Former Arsenal man Jermaine Pennant has told Football FanCast that the Gunners should be targeting their next big move in the coming weeks, having already wrapped up a deal for Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres in recent days.
Latest on Arsenal's remaining transfer business
It’s over. It’s finally over.
Having toyed with the idea of plumping for RB Leipzig starlet, Benjamin Sesko, Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has steered the club in a different direction, having wrapped up a belated deal for Swedish supertstar, Gyokeres.
The £55m striker – who scored 97 goals in just 102 games in Lisbon – is the latest addition amid a hectic summer of activity for those at the Emirates, with the 27-year-old joining Noni Madueke, Christian Norgaard, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cristhian Mosquera and Martin Zubimendi in bolstering Mikel Arteta’s ranks.
Six signings in the can, although there appears to be room for a little more, with the north Londoners also said to be in the mix for Real Madrid sensation, Rodrygo, amid his uncertain future at the Bernabeu.
That search for a left-winger also seen Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon emerge as a potential option, while elsewhere, the Dutch duo of Xavi Simons and Jorrel Hato have also both been linked – albeit with the young pairing looking set to join Chelsea.
Perhaps the most concrete target remains that of Eberechi Eze, however, with that potential acquisition one that is already sparking notable excitement…
Pennant thinks Arsenal could make a "great signing"
With Gyokeres now signed, sealed and delivered, the Gunners are moving on to new targets, with the aforementioned Pennant – speaking exclusively to Football FanCast on behalf of Adventure Gamers – tipping his former side to tie up a deal for Crystal Palace talisman, Eze.
The England international – who scored at Wembley to help steer Palace to FA Cup glory last season – has been earmarked as a leading target for Arteta and co throughout the summer window, having spent the past five years at Selhurst Park.
Latest reports have indicated that the north Londoners have even agreed an initial fee for the £100k-per-week playmaker, with Eze fresh off the back of having chipped in with 25 goals and assists in all competitions in 2024/25.
Eze record vs the ‘Big Six’ – all comps
Club
Games
Goals
Assists
Arsenal
7
1
0
Chelsea
9
1
1
Liverpool
7
1
1
Manchester City
9
2
1
Manchester United
11
0
0
Spurs
7
3
1
Total
50
8
4
Stats via Transfermarkt
Reportedly available for around £68m, as Pennant suggested, the 27-year-old could well prove to be a “great signing” for the Emirates side.
Jermaine Pennant tells Arsenal to sign "big-name" £85m Gyokeres alternative
Former Arsenal man Jermaine Pennant has tipped the Gunners to make another “big-name signing” this summer
“I’ve left the door open for him to approach me… [but] that might never happen,” South Africa white-ball coach says
Firdose Moonda09-Sep-2024
Rob Walter on Quinton de Kock: “We have to just allow him to have his space, to play league cricket and to do what he needs to do”•ICC via Getty
South Africa remain unsure about the availability of Quinton de Kock, who was omitted from a second successive series post the T20 World Cup, in the format.De Kock, who is no longer nationally contracted but has not announced a complete international retirement, missed the three T20s against West Indies last month and will not play in two matches against Ireland later this month. South Africa will then play four T20Is at home against India in November as preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup ramps up.Asked if there was any clarity on de Kock’s availability, white-ball coach Rob Walter indicated that there would not be any for some time. “I don’t know, to be dead honest. For the next little while, there will be no conversations between myself and Quinny as to whether he wants to play for South Africa again,” Walter said at a press conference. “I’ve left the door open for him to approach me if and when he wants to do that. That might never happen.”Related
