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It is argued that it is too simplistic to label Ishant Sharma an unlucky bowler who will get the proverbial rub of the green one day, but it might be too simplistic a view

Sidharth Monga at the Adelaide Oval24-Jan-2012One of these days Ishant Sharma is going to bowl worse than he is doing, and walk away with a five-for. That’s what his team-mates, and more importantly his opponents think. One of these days.Today wasn’t one of those days. Easily the best bowler on show today, Ishant produced three edges on a flat track, came close to getting leg-before calls, went past the bat on an almost equal number of occasions, got the ball to seam, bowled the odd cutter with a roll of the fingers, and went for just 52 in 20 overs on a day that India conceded 335 runs for just three wickets. But he still doesn’t have a wicket to show for it.It has been observed, not without merit, that perhaps he is not that unlucky after all. That – likable as he might be with his spirit in the nets, in the field, with the ball, and with the bat – there is a difference between studying hard and scoring marks in the exam. That he bowls just the good balls, not the wicket-taking balls, which would be a length slightly fuller – by about a foot – than he usually bowls. That his game has not evolved from the last time he first impressed, on the tour to Australia four years ago.Or, a little more uncharitably, that, as Shane Warne once observed of Monty Panesar, he has played not 45 Tests but the same Test 45 times. “Unlucky Ishant” has become almost a mock among the fans. Sometimes, though, what those who have been in the contests say matters more. This might be one of those cases.This is what Michael Hussey had to say of him before the start of this Test: “If anything, I think he has picked up a bit of pace from some of the spells that I’ve faced in the past. Particularly in Melbourne he was touching 150 for a couple of spells, and bowled with real pace. I think his pace is up, or has been up earlier in the series.”He’s bowled without luck really. Particularly in the first couple of Tests he beat the bat on numerous occasions, and there were a lot of balls where the rub of the green didn’t quite go his way. Sometimes that can almost shape your series. I know from a batting point of view if you can just get off to a good start, sometimes that can shape your series, and you feel like the rub of the green can go your way. I think he’s bowled really well, but some of those 50-50 things haven’t quite gone his way, and maybe that has flowed on for the rest of the series. I hope that continues for one more Test.”It sure has continued into the first day of one more Test. Australia are almost of the view that Yadav owes quite a few of his wickets to Ishant’s bowling at the other end. A foot fuller, and he could be getting those edges himself. That is why it is argued that it is too simplistic to label Ishant an unlucky bowler who will get the proverbial rub of the green one day. Forty-five Tests into his career, he should be able to bowl a better length without losing his wrist position behind the seam or the arm.Perhaps it is too simplistic to say that. For starters, Ishant has bowled a better – fuller – length over the last year and a half. It has got him results at times – in the West Indies, and at Lord’s – and at others it hasn’t. It’s not like Ishant hasn’t changed things. In his wilderness days, when out of the side, he tried to bowl like Zaheer Khan with catastrophic effects. After his comeback, he has been bowling fuller, but he cannot deviate too much from what his natural length is.It’s the delivery you can bowl blindfolded, a little like changing gears when driving a car. It’s the length that allows him to do things he does with the ball. It’s the ball that got Ricky Ponting’s edge when it held its line four years ago. It’s the length that just goes past the bat nowadays. On a day that Ponting scored a century, he was asked if he, as an opponent who has history with Ishant, thought Ishant has been threatening enough on this tour.”I actually thought in Melbourne and Sydney that he bowled particularly well,” Ponting said. “I thought he bowled better than his figures would have suggested. Even today he kept running in all day. Sometimes you bowl well and don’t take wickets. At other times you don’t bowl as well, and take wickets. It’s like batting … sometimes you feel like you are on top of your game, and just can’t score a run. Other times you feel completely out of nick, and just can’t get out. That’s the game.”The more valid criticism is that Ishant has not strung together such unfortunate days in a cluster. That every time he moves ahead, he soon moves a little backwards once more. It was a tough, long day for India today, but even at the end Ishant kept charging in. He bowled the fuller length and produced the edge, but there was no third slip to catch it. His reaction, that half-smile in defeat, is the image of his career. Does he also believe in his poor luck or will he come back tomorrow and challenge it, again, with 20 more overs of intensity?

It took 12 teams 54 matches spread over 19 days to determine the best of the rest, the countries next in the queue for an ICC handout and those fortunate four who will play in the 2011 World Cup

