New Zealand batter fell for 92 just eight balls into the final morning, before Jayasuriya bagged five in the second innings
Madushka Balasuriya23-Sep-2024
Prabath Jayasuriya bagged 5 for 68 in the second innings•AFP/Getty Images
Sri Lanka didn’t need long on the final morning in Galle to wrap things up, taking just 15 minutes to grab the final two New Zealand wickets and secure a 63-run win in the first Test. The result means Sri Lanka go 1-0 up in the two-match series, while also leapfrogging New Zealand up to third place in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table.Prabath Jayasuriya was at the forefront of Sri Lanka’s charge, finishing with figures of 5 for 68 – his eighth five-wicket haul, and his seventh in Galle. He ended with match figures of 9 for 204, taking home the Player-of-the-Match award.After having fought so hard the previous day, Rachin Ravindra lasted just eight deliveries into the first session of the final morning as Jayasuriya trapped him in front with an arm ball for 92 off 168 balls. Coming around the wicket, Jayasuriya tossed one up on leg as Ravindra was caught in the crease playing down the wrong line. He reviewed, but once it was confirmed to be pitching in line, there would be no saving him.And any lingering hopes of a famous rearguard were then swiftly quashed, as Will O’Rourke kept out just five deliveries before the sixth slipped past his forward defence and on to off stump to hand Jayasuriya his fifth wicket of the innings.O’Rourke wouldn’t quite be satisfied with how the game ended after an impressive showing in the game as he finished with eight wickets to his name – the second-most across the Test, and the same as Ajaz Patel.In terms of how this result impacts the WTC, it keeps Sri Lanka’s outside hopes of a berth in the final alive. But for New Zealand, it makes their task considerably tougher, with an away series against India and a home series England coming up in the next few months.There will be no time to dwell on this result for either team, with just a two-day break before the second Test gets underway on Thursday – also in Galle.
Whilst they must act with caution amid their PSR concerns, Aston Villa are now reportedly keen to sign a Serie A midfielder who kept Morgan Rogers quiet last season.
Aston Villa still face PSR concern
With June 30 and the PSR deadline approaching, Aston Villa are running out of time to sell players and face what could be the most important week of their summer. At this stage, the likeliest players to depart seem to be Emiliano Martinez and Leon Bailey. The former has been the subject of interest from Manchester United and although Villa won’t be desperate to sell a key man to a rival club, they may have no choice before next month.
Of course, the departure of Bailey would be far easier to stomach this summer. The Jamaican winger fell down the pecking order last season following the arrival of Donyell Malen and even after the loan spells of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio came to an end, he remains a player who Villa could be wise to sell this month.
Whether the likely sale of Philippe Coutinho to Vasco da Gama solves Villa’s problems completely is also a big question. To that end, reports have claimed that it will help them on the PSR front but it will not solve their issues entirely. Even after the former Liverpool star’s exit, Villa may still require one more sale before a much-needed PSR reset.
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It’s then that those in the Midlands will be able to shift their focus back towards incomings and potentially a Serie A midfielder who pocketed Rogers last season.
Aston Villa keen to sign Jens Cajuste
According to Area Napoli, as relayed by Sport Witness, Aston Villa are now keen to sign Jens Cajuste from Napoli this summer. Following a season on loan at Ipswich Town, the midfielder will now reportedly be allowed to leave the Italian club for as little as €10m (£8.5m) in the coming months.
Whilst his first season in the Premier League featured a relegation, Cajuste still stood out at times for Ipswich Town. In fact, one of his best games came against Unai Emery’s Aston Villa side in a 1-1 draw at Villa Park.
Keeping attacking midfielder Rogers quiet, Cajuste made three interceptions – more than any other central midfielder on the pitch – and completed five recoveries. Rogers, meanwhile, was limited to just one successful dribble and won a third of his duels in a frustrating afternoon.
One of several solid performances, Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna was often full of praise for Cajuste during his time at the club – telling reporters when asked about the midfielder in April: “He’s a really terrifically talented footballer, but in terms of his robustness he’s making really good progress and he’s improved as the season’s gone on.”
كشف الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، موقف الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا” من زي منتخب مصر خلال مباراته غداً أمام بوركينا فاسو، وذلك بعد الأزمة التي نشبت بشأن ذلك الأمر.
وبدأت الأزمة بعدما تمسك الجهاز الإداري لأصحاب الأرض بارتداء حارسهم للشورت الأسود والجورب الأسود، في الوقت الذي يرتدي فيه لاعبو المنتخب المصري بالكامل الشورت الأسود والجورب الأسود، لذلك أصر الجهاز الإداري للفراعنة على أرتداء لاعبيهم للشورت الأسود والجورب الأسود بداعي عدم امتلاك أي زي غيره.