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De Kock retired from Test cricket in 2021 and from ODIs after the 50-over World Cup last year. At the time, Walter had said de Kock intended to step away from all international cricket but was persuaded to stay on for the 2024 T20 World Cup and allowed to miss a bilateral series in the lead-up to play at the BBL. By making that allowance, South Africa demonstrated a fundamental shift in their usual selection policy, which requires players to be involved in at least some international cricket ahead of major tournaments – and was the reason AB de Villiers’ request to make a comeback at the 2019 ODI World Cup was denied – and illustrated the power of leagues. The decision paid off as de Kock finished as South Africa’s highest run-scorer at the T20 World Cup, and was key to their run to the final.Since then, de Kock has played in MLC and the CPL and will play at the SA20 and IPL, all of which will mean he is still eligible for South Africa, although Walter was careful to underline that his place was not guaranteed. “There might be a conversation and also that conversation does initially mean it will lead to him being selected,” he said. “We have to just allow him to have his space, to play league cricket and to do what he needs to do. What will become more and more important is performance. He’s not exactly old [de Kock is 31] so from here on in, it’s a performance-based conversation.”Walter has put no timeline on de Kock making a final decision and in his absence, South Africa continue to invest in Reeza Hendricks in the opening role and have options between Kyle Verreynne, Ryan Rickelton and Heinrich Klaasen as wicketkeepers. Of those four, only Klaasen is not part of the squads to play Afghanistan and Ireland in the UAE. He pulled out of the CPL for personal reasons and remains unavailable for the time being. “He has some family matters that he is dealing with currently,” Walter confirmed. “As soon as that position has changed, he’ll obviously fall back into playing again.”
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers may have to deal with interest from other clubs in his top players yet again during the summer transfer window.
The Northern Irish head coach’s plans were disrupted around this time last year when Denmark international Matt O’Riley left to sign for Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.
Celtic midfielder Matt O'Riley.
There are now clubs reportedly interested in snapping up the club’s key players this year, as Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with an interest in Japan international Daizen Maeda.
Turkish giants Fenerbahce, managed by Jose Mourinho, are also reportedly interested in a deal to sign the winger from the Scottish giants this summer.
The Japanese forward produced 16 goals and ten assists in the Scottish Premiership in the 2024/25 campaign, and it would be a big blow for the Hoops to lose him to Spurs or Fenerbahce ahead of next season.
Celtic would have to go back into the market to bolster their options on the flanks, and Rodgers could be on the lookout for his next version of Scott Sinclair.
Why Scott Sinclair was a star for Brendan Rodgers
The English attacker played for the Northern Irish head coach at both Swansea and Celtic earlier in his career and caught the eye with his performances at the top end of the pitch.
Sinclair racked up 95 goals and 49 assists in 238 appearances for the manager at those two clubs combined, and no player, Luis Suarez and Jamie Vardy included, has scored more goals for Rodgers to date.
The former Great Britain Olympic star was particularly impressive for Celtic as a right-footed left winger who thrived as both a scorer and a creator of goals, cutting in from the left to provide a huge threat in front of goal.
19/20
2
0
0
18/19
28
9
3
17/18
30
9
10
16/17
35
21
7
As you can see in the table above, Sinclair enjoyed a hugely successful first season at Parkhead with a return of 28 goals and assists in 35 Premiership matches.
The winger signed for the club in the same summer that Rodgers made the move to Glasgow in 2016, as he joined from Premier League side Aston Villa for a reported fee of £3m.
That £3m transfer fee looks like a bargain in hindsight because he went on to deliver plenty of goals and assists for the Scottish giants as an impressive and exciting left-sided attacker for Rodgers.
He was a star for the Northern Irish head coach because he could provide consistent quality in the final third, and the Celtic boss could unearth his next version of Sinclair by signing one of the club’s current transfer targets.
Celtic identify winger as top target
According to Celts Are Here writer Mark Hendry, Celtic have identified Royal Antwerp winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha as a top target for the summer transfer window.
The reporter claims that the Belgian forward is a target for the club because Rodgers would like to bolster his options in the wide areas, which suggests that he could be signed irrespective of any exit for Maeda.
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Hendry’s article adds that the club have monitored the 24-year-old for some time and that he remains ‘active’ on their shortlist, as they eye a deal for the wing wizard.
