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An update has emerged on Rangers and their attempts to bolster their squad at Ibrox in the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

talkSPORT reporter Geoff Peters has revealed that Rangers are one of the clubs in the race to land a talent from south of the border in the market.

Ross Wilson is plotting a swoop for the English attacker and will need to pay up to £3m to bring him to Glasgow in the coming weeks.

Peters Tweeted: “Blackburn’s highly rated Tyrhys Dolan is attracting serious interest north and south of the border. Celtic and Rangers are both keen as are newly promoted Nottingham Forest. The England Under 20 striker has two years left on his #brfc contract. Fee could be around £2m-£3m.”

Ianis Hagi 2.0

By securing a deal to sign Dolan from Rovers, Wilson can land the new Ianis Hagi for the Light Blues in the sense that he is a talented, young, attacking midfielder who can be developed in the coming years

Like the Romanian, he is often deployed out wide on the right but is also capable of playing through the middle. This means that Gio van Bronckhorst can use him in a multitude of ways; playing on the right of a front three, as a number 10, as a striker in a 3-5-2, and in any other ways he can think of to utilise the gem’s talents.

In the 2021/22 campaign, Dolan managed four goals and three assists in 20 starts. This is a solid base for the 20-year-old to build from as he has plenty of room to add consistency to his end product, given that he is at the start of his career.

His former boss Tony Mowbray previously said he is “like a wasp” and lauded his attitude earlier this year, saying: “Tyrhys Dolan is a shining beacon for any kid who’s released from any football club. When he gets left out he works even harder on the training ground. He doesn’t sulk, he just gets to work on the grass.”

This shows that he will put the work in to improve and hone his skills to help him fulfil his potential. He will, therefore, be an investment for the future as he can develop over time and grow in influence on the pitch by scoring and assisting more goals.

The young talent has shown signs of promise in the Championship and can now explode with regular minutes in Scotland. Therefore, much like Hagi – 23 – is, Dolan would be a player van Bronckhorst can work with on the training pitch to turn him into a crucial player for the Gers.

AND in other news, “I’m sure..“: Journo drops big Rangers transfer claim that will frustrate supporters…

A major Sunderland update has emerged regarding their interest in Nathan Broadhead heading into the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Kristjaan Speakman has confirmed that the Wearsiders will be holding talks with the 24-year-old’s parent club Everton with a view to bringing him back for another spell at the Stadium of Light, after spending the 2021/22 campaign on loan from the Premier League outfit.

The Black Cats chief told The Northern Echo: “We will have a conversation with Everton this week, to see where they are at with it and where we are at with it, and see if that’s aligned.

“We have to respect the fact that he is an Everton player. We have seen him as our player for the year, because we had to get the best out of him but now that the season is finished he unfortunately goes back to being an Everton player.”

Alex Neil will be excited

The Sunderland head coach will surely be left feeling excited by these quotes from Speakman, as Broadhead returning next season would be a huge boost for the 40-year-old.

The Welsh attacker was lethal in front of goal in the 2021/22 League One campaign as he produced an eye-catching 10 goals in 15 starts for the club. He averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.91, remaining consistent with his performances whenever he was available during an injury-hit time on Wearside, which illustrates the big impact he had when he was on the pitch.

The youngster has also been backed to step up to the mark in the second tier as Speakman said: “Look, he’s had some incredible moments and he’s been an inspiration in many respects in terms of some of the goals he’s scored. It has been harder for him of late because of injury but you can’t take away from the fact that he has got all the attributes to go and play at Championship level.”

Neil will therefore be excited by the prospect of working with the 24-year-old next season, as he is a talented player with the potential to improve even further. He has the scope to develop into an excellent option for the club in 2022/23, as suggested by Speakman’s comments and his form in League One, and the Sunderland manager would surely enjoy attempting to get the best out of him if the Black Cats can obtain him for another season.