وأسفر الاجتماع الفني، عن ارتداء منتخب مصر القميص الأحمر بينما يرتدي منتخب بوركينا فاسو القميص الأبيض.
وجاء بيان اتحاد الكرة حفاظاً على الألوان التي أقرها الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم بالنسبة لكل فريق سواء فيما يتعلق بالزي الأساسي أو الاحتياطي، وأقر الاتحاد الدولي صحة موقف المنتخب المصري في خطاب إلى مراقب مباراة الغد.
طالع أيضاً.. ترتيب مجموعة مصر في تصفيات كأس العالم بعد فوز غينيا بيساو على جيبوتي
ويحل منتخب مصر ضيفاً على بوركينا فاسو ضمن مواجهات الجولة الثامنة للمجموعة الأولى من التصفيات الإفريقية المؤهلة لنهائيات كأس العالم.
ويخوض منتحب مصر اللقاء متصدراً ترتيب المجموعة الأولى من تصفيات كأس العالم، برصيد 19 نقطة، بعد خوض 7 مواجهات، فاز في 6 وتعادل في لقاء.
على الجانب الآخر، يتواجد منتخب بوركينا فاسو في المركز الثاني “الوصافة” برصيد 14 نقطة، من 7 مواجهات حقق الفوز في 4 وتعادل في 2 وخسر مباراة وحيدة.
وتضم المجموعة الأولى من تصفيات كأس العالم، منتخبات مصر، بوركينا فاسو، غينيا بيساو، جيبوتي، إثيوبيا وسيراليون.
The transfer window has only been open for nine days, but Arsenal are already embroiled in something of a saga.
The Gunners have been heavily linked with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko since last summer, and while he remains in Germany at the moment, things are begging to move.
Reports from late last week revealed that the Slovenian striker wants to move to the Emirates, but is he really the answer for Mikel Arteta’s side?
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskoheads at goal
While that remains to be seen, the club are still on the lookout for alternatives, and now reports are linking them to someone who could be an upgrade on Sesko.
Arsenal's striker search
Before getting to the star in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other strikers linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, such as Jonathan David and Julian Alvarez.
Transfer Focus
Due to his contract with LOSC Lille coming to an end this month, the former would be a free signing, and a great one at that, as in 49 appearances this season, he scored 25 goals and provided 12 assists.
Alvarez was equally effective this term, racking up a tally of 29 goals and seven assists in 54 appearances, but with a release clause reportedly worth £126m in his current deal, it seems unlikely that he’d be on the move this summer.
Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez
Fortunately, another striker has now entered the picture: Samuel Omorodion Aghehowa.
According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several teams currently interested in the Porto star.
The report claims that alongside the Gunners, Chelsea, Manchester United, Aston Villa, and others are set to ‘battle it out’ for the 21-year-old goalscorer.
However, on top of dealing with the competition, the North Londoners will need to stump up a lot of cash, as the report has revealed that Porto want at least €75m – £63m – for their star striker and that they are in no rush to sell as he has a €100m – £84m – release clause in his current deal.
It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Samu’s ability and potential, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he could be an upgrade on Sesko.
How Samu compares to Sesko
So, if Arsenal’s reported interest in Samu continues to grow, and things get to a point at which they have to choose between him and Sesko, who’d be the better signing?
FC Porto's SamuOmorodioncelebrates scoring their first goal
Well, if we are going to compare strikers, the first port of call is their raw output, as, ultimately, that is what matters most for players in their position.
Interestingly, it’s the young Spaniard who comes out on top here, as in just 42 appearances, totalling 3175 minutes, the “inevitable” 6 foot 4 goalscorer, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, put the ball in the back of the net 25 times and provided three assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.5 games, or every 113.39 minutes.
In comparison, the Leipzig star scored 21 goals and provided six assists in 45 appearances, totalling 3258 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.66 games, or every 120.66 minutes.
Okay, what about their underlying numbers, then? Who comes out on top when we take a look under the hood?
Samu vs Sesko
Statistics per 90
Samu
Sesko
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
0.51
0.40
Non-Penalty G+As
0.72
0.61
Progressive Passes
1.12
1.74
Progressive Carries
0.92
1.78
Shots
3.10
2.50
Shots on Target
1.15
1.10
Passing Accuracy
77.8%
67.6%
Expected Assists
0.09
0.06
Key Passes
0.68
0.72
Passes into the Penalty Area
0.40
0.34
Shot-Creating Actions
1.75
1.93
Goal-Creating Actions
0.36
0.34
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 Season
Well, it’s more bad news for the Slovenian star, as while he does do better in some areas, such as shot-creating actions and progressive passes, he comes out second-best in the majority of relevant metrics.
