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Aston Villa made two signings during the winter window which could define their season.

Bringing in both Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford on temporary deals until the end of 2024/25 is turning into a masterstroke by manager Unai Emery.

Asensio has already scored seven goals in just 12 matches for Villa, including three in the Champions League. If he maintains this type of form, the club have a great chance of ending their 28-year wait for a major trophy.

Rashford may not have opened his account for the club yet, but four assists and an England re-call prove he is still contributing effectively.

How Marcus Rashford got back in the England squad

When Thomas Tuchel announced his first England squad nearly two weeks ago there were some surprises. Among them was Rashford.

The Villa loanee has caught the eye since moving to the Midlands but hasn’t exactly played regular football. Either way, Tuchel likes what he sees and brought him back into the national set-up. But, why was that?

Well, Rashford’s finest game for Villa came against Chelsea in the Premier League last month and it perhaps gave us an inkling as to why he’s now back on the biggest of stages; the international scene.

Not only did he provide two assists in the eventual 2-1 victory for the club, but the Englishman also attempted four dribbles – succeeding with two – along with making three key passes, creating two big chances and completing 15 of his 16 attempted passes.

It was a joy seeing him perform to his best after struggling during the first half of the season at Manchester United.

The deal, which saw him move to the Midlands on loan, also includes an option to buy for a fee in the region of £40m. If he continues to impress, Emery may well spend the money to keep Rashford permanently.

However, might the club be brewing their homegrown version of the United loanee?

Meet Aston Villa's homegrown Marcus Rashford

There have been plenty of top young talents to walk through the academy at Villa in recent years, Jack Grealish and Jacob Ramsey chief among them.

In The Pipeline

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

The next superstar off the production line could be Cole Brannigan who has a bright future in the game.

The left-winger made waves throughout the 2023/24 campaign for the club. Not only did he score four goals in 20 games in the U18 Premier League, but he also grabbed three assists in the process.

Brannigan then signed his first professional contract last summer with Academy Manager Mark Harrison heaping praise on the teenager

He said: “We have been really pleased with how Cole has developed over the past 12 months, and this is a great reward for his development. He is a skilful wide attacking player who is creative in the final third.”

Competition

Games

Goals

FA Youth Cup

4

2

U18 Premier League

18

9

Premier League 2

2

0

UEFA Youth League

1

0

EFL Trophy

1

0

These comments have worked wonders for his confidence this term. The Irishman has played 19 games across several of the Villa youth teams, including U18s, U21s and the Youth League side, scoring 11 goals while registering two assists.

His ability to play across several positions in the final third naturally draws comparisons with Rashford. His eye for goal is also another key similarity.

The 17-year-old might not be in the first-team picture at this moment in time, but surely it won’t be long until Emery begins to take notice of his potential.

Should the £40m prove too expensive to sign Rashford in the summer, Brannigan could well turn out to be the club’s homegrown version of the 27-year-old. That’s a certainty.

Aston Villa's "world-class" star is already becoming Emery's new Duran

Aston Villa may have already found their next Duran with this “world-class” ace

1 ByConnor Holden Mar 14, 2025

A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and drug driving after multiple fans were driven into during Liverpool's trophy parade.

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11 people remain in hospitalMan arrested by police50 people were treatedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Merseyside police have confirmed that a 53-year-old man from West Derby has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, drug driving, and dangerous driving offences after a car was driven into fans at Liverpool's title parade. A total of 50 people were treated for injuries, while 11 remain in hospital.

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has reported that police are investigating whether the car involved tailgated an ambulance to find its way onto Water Street, which was closed to accommodate revellers along Liverpool's parade route. The ambulance had been waved through the cordon to treat a suspected heart attack.

DID YOU KNOW?

The police are not said to be treating the incident as terror-related. The man is still in custody and is being interviewed by police.

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Inquiries will continue, with an extensive investigation underway. That includes tracing the car's movements in the lead-up to the ramming.

