Arsenal have been slammed over plans to wear a special jersey in support of Gabriel Jesus ahead of the north London derby against Tottenham.

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• Jesus nursing an ACL injury
• Arsenal wore special shirts during warm up
• Teammates eager to show solidarity with striker

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to the the Gunners discussed wearing unique shirts featuring the Brazilian forward’s name, his No.9, and a 'get well soon' message ahead of the game, in solidarity with their sidelined team-mate after he suffered a devastating anterior cruciate ligament injury during their FA Cup defeat to Manchester United on Sunday. The severity of the injury means he will miss the remainder of the season, leaving his colleagues eager to show support in this difficult time. Mikel Arteta's men did ultimately don the special kits while warming up for the derby, including a message which read: "Stay strong Gabby".

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  WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

  While the gesture to honour Jesus is undoubtedly heartfelt, it has drawn criticism from rival fans.

  @UnitedMax_ wrote: "Cringe club back again 🤣."

  While @Common_SensePod wrote: "F*cks sake, he's not dead."

  A Rangers fan, @GarryCarmody wrote: "The game couldn't be more gone if it tried."

  Nonetheless, there were a couple of fans who welcomed the gesture.

  @user84848384 wrote: "People are actually mad at showing support to a player who’s just suffered his like third major knee injury in a few years, you lot are so weird."

  @xAlexTHFC seconded him and said: "That’s incredibly touching. What a beautiful club. Wow. Unbelievable. Hope you get through this terrible situation. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The loss of Jesus has left Arsenal in a vulnerable position as they approach a crucial stage of the Premier League season, as his absence creates a significant void in the team’s attacking line-up, which is already stretched thin. With Eddie Nketiah sold to Crystal Palace last summer and Reiss Nelson out on loan at Fulham, Arsenal’s options up front are limited. Kai Havertz, while capable, is not a natural striker, adding to the team’s challenges as they pursue the league title.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

  Arsenal’s return to Premier League action against Tottenham in the north London derby is a crucial test for Mikel Arteta’s side. With the added trouble of Jesus’ injury, the match is set to be a defining moment in the Gunners' season as they aim to chase down Liverpool, who are six points ahead of them in the title race.

While the clubs have reportedly reached agreement, still no contract or personal terms between Acosta and the Argentine side

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FCC reportedly reach agreement with Estudiantes for AcostaArgentine was named 2023 MLS MVP30-year-old has stated USMNT ambitionsGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowWHAT HAPPENED?

FC Cincinnati have reportedly reached an agreement with Argentine club Estudiantes for the transfer of star midfielder and former MLS MVP Lucho Acosta. The club is under the Foster Gillett ownership group.

reports that despite an agreement between the clubs, no contract or personal terms between Acosta and the Argentine side have been reached. Multiple MLS teams remain in the hunt for his signature.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Acosta said at the end of the 2024 MLS season that his time in FC Cincinnati might be over.

"This was a very recent decision I made to leave, I feel I’ve completed a cycle after four years of playing in Cincinnati," Acosta told ESPN Argentina in November. "It’s time to find a different scene and see how things can be resolved. … If the opportunity to return to Argentina arises, I’d love to take it."

The 30-year-old was named 2023 MLS MVP, when he scored 17 goals and recorded 14 assists and led FCC to the Supporters' Shield. In 2024, he added 14 goals and 19 assists to lead his club to the Eastern Conference playoffs. He may be on the move, however, despite signing a contract extension with the MLS side through 2026.

DID YOU KNOW?

Acosta has previously noted his ambitions to represent the USMNT in 2026, with reports surfacing that he could be eligible in early 2025.

ImagnWHAT NEXT FOR ACOSTA, FCC?

The midfielder has reported for preseason with the MLS side, meaning there are still expectations he will train and play with the club ahead of the 2025 season. Until a permanent transfer is agreed, he remained an FCC player.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has used all his nous and experience to build a squad capable of qualifying for the Champions League during his spell in the Midlands, but he won’t stop there.

