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Sussex end second day with 176-run lead over Leicestershire and four wickets remaining

David Hopps13-May-2022Sussex 386 for 6 (Clark, 138, Carter 72, Haines 50) lead Leicestershire 210 by 176 runsThe age of optimism is coming to the Uptonsteel County Ground on July 31, but sadly for Leicestershire it is just the title of Paloma Faith’s latest tour. As far as the cricket is concerned, the atmosphere remains one of prolonged struggle and, in the battle between Division Two’s bottom two, it is Sussex who can anticipate a morale-boosting victory.Tom Clark, with a second century of the season, a stylish, career-best 138, and Oliver Carter, a scampish wicketkeeper-batter whose 72 was also a personal best, were Sussex’s chief beneficiaries as they established a 176-run lead by the close of the second day with four wickets remaining. And there was a third PB later for 17-year-old Archie Lenham, who closed the day only four short of a maiden half-century.Clark is 21, Carter a year younger and both suggested that Sussex’s youth policy in four-day cricket is beginning to bear fruit. Last week, they declared at Hove and Middlesex pulled off a sizeable run chase, but they will learn faster that way and it was good to see them go against this season’s trend, with an overly-tempting eight points for a draw, by pursuing victory. This week, they have bounced back with commendable spirit and are poised for ending a run of 17 Championship matches without a win.On this occasion, they have also managed without a sizeable contribution by the India batter, Cheteshwar Pujara, who has made hundreds in his first four Sussex matches, a record unsurpassed in the county’s history. Pujara was lbw to Ben Mike’s first ball, which darted back sharply, and fell for 3, a marginal call perhaps but nothing untoward. Tom Haines’ reputation is also rushing ahead, but his bullish 50 ended before noon when he dragged on a ball from Wiaan Mulder that was far too close to cut.That left Clark and Carter to take charge with a stand of 140 in 40. Clark, an upright left-hander, met the left-arm spin of Callum Parkinson cautiously – he conceded only one of Clark’s 19 boundaries – but he was more assertive against the seamers. Carter, who offered a difficult chance to second slip, off Mike, when only 3, is in the mould of many wicketkeepers of past vintage: lively, diminutive and strong off the back foot. His longish, dyed-blond hair gives him the air of a bit of a free-thinker while Clark cuts a figure of sobriety and sound judgment. That said, it was Clark who almost ran himself out, on 31, but Mike’s throw flew wide with him several yards short of his ground. He saw off the second new ball with elan, but fell shortly before the close, trying to hit Parkinson over the leg-side – no wonder he had resisted it for so long.The thousand-plus spectators who will take advantage of free tickets for this match were given an early lesson in Leicestershire’s grim realities as only five wickets fell in the day. They brought a refreshing change to the narrow demographic for Championship matches with more women, young people and minority ethnic groups sprinkled among the largely elderly, white supporters base whose expectations of success have been weathered by time. More than ever, as afternoon sunshine blazed down, and Sussex’s next generation developed before your eyes, it invited disbelief that anybody would be so wanton as to want to throw this away. To do so in Leicestershire would be a betrayal of multi-ethnic potential just as the mood was changing. To accept that, though, demands trust: we have been this way before.Leicestershire’s offer of free tickets sounds more than tokenism; this time, at long last, it may be the beginning of a cultural shift. They are interviewing for a community director, a senior figure who will be tasked with transforming relationships with minority ethnic communities. Sean Jarvis, their chief executive, said: “We have 56 different nationalities in Leicester according to the last census. Afghans, Pakistanis, Indians, Sri Lankans, a real eclectic mix of cricket nations. A community director is about getting into communities and understanding them. Being in amongst it. They’ve got to be pressing palms and understanding cultures. What we call the South Asian community has many different beliefs and religions and is so fragmented. It’s not an easy job but we are committed to it.”There are influential figures in English cricket, not to mention Kevin Pietersen, who would cull Leicestershire, and possibly Sussex too, at the merest excuse. Talk of a divisional structure next season of 12 in the first division and six in the second is such a blatant attempt to downgrade the six that a five-year-old could see it. It won’t happen, the question is, what will?Unsurprisingly, conversations between Jarvis and his Sussex counterparts have touched on the future structure of the game. Jarvis comes from a football and rugby league background – he once bought Oldham Athletic for £1 – and, as such, his loyalties to cricket tradition are not as deeply embedded. Personally, he would be receptive to three divisions of six (or even an expansion to seven), and a reduction in Championship cricket, but the counties’ vetting group that will give initial feedback on ECB proposals is unlikely to find that a universal view. If they want to influence the future they first need to agree among themselves.The democracy of football, with its extensive pyramid system right down to the lower levels, leaves Jarvis aghast that everybody in cricket does not value the same. Mutterings about the benefits of a reduction in the counties just feels like a cash grab by the Test counties.”It could be an attempt to focus revenue on the elite, but we have to have a feeder system,” he said. “Counties like us have to stand shoulder to shoulder. We both believe in the game, we both want England to succeed, we both think there’s a role for Leicestershire, Sussex, for all those teams outside the Test grounds.”Do I think we can do better? Yes, of course. Do I think we can improve our business model on and off the field? Without question. But in rugby league, nobody responds to an England defeat by saying ‘let’s get rid of Castleford or Huddersfield Giants’. Their value to the game, and to their communities is understood.”As a business, on the field we have had a long barren spell and the club has become disengaged with the business community, and facilities need revamping. We need to be more innovative and creative and give people a reason to come. And we need an alignment of the stars. What’s happened here in the past has been a lot of false dawns. Great pictures then it all fades away. This time I am trying to create a plan we can deliver. But we need friends. I can’t do it by myself.”