This is why the ex-Norwich and Preston manager will be thrilled by the club’s efforts to bring Broadhead back to the Stadium of Light, and he will now be hoping that a deal can be agreed for the Welshman.

AND in other news, Speakman confirms exciting Sunderland news that will leave supporters delighted…

Leeds United centre-forward Patrick Bamford is attracting increasing interest ahead of the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Daily Mail, who claim that, should the Whites go on to suffer relegation from the Premier League on Sunday, Newcastle United could make a move for the 28-year-old striker in the off-season.

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The report goes on to state that a new centre-forward is Eddie Howe’s priority in the summer transfer window, with it being claimed that the Magpies have a transfer budget of around £60m plus player sales to work with in their hunt for a new frontman.

Unforgivable decision

While Leeds are by no means considering the prospect of playing Championship football next season just yet, should the Whites fail to secure their Premier League status against Brentford on Sunday, the argument that selling Bamford would be an unforgivable decision by Andrea Radrizzani is an easy one to make.

Indeed, the £18m-rated forward proved influential in helping the Whites secure a return to the top flight over his 45 Championship appearances back in 2019/20, scoring 16 goals, registering two assists and creating six big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 3.2 shots and making 0.5 key passes per game.

The £74k-per-week striker then undoubtedly proved his Premier League quality over 38 outings last season, bagging 17 goals, providing seven assists and creating five big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.8 shots and making 0.8 key passes per game.

These returns saw the England international average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.01, ranking him as Marcelo Bielsa’s seventh-best player in the top-flight – with the 28-year-old playing a key role in Leeds securing a top-half finish in the league.

And, with injury having seen the Nottingham Forest academy graduate miss the vast majority of the current campaign, considering Leeds’ current record of 40 goals scored – 22 fewer than they managed last season – it is abundantly clear just how important a part of Jesse Marsch’s side Bamford is.

As such, whether Leeds survive or go down come the final whistle on Sunday, it is clear to see that cashing in on the centre-forward who Sam McGuire dubbed a “goal machine” would be a huge mistake by Radrizzani, as Bamford has proven that he can both fire the Whites up and lead his team to the higher reaches of the Premier League standings.

AND in other news: Leeds now handed handed huge boost ahead of Brentford, Jesse Marsch will be buzzing

Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou is facing a nervous wait regarding the fitness of two of his key men ahead of Tuesday’s mouthwatering Champions League encounter with holders, Real Madrid.

What’s the word?

Speaking after Saturday’s thumping Old Firm derby victory over Rangers (via Glasgow Live), the title-winning coach revealed that both Kyogo Furuhashi and Carl Starfelt will have to be assessed having both been forced off in that 4-0 triumph.

The 56-year-old stated: “We’ll see how it is. It was a shoulder injury [for Kyogo]. Carl had a niggle in his knee. It’s a bit of a blow because Kyogo has been in brilliant form so far this season. We’ll assess them after this.”

The in-form Kyogo was substituted just a matter of minutes into yesterday’s 4-0 win after sustaining a shoulder injury, while teammate Starfelt was replaced by summer signing Mortiz Jenz early in the second half with a knee complaint.

Huge blow for Postecoglou

Postecoglou will no doubt be sweating on the availability of those two impressive figures, as the former Yokohama boss looks to prepare his side for what will be a stern test against the mighty Los Blancos at Parkhead in just a few days’ time.

After a five-year absence from Europe’s premier competition, supporters will no doubt be desperate to see their side put up a real fight against the 14-time champions, as the Hoops look to carry over their sparkling domestic form against the continent’s best.

With six wins from six thus far in the Scottish Premiership for the Glasgow outfit, one man who was been integral to that sensational start to the campaign is Kyogo, with the Japan international having scored six goals in as many games thus far.

The 27-year-old – who arrived in Scotland last summer – had previously netted 12 goals across in just 20 top-flight games during 2021/22 in what was a blistering debut campaign at Celtic Park, despite enduring a lengthy stint out with injury.