Ten months on from career-threatening injury, bristling innings answers critics in emphatic style

Andrew Miller21-Jul-2023For some cricketers, the agony of missing out on an Ashes century would be hard to endure. For Jonny Bairstow, however, the raw emotion that went into his stunning innings of 99 not out from 81 balls on the third afternoon at Old Trafford meant that his final numbers mattered not a jot. For Bairstow has fought back from genuine, career-threatening agony in the past year, and at the close of play he let it all pour out in a heartfelt pitch-side interview.”You just don’t know how bad it’s going to be. It could have ended my career,” Bairstow told Sky Sports’ Ian Ward, as he recalled the horrific slip on a golf course last September that brought an abrupt end to the most extraordinary season of his career, and left him instead with a leg that was broken in three places, plus a dislocated ankle and associated ligament damage.A less bloodyminded cricketer than Bairstow might not have even contemplated such a hard-fought comeback, let alone succeed in returning to action in time to take part in one of the most hotly anticipated Ashes series of recent memory. The fact that he did so as wicketkeeper, after the stunning impact of his batting replacement Harry Brook, was an extra burden.At times in the series, it has visibly weighed him down, with a succession of missed chances behind the stumps leading to speculation about his place for this Test. But, after plucking an outstanding one-handed chance off Mitchell Marsh in Australia’s first innings, he rode that confidence into a formidable display of power-hitting at the back-end of England’s reply, with his ten fours and four sixes helping to extend their lead to a daunting 275.”I’ve got nine pins, and a wire that goes through my ankle, and I’ve had nine months out,” he said. “I’m still only 10 months post-operation right now. So when you speak to the surgeon and he says ‘I’m surprised you’re walking and running, never mind playing professional sport’, I’m delighted to be where I’m at.”There’s times when there’s aches and pains and people are saying you’re limping, well, yeah, I am at times, because there’s a lot going on in the ankle, and other bits that people won’t understand. It’s been a rollercoaster. There’s been a lot that’s happened in those nine months. And to come out and take the field again, with a group of boys that I care a heck of a lot about, is a special place for me to be.”Asked about his struggles behind the stumps, Bairstow acknowledged that his lack of playing time had been a massive factor.”There’s been a couple I’ve put down. I’ve not kept wicket for three years,” he said. “I played a couple of games for Yorkshire, then straight into an Ashes series. I didn’t bat against Ireland because the boys played unbelievably well. I’m delighted as to where I am. From a physical point of view, it’s taken a heck of a lot of graft.”But you know what I’m like, you know my personality. It’s not for a lack of trying. I’m very, very proud of every time that I walk out and put on an England shirt, whether it be in a Test match or an ODI or a T20. I’m a proud, proud guy and it means a lot to me, and to get back and be available for selection for the Ashes is something that makes me immensely proud.”I couldn’t have done it without my friends and family, and all the support that they’ve given me throughout the winter. I’m just pleased to be playing. That’s exactly what it’s about. The people that have got your back, the people that are there through thick and thin.”That dressing room is so solid,” he said, gesturing at the England balcony. “We’ve got a special group of players in there, and a group of players that’ll fight tooth and nail for each other, and we’ve seen over the last 12-18 months, the direction that we want to go as a group.”I don’t think that’s changed throughout the series. Our approach has been questioned at times by you guys, but we’ve stuck to our guns all the way through. That’s exactly how we played our cricket ever since Ben [Stokes] came in charge of the side, and that’s what we’re sticking by. We’ve not taken a backward step, no matter who we’ve come up against. Whether that’s right or wrong, we’ll continue to do that because, there’s a bigger picture that’s been spoken about, with the game of Test cricket.”On his tactics on the day, Bairstow acknowledged that his own experience of being a wicketkeeper had helped him to judge which deliveries he could safely steal a bye and get his partner James Anderson off strike, and added of his own hitting options with Australia’s fielders set back on the rope: “When you’re downwind, you’ve got to go up.”With the squares as they are the moment, you’ve got to try and hit it as hard as you can across the square and let the rest happen. We’re fortunate to play on good pitches and the outfield has been quick, so it’s just a case of trying to pick the biggest gap and trying to hit it as hard as you can.”Related

