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In unknown Grenada, Cummins and Chase aim for adaptability

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

With little prior intel and an unpredictable pitch history, neither side really knows what to expect, although the WI captain feels it will be a better batting surface than Barbados

Andrew McGlashan03-Jul-20251:13

Konstas and Green face vital test for Australia

Pat Cummins has urged his top order to adapt quicker to conditions in the second Test but is enjoying the challenge of coming to venues without much, or any, prior information. This is Australia’s first Test series in the Caribbean for ten years and the first time any of this squad have played in Grenada.The pitch looked as though it would be rather more benign that at Kensington Oval, but even there the talk at the toss was a surface that both sides thought would play reasonably well only for it to become a fast-bowlers’ shootout, which finished in three days.Australia have kept things simple in selection with Steven Smith’s return at the expense of Josh Inglis the only change, but Cummins has prepared his batters to be ready to switch gameplans should things play out differently than expected.Related

  • Hard work done but no pay day for Green as questions linger

  • Will West Indies' new solution work for old batting problem?

  • Brathwaite: 'I was in total disbelief I could score a hundred for WI'

  • Smith returns as both sides look for batting lift in Grenada

“Just being a little bit quicker to adapt. It got difficult at times [in Barbados],” he said. “That’s a test for you. Even with the ball changes, each time you kind of got a new ball, that made [it] a little tricky period for the batters. So I think just being sharper… a lot of the conversations about keep the scoreboard ticking over, make yourself hard to be bowled at.”You don’t 100% know what you’re going to get coming up against players that we haven’t played a lot against on a field that we’ve never played on before. It’s [about] staying fairly open-minded. Our message is always: remember what makes you a good player, play to your strengths. But if the information takes you in a different direction just make sure you’re sharp and adapt.”With the last Test at the National Stadium played three years ago – out of four overall – plus the ground’s previous first-class fixture being back in early 2023, there is precious little research available.”I think it’s fun coming when there’s a few unknowns, you’ve kind of got to think on your feet and you’re not quite sure how a game’s going to play out,” Cummins said. “When you go to Australia, you kind of know how the conditions are going to be.Sam Konstas had a tough time of it in Barbados•Randy Brooks/Associated Press”I think that was something we did reasonably well in the first Test. We thought it was going to be really flat, and it ended up being a pretty bowler-friendly wicket. You’ve got to try and find a way to score runs differently to how you think, and I like that part of it.”Smith’s return brings the middle order back to full strength after the trio of Travis Head, Beau Webster and Alex Carey hauled Australia out of trouble in Barbados. He is renowned as one of the great problem-solving batters and will add further insurance against a top order that remains uncertain as Sam Konstas and Cameron Green work through their challenges.”He’s scored runs all over the world and whilst he’s not played a game here, he seems to work out pretty quickly what needs to be done and where your scoring areas are,” Cummins said of Smith. “So, of course, having that knowledge is going to be helpful, particularly to the guys that haven’t really played too many Tests or first-class games.”But it’s not only the Australians who are short on knowledge about the ground. Even West Indies captain Roston Chase has only played two games here in his entire career: an ODI against Ireland and a first-class match for Barbados back in 2015. Overall, West Indies will likely have four players who were part of the 2022 Test against England.”I’m not really accustomed to the facilities but the pitch looks a good one,” Chase said. “It looks evenly grassed. It looks way better than the Barbados pitch, although I’m a Barbadian.”Australia’s selectors are likely to make a call after this Test over whether to release Marnus Labuschagne•Getty ImagesOne of the pre-tour expectations was that spinners could be key in this series, but they had a limited role in Barbados and West Indies were even considering not playing left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican in Grenada. Australia had come prepared to partner Nathan Lyon with Matt Kuhnemann after their success in Sri Lanka, but the latter has remained on the bench. However, Cummins did not rule him out as an option in Jamaica for the last game even though it will be day-night Test.”It seems like Jamaica can spin a lot,” Cummins said. “I think even if it’s a pink ball, kind of wait and see and stay pretty open-minded. Beau’s a third quick as well. Until you kind of get eyes on the wicket, it’s pretty hard to know. I think just every venue is a little bit different. I thought maybe two out of the three might spin a bit, but so far it looks like the first two won’t.”Meanwhile, Australia’s selectors are likely to make a call after this Test over whether to release Marnus Labuschagne from the squad now that Smith is back in action. There are options for him to potentially get a couple of games for Glamorgan or be added to the Australia A squad for the four-day games against Sri Lanka A in Darwin. Australia would need to ensure they have sufficient batting cover for the final Test at Sabina Park should he leave.”It’s probably a conversation between George [Bailey], [Andrew McDonald] and Marnus over how he wants to best map out the next couple of months,” Cummins said.

Ashes squad talking points: Kingmaker Green to dictate Australia's plans

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

While the selectors named an expanded squad, barring injuries the final choice comes down to two players from three

Alex Malcolm05-Nov-20253:09

Australia’s Ashes squad: No Konstas, Labuschagne to open?

It all hinges on Green’s bowling capability

It was known from a long way out that Cameron Green and Beau Webster would be picked in the squad together. The two have played in the same XI in Australia’s last four Test matches. But Green was a specialist batter at No. 3, a spot he had only batted in once in first-class cricket prior, and was not bowling with Marnus Labuschagne opening in one of them before Sam Konstas replaced Labuschagne in the other three.Related

  • Hazlewood cleared of injury, Abbott out of first Test after hamstring scans

  • Webster takes five on tough day for his Test chances

  • The Australia selectors' aversion to risk might have boxed them into a corner

  • Cummins feeling good for Gabba, but rest may be needed

  • What does Pat Cummins' absence mean for Australia?

