Tag Futebol

While it was roughly six months ago that Erik ten Hag finally lost his job at Manchester United, it could be argued that the Dutchman’s fate was sealed far earlier, particularly following what has proved to be a damaging 2023 summer window.

Despite the way his tenure ended, it’s worth remembering that the former Ajax boss had overcome a shaky start to life at Old Trafford to ultimately enjoying a promising debut campaign at the club, securing a third-place Premier League finish and winning the Carabao Cup to boot – ending a six-year wait for silverware.

Although that season was punctuated by the lows of the FA Cup final defeat to rivals Manchester City – and the 7-0 drubbing away at Anfield – Ten Hag had largely helped to stabilise the Red Devils, having also overseen the resurgence of 30-goal talisman, Marcus Rashford.

What United needed then was to kick on again with a handful of marquee summer signings, in order to try and bridge the gap with those above them. Instead, in came an error-prone Andre Onana, an injury-prone Mason Mount, and a goal-shy Rasmus Hojlund.

That assessment may be with hindsight in mind, although the issues were staring the Old Trafford hierarchy in the face. Onana, for instance, had made a catalogue of mistakes during his time at Inter and Ajax; Mount had endured an injury-hit 2022/23 season at Chelsea and Hojlund had scored just nine Serie A goals for Atalanta.

Arijanet Muric

5

Robert Sanchez

5

Bart Verbruggen

4

Andre Onana

3

Alphonse Areola

2

Alex McCarthy

2

Nick Pope

2

Ederson

2

How different things could have been had different targets been acquired, be it Ten Hag’s first-choice striker, Harry Kane, or even a certain Declan Rice.

Why Man Utd missed out on Rice

There remains the feeling that during the days of the great Sir Alex Ferguson, both Kane and Rice would have ended up at Old Trafford, a point that club legend Teddy Sheringham notably made last month:

As reported by Sky Sports at the time, it was the England captain who was Ten Hag’s ‘number one target’, albeit with Rice – alongside Mount – also on the club’s midfield shortlist.

The then-West Ham United skipper had also been linked with a move to Manchester a year earlier, while in 2021, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was also seemingly keen on signing the rising midfield star from the London Stadium.

As it proved, Kane moved on to Bayern Munich for a fee of around £86m, while Rice made the move to Arsenal on a £105m deal, with the Gunners also edging out rivals Manchester City to make that deal happen.

Whether United were truly in the mix, considering the mammoth nature of the transfer fee, is a valid point, albeit when considering that £156m was spent the previous summer on Antony and Casemiro, it illustrates where the funds could have been more wisely invested.

As it is, the 26-year-old – who deemed the Emirates “project” to be more “exciting” than the one at the Etihad – is now the centrepiece of Mikel Arteta’s midfield, having since scored twice against the Red Devils over the last two seasons.

The one-time Chelsea youth project no doubt joins the list of those who got away for the Old Trafford side, although – thankfully – the club could be brewing their answer to the Three Lions star.

Man Utd's answer to Declan Rice

While Arsenal’s title bid faltered, it has proven to be a positive few weeks, at least, for Rice in north London, with the midfield machine scoring in the 1-1 draw against Ruben Amorim’s side, before producing stunning heroics in Tuesday’s Champions League win over Real Madrid.

Those pinpoint free-kicks highlighted another weapon to the £105m man’s already impressive arsenal, with the Gunners’ number 41 having perhaps helped to already book their place in the last eight.

Of course, back in Manchester, United already have a set-piece king of their own in the form of Bruno Fernandes, with the Portuguese playmaker notably netting from range against both Arsenal and Everton in recent weeks.

The 30-year-old is, however, a naturally more attack-minded playmaker than his Arsenal counterpart, with a better likeness seemingly shown in the form of young Kobbie Mainoo, even amid the 19-year-old’s injury-hit season this time around.

Described as a “generational talent” by teammate Hojlund, Mainoo has had a campaign to forget due to his repeated spells on the sidelines, albeit with it hard to ignore the brilliance of his breakthrough 2023/24 season, which was rounded off with the decisive goal in May’s FA Cup final.

Subsequently thrust in as Rice’s partner in the knockout stages of Euro 2024, as Gareth Southgate’s men surged to the showpiece, the United teenager was actually praised by his midfield colleague for his “leadership” despite his youth, with the pair forming a “nice partnership” in the centre of the park.