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Speaking afterwards on Sky Sports, Nasser Hussain remarked that Bairstow had been “ticking” throughout his innings, and credited Stokes for reading the situation perfectly after lunch. Instead of declaring with England nine-down and Bairstow unbeaten on 49 from 50 balls, he trusted his team-mate to keep attacking a tiring Australian attack and building England’s lead with the sort of statement innings that he tends to produce when he’s got a point to prove.”Everyone thinks that I play better when people go at me, it gets a bit tiresome to be honest with you,” Bairstow insisted. “I’ve played a lot of cricket now and to be keep being told that you’re rubbish. Well, if I was that was that rubbish. I wouldn’t have played 94 games …”I’ve been happy [with my form],” he added, obliquely referencing the controversy at Lord’s where his stumping on the final day of the match opened the door for Australia’s second victory. “There’s been a couple of interesting dismissals during the series … but it’s only a couple games ago that I got 70-odd, so it is what it is.”That’s part and parcel of the way that I want to play my cricket. I want to go out and enjoy it. I want to go out and entertain. People will have comments on the way that I bat, they always have done. That’ll carry on, but you can leave them to their comments, and I’ll just keep on doing what I’ll do in the middle.”On the Lord’s controversy, Bairstow stated: “I don’t have a view”. However, he acknowledged he had been extra mindful of staying in his crease throughout his innings at Old Trafford. “I’ve done that all series since that happened,” he added. “You’ve just got to be careful on those things, haven’t you.”It wasn’t the way that I wanted to be out down at Lord’s, but that’s part and parcel. We’ve seen it on other occasions, and I’ve even heard about it now in club cricket. That’s not necessarily what you want to be hearing about, when you’re looking at young kids coming up. You play it tough, you play it fair, and on a different day, it doesn’t happen but it is what it is.”

“The way this group has played for the last two years – or probably longer – is a credit to everyone,” Mitchell Starc says

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jun-20231:54

What makes Boland so lethal?

Pat Cummins, Australia captain: “We made the most of [losing the toss]. We were certainly going to have a bowl. But yeah, the way Travis [Head] and Smithy [Steven Smith] put on the partnership, we saw a little bit of comfort after a pretty nervy morning. He [Head] has been brilliant throughout this whole campaign. It started with the Ashes a couple of years ago. He just puts the pressure right back on the bowlers, and suddenly you’re thinking about how to contain runs rather than trying to take wickets. He was fantastic. We left day one feeling like we were on top of the game, mainly down to those two guys. Yeah, [our bowling attack was] fantastic. Scotty Boland is now my favourite player. He always has been, but he just continues to be my favourite. Yeah, everyone just did their role really well. Again, coming off a bit of a break for most of us, when it counted everyone kind of switched on and got a key breakthrough. We’ll savour this [win] for a few days before we turn our attention [to the Ashes]. [The interest in Test cricket is] huge. You ask anyone in our change room – it’s obviously our favourite format. We grew up watching Test cricket. We love it. It challenges you in more ways than any other format. And I think when you’re winning in this format, you get the most satisfaction. It’s here to stay. We love playing, and you saw the turnout this week. It’s been fantastic.”Related

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Travis Head, Player of the Match: “You come here and you get a week and you have to prep and it’s probably hard to imagine, but a lot of hard work [has been put in] over two years – so it’s been nice. Yeah, that [playing positively] has been the approach for those two years, I guess. I wanted to be able to be proactive and score for them, and then when they bowl in nice areas, be good enough to stay out there for long periods of time. I was tested throughout the whole innings. I knew that coming in, so had an eye for what plans are going to come. So, it’s nice to be out there for a period of time as well as [bat] with Smudge [Steven Smith]. It was, it was an amazing week. I guess I’ve always had the confidence. It’s probably been [about] going out there and expressing that, it took me some time, and everyone goes through those periods of their blueprint and first-class cricket and Test cricket and what needs to change. I’ve always been open to change; always been open for learning and always been committed to knowing I have to do things differently as you step up. That’s somewhat of a blueprint and it’s not always going to work. Will try to be as consistent as I possibly can for the team on field [and] off field. It’s nice to work out in such a big game and hopefully, that continues in the next couple of months. Last night, there were a lot of what-ifs, and we came this morning knowing exactly what you said: [in] the last two years we’ve had some moments [where] we’ve had to grind out. You look over a lot of the Test matches over the last few years we’ve come across moments where we’ve sort of bedded down and doubled down on our plans. We were able to do that again today and [we] double down on them and reap the rewards.”Pat Cummins walks off the field after winning the World Test Championship•AFP/Getty ImagesMitchell Starc: “We were patient enough and the wickets came to us. They’re a quality line-up, and we had to be patient to get those breakthroughs and the whole bowling attack today was fantastic. Yeah, you need that little run of the green [Steven Smith’s catch to dismiss Virat Kohli] and to have him in the slips is fantastic. He pulled off another stunner along with Greeny [Cameron Green] through the game. So, those little moments there can tend to be the difference and particularly to get the wicket of Kohli, that was fantastic for us and really set us on our way. Particularly, the way he [Ajinkya Rahane] played in the first innings with [Shardul] Thakur as well; they put [up] a nice partnership, and we knew we couldn’t just take the foot off the gas there. Look, we stuck with it and stayed patient enough. We knew if we stuck to our areas long enough, we could get chances and fortunately enough, we got them quickly. Yeah, this group has been fantastic for a long time and we ourselves got a few goals along the way, particularly the last series in India, which didn’t go our way, but this [WTC final] was the next in line. I mean the way this group has played for the last two years or probably longer is a credit to everyone who has taken part in this wider group – players and staff – and we will enjoy this together this afternoon and then push on for the Ashes. Obviously, just coming off that Test series [in India], not too long ago, both sides are very familiar with one another. Obviously, a number of guys [play] in the IPL as well. So, to play each other on a neutral territory…I think it has been a fantastic Test match and fantastic cricket to watch. We’re going to enjoy this moment as a group and obviously, Nathan [Lyon] is going to enjoy himself too.”1:46

