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Shakib Al Hasan is also part of the squad after he made himself available for selection last month

Mohammad Isam11-Aug-2024

Mushfiqur Rahim had missed the Sri Lanka Tests•AFP/Getty Images

Mushfiqur Rahim and Taskin Ahmed are back in the Bangladesh Test squad for the two-match series against Pakistan starting later this month. Batter Shahadat Hossain however has been left out of the squad that last played against Sri Lanka in March.Mushfiqur missed the Sri Lanka Tests due to a thumb injury while Taskin had taken a break from red-ball cricket to manage his shoulder injury. Taskin, however, will be available only for the second Test in Karachi which begins on August 30 but will play the second four-day game for Bangladesh A on August 20.Senior allrounder Shakib Al Hasan is also part of the squad after he made himself available for selection last month. Shakib, who is no longer a member of parliament after the Awami League-led government fell on August 5, will be in focus.Related

Mushfiqur, Mominul to play for Bangladesh A in Pakistan

Bangladesh Test squad to arrive four days ahead of schedule in Pakistan

Bangladesh in turmoil: how will cricket be impacted?

Six players from the Test squad arrived in Pakistan on Saturday as part of the Bangladesh A side. Mushfiqur and Mominul are among them, as they are set to play the first four-day game in Islamabad from August 13.”The emphasis was on picking our best players for this version,” chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain said. “This is a well-balanced squad. The likes of Mushfiqur (Rahim), Mominul (Haque) and Shakib (Al Hasan) have played 216 matches combined and there is no substitute for that kind of experience. Taijul (Islam) and Miraz (Mehidy Hasan) have been leading the spin department for a long time and have over 350 wickets between them. We also expect Shanto (Najmul Hossain), Litton ( Das) and the other batsmen to step up because to be competitive against Pakistan, we will need a team effort.”Taskin last played a Test in June 2023, in the series against Afghanistan at home. He was part of the T20 World Cup and also played in the Lanka Premier League, but Ashraf said Bangladesh were keen on easing Taskin back into the longer format.”We have selected five pacers mindful of the fact that Taskin Ahmed will only play the second Test. He hasn’t bowled in a Test since June last year and we have decided to include him in the A Team for the second four-dayer against Pakistan A to get him into the rhythm for longer version matches.Taskin Ahmed last played a Test in June 2023•AFP/Getty Images

“A couple of the pacers may join the A-team for the one-day matches, therefore we needed backups. Our attack has variety with bowlers who can bowl fast and also swing the ball and I am looking forward to seeing them perform against world-class batsmen.”Ashraf was also glad about Bangladesh getting extra days to train in Pakistan.”Pakistan are very tough opponents, especially in their home front and it will be a challenging tour for us,” Ashraf said. “It is good that we will get additional time to prepare in Lahore. Also, some players who are in Pakistan already with the Bangladesh A side, will join the national team for the Test series. Their experience of the conditions should come in handy.”The first Test begins on August 21 in Rawalpindi followed by the second in Karachi on August 30. The squad will train at the Gaddafi Stadium from August 14 to 16 before traveling to Islamabad on August 17 ahead of the first Test.Bangladesh Test squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Capt), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Khaled Ahmed

Harvey Elliott has emerged as a transfer target for Brighton & Hove Albion as the 22-year-old may depart Premier League champions Liverpool.

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• Brighton are interested in £40m Elliott
• He has played a bit-part role under Arne Slot
• Seagulls could offer Elliott more first-team football

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Brighton have identified England U21 midfielder as a top target according to The Sun, and feel that they can tempt Elliott with a £40m move to the Amex Stadium with the offer of a starring role to play in the Seagulls' attractive brand of football. Fabian Hurzeler's side reportedly believe that Elliott can take them to a new level, be that from a central role or out wide.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Elliott is a boyhood Liverpool fan, but has spoken out previously about his desire to play more regular first-team football, though he previously hoped that would be at Anfield. With the recent arrival of Florian Wirtz, Elliott is likely to fall further down the Reds' pecking order and may reluctantly decide that his best option is to move and kick-start his career elsewhere. Nottingham Forest have also been reported to hold an interest, but it is thought that Elliott would prefer a move to Brighton due to their attacking style of play.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Elliott became the youngest-ever player to start a game for Liverpool at the time back in September 2019, aged 16 years and 174 days. Having joined the Reds from Fulham in a high-profile transfer for such a young player that summer, Elliott was touted for big things and saw his influence within the squad gradually increase under Jurgen Klopp. He has made 147 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions, but just 28 in 2024/25 after 53 the previous season.