Much like Rice, Mainoo showcased his ability to feature as a number six or as a number eight during Ten Hag’s reign, with club legend Paul Scholes even stating that the pair are alike in the fact that it can be hard to pin down their best position.

Even so, what the two men both possess – as the Arsenal star showed on Tuesday – is the impact they can make in the final third, with Mainoo notably curling home in fine fashion against both Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool last season.

While we are yet to see the £20k-per-week starlet’s free-kick ability, he does mirror Rice in being able to thrive when popping up just outside the area, while at the other end of the pitch, the United man can also sniff out the danger when needed – as shown with his vital goalline clearance against Everton on what was his first Premier League start.

Where the two international colleagues are also alike, perhaps most notably, is their knack for driving forward with the ball from deep, with Rice ranking in the top 4% of European midfielders for progressive carries, while Mainoo ranks in the top 1% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

The issue now for Amorim is finding a permanent home for his young sensation in the 3-4-3 system, having trialled the 2022 FA Youth Cup winner as a number ten of late, with it set to be a real waste if United fail to get the best out of their own Rice-like midfield powerhouse.

Bad news for Mainoo: Man Utd ready move for "out of this world" £52m star

Man Utd are seeking to bolster their midfield ranks this summer

1 ByRobbie Walls Apr 8, 2025

Nathan Lyon has defended his controversial pre-Ashes comments about Matt Prior and wanting to end England players’ careers

Brydon Coverdale at the Gabba24-Nov-20171:45

‘I thought you guys were smarter than to fall for that’ – Lyon explains trash talk

Australia’s spinner Nathan Lyon has defended his controversial pre-Ashes comments, joking that he had successfully diverted attention and pressure from debutant Cameron Bancroft and wicketkeeper Tim Paine, who is playing his first Test for seven years.On Monday, Lyon suggested that he would be happy if Australia ended the careers of some of England’s players during this series, and claimed that former England wicketkeeper Matt Prior had wanted to go home during the 2013-14 Ashes because he was “scared”. Prior called Lyon’s comments “laughable”.”Well, I took a lot of pressure off Tim Paine and Cameron Bancroft, so I thought you guys were a little bit smarter than that,” Lyon said after the second day’s play in Brisbane. “It is what it is. I’m not going to stand back from what I said.”Lyon declined to be drawn on whether his comments about Prior in particular were unkind. “Let’s go, next question,” he said.Whatever the case, the storm around Lyon’s comments did no harm to his bowling form. Despite finishing with only 2 for 78 in England’s first innings, Lyon bowled outstandingly, turning the ball sharply from his first ball on day one. England managed only 2.16 an over off Lyon, whose sky-high confidence was also shown by his sharp direct-hit run-out of James Vince on the first day.”My confidence has grown a large amount over the last 14 months,” he said. “I’ve worked hard in the nets with John Davison and I’ve really nailed down my consistency and knowing my game inside out, and knowing what works really well for me. The comments that I said before the match, it has nothing to do with the way I’m bowling now. It’s a team game. I know my role in the Australian cricket team.”I know I’m a leader, I know I’m one of the most experienced guys in that change room. If I can go out there and share my experience with the younger guys, then hopefully we can put Australian cricket in a good place. I’m very confident with where my bowling is at, at the moment. I feel like I’m bowling very well. The way it’s coming out of my hand, it’s probably coming out the best it’s ever come out. I know my role and I’m looking forward to the rest of this series.”Lyon said he had been surprised by the spin and lack of pace in the Gabba surface from the first day. Although he has had success at the Gabba in the past, rarely has he found such assistance from so early in the match.”I’ve never seen the Gabba spin this much,” he said. “I’ve seen it spin before, but not the amount I was able to generate out there. It’s probably a tad softer to what we’re used to. Today was probably more like a typical day one wicket for the Gabba, so hopefully it will harden up over the next couple of days, there’ll be more pace in the wicket.”The lack of pace in the pitch also had the effect of negating Australia’s plans to pepper England’s batsmen with short bowling, as Mitchell Johnson had done in 2013-14. When Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood did dig the ball in, it rarely reach head height, but Lyon said it was still pleasing to see the way the fast men had operated to prevent England from getting away.”Our bowlers have taken a lot of confidence out of that, especially on a slow wicket, that we were able to stick to our plans and not go away from that as a bowling group. I think the boys are pretty proud, but they’re also pretty excited to hopefully come across some fast decks around the summer to really see how the plan goes.”

