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He is contracted to the Royals in the SA20 and CPL, but he will be up against them in the IPL on Friday

Matt Roller04-May-20239:30

Are IPL team owners going to take over world cricket?

Royal Multisport Private Limited – Rajasthan Royals’ parent company – have been David Miller’s employers for around one-third of the last seven months but on Friday night, he will find himself walking out to bat them.Miller represented Barbados in the Caribbean Premier League last September, and captained Paarl in the SA20 in January, but for the months of April and May, he is playing for the team that beat Rajasthan in last season’s IPL final. It is a right Royal tangle, and one that highlights the oddity of players representing different IPL-owned franchises in different leagues.”I’ve got some understanding of what they are all about,” Miller said before training in Jaipur on Thursday evening. “I’m looking forward to it. I know a lot of the guys, and this is the joy about franchise cricket around the world: you get to build relationships with players and management along the way, and build some really good friendships.”Similar situations have arisen throughout this IPL season. Two weeks ago, at the Wankhede Stadium, Sam Curran won the Player of the Match award for captaining Punjab Kings to victory over Mumbai Indians – the franchise who recruited him for their SA20 team, MI Cape Town, and bid aggressively for him in December’s mini auction.Related

• IPL teams and international stars in informal contract discussions

• Royals vs Titans brings together IPL 2023's best in class

• 'I feel extremely backed' – Miller on his success at GT

Perhaps, in that context, it is no wonder that franchises are looking to tie players to year-round contracts. There are clear challenges as to how to fit them into the draft and auction systems around the world that are designed to ensure a level of competitive balance, but the oddities thrown up by the status quo suggest change is likely.In a parallel universe, Miller might well have found himself walking out in Royals’ pink kit tomorrow rather than Gujarat Titans’ dark blue. He spent two IPL seasons with them in 2020 and 2021 and if his record for them was anything like what it has been since he joined Titans, he would surely have been retained ahead of the 2022 mega-auction.But Miller struggled for opportunities with Royals, batting only nine times for them in two years, averaging 20.66 and striking at 109.73. “It has been quite frustrating, not really being able to play over the past couple of years,” he told this website ahead of IPL 2022.It has been a bumpy ride for Miller in the IPL. From 2013-2015, he was one of the league’s best middle-order batters, consistently scoring 350-plus runs a season for Kings XI Punjab. But after a lean 2016 season – in which his top score in 13 innings was 31 – he found himself struggling for consistent opportunities, first with Kings XI and then Royals.David Miller had captained Paarl Royals in the inaugural SA20 earlier this year•SA20

“I wouldn’t say professional sport is easy,” Miller said. “It can be very challenging and tough at times, especially in a tournament like this where there’s so many overseas [players] in one squad and if you don’t really do well in one season, you’re kind of just forgotten about.”Outside of the IPL, I’ve done really well internationally, domestically – it’s just the IPL, where that one bad season that I had… I kind of just got written off. I knew what I was capable of. It was just a matter of getting a really good run and opportunity, so I trained really hard and tried to become a better player.”At Titans, Miller has played every single game that he has been available for, missing only the 2023 season opener when he was on international duty. “I was really chuffed that last season went the way it did,” Miller said, “and I had the opportunity to play throughout the whole season.”And his record has been phenomenal. He is Titans’ third-highest run-scorer across both seasons, averaging 60.09 with a strike rate of 144.00, and has been at the crease in nine of their twelve successful run chases.Key to that has been a marked improvement against spin. From 2016-21, Miller scored at just under a run a ball (98.68) against spin in the IPL, and averaged 22.60 against it; since joining Titans, his strike rate against spin has shot up to 145.32. With only three dismissals to spinners in his last 24 IPL games, he has a remarkable average of 98.33 against spin.The secret? “Just the mindset,” Miller explained. “I’ve never really felt that I’ve been poor against spin, but it’s definitely an area that I’ve needed to work on and as the years have gone on I’ve definitely focused a lot more on it. The biggest thing for me is just the mindset rather than technical faults and stuff like that… [but] I’m probably looking to play more on the back foot than [the] front foot.”It’s [been about] finding a way of getting off strike and accessing different areas. Playing spin… I’m feeling a lot better, and not feeling that they can bog me down. I’ve got my boundary options, I’ve got my one [single] options and then it’s just about going out there and trusting that preparation that you’ve had with the mindset.”If he can extend that success against R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal on Friday night, Miller will leave Royals wondering what might have been.