The journalist states that Royal Antwerp look set to cash in on the Pro League attacker this year to avoid losing him on a free transfer at the end of next season, as his current contract with the Belgian side is due to expire in the summer of 2026. His valuation, as per Transfermarkt, currently stands at £4.6m
Celtic could, therefore, take advantage of that situation to swoop in and agree a deal for the left-sided forward, who could be Sinclair 2.0 for Rodgers at Parkhead.
Why Balikwisha could be the next Sinclair
Like the English forward, who played for Bristol Rovers this season, Balikwisha is a right-footed forward who predominantly plays off the left flank, cutting in onto his favoured foot to make things happen in the final third.
This immediately suggests that they are stylistically similar and could, therefore, fulfill a similar tactical role within Rodgers’ system, whilst starting on the left wing in his favoured 4-3-3 set-up.
Balikwisha also has the quality to make a real impact in the final third. He returned from injury during the second half of the 2024/25 campaign to deliver four goals and seven ‘big chances’ created in just 12 Pro League starts.
The Hoops target has shown that he has the potential to be a Sinclair-esque figure on the left wing if put in the right environment, as he caught the eye in limited game time.
Starts
27
12
xG
6.46
2.65
Goals
7
4
Big chances created
6
7
Key passes per game
1.5
1.6
Assists
5
3
As you can see in the table above, Balikwisha has consistently outperformed his xG in the Pro League since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, whilst regularly creating three chances every two games on average.
One scout, Emir, on X, claimed that the winger has the quality at the top end of the pitch to “wins games on his own”, which is backed up by the statistics above as he can score and assist goals at a good level in Belgium.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha for Royal Antwerp.
A move to Scotland to play in an incredibly dominant Celtic team could allow him to flourish, as Maeda did this season with his 26 goal involvements in the Premiership, and truly reach Sinclair’s level of goals and assists under Rodgers.
Balikwisha has also shown potential in Europe, with two goals in seven games in the Champions League in the 2023/24 campaign, which suggests that he could hit the ground running in the league phase of the competition next term for the Hoops.
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Overall, the Royal Antwerp star could be an excellent signing for Celtic due to his age, his contract situation in Belgium, and the potential he has to be Sinclair 2.0 for Rodgers as an electric winger who can score and assist goals from the left flank.
Everton are stepping into a new era at Bramley-Moore Moore-dock, and David Moyes will be delighted with his team’s progress since replacing Sean Dyche in the dugout.
Moyes saved a sinking ship, sealing a comfortable 13th-place Premier League finish despite the Toffees’ relegation fears when he joined in January.
Everton manager DavidMoyes
Change is afoot. The Blues are ready to bring in a raft of additions as they step into a new home, but outgoings are also to be expected; Charly Alcaraz is in the process of becoming a permanent member of Moyes’ squad, but the rest of the loanees will depart next month.
The futures of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Michael Keane and Seamus Coleman are uncertain at this time, with the veterans, who combine to earn £235k per week, all just one month away from free agency.
Incomings are expected. While Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap is the most exciting name on The Friedkin Group’s radar right now, he’s not the only one on the list, with an audacious deal for Liverpool prospect Ben Doak also being explored.
Everton looking at two Liverpool players this summer
The Times have revealed that while Everton have pitched their project to Delap, who is set to leave the relegated Tractor Boys this summer, internal talks have also been held regarding a move for Scotland international Doak, who Liverpool value at £30m.
This, it goes without saying, would be a tricky one to navigate. Liverpool and Everton are fierce local rivals, the last direct transfer between the two clubs dating back to January 2002, when Abel Xavier left Goodison Park to join Liverpool in a deal south of £1m.
Doak, heading the other direction, would mark a bigger move indeed, with former Scotland manager Craig Levein even saying, “this kid could be a world-class player.”
Ben Doak in action for Middlesbrough
Doak has been out injured with a hamstring issue sustained in February but made his mark beforehand, notching ten goal involvements from 24 Championship fixtures. With Jack Harrison set for release, he could prove a huge upgrade.