Green ended up playing very well in the last two Tests on very difficult pitches in West Indies and was arguably Australia’s best batter across those matches. But now that he’s back bowling, the need for two allrounders as opposed to a better structured batting line-up comes into question.However, Green’s bowling progression from back surgery has not quite gone to plan. He has been bowling in the nets since June without interruption, but has only sent down four overs in matches so far. Some minor side soreness saw him withdrawn from bowling in the last Shield game. He instead bowled in the nets and on the centre wicket post game in order to control the intensity.It is understood he has bowled up to 8-10 overs across multiple spells in singular net sessions already. Bailey confirmed he would bowl 15-20 overs in Western Australia’s next Shield game against Queensland at the WACA ground starting on November 11, which would equate to roughly 8-10 overs per innings. How he gets through those overs and how he bowls from a skill perspective could dictate the shape of the Test XI.If he gets through unscathed and bowls well, and the selectors are confident he can deliver the same if not more in the first Test, that will spell bad news for Webster if the selectors believe the sum of Australia’s parts look better with one allrounder and three specialist top three batters. Webster has done nothing wrong in his Test career so far. He’s made four half-centuries in 12 innings on difficult pitches, averaging 34.63 at No.6. By comparison, Green has averaged 38.72 in his last 12 Test innings with all bar one coming at Nos. 3-4 including his 174 not out in Wellington and his recent scores of 52, 46, and 42 on the nightmare pitches in the Caribbean.Webster also has eight wickets at 23.25 but has benefited from those same pitches with the ball. Green’s home Test record with the ball is far superior to even Webster’s Shield record. Green has 22 Test wickets at 25.63 in Australia, striking at 52.1 including dismissing Joe Root, Zak Crawley and Ben Stokes twice each and Ollie Pope once in the 2021-22 Ashes series.Jake Weatherald’s 94 against WA was his standout innings so far this season•Getty Images

Weatherald could complement Khawaja

The selectors have been desperate to find a solution at the top of the order since David Warner retired. If Green can bowl the requisite overs, and Webster is squeezed out, then Jake Weatherald will be the sixth different opener to partner Usman Khawaja in the last 15 Test matches since Warner retired.Unlike the elevations of Steven Smith, Travis Head and Labuschagne, and the selections of Nathan McSweeney and Konstas, Weatherald is clearly the best performed domestic red-ball opener in Australia over the last 12 months. He has scored 1391 runs at 53.50 in 26 innings since the start of last summer with four centuries and seven half-centuries for Tasmania and Australia A. The fact that Matt Renshaw was so highly fancied by many to pip Weatherald for selection when Renshaw has made 653 first-class runs at 34.36 with three centuries and one fifty in the same period was odd.Beyond the runs, Bailey was extremely complimentary of Weatherald’s style. He has made his runs at a brisk strike rate of 68.65. Khawaja’s Test career rate is 48.56 while Labuschagne struck at 41.47 in his last 14 Test innings before he was dropped. There were times against India last summer where the scoreboard was not moving and it led to Konstas’ inclusion. But Bailey noted that Weatherald’s repeatable method, his first-class experience and the fact his game does not change innings to innings was a big reason for his selection ahead of Konstas.Bailey cited Weatherald’s recent match-winning innings of 94 off 99 against Western Australia in a low-scoring Shield game in Hobart as an example of what he can bring.”That innings is a good example, I think, of what Jake does really well,” Bailey said. “I thought he counter-attacked. It was a wicket that had a little bit in it. Others around him were finding it challenging, and he put pressure back onto the bowlers. And the way he did that, he drove nicely, played off the back foot nicely, he was busy. I think that’s a good example of what he looks like at his best.”Marnus Labuschagne has made five centuries in his last eight innings•Getty Images

Labuschagne opens or bats at No.3

Despite Bailey saying that no decisions have been made on the XI with 16 days to go, it is clear Labuschagne is locked in to return. It would be ridiculous to leave him out after five centuries in his last eight domestic innings for Queensland when the selectors specifically asked him to go away and find his best game after axing him in the Caribbean.But the decision on Green and Webster will dictate where Labuschagne bats. All of his runs for Queensland have come at No. 3. Australia’s selectors do not direct state teams to bat players in certain positions. Labuschagne, as Queensland captain, has batted himself at No. 3 in all those games. It is his preferred position and where he has scored all 11 of his Test centuries. However, he does have two first-class centuries opening the batting and did open in the WTC final. Bailey stopped short of guaranteeing Labuschagne would return to No. 3.”No, not necessarily,” Bailey said. “I think Marn’s got a game that could sit anywhere. It could be three. I think I’ve said a lot in the past if you can bat in the top three, you’ve probably got a skill set that’s capable of opening the batting. I think a lot of those things will be determined by what other resources you need and the makeup of those around you, and is it complementary?”People clearly have spots where they’ve batted the majority of their career and they all have different records when they do change position. But he can bat three, he could open. He’s got the skillset for both, but he’s been looking pretty good of late.”The question of players complementing each other is the biggest hint Bailey could give as to the preferred order. It is clear that the selectors would prefer Khawaja and Labuschagne don’t open together. Labuschagne’s most prolific batting partnerships in Tests have come batting with Warner, Smith, Head and Matthew Wade. He’s averaged above 50 with all four who are busy and free-flowing players at their best and has had multiple century stands with each. He’s had 48 Test partnerships with Khawaja by comparison and averaged 31.61, albeit with two century stands. There is a thought within the Australian camp that Labuschagne is a batting chameleon of sorts in the way that he can mimic his partners style. Whether that is still the case with the remodelled Labuschagne, time will tell.But if Labuschagne is back to his best, then a return of a No.3-4-5 combination of Labuschagne, Smith and Head will certainly look more challenging for England’s attack to penetrate than any alternative.