With the focus on India’s team combinations, Sanjay Manjrekar mulls the balance of the side’s lower order and the resources in their seam-bowling attack

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Nov-2015India will be mulling the ideal combination for the first Test against South Africa in Mohali starting on Thursday. In case they stick to a five-bowler strategy, the role of India’s lower order with the bat assumes even greater importance. The make-up of the attack itself will also be crucial, especially with Virat Kohli having shown a preference for bowlers with extra pace in his stint as captain so far. Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar reflects on those aspects ahead of the series opener.Turners could give India batting depth
Lower-order depth has been an issue for India but Sanjay Manjrekar feels that turning tracks could help solve that problem to an extent for the side in this series. With Wriddhiman Saha coming in at No. 6, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin and Amit Mishra could slot into No. 7, 8 and 9 – lending some depth to the batting while fitting in with India’s five-bowler plan.2:20

Tracks could help balance India’s batting order

Time to utilise resources available
Seam-bowling has been a chronic problem for India, particularly with respect to consistency, and Manjrekar feels the time has come for the team management to take more responsibility in utilizing the resources that are available to the side.3:18

Manjrekar: Ishant at the peak of his career

Glasgow Rangers enjoyed a great night at Ibrox on Thursday by holding Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur to a draw in the Europa League.

It was Ange Postecoglou’s first return to Glasgow since moving on from Celtic, who he won two Scottish Premiership titles with, in the summer of 2023.

Rangers ended the match with more shots, more ‘big chances’ created, and more xG but failed to come away with all three points, despite an impressive performance.

The Light Blues are now nine matches unbeaten in all competitions and have hit form at a good time, ahead of the League Cup final clash with Celtic on Sunday at Hampden Park.

However, a poor opening few months of the season has left the Scottish giants 11 points adrift of their Glasgow rivals in the race to win the title, with three losses in the division so far.

Celtic have won 14 of their 15 Premiership matches after they were able to strengthen their squad in the summer transfer window, having banked a hefty amount of cash through the sale of Matt O’Riley.

How much Celtic sold Matt O'Riley for

Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion swooped in to sign the Denmark international for a reported Scottish record transfer fee of more than £25m, breaking the record set by Jota’s £25m switch to Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2023.

This means that Celtic had huge sales in back-to-back summer windows to fund their own incoming business to make their squad stronger across the board, despite losing a couple of key performers.

O’Riley attracted significant interest in his services because of his sensational form in the Premiership for the Hoops during the 2023/24 campaign, with his ability as a scorer and a creator of goals helping him to standout in the division.

As you can see in the table above, the English-born magician had an impressive, but not unbelievable, first full season at Parkhead before emerging as their star man last season.

He dominated games and was a match-winner for Celtic on a regular basis, because of his ability to score and create goals, and that helped them to earn more than £25m from his sale.

That allowed the Hoops to sign Auston Trusty for £6m, Adam Idah for £9.5m, and Arne Engels for a club-record £11m, among several other deals.

Meanwhile, per Transfermarkt, Rangers did not sign a player for more than €5m (£4.1m) after their biggest summer sale was Sam Lammers’ £4m move to FC Twente.

Their lack of big money sales meant that they could not spend the kind of money that Celtic were able to, as Nils Koppen had to invest in younger, cheaper, talent, with the hope that they will develop into high-value assets – like O’Riley.

Rangers' promising summer signings

The Belgian recruitment chief, who is now the club’s technical director, brought in eight players to Ibrox on permanent deals, along with three loans, and five of those eight arrivals are aged 22 or under.

