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Also: what is the record for most runs in a three-Test series without a hundred?

Steven Lynch16-May-2017Who are the youngest and oldest bowlers to take a five-for in Tests and ODIs? asked Kartik Aggarwal from India
The youngest bowler to take five wickets in an innings in a Test remains Nasim-ul-Ghani, who was only 16 when his left-arm spin brought him 5 for 116 for Pakistan against West Indies in Georgetown in 1957-58. A fortnight later he added 6 for 67 in Port-of-Spain. Oddly, Nasim never managed another five-for, although his Test career lasted another 15 years. Second on the list is a rather quicker Pakistan left-armer, Mohammad Amir, who was only 17 when he took 5 for 79 against Australia in Melbourne in 2009-10. The oldest to take a Test five-for is another left-arm spinner, Bert “Dainty” Ironmonger, who was about two months shy of his 50th birthday when he claimed 5 for 6 and 6 for 18 for Australia against South Africa on a helpful pitch in Melbourne in 1931-32.The record for the youngest to take a five-for in one-day internationals changed hands a few weeks ago, in March 2017, when the precocious Afghanistan legspinner Rashid Khan grabbed 6 for 43 against Ireland in Greater Noida, aged 18 years and six months. Rashid pinched the record previously held by Wasim Akram, who was about three months older when he took 5 for 21 in Melbourne in 1984-85 – the first five in the order, reducing the Aussies to 42 for 5. The oldest to do it in ODIs is Canada’s Sunil Dhaniram, yet another slow left-armer, who was around four months short of his 40th birthday when he took 5 for 32 against Bermuda in King City in June 2008; the oldest from a Test-playing nation is Viv Richards, who was 37 when he claimed 6 for 41 against India in Delhi in 1989-90.Misbah-ul-Haq scored 271 runs in the recent series in the West Indies. Was this a record for a three-Test series without a century? asked Andrew Gardam from England
Misbah-ul-Haq’s haul in the West Indies was helped by his two innings of 99, a unique feat in the same series. But he still comes in surprisingly low on this particular list, which is headed by the great Garry Sobers. He collected 342 runs in West Indies’ three-Test rubber in India in 1966-67, scoring 50 and 53 not out in Bombay, 70 in Calcutta, and 95 and 74 not out in Madras. David Steele scored 365 runs in three Tests for England against Australia in 1975, with a highest score of 92 at Headingley, but that was a four-match series (he was not called up until the second one). In all there have been 43 higher aggregates in three Tests of a series without a century.IPL colossus: Suresh Raina has 161 games in the tournament so far•BCCIHas anyone ever been out for 99 in their first Test match? asked Richard Billington from England
Three men have suffered the disappointment of making 99 on their Test debut. The first was the Australian Arthur Chipperfield, at Trent Bridge in 1934: he went to lunch on the second day with 99 not out but was dismissed by the third ball afterwards. “I think that everyone was genuinely sorry,” wrote the watching Jack Hobbs. Next to do it was the Guyanese batsman Robert Christiani, for West Indies against England in Bridgetown in 1947-48, and then Asim Kamal, for Pakistan v South Africa in Lahore in 2003-04. Chipperfield and Christiani did later reach three figures in Tests, but poor Asim never did, although he reached 50 seven times in 11 more appearances.Has anyone ever taken five wickets for no runs in a Test? asked Kevin Edmondson from England
No one has finished with figures of 5 for 0 in a Test innings, if that’s what you mean – the best in that regard is 5 for 2, by Australia’s Ernie Toshack against India in Brisbane in 1947-48. But according to the indefatigable Melbourne statistician Charles Davis, seven bowlers are known to have produced spells in which they took five wickets for no runs. The first was the South African offspinner Hugh Tayfield (who finished with 6 for 13) against New Zealand in Johannesburg in 1953-54, and the most recent was England’s Stuart Broad, in 16 balls during his 6 for 46 against India at Trent Bridge in 2011, a spell that also included a hat-trick. There might be some earlier instances, for which we don’t have the ball-by-ball data.Virat Kohli has now played 149 matches in the IPL. Has anyone reached 150? asked Amit Mukhtar from India
Royal Challengers Bangalore’s failure to progress from the group stages of IPL 10 has left Virat Kohli stranded on 149 matches so far. Four players have reached 150 already: before this year’s knockout phase, Dinesh Karthik had played 152 IPL games, Rohit Sharma 156 and MS Dhoni 157, while Suresh Raina led the way with 161. Yusuf Pathan (148), Robin Uthappa (147) and Gautam Gambhir (146) were also close to the 150 mark. The leading overseas player is AB de Villiers, with 129 appearances. For the full list, click hereLeave your questions in the comments below

Crystal Palace suffered their first loss since before Christmas at the weekend, losing 2-1 to Brentford at Selhurst Park. On the bright side, Romain Esse made his debut, marking it with a goal from the bench with his first touch as he gave the Palace fans their first glimpse of the young star.