Although Giorgos Giakoumakis offers a real quality alternative, Postecoglou and co will no doubt be hoping to have the former Vissel Kobe man leading the line instead, with the 15-cap gem integral to their fluid attacking approach.

As for Starfelt, while there is strength in depth at centre-back with both the aforementioned Jenz and Stephen Welsh in reserve, the Sweden international has been a solid presence in recent times, shaking off a rocky start to form an “immense” partnership with Cameron Carter-Vickers last term – in the words of pundit Chris Sutton.

The former Rubin Kazan man has already been blighted by injury in the early weeks of the season, albeit while having added another string to his bow after scoring twice in the league already this term.

With loanee Jenz still easing his way into life at Celtic, it may well require the more experienced Starfelt to help contend with the likes of Karim Benzema and Vinicius Jr in midweek.

It will prove a sizeable task trying to get a result against Carlo Ancelotti’s imperious outfit, with the potential absence of both the Swede and teammate Kyogo sure to come as a gutting blow for the Greek-Australian manager.

Ian Bell, who last played for England in 2015, proved to be a surprise pick, while Shahid Afridi found a new home and Brendon McCullum was overlooked

Umar Farooq20-Nov-2018If Pakistan’s fourth-innings implosion against New Zealand on Monday was a poor warm-up, the Pakistan Super League 2019 draft lost much of its sheen to the PCB’s case against the BCCI being dismissed by the ICC dispute panel on Tuesday. However, the semblance of attention the draft received, as the glittery ceremony unfolded in Islamabad, came via its most celebrated pick – AB de Villiers – going to Lahore Qalandars, followed by the ‘Sixth Team’, formerly Multan, snapping up the banned Australia batsman Steven Smith.Aside from de Villiers and Smith, the focus was on veterans Shahid Afridi and Misbah-ul-Haq, as both had been released by their former franchises, making it tough for both players to remain relevant. Although Afridi’s chances of recruitment had been slim in the lead-up to the draft, the Sixth Team bought him in the Platinum category – the highest-paid bracket. Misbah reneged on his agreement with Islamabad United as a mentor to make himself available to be picked up Peshawar Zalmi in the Diamond category.The 36-year-old Ian Bell, who last played for England in 2015, proved to be the most surprising pick, by Islamabad United. A prolific season in county cricket was perhaps one of the factors that clinched the deal for Bell. Although thin on T20 experience in England colours, Bell flourished in the format in the last three years, amassing 1551 runs in 50 matches, at an average of 37.83 and a strike rate of 131. He has also played in the Big Bash with Perth Scorchers. ESPNcricinfo understands that Bell was seen as a like-for-like replacement for JP Duminy, given his ability to accumulate runs in a largely risk-free manner, in a team otherwise replete with power-hitters.Until last night, Lahore Qalandars were faced with a difficult choice between de Villiers and Smith – both red-hot picks of the season. They went with de Villiers, but later in the opening Platinum round, also picked Mohammad Hafeez, who was released by Peshawar Zalmi. They have retained spinner Yasir Shah, who was also part of the side through the last three seasons. They bolstered their legspin contingent with the addition of Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane, in the Gold category.The biggest omission from the top five categories was Pakistan batsman Ahmed Shehzad, who is currently serving his doping ban but is set to return to action later this month. He was classified in the Gold category but was overlooked by all teams, before being relegated to the Silver category, where, too, his fate remain unchanged. However, Quetta Gladiators, who released him for the third season, picked him in the supplement category among four extra players.Abdul Razzaq and Imran Nazir, both on a quest to revive their careers, entered the draft but remain unpicked, as were Umar Gul and Salman Butt. The major miss, however, was former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum. Among the younger lot, 20-year-old Ibtisam Sheikh, a legspinner who was originally released by Pesawar Zalmi, made it back to their squad.