Borussia Dortmund's Diant Ramaj has declared he will not return to the German club just to be second choice goalkeeper next season.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Ramaj makes bold statement after impressive spell with Copenhagen
• German goalkeeper not interested in a backup role at Dortmund
• Calls himself the 'best goalkeeper of the young generation'

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Riding high in confidence after a stupendous spell with Copenhagen, Ramaj made some bold claims in an interview with . The German goalkeeper is demanding a regular role at the club next season, claiming he's the best young goalkeeper available.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  After completing a move to Bundesliga in the 2024-25 winter transfer window from Ajax, Ramaj was loaned out immediately to Danish club Copenhagen. The German's loan spell worked wonders for both the player and club as they went on to complete the double, winning the league title and Danish Cup. Now, with his loan spell ending, he has voiced his opinion on his future making it clear that he wants regular football.

• WHAT DIANT RAMAJ SAID

  The shot stopper said: "I really enjoyed the season in Copenhagen; what we've achieved is fantastic. And one thing's clear to me: I have to keep playing, get minutes, and match practice. Therefore, one thing's clear to me: I'm not sitting on the bench in Dortmund! It's clear to me that I won't be coming to Dortmund to line up at the back, that I have no chance of playing behind Gregor Kobel. I have to play."

  He added: "I said I'm the best goalkeeper of the young generation. And I think I've proven that in the past few months!"

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR DORTMUND?

  First choice goalkeeper Kobel has reportedly been a transfer target for Chelsea, but after Dortmund's Champions League qualification under Niko Kovac, the German saw a resurgence and is expected to stay. That could see Ramaj push for a summer transfer.

The Daniel Levy era at Tottenham Hotspur has been a total rollercoaster, one that’s not just been encapsulated by years of mediocrity on the pitch, but their dealings off the pitch too.

While their recruitment is getting better, notably preparing for the future by bringing the likes of Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and highly-rated defender Luka Vuskovic to the club, they have still wasted several hundreds of millions on players who simply haven’t cut it.

In recent years we’re talking about the likes of £60m Richarlison, £25m Yves Bissouma, £25m Emerson Royal and £55m Giovani Lo Celso.

One of the worst, however, was the ill-fated Tanguy Ndombele move.

Why Ndombele's Spurs move was such a disaster

The year was 2019 and the month was July. It was the summer window and Levy knew he needed to spend to take Spurs to the next level.

Spend he did, splashing out a club-record fee at the time of £55m on Ndombele. The Frenchman arrived from Lyon with some suggesting he was the dream replacement for the much-loved Mousa Dembele.

You could see why such a comparison was being made. Ndombele was a powerful carrier, his technical ability was first-class and he could affect games in both boxes.

He moved from Ligue 1 having scored three goals and supplied eight assists in the 2018/19 campaign. The Frenchman – capped seven times – never replicated those numbers in the white of Spurs, however.

In fact, across 91 outings for the club, he only amassed nine assists and netted ten goals. He wasn’t explicitly signed for his ability to contribute in the final third but for the price tag and the hype, you’d expect better.

So, why did it not work out? Well, not only did he suffer from injuries, missing several games through a groin problem, but he didn’t particularly work hard enough. That was the view of many people, chiefly Jose Mourinho.

“We had to start with him as a No 10,” the former Spurs boss explained. “He didn’t have the discipline, the strength or the stamina to be a midfield player.”

2019/20

29

2

4

2020/21

46

6

4

2021/22

16

2

1

One training ground source encapsulated it perfectly. Speaking to the Athletic, they said at the time: “Tanguy is the maverick of the team, he can do stuff that nobody else can do. Incredibly talented, incredible ability, just sometimes you just want to be like, ‘Tanguy you’re so good, just do the basics’.”

Well, after never really making the grade in north London, he finally left England behind in June 2024 when his contract was cancelled.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Spurs haven’t exactly done great things in the market since then, and that’s typified by Timo Werner’s move.

Spurs' worst signing since Ndombele

While the likes of Richarlison, Lo Celso and Bissouma – all signing since Ndombele – haven’t exactly set the world alight, they have at least made positive contributions.

The Brazilian scored 12 goals in all competitions last term, while Lo Celso had some memorable moments, netting against Manchester City in 2023/24 and playing an important role in the team through the middle stages of Ange Postecoglou’s debut year at the helm.