Haddin: Boland’s natural length really effective in England

Scott Boland: “Yeah, it was good fun. It was nice to come over here for our bowling group and take 20 wickets. Probably hit similar areas all the time and there was sort of a little bit of bounce outside the off stump, so tried to exploit that. Yeah, it [dismissing Kohli] was nice. Pretty good to get Kohli out and get two [wickets] in an over. Smudge [Steven Smith] today and Green took some blinders throughout the game as well, so nice to get the confidence. I wouldn’t say that [taking wickets for fun]. I’ve been playing state cricket for Victoria for about 12 years, so I’ve done some hard work and it’s nice to play international cricket and get some wickets. Yeah, it [the Ashes series] should be good, next Friday we will start. I’m really looking forward to it.”Steven Smith: “Yeah, I think it’s a great achievement for this group. We’ve played some really good cricket over the last two years to firstly get to this situation to play a final against India, who have also been exceptional over the last two years. So, I think it’s fitting to be in this game and I think the way we played this week was outstanding. On the first day, we just got us into a nice position and Trav [Travis Head] obviously played exceptionally well and I watched him do his work at the other end. I sort of played second fiddle and from that first day, we sort of controlled the game, I suppose, and there were probably glimpses where we allowed them to come back in with a few unforced errors. But all throughout, we felt we were in reasonable control. We know how good Virat is. He’s an exceptional player and he’s very dangerous, particularly when chasing totals. I thought the spell this morning from Scott Boland was outstanding. He beat the bat a couple of times and he was hitting great areas. To fortunately take the edge and for the catch to sit safely in the hands was nice and we knew we needed that wicket. And then to get [Ravindra] Jadeja as well in the same over as well was a huge moment. He has also scored a lot of runs against us recently, so that set us up for the morning and then things happened pretty quickly from there.”

Graeme van Buuren was 48 not out in an unbroken 77-run stand with debutant against Derbyshire

