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With the WPL auction, and before that retention day, coming up, some of these cricketers are likely to create interest following their World Cup performances

S Sudarshanan04-Nov-2025

Nadine de Klerk was at her absolute best in the league-phase win over India•ICC/Getty Images

Nadine de Klerk

A pace-bowling allrounder who can nail the yorkers and whack more than just a few at the death? Yes, please! De Klerk is one of those whose stocks would have risen big time ahead of the WPL auction. In Indian conditions, she put up quite a show with the bat – against India, no less – rescuing South Africa from a seemingly impossible situation in a chase in the league stage. Her strike rate of 131.64 in the World Cup was second only to Richa Ghosh’s 133.52 (minimum 20 balls faced). She also picked up nine wickets, the third-most for South Africa. That she can keep her calm at the death was evident in the final, where she gave away just six singles bowling the 50th. She was with Mumbai Indians (MI) in WPL 2025 but did not get a single game. If they retain her, it will be tough not to give her a spot in the XI?Amanjot Kaur made big contributions at crucial moments at the World Cup•Getty Images

Amanjot Kaur

The start of WPL 2025 and the recent World Cup was similar for Amanjot – she was returning from a stress fracture of the back earlier this year, for MI, and she was out with niggle for two months before the World Cup. Both the competitions ended with her team winning the trophy. The World Cup would have given a massive boost to MI, who can now retain her as the Indian seam-bowling allrounder ahead of Pooja Vastrakar, who has had a long injury layoff. Amanjot has shown she could be the second seamer, she can float in the batting order, and that she is a gun fielder is no secret.Annabel Sutherland emerged from a brief run of low scores•ICC/Getty Images

Annabel Sutherland and Marizanne Kapp

Even though Australia were knocked out in the semi-final, Sutherland had a memorable World Cup, outshining the likes of Ellyse Perry and Tahlia McGrath. Only Deepti Sharma (22) had more wickets than Sutherland’s 17 in the competition. Her death-over exploits often helped Australia rein opponents in.Related

• WPL 2026: Harmanpreet, Mandhana, Rodrigues among players retained; Healy, Lanning released

• Team of the tournament: Mandhana, Wolvaardt, Gardner, Ecclestone and…?

Her Delhi Capitals (DC) team-mate Kapp had a relatively sedate World Cup, where she finished with 12 wickets but went wicketless in four of the nine outings including the final. Her five-wicket haul against England in the semi-final proved she still has it in her to deliver when the stakes are high.In WPL 2025, Sutherland was the third-highest wicket-taker for DC with nine wickets, one more than Kapp’s eight. This is why DC could face a tricky choice if they have to retain one of them. Both of them have shown at the World Cup that they can rescue their teams from tricky situations with the bat, too. Whoever finds themselves in the auction is likely to trigger a bidding war.N Shree Charani was the point of difference in the games against Australia•BCCI

N Shree Charani

She played only two games for DC in WPL 2025 but that was enough for India to get her into the World Cup squad. Her ability to vary her pace, get some drift as well as enough bite from the surface makes her stand out from some of the other left-arm spinners. That made India prefer her over the more experienced Radha Yadav, and she delivered with 14 wickets, the second-most for them. She was the best bowler on show in both of India’s matches against Australia, and a prime reason why the defending champions were kept to a lower-than-par total in the semi-final. If she is not retained by DC, expect her to make a splash at the auction.Laura Wolvaardt raised her game to a higher level at the World Cup•ICC/Getty Images

Laura Wolvaardt

For three World Cups in a row, across ODIs and T20Is, Wolvaardt has topped the run chart. In this tournament, her evolution and growth were visible. She opened up scoring areas that she hadn’t accessed before, batted at a higher gear and hit seven of her 18 ODI sixes in the last four weeks. No one doubts Wolvaardt’s ability to score runs even in T20 cricket. The fact she features in our list is because she played only three matches in WPL 2025, where her team Gujarat Giants (GG) used five opening combinations in nine matches. If GG do not retain her – but why wouldn’t they? – there are a few teams who could do with a versatile batter, and leader, like Wolvaardt.

