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England are going to have to improve significantly if they are to win the Women’s World T20, Mark Robinson believes. Despite winning the Women’s World Cup only a few months ago, the England coach admitted his side’s T20 cricket is not at the same level.Part of the issue, he believes, is simply that they do not play enough. England went into their Ashes T20 matches having not played international T20 for nearly 18 months (from July 2016 to November 2017) and, as a consequence, are unsure of their best side or tactics. Clearly, however, they are looking for more pace from their bowlers and more power from their hitters ahead of the tournament in the Caribbean in November.”We have to address some areas we haven’t done very well in T20,” Robinson said as he looked ahead to England’s T20 tri-series against India and Australia in India. “We’ve looked at the Big Bash and the Super League to see how our players do. And our batters don’t come out of it with big numbers.”I watch the Super League and the Big Bash and the overseas players are dominating a bit. I don’t want that. I want our players to dominate. I’m challenging my players to dominate. We know we need to win big moments and Powerplays.”We’ve got to look to improve that. What we’re doing at the moment isn’t going to win you a World Cup. And we have to change that.”In the long-term, Robinson believes the standard of England’s fast bowling must improve. The game around the world, he feels, is disproportionately dominated by what he refers to as “dobbers” but, as the standard of pitches improves, he feels greater skills will be required.”At the moment our game is being dominated by dobbers,” he said. “Not spinners but slow bowlers. The women’s game is a trial by spin. The standard of fast bowling is not good enough in world cricket. If the wickets improve like they have been then they – the bowlers – are going to have to get better.”The ability to bowl the wide yorkers and the ability to bowl the bouncer is really important. You are going to want to have impact bowlers. New Zealand have Lea Tahuhu and South Africa have Shabnim Ismail and they are really important on good wickets as they can grab you a wicket.”That’s one thing that is starting to change now. The bowlers have to fight back – not dumb down – and get better and not be bossed all over the place like we were in the last two Ashes games.”One advantage enjoyed by England’s men but not extended to the women was the erection of a tent at Loughborough enabling players to practise on grass ahead of the tour. “The tent is put up for the men,” Robinson said. “We don’t get that luxury unfortunately. Maybe in a few years’ time we will.”

As Harry Kane’s future in North London remains uncertain, Tottenham Hotspur may turn their attentions to Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson. Ryan Taylor of the Daily Express has spoken to GIVEMESPORT about just how likely this transfer is.

What does the future hold for Brennan Johnson?

Replacing Harry Kane is a nigh-on impossible task, hence why the rumoured fee for Tottenham’s attacking star is so high, despite the fact his contract is soon to expire. It would be ridiculous to think that Brennan Johnson would be directly filling the Kane-sized void but he could prove to be a worthy option in the frontline alongside the likes of Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-Min.

The Daily Mail have previously reported that the new Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is interested in Johnson and could pull the trigger on a deal. Forest are rumoured to have priced Johnson at, at least £50 million, something which doesn’t seem to have deterred the Tottenham hierarchy.

Following on from a very cash heavy 2022 summer, the Reds may need to move on one or two key assets. At the heart of that could be their prized asset, Brennan Johnson, who has been hailed as a "top player".

Brentford were another club keeping tabs on the winger but they saw a £35 million bid rejected in the last couple of weeks. The Bees have already broken their transfer record once when they brought Nathan Collins in from Wolves and so any renewed interest in the Welshman would see them break it again.

What is Ryan Taylor's transfer update on Spurs?

“If Kane goes, I know Johnson isn’t the same kind of player as him, but I think Tottenham are going to have to sign more diverse attacking options.

“I think that will be the way to deal with losing Kane. I don't think you're going to replace someone like Kane, so you're better off having different options in changing the style.

“From what I understand their interest is actually very, very credible in Johnson.

“That said, there are other clubs in for Johnson, not least Brentford who have had a club record £35 million bid rejected.

“But there are other teams in the mix from the Premier League for Johnson as well. So I think that could be one to watch.”

Where would the Nottingham Forest ace fit in at Tottenham?