ECB Reporters Network13-Sep-2023Ed Middleton marked his first class debut with a composed innings to ensure Gloucestershire of a draw on the final day of the LV= Insurance County Championship match with Derbyshire at the Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol.After bowling their opponents out for 403 from an overnight 398 for 9, the hosts had slipped to 131 for 6 in their second innings, a precarious lead of 105, when 22-year-old Middleton walked out to join skipper Graeme van Buuren.Together the pair snuffed out any hope of a Derbyshire victory, Middleton making 39 and van Buuren 48 in an unbroken stand of 77 that saw their side to 208 for 6 at the close. Off-spinner Alex Thomson finished with 4 for 79.The result left both teams without a Championship win this season. They had to settle for 11 points apiece from a largely forgettable encounter.A draw looked long odds-on favourite at the start of play, with Derbyshire leading by 21 with only one first-innings wicket hand. They were able to add just five runs before last man Pat Brown fell leg before to Zafar Gohar.Skipper Leus du Plooy was left unbeaten on 108, having taken his Championship run tally for the season to 1,160 at an average of 89.23, while Gohar’s wicket gave him figures of 5 for 122.The pitch had offered little assistance to the seamers all match and there were few problems for Gloucestershire openers Chris Dent and Ben Charlesworth in taking the second-innings score to 31 in ten overs before Derbyshire turned to spin in the shape of left-armer Mark Watt.The hosts looked intent on batting out the day and the stand had been extended to 68 before Charlesworth was bowled by Watt for 27 attempting a reverse sweep. Gloucestershire suffered another setback from the last ball before lunch when James Bracey, on eight, pushed forward to Thomson and edged to Wayne Madsen at first slip.At 83 for 2, the home side were 57 ahead. The third ball after the interval saw Chris Dent, who had played well for his 38, bowled between bat and pad by Watt with a ball that turned from outside the left-hander’s off stump.Derbyshire sensed an opportunity. Miles Hammond had made only 12 when well caught low down by Harry Came at second slip off Thomson. And when first-innings centurion Ollie Price became the second Gloucestershire player to be dismissed reverse sweeping, top edging a catch to short leg via a deflection off wicketkeeper Brooke Guest, the scoreboard read 111 for 5.That became 131 for 6 when Gohar swept a comfortable catch to Pat Brown at backward square to give Thomson his fourth wicket and Gloucestershire were in danger of self-destructing. They led by only 105 with a possible 43 overs left in the day’s play.Fortunately for the hosts, 22-year-old Middleton was ready to adopt a more textbook approach to trying to save the game against a turning ball, taking few risks and producing the shot of the day with a straight driven boundary off seamer Brown.By tea, he and van Buuren had taken the total to 169 for 6 and, while not entirely out of the woods, Gloucestershire led by a more healthy 143 with 32 overs remaining. A shortened final session saw the pair able to play with more freedom in bright sunshine.By the time the players shook hands at 4.20pm, van Buuren had led from the front, facing 100 balls and hitting six fours, while Exeter-born Middleton emerged with equal credit from a 91-ball innings also featuring six boundaries.Ultimately, the only winner was a largely docile pitch that made it a tough four days for bowlers on both sides in what was often energy-sapping heat.

Suspended Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk is in line for a surprise return to action next month after not featuring for over a year, according to reports.

Mykhailo Mudryk banned for positive drugs test

Mudryk’s absence from Chelsea’s first-team setup has now exceeded twelve months, with the Ukrainian international last appearing competitively on November 28 last year before his career ground to a dramatic halt.

The 24-year-old tested positive for meldonium, a performance-enhancing substance prohibited under anti-doping regulations.

Following confirmation of his B sample analysis in June, the FA formally charged Mudryk, leaving him facing a potential ban ranging between two and four years if found guilty.

Throughout the ordeal, Mudryk has maintained complete innocence, and even voluntarily undertook a lie detector test which supported his version of events.

Ukrainian sports journalists have theorised that contaminated stem cell treatment administered during international duty may explain the adverse finding, suggesting the injection originated from cattle previously exposed to meldonium.

Chelsea sanctioned the record £88.5 million transfer from Shakhtar in January 2023, initially viewing him as a transformative attacking signing after hijacking Arsenal’s deal.

However, his Stamford Bridge career proved underwhelming even before the suspension materialised, with inconsistent performances failing to justify the enormous investment.

The club reassigned his prestigious number ten shirt to Cole Palmer following Mudryk’s suspension, signalling their acceptance of a prolonged absence.

Chelsea also reinforced their attacking options by striking deals for Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens in the summer, further blocking any potential pathway back into Enzo Maresca’s plans.

Estevao 2.0: Chelsea looking to sign "one of South America's biggest jewels"

Chelsea could pick up their next Estevao.

By
Kelan Sarson

3 days ago

Reports have suggested that, once Mudryk is eligible to play again, Chelsea could allow the forward to join sister club Strasbourg on loan in a bid to reignite his career.

Mykhailo Mudryk in line for January return as Sevilla eye Chelsea loan deal

Now, according to journalist JM Villalba and Canal Sur Radio, that eligibility could be as early as next month.

Speaking to the Spanish broadcaster, Villalba has reported that Mudryk will be able to play again after January 17, and this has piqued interest from La Liga side Sevilla.

The club are considering a deal for Mudryk once he comes back midway through next month, which is a surprise when factoring in how very little we’ve heard about the winger’s return timeline.

If Mudryk is indeed eligible for a January renaissance, BlueCo should certainly green-light a temporary move away for him.