Though it’s difficult to compare Championship metrics with those in the top division, peering at Doak’s campaign when lined against Harrison’s, you begin to understand the electric upgrade Moyes would score, with the Scottish teenager also sharpening a skill set that could produce prolific results at the highest level in the future.
Matches (starts)
34 (24)
24 (21)
Goals
1
3
Assists
1
7
Shots (on target)*
0.9 (0.2)
1.1 (0.6)
Pass completion
73%
84%
Key passes*
1.0
1.9
Dribbles*
0.7
1.5
Ball recoveries*
2.1
2.8
Tackles + interceptions*
1.2
1.3
Duels won*
2.6
3.8
And Doak isn’t even the only Reds talent on Moyes’ radar, with another Liverpool up-and-comer being considered.
According to Caught Offside, Everton are one of five clubs who are keen on signing Reds defender Jarell Quansah this summer.
They have now learned what they will need to pay if they are to sign the centre-back in the coming months, with Liverpool placing a £29m price tag on the central defender.
A host of Premier League clubs are interested in the 22-year-old, while Borussia Dortmund and, in particular, Bayer Leverkusen are also keen.
Why Quansah would be a "monster" for Moyes
The English talent is highly rated but has struggled for minutes under Arne Slot’s wing this season, and while a rogue shout, Everton could provide him with a star role without the need to relocate.
Jarell Quansah for Liverpool
However, Quansah has certainly made his name known over the past few years, having now earned 58 senior appearances for the Reds, winning the Carabao Cup and the Premier League.
Though the 6 foot 5 talent’s displays this term have left something to be desired, his potential is incontrovertible. In fact, if Quansah were to move to Everton, develop his defensive principles through Moyes’ coaching while working on his impressive technical ability, he may well find himself rivalling Jarrad Branthwaite for the crown as Everton’s star centre-back.
In 2023/24, Branthwaite took to life as a Premier League regular seamlessly, leading Manchester United to consider a £75m bid for Everton’s colossus and prompting talent scout Jacek Kulig to hail him as an “absolute monster.”
Well, Kulig also described Quansah as a “monster” of a centre-back for his emergence in Jurgen Klopp’s system that same term, with his metrics underscoring his value as a prototypical modern centre-half.
As per FBref, Quansah ranked among the top 3% of Premier League defenders in 2023/24 for goals, the top 4% for passes attempted, the top 15% for progressive passes, the top 11% for aerial duels won and the top 4% for tackles won per 90, emphasising his roundedness.
Branthwaite, conversely, has struggled to showcase the scope of his ball-playing skills, hemmed in as he is in a counter-attacking system. This is partly why he has reportedly considered leaving Everton in recent months, for he has been overlooked by Three Lions manager Thomas Tuchel once again.
Would Quansah entertain a controversial move to the blue half of Merseyside? Only time will tell. But Everton could do with such a player, bringing a complete skill set into the defensive fold, crucial as Michael Keane supposedly gears up to depart.
After more than two decades without any direct business between the two Merseyside giants, it seems unlikely that Liverpool would entertain the sales of two of their biggest prospects in the same transfer window.
Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah
But then, Liverpool are gearing up for a summer spending spree, and Everton could boldly take advantage, securing two talented stars who could shape Moyes’ project over the coming years.
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Ahead of a summer full of potential sales, Aston Villa could now lose one of Unai Emery’s most important players to Barcelona amid reports that he’s now ready to leave the club.
Why Aston Villa may need to sell
After the Premier League received a glimpse of their potential troubles when they sold Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr in the January transfer window, Aston Villa could be in for a long summer. Failure to qualify for the Champions League would particularly exacerbate their PSR problems to the stage that they may be left with no choice but to sell once again.
Many have had their say on the potential problems that Aston Villa face this summer and former Villans chief Keith Wyness, who now runs a football consultancy which advises top clubs, has been among those.
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Wyness recently told Football Insider: “The issue with PSR is not surprising. They’ve been sailing close to the wind. It’s only been the cleverness of Monchi and the recruitment team which have got them out of trouble so far.