Manchester United’s 2023/24 campaign was something of a mixed bag of results for the Red Devils. Despite winning a trophy, they struggled in the league and the Champions League and it almost cost Erik ten Hag his job.

However, after much deliberation, the United board decided to keep him at the club, as reported by David Ornstein.

In the Premier League, the Red Devils came 8th in the table, on 60 points, although they were some way outside of the top four, eight points behind Aston Villa to be exact.

However, according to Understat’s expected points table, they massively overperformed. The Understat metric had them in 14th on just 44xPTS.

In the Champions League, it was a poor return for United, crashing out at the group stage and conceding the most goals by a Premier League side in one group stage of the tournament, as per Opta Joe. Their defence of the Carabao Cup also ended in the fourth round, thanks to a defeat at Old Trafford against Newcastle United, the side they beat in the final the previous season.

However, they did win the FA Cup, beating Manchester City 2-1 in the final, thanks to goals from academy graduate duo Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo. It was the second trophy in as many seasons for Ten Hag.

Now, as the new season draws near, rumours have begun to intensify linking United to several players who could enhance the quality of their squad, including one player United are thought to have had a long-term interest in.

Man Utd target Premier League left-back

The player in question here is Fulham and United States international Antonee Robinson. The 26-year-old has been superb for Fulham over the past season, and it has led to fresh links with some of Europe's biggest clubs.

According to a report from Will Lancaster and Dean Jones of GiveMeSport, the American 'has taken interest' from the Red Devils, as they look to strengthen at left-back. That follows injury-riddled seasons for both of United’s left-backs; Tyrell Malacia, who has not played a minute, and Luke Shaw.

However, United are not the only side who are interested in signing Robinson this summer. Rivals Liverpool are in the market for a new left-back, with the American one option, and London club Chelsea are also thought to be of interest, as they start life under Enzo Maresca.

The report explains that Fulham are using Ian Maatsen’s move from Chelsea to Aston Villa as a guideline when it comes to a fee for their left-back. The Dutchman is switching to Villa Park for a fee of around £37.5m. The Cottagers are expected to ask for around £40m in order to sell Robinson this summer.

Why Robinson would be a good signing

The 26-year-old American international was a mainstay for Fulham this season in the Premier League. He featured 37 times in the Premier League, playing 90 minutes in 32 of those games, and missing only one match with a slight muscle injury.

He also registered six assists for Fulham, the most of his career in a single league campaign. That tally for Fulham was bettered only by Andreas Pereira, who created seven goals, as per SofaScore. As football analyst Ben Mattinson put it, Robinson “is one of the best LBs” yet to be signed by a top club.

He was very close to a move to one of Europe’s biggest clubs, AC Milan. The Italian giants were keen on signing Robinson back in 2020, during the January transfer window. The fee was agreed with his then-club Wigan Athletic, which was £6m, although it could have risen to £10m. However, the deal collapsed after Robinson was found to have an irregularity in his heart rhythm, which was found during his medical.

One of the most outstanding aspects of the 26-year-old’s game is his defensive ability. Not only does he rank highly amongst players in the Premier League, but he is also an outstanding defender when comparing him to the rest of the players in Europe’s big five leagues. He reads the game superbly and does not back away from challenges, such is reflected in his stats.

Should United sign Robinson, they would be bringing in a direct alternative to Shaw. Sadly, the 28-year-old missed 34 games with two separate injuries last season, hence their thought process behind signing a new left-back. Whilst the Fulham man is not quite as good technically as Shaw, he is more than able to hold his own.

According to FBRef, Robinson averaged 3.55 progressive passes per 90 minutes, compared to Shaw’s 4.93 per 90 in the 2022/23 season. The American actually averages more passes into the penalty box than Shaw did two seasons ago, with 1.27 compared to the Englishman’s 0.99 per 90. Their key passing stats are also close, with the Fulham man averaging 0.91 compared to Shaw’s 1.20 in 2022/23.

