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He has overtaken the likes of Washington Sundar and Krunal Pandya as the next 50-over World Cup approaches

Shashank Kishore26-Jul-20222:17

Is Axar more than just Jadeja’s understudy in ODIs now?

Had Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja been available, and India been at full strength, there would have been no space for Axar Patel in the XI for the ODI series in the Caribbean, his first in nearly five years.But, to deal with the changed times in international cricket, India have moved towards a model of keeping a large pool of 40-45 players, who are match-ready at all times. The challenge has been to identify back-ups for each role, but the task of finding a No. 2 for Jadeja has been made that much easier by Axar.With India’s backs to the wall in the second ODI on Sunday, Axar delivered a fine exhibition of range-hitting, tactical smarts and calmness – all at once. The end result: an unbeaten 35-ball 64, including a last-over six, MS Dhoni style, to seal a win that looked distant when he walked out to bat with India needing 107 off 68 balls.Related

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Axar has done it in the IPL. Rohit Sharma, who couldn’t contain his excitement at Sunday’s result, would know. In Delhi Capitals’ opening game this year, Axar had walked in to bat when they needed 74 off 40, with only four wickets remaining. He waltzed an unbeaten 17-ball 38 to take them home against Mumbai Indians.It was a game where he also outsmarted Daniel Sams, known for his back-of-the-hand slower one, and yorker king Jasprit Bumrah in the death overs. During the knock, he showed his batting wasn’t only based on premeditation, but one aided by a strong base, decisive feet movement, improved technique, and game smarts, too.These weren’t the only ones in recent times that he has done it with the bat. Nearly two years ago, Axar made a mockery of Dhoni’s gut feel when he launched into Jadeja to hit him for three sixes in the final over to seal a win for Capitals over Chennai Super Kings in Sharjah.Then, in a Test against New Zealand last December in Mumbai, Axar constructed a 128-ball 52 in the first innings. There, he hit Ajaz Patel repeatedly with and against the turn with ease by using his long reach to get to the pitch and then uncorking his wrists to pick gaps on either side. In the second innings of the same Test, he brought out the basher in him to make 41 not out off 26 balls with India looking for a declaration.Axar Patel is fast becoming a key component of any team he’s part of•Associated PressOn the basis of what he did on Sunday, it would be hard to believe this was his first ODI half-century in 22 innings. Axar’s clean hitting down the ground, effortlessly peppering the arc between deep midwicket and long-off, stood out.”Hundred-odd is chased in the last ten overs in the IPL. So I went in with the intent that we could do it here as well, and not let it get to us that we have to get so many runs still,” Axar told the BCCI website when discussing the chase. “Our thinking was that we would take at least one chance every over.”This “thinking” like a batter has come about recently. Priyank Panchal, Axar’s captain at Gujarat, has seen visible changes in Axar’s thought process over the past four years, and believes the confidence of having done it a few times is finally unlocking the batter in Axar. His county stint with Durham in 2019, where Axar had to learn to add more strings to his bow, also played a part.”When your role is that of a bowling allrounder, there is a tendency to focus on one discipline more than the other, and that was what was happening with Axar,” Panchal told ESPNcricinfo. “The moment he started putting a price on his wicket, he finally began to realise what he was missing out on. His technique started to get tighter, he started thinking like a batter, he would analyse deeply about where he was going wrong, and work towards getting better.”And then once he started becoming more confident in his set-up, he started working on his power game. He was always powerful, but when he combined his smarts with his improved power game, you could see the balance shift. At Gujarat, he has consistently won matches at No. 5. It was always a question of self-belief. He’d often joke, ‘I’ll win this game for you’ and when he actually started doing it, he began to realise his potential more.”Axar Patel is now in contention to be a strike force in India’s ODI spin arsenal alongwith Yuzvendra Chahal•AFP/Getty ImagesThat is making Axar a key component of any team he is a part of – Gujarat, Capitals, now India. This is because his bowling stocks have also been on the rise for a while now, as he has moved on from being the one-dimensional darts bowler who looked to only restrict.A clever use of the crease, variations in pace, developing a loop and deceiving batters in the air have all given his bowling a new dimension. His roaring start to Test cricket – 39 wickets in six games – is proof of that, even though it would be fair to argue that sterner tests may only come when he plays on less favourable surfaces.And Axar 2.0 has given India options. At the start of the year, Washington Sundar was firmly in India’s white-ball plans. An organised batting technique and the ability to bowl thrifty offspin made him jump the queue Axar had once been a part of. Then there was Krunal Pandya, who broke through on the back of delivering consistently for Mumbai Indians in the IPL.From being a quiet understudy who would get games only when Jadeja was injured or rested, Axar is now a contender to be a strike force in India’s ODI spin arsenal alongwith Yuzvendra Chahal. With next year’s 50-overs World Cup at home, this heated race for the spin-allrounder’s spot can’t be a bad thing for Indian cricket.