Connor Barron was snapped up from Aberdeen after his contract with the Scottish side expired at the end of last season and the 21-year-old ace has enjoyed a strong start to life in Glasgow.

He has made 26 appearances in all competitions and has started 13 of the club’s 15 matches in the Premiership, which shows that Philippe Clement already trusts the Scotland U21 international.

Another impressive young recruit from Koppen’s work in the summer is Brazilian left-back Jefte, who has emerged as a first-choice option for Rangers at the age of 20.

The promising full-back, who turns 21 later this month, has started 17 matches across the Premiership and the Europa League, and caught the eye with his solid form.

As you can see in the table above, Jefte has offered a strong defensive presence at the back, with 3.7 tackles and interceptions per game without being dribbled past regularly.

However, summer recruit Hamza Igamane is the player who Clement could hit the jackpot with as his answer to Matt O’Riley, given his impressive form of late.

Why Hamza Igamane could be Clement's Matt O'Riley

The Scottish giants swooped to sign the versatile forward from Moroccan side FAR Rabat in the summer and his market valuation on Transfermarkt at the time of his move was just €1m (£829k).

After around five months at Ibrox, that valuation has already shot up to €2.5m (£2m) to reflect his superb form in recent weeks for Clement’s side.

The 22-year-old star, who scored against Spurs on Thursday night, has produced six goals and one assist in 16 appearances in all competitions for Rangers so far this season.

Five of those goals and his one assist came in his last five appearances for the club, as he struggled in his first 11 matches because the youngster needed time to adapt after leaving Morocco for the first time in his career.

As you can see in the table above, Igamane has been particularly impressive in the Europa League for Rangers with a return of five goal contributions in two starts in the competition.

He has proven himself on the European stage and his form of late suggests that the forward, who can play on the left or through the middle, is starting to thrive domestically as well.

Igamane, who was dubbed an “exciting young talent” by Koppen, is a dynamic attacker who can hold off defenders, dribble past opponets, create chances, and score goals, as illustrated by his form in the Europa League, and his market value is soaring as a result of his performances.

Diomande 2.0: Rangers chasing £2.5m signing who'd thrive with Igamane

Rangers are reportedly interested in signing the exciting playmaker in January.

By
Dan Emery

Dec 11, 2024

If the 22-year-old whiz can continue to shine and develop with more experience under his belt then he could emerge as a high-value asset for Rangers who they later sell on for big money to fund their own summer spending spree, akin to the one Celtic had after selling O’Riley.

“He is supremely confident about his own ability – the fact that he is fully fit now makes a massive difference,” Shastri says of Hardik

ESPNcricinfo staff12-May-20235:13

Runorder: Ravi Shastri wants Hardik to be India’s full-time T20I captain

Ravi Shastri feels that with the next men’s T20 World Cup just over a year away, Hardik Pandya will be handed the captaincy of the India team immediately.”Everyone can qualify to play, but I think Hardik will lead,” Shastri said on ESPNcricinfo’s . “The next two World Cups [after the 2023 ODI World Cup] are T20 cricket. He’s already [standby] captain of India [in T20Is], so he will continue unless he is not fit. I think they [the selectors] will look into a new direction. There’s a lot of talent among the youth at the moment. You might have a pretty much new team; there will be some new faces if not a new team.”There will be still plenty who played in the last T20I match that India played, but there will be some new faces because what we’ve seen here in this year’s IPL is some refreshing young talent.”Related

• Shastri: Keep Kohli, Rohit for Tests and ODIs; 'current form' all that matters for T20I squad

• Hardik 'more than happy' to take over full-time captaincy

• The Hardik evolution: 'I don't mind playing the Dhoni role'