Where Robinson does excel over United’s number 23 is when it comes to progressive carrying. He averages 2.73 progressive carries and 1.93 carries into the final third per 90. Comparatively, Shaw averaged 1.87 progressive carries and 1.55 carries into the final third during the 2022/23 season. Robinson is a wonderful ball carrier and uses his physicality to help ride tackles and a sharp burst of pace to get away from defenders.

In signing the American, United would be adding a different profile to Shaw to their squad. That is to say, he is a proficient ball carrier and statistically one of the best defenders in Europe, whereas Shaw is technically brilliant and a wonderful passer.

With that in mind, it is easy to see why Robinson would be a great addition to United’s squad. For a fee of just £40m, he could be a superb option for United, adding excellent depth and being able to rotate often with Shaw to ensure the England international does not get too burnt out, thus increasing the risk of an injury.

This is why ten Hag must now swoop to sign the USMNT star, who is set to compete in the Copa America, before the end of the summer window.

Gary O’Neil is going to have to sell a few Wolverhampton Wanderers players this summer in order to bring in his own transfer targets.

Speaking ahead of the final Premier League match of the season, O’Neil said: “We won't be blessed with resources as in money to spend.

'We have a lot of players out on loan, so hopefully some of them can come back and help us or we will be able to sell some and that will help us [spend].”

Could it be one of their most important players who leaves in the coming weeks, however?

Wolves could sell £60m starlet this summer

Rayan Ait-Nouri was perhaps one of the standout performers under O’Neil last term, firmly establishing himself in the starting XI. Overall, he made 38 appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals and grabbing two assists as he was mostly used on the left side of the midfield.

This form has clearly attracted plenty of attention from fellow Premier League clubs, as Liverpool and Manchester City are showing interest in the Algerian defender.

The youngster won't come cheap, however, as O’Neil reportedly placed a £60m asking price on him back in April amid interest, which could give the Old Gold a major financial boost.

Losing him would leave a big gap to fill on the left, however. Hugo Bueno is a wonderful talent, but it is clear O’Neil will need to make another signing in this area.

Could a player who has just been released by Tottenham Hotspur be the answer should Ait-Nouri depart?

Wolves could sign a former Spurs starlet

According to reports late last month, Wolves were showing some level of interest in Ryan Sessegnon, who was entering the final few weeks of his spell at Tottenham Hotspur.

Having joined Spurs for £25m back in 2019 with a bright future ahead of him, it didn’t work out in the capital as he made only 57 appearances for the club.

Hailed as a “huge talent” by former Fulham teammate Stefan Johansen as he was making his way into the senior ranks, Sessegnon has now been released by Spurs and is a free agent.

Given that O’Neil doesn’t have much money to spend, he could be an ideal replacement for Ait-Nouri should the Algerian move on this summer.

The Englishman has played the majority of his club football on the left side of the midfield, which could allow him to slot into O’Neil’s 3-4-3 formation with ease.

Not only that, but the 24-year-old has scored 30 goals along with registering 25 assists in 206 professional matches, which would have been higher had injuries not halted his progress.

Sessegnon is currently working hard on his fitness at a training camp in Portugal as he looks to impress potential suitors.

According to football.london, his preference is to stay in England with regard to his next move. Could this be all the incentive O’Neil requires to make a move for the 5 foot 7 gem in the coming weeks?