His elevation as Test captain is inadvertent, but a successful run could raise Tamim Iqbal’s chances of landing the job permanently

Mohammad Isam in Christchurch19-Jan-2017Over the last eight years, Bangladesh have seen Mashrafe Mortaza, Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim gradually lead the team through a transition period and towards some success. Now for at least one Test, it is time to see what Tamim Iqbal, another pillar of this era, offers as captain.Though his elevation is inadvertent and, in a way, unplanned, it isn’t a bad time to have a first proper look at his captaincy, especially in the context of Bangladesh’s leadership future.There have been constant talks over the last two years about the burden of Mushfiqur’s triple role in the Test side: as captain, wicketkeeper and middle-order mainstay. During the last BCB board meeting in 2016, there were discussions about picking a new Test captain, talks in which Tamim’s name featured prominently.Tamim steps up in Christchurch only because of Mushfiqur’s thumb injury. Mushfiqur’s 159 in the first innings in Wellington and the subsequent 80-minute bouncer barrage he underwent in the second enhanced his reputation as a batsman, but question marks remain over his captaincy.For two years after he took over from Shakib in mid-2011, Mushfiqur enjoyed a fruitful reign, except for the resignation midway through the 2013 tour of Zimbabwe. But much of Bangladesh’s decline in 2014 was attributed to his reactionary leadership, which led to the BCB splitting the captaincy for the first time in September that year.Mushfiqur continued to be the Test captain, though concerns remained, particularly after the Dhaka Test loss against Pakistan in 2015. Rained-out draws against India and South Africa kept him going but when they next played Tests, against England at home in October 2016, doubts returned.When England raced to 100 for no loss at tea, chasing 273 in Dhaka, coach Chandika Hathurusingha apparently asked the senior players during the break to step up. In the final session, during which Bangladesh clinched the game by taking all ten England wickets for just 64, it was Tamim who took a more active role in directing field placements for Shakib and Mehedi Hasan.Hathurusingha, Mushfiqur and Tamim have played that down in subsequent interviews, but as a window into the potential thinking of the team management, the development was hard to miss.Tamim Iqbal has been a key member of Bangladesh’s think tank over the years•BCBTamim was appointed Test deputy during the leadership shake-up in September 2014, in which Shakib was made Mashrafe’s deputy in the limited-overs formats. Currently, Tamim is Bangladesh’s highest run-getter in each of the three formats, and is one of only two batsmen from the country to have a 40-plus average after 45 Tests – the other being Shakib.There will be preferences among fans, but Tamim’s impact and numbers give him a strong claim to being the team’s best batsman. How he will fare as captain is difficult to predict. On Thursday he said that his captaincy will draw from the same well of positivity as his batsmanship.”I am the sort of individual who likes to take challenges,” Tamim said. “My type of captaincy will look fantastic when my plans are working but it can also go the other way. It is very new for me in international cricket, which makes it a learning curve for me. I am an attacking batsman so I will try to be as positive a captain as I can.”When you take over as captain in the middle of a game, you can’t put in your own plans or organise things. When you know that you will captain the next match, it does become easier. I will need support from everyone in the team, and walk in the same path. It will make everyone’s job easier in that way.”With Mushfiqur’s thumb injury likely to keep him out of the one-off Test in India as well, Tamim’s audition for the captaincy will stretch a little longer. A successful run, even in this short period, could improve his chances of landing the job permanently. He has the experience and credentials as a player. Since the 2015 World Cup, he has become more mature on and off the field, coming out of a number of difficult situations with lessons well learned.Now, in Christchurch he has his first chance to express himself as a captain and leader.

