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Bhuvneshwar Kumar and MS Dhoni added an unbroken 100, an Indian record for the eighth wicket, to turn the tables on Sri Lanka and lead India to a three-wicket win

The Report by Alagappan Muthu24-Aug-20171:59

Agarkar: India had two guys with the right temperament

His name is Akila Dananjaya. He is supposed to be an offspinner but his nimble fingers can do what they want to the ball. One minute in 2012, he was bowling in the nets, the next he was fast-tracked into the Sri Lanka team by no less a spotter of talent than Mahela Jayawardene, in a World T20 to boot. If that isn’t enough drama, on debut, he struck in his first over, and then got hit in the face by a cricket ball. If his career had ended then, he would still have felt it was a roller-coaster.Then came August 24, 2017. And even if it ended with victory for India by three wickets, he would never forget this rain-hit night.Twenty-three-years-old now, a day after getting married, Dananjaya took 6 for 54 and had one of the world’s mightiest batting line-ups looking at him like he was a ghost. Virat Kohli was bowled for 4, deceived in the manner he might once have been while playing backyard cricket while still a child. He cast a dumbstruck look at the pitch as he walked off but the demon wasn’t there. He was 22 yards away, smiling and whooping and dancing with a bunch of men who had put only 236 runs on the board, but felt they were on their way to defending it.MS Dhoni watched all of the revelry, typically expressionless. He had more important work to do, like reviving India’s chase, yet again.From 131 for 7, through sheer force of will and fiendish common sense, he marshalled India towards their target. He had advice for those who would listen, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, in the course of a record-breaking eighth-wicket partnership of 100, certainly did. Don’t get stuck on the back foot, said the master to his protégé. Stick with him, pleaded all of India as they turned to a familiar hero.Akila Dananjaya celebrates with his team-mates after snaring his sixth victim•Associated PressMost of the Dhoni innings that stick in the mind feature brutish strokes and calculated carnage. But with a small target defended by a set of bowlers that were on an almighty roll, a different type of innings was required. One that would fetch 45 runs off 68 deliveries at a strike-rate of 66.17 with only one boundary. He had denied Muttiah Muralitharan in 2011. He did the same to Dananjaya on Thursday.For one brief moment though, Sri Lanka thought they had glory. In the 35th over, with India 59 runs away, Vishwa Fernando produced a false shot from Dhoni and the ball trickled between his legs to hit the stumps. But the zing bails – heavier than the normal ones – wouldn’t fall. And neither would Dhoni. He and Bhuvneshwar brought the target down below 50, with a slog sweep for six. To 30, with back-to-back fours. Under 10, as both the sky and Sri Lanka’s hopes faded to black.It was so that Pallekele, which had gasped and swooned and howled and cried, had to go back home knowing their country had lost playing its 800th ODI. But there might well be a smile on their faces once the wound stops feeling so fresh. At long last, their prayers had been answered. They had found someone who could actually land the ball where an Indian batsman didn’t want it.There had been 329 runs and 44.2 overs between a Sri Lankan bowler taking a wicket on this tour. In the space of 15 balls, Dananjaya had four. By his fifth over, he had a five-for. Where was he all this time? Why hasn’t he been playing every match for his country? Why would anyone hide a bowler who, on one of his days, rouses thousands of people up and make them forget woes which had seemed all-consuming only last weekend?Bhuvneshwar Kumar posted his maiden ODI half-century and led India’s chase•Associated PressBut to do that, Dananjaya had to become a villain to a few people. Like Rohit Sharma, who had, until the 16th over, batted with such ease that he was playing any shot that popped into his mind, like a scoop against the express pace of Dushmantha Chameera. In the blink of an eye, he had scored one-sixth of the 37 runs he had made over his last 10 ODIs on the island. Then he had to face an offspinner. He saw a good length ball pitching on middle and leg and thought it ripe to sweep. After all, it would be turning further down leg. Except, it didn’t. It couldn’t. It was a legbreak. It spun the other way and pinned the man who dared to make 264 against Sri Lanka right in front. India were 109 for 1 in the 16th over.Up the order came Kedar Jadhav. He was previously earmarked to be a finisher, but India wanted to experiment in this series. Only Frankenstein would not find the monster he was looking for this night. Dananjaya got back to his mark. He changed his grip; instead of the front two fingers gripping the ball, all of them wrapped around it. And after he trotted up to the crease, he released it from the back of his hand. Jadhav did not see it. But he sure as heck heard it crashing into middle stump.Proper legspiners would not have the control Dananjaya does. Nor would they have his ripping googly. He got four of his wickets with it – three of them bowled, all of them in the same over. Hardik Pandya handed him his third five-wicket haul in all representative cricket, blindly charging out of his crease to be stumped off an ugly shot.But such a special spell still ended up on the wrong side of a scorecard because Sri Lanka’s batsmen had let him down. Five of the top six faced at least 20 deliveries, and even Upul Tharanga, the man who missed out, got two scintillating boundaries. The pitch held no threat, the bowling wasn’t anything more than efficient, a more experienced team might have got through the tough stages to post a monumental total.Sri Lanka were certainly heading that way after being put in. They were coasting at 70 for 1 in the 14th over, but lurched to 121 for 5 in the 29th, and if it wasn’t for Milinda Siriwardana finally unveiling the composure and shot selection expected of an international batsman, who knows what the score might have been? The allrounder made a timely half-century – his third in the format – and lifted Sri Lanka to a total that came within three wickets of being enough.It wasn’t because of two India players who had the gumption to stay at the crease for longer than any of member of their opposition. And one of them was a No. 9, scoring his maiden fifty in ODIs.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly interested in Stuttgart defender Konstantinos Mavropanos, as rumours re-emerge linking the club and player.