O'Neil selling "underrated" Wolves star would be a bigger loss than Neto

He has interest from the Premier League this summer

By
Joe Nuttall

Jun 14, 2024

Pep Guardiola revealed his anger at players getting injured in international games after Kyle Walker returned from England duty with a knee problem.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• City boss reveals anger at England injuries
• Walker, De Bruyne to miss Sparta game
• Fury over Stones injury in a friendly

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Walker missed City's 2-1 win at Wolves on Sunday after returning from the Three Lions' UEFA Nations League games with a knee problem. The defender will miss City's Champions League clash against Sparta Prague on Wednesday along with Kevin De Bruyne, who has been missing for a month. Rodri and Oscar Bobb remain out with long-term injuries.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Guardiola said "it is what it is" when asked about Walker's injury but he revealed he was not so pragmatic when the defender and John Stones picked up knocks while playing in England friendlies last March against Brazil and Belgium, putting their availability at risk for the Premier League title run-in and City's Champions League quarter-final clash with Real Madrid.

• WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID

  Guardiola told a press conference: "I was never as angry like that moment. Never ever before I was so disappointed. It was a friendly game. And we were playing Champions League quarter-finals against Madrid, and the Premier League to win it, and from friendly games for two players to come back injured. I didn't like it, at all. We are well-paid here, the club pays us, not the national teams. So you have to respect the club. In friendly games, you cannot get injured, it cannot happen. You can play, absolutely. But you cannot come back injured."

• Getty
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  De Bruyne has not played since picking up an injury last month in the goalless draw with Inter and Guardiola said the Belgian needs to be careful about returning too soon. "No, it's not a big issue. But he doesn't feel completely fine and Kevin is not 22-years-old anymore, he has to be fit for his football. He has to be completely, completely fit and he doesn't feel comfortable at all. So if you don't feel good, take your time."

The left hander was marked out from a young age as a player of huge talent, which brought with it pressure and expectation

Cameron Ponsonby31-Oct-2025Rachin Ravindra loves cricket.”You know CricHQ?” Ravindra asks, confirming his audience is on the same cricket tragic path that he is. “The scoring website thing. We’d get a game up from back in the day, let’s say Tendulkar, Desert Storm in Sharjah. And you’d have to get 106 or whatever, not out, to win the game.”For hours at any one time, Ravindra and friends would play out full-blown ODI run-chases or Test classics in the indoor nets at Lower Hutt in Wellington. Cones were put down to mark fielders, crash pads were lined up for men under the lid and if Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman were batting at Eden Gardens, spin mats were put down as well.”That was the most fun I’ve ever had training,” Ravindra reminisces.Related

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• Rachin Ravindra's decisive feet are marching towards greatness

• Ravindra, and an unlikely Wellington reunion in Chennai

Ravindra grew up around cricket. At home, his dad, a handy club player, would have cricket on the telly, the radio, the PlayStation and up on YouTube. While at school, Ravindra was part of an XI that won the National Championships when he was in Year 11. Ben Sears, his now international team-mate, was his opening partner, while Otago batter Troy Johnson was his captain at No. 3.”His first 1XI game at school was as a 13-year-old,” Johnson remembers. “He told me all the bowlers were too slow and that’s why he was early on every shot.”He’s probably not the most talented player in the history of the game, but he works way, way harder than anyone I’ve ever seen.”From the age of seven, Ravindra had a training schedule synced with his calendar. He’d be up before his dad and would drag him to the indoor nets at Lower Hutt before school, as well as after.Ravindra’s game was built on imitation. Watching highlights, he’d see a shot he liked and ask his dad to clip it. Over time, Ravindra had a DVD of supercut, super highlights featuring Kumar Sangakkara cover drives, Matthew Hayden pick-ups over midwicket, Ricky Ponting pull shots and Brian Lara cut shots.”Then I’d go to the nets and practice,” Ravindra explains. “20 good ones exactly like Sangakkara did.”Two Tendulkar straight drives made the cut as well. “That little punchy thing he did,” Ravindra recalls. “I tried that heaps. But he also hit a full follow-through one as well.”Speaking to ESPNcricinfo back in 2018, his father, Ravi Krishnamurthy, concluded, “I tried to get my daughter into cricket and she didn’t. With Rachin, I didn’t try, and he did.”The 2023 ODI World Cup is where Rachin Ravindra really went global•AFP/Getty ImagesFor Ravindra, the prodigy tag has been attached to him for as long as he can remember. That school debut at 13, becoming the leading wicket taker in the school’s history by the time he was 15, the youngest member of the New Zealand Under-19 squad at 16. His first-class debut came for New Zealand A as a 19-year-old. Life for any professional athlete-to-be is unusual. Life for a prodigy is unique. And in truth, bizarre. Being told you will be the best at something before you’ve even…”Achieved that much?”, says Ravindra, cutting off the question. “I know exactly what you mean. It’s interesting. From a youngish age you sort of get labelled as whatever. But for me it comes down to why I play. Obviously, I love playing cricket because the fans get to watch me and I find that amazing.”But at the end of the day, it’s because I enjoy it. I want to get better at it. So it’s almost irrelevant about me trying to prove my ability to other people. I love playing for a team. I’m playing and I’m trying to win games for that team. So that, for me, drives me.”Ravindra’s first crack at international cricket was a failure. On the biggest stage, it was the first time he had rolled the dice and landed on a snake rather than a ladder. In six T20Is he averaged nine and in three Test matches he averaged 15 facing India and Bangladesh.