Why are Sri Lanka and Bangladesh so poor at T20I batting?

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

A look at their scoring rates begins to point to the reasons for this long-standing problem

Andrew Fidel Fernando12-Sep-2025For longer than ten years, a little over half of international T20 cricket’s lifespan so far, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have nursed woeful run rates. The stats are pretty clear. Of the ten top-ranked men’s T20I teams, they have the two worst run rates since 2015.A ten-plus year span is clearly many ages in T20 cricket, the fastest moving and now most-played of cricket’s formats. And yet Bangladesh and Sri Lanka’s loyalty to the bottom of this table has seen extraordinary consistency. Between 2015 and the end of 2019 they were eighth (Bangladesh) and tenth (Sri Lanka) on the table, and since 2020 they are eighth (Sri Lanka) and tenth (Bangladesh). If you’re looking for more recent history – since the start of 2024 – they are eighth (Sri Lanka) and ninth (Bangladesh), just ahead of Afghanistan. But unlike Afghanistan, neither Sri Lanka or Bangladesh qualified for the semi-final of the last World Cup.We’re mostly interested in only the run rate for this section, but just to illustrate how abysmal these teams’ batting has been, we’ve also incorporated batting average into this graph.

In the long term, there has not been one particular phase of the game in which they have struggled – they have been poor in the powerplay, middle overs death. But since 2024, some differences have emerged. Sri Lanka have become a middling team (sixth out of ten) in the powerplay, while Bangladesh are middling (fifth out of ten) at the death. That progress has perhaps been powered by their improved six-hitting, as Mohammad Isam lays out here. But they both continue to both be poor through the middle overs and poor overall.What could possibly be behind such long-term dysfunction for these two nations specifically? A theory has arisen, independently in each country, that might explain these run rates. Tracks in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh – at the Premadasa and Mirpur stadiums especially – are too spin-friendly to allow batters to develop more aggressive aspects of their game, or so the thinking goes.In August 2023, for example, Sanath Jayasuriya tweeted his displeasure at low-scoring surfaces at the Premadasa in the Lanka Premier League, arguing that pitches should “fuel positive, aggressive play” to “electrify the fans”. He was in charge of the Dambulla Aura team then, but is now head coach of Sri Lanka’s men. Around the same time, Sri Lanka captain’s captain then, Wanindu Hasaranga, also made his displeasure for slower Premadasa tracks known.Bangladesh’s players, meanwhile, have asked to play as few T20Is in Mirpur as possible, preferring the better batting track in Sylhet. Just a couple of months ago, Mike Hesson, Pakistan’s coach, slammed the Mirpur surface calling it “not up to international standards” when his team were dismissed for 110.At first blush, the numbers line up in support of this theory. Since the start of 2020, matches played in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are ninth and tenth respectively for run rate (innings involving top ten teams only). T20Is in these countries have also seen the two lowest batting averages over the last few years.

So we have long-term correlation. But do we have causation? It’s difficult to pin down exactly whether the pitches are the source of the problem, given a whole host of other factors (domestic structure, resources, coaching, strategy, etc) could be affecting these outcomes. But a further set of stats suggests that the pitches being part of the problem is a strain of thought worth pursuing.When Bangladesh and Sri Lanka play overseas, you would expect their scoring rates to be substantially better than at home on account of the pitches overseas being better on average, right? But since 2020 both Sri Lanka’s and Bangladesh’s scoring rates have only increased marginally when playing top ten opposition away from home. Sri Lanka have an improvement of 0.28 runs per over, while Bangladesh show an improvement of 0.70. Other teams, meanwhile, average 1.53 runs per over more when they play outside of Bangladesh or Sri Lanka than in those nations.!function(){“use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var t in a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data[“datawrapper-height”][t]+”px”;r.style.height=d}}})}();

To put that another way, if we use batting innings in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as a baseline, Sri Lanka average 5.6 more runs per innings away from home. Bangladesh average 14 more runs per innings away. Everyone else put together averages 30.6 runs more when not playing in either of those countries.(For the stats in the above two paragraphs, only matches against teams in the top ten were considered. And only matches in the home nations, plus the UAE, where, because of geopolitical circumstances in South Asia, many teams play matches against top opposition. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have their away records reflected. For other teams, innings in both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have been removed.)Clearly, these are significant issues that both teams need to solve in the next few months as the attention focuses on T20Is in men’s cricket. But there are some advantages for teams accustomed to low-scoring surfaces. The UAE, where the Asia Cup is being played, has also had its share of low-scoring matches, which Sri Lanka and Bangladesh may enjoy. Next year’s T20 World Cup will also be co-hosted by Sri Lanka, and the Premadasa is almost inevitably bound to host more matches than any other Sri Lankan ground.And yet there is also the problem, for these two teams, of India hosting many World Cup matches. That is a country that is used to seeing big T20 scores.But T20I cricket will be played beyond the next six months. If Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are to solve their long-term run-rate problems in this format, they would do well to at least take serious notice of the fact that their home pitches don’t really give their batters a chance of playing more expansive brands of cricket.

Lay off Lamine Yamal! Barcelona superstar being unhappy at substitution shows he has Cristiano Ronaldo-esque elite mentality & Hansi Flick would be wise NOT to interfere

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Lamine Yamal's frustrations at being substituted off in Barcelona's 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday night might have rubbed some people up the wrong way, but the Spanish star proved he has the elite mentality that only the game's greatest – such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi – possess.