We've now entered the final week of the summer transfer window, and Liverpool have yet to complete the first senior signing of the Arne Slot era.

Liverpool have recouped over £60m in August through the sales of young fringe players Sepp van den Berg, Fabio Carvalho and Bobby Clark – with further outgoings expected – while veterans Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara left upon the expiry of their contracts in June to free up a combined £300k-per-week of the wage bill.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has revealed on his Here We Go podcast that he expects the Reds to get busy at this late stage, with Joe Gomez potentially moving on. Should that happen, signing a new centre-back would be imperative.

Fans crave the arrival of a deep-sitting midfielder too, but recent rumours actually suggest that FSG are considering an audacious swoop for one of Europe's finest wide forwards.

Liverpool transfer news

According to Football Insider, Liverpool are plotting a late move for Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who has emerged as one of the most talented wingers in the world over the past few years.

The Georgian dominated Italy as Napoli won the Scudetto in 2022/23, and though the side fell off a proverbial cliff last year, he remained a world-class component.

The Naples giants shudder at the thought of his exit. Any deal would be complicated by his having three years remaining on his contract, and offers below £70m wouldn't be entertained. But then Liverpool do have money to spend, on the right player of course.

A left-sided forward, Kvaratskhelia would not be lined up as Mohamed Salah's replacement. The Egyptian king is out of contract at the end of the campaign but Liverpool appear ready to wait until 2025 before signing the perfect successor on the right flank.

Instead, Kvaratskhelia would bring his qualities to the left, with level of talent that could actually see him eclipse the competition and become one of Slot's most important cogs.

What Khvicha Kvaratskhelia would bring to Liverpool

Kvaratskhelia has that almost ineffable quality of raising the roof with mere movements, shifting and scurrying past his opponents to wreak the most remarkable of devastation, supplying goal machine Victor Osimhen with high-class consistency and finding space to unleash strikes on goal himself.

To think that the Italian team signed the 23-year-old for only €10m (£9m) in 2022, bringing him in from Dinamo Batumi in Georgia following previous spells in Russia.

He has now scored 25 goals and supplied 26 assists across 88 appearances for his current club, indeed winning the 2022/23 Serie A title and being crowned the division's Player of the Year.

Most impressive is his ability to carry that form into Gli Azzurri's title defence, where it all fell apart and the team languished toward a tenth-place finish.

He was hailed for his "unstoppable" attacking ability by talent scout Jacek Kulig while also evidencing the kind of dynamic and athletically robust style of play that would be sure to thrive in the Premier League.

On that point: as per FBref, he ranks among the top 19% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 15% for shot-creating actions, the top 4% for progressive carries and the top 6% for successful take-ons per 90.

He'd be the perfect addition at Liverpool, though it's implausible to imagine he would be signed without a high-profile sale.

An upgrade on Luis Diaz

Luis Diaz's potential move to Barcelona seems to have been in the pipeline for ages, with his father revealing last year that his son is a supporter of the Catalan club and would consider a transfer to Camp Nou his unmatchable dream.

Such rumours have persisted throughout the summer transfer window, though Slot has recently stated that Diaz is at the core of his plans and he does not expect him to depart this month.

Rightly so. Diaz's fleet-footed, electric nature is hard to replicate, and while he's not the most clinical forward in the world, with only eight goals across 37 Premier League games last year, if there was ever a showcase of his skillset, he completed all five dribbles against Ipswich Town last weekend, also winning eight duels and placing three key passes.