The Spaniard managed to sign players such as Amadou Onana and Ian Maatsen, who, if it weren’t for Champions League participation, might have joined another club instead.

So far, the club have shone this term, thanks to Emery’s transfer business. He isn’t afraid to place his trust in young talents, however, as Jhon Duran has been impressive whenever called upon – the Colombian scoring four league goals already this season.

When Matty Cash suffered an injury recently, the manager turned to Lamare Bogarde as his replacement at right-back, and the academy graduate has performed well since becoming a regular in the starting XI.

Lamare Bogarde’s season in numbers

The Dutchman made his senior bow for Villa during the 2020/21 season, playing in the FA Cup, before returning to the U21 side until an 18-month loan spell at Bristol Rovers during the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons.

Overall, he made 36 appearances for the club, gaining vital experience in the first team, which has clearly stood him in good stead during the early part of the current term.

The right-back started the games against Leicester City, Everton and BSC Young Boys in recent weeks, as the Villa Park outfit won all three ties.

In the Premier League, Bogarde has succeeded with 100% of his dribble attempts, won 6.5 total duels per game and averaged four tackles per game, showcasing both his defensive and attacking skills in equal measures.

At this rate, Cash may find it hard to return to the starting XI, indicating just how good a talent Bogarde is.

He certainly won’t be the last academy graduate to make his way from youth teams to the senior squad, not when there is a player such as Kadan Young knocking on the door…

Kadan Young’s youth stats

The 18-year-old is making waves in the academy, that’s for sure. Despite not turning 19 until January 2025, Young has made 27 appearances in Premier League 2, which is reserved for U21 teams, scoring three goals and registering eight assists in the process.

It is clear he is ready to perform at this level on a more regular basis, especially considering he has grabbed two assists in just two matches in the competition so far this term.

One of his former coaches hailed the youngster as being a “scary talent” back in 2023, while even stating that he’s got a likeness to a certain Kylian Mbappe:

“He’s so quick and an out-and-out winger which you don’t see enough of nowadays. He’s got that Mbappe about him, where he’ll run, slow his man down, wanting the defender to stand still almost, then he’ll put the burners on.”

Young surely will have taken great inspiration from watching Bogarde playing in the previous few games as a deputy for Cash, proving that the chances could be there, especially if injuries occur.

One player who Young might wish to follow is that of Jacob Ramsey, as the Villa midfielder was once in a similar position to the latest academy sensation and is now thriving under Emery.

Kadan Young could be the next Jacob Ramsey

Ramsey made his debut for Villa way back during the 2018/19 campaign, the season in which they secured promotion from the Championship back to the elite.

Since breaking through properly during the 2020/21 season, making 22 appearances in the Premier League, he has been a regular in the first-team squad.

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2023/24

21

1

2

2022/23

39

6

8

2021/22

35

6

1

2020/21

27

0

1

2019/20

1

0

0

2018/19

1

0

0

His positional versatility has seen him become a key part of the team under Emery, being able to operate in a multitude of positions in the midfield.

Injury issues hampered his progress last season, but upon returning to full fitness, Ramsey has since scored in the Champions League and started three league games under Emery in 2024/25.

His progress from academy star to first-team regular was signified even more during the summer transfer window, as Tottenham Hotspur were keeping a close eye on the midfielder.

Spurs were exploring a player plus cash deal for the talented Villa star, but it looks as though Emery has made the right decision by keeping him in the Midlands.

If he continues to perform well, there will be plenty of interest next summer, no doubt about that, but in Young, Emery could unearth his very next Ramsey.

Kadon Young's future at Aston Villa

Earlier this week, the club announced that Young had signed a new contract at Villa, keeping him there for the long term.

Academy Manager Mark Harrison praised the academy star for his progress, stating that the contract is a reward for all of his hard work recently.

“We are delighted Kadan has signed a new long-term contract,” he said.