The Eagles are currently sitting 13th in the Premier League after 23 games played, now 11 points off the relegation zone and only six points off of a top-half spot.

Oliver Glasner will be hoping for some last-minute acquisitions in this January window to give his side a little push heading into the second half of the campaign, looking to continue their strong vein of form from their last six games before Brentford.

Crystal Palace shopping for new left back

According to reports from Football Insider, Crystal Palace are plotting a move to sign Chelsea left-back, Ben Chillwell on loan.

With Trevoh Chalobah being recalled earlier this month by the Blues, Palace now have the opportunity to fill that loan spot with another player.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Back in November, reports had stated Palace were searching for a new left-back option to compete with Tyrick Mitchell, compiling a list of possible January targets ahead of the window.

Previously lauded as “exceptional” by Brendan Rodgers, Chilwell’s stock has fallen of late, only making one appearance this season for Chelsea, with Enzo Maresca favouring inverted full-backs in his side, therefore not finding a place for Chilwell in the side.

How Chilwell would benefit Eze at Crystal Palace

In Glasner’s 3-4-3 system, Chilwell would suit perfectly, being the left-wing back, providing width on the outside of Eberechi Eze who is in the left half-space playing as a number ten/inside forward.

Eze has made 24 appearances so far this season, scoring six goals, providing six assists and totalling 1,938 minutes played.

Whilst Mitchell can provide that overlapping run, his qualities are more in the defensive sector, meaning Eze can find himself isolated on the left side of attack, allowing defenders to double-team him much easier, which is something Chilwell could perhaps help to prevent.

Goals + Assists

0.08

0.11

xG

0.14

0.02

xAG

0.26

0.16

Progressive Carries

2.62

1.98

Progressive Passes

2.98

2.12

Shots Total

1.15

0.31

Key Passes

1.67

1.17

Shot-Creating Actions

2.62

2.21

Tackles + Interceptions

2.38

3.18

When comparing the Chelsea defender to Mitchell last term, you can see how the England international provides a great deal more attacking threat, taking more shots per 90, playing more key passes, averaging more shot-creating actions and overall helping in progression more for his side.

Mauricio Pochettino praised Chilwell as “one of the best left-backs in the world” when he is fit and on-form, which was shown in his Champions League winning campaign at Chelsea in the 2020/21 season, making 42 appearances that season, scoring four goals, providing seven assists and totalling 3,358 minutes played.

The addition of Chilwell would allow Eze more support in the attacking third and could even facilitate a move to left centre-back for Mitchell, allowing the manager to play both of them, still getting the defensive qualities of the latter into the team, whilst also adding extra attacking threat out wide with the Chelsea wing-back.

Crystal Palace have struck gold on Eagles star who's worth more than Esse

Crystal Palace have a player who could help Romain Esse.

ByConnor Holden Jan 23, 2025

Sheffield United are in “advanced” talks with a club about signing one of their players in the January transfer window, according to a new update from Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.

Latest Sheffield United news

The Blades suffered arguably their most disappointing defeat of the season on Friday night, losing 3-0 at home to Hull City in the Championship. It was a result that very few saw coming and it could look a damaging lost come the end of the campaign, depending on whether they seal automatic promotion or not.

United cannot afford to allow one bad result to rock their confidence, however, and Chris Wilder will be hoping to strike some late business in the current window, in order to give his squad an extra sprinkling of quality.

Queens Park Rangers ace Jimmy Dunne has been linked with a move to Bramall Lane this month, with the versatile defender starting all 29 of his side’s Championship matches so far this season, winning a whopping 4.7 aerial duels per match.

Wolves midfielder Tommy Doyle has also been mentioned as a potential option for Wilder, having only been limited to three starts in the Premier League in 2024/25 to date, and Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury has also been backed to join the Blades, with a verbal agreement over a loan move done according to Fabrizio Romano.

Sheffield United in "advanced" talks over signing

Writing on X on Sunday, Plettenberg claimed that Sheffield United are in “advanced” talks with Hertha Berlin over the signing of right-back Jonjoe Kenny:

This could be a solid piece of business by United this month, with Kenny now an experienced player who has performed at a good level for some time and has already agreed personal terms with the Blades.