Julen Lopetegui is facing an uphill battle this summer, admitting on the Old Gold’s pre-season tour that he is “worried” about his squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

With sales still expected to be made, the opportunity to bring in reinforcements may still arrive, with Mavropanos coming as an ideal acquisition for the Spaniard to seek.

Could Wolves sign Konstantinos Mavropanos?

As reported by The Sun, both Wolves and West Ham United are keeping tabs on the centre-back, with Serie A champions Napoli also mentioned with interest in the 25-year-old titan.

Valued around the €10m (£8.5m) mark by FootballTransfers, the former Arsenal man could be a cost-effective target for Lopetegui.

The Midlands club were linked with the Greek colossus in May (as per a report relayed by Sport Witness), which suggested that the club are particularly keen on the centre-back’s services.

How good is Konstantinos Mavropanos?

The 25-year-old has turned his fortunes around after departing Arsenal with just eight appearances in all competitions during his four-year tenure with the Gunners.

Signed by Arsene Wenger in 2018 as a 20-year-old from Greek side PAS Giannina, the centre-back managed 434 minutes for the north Londoners, however, his game time was little reflection of his performance.

Making his senior debut at Old Trafford in the Premier League, the defender was praised by club legend Ian Wright after the game as “fearless” and having the “exuberance of youth”.

Despite his time in England being that of an inconclusive nature, Mavropanos has found sanctuary in Germany, excelling at both Nuremberg and Stuttgart where he has established himself as a reliable figure in the back line.

For Wolves, interest in the former Arsenal starlet comes at an encouraging time, after the club parted ways with Nathan Collins, who sealed a £23m move to Brentford earlier in the window.

While the exchange made critical funds for the club, it left the squad short of a competent central defender, making the Greek target a favourable acquisition at this point in the summer.

The numbers registered by the 25-year-old show for positive reading, with the defender not only asserting himself as one of the best in his side but one of the best in Europe.

As per FBref, the 6 foot 4 commander ranked in the top 1% of centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues in terms of interceptions, recording a monstrous average of 2.48 per 90 over the past year.

Once lauded as a “gladiator” by former Stuttgart boss Pellegrino Matarazzo, for Lopetegui, the former Arsenal man could be the perfect replacement for Collins, who averaged a mere 1.04 interceptions per 90 in the Premier League last term in comparison to the Wolves target.

Mavropanos also bossed the Irishman in terms of his average rate of tackles per 90 in the Bundesliga, recording 1.97 per 90 to his 1.34 for the Old Gold last season.

Another area that the Greek international could benefit Molineux in Collins’ absence is his refreshing approach to progressive play, in which he averaged 4.72 progressive passes per 90 to the Brentford man's 3.18 in the Premier League, suggesting the improved outlet he could introduce to Lopetegui’s defence.

Wolves must make signings in order to compete next campaign, in Mavropanos, Molineux could welcome a reasonably priced asset with his prime years still ahead of him.