Nottingham Forest have endured a tricky spell in the Premier League with only one win in their last eight matches.

Given this wretched run of form, the Reds can consider themselves lucky to have an eight-point comfort blanket separating them from 18th-place Sheffield United.

With quality seriously lacking at the bottom of the table, particularly from all three promoted sides, Forest should survive comfortably and avoid falling victim to second-season syndrome.

However, Steve Cooper's side will have aspirations of being more than just perennial top-flight survivors and will want to start making inroads towards the league's top half.

That said, Forest could perform surgery on their squad by adding more quality additions in the transfer window and the rumours circulating suggest the club could be busy once more.

Here's how a Nottingham Forest starting XI could look at the end of January…

1 GK – Odysseas Vlachodimos

Forest captured Vlachidomos from Portuguese giants Benfica and he's recently stolen the number one jersey from Matt Turner, who started their first ten Premier League matches.

The Greek goliath has impressed across his first two starts, racking up an impressive six saves from shots inside the box and recording the highest average Sofascore rating in the Reds squad (7.35). If the 29-year-old continues this form, Turner will struggle to earn his spot back.

2 RB – Ola Aina

An athletic and versatile defender, Aina moved to the club this summer after departing Serie A side Torino. The former Chelsea academy graduate has endeared himself in fine fashion to the City Ground faithful, terrorising the opposition with his explosive pace and power while offering excellent output down the right flank. His venomous strike in the 2-0 victory over Aston Villa showcased his capabilities as an attacking wing-back.

3 CB – Murillo

Cooper dipped into the South American market in the summer to prise talented centre-back Murillo away from Brazilian giants Corinthians. He's since established himself as a warrior at the heart of the Forest defence in recent weeks, winning 66% of his ground duels and recovering five balls per game. The 21-year-old has also showcased his ability with the ball at his feet, averaging 82% pass completion and completing 90% of his successful dribbles – 1.2 per game.

4 CB – Nino

According to recent reports, Forest are going back to Brazil this January to capture the highly-rated Fluminense centre-back Nino, who would be an excellent partner for Murillo. The report states that the 26-year-old could cost around £6m and that looks like a snip for someone who helped his side win the Copa Libertadores earlier this month and was also called up to the Brazil squad.

If that doesn't underline his talents, the fact that the 6 foot 2 titan has recorded an accurate pass completion of 91% and recovered four balls per game in 2023 probably will.

5 LB – Zaidu Sanusi

Whilst Harry Toffolo is currently performing admirably in the left-back position, Cooper could find a long-term replacement by signing Zaidu Sanusi from Porto.

The Reds were reportedly preparing a bid for the title-winning 26-year-old in the summer, though, a move never materialised further than that. If the club were to reignite their interest in the Nigerian, they'd be acquiring a talented gem who ranked in the top 13% for non-penalty goals and the top 14% for interceptions per 90 in the Champions League last term.

6 CM – Orel Mangala

Mangala is a pressing machine who does a lot of work in Forest's midfield that often goes unnoticed. In the Premier League this term, he ranks in the top 13% among his positional peers for interceptions per 90 while averaging an 88% pass completion per game.

This implies that he's adept at closing down space to win possession back and supply his teammates with quality on the ball.

7 CM – Nicolas Dominguez

When Forest managed to prise Bologna captain Dominguez away from the Serie A in the summer, they knew they were getting an exceptional midfielder who would provide an abundance of quality in central areas.

Dubbed by Jamie Redknapp as the Reds' "best player" in the draw against Brentford, the all-action Argentine has shown his class across his seven matches this term, placing within the top 5% across Europe's top five leagues for tackles in the past year and recording an exceptional 4.6 balls recovered per game.

8 CM – Ibrahim Sangare

A £30m acquisition from PSV on deadline day, Sangare has slotted into the Forest midfield this term like a glove and instantly showcased his class as a destructive ball-winner and an incredible ball carrier.

Across eight starts in the Premier League, the Ivory Coast international, who was once likened to Michael Essien by African journalist Alpha Balde, has done that comparison justice by putting in physically domineering performances. He's recorded the second-most tackles in the Reds squad (3.1), behind only Dominguez, and has driven his side forward with 50% completed dribbles per game.

9 RW – Morgan Gibbs-White

Forest's master creator and the one who can unlock defences in the blink of an eye, Morgan Gibbs-White has predominantly played as a wide playmaker this term but likes to drift inside and dictate play centrally.

The Englishman is one of the first names on the team sheet for Cooper and that is mainly down to the quality he provides in possession. The former Wolverhampton Wanderers man has supplied the second most accurate long balls (2.2), the most key passes (1.8) and the second most big chances created (3) in the squad.