As previously mentioned, there are much more differences than similarities between Harry Kane and Brennan Johnson. For starters, the former is far more experienced and is also a recognized centre forward.

Tottenham have been heavily reliant on Kane’s goals for a number of years, meaning that Johnson would arrive and have to hit the ground running. That being said, James Maddison, Richarlison and Kulusevski are a few attacking players who have a number of years left in them. Between them all, they could tally together to go some way to replacing Kane’s output.

Spurs may have underperformed in 2022/23 but that didn’t stop the English icon from scoring 30 Premier League goals. Meanwhile, in his first season in the top flight, Johnson scored eight and assisted three in just under 3,000 minutes. This may not be on the level of the man who he would be replacing but it is a sign of things to come.

Proactive step comes in the wake of rains that have lashed the city over the last two weeks

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Nov-2017TN’s games moved out of ChennaiTamil Nadu’s last two games against Madhya Pradesh and Baroda have been moved out of Chennai following persistent rains over the last few weeks. ESPNcricinfo understands that Tamil Nadu will now take on Madhya Pradesh in Indore from November 17, before flying to Vadodara to face Baroda from November 25. The secretaries of both the Baroda Cricket Association and the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association – Snehal Parikh and Milind Kanmadikar respectively – confirmed that the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association had approached the BCCI to move the matches out of Chennai following which the venues were changed.Tamil Nadu have already had one rain-affected game, against Tripura, and possibly didn’t want to risk their prospects of qualifying for the knockouts. With three games left, Tamil Nadu are fourth on the Group C standings, behind Andhra, Madhya Pradesh and Mumbai, and are still in search of their first outright win. Tamil Nadu’s immediate challenge will be their game against Odisha in Cuttack from November 9.Test players to skip but Iyer, Pandey, Rahul join squadsThe forthcoming round of the Ranji Trophy beginning on November 9 is expected to be low on star quotient with most of the India internationals away on national duty. With India’s first Test against Sri Lanka beginning in Kolkata on November 16, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav are set to join the national side. Delhi, too, will miss the services of captain Ishant Sharma. Rishabh Pant will lead the side in his stead. However, Shreyas Iyer, India’s newest T20I debutant, has been added to Mumbai’s squad for their game against Baroda.Wriddhiman Saha has also been named in the Bengal squad that will take on Vidarbha in Kalyani. Meanwhile, Karnataka will also be boosted by the presence of Manish Pandey and KL Rahul, who were both part of India’s T20I squad against New Zealand, as they take on Delhi in Alur.

Chelsea have had a verbal offer for Montpellier centre-forward Elye Wahi turned down, according to reliable journalist Ryan Taylor.

Is Elye Wahi leaving Montpellier?

The France U21s international, who graduated from the academy at the Stade de la Mosson, has become a regular feature of Michel Der Zakarian’s senior fold since getting promoted to the first team back in 2021 where he was handed 29 Ligue 1 starts last season, but with more exposure comes more attention.

Despite still having two years left to run on his contract, the 20-year-old firmly established himself as his club’s top-performing offensive player during the previous campaign and these impressive displays have majorly caught the eye of Todd Boehly and Mauricio Pochettino in the Premier League.

The Blues have reportedly already agreed personal terms with the talented prospect and Fabrizio Romano delivered an exciting update on the owner's pursuit just last week, stating via his social media:

“Understand Chelsea are now advancing in talks to sign Elye Wahi — agreement getting closer, new negotiations round scheduled with Montpellier. Chelsea plan includes loan move for Wahi this season then CFC future. Chelsea want to accelerate next week as there’s competition."

Are Chelsea signing Elye Wahi?

Taking to Twitter, Taylor revealed that Chelsea have actually had their first bid rejected by Montpellier who are clearly holding out for a much higher fee for their prized asset. He wrote:

“Chelsea have seen [an] opening verbal offer for Elye Wahi worth in the region of £21.5m rejected by Montpellier. Talks continue between clubs. France U21 international also believed to be sceptical about joining Strasbourg on loan if agreement struck.”