“They’re going to have to do it again. It may be a player sold that the Villa fans are not happy about. That’s where the value will be. When you look at what Emery has done with squad strengthening, the fans will forgive him and allow him to get the resources to go ahead in the market – and meet PSR.”
Just who heads for the exit door with that said is now the big question. Emery’s squad is one filled with talent, there’s no doubt about that, but whether the Spaniard will help open the door for the likes of Ollie Watkins or Morgan Rogers to leave remains to be seen this summer. Instead, it could be another Aston Villa who heads for a summer exit.
Barcelona plotting move to sign Aston Villa star Emiliano Martinez
According to reports in Spain, Barcelona are now targeting a move to sign Emiliano Martinez, who is ready to leave Aston Villa for a ‘bigger club’ when the summer transfer window arrives.
The Argentine shot-stopper has rebuilt his career at Villa Park over the years and become one of the best in the world in his position – winning the Yashin Trophy twice. Now, however, with Barcelona calling, the 32-year-old could be set to depart.
What certainly shouldn’t be seen as a positive sign over his future for those at Villa Park is just how emotional Martinez looked following his final home game of the season. The former Arsenal man even looked to be waving a tearful goodbye to the fans.
A player who was praised for an “incredible” save by legend Alessandro del Piero in Aston Villa’s 0-0 draw against Juventus earlier this season, Martinez would be an undeniable loss for those in the Midlands.
Leeds United are now racing for the signature of an “amazing” defender, who could be available for a bargain fee in the summer transfer window, according to a report.
Leeds' summer transfer plans taking shape
Leeds’ promotion from the Championship was confirmed after Burnley defeated Sheffield United 2-1 on Monday night, and while they will still be keen to wrap up the league title, the 49ers Enterprises can now start to make more concrete plans for the summer transfer window.
With the Whites now set to be playing in the Premier League next season, Kalvin Phillips is interested in a return to Elland Road, and Manchester City are willing to take a huge loss on the £45m fee they shelled out in the summer of 2022.
Phillips may tick some boxes for Daniel Farke, with the manager believed to be keen on bringing in players who have Premier League experience, and the likes of Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone and Brighton & Hove Albion forward Evan Ferguson are also on the shortlist.
Farke is clearly keen to bolster his squad in a number of areas, in order to avoid an instant return to the Championship, and Leeds have now joined the race for a defender, with a report from Football Insider naming them as potential suitors for Vancouver Whitecaps’ Dembo Saidykhan, who can play as a centre-back or as a right-back.
Saidykhan’s impressive performances in the MLS have attracted the attention of a number of European clubs, with Wolves also set to be in the race for his signature, and there is a feeling he could be available for a bargain fee.
The defender’s contract is set to expire at the end of the year, which means Vancouver Whitecaps may choose to sanction a departure this summer, in order to make sure they don’t miss out on a transfer fee entirely.
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The report states the Gambian has caught the eye at international level, and he has clearly impressed compatriot and former footballer Cherno Samba, who believes he could go on to have a great career.
The 21-year-old is clearly showing promising signs, so Leeds should look to snap him up this summer, especially considering he could well be available for a bargain fee, but they must also bring in players with experience in a major European league.
Saidykhan is yet to prove himself at a high level, and Farke would be gambling with instant relegation back to the Championship if he didn’t bring in another centre-back, with Modibo Sagnan, of Ligue 1 club Montpellier, among the potential targets.