  • Yamal hooked in Champions League

    Yamal missed a total of five minutes at the end of the Champions League win over the German side at Camp Nou on Tuesday, but that did not stop him from showing his frustrations after his number was held up in the 89th minute. His night was fruitful, providing an assist, creating two chances, and having 110 touches of the ball, but it's not the first time his emotions have seemingly got the better of him. A few weeks ago, in the 3-1 win over Alaves – a game in which Yamal scored – he pulled off a similar stunt, giving a stone-faced look at his manager as he walked straight past him and to the bench. That night, the 18-year-old admitted he was frustrated with how he played, and that he holds himself to higher standards. The match against Frankfurt looks to be a similar situation, with Yamal proving he has a Cristiano Ronaldo-esque mentality, that there is always room for improvement, and he wants to be on the pitch for every minute possible.

    That will not stop Flick from bringing his brightest talent off if he feels it is necessary, as he explained after Tuesday night's clash. He said: "We changed Lamine with a few minutes to go because he was booked and it was late," the German said. "If he was a bit annoyed, then I fully understand and I like it. I was a player too. It's fully acceptable, not a problem." Yamal is not the only star in La Liga to have erratic reactions to being hooked. Vinicius Junior has often caused a stir with his outbursts of emotion on the pitch, and it almost always comes down to the big-name players feeling like they have more to contribute. More often than not in modern football, the player outlasts the manager, and in Flick's case, he must manage Yamal carefully to avoid his own early dismissal. To his credit, he's doing everything right up to now.

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  • Getty Images Sport

    Following in CR7's footsteps

    Ironically, Yamal plays for Real Madrid's biggest rivals, but there are a lot of clear similarities between him and the great Cristiano Ronaldo. Like the Portuguese superstar, Yamal wears his heart on his sleeve and isn't afraid to show emotion. All he cares about is winning, not emulating those who came before him. Barca's No.10 went out of his way to claim he does not want to be Lionel Messi, the man who wore his shirt number for so many years in Spain and to such incredibly high standards. He said: "I think that Lionel Messi is the best footballer of all time, but he also knows that I’m a good player. There will be mutual respect if we play against each other. He knows that I’m not trying to be him, to play like him, or wear the 10 like him. I want to follow my own path."

    The truly elite players in football want to be involved in every minute of every game across the season; that much has been evident in Yamal's time at the top so far. At 18, he has played over 8,000 minutes, significantly more than most players of his age, due to his astonishing breakthrough at just 15 years old. For that reason, Flick's decision to rest him at every available opportunity is somewhat justified. But what the German might find, going forward, is that Yamal's demands will increase, as he grows older, gets even better, and becomes a more globally recognised figure in the sport. When that moment comes, it will be better to just step back and let him shine. 

  • Overwhelming support for Barca's wonderkid

    The consensus across social media is that Flick handled Yamal's frustrations in the media well enough – another clear indicator that it would be wise for the Blaugrana head coach not to get on the wrong side of the evolving superstar. One fan, @BEANle, explained his interpretation of the moment: "Lamine Yamal wasn't mad he’s just passionate. Kids who love the game never want to come off and that fire is exactly what makes him special."

    Another, @DKostanjsak, reminded everything of the importance of the Barca man, adding: "Lamine Yamal is still the biggest game breaker in the world of football. His ability to flip the script from 0 to 100 is one of Barcelona's biggest weapons. But it's up to Flick to maximise that. At the moment, we're not getting the most out of the world's best."

    Finally, @Ayse_Crypt said: "Barca fans should be relieved. We finally have a young talent who doesn’t hide when things get tough. He wants every minute, every duel, every moment. These are the guys who become club pillars."

  • Getty Images Sport

    A long career ahead

    Unless there is a dramatic change, Yamal is going to be a Barcelona player for a long time. He has the ability to smash records, both in Spain and Europe, but only if he is given the freedom to grow into a role filled by Messi before him. As much as he might not be fond of them, the Messi comparisons aren't going anywhere. Lamine Yamal is going to be a name associated with football for the next decade at least, and it is not too-far fetched to suggest he could go on to become one of the greatest players of all time. While no player is bigger than the club, the support of the manager in ignoring the minor misdemeanors is only going to help Yamal on that path to legendary status. And Flick, for now, appears to have it spot on.

Chelsea pursuit of Milton Delgado has panicked Boca Juniors

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Chelsea have their finger on the pulse when it comes to talent around the world and they could now be set to fight off competition to sign Boca Juniors midfielder Milton Delgado.

The Blues have made their fair share of moves for young stars in recent windows, albeit patience has been a little here and there over their Premier League impact, with Enzo Maresca enjoying a mixed start to the campaign at Stamford Bridge.

Intriguingly, the Italian boss has come under some pressure this season and Juventus had shown interest prior to appointing Luciano Spalletti.

Simon Phillips explained: “Enzo Maresca has been at the top of Juventus’ list for their new manager, but they knew that he is not attainable mid-season.

“This has not stopped them making contact with Maresca’s people in recent days. However, the word from Maresca is that at the moment he is not looking to make any changes to his current situation right now.”

Undoubtedly, Chelsea will spend again in January and Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr is a target at Stamford Bridge. Admittedly, BlueCo would need to show a sizeable level of ambition to pull off such a coup, but the Brazil international’s future in the Spanish capital appears uncertain with his contract up in 2027.

Juventus star Kenan Yildiz is also another player in the Blues’ sights, illustrating that they have their eye on developments across Europe when it comes to the window opening for business in January.

Keeping that fire lit, Chelsea may now be preparing to trigger the release clause of a talent who hails from South America.