• Gambhir unsure if Kohli, Rohit, Rahul fit in 2024 T20 WC plans

Rohit Sharma is India’s designated captain across formats, but he hasn’t played a T20I since the 2022 T20 World Cup. KL Rahul was his deputy at the tournament; his last T20I, too, was at the World Cup. In the meantime, India have played eight T20Is, and Hardik has led in all of them with Rohit resting. Of those eight, India have won five, lost two, and tied one.At the last T20 World Cup, India’s intent with the bat had come under scrutiny, not for the first time. In the semi-final, they scored 168, which England chased down with ten wickets and four overs to spare.Since then, India have tried many fresh faces, with good results. And Shastri suggested “the 2007 route” for the 2024 T20 World Cup. Then, with Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and some others opting out, India had named a relatively inexperienced side for the inaugural T20 World Cup, and India lifted the trophy under MS Dhoni’s captaincy.”I feel they will go the 2007 route, where they will identify talent, and Hardik will have lots of choices when it comes to the selection,” Shastri said. “Because his ideas will be different; he has played the IPL as a captain of a franchise and seen a lot of the other players. He will have his inputs.”Hardik Pandya has led India in every T20I they have played since the last T20 World Cup•Getty Images

When asked if it’s Hardik then who should have a conversation with the senior players about the future, Shastri said, “Obviously. Because he is the guy who is going to take the guys out on the park. Whatever he says has to be given importance and listened to.”Until IPL 2022, Hardik had no captaincy experience at the senior level. But he created a stir when he led Gujarat Titans, one of two new teams that season, to the title. This season, too, Titans are all but through to the playoffs with the last few league-stage matches to go.The only concern with Hardik could be regarding his workload management, given he is expected to play a big role for India at the upcoming ODI World Cup as well and his struggle with injuries is well known. Shastri said it should not be an issue, given he no longer plays long-form cricket.”It is not that he is playing three formats,” Shastri said. “Everything now is separate. You have Test matches, so the moment a Test series comes, he gets a corridor of a month to rest and recuperate. He is supremely confident about his own ability. The fact that he is fully fit now makes a massive difference. Form plays an important role. When he is fit, then he is arguably one of the best T20 players in the world.”In November last year as well, Shastri had said that “there is no harm in identifying a new T20I captain, and if his name is Hardik Pandya, so be it”.

In memory of an Australian bowler who featured in one of the greatest series of all time

Ashley Mallett04-Oct-2015On February 1, 1961, as Australian wickets tumbled to the West Indian attack on the last day of the fourth Test, Norm O’Neill and 12th man Johnny Martin took the team’s No. 11, “Spinner” Kline to the nets at the back of Adelaide Oval for what they hoped would be a confidence-boosting net.For the next 15 minutes, Martin and champion batsman and part-time spinner
O’Neill repeatedly clean-bowled Spinner, who hardly got a bat to any ball. So poor was his batting effort that a woman watching at the back of the net yelled, “You’re hopeless, Kline. Waste of time you going out there.”When Des Hoare was bowled by Frank Worrell for a duck, the score stood at 207 for 9. The “hope of the side” gathered his gloves, pulled on his baggy green and made his way down the steps through a throng of SACA members. A man yelled in jest, “Won’t be long now, Lindsay.” All the members roared.With a mixture of splendid defence, two cracking boundaries, and the patience of Job, Kline defied all the West Indians could throw at him and his senior partner, the indefatigable Ken “Slasher” Mackay.Led by the Wes Hall, who seemingly pushed off from the sightscreen for every delivery; the greatest allrounder in history, Garry Sobers; medium-pacer Worrell; and spinners Lance Gibbs and Alf Valentine, the West Indies attack bowled a total of 120 eight-ball overs on that final day. But they failed to break that last pair.Mackay took the last ball of the day from Hall, which rose and struck him fair on the chest. He had let the ball hit him through fear of getting an edge. Kline made his highest Test score, 15 not out, and Mackay finished unconquered on 62 to complete Australia’s great escape.

So poor was his batting effort that a woman watching at the back of the net yelled, “You’re hopeless, Kline. Waste of time you going out there.”

