A dominate display against England has left Mitchell Marsh’s team sitting comfortably

Andrew McGlashan11-Jun-20242:05

Rapid Fire Review – Is Australia’s 201 a real statement for other teams?

Match detailsAustralia vs Namibia
Antigua, 8.30pm local timeBig Picture – Australia pose tough challenge for NamibiaA number of the so-called ‘big’ teams have found this tournament a struggle so far – the hopes of England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka hang by flimsy threads while New Zealand started poorly. But myAustralia, barring their small stumble early on against Oman, are tracking nicely after their resounding performance against England in Barbados.A win against Namibia will confirm their progression to the Super Eight ahead of their final group fixture with Scotland – a game that could yet be dripping with narrative – although they won’t want to leave anything to chance. A change of venue from Bridgetown to the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua will bring with it the need to recalibrate to the conditions, but there appear very few holes in Mitchell Marsh’s team, with depth on the bench as well.Related

Australia punch and counterpunch to blow England away

Australia could rest players vs Scotland in potential Group B decider

The batting performance against England was a perfect team effort with a top score of 39 in a total of 201 with Glenn Maxwell’s strike-rate of 112 the lowest. Perhaps, if nitpicking, one of those scores being converted would have capped things off, but it also showed how a deep batting order can just keep on going once the platform has been laid as it was by David Warner and Travis Head.The only previous occasion these two teams have met in a full international (they played a warm-up game a couple of weeks ago) was at the 2003 ODI World Cup in South Africa. On that day, Glenn McGrath helped himself to figures of 7 for 15 which remain the best figures in that tournament.Namibia’s group stage is backended by the clashes against Australia and the under-pressure England. Their captain Gerhard Erasmus was left frustrated by the performance against Scotland where he thought his team had enough runs but were below their best in the field.Form guide(last five matches, most recent first)
AustraliaWWWWW
Namibia LW(Super Over)WWLAustralia have ticked plenty of boxes so far•ICC via Getty Images

In the spotlight: Adam Zampa and Bernard ScholtzAdam Zampa is settling into the tournament very nicely after coming off a lengthy break following the Australian season. He has a brace of wickets from both outings and was one of the key differences against England when he claimed the dangerous Phil Salt with his first ball. He has developed into a white-ball great for Australia and is now just four wickets away from being their first men’s player to reach 100 T20I wickets.Left-arm spinner Bernard Scholtz has been incredibly tidy in Namibia’s first two outings and, along with the captain, was key to piling on the pressure against Scotland. He has 1 for 20 from both the matches, showing skilful variation of flight and pace, conceding just one four and one six across his eight overs. The prospect of taking on Australia’s heavy hitters will be a daunting one but they would be wise not to take him lightly.Team news: Australia have an eye on their quicksHead coach Andrew McDonald said Australia would not be looking too far ahead and would pick their best XI rather than rotate players for this game, although that could come against Scotland should qualification be assured. However, he did leave the door ajar for some management of the quicks given the tight schedule ahead.Australia (possible) 1 David Warner, 2 Travis Head, 3 Mitchell Marsh (capt), 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Marcus Stoinis, 6 Tim David, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 Pat Cummins, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh HazlewoodThe one change Namibia have made so far is JP Kotze for Michael van Lingen – both have made first-over ducks. The balance of their side has been knocked out of kilter somewhat by Jan Frylinck and JJ Smit being unable to bowl.Namibia (possible) 1 JP Kotze, 2 Nikolaas Davin, 3 Jan Frylinck, 4 Gerhard Erasmus (capt), 5 Malan Kruger, 6 Zane Green (wk), 7 David Wiese, 8 Ruben Trumpelmann, 9 JJ Smit, 10 Bernard Scholtz, 11 Tangeni LungameniPitch and conditionsThe early signs from Antigua’s first match was that it could be a quick-scoring venue as Scotland raced to their target against Oman. The breeze can play a significant factor at this ground. The forecast is for cloudy conditions but no major threat of rain.Stats that matter Although Australia have not played a full international against Namibia since 2003, Tim David faced them once during his Singapore days. David Wiese faced Australia four times in T20Is during his South Africa career The Scotland-Oman game was the first T20I at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium since 2021 – overall it has the second-lowest T20I batting strike-rate of all grounds in the CaribbeanQuotes”Some time in the middle, it was a difficult surface outside the power play, [and a] challenge with spin. I think it ended up being 28 off 25 balls. But it was a significant innings in allowing the rest of the batting line-up to get where we wanted them to get to. So, albeit it wasn’t the dynamic innings that we’re used to with Glenn Maxwell, it was a different type of innings.””I think everyone’s been waiting a long time for these last two games against Australia and England. Two previous winners and that’s definitely the two teams you want to play and you want to sort of make a mark for yourself in those games.”