Chelsea lining up bid for Milton Delgado

According to reports in his homeland via Sport Witness, Chelsea’s pursuit of Boca Juniors midfielder Martin Delgado has panicked his current club, while they are also braced for approaches from Sevilla and Inter Miami.

The Argentina Under-20 international has made 35 appearances in total for the South American giants, registering a solitary assist from his holding midfield role.

Starring in his national team’s run to the Under-20 World Cup final, he is set to be offered a bumper new contract by Boca that will raise his release clause value significantly, though his club are well aware they will receive an abundance of offers in January.

Chelsea also have a young star who is as exciting as Estevao

Chelsea have already concluded a number of deals ahead of 2026, namely the additions of Geovany Quenda, Denner and Emmanuel Emegha, hence why it would be a major surprise if Delgado was next in line to bolster Maresca’s squad depth.

Abell, Aldridge tons increase Hampshire's sense of peril

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Somerset recover from 99 for 5 to leave visitors looking over their shoulder

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay16-Sep-2025Somerset 381 for 7 (Aldridge 149*, Abell 118) vs HampshireCenturies from Tom Abell and Kasey Aldridge saw Somerset recover from a perilous position on the second day of the Rothesay County Championship Division One match against Hampshire at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.After the first-day washout, the hosts slumped to 99 for 5, having won the toss, before Abell and Aldridge put together a sixth-wicket stand of 221, Abell making 118 and Aldridge 149 not out. Keith Barker was the pick of the Hampshire bowling attack with 2 for 35 from 13 overs.For Abell, it was a second Championship hundred in successive games, while 24-year-old Aldridge’s score was a career-best, beating the 101 not out he made against Lancashire at Old Trafford in 2023. Together they enabled their team to close on 381 for 7.After a slightly delayed start due to a shower, Somerset had reached 21 without loss in the fourth over when Tom Kohler-Cadmore, on 10, pulled a catch to square leg off Barker, who quickly followed up by having Tom Lammonby caught behind for a duck.James Rew struck a six over fine leg off Barker before more rain interrupted play at shortly before 11.10am with Somerset 35 for 2. A further ten overs were lost when the action resumed at 10.45am with relegation-threatened Hampshire looking to maintain momentum.They did exactly that as with only eight runs added Archie Vaughan edged a defensive push off Kyle Abbott through to wicketkeeper Ben Brown. It was 69 for 4 when Rew, on 30, dragged a delivery from James Fuller onto his stumps.The lunch score was 83 for 4 off 21 overs. That became 99 for 5 when Lewis Goldsworthy, who had contributed 22 to a stand of 30 with Abell, was caught behind down the leg side by Brown to give offspinner Washington Sundar, making his Hampshire debut, a wicket.That was as good as it got for Hampshire, Abell and Aldridge settling in to play some sweetly-timed strokes. Aldridge pulled a six off Fuller as the pair put together a half-century stand off 88 balls.Abell moved to fifty with a firm clip off his legs for four off Eddie Jack, having faced 99 balls, and Aldridge, who is leaving at the end of the season to join Durham, followed to the same landmark off 76 deliveries. The century partnership was brought up off 143 balls and at tea Somerset had recovered to 208 for 5.The final session saw Aldridge reverse sweep a six off Washington, while a similar shot for four by Abell brought Somerset a first batting point and took the partnership past 150. A single off Fuller then took Abell to 96 and 1000 first class runs for the season.His 20th first class hundred was reached with a boundary through mid-off, Fuller again the bowler, having faced 164 balls and hit 13 fours. It followed an innings of 130 in the previous Championship match against Yorkshire at Taunton.When Aldridge played Washington through the off side for two it took the stand to 190, a Somerset record for the sixth-wicket against Hampshire. Aldridge had also been involved in the previous highest, 188 with James Rew at Taunton in 2023. He celebrated with a pulled six of Jack as the light closed in.A single of Felix Organ took the allrounder to his second first-class century, off 155 balls with 11 fours and three sixes. He cleared the ropes for the fourth time with the cleanest of straight hits off Organ before the spinner responded by bowling Abell as he stretched forward.Abell had faced 189 balls. His departure meant a second bowling point for Hampshire, who then lost Nick Gubbins to injury two balls into his fourth over of the innings. It was completed by Washington.Aldridge slog-swept a fifth six off Washington before Abbott bowled Ben Green in the first over with the second new ball. At stumps, Aldridge had faced 206 deliveries and extended his boundary count to 16 fours and five sixes.

Nahid Rana: A new express finds his fame in Rawalpindi

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Bangladesh have never had someone like Nahid Rana before, and must do everything they can to make sure he stays the course

Mohammad Isam02-Sep-2024Nahid Rana runs in like the wind from the Pavilion End at the Rawalpindi Stadium. He releases the ball like a catapult, from high up – he is 6’2″ after all. The 140kph deliveries thud into Litton Das’ gloves behind the stumps.It’s still scorching hot in Rawalpindi. There are barely 100 people in the stands. Rana, like so many other fast bowlers from the subcontinent, is used to bowling in empty stadiums. Rawalpindi, home of perhaps the most famous “express” in cricket, is no different. On this dull Monday morning, it’s possibly worse.But as Rana bowls, a sense of expectation seems to spread through the Bangladesh fielders. They are enjoying this. Taskin Ahmed, standing at fine leg, sports a broad smile. The batters are being hurried ball after ball. By a Bangladeshi fast bowler. If one ball tests the outside edge, the next is at the throat. It is thrilling. It’s not like anyone who has ever bowled for Bangladesh. It’s like the end of a long wait. The stands should have had more people.

