ScorecardLaurie Evans, on loan from Warwickshire, led a partial recovery for Northamptonshire (file pic)•Getty Images
Glamorgan’s teenaged debutant, Lukas Carey, tore through Northamptonshire’s top order with three wickets in the first six overs of his first-class career, before Laurie Evans and David Murphy revived their side with an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 70 on a rain-truncated first day at Swansea.Carey, a 19-year-old seamer from nearby Pontardulais, claimed a notable maiden scalp with his eleventh delivery, when he had the in-form Ben Duckett caught at cover for 7, and after a break for rain, he was back in business in his fourth over when Shaun Terry attempted to work a straight ball through the leg side and was trapped lbw.Worse was to follow for the visitors when, with no addition to the score, Rob Newton played a loose stroke against Tim van der Gugten, and Northants were 38 for 4 when Carey picked up his third wicket – Rob Keogh, who was well caught at third slip. He finished his first day on the job with the impressive figures of 3 for 37 from 10 overs.Evans, the Warwickshire batsman who is playing the first game of his loan spell, led a partial recovery with Murphy in support but on a cloudy day, and on a pitch that had been covered for two days, Northants might have regretted their decision to bat first, as the Glamorgan seamers obtained plenty of movement to trouble the batsmen.After heavy overnight rain, and showers during the morning, there had been no play before lunch, with play eventually getting underway at 1.40pm. In addition to Carey’s debut, Glamorgan picked Rory Smith for his first championship appearance of the season, with Michael Hogan, Graham Wagg and Craig Meschede resting for this round.Carey who is one of seven Welsh-born players in the Glamorgan team, was understandably delighted with his performance. “I was very excited when I was told I was playing,” he said. “I was very nervous in the first over, but I soon got over that when I took the first wicket. The ball is swinging and nibbling, and hopefully we can take a few more tomorrow morning.”
Tottenham Hotspur have been a side in disarray of late, and although they might have won at the weekend, it was hardly a performance to write home about.
Many have argued that Cristian Stellini’s side came away from the clash very fortunate, as their slender 2-1 victory hides the two questionable handball decisions and dismissed penalty shout, the latter of which the PGMOL has since apologised for.
It was a game that truly had everything, with VAR drama spilling over into the dugout, where both managers were sent off. Again the officials came under fire, as Stellini’s lack of involvement in the touchline fracas still earned him a red.
The main takeaway for the Lilywhites however was the fine strike that came from Heung-min Son, which finally brought the 30-year-old’s Premier League tally up to 100.
In curling in the opener, he became the first Asian to hit such a mark in the division's history.
However, this performance again papers over the cracks of what has been an abhorrent season for the South Korean speedster.
Typically keen to oversee the goalscoring burden alongside Harry Kane, it seems this season the £190k-per-week wide man has shirked his duty on numerous occasions.
After 28 league games, he has just seven goals to his name, whereas the last two campaigns had commanded tallies of 17 and above.
This in turn led journalist Jason Lee to take to Twitter to admit that the forward had been “underperforming”.
One goal should not expunge a season of disappointment, and such poor displays should give way to the youth talent who have instead earned their spot. One such name that springs to mind is Oliver Irow, a player hoping to make a breakthrough in the coming years.
Who is Oliver Irow?
Listed as part of a “bright” future for the Lilywhites by journalist Sohail Shamsudeen, the 16-year-old sensation has been tearing it up for the U18s outfit this season and is certainly one to watch at Hotspur Way.
The teenage gem already boasts four goals across 13 appearances, having finally burst into the youth side as a versatile attacker.
Clearly a goalscoring winger just like Son, to boast such a fine proficiency in front of goal at such a tender age marks him out as a truly valuable asset, one who could dislodge the South Korean once his career in north London comes to an end.
Indeed, to fast-track him into the seniors could be vital in offering the teenager that key experience to help him dominate the various youth levels, encouraging growth at a rapid rate.
Given how his potential predecessor in that role has underwhelmed this campaign could only ease such a surprising entry into the first team, allowing the youngster the platform to catapult himself into the stratosphere.
Journalist James Olley has claimed that Tottenham Hotspur are not in a position where they can afford to turn down a large bid for star striker Harry Kane.
What's going on with Kane at Spurs?
The forward has been linked with a move away yet again after another season with no silverware at Spurs, and Manchester United have been labelled as a potential destination.
