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FSG have been unusually trigger-happy in the summer transfer market, but Liverpool’s owners are actually just conducting themselves with well-considered ambition.

This is no scattergun spending approach from the Reds, who won the Premier League last season after spending virtually nothing after Jurgen Klopp closed his illustrious chapter at Anfield.

Arne Slot rewarded this city for their patience and acceptance by winning the club their record-equalling 20th league title, and now he has been repaid with sweeping changes across the summer, setting up the foundations of a sustained period of success.

However, while there have been some incredible signings, and while the Anfield side still chase Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, several stars have ventured away for new challenges.

Luis Diaz is one such player.

Why Liverpool sold Luis Diaz

Though Diaz’s Liverpool career has its ebbs and flows, there’s no denying his electric-paced, mazy-dribbling game added much to Klopp and then Slot’s projects.

But the 28-year-old has signed for Bayern Munich for £65.5m this summer despite having two years left on his contract. Common ground could not be found between Liverpool and the Colombian, and so he goes for pastures new.

The fact Liverpool attempted to extend Diaz’s contract highlights the desire to keep him on board, but terms could not be agreed upon.

There’s been a lot of change at Liverpool this summer, and the South American’s stability and consistency could have been a real helper as Slot looks to repeat a trick.

Alas, he’s been sold, but FSG cannot allow the same to happen with Ibrahima Konate, whose footballing future is very much uncertain.

Liverpool must keep Ibrahima Konate

Liverpool signed Konate from RB Leipzig four years ago, in May 2021, paying his £36m release clause to reel him over to Merseyside.

Injuries have been a common and frustrating theme for the Frenchman through his Premier League career, but there’s no question that he’s from the top drawer, hailed by analyst Josh Williams as a “monster at covering ground and dealing with one vs one situations.”

How curious that Konate’s most fruitful season in the Premier League should align with Liverpool’s one title triumph across his time in England.

Ibrahima Konate – Premier League Career by Season

#

Apps (starts)

Goals

Assists

Clean Sheets

24/25

31 (30)

1

2

11

23/24

22 (17)

–

–

5

22/23

18 (17)

–

–

7

21/22

11 (11)

–

–

4

Data via Sofascore

And now, aged 26, the France international is approaching the prime of his career at a time when Virgil van Dijk stands on the autumn of his own period at the top.

He’s now featured 132 times for Liverpool, and the recent season of relatively few injury blows bespeak his athletic maturity, something that Slot has managed to raise across the board.

Having entered the final year of his £70k-per-week contract, alarm bells are surely ringing in the FSG offices, especially when the likes of Fabrizio Romano reported way back in October 2024 that negotiations over a renewal were going smoothly.

Things are uncertain at present. This wasn’t supposed to be the case. What has caused such drastic change in the intervening period? Real Madrid, of course, who want to link him back up with Trent Alexander-Arnold as the Xabi Alonso era shapes up.

According to Spanish outlet Defensa Central, Florentino Perez hopes to emulate his club’s deal for Trent by landing Konate on a free transfer in 2026, but a fast-track of plans isn’t out of the question, with Liverpool said to be open to cashing in this summer for a €55m (about £47m) fee.

This cannot come to pass. In fact, Liverpool would find that they would suffer a bigger blow than losing Diaz, were they to part with Konate now.

Though the imposing Frenchman is partnered with Van Dijk, the skipper won’t be around forever, and Liverpool’s decision to have sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen for £35m earlier in the window only highlights the desperate need for change.

Marc Guehi is wanted on Merseyside, actually in his final year at Crystal Palace. The England international is in a similar boat to Konate, but there’s surely a future at Liverpool where the two centre-backs cohabit, for there is a dearth of depth at the rearguard in Slot’s team despite the heavy spending over the past few months.

There’s also no telling whether Guehi would manage to rise to the occasion and play with the steely gusto of Konate, who completed 90% of his passes and won 71% of his aerial battles in the Premier League last year, as per Sofascore.

Given that the 6 foot Guehi’s aerial dominance is a weakness, replacing Konate with him ahead of Van Dijk’s swansong might be to the detriment of Liverpool’s aerial strength (Guehi won just 54% of his aerial battles last season).

Liverpool’s second-best central defender has been a terrific servant, and when considering that he earns comparatively little at £70k per week, it’s understandable that he should be expecting to be paid his dues, especially when Van Dijk pockets way more at £400k per week.

Ultimately, Liverpool know that they need to throw the kitchen sink at getting the Les Bleus talent’s new deal over the line, for losing him could be a blow that rocks the boat too hard, unlike that of Diaz, with the overload of attacking signings likely to offset his departure.