Three promising players, and an umpire, made their Test debuts in Sylhet
Mohammad Isam11-Nov-2025It was the day of the debutants in Sylhet. Cade Carmichael, 23, and Jordan Neill, 19, provided a glimpse into Ireland’s future while 24-year-old Hasan Murad showed why he’s a highly-rated left-arm spinner in Bangladesh domestic cricket. Australian umpire Sam Nogajski also made a sound start to his Test career as an umpire.At the end of the first day’s play, there was no discussion about Nogajski, which should serve as good news for the debuting umpire. The three rookie players headlined the day with their strong first impressions.Carmichael scored 59 off 129 balls from No.3 while Neill made 30 off 60 balls from No.8. Murad, meanwhile, returned 2 for 47 in his 20 overs.Carmichael proved the perfect foil for the aggressive Paul Stirling during their 96-run partnership. He struck the ball sweetly to go with some flourish in his followthrough. Ireland then suffered a middle-order slump but despite wickets falling at the other end, Neill batted confidently.Gary Wilson, the Ireland batting coach, said that both Carmichael and Neill earned their places in the Test side.”I think they’re both very, very exciting talents,” Wilson said. “I think that they both performed well. They acquitted themselves very well in Test-match cricket and showed good method at times. They dealt with some pretty good bowling upfront from Bangladesh. I think they can be relatively pleased with their Test debuts.”Carmichael was born in South Africa where he attended Kearsney College, known for producing international cricketers like Andrew Hudson, Kyle Abott and Chad Bowes. Carmichael, however, played most of his formative cricket in Ireland. He was impressive in his lead-up to the ODI debut in May this year, before he made many others sit up and take notice of his talent in his first foray into Test cricket in Sylhet.Like Carmichael, Neill was born in South Africa but played most of his formative cricket in Ireland.”I think they’re the future, but I also think that they’re the now. They are playing on their own merit,” Wilson said. “Cade has come off the back of heavy scoring in domestic. He has good attributes that we like. He looked very accomplished on his ODI debut against West Indies earlier in the year.”[Carmichael] is someone that we have high hopes for. He looks like a very good player. He is only 23. Jordan is only 20 [19]. They are both players for the future and hopefully they can go and have long careers, but they’re also players for the right now.”Related
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As for Murad, he showcased his accuracy and flight, skills that have fetched him a bagful of domestic wickets, when he dismissed Curtis Campher and Lorcan Tucker. Murad is one of only three bowlers to take 150 first-class wickets in Bangladesh since 2021, the others being the Test bowlers Taijul Islam and Nayeem Hasan.”I thought [the Bangladesh spinners] bowled accurately,” Wilson said. “It didn’t spin a huge amount in the first couple of sessions and then we began to see more spin towards the end of the day. They made us play if we wanted to take an attacking option. There wasn’t many freebies on board. They made us work for our runs.”Murad faces stiff competition from Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz who are Bangladesh’s first choice spinners in home Tests while Nayeem has been their designated understudy since 2018. There’s also hope that wristspinner Rishad Hossain will make the step-up to Test cricket soon while the likes of Nasum Ahmed and Tanvir Islam are white-ball regulars.Bangladesh, though, need to prepare for life after Taijul, who will turn 34 next February. They are already without Shakib Al Hasan for more than a year, so now it’s time to look into the future and groom Murad.
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Four-wicket salvo keeps tourists in contest but allrounder’s no-ball could prove pivotal
Valkerie Baynes04-Jun-2022Kyle Jamieson embodied the ecstasy and Colin de Grandhomme the agony of New Zealand’s bowlers as their first-Test match-up with England stood poised on a knife-edge at the end of the third day at Lord’s.Jamieson bowled beautifully, making early inroads on the hosts’ pursuit of their 277-run victory target before putting them firmly on the back foot and then grabbing the crucial wicket of Ben Stokes just as England were frustrating their visitors.de Grandhomme, meanwhile, could be in doubt for the rest of the three-Test series after picking up a foot injury early in England’s second innings to cap a forgettable day for the New Zealand allrounder.Related