In November 1960, in the first Test of that series, Spinner featured with his great mate Ian Meckiff in a brief last-wicket stand. As Wes Hall came in bowl, the scores were level. Australia needed one run to win.Spinner pushed the ball to little Joe Solomon, close-in at point, and took off. Meckiff hesitated and ran full pelt for safety but Solomon threw down the stumps from side-on and the game was over.The West Indies danced in glee. They thought they had won the match. Norm O’Neill and the Australians thought they had won.In the wake of the first tie in Test history, Spinner said drily, “There was me running for a win and there was Meckiff running for a tie.”Over the years Spinner and Meckiff have been regular attendees at the Adelaide Test match. For more than 40 years the pair have been great friends with former South Australia and Test wicketkeeper Barry Jarman. At least once a year over many years they’d drive to Adelaide and hook up with O’Neill for a rollicking few days on board Jarman’s houseboat on the Murray River.One night as BJ, Norm and Meckiff spun stories over a convivial red wine or two, Spinner excused himself.The time went by and Meckiff said: “Where’s Spinner? He’s probably fallen in.”Ropes secured the boat to a couple of trees at a secluded spot on the river. There was a plank from the back of the boat to the sandy shore. They found Spinner hanging on to the side of the boat, saturated and laughing his head off.Kline’s bowling was the object of good-natured ribbing from his friends, but he did take a Test hat-trick•PA PhotosThe next day he announced that he had lost his glasses. Two days later, when they returned to that mooring spot, there the glasses were, murky water washing over them on the shoreline.In 1961, during Spinner’s England tour with Australia, the side played a couple of one-day matches in Ireland. In Belfast the wind blew to near-hurricane force, but Richie Benaud was determined to lead his side onto the ground. He wasn’t keen to bowl into the wind that wild Irish day, though, and left that task to Kline. “Spinner wasn’t the quickest through the air and he not only couldn’t get the ball up, I doubt whether it would reach the other end,” Jarman recalled.Kline’s finest bowling moment was his Test match hat-trick against South Africa in Cape Town in 1958.He played 13 Tests in all, taking 34 wickets at an average of 22.82. His last Test was that drawn Test at Adelaide Oval where he made 15 not out. On the houseboat trips the blokes would always scold him over that innings: “How come you scored only 15 in a whole session? Terrible batting Spinner.”Now Spinner is gone, but the cricket family will never forget the man Barry Jarman calls a “champion.”He loved a good red and watching the television show . He is survived by his wife Stella, two sons and two daughters.In the last year of his life, Spinner was greatly buoyed by the golfing prowess of his granddaughter, 17-year-old Olivia Kline, who in January this year won the SA Junior Masters by a whopping nine strokes at Royal Adelaide Gold Club.We are all blessed to have known this gentle soul who spun a ball and a story so well. God love him.

Tottenham Hotspur are now reportedly interested in signing one league’s top passer for Ange Postecoglou in 2025.

Tottenham eyeing new signings in defence and attack

Spurs appear to be eyeing up new signings in 2025, both in defence and attack. Injuries to Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero have dealt a major blow to Postecoglou, who’s been forced to utilise a makeshift option in teenage summer signing Archie Gray at the back alongside Radu Dragusin – their only fit natural central defender.

Postecoglou requests £13m Tottenham signing with Spurs in January talks

Spurs are in desperate need of reinforcements.

By
Emilio Galantini

Dec 13, 2024

Tottenham are rumoured to have held talks over signing Omar Alderete from Getafe in the winter, whereas in attack, Timo Werner came in for criticism from Postecoglou after his display against Rangers.

“I said that to Timo. He’s a senior international, he’s a German international,” said Postecoglou on Werner’s performance against Rangers.

“In the moment we’re in right now, it’s not like we’ve got many options. I need everyone to at least be going out there trying to give the best of themselves. His performance in the first half wasn’t acceptable.”

Lyon attacker Rayan Cherki has been linked as a potential replacement for Werner, but now, another new defender has emerged on the radar of Daniel Levy and co.

Tottenham want another Leeds star after Archie Gray

According to transfer expert Graeme Bailey, talking to Leeds United News, Spurs are one of the clubs looking at signing Leeds defender Pascal Struijk in 2025 after their move for Gray earlier this year.