AC Milan are close to signing Torino’s Samuele Ricci after Milan negotiated a discount by getting Torino to lower their asking price for the midfielder.

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Milan close to signing RicciTorino's dropped asking price from €33mRicci part of a midfield rebuildFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Torino initially demanded €33 million (£28m/$38m) for the midfielder, but Milan director Igli Tare has managed to negotiate a deal worth €25m (£21m/$29) including bonuses, according to

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Milan have had an agreement with Ricci since January and only needed to agree a fee with his club. Ricci’s signing could be the beginning of a midfield rebuild that coach Massimilliano Allegri and director Tare have in mind after the sale of Tijjani Reijnders to Manchester City.

DID YOU KNOW?

Ricci was reportedly targeted by City as a possible replacement for Rodri following the Ballon d'Or winner's injury. The 23-year-old revealed his admiration for the Spanish midfielder, admitting he studies videos of him.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR RICCI AND MILAN ?

With the deal at an advanced stage, Allegri will hope that he can have Ricci join the pre-season training on July 7. He will join Luka Modric who will join Milan as a free agent after his Club World Cup duties with Real Madrid. Milan will hope to complete more signings before the aforementioned date with negotiations for Granit Xhaka, Ardon Jashari and Javi Guerra in progress.

Celtic are all but confirmed Scottish Premiership champions after last weekend’s results, and Brendan Rodgers is already putting in work behind the scenes to bolster his squad for next campaign.

Celtic on the brink of being confirmed as champions

Brendan Rodgers’ changes worked a treat on home soil as Celtic saw off Kilmarnock in style to put the champagne on ice before the split.

Rangers may have clawed their way to an extended reprieve with a draw at Aberdeen the following day. Still, even the most optimistic of their supporters know it is only a matter of time before the Scottish Premiership crown heads to the east end of Glasgow.

Despite the popular misconception that both sides of the divide are competitors on an equal footing, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Should Celtic obtain a point from their first post-split outing, they will have won 13 out of the last 14 available titles by next weekend.

Unsurprisingly, Rodgers is already making strides on the transfer front to build for the new campaign, with Mathias Kvistgaarden on the agenda at Parkhead following his excellent form at Brondby.

Furthermore, the Bhoys are reportedly keen on a surprise move for Newcastle United’s Martin Dubravka. The Slovakia international may be available this summer, potentially creating movement between the sticks despite Viljami Sinisalo and Kasper Schmeichel’s presence at the club.

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Celtic’s involvement in Champions League qualifiers next term has placed time pressure on new arrivals. Rodgers won’t want any delays as his side look to bed in future contributors.

Now, the Bhoys are believed to have an exciting winger in their sights that could add a new dynamic to his squad once the transfer window opens.

Celtic eye summer move for EFL Championship star

According to The Scottish Sun, Celtic are eyeing a move for Stoke City star Million Manhoef as Rodgers views the Netherlands Under-21 cap as a potential squad signing for next season.

The 23-year-old was brought to the Potters for £3 million last summer, and it is likely that is the most he would cost with his current employers now at threat of relegation to the English third-tier.

Celtic’s depth out wide – do they need another winger?

Jota

Only joined in January, likely to be key going forward.

Nicolas Kuhn

Could be susceptible to departure if interest arises.

Daizen Maeda

May be permanently moved to centre-forward this summer.

James Forrest

Veteran who will see out his career at Celtic.

Hyunjun Yang

Likely to stay at Parkhead after recent improvement.

Luis Palma

On loan at Olympiacos and certain to depart.

Conclusion: Celtic need another winger to maintain adequate squad depth.

Labelled “tricky” by journalist Dean Jones, Manhoef has registered six goals and four assists in 35 appearances this campaign and was a former target for city rivals Rangers. Formerly of Vitesse Arnhem, he has also created 48 chances and completed 48 dribbles on league duty since moving to the bet365 Stadium.

Now, Celtic appear to be firmly in the mix for his signature, which will come as a relief to supporters who are keen to see another body in the wide areas to ensure adequate cover is available.