However, for Werner, he hasn’t had many memorable moments at all. While Ndombele is certainly the worst of the bunch, the German has flopped in a similar way.

Of course, being a loan move, there hasn’t been a whole wad of cash wasted here but if anything has been wasted, it’s time and effort to get a deal over the line.

The former Chelsea attacker initially signed in January of 2024 on loan and did make an impact in the back end of that season, scoring twice and supplying three assists in 13 outings.

As a consequence, his loan move in England was extended over the summer, keeping him at the club until the end of the current campaign. Sadly, it just hasn’t been worthwhile.

The £165k-per-week earner has only scored once all campaign – a goal in the Carabao Cup – and has three assists in the Premier League.

The nadir of his time at the club was definitely against Tamworth in the FA Cup back in January. Spurs nearly lost the game and Werner notably underperformed with podcaster and content creator Will Reyner suggesting “he looks comfortably the worst player on the pitch against a non-league side.” Damning words indeed.

He’s not just frustrated supporters but he’s also annoyed Postecoglou who notably laid into the Germany international back in December after a performance against Rangers, suggesting his performance was “not acceptable”. Tell us how you really feel, Ange.

Also described as a “weird” signing by ESPN pundit Don Hutchinson, is it really a surprise that Spurs are set to pass on their option to buy the 29-year-old at the end of his loan this summer?

It was reported that Levy could exercise a £8.5m buy option but it’s suggested that he will head back to RB Leipzig in the summer.

That is certainly the right decision for a player who has flopped just as hard as Ndombele did in Spurs colours.

Ange has found a "mind-blowing" star at Spurs who could be the next Defoe

The talented forward could replicate the Spurs icon.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 21, 2025

da betcris： Leeds United are looking to sign a “world-class” goalkeeper to replace Illan Meslier next season, according to a new report.

Leeds pushing for promotion with Meslier struggling

da mrbet： The Whites head into the final eight games of the Championship following the international break top of the table, however, there is still plenty of work to be done if they are to secure automatic promotion back to the Premier League.

Daniel Farke’s side have four home games against Swansea City, Preston North End, Stoke City and Bristol City, and away, Leeds have to travel to Luton Town, Middlesbrough, Oxford United and Plymouth Argyle.

One player who looks set to start all those games is Meslier, who has been backed by Farke all year, despite the Frenchman making some costly mistakes. Talking about the Frenchman’s errors in a 3-3 draw with Hull City at the start of the year, Farke said:

“When the goalkeeper makes one or two mistakes it is natural to talk about changes. We don’t change a goalkeeper quickly like a full-back. There is no rule that a player is not dropped. If a centre-back was to score loads of own goals he would be dropped. But straight after the game I am not going to finger point.”

Goalkeeper (Championship 2024/25)

Club

Goals prevented

1. James Trafford

Burnley

+11.4

2. Viktor Johansson

Stoke City

+10.8

3. Jamie Cumming

Oxford United

+7.8

4. Michael Cooper

Sheffield United

+6.2

18. Illan Meslier

Leeds United

-2.7

Now 25 years of age and out of contact in 2026, Meslier has made more than 200 appearances in a Leeds shirt but his place could be at risk next season.

Leeds looking to sign £25m goalkeeper compared to Pickford

According to Give Me Sport, Leeds will look to sign Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher this summer, should they win promotion.

The Reds goalkeeper is expected to cost around £25m and Leeds are eyeing the Republic of Ireland international ‘due to the uncertainty’ around Meslier.

Compared to Jordan Pickford by FbRef, Kelleher has interest from ‘a host of other clubs’, so it could be tricky for Leeds to seal a deal, even if they do go up.

An ambitious target, Kelleher previously came in for praise from Virgil van Dijk, who claimed the goalkeeper should have got the Player of the Match award following the Reds’ EFL Cup final win over Chelsea in 2024.

“He should have got it. I’m probably one of his biggest fans, I think. I have always said he is world class and he stepped up today, again. It’s good to see. He’s a good boy, good goalkeeper and that’s what we need at a club like Liverpool.”