Will Luke in Johannesburg20-Apr-2009Marks out of ten | Who got what from the Qualifiers | StatisticsKarim Khan went from a wicketkeeper-batsman to claim 11 wickets – just part of Afghanistan’s extraordinary story•Cricinfo/Ian JacobsIt took 12 teams 54 matches spread over 19 days to determine the best of the rest, the countries next in the queue for an ICC handout and those fortunate four who will play in the 2011 World Cup. The ICC World Cup Qualifiers lurked deferentially in the shadow of the looming Indian Premier League, yet held its own as the Associates’ showcase event and even inducted a war-torn nation as one of the sport’s own. Beat that, Mr Modi.With the favourites Ireland reaching and winning the final, it appears that the whole show went to form, and statistically that is true. Of the top six Associates, only Bermuda lost their ODI status, but we’ll come to that particular miserable tale later. Had Scotland lost their international ranking – they escaped by a cat’s whisker and performed poorly – the ICC would have had two countries into whom four years of investment and nurturing were practically wasted. Instead, bar the occasional flabbergasting upset, the top eight countries have all shown encouraging improvement to justify their rankings. The ICC is pelted with vitriol almost by default by world cricket, but its commitment and hands-on approach to developing nations deserves acknowledgement.Cricket being cricket, the tournament was not without incident. After all, the majority of these players remain amateurs, forsaking careers and families for national pride or simply their own love of the sport. Even Ireland – the envy of opposing coaches with their increasing professionalism – had their difficulties. They were outplayed by the romantics’ choice of refugees, Afghanistan, and the call-up by England of Eoin Morgan led to rumours of a split between him and the towering presence of his coach, Phil Simmons. Morgan is not, and cannot, be blamed for seeking pastures new, or pastures rich. International cricket is his ambition and, judging by his eight innings in this tournament, not to mention his form for Middlesex, probably his calling.Likewise Netherlands’ Ryan ten Doeschate, who cut short his international appearances to commit to Essex. To Netherlands’ credit, they survived without his sublime allround abilities, though ironically it was another ECB-contracted batsman, Alexei Kervezee, still only 19, who anchored many of their innings (461 runs @ 51.22). A brilliant fielder and increasingly mature batsman, it may not be long before he swaps Netherlands for New Road on a more full-time basis. These were the undercurrents of irritation which gently rumbled throughout this tournament, but it was ever thus for Associate cricket, never more so than for the European nations.The story of the past few weeks, however, came from a squad of men hailing from a country that most Europeans associate with two terrible Ts: terrorism and Taliban. Afghanistan stole the hearts, upset the odds and left several teams looking foolishly complacent. Ireland were rolled over by 22 runs, with Hamid Hassan – a fast bowler destined for county cricket one day – snaring five. Scotland, too, were shrugged aside quite comfortably, as were Bermuda. These were victories not of a squad of wannabes, but of cricketers whose ambition stretches far beyond this level.They blew hot and cold, expectedly, but several figures (and characters) enhanced their reputations handsomely. Alongside Hassan was Shapoor Zadran, a tall and accurate left-arm seamer. Karim Khan, too, hits the ball cleaner than most and when his injured finger prevented him from standing behind the stumps, he turned to offspin and picked up 11 cheap wickets.

The story of the past few weeks, however, came from a squad of men hailing from a country that most Europeans associate with two terrible Ts: terrorism and Taliban. Afghanistan stole the hearts, upset the odds and left several teams looking foolishly complacent

Many put their journey to the Super Eights down to fluke or fortune but, by the end of the tournament, opposing teams readily conceded Afghanistan as a talented team and potent threat to their World Cup push, however extraordinary their backgrounds may be. The funding they will now receive will transform their lives as people and cricketers, yet Afghanistan remains a country desperately seeking an identity other than one at war with the west. Some grass pitches would help, too, but now is not the time to pontificate negatively while the celebrations in Peshawar, Jalalabad and Kabul resonate raucously and justifiably.From the good, to Bermuda, whose performance was less a disappointment, more a depressingly predictable blight of underachievement. Poor David Hemp topped the overall averages with 557 runs at 185.66, batting and fielding with the professionalism and self-pride you would expect. With nobody for support, Hemp resembled a man with a bilge pump on a sinking ship while his crew had taken the lifeboats and champagne and were sailing to calmer waters.Gus Logie’s attack on the players’ lack of motivation and focus angered the players, some of whom would rather turn their arm over, gently, in domestic cricket than represent their country. Three opposing players told Cricinfo that their demotion was both unsurprising and deserved. For now, they are out of the limelight. That alone might be sufficient inspiration to breed a new, ambitious Bermuda. Just don’t hold your breath.Bermuda’s tribulations serve as a reminder to other nations and the ICC. With funding comes responsibility. In that respect, ICC is much like the managing director of a business. It is as keen to help these nations – apprentices, if you like – as they are themselves, and will spoon-feed them money, equipment, and create a structure upon which they will hopefully build. It can’t, however, breast feed them forever. The weaning process has to happen at some point.Richard Done, ICC’s High Performance Manager, cut to the chase at the beginning of the tournament when he outlined his and ICC’s blueprint for Associate cricket. Top of the list is professionalisation – a safety net for players who can then concentrate on their own performances without the burden of finding an employer willing to let them take four weeks off every now and then to play cricket. Amateur status still rules the roost. The UAE, for example, are entirely amateur yet are screaming with raw ability (their opening bowler, Amjad Javed, smashed 164). Were cricket to be their full-time career, with a proper managerial board in place, UAE and other countries would improve out of sight. There is no overnight solution, however; look what US$11m of investment by Bermuda’s government has had on the sport in their country.The top six have plenty on their schedule, and the next intriguing instalment is to see how Afghanistan fare as four-day cricketers in the ICC Intercontinental Cup. Ireland may have lofted the trophy on Sunday, and continue to stretch ahead of the pack, but there is no doubt which team has stolen their thunder these past three weeks. The next four years promise to be as exhilarating and unpredictable as Kabul itself.

أشاد لاعب وسط الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي مانشستر سيتي، إلكاي جوندوجان، بقدرة أكاديمية لا ماسيا على صنع النجوم داخل برشلونة.

ولعب جوندوجان مع برشلونة في الموسم الماضي قبل العودة من جديد إلى مانشستر سيتي، وذلك من أجل حل الأزمة المالية التي عانى منها النادي الكتالوني في الصيف لتسجيل اللاعبين الجدد.