****

Rana touches 150kph on a few occasions. He had crossed 150 on his Test debut against Sri Lanka. He is not entirely an unknown for Pakistan – they have seen him a fair bit in the last two weeks. But – you might have heard this before – “pace is pace, yaar”.Related

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  • Litton and Mehidy orchestrate a comeback for the ages

He strikes with his third ball. Shan Masood’s enterprise outside the off stump from earlier in the morning costs him – Rana’s extra pace rushes him into the stroke.Babar Azam had faced Rana just before Masood’s dismissal, but first ball of his next over, Babar’s forward press takes the outside edge. It’s a poor choice of shot. The edge goes to Shadman Islam at first slip.The same fielder, though, drops Mohammad Rizwan next ball. It would have been a golden duck for the in-form batter, a regulation chance. Rana has his hands on his head. There’s more reward waiting for him, though. First in the form of Saud Shakeel, who is caught behind for two in Rana’s next over.Pakistan’s captain. Their most celebrated batter. A batter averaging 61.55 before this Test. Bangladesh had plans for all three, and they all centred on Rana rattling them with pace. On the day, Rana sent them all back in his first three overs.He doesn’t celebrate much after any of the wickets. He walks to the fielders with a smile on his face, a very retro feel. It also feels a bit out of place – this is Rawalpindi, of all places.Pakistan are languishing, and Raza continues to bowl fast and testing lines against Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha. He steams in at Rizwan, who pulls out at the last moment due to movement behind the sight screen. Rana rushes back with a bouncer next ball. It hits Rizwan on the side of the helmet. Taskin has a word or two from fine leg. Hasan Mahmud mimics Litton’s stance when he is keeping to Rana. The other slip fielders muffle a laughter. Litton throws a laugh at Mahmud. The Bangladeshis are loving it. At 86 for 6, lunch couldn’t have come quicker for the home side.

****

Rana isn’t done yet. He returns for a short second spell after lunch, drawing Salman’s edge once. Najmul Hossain Shanto brings him back for a third spell as soon as Abrar Ahmed is on strike in the 42nd over. Rana removes the No. 10 quickly, but can’t get his fifth wicket. Mahmud, who has bowled superbly since the third evening, completes his five-for instead.Hasan has been Bangladesh’s best fast bowler across the two Tests. Shoriful Islam was disciplined in the first Test (before missing the second with an injury), and Taskin has been the leader of the attack in the second Test. But Rana is at the centre of the story. And not just for this performance. His pace has been significantly higher than anyone else’s.In general, the Bangladesh bowling attack has been better than Pakistan’s throughout the series. In this Test, Khurram Shahzad and Amir Hamza reduced Bangladesh to 26 for 6 in the first innings, but couldn’t complete the job. Like Mahmud and Rana did on the fourth day. They showed that they either have better skills or better execution. What Rana, playing just his third Test, did well was to marry his pace with great lines and lengths.Nahid Rana – head and shoulders above the rest•AFP/Getty ImagesAnd all of this from a fast bowler who first picked up the red ball just four years ago.Rana took up cricket seriously when his brother put him in a cricket academy in 2020, shortly after his college was done. He made his first-class debut in October 2021, following it up with a 32 wickets in the following season. Rana and Sumon Khan had both taken 30-plus wickets in the 2022-23 National Cricket League, a first for fast bowlers in the domestic first-class tournament in more than 11 years.

****

Rana, 21, is a new phenomenon in Bangladesh cricket. An out-and-out fast bowler who can bowl fast consistently, for long periods. Rana’s BPL debut was erratic, but he showed off his pace in every appearance. Not since Taskin had a Bangladeshi fast bowler rocked up at the BPL with this type of pace.Pace bowling has never quite been Bangladesh’s . Going back in history, Daulat Uz Zaman represented East Pakistan in the Pakistan domestic first-class competitions in the 1960s and 1970s and was known to be fast. Jahangir Shah Badsha was a well-known pace bowler but by the time he made his ODI debut, he was in his mid-30s. Mashrafe Mortaza had good pace in the early part of his career but injuries took their toll. Shahadat Hossain took four of the first six five-wicket hauls in Tests for Bangladesh fast bowlers, but his career went off the rails soon. Rubel Hossain at times bowled quick, but he was better with the white ball. Rana, so far, has looked like the real deal.But there are reasons to be cautious too. Robiul Islam took 15 wickets in two Tests against Zimbabwe in 2013, but faded away quickly. Ebadot Hossain took a stunning six-wicket haul in that famous win in Mount Maunganui, and showed general improvement after that, but hasn’t played since December 2022 because of a long-term injury.Rana will have plenty of advice coming his way but he should know he is special. He is Bangladesh’s fastest bowler ever. Fitness and health are key. The most crucial thing for a Bangladeshi star-in-the-making is to stay in the straight and narrow. Rana can’t be spoilt. And for the new dispensation in charge at the BCB, it will be their responsibility to keep him fresh, and let him bowl fast.

Athletics Fireballer Mason Miller Unleashes Fastest Pitch of MLB Season

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Athletics closer Mason Miller throws a baseball very, very hard. That's the most efficient, but not entirely helpful scouting report a manager could give a hitter tasked with turning around that velocity. For the visual learners, Miller is absolutely dominating the top of the charts when it comes to speed.

That 104.1 mph effort, which on first blush reads like a misprint, happened on Thursday night in the Athletics' 5-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves. Sean Murphy was the unfortunate batter in the box at the time of the pitch, which resulted in strike three swinging.

How does one go about hitting that? A salty ol' ball coach might tell you to choke up and move back in the box but they're not the one watching a hard object fly in at such a pace so it's easy for them to say. Miller finished fourth in American League Rookie of the Year voting last season and made the All-Star team.