For example, the Melilla-born “powerhouse,” as dubbed by Mattinson, does far better when it comes to expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, shots and shots on target, goal-creating actions and more, all per 90.
Ultimately, while both players look to be hugely promising strikers, Samu simply does better when we look at their raw output and underlying numbers, so Arsenal should probably do what they can to bring him to the Emirates this summer, as he seems to be an upgrade on Sesko.
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Leeds United will need to bolster their squad to give themselves a fighting chance of avoiding an instant relegation from the Premier League next season.
One area of the pitch in which the Whites are set to strengthen is their attack, after Football Insider reported that the club have doubts over Joel Piroe’s suitability for the top-flight.
The Dutch forward, who scored four goals in one half against Stoke City last month, won the Golden Boot with 19 goals in 46 matches in the Championship, but may not have the physicality for the Premier League.
Piroe lost a whopping 73% of his duels with opposition defenders in the second tier, which does not suggest that he would fare particularly well out of possession against top-flight centre-backs.
It was recently reported that the 49ers are eyeing up a summer swoop for Everton centre-forward Beto to bolster their options in the number nine position, which means that the Premier League attacker could take Piroe’s place in the starting XI next season.
Why Beto could be a good signing for Leeds
The Portugal international could be an excellent addition to the squad as an upgrade on the Dutch marksman because he has the technical and finishing qualities to be an effective top-flight performer, whilst also having the physical attributes to thrive at that level.
Of course, Beto is currently playing in the Premier League with Everton, which means that Leeds would be signing a player who has already been there and done it in the division, whilst Piroe is yet to play a top-flight game in his career.
The Toffees marksman is particularly impressive out of possession in comparison to the current Leeds forward, as evidenced by his physical data in the 2024/25 campaign to date.
24/25 Season
Beto (Premier League)
Piroe (Championship)
Appearances
28
46
Ground duels won per game
1.8
1.0
Ground duel success rate
38%
33%
Aerial duels won per game
3.1
0.7
Aerial duel success rate
48%
21%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Beto wins far more duels per game, and with a greater success rate, particularly in the air, which shows that he is significantly more reliable for his team out of possession.
This suggests that the Everton forward would be far more suited to a team battling against relegation, fighting against the odds, week-in-week-out, than Piroe, who was too weak in the Championship, would be.
Beto is not just a physical presence, though, as he has also scored eight goals from 6.63 xG in 13 starts in the Premier League, which shows that he has been an effective and clinical finisher who could provide a reliable option in the final third for Daniel Farke next season.
The Everton striker is not the only attacking addition who could come through the doors at Elland Road, though, as there has been an update on Manor Solomon’s situation.
The latest news on Manor Solomon
According to a fresh report from TEAMtalk, the Tottenham Hotspur attacker is open to holding talks with Leeds United over a permanent move to the club in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The report claims that the Israel international would like to speak with the Whites over another transfer to West Yorkshire because he ‘loved’ his time on loan in the 2024/25 campaign.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
This update from TEAMtalk came as a reaction to a report from Sky Sports Switzerland last week that claimed Marseille are interested in signing the winger from Spurs. That outlet added, at the time, that it would take a fee of roughly £17m to sign the forward from the Premier League side.
TEAMtalk’s latest update states that Solomon would still be keen on talks with Leeds over another move to the club, despite the reported interest from the Ligue 1 giants, which should come as good news to Farke and his staff.
Leeds must, now, press ahead with a swoop for the Spurs loanee because he could be the perfect winger to provide Beto with the service he needs, should the Whites also land a deal for the Everton marksman.
Why Solomon would be perfect for Beto
The Portuguese striker has scored two headed goals, five right-footed goals, and one with his left foot, which shows that the forward is more than capable in the air and can score a variety of goals.
Solomon could be the perfect winger for the striker because he has the ability to consistently create high-quality chances for his teammates, and can create different types of chances, from crosses, passes, and through balls.
The Spurs loanee was a superstar in the Championship for the majority of his time on loan at Elland Road, and his quality was pointed out by a former Leeds boss fairly quickly.
Early on in the 2024/25 campaign, Neil Redfearn hailed the winger’s ability, saying: “He’s got a quality that is better than this level, you can obviously see that. Initially in the first 20 minutes it was like tackling smoke. He was unplayable at times.”