“Over the past couple of seasons, he has trained regularly with the first team and has also been involved in matchday squads. This is a well-deserved recognition for his development, which the first team have endorsed and supported.

“We will look forward to seeing Kadan develop over the coming seasons and hopefully develop into a first-team player for many years to come.”

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Could his debut come sooner rather than later, especially considering he has been in a few senior squads already this season?

Indeed, Young was named on the bench for the Champions League clash against Young Boys, just days after making the squad for the Premier League tie with Everton.

He wasn’t called upon in either game – nor in the win over Wolverhampton Wanderers – but the confidence this must give the youngster will allow him to keep working hard in order to finally make the breakthrough.

With a League Cup tie against Wycombe Wanderers taking place next week, could this be the perfect opportunity for the 18-year-old?

Rotation will be key for Emery, as the games are going to come thick and fast between now and Christmas. If Young gets an opportunity, he certainly has the skills in order to make a bright impression, no doubt about that.

Aston Villa ace was dubbed "bang average", now he's similar to Douglas Luiz

Villa star reviving his career putting his worse years behind him

ByConnor Holden Sep 19, 2024

Haynes completes third century in as many matches as Azhar finishes unbeaten on 202

ECB Reporters Network20-May-2022

Worcestershire 456 for 3 (Ali 202*, Haynes 127) lead Leicestershire 148 (Barnard 3-45) by 308 runsAzhar Ali scored a superb double-hundred as he and fellow centurion Jack Haynes rewrote the record books on day two of the LV=Insurance County Championship match with Leicestershire at New Road.Pakistan Test batter Azhar and former England Under-19 batter Haynes put on 281 in 78 overs for the third wicket – a record partnership for any wicket against Leicestershire. It surpassed the 278 by Cyril Walters and HHIH ‘Doc’ Gibbons at New Road in 1934.Their efforts were largely responsible for Worcestershire totalling 456 for three by the close – a lead of 308. Haynes was eventually dismissed for 127 but Azhar went onto bring up his double-ton in the final over of the day with a cover drive for four off Rehan Ahmed.It was completed from 328 balls with one six and 18 fours and he then shared in another century stand with Brett D’Oliveira (52 not out).Azhar arrived at New Road after a successful Test series against Australia which included a marathon 175 spanning 11 hours at Rawalpindi. He initially found it a challenge acclimatising to English conditions and his opening six innings yielded 34 runs.But he has flourished since hitting 92 against a Durham attack including Ben Stokes, and for the majority of the time he has been in partnership with Haynes.The pair had been together for stands of 195 (Durham) and 187 (Derbyshire) before joining forces for this marathon effort.Haynes has been quick to acknowledge the influence on his batting this summer of Azhar as he has converted promising innings into major contributions. His maiden hundred came in the Durham game and this was the Worcester-born batter’s third century in successive matches.He was the first Worcestershire player to achieve that feat since Daryl Mitchell in 2017 when he scored hundreds against Derbyshire, Northamptonshire and Sussex.The former England Under-19 player has always looked full of class and on this form may soon be knocking on the door for further international recognition.Azhar and Haynes took full toll of a toiling attack and both benefitted significantly from the cut and pull shots as they provided rich entertainment after a delayed start to proceedings.Play did not get underway to 1.10pm but the third-wicket pair made up for lost time by scoring 148 runs during the afternoon session.Haynes pulled Chris Wright for six and Leicestershire were powerless to stem the flow of boundaries before Azhar took a stride forward and flicked Ed Barnes for a single to fine leg to complete his century from 159 balls with 11 fours.His partner followed him to three figures with a clip to deep mid wicket off Rehan. It took 15 more deliveries than Azhar and contained one six and 14 fours.The second new ball was taken immediately after tea but the record stand was established when Haynes cut Mulder for his 17th and final boundary.Mulder had his revenge soon afterwards when Haynes pushed forward and was lbw for 127. He batted for five hours and faced 230 deliveries.Azhar continued to demonstrate some superb stroke-play after he was joined in the middle by Club Captain, D’Oliveira.Some of his cover drives, cuts and pull shots were a delight to watch as he showed little sign of tiringD’Oliveira, a century-maker against Leicestershire at the Uptonsteel County Ground last month, also played fluently in another century stand with Azhar from just 134 balls.His own half century came from only 86 deliveries.