Related What Leeds chiefs are now thinking with Tottenham keen to sign Harry Gray

Spurs are eyeing an Archie Gray repeat…

Posts 2 ByTom Cunningham Mar 19, 2025

A move to Elland Road could be one to watch, but Leeds and Farke have to do the job on the pitch before the 49ers Enterprises can make any sort of moves for players like Kelleher.

da leao： Arsenal’s injury crisis in recent weeks has highlighted the need for reinforcements in the summer to prevent such an issue from plaguing Mikel Arteta in the future.

da pinnacle： The forward line has been the area most greatly affected in the past few matches, resulting in players such as Mikel Merino having to operate in an unnatural centre-forward role.

Gabriel Martinelli returned during the draw with Manchester United last weekend, potentially easing the blow endured by the boss in the last few months.

However, the setbacks have come at a cost, all but ending the club’s Premier League title ambitions, with the 15-point gap more than likely too large to close in the last 10 matches.

As a result, it’s pivotal that the board back the manager in the summer, handing him the funds to land his targets, with one player potentially moving to the Emirates at the end of the campaign.

Martin Zubimendi's move to join Arsenal in the summer

Back in the January transfer window, it was confirmed that Arsenal were plotting a summer move for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

The Spaniard was on the radar of fellow Premier League side Liverpool last summer, but the 26-year-old decided to stay put in LaLiga for another season.

However, journalist David Ornstein confirmed that the Gunners have been in long-term talks to sign the midfielder this summer, following in the footsteps of Merino, who also moved from Sociedad at the start of the campaign.

The likes of Jorginho and Thomas Partey are both out of contract this summer, highlighting the need for added reinforcements in the midfield department, with Zubimendi still appearing to be the number one option.

Despite the rumours over recent months, the club may regret allowing one player to depart North London, especially considering his form elsewhere after he left a couple of years ago.

The former Arsenal star who’s outperforming Zubimendi in LaLiga

Countless Arsenal players have moved to Spain after plying their trade in England, with the likes of Thierry Henry moving to Barcelona after his successful spell as a Gunner.

Another player who followed in the same vein is midfielder Dani Ceballos, who spent multiple years on loan in North London before returning to parent club Real Madrid.

The Spaniard spent two years at the Emirates between 2019 and 2021, but they decided against a permanent move after he featured 77 times during his temporary stint.

He’s since been a regular under Carlo Ancelotti’s side, featuring 122 times since he returned to the LaLiag giants ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

This year alone, the 28-year-old has made 31 appearances for Madrid as they sit second in the league behind Barcelona, producing various key stats along the way.

Ceballos, who’s previously been dubbed “incredible” by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, has outperformed Zubimendi in various key areas – highlighting the mistake Arsenal made in not signing him permanently.

How Ceballos compares to Zubimendi in LaLiga (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Ceballos

Zubimendi

Games played

15

26

Minutes played

832

2149

Shot-on-target accuracy

40%

29%

Pass accuracy

95%

83%

Shot-creating actions

4

1.5

Tackles won

2

1.3

Interceptions

1.5

1.3

Stats via FBref

The former loanee has registered a higher shot-on-target rate along with more shot-creating actions per 90 – showcasing his impressive ability in the final third.

However, the Gunners are crying out for a deep-lying option to regain possession, with Ceballos winning more tackles per 90 than Zubimendi, along with more interceptions, having the defensive quality to operate in the desired role.

Given his form since leaving North London, the club may regret not keeping hold of the 28-year-old, with the Spaniard having numerous key qualities that would bolster the current side.

He will remain as a case of what could’ve been, starring at the top level of European football for Madrid, with Arteta needing to put such a mistake behind him and focus on the future as he aims to end the club’s two-decade wait for a league triumph.

Related He left in 2022: Arsenal icon is now playing like Isak after leaving for £0

The incredible record-breaker was a force of nature for a time at Arsenal.

Posts 1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 11, 2025

South Africa-born batter Sybrand Engelbrecht is also part of the 15-member squad; Fred Klaassen out with injury