10 LW – Anthony Elanga

Once Callum Hudson-Odoi makes a return to action, competition for places is strong on the left flank, but it'll take a lot to dislodge Anthony Elanga.

After arriving from Manchester United in the summer, the Englishman has instantly adapted to his new surroundings, tearing through defences with his electrifying pace and fleet-footed dribbling. He's also supplied end product, too, scoring two and supplying three assists in 13 matches, including the winner against Chelsea in September.

Arsenal have made an encouraging start to the 2023/24 campaign, as Mikel Arteta’s side remain unbeaten in the Premier League after their opening nine games.

The Gunners have overcome challenges against Spurs, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Chelsea within the first leg of the season, with all signs pointing to another title race being on the cards.

While the North Londoners achieved a lot last term, primarily by weaving their way back into the top four, and subsequently, the Champions League, Arsenal were left somewhat deflated by not winning the league after leading for so long.

Manchester City won the title, beating the Gunners to top spot by five points on the home straight, as Arteta’s lack of squad depth was exposed in the latter stages of the campaign.

The summer transfer window was an opportunity grasped by the Spaniard to bolster his depth, to which he welcomed four new faces to the Emirates in preparation for the busy schedule ahead.

Taking into account injury and the demand of the 2023/24 calendar, sources have pointed to additional reinforcements that could replenish Arsenal’s squad in January, with focus on two areas of the pitch.

Arsenal transfer targets

The midfield and the front line seem to be the two focal points of the Gunners’ January targets, with a range of players speculated to be of interest to the Premier League outfit.

Relating to the strike department, Ivan Toney has been named as a player who is admired by Arsenal, with sources claiming that a move for the Brentford talisman in January could be sanctioned.

Over in the Eredivisie, Europe’s current leading scorer of 2023/24 is said to be of interest to the Gunners, with Feyenoord hitman Santiago Gimenez reported in Spain to be on the wishlist of Atletico Madrid, Spurs, Chelsea and Arsenal, as relayed by The Hard Tackle.

Despite spending a club-record fee of £105m to acquire Declan Rice in the summer, Arteta appears to be eyeing additional quality to compliment the engine room.

One name rumoured is Brazilian star Andre Trindade, who 90min claimed is of interest to Arsenal and Liverpool, and he is said to be valued by Fluminense at around £34m by reports in Brazil.

While the latest target may not be listed as one to be potentially acquired in January and more likely the summer of 2024, the impact he could have on the Gunners would be huge.

Football Transfers has claimed that Arsenal have set their sights on Real Madrid midfielder, Aurelien Tchouameni, who they report was a player that Arteta and Edu contacted Los Blancos about in the summer.

The site speculates that the Premier League side will go back knocking for the Frenchman in 2024, in a move that could change the dynamic of the club’s midfield.

Why Arsenal are right to be interested in Tchouameni

Once lauded as a player that is “out of this world” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Tchouameni’s rise to stardom in Europe has been admirable, with the midfielder rising through the ranks of French football before joining Real Madrid in 2022.

Just one year ago, Football Transfers documented the 23-year-old’s expected transfer value (xTV) at €47.6m (£41.4m), where it has since increased by over 110% to a sum of €100m (£87m), via CIES Football Observatory.

The Frenchman made quite the impression during his first season in La Liga, where in the 2022/23 campaign, he averaged the highest pass completion rate of any midfielder in the league, averaging 92.8% per 90, via FBref.

Deployed as a defensive midfielder, the former Monaco spectacle has all the elements to thrive in any midfield, displaying the perfect combination of a combative and elegant nature in the engine room.

While the France international has been a top performer within La Liga, his level of performance has seen him rank as one of the best in Europe, as highlighted in the table below.

Aurelien Tchouameni per 90 averages last 365 days

Statistic

Average

Rank in Europe

Pass completion %

92.4%

Top 1%

Final 3rd passes

7.72

Top 6%

Interceptions

1.80

Top 5%

Aerials won

2.33

Top 6%

% of aerials won

74.4%

Top 1%

Passes blocked

0.38

Top 2%

% of dribblers tackled

60.0%

Top 4%

Via FBref

Dubbed as “phenomenal” during his time at Monaco by journalist Zach Lowy, Tchouameni’s development at the mere age of 23 has been extraordinary, telling of exactly what he could install at Arsenal, should rumours be believed.

If the stature and quality of the player alone wasn’t enough to convince critics that he would be a perfect fit in Arteta’s side, the numbers will, with FBref declaring him as statistically comparable to both Rice and Thomas Partey.

Aurelien Tchouameni could be the perfect heir to Thomas Partey

While Arteta has a strong foundation in his midfield with the presence of Rice and Partey, there are some reservations over the Ghanaian’s future suitability to the side.