اقرأ أيضًا | جوندوجان: لا أشعر بالندم للعب لـ برشلونة.. ولم أتوقع رد فعل جوارديولا

وتحدث جوندوجان أولًا عن أول مباراة للكلاسيكو خاضها مع برشلونة في تصريحات عبر البرنامج الإذاعي “BeerBiceps”، وقال: “كان التسجيل في الكلاسيكو شعور رائع للغاية ولكن للأسف خسرنا المباراة”.

وتابع: “أشعر وكأننا خسرنا تلك المباراة دون داعٍ، كان الأمر محبطًا بعض الشيء (كان كلاسيكو كامب نو في الدور الأول من الموسم الماضي)”.

وعن أكاديمية لا ماسيا: “انظروا إلى لامين يامال، الأمر واضح، لكن علينا ألا ننسى باو كوبارسي، في التدريبات تدرك مدى إمكانياته الفنية، أعتقد أنه يبلغ من العمر 21 عامًا”.

واختتم: “لكن عندما أخبروني أنه بلغ للتو 17 عامًا، شعرت بالصدمة، لأنه يظهر درجة كبيرة من النضج بالنسبة لسنه، لقد تحدثت عنه مع مساعد تشافي وقتها، أكاديمية لا ماسيا هي هوية برشلونة”.

Everton are poised to pounce for an “excellent” Premier League midfielder, who is now looking increasingly likely to leave his club this summer, according to a report.

Toffees set sights on new midfielder

It is set to be a summer of change for the Toffees, with the move to Bramley-Moore Dock to take place prior to the start of the 2025-26 campaign, while David Moyes is also looking to upgrade his squad in a number of different positions.

Having flirted with relegation over the past few seasons, it is little wonder Moyes is eyeing upgrades in several areas, with Leeds United’s Junior Firpo among the targets at left-back, while Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap could be brought in to provide more attacking firepower.

The Merseysiders are also looking to upgrade their options in the engine room, with an offer now being prepared for Lille central midfielder Angel Gomes, who is set to be available on a free transfer this summer.

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However, amid widespread interest in Gomes, it could be difficult to get a deal over the line, and a different central midfielder has now entered the frame as a potential summer target.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Everton are now poised to pounce for Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff, who is looking increasingly likely to exit St. James’ Park this summer, with the Magpies prepared to sanction a departure for just £12m.

Eddie Howe’s side are eager to cash-in on Longstaff, with his contract set to expire in 2026, potentially opening the door for a move to Merseyside, having been identified as a strong target by the Toffees.

Moyes is looking to overhaul his squad this summer, and wants to bring in players with Premier League experience, but there could be fierce competition for the midfielder, with Manchester United, Leeds United and teams in Scotland also keen.

"Excellent" Longstaff could be solid signing for Toffees

As the season has progressed, the Englishman has started to play more of a sporadic role, often being limited to appearances off the bench, but he has impressed Howe in the past, with the manager previously describing him as “excellent”.

With Moyes keen on proven Premier League players, the 27-year-old also fits the bill in that regard, having made 171 appearances in the top flight, picking up ten goals and nine assists.

Not only is the central midfielder capable of posing an attacking threat, but he is also willing to pitch in defensively, as showcased by his performance on some key metrics over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Touches (Att pen)

2.33 (86th percentile)

Tackles

2.61 (77th percentile)

Blocks

1.77 (92nd percentile)

While Longstaff is unlikely to be the most exciting addition for Everton this summer, there is every sign the Newcastle midfielder could be a solid addition to Moyes’ squad.

Everton haven't enjoyed the most productive transfer windows in the last few years, welcoming several players to forget rather than improving their side. Last time out in the market, however, the Toffees did well to sign the likes of Beto and Jack Harrison for Sean Dyche, who is actively guiding his side away from Premier League relegation troubles and into the comforts of mid-table.

Turning things around at Goodison Park, Dyche will hope to breathe new life into previous transfer flops to give himself added reinforcements before the January window even opens. And that could include one particular player with talks underway to re-negotiate Everton's deal, which would hand the Toffees another option on the pitch.

Everton transfer news

When the January transfer window does open, Everton will hope to be in a position to welcome some crucial additions. The Premier League's financial fair play investigation could yet prevent that, of course, or even hand the Merseyside club a 12-point deduction. If Everton are handed transfer sanctions, then they'll have no choice but to turn to internal options for Dyche. With their top flight status potentially on the line, they can't afford to get things wrong, and the return of Dele Alli could help avoid disastrous consequences this season.

According to The Telegraph, Everton are attempting to get Dele's appearance clause waived by former club Tottenham Hotspur. As things stand, when the midfielder reaches 20 appearances, Everton will have to pay Spurs £10m in a deal that is not currently feasible for those at Goodison Park. Dele is currently on 13 appearances for the club, who may limit his game-time unless the aforementioned fee is waived by Spurs.

The former Besiktas loanee is, of course, currently out injured, but when he returns, Dyche may well attempt to rediscover his best form once more. Dyche said recently: ‌“I must make it clear he is on the grass but still a long way from being fit, he is not training with us he is with the sports science staff.

"He is just really getting back to where he was He was drastically unfortunate when the rehab (went) wrong after an operation, and it is almost more time than the original moment. But the specialists advised to leave it alone and just let it heal naturally. He is in a good place, but he is still quite far away (from playing)."