But, as you can see above, Kvaratskhelia is more rounded and more deadly in his performances, and four years younger than Liverpool's maverick, he could be the perfect, long-term option for Slot.

His dribbling output and energy in the duel, as well as his tipped favour in creative and ball-playing metrics, speak volumes about the kind of package Liverpool would land.

Barcelona are still in the market for a winger despite closing in on Federico Chiesa from Juventus (right-sided) so Diaz could yet be sold, and Kvaratskhelia must be signed, no one else.

Therefore, this is a deal that FSG need to see cross the line. Next summer, there could be a storm of interest in the Georgia superstar's services, but for now, a golden opportunity to swoop in and land a prodigious talent has opened up, and he must be signed.

Slot's own Ugarte: Liverpool could land dream No.6 in £51m "machine"

Will the Reds sign a No. 6 in the coming week?

By
Angus Sinclair

Aug 24, 2024

Plays of the Day from the third ODI between Zimbabwe and India in Harare

Liam Brickhill at the Harare Sports Club28-Jul-2013The catchIn the second match, Virat Kohli stood his ground after chipping a low catch to Malcolm Waller at mid-on. Though Waller claimed the catch, it took a second look from the television umpire to send Kohli on his way. Today, Kohli’s opposite number Brendan Taylor was the one to stand his ground. Taylor had attempted to clear mid-off with a lofted drive, but toe-ended the shot to present Mohammad Shami with a tough chance. The fielder managed to get a couple of fingers underneath the ball above the turf, but Taylor stayed at the wicket until several replays, from multiple angles, confirmed his dismissal.The shotZimbabwe’s No. 9 Tendai Chatara had batted twice in ODIs before this match, without ever scoring a run. Today, he was off the mark with four of them, thanks to an overthrow, and played the shot of the innings in the 40th over when he hooked an attempted bouncer from Vinay Kumar over deep square leg for six to give the home side’s supporters something to cheer about.The googlyAmit Mishra has taken nine wickets in three matches so far, and six of them have come via the googly. Brendan Taylor has suggested that his team-mates can pick the variation, though some apparently pick it better than others. Waller has fallen twice to the delivery, and today he was nipped out first ball by one that spun back in past his poking bat to strike his pads in front of middle stump. His dismissal left Mishra on a hat-trick, but for the second time in two matches an Indian bowler was denied that milestone.The debutantZimbabwe never had much chance of defending 183 on a benign surface, but debutant Michael Chinouya didn’t look like he was going to let a heavy defeat completely ruin his first day of international cricket. Chinouya was given some consolation with the wicket of Rohit Sharma, caught behind, as his first and after the edge was pouched, he set off on a John Cena-inspired celebratory run, waving four fingers in front of his face as he was mobbed by his team-mates.The white flagThe match ended in a flurry of boundaries, particularly off the bat of Virat Kohli, but it was Suresh Raina who hit the winning runs for India. Kohli had levelled the scores with a single to square leg off Tendai Chatara, who then offered Raina the friendliest of leg-stump half-volleys. If anything, Brian Vitori’s fielding effort at fine leg was even friendlier. He raised the white flag by trotting half-heartedly after the ball and escorting it to the boundary without a thought of a dive. The ball trickled over the rope, and with that the series was India’s.

There will be an urge to point fingers but it is more important to help other young players who face the same temptations as those that caused Tom Maynard’s death