Related It’s bad news for Rio: Liverpool discuss move for "electric" £43m Diaz heir

Liverpool will now get ready to sign a winger after Luis Diaz signed for Bayern Munich.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Jul 31, 2025

Saqib Mahmood put two years of injury hell behind him at Lord’s, winning the Hundred final for Oval Invincibles with a devastating spell of reverse-swing. With Southern Brave’s chase of 148 in the balance, Mahmood removed Leus du Plooy, Kieron Pollard and Laurie Evans to take 3 for 1 in seven balls, a timely reminder of his talents on the biggest stage in English domestic cricket.It meant the Hundred’s best team won their second successive title, as the Invincibles’ men of 2023-24 matched their women’s achievement of 2021-22 by retaining the trophy. That they had retained Mahmood despite him missing consecutive seasons with back stress fractures confirmed their success in building the clearest identity of any side in the men’s competition.They have not quite lived up to their moniker, but the Invincibles have lost only three games across the last two seasons. Sam Billings and Tom Moody, their captain and coach, have built their team around three allrounders – Will Jacks and the Curran brothers – in the top seven, giving them unrivalled balance.”Saqib Mahmood came and changed the game with that set of 10. That was a turning point,” Billings said. “It’s been a real team effort throughout, probably even better than last year… Your career goes past very quickly and these are the nights to really remember and cherish, as a group of mates as much as colleagues. Winning trophies is what it’s all about.”

Mahmood’s England reminder

The Invincibles can boast the Hundred’s most prolific spin attack, with 34 wickets between them this season after Adam Zampa, Nathan Sowter and Jacks snared four more in Sunday’s final, in front of a full house at Lord’s.Zampa made a crucial breakthrough in his second set of five, bowling Alex Davies with a googly for 35 off 23 following a bright start in the Powerplay. Having himself set the game up for the Invincibles with 37 off 22 balls, Jacks then roared in celebration after dismissing the season’s leading run-scorer in James Vince, bowled looking to hack leg-side.Will Jacks claimed the wicket of James Vince•Getty Images

But after Evans tucked into Zampa, slog-sweeping consecutive balls for four and six, the Brave needed a manageable 53 off 30 with seven wickets in hand. Du Plooy launched Mahmood past Dawid Malan’s sprawling dive at extra cover, but backed away to the following ball and lost his leg stump as Mahmood went full and straight.Mahmood had the old ball moving both ways and stayed on for a second consecutive set of five from the Nursery End after three dots to Pollard. Fresh from a breather at the strategic timeout, Mahmood went full and straight to smash Pollard on the knee roll, then had Evans chipping to short cover to leave the chase in disarray.With Australia touring in September for three T20Is and five ODIs, Mahmood’s impact will have nudged England’s selectors. He has not played international cricket since March 2023 and would not have featured in Sunday’s final if Spencer Johnson had been fit, but looked back towards his brilliant best.Chris Jordan, fresh from a match-winning hand in the ‘Super Five’ which decided Saturday’s eliminator, was the Brave’s final hope. When Zampa, the season’s joint-highest wicket-taker with 19, cleaned him up third-ball, the Invincibles’ name was on the trophy once again.Jordan Cox kept Oval Invincibles pressing towards a big total•Getty Images

Jacks sets Invincibles up

The Invincibles recovered from 34 for 5 during their comeback win over Manchester Originals in last year’s final, but made a serene start this time around thanks to Jacks. He raced to 31 off 14 balls with early sixes off Jofra Archer, Craig Overton and Akeal Hosein, and was then given a reprieve when Pollard dropped a straightforward chance at long-on.Archer, playing at Lord’s for the first time since his Test debut during the 2019 Ashes, looked sharp with the new ball, with Jacks top-edging a short ball into his helmet. He had Malan caught at deep midwicket for 7 and Tymal Mills removed his opening partner Jacks seven balls later for 37, his full toss slipping under the bat and crashing into middle and off stumps.Sam Curran and Jordan Cox added 46 for the third wicket, but Hosein then sparked a mini-collapse during a set of 10 consecutive balls delivered from different ends. Curran skied to cover, Billings played around a straight one, and Donovan Ferreira holed out to Pollard on the long-on boundary. When Cox top-edged Mills’ short ball through to Alex Davies, the Invincibles had lost 4 for 9.Tom Curran, the star of their 2023 triumph, crashed 24 off 11 balls to keep the innings moving – including one outrageous punch for six over extra cover off Archer – before falling to an excellent catch from James Coles at deep square leg, and Tom Lammonby added 16 from No. 8 in only his third innings of the season. Their 147 looked just above par – and so it proved.

Chelsea are trimming their bloated squad right now after sealing around £140 million worth of summer signings thus far, and it is believed that another player is set to join Noni Madueke out of the exit door.

Chelsea defender spotted at club's training ground amid talks to leave

The Club World Cup finalists could soon wave goodbye to him.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 10, 2025

While BlueCo are poised to bank a significant financial windfall after Chelsea reached the Club World Cup final, estimated to be around £80 million, which could rise to around £88 million if they win the tournament on Sunday, there is still a glaring need to sell players.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

Their recent UEFA fine for breaking FFP rules comes as a stern warning to the Stamford Bridge hierarchy when it comes to Europe’s financial regulations, even if they’re thought to be within the PSR threshold right now.

There are also many unwanted players on Chelsea’s books right now who are draining the wage bill, not least high earners like Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka – with the trio earning a combined £625,000-per-week.