"Very good" Dele Alli can boost Everton

Football loves a comeback story, and Dele has the chance to provide the sport with one of its best yet. At his best, this has been a player touted as the next Frank Lampard or Steven Gerrard. The fact is, if Dyche can get anywhere close to that version of the midfielder back firing, then Everton won't just survive in England's top flight, they'll potentially flourish – Dele's stats at such a young age prove as much.

Player

Premier League Goal Involvements Before Turning 21

Dele Alli

40

Frank Lampard

15

Steven Gerrard

13

David Beckham

12

Jose Mourinho, despite his difficult relationship with the midfielder, has been one of many to praise Dele, saying via BBC Sport: "He could try to score but for Vinicius it was an easy goal. A team player does that, no risk and 2-0. It does not surprise me that he did that. Dele was like the team. A very good first half. In the second half in the first 20 to 25 minutes they closed and tried not to concede more goals."

The summer transfer window marked a poignant moment for those at Tottenham Hotspur, as the curtain came down on Harry Kane's stellar stint at N17 – the England skipper sealing a move to Bundesliga powerhouse Bayern Munich having had just a year to run on his contract in north London.

That high-profile departure had come just under ten years on from Spurs losing another sparkling talisman to a historic, European giant following Gareth Bale's £85m switch to Real Madrid, with chairman Daniel Levy sanctioning that sale on deadline day in 2013.

While it was not long after the Welshman's exit that things began to click under Mauricio Pochettino – as that man Kane emerged onto the scene in 2014/15 – there will be Lilywhites supporters pondering whether 'success' could have been achieved earlier had the now-retired speedster not been allowed to move to the Bernabeu a decade ago.

Could Andre Villas-Boas have remained in the job for a longer stint? Could the north Londoners have begun to challenge the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea at the summit?

Off the back of a 2012/13 season that saw Bale register 40 goals and assists in all competitions, it is easy to contemplate whether the former Southampton could have kicked on even further in English football and helped to end the club's lengthy wait for silverware.

One possible certainty had the Cardiff native stayed put that summer is that Levy is unlikely to have sanctioned a £105m spend on seven new faces in that same window, prior to Bale's exit, with those additions potentially having been signed in the knowledge that the forward was to depart.

With that in mind, here's a look at how Villas-Boas' side could have lined up in 2013/14, had Bale remained in place and the majority of that infamous 'magnificent seven' not been signed…

1 Goalkeeper – Hugo Lloris

The only player from this starting XI that remains on the books under Ange Postecoglou – albeit as a forgotten figure – Hugo Lloris had been snapped up the year prior to Bale's departure, joining on a £13m deal from Ligue 1 side, Lyon.

While the veteran Frenchman has since been cast aside in the present day after initially outlining his desire for a move earlier this year, on the whole, it has been a stunning, lengthy stay in England for the ex-skipper, having racked up 444 appearances in all competitions.

A World Cup winner at international level, in his pomp the 36-year-old was a truly "exceptional" talent – as hailed by ex-teammate Brad Friedel – with a figure of such quality likely having been deserving of a more trophy-laden spell in the Premier League.

Perhaps, with longer time spent watching Bale work his magic higher up the pitch, that goal could have been realised.

2 Right-back – Kyle Walker

The undisputed first-choice option at right-back prior to his £50m move to Manchester City in 2017, Kyle Walker had truly begun to click into gear during the 2012/13 season, with the former Sheffield United ace having provided five assists in 36 league games under Villas-Boas' watch.

That was an early example of the potent attacking threat that the Englishman can offer down the right flank, with it likely to have been exciting to witness the full-back on one side, with Bale on the other wing for a lengthier period of time – a duo that could wreak havoc on opposition defences.

While perhaps not at his peak in Lilywhite, the 33-year-old has since won trophies galore after blossoming into the "best right-back in the world" at the Etihad, as hailed by City's director of football, Txiki Begiristain, having been part of the club's remarkable treble success last term.

3 Centre-back – Michael Dawson

Before the days of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, or even Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen, it was Michael Dawson who was holding the fort at the heart of the defence alongside the latter man in 2013, with the former Nottingham Forest ace leading the side as captain at the time.

Having made 27 league outings in 2012/13, Dawson would ultimately go on to make a further 32 appearances in the top flight the following season, prior to joining Hull City in the summer of 2014.

A solid, but unglamorous performer at centre-back, the now-retired titan was perhaps the type of player that Spurs needed to upgrade on at the time, although even if this list were to include the club's infamous seven signings of 2013, eventual flop Vlad Chiriches was the only defensive addition of the lot.

4 Centre-back – Jan Vertonghen

The Belgian colossus would ultimately develop into "one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League and in Europe" – in the words of Pochettino – having been a true "warrior" in the backline after signing from Ajax in 2012.

The classy, left-footer had helped to fill the void of former cult hero, Ledley King following the Englishman's retirement that summer, with Levy and co having found a new figure to build their defence around.

Part of the side that remarkably reached the Champions League final in 2019, Vertonghen eventually departed for Benfica a year later, with the 36-year-old now plying his trade in his homeland for Anderlecht.

5 Left-back – Danny Rose

The man who could have linked up with Bale down that left channel, Danny Rose had returned to White Hart Lane in the summer of 2013, having spent the previous campaign on loan at Sunderland in the top-tier.

Having struggled to force his way into the first-team set-up in north London despite his stunning debut goal against rivals Arsenal in 2008, it was in 2013/14 that the one-time Leeds man began to make a strong, consistent impression, registering one goal and four assists in 22 league games.