The 30-year-old has missed almost 300 days to injury since joining Arsenal in 2020, with the start to this season jaded by him being already absent for 30 days as he nursed a groin injury.

Added to such woes, journalist Jason Soutar relayed news coming out of Italy claiming that Partey is feeling “increasingly dissatisfied” with his start to the season, adding that he could opt to leave the Emirates in January.

With reference to the Ghana international’s injury troubles and dissatisfaction with life in north London, it could pave the way for a talent like Tchouameni to be introduced to Arteta’s project.

As portrayed in the table below, the 23-year-old excels in areas vital for a player in their role in comparison to Partey, showcasing that the 6 foot 2 Frenchman could represent a rejuvenated wave of talent in the midfield at Arsenal.

Partey vs Tchouameni past 365 averages per 90

Thomas Partey

Aurelien Tchouameni

Pass completion %

83.3%

92.4%

Interceptions

0.91

1.80

Aerials won

1.36

2.33

Final 3rd passes

9.40

7.72

Passes blocked

0.58

0.38

% of dribblers tackled

54.2%

60.0%

% aerials won

57.9%

74.4%

Via FBref

There are elements beyond his likeness to Partey that suggest he could be the key to taking the Gunners to the next level, with his playing style also matching that of Rice.

The idea of the two midfielders combining in North London could vastly speed up the rate of Arteta’s bid for silverware, with the duo both tactically matched to play in the Spaniard’s free-flowing and distribution-heavy engine room.

Arsenal tick best when there is an anchor present in the middle of the park, allowing Rice to progress upfield and showcase his strengths in advanced areas, in Tchouameni, Arteta could capture his long-term anchor.

When revising his innate reading of the game in a defensive light based on his averages displayed in the table above, the France international is one of the best at tidying up in midfield, a strength that Arsenal could benefit from should they lose Partey.

While the interest remains solely as speculation, the idea of signing Tchouameni to replace Partey sheds a narrative of a thing of natural progression, only time will tell if the Gunners are serious about their target.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is targeting a move for a talented youngster from the continent; however, he will face high-profile competition for his signature, according to a report.

Manchester City news: Grealish injury, Phillips transfer update

Cited by The Daily Mail, Manchester City winger Jack Grealish has revealed that he suffered a huge haematoma on his thigh that left him unable to walk for a period of time following the 2-1 victory over Sheffield United in late August.

Speaking about the ordeal, Grealish stated: "You have little ones that are there for two to three days — but if you get a dead leg and you have the haematoma, a bad one, it’s around six centimetres. Mine was like 20 centimetres. Our doctor said it’s the worst dead leg he’s ever seen, by a mile."

He then added: "It wasn’t even bad, the tackle. It was Oli McBurnie. If I showed you the tackle now, you’d be like, “Get up”. But the pain…honestly! After the game it was sore. But when I was on the coach, I was like, I need something here. I went to walk off the coach back into the training ground at City and I genuinely could not walk. I couldn’t bend my leg. I had to get crutches."

Meanwhile, according to a Manchester City transfer update from The Sun, midfielder Kalvin Phillips could be offered a shock escape route from the Premier League champions, with Bayern Munich believed to be keen on the England international.

Thomas Tuchel is reportedly eyeing a move for the out-of-favour 27-year-old, who has been sparingly used by Guardiola this term despite Rodri's recent suspension from playing action. Bayern Munich are keeping tabs on his situation and a similar arrangement to that of Joao Cancelo, who went on loan from Manchester City to the Bundesliga champions in January, isn't said to be out of the question.

Kalvin Phillips' time at Manchester City in numbers

Appearances (Transfermarkt)

Goals

Assists

26

0

0

WhoScored average match rating (2023/24) – Premier League: 6.24/10

Notable statistics (2023/24)

90% pass success rate, average passes (16.7 per fixture), 1.3 accurate long balls per game

Manchester City transfer news – Arthur Vermeeren

Recently, a report claimed that the Blues have made their first move to try and bring in Royal Antwerp midfielder Arthur Vermeeren by making contact with his current employers and enquiring about his availability. Vermeeren has previously been hailed "one of the most complete young midfielders in Europe" by Football Talent Scout – Jacek Kulig.

The outlet indicate that competition is fierce for the 18-year-old, with Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus all believed to be circling for the Belgium Under-21 cap.

Starting the 2023/24 campaign in sparkling form, Vermeeren has racked up one goal and five assists in his opening 15 appearances for Royal Antwerp across all competitions (Vermeeren's statistics – Transfermarkt).

In the Jupiler Pro League, the Lier-born man has gained an average Sofascore match rating of 7.45/10 this season for his exploits, which will explain why Manchester City boss Guardiola is keen to strengthen his midfield with the addition of Vermeeren.