“Struijk is coming into his prime and has really been under the radar to a lot of people – not Leeds fans – but he is very much on the radar of a number of Premier League clubs.

“A left sided defender and he is real quality and I am told Tottenham are amongst those who have checked on him. Clearly Leeds want him to stay and will look to tie him down to a new deal, but him staying long-term will be dictated by Leeds getting back to the Premier League.”

Struijk has been a regular at the back for the Whites under Daniel Farke and is actually the Championship’s top passer after 21 games.

The 25-year-old has been at Elland Road since 2020 and is closing in on 150 appearances in a Leeds shirt, and it looks as if he could be seen as someone who could arrive in north London.

Chelsea fans have called on the Premier League to 'act and investigate' Todd Boehly over his ownership of an 'unauthorised' ticket resale website.

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• Boehly part of website selling tickets at inflated prices
• Chelsea fans report club owner to Premier League
• Want action taken against 51-year-old

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Boehly is an investor and director of an "unauthorised" US-based website called Vivid Seats that resells Premier League tickets to foreign tourists at vastly inflated prices which has caused anger among some fans. Chelsea supporters have now written an open letter calling on the Premier League to "act and investigate" in a bid to ensure "that a major shareowner of a Premier League club ceases facilitating the sale of tickets for significantly above face value."

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• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Chelsea fans have complained that Boehly's actions are a "breach of trust" and "a clear conflict of interest." The letter also accuses Vivid Seats of "contravening Chelsea FC ticketing policy" and undermining efforts to combat ticket touting.

  A spokesperson for the Chelsea Supporters Trust said: "Vivid Seats continues to list Premier League tickets for above face value at significantly inflated rates and our members have continued to indicate that Mr Boehly’s connection with Vivid Seats is a breach of trust and a clear conflict of interest. Not only does this undermine the efforts of Chelsea FC, The Premier League, and The Metropolitan Police to combat ticket touting, but Vivid Seats contravenes the Chelsea FC ticketing policy, and is explicitly named by the Premier League as a known unauthorised ticket website. We believe that now is the time for the Premier League to act swiftly and ensure that a major shareowner of a Premier League club ceases facilitating the sale of tickets for significantly above face value.”

• WHAT THE CHELSEA SUPPORTERS' TRUST SAID

  The open letter to Richard Masters, Chief Executive Officer of the Premier League, reads: "We have received a significant amount of correspondence from concerned CST members and supporters from the wider Chelsea FC fan base on this issue that cannot be ignored. Since its inception, the CST has been in regular dialogue with Chelsea Football Club, the Premier League, the Football Supporters’ Association, and other key stakeholders regarding the ongoing battle against ticket touting and the illegal sales of tickets on third-party websites.

  “We were therefore dismayed when, in early February, it was highlighted that Todd Boehly sits on the board of directors of Vivid Seats. It has also been reported that through his holding company, Mr Boehly owns approximately 41 per cent of Vivid Seats. Vivid Seats currently lists tickets for every Premier League fixture for the remainder of the season and most tickets are being sold for above face value at significantly inflated rates. For example, a ticket for Liverpool’s final home fixture of the season is currently listed on Vivid Seats for almost £20k. Most notably, Vivid Seats currently lists hundreds of Chelsea FC general admission tickets at significantly inflated prices. As these tickets are not sold by the Chelsea FC website, they are considered by CFC to be ‘illegal sales’.

  “To further compound matters, Vivid Seats is also explicitly named on the Premier League website as ‘a known unauthorised ticket website’. Many CST members are clearly infuriated by this connection and have written to us to say that Mr Boehly’s association with Vivid Seats is a ‘breach of trust’ and ‘a clear conflict of interest’.”

  “As a director of Chelsea FC and part-owner, Mr Boehly’s connection with Vivid Seats is totally inappropriate and significantly undermines the efforts of Chelsea FC, the Premier League, and the Metropolitan Police to combat ticket touting. Mr Boehly has been contacted directly by the CST and has been offered multiple opportunities to both publicly and privately address supporters’ concerns. Neither Mr Boehly nor his representatives have, however, acted on these requests, and thousands of tickets remain for sale on the Vivid Seats website. 