While the 33-year-old would endure a sour end to his time at the club after being cast aside by Jose Mourinho, he still contributed 38 goals and assists in 219 games across all fronts, ensuring he could have been the perfect attacking foil for Bale.

6 Centre-midfield – Mousa Dembele

Lauded as a "genius" by Pochettino, Mousa Dembele blossomed into a real world-beater following the appointment of the Argentine coach in 2014, with the current Chelsea boss having turned him into a 'special player' – as journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke wrote at the time.

There is perhaps a world, however, in which Pochettino may never have ended up at N17, with the continued presence of Bale potentially set to have kept Villas-Boas in a job for far longer, as the Portuguese tactician was eventually sacked in December 2013 – just months after the Welshman's sale.

In the event of that scenario, would Dembele have become the beloved and influential figure that he developed into under Pochettino's watch?

7 Centre-midfield – Gylfi Sigurdsson

Options in the middle of midfield were particularly thin on the ground at Spurs in 2013, with that summer having seen the likes of Tom Huddlestone and Scott Parker move onto pastures new, leaving Villas-Boas with little depth in that department.

In the event of Bale staying, the likes of Christian Eriksen (£11.5m) and Etienne Capoue (£9m) may never have ended up in north London, leaving Gylfi Sigurdsson as one of few options for the club to work with in that area of the squad.

The Icelandic playmaker, in reality, spent just two years with the Lilywhites prior to leaving for Swansea City in 2014, while he now plies his trade for Danish side Lyngby, after leaving Everton.

8 Centre-midfield – Paulinho

With Bale's sale recouping around £85m – and with Levy ultimately spending £105m – that difference of around £20m could have been what the typically frugal Levy would have been willing to spend had the wing wizard stayed put, ensuring that at least one of the 'magnificent seven' can feature in this lineup.

As the first signing of that summer on a £17m deal from Corinthians, it makes sense for Paulinho to be the sole inclusion in the side, particularly with the centre of the park one of the areas that desperately needed bolstering at the time.

Quite whether Bale staying could have altered the Brazilian's dour stint is difficult to predict, with the 6 foot enigma ultimately lasting just two seasons before departing for China, with eight goals and six assists under his belt in 64 games.

9 Right-wing – Aaron Lennon

Unsurprisingly, it was the attacking ranks which saw the most change following the exit of Bale, with the likes of Erik Lamela, Roberto Soldado and Nacer Chadli having all been recruited in order to help pep up the front line.

Lamela, in particular, was meant to be the man to try and fill the shoes of the departing hero, although, in his absence, diminutive speedster Aaron Lennon would likely have remained the leading option in that role, having recorded four goals and eight assists in the league in 2012/13.

Just 18 months later, the 21-cap England international was moved on to Everton after falling by the wayside under the Pochettino regime, with things initially tumbling for the club after Bale's move to Madrid.

10 Centre-forward – Emmanuel Adebayor

The second-most expensive signing of that window was Roberto Soldado on a £26m deal, yet had the Spaniard not made the move from his homeland, the onus would have been placed on Emmanuel Adebayor to lead the line heading into 2013/14.

The former Arsenal and Manchester City man wouldn't have exactly been the most inspiring figurehead in attack, however, as he had scored just five league goals in 2012/13, despite previously recording 28 goal involvements in 33 league games the season prior.

Something of a polarising enigma, Adebayor did eventually go on to outscore Soldado – who was the "flop of the season" according to journalist Sam Tighe – with 11 league goals in 13/14, with the summer signing, by contrast, scoring just six top-flight goals as the goalscoring impact of Bale was not adequately filled.

The United States women's national team will face Germany, Australia and either Zambia or Morocco in the group stages of this year's Olympic Games.

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• USWNT will face Germany & Australia at Olympics
• Wednesday's draw produced three tough groups
• Final opponent for U.S. to be revealed next month

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The USWNT was given a very tough group by Wednesday's draw in Paris, which has pitted it against a giant of the game in Germany and Australia, which reached last year's World Cup semi-finals. The identity of its third opponent will be decided at the beginning of April, which Zambia and Morocco vying for that spot in a two-legged play-off.

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• OLYMPIC WOMEN'S FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT DRAW

  GROUP A: France, Colombia, Canada, New Zealand

  GROUP B: United States, Zambia/Morocco, Germany, Australia

  GROUP C: Spain, Japan, Nigeria/South Africa, Brazil

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The U.S. will fancy its chances of progressing through the group, though. It is set to be under the charge of Emma Hayes when the Games get underway in July and has already started the year well, winning the CONCACAF W Gold Cup. Germany, meanwhile, exited the World Cup in the group stages last year and Australia will be without star striker Sam Kerr due to an ACL rupture.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  No team has won more medals at the Olympic women's football tournament than the USWNT, which has four golds, one silver and one bronze to its name.

Manchester United are in a race with Everton and several other Premier League clubs to try and add a talented Champiosnhip midfielder to the ranks at Old Trafford, according to reports.

What's the latest news involving Manchester United?

The Red Devils returned to winning ways at the weekend in the Premier League, disposing of Burnley by a score of 1-0 courtesy of a fantastic Bruno Fernandes strike on the stroke of half-time.

Cited by BBC Sport, Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag praised his side's fighting spirit and desire to secure all three points in Lancashire during his post-match press conference, stating: "It was clear, of course, we needed that win. We had a tough run of games against good opponents. It wasn’t necessary to lose those games. Today was a must-win. The team spirit and how they fight together [was impressive]. It was a team attacking with 11 and defending with 11. They supported each other."