Chelsea clearly view Wahi as more of a signing for the long-term future of the club to be wanting to send him out on loan as a result of being just 20 years of age, but looking at his outstanding numbers from 2022/23, there’s no reason why the striker couldn’t be introduced straight away, so this news is a blow for Pochettino.

The youngster posted a remarkable 25 goal contributions (19 goals and six assists) in 33 Ligue 1 appearances last season whilst recording a total of 62 shots over the course of the campaign which was higher than any other member of his squad, via FBRef, highlighting just how much he stands out from his fellow peers.

Sponsored by Adidas, Montpellier’s “jewel”, as lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig, also has the flexibility to operate in five various positions across the pitch, including everywhere across the frontline and even two roles in the midfield, so he would add wonderful versatility to the boss’ ranks and be a great option to have available.

The Blues may feel that having already signed Villarreal's Nicolas Jackson and RB Leipzig's Christopher Nkunku that they don't need any more immediate attacking reinforcements, but considering what he's capable of, Wahi deserves to be given a fair chance at staking his claim in the senior fold should he end up putting pen to paper, rather than being sent straight out on loan.

Aston Villa have reportedly held talks over a move to sign Nottingham Forest forward Brennan Johnson this summer.

What’s the latest Aston Villa transfer news?

Unai Emery is set to be backed by NSWE ahead of his first full season in charge with a “huge” transfer budget, and the club have already spent €33m on Villarreal defender Pau Torres.

Midfielder Youri Tielemans has also put pen to paper on Villa Park terms this summer after his Leicester City contract expired, and it looks as if attention is now on a new attacker.

Villa have reportedly had an opening €45m offer for Bayer Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby turned down, with Joao Felix another player of interest. Contact has been made for the Atletico Madrid forward, however, Villa have competition from Manchester United and Newcastle United, so it looks as if they could turn their interest to Johnson.

The Daily Mail provided an Aston Villa transfer update on Thursday regarding Johnson, claiming talks have taken place over a move for the Wales international.

Forest have already rejected a £30m offer from Brentford for the forward but are thought to be willing to sell, should a bid in the region of £40m be submitted.

Johnson has serious admirers within Villa Park and is believed to be keen on a move to the Midlands after encouraging noises emerged from the player’s camp.

How good is Brennan Johnson?

Johnson shares the same agency as Jacob Ramsey and is just 22 years of age who can play as an attacking midfielder, winger or striker. He has progressed through the youth ranks at The City Ground and appears to be at the peak of his powers with a career-high €38m Transfermarkt valuation.

In total, Johnson has made 105 senior appearances for Forest, scoring 29 times and registering 12 assists. He enjoyed a productive first season in the Premier League last year as well, helping the Reds to safety in the top flight with 11 goal contributions in 38 games. Steve Cooper lauded Johnson as a “fantastic player” and a “great finisher” back in February after netting the winner against Leeds.

“He’s a fantastic player, we know he’s got qualities and is a great finisher. The guys didn’t get loads of service at the top end of the pitch but, sometimes you just need one moment.”

As per FBref, Johnson has been compared to the likes of Michail Antonio, Odsonne Edouard and Danny Ings over the past 12 months and ranks in the top 12% of forwards for progressive carries, top 9% for crosses and top 1% for tackles in the defensive third, showing how he could bring more than just goals to Villa Park.

Should a £40m move go through, Emery could be getting a player who may only get better in time, while also providing the Spaniard with an alternative option or potential partner to Ollie Watkins. Johnson could turn out in a wide area, behind Watkins or as another centre-forward, and by the looks of things, a move will be one to keep an eye on over the coming weeks.

Liverpool have been strongly linked with a move for Khephren Thuram over the summer so far and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of the player.

What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Khephren Thuram?

According to French news outlet L'Equipe, the Reds and Bayern Munich are keen to secure the services of the OGC Nice midfielder this summer.

As per the report, it's thought that the Ligue 1 club believe they can hold onto their prized asset for another year with the player content where he is at the moment, however, with his contract running down and due to expire in 2025, Nice are aware they may be unlikely to command a lucrative fee in 12 months time.