24/25 Championship
Manor Solomon
Appearances
39
xG
8.15
Goals
10
Key passes per game
1.7
Big chances created
21
Assists
12
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Solomon backed up that praise by ending the season with a staggering haul of 31 goals and ‘big chances’ created in 39 appearances in the league for Leeds.
A return of 21 ‘big chances’ created in 39 matches speaks to his ability to consistently unlock opposition defences in different ways, as they were unable to stop him because of the variation in his game.
As you can see in the highlights above, the £17m-rated whiz has the ability to burst down the line to deliver teasing crosses into the box, which could be perfect for a physical forward who looks to get ahead of defenders to bundle the ball in, as he brilliantly assisted Mateo Joseph’s strike.
This suggests that Solomon would be a dream for Beto because he has the quality to ensure that the striker constantly has service in the box, giving him plenty of opportunities to find the back of the net in the Premier League.
Therefore, the 49ers must push to get deals over the line for the Spurs and Everton attackers in the upcoming summer transfer window, in order to give Farke and his team the best possible chance of avoiding an instant relegation back down to the Championship.
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Something feels different. For better or for worse (though usually better), Liverpool were tight-lipped on transfers with Jurgen Klopp at the helm.
It often felt like a contentious subject, but FSG’s savvy crew managed to make it work, combining with the German manager’s vision to drive Liverpool toward the full gamut of major honours.
However, something’s changed in this new iteration, this restructured hierarchy. Arne Slot, on the brink of winning the Premier League in his first season at the Anfield helm, has confirmed that Liverpool are planning for major investment this summer, with captain Virgil van Dijk echoing the sentiment as the final touches are placed on his expected new deal.
Liverpool are set to spend, all right. However, the Merseysiders will also want to cash in on a few to maximise the scope for investment.
Darwin Nunez is the anticipated surplus as plans are mapped for a new, more prolific centre-forward. However, the struggling Uruguayan isn’t the only forward at risk of being sold, with Luis Diaz also emerging as a candidate for sale.
Liverpool'sDarwinNunezreacts
And that’s despite his stunning recent form for the Reds.
Luis Diaz's late-season form
Liverpool are set to lift the Premier League title in the coming weeks, and Diaz has been instrumental in keeping Slot’s squad ticking over of late, rebounding from a frustrating patch of form to rack up the contributions in recent fixtures.
He’s scored 15 goals and laid on eight assists across all competitions for Liverpool this term, but Diaz may well be among those sold this summer.
Directly involved in goals during just one of Liverpool’s opening nine Premier League fixtures of 2025, a 2-1 victory over Wolves in February, Diaz has since registered a contribution across his past five outings, scoring in each of the Reds’ recent matches, having assisted in three successive games prior.
A man playing for his future? The winger has been routinely linked with a move to Barcelona over the past several years and Caught Offside have recently revealed that Liverpool would entertain offers in the £69m ballpark this summer.
Contrary to what the form book might suggest, Liverpool should indeed cash in on their Colombian maverick for maximum value this summer.
Liverpool winger Luis Diaz
He’ll have turned 30 by the time his current deal expires in June 2027 and has ebbed and flowed in front of goal for much of his time at Anfield.
Liverpool could bank a pretty penny by selling him now, while his stock’s sky-high, and anyway, the Reds have identified the perfect successor to sign this summer.
Liverpool chasing Diaz successor
According to Football Insider, Liverpool may finally get their hands on Anthony Gordon this summer, with the Newcastle United winger among the most likely Magpies to be sold for a big profit.
Liverpool were in talks to sign the England international last summer but a deal came to nought when alternative means to circumvent PSR were struck.
It’s reported that Liverpool have retained a strong interest and, furthermore, cashing in on the winger would suit United more than their other big-money stars, Bruno Guimaraes and Liverpool-linked Alexander Isak.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Why Liverpool should sign Anthony Gordon
Having been awarded Newcastle’s Player of the Year for 2023/24, Gordon came close to moving back to Merseyside and linking up with Liverpool are being released from their academy as an 11-year-old.
Though it didn’t come to fruition, Liverpool have retained their interest in a “special” player – as said by producer Andrew Musgrove – who has been an essential part of Eddie Howe’s success at St. James’ Park over the past several years, indeed beating Slot’s Liverpool in last month’s Carabao Cup final.
He’s registered 44 goal involvements for Newcastle since the start of last season and has even seen club chiefs place a £100m price tag on him in the past to deter pesky suitors. However, now that United’s stance has changed, that lofty valuation may well be whittled down.
Playing into Slot’s tactical approach, Gordon is also a positionally flexible forward. Chiefly a left winger, the 23-year-old has featured regularly on the right to accommodate Newcastle’s needs while also finding prolific success from a more central berth.
