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Ahead of his 100th Test, Taylor talks about his top knocks, the sacrifices he made and the support he got from his family

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Feb-20202:58

Happy with what I’ve achieved to date – Ross Taylor

The Wellington Test against India, which begins on February 21, is set to be Ross Taylor’s 100th. Only three other New Zealanders – Daniel Vettori, Stephen Fleming and Brendon McCullum – have reached that landmark. And when he does reach that hundred, Taylor will become the first cricketer from anywhere to have got to the milestone in all three international formats. A week before the landmark Test, Taylor spoke to the media at Seddon Park (with Virat Kohli batting in the nets a few meters away) and looked back at his long and fulfilling career.100 Tests, 100 internationals in all formats. Did you expect to get there?
No. I think after my first Test series against South Africa, I didn’t know if I would play Test cricket again. Probably lucky with the timing of things, Twenty20 cricket came along in 2005, and I made my debut in 2006. So it’s probably a timing issue to be able to get there but it’s nice, hopefully to be the first player to do it, and hopefully with time, there’s going to be a lot more players around the world… I’m sure the guy behind me [Kohli batting in the nets] is going to be there and he could play 200 of all of them. We will just have to wait and see.When did you start believing you can have a long Test career?
It was probably here [in Hamilton]. So I played that first series against South Africa, got dropped for Bangladesh, two Tests at home, and then I played my first Test at home against England and I got a hundred in that first Test. That’s probably the first time I think I believed that I could play at this level. Probably fortunate throughout my whole career – that was my third Test, to get a hundred. And then in my one-day career, I was able to get a hundred in my third game as well. To get those milestones early on definitely helped to believe that I belong and that I’m good enough to play at this level.What does it tell you about yourself, playing 100 Tests?
Probably getting older! But no, I think I’ve been happy with what I have achieved to date. Test cricket and cricket in general as a batter, you go through a lot of ups and downs and that’s definitely what I’ve been through, and as a team as well. But Wellington holds a special place in my heart and I’m sure, having a lot of family and friends there, it will be something that I’ll be proud of and look back on at the end of my career with fond memories.Might emotions play a distracting role?
I guess at the end of the day, it’s another game of cricket and you want to try and contribute in any way that’s possible. But at the same time, you’ve got to enjoy it for what it is, and I’m sure once you get into the game, you can enjoy it and just play cricket like you want to. Wellington can do a little bit early on, so I’m sure, batting or bowling, it’s going to be an interesting contest.Ross Taylor looks skywards after going past Martin Crowe’s tally of Test hundreds•Getty Images

We saw your family sitting on the grass banks in one of the T20Is or one-dayers. Playing so long, how influential has the support of your family been?
Having three beautiful kids and a wife to look after them, you spend a lot of time on the road, so having their support – it’s not easy on my wife Victoria to raise three kids for as long as she has. We play a lot but that’s probably why when you do play at home, it’s nice to be a dad and it’s nice for them – Jonty and Mackenzie – to be old enough to sort of understand what dad does. Jonty was falling asleep; he is the master of dragging out the bedtime and wanting extra stories. So obviously that game was a bit later than what he’s used to but no, they’ve definitely been a help and just balancing out cricket can be tough at times, as I said before, but to know that you have your family there, regardless of whether you score runs or not, they give dad a hug whether he’s scored a hundred or a duck as well. They put everything into perspective and hopefully when they’re bit older than they are now, they will be proud of what I’ve achieved as a cricketer for them.Any particular moment when you’ve come back home after a bad day, and told yourself, I’m glad I’ve got this, and cricket’s always there?
I think there’s been a lot of moments where, with all of them, Mackenzie and Jonty I can remember both, they were born and I left four or five days later to go on a tour or go on a Test, that was quite tough. But in saying that, if you ask all the players who are parents and the wives, it is tough and we all deal with it in different ways. But I think anytime, when you go and pick them up from school in between games or something and they run across to you and give you a big hug, that’s pretty special in itself and brings you back to what really cricket is. It’s just a game and sometimes we probably make more out of it that it is.You had a pretty serious eye condition, and you went through a rough patch of form, but since having surgery and coming back you’ve almost had a second wind. Have you been enjoying your cricket a lot more?