Lesley Ugochukwu, João Félix, Renato Veiga, Christopher Nkunku, David Datro Fofana, Armando Broja, Axel Disasi and Djordje Petrovic could also depart west London this summer after falling way down Enzo Maresca’s pecking order.

However, while there is still work to be done on selling the aforementioned men, Chelsea have made real headway in their attempts to sell a few others.

Young left-back Ishe Samuels-Smith is thought to be closing in on a permanent move to Strasbourg, and was spotted at their training ground on Wednesday (L’Equipe).

In a much more high-profile departure, Chelsea have agreed another deal with Arsenal to sell Madueke, with Maresca’s side set to bank north of £50 million, including add-ons, for the England international after accelerated talks.

Madueke is set to become the latest in a long line of deals between the London clubs, after Kepa Arrizabalaga also completed a switch to the Emirates earlier this window.

Chelsea agree permanent sale of Mathis Amougou to Strasbourg

Chelsea have been very busy with outgoings in the last few days, as it is now also believed that January signing Mathis Amougou is set to join sister club Strasbourg permanently too.

Alongside Madueke, the 19-year-old will depart Cobham indefinitely, but reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano says this was the preferred outcome rather than using up another allocated loan spot.

Chelsea included a buy-back clause in Amougou’s transfer to France, and documents surrounding the deal are described as “all signed”.

The teenager, who’s been likened to Chelsea star Moises Caicedo, played just 22 minutes in total for the Blues before his move back to Ligue 1.

The competition for places in Maresca’s first team meant that Amougou never quite got a chance to showcase his best, with Football Analyst Ben Mattinson previously calling him a “machine”.

He could yet follow a similar trajectory to Andrey Santos at Strasbourg, and if Amougou impresses in similar fashion, don’t be surprised to see him back in the English capital eventually.

It’s a good time to be a Liverpool fan. Here’s why.

Liverpool have just won the Premier League, in case you missed it, in the first season since Jurgen Klopp called it a day. FSG were ruled in the court of public opinion to have an impossible task on their hands, and few felt threatened when Feyenoord boss Arne Slot was appointed the iconic German’s successor.

But Slot is now champion of England, and he’s certainly being rewarded for his triumph in the summer transfer market.

Last week, Liverpool announced the signing of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, having already raided the German side for Jeremie Frimpong.

Wirtz is one of the brightest number tens in world football, and his £100m fixed fee may rise to a British-record £116m.

Now, Milos Kerkez has alighted in Merseyside as he completes the finer details of his move to Anfield. The Bournemouth left-back will sign in a move worth £40m. He is touted as Andy Robertson’s successor.

The young Hungarian has leapt at the chance to sign for Slot’s Reds, but what is it about his take on the full-back game that has prompted FSG to barrel ahead and make him the most expensive wide defender in Liverpool’s history?

Why Liverpool have signed Milos Kerkez

Robertson is a legend, but there’s no question he’s been on the decline. The 31-year-old is being targeted by Atletico Madrid, and Kerkez, a decade his junior, is the perfect heir.

While Kerkez, 21, has only been in the English football for two years, he came into his own under Andoni Iraola’s wing last season, starting all 38 of Bournemouth’s top-flight fixtures, scoring twice and laying on five assists.

Athletic, energetic and unrelentingly intense, he’s the real deal, having also been coveted by Manchester City and Real Madrid. Liverpool were always a step ahead, and he’ll help take this wonderful team to the next level.

In a way, Slot has hit the jackpot with the squad he inherited, but we must not forget that Liverpool had gone four years without tasting the Premier League, and he fuelled the fire that hadn’t proved quite enough over the past several seasons.

He deserves a squad fashioned in his vision, and Kerkez fits the bill. However, Liverpool still need a centre-back, and sporting director Richard Hughes has just the player in mind.

Liverpool prepare bid for new defender

According to French journalist Sébastien Vidal, Liverpool are set to table their opening bid for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi “at the end of the week”, news which follows Fabrizio Romano’s confirmation that FSG are indeed keen after agreeing to sell Jarell Quansah to Leverkusen.

It emerged several days ago that the Merseysiders have a long-term interest in the England international, who is out of contract in one year.

They would be willing to pay £30m, but this is not expected to convince the Eagles to part ways.

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However, Guehi, who is 24, has just helped Palace to glory in the FA Cup and wants assurances over his playing time, with Arsenal, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur also considered suitors.

How Marc Guehi and Milos Kerkez could work in tandem

Guehi always had some degree of elite potential, having risen through the ranks at Chelsea’s Cobham academy before being sold to Palace for £18m in 2021 after two impressive loan spells with Swansea City in the Championship.

Now, he’s “England’s best centre-back” to some, and the online analyst who made that claim could certainly draw on data to substantiate his claim.

Indeed, Guehi won the FA Cup last year but has produced consistently quality performances over a series of years to attract Gareth Southgate’s attention, having featured prominently at Euro 2024, and now Thomas Tuchel’s too.

Solid as an ox and deceptively elegant on the ball, Guehi has the perfect style for ‘Slotball’, protecting Alisson Becker’s goal while subscribing to the ball-playing focus the coach expects.