Anthony Gordon
Though Gordon’s arrival would see Diaz sold, this could allow him to work well with Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo, who is settled on the left flank, where his in-cutting shooting ability is best served.
While he’s been more potent in front of goal of late, the underlying data suggests Gordon, who is five years the South American’s junior, has the potential to outstrip him.
Shots (on target)*
2.0 (0.7)
2.0 (0.8)
Pass completion
80%
86%
Key passes*
1.9
1.6
Dribble (success)*
1.3 (45%)
1.5 (39%)
Ball recoveries*
3.3
3.0
Tackles + interceptions*
1.3
1.2
Duels (won)*
4.7 (51%)
3.8 (39%)
There’s also the case to be made that Gordon has failed to hit the same heights this year after his success in 2023/24, whereas Diaz has actually made improvements since Klopp stepped down at Anfield.
This might appear to sway things in the Liverpool man’s favour but it actually reinforces the argument for his sale this summer, replacing him with a younger star in Gordon, who mirrors many attributes and has the potential to go from strength to strength under Slot’s wing.
Anthony Gordon for Newcastle
Given that Liverpool’s interest stretches back to last summer, there’s every reason that he could be a success in a title-winning Reds squad, and given that Diaz’s potential sale could make it possible, it might just be one to keep a close eye on as the market opens its stalls.
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Stats highlights from the first day’s play at the MCG
Sampath Bandarupalli26-Dec-20241:51
Manjrekar explains how Konstas took down Bumrah
19 years 85 days – Sam Konstas’ age on debut, making him the youngest Australian opener in men’s Tests. He’s also the fourth youngest Australian male cricketer, and the second youngest to score a fifty in men’s Tests.52 – Deliveries Konstas took to bring up fifty, the third fastest for Australia on Test debut after Adam Gilchrist (off 46 balls vs Pakistan in 1999) and Ashton Agar (50 balls vs England in 2013).66 – Number of not-in-control shots played by Australia’s batters in the first 40 overs at the MCG, but India were able to take just one wicket in this period. Since 2002, as per ESPNcricinfo’s logs, only two teams have played more false shots in a Test innings without losing more than one wicket: India (73) vs England at Trent Bridge in 2007, and England (67) vs Ireland at Lord’s in 2019.
18 – Runs scored by Konstas in the 11th over of Australia’s innings – making it the most expensive over of Jasprit Bumrah’s Test career.ESPNcricinfo Ltd13.1 overs – Konstas brought up his fifty on debut in record time, surpassing India’s Prithvi Shaw, who reached a half-century on debut in 17.4 overs against West Indies in Rajkot in 2018.56.9 – Konstas’ control percentage during his innings of 60 off 65 balls, the second lowest for a 50-plus score in men’s Tests since 2015. The lowest is 53.43% by Southee, during his 65 against India in Bengaluru this year.
4562 – Balls bowled by Bumrah in Tests without conceding a six before Konstas’ reverse scoop in the seventh over. Cameron Green was the previous batter to hit a six off Bumrah during the 2021 Sydney Test. Bumrah has conceded only nine sixes in Tests, of which Jos Buttler and Konstas hit two apiece.216 – Runs scored by Australia’s top-three batters in the first three Tests of this series, with one fifty-plus score between them. The top three scored 192 runs at the MCG, with all of them scoring half-centuries.