With just over a year remaining on his contract, Spurs have found themselves in a position where they may need to sell their star player in case they want to avoid losing him for free.
Speaking on ESPN FC, Olley claimed that Kane's potential desire to leave, as well as Spurs' underachievements on the pitch, have put the club in a weak position should a big offer arrive for the Englishman in the summer.
He said: "Tottenham are not a club that can just write off a £100m asset for the sake of one season.
"I think if United got anywhere near that figure – 80, 90, 100 million – it would be very difficult for Tottenham to turn that down, particularly if Harry Kane, once again reiterated his desire to leave.
"He has expressed privately that he wants to review that situation at the end of the season. I suggest that probably means whether they're gonna be in the Champions League or not, but moreover than that, if Antonio Conte goes, who are they going to get in?
"The only manager I can think of, aside from Gareth Southgate – but he's obviously in the England job until 2024, anyway – is Mauricio Pochettino, who has that relationship with Kane, who might be able to say to him, 'look, we are going to build here. I've had the assurances, stay with me, stick it out, sign maybe a shorter-term contract, and maybe give us another year'."
Should Spurs sell Harry Kane?
Given the uncertainty of their managerial situation, with Antonio Conte reportedly about to leave the club, as well as the potential of missing out on qualification for the Champions League next season, we think Spurs should cash in on their star man and use the funds to rebuild their squad.
With it considered that upgrades are needed all over the pitch, Kane's value may never be higher than it is now, and the money, combined with the arrival of a head coach with a long-term vision in mind, could help Spurs evolve in the long run, even if there is a short-term dip in performance as a result of Kane's departure.
Pochettino is one of the names linked with the Spurs job, and a big-money sale of Kane would allow him to bring his own players in and have a fresh start without the England captain.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has received an early Team News boost as he has confirmed that Fabio Vieira is OK to play Sporting after illness.
The Lowdown: Sore throat…
Vieira has been suffering with a sore throat recently, and subsequently was not able to take the planned presser ahead of the game on Wednesday evening.
This comes after Kieran Tierney was ruled out of the squad through illness, sparking fears that Vieira could face the same fate.
The Latest: Vieira OK
Speaking to the media in his pre-game press conference ahead of the UEFA Europa League first leg clash, Arteta has since confirmed that Vieira is ‘OK’ to play after the initial scare:
“Fabio is OK, yes.”
The Verdict: Boost
The news that Vieira is OK after illness will come as a boost to Arteta, considering that he is dealing with a number of first-team absentees in his squad.
Along with Tierney, both Leandro Trossard and Eddie Nketiah have also been ruled out of the game through injury, leaving Arsenal somewhat short in numbers, especially in attacking areas with Gabriel Jesus’ lingering injury on top of that.
When Vieira has stepped in, he has generally done well, with two goals and five assists in 25 appearances in total over all competitions so far this season (hailed him as a ‘tremendous player’ who gives him ‘big headaches’ in terms of team selection.
Moreover, the Spaniard also praised the inside knowledge that Vieira has given him and his team on Sporting from his time playing for FC Porto in Portugal, which could prove useful in gaining an advantage ahead of the second leg at the Emirates Stadium.
What to do with Rasmus Hojlund? On one hand, the Dane is a talented young striker who cost Manchester United a sum of £72m in 2023; on the other, he flattered to deceive across the 2024/25 campaign, wholly unconvincing.
Ruben Amorim took the wheel of a sinking ship when he replaced Erik ten Hag last November, but there’s no denying the Portuguese tactician failed to get the desired tune out of his Red Devils troops.
United finished 15th in the Premier League and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur. The whole team lacked fluency and confidence, but Hojlund did himself few favours, scoring just three goals across 32 league games, averaging only one shot per game, as per Sofascore.
His woes have led to the expectation, or at least anticipation, that he will be offloaded this summer, and while Inter Milan have registered their interest this summer, talks are on standby; Jason Wilcox, technical director at Old Trafford, is unsure whether he will be signing off the 22-year-old’s departure, who reportedly wants to stay put.
While Hojlund’s future remains up in the air, it’s clear that INEOS and Amorim are congruent in their view that a new, high-performing centre-forward is needed.
Let’s have a look at the latest.