In that case, Les Bleus would be willing to part ways with Thuram this summer for a fee of around €40m (£34m) should Liverpool or Bayern make a concrete move before the transfer window closes.

What kind of player is Khephren Thuram?

The Liverpool squad have now returned to pre-season training with two new additions in Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai joining the Merseyside giants in their preparations for next season.

A much-needed midfield rebuild has started to take shape following the departures of James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain this summer, however, the outgoings could continue as The Athletic's David Ornstein dropped a huge bombshell on the Anfield faithful this week.

He revealed on Twitter that club captain Jordan Henderson could become the latest player tempted by a move to the Saudi Pro League this summer, and he isn't the only Liverpool mainstay attracting interest with new reports claiming Barcelona are interested in signing Thiago Alcantara.

As a result, whilst Jurgen Klopp will have much to consider whether it is viable to sell more of his most experienced leaders in the squad, it would present an opportunity to further reinvest for the future of his midfield and comfortably fund a move for Khephren Thuram.

Alongside Henderson, Thiago is one of the highest-earning players at the club, earning a whopping £200k-per-week salary, and although the talented midfielder is a great asset when on the pitch, his decline in fitness and injury record over the last two seasons has made it difficult for him to be relied upon when it matters most.

If selling Thiago could open up the door to secure the services of Thuram it would be a worthwhile endeavour for Liverpool, as another injection of youth and energy into the centre of the pitch would be massively advantageous ahead of next season.

The 25-year-old Frenchman – once hailed as "elite" by journalist Zach Lowy – ranks in the top 30% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for progressive carries (top 6%), successful take-ons (top 9%), touches in the opposition box, shot-creating actions and pass completion per 90, demonstrating a wide range of strengths that make him both potent in attack and a capable defensive presence.

The 6 foot 2 box-to-box midfielder's work-rate would be an incredible asset to Klopp next season and whilst he is a much more progressive player than Thiago, the remaining presence of Fabinho and Stefan Bajcetic allows for the German coach to secure a young talent who offers a fresh perspective instead of a like-for-like replacement.

With that being said, aside from the ongoing speculation about potential outgoings, the signing of Thuram is definitely one to watch as it is clear that the Nice star would bring something new to the current Liverpool midfield and continue to bolster the youth revolution that Klopp is aiming to complete at Anfield.

Manchester United will be desperate to build on their solid debut campaign under Erik ten Hag and as Champions League football is set to grace the Old Trafford pitch once again following a hiatus last term, the Dutchman will be keen to strengthen.

Not only that, but he will also be looking at moving some of the deadwood out of United that has dragged them down, with Harry Maguire being a player who must be banished from the Red Devils.

Tottenham Hotspur were linked with a move for the player last month and despite claims that he wants to remain at the club and fight for his place, the Dutchman looks certain to improve his defensive options.

Maguire started just 16 games last season, with only half of those coming in the Premier League and his current earnings of £190k-per-week were not rewarded with regular game time – hence why he should be moved on.

United have shown interest in Bayern Munich defender Benjamin Pavard according to Football Transfers and he could be the perfect replacement for the club's struggling skipper.

Could Benjamin Pavard sign for Manchester United?

The Bundesliga giants are reportedly allowing the Frenchman to leave should they receive offers of around €30m (£26m) this summer and Ten Hag could see this as a deal which represents excellent value.

The World Cup winner has tended to play more as a right-back during his career, but last season for Bayern, he featured heavily at centre-back and this adaptability could be a big plus in terms of Ten Hag launching a potential move.

Pavard could give United an unlikely goal threat, as he ranks in the top 1% across Europe’s big five leagues for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.18) and top 3% for shot-creating actions per 90 (1.58) however, it is his ability to bring the ball out of defence that could entice the United boss into signing him.

The 27-year-old ranks in the top 1% for progressive passes per 90 (7.59) and the top 9% for progressive carries per 90 (1.31) across the big five leagues in Europe among those in his position, suggesting that he’d be a perfect fit for Ten Hag’s tactical system which relies heavily on defenders playing out from the back.