He then added: "A lot has been against us, like injuries and decisions. Like tonight, Murphy’s Law, where everything goes against us. You have to fight and find a turning point. It shows the dressing room is together. They fight together."

In the aftermath of Manchester United's victory over the Clarets, England international Marcus Rashford was involved in a car crash near Carrington training complex; though luckily he escaped without injury from the collision, as per The Burnley Express. Taking to social media platform Instagram to reassure the general public, Rashford said: “Three points on the road. I’m alright guys, thanks for the messages."

According to The Daily Mail meanwhile, United midfielder Mason Mount could make his anticipated comeback from injury in the Red Devils' Carabao Cup clash against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Tuesday evening.

Who could Manchester United sign?

As per Alan Nixon on Patreon via TEAMtalk, Everton and Manchester United are joined by several other Premier League sides in the hunt to sign Blackburn Rovers midfielder Adam Wharton. Newcastle United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers all expressed interest in the 19-year-old across the summer, while Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur monitored the youngster earlier this year.

Versatile midfielder Wharton has already racked up nine appearances across all competitions this term, registering one assist in the process, as per Transfermarkt. Labelled a "great player" by Blackburn Rovers manager Jon Dahl Tomasson, Wharton has made his presence known in the engine room this term, winning an average of two challenges and two interceptions per fixture in the Sky Bet Championship, according to WhoScored – more than double the interceptions Casemiro is making this season, to put that into perspective.

The England youth international has also been able to demonstrate his ability to fashion opportunities for his teammates in the English second tier too, with 19 shot-creating actions in 2023/24, as per FBRef. Wharton's value as a homegrown player cannot be understated either, given that he would ease concerns regarding continental squad registration if he were to complete a move to Old Trafford.

Nevertheless, Manchester United look to have a fight on their hands to land the talent amid interest from several Premier League clubs in his services.

They are 1-0 down and will be led by Suranga Lakmal in Dinesh Chandimal’s absence. West Indies, meanwhile, have won their two most recent Tests at the Kensington Oval

The Preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando22-Jun-2018

Big Picture

Forget the controversy for a moment. Forget the charges faced by the Sri Lanka leadership, forget the video clips, and the due process. From a purely cricket perspective, this series deserves a close finish. It hasn’t quite been an epic, but aspects of it have been a wonderful surprise.How many series have two 145kph-plus quicks at the top of the series’ wicket-takers’ list? Shannon Gabriel and Lahiru Kumara have forced one opposition batsman to retire hurt apiece. The cricket has never been more interesting than when either man is hurling deliveries at ribs and throats. On this tour both players may have had breakthrough performances. For years West Indies and Sri Lanka have searched for quick strike bowlers worthy of the title.At different times, both teams have made major gambles. Jason Holder declared at 414 for 8 on a Trinidad track that was not especially helpful to bowlers. In St. Lucia, Sri Lanka made four changes to their XI and might have won had rain and their own refusal to take the field on day three not sapped precious hours from the game. Various batsmen have shone at various points – Shane Dowrich, Kusal Mendis, Kraigg Brathwaite, Dinesh Chandimal, all playing different types of innings, all utterly committed to the team cause.The teams now move to the first-ever day-night Test in the region, played at one of the Caribbean’s most iconic venues. West Indies have not won a day-night Test in two attempts, losing to Pakistan in Dubai and England at Edgbaston. Sri Lanka have won their only day-night Test so far, last year in the UAE. These are small sample sizes, but one phenomenon that has been observed across the nine day-night Tests played so far is that the evening session tends to be especially fruitful for fast bowlers. Given the prominence of quicks so far, that is a tantalising prospect.Sri Lanka will quite likely miss the experience of Rangana Herath in this Test, however. He has been ruled out with a split webbing in his hand, sustained during fielding drills in the approach to this game.

Form guide

Sri Lanka DLWDD (completed matches, most recent first)
West Indies DWLLDCWI Media

In the spotlight

Almost every time Shannon Gabriel came to the bowling crease in the second Test, the game seemed to change. Sri Lanka batsmen who had been cruising, suddenly had the ball seeking out the edges and shoulders of their bats. They found themselves struggling to contend with Gabriel’s pace. More than anything, they had to contend with balls leaping menacingly at them, Dhananjaya de Silva copping a painful blow to the wrist in the second innnings. In the end, his 13 for 121 in St. Lucia were the best figures ever in the Caribbean. If Sri Lanka can tear themselves away from other distractions to plan for this Test, it is Gabriel who will come up most in team discussions.The dropping of Kusal Mendis for the tour of India last year now seems like an outstanding call from the national selectors. Since he has returned, he has not only rediscovered limited-overs form, but has scored heavily in Tests as well. With 238 runs and an average of 59.50, he is the leading run-scorer in the series so far, and it was his second-innings 87 around which Sri Lanka built their first commendable batting effort on tour. His average took a bit of a beating in 2017, but it is on a forward march again, currently sitting at 39.00. Many feel he has the talent to be a 45-plus player.