I’ve always enjoyed cricket. It was probably two or three years, such a gradual process that it deteriorated and I didn’t know what it really was. Once I had the operation, you could see the ball clearer than what you used to, you start wondering whether you should have got the eye operation a lot earlier and whatnot. Definitely I think the runs that I’ve scored since then have shown that I probably should have got it a lot earlier. But things happen for a reason and I’ve been happy with my form and things ever since.Anyone who has had such a long career must have made a lot of sacrifices. Do you look at it like that?
I think I’m doing something that I’ve always wanted to do. I wanted to play for New Zealand and be as great a player as I could be. If anything, I think the family has probably sacrificed a little bit more than I have. To not have dad home as often as maybe someone else. But at the same time, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed playing for my country and representing them to the best of my ability. Whenever I do retire, then hopefully I can make up for all the lost time over there. But at the same time, my kids have been able to travel to some amazing places, my daughter raves on about going to India four or five times in her life. You learn a lot in the classroom but you also learn a lot about life, by being able to travel and experience different cultures. I’m sure my son and daughters will be better people for the experiences we’ve been able to give them over the years.Of all the innings you’ve played in Tests, can you name your top three?
Can I say four? I think one of my best hundreds was at Manchester, I think 158 [154 not out]? We ended up losing that Test, but I think [it was one of my better innings]. 140 and 70 [142 and 74] when we won the game in Colombo, after the captaincy issue, that would have to be right up there. 290 at Perth, once again it was a draw, but it’s not often you get to 200 and your job’s not done, to try and save a match or get us into a winning position. Probably one of my favourite but underrated innings was a hundred at Dubai, I think we were about to – we probably would have lost the Test – but I came out and we got ourselves in a position to win the Test. We didn’t win it, but that would definitely be up there with one of my best hundreds.

UK government gives green light for resumption of professional sport as West Indies finalise plans

ESPNcricinfo staff30-May-2020CWI has approved West Indies’ scheduled tour of England in principle following a meeting via teleconference on Thursday. The Test series, part of the World Test Championship, was originally slated to start on June 4 but was pushed back because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The boards are now looking at an early July start, with the West Indies team arriving in June and isolating prior to the series, which, if it goes ahead, will be played behind closed doors.The board’s formal approval came days after CWI chief executive Johnny Grave told ESPNcricinfo that he was “increasingly confident” that the tour would take place. A CWI statement said the decision was made after detailed discussions between its medical representatives and those of the ECB, including plans around logistics and creating a bio-secure environment during the tour.With the UK government on Saturday* releasing stage three guidance for the resumption of elite sport, which permits the return of competition from June 1, the tour now awaits approvals from the various national governments in the Caribbean region for player and staff movement via chartered planes. Players and staff would be screened regularly through the tour as part of comprehensive ECB “bio-security” planning.The decision follows weeks of discussions between the two boards, including a phase where CWI wasn’t as confident as they have been this past week, given the marked difference in Covid-19 cases between the two regions. But the ECB’s safety plans have changed the CWI’s mind.The proposed schedule for West Indies’ tour of England•ESPNcricinfo Ltd”What has changed is the ECB have got more confident that they’ve got a robust and safe plan to deal with cricket in a biosecure environment behind closed doors,” Grave had said during the interview. “Our medical team are getting more confident and comfortable with those plans. Our players and support staff who we have met with [on conference calls] are beginning to understand what a seven-week tour behind closed doors might look like.”Subject to a negative Covid-19 test result, the squad is expected to be chartered to Antigua from various parts of the Caribbean, following which they will fly together to the UK. Upon getting there, the team will spend three weeks in their quarantine and training facility.The CWI statement said that the board “is now in the process of seeking to put all of the approvals and logistics in place within the Caribbean, including seeking permission from the various National Governments to facilitate the movement of players and support staff, using private charter planes and conducting medical screenings and individual COVID-19 testing for all members of the touring party”.”If someone tests positive at any stage in the tour they would be removed from the main squad and will be placed into isolation within the biosecure environment and will be treated by the team doctor along with the other on-site medical support staff,” Grave said. “Should any player have more serious symptoms, they will be treated in hospital at pre-arranged facilities.”It is also expected that player replacement during a match, along the lines of a concussion substitute, will be mulled by the ICC cricket committee when it meets in June.*1900 BST – This story was updated following the UK government announcement