The latest on Man Utd's striker search
They started with Liam Delap. Man United were very much among the clubs interested in the Ipswich Town striker after his side’s relegation from the Premier League, thus unlocking his £30m release clause.
But it was Chelsea who activated the clause and added him to their ranks.
Still, United’s signing of Cunha and prospective transfer for Mbeumo could redefine Amorim’s frontline, and therre are other number nines who could be enticed by this resurgence-chasing team.
Sadly, it doesn’t look like that striker will be Viktor Gyokeres, who is on strike at Sporting Lisbon as he looks to engineer a move to Arsenal, which is now entering the final stages according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Gunners’ shortlist came down to two, and they can’t have both. Therefore, a door has been opened for United to make a stunning swoop.
Man Utd in contact for new striker
According to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Man United are among the contenders for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, who is valued at €90m (roughly £78m).
It’s that substantial price tag which effectively ended Arsenal’s long-standing interest in the Slovenia international, instead pushing ahead with the deal for Gyokeres.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskobefore taking a penalty
It may prove to work out just fine for the Red Devils, though, for Sesko’s camp have made contact with United as they look to secure the 22-year-old the high-profile transfer he craves.
However, Wilcox will need to work swiftly if he’s to lift the mood on the red side of Manchester, with Bailey confirming Liverpool and Newcastle United are also informed on Sesko’s situation.
Why Man Utd must sign Benjamin Sesko
Sesko will be aware that signing for Man United this summer would mean a season without continental competition. But then Leipzig failed to qualify for Europe last term, and the Devils have ambitious plans that the rangy forward would help realise.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskocelebrates their second goal scored by Lukas Klostermann
Described as “the new Haaland” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Sesko’s clinical nature, his pace and his physicality all combine to offer similarities to the game of Manchester City’s world-class goalscorer.
Sesko might not be as complete as Gyokeres (yet), but he’s the making of a world-class striker, with analyst Ben Mattinson even saying earlier in 2025 that he has a “superior profile” to the Sweden star.
It might not look like that at face value, with Gyokeres scoring 97 goals and supplying 28 assists across 102 matches for Sporting Lisbon, winning the Liga Portugal in each of his two terms.
Furthermore, the 27-year-old proved his quality in the Champions League last year, dispatching a stunning hat-trick against Manchester City while under Amorim’s wing.
But Gyokeres is no spring chicken and has yet to compete in one of Europe’s top five divisions. Sesko, however, is competing in a tougher league, with less dominance to exert his authority.
Thus, it could be surmised that the Slovenian would produce a lofty tally of his own, were he playing as Sporting’s number nine in Portugal.
Matches (starts)
31 (17)
33 (30)
Goals
14
13
Assists
2
5
Touches*
19.1
30.7
Shots (on target)*
1.5 (0.8)
2.1 (0.9)
Big chances missed
8
10
Pass completion
67%
68%
Big chances created
1
5
Key passes*
0.4
0.6
Dribbles*
0.5
1.2
Duels won*
2.5
4.1
Clearly, passing isn’t his strong suit, but Sesko’s strength and movement as a frontman are things to be admired, having made real headway across the physical aspects of the game.
He’s getting better and better, and it’s certainly intriguing to note that only 18 big chances have gone begging across his past two Bundesliga campaigns, having scored 27 goals.
In fact, Sesko’s 39-goal, eight-assist return for Leipzig, across two seasons, has come over just 87 matches in all competitions, 62 of which came from the outset.
With Matheus Cunha and hopefully Bryan Mbeumo too flanking Amorim’s central striker at the Theatre of Dreams next season, Sesko would have the experienced, Premier League-proven teammates to bolster him and help him realise his potential.
And that potential is vast. Who knows whether Sesko would hit the ground running – or Gyokeres, for that matter – but Amorim is looking to turn Old Trafford back into a hothouse for development and success, and Sesko could be the perfect man to lead the line for many years to come.
The new Carrick: Wilcox racing to sign "incredible" £86m CM for Man Utd
Manchester United are interested in a deal to sign a midfielder who could be their next Michael Carrick.