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Sep-2023Colin Ackermann, Paul van Meekeren and Roelof van der Merwe have returned to Netherlands’ squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup. The trio had missed the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe earlier this year because of their county cricket commitments.South Africa-born batter Sybrand Engelbrecht was also named in the 15-member squad. Engelbrecht, who will turn 35 next week, first came into the limelight for electric fielding for South Africa during the 2008 Under-19 World Cup. He has played 58 List A games, scoring 1275 runs at an average of 45.53 and a strike rate of 78.89, and 54 first-class games and 45 T20s. The last of those matches, on the South African domestic circuit, was in 2016.From the World Cup Qualifier squad, Michael Levitt, Vivian Kingma and Clayton Floyd were left out, while Noah Croes was named as a travelling reserve, alongside Kyle Klein.ESPNcricinfo LtdTim Pringle, who was listed originally to travel with the squad for the pre-tournament camp in Bengaluru between September 19 to 28, has been withdrawn.* “There’s actually been a development with Tim Pringle: He’s picked up a couple of niggles, so he actually won’t be coming to the pre-World Cup camp in Alur,” head coach Ryan Cook said. “He’s obviously coming back from quite a big operation and we have been tracking his progress.” Pringle, 21, who played for Netherlands in the T20 World Cup last year in Australia, last played this March, turning up for Northern Districts in the Plunkett Shield. According to Cook, Pringle had suffered a fracture, but the nature of injury is not known.Left-arm seamer Fred Klaassen did not make it due to stress fracture. Klassen was also part of the set of players who missed the World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe due to county commitments. Cook said that Klassen’s strengths as a new-ball bowler and left-am quick would no doubt be missed in India.”Fred Klassen’s a true performer for the Netherlands. He has shown through all the formats, whether that be one-day cricket or T20 cricket, so he’s a big one for us and would’ve formed a good part of our bowling attack there (in World Cup).Fred Klaasen misses out due to injury•Getty Images”Obviously, Fred would be gutted to miss out, but it was the right decision taken by himself. It is disappointing to not have him, but I’m pretty confident that most of the bowlers will be able to take up that slack that he probably leaves – his left-arm angle and swing and stuff up front is something that we really enjoy having in our side. Having said that, at the Qualifiers, those guys weren’t available either and the bowling attack fared well.”Asked whether it was a risk to include just four fast bowlers in the 15 during a long World Cup, Cook said he was content with the combination.”Some of the teams are obviously picking different combinations of players in their team,” he said. “I think India have also gone with that sort of four seamers plus some allrounders. I don’t want to give away too much in terms of what we’ve got up our sleeve going forward.”Cook also pointed out that it was a “fantastic initiative” by the KNCB to send Croes and Klein as development players, but they were not travelling reserves which would mean they could be drafted in as replacement for any injured player.Cook added that Netherlands’ goal was to make the semi-finals. “Any team that goes to a World Cup is looking to make the next stage of a World Cup, and in this case, that’s the semi-finals. So we are obviously looking to try and win as many games as we can to put ourselves in position to compete to get into those semi-finals. I believe that’s something that we can do and something that the guys are willing to put the work into to get that outcome.”From the Qualifier tournament held in Zimbabwe in June-July, Netherlands and Sri Lanka were the two teams to make it to the main event, ahead of the likes of West Indies, Ireland and Scotland.”Naturally, our planning and preparation for the World Cup started soon after our qualification in Zimbabwe,” head coach Ryan Cook said. “Having no bilateral fixtures after the qualifiers enabled us to plan for various scenarios for the duration of the summer. Over the past few months the players and staff have been hard at work with the full squad being very dedicated and detailed towards achieving our objective in the World Cup.”We have an exciting mixture of youth and experience and a unified, cohesive culture which allows those to express their best selves within the group.”Netherlands last played in an ODI World Cup in 2011. Wesley Barresi is the only member of the current squad to have featured in that edition. This will be their fifth appearance in the tournament.Netherlands squad for World CupScott Edwards (capt, wk), Colin Ackermann, Shariz Ahmed, Wesley Barresi, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Ryan Klein, Bas de Leede, Paul van Meekeren, Roelof van der Merwe, Teja Nidamanuru, Max O’Dowd, Vikram Singh, Saqib Zulfiqar
: Noah Croes, Kyle Klein

Torrential rain brought an abrupt end to the Hundred match at Headingley between Northern Superchargers and Birmingham Phoenix with just 62 balls possible in Phoenix’s first innings. With puddles forming on the outfield the umpires were left with no choice but to call a halt to proceedings after a heavy shower engulfed Leeds.It was frustrating for the hosts who had got themselves into a decent position during the play that was possible with Reece Topley removing opener Jacob Bethell for 0 in his opening set of deliveries.That brought England star Ben Duckett to the middle and he introduced himself with a ramped shot for six before hitting an unbeaten 34 off 26 balls before the rain came.Spin also played its part with Matthew Short removing Dan Mousley and Shadab Khan in quick succession with England’s Adil Rashid claiming the wicket of Jamie Smith who was bowled for 13 with the visitors 84 for 5 at the close.England batter Harry Brook was also involved after making himself available for Superchargers’ opening fixture, following the conclusion of the Ashes on Monday.