In his new role, at No.4, he wants to shape an innings, rather than finish it. Those intentions cannot be faulted, but the knock on effect is that Ajinkya Rahane is left in the cold

Alagappan Muthu in Kanpur10-Oct-2015People have looked up to MS Dhoni the finisher for a long time. Commentators marvel at how calm he can be, and fans feel secure of India’s chances so long as their captain is in the middle. Since 2004, which amounts to 226 out of 265 matches, they have seen Dhoni walk out at No. 5 or lower, absorb the pressure and deliver the best he could for the team. That’s 121 victories, wherein he has three centuries and an average of 63.54Those figures are admirable considering there are enough times a lower-middle order batsman has to either contend with his team at 50 for 3 and wanting stable ground, or 150 for 3 and wanting lift-off. Two drastically different roles, no letup in responsibility, and you don’t even play a part in picking the straw you end up with.Dhoni has managed quite well in the face of this uncertainty, but doing so has taken a toll. His form has dipped to such an extent that there is fear he might become a liability. His power game has waned. So has his range because he does not play those unorthodox swipes as much anymore. A yorker to Dhoni now has become a dot ball.The fear that he could launch the next one into orbit remains, but lately the frequency has dipped. Dhoni has only seven sixes in 2015 – his lowest in a year that he has played at least 10 ODIs. Perhaps that is a choice. He has spoken a lot about how India lacking a solid No. 7 has shaped the way he plays recently. It is noticeable that he delays his charge a lot more than usual. But when the time comes, switching gears has been difficult. Then the pressure on him gets a lot sharper. He feels the team will suffer without him at the crease, so he grits his teeth and bats on, striking at 80 rather than 180.Now Dhoni does not want so much on his plate. He does not want to come in the middle of a floundering innings and pick up the pieces. He wants to bat at No. 4 shape it. Those intentions cannot be faulted but a knock on effect is that Ajinkya Rahane, arguably one of the first players who would make an Indian Test XI, cannot find space because he is not a smasher of the ball.But with a batting order that has a reasonably optimal spread of power players – Rohit at the top, almost seamlessly Virat Kohli at one drop, then Suresh Raina and Dhoni himself down the order – can’t India persist with a player with Rahane’s ability at No. 4?”Even to some extent four is quite low for him,” Dhoni said. “I’ve always felt he is somebody who should bat up the order. Opening is the slot that fits him really well. Also, it’s slightly different for us. If you see first-class cricket for example, Rohit [Sharma] bats at No. 4 or No. 3 or No. 5, but over here he opens for us. Also if you see [India’s] history, there have been a lot of individuals who have done that. Our openers, more often than not, bat in the middle order in first-class cricket.”Its slightly difficult for him as of now. Especially if I am looking for somebody to bat at [Nos.] 5, 6 or 7. I don’t think he is the person to bat at that number. If given the chance, we will feature him in the top three, but if not it might be difficult to have him feature.”

“It’s slightly difficult for Rahane as of now. Especially if I am looking for somebody to bat at [Nos.] 5, 6 or 7. I don’t think he is the person to bat at that number”MS Dhoni

Dhoni’s game has changed, as it often does towards the end of one’s career. He is 35 years old. It is unlikely he will be part of the next 50-over World Cup and, considering his preference to have players well aware of their roles well before an ICC tournament, he must want someone else to take over as the new finisher while he is around to groom them.Peering two overs into the future and managing the present accordingly. Which of the opposition bowlers are the most threatening? Who has the overs left? And most importantly, who is the weak link? Right now, India believe Rahane needs to build a head of steam before getting into this mode.”Batting down, especially at [Nos.] 5, 6 and 7, he faces more difficulty,” Dhoni said. “We have seen that he is more flamboyant or more free when he bats up the order with a bit of field restrictions. Once he gets a good start he can capitalise in the middle overs.”So the likely choice for this role will be Raina. Oddly enough, Raina was among those talked about as a potential No. 4 too. But with over 200 ODIs’ experience, a good range of strokes and the knack for wedging the ball into gaps, he leads the candidate list for the next Indian finisher.It seems Dhoni is set on this course and if he believes it is the right one, as much as he has had to believe a scoreline of 50 for 3 can be rectified, it’ll take a pretty tough curveball to strike him out of it.