There has been an update regarding Manchester United's pursuit of Fiorentina midfielder, Sofyan Amrabat…

What's the latest on Amrabat to Man United?

According to transfer guru, Fabrizio Romano, the Red Devils are still pressing on in their desire to land the Moroccan international this summer, albeit with prior reports that a bid had been lodged for the 26-year-old having seemingly been "premature".

Writing on Twitter, the respected insider revealed: "Amrabat after friendly game: “I don’t know if I’m leaving… maybe I can stay here at Fiorentina”. Told there are no changes: Man Utd keep working on Amrabat and want him — but talks are on player side. No bid… yet.

"Reports about official bids last week were premature."

Read the latest [club] transfer news HERE…

While it would appear that an offer for the former Club Brugge ace has not yet been made by those at Old Trafford, the Daily Mail only recently reported that the 6 foot 1 maestro could cost in the region of £25m, having entered the final year of his contract in Florence.

How would Amrabat fit in at Man United?

While player sales may be needed prior to any deal for the Netherlands-born ace, it looks as if Fred could be on his way to Turkish giants, Galatasaray, while Donny van de Beek has caught the attention of La Liga outfit, Real Sociedad, thus ensuring that space could soon be available in the first-team squad at the Theatre of Dreams.

If Amrabat – who featured 50 times under Erik ten Hag during his prior stint at FC Utrecht – is to sign on the dotted line over the coming weeks, the Red Devils would be snapping up a combative and composed asset who could slot in nicely in the centre of the park.

Lauded as something of a "beast" by ESPN's Steve Nicol amid his strong form for his country at the World Cup last year, the £32k-per-week ace could potentially allow United's attacking talents to shine due to his defensive acumen, with Bruno Fernandes likely to be a notable beneficiary.

The latter man has been the undoubted creative hub for the Premier League side of late having created 32 big chances in the top-flight last season – more than any player in the division – proving himself a true master at providing quality service from his playmaking berth.

For the Portugal international to have a figure like Amrabat behind him could well prove to be a dream scenario, with the Fiorentina man having notably averaged 3.2 tackles and interceptions per game in Qatar as a sign of his knack for winning back possession – with that record not far off what Casemiro achieved in the league last season (4.4 tackles and interceptions per game).

Perhaps the 49-cap international's most notable attribute is his ball-playing quality from a deep-lying midfield berth, with that showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 5% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for pass completion, ensuring that the one-time Feyenoord man is not one to squander possession easily.

Equally, Amrabat could also be perfect for Fernandes due to his knack for playing incisive forward passes as he ranks in the top 8% for progressive passes, with that a sign that he regularly looks to find those ahead of him.

That could then benefit the United skipper – who previously joked about Fred's shortcomings on the ball, in contrast to former coach Michael Carrick – as he can regularly pick the ball up in dangerous areas to try and impact proceedings in the final third, with Ten Hag's chief chance creator likely to be able to do even more damage next season.

The PCB is set to take the BCCI to the ICC’s dispute resolution panel, with the two boards having failed to resolve their long-standing issue of not fulling their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on bilateral tours