It’s definitely a stylistic approach that could see him thrive with Kerkez, who has already proven himself invaluable alongside a ball-playing defender in Dean Huijsen, who Liverpool wanted before he signed for Real Madrid for £50m earlier this summer.

Guehi, as it goes, was recorded by data-focused site FBref to be one of the rising Spaniard’s most comparable players in the Premier League last season, ranked as he was among the top 11% of positional peers for goal involvements, the top 9% for through balls, and the top 21% for ball recoveries per 90.

It hasn’t just been a flash in the pan, though, with Guehi also standing out under Roy Hodgson’s wizened wing, injuries limiting his game in 2023/24 when Oliver Glasner first took the helm.

Marc Guehi in the Premier League

Stats (* per game)

23/24

24/25

Matches (starts)

25 (23)

34 (34)

Goals

0

3

Assists

1

2

Touches*

61.6

64.9

Pass completion

87%

84%

Key passes*

0.3

0.5

Ball recoveries*

4.8

4.3

Dribbles*

0.3

0.4

Tackles + interceptions*

1.8

2.6

Clearances*

3.5

4.6

Duels (won)*

3.6 (60%)

4.9 (59%)

Data via Sofascore

He’s a top player, praised for his “incredible” footballing ability by teammate Eberechi Eze, and with a clear emphasis on progressing play through dribbling upfield or picking out calculated forward passes, Kerkez could find the dream long-term partner on the left side of defence.

Of course, Virgil van Dijk holds down the fort rather well in that area, but the skipper turns 34 next month as he entered the penultimate year of his Liverpool career, and, as analyst Ben Mattinson so neatly puts it, he’s “one of those versatile CB’s who can play both sides equally as comfortably.”

With such striking completeness and a blooming title-winning taste, Guehi would be a worthy addition to the Liverpool cause and the perfect left-sided partner for Kerkez to go from strength to strength under Slot’s watchful guidance.

Related The next Torres: Liverpool preparing huge bid to sign "frightening" striker

Liverpool aren’t messing around in the transfer market this summer.

Posts 1 ByAngus Sinclair Jun 23, 2025

Crystal Palace have enjoyed a fantastic campaign under Oliver Glasner and now look set to put some of their new-found appeal to use in the transfer market.

Crystal Palace set to build on wonderful campaign

After defying the odds to record a remarkable FA Cup triumph, Crystal Palace now have the feather in their cap of being Europa League participants next term, which is bound to attract prospective recruits.

Glasner has made quite an impact since walking through the doors of Selhurst Park and has re-affirmed his commitment to the Eagles despite his prowess in the dugout not going unnoticed.

He stated: “I have one more year left, and now we are speaking about next season. Everything that happens after July 1 2026 we don’t talk about this at the moment. It is too far away.

“We are talking about this year, and that is why I am 100 per cent committed. I have a contract and I have no other things on my mind.”

With his future at the club secure, Crystal Palace are expected to be active on the market and have identified Strasbourg forward Emanuel Emegha as an ambitious target to strengthen their forward line ahead of next season.

Crystal Palace jostling to sign "complete" midfielder in deal worth £30m

The Eagles could swoop in ahead of rival clubs.

By
Tom Cunningham

May 24, 2025

Unlikely to be the only arrival in South London, Mainz star Nadiem Amiri is also on the Eagles’ list as they look to the continent for fresh blood to help their European push.

Everyone connected with the club is experiencing an elevated level of excitement about the future. Arguably, Crystal Palace’s appeal has never been greater, and that can help to attract talent from global markets.

That said, Glasner is now reportedly intensifying advances to bring a talented gem to Selhurst Park that could be a star of years to come.

Crystal Palace intensify move for Faveurdi Bongeli

According to Africa Foot, Crystal Palace are stepping up talks to sign Tout-Puissant Mazembe winger Faveurdi Bongeli amid rival interest from Burnley in the 18-year-old.

Capable of playing on either flank, illustrating a degree of versatility, the youngster is also said to be on the radar of Borussia Monchengladbach, Dunkirk, Sint-Truiden and other clubs in England and Germany.

Faveurdi Bongeli’s statistics in 2024/25 – all competitions
Appearances	4
Goals	0
Assists	0

It is unclear whether he would go straight into the senior set-up or spend a period in Crystal Palace’s development squad before making the step-up, should a move occur.

Nevertheless, there is room for another wide player in Glasner’s squad to help complement the likes of Ismaila Sarr moving forward. Depth could be key to staking a claim in the Europa League, and Bongeli appears to be a star in the making with a number of clubs keen.

Now, it remains to be seen if Bongeli can achieve a dream move to England. Crystal Palace are likely to be in the hunt for several additions this summer, so there is plenty to get excited about for supporters.

Burnley are preparing for their return to the Premier League next season and could now enlist Vincent Kompany’s support in their pursuit of an exciting signing.

Burnley look ahead to Premier League return

Scott Parker has emerged as something of a promotion specialist since stepping into the dugout, and he has repeated the trick with the Clarets in some style this term. Following another exciting Championship campaign filled with drama, Burnley have a chance to claim the league crown against Millwall on Saturday lunchtime before preparing for life back in the Premier League.