Rashid Khan starred with the ball for Afghanistan but their batters fell short against India’s attack

Alagappan Muthu20-Jun-20241:18

Manjrekar: SKY showed his value on a tricky pitch

There were geniuses at play in Bridgetown, wearing the India blue as they cruised to victory in their first Super Eight game against Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup 2024. The pitch, once again, was tough to bat on: slow and offering purchase to everyone willing to roll their fingers across the ball. Suryakumar Yadav, though, found a way to prosper as he often does in T20 cricket, helping his team post an above-par total of 181 for 7. That brought Jasprit Bumrah into the fray and he immediately set about dismantling Afghanistan, his two early strikes leaving them indisposed for the rest of the chase.

The old guard

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma did not play a single T20I between the end of the previous World Cup in 2022 and January this year. But they’re here now because they want that medal around their neck. They want to be world champions. And to that end, they’ve been open to batting in a different way. Rohit made only 8 off 13 but he looked to hit a boundary off six of those balls. Kohli was going smoothly but he wasn’t willing to settle for that. He looked to hit Rashid Khan for six and got caught.After being burned in big matches for being too conservative, India have ditched the safety-first approach. And the reason for that played out in the middle overs of this game. When Kohli fell, ESPNcricinfo’s Forecaster had their total tracking down by 18 runs to 171. In the space of a mere six balls, the other batters had it tracking back up by the same number of runs. India were set to reach 189 now. That’s how quickly a game can change in this format. That’s why it’s better to have tried and failed than not try and all.

Surya on song

It’s possible India knew this all along but were holding back because they weren’t comfortable with the options they had down the order. That’s changed now because their best T20 batter mans the No. 4 position.Suryakumar played some special shots – not in the way you usually associate with, where he finds a soft spot in the laws of physics and mercilessly pokes holes in them. But more in terms of just knowing his areas and trusting his skill. Even the one time when he made jaws drop to the floor – dragging Azmatullah Omarzai from somewhere off the wide line to the square-leg boundary – he was just trying to put away a full toss. The legside was the shorter boundary. It just made sense.Jasprit Bumrah struck off his second ball against Afghanistan and finished with 3 for 7•CREIMAS

Suryakumar focused on three things while he was out there. Sweep to mess with the wristspinners. He played four and each of them resulted in a boundary. Smash whenever the quicks went too full. He struck a six that sailed into the three Ws stand and held his pose. Worrell, Weeks and Walcott would’ve loved that. Finally swipe – after making sure to hold his shape – when they went slower ball. First time he tried it, he got beaten. Second time, he nearly hit the ball out of the ground. This was a classic case of an attacking batter paring down his options to just those he knew would succeed in the conditions.Suryakumar was box office, even without bat in hand. In between the innings, he admitted that he was nervous. “I began chewing my gum harder when Kohli got out.” But he knew he couldn’t let himself be bogged down. “It was important to keep the intent up.” India do not want to fall into the same traps as before. This World Cup, they’re going to bat like they have a full ten wickets to spare.

Bumrah on fire

He has twice as many wickets as he’s conceded boundaries (8 vs 4) in this T20 World Cup. Bumrah is undeniably India’s most important player. He came on to bowl after Rahmanullah Gurbaz had struck a lion’s share of the 13 runs in the first over of the chase. He had seen, in the first innings, that slower balls had been mighty effective (five wickets for 30 runs at an economy rate of 7.2). Immediately, he dialled one up and also shifted his line real wide to deny Gurbaz the straight hit that he likes so much. Assessing the conditions and the opposition to that degree that quickly is the reason why he is an all-format great. He gave away only seven runs, the second-fewest by an Indian bowling four overs in a T20I.There were further positives as well. Kuldeep Yadav, back in the XI to exploit favourable conditions, picked up 2 for 32. Axar Patel began with a wicket-maiden in the powerplay. Ravindra Jadeja had a good run out as well. And Arshdeep recovered from a two-over spell for 22 runs to almost pick up a hat-trick in the dying moments.

With one La Liga star yet to sign a new contract in Spain, Aston Villa are reportedly looking to take full advantage and have already registered their interest in securing his signature.

Aston Villa's summer plans taking shape

It’s set to be an interesting summer at Villa Park. Even with European qualification secured for another season, those in the Midlands will likely have to sell players in order to buy in the coming months amid growing PSR concerns. And that could force Unai Emery to be ruthless. Already, names such as Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers have been linked with shock departures in deals that could make room for potential incomings.