Perhaps the most surprising thing in this is that he hasn't exactly been a shutdown option out of the 'pen in his second full MLB season, carrying a 4.28 ERA as the All-Star break approaches. Miller is surrendering a hard-hit rate of 42.2% so when batters connect they connect.

A Saka & Madueke hybrid: £70m "monster" wants to sign for Arsenal in 2026

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

For a long time, one of Arsenal’s most significant problems was finding a proper backup for Bukayo Saka.

The Hale End icon is undoubtedly Mikel Arteta’s best player, and his time on the sidelines last season showed just how much the team were in desperate need of someone who could cover and compete with him on the right.

Fortunately, the North Londoners signed Noni Madueke in the summer, and while his arrival wasn’t met with universal excitement, his performances over the first five Premier League games suggested he may well be the player the club have needed for so long.

Therefore, supporters should be excited about recent reports linking Arsenal to an international ace who has been compared to both Saka and Madueke.

Arsenal target Saka & Madueke hybrid

It’s not even December, but Arsenal are already being linked with a host of exciting players across Europe and beyond.

Transfer Focus

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

For example, Levante’s Etta Eyong, who has already racked up nine goal involvements, has been touted for a move to the Emirates, as has Nottingham Forest’s incredible Elliot Anderson.

However, as talented as they are, neither of them could be described as being a hybrid of Saka and Madueke, unlike Karim Adeyemi.

Yes, according to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Arsenal are one of a few top sides interested in signing the Borussia Dortmund star.

More than that, the report has revealed that while the German international’s representatives have spoken to Manchester United, he would favour a move to the Gunners.

A potential price is not mentioned in the story, but other reports from Germany claim that Dortmund value their attacker at around £70m.

It could be a complicated and costly deal to get over the line, but given Adeyemi’s ability and potential, one worth pursuing, especially as he’s been compared to both Saka and Madueke.

How Adeyemi compares to Saka & Madueke

Even though it feels like it has been around for some time now, Adeyemi is still just 23 years old.

The Munich-born “monster,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has been a key player for Dortmund for a few years, ending last season with an excellent tally of 12 goals and 11 assists in just 41 appearances.

He appears on track to match that tally this year as well, as in 14 appearances, totalling just 817 minutes, he has already racked up six goal involvements.

However, while his output is seriously impressive, the comparisons to Saka and Madueke primarily come from elsewhere, from FBref.

They have compared him to every attacking midfielder and winger across Europe’s top five leagues and have determined that the Hale Enders is the second most similar, and the former Chelsea star is the fourth.

You can gain a better understanding of how these comparisons were made by examining the underlying numbers in which the German dynamo has ranked closely to the two internationals.

In the case of the Gunners’ talisman, these metrics include expected goals plus assists, progressive passes, shot-creating actions, shots on target, and more, all per 90.

Adeyemi & Saka

Statistics per 90

Adeyemi

Saka

Expected Goals + Assists

0.57

0.58

Progressive Passes

2.14

2.24

Shots on Target

0.89

0.93

Passing Accuracy

71.4%

72.4%

Shot-Creating Actions

4.47

4.23

Fouls Drawn

2.68

2.50

All Stats via FBref for the 25/26 League season

Then, for the former Blues star, the underlying numbers include metrics such as goal-creating actions, expected assists, and most interestingly, carries, also all per 90.

In other words, the former RB Salzburg gem seems to possess some of the creativity and goal threat of the North Londoners’ number seven, as well as the carrying ability of their summer signing, which helps explain why Mattinson called him a “serious transitional threat.”

Adeyemi & Madueke

Statistics per 90

Adeyemi

Madueke

Expected Assists

0.29

0.24

Goal-Creating Actions

0.54

0.59

Carries

28.2

25.9

Successful Take-On %

43.3%

41.2%

Ball Recoveries

2.86

2.94

All Stats via FBref for the 25/26 League season

Ultimately, it would be a costly and challenging transfer to get over the line, but given Adeyemi’s skillset, positional versatility and output, it is one Arsenal should pursue.

Trossard upgrade: Arsenal plot £65m move for "best winger in the country"

Arsenal could sign a big-money winger in bad news for Leandro Trossard.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 18, 2025

Siraj, Jaiswal and Prasidh put India in front on 15-wicket day

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

England dominated till lunch with bat and ball, but India reversed the momentum from there and didn’t look back

Vithushan Ehantharajah01-Aug-20251:45

Prasidh: I’ve been picked to do a job

Stumps Now this, party people, is what it is all about. We had to wait until the last Friday of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, but here it was. The best day’s play so far has, at this juncture, put India in control, 75 for 2 in their second innings, leading by 52.That it was day two of this fifth and final Test added to the spectacle. The jeopardy of it all felt keenly, a slalom through angst and nerves. Gus Atkinson’s fourth five-wicket haul after two months out closed India’s first innings for 224. And the same man delivered the final meaningful act, removing B Sai Sudharsan lbw, the last of Friday’s 15 wickets to fall.In between, England had been dismissed for 247, a lead of 23 that looked like being a whole lot more when Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett blitzed 92 from 77 deliveries. But it was soon after that point, from lunch with England 109 for 1 and only trailing by 115, that India stirred.Related