I was just thinking, this…is…ridiculous. It’s the moments you dream of as a kid. I guess I’m lucky my name’s closeRachin Ravindra on hearing his name chanted during the 2023 World Cup

“You get given an opportunity at a young age, potentially in a role you’re not necessarily ready for,” he says, “And you want to impress and think this is my journey and this is how it’s supposed to go. And then it doesn’t work out and you sit back and think, ‘wow’.”Eighteen months on the sidelines followed where he returned to Wellington and averaged a good-but-not-great 37. Despite the so-so returns, Ravindra describes the time as a “eureka moment” where he learned to ride the waves of failure.”I’d been trying so hard to be this player that I’m not,” he says. “And, the classic, I’d been putting myself under too much pressure and not realising that failure teaches us so many things. And if you don’t realise that early enough you get surrounded by it and it eats you up.”Ultimately, his concluding thoughts towards cricket were the same as the rest of ours.”It sucks,” Ravindra says. “But it’s also – like – great.”Rachin Ravindra on India test series: “I think about that India tour, and every day we were like ‘oh my god, what is going on here? We can win this thing.'”•AFP/Getty ImagesIt was chance, rather than planning, that led him to the 2023 World Cup where his star rose and his reputation was made. Initially not picked in the squad, he was a late call-up after Michael Bracewell was injured. And the day before the England match, even with Kane Williamson out injured, he was not scheduled to be in the XI. Only when Lockie Ferguson pulled out late with a hamstring issue was Ravindra given the nod. Not, as had been the case so far in his career, in the middle-order, but at No. 3.”I knew I was a better player,” Ravindra recalls of whether the nerves were greater the second time around. “I had a better mindset, I’d done more research and worked on a few things I felt like I needed. I guess I was lucky that the timing worked out to be leading up to the World Cup.”123 unbeaten runs later and Ravindra’s potential was realised. That was further confirmed with another century against Australia in Dharamsala, where the Indian crowd took to him and chants of “Rachin, Rachin” echoed around the ground.”I almost did,” Ravindra laughs when asked if a tear or two rolled down his cheek. “I was just thinking, this…is…ridiculous. It’s the moments you dream of as a kid. I guess I’m lucky my name’s close.”From imitating Tendulkar as a child to having an imitation of the legend’s chant delivered to him. Disney movies would scrap such an ending for being too on the nose.It was the start of what’s become a love affair with playing on the subcontinent. Six of his eight international centuries have come either in India or Pakistan. He scored a Test hundred in Bengaluru, the hometown of his parents, during New Zealand’s miraculous whitewash of India in 2024, before putting together a prolific Champions Trophy run in 2025 to take New Zealand to the final.Rachin Ravindra alongside Kane Williamson, one of his idols•ICC/Getty Images”I’ve had special moments around the world,” Ravindra recalls of his highlights reel. “But I think the most special have been in Test cricket. I think about that India tour, and every day we were like ‘oh my god, what is going on here? We can win this thing.'”Ravindra’s reward has been to be elevated to the next level of prodigy status. That of the generational player. Michael Atherton said it a year ago, Stuart Broad and Jos Buttler said it a few weeks ago.”It’s a pinch yourself moment when people say that,” Ravindra explains. “And knowing I’ve