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Aston Villa have the perfect opportunity to pick up their next Jhon Duran if they sign this star.

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On that front, the rumours have also been coming thick and fast. Names such as Alexander Sorloth have most recently stolen the headlines as clubs begin to battle over his signature. Alongside a number of others in the race to sign the Atletico Madrid forward, Aston Villa could yet swoop in and finally sign their replacement for Jhon Duran.

Whether Villa’s transfer stance changes in the remaining two Premier League games is something to keep an eye on, too. The Villans still have a chance of securing Champions League football, which would hand them an instant boost financially.

Emery is, of course, well aware of just how important his side’s final two Premier League games are and reiterated the need to stay focused when speaking to reporters last weekend.

The Spaniard said: “To play in Europe is very fantastic and is very difficult through the Premier League. We have points to play (for) and we are going to push other teams, but it (Champions League) is not in our hands. But, of course, if we are winning, we will have more chance.”

Aston Villa register interest in Mosquera

With or without Champions League football, those in the Midlands are beginning to form their summer transfer plan. According to reports in Spain, Aston Villa have now registered their formal interest in signing Cristhian Mosquera, who is proven to be somewhat of a contract rebel at Valencia after failing to put pen to paper on a new deal.

Available for around €18m (£15m) this summer, Mosquera is not a target that should leave Aston Villa concerned about PSR, given his affordable valuation. A player who Emery reportedly sees as the perfect fit, the Valencia defender could yet become the Spaniard’s first signing of the summer.

Described as a “dominant ground dueller” by analyst Ben Mattinson, 20-year-old Mosquera is more ready than ever to step into a side of Aston Villa’s quality when the summer arrives.

da roleta： Arsenal and Liverpool are both ready to pay up to £50 million for a “quick” Premier League star who PSG have held talks over signing, according to a report this week.

Arsenal lose Champions League semi-final tie against PSG

da dobrowin： Mikel Arteta watched on from the sidelines as his side succumbed to a crushing defeat at the Parc des Princes – a loss which ended Arsenal’s hopes of winning a first-ever Champions League crown.

Related Arsenal: Berta wants £119k-per-week PSG star after failed Atletico deal

Berta attempted to sign him for the La Liga side.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini May 7, 2025

Arsenal’s 5-1 dismantling of Real Madrid in the last round had a lot of tails up around the Emirates Stadium, and the prospect of Champions League glory was made very real by their statement two-legged display against the 15-time European champions.

However, this year’s standout team in PSG, who many are backing to win the competition, ultimately outclassed Arsenal over two semi-final clashes where Arteta’s side weren’t quite ruthless enough in the final third.

Arsenal’s final Premier League games

Date

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

The Ligue 1 champions have now booked their place in this year’s Champions League final against Inter Milan, with Arteta making a humble statement to the media in the aftermath of their 2-1 loss on Wednesday.

“I can take a lot of positives, and I’m very proud of the team,” said Arteta after Arsenal’s defeat to PSG.

“We have to arrive in the competition at this stage with a full squad, fully available, in the best condition. We haven’t got that, so let’s put that aside. It’s still the team that I’ve seen today against, probably one of the best, if not the best team in Europe. It gives me so much pride, but at the same time, I’m so upset, so annoyed that we didn’t manage to do it. And two things that are on us, probably not together. Another thing is that, obviously, the opponent at this level has the quality to deliver like Donnarumma has done today again.”

With Arsenal’s European adventure now officially over, attention is set to switch to the summer transfer window, and how new sporting director Andrea Berta will react to the Gunners’ disappointing 2024/2025 campaign.

Berta has been tipped to spend around £300 million on seven major signings (GiveMeSport), and one of them could be a new right-winger to alternate with Bukayo Saka.

Arsenal ready to pay up to £50 million for West Ham star Mohammed Kudus

Arsenal are believed to remain keen on Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane as an option to give Saka competition on that side, but West Ham United star Mohammed Kudus is also attracting their attention.

According to The Boot Room and journalist Graeme Bailey, Arsenal and Liverpool are prepared to pay up to £50 million for Kudus, but have no intention of going anywhere near the Ghanaian’s £85 million release clause.

West Ham are apparently holding out for his exit clause to be paid in full, but neither side is willing to go that high.