He quite simply needs game time and renewed confidence following the lengthy layoff, controversy and serious drop down Maresca’s pecking order, with the Spanish top flight potentially providing that needed reintroduction to competitive action.

That being said, it should be a dry loan with no option or obligation to buy, with Chelsea poised to make a key decision about Mudryk’s long-term future.

He still has six years remaining on his current contract, giving the Blues plenty of time to do so.

With their summer business officially underway courtesy of Antonio Cordero, Newcastle United and Eddie Howe are now reportedly ready to make their first approach to sign a big-money Premier League winner.

Newcastle confirm Antonio Cordero arrival

Starting as they mean to go on, Newcastle confirmed Cordero’s arrival from Malaga last week. The young Spaniard is set to officially arrive on 1 July when his current contract expires and he becomes free to complete his move to Tyneside.

After putting pen to paper, the young winger told the club website: “It’s truly an honour to be here, truly a pleasure. I am a person who likes to aspire high. Why not come to one of the best places in the world to do it. It’s a big step, and that’s one of the reasons I’m here. I’m happy to do it and have a great desire to get going already.”

Meanwhile, in what is likely to be one of his final acts as sporting director, Paul Mitchell welcomed Cordero to the club, saying: “Antonio is an exciting talent. We’re delighted to bring him to Newcastle United amidst interest in Spain and across Europe. He has lots of potential, and the next phase of his development will be for the club to select a loan move that will challenge him and build on his experiences.”

Following an impressive start to the summer, it seems as though the Magpies are only just getting started. Recent reports have indicated that they’ve already made an enquiry to sign Nottingham Forest star Anthony Elanga and Brighton’s Joao Pedro as they look to make up for missing out on Bryan Mbeumo.

Attacking reinforcements seem to be top of their wishlist too, with Howe now reportedly ready to make his first approach to sign a Premier League winner this summer.

Howe and Newcastle ready to make Grealish approach

According to The Sun, Howe is now ready to personally make an approach to sign Jack Grealish on loan from Manchester City as he looks to help the England international revive his career courtesy of Newcastle.

The midfielder was dropped by Pep Guardiola on the final day of the season and reports have since revealed that he could miss out on a place in Manchester City’s Club World Cup squad as the exit door swings open.

The next move is key for Grealish with the World Cup coming up next summer and Thomas Tuchel recently making it clear that he needs to be back playing every week if he is to work his way back into the England squad.

£50m star so close to joining Newcastle his club are lining up replacement

The Magpies are reportedly closing in on a statement signing…

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By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jun 8, 2025

The Three Lions boss told reporters: “He is never shy of pressure. It’s the opposite. He grows in big matches but he’s a player who needs minutes and minutes and minutes and simply does not get them for a very long time. That’s basically everything. Nothing has changed.”

With that said, if any side can offer the former Aston Villa star that and cover his hefty £16m-a-year salary, it may well be Newcastle this summer.

He took over during a crisis, but has helped script a series of successful mini-chapters

Shashank Kishore02-Oct-2024Sri Lanka have been on an unprecedented high. The team hasn’t looked in a better shape than they are currently, having come off a historic first-ever series win in England followed by the Asia Cup triumph.There’s boisterous energy around the group that stems from “having walked the talk” in the words of Rumesh Ratnayake, their head coach, ahead of their women’s T20 World Cup opener against Pakistan in Sharjah.In February 2023, weeks before the previous T20 World Cup in South Africa, Ratnayake was summoned from the academy to steer a team that appeared to have been stuck in a rut of insipid results and lack of direction within the leadership. Ratnayake wasn’t sure if he’d continue for long, but a week of being with the team convinced him there was enough to work with.Related

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Shafali: 'I get good sleep' when India win