The home side were thrown into a tour of India and got hammered 5-0 while the visitors are still searching for a way to consistently match the modern one-day game

Andrew Fidel Fernando25-Nov-2014There must be some miscommunication somewhere. Each year, Sri Lanka line up a tour around November, and almost invariably, the series is so beset by rain that most matches go unfinished, and the remaining games advantage the chasing side. With four such tours having taken place in the last five years now, the only viable solution is clear: it is time Sri Lanka’s weather took stock of the cricket patterns in the country, when it next schedules its monsoons.Angelo Mathews scored has maiden ODI hundred in India, but it was a rare high point for Sri Lanka•BCCISo England have arrived to kick off their winter season, dodging downpours like they were questions about Kevin Pietersen’s book, and pumping their words with the positivity they hope will shake up their ODI cricket. Widely touted to flop at next year’s World Cup, the visitors do at least acknowledge that their game needs an overhaul. Moeen Ali was bundled up the order for the warm-up match, and directed to launch a full assault, while batting coach Mark Ramprakash has laid out hopes that the rest of the top order embrace a little more panache themselves.England are after ideas. They want to redesign the ponderous ODI cricket they have stuck by for too long, into a nimbler, sleeker model that will catapult them into that leading group of World Cup contenders.On the surface, there is no better place to uncover that tactical gold than in Sri Lanka. Cricket is the most popular sport on the island, but thanks largely to a Civil War that drained the economy and shut an entire swathe of the country out, Sri Lanka’s talent pools are still among the thinnest around. That they have made five major finals in the last seven years (and two other semi-finals as well), is down more to out-thinking opponents, than outplaying them.England won’t mind if a few of the ambushes Sri Lanka routinely set at short cover, or the slow-chokes they apply to opposition chases, are absorbed into England’s own game. “Funky captaincy” has become a buzz phrase in the Alastair Cook v Michael Clarke Ashes era, but Mahela Jayawardene is the James Brown of that movement, having so often conned batsmen out of their wickets, rather than earned them. Angelo Mathews is a different kind of captain, but by dint of inheritance, the tactical flourishes are still there. Game plans are loose to begin with, then if things go awry, quickly reimagined.It is fitting then, that Sri Lanka would have liked to be a little more like England just a few weeks back, as well. They had had a clearly laid-out pre-World Cup schedule that appeared to be a good mix of match-practice and rest, but the India tour opened up on them like an afternoon thunderstorm, and they were pelted with sixes off India bats for two weeks.Sri Lanka had departed for that tour aiming to experiment, rather than to win the series, but conceding two totals over 350, an individual 264, and suffering their worst ODI whitewash in history, will have dented a few egos. The jettisoning of Nuwan Kulasekara, who had been a pillar of the ODI attack for more than five years, is evidence that damage has been sustained. A surprise tour is not the kind of situation England will ever expect to find themselves in. There are many positives in Sri Lanka’s flexibility, but they are also always teetering a little close to chaos.That the selectors have roped in some old hands is also the kind of conservative move, more often seen in the England playbook. At 32, batsman Thilina Kandamby gets an ODI recall after three years away from the top level, while others like allrounder Jeevan Mendis have been reinstated after a long break, as well.Sri Lanka know their batting has plenty of thrill-seeking pizzazz in their three senior batsmen and Mathews, but what they need now are the steady performers: batsmen who will hit a fifty off 70 balls every other match. England may worry they play a stone-age version of the game, but Sri Lanka would probably take a Geoffrey Boycott in the second opener’s position about now. In the last four innings put together, the men batting opposite Tillakaratne Dilshan have managed eight runs. Mathews has also made stability his goal for the series. By the seventh ODI, he would ideally have liked his World Cup first XI to have emerged.The cricket that Sri Lanka and England play usually stems from disparate philosophies, they’re barely playing the same sport. But in what may be a damp series in the approach to the World Cup, each team is looking for a little of what the other has got.