By not always being one thing all the time since he retired, he has become omnipresent in a way that contrasts with how Imran Khan is famous
Osman Samiuddin30-Nov-2022In a few months, it’ll be 20 years since Wasim Akram played his last international game for Pakistan. It’s a little past 38 years since he played his first international game. Apologies if this comes across as one of those sobering exercises where the realisation of time’s creep is the splash of ice-cold water on the face first thing in the morning, but it’s impossible not to wilt a little in the knowledge that 38 years before Akram’s debut was just after the end of the Second World War.The way to not let this make you feel old is to watch some of his bowling because that still feels fresh and modern. After all, we’re still cooing at left-armers who can swing the ball into right-handers; still secretly wondering if the yorker is not as effective only because it’s not bowled by Akram; still being struck by the possibilities of the angles he opened for left-armers. His bowling retains currency in a way that batting and fielding from his era simply do not.Akram is now 56, in the whirl of a publicity blitz for his second memoir, . It is warmer, more expansive and less bitter than his first, . That’s no surprise, given was published in 1998, a moment of peaking chaos and toxicity in Pakistan cricket such that it’s a miracle Akram came out of it with diabetes and no other scars.Related
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As with all autobiographies, is an exercise in legacy, Akram wanting to leave an accounting of his life and career behind for family and for the rest of us. To leave behind sounds too hopeful, though, because it assumes legacies are etched in stone once a player stops playing. It’s much more complicated than that. Increasingly, they are fluid because great players like Akram no longer really exit the stage. Modern athletes live out post-career lives as public as during their careers. Some do so while actively depleting their legacy; others manage to enhance it; all are forever reshaping it in some way. Only a handful in recent memory – Pete Sampras, Steffi Graf – have left their legacies all but unchanged by stepping away entirely from public life, and naturally theirs have tended to feel somewhat overtaken by the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams.Akram has never not been around over the last two decades. He’s not always been a coach. He’s not always been a wrist-whisperer to fast bowlers. He’s not always been a commentator. He’s not always been a sports news anchor (as he was, briefly, with ESPN-Star in the mid-2000s). He’s not always hawking some product. He’s not always hosting game shows with Shoaib Akhtar. He’s not always introducing his own perfume range. He’s not always on your social-media feeds as a doting father, grateful husband or – a favourite – plain grumpy citizen chiding the public into a greater sense of civic duty.But by not always being one thing all the time he has become, somewhat benignly, omnipresent, his playing days receding in the distance, yet up ahead and not signposted, is the envelope of Akram as the horizon himself. The intensity of the public glare is a little weaker but it has not moved away.
Akram will likely never convince doubters of his innocence, though that funnels into a broader truth about him as a very human, very vulnerable – and so, very relatable – sort of hero
Modern day legacy-building can be quite a cynical exercise too, the mining of memories and nostalgia to trigger our dopamine, the entire idea of turning the human into a brand. Somehow it has not felt so acute with Akram, although no doubt we should be thankful that the surrounding PR machinery required for this is not quite as refined in Pakistan as elsewhere. To some extent, it’s also because he never seems to dwell unduly on his own career, almost as if everything he worked more than half his life towards is only of passing import. In , as in , for example, there’s little forensic recreation of his greatest (or worst) moments on the field, or of bowling itself, mostly cursory recollections.It has always been odd, this side of him – for such an exact and exacting bowler to be so unexacting in recall, to celebrate so little his own greatest feats. It’s endearing in a way that he wears his genius so lightly. Imagine not being fussed about that career? Maybe he understands he doesn’t need to because that is what we’re here for.Alas, legacies are also more hotly contested than ever before. They are no longer the sole preserve of the legator. For instance, one of the motivations behind is to set the record straight as Akram sees it over the match-fixing allegations. In truth, it has never appeared like he was much in need of redemption. He had no bans to fight in court, was not barred from official positions, had no asterisk in front of his records. He’s in both the ICC and PCB halls of fame. Work in cricket has been plentiful for him. And being the inspiration for the PSL logo – while still alive – is solid informal validation of his impact.But clearly, it has gnawed away at him, amplified no doubt by social media. The toll of online trolling and abuse weighs heavy on all of us, but celebrities and public figures are at the sharpest end of it. And to read and hear Akram talk about it now is to also be reminded that in 20 years he has never really spoken about it – presumably out of choice – while everyone else has.5:59
Akram on addiction and recovery: ‘The first step is to admit you have a problem, then rehab can begin’
He hadn’t even read the Qayyum report until he had to when was being written. He is a significant presence through the report, the subject of four specific allegations, second to Salim Malik’s five. He was fined and it was recommended he be removed from the captaincy (though by the time the report was published he had already stepped down). Unsurprisingly, he thinks dimly of the report. This much is true that the Qayyum report is comprehensive in documenting and giving order to the snaking rumours, half-truths and speculation of the time, but is not definitive, hamstrung by its own terms of reference and a fatal lack of hard evidence. Justice Qayyum’s own confession years later that he went soft on Akram did neither of the parties any favours. Ultimately even those who were not heavily sanctioned were left dangling in the perma-hellscape between innocence and guilt.Akram will likely never convince doubters of his innocence, though that funnels into a broader truth about him as a very human, very vulnerable – and so, fairly relatable – sort of hero. More so by contrast to the man he was meant to be succeeding, Imran Khan, whose God complex seems only to have grown since he left the game. Akram has always been more approachable, less prone to taking himself too seriously. If Imran strutted around as if he was Punjabi aristocracy (even when he wasn’t), Akram lolled around with a warmer, earthier Punjabi charm. And it feels relevant to expand briefly that he is charming, rather than a charmer who deliberately uses that charm to manipulate and profit. His friends, he writes, call him – a bumpkin misplaced in the big city – and he doesn’t seem minded to dispute that description.In this light, the revelations about his cocaine addiction, the unsettled early childhood – an openness that is still rare in public figures from South Asia – are a welcome way into him. In some sense the candidness works to ease the burdens of legacy, that it must mean something, that it must be built upon, that it must inspire, that it must emulate and be emulated. Instead, what we are left with is what we have: a 56-year-old man simply coming to terms with the joys and traumas of an extraordinary life.What we also have is the comfort of knowing Akram is still around, which, in a year in which Shane Warne was lost, is not something to undervalue. Life hasn’t yet passed us by to the extent that Akram means nothing. Far from it. But it has passed us by enough so that if you YouTube his finest work – recent enough that we can still understand and appreciate it within the game around us – it hits this sweet spot in the thirst for nostalgia, the quenching of which is as much a part of growing old as reading glasses. It’s sweet refuge, nostalgia, and who doesn’t need refuge these days?