Sri Lanka’s upset of South Africa on the opening night in Cape Town was mere validation of his intuition. It set the ball rolling for a fruitful association that has seen several successful mini-chapters along the way. Like the Asia Cup and England triumph.The SLC mandate when he took over was “do it your way.” Ratnayake explains he was big on inclusivity. “By that, I mean involving everyone in decision making, not merely me giving instructions and them following,” he explains. “This included all staff as well as playing members. It was never like ‘this is my way of doing.'”Everyone had to show the same level of commitment and fit into the culture we wanted to create. We’ve come a long way since, but it’s an ongoing process. We made them believe first that they could grow. For that, along with skill enhancement it needed a commitment to fitness. We’ve worked towards achieving that.”Ratyanake had to hit the ground running, having little time to familiarize himself with the group. It wasn’t ideal, but he had the complete backing of Chamari Athapaththu, the captain, and SLC. The women’s setup, in a way, has been a deviation from the norm: of coaches coming and going. And recent results are merely a byproduct of that faith and continuity.”We have a good leader in Chamari. I also had the backing of the board, which was huge,” he says. “The entire group also quickly bought in to the direction we wanted to take. And it was to be fearless, and not take the safe way. Not being intimidated by the bigger teams.”A team like New Zealand for example, anyone would be overawed by their build. But we knew cricket’s not a game of physicality. It’s about skills, execution and mindset. You can win with smart options. We spoke about what those smart options were. Mind you, it was a hard road. It certainly wasn’t as easy as people picture it to be.”Taking good decisions in the middle when you have little time to decide involves training in a certain way. We’ve tried to take fear out of the minds. After almost two years now, I can say that it certainly happened in a way which now makes it seem like a picture-perfect walk.”Ratyanake’s primary goal in his time as coach is to develop players. It annoyed him that the team’s chances were always dependent on Athapaththu. “When I came into the system, when Chamari did well, Sri Lanka did well. There’s truth to it no doubt, but it sort of ignited me to make sure others elevate their standards to get to where Chamari had.”When I came into the system, when Chamari did well, Sri Lanka did well. There’s truth to it”•Sri Lanka Cricket”So, in every aspect, especially in batting, we made plans, specific scenarios we worked on at training. We worked on what we wanted to achieve and how we were going to. I’m not saying we’re fully close to it yet, but yes, we are somewhat there, where we can say, even if Chamari fails one particular day, there are others who can win games for us.”Ratyanake exudes cautious optimism around Sri Lanka’s chances. He knows they’re in the “stronger group.” And the only way to think they can progress is by thinking “every game is a final.””We want to win those moments,” he says. “We want to concentrate on building a set of small moments together. We’ve tried to instill that into our thinking. This is a very happy bunch of players. They’re united and looking after each other. That’s something you can’t instill; it has to come naturally. Aa coaches we’re fortunate to have that culture.”It’s huge for us. I believe they know their tasks to deliver at the right moment. But there’s no guarantee. And when we get the small things, we hope that we’ll do well to string them together to win the big moment.”

Mumbai play three of their four remaining games at home, while RCB only play one at home

S Rajesh08-May-2023Mumbai Indians

Royal Challengers Bangalore
With only 17 games left in the league stage, it’s still impossible to separate most of the teams on the IPL points table. Five are locked on 10 points eac, and two on eight each. The overall points distribution makes this one of the closest IPLs ever. The standard deviation, which is a measure of how dispersed or clustered a set of data is around the mean, for the points table this season is 2.366; only once in the previous 15 seasons has it been smaller after 53 games: 1.984 in 2020.With five teams on 10 points, every match that pits two of them against each other will have a huge bearing on the fortunes of the teams and the table. Tuesday’s match is one such, with Mumbai Indians locking horns with Royal Challengers Bangalore. Both teams are on 10 from 10 games, with net run rates that are quite close as well. Both teams also have games to come against Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad.One crucial difference, though, is that Mumbai have three home games to come, compared to just one for Royal Challengers. Both teams have 50-50 win-loss records at home this season, with Mumbai winning two and losing two and RCB winning three and losing three. Towards the business end of the tournament, however, more home games might yet prove to be a crucial advantage for Mumbai Indians.Sixteen points is said to be the magic number for qualification, but as things stand, as many as six teams can finish on 16 or more points. That means the winner on Tuesday will still have plenty of work to do, though it will still be a significant step towards qualification.On the other hand, if a couple of teams – Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings – break away from the pack with wins in their remaining games, then even 14 might be enough for qualification for two of the remaining teams. For instance, the loser of Tuesday’s game can finish on 14 and still qualify even without net run rates coming into play.

Smith insisted he had not requested a move back down the order but rather just told Andrew McDonald his preference

Alex Malcolm21-Oct-20241:36

What’s the logic of moving Smith back down the order?