The teams played out the tenth tied T20I, but a Super Over was not contested to determine the winner in accordance with the ICC’s playing conditions

Peter Della Penna19-Jun-2018The ICC has said that match referee David Jukes and the on-field umpires Allan Haggo and WPM van Liemt erred on Sunday at the end of the dramatic tie between Ireland and Scotland in Deventer and confirmed that a Super Over should have been played to determine a winner, in accordance with the ICC’s playing conditions for T20Is.”The match officials misinterpreted the T20I playing conditions which prevented the Super Over taking place following a tied match,” an ICC spokesperson had said on Tuesday. “This was a genuine oversight for which the ICC offers its sincere apologies to both Scotland and Ireland. We have picked up the matter with the officials and will mitigate against this happening in the future.”Ireland’s Stuart Thompson scampered a two to long-on off the final ball of the match to level the scores in a chase of 186. It was the tenth tied T20I, but instead of contesting a Super Over to decide the winner, both teams shook hands and walked off the field.Under the ICC playing conditions for T20Is adopted on September 28, 2017, Law 16.3.1 reads: “If the scores are equal, the result shall be a tie and no account shall be taken of the number of wickets that have fallen. In the event of a tied match the teams shall compete in a Super Over to determine the winner.”However, representatives from both Ireland and Scotland told ESPNcricinfo after the match that they had been informed by tournament officials at the start of the tri-series that there would be no Super Over in the event of a tie.Had Scotland prevailed in a Super Over, it would have been just their second T20I victory over a Full Member. They had beaten Bangladesh by 34 runs in 2012, also in Netherlands.An Ireland win, on the other hand, would have kept them in contention to claim the tri-series title on net run-rate but a tie now means they can finish no higher than second place after losing their first two matches to Netherlands. Scotland need to sweep the final two matches against Netherlands on Tuesday and Wednesday at Amstelveen to claim the title while Netherlands need to win just one of the remaining two matches to clinch the tri-series.

The Toronto Blue Jays allowed another lead to slip through their fingers on Tuesday night. They held a 3-2 lead heading to the bottom of the 9th before the San Francisco Giants scored two runs to record a walk-off victory.

The two teams will face each other again on Wednesday night in the second game of their three game set.

Let's dive into everything you need to know to bet on tonight's game.

Blue Jays vs. Giants Odds, Run Line, and Total

Run Line

• Blue Jays +1.5 (-172)
• Giants -1.5 (+142)

Moneyline

• Blue Jays +132
• Giants -156

Total

• 7.0 (Over -115/Under -105)

Blue Jays vs. Giants Probable Pitchers

• Toronto: Chris Bassitt (7-7, 3.43 ERA)
• San Francisco: Logan Webb (7-6, 3.09 ERA)

Blue Jays vs. Giants How to Watch

• Date: Wednesday, July 10
• Time: 9:45 p.m. EST
• Venue: Oracle Park
• How to Watch (TV): Sportsnet, Sportsnet+, MLBN, TVA Sports, NBCS BA
• Blue Jays record: 41-50
• Giants record: 45-47

Blue Jays vs. Giants Players to Watch

Toronto Blue Jays

Bo Bichette: The Blue Jays need their star shortstop, Bo Bichette, to start playing good baseball. Previous to this season, his worst batting average in a season was in 2022 when he batting .290. This year, he's batting an abysmal .223 which includes a .153 batting average over the last 30 days. That level of play is simply unacceptable.

San Francisco Giants

Logan Webb: The Giants' pitcher has had a fantastic season thus far, sporting a 3.09 ERA in 19 starts, which puts him fourth on the odds list to win the NL Cy Young. He can build on his resume with another strong start tonight.

Blue Jays vs. Giants Prediction and Pick

It's tough to back the Blue Jays after they continuously find ways to lose games in many different fashions. Whether it's a blowout loss, a 9th inning collapse, a lack of runs, a lack of pitching, a terrible bullpen, or abysmal managing, the Jays have been a dumpster fire to watch this season.

Because of that, it's tough to make a case for betting on them tonight, especially considering they're facing a stud in Logan Webb with his 3.09 ERA.

Chris Bassitt is entering this game off a rough start where he gave up eight hits, four walks, and four earned runs in 5.0 innings against the Astros. The Giants have a clear advantage in both pitching and offensive production in this won. I'll bet them to beat the Jays for the second straight night.