The New Zealand batter took a break to have a child, and now returns to the top level to play her 100th T20I
Andrew McGlashan23-Sep-2020For all the players involved, the Australia-New Zealand women’s series which starts in Brisbane on Saturday is important, bringing international sport back to the country for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic took hold, but for Amy Satterthwaite there will be added significance as she returns to the game after having her first child with wife and team-mate Lea Tahuhu.Grace Marie was born on January 13 and nine months later Satterthwaite will join what remains a select group of sportswomen to return to the top of their field after starting a family. Providing selection goes in her favour, the opening match of the T20I series will also be Satterthwaite’s 100th T20I.”It’s a pretty special story to think I’ve gone away, had a child and my first possible game back will not only be for New Zealand but also be my 100th T20,” Satterthwaite told ESPNcricinfo. “And for Grace to be able to be around and see that, hopefully it will be a special day.”
Grace has been with us on tour and it’s been awesome, think the team has really enjoyed having her around bringing a lot of smiles to faces
While the decision to start a family when playing elite sport was nothing to do with making statements for Satterthwaite, she admitted becoming more aware of what it can stand for and how it can further show that it is no longer an either/or decision.”More people have pointed it out as we’ve gone along and what it means,” she said. “It certainly wasn’t something we set out to do, but you come to realise just the nature of what we are doing, you are setting a bit of trail as people call it.”I’ve played for a while now and I’ve seen people who were playing for New Zealand or Canterbury and they’ve stopped to have a family then not come back. From our point of view, it would be an awesome result to be able to show that people can have a family and still play.”The Covid-world has brought a new set of challenges, especially as Satterthwaite and Tahuhu are at the start of a long stay in Australia with the WBBL for Melbourne Renegades to follow this series. Originally the plan would have been to have family join them to help look after Grace, but quarantine restrictions has meant that isn’t possible so they organised separate nannies, who will be within the biosecure bubbles, for their stays in Brisbane and then Sydney.Amy Satterthwaite sweeps•Getty Images”It threw a bit of a spanner in the works like it did for most people,” Satterthwaite said. “Grace has been with us on tour and it’s been awesome, think the team has really enjoyed having her around bringing a lot of smiles to faces. It’s been a nice distraction while we’ve been in quarantine.”Satterthwaite, who has lost the New Zealand captaincy to Sophie Devine, will resume the role in the WBBL with last year’s Renegades’ skipper, Jess Duffin, having also given birth in June.Both New Zealand Cricket and the Renegades “have been brilliant,” she added. “It takes a lot of stress and pressure off you to able to know that’s all taken care of and that support is there, you and enjoy training and playing.”Satterthwaite returned to training a few months ago in the depths of the New Zealand winter and while she admitted to occasional thoughts about the reality of the challenges the hunger remained.”You start thinking of the road ahead, the fitness that you’ve got involved, you sort of think ‘will I be up for this?’ but for the most part that fire was still in the belly to come back,” she said. “Definitely there was an element of having this new life, and having Grace there I knew it was going to be pretty tough to be able to leave her to train but the more I got into it the more normal it became, that was probably the hardest part leaving her to go and work.