George Dobell28-Feb-2013Spike Milligan used to tell a story about his experience of mental illness. The comedian suffered bouts of depression and told a tale of lying in bed alone and crying uncontrollably. On one occasion, as he did so, he noticed his young daughter slowly walking towards him with her arms outstretched and offering a glass of water. She knew it wouldn’t help, but she wanted to try and couldn’t think of anything else to offer.For some reason it was the story that came to mind when reflecting on cricket’s reaction to the death of Tom Maynard. As the game in England and Wales reels from the loss and the subsequent revelations, it is looking for answers and solutions and, some at least, are keen to find someone to blame.There isn’t a neat solution, though. There are no easy answers and, while this episode might remind some of the dangers of drink and drugs, few could claim they have never heard these lessons before. It would be simplistic to state that cricket has a problem with drink and drugs. It is a society-wide problem that is bound to be reflected in a game which draws its participants from that society. To think that cricket can provide the answers is naive.Looking for someone to blame is fruitless, too. While some indirectly involved may torture themselves with hindsight and retrospection, they may conclude that this was, in essence, just a terrible accident. It has already claimed several victims: Tom Maynard, his family and friends, the train driver and the police officers involved among them. It doesn’t need any more.
Nothing and no-one can ensure there will be no repeat. For all the good work and good intentions of the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) – the players’ union – the ECB and the counties, there is no way of protecting all players from all the dangers of society. Perhaps more pertinently, there is no way of protecting them from themselves.And that’s they key issue here. While some claim a young Surrey squad was given too long a leash and an unhealthy culture of drinking was allowed to develop, the truth is young men have always pushed the boundaries in search of fun. Rarely does it come back and bite quite as hard. Now, with players paid more at a younger age – in some cases, before they are ready for it – perhaps the temptations are greater than ever.Ultimately, there is no getting away from the sad conclusion that Maynard made a series of judgement errors – the sort of errors many of us make at some stage or another – and paid the harshest penalty. He knew he should not take illegal drugs; he knew he should not drive after drinking; he knew he should not run from the police. It is not Surrey’s fault that he ignored those truisms. He was young, certainly, but old enough to take responsibility for his actions. Neither his club nor his friends could be expected to provide round the clock care.Those who suggest the Tom Maynard Trust – the Trust set up in his name to offer opportunities to disadvantaged young sportspeople – will suffer for the revelations about his drink and drug use are missing the point. The fact that Maynard succumbed to such temptation simply underlines the need for more education, for greater awareness and for more opportunities for those at risk. If the Trust can prevent others from making the same mistake – and it surely can – it will have performed a highly valuable function. The next generation of sportsmen need to be aware of the mistakes the likes of Maynard and the footballer Paul Gascoigne have made with a view to avoiding them. Perhaps just a little good might yet come from this awful case.There are some signs that the game now takes a more enlightened view towards drink and drugs. When Paul Smith, suffering from seizures and blackouts, was revealed to have a drug problem in 1997, the ECB responded by banning him from all levels of cricket. From standing on the Lord’s balcony celebrating a Man of the Match award and Warwickshire’s sixth trophy within three seasons, he lost everything. He lost his employment, his home, his family and spent time sleeping rough. At one stage he went for more than a week without food.”I needed help and they gave me a punishment,” Smith, now very much back on his feet, told ESPNcricinfo. “I wanted a doctor and they gave me Gerard Elias,” the QC who for years fronted the ECB’s disciplinary panels and took a notoriously tough approach to drug-related transgressions. To be fair to him and the ECB, Smith was offered a little help alongside the ban, but it was hardly adequate for a man who confesses he was “never more than 30 minutes” from drugs for several years.

“Surrey are a much altered club. Recognising a need for greater maturity in the dressing room, they have signed a coterie of experienced professionals in order to provide stability, leadership and an example to their young players”