Tottenham are under the belief that a "world-class" and "pacey" striker is ideal for Ange Postecoglou's system, meaning they could open talks to sign him this summer.

Spurs eyeing new marquee forward this summer

Reports in the last few weeks have suggested that the north Londoners are keen on adding a new number nine, despite the fine form of Richarlison, who's scored nine goals in his last 10 league games when fully fit and available.

Tottenham laying groundwork to sign marquee striker with Paratici contacts

The Italian advises Spurs on a consultancy basis.

ByEmilio Galantini Mar 6, 2024

Tottenham are said to be chasing a long-term replacement for club-record goalscorer Harry Kane, with those behind-the-scenes apparently laying the groundwork to sign a marquee centre-forward later this year.

The Lilywhites have coped well without Kane since his multi-million-pound move to Bayern Munich last summer, but those within the club are now rumoured to be plotting a move for his heir.

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Indeed, some interesting names have been mentioned already about who they could target, and one is Brentford striker Ivan Toney.

The Bees star has just returned from a long on-field ban for alleged gambling breaches, scoring four goals in his last eight league games, and he is thought to be attracting interest from a host of top sides ahead of the summer window.

That includes Spurs, as Postecoglou's side are thought to be among the contenders to sign Toney later this year. The England international, as confirmed by his club manager, is also very likely to depart west London this year.

"It is relatively obvious that Ivan Toney will probably be sold this summer," said Brentford boss Thomas Frank.

"It can be 'expensive' to sell your best player, but conversely I also know that this summer he only has one year left on his contract with us. We also know what he is worth. I don't think there are many strikers in the world who are better than him right now."

The 27-year-old will be a hot commodity when the window reopens, it would seem, and GiveMeSport now have an update on his future concerning Spurs.

Tottenham believe Toney is ideal for Postecoglou's system

According to the outlet, Tottenham think Toney is the ideal fit for Postecoglou's system and could open talks for him – if they deem him available for the right price. They apparently have no intention of getting involved in a bidding war with the likes of Arsenal or other suitors and will entertain the possibility of bidding if Brentford are willing to sell at around £60 million or less.

Toney's proven ability as an English top-flight goalscorer is notable, and it's clear that he could add a different dynamic going forward.

"It’s down to him [how far he goes]. He’s got a bit of everything. He’s powerful, he’s pacey and skilful. Year-by-year your football IQ goes up," said former Brentford player Hermann Hreidarsson.

"He’s a world-class player and it’s down to him. He can go wherever he wants."

Manchester United are on the lookout for new signings as they prepare for life under Sir Jim Ratcliffe and potentially a new sporting director to boot, and one youngster with "world-class material" is believed to be a priority target this summer.

Man Utd transfer news

The Red Devils have been linked with plenty of players in recent weeks, too, even though the January transfer window has only recently slammed shut, because the approval of Ratcliffe's takeover has led to interest in Newcastle and former Brighton transfer guru Dan Ashworth. He is seen as an ideal sporting director, and Jason Wilcox could come in as technical director.