The three players will link up with the senior squad in Zimbabwe on June 23

Madushka Balasuriya20-Jun-2023Dilshan Madushanka, Dunith Wellalage and Sahan Arachchige are set to link up with the senior squad on June 23, after Sri Lanka Cricket announced that the trio would be flown in to Zimbabwe for the World Cup Qualifiers as “standby options”.The inclusion of Madushanka, a left-armer able to swing the ball at pace, follows impressive recent outings against South Africa A, where he picked up nine wickets across three 50-over games and then another four in a four-day encounter, and comes on the back of him becoming the most expensive signing at $92,000 at the inaugural LPL auction. It also makes sense considering the fragility of Sri Lanka’s seamers. Lahiru Kumara has a recent history of breaking down mid-game, while Dushmantha Chameera’s work load is being carefully managed. This leaves just Kasun Rajitha and the raw Matheesha Pathirana as reliable seam-bowling options.In Wellalage, meanwhile, Sri Lanka cover several bases, with the Under-19 captain a capable left-arm spinner – an option currently missing in the squad – while also offering an extra batting option lower down the order. He is also one of the better fielders in the Lankan setup.As for Arachchige, he was another that sparked a bidding war at the LPL auction, eventually being sold for $28,000. It was an impressive fee for a player that has yet to make his debut for the national side, but the aggressive 27-year-old is highly rated, has recent performances in the bank – three fifties in his last five one-dayers, including two against South Africa A – and looks on the cusp of making the step-up to the international stage.Sri Lanka won their opening game in the World Cup Qualifier against UAE by 175 runs. They next play Oman on June 23 in Bulawayo.

Rishabh Pant’s accident is a cause for concern, as is the lack of a credible back-up for Hardik Pandya