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR ELLIOTT AND BRIGHTON?

  Elliott has a big decision to make this summer about where his long-term future lies, particularly with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon as he aims to force himself into Thomas Tuchel's plans. Brighton may have to deal with the departure of Joao Pedro this summer, and will be hoping, as ever, to find their next young gems in the transfer market.

MatériaMais Notícias

da dobrowin： Destaque do Londrina, o atacante Cirilo marcou 20 gols na temporada passada. Agora, quer repetir o bom desempenho neste ano para ajudar a equipe no Campeonato Brasileiro da Série B.

Há três anos na equipe, o jovem jogador chegou a ser sondado por diversas equipes, mas reforçou sua vontade de permanecer no Londrina e manter a boa fase.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFutebol NacionalGianluca chega ao Operário e fala sobre expectativaFutebol Nacional27/04/2023CorinthiansLuxemburgo na mira do Corinthians: lembre como foram as passagens do técnico pelo clubeCorinthians27/04/2023

da poker： – Estou trabalhando para manter o bom momento, ano passado foi mágico para mim e espero repetir o desempenho e voltar a marcar gols e ajudar a equipe – explicou.

A última partida do atacante foi ainda no Campeonato Paranaense e o jogador segue treinando e se preparando para voltar a teroportunidades.

The comeback

Saurashtra, the defending champions, pulled off a miraculous win in Solapur to keep their knockout hopes alive.Down and out at 69 for 8 in their second innings, with their lead just 112, they were revived by Jaydev Unadkat, the captain, and Chirag Jani, one of their premier allrounders, who made 45 and 43 respectively.The ninth-wicket pair added 93 to help Saurashtra set Maharashtra a target of 213, which proved 48 too many. Left-arm spinner Parth Bhut sent Maharashtra on a tailspin by picking up 7 for 44, his fourth five-for in first-class cricket.Seven Maharashtra batters got off to starts, but none managed more than Taranjitsingh Dhillon’s 28 at No. 7. The defeat sees Maharashtra languishing in the second half of the Group A table, while Saurashtra are closing in on the top three.Related

• Mayank Agarwal cleared to return for Ranji action

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• Run-hungry Ricky Bhui leads the way for Andhra

• Prithvi Shaw set to make Ranji return after lengthy injury layoff

The thrillers

Having come into their fifth-round fixture without a win, Services were bundled out for 108 on the opening morning under swinging conditions in Lahli. It’s from here that they orchestrated an epic comeback against Haryana that culminated in a sensational one-run victory.This was only the second time in Ranji history that a team had managed to secure victory by one run. Andhra was the only other team to pull off this feat, when they beat Tamil Nadu by this margin, at Salem in 1974-75.Pulkit Narang, the offspinner who has recently been part of India A, led Services’ turnaround. His three wickets were instrumental in Services pocketing a five-run first innings lead. Rajat Paliwal, the captain, then led the way with 86 in the second innings to set Haryana a target of 146, which if achieved would have propelled them to the top of the standings.Haryana made a good fist of the target, with openers Ankit Kumar and Harshal Patel adding 51. Then from 81 for 1, they sensationally collapsed; losing 6 for 11 as Narang ran through the batting line-up to pick up 5 for 55 as Services clinched a famous win.In Surat, Manish Pandey played a clutch knock to help Karnataka clinch a one-wicket thriller against Railways.Chasing 226, the inexperienced top order, sans Mayank Agarwal and Devdutt Padikkal, caved in and were at 99 for 6. Stand-in captain Nikin Jose registered a pair. But the lower order rallied with Pandey remaining unbeaten on 67.Pandey aside, there was a crucial contribution from pacer Vijayakumar Vyshak, who made 38. But when he was dismissed, Karnataka still needed 29 runs with just two wickets in hand.Pandey found support from Vidwath Kaverappa and Vasuki Koushik to clinch an unlikely win. Vyshak had also picked up a five-for with the ball in Railways’ second innings to help limit Railways’ lead, which proved to be crucial.The win helped Karnataka jump to second in Group C, level on points with Tamil Nadu. However, TN are toppers by virtue of a better quotient and two bonus points to Karnataka’s zero.Mohit Avasthi holds the ball up after bagging a seven-for•Cricket Association of Bengal