Inter Milan right-back Denzel Dumfries has emerged as a target for United, with manager Erik ten Hag thought to be a big admirer of his Dutch compatriot and fans desperate to see who their new regime identifies for the boss – or indeed if they get a new boss altogether.

Atalanta centre-back Giorgio Scalvini is also a player who has been backed to move to Old Trafford in the near future, with the 20-year-old seen as an exciting young option with a high ceiling. Contact has reportedly been made by United. There is also Matthijs de Ligt on the topic of defenders, with the Dutchman finding himself out of favour at Bayern Munich this season, meaning a summer move away could appeal to him.

Man Utd prioritise Leny Yoro

According to a new update from AS [via Sport Witness], Manchester United want to sign Lille defender Leny Yoro this summer, with the young starlet among their "priorities" in the next transfer window.

The Red Devils "recently expressed interest" in snapping him up, and while Paris Saint-Germain are also in the mix to sign him, their rivalry with Lille could ultimately work in United's favour, should they prefer to sell to them.

Yoro really could be a fantastic signing by the club if they can strike a deal this summer, considering he would be arriving as both an immediate key figure and also a player who could be a force for at least the next decade.

This season, the 18-year-old has started 19 matches in Ligue 1, during which time he has shone, enjoying a 91.8% pass completion rate and averaging 3.1 clearances per game. Meanwhile, football talent scout Jacek Kulig says he is "world-class material", in terms of the level he can reach as he further matures as a player.

Man Utd now in “front row” to sign “dangerous” player Ten Hag loves

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ByDavid Comerford Feb 16, 2024

Too often in the past, United have been guilty of poor recruitment when it comes to the age of signings, with too many big names coming in when they are either too old or on the verge of being past their peak. There are almost too many examples to mention, but the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Christian Eriksen, Casemiro, Edinson Cavani and Zlatan Ibrahimovic all stand out.

The hope is that Ratcliffe wants a very different approach to transfers, however, as his – and potentially Ashworth's – influence at United hopefully keeps growing, with focus on bringing in the top young talent who can help take the club back to the top of English football.

Yoro would be a perfect place to start, coming in as an upgrade and far younger alternative to Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire, potentially becoming a genuine defensive force for many years.

After a weekend where the club once again came within touching distance of a trophy, Chelsea need to try and find a way to end their unwanted run of cup final defeats in recent seasons.

The club have lost six consecutive cup finals since 2019, with the Blues losing their last three in a row to Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool, with the latest arguably the poorest defeat.

The Reds used seven academy products during the Carabao Cup final, with the players having an average age of just 20 years and two months – with Jayden Danns, son of former professional footballer Neil Danns, the youngster at just 18.

Klopp's side managed to find a way to win with his crop of promising youngsters, with Chelsea needing to adopt a similar approach and steer away from big-money signings in the transfer window.

In recent seasons, Chelsea have developed some brilliant talents, with Conor Gallagher and Levi Colwill just two examples within Mauricio Pochettino's side.

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However, there's one player within the club's academy who has impressed and should be fast-tracked into the Blues' current first-team setup.

Chelsea's next great academy talent

Despite his tender age of just 18, Leo Castledine is a player with a huge future at Stamford Bridge, with the attacking midfielder capable of making the step into Pochettino's plans.

The midfielder was part of the Cobham Academy as a youngster, before leaving the club to join lower league side AFC Wimbledon in 2013, before rejoining his boyhood club back in March 2020.

Castledine signed his Chelsea professional contract on his 17th birthday back in August 2022, with the youngster impressing for the club's academy in recent seasons.

He had featured on the bench multiple times for the Blues this season, before making his senior debut as a substitute against Middlesbrough during the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg.

The 18-year-old came on with just five minutes to go. However, he failed to make a real impact, with Chelsea already securing the victory before his introduction.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Chelsea's next Mason Mount inbound

Mason Mount was one of the last attacking players to come through Chelsea's academy, starring in loan moves to sides such as Vitesse and Derby County before making an impact on the Blues' first team.

