as far as to submit a £26m bid, but they were unable to get a deal over the line with limited time remaining. However, there has now been a suggestion the Blues could come back in for the winger, with the club clearly focussing on making young additions to the squad, as Jacobs has now credited them with an interest in an interview with GiveMeSport.
When asked whether Chelsea could be scouting the 18-year-old, the reporter said: "Yeah, 100%. Chelsea came in towards the end of the last window for Nusa, and it was made clear to them, with the player driving this narrative, that there wasn't anything possible this year. That's because he's young and currently quite settled at Club Brugge.
"From what I'm told, Nusa spoke to the manager there and very quickly decided that it was not the right time to move, especially not to Chelsea, because you look at their project full of other young stars, and, to an extent, uncertainty, and unless Chelsea could buy him and, for example, loan him back, his gametime could well have been limited. I think from this point of view, he believes there will be more suitors in 2024, whether in January or the summer and that Chelsea could well be back."
How good is Antonio Nusa?
The Club Brugge starlet has done enough to impress football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who branded him a "future icon of Norwegian football", while he has also likened him to Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe. The Norwegian youngster is an exceptional dribbler of the ball, ranking in the 99th percentile for progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers playing at a similar level.
Club Brugge'sAntonioNusacelebrates scoring their fourth goal with Casper Nielsen
Although he is still very young, the forward has already managed to break into the Brugge starting XI, and he has been very impressive at the beginning of the Belgian Pro League season, weighing in with two goals and two assists in five games.
Nusa may not immediately be able to challenge for a starting spot at Chelsea, given that they are blessed with attacking talent, but he clearly has a lot of potential, and he would be an exciting addition to Pochettino's squad.
The uncapped wicketkeeper Jahmar Hamilton is also in the squad for the Tests against Sri Lanka, while Sunil Ambris, Jermaine Blackwood and Raymon Reifer have been left out
ESPNcricinfo staff25-May-2018West Indies Test squad
Jason Holder (capt), Devendra Bishoo, Kraigg Brathwaite, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich (wk), Shannon Gabriel, Jahmar Hamilton (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Kieran Powell, Kemar Roach, Devon Smith IN: Jahmar Hamilton, Devon Smith OUT: Sunil Ambris, Jermaine Blackwood, Alzarri Joseph, Raymon Reifer
Devon Smith is back in West Indies’ Test squad after a gap of nearly three years. The selectors have also called up the uncapped wicketkeeper-batsman Jahmar Hamilton for the home Test series against Sri Lanka, which starts on June 6.With only 13 players in the squad, four players who made the trip to New Zealand for West Indies’ last Test assignment, in December 2017, have been left out – batsmen Sunil Ambris and Jermaine Blackwood, the allrounder Raymon Reifer, and the fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, who is recovering from a stress fracture in his back.The Cricket West Indies (CWI) release announcing the Test squad, interestingly, lists three Test matches as originally scheduled – in Trinidad (June 6-10), St Lucia (June 14-18) and Barbados (day-night match, June 23 to 27) – rather than two. ESPNcricinfo understands that CWI was considering scrapping one Test in favour of limited-overs internationals, to ease some of the board’s financial burdens.Smith, 36, last played a Test match during England’s 2015 visit to the Caribbean. He has returned on the back of his chart-topping exploits for Windward Islands in the 2017-18 Regional Four-Day Tournament, in which he scored 1095 runs at an average of 84.23, with six hundreds in ten matches.The 27-year-old Hamilton, meanwhile, impressed for West Indies A during a home series against England Lions in February-March, scoring 100, 29 and 79 in the two first-class matches. He is one of two wicketkeepers in the West Indies squad alongside Shane Dowrich.Ambris has been left out after a bizarre maiden Test series in New Zealand, where he was hit-wicket first ball on debut and dismissed in the same fashion in the next match as well. In the second innings of his second Test, a short ball from Neil Wagner fractured his left forearm and ruled him out of the rest of the tour. He has recovered from the injury, but not in time to play any first-class cricket, though he was part of a five-day batting camp in Barbados from May 8 to 12.Blackwood was part of the camp as well, but hasn’t found a place in the squad. He didn’t get to play either of the two Tests in New Zealand, while Reifer made his debut in the second Test in Hamilton, scoring 23 not out and 29 and taking a wicket in each innings. Reifer, like Ambris and Blackwood, was among the contenders for a place in the squad, having been part of a 10-man fast bowlers’ camp in Antigua, from April 30 to May 9.GMT 0900 The story had earlier erroneously stated that Devon Smith last played Test cricket on a tour of England. The error has been rectified.