Graham Potter’s men do hold some hope of an auction for Kudus, though, with other reports from Africa recently claiming that PSG have already held talks with the 24-year-old’s camp, as the Ligue 1 champions seek to bolster their own attacking options.

Teammate Aaron Cresswell is on record praising Kudus’ “quick” speed, branding him a “top” player, even if Ajax’s former sensation hasn’t enjoyed the best 24/25 campaign.

Kudus also bagged a stunning goal against Arsenal in the EFL Cup last season, so Arteta is fully aware of the winger’s quality when at his devastating best.

Lyonnes, eight-time European champions, agreed on a fee with Ajax for the teenager's services

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USWNT's Yohannes completes OL Lyonnes moveTeenager picked USWNT over Netherlands in 2024Will play with national team captain Heaps in FranceFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

U.S. women's national team phenom Lily Yohannes finalized a transfer to French powerhouse OL Lyonnes from Ajax on Monday.

Yohannes, 18, signed a three-year contract with the club, with her deal running through 2028 in France.

The teenage midfielder reportedly garnered a fee of $530,000 (€450,000), with Ajax also receiving a sell-on percentage fee for a future transfer. Her previous contract in the Netherlands with the Dutch club ran through June 2026.

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Reigning champions of England, Chelsea, were also reportedly in the running for Yohannes' services.

Yohannes has 10 caps for the USWNT, and in June 2024, she scored 10 minutes into her international debut in a friendly against South Korea.

In November, she declared her international allegiance to the USA after previously mulling the options of playing for the Netherlands. She was born in Virginia but moved to the Netherlands with her family when she was 10. At age 15, she signed a professional contract with Ajax.

"She's got unbelievable maturity and coachability, and someone who I know is going to become an important part of our program," USWNT head coach Emma Hayes said in May. "But I'm invested in that development, and we have to be patient with that considering her tender age and her lack of international and high-level experience."

At Lyonnes, she will play with fellow U.S. international Korbin Albert and team captain Lindsey Heaps.

DID YOU KNOW?

In 2023, Yohannes became the youngest player to ever start a UEFA Women's Champions League game at 16 when she was named to the starting XI for Ajax in a 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR YOHANNES?

Lyonnes' 2025/26 campaign begins this fall, and she will report for preseason action in the coming weeks.

Mario Balotelli could be heading to Spain’s third tier as Real Murcia weigh up a shock move for the ex-Manchester City striker.

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• Murcia approached over stunning Balotelli proposa
• Striker made just six appearances at Genoa
• Concerns grow over fitness, wages, dressing room

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Former City and Liverpool striker Balotelli has reportedly been offered to Murcia, a club currently playing in Spain’s Primera Federacion. According to the offer came via his representatives during a meeting with club owner Felipe Moreno in Madrid. Though talks have taken place, strong doubts remain over his wages, image rights and fitness, putting the proposed deal in doubt.

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  While the Italian international's arrival in Spain would undoubtedly be a marketing coup, boosting shirt sales, fan engagement, and media attention, Murcia must tread carefully. The club is wary of destabilising the dressing room or upsetting their financial equilibrium. His past spells at Genoa, Adana Demirspor, and Sion were hit-and-miss, and memories of the failed Royston Drenthe experiment still linger. Though Balotelli's star power is undoubted, Murcia must decide whether it's a gamble worth taking.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Balotelli has not played a competitive match since December 2024, during his short spell with Genoa. He made just six appearances, totalling only 60 minutes without scoring. Once hailed as Italy’s next great No. 9, the "Super Mario" made his senior Azzurri debut at just 18 and went on to score 14 goals in 36 caps. He was part of Man City’s iconic 2011–12 Premier League title-winning team, famously assisting Sergio Aguero’s stoppage-time goal against QPR. His most prolific club spell came at Nice between 2016 and 2019, where he netted 43 goals in 86 appearances.

  Balotelli’s “Why always me?” shirt celebration after scoring in the 2011 Manchester derby remains one of football’s most iconic moments, highlighting both his flair and self-awareness. Despite his off-field antics, managers like Jose Mourinho and Roberto Mancini have described him as one of the most naturally gifted players they’ve coached.

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR BALOTELLI?

  Balotelli remains under contract with Genoa until June 2025, but his exit seems imminent. If the Spanish club choose to take the gamble, the deal would need to overcome financial and physical concerns. If not, Balotelli may need to look elsewhere for one last shot at redemption, or risk drifting further from the football spotlight.