كشف الهولندي بيب ليندرز، مساعد الألماني يورجن كلوب، المدير الفني السابق لفريق ليفربول، عن موقفه من تدريب الأهلي، خلفًا للسويسري مارسيل كولر.

وقال بيب في تصريحات لبرنامج “الكورة مع فايق” عبر قناة “إم بي سي مصر 2″، إن هناك مفاوضات مع الأهلي خلال الفترة الأخيرة لتدريب الفريق.

طالع.. أمير عزمي يختار الجنسية الأنسب لـ مدرب الأهلي الجديد.. ويُصرح: لا أحب جروس أكثر من الزمالك

وتابع مساعد يورجن كلوب: “كنت واضحًا جدًا، أولويتي هي هولندا، المملكة المتحدة، والبرتغال، بسبب تاريخي مع بي إس آيندهوفن، إف سي بورتو، وليفربول”.

وأضاف: “كان العرض مغريًا بسبب كأس العالم للأندية، ولقد قدّرت حقًا طريقتهم في التفاوض”.

For 173 balls, Dimuth Karunaratne defied India. In constructing a fine 14th Test century, he showed his team-mates hitting your way out of trouble wasn’t the only way to succeed on a tough Bengaluru track that offered sharp turn and variable bounce. Then he got a pearl from Jasprit Bumrah that breached his defences.Even someone as well set as he was couldn’t quite judge the extent of late inward movement on that full delivery, and that was that for Sri Lanka. In the face of a relentless attack, the others proved to be sitting ducks as their high-risk, high-returns strategy fell flat.India wrapped up an emphatic 2-0 series win inside two sessions on the third day at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The series lasted all of six days, with Sri Lanka’s 208 all out in their final innings being their highest total of the lot.The innings promised a lot more, especially after Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis started the day positively. While Mendis’s aggression wasn’t much of a surprise, Karunaratne tried to take a leaf out of Shreyas Iyer’s book early in the day, repeatedly stepping out to negate Jadeja from the rough.In the very first over, he also attempted an uncharacteristic reverse sweep. This wasn’t the stonewaller Karunaratne, who has methodically constructed knocks to be the highest run-getter among openers since 2018. This was Karunaratne trying to throw the oppositions spinners off their settings in the face of a challenging surface.This approach rubbed off on Mendis too, as he stepped out and took R Ashwin on at the other end. The first eight overs of the day produced 42, and suddenly India were searching for answers, even if they knew one wicket could open the doors.In this period, what worked for Sri Lanka was their clarity in committing themselves fully forward or going right back to play the ball. The odd ball scooting low or jumping from the rough didn’t seem to bother them much. Mendis raised his 12th half-century off just 57 balls.R Ashwin had Dhananjaya de Silva caught by Hanuma Vihari at short leg to go past Dale Steyn on the most-Test-wickets chart•BCCI