With the gap between England’s first and second tiers growing year-on-year, Turf Moor chiefs will have their work cut out in seeking reinforcements to give them a fighting chance of staying up in 2025/26.

Chelsea midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is a target for Burnley after being told he is free to leave Stamford Bridge after one season, which may be the sort of signing Parker is after to give his side a genuine shot at survival. Harrison Reed could also be on his way to the Clarets if Fulham are willing to cut a deal this summer, adding some experience to an engine room that is already bristling with talent.

Ipswich now pursue new deal for £27,500-a-week star amid Burnley interest

Burnley and Leeds are once again going head-to-head but this time off the pitch.

ByBrett Worthington Apr 24, 2025

Bridging the gap won’t be an easy endeavour for Burnley. The Premier League is notoriously demanding at the best of times, but they have shown an ability in years gone by to mix it with the best.

Now, the newly-promoted outfit have set their sights on an international goalkeeper who could be on his way out of one of Europe’s most reputable clubs, per recent developments.

Burnley looking to sign Bayern Munich's Daniel Peretz

According to Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg, Burnley have initiated talks over signing Bayern Munich goalkeeper Daniel Peretz after making ‘specific enquiries’ through former boss Kompany regarding his availability. Hamburg are also keen on the Israel international, who is set to leave the Allianz Arena either permanently with a buyback clause or on loan over the next few months.

Commended for his “great potential” by Jan-Christian Dreesen, Peretz has made seven appearances for Bayern in total since joining from Maccabi Tel Aviv, keeping a solitary clean sheet. Despite being behind Manuel Neuer in the pecking order, the 24-year-old has made ten saves on Bundesliga duty this term, equating to a percentage rate of 66.7%.

Burnley will need to recruit stars with pedigree this summer and Peretz’ background at one of the world’s elite clubs could be an appealing factor as they look forward to life back in the Premier League.

She doesn’t have an India cap, and she is yet to play in the WPL, but she’s signed for Trinbago Knight Riders. This is her improbable journey

Hemant Brar29-Jun-2025It is rare for an uncapped player to get picked in an overseas T20 league, especially when they have not played in their own country’s equivalent tournament. But Salonee Dangore did the improbable when she signed with Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) for the 2025 Women’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL).A legspin-bowling allrounder, the 27-year-old Dangore is one of four overseas players at TKR alongside Lizelle Lee, Shikha Pandey and Jess Jonassen. For the last two WPL seasons, Dangore was a net bowler at Delhi Capitals, the franchise Pandey and Jonassen play for. It would not be a surprise if these two put in a word after watching her at close quarters.Dangore’s cricketing journey is as improbable as her CPL selection. Growing up, she was a national-level athlete and had no interest in cricket. Until 2015, she did not even know of legspin’s existence.Related

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“When I was in school, I used to run very fast,” she tells ESPNcricinfo. “So our sports teacher asked me to pursue athletics. I would do 100m, 200m, long jump and triple jump. During my Under-14 and Under-17 days, I represented Madhya Pradesh at the national level in all those events.”She was around 17 when Jose Chacko, a Sports and Youth Welfare officer, advised her mother to make her switch to cricket for better opportunities. Dangore enrolled at an academy run by the former Ranji Trophy player Sunil Lahore in Indore. Since she had only watched boys in her residential colony bowl with long run-ups, she wanted to be a fast bowler. Lahore watched her bowl a couple of deliveries and told her to take up legspin.After spending about two years at the academy, Dangore joined the Ramesh Bhatia Cricket Foundation (RBCF). As a track-and-field athlete, her fielding was top-notch, but she struggled to turn her legbreaks. That sounds incredible, because currently she can pitch it on middle and leg stump and consistently hit off.”I was inspired by Shane Warne and the way he turned the ball,” she says. “But my arm would rotate in the other direction and most of my deliveries would end up as googlies. So I would watch his videos in slow motion to figure out how he did it.Salonee Dangore spent a lot of time with Jess Jonassen at Delhi Capitals•Courtesy Salonee Dangore”Apart from that, my coaches – Sanjay Choubey sir and Himanshu Vairagi sir – at the RBCF helped in correcting my arm alignment. It took a lot of effort but eventually I was able to turn the ball.”Dangore made her debut for Madhya Pradesh in 2017-18. Two seasons later, she was their highest wicket-taker (14 in eight games, at an average of 11.50) and third-highest run-scorer (130 at 32.50) in the One-Day Trophy, before Covid-19 ended the tournament prematurely.The turning point of her career came in 2022, when the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) called up former India legspinner Narendra Hirwani for a camp. “He changed my mindset completely,” Dangore says. “He said, ‘You will do what you think you can. So you should think you are the best legspinner in the world.’ That advice is still fresh in my mind and gives me a lot of confidence when I am bowling.”Shortly after that camp, the RBCF also invited Hirwani to their academy. Since then, Dangore has had multiple sessions with him.