The 27-year-old made 50 appearances in the Premier League during his Everton days, with 60 Bundesliga outings also now secured, and Aaron Lennon once lauded him during their time together at Goodison Park:

“Jonjoe has been unbelievable. From the moment I came here, I’ve always liked Jonjoe. I’ve always thought he’s a great professional and a great player. Since he stepped in, he’s been unbelievable.”

Hertha Berlin

84

5

14

Everton

69

0

5

Schalke

34

2

3

Oxford United

20

0

1

Celtic

16

0

4

Wigan

7

0

0

The fact that Kenny would be coming in on a permanent basis is even better, rather than simply being a short-term fix, and he could provide the extra experience and quality required to take United back into the Premier League.

Wilder's next O'Connell: Sheffield United could now sign £8.5k p/w EFL star

Chris Wilder could sign a new version of Jack O’Connell with this next Sheffield United signing.

ByKelan Sarson Jan 26, 2025

At 27, he is a great age to come in and hit the ground running, and remain at a high level for four or five years, so it is hard to find many negatives to the move.

Manchester City have been in contact with a £50m Premier League star, however, he wants to join rivals Liverpool instead.

Man City chasing numerous January signings

The Citizens have had a tough 2024/25 Premier League campaign by their high standards under Pep Guardiola, with the midweek draw at Brentford the latest setback after holding a two-goal advantage in the second half.

It looks as if those behind the scenes at the Etihad are unusually willing to splash the cash in January as a result. Talking at the start of the month, Guardiola admitted City have to be “wise” in the winter window when it comes to new signings.

“I don’t know right now, it’s not easy. It will not be easy. Maybe we sign, maybe we don’t sign anyone. The club has to be wise. Don’t do it just to do it.

“We want to add players for the situation that we have because the players have consistent injuries many times. Club has to do it but I’m not sure if it will be possible.”

Man City could sign "world-class" Rodri replacement by raiding Real Madrid

Ever since Rodri ruptured his ACL in September, Manchester City have required midfield reinforcements, to could they make a “world class” signing?

ByBen Gray Jan 16, 2025

It looks as if three main targets have been identified in Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov, Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush and Palmeiras defender Vitor Reis.

Deals have reportedly been agreed to sign Khusanov and Reis, whereas Txiki Begiristain leading the pursuit is leading the City pursuit to sign Marmoush. Should City sign all three targets, their spending at the beginning of 2025 will quickly go above £100m, however, they don’t seem to be stopping there.

Man City are also thought to be in pole position to sign Real Valladolid defender Juma Bah, and another target at the back is Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez.

However, City, despite holding talks to sign the Premier League star, may find it tough to secure a deal going off a recent update.

Man City in contact with £50m Kerkez

According to The i, Man City have been in contact with the representatives of Kerkez to hold talks over a potential move to the Etihad.

The Cherries value the Hungary international at £50m, however, Kerkez wants a move to Liverpool over either Man City or Man Utd at this stage.

Average SofaScore rating

7.10/10

Key passes per game

1.1

Interceptions per game

1.1

Tackles per game

1.4

Pass accuracy

82%

Liverpool director of football Richard Hughes was the man who brought Kerkez to England during his time at the Vitality Stadium, something which is playing a part in his current preference over a move to Anfield.

The 21-year-old has been in fine form for Bournemouth this season and is being dubbed as the next Andy Robertson by The i, however, if City have their way, they will manage to persuade him to move to Manchester over Merseyside, something that doesn’t look likely at this stage.

The fast bowler left the IPL early but has since returned to bowling ahead of the WTC final and Ashes

Andrew McGlashan22-May-2023Josh Hazlewood, who has missed substantial Test cricket over the last couple of years through injury, flew home early from the IPL after reporting side soreness although scans in Australia did not show any damage. He has since returned to bowling ahead of the squad’s departure to the UK at the end of the week for the World Test Championship (WTC) final and the Ashes.Hazlewood played the last of his three games for Royal Challengers Bangalore on May 9 and bowled a total of nine overs in IPL 2023.”Josh Hazlewood returned home from the IPL last weekend after experiencing minor side soreness after the completion of his most recent IPL match,” a CA spokesperson said.Related

• Neser looms as World Test Championship reinforcement amid Hazlewood's tight turnaround

• Hazlewood on injury layoff: 'It just happens to be at the wrong time of the year'