But the party didn’t last long as he ran down the pitch, only to be deceived by Ashwin’s guile. Stepping out to smother the spin, he was done in by the skid off the pitch as Rishabh Pant effected an excellent stumping. This helped Ashwin equal Dale Steyn’s tally of 439 Test wickets, a day after he went past Kapil Dev’s tally of 434.On a surface that turns big, the most dangerous delivery can often be the one that doesn’t turn. Angelo Mathews found out as much the hard way, stabbing at a Jadeja delivery outside the line only for the ball to sneak through and flatten the stumps. From there on, Sri Lanka were in free fall.Dhanajaya de Silva was out to sharp turn as he lobbed a catch to Hanuma Vihari at short leg as Ashwin went past Steyn. Niroshan Dickwella survived a DRS call for caught behind, but his tendency to run down the pitch and play big shots cost him as he was done in by Axar Patel’s flatter trajectory to be stumped.As all this played out at one end, Karunaratne shelved his enterprising avatar and brought out the hard grind, also to good effect. He played with soft hands, played with his bat close to the body and ensured he didn’t let the spinners dictate terms. The same could hardly be said about the rest of the line-up. Charith Asalanka was the next to go as he lobbed a simple catch to backward short leg.As Karunaratne approached his century, he started to take chances as he was running out of partners. Once into the nineties, he reverse swept for two runs, then brought out a conventional sweep in front of square for four and then, having got to 99 via three singles, brought out a neat flick to the backward-square-leg fence off Bumrah to reach his hundred.No sooner had he celebrated getting to the landmark in what was a terrific knock, did Bumrah bounce back to get him with that magic ball. On “tail dismantle” mode, Bumrah took one more – Suranga Lakmal’s last innings in Test cricket ending with his stumps disturbed – to finish with a match haul of eight. The tame end wasn’t entirely unexpected, but Sri Lanka would be the first to admit they ought to have applied themselves better.This was among the easier series wins for India at home lately and, while clinically dismantling their opponents, they’d ticked plenty of boxes to end a dominant home season on a high. The season had begun with New Zealand being handed defeat across formats, and ended with Sri Lanka being given the same treatment, West Indies having fared no better in between.

England’s selection policy for this one-day series has split opinion – and defeat at Old Trafford suggested they will struggle to match Australia – with the role of Ben Stokes as a third seamer a key issue

George Dobell10-Sep-2013In 18 months, when the World Cup has been won or lost, it seems fairly safe to assume few will remember the result of this NatWest Series.As a consequence of the expansion of the international calendar, several sides have identified a need to prioritise. The World Cup has become the goal at the end of each four-year cycle in ODI cricket and almost everything that leads to it is little more than a stepping stone.Even encounters between these two old rivals. Partially in an attempt to exploit the market for such games, England and Australia have played ODI cricket against one another every year since 2001 with the exception of 2008. Sometimes those meetings have come in global events; usually they have not. It is hard to keep something so commonplace special.England, certainly, see it that way. By resting five senior players and granting opportunities to several new faces, they have demonstrated that this series has been relegated to the category of ‘development opportunity.’An Australian camp looking to shore-up reputations and build some confidence before heading home may interpret it differently. But make no mistake: it is, as England found after winning the CB Series in early 2007 after their drubbing in the Ashes, little consolation.England’s policy may see them concede a few battles. It will smart to lose any games – as it should – but if it helps them win the war, they will feel the pain was worthwhile.England’s aim is to identify the two or three players who will help them improve from Champions Trophy runners-up to winners of the World Cup. It may prove, in the case of injury or retirements, that their 2013 Champions Trophy squad requires more reinforcement but, for now, England are looking for at least one allrounder, an effective third seamer and a big-hitting batsman. If they turn out to be one person, all well and good.With that in mind, the selection of their squad is not entirely logical. Quite apart from including red ball performers – the likes of Chris Jordan – for a white ball format, they have also included a 32-year-old opener, Michael Carberry, who has little chance of dislodging any of England’s top-order regulars.England have four men – at least – who are happy in the top three. Carberry is a fine player who is unlucky to have waited so long for such an opportunity, but it is unrealistic to expect him to dislodge Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen or Jonathan Trott from the top four. And Joe Root is their natural successor.Pietersen missed the Champions Trophy and now he is back at the top of the order it may prove that his return creates a tussle for places among Bell, Trott and Root. With Eoin Morgan, Cook and Ravi Bopara all likely to feature in a first-choice top six, there could well be a high-profile omission over the coming months.

Ashley Giles’ view

Michael Vaughan’s calls for a refund for spectators

It’s harsh. I think it was said in haste by Michael. It’s an exciting side to come and watch. Kevin Pietersen is here and Michael Carberry is an exciting batsman at the top of the order. Then you go Trott, Root, Morgan Bopara, Finn: there are some good names to watch. Then you have the youngsters. I’d hope the cricketing public would want us to bring through some of our young cricketers and expose them to what is the almost the harshest of environments, which is playing Australia.