“I was inspired by Shane Warne and the way he turned the ball. So I would watch his videos in slow motion to figure out how he did it”

“Sir also advised me to bowl slightly faster,” she says. “So right now I am working on increasing my pace while maintaining the turn. Apart from that, I am working on my slider and googly.”When it comes to batting, Dangore’s focus is on power-hitting and strike rotation, so that she can “contribute in every situation”.The stints with Capitals have also helped her immensely. “In my first year with them, there were only two net bowlers, [VJ] Joshitha and me,” she says. “I used to bowl in the same set as Jess Jonassen and would ask her about my bowling, tactics, and what to bowl when. Whatever feedback I got, I worked on that.”Dangore also realised she needed to shoulder more responsibility for her domestic side to stand out. In search of better opportunities, she moved to Chhattisgarh before the 2024-25 season.She picked up only two wickets in six games in the T20 Trophy, but emerged as Chhattisgarh’s leading wicket-taker in the one-dayers with 15 scalps from six matches at an average of 12.00. With the bat, she was their second-highest run-getter with most of her 144 runs coming at No. 6.Salonee Dangore bowls under the watchful eye of Narendra Hirwani•RBCFThat, in December 2024, remains Dangore’s last competitive tournament. Since then, she has had another stint with Capitals and is eager to show off her learnings. But will she get enough game time?”I am not thinking about that because it’s not in my control,” she says. “Whenever I get a chance, I want to give my best. Moreover, the pitches there [in Guyana] should help spinners.”Dangore cites Shreyanka Patil’s example. Patil too was uncapped when Guyana Amazon Warriors picked her in 2023, though unlike Dangore she had had a full WPL season behind her. She finished the CPL as the highest wicket-taker with nine wickets from five games.”I want to create a similar impact,” Dangore says. “Whenever the team needs me – be it with the ball or the bat – I want to win matches. I hope this stint opens up more doors for me.”

And what’s the lowest number of bowlers who took all 20 wickets in a Test between them?

Steven Lynch04-Jul-2023In the Lord’s Test England’s new-ball pair had a combined age of more than 78 years. Was this a record? asked Jeremy Lambton from England
England’s opening bowlers in the gripping second Ashes Test at Lord’s were Jimmy Anderson, who’s nearly 41, and 37-year-old Stuart Broad. In terms of combined age they were the oldest pair to take the new ball in a Test since 1951, when the South Africans Eric Rowan (41) and Dudley Nourse (40) did it in the second innings at Lord’s. Rowan and Nourse were really batters – neither ever took a Test wicket – who had a trundle because England needed just 16 to win.The only England new-ball pair with a higher combined age was Gubby Allen (45) and Harold Butler (34) against West Indies in Port-of-Spain in 1947-48. This is actually the highest instance of all with two supposedly fast bowlers: there are two older new-ball pairs, both involving the venerable Australia left-arm spinner Bert Ironmonger. “Dainty” was 46 when he made his debut against England in Brisbane in 1928-29; in the second innings he took the new ball with fellow spinner Clarrie Grimmett (36). Two years later, against West Indies in Sydney in 1930-31, Ironmonger – by now 48 – opened in the second innings with medium-pacer Ron Oxenham, who was 39; their combined age was around 88½ years.These instances are taken from ESPNcricinfo’s database. But Charles Davis, the distinguished Australian statistician who has re-scored many early Test matches from the original scorebooks, warns: “There are many cases of incorrect second-innings bowling order in the ‘received’ scorecards for older Tests. Both the instances mentioned about Ironmonger are actually incorrect: in the fifth Test of 1930-31, Oxenham opened with Stan McCabe in the second innings, while in Brisbane in 1928-29, Grimmett and Stork Hendry opened in the second innings. Ironmonger and Oxenham did open the bowling in Melbourne in 1930-31, but in different innings.Where does Ben Stokes fit in the list of the highest scores in the fourth innings of a Test? asked Martin Steele from England
Ben Stokes’s valiant 155 at Lord’s was the 27th time a batter has reached 150 in the fourth innings of a Test.Only 21 of those innings were higher than 155, and just four were for England, whose highest remains Bill Edrich’s 219 in the timeless Test against South Africa in Durban in 1938-39. Highest of all is George Headley’s 223 for West Indies against England in another drawn timeless Test, in Kingston in 1929-30. (Both these games had to be left unfinished as the England teams needed to catch their boat home.)Of those 27 scores of 150 or more, 13 came in wins (the highest was Gordon Greenidge’s 214 not out for West Indies vs England at Lord’s in 1984), nine in draws, and five (including Stokes’) could not prevent defeat – the highest in vain was Nathan Astle’s 222 for New Zealand vs England in Christchurch in 2001-02.Stokes was the first to score 150 in the fourth innings of a Test from as low as No. 6 in the batting order. Adam Gilchrist hit 149 not out from No. 7 for Australia against Pakistan, in Hobart in 1999-2000. The previous-best from No. 6, before Stokes’ innings, was Asad Shafiq’s 137 for Pakistan vs Australia in Brisbane in 2016-17.Six Australian bowlers took wickets in England’s first innings at Lord’s. How unusual is this? asked Kasey Anderson from Australia
England’s first innings at Lord’s provided the seventh instance in the Ashes of six different Australian bowlers taking at least a wicket each. It was, however, their first such instance in the Ashes for more than 60 years, since Sydney 1962-63.England have done it eight times, and also have the only case of seven men taking a wicket in an Ashes innings, in Melbourne in 1897-98. In all Tests, there are three further instances of seven, and over 100 cases of six.Tony Lock takes a catch off Jim Laker in the Test where the two spinners took all 20 wickets – between them – Laker 19, Lock one•PA PhotosWhat’s the lowest number of players involved in taking all 20 wickets of an opposition in a Test? I am guessing one answer at least involves Jim Laker. And what’s the number for an entire Test match? asked Ashwin from India (not that one, I don’t think!)
The Old Trafford Ashes Test of 1956 – when Jim Laker took 19 wickets and Tony Lock one – is one of six Tests in which just two bowlers shared all 20 opposition wickets. It happened to Australia again a few months later, in Karachi, when Fazal Mahmood took 13 wickets for Pakistan and Khan Mohammad seven.The only instance since then was at Lord’s in 1972, when the Australian debutant Bob Massie took 16 of England’s wickets, and Dennis Lillee claimed the other four. The earlier instances were by Australia against England in Melbourne in 1901-02 (Monty Noble took 13 and Hugh Trumble seven), England vs Australia at Edgbaston in 1909 (Colin Blythe 11, George Hirst nine), and South Africa against England in Johannesburg in 1909-10 (Bert Vogler 12, Aubrey Faulkner eight).There are two Tests in which just six bowlers shared all 40 wickets: England vs South Africa at Headingley in 1998, and Sri Lanka vs Australia in Kandy in 2003-04. Only five bowlers took wickets in the 1901-02 Melbourne match mentioned above, but one batter was run-out.Who was the first man to score 42 in the second innings of his 24th Test? asked Sudarshan Narayanan Poondi via Facebook
This one made me smile, as I think it’s a variation on those old jokes about cricket statisticians pointing out things that had never happened before at Lord’s on a wet Tuesday afternoon. But it did make me wonder whether anyone had ever done this – and it turns out four people have.The first to score 42 in the second innings of his 24th Test match was the allrounder Charles Kelleway, in the course of Australia’s innings defeat against England in Melbourne in 1924-25. He was followed in 1971-72 by Bruce Taylor, who made 42 not out to help New Zealand force a draw against West Indies in Port-of-Spain.This exclusive band was boosted in the current century by Chris Gayle, for West Indies against India in Mumbai in 2002-03, and Martin Guptill, for New Zealand vs West Indies in Kingston in 2012.Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