Ian Butler talks about his highs and lows, the thrill of playing at Otago, and the biggest dressing-room joker he’s seen

Interview by Jack Wilson30-Mar-2014You were told ten years ago you would never bowl again. It looks like they got that one wrong, doesn’t it?
It just shows that what is the medically “normal” diagnosis of an injury can be worked through. Maybe my back wasn’t in a great shape but over the last few years it hasn’t got any worse – and I know how to manage it.When you came into the New Zealand side you were replacing Shane Bond, one of the country’s greatest bowlers. How difficult was it to fill his shoes at such a young age?
In no way did I ever fill them. He was a superb bowler and was one of the players I aspired to emulate. The biggest issue was learning for my first few years of cricket at the international level. I had played two List A games and three first-class games when I was picked. I had no idea about how to play any form of cricket. I didn’t know my game and to say I was very fresh was an understatement.In a way, I’m glad NZC has built such depth as the youngsters now hopefully will get two or three years to learn how to bowl through playing. Only by learning from different experiences at first-class level can you build a game that will withstand international cricket.How close were you – or are you – to walking away from New Zealand to play county cricket over in England?
That’s something I have to consider. We have such depth now that maybe it’s an option, a fresh challenge that can sometimes stimulate that never-ending search to be the best you can be. In the early days it wasn’t even something that crossed my mind as you always dream of representing your country against the best in the world.What would be the toughest thing about doing that?
Leaving the culture we have got at Otago cricket. They are great people throughout, from the players to the staff.Your New Zealand debut came in 2002 – and your last game was last year. Were there times during that 11-year period when you wondered if you’d ever play again?
Lots. The doubts are part of any sport. My way through that is to focus on the steps. You must prove your worth to get picked at provincial level, and with the wickets we play on in New Zealand and the boundary sizes, it’s a tough game as a bowler. In a way, now you can relax. If you do the job and contribute to a successful team on and off the field then you give yourself a chance of higher honours.How do you see your international future now?
No one ever gives up. Before the hiccup this summer I was in the ODI and T20 side, but with the emergence of so many quality allrounders and seamers, I’m probably behind the eight ball. I can’t control the players in front of me so I just focus on what I can do to help Otago win games.Pick the highlight of your career so far.
The Test series win in West Indies with Bondy and [Daryl] Tuffey was pretty special. Also, the Volts’ 16-game T20 winning streak through our domestic competition and into the Champions League was amazing to be a part of. They are a great bunch of guys with so much talent and belief. We managed to win games from positions we shouldn’t have.You have played Tests, ODIs, T20s and four-day cricket. What form of the game do you enjoy most?
I would say Tests. Sadly I played too early to have a good record, and got injured just as I started to understand my game – but it’s the pinnacle and what the best are remembered by.Who is the best coach you have ever worked under?
Mike Hesson and John Bracewell were two that stood out to me. Sadly Braces had me as a young tearaway and probably tore his hair out! The strength of both of them was man-management. Coaching at the elite level isn’t so much technical, it’s about working out how 15 different players need to be treated to maximise performance. Hess outlined my roles well and gave me confidence to play them without fear. Bowling at the death and batting in clutch situations in limited-overs games requires that.And who is the best captain you have played under?
Baz [Brendon McCullum] is awesome for his aggression and no fear. He always wants you to take the foot-forward option and if you back your plan he will too. I also enjoyed Dan’s [Daniel Vettori] captaincy. He has a great cricket brain and didn’t say much. When he did it was always spot on.Who has been the biggest dressing-room joker you’ve played with?
Chris Harris. What a legend. There was never a boring second with him around. He’d always be trying to kick some object a metre above eye level. One moment of hilarity that sticks was him in India throwing biscuits up into the circulating fan blades. The changing room was covered in biscuit particles. Harry thought this was great fun until he was told to clean it all up.And who has had the worst banter in any dressing room you’ve been in?
Scott Styris. He’s a constant chatterer about cricket trivia questions that he is the answer to.What would you rather do: be hit by six Brett Lee bouncers or to be dump-tackled by Richie McCaw?
Neither appeal, really. I’ll go with the tackle and hope the ground is soft.Which of your team-mates past or present is the best fun on a night out?
Daryl Tuffey. He’s the world’s best player of the coin-game Spoof. Aaron Redmond has an obsession with anyone owning a snapback cap. Maybe it’s to cover the hint of a comb-over.Who would be the last at the bar to get a round in?
Scott Styris. He’s the clear winner.