Team news

West Indies may draft 20-year-old quick Keemo Paul into the XI in place of Miguel Cummins, who has gone wicketless in three of the four innings he has bowled in in the series. Apart from that change, they are likely to keep the same side. Holder said everyone was fit for the Test.West Indies (possible): 1 Kraigg Brathwaite, 2 Devon Smith, 3 Kieran Powell, 4 Shai Hope, 5 Roston Chase, 6 Shane Dowrich (wk), 7 Jason Holder (capt), 8 Devendra Bishoo, 9 Keemo Paul, 10 Kemar Roach, 11 Shannon GabrielWith Chandimal out of the Test, it is difficult to predict the exact make-up of the Sri Lanka side. Suranga Lakmal is going to lead the, SLC confirmed on Saturday. Danushka Gunathilaka may replace the misfiring Kusal Perera at the top of the order, but it is possible that Perera merely moves down the order.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Danushka Gunathilaka, 2 Mahela Udawatte, 3 Dhananjaya de Silva, 4 Kusal Mendis, 5 Roshen Silva, 6 Kusal Perera, 7 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 8 Suranga Lakmal (capt.), 9 Akila Dananjaya, 10 Kasun Rajitha, 11 Lahiru Kumara

Pitch and conditions

The weather in Barbados is expected to be cloudy but dry for the majority of the Test. Pitches at the Kensington Oval have recently favoured seam bowlers.

Stats and trivia

• Mendis’ scores in the series are 4, 102, 45 and 87. He averages 72.71 across four Tests this year.
• Gabriel’s bowling average has also been on an improve since the start of 2017. In that period he has 51 wickets at an average of 23.49. His average before that period was 38.12.
• West Indies have won the two most-recent Tests at Kensington Oval, beating Pakistan and England.

Twelve years into his international career, South Africa’s wicketkeeper is still the epitome of fighting spirit and reliability under pressure

Jon Cardinelli15-Sep-2009His critics believe he is finished, but does Mark Boucher care? He has dragged South Africa back from the brink on countless occasions, and yet several hacks prefer to focus on his batting average. He is the most accomplished wicketkeeper in Test history, but there are still people calling for a change.Perhaps Boucher should care, but he doesn’t. Perhaps he should feel the need to prove the naysayers wrong, but if he did, he would forego the very quality that makes him special. Boucher is the pressure man, the player for the big occasion. He won’t average 50 or hit seven hundreds in a calendar year, but he’ll win you games. He’ll come across as arrogant in the post-match interview, the lemon-sucking expression accompanied by a curt response to a stupid question. But again, if he repressed this attitude, he’d lose all his clout.”I first worked with Mark when I was coaching at the Warriors,” recalls South Africa coach Mickey Arthur. “He captained the side and I always had faith in his cricketing brain. He was also the kind of leader who was never afraid to have his say, and as a player he was a true fighter.”Mark’s a tiger, and if I went to battle, there’s no one I’d rather have beside me. He’s fiercely loyal and will never turn down a challenge. He’s an invaluable member of our team.”The stats may not reflect Boucher’s value when he strolls to the crease, but Arthur admits there are other stat bars that tell a more accurate story, highlighting his game-winning ability.Boucher’s wicketkeeping virtues have never been in doubt. He has 475 scalps in Test cricket and 406 in ODIs – record figures that are set to rise as long as he’s fit and favoured. But it’s not just his work behind the stumps that has won him acclaim. His batting contributions played a significant part in his winning the South African Cricketer of the Year Award in 1998, 2000 and 2006. He was also named as one of ‘s five Cricketers of the Year in 2009.So what does he think about the criticism and the recent calls to step aside? The rise of AB de Villiers has prompted a fierce debate. De Villiers seems set to become one of the batting greats and has the ability to keep wicket. The ingrates reason that, closing in on 33, Boucher needs to make way for the future. But is comparing the two really comparing apples and apples?”I know it sounds like I’m trying to protect my position, but I just don’t think AB should play keeper,” Boucher says. “He’s too special a batter, and to put pressure on him from a keeping perspective is going to hamper his batting average.”Most players’ batting averages take a dip when they are asked to keep. Kumar Sangakkara wasn’t doing well when he was keeping, and I see his average has gone up since he stopped. AB needs to be averaging around 55 at Test level, but he’s not going to do that if he has to worry about keeping too.”Boucher’s viewpoint is shared by Arthur. There’s no plan to replace Boucher with de Villiers, and there’s no long-term plan to groom de Villiers as a successor when Boucher eventually calls it a day. “You can’t compare AB and Mark because their roles in the team are vastly different,” affirms Arthur. “Mark’s our best keeper, while AB is in the team as a top-order batsman.

“Mark’s a tiger, and if I went to battle there’s no one I’d rather have beside me. He’s fiercely loyal and will never turn down a challenge. He’s an invaluable member of our team”Mickey Arthur