The upset

Gujarat, the early pace-setters of the season, have stumbled big time. After winning their first two games, they’ve now lost two on the bounce, in addition to a drawn game due to the elements. This leaves them precariously placed, and outside the top three, in Group C going into the second half of the league phase.Their latest defeat was against the Wriddhiman Saha-led Tripura, a team that had only won nine Ranji games in all since they came into existence in 1985-86. However, this season alone, they’ve added two more wins and are third in the pool, which gives them a chance of pushing for the knockouts.Tripura’s win was all the more special as they rallied around in the second innings after conceding a 26-run lead, courtesy an outstanding effort from Manisankar Murasingh who scored 72 in their 343.Gujarat weren’t really in the chase of 318, slumping to 64 for 5 from where there was no turnaround. Parvez Sultan, the left-arm spinner, ended with a match haul of 10 for 116.

The victory march

Mumbai recorded their fourth win in five games as they thumped Bengal by an innings and four runs at Eden Gardens. The turnaround was led by Shivam Dube, the captain, and debutant Suryansh Shedge, who added 144 for the fifth wicket on the opening day. From 87 for 4, they managed 412 in the first innings.Bengal were bundled out for 199 and 209, with only Anustup Majumdar (first innings) and Abishek Porel (second innings) standing tall with the bat. Fast bowler Mohit Awasthi recorded figures of 7 for 52 as Bengal were skittled in under 60 overs in the second innings.

Chris Sutton admits he is “not sure what has happened” to an “excellent” Celtic player, following the weekend defeat away to St Johnstone.

Celtic suffer disappointing Scottish Premiership loss

Brendan Rodgers’ side produced a strangely below-par display on Sunday afternoon, losing 1-0 away to their bottom-of-the-table counterparts, in a result that few saw coming. The manager himself was livid at what he saw, sharing his unhappy comments after the game and making it clear his players had been read the riot act.

“There’s definitely anger. I’m trying to control it. And listen, I look at my own self first and foremost. I’m proud of my career and how I teach players and how I inspire them and how I motivate them. Am I doing the very best job I possibly can to inspire these and motivate these to get over the line? So that’s my first look.

“But I just think there’s a comfort there I don’t like. And it doesn’t matter if you’re 13 points or three points ahead. It’s not enough. We have to be much better than where we were in our ambition in the game.”

Rodgers sets high standards at Celtic and it is good to see him lambast his players, rather than go easy on them because of the state of the Scottish Premiership title race. The Hoops may be 13 points clear of Rangers, but it is clear that the 52-year-old is taking nothing for granted, not enjoying seeing his players perform with complacency.

Sutton bemused by "excellent" Celtic player's form

Taking to X after Celtic’s loss to St Johnstone, Sutton gave an assessment of the form of winger Nicolas Kuhn, among others, admitting he doesn’t know what has happened to him.

Sutton has every right to question the form of Kuhn, who made such a bright start to life at Parkhead, being lauded by Rodgers upon his arrival: “We believe he is a dynamic player who has an excellent level of quality and all the attributes to fit well into our style of play He has the profile we are looking for, he has a real attacking intent, a player with great pace and ideas, the ability to create and score goals and a player with a great energy and work ethic.”

Worse than Kuhn: Celtic must axe star who lost the ball every 4 touches

Celtic slipped to a shock defeat to bottom side St Johnstone on Sunday afternoon

ByRobbie Walls Apr 6, 2025

The German, thought to be on around £12,000 a week at Parkhead, has only scored twice since early January though, coming in 14 appearances, with a couple of assists also coming his way in that time. A long campaign may simply have caught up with him, but it is clear that he isn’t the force he was.

Kylian Mbappe has been told the "timing is not right" for him to compete for the Ballon d'Or, even if he helps Real Madrid win the Club World Cup.

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Mbappe had prolific debut season at RealBut ended up without a major trophyMalouda suggests 2025 Ballon d'Or is out of reachFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

Mbappe completed a long-awaited move to Real Madrid last summer after leaving Paris Saint-Germain and has enjoyed a prolific first season with the Spanish giants. The France international scored 43 goals in 56 appearances across all competitions for Los Blancos, including 31 in La Liga to clinch the European Golden Shoe for the first time in his career.