New Zealand did not put up much resistance against South Africa, but there was still a job to do and Dale Steyn performed it in some style

Firdose Moonda15-Jan-2013That Dale Steyn still deserves to be called the best bowler in the world was evident during New Zealand’s first innings in the Port Elizabeth Test. That he is still Graeme Smith’s go-to man was obvious as well.Steyn has been a priceless performer for many years, but with Test matches and series often rolling into each other there has not always been time to reflect on his achievements.In this series, Steyn claimed his 300th wicket in his 61st Test. At his current rate of five wickets a Test, he could become the joint-fastest seamer to 400 and 500 scalps and second fastest on the overall list, behind Muttiah Muralitharan.At St George’s Park, the same place that he made his debut, Steyn his took his 19th Test five-for to put him second on the list of South African five-wicket haulers, one behind Allan Donald. It speaks of his consistency to make breakthroughs and increase his intent when it is needed but also of his individual quest for success.Steyn clearly wants more, regarding this as just another milestone on the road of the “many more Tests,” he hopes to play. Ask him what the 19th haul means and he has a prudent way of comparing himself to another player in the South Africa XI whose hunger for achievement appears to know no bounds. “It means I am on level terms with Hashim Amla’s hundreds,” Steyn said.Amla and Steyn’s 19th both came in the same match and while Steyn continues to sit atop the bowling charts, Amla is not far behind in batting stakes. The latest ICC rankings have him in second position and he has the opportunity overtake Michael Clarke in the upcoming series against Pakistan.That would give South Africa the world’s best batsman and bowler to add to their status as the No.1 ranked Test side and it is that sort of unit Steyn is savouring being part of. “Everybody just plays their part in this team,” he said. Steyn’s part contributes heavily to South African success and he was willing to indulge in a few moments of self-reflection as he looked back on his proudest moments so far.Steyn could point out two five-fors which meant the most to him in his nine-year career. Interestingly, neither were at home or in helpful conditions.”There was one in the West Indies in 2010 in the first Test,” he remembered. “I was coming around the wicket and the ball was reversing. They had a couple of left handers and guys were leaving the ball and I got a few wickets. I thought to myself then I don’t think I couldn’t have bowled any better and everything just worked out perfectly.”Steyn’s 5 for 29 included four left handers: Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Suliemen Benn and Ravi Rampaul. He made the crucial breakthrough when Chanderpaul was going about a repair job and then nipped out the tail with three wickets in two overs.

Sometimes you’re up for it, sometimes the body doesn’t quite agree. I’ve been fortunate that in this match the body has said yes. I was also able to make the ball swing and Vernon wasn’t so there was more for the takingDale Steyn on knowing when to push himself