Castledine, "who's similar to Mount" in the eyes of Chelsea’s U21s coach Mark Robinson, could benefit from a loan move to a League One or League Two side, giving him vital experience in men's football before making an impact under Pochettino.

The youngster has excelled for the Blues' U21s in Premier League 2, scoring seven times with eight assists in 14 games – with Castledine contributing to 44% of the side's goals so far this campaign.

Castledine has a huge future ahead of him, with Chelsea conducting brilliant business in bringing him back to the club in 2020.

Whilst he's still very young with a long way to go until he features within the Blues first-team, it's great to see a promising youngster coming through the ranks – with one eye ahead on the future.

West Ham hierarchy and manager David Moyes both take the blame over one real failure at the club as supporters become divided over the Scotsman's future.

New David Moyes contract splits opinion at West Ham

As pointed out by Evening Standard reporter Malik Ouzia, West Ham's fanbase are somewhat split over Moyes and the direction of their club.

West Ham insiders reply to damning Benrahma accusation amid document theory

The Algerian completed his loan move to Lyon after plenty of drama.

ByEmilio Galantini Feb 3, 2024

The 60-year-old guided West Ham to an unprecedented Europa Conference League triumph last season and a first piece of major silverware since the 1980s, a scenario which was scarcely envisaged when Moyes arrived for his second stint in charge a few years ago.

The former Everton boss took over in 2019/2020 when they were deep in the midst of a relegation battle, which they eventually overcame, going on to qualify for Europe in three out of their next three Premier League campaigns. A lot of supporters are factoring this in and fully believe Moyes is the perfect man to take them forward, with the head coach admitting he is set to resume new contract talks as his deal expires this summer.

"We'll get back on it now the transfer window is shut. We're well down the line and moving on with it," said Moyes on his new deal talks to the press.

"We'll pick that up again in the next few weeks."

It appears more likely than not that Moyes remains at the London Stadium, at least as things stand, but there are sections of Irons supporters who also believe that the ex-Man United head coach has taken West Ham as far as he can.

There have been some complaints over West Ham's dogged and robust approach to matches, which is sometimes not exactly pleasing to the eye, but there is little arguing it has produced results so far.

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Amid this managerial division, there are also question marks surrounding West Ham's January transfer window and why they didn't sign a left-winger. Said Benrahma joined Lyon on loan after one of the most bizarre last-minute transfer sagas in recent memory, while fellow attacker Pablo Fornals sealed a last-minute move to Real Betis.

Moyes and West Ham hierarchy seething after January failure

As pointed out by journalist Ouzia for The Standard, one thing West Ham can be in full agreement on is they should've brought in a new wide attacker.

Both Moyes and the West Ham hierarchy must take the blame for the club's disorganisation in the final stages of January, and specifically their failure to bring in a left-winger to succeed both Benrahma and Fornals.

The club is now desperately short on that side of the field, with potential injuries to the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus seriously threatening to derail West Ham's charge for another European spot. Technical director Tim Steidten was rumoured to be interested in a late January move for Ismaila Sarr of Marseille, but it was too little, too late.

Sunderland are still crying out for a deadly striker to lead the line, Michael Beale opting to start Alex Pritchard and Jobe Bellingham up top as a makeshift attacking duo away at Ipswich Town in a bid to try and awaken any ice-cold finisher in his ranks away from the likes of Nazariy Rusyn at his disposal.

Usual Black Cats suspect Jack Clarke bailed the patchy Wearside outfit on their travels down to Suffolk, but the star 23-year-old winger's strike at Portman Road wasn't enough as Kieran McKenna's men mounted a comeback on their own patch to win 2-1.

Sunderland could well turn their attention to this transfer target now to try and add some positive reinforcements in the striker position at the club, Beale drafting up a list of attackers to go after who could make a potential difference.