“In an emergency, we would look to AB to keep wicket, but we don’t view him as a successor to Mark. Ultimately AB will bat at No. 4 in both versions of the game. We really want AB to become the best batsman on the planet. It would be unfair to burden him with the keeping responsibilities, as that could cause him to average 10 less than he should. When you have a player of that talent, you don’t want to hamper his ability to score.”We have identified two potential successors in the Dolphins’ Darren Smit and the Titans’ Heino Kuhn. Both are good keepers and have the ability to chip in with the bat.”Boucher averages less than 30 in both forms of the game, but when he does get going you have to wonder how good he would have been had he given keeping a miss. He has scored five Test centuries and 29 fifties, and his value in the ODI arena is well documented: he has 26 fifties and a sparkling 147 not out to his name. But since his 1997 debut, where he replaced Dave Richardson, it has always been about keeping first. Batting has been important, but only in the team context.”Mark is first and foremost a wicketkeeper,” says Arthur. “I think he has averaged less than he would have had he not worn the gloves, but that’s his role. That’s not to say we’ve ever doubted his ability. I can’t speak highly enough about what he has done for South African cricket.”In the Test set-up we usually go with six specialist batters, four specialist bowlers and our best wicketkeeper. From a batting perspective, Mark’s role is to marshal the tail.”In the one-day game Mark has become one of the best finishers in the world. At the end of an innings he can be devastating, whether he’s helping us set a formidable target or getting us past the opposition score. He’s capable of the big shots, but his experience is so crucial during those knocks. When he’s out in the middle, it helps other guys like Albie Morkel.”Boucher admits his personal goals are not that of a normal batter. When he walks down from the dressing room and onto the field, he’s thinking about how he can help South Africa. “I never look at averages and stats because they don’t really tell a story. Don’t get me wrong, I love scoring hundreds, but there are other things you look to achieve when you perform my kind of role.”I like to bat aggressively and take the bowling on, but I’m a team man. I’ll do what the team requires. My average may be a bit lower because of my responsibilities in the team context, but I’m a wicketkeeper-batsman, not a specialist batsman. My goals are not the same as those of an all-out batter.”I will never rest on my laurels and I will never voluntarily give my position away”•AFP”There are some knocks I’ll never forget, and those are the ones scored under pressure. In one of my first visits to India, we were in a difficult position and I came in and scored 27 not out to help win the game. That was like a century to me because of the conditions and context of the match.”That Test innings I played at Edgbaston last year was also very special. The series was on the line and although I didn’t score much [45 not out], I helped us towards that winning total.”If you are going to measure Boucher’s worth, you may as well do it in kilopascals. He has the ability to hit a cricket ball into the stands, but what sets him apart is how calm he is under pressure. “Everyone remembers guys like AB, Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs for that 438 victory [in 2006], but Mark was the guy who got us home,” says Arthur. “The ODI win in Sydney this year was thanks to his batting performance, an important innings that allowed us to go to a defining 2-1 lead in the series. Mark’s a player capable of hundreds, but he’s also capable of playing those momentum-swinging knocks that sometimes prove [to be] the difference.”Fighting spirit is something that’s become synonymous with South African cricket. Jonty Rhodes, Allan Donald and Gary Kirsten are just three players who were renowned for it when Boucher first arrived on the scene, and Boucher credits them for contributing to his mental development. But deep steel, according to him, is something you cannot acquire. You either have it or you don’t.”I’ve played squash since I was very young and I think it has shaped my mentality as a cricketer. Squash is the type of game where you’re always fighting for the upper hand, and if you are down, you need to fight hard to come back. You need that fighting spirit to be a good squash player. You need to be a fighter if you’re going to deal with that pressure and rise above it. That’s what makes you a hardened sportsman, and I believe that’s what gave me the base to perform under big pressure in cricket.”Some people claim to enjoy the pressure. Some people ask me if I enjoy the pressure. Truth be told, I don’t think anybody enjoys it. It’s more about understanding it and understanding how to beat it. Some people will go into their shells when they’re under pressure, while others respond with an aggressive approach.”Richardson was 38 when he retired from international cricket, and while Boucher isn’t sure about matching that feat, he’s determined to soldier on for as long as he’s able. “I will never rest on my laurels and I will never voluntarily give my position away,” he says. “That may be the wrong thing to say, but I’m very competitive and I have plenty more years in me. I only think about my goals two years at a time. I definitely have another World Cup in me and I’ll decide where to after that.”My body’s still in good shape and I’ve never told anyone that I’m looking to retire. After the World Cup, I’ll be 35, but if I’ve still got a lot to give, why can’t I carry on for another few years?”

“I’ve played squash since I was very young and I think it has shaped my mentality as a cricketer. You need that fighting spirit to be a good squash player”Mark Boucher

Boucher had a limited opportunity when South Africa toured Australia back in 1997, but was awarded a full-time position when they travelled to England in 1998. For over a decade South Africa came close to beating England in England, while the same period witnessed a string of failures Down Under. There was a breakthrough in 2008, with South Africa following up a Test series win in England with an unprecedented triumph in Australia. Boucher was at the heart of both victories, and as a seasoned campaigner drew the most satisfaction from the results.”We’d come close before in England, but because Australia are our arch-rivals and so much is made of beating the best on their own track, the win against the Aussies meant the most. The Proteas have been referred to as a team that choke in big contests, so it was satisfying to prove to the world, and to the Aussies, who initially tagged us as chokers, that we can rise above the pressure.”Boucher has achieved more than most and is by no means finished. However, he’s not so arrogant as to believe he’ll play forever. A couple of goals remain before he eventually passes the baton. South Africa need to become the undisputed kings of Test cricket, and they need to atone for their past World Cup sins by capturing the crown in 2011.”The past two years have witnessed a turning point in South African cricket,” he says, as if the recent success is an appetiser for things to come. “In any winning team, the key to success is consistency over an extended period.”Look at the Springbok team that won the 2007 Rugby World Cup. They were together for four years before they won in France. It’s not only about building a family, but also about being dynamic and ensuring things continue to develop. That’s why Mickey’s done extremely well to bring people like Jeremy Snape and Duncan Fletcher into the mix. There’s no danger of stagnating.”I’m very excited to be a part of something so special. We’ve achieved so much over the past two years, but we haven’t fully reached our potential. We can get a lot better and as long as the leadership core remains intact, we will continue to achieve our goals in years to come.”