played with Jos at Manchester Originals and seeing the way he bats. To hear that, it’s really cool.”It’s relevant that in the story of a child prodigy who’s now earning millions of dollars a year, that Ravindra is known for being, well, really nice. “One of the all-time greats,” was one message I received ahead of the interview. Multiple people spoke of how lightly he wears his reputation and international standing in the game.In an off-the-record conversation with a player a year ago, unprompted, they announced Ravindra to be one of their favourite people they’ve met in the game. But not because he was nice. That would be weird. But because he was a kind, down-to-earth person, with the edge required to make it at the top.”I was obsessed with it,” Ravindra said of his early experiences in cricket. “Obviously Dad got me into it first, but then it was ‘I want to go do this. I want to go do that.’ I’d cry when I got out in the nets.”The relationship was led by Ravindra Jnr, and facilitated by Ravindra Snr.Rachin Ravindra will be a key part of New Zealand’s batting for years to come•ICC/Getty Images”It always can be quite tough having your dad as coach,” Ravindra says. “There were some serious times where we bickered. It’s not his fault. I cared about it so much and I wanted to do well. But because of everything we did when I was young, he’s one of my best mates. And mum was also around the whole time too. She’d wake me up, have everything ready for the day.”Ravindra is the fan who made it to the top. In a modern environment where coffee and golf leave cricket a distant third in professionals’ favourite hobbies, it is refreshing to hear a player talk so openly about their love of the game compared to how often the sport seems to drive players to distraction, and sometimes bitterness, when it becomes a job.For Ravindra though, the novelty of rubbing shoulders with his heroes is yet to wear off, even if those he once counted as idols are now his peers.”I remember Michael Hussey was our batting coach at CSK,” Ravindra recalls, “and I was talking to him about his books and he was like, ‘….mate.'”
Batting with Kane Williamson remains top of the pile in his catalogue of fan-to-player experiences, with Virat Kohli giving him a bit of a spray the first time he played against him making the shortlist as well.His dad remains heavily involved in the sport, too. When Ravindra was a kid, his father created a local club known as the Hutt Hawks that played extra matches around the country and even went on annual tours to India. It is hard not to connect Ravindra’s success on the subcontinent with such early exposure to conditions in the country. The club is still going, and thriving.”They’ve got four or five teams in each age-group now,” Ravindra says with a smile. “It obviously helped me, but countless other cricketers as well. You look down the Wellington Firebirds list and even across the country, how many people have done that trip and there’s been so many.”New Zealand’s Test whitewash of India 2024. Masterminded by the Hutt Hawks – sort of. Tom Blundell was the other member of the national team who went on a tour as well.”I guess there’s no secret, right?” Ravindra concludes of his route to success. “You look at guys like Steve Smith, Kohli, Kane, Root and they hit a number of balls. It’s got to be purposeful, and you can feel like it can drag on, but that’s the thing that you pride yourself on.”Ahead of Christmas, there’s a new cricket game coming out on the PlayStation. As a child, Ravindra grew up watching his dad play Cricket ’04 in the living room. This time, he’ll be in the game himself. Sometimes the presents choose themselves.