• Michael Neser's four-wicket haul keeps Ashes selectors interested

• Why Australia could have the advantage in the World Test Championship final

• Renshaw's moment of clarity on way to Ashes tour selection

“After a brief and precautionary rest period, Hazlewood returned to high intensity bowling last week and will continue to increase his bowling workloads in preparation for the WTC and Ashes series. Hazlewood is considered fit and available for the WTC and Ashes Series.”Following a delayed arrival, Hazlewood’s IPL stint had been his return to action after his tour of India ended early due to an Achilles injury he sustained against South Africa at the SCG in January. That, itself, had been a comeback game after he suffered a side strain against West Indies in Perth, having also gone down with one during the 2021-22 Ashes in which he missed four of the Tests.Since the start of that England series, Hazlewood has only been able to play four Tests, although in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, that was due to the balance of Australia’s side where they included the extra spinner.He was excellent on his return against South Africa earlier this year where he was potent with reverse swing and claimed five wickets in the match. When Hazlewood was selected at the SCG in place of Scott Boland as one of two quicks it showed that he remained in a first-choice attack. In England he has taken 36 wickets at 23.58 from eight Tests.Over that same period where his Tests have been limited, Hazlewood’s stature as a T20 bowler has risen enormously and he reached No. 1 in the rankings in June 2022 after helping Australia win the T20 World Cup for the first time.However, before the Sydney Test last summer he spoke about the challenges of preparing for Test cricket as a multi-format bowler”If you have to focus on either a strength period or bowl a few more balls at training when you are playing with the white ball, at the detriment of maybe not being 100 percent for those games, then it puts you in a better place for a Test series that follows,” he said. “Just little things like that we’re talking about with coaches or medical staff. That will be something I’ll look to do in the next little period.”While Australia are confident of having dodged a significant injury concern just days before leaving for the UK, they do have extra resources to call on if needed. Michael Neser and Sean Abbott, who have been playing for Glamorgan and Surrey respectively, will link up with the squad for their training camp ahead of the WTC final against India.Neser rounded off the most recent Championship match against Sussex with a century having previously taken a career-best 7 for 32, including a hat-trick, against Yorkshire.Australia initially named a 17-player squad for the tour but that needs to be trimmed to 15 names for the final by May 28.As has become the norm for them there is no tour match in the lead-up with the squad instead training at Beckenham, south of London, ahead of the final lead-in to facing India on June 7. All six Tests on the tour are played in less than two months.

Plays of the day from the fifth ODI between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Hambantota

Andrew Fidel Fernando26-Jul-2015The first touch
Umpire Ian Gould has worn his share of balls this tour, but he has rarely done so with as much skill as he managed in the 14th over of Sri Lanka’s innings. Kusal Perera’s cut off Imad Wasim was headed for the space between Gould’s legs, but instead of being nutmegged, Gould moved his right leg and stopped the ball in its tracks, just like a Barcelona Football Club forward would control a fast pass from the midfield. Unlike a footballer, though, Gould resisted flopping about on the ground after being hit on the shin.The shy
Anwar Ali was aggressive and demonstrative in his first spell, but he might have had slightly better figures if he had not been so hostile in the 10th over of Sri Lanka’s innings. Fielding a gentle push in his follow-through, Anwar aimed the ball at the batsman, who was well back in his crease, and let fly, missing the stumps by a distance and the wicketkeeper by almost as much. The ball went fine of long leg as well, and wound up costing the bowler and his team four unnecessary runs.The throw
It’s rare enough for Sri Lanka’s infielders to run a batsman out, but when a fast bowler removes a batsman with a throw from the boundary, you know the stars have aligned. Running around from third man, the normally ungainly Suranga Lakmal bent down, picked up and threw in one fluid motion. He found off stump with no interference from the wicketkeeper, to have Sarfraz Ahmed well short.The blows
Having found no reply to Kusal’s controlled aggression on Sunday, Pakistan’s bowlers managed to at least rough him up a little, maybe contributing to his eventual dismissal. In the 26th over, Rahat Ali dug in a short ball that followed an arching Kusal and struck him in the helmet grille. A little shaken up by that, Kusal progressed to a hundred, but wore a yorker flush on the boot a few overs later. He got medical attention in both instances, and the injury to his foot may have prevented him from making his ground when he was run out later in that same over.

That’s how you win a football match. Newcastle United ripped Ipswich Town to shreds on Saturday afternoon, looking as fluent as they’ve been in a long while and claiming a third successive victory in all competitions.

Newcastle’s patchy Premier League form this season has been a real frustration for Eddie Howe, whose tactical acumen and interpersonal skills remain closed to question. Still, something was missing.