West Ham United have now made contact over a deal to sign a “world-class” midfielder, and his club could be willing to sanction a departure in the summer transfer window, according to a report.

West Ham's summer transfer plans taking shape

The summer is edging ever closer, which presents Graham Potter with his first real opportunity to put his own stamp on the squad he inherited from Julen Lopetegui, having arrived at the London Stadium in the middle of the January transfer window.

It has been a poor season by the Hammers’ recent standards, with Potter’s side languishing near the bottom of the Premier League table, which means the manager could oversee a mass exodus of first-team players.

As many as ten players could be moved on this summer, including Guido Rodriguez, Niclas Fullkrug, Emerson Palmieri, and Michail Antonio, with the manager clearly planning a serious rebuild.

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It seems likely the Irons will need to bring in a new striker, given that Antonio and Fullkrug could be moved on, with both forwards now in their twilight years, while Rodriguez’s departure could pave the way for the arrival of a new defensive midfielder.

According to a report from The Boot Room, West Ham have now made contact over a deal for Bayern Munich’s Joao Palhinha, who could be allowed to leave the Allianz Arena this summer, having endured a difficult debut campaign in Germany due to injuries and illness.

Fulham have also made an approach for their former midfielder, who joined Bayern in a £42m deal last summer, so there could be competition for his signature this summer.

Palhinha intends to stay and fight for his place at Bayern, so it remains to be seen whether a transfer is possible this summer, but should he become available, it appears as though the Hammers could look at taking him to the London Stadium.

"World-class" Palhinha could be fantastic Hammers signing

The central midfielder’s move to Bayern hasn’t panned out how he would’ve liked up to this point, but he is clearly a very talented player, having already proven himself in the Premier League with Fulham.

During his time with the Cottagers, the Portugal international was lauded as “world-class” by reporter Dom Smith, and he has continued to impress from a defensive point of view since completing a move to the Bundesliga.

The 29-year-old ranks highly across some key metrics for midfielders over the past year, when compared to his positional peers, most notably impressing with his tackling ability.

Palhinha could be a fantastic signing for West Ham, given that he has already proven himself in the Premier League, but it remains to be seen whether a deal is possible, given the midfielder’s commitment to making things work at Bayern Munich.

The India and KKR allrounder will play in the One-Day Cup and two rounds of the county championship

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jul-2024India allrounder Venkatesh Iyer has joined Lancashire for the ongoing One-Day Cup and two rounds of the County Championship. He is expected to make his debut against Kent on July 28.Iyer was recommended to the club by Phil Salt, his Kolkata Knight Riders’ teammate during their victorious IPL campaign this year, where he made half-centuries against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 1 and the final. Iyer’s stint will be for five weeks as he is set to return ahead of India’s domestic season opener, the Duleep Trophy, that kicks off on September 5.”This is a deal we have worked hard to complete,” Lancashire’s Director of Cricket Mark Chilton said. “Venkatesh will add experience to a young side during the One-Day Cup, whilst providing an explosive batting option in the middle-order and another seam bowler that we can turn to with the ball.”He will also be available for our County Championship matches against Surrey and Hampshire towards the end of August and gives us another high-quality overseas option to select from.”Iyer made his name as a top-order batter during IPL 2021, when KKR made a stirring run to the final. Iyer, who debuted in the second half of that tournament after the pandemic break, also went on to earn his India cap across both white-ball formats in the months that followed.In addition to being an attacking batter, Iyer offers a handy seam-up option, having fully recovered from a series of injuries that had limited his participation only as a batter until mid-last year.”I am incredibly excited to head over to England and to have the opportunity to play county cricket for the first time in my career,” Iyer said in a statement. “Lancashire is a very historic county with a long history of welcoming Indian players to their Club”To test my skills in both one-day and first-class cricket in English conditions is going to really benefit my game. I hope that I can entertain the fans and help my Lancashire team-mates to achieve their targets in both formats this summer.”Iyer, a left-hand batter, has 1132 runs from 32 first-class innings, averaging 37.73 with one century. He has also taken 15 wickets with his right-arm medium pace.In List A cricket, Iyer has scored 1458 runs in 40 innings at a strike rate 101.95. He has four centuries and five fifties in the 50-over format. He also played two ODIs for India in January 2022.