The current approach is not only kinder, it is more realistic. County players found to have taken recreational drugs in out-of-competition testing no longer face an automatic ban. Instead they will receive counselling. The emphasis is very much on helping rather than punishing and encourages those affected – or their friends and team-mates – to seek help without the fear that it could result in a career-defining ban. A game that once tried to look the other way at least now acknowledges it has a problem.The message needs reinforcing, though. It was revealing that Jade Dernbach was under the mistaken impression at the inquest that anyone found to have taken recreational drugs would suffer an immediate ban. The players have to be made aware that there is non-judgemental help available. Perhaps, if Maynard had known that, things may have been different.Things are changing for the better. Even as this article is being written, a batch of new county professionals are receiving advice from the PCA on the dangers of drink, drugs and gambling at an Edgbaston seminar. Angus Porter, the chief executive of the PCA, remarked during a lull in the Maynard inquest that gambling unrelated to cricket was quickly emerging as the greatest concern to his association.Meanwhile the PCA is urging the ECB to extend the incentive scheme – whereby clubs are rewarded for fielding younger, England-qualified players – by two years, to benefit those attending MCCUs (the six universities affiliated to the MCC which allow young people to continue their education while benefiting from excellent cricket facilities and coaching). The current system, it is argued, disincentives young players from gaining a university education as, by the time they leave, they are approaching the threshold where the counties receive no funding for their selection. One of the downsides of 12-month contracts in the county game is the fact that players have less opportunity to learn transferable skills for their life after cricket. Anything that eases that transition has to be sensible.The PCA and ECB are keen to see greater drug testing, too. The evidence of the Maynard incident would suggest that testing is not the deterrent it might be and, while there has been a recent emphasis on combating depression, the game may have as much of an issue with decadence. It is worth noting, too, that when Warwickshire – unsettled by a succession of drug problems – attempted to bring in their own testing system in 2005, it was the PCA that blocked them. The world and the PCA have changed a great deal since those days.Surrey, in particular, are a much altered club. A year ago Surrey, recently promoted and crowned CB40 champions, had recovered a bit of the strut that had once characterised their style. They were a vibrant club with a golden future, stuffed with brilliant young cricketers enjoying life on and off the pitch. It all seems rather innocent in retrospect.They have a different feel now. Wiser, perhaps; sadder, certainly. Recognising a need for greater maturity in the dressing room, Surrey have signed a coterie of highly experienced professionals – including Graeme Smith as captain – in order to provide stability, leadership and an example to the young players who remain. A different culture will be instilled. Plan A, which included the appointment of a 22-year-old captain, was not a complete failure, but there is no getting away from the fact that it ended in disaster.Surrey have felt the effects most profoundly but Maynard’s case is unlikely to be isolated•Getty ImagesChris Adams, Surrey’s director of cricket, has admitted he has asked himself over and over whether he could have done anything differently. Perhaps, in retrospect, there were warning signs: Maynard had been hit by a car while out drinking in Brighton about 10 days prior to his death but, while the club disciplined him, there was no suggestion of a drug issue or a habitual drinking problem. Maynard’s form was good and it was his first disciplinary setback at the club.”I have looked at what I did and asked myself many times could I have managed the player differently and could we have known,” Adams told the . “But there is absolutely no way on earth I think we could spot the signs of social drugs use to this level.”I can 100 percent guarantee that there was no partying culture at Surrey. We have 23 professionals on our staff and the majority of those players are outstanding individuals who live good lives. We are aware we had a small minority group last year that away from cricket were getting entrapped into the pitfalls of London life and it is our responsibility now to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”Whether they have embraced the extent of the problem remains unclear. Surrey’s chief executive, Richard Gould, said he was satisfied that Maynard’s drug use was a “one-off” at The Oval, though it is hard to share his optimism. Certainly it was notable that none of the witnesses at the inquest claimed to be aware that Maynard had ever taken illegal substances. Cocaine and ecstasy are social drugs. The fear remains that others are wrestling with similar lifestyles issues that require help.

Leeds United are thought to be in advanced talks to sign a goalscoring midfielder for Daniel Farke, according to a new report.

Midfielder wanted at Leeds before deadline

Manor Solomon became the club’s sixth signing of the summer recently, joining Joe Rodon, Joe Rothwell, Alex Cairns, Jayden Bogle and Largie Ramazani at Elland Road. The Israel international joined on a season-long loan from Tottenham and looks set to help fill the void left by Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter.

However, after losing a number of star players over the course of the window, including midfielders Archie Gray and Glen Kamara, another addition has been wanted for a number of weeks alongside Rothwell.

Farke said during Leeds' pre-season tour of Germany last month that a new signing in the middle of the pitch is wanted: “Overall we have lost two really good midfield options with Archie Gray and also Glen Kamara. We brought in Joe Rothwell, also a pretty experienced player and also good in possession, can chip in with goals and great set-pieces.

“So happy so far, but especially in the central position we won’t fall asleep until the window is really closed. And yes, definitely. In many positions we are already more or less done in our planning but it’s definitely one of the positions where we could do perhaps also with a new addition.”

Terms agreed: Report now claims £15m midfielder has said yes to Leeds move

The Whites now need to increase their bid.

1

By
Charlie Smith

Aug 28, 2024

A number of targets have been linked, including Koln’s Dejan Ljubicic and Sheffield United’s Gus Hamer. The 49ers Enterprises appear to have pulled out of the race to sign Ljubicic, whereas a £13m bid for Hamer was rejected by the Blades. That appears to have led Leeds back to a 2023 target.

Leeds in advanced talks to sign Ao Tanaka

According to Football Insider, Leeds are in advanced talks to sign Ao Tanaka from Fortuna Dusseldorf in the final days of the window. The report states that the 25-year-old is keen on a move and that he has a release clause in the region of £2.65m.

The Japan international is also out of contract in under 12 months time, so it looks as if a transfer to Elland Road could go through before the deadline.

Tanaka can play as a holding, central or attacking midfielder, as per Transfermarkt, so would offer plenty of versatility to Farke’s options alongside Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev and Rothwell.

As can be seen, Tanaka has an eye for goal from midfield compared to his positional peers, scoring 28 goals during his career for club and country, so he could be a shrewd pick up before Friday.

Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have been left out of Liverpool's matchday squad for their Carabao Cup clash against Southampton.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Salah, Van Dijk left out of Liverpool squad
• Ngumoha could make his senior debut
• Liverpool take on Southampton in Carabao Cup

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Arne Slot took a bold call ahead of Liverpool's Carabao Cup quarter-final clash against Southampton on Wednesday as he left out star players Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk from the travelling squad. The Dutch manager named a second-string starting lineup as he wanted his first-team stars to rest amid a hectic run of fixtures in December.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  This is the first time that Salah has been excluded from the Reds' matchday roster in the 2024/25 campaign as he has appeared in all of the 23 matches the club have played thus far. Van Dijk, on the other hand, has made 21 appearances.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Liverpool academy's 16-year-old forward Rio Ngumoha has been included in the squad and could make his senior debut for the club against the Saints.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

  After facing Southampton, Slot's side will be back in action in the Premier League on Sunday as they take on Tottenham Hotspur in an away fixture.

Fast bowler limited to seven overs, including four of spin, as Leicestershire ease to draw

David Hopps15-May-2022Leicestershire 210 and 333 for 9 (Patel 68, Swindells 57, Azad 54, Lenham 4-84) drew with Sussex 450 (Clark, 138, Carter 72, Haines 50)Around the time that Matthew Potts was summoning another irresistible fast-bowling performance that seems bound to catapult him into an England Test squad for the first time, Ollie Robinson was bowling off-spin for Sussex.One looked hungry for an England debut, one looked as if his England career was in abeyance. Robinson bowled only seven overs in the day, three of seam, four of spin. He would have been better with a literal lack of hunger before the match – the after-effects of his food poisoning on the eve of the game, according to Sussex’s head coach, Ian Salisbury, remained debilitating.”Ollie wasn’t himself all match after the food poisoning,” he said. “He just couldn’t perform. The sickness affected him massively, he had two drips on the first day.”In theory, Robinson could bowl out the New Zealanders at Hove next week and go to Lord’s with his form and reputation restored, but the squad is expected to be chosen before that game with a series of gatherings and fitness assessments in mind. To name Robinson in the squad – and also to allow him to have a go at the tourists to prove his worthiness – would be a considerable show of faith.In some ways, England’s decision will reflect their view of county cricket because Robinson is the archetypal county cricketer in an age when generally they are looking for nothing of the sort.As a county-style bowler, a player hardly in vogue, his returns over four seasons were exceptional. He had learned to seek out seam or swing depending on conditions. And he had an excellent record with the old ball as well as the new. He forced his selection through performance. He had four hot years; Potts has had four hot weeks.Thirty-one Test wickets at 21.28 in his maiden summer of 2021 suggested he had made the transition, but even with such an outstanding record, his suitability for international cricket remains under question. There were the dubious social media posts, the undercurrent of unreliability. But he was indisputably one of England’s premier seam bowlers and as such he was awarded his first central contract in October.Perhaps he is not the sort to be embraced by the system. Not everybody is. His stamina and fitness levels for Test cricket were brought into question by England’s bowling coach, Jon Lewis, in January, before he broke down before the start of a Test series in the West Indies that represented his chance to claim a regular spot. Then came the recent Championship match at Worcester where England blocked his inclusion on fitness grounds and he pleaded a tooth infection.In Leicester, thanks to food as yet unknown, he has failed to make his case. In only his second Championship appearance of the season, he bowled only one over on the first day because of his stomach upset. Whilst not knowing his true medical state by the final day (and it should not be airily dismissed) he would have been better being sick with exhaustion on the pitch. He still had questions to answer and he flunked the examination.He bowled three overs with the second new ball, taking a wicket with a loosener as Ben Mike checked a drive to extra cover, where Cheteshwar Pujara held a fine diving catch, and was then withdrawn from the attack. He reappeared with the second new ball still only 12 overs old to bowl four overs of inconsequential offspin. Then no more. Barring, presumably, a bit of nausea and a lie down.It should be conceded that he is a respectable offspinner. As a youngster, he was a batter who bowled spin, he has bowled it at times for Sussex with some success and he sent down three overs in this guise in sunglasses during the Adelaide Test in December. But on the day that Sussex needed a matchwinner and England needed a signal, circumstance dictated that he could provide neither.An increasingly pedestrian fourth-day surface at Leicester offered slow turn and was ultimately so dispiriting for all the bowlers that Leicestershire, still 45 runs behind at the start of the final day with only five wickets left, survived at 333 for 9 with a lead of 93, with Harry Swindells and Callum Parkinson stubbornly repelling 46 overs in an eight-wicket stand of 111.The result leaves both counties without a win at the foot of the Second Division, but it will be Sussex who will be deflated after seemingly being destined to claim their first Championship victory since April last year only for 27 overs lost to afternoon showers to cost them dear. Even when Delray Rawlins prised out both Swindells and Parkinson in rapid succession, Swindells’ 57 from 178 balls coming to grief at short extra, Parkinson (45 from 176) bowled by a quicker one, there was no Robinson to be seen.But if not Robinson then whom? The minute that England’s revamped trio of Rob Key, Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes begin to discuss their fast-bowling stocks, their sense of optimism will come under serious challenge.Of the 11 specialist quicks to play in a Test in the last two years, only five featured in this round of the Championship. Of those, the old stagers, James Anderson and Stuart Broad, were as resilient as ever and are certain selections after being excluded from an experimental West Indies tour party. Craig Overton had a knee-injury scare before returning to duties in Somerset’s win in Bristol, but Robinson must now be a major doubt.Some of the absentees might yet make a surprise inclusion in the England squad. Chris Woakes remains afflicted by shoulder and knee trouble; Olly Stone and Sam Curran are recovering from stress fractures of the back (Curran bowled two overs of spin himself at Beckenham); and Jofra Archer and Mark Wood will attempt returns from elbow operations at some point this summer in white-ball cricket.Two absentees from the Roses match, however, cannot be entirely ruled out. Lancashire’s Saqib Mahmood has a stiff back and little cricket behind him, but there is no diagnosis about a serious injury. The same can be said of Matt Fisher, whose briefly successful start to the season at Yorkshire quickly gave way to fears about a “hot spot” in his back and estimates of a precautionary four-week lay-off that has now elapsed. their fitness remains unknown. Tom Helm, of Middlesex, has long been monitored, and has 14 wickets at 12.28 but he again is far from fit.Fast-bowler injuries are not just afflicting England wannabees. Don Topley, the former Essex seamer, and commentator, calculated that around 30 quick bowlers were absent for the start of the season. Since then, the counties have undertaken six matches apiece in a relentless opening phase of seven matches in as many weeks. Demanding pitches, and high scores have made them the equivalent of seven back-to-back Tests. The Dukes balls are said to be not swinging as much and are prone to going soft and out of shape. Perhaps fast bowlers are breaking down just by thinking about it.