The vice-captain was struck a painful blow on the elbow in the nets and sent for a scan

Andrew McGlashan23-Sep-2021Australia suffered an injury scare on the eve of the second ODI against India in Mackay when Rachael Haynes was struck a painful blow on the elbow during a net session.Footage from Cricket Australia showed vice-captain Haynes, who made an unbeaten 93 in the opening match of the series while passing 2000 ODI runs, turning away in pain before leaving the net a few moments after the blow and she was later sent for a scan.Haynes has played every match of Australia’s world-record 25-game unbeaten run in ODIs and hasn’t missed a match in the format since the 2017 World Cup. Should she not be available for Friday’s clash it would require an adjustment to the batting order with the most obviously solution being Beth Mooney to open with Alyssa Healy as she does in T20Is although the uncapped Georgia Redmayne could be another option.Related

• Australia's test of endurance begins in bid for a Grand Slam

• Darcie Brown four-for, Haynes, Healy, Lanning fifties hand India crushing defeat

• Mithali Raj wants runs and partnerships 'rather than thinking about fearless cricket'

Australia have had a number of injuries to contend with around this series with Jess Jonassen unavailable throughout and Tayla Vlaeminck not in consideration until the T20Is having suffered an Achilles problem. Allrounder Nicola Carey was also unavailable for the opening game with an abdominal strain.However, with a large squad necessitated by Covid-19 the vacancies that have emerged in the XI are giving Matthew Mott and Meg Lanning a chance to assess the depth available ahead of next year’s World Cup.That was on display in the first match when Darcie Brown and debutant Hannah Darlington shared six wickets. With Mott conscious of the workloads on the young pace bowlers during the multi-format series there is a chance that the other uncapped quicks, Stella Campbell and Maitlan Brown, will also come into consideration.”Think this is the biggest squad I’ve been a part of,” spinner Sophie Molineux said, “and a lot of them are young quicks, so it’s been great in the nets facing them all, they are all really excited, and they’ve been given the reins to be able to rip in and bowl short and try and scare opposition batters which is great for women’s cricket. The way the girls have attacked has been great.”Molineux herself returned to the ODI side on Tuesday to fill the gap left by Jonassen’s absence, having not been able to force her way into the XI on the New Zealand tour earlier this year. She claimed 2 for 39, including the key wicket of Mithali Raj, in what was just her seventh ODI since making her debut in 2018 and enjoyed the ability to spend time working over the batters that 50-over cricket allows.”Think one-day cricket sort of drags out everything, you can set up the batters and have a bit more time rather than the frantic T20,” she said. “I really enjoy being able to put in a couple of overs to the same batter. It definitely suits our team, one-day cricket, the skill of every player is more on show.”

A 71-cap international has given his green-light to joining Tottenham, if the Lilywhites can agree a deal with his club, as talks advance for their potential second summer signing after Timo Werner.

Werner seals loan extension in first Spurs deal of transfer window

Following a promising second half of the 2023/2024 season on loan at Spurs from RB Leipzig, the north Londoners opted to extend Werner's temporary deal till the end of the next campaign.

Club now likely to sell £34m striker as Tottenham make approach for him

He ended the season in fantastic form.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jun 4, 2024

Ange Postecoglou will have the German attacker in his ranks yet again for 2024/2025, and much like the last agreement they struck with Leipzig, Spurs have the option to make his stay permanent should they decide to.

The original contract in January contained an option-to-buy Werner for around £15 million, but chairman Daniel Levy and co re-negotiated the loan deal clause and secured that same option for around £8.5 million – which appears to be a smart bit of business from Spurs.

The 28-year-old bagged two goals and three assists in 13 Premier League appearances for Postecoglou's side last term, and Werner did put in some excellent performances. His searing pace, combined with Werner's suitability to Postecoglou's system at Tottenham, prompted the club to keep hold of him for yet another year.

"I see how good the club is, how good we are as a team and also, my perspective in the team, it makes it a really good place to stay," said Werner on choosing to remain at Tottenham.

“When I got the call from the manager, it was clear for me that he is a person who is 100 per cent behind you if he wants you and that was, for me, in this moment, the most important thing.

"Also, the idea how he wanted to play and how he explained it to me fits very well with me. The players are all very kind, so that made it easy for me. I feel very good here. I like it a lot."