The spinners did the job for Afghanistan once again, leading them to an 81-run victory
The Report by Ankur Dhawan22-Aug-2018Getty ImagesA second consecutive fifty from Hazratullah Zazai helped the visitors mirror their total of 160 from the first match, before Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan broke the back of Ireland’s chase to script a seventh straight T20I win for Afghanistan over them.The win by 81 runs equalled Afghanistan’s second-largest victory margin in the format, and rendered the final T20I of the series a dead rubber. It also meant Ireland were shot out for their fourth-lowest T20I total: 79.For a while it looked like a change in team and strategy would bring about a change in Ireland’s fortunes, when they stifled the run-flow and snaffled early wickets in the Powerplay. That is, until Zazai awoke from a stupor and muscled his way to a 54-ball 82. There was quite a similarity in the way the two teams started off with the bat – finding themselves 8 for 2 – but what separated them was Zazai’s sustained power-hitting and Afghanistan’s bowling depth.The inclusion of the experienced Boyd Rankin, who had recovered from a back niggle, and the introduction of spin in the Powerplay propped up Ireland early on. Rankin’s penchant for generating disconcerting bounce kept the dangerous Zazai in check in the first over, after Afghanistan had chosen to bat. Offspinner Simi Singh followed this up with the wicket of Mohammad Shahzad, who attempted an awkward pull to one that hurried on to him only to be caught at short third-man. Samiullah Shenwari followed soon after, caught on the square-leg boundary off a Peter Chase short ball that held up in the pitch.Overall the Irish pacers used the short ball effectively during the Powerplay and reaped rewards, as the run rate hovered around seven. However, having stabilised the innings considerably, Zazai and captain Asghar Afghan found an opening and they battered their way in, taking 19 off the 10th over bowler by the 18-year-old left-arm pacer Joshua Little. Then Zazai tore into Paul Stirling’s part-time spin, depositing him into the stands three times in four balls. The first of those three sixes brought up Zazai’s fifty off 34 balls.George Dockrell halted his charge in an excellent 16th over rife with full, wide deliveries which, Zazai’s wicket apart, produced three consecutive dots and just two singles. Much like the previous T20I, Afghanistan did not take full toll of the final five overs, but a few lusty blows from Mohammad Nabi (12) and an unbeaten 20 from Najibullah Zadran helped them to 160 for 8.Any hopes Ireland had of chasing the target were quelled quickly. Like falling through a series of trapdoors, they lost wickets in clumps.Aftab Alam set the collapse in motion, with the wicket of Stirling for a scratchy five-ball 2 before the spinners took over, taking eight wickets between them. Mujeeb accounted for Stuart Thompson, Andy Balbirnie and later Dockrell. Rashid made the most decisive inroad, getting William Porterfield – the only batsman to show a semblance of resistance – for a 23-ball 33. However, the wicket was rendered possible primarily by Alam’s brilliance in the field, with him intercepting Porterfield’s airborne reverse sweep at short third-man.It was the kind of moment that could deflate even better-placed opposition. Ireland, trying as they were to recover from 9 for 3, found themselves 46 for 4 in the ninth with that wicket, and they subsided quickly thereafter, bowled out in 15 overs.
With the league phase of the IPL finally coming to an end, a look at a few key numbers
Cricinfo staff29-May-20081 – Number of wickets that have fallen on the first ball of an innings. No first-ball sixes, but nine fours have been hit.3 – Three-in-threes, or hat-tricks. L Balaji, Amit Mishra and Makhaya Ntini were the three to achieve the feat, two of which came in the final over of a match, and two for the Chennai Super Kings. Chennai also performed a team hat-trick in their final league game against Deccan Chargers.6 – The number of hundreds in the tournament, but none scored by an Indian batsman. Four have been by left-handers – Michael Hussey, Adam Gilchrist, Sanath Jayasuriya and Shaun Marsh – while Brendon McCullum and Andrew Symonds have saved some face for the righties. Also, four Australians.8.02 – The Rajasthan Royals have been the best bowling unit, conceding 8.02 runs per over. Kolkata Knight Riders are next with 8.05, while the Deccan Chargers have been the most profligate, conceding 8.70 runs per over, marginally more the Chennai’s 8.65.9.05 – Kings XI Punjab’s run-rate in the tournament, the best among all teams. Rajashtan are second with a run-rate of 8.72, fractions ahead of Delhi Daredevils’ 8.69. Bangalore Royal Challengers are the worst with 7.43.10 – Sohail Tanvir has toyed around with opposition batsmen during