Sunderland's search for a new striker

The stuttering Championship promotion candidates are still keen on adding Kieffer Moore to their squad this January, but the ongoing transfer saga with the Welshman is still no nearer to its conclusion.

With the end of the transfer window gradually coming into view, the Black Cats could well look to alternatives away from the current AFC Bournemouth man and Sam Gallagher is a name that keeps popping up.

Football journalist Alan Nixon, via his Patreon, disclosed that Beale's men – alongside Ipswich – were keen on adding injury-prone Blackburn Rovers striker Gallagher to their ranks this month.

Sunderland could well need to show more intent in going after Gallagher though with the Tractor Boys, according to football journalist Nick Mashiter, having two bids of £1m and £1.5m rejected in recent times for the in-demand Blackburn forward.

The experienced 28-year-old centre-forward – who has also been on the books at Southampton and Birmingham City across his varied career – has only made six appearances for the Riversiders in the second tier this campaign but could still prove himself to be a smart buy if he can get over recurring injury hurdles in his way.

How Gallagher would fit into the Sunderland team

Scoring 48 goals in the Championship to date, Gallagher could well act as a focal point for Sunderland up top as a targetman-style forward who can play others into the game and help when needed with a goal here or there.

Never really showing himself to be a striker who bags goals for fun – 11 goals for Blackburn during the 2016-17 campaign proving to still be his most impactful season in front of goal – the lofty 6 foot 4 striker could come out of his shell at Sunderland surrounded by the likes of creative machines in Jack Clarke and Alex Pritchard teeing him up for chances.

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The injury-plagued number nine's only goal of the season to date came from just 19 touches of the ball against Hull City at the very start of this campaign, missing a further big chance in the contest in a bright but brief spell on the Ewood Park pitch for the towering attacker.

Rovers manager Jon Dahl Tomasson has also praised Gallagher for his "great attitude" behind the scenes at the club despite injury issues constantly troubling the striker, a clearly popular figure at the Lancashire club who would be sorely missed if sold this January. He's coincidentally also a player that former Mackems boss Tony Mowbray rates highly too.

Tony Mowbray thinks Gallagher is a 'monster'

Speaking about the forward in 2022 when he was at Rovers, only praise was reserved: "I’m always encouraging him to hit it because when you watch it in training it’s like a bazooka, his right foot. It’s a great strike. Gallagher is fast, strong, good in the air, rocket in his right foot. He has all the attributes to be a top player.

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His ambition has to be to get to the Premier League, hopefully with this club, but if not, the Premier League look at this monster of a boy who can run like the wind with a rocket in his boots, why can’t he play in the Premier League?"

Beale certainly needs to add more firepower to his toothless Sunderland forward positions in this window and a deal for Gallagher – whose contract is nearing towards its end at Ewood Park – could well be a shrewd and unflashy buy if a move on the table for Moore goes nowhere.

Cesc Fabregas has defended Como's recruitment strategy amid criticism over the lack of Italian players they have signed this summer.

Fabregas asked why he doesn't promote Italian youthSpaniard defends Como's strategy to sign Spanish playersEx-player would love to develop Italian youngstersFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Fabregas defended Como's strategy to recruit a host of Spanish players instead of promoting young Italian talents by claiming that he is better familiar with the Spanish market as they have "struggled to find" Italian talent.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Como have made 11 signings in the transfer window this summer, but 29-year-old Luca Mazzitelli, who joined from Frosinone, is the only Italian among them. Fabregas has opted to bring in a contingent of Spanish players, with Jesus Rodriguez, Alvaro Morata and Alex Valle among them. New Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso has complained about the lack of promising homegrown talent being given the opportunity to shine in Serie A and Como's foreign focus seems to reflect the issue. 

WHAT FABREGAS SAID

Fabregas was grilled about the apparent lack of faith in Italian players, but he said he has not been able to find many young talents within his price range, with the most promising picking the Serie A's top teams over them.