Can’t bat, can’t field – Pakistan, just accept that verdict

Nagraj Gollapudi at Edgbaston06-Aug-2010Shoaib Malik was shaking his hands in pain having failed to take a difficult, though manageable, catch at point. Imran Farhat was trying to invent a new form of asana yoga by trying to get his head between his legs after he dropped a dolly from Jonathan Trott. Umar Gul, at mid off, was surprised by Kevin Pietersen’s charge against Saeed Ajmal, and could only deflect the lofted drive he should have pouched. Debutant Zulqarnain Haider rightly followed Pietersen’s inside edge and dived full-stretch to his left, but the ball hit his wrist. When Ajmal surprised Pietersen with a quicker ball, the intended cut flew past a clueless Umar Akmal, standing too wide at slip. Can’t bat, can’t field – Pakistan, just accept that verdict.Let’s stick to the fielding for now. A basic tenet to succeed at any job is to enjoy it. Look at the example of the two Mohammads – Asif and Amir. You can sense, feel and celebrate the joy with this pair of Pakistan quicks as they unravel the art of fast bowling in front of your eyes without the sleight of hand. When they smile, you understand exactly how they are working out the batsman.Even in the nets the pair is rehearsing the murder of their opponent. Every ball has a meaning, a sweet-something tipped with poison, an improvement over the previous effort. And even if it always does not work out the way they intended, their minds are always busy scripting the obituary of the batsman. There is a genuine enthusiasm to excel.If only the Pakistan players could adopt the duo’s zeal and apply it to the fielding. At each and every training session whenever Waqar Younis, Pakistan’s coach, has screamed “let’s go fielding boys” the players have responded like a kid who has been ordered to do homework on a holiday. At times a peeved Waqar has had to force players to go for the fielding drills, usually imparted by his two deputies – Ijaz Ahmed and Aaqib Javed.”Oye, Azhar, kya kal pahunche ga fielding karne (Azhar, will you reach tomorrow for the fielding practice!?),” Waqar shouted at Azhar Ali on Thursday afternoon when the player was busy doing nothing after his batting session. It is not to single out one player, but most of the Pakistanis have failed to show the same enthusiasm to fielding as they have shown lining up to bat or bowl.Probably the mistake lies in the method of the coaches. If there is a method in the first place that is: just lining up players and hitting some hard catches as if you are on a conveyor belt cannot exactly be called the right way forward. It is an archaic method.The best fielders have always maintained that fielding cannot be taught. It needs to come from within. Awareness, anticipation, agility are the three As missing form Pakistan’s fielding cabinet. If you watch Ijaz hitting catches towards the close-in fielders – slips, gully and point – one thing that stands out is the discomfort a fielder has about where he is standing. Constantly the player is seen shuffling around, trying to measure the distance from his partner by stretching his arm and still he is never sure.This weakness revealed itself recently at Trent Bridge last week when both Kamran Akmal, the wicketkeeper, and the slips were reluctant to stand up a few yards against the quick bowlers despite having grasped the nature of the pitch was slow and dry. Some catches were dropped, some were missed altogether. Bowlers were left furiously kicking dust.It was an encore in Birmingham and Pakistan’s comedy of errors will continue for the rest of the tour if they fail to act now. The visitors cannot keep ignoring the fielding issue with a shrug and say it has always existed. Thankfully Salman Butt, their captain was in no mood to find excuses. “It is something hard to contend with,” he summed his fury in short.On the day when Pakistan’s fielders were biting lips, nails and sweaters as the cold Birmingham breeze persisted, England showed the anticipation and skills to turn the advantage in their favour. “The fielding has been sublime as well, which always helps,” said Stuart Broad, who took four wickets. “We’ve got slip catchers who are practising no end to improve themselves, because they know how important it is,”Broad, tellingly, had no sympathy for the opposition – not even his fellow fast bowler Asif, with whom he used to play at Leicester. Pakistan’s problems, he said, had nothing to do with the side being down on its luck, and were instead due to a lack of willingness to put in the necessary hard work. “As an England player, I don’t mind,” he said. “As a bowler you are always going to have human error, with catches put down, but that’s okay, as long as you know the boys are practising as hard as they possibly can.”I think confidence is built from practice, to be honest,” he added. “Our lads have been practising hard, getting in close, and we’ve got some world-class fielders in there – Colly, for instance, would get into any slip cordon in the world. It’s really nice as a bowler knowing that your slippers are practising day in day out to take that one chance. You’re not just practising for that day’s play, you’re practising for the final Ashes Test, to take that one-hander that wins you the game. It’s all about those key moments in series and games that, with the more practice you put in, you can try and claim.”All summer Pakistan’s fielders have been trying to hold on to their catches as kids try to hold on to snow flakes – in vain. It is time they grew up.

Manchester United has been the home to countless attacking talents over recent years, with the fanbase undoubtedly wishing they currently had some of their former talents in the present day.

Wayne Rooney still holds the club record for the most goals scored for the Red Devils, registering a staggering 253 goals in his 559 appearances – subsequently overtaking Sir Bobby Charlton’s record.