I’ve played for a while now and I’ve seen people who were playing for New Zealand or Canterbury and they’ve stopped to have a family then not come back. From our point of view, it would be an awesome result to be able to show that people can have a family and still play
“That first hit I had with [New Zealand coach] Bob Carter was certainly an interesting one. That feeling of apprehension about whether you’ll be able to hit the ball, but at the same I had low expectations because I hadn’t played cricket for a while. In a roundabout way I was pretty relaxed and it went quite well. After a long break you have that slight nervousness as to whether or not you will really want to come back and for me to enjoy that session reinforced that I was looking forward to it. So that was a nice feeling.”In the three years before her break, from 2016-2019, Satterthwaite had risen to be the No. 1 batter in ODI cricket and she will return to that format in early October still ranked No. 7. In that period she averaged a phenomenal 61.35 and it included four hundreds in consecutive innings which equalled the world record held by Kumar Sangakkara. On the route back she has delved into the archives of that memorable time.”I have certainly had a look at the footage to remind myself of how I played and what worked. When you haven’t played for a while it’s nice to refresh the memory and hopefully take that into when I do get back onto the park, remember the feelings I was having at the time when it was working well. I think too often as cricketers we look at what isn’t going well and it’s very important to look at strengths and what has been successful.”By contrast, her T20I record is less eye-catching with an average of 21.19 and just one half-century in 89 innings. However, she believes her domestic T20 record where she averaged 28.87 in the WBBL and 31.35 in the now defunct Kia Super League is a truer reflect of where her game sits although she continues to strive to expand her batting.”Over the last few years at domestic level my record has certainly been better there than it has been at international level,” she said. “It’s probably taken longer to work out my game in the T20 format where I’ve been relatively comfortable at 50-overs.”In my career I’ve batted in all sorts of positions in T20 and I know trying to score from the get-go has been something I’ve had to work on over the years. When you have the quality of Sophie [Devine] and Suzie [Bates] ahead of you, you have to learn to play your game and not copy how they play.”There are no guarantees for how the comeback will go for Satterthwaite – “the test will be when you get back out into the middle, competing in matches,” she said – but her return is significant beyond just the runs and wickets.
Celtic’s interim manager Martin O’Neill got off to a dream start on Wednesday night with a commanding 4-0 win over Falkirk at Parkhead in front of the home support.
The Hoops had lost their previous two matches in the Scottish Premiership, to Hearts and Dundee, before Brendan Rodgers tendered his resignation from his role on Monday night.
O’Neill and his interim coaching team got a brilliant response out of the first-team player against Falkirk, with Johnny Kenny being one of the stars of the night.
Why Johnny Kenny is undroppable for Celtic
The Ireland U21 international has started the last two Premiership matches after Kelechi Iheanacho suffered a hamstring injury early on in the win over Sturm Graz in the Europa League last week.
Kenny failed to make much of an impact against Hearts on Sunday, but he stepped up with two goals from five shots in 66 minutes on the pitch against Falkirk, per Sofascore.
On top of his goalscoring exploits, converting from close range on two occasions, the Irishman won five of his nine duels and won three fouls for the team, per Sofascore, acting as the focal point in the number nine position.
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With Iheanacho’s injury and Celtic’s lack of depth in the striker position, Kenny’s impressive performance against Falkirk should mean that he is undroppable for the time being.
The former Shamrock Rovers star is not the only Hoops ace who should be considered undroppable after Wednesday night, though, as Marcelo Saracchi was just as good.
Why Marcelo Saracchi should be undroppable already
The Uruguay international was brought in for experienced left-back Kieran Tierney, and barely put a foot wrong throughout the 90 minutes on the pitch.
Despite assisting Celtic’s goal, Tierney had a difficult afternoon against Hearts last time out. He lost three of his four aerial duels and failed to make a single tackle, per Sofascore, which is why the left-back position may not be guaranteed to him.
Saracchi came in against Falkirk on Wednesday and showed the defensive quality that was lacking from Tierney’s performance against Hearts, as he impressed for O’Neill.
Minutes
90
Tackles won
4
Interceptions
1
Ball recoveries
12
Ground duels won
7/11
Aerial duels won
3/3
Key passes
2
Crosses completed
3/6
As you can see in the table above, the Boca Juniors loanee made four more tackles and won 75% more of his aerial duels than Tierney did in his last outing at left-back.
On top of his impressive defensive work, with ten duels won and 12 ball recoveries, Saracchi also created two chances and had two shots on target, one of which was parried out to Benjamin Nygren for the third goal on the night.
It was a brilliant all-round display from the energetic full-back, who showed that he can contribute at both ends of the pitch. He has the bite, tenacity, and patience to provide quality defending, whilst also having the ability on the ball to make things happen in the final third, which is why he was just as good and influential as Kenny.
Saracchi, who earned an 8/10 player rating from 67HailHail, is now undroppable because his performance was one that the Hoops lacked when Tierney was in the XI against Hearts on Sunday, albeit that was away against the league leaders.
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O’Neill, should he still be in charge next time out, should consider the left-footed star an undroppable part of his team, along with Kenny, because of his sublime showing in and out of possession.