"It's difficult. You look at us, I'm not talking about the others, but six or seven Spaniards have arrived, but I personally, together with the director, have tried to bring in as many Italians as possible," he said. "I swear to you: we analysed, we saw which players we could bring in to raise the level of the team, even young ones, but it was an incredible effort. The top Italian player plays for Inter, for Juve, and this level is more difficult for us.

"It's difficult for the game we want to play. We can start talking about the youth sector, I don't talk much about mentality because I don't know the dynamics here at other clubs well, but we haven't found the right space to bring Italians into our environment. We hope to find them for the future, we continue to look. If you look at the Primavera, we're trying to push hard to bring in, invest in, and train 15-16-year-olds in our own way."

He added: "I know the Spanish market much better, I feel confident because the Spanish talent right now, especially the players we're signing, is strong. There's so much potential there, but if I had to choose between an Italian and a Spaniard, I'd always go with the former, but we need to figure out how to find him or whether we need to train him for the future. If we have to go to a higher level to bring him towards our world, it's difficult. I'm no one to say what the problem is, but when I say we've struggled to find Italian talent, it's the truth."

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR COMO?

Como are off to a strong start in Serie A after beating Lazio in their opening game and will be out for a second victory when they meet Bologna on Saturday.

India opener has been added to the squad for the final two one-dayers

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Aug-2019

Shikhar Dhawan raises his bat to the crowd as he walks back to the pavilion after his dismissal.•Getty Images

Shikhar Dhawan has been added to the India A squad for the fourth and fifth one-day games against South Africa A in Thiruvananthapuram, while Vijay Shankar has been ruled out of the series after an injury to his right thumb.India A squad for last two one-dayers

Shreyas Iyer (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, Prashant Chopra, Anmolpreet Singh, Ricky Bhui, Sanju Samson (wk), Nitish Rana, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Rahul Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Tushar Deshpande, Ishan Porel

Dhawan had left the World Cup after the first few matches after suffering a hairline fracture to his left thumb during the match against Australia. Upon returning to full fitness, he played in the limited-overs series in the West Indies, but made just 27 runs in the three T20Is and 38 runs in two ODIs.Vijay, who was all set to make his return to top-flight cricket after an injury had brought his maiden World Cup campaign to a premature end, was named in the squad for the entire series against South Africa A after missing the West Indies tour as he had not recovered in time. He made his return from injury in the Tamil Nadu Premier League earlier this month, where he made just ten runs and picked three wickets in three games for Chepauk Super Gillies.The BCCI had earlier named two India A squads – one for the first three matches and another for the last two games – with Manish Pandey (first three matches) and Shreyas Iyer (last two) sharing captaincy duties.India A are currently leading the series 1-0 following their 69-run win in the first one-dayer on Thursday.

da dobrowin： Glasgow Rangers are set to return to domestic action on 20 January as they play Dumbarton in the Scottish Cup following the winter break.

da bet7k： While no game is easy, the clash against a side fourth in League Two could present an ideal opportunity for Philippe Clement to perhaps experiment with his starting XI, giving chances to a few fringe players.

The onus is now on the manager to bring in a few more players in order to beef up his squad, especially with the club still in contention to win three trophies between now and the end of the season.

There are several areas of the first team squad which require urgent attention, most notably the left-back position. With this in mind, have the Light Blues made a recent breakthrough with regard to a new signing for this area?

Rangers’ search for a new left-back

While a new forward and central midfielder would be crucial for the Gers this month, due to the situation surrounding Ridvan Yilmaz and Borna Barisic, bringing another left-sided defender in remains imperative.

Yilmaz could be ready to depart Ibrox, although Clement has stated that they will only sell for the right offer and this could see the saga stretch to the final days of the transfer window.

Furthermore, Barisic could also be close to sealing an exit from Rangers, either this month or come the end of the season due to his contract expiring.