Was it a lack of intensity? Burnout? A loss of direction after a testing, injury-hit campaign that preceded an uninspiring summer of missed opportunities?

Whatever has been out of kilter across the past few months, the Magpies seem to have reoriented themselves now. Howe’s side look as good as they’ve been in 2024, and there’s one man above all others who stood out at Portman Road. You know who.

Alexander Isak's stunning performance

Alexander Isak bagged a hat-trick at Ipswich to extend his brilliant run of clinical form, nine goals and three assists from nine Premier League matches, to be precise.

The Sweden international is bound to have a wealth of high-profile suitors looking jealously toward Tyneside and checking purses to ascertain the practicality of a bumper bid in 2025.

Correspondent Lee Ryder hailed the ‘ruthless display’ in his post-match player ratings, of which Isak received a perfect 10/10 score, but the 25-year-old did miss a glorious chance to grab another and might have been a little tame with one other shot.

1.

Mohamed Salah

13

1=

Erling Haaland

13

3.

Cole Palmer

11

4.

Alexander Isak

10

4=

Bryan Mbeumo

10

4=

Chris Wood

10

Isak might steal the headlines – rightly so, to be fair – but he wasn’t actually the finest performer for the Toon on Saturday afternoon. Jacob Murphy was the architect of the success and certainly looks like a man playing with the foresight of a Newcastle swoop for a right winger.

Jacob Murphy was Howe's real hero

Newcastle’s interest in a new right winger has been well documented since the summer, with a £50m bid rejected for Anthony Elanga in August and reliable reports that Brentford’s Bryan Mbemuo is being eyed this winter.

Miguel Almiron is on the periphery with no way back, but Murphy is definitely fighting for his place in the squad – and if his recent purple patch is anything to go by, he might just continue to play a big part in the year to come. Perhaps longer.

At Ipswich, Isak benefitted from the 28-year-old’s steady stream of playmaking, for Murphy created three big chances to complement his goal-and-assist display, as per Sofascore.

A wonderful back-heeled assist for Isak capped off the dream performance, with Ryder awarding him with a 9/10 match score that spoke clearly of his faculty for success in this competitive Newcastle side. The reporter singled out the winger’s “incredible work” for the assist.

Murphy also made an important tackle and won his only contested ground duel of the afternoon. He’s willing to fight and, now having notched three goals and three assists apiece from as many Premier League matches, has made Isak unplayable and himself undroppable as the festive period hits full swing.

He's like Isak: Newcastle can axe Wilson by signing PL "nuisance" for £45m

Newcastle are finding their feet but need more firepower up front.

ByAngus Sinclair Dec 20, 2024

Once a five-Test series during the heyday of the Australia-West Indies rivalry, the last two Tests for the Frank Worrell Trophy only lasted six and a half days, further highlighting the growing disparity between cricket’s haves and have nots