Former NZ skipper replaces Andrew McDonald, who has been confirmed as Australia head coach

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Apr-2022Daniel Vettori will take over as Birmingham Phoenix men’s head coach for the Hundred following Andrew McDonald’s appointment as Australia men’s head coach.Vettori was previously assistant coach at Phoenix, but acted as interim head coach for the inaugural edition of the Hundred in 2021 when McDonald remained with the Australian side as an assistant amid travel and scheduling issues caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Phoenix finished as runners-up in the competition, losing to Southern Brave in the final.Vettori, the former New Zealand captain, has also held coaching roles with CPL side Barbados Royals, Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash, Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL and Middlesex in the Vitality Blast. He was Bangladesh spin-bowling coach from 2019-21.Related

• Daniel Vettori and Andre Borovec appointed Australia men's assistant coaches

• Cautious draft picks expose confusion at heart of men's Hundred

• Tim David's walk-on role inspires Hundred regulation change

• Andrew McDonald appointed as full-time Australia men's coach

• Five key challenges for Andrew McDonald as Australia's new head coach

“I absolutely loved my time working with the Birmingham Phoenix squad as head coach last summer, so taking on the role on a permanent basis was a very easy decision,” Vettori said. “We made great strides in the first season and all coaches and players loved seeing the tournament develop, and we had such great support every time that we took to the field at Edgbaston.”However, we want to go one better. It’s a tough competition, but we’ve retained well and recruited some excellent players through the draft. We look an even stronger outfit than in 2021 and hopefully we can continue to entertain the Birmingham Phoenix fans who get behind us.”Vettori recently worked with McDonald for the limited-overs leg of Australia’s tour of Pakistan, acting as a spin-bowling consultant while McDonald was interim head coach.Birmingham Phoenix general manager Craig Flindall said Vettori had developed a wealth of coaching experience in leading short-form tournaments around the world.”We were very much aware that Andrew would be an outstanding candidate for the Australia role and we are grateful to Dan for supporting our plans to make an immediate appointment,” Flindall said. “Whilst we’re sorry that Andrew won’t coach during the Hundred, he has played an integral role in developing the make-up of our squad over the last two years and in shaping our style of play. He has also been a pleasure to work with and everyone within the Birmingham Phoenix family wishes him the very best in his new role.”The Hundred men’s competition begins on August 3, with Southern Brave hosting Welsh Fire. Phoenix will start their campaign away to Trent Rockets three days later and play their first home fixture against Brave at Edgbaston on August 10.