“And then there was Nagpur where I got seven. Just getting somebody like Sachin Tendulkar… but also I got the ball to swing both ways that day on a really flat deck,” he said. That performance won Steyn ESPNcricinfo’s award for the best Test bowling performance of 2010. Again, he was hostile to the lower order and plucked five wickets in four overs to finish with 7 for 61.Even against New Zealand, Steyn went hard at their tail and seems to have made a habit of returning to sweep lower orders away quickly although he said it has not been intentional. “I try to run in and bowl quick every time and I don’t really pick and choose who to run in and bowl quick to, it just sort of happens.”Sometimes you’re up for it, sometimes the body doesn’t quite agree. I’ve been fortunate that in this match the body has said yes. I was also able to make the ball swing and Vernon wasn’t so there was more for the taking,” he joked. “But the back end batters; you’re not expecting them to go out there and score heaps of runs so it’s good to get over with fast.”Steyn also has the advantage of being able to bowl in short bursts with maximum effort while his team-mates do the donkey work. Over the years Graeme Smith has learnt how to read Steyn better and to bring him on when the angry eyes start flashing.”It’s about understanding him tactically,” Smith said. “Once the batsman shows him something and gives him a little opening, he has a wonderful ability to drive it home. When he is steaming in at 145kph and swinging it, it’s great to be in the slips and be a part of that. It’s not so great when we have to face him in the nets.”His aggression is what Smith said “lifts the whole team,” but what motivates Steyn himself? Knowing that he can meet the challenge of performing where it will be tough.”Those two five-fors that stand out most for me even though there have been big games like against Australia in Melbourne in 2008 when I picked up ten because those two were completely different,” he said. “Melbourne was always going to offer something like a little bit of bounce. But when you are playing in places like West Indies where there is not a lot of bounce and in India and subcontinent; it’s more memorable.”Those who appreciate the combination of swing and pace will hope there are many more memories to be made.

Two books on have created a light industry. The shelves are full of books by and about the imperishable Johnners. We have been taken countless times behind the scenes at , most recently by Peter Baxter. The programme even, for a while, created its own travelling roadshow. But while these two new books are both diverting and highly readable, the former reminds us of the danger of falling into the self-mythologising trap; of believing it is somehow bigger than the game it is there to celebrate.Jonathan Agnew’s book is a curious hybrid: a heartfelt tribute to the author’s friend and mentor,Brian Johnston, but also a ball-by- ball account of Agnew’s own transformation from Leicestershire paceman to frontman. On both subjects it has many interesting things to say. Agnew faithfully recalls BJ’s love of pranks, and verbal mischief (at one point the Pakistan fast bowler Asif Mahood Spoonerishly became “Massive Arsehood”) while noting his reluctance ever to talk about his wartime heroism. When it comes to his own career, Agnew rather poignantly says that he played for England when he probably shouldn’t have and didn’t play when he probably should have.For all its split purpose, I enjoyed Agnew’s book; and it is fascinating to get a glimpse of the occasional tension behind the bubbly bonhomie of dinner erupted in chaos with a fierce row between Fred Trueman and Micky Stewart and when Pat Murphy’s refusal to toast the Queen nearly prompted Johnston’s resignation.Harmony was quickly restored and soon settled down again. But Agnew unwittingly puts his finger on the problem facing it today when he writes: ” rather than the other way round. In an extraordinary passage Agnew attacks UDRS (Umpire Decision Review System) on the grounds that “it kills the commentary stone dead”. I’d have thought it’s more important that on-field errors should be rectified than that commentators should have to suffer momentary inconvenience. As a personal tribute to Johnston, Agnew’s book is admirable; but it also illustrates, with no fewer than 18 pages on the well-documented “leg-over” joke, the danger of , a memo went round saying, “Under no circumstances must the BBC Television Centre be used for the purposes of entertainment”. One or two of the interviews fall flat when read: John Paul Getty Jr simply emerges as a loyal fan and even Agnew’s encounter with Lily Allen, which caused a stir at the time, is not that remarkable on the page. But the bulk of the interviews are richly revealing. Henry Blofeld proves totally at ease with Dennis Skinner who is rightly impassioned about the sale of school cricket fields, Agnew gets Stephen Fry to talk eloquently about the links between cricket and the English language and, best of all, the underrated Simon Mann relishes an abrasive encounter with Piers Morgan who tests to the limit the theory that cricket lovers are invariably nice people; in fact, reading that interview I was reminded of Fry’s wicked definition of “countryside” as “killing Piers Morgan”. But the joy of Baxter’s book is that it communicates a love of cricket and shows why, whatever its flaws, we still need .Thanks Johnners
by Jonathan Agnew
Blue Door (hardback)
244pp, £20

The Best Views from the Boundary
by Compiled by Peter Baxter
Corinthian Books (hardback)
312pp, £14.99