Daniel Brettig in Kingston14-Jun-2015Jarring as it was to hear him stumble over his words at the presentation, maybe Brendon Julian was onto something. This did not feel like a contest for the Frank Worrell Trophy, lasting as it did for six and a half days and taking in a pair of fearful hidings dished out by one of cricket’s haves to its most widely mourned have not.Signs of the Caribbean’s retreat from Test cricket were everywhere these past two weeks, from the grand old ground Sabina Park being completely devoid of life a mere two days before the match began, to the stumps for the series not even having a fresh logo. They had been prepared for the preceding series, and instead of being emblazoned with the name Australia, England’s lettering was crossed out with a marker pen.The Australians performed well in conditions unfamiliar to them, but everywhere were taken aback by how utterly alien the experience was when compared to the tightly-wound corporate machines that run cricket matches down under – and will do again when they arrive in England. The series winner’s novelty cheque for the series was US $2000, the kind of figure numerous members of the touring team would no doubt have spent on watches.Of course all these disparities off the field were little more stark than that revealed in the middle, where Australia’s rich supply of cricketing resources utterly overwhelmed a West Indian team that could call on only a quartet of plucky individual performances across the two matches. Devendra Bishoo and Marlon Samuels both contributed in the first Test but were absent from the second, leaving far too much for Jerome Taylor and Jason Holder to do, for all their obvious effort and skill.A look down the Australian series aggregates demonstrates their domination in ways not seen perhaps since the drubbing inflicted upon Pakistan in the UAE as far back as 2002. Not a single Australian full-time bowler claimed their wickets at a rate more expensive than 20 runs apiece. For the Man of the Series Josh Hazlewood (12 wickets at 8.83) and his NSW offsider Mitchell Starc (10 at 16.00) it was tantamount to a turkey shoot. One can only wonder at what a fully-fit Ryan Harris might have achieved against such porous opposition.If the batting statistics make for slightly less lopsided reading, there is still the fact that in Steven Smith and Adam Voges, Australia possessed the only two centurions for the series. Their respective averages of 141.50 and 167.00 were near enough to 100 runs ahead of Holder, the only West Indian to make his runs at better than 50. And while the likes of David Warner, Shane Watson and Michael Clarke could not go beyond starts, none had a shocking series of the kind produced by Darren Bravo. Vaunted beforehand as the man to step up in Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s stead, he was totally outwitted and outfought by Australia’s formidable attack, finishing with 49 runs in four innings.The duel between the captains was telling, too. Clarke is now an old hand at this game, but it was still striking to see his nimble work when lined up against some of the leaden decision-making produced by Denesh Ramdin, who seemed always to find a way to spurn an opportunity. Many bemoaned Kemar Roach’s no-ball allowing Clarke to evade a dismissal early on day one, but under Ramdin the West Indians proceeded to drop their bundles in frustration for the next hour even though the ball continued to swerve. Taylor may never know why he got only six overs that morning, when his figures read 6-6-0-2.Opportunities lost tell a story of fragile confidence, but it is disturbing to think that the West Indies could fall in such a heap only weeks after they had registered a stirring victory over England. That result suggested the new coach Phil Simmons had his team on the right path, though it now looks as though it said more for how much England had allowed themselves to slide despite resources every bit as rich as Australia’s. Certainly Alastair Cook’s men will observe the scorecards from the Caribbean with some trepidation as yet another Ashes series creeps closer.But the underlying truth of this series, both on the field and in the stands, is that the West Indies need all the help they can get if they are to return to a position of competitiveness as a Test match nation. The local caravan has moved on to the Caribbean Premier League, which will be played to packed houses and healthy television audiences over the next month, while the region’s most talented senior players are IPL-tied and deeply cynical about the WICB. Simmons’ efforts to mediate may grow more urgent as a result of this drubbing.All at Cricket Australia are increasingly twitchy about the fact that next summer’s showpiece Boxing Day and New Year’s Test matches are due to be played against the West Indies. It will be a most painful return to the scene of past glories for support staff such as Simmons, Richie Richardson and Curtly Ambrose, and more pointedly an event where history and nostalgia will be expected to draw crowds to grounds and television sets when the cricket itself now looks incapable of doing so.Clarke struck a note of some yearning for earlier days when he was asked about the state of the West Indies team and cricket in the region. “I’ve always loved playing against West Indies. My favourite player is Brian Lara, so I’ve always had a soft spot for the West Indies,” he said of a place where he made his first international tour in 2003. “They’ve certainly got some fight in them, they’ve certainly got talent. I just think they need to be patient. Phil Simmons is a lovely guy and fantastic coach, so I’ve got a lot of confidence West Indies will continue to get better. I’m all for growing the game all around the world, so I hope cricket in any format can continue to improve.”Notably, the next ICC annual conference is due to be held in Barbados later this month. While the BCCI continue to quibble over the money lost when the West Indies squad pulled out of an India tour last year, it is beholden upon all the decision-makers assembling at the home of Sir Frank Worrell himself to work on ways to heal the fractures that have helped West Indies decline to this point. The region’s best players need better incentives to play in the maroon cap, and its islands deserve better administration to regrow and develop future generations.None of those administrators were present in Jamaica, but even from their offices, boardrooms, homes and airport lounges around the world they will be able to see what happened here. The game deserves better than lopsided days like this one, when the Caribbean legacy is mangled more badly even than Worrell’s name had been.

Both sides are coming off four consecutive losses in the format

Osman Samiuddin25-Dec-2022

Babar Azam’s side was handed a 3-0 whitewash by England•Getty Images

Big pictureNew Zealand are ok. Yeah, they’re going through “a transition”. Yeah, they’ve got a new Test captain. Yeah, they have lost six of their nine Tests in this World Test Championship cycle. Yeah, they were the first guinea pigs in the Bazball experiment. Yeah, they haven’t played a single Test since then.But they are New Zealand. This just doesn’t sound drastic, right? It never does. They’ll plan, they’ll nurture, they’ll be efficient and optimal with their resources, play their cards right, quietly bide their time and be good again, and we’ll be like, yeah, New Zealand are ok. It’s just a matter of time.Related