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Mbappe also got his hands on the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Intercontinental Cup, but major silverware proved elusive for Real as they finished runners-up to arch rivals Barcelona in both La Liga and the Copa del Rey, while suffering a painful Champions League quarter-final defeat to Arsenal. It has been suggested that Real's failure on the biggest stages will prevent Mbappe from scooping the 2025 Ballon d'Or, with PSG's Ousmane Dembele and Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal now being billed as the frontrunners for the prestigious individual prize.

Watch every game of the FIFA Club World Cup live on DAZNStream nowWHAT MALOUDA SAID

Mbappe does have one final chance to boost his chances of Ballon d'Or success as Real head to the United States for the first edition of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup. However, former France and Chelsea star Florent Malouda does not think this is the year that the stars align for Mbappe as Los Blancos enter a transitional period under new head coach Xabi Alonso.

When asked whether Mbappe can challenge Yamal and Dembele for the Golden Ball if he fires Real to global glory on American soil, Malouda told GOAL: "Kylian Mbappe is always a Ballon d’Or contender and always will be. When you look at his numbers, his personality and his personal ambitions, it’s his dream to achieve that. He wants to break all records and he wants to compete for these individual awards.

"Regarding Real Madrid, they are in a transition. They lost the manager and for a number nine it all depends on the balance of the team and how confident they are. He is in a new position in that nine and he is playing in a competitive environment when it comes to Barcelona, in which they lost all four times.

"They are competing against top European teams, world-class teams and they still look vulnerable. I don't think it's the right timing for him to compete for individual awards at the moment. The goal will be about being involved in building a strong, strong team for next year."

Getty ImagesDID YOU KNOW?

Mbappe played down his chances of winning the Ballon d'Or this year after starring for France during the latest international break. The Real superstar scored in Les Bleus' Nations League semi-final defeat to Spain and their third-place play-off victory over Germany, but he still feels Golden Ball recognition is out of his control.

"I'm not the one who gives it (the Ballon d'Or) out. I have opinions, and I've had different opinions about the last winners, by the way," he said. "The only trophy that depends solely on my feet is the Golden Shoe. The rest, I don't vote for."

MatériaMais Notícias

da betway： Ao longo da convocação da Seleção Brasileira para partida diante do Marrocos, Ednaldo Pereira foi questionado sobre as polêmicas de arbitragem no jogo entre Sergipe x Botafogo pela Copa do Brasil. O presidente da CBF revelou que não assistiu ao duelo, mas afirmou que se reunirá com Seneme para analisar os acontecimentos. Assista ao vídeo acima.

– O Seneme e sua comissão técnica têm procurado fazer sempre um trabalho de excelência. Eu tenho certeza que é um ponto isolado em relação a aquilo que a arbitragem vem apresentando. Eu particularmente não vi o jogo, mas soube de todos os acontecimentos. Estou aqui na convocação e, durante o dia, vou ter uma reunião com o Seneme afirmou Ednaldo.

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da esoccer bet： +Após início positivo, sistema defensivo do Botafogo apresenta fragilidades

– Eu respeito o posicionamento dos atletas e dirigentes. No momento eloquente de uma partida, eu procuro respeitar. Depois, avaliar aquilo que possa ser uma situação de resposta para CBF. O atleta está de cabeça quente. Eu prefiro dar pelo menos 48 horas para que a pessoa possa refletir. Não se combate violência com violência – completou.

Os oito minutos de acréscimos aplicados por Braulio da Silva Machado no segundo tempo geraram muita repercussão. Depois do jogo, dirigentes e torcedores colorados agrediram o árbitroe precisaram ser contidos por policiais. Durante uma entrevista na beira do gramado, Dida, goleiro do Sergipe, chamou a CBF de “vergonha”.

Com gol de Adryelson aos 54 minutos do segundo tempo, Botafogo empatou com Sergipe e se classificou para segunda fase da Copa do Brasil. O time de Luís Castro entra em campo no próximo domingo, diante do Resende, às 16h, no Espirito Santo, pelo Campeonato Carioca.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is preparing for life without out-of-favour defender Jakub Kiwior next season, and it is believed the Gunners have identified a potential marquee replacement for the Poland international.