Sidharth Monga09-Jan-2023The top order – has Dhawan dropped out of contention?It is a little too late to drop someone you have invested in for the last three years, even making him the captain in the absence of the regular captain, but Shikhar Dhawan has made himself droppable. In the last couple of years, his returns have dipped, and it’s not like his replacement is going to debut at the World Cup: Shubman Gill has played 15 ODIs, Ishan Kishan ten.It will take extraordinary circumstances for Dhawan to return so close to the World Cup, but he remains an outside shot given his experience should both Gill and Kishan hit wretched form. At the moment, though, they have only strengthened their case with runs in New Zealand and Bangladesh. Kishan has even scored a double-century.ESPNcricinfo LtdOther top-order batters since the last ODI World Cup
Rohit Sharma
Innings: 18, Runs 745, Average 44, Strike Rate 96Made a comeback after injury during the ODI series in Bangladesh. It is important he gets a string of matches and some rhythm under his belt in the lead-up to the World Cup. Time for resting might be over.Ishan Kishan
Innings 6, Runs 401, Average 67, Strike Rate 127Brings the dynamism and left-handedness needed at the top of the order to capitalise on the powerplay. Was only an outside contender two series ago, but the injury to Rohit left a gap in the door for him, which he has burst open with the double-century.Shubman Gill
Innings 13, Runs 671, Average 67, Strike Rate 102Wasn’t a part of the squad in Bangladesh, but scored a 50 and 45 not out in New Zealand. Will definitely be part of the plans.Virat Kohli
Innings 27, Runs 1169, Average 45, Strike Rate 93Master of the format, scored a century in the shadow of Kishan’s double-century. ODIs also happen to be his best format.Middle order – the Pant situation is a worryRishabh Pant’s road accident means he may or may not be able to present a case for the World Cup in time. On the other hand, it will be heartening that Hardik Pandya is back.ESPNcricinfo LtdMiddle-order batters since the last ODI World Cup
KL Rahul
Innings 14, Runs 698, Average 58, Strike Rate 106Back to the middle order, where he has scored runs, after having been tried in other positions. Might also keep wicket if Kishan doesn’t play in the series against Sri Lanka.Shreyas Iyer
Innings 24, Runs 955, Average 45, Strike Rate 97Keeps going from strength to strength in the middle order in both ODIs and Tests. Important spin hitter in the middle overs.Hardik Pandya
Innings 10, Runs 429, Average 48, Strike Rate 116Time to take this vital cog out of cotton wool. The only doubt over his place in the XI can be fitness-based, if it prevents him from bowling.Suryakumar Yadav
Innings 14, Runs 350, Average 29, Strike Rate 98Hasn’t yet had a proper run in ODIs, but there are those who believe he can challenge Rahul in the middle order based on his exploits in T20s.Rishabh Pant
Innings 17, Runs 638, Average 40, Strike Rate 111A definite force in the middle order, or even the top order, if he is fit and ready in time.It might be time to move on from other outside contenders except maybe Deepak Hooda, that too because he bowls.Allrounders – still no back-ups for HardikThere is no seam-bowling allrounder to be back-up for Hardik should he get injured again. All the other allrounders are spinners. India will still play at least one of them or possibly two depending on the pitches.ESPNcricinfo LtdRavindra Jadeja
Matches 18, Runs 335, Strike Rate 95, Wickets 13, Economy Rate 5.4On the weight of his improved batting, the first choice, but his injury layoff mysteriously keeps getting longer. Might he have to prioritise formats when he is back?Axar Patel
Matches 8, Runs 168, Strike Rate 120, Wickets 10, Economy Rate 4.39A better bowler than Jadeja in limited-overs formats, and his batting has only been improving, as seen in his crucial innings when promoted in a tense chase in the Mirpur Test, followed by a blinder of a T20I half-century against Sri Lanka in a chase that India lost.Washington Sundar
Matches 11, Runs 212, Strike Rate 87, Wickets 13, Economy Rate 4.4Providing variety as opposed to the two left-arm spinners is his biggest draw. Has been injury-prone himself.Spinners – will Chahal or Kuldeep pip a fingerspinner?If pitches assist spin, India might not play either of them in the XI because then they can bank on their fingerspinners. However, on flatter pitches, a wristspinner is extremely valuable.ESPNcricinfo LtdYuzvendra Chahal
Matches 21, Wickets 34, Strike Rate 30, Economy Rate 5.7India’s second-highest wicket-taker since the 2019 World Cup, taking one every 30 balls. Unlucky not to have played a single game in the last two T20 World Cups.Kuldeep Yadav
Matches 22, Wickets 26, Strike Rate 46, Economy Rate 5.76Not being fielded in ODIs, but slowly being rehabilitated into international cricket after massive drop in confidence. Left-arm wristspin could be a point of difference.Fast bowlers – Shami and Malik in the frameThere has been no clear direction here either, which is only getting compounded by the extended injury layoff for Prasidh Krishna. They need to get a middle-overs enforcer back-up. It just brings Mohammed Shami and Umran Malik into the picture.ESPNcricinfo LtdJasprit Bumrah
Matches 14, Wickets 18, Strike Rate 38, Economy Rate 5.16Coming back from a stress reaction of the back, which kept him out of the T20 World Cup. His performance on return will be followed with bated breath.Prasidh Krishna
Matches 14, Wickets 25, Strike Rate 27, Economy Rate 5.32Has an excellent strike rate of 27 balls per wicket, but needs to get back on the park soon.Mohammed Siraj
Matches 15, Wickets 24, Strike Rate 31, Economy Rate 4.62Continued bowling well in Bangladesh. Can bowl with the new ball and also bang it in in the middle overs. Minus the height of Krishna.Arshdeep Singh
Only just coming back from an illness. Left-arm angle, swing each way, experience of bowling death overs in T20s could go in his favour, but needs some more ODIs under his belt.Mohammed Shami
Matches 15, Wickets 25, Strike Rate 30, Economy Rate 6.16Has kind of become the man India go to for all World Cups even if he plays little cricket in that format in the intervening years. Great seam position, lot of experience, bustling pace.Umran Malik
Matches 5, Wickets 7, Strike Rate 28, Economy Rate 6Raw pace, but is showing signs of higher accuracy having stayed in the India bubble. Is an outside chance especially if Krishna’s fitness remains under a cloud. His selection for the Sri Lanka ODIs says as much.Deepak Chahar
Matches 12, Wickets 15, Strike Rate 32, Economy Rate 5.58Again, fitness dodgy, but when available, he is a genuine swing bowler with decent batting ability in the lower order.Shardul Thakur
Matches 26, Wickets 38, Strike Rate 32, Economy Rate 6.23If batting down the order is something India hold dearly, Thakur is that man. Takes wickets quickly but concedes runs just as quickly. Not part of the current squad.