Shahid Afridi named interim chief selector of Pakistan men's team

Ramiz Raja removed as PCB chairman

On the other hand, Pakistan have gone old-school meltdown and some of us are shouting, It’s About Damn Time. There they were until last week, floating along on a little fluffy cloud of bland, but at least in control of it. Ramiz Raja was in charge, Babar Azam was in charge, the PCB’s social media, where everything – even a historic 3-0 whitewash – was always so positive and upbeat, was in charge.Five days later Shahid Afridi is the chief selector. SHAHID AFRIDI IS THE CHIEF SELECTOR! That’s never not going to take getting used to. A coup’s been staged against Ramiz, and the new guys – who are really the old guys – cut some cake as the first order of business. Babar’s team-mates suddenly are having to tweet their support to him. Nobody’s doing the same for Saqlain Mushtaq, so he is going to go soon. The chief selector is already gone. People are talking about Mohammad Rizwan’s place in the Test side.The fast-bowling cupboard is Shaheen Shah Afridi. That’s it. The domestic system is about to be completely ripped apart. Again. Also, Shahid Afridi is the chief selector and he’s saying straight-laced things like: “We had a good discussion on the squad and agreed we needed to strengthen our bowling department to give ourselves the best chance of taking 20 wickets in a match.”What all of it means for the immediate future of the two Tests these two now play, your guess is as good as anyone’s. Pakistan are hurting, heaving with change. New Zealand are being New Zealand and for added inscrutability haven’t played a Test in yonks. Both are coming off four consecutive losses. At a pinch, let’s say it shouldn’t be boring.Form guidePakistan LLLLW (last five Tests, most recent first)
New Zealand LLLLWIn the spotlightMohammad Rizwan is not having a great year. Suddenly, one of the first names on Pakistan’s team sheet is no longer necessarily that, not with a new selection committee in place. His T20I partnership with Babar has come under increasing scrutiny. In Tests, there are calls for the return of Sarfaraz Ahmed to replace him. It’s a little unfair. His glovework may be a little theatrical, but he’s still safer than any of his modern predecessors. He is averaging 30 this year with bat, which isn’t great but isn’t diabolical either. It’s not a string of low scores either, but a series of unconverted starts. Safe to say though that he – and Pakistan’s batting – could really do with him converting one of them.In Asia, Tim Southee has picked up 48 wickets at an average of 25.47•AFP/Getty Images

Suddenly, everyone’s a fast-bowling captain. This summer in England Tim Southee looked cooked, though, in hindsight, that was probably more England’s batting than his bowling. Now, six months later he is New Zealand’s new Test captain, ready to bowl in a continent where he has an exemplary record. Only last year he was putting on a masterclass in Kanpur but this time, he’ll be without his long-time partner-in-swing, Trent Boult. How he goes with ball in hand, and command on the field, will determine how this series goes for the tourists.Team newsPakistan had a squad. Then the PCB was overhauled. And three new players were added to the party. Now, as far as Babar is concerned, “We will have a discussion with the selectors; then we will decide the final XI”.Pakistan (probable): 1 Imam-ul-Haq, 2 Abdullah Shafique, 3 Shan Masood, 4 Babar Azam (capt), 5 Saud Shakeel, 6 Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), 7 Agha Salman, 8 Sajid Khan, 9 Abrar Ahmed, 10 Mir Hamza, 11 Naseem ShahNew Zealand are likely to bolster their spin attack with Ajaz Patel coming in. Trent Boult, of course, is not available.New Zealand (probable): 1 Tom Latham, 2 Will Young, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Devon Conway, 5 Henry Nicholls, 6 Daryl Mitchell, 7 Tom Blundell (wk), 8 Michael Bracewell, 9 Tim Southee (capt), 10 Neil Wagner, 11 Ajaz PatelPitch and conditionsThe Karachi pitch for the recent Test against England was slow and low, but not necessarily uneven in contest for it. It’s most likely, given the swift turnaround time, to behave similarly. But who knows, with a new administration in town, it may liven up a little. Babar expects it to “change each day, day by day things get different”.Stats and trivia Pakistan used to love playing New Zealand but since 2011 have only won 3 of their 12 Tests against them and lost seven. 60.40 > 54.77: Babar’s average against Kane Williamson’s since October 2019 (just before Babar’s breakthrough Test series against Australia). A little more surprisingly, he has played ten Tests more than his counterpart in the same period. 71.22 – Daryl Mitchell’s average this year is the third-highest of any batter with at least five Tests.Quotes”Yes, we could not play the last series the way we wanted to, because we committed mistakes. Now we need to overcome that and try to play good cricket.”

da apostebet： It’s safe to say that Arsenal’s defence has come a long way under the stewardship of Mikel Arteta.

da bet7k： Flash back to the dark days of Arsene Wenger’s last few years with the Gunners and you’ll unfortunately remember some error-stricken defenders who weren’t up to the task.