The Croatian defender has attracted attention from Leeds United recently, and it looks as though his six-year spell in Glasgow is coming to an end.

A recent update has arrived regarding their search for a new defender, and it comes from TEAMtalk, who claim that the Ibrox side are close to securing a deal for Benfica left-back David Jurasek this month.

The report mentions that the Gers have put in a 'good offer' for the 23-year-old defender and that he is keen on a move to Scotland -while a switch could be made as early as next week.

A few names have been linked in recent weeks, yet this appears to be the most concrete move Clement has made for a left-sided defender, and it will be interesting to see the developments over the coming days.

Related Rangers could forget about Yilmaz by signing exciting left-back target

Rangers are looking to improve their options at left-back this month

Posts ByRoss Kilvington Jan 15, 2024

While he has not enjoyed the best of times at the Portuguese club this term, Jurasek starred in his homeland for Slavia Prague and if he could recapture this form, he could be a wonderful asset to Rangers.

How David Jurasek could benefit Rangers

The 23-year-old has featured just 12 times for Benfica since making the move from the Czech Republic last summer and a fresh start could be beneficial for him.

Despite starting just two league matches this season, Jurasek has still averaged 1.2 key passes per game and has created one big chance while also taking 41 touches per game on average, and it proves that while he is not starting much, the defender still has a desire to perform well.

Defensively, he has only been dribbled past on 0.3 occasions per game along with winning 59% of his total duels per game – 2.8 each game – and it proves he is still a solid option at the back too.

Ten previous January signings made by Rangers

Year

Fabio Silva

2024

Todd Cantwell

2023

Nico Raskin

2023

Amad Diallo

2022

Aaron Ramsey

2022

James Sands

2022

Mateusz Zukowski

2022

Scott Wright

2021

Jack Simpson

2021

Ianis Hagi

2020

Via Transfermarkt

These attributes could certainly benefit the current Gers side as they require a left-back who can bomb up and down the flank with ease, but also offer defensive solidity when the going gets tough.

Barisic is so often a threat in the final third, yet he has lost possession on average 17 times per game in the Premiership this term and this has often contributed to the Gers being out of position when defending.

Jurasek would offer that balance between attacking and defending, and he could potentially link up well with Abdallah Sima, who has been on fire since arriving last summer.

David Jurasek could forge a partnership with Abdallah Sima

During the 2022/23 season for Slavia Prague, the Czech defender showcased just how impressive he was going forward and his performances were key to sealing a big-money move to Portugal.

The 6 foot defender played 45 matches in all competitions for the Czech side that term and contributed two goals and 12 assists, a wonderful tally for a defender.

Throughout that league campaign, Jurasek certainly shone across a range of attacking metrics as he averaged 1.1 key passes per game, created three big chances and averaged 0.8 shots per game.

These statistics saw him rank third for key passes per game among the Slavia squad, while ranking ninth for big chances created and 18th for shots per game, which again, for a defender, is solid.

Sima has been in wonderful form for the Light Blues during his temporary spell, already finding the back of the net on 15 occasions, and he has been one of their most dangerous threats in front of goal.

The winger is representing Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations until the start of February at least, and he could well be missed.

Jurasek could certainly form a wonderful partnership with the winger should he join the club this month, and it could ensure they remain extremely dangerous down the left-hand side.

Clement will surely give the Czech youngster some freedom to attack often, especially judging by his impressive 2022/23 season, and this could allow him to work in tandem with Sima.

The Rangers team of the previous few years have seen both full-backs attack as often as possible yet neglect their defensive duties on numerous occasions.

With Jurasek in the team, he will be able to offer so much at both ends of the pitch and this could be a huge advantage for Clement as he aims for further glory during the second half of the season.

It appears as though a move is closing in, and hopefully a deal can get through the line sooner rather than later. If it does, it could be the catalyst for another couple of players to join the Scottish side in the coming weeks.