the tournament, taking a wicket every ten deliveries, and his 21 wickets has cost just ten runs each. Tanvir now has the best bowling figures in Twenty20 matches [6 for 14], and the best average, economy-rate [5.97] and strike-rate in the IPL [among bowlers to have delivered at least ten overs].Add 0.12 to the 10, and you arrive at Shahid Afridi’s batting average in the IPL. While fellow Pakistani Tanvir may be the toast of this tournament, the Player of the Tournament at the World Twenty20 last year has had one to forget.11 – Tanvir has taken two hauls of four or more wickets in an innings, out of the 11 in the tournament. Nine other bowlers managed one, while Tanvir, and hat-trick heroes Balaji and Mishra are the only bowlers with five-fors.16- The numbers of maidens bowled in the tournament. Also, the number of wickets that have fallen on the final ball of an innings.19 – Partnerships of a hundred or more, of which Delhi have five, Rajasthan four, three each for Punjab and Deccan, Kolkata two, one apiece for Chennai and Mumbai Indians, and none for Bangalore.20 – The number of sixes conceded by Piyush Chawla, while four other bowlers, including fellow legspinner Shane Warne, have given away 16. However, with 17 wickets each, the two find themselves among the top five wicket-takers.31 – He’s nearly 39, but Sanath Jayasuriya’s wrists and shoulders were still strong enough to clear the boundaries 31 times, the highest for any batsman so far. Inverse 31, and you get the most sixes hit in an innings, 13 by Brendon McCullum in his epic 158.33.88 – Left is right. Left-hand batsmen average a good 11 more runs than their right-hand counterparts, who manage just 22.69. However, that stat is obviously influenced by the fact that quite a few tailenders are right-handers.36.28 – The percentage of dot-balls bowled. Rajasthan have bowled the most number of dot-balls – 647 – while Delhi have played out the least – 451.46.56 – The average score at the end of a Powerplay, given the average run-rate of 7.76. With Shaun Marsh dominating at the top, Punjab have scored 8.79 per over in that period [averaging nearly 50 runs per wicket], marginally ahead of the 8.76 Delhi’s dominant top order have managed and way higher than Bangalore’s 6.50. Mumbai have given away just 7.09 per over in the Powerplay, while Chennai’s 8.25 in the most expensive.47 – The number of free-hits, but batsmen have managed only 93 runs off them. Only four have been hit for six, while eight have been carted for four. Yo Mahesh leads the pack having bowled five free-hits, conceding 17.50 – The runs teams have scored, on an average, in the last five overs. Kolkata have done marginally better, scoring 54, while Delhi manage approximately 46. Deccan have conceded nearly 57 on an average, while the rest of the teams hover near or below 50.74.12 – The average for Shaun Marsh, who tops the batting charts with 593 runs. Among batsmen with over 400 runs, Graeme Smith comes next, averaging 52. Marsh has six fifty-plus scores from ten innings; Gautam Gambhir has five from 13.204.34 – Brendon McCullum’s strike rate in the IPL. He is the only batsman in the tournament [among those with at least 50 runs] to have scored at more than two runs per ball.258 – The number of sixes hit in the V between mid-on and mid-off, compared to 323 fours – a good indication that batsmen have been able to clear the boundaries with ease.447 – The highest match aggregate, scored by Chennai and Punjab in the second game of the tournament.
It has been an alarming start to the brand new Premier League season for Aston Villa.
Unai Emery’s men remain without a win after their first three drab contests in the tough division, with zero goals tallied up, as their latest defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace sounded the alarm bells even more, considering the Eagles wiped the floor with the Villans on their own patch 3-0.
Still, Emery will know he can turn it around at the Villa Park helm, with a bumper 76 wins under his belt, managing the West Midlands outfit.
He will also be helped by some flashy new additions that entered the building on deadline day, as both Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho now try to boost a forlorn Villa side on loan.
Aston Villa's exciting deadline day additions
After all, Villa have won very recently when it comes to getting the very best out of a loanee from a Premier League rival, with Marcus Rashford linking up with Emery and Co. last season from Manchester United to pick up a hefty ten goal contributions from 17 appearances.
Sancho will be hoping he can have a similar positive impact on proceedings, donning his new claret and blue, having just come off a promising campaign at Chelsea when loaned away from Old Trafford, where he mustered up his own impressive tally of five strikes and ten assists from 42 clashes.