The likes of Eric Cantona, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ruud van Nistelrooy have all made a name for themselves at Old Trafford, with all the players undoubtedly capturing the hearts of the fanbase.

Current boss Ruben Amorim must wish he could rely upon just one of the aforementioned talents to help him in his quest to be a success during his time in charge of the club.

However, that could be about to change this summer, with the hierarchy looking to back the 40-year-old in the transfer market during the off-season.

The latest on United’s hunt for a new striker this summer

A striker has been high up on Amorim’s shopping list in recent weeks, unsurprisingly so, given the club’s terrible record of just 44 goals in their 38 Premier League matches last campaign.

The likes of Dušan Vlahović, Viktor Gyokeres and Victor Osimhen have all been touted with a move to Old Trafford, but no deals have yet been agreed for any of their signatures.

However, it appears as though that could be about to change, with Aston Villa talisman Ollie Watkins emerging as a key target for Amorim, according to CaughtOffside.

Their report claims that the 29-year-old is seen as a Premier League-proven option for the Red Devils, even making an approach for his services over the last couple of days.

It also states that the hierarchy would be willing to match his current £60m asking price, allowing the England international to follow in the footsteps of one other star at the Theatre of Dreams.

Why United’s £60m target would be Amorim’s own Van Persie

Striker Robin van Persie is a player who managed to hugely impress during his time at United, leading the club to their last league triumph back in the 2012/13 campaign.

He joined the Red Devils in a £24m deal from fellow English side Arsenal, a deal that was seen as a controversial one at the time, especially from the Gunners’ point of view.

The Dutchman was entering the back end of his career upon his move, joining the club at the age of 29, but it didn’t prevent him from starring at Old Trafford.

He managed to score 58 times in his 105 appearances over a three-year period, leading the side to title glory, something which Amorim will be hoping to replicate in the near future.

If he is to achieve such a goal, he could certainly improve his chances with a move for Watkins, with the Villa star following in Van Persie’s footsteps in the North West.

He would join the club at the same age as the Dutchman, also making an immediate impact, rather than being signed as one for the future in the club’s quest for glory.

Watkins would also be handed the responsibility of providing the goods in the final third, just like Van Persie was over a decade ago, also having the tools to offer the clinical edge the Red Devils have lacked.

Games played

38

Goals & assists

24

Pass accuracy

75%

Shots on target per 90

1.4

Chances created

1.1

Aerials won

1.8

Shots taken

2.9

The Englishman, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by Statman Dave, registered 17 goals in all competitions last season, averaging 1.4 shots on target per 90 – highlighting the clinical edge he possesses.

He’s also showcased his all-round talent, completing 75% of the passes he’s attempted, creating 1.1 chances per 90, handing other forwards around him the chance to improve the situation should he move to Old Trafford.

Watkins’ tally of 1.8 aerials won showcases his ability to hold the ball up in forward areas, offering Amorim’s side that needed focal point that they have lacked in recent months.

£60m may appear to be a mammoth figure for a 29-year-old star, but he’s consistently demonstrated that he’s capable of thriving in England’s top-flight.

If he can make the immediate impact Van Persie did during his time in Manchester, it would be a phenomenal signing and one that can push Amorim’s side back in the right direction.

Better than Watkins: Wilcox in talks to sign "monster" £64m CF for Man Utd

Manchester United could be about to end their hunt for a new striker this summer.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 3, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers' midfield has seen quite a big transformation in recent seasons. Having had Joao Moutinho, Ruben Neves and Leander Dendoncker battling it out among the best players in the Premier League in the middle of the park, supporters now watch Mario Lemina, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Joao Gomes regularly.

Moutinho, in particular, was a symbol that Wolves meant business under the Fosun Group. Having played at clubs such as Porto, Monaco and Sporting CP, the acquisition of the experienced midfielder made a few clubs stand up and take notice, given Nuno Espirito Santo's side were just promoted to the top-flight when the Portugal international joined the club for merely £5m.

The Midlands club certainly got their money's worth as the veteran remained at Molineux for five seasons before departing on a free during the recent summer window. However, the club may currently possess the heir to Moutinho's throne.

Moutinho's stats at Wolves

Despite being on the wrong side of 30 when he joined from Monaco in 2018, Moutinho went on to make 212 appearances for Wolves throughout his five-year stint at the club which is more than he made at Porto. Interestingly, in all five Premier League campaigns, the Portuguese midfielder missed merely 15 games, playing all 38 league matches in his first two seasons.

Despite having three managers at Molineux, Moutinho maintained his place in the team right up until the very end.

2022/23

36

2,074

2021/22

39

3,206

2020/21

36

2,781

2019/20

57

4,598

2018/19

44

3,444

Stats via Transfermarkt

There was a slight drop in game-time towards the end of his spell with Wolves, but this is understandable given he was 36 when he left the club a few months back. Furthermore, at Wolves, Moutinho became a key creative outlet for the team, recording 25 assists for the club, including 21 in his first two seasons, according to Transfermarkt.