Arsenal transfer plans with players likely to leave this summer

Both Thomas Partey and Jorginho are set to leave Arsenal this summer with their contracts expiring in July, prompting the club to be heavily linked with an array of top-class midfield replacements.

£58m forward has privately told Arsenal that he'd like a move to London

His club could be open to doing a deal.

ByEmilio Galantini Mar 7, 2025

Arsenal are contending with PSG for soon-to-be free agent Joshua Kimmich, but the Bayern Munich and Germany legend could yet attract more interest as we slowly approach the summer transfer window.

Man Utd (away)

March 9th

Chelsea (home)

March 16th

Fulham (home)

April 1st

Everton (away)

April 5th

Brentford (home)

April 12th

Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi and Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Larsson are other top targets being considered by Arteta’s side, with the north Londoners plotting a potential overhaul in the engine room (Florian Plettenberg).

Arsenal are not actively looking to sell Gabriel Martinelli, despite some reports, but they would be more inclined to listen to offers for Leandro Trossard, considering the Belgian is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract at the Emirates (Ben Jacobs).

Defensively, uncertainty surrounds the future of Oleksandr Zinchenko given his lack of game time under Arteta, while fellow left-back Kieran Tierney is poised to join Celtic when his Arsenal contract expires this summer.

Kiwior, who hasn’t played a single Premier League minute since mid-December, is also facing his final few months as an Arsenal player.

Arsenal identify Marc Guehi as potential replacement for Jakub Kiwior

That is according to website Just Arsenal, who claim Arteta’s side are preparing to sell the 25-year-old for a price of up to £25 million.

The versatile centre-back isn’t exactly short of admirers, with Sevilla, Villarreal, Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Napoli, Atalanta, Fiorentina, and Bologna all expressing an interest in signing Kiwior during the last transfer window.

Unnamed clubs from England have also inquired over Kiwior’s availability, so this could be one to watch. In terms of potential replacements for him, it is believed that Arsenal are weighing up a summer move for Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi.

The England international was subject to a surprise £70 million bid from Tottenham in January, with Chelsea also viewed as firm contenders to re-sign Guehi after letting him join Palace in 2021.

Arsenal are apparently considering a move for Guehi, though, and have identified him as a strong candidate to reinforce their backline. As well as the Eagles defender, it is believed that Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen and Ajax’s Jorrel Hato are other options being thought of.

Despite Guehi’s deal being set to expire in 2026, Palace could demand as much as £75 million to let him go this summer.

Chelsea’s activity in the transfer market has caught the eye in recent years, splashing the cash to try and return to Premier League glory in the near future.

Todd Boehly has certainly invested big money into the first-team setup, handing Enzo Maresca the tools to be a success at Stamford Bridge, with the Italian having a wide selection of players to choose from.

The 46-year-old has often relied upon Moises Caicedo at the heart of his midfield, with the Ecuadorian starting every single game in the league since his appointment.

He may have cost an English record £115m back in the summer of 2023, but given his regularity in the first team, it has been money well spent, looking to be worth every penny.

The same can’t be said for another player, who’s massively failed to deliver in West London after his own big-money move to join the Blues a couple of years ago.

Raheem Sterling's stats for Chelsea

Back in the summer of 2022, Chelsea forked out £50m to sign winger Raheem Sterling from Manchester City, looking to inject added quality into the club’s front line.

However, the move has been a disaster for both parties, struggling to make the desired impact – ultimately leading to his loan move to Arsenal for the current campaign.

The Englishman scored nine times during his debut campaign at the Bridge, going one better with 10 in the following campaign – but after the arrival of Maresca, he ended up falling down the pecking order.

During his three-year period in West London, the 30-year-old has scored just 19 times in 81 appearances, an average of just one goal in every 4.2 matches – simply not at the level for a top-level attacker.

Given his £325k-per-week wages, coupled with his lack of impact for the Blues, it would be a surprise to no one to see him moved on in the summer, with another player also needing to be shipped out.

The player who should never play for Chelsea again

Given the influx of transfers made over recent years, it was always likely that sales were going to be needed, with Sterling just one player who has to be sacrificed after his lack of positive impact.