  “The CST firmly believes that it is now time for the Premier League to act and investigate. We would welcome your views as chief executive officer of the Premier League on this matter and anticipate that the Premier League would take this opportunity to act swiftly and ensure that a major shareowner of a Premier League club ceases facilitating the sale of tickets for significantly above face value.”

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA

  The Football Supporters’ Association also backed the call and said: "The Football Supporters' Association is right behind the points made by our members at Chelsea Supporters' Trust. It is crystal clear that the Premier League needs to take action. Clubs, supporters' groups, the police and the Premier League itself has worked hard in recent years to combat ticket touting – there is no excuse for a club owner to be involved in such activity."

  Chelsea's next home game is against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on April 3.

After winning back-to-back games, Kings have managed just one more win in four – and they are set to be without the experience of Kagiso Rabada once again

Hemant Brar21-Apr-20234:37

Tait backs Arjun Tendulkar to deliver at the death

Big picture: Two teams on different trajectories

There’s a popular meme template: how it started and how it’s going. Mumbai Indians’ journey so far in IPL 2023 fits that perfectly. They began the season with two crushing defeats before bouncing back with three wins on the trot.Even before those two defeats, their batting had looked solid on paper. But the lack of runs from Cameron Green and Suryakumar Yadav threw a spanner in the works. With both coming into their own over the last two games, Mumbai look a much stronger unit.For Punjab Kings, Mumbai’s opponents on Saturday, things have gone the other way round. After winning back-to-back games – something they failed to do last year – they managed just one more win in their next four outings.Kings’ plan with bat was that their captain Shikhar Dhawan plays the anchor’s role and others hit around him. But Dhawan’s shoulder injury caught them without a back-up plan.And now they have the added worry of Kagiso Rabada having picked up a niggle – he missed their last game due to this, and ESPNcricinfo understands he will sit out the game against Mumbai too.*Injury issues aside, Kings need to figure out their best combination of overseas players. Sikandar Raza was the Player of the Match against Lucknow Super Giants but was left out for the RCB game. Kings may have to revisit that decision.

Form guide

Mumbai Indians WWWLL
Punjab Kings LWLLW

Team news: Archer-watch

Kings will once again be without Dhawan and Rabada. On Thursday, their fielding coach Trevor Gonsalves said Dhawan would take “at least another two to three days” to be fully fit. Mumbai will be optimistic about Jofra Archer as he has shown vast improvement since he felt the discomfort in his right elbow post the first match. He even bowled full tilt during the practice session on Thursday, and Jason Behrendorff, too, said on Friday that Archer was “not too far away”.

Impact Player strategy

Mumbai Indians: If Archer is available, he could come in for Riley Meredith. Else Mumbai could field an unchanged side with Tilak Varma and Meredith as their Impact Player pair.Probable XII: 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Ishan Kishan (wk), 3 Cameron Green, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 , 6 Tim David, 7 Nehal Wadhera, 8 Jofra Archer/, 9 Arjun Tendulkar, 10 Hrithik Shokeen, 11 Piyush Chawla, 12 Jason BehrendorffPunjab Kings have lost three of their previous four games•Associated Press

Punjab Kings: Nathan Ellis will continue in Rabada’s stead. Prabhsimran Singh and Rahul Chahar could once again be their Impact pair.Probable XII: 1 Atharva Taide, 2 , 3 Liam Livingstone, 4 Harpreet Singh, 5 Sikandar Raza, 6 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 7 M Shahrukh Khan, 8 Sam Curran (capt), 9 Harpreet Brar, 10 Nathan Ellis, 11 Arshdeep Singh, 12

Stats that matter

• Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan have given Mumbai flying starts in IPL 2023. Among those pairs who have opened at least three times this season, Rohit and Kishan’s scoring rate of 9.61 is second only to Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 9.75.
• So far in this season, Kings have lost three or more wickets inside the powerplay on three occasions, the joint-most for a team along with Kolkata Knight Riders.