Wolves have tried to replicate Moutinho's quality on the pitch by purchasing Joao Gomes from Brazilian outfit Flamengo back in January for £15m but no player has quite managed to reach his standards just yet. However, there may be one youngster out on loan who is waiting to fill the Portuguese's boots.

Luke Cundle's stats this season

Having broken through the academy in 2019 to make his competitive debut, Luke Cundle featured seven times for the Old Gold overall before being handed the first loan spell of his infant career at Swansea City in the Championship. It was in Wales that the Swans' former head coach Russell Martin was left hugely wholly impressed with Cundle's ability, describing the player as "intelligent" and "technically gifted".

Upon returning, the 21-year-old wasn't in Wolves boss Gary O'Neil's plans for the forthcoming season and was sent back out on a temporary basis, this time to newly promoted second-tier outfit Plymouth Argyle. With the Pilgrims, Cundle has been excelling and has bagged four goals and five assists in 18 appearances in all competitions, which is more goal contributions than any other Wolves player.

Statistically, the Wolves loanee is performing better than Gomes this season and is keeping up with Moutinho's record from the previous campaign.

Goals

0.33

0

0

Expected Goals

0.16

0.03

0.07

Assists

0.55

0

0.1

Expected Assists

0.13

0.04

0.1

Progressive Passes

3.63

2.84

6.67

Progressive Carries

1.98

0.53

1.16

Progressive Passes Received

5.05

0.53

1.62

Key Passes

2.09

1.89

5.3

Passes To Penalty Area

0.44

0.63

1.16

Passes To Final 1/3

3.52

1.89

5.3

Pass Completion %

83.4

81.7

80.4

Stats via FBref

In possession, the 5 foot 7 Cundle is much closer to the diminutive Moutinho than Gomes and is a more similar player to the parted Portuguese than the Brazilian. Given his impressive displays for Plymouth, O'Neil should certainly look to bring Cundle back as soon as possible to be the rightful, yet perhaps surprise heir to the veteran's throne.

Everton are "monitoring" a hugely exciting player ahead of a potential move to Goodison Park, according to a new update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Everton transfer news

The January transfer window is continuing to edge closer all the time, at which point Sean Dyche could have the opportunity to boost his squad options. Much of that may depend on the takeover situation at Goodison, however, with the saga continuing to rumble on, and a "mystery Indian group" now in the mix to buy Everton, following a new update over the weekend.

There is also a chance that Dyche could be content with the options he currently has at his disposal, and while that may be unlikely, their recent form in the Premier League has been promising, with four points picked up from an away clash with West Ham and a home meeting with Brighton.

Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips has been linked with a January move to Everton, however, as he looks to enjoy regular playing time ahead of Euro 2024 next summer, and someone of his ilk could be ideal for the Blues, giving them more quality and energy in the middle of the park.

Now, a fresh update suggests that the Merseysiders could be eyeing a move for a big young prospect, perhaps focusing more on the long-term than the here and now.

Everton want Anton Matkovic

Taking to X on Sunday, renowned journalist Romano said that Everton are keeping a close eye on Anton Matkovic, with the 17-year-old a big young talent at NK Osijek:

"Interest growing in 17 year old Croatian talent Anton Matkovic. NK Osijek striker, attracting important clubs from Europe – understand Everton are monitoring him. Also RB Salzburg and Sassuolo are interested, no time for decision yet but one to watch for sure."

Matkovic is clearly not a household name yet, but the striker is making waves in his homeland for Osijek, being seen as arguably one of Croatia's brightest young talents at the moment.

In fact, Matkovic's stats are pretty limited at the moment due to a lack of first-team minutes, but he is a two-time capped Croatia Under-17 international, and while he is still awaiting his debut for Osijek, he has appeared for their Under-19s regularly from a very young age.

While Everton fans will no doubt want signings who are ready to come straight in and hit the ground running for Dyche's team, immediately improving their chances of avoiding relegation this season, it is always exciting to see a top teenage talent being linked with the Blues.

1. James Vaughan

16 years, 8 months and 27 days

2. Wayne Rooney

16 years, 8 months and 27 days

3. Michael Ball

16 years, 8 months and 27 days

4. Bert Llewellyn

17 years, 8 months and 17 days

5. Jack Rodwell

17 years, 6 months and 17 days

They have had some outstanding young attackers in the past, from Wayne Rooney to Francis Jeffers, and the hope would be that Matkovic comes in and is eventually added to that list.

The lure of the Premier League could give Everton and advantage in the race to sign the 17-year-old, and there can be no harm in taking a punt on him, should those in charge of transfers at Goodison see something special.