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As it stands, England need 61 runs more with five wickets in hand, leaving New Zealand with plenty of work to do, but Jamieson was hugely influential in getting them this far.He claimed the wicket of England opener Alex Lees, who looked in decent nick stroking four boundaries on his way to 20 from 32 balls before he somewhat inexplicably left a delivery which nipped back and crashed into the top of off stump shortly before lunch.Another brain fade – this time from de Grandhomme – had contributed to New Zealand’s second-innings collapse in which they lost 6 for 34 in eight overs within the first 90 minutes of play on Saturday following a half-hour rain delay at the start.No sooner had Stuart Broad had an exuberant appeal for lbw against de Grandhomme turned down than Ollie Pope gathered the ball at fourth slip and fired it into the stumps at the striker’s end. de Grandhomme, meanwhile, had wandered down the pitch and had his back to the action, seemingly oblivious to the urgency required as he turned sluggishly and tried to regain his ground but was run out for a duck.The blame for New Zealand’s demise cannot be laid entirely at de Grandomme’s feet – far from it – with Broad’s wickets either side of his bizarre dismissal removing centurion Daryl Mitchell and Jamieson to make it a team hat-trick, as only Tim Southee offered some resistance from the lower order with an enterprising 21 from 26 balls. But losing de Grandhomme did nothing to help New Zealand’s cause.Nor did de Grandhomme’s no-ball when he thought he had Stokes out chopping on to his stumps for just 1. Stokes was three-quarters of the way through his journey back to the pavilion when he was called back after de Grandhomme was found to have overstepped.It was another insult and then came the injury, de Grandhomme pulling up on approach to Stokes on the last ball of his fourth over and limping off the field almost immediately. Team management later confirmed that de Grandhomme would play no further part in the match after suffering a suspected tear in his heel and that an MRI scan on Sunday would determine his outlook for rest of the series.Colin de Grandhomme had a day to forget•AFP/Getty ImagesDespite a streaky continuation to tea, Stokes returned after the interval more composed and worked his way to a half-century – including three sixes off spinner Ajaz Patel – in a 90-run stand for the fifth wicket with Joe Root.He fell in ugly fashion though, cramped by a Jamieson short ball that had him performing a backbend, hands straight up as the ball brushed his glove and flew into those of wicketkeeper Tom Blundell. Furious with himself, Stokes looked skyward as he dropped his bat in disgust, knowing the importance of the moment.That brings us back to Jamieson and the impact he had on the state of the game with his impeccable probing line on the top of off stump.His second over after lunch was superb as he stayed in the attack and picked up where he left off having snared Lees’ wicket. Jamieson’s first delivery drew an inside edge on to Zak Crawley’s back leg and, two balls later, Crawley missed an attempted drive by the barest of margins off one that was full and outside off but swung away a fraction too much. The final ball of the over swung perfectly though on a full length as Crawley defended away from his body and edged to Southee, who took a strong diving catch at third slip. At that point, Jamieson had 2 for 8 from four overs.A loose drive from Jonny Bairstow delivered Jamieson’s third as he was bowled through the gate for 16, having narrowly avoided nicking the previous delivery full outside off stump. At that point, Jamieson ended his nine-over spell with 3 for 24 and England were 69 for 4, in all sorts of trouble.But by tea, Stokes and Root had built their partnership to 30 and, when Jamieson returned to action inside the first half-hour after the break, his day soured slightly, with Stokes clobbering him through the covers for four, evading what could have been an outside edge and then seeing the ball disappear leg side for five wides.Patel conceded 17 off his first over back into the attack, all of them bar four byes etched next to Stokes’ name, including two sixes heaved over the leg side.When Jamieson finally sent Stokes packing, New Zealand might have scented the collapse that many a pessimistic England fan feared but an unbroken fifty stand between Root and Ben Foakes had the match firmly in the balance at the close.Playing his 15th Test, Jamieson ended the day with 4 for 59 from 20 overs and Mitchell backed his side to take the remaining wickets they needed.”We can see with the nature of this wicket the morning is the toughest time to bat and hopefully we can show up tomorrow morning and it zips around a little bit like it has the last three days and we give ourselves an opportunity to win a Test match,” Mitchell said.”The wicket has slowed as the game goes on and you can probably see by the scores that are happening that it is getting easier to bat but we know that we’re literally one wicket away from being into their bowlers.”Kyle bowled awesome, the way he came in and he bashed a length for long periods of time and he really brought some energy, which we know Kyle does every time. He’s a world-class bowler and I know he’s only had a short career but what he’s done in a short period of time is very special.”