The 22-year old has played just one first-class match at home, but has now scored an unbeaten half-century on Test debut

Umar Farooq27-Nov-2021Abdullah Shafique was called up to Pakistan in 2020 – but not for the Test side where he distinguished himself today. He was called up to the T20I side, on the back of a hundred in the National T20 Cup. He since then has been with the national team, though generally finds himself sitting on bench upon bench. He did play three T20Is, following up an unbeaten 41 with a pair of ducks in New Zealand. But he had his eyes firmly upon the longer format, and, despite spending just 20 months in the first-class system, he was called up for the series against Bangladesh. It might be easy to overlook because he took to it so naturally, but Shafique’s domestic career in Pakistan isn’t even two years old.His Test call-up wasn’t met especially warmly. There was disgruntlement about why a player with only one first-class game in Pakistan’s domestic circuit went on to play Test cricket for the country. But despite his unconventional route, Shafique’s red-ball debut had always been on the cards. But while people debated his inclusion, he was busy totting up a 145-run opening stand with Abid Ali to put Pakistan in command.

The fundamentals of his game are flawlessMisbah-ul-Haq on Abdullah Shafique

He was especially solid on the day, underlined by, according to ESPNcricinfo’s numbers, a control percentage of 94 to go with his unbeaten 52. A staid strike rate of 32.09 might signal attrition, but there were moments of confidence and flair, none more so than when he danced down the ground to deposit Mominul Haque over the sightscreen to bring up his half-century. He was the first Pakistan opener to do that on debut. There were no streaky edges to third man; in fact, he scored no runs in that region. It was the onside where he excels, underlined by more than half his runs coming through midwicket.***Shafique broke into the system as a 20-year-old batter, coming from a cricketing family in Sialkot. His father, Shafiq Ahmed, also played first-class cricket in Pakistan and his uncle, Arshad Ali, played international cricket for UAE. He was drafted into the Central Punjab second XI because their first team at the time had Babar Azam, Azhar Ali, Abid Ali, Salman Butt and Ahmed Shehzad – and therefore no room in the top order. He was overlooked for the first five rounds by the second XI, too but in just the second opportunity he got, scored a double-hundred.Related