Steven Smith has said Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne “hated” him opening the batting in the Test team, and believes it was a key driver behind his return to No. 4, but has insisted he did not request the move and would have continued to open if asked to.Australia’s chair selectors George Bailey confirmed last week that Smith would not be opening against India saying Smith “had expressed a desire to move back down from that opening position” and that captain Pat Cummins and Andrew McDonald had made the decision.McDonald stated on ABC Radio at the weekend that he and Cummins were the key decision-makers in the move, playing down Smith’s influence.Related

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Smith wanted it on the record that he had not explicitly requested to move back to No. 4 but had rather been asked by McDonald what his preferred batting spot was. He also added that Khawaja and Labuschagne had both expressed their discontent at him opening.”I got asked where I’d prefer to bat, and I said four. I didn’t ask [to move] though,” Smith said. “I also said I’m happy batting wherever. I’m not really too fussed. I got asked where my preference would be, and I said four. I saw a few things last week saying that I’ve requested to bat at four. That wasn’t the case. I said I’m happy to bat wherever you’d like me to bat but, yeah, four would be my ideal position.”Asked what had changed since earlier this year, he said: “Obviously there’s a spot there now with Greeny [Cameron Green] out. And I think just conversations we had after New Zealand with particularly Marnus and Uzzie, they hated me up top, to be honest. They wanted me behind them.”They just like the…they call it security behind them, in a way. They were pretty strong on me not batting there. So that was a big part of it. And then obviously, I’ve got a decent record at four.”It was good fun having a crack at something new, batting up top. I still feel like I could do a job there for sure. It was a pretty small sample size. But I’ve done pretty well at four for a number of years now. I feel like it’s probably where I can have my best input for this team at the moment.”Smith was set to move regardless of Green’s injury as the conversations had taken place prior to the limited-overs tour of England.He was asked whether he felt like he could have continued in the role longer term given his average of 28.50 in the four Tests in the job was not that bad as no opener averaged more than 32 across those four Tests.In his own style: Steven Smith leaves the ball alone•Getty Images”Honestly, I’m not that fussed,” Smith said. “I said it when I took that job, I’m not really fussed where I bat. The conversations I had with the other guys, they didn’t like it at all. They wanted some security, I suppose, behind them, where I’ve done really well for a number of years, and I can understand that as well. So it is what it is and I’m not going to be opening this summer. That’s it.”Smith made 3 off 29 balls for New South Wales against Victoria in his first red-ball innings since the New Zealand Test series in March and his first Sheffield Shield match since 2021.On a day when 15 wickets fell at the MCG in difficult batting conditions, Smith was upbeat about the innings despite being caught down the leg side off Fergus O’Neill.”I actually felt pretty good out there, to be honest, for the three that I scored strangely enough,” Smith said. “I felt like I was moving well. I was leaving well, and got a little bit unlucky with the one that sort of took off a little bit down the leg side. And that can happen. But I actually felt like I was getting in nice positions. My bat path was good and felt pretty good. So happy with that.”Meanwhile, Smith has been impressed with his limited time watching 19-year-old Sam Konstas who was lbw after 10 balls on the second day at the MCG”He got a bit unlucky there I reckon,” Smith said. “It looked like it might have been just darting down leg a little bit. I haven’t seen a lot of him. I would have liked to have seen a bit more of him out here in the middle for sure. But from what I have seen in the nets, he’s got a lot of time.Steven Smith threw in Nic Maddinson’s name as a potential opening option•Getty Images”He’s very organised. He plays fast bowling and spin well from what I’ve seen in the brief couple of times I’ve seen him bat, it’s looked really good. He’s a bright prospect. We’ve got to remember he’s only 19 as well so you he’s got plenty of time. But what I’ve seen so far, it looks promising”He’s got all the makings to definitely be a really good Test player. That’s for sure. Whether it’s now or in the future, time will tell.”Smith also threw Nic Maddinson’s name in the mix as a possible candidate to open the batting for Australia against India given he is a similar type of player to David Warner.”There’s a few really good candidates, guys that have, done really well the last few years,” Smith said. “[Cameron] Bancroft and the usual suspects that have been talked about. Maddo I think is also another really good candidate. He’s had a good couple of years. If you’re looking for someone similar to a Davey replacement, he gets after the ball and can score really quickly.”So he’s someone who probably hasn’t been spoken about a great deal from all you guys in the last little bit, but I think he’s someone that could definitely play test cricket and have a similar impact to what Davey sort of had at the top, the way he plays. So plenty of options. We’ll wait and see.”