However, it’s made the jump much harder for academy players to stake their claim in the first team, with the club desperately wanting success after such high spending.

One player who’s been unfortunate in his development is striker Armando Broja, who at one stage looked as though he could lead the line for the Blues going forward.

The Albanian international joined the club at the age of nine, developing through the ranks, before getting his first-team opportunity in the 2022/23 campaign.

The 23-year-old only managed to score three times across his two seasons in the first team at the Bridge, eventually losing his place due to an ACL injury.

Broja has since spent two separate spells out on loan at Fulham before linking up with Everton for the current campaign – but injuries have once again reared their head.

The striker, who earns £40k-per-week, has only made six appearances for the Toffees, with his last outing coming back in January after not featuring until December following his summer move.

After just one start and zero goals at Goodison Park, people have started to voice their displeasure at his lack of impact, with one writer claiming he’s been a “complete waste” of a loan addition.

Games played

6

Minutes played

179

Goals scored

0

Touches

77

Shots taken

4

Chances created

2

Passes completed

27

Given his continuous struggles away from West London, coupled with his lack of action when fit, Maresca needs to brutally part ways with the forward this summer to cash in while the 23-year-old still has some value.

Broja and Sterling need to be the first two players out of the door, with their subsequent departures handing the boss the funds to build on his impressive first season in charge of the Blues.

Chelsea sold "exceptional" star in 2021, now he's a big upgrade on Colwill

Chelsea made a huge mistake in allowing one player to depart Stamford Brideg back in 2021.

ByEthan Lamb Mar 4, 2025

Says he relies on his hands for placement and gives himself “a few options for different lengths”

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Nov-20234:00

Harmison on Maxwell’s 201*: ‘It has to be the greatest innings in ODI cricket’

One of the reasons why Glenn Maxwell’s hardly-believable double-century against Afghanistan in Mumbai is being billed as the greatest ODI knock of all time is because of how he was suffering from back spasms and severe cramps in the lower half of his body, and he still managed to hit a total of 21 fours and 10 sixes to lead Australia to victory, mainly by using his arms and upper-body strength.Maxwell attributed that ability to a pre-match batting drill he used to practice around eight-nine years ago in the BBL, to hit some big boundaries.”One of the things I used to work on before every BBL game – going back about eight or nine years – was foot drills where the first 12 balls I’d face I’d stay dead still but try and hit them as far as I could,” he told the . “Whatever the length, I basically had to hold my top body for as long as I could to get the right trajectory to feel like I hit a six. Working on that upper-body movement without using your legs is actually a good way of finding out where your ideal heave point is. Going back to that [innings against Afghanistan], I obviously had to tinker a little bit with actual bowlers not just bowling half-volleys outside off stump but bowling different areas. Jut relying on stuff I had worked on in early years and try to adapt as quickly as I could.”Related

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Stats – Maxwell, Australia's first men's ODI double-centurion

Cummins hails Maxwell's 201* as 'the greatest ODI innings that's ever happened'

When asked what helped him prepare for such unorthodox shots, Maxwell said: “I think it has a lot to do with the positions I get myself in on a golf course where I’m stuck behind a tree and I’ve to throw my wrists around or flick it around. It’s little things like that. I feel like it allows you to be inventive and tests the boundaries.”Maxwell also revealed on the podcast that the worst cramps in his body were in his calf muscle, and that at one point the middle toe on his right foot “starting to bend back” and combined with the back spasms, his “body was starting to shut down”.When he fell to the ground at one point and lay flat because of cramps just after completing a single, he was attended to by the team physio who said that going off the field would be worse because Maxwell’s body would cool down and coming back down the long staircase from the dressing room at the Wankhede Stadium would become very tough. The physio then advised Maxwell to slow things down since the batter also “couldn’t control my breathing,” and told him to hydrate himself more and bat on.Not only against Afghanistan, but during his record-breaking 40-ball century against Netherlands, and further back in the past in white-ball cricket, one of Maxwell’s trademark ability is to find the gaps in all corners of the ground, irrespective of the line and length of the ball, and the bowlers.”Once I get in, I feel like I can set myself early enough in my mind and have a good idea of where I’m trying to hit it,” Maxwell explained. “I feel like my hands can get me out of trouble if the ball is not quite in that areas and do I give myself a few options for different lengths.”