In contrast, Maguire makes only 3.09 progressive passes per 90 and 0.95 progressive carries per 90 across Europe's big five leagues, and these are much lower totals than the Bayern star, thus rendering his role as obsolete should he arrive.

The former Stuttgart defender was lauded as being a “real talent” by former Germany international Thomas Hitzlsperger and for a paltry £26m, Ten Hag might not make a better signing in terms of value for money all summer.

Afghanistan will take part in their maiden fixture at Lord’s this summer, with New Zealand’s former captain Brendon McCullum lined up to captain MCC in a 50-over contest

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Apr-2017

Afghanistan will take part in their maiden fixture at Lord’s this summer, with New Zealand’s former captain Brendon McCullum lined up to captain MCC in a 50-over contest.The match will take place on Tuesday, July 11, on the same wicket that is being prepared for the first Test between England and South Africa, which is due to conclude on the previous day.It will be the second time in as many seasons that Lord’s has hosted a fixture between MCC and an associate nation, with a crowd of nearly 6,000 turning out to watch Nepal’s victory last summer.MCC’s connection with Afghanistan goes back several years, with two of their star players, Mohammad Nabi and Hamid Hassan, both being invited to take part in the MCC Young Cricketers program.In May 2009, MCC’s current president, Matthew Fleming, travelled to Jalalabad to oversee the first coaching camps held under the MCC Spirit of Cricket banner.”I am thrilled that we will be welcoming Afghanistan to Lord’s this summer,” Fleming said. “I have seen first-hand the talent and passion for cricket the nation has, and this fixture can only be a good thing for the ongoing development of Afghan cricket.”It is the latest landmark on a very exciting journey for Afghan cricket, and MCC will need to field an extremely strong side in order to compete.”We are delighted therefore that Brendon McCullum will captain MCC, as he will ensure the match is both competitive and exciting, played in the very best spirit. The whole club looks forward to what we know will be a wonderful and historic day.”

Manchester United have been strongly linked with a move for Harry Kane this summer but now a new update has emerged that could put a dampener on the dreams of bringing him to Old Trafford.

What's the latest on Man United's interest in Harry Kane?

According to The Times, the Red Devils are losing hope of being able to secure the signature of the Tottenham Hotspur striker this summer.

As per the report, Daniel Levy remains firm on not wanting to part ways with his biggest asset whilst Erik ten Hag remains keen to make Kane his leading man in the forward line.

It is claimed that Man United have tried to strike a deal to secure the striker's services already but Levy is adamant that he will not be sold to strengthen a Premier League rival, despite having just one year left on his contract.

Should Man United continue their pursuit of Harry Kane?

There is no doubt that the Manchester giants will be desperate to strengthen in the centre-forward role this summer after the abysmal efforts from loanee Wout Weghorst and mainstay Anthony Martial, with no time to waste in finding the perfect player to take up the role ahead of next season.

However, giving up on the signing of Kane – dubbed "exquisite" by Jamie Redknapp – should not be an option for Ten Hag as the 29-year-old would be a huge asset in the forward line and would comfortably become the club's answer to Wayne Rooney, with the now retired striker never really replaced at Old Trafford.

The compatriots boast incredible similarities as Kane replaced the Man United legend as the most trusted centre-forward for the England national team, not only following in his footsteps to captain the side but also breaking his all-time goal-scoring record on the international stage too.

In terms of their style of play, the pair share even more likeness with Rooney often dropping deeper than a traditional number nine into a versatile play-making role towards the latter stages of his career.

That very much saw him trouble opponents in the same way the Spurs striker does for his team too, both comfortable, confident and prolific in a deeper role with quality wingers either side operating to provide chances for them.

Whilst taking all into consideration, the most striking and vital resemblance that the pair possess is their unrivalled finishing and ability to kill games with their vision for goal, something that would take Man United back to the elite level they were playing at when their all-time goalscorer represented the team in the final third.