Pitch and conditions: Win toss, bowl first

The Wankhede is a chasing ground. Since the start of 2021, the teams batting second have won 22 out of the 32 night T20s played at this venue. Spinners have been more successful here this IPL; they have 13 wickets at an economy of 7.64, while fast bowlers have nine at 10.17.*

Thomas Tuchel has reportedly left fringe members of his England squad feeling they need summer transfers to nail down a spot at next year's World Cup.

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• Tuchel ready to make big selection calls
• Grealish under the microscope amid a dismal campaign
• Branthwaite and Ramsey could look for new opportunities

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The German kicked off his tenure with back-to-back victories at Wembley, securing a 2-0 win against Albania before defeating Latvia 3-0 in their opening World Cup qualifiers. After making a successful start, Tuchel has sent a strong message to several players, making it clear that their World Cup aspirations could be in jeopardy unless they secure more playing time at the club level, as reported by A total of six players – four who were initially left out of the squad and two who were included – are now said to be exploring potential transfers in order to strengthen their chances of making the final squad for the global showpiece.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  One of the biggest names facing an uncertain future is Jack Grealish, who has struggled to establish himself at Manchester City this season. He has been a peripheral figure at the Etihad, managing just six Premier League starts. After being dropped by Gareth Southgate for Euro 2024, he remains on shaky ground under Tuchel as well. Reports suggest that the England boss has urged Grealish to take more responsibility off the pitch if he hopes to regain a key role in the national team setup.

  Meanwhile, Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite is another player assessing his options. The young centre-back has been in impressive form for the Toffees but was overlooked in favour of Newcastle’s 32-year-old Dan Burn, who earned his first England call-up. Branthwaite is reportedly considering whether a move to a more prominent club could boost his international prospects.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Jacob Ramsey of Aston Villa is another talented player who narrowly missed out on Tuchel’s squad. Although he remains a fan favourite at Villa Park, he has struggled to secure consistent playing time under Unai Emery. With competition for places in England’s midfield heating up, Ramsey may be tempted by a move that guarantees him regular starts.

  Similarly, Morgan Gibbs-White has been performing well for Nottingham Forest but was still left out of England’s initial squad selection. He eventually received a late call-up following Cole Palmer’s injury but did not feature in either match. He is now believed to be considering a switch to a more established club to improve his chances of making the final squad for the World Cup.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Two players who did make the recent squad but are still contemplating transfers are Marcus Rashford and Aaron Ramsdale. Rashford, currently on loan at Aston Villa from Manchester United, finds himself in an uncertain position. Despite showing flashes of form, he does not appear to have a future at Old Trafford, and his long-term place at Villa remains unconfirmed. With his England spot far from secure, Rashford may seek another club where he can be guaranteed a starting role.

  As for Ramsdale, the goalkeeper is facing an almost certain departure from Southampton, whose relegation to the Championship is nearly sealed. With Tuchel likely to prioritise goalkeepers playing in the Premier League, Ramsdale is expected to push for a move to ensure he remains in contention for one of the three goalkeeper spots in the World Cup squad.

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Jul-2015Upul Tharanga – playing his first Test after a year – began the rebuilding process with Dimuth Karunaratne, as the pair took Sri Lanka to lunch unscathed save the early dismissal•AFPYasir Shah made inroads into the Sri Lanka middle order after lunch, claiming three scalps, two of them to exuberant strokes which were poorly executed•AFPOn the other end of the scale, Karunaratne was skipping down the track and going back as he milked the spinners, striking a few delectable drives in between•AFPKarunaratne and Jehan Mubarak added 67 runs for the fifth wicket and drove Sri Lanka into a dominant position, but Mubarak got out at an inopportune time. Karunaratne moved on to his second Test century – a show of extreme diligence and determination – and was out for 130. Sri Lanka ended the day on 272 for 8•AFP