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A rousing middle session from Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, 4 for 86 and 4 for 62, respectively, instigated and then completed a collapse that saw all nine wickets – Chris Woakes couldn’t bat – fall for 155. Only Harry Brook provided another meaningful contribution with 53. And if there was any doubt that they had ceded the advantage, it was confirmed in a final 16-over session.Yashasvi Jaiswal, pugnacious and still alive with 51 not out from 49 deliveries, was dropped twice. First on 20 by Brook, second on 40 by sub-fielder Liam Dawson. And though Crawley got away with his miss of Sai Sudharsan on seven, the vibe was of an already stretched team desperately reaching out for a game that may drift beyond them at some point on Saturday.When it was in England’s grasp, they could do no wrong. They made light work of what remained of India’s first innings, which resumed on 204 for 6.3:42

‘A workhorse, a man to have in the team’

After news prior to the start of play that Woakes was ruled out of the rest of the Test with a suspected dislocated shoulder, Atkinson, on his home ground, took it upon himself to take three as the final four came in just 34 deliveries.Josh Tongue made the first key incision, finishing with 3 for 53, albeit with an approach so chaotic he’d have been struck off if he was a surgeon. His first over, opening from the Vauxhall End, went for nine, but he was able to remove Karun Nair for 57 in his second. A sharp delivery that nipped into the stumps – Nair no doubt expected something short and wide either side of them – pinned the right-hand batter on the back leg. Plumb in front, Nair took one of India’s three reviews with him.Washington Sundar should have assumed the responsibility at that point as an elongated tail became exposed. But he fell five deliveries later, waltzing into a short-ball trap, heaving Atkinson to deep square-leg, where Jamie Overton sprinted in to take a smart catch.Zak Crawley scored his third half-century of the series•AFP via Getty Images

Atkinson would then skittle Siraj before Prasidh felt for a delivery outside off, completing a collapse of four for six in 18 balls. It left Atkinson with an average of 21, the fourth best for an England seamer with 50 or more dismissals, and the second-best strike rate, ever, at 34.9, for those who have taken 60 wickets.Then came Crawley and Duckett for their familiar double-act. The latter led the charge, reverse-pulling Akash Deep over the cordon, then “conventionally” ramping Siraj into the sponge for the first two sixes of the match. An attempted third did not just bring about Duckett’s end for 43, as he scuffed through to wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, but an arm around the shoulder of the batter from the bowler.It looked a mix of jest and respect very much, though it did subsequently trigger a shift in the attitude of this match. And when Shubman Gill gathered his players on the edge of the field after the lunch break, there was a sense things were going to be very different. That it suddenly mattered more than before.1:44

‘Disappointed, but it is what it is’ – Trescothick on dropped catches

An eight-over spell from Siraj read 3 for 35 and knocked out the engine room: stand-in skipper Ollie Pope, the prized wicket of Joe Root. and Jacob Bethell seen off in the space of 12 overs of play.All three were found wanting by the right-arm quick’s late movement off the surface, with the slightest lack of bounce, from the Micky Stewart Members’ Pavilion End. Pope’s required an India review – despite striking the back pad right in front – before Root used one in vain, for 29. Bethell, making his first Test appearance since the New Zealand tour at the end of last year, simply walked for six.Maybe Prasidh could claim an assist for Root’s wicket, having riled up the No. 2 on the all-time Test runs chart. The tall quick was clearly in a confrontational mood, but was vindicated by the results elicited.Things got heated up between Joe Root and Prasidh Krishna•Getty Images

He threw a ball at Crawley upon fielding in his follow-through – the pair exchanged an immediate apology and acceptance, respectively. And he was soon in the book when Crawley, on 64, failed to clear Ravindra Jadeja at midwicket.The shot was in keeping with Crawley’s work up to that point; boundary heavy – 48 runs in boundaries in the 42 deliveries it took him to reach a third half-century in the series, and his 24th 50-plus score overall. But there was a degree of tempestuousness in the stroke. The way the opener struck down the ground and even over cover was calculated. This felt like a shot at revenge.And so, once Root arrived, Prasidh cajoled him into a back and forth which had England’s No. 4 seething. Prasidh then relieved Siraj from his end and took India through to tea with two wickets in five deliveries. Jamie Smith nicked high to KL Rahul at second slip and Overton was trapped lbw for what proved to be the final ball of the session.1:28

Bangar: Ominous signs from Jaiswal

Atkinson could and perhaps should have been more conservative and stuck with Brook, instead of holing out to mid-on for Prasidh’s fourth. But Tongue held on to allow Brook to perform marshalling duties. And though the Yorkshireman refused singles and failed to find acceptable gaps for even-number runs to keep the strike, he still ticked over to 50 from 57 deliveries.The best of his six boundaries up to that point was a sole six, overhead-flipping Siraj into the stands just in front of the dressing rooms. But Siraj would get the last laugh, as Brook’s open face offered a toe onto his own stumps.With play extended through to 7.30pm with the extra half-hour, England had the chance to make things awkward. But they found themselves immediately on the back foot as Jaiswal raced out of the gates, taking 12 off Atkinson’s second over with a punched on-drive, a guide beyond third slip, and a lash through point.1:58

Bangar on Crawley-Duckett: Haven’t seen batting of that quality

Without Woakes, Tongue opened the bowling, with a recalibrated radar that made his seven overs more consistently probing, without compromising on his knack for worldies. Rahul was undone by lift outside off, flirting and guiding off the face low to Root.But Tongue deserved more, and only Dawson will know why he was not wearing his shades instead of perching them on the top of his cap. The swish from Jaiswal seemed to come to him right out of either the floodlights or the setting sun, cannoning into his upper chest via his chin, having burst through his hands.The deflation in the stands, closely followed by elation from the Indian fans, spoke of how the tables had turned. And that elation grew to boastful cheers when nightwatcher Akash Deep worked his first ball, from Atkinson, through midwicket for four.He would face one more delivery before the umpires decided the light was not good enough to continue. Saturday will be brighter, and seemingly more so for India.

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