Over 49 appearances in all competitions this season, the £100m-valued England captain – hailed as a "GOAT" of the Premier League by Christian Stellini – scored a whopping 32 goals and delivered five assists, as well as making up for 47% of Spurs' goal participations in the top flight and only finishing second to Erling Haaland in the race for the golden boot.

With that being said, if there is even the slightest chance that Man United could strike up a deal to sign Kane this summer they should grab the opportunity with both hands, as his leadership, style of play and hunger for goals could solve Ten Hag's biggest headache next season.

Mehul Patel took his second five-wicket haul and career-best figures of 5 for 35 to help Gujarat snatch the first-innings lead against Railways in Lahli. Gujarat had been bowled out for 187, after which Railways were brought down to 63 for 7 as 17 wickets fell on the opening day. Railways were shot out for 124, before Gujarat responded strongly in the second innings, ending the day on 295 for 3 for an overall lead of 358.Railways resisted when play resumed, with Karn Sharma and Anureet Singh, the overnight batsmen, adding 52 for the eighth wicket. Mehul then dismissed Anureet for his fifth, before Rush Kalaria wrapped up the innings with two wickets in the 44th over. Karn scored 48 and Anureet made 27, finishing as two of only three batsmen to record double-digit scores.Priyank Panchal scored 101 and shared a second-wicket stand of 141 with Bhargav Merai (70) to sink Railways. Parthiv Patel, the Gujarat captain, and Manpreet Juneja added 98 unbeaten runs for the fourth wicket before stumps were drawn. Parthiv was not out on 39 and Juneja had made 59.Madhya Pradesh snuffed out two Mumbai wickets to end the second day in Raipur in a dominant position. After MP’s first innings ended on 445, Mumbai were reduced to 38 for 2, trailing by 407 runs.MP had ended the opening day on 239 for 2 with Rajat Patidar unbeaten on 83 and Devendra Bundela on 36. Patidar batted on and raised his century before being dismissed for 106, while Bundela scored 60. Patidar, Harpreet Singh and Bundela fell for the addition of 16 runs, before MP were buoyed by Shubham Sharma (83 not out) and Ankit Dane (47), and the duo’s sixth-wicket partnership of 102. Vijay Gohil and Tushar Deshpande took three wickets each.Mumbai lost Kaustubh Pawar and nightwatchman Balwinder Sandhu in their reply. Akhil Herwadkar played out 58 balls and stayed not out on 29.Uttar Pradesh piled on a mammoth 524 before taking a Tamil Nadu wicket late in the day at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. Tamil Nadu ended the day on 34 for 1, behind by 490 runs.UP began the day on 207 for 1, with Samarth Singh having struck his maiden century in only his second first-class match. Samarth added 72 more to his overnight tally, before being dismissed 13 short of a double ton. Umang Sharma, who resumed on 36, added only 10 more to his overnight score, but UP were lifted by contributions all around, including half-centuries from Eklavya Dwivedi, the captain and wicketkeeper, who struck 60, and Saurabh Kumar (51). T Natarajan, the left-arm medium pacer, inflicted the bulk of the damage, taking 4 for 83.Sandeep Sharma added two wickets to his overnight tally to finish with 4 for 96 as Bengal‘s first innings ended on 404 against Punjab at the Lohnu Cricket Ground in Bilaspur. Amit Kulia, Bengal’s new-ball bowler, then struck thrice in 16 overs as Punjab went into stumps on 168 for 4, behind Bengal by 236 runs.Bengal began the day on 332 for 5, with Pankaj Shaw unbeaten on 11 and Pragyan Ojha on 2. While Ojha fell on the same score in the 10th ball of the day, Shaw batted on and raised a half-century. He was the last man dismissed, for 55. Sandeep Sharma was supported by Vinay Choudhary, who took 3 for 75.Punjab lost Manan Vohra and Jinwanjot Singh early, while Yuvraj Singh, the captain, and Gurkeerat Singh got off to starts, but couldn’t convert them. Uday Kaul held up his end and scored an unbeaten 73, and in the company of Taruwar Kohli (26 not out) prevented further damage. Kulia finished with 3 for 44, while his opening partner Ashok Dinda took the other wicket.