Samit Patel and Ravi Bopara

Samit is obviously frustrated. Our balance has changed a little bit with Ravi batting at six and bowling. His record’s extremely good in one-day cricket and he’s done very well in this last few months. So whilst I can understand Samit’s frustrations i’d like to know where he gets into the side right now because we’ve got some very good cricketers in that eleven. He just needs to keep working hard, keep putting the figures on the board and working hard elsewhere as well.

Resting Ashes players

Obviously for the bowlers it’s mainly the physical wear of playing an Ashes series. That’s relevant to the batsmen as well. But there’s also the mental ware and tiredness. Bell has had an amazing series. He has been out in the middle for most of the series. And you can’t underestimate the amount of wear there is on Cook as captain. So we felt it right that those two guys had a break this series and come back fresh for the second Ashes series.

Giles on Overton and Jordan

Just having them around the group is really beneficial to the coaches and to them for the experience. Overton is raw but has pace and he’s aggressive and fits with our profile of big, tall nasty fast bowlers. Jordan had also been impressive, he bowls and can bat and fields everywhere. They are two very promising cricketers coming through the ranks. We had to rest two of our senior bowlers with back-to-back Ashes coming up and it’s a great opportunity to look at these young guys.

But it was not the selection of the squad as much as the selection of the team that was controversial at Old Trafford. By picking a team with Ben Stokes batting at No. 8 and performing the role of third seamer, England left themselves light on bowling options and subsequently conceded 315. Stokes remains, at present, a batting allrounder, and is currently being asked to fulfil a different role in international cricket to the one with which he is familiar in domestic cricket.However Ashley Giles, England’s limited-overs coach, justified the decision and the balance of the side. Admitting that the two Ashes series took priority, he reiterated the desire to use this series to learn more about their most promising players.”Obviously we want to win the series,” Giles said. “We always get upset when we lose. But there are other successes to be had. With an inexperienced bowling attack and someone like Carberry at the top of the order, we’ve had an opportunity to look at some young players.”In our strategic objectives right now we’ve got back to back Ashes. We’ve got to get through these two Ashes series, we want to win both series, and of course once we get into the new year we move that focus more towards the World Cup. So, at the moment, while it’s always frustrating to any coach that you can’t have your best side in the middle the reasoning’s absolutely spot on. We’ve got to look after our best players while looking at the next generation coming through.””If we came through the series and they had some success and they have moved on and improved, it gives us a much greater pools of players to look at with the 2015 World Cup in mind. Experience against this Australia side is hugely valuable for them and for us looking at players.”A great example would be Ben Stokes, who is playing in our side as a third seamer. His bowling has improved a huge amount over the past 12 months and his one-day record is improving as well. He has the potential to be a genuine all-rounder.”Him playing in that role – and I think he has already improved game on game – should be a great advantage to us and him. I’m not sure batting at eight and bowling is a role he will play down the line, but the experience of what he is doing right now is going to be hugely valuable.”Otherwise the balance is what we played in the Champions Trophy when we were very successful. Against New Zealand we played five specialist bowlers and it didn’t really work. That’s when we brought Ravi back into the side since when he has had a fantastic run in the team so I don’t believe we are just fiddling overs.”But when you have inexperience you are going to have to suffer some pain to get some gain and that’s a little bit of what we are looking at. Saying that there is no reason why this team can’t win these games of cricket.There have been suggestions from the likes of former England captain Michael Vaughan that, such is the weakened state of this England team, the ECB should offer refunds to those who have bought tickets for these ODIs. But the argument for rest and rotation is overwhelming and, in the not too distant future, it may well be that it is the likes of Stokes and Jamie Overton that most excite spectators. This series is providing a peak into England’s ODI future.