For a star that was once worth £73m when entering the Theatre of Dreams, it will all centre on him trying to salvage his faltering playing days even more under Emery’s wing, with his estimated valuation now sitting at a far lower £27m, as per Football Transfers.
For £8m more, Villa could well welcome Elliott permanently after his initial loan stint is up from Liverpool, with a £35m obligation to buy having been included as part of the deal. That is in line with his current market valuation of around £34m.
This doesn’t feel like an extortionate amount to fork out either, considering the two-time Premier League winner can boast 15 goal contributions in the challenging league, despite only making just 35 starts for the Reds in the division.
Away from the plethora of new buys arriving in the West Midlands, Emery will also know he has some individuals in his side already that can deliver on the big stage, irrespective of his team’s limp opening to the campaign.
The Aston Villa star worth more than Sancho & Elliott
The former Arsenal boss has been a transformative presence for many a Villans star since he arrived at the club in 2022.
Indeed, Morgan Rogers has been turned into a Premier League superstar under the Spaniard’s expertise, with a bumper 17 goals and 17 assists next to his name for the claret and blue half of Birmingham.
Subsequently, the recent PFA Young Player of the Year recipient has been touted to step away from Villa Park for a whopping £100m, amid interest from the likes of Arsenal, despite only joining at the start of 2024 for a meagre £8m.
Amazingly, Ollie Watkins also joined the Villans back in 2020 for a reasonable £28m, with the experienced attacker now a feared Premier League goal machine for Emery’s men when performing to the peak of his powers.
Watkins has never looked back since deserting Brentford, having now amassed a mammoth 75 Premier League strikes for Villa, which has led to the 5-foot-11 marksman being dubbed as “unbelievable” by ex-Villa player Stephen Warnock, on top of being heralded as a “machine” Brentford’s programme editor, Chris Deacon.
Watkins’ rising value
Season
Goals + Assists
Transfer value
24/25
17 +14
£55m
23/24
27 + 15
£44m
22/23
16 + 6
£43m
21/22
11 + 2
£29m
20/21
16 + 5
£29m
via Transfermarkt/Football Transfers
Off the back of being consistently red-hot in front of goal, as seen glancing at his blistering numbers above, Watkins’ own estimated valuation now comes in at a mammoth £55m, as per Football Transfers, making him a more pricey asset than his compatriots, Elliott and Sancho, despite their esteemed reputations.
The 29-year-old has fired some uncharacteristic blanks so far this season, but there is hope he can turn it around.
With both Elliott and Sancho through the door, Emery has some fresh, exciting attacking personnel to experiment with, alongside his attempts to get the very best out of the Villa old guard again.
Rogers 2.0: Aston Villa close in on another exciting signing after Sancho
Aston Villa are hunting for deadline day reinforcements
The batting coach said India had enough time, options and “fluidity” in their batting order to plug any weakness
Nagraj Gollapudi at Headingley16-Jul-2018India are yet to work out a “settled” middle order in ODIs and they do not have the “depth” in their lower order. With the World Cup a year away that might seem to be a matter of concern, but batting coach Sanjay Bangar said that India had enough time, options and “fluidity” in their batting order to plug any weakness.India’s middle-order woes were exposed at Lord’s on Saturday, as the second half of their innings was subdued and they stuttered to a virtual standstill in the final hour. It was the first instance since the semi-finals of the 2011 World Cup that India failed hit a single six in an ODI. India didn’t score more than 10 runs in an over during in the final 15 overs, and only 42 runs came off the last 10, which is the fewest scored by India in the last decade.The lack of intent did not sit well with the Indian fans at Lord’s. They did not spare MS Dhoni, who was booed at various times during an innings where he ran out of partners and eventually lost rhythm. Although it would be easy to blame Dhoni, you could understand why he did not want to press the accelerator with the other members of India’s middle order – KL Rahul, Suresh Raina and Hardik Pandya – found wanting.Bangar said that India were not sweating because they had enough options to work out a World Cup middle order. Ambati Rayudu, Manish Pandey and Ajinkya Rahane could all still be viable options if the current occupants did not make an impact. Rayudu failed the yo-yo fitness test and Raina was called up as his replacement. Pandey and Rahane have been tried at different times in the past, but left behind more questions than positive impressions.Although India have not tried it yet, one way the middle order could be strengthened would involve pushing Rahul to No. 3 and having Virat Kohli bat at four. That way India can retain their authority in the top order while having their best batsman at the controls in the second half of the innings. This way Kohli would not only act as a cushion for the top order, as he showed during the T20s