With Postecoglou securing his first signing of the summer in Werner, attention now turns to who could follow the former Chelsea star. Tottenham are targeting a new out-and-out striker to replace Harry Kane as well, and they've been linked with 71-cap Morocco international Youssef En-Nesyri this week.

Spurs are said to be pushing for En-Nesyri after the forward netted an impressive 20 goals in all competitions for Sevilla last season, with Vamos Mi Sevilla now sharing an update on the matter.

En-Nesyri gives Tottenham green-light as talks advance with Sevilla

According to the Spanish news outlet, En-Nesyri would agree to join Tottenham and talks are advancing with Sevilla over a deal. Despite previous claims he'd cost £26 million, VMS state that the World Cup semi-finalist could actually leave for a lesser figure of around £21 million.

The 27-year-old's haul and experience on the biggest stages make this fee seem like an arguable bargain, so it will be interesting to see if this claim starts gathering more weight.

Get your dose of analysis, stats and colour from Lord’s on ESPNcricinfo’s live blog

Varun Shetty14-Aug-2021.

Stumps

6.32pmJoe Root made his fourth century at Lord’s, and stretched it past 150 like he had the first three times, as a near-perfect display on Day 3 helped England take a slender lead against India. He was left stranded on 180 with England being bowled out off the last ball of the day. The 27-run lead capped off a gradual comeback from England in the match, which had begun by first bowling India out early on Day 2 and then battling through to stumps on a difficult evening. Exactly two days and two innings now remain for the teams to force a result.Almost as if it were a reward for their work on Friday evening, England came out to the best batting conditions of the match so far on Saturday – bright sunshine and a flat pitch that they put to good use, starting with overnight batters Root and Jonny Bairstow.

Always a matter of two wickets

5.15pmIshant Sharma struck twice in two balls late on day three•Getty Images

At every point in this Test match, the tempo has changed entirely with two quick wickets. Rahul and Rahane yesterday, then Sibley and Hameed. And it’s Ishant Sharma today, picked ahead of Ashwin, who gets the two left-handers in two balls. Root’s now faced a hat-trick ball twice in this innings.India have dragged it close to parity with those wickets. A big lead now will need a significant effort from England’s tail. Mark Wood likes to throw the bat around and Anderson can stick around. As long as Root is in, England will still think of 450.4.28pmMost hundreds in India-England Tests•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Tea

3.45pmJoe Root and Jos Buttler finish a run as Ishant Sharma reacts•Getty Images

Only 50 away now, England. They scrapped and marginally pushed ahead of India through yesterday’s sessions. Today, it’s been complete dominance. Another session scoring at nearly 3.5 an over. They’ve added 98 in this one and lost two wickets and suddenly this game is moving as quickly as it had on the first day. The pitch certainly looks just as good as it had on that day, flat and friendly when movement in the air isn’t a factor.For India, the second new ball hasn’t proved to be a game-changer. And now they have begun leaking boundaries. Shami is going at over four an over and there is little in terms of clear-cut chances being created by their line-up. England have cashed in big time to seize the advantage – in all but runs – in this Test.

300 in sight

3.25pmJoe Root is all smiles after getting to a century•PA Photos/Getty Images

India had to manufacture the Jonny Bairstow wicket and the Jos Buttler wicket was a rare case of them significantly beating an England batter today. It has been cruise control for the most part though as the sun has continued to beat down through the day. The ball isn’t doing a whole lot and they’re having to rely on toil and discipline at the moment. Flambouyant set-ups aren’t on the menu today as England come close to 300 – something both myself and Debayan Sen had said wasn’t likely on the podcast last evening – and even closer to taking a lead well before stumps if things continue to go this way. England’s lower order, starting with Moeen Ali, is a free-flowing, attacking one. It could soon be panic stations for India.

Joe Root gets to five hundreds in 2021

2.21pmAnd Sampath from the stats team points out that no one’s done it for England since Ian Bell in 2011. Another terrific knock from their captain.Five or more centuries for England in a calendar year•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Where are we headed?

1.45pm