The likes of Shkodran Mustafi, Sebastian Squillaci and David Luiz aren’t remembered too fondly by supporters at the Emirates Stadium and rightfully so.

Mustafi was perhaps the worst of the lot with some of his mistakes in the 2019/20 season preventing Unai Emery’s men from sealing Champions League football.

Thankfully, players like that are no more. Arteta now has one of the finest defences in European football at his disposal with the likes of Gabriel and William Saliba two colossal figures at the back.

Last term, Arsenal shipped just 29 goals in their 38 league games; the best record in the entire division.

While Saliba is the Rolls-Royce of the duo, Gabriel brings a bit more aggression and a couple more horsepower. He’s like the stylish Range Rover. A man for all occasions, for all weathers.

Gabriel's season in numbers so far

The Brazilian, signed for £27m from Lille back in 2020, has proven to be one of the very best signings of the Arteta era to date.

He is a man mountain and has already scored four goals from set-piece scenarios this term. His latest two came during the club’s last couple of matches, powering home a header at the back post against Sporting in midweek before scoring a more deft header at the near post when Arsenal thumped West Ham 5-2 on Saturday.

Gabriel, although withdrawn at half-time, was one of the stars of the show as he so often is and he’s finally stepped out of Saliba’s shadow.

He is perhaps the best defender in the Premier League, certainly when it comes to the offensive phases of play.

So, why is he so good? Well, it helps that the Gunners are the best corner-takers in the land.

Gabriel’s headed goal against the Hammers this weekend turned out to be Arsenal’s 20th from a corner in the league since the beginning of last season. For context, no team have scored more from such situations over that time. Furthermore, Gabriel’s haul of five goals from corners are more than any other Premier League defender during the same time frame.

If you want even more numbers to marvel at, since the Brazilian arrived in England in 2020, no centre-back has scored more in Europe’s top five leagues than the 26-year-old’s 17.

He’s pretty damn good, isn’t he? Well, what if there was a defender with even more goals for Arsenal? Yes, that player does exist.

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Expand Collapse The only Arsenal defender with more goals than Gabriel

Back in July 2010, Arsene Wenger used the club’s chequebook to sign a Frenchman. Surprise, surprise.

On this occasion, however, it was not a player of Thierry Henry’s calibre, nor was it a player of the calibre of a certain Robert Pires.

Instead, it was a defender. Laurent Koscielny penned terms after moving from Ligue 1 side Lorient for a fee of just £8.5m. As it turned out, that was one of the biggest bargains the great Wenger secured during his time in north London.

Why? Well, it wasn’t just Koscielny’s longevity that stood out but his leadership and his ability to score some pretty important goals shone through, just as it has with Gabriel in Arsenal colours.

For a moment, we want to put aside the controversial way in which the centre-back eventually left. Club captain, he was announced as a Bordeaux player by ripping off an Arsenal shirt. It was bizarre, right?

But anyway, the France international should be remembered for what he actually brought to the pitch during a time when Wenger’s side were far from amazing defensively.

He eventually left the club with a whopping 353 appearances in all competitions and in the words of Rio Ferdinand in 2015, he was the very best the English top-flight had to offer at that time.

Fine praise indeed from a defender who wasn’t a bad player during his pomp either. So, where does the now 39-year-old rank among Arsenal defenders? Right up there.

Highest-scoring Arsenal defenders

Player

Goals

Scoring frequency

1. Koscielny

22

11.1 games

2. Gabriel

17

8.3 games

3. Vermaelen

13

8.4 games

4. Gallas

12

8.4 games

=4 Adams

12

21.2 games

6. Toure

9

25 games

Stats via StatMuse (PL only).

As you can see, Koscielny happens to be the highest-scoring defender in Premier League history for Arsenal.

Yes, the dominant Gabriel is currently finding the net with greater regularity but it cannot be understated just how good the former Lorient star was during his time at the Emirates.

He scored a thumping goal away at Manchester City, the winner in a comeback victory against Everton and perhaps most memorably, scored the equalising goal in the FA Cup final against Hull City.

All in all, it’s safe to say that was £8.5m well spent, don’t you think?

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Posts ByMatt Dawson Dec 1, 2024