in Ireland and England, but also ease the pressure on Dhoni, who can play with more freedom at Nos. 5 or 6.But India are not ready yet to change the default settings. “We did change a bit [the batting order], certainly in the T20 format where KL played at three and Virat batted at four,” Bangar said in Leeds on the eve of the final match of the ODI series and the limited-overs leg of their tour. “But looking at this series and the performances that Virat has got at No. 3, especially in the last series when he scored three hundreds against South Africa in five games [we won’t alter the batting order].”Bangar, though, did not rule out a change of strategy, keeping in mind India have 21 matches before the World Cup, good enough time to figure out a solution. “We are looking at, in terms of the games remaining, where we could look at settling the middle-order slots. We will see as to players available, the fitness of the players. So a lot of spots are open. The good thing about that is the bench strength we have in a Rayudu, or a Manish Pandey or Ajinkya Rahane. There are enough spots for each and every eventuality that we might face leading up to the World Cup.”MS Dhoni buckles on his pads at India training•Getty Images
Bangar also defended Dhoni and said that there was nothing else India’s most senior and experienced batsman could have done. “When the team loses four wickets, the lower order – at least with the combination we are playing at the moment – we do not really have the depth at Nos. 8, 9, 10 wherein the batsman at Nos. 6 or 7 could play with that sort of a freedom. It was purely because of that that we kept on losing the wickets and the set batsmen could not really exploit [the situation].”He [Dhoni] was just hoping that somebody would stick with him. There was a chance when he and Suresh were batting together, we were just hoping they could bat through till the 40th over and they could take the bowlers on. But every time he looked to do that he first lost Raina and then he lost Hardik so there wasn’t too much batting to follow for him to play in the usual fashion that he does.”Bangar felt that some of the India batsmen, like Raina, who featured in just one format and have come back to international fold after a while, would need more time to settle down. Bangar said that it was also difficult for the middle-order batsmen, who were often padded up but did not have much to do as all the good work had been already done by the top order, which has played a dominant role in Indian victories in the last few years.”The way our top order is batting, generally our middle order hasn’t got the number of opportunities that you would expect because the top order does the bulk of the scoring. And at times the middle order have to straightaway walk into a game situation. Not all of the players are playing all formats of the game. You also have to give some weightage to do that – coming back straight to international cricket, and doing the kind of things that are expected of you, especially in this format. So the continuity factor also plays a part, but we are trying to balance each and everything that we could possibly do.”
Australia new coach cannot believe how the team culture got to a stage where Cameron Bancroft was put in a position to tamper with the ball
ESPNcricinfo staff10-May-20180:46
Langer: Ball-tampering mistakes can be forgiven
Australia’s new coach Justin Langer cannot believe how the team culture had got to a stage where its youngest and most inexperienced member – Cameron Bancroft – was put in a position to tamper with the ball during the Cape Town Test in South Africa.”When I first became an Australian cricketer, if Allan Border had asked me to tamper with the ball I would have, because I would be too scared not too,” Langer told Channel Nine. “The difference is that Allan Border would never have asked me, and Bobby Simpson (coach) would have killed me. He would have killed anyone who brought the game into disrepute.”What I can’t believe is that Cameron Bancroft walked into the Australian cricket team and he was in a position where he made that decision. In terms of the culture and how it got to that point I don’t know, I am not close enough to say. But I will certainly find out. I will be walking into the cauldron soon and I’ll find out.”Langer succeeded Darren Lehmann, who resigned as Australia’s coach at the end of the tour of South Africa in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal. Lehmann had been cleared by a Cricket Australia inquiry of prior knowledge to tamper with the ball, a plot that was found to involve the captain Steven Smith, vice captain David Warner and Bancroft.CA banned Smith and Warner for 12 months, and Bancroft for nine, and there were additional sanctions on holding leadership positions in Australian cricket as well. All three players accepted their punishments.”They are really tough sanctions, but that said, they should be and the reason they should be is because we have said forever that we don’t bend the rules, we don’t cheat,” Langer said. “[But] there’s not one person who has not made a mistake.”Langer’s first assignment as full-time Australia coach will be the ODI series in England in July.