He beat them with wrong’uns, length, dip, pace, and more to finish with 4-0-15-0
Karthik Krishnaswamy25-May-20221:46
Hardik: I relax and let Rashid do his magic
He took no wickets, and conceded no fours or sixes, so the chances are that highlights packages of Tuesday night’s Qualifier at Eden Gardens will include no footage of Rashid Khan bowling.But if you were there, and you watched him bowl, you’ll remember it for a long, long time.You’ll remember this ball to Jos Buttler in the ninth over of Rajasthan Royals’ innings. A legbreak that pitched on middle stump – or thereabouts – and beat the outside edge as Buttler prodded hurriedly from deep in his crease.Related
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Watching from the media box, it briefly seemed as if Buttler was bowled, but what initially looked like the bails lighting up turned out to be the metallic finish of Wriddhiman Saha’s keeping gloves glittering under the floodlights.Illusions upon illusions.It’s possible that Buttler had failed to pick the legbreak out of the hand and played for the wrong’un – a common enough occurrence against Rashid. But before that, he had been done for length, his feet immobilised by Rashid’s vicious overspin. The ball had dipped and landed significantly shorter than expected, and Buttler’s front foot, having shaped to stride forward, had ended up going nowhere.Against other wristspinners, batters can occasionally adjust when they are beaten in the air, and shift onto the back foot. At Rashid’s pace, it’s next to impossible.This was the second time in a row that Rashid had beaten Buttler’s outside edge. Then, in his next over, he turned a quick, fizzing wrong’un past the outside edge of the left-hand batter Devdutt Padikkal, for symmetry’s sake. Again, the batter’s feet were hypnotised into immobility.Ten other bowlers bowled on Tuesday night and finished with a combined economy rate of 10.23. Rashid bowled four overs and conceded just 15 runs. That’s 3.75 per over. While doing this, he was also beating the bat for fun.At his post-match press conference, Hardik Pandya, Gujarat Titans’ captain, put it simply when asked about Rashid’s impact. “When I give him the ball, I just relax and let him do his magic.”Rashid Khan conceded just 15 runs in his four overs•BCCIMagic, yes, but there’s more to it.When Rashid finishes a match with an absurdly low economy rate, it can sometimes feel as if batters give him too much respect. That they play into his hands in the effort to deny him wickets. But respect, in cricket as everywhere else, must be earned.Through the first half of Tuesday night’s match, this Eden Gardens pitch was grippy and two-paced, and with Rashid turning the ball both ways at pace, it was always going to be difficult to go after him unless he erred in length. Rashid simply refused to do that. When he wasn’t beating the bat, he was landing the ball on that typical Rashid length – slightly short of a traditional spinners’ good length, which makes both the lofted hit down the ground and the sweep risky propositions – while targeting the stumps or following the batters’ premeditated movements to deny them room.He was willing to let them take singles to his deep fielders via punches down the ground or clips and jabs to the square sweepers. If they wanted any more than that, they were going to have to take risks.Royals’ batters refused to do this, and you could see why. They had only six genuine batters, notwithstanding the contributions R Ashwin has made this season. Buttler was struggling for fluency, and was perhaps setting himself up for a tame dismissal if he decided to go after Rashid on this surface. And on this day, the outcome of seeing out Rashid’s overs was having both Buttler and Shimron Hetmyer at the crease when the last four overs began.Hetmyer didn’t last too long, but Buttler shrugged off his scratchy start, capitalised on a couple of lucky breaks, and tore into the fast bowlers at the finish. Having been on 39 off 38 at the end of the 16th over, he ransacked 50 off his last 18 balls.Royals finished with 188, and their captain Sanju Samson maintained at the post-match presentation that it was an excellent effort given how the pitch behaved in the first half of the match. That dew made conditions easier to bat in during the chase was beyond Royals’ control.It still came down to Titans needing 16 off the last over. How many more might they have needed had Rashid Khan not done his thing?