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That gave Shafique a look-in into the first team, where a debut century earned his side the points that helped keep their 2019-20 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy season alive. It remains his only first-class home game, but he followed that hundred up with another in T20 cricket, making him just the second cricketer in history to manage three-figures first-class and T20 debut.***There has never been a set pattern to recruitment in Pakistan’s domestic system, and bringing players through to the national side. Players have been discarded for poor performances, only to make a comeback months later without any discernible improvement in form or skill level. They have always preferred instinct to organisation, ever living in the hope of unearthing another Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Javed Miandad or Inzamam-ul-Haq.Abid Ali and Abdullah Shafique have together put on 145 runs in Chattogram•AFP/Getty ImagesMisbah-ul-Haq, the ex-head coach and chief selector, was the man who selected Shafique in the national side, even if he spent most of that time frozen out of the starting line-up. There were several openers tried and discarded – Shan Masood, Imam ul Haq, Imran Butt. But Shafique hung around, patiently awaiting his chance. There was some pressure on Misbah to give Shafique his chance, but at the time, he couldn’t see him making a Test or ODI debut just yet. Now, sitting watching his debut on TV, there’s barely a happier man.”He was always close to making his debut and I am happy he finally has,” Misbah told ESPNcricinfo. “He is one of the few eye-catching players you enjoy watching. He is rare breed who is technically solid and has all the tools to build his game. He is an opener who can attack and has an implacable defence, too. If you have look at his batting, he plays close to his body and his precise foot movement make his balance just very right. The fundamentals of his game are flawless. I know he hasn’t played much domestic cricket but he played a lot of club cricket. His development at that stage, I think was so thorough and meaningful that he hasn’t missed much.”

He gained all the relevant experience playing club cricket. That is rare and you do not find such players every dayMisbah-ul-Haq on Abdullah Shafique

Shafique played club cricket in the locally famous Amir Wasim cricket academy in Sialkot before moving to Jaguar Club, where he worked with Mansoor Amjad. “He is ahead of his time and understands what he is doing,” said Misbah. “He is so composed playing with no sense of pressure about it. He is already mature in his game. I think he played a lot of club cricket, which we often disregard the importance of.”There was logic behind Pakistan keeping him close, even if he had limited game time. He did play two T20Is in New Zealand but Misbah believes they came too early and in conditions that were much too testing. Sure enough, Shafique fell for two ducks, and was consigned to the sidelines for an extended period.”He has got a great temperament, just like Babar Azam,” Misbah said. “His maturity is one of the many factors that vindicate his decision not to throw himself into domestic cricket. He gained all the relevant experience playing club cricket. That is rare and you do not find such players every day. It doesn’t work with everyone. He is determined, he is smart, he can take singles at will and he is a hard worker.”Misbah doesn’t do hyperbole, and if Shafique excites him quite as much as that, there’s perhaps good news for Pakistan’s top order woes. The man who couldn’t get off the bench might soon be getting fans off their sofas if he’s nearly as good as he looked in Chattogram today.

With a 15 game slate on Independence Day, let’s hit the prop bet market. 

There’s plenty of games to choose from, but I’m eyeing three pitcher props that have caught my eye, namely the outs prop for Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta. Pivetta has been a victim of poor variance, but a matchup against the Marlins can cure all. 

Here’s three player props I’m eyeing on the Fourth of July. 

Best MLB Prop Bets for Thursday, July 4th 

• Nick Pivetta Over 16.5 Outs (-130)
• Kenta Maeda Under 3.5 Strikeouts (+116)
• Charlie Morton Under 17.5 Outs (-138)

Nick Pivetta Over 16.5 Outs (-130)

Pivetta has been volatile this season, but his underlying metrics indicate he has been unfortunate when the ball has been put in play. He has a 4.52 ERA with a 3.92 xERA with a 75th percentile walk rate, per MLBStatcast.

The righty will face a limited Marlins lineup that is last in OPS this season, meaning he should have little issue rolling through this lackluster set of hitters. 

He has only gone over in this in five of 12 starts this season, but given the matchup, I believe this calls for an over bet as Pivetta should face little resistance. 

Kenta Maeda Under 3.5 Strikeouts (+116)

Maeda’s strikeout prowess has diminished this season. He ranks in the third percentile in terms of pitching run value and is striking out a career lowe 17% of batters while posting a 5.76 ERA. 

It won’t get any better for the veteran Tigers starter against a Twins team that strikes out at a bottom third rate and is second in OPS over the last 30 days. With power in the lineup, Minnesota can chase Maeda from this game rather quickly. 

I’m interested in the plus money price tag with some outlier downside risk for Maeda, who can be pulled quickly from this game. For what it’s worth, he has only pitched into the sixth inning four times in 13 starts (one he left after two pitches), and he has tossed four or more strikeouts in seven of them. 

However, given this matchup, I’ll jump on the plus money price tag. 

Charlie Morton Under 17.5 Outs (-138)

This is a fairly average outcome for Morton, who has gone under this mark in eight of 15 starts, but I believe it’s worthwhile to take the under given the Giants ability to work pitch counts and for Morton’s shaky control. 

San Francisco is a league average strikeout team, but the team doesn’t chase much, a top 10 team in chase percentage. 

Further, Morton is walking batters at a 10.1% clip, 24th percentile in the big leagues. If the Giants are able to take pitches around Morton’s breaking ball pitch, this can be a quicker than expected outing for the 40-year-old.