Manchester United are keen on signing Nuno Mendes, and their hopes of signing the Paris Saint-Germain star might be boosted by Ruben Amorim.

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• United interested in Portuguese left-back
• Also linked with Davies and Hernandez
• Mendes' deal expires in 2026

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  A new left-back is high on United's list of targets, with Mendes reportedly joined by Rayan Ait-Nouri of Wolves, Chelsea's Ben Chilwell and young prospect Alvaro Carreras of Benfica on the club's shortlist.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  According to Sky Sport's Florian Plettenberg, Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies and AC Milan star Theo Hernandez are also being considered. But 22-year-old Mendes retains a 'strong interest' from the Red Devils.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  United's hopes of signing Mendes could be boosted by Amorim's presence. Plettenberg adds that Amorim and Mendes share the same agency, which could give the Old Trafford club an edge over other suitors for the Portugal international.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR AMORIM?

  United aren't expected to have a big budget in the upcoming transfer window as Sir Jim Ratcliffe continues to free up some money, so a move for Mendes, who wouldn't come cheap, may have to wait until the summer. Marcus Rashford's expected departure would free up funds to help Amorim improve a squad in need of added spark.

Wayne Rooney will remain one of the best talents to ever come out of Everton, after bursting onto the scene as a 16-year-old back in 2002.

It was unheard of for a player of that age to make such an impact on the first team, scoring his first professional goal against Arsenal – in spectacular fashion too.

His first spell at Goodison Park saw him make 35 appearances, scoring eight goals – prompting big interest from multiple sides in the Premier League.

Rooney eventually joined Manchester United for a fee in the region of £25.6m during the summer of 2004, going on to become the Red Devils’ all-time leading scorer in a glittering stint at Old Trafford.

20 years on from his departure from Goodison, the Merseysiders have the opportunity to sign a star who could be the biggest talent at the club since the former England international.

Everton's search for a striker

As reported by earlier this week, Everton have been offered the chance to sign Borussia Dortmund’s talented youngster Youssoufa Moukoko this summer, with the German wanting more consistent first-team minutes.

The 19-year-old managed to score five goals in his 20 appearances, but only managed to start four Bundesliga matches – featuring for a total of 614 minutes.

As a result, he’s been subject to interest, with Marseille looking the most likely destination at one stage, but a move collapsed with the Toffees handed a huge chance to sign the talent.

It has previously been reported that he could be allowed to depart Signal Iduna Park if a club takes him on loan with an obligation to buy for €15m (£13m) next summer.

Although he’s still a young talent with a huge future in the game, it could be a risk for the Toffees but one that they would reap the rewards of further down the line.

Why Moukoko could be the biggest talent since Rooney

When comparing Rooney to Moukoko, the pair have a few similarities – with both players making their first-team debut at the age of just 16.

The current Dortmund ace made huge waves during his time at youth level, scoring 141 goals in his 88 appearances – many of which were at levels way above his age category.

He still holds the record for the youngster ever Champions League appearance maker, featuring in his first European game at the age of just 16 years and 18 days – coming off the bench against Zenit back in the 2020/21 season.

However, he’s not exploded onto the first-team scene as many anticipated, struggling for consistent minutes, but he still managed to produce some impressive numbers last season which would hugely benefit the Toffees.

The “incredibly prolific” ace, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, was impressive with the ball at his feet, averaging 2.2 progressive passes and 2.3 progressive carries per 90 – allowing for more opportunities in the Premier League for the likes of new addition Iliman Ndiaye.

He also managed a goal every 122 minutes, averaging a 50% shot-on-target rate, backing up Kulig’s claims about the 19-year-old – who was once dubbed the "biggest talent in the world" by ex-teammate Erling Haaland – being a prolific option when given the chance to thrive.

The club’s recruitment so far this summer has seen some excellent additions, with huge potential to impress at Goodison Park.

Given his tender age, Moukoko could be the next youngster to move to Merseyside, potentially being the greatest talent since Rooney and excelling in the Premier League if given consistent first-team minutes.

Gueye 2.0: Everton could forget about McTominay in move for £30m talent

The Toffees are still targeting reinforcements in the midfield department.

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 15, 2024