Umar Farooq14-Sep-20171:47

‘We cannot force countries to tour’ – Richardson

The PCB is set to take the BCCI to the ICC’s dispute resolution panel, with the two boards having failed to resolve their long-standing issue of not fulfilling a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on bilateral tours. The matter was initially meant to be resolved through a “good faith negotiation”, but has dragged on with the boards not finding common ground. The PCB has also weighed up all legal options by hiring a UK-based law firm to take the matter to court if it cannot be settled in the corridors of the ICC.”This process which is under the aegis of the ICC has now reached its final point,” the PCB chairman Najam Sethi said, sitting beside the ICC CEO David Richardson on the sidelines of the second T20I between Pakistan and the World XI. “We’ve had our last meetings with India and the last one was under the chairmanship of [former BCCI president and current ICC chairman Shashank] Manohar. That process is over and the next stage will begin. We are in active consultation with our lawyers and I and others are recording our statements with our lawyers.”Within a month or two months at most, we will go back to the ICC – we have in fact written a letter already asking for the nomination of a three-member board that will look at all these issues. We have nominated one member already. This process is active and we intend to pursue it to its logical outcome.”According to the ICC’s terms of reference, both boards have to get into discussions to resolve a dispute amicably. A failure to find a solution within two months, however, would result in the matter being referred to the ICC dispute resolution panel, which will form a three-member board to hear the case. The decision of will be binding on all parties and cannot be appealed.The PCB and BCCI had signed an MoU in 2014 to play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023. Four of those series were to be hosted by Pakistan and the six series contained up to 14 Tests, 30 ODIs and 12 T20Is. The cycle was scheduled to start with Pakistan hosting two Tests and five ODIs at a mutually acceptable venue. But the MoU included the understanding that all series are subject to government approval and India’s, reportedly, is not keen to give the BCCI a go-ahead amid strained relations between the two countries.Both sides continue to play each other in multi-team events but have not played a full series since the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Pakistan visited India for a limited-overs series in December 2012, which was seen as a stepping stone to reviving cricketing ties between the countries, but there have been no bilateral meetings since amid further border tensions.The leadership of both boards, mediated by the ICC director Giles Clarke, made an attempt to arrange a series in December 2015 with Sri Lanka as a possible venue. But the BCCI remained unresponsive to the PCB and the series was scrapped without official confirmation from India. Pakistan, meanwhile, are set to skip their tour of India next year, with the PCB firm that the cycle of bilateral tours has to begin with them as hosts.Richardson said the ICC would play a facilitating role in trying to resolve the dispute.”As you know when it comes to ICC events there is no question – if India are drawn against Pakistan, they will play,” he said. “On the question of bilateral series between the countries, all bilateral series are agreed upon a bilateral basis. I understand that at the moment diplomatic relations between the two are not as rosy as they could be. For now anyway it seems the BCCI, without the positive affirmation from their government, don’t believe it is the time to play against Pakistan.”I know the PCB has been talking to the BCCI for a number of years to arrange tours with India, in Pakistan or neutral venues. The PCB have filed a complaint under the ICC dispute resolution process which is a mechanism we have to deal with any disputes between member countries. That process is a work in progress. At the moment ICC’s role in this is to facilitate in any dispute – we don’t like our members fighting with each other, being in dispute. We have a process to deal with it and we need to let it take its course.”Pakistan have been playing their home matches at neutral venues, mostly in the UAE, since the 2009 attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore. In 2015, Zimbabwe became the first international team to tour Pakistan since the attack. Now, players from seven major Test nations, along with the ICC, have joined hands to form a World XI team for the cause of bringing international cricket back to Pakistan. India is the only major country apart from Zimbabwe to not feature in the World XI team brought together and coached by Andy Flower.Richardson acknowledged the difficulties of including Indian players in the World XI.”You cannot ignore the political situation that is between India and Pakistan at the moment and the difficulties that might exist,” he said. “India is about to tour Australia and this tour was sandwiched between a very busy FTP [Future Tours Programme]. One of the reasons why many South Africans are in this team is because they haven’t been playing recently. In India’s case they genuinely are a very busy country. From a political point of view, obviously, if an Indian player would have been a part of this tour you can imagine the level of focus he would have attracted and the pressures it would have brought from the security point of view. I think Andy Flower and the PCB have taken a practical approach.”

Chris Nash has signed a three-year deal with Nottinghamshire after begin released by Sussex last week

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Nov-2017Chris Nash has signed for Nottinghamshire after begin released from his contract by Sussex last week. The 34-year-old has agreed a three-year deal to play at Trent Bridge.Nash’s departure at Sussex was followed by that of the head coach, Mark Davis, after a difficult season in which the south-coast county failed to achieve promotion. Nash will be playing in Division One next year, however, with Notts bouncing back after relegation in 2016. The club also won the Royal London Cup and NatWest Blast.The veteran batsman, who can also bowl useful offspin, will be reunited with former Sussex coach Peter Moores, who took over at Notts a year ago. Nash’s arrival will help offset the loss of Michael Lumb, who retired through injury midway through the season.”Once Notts came in after I’d had my request for release granted by Sussex – with my former coach Peter Moores here, at such a great ground and with what the club achieved last season – it was an easy decision for me,” Nash said.”It’s great to get the chance to work again with Peter, who gave me my first contract at Sussex, and I’m really looking forward to the next three years. To look out over Trent Bridge and realise that it’s going to be my home ground is pretty special.”It’s going to be amazing to be part of helping the club defend their two white ball trophies in front of big crowds. The Outlaws were sensational last season in white-ball cricket and I’m looking forward to joining in with that.”Nash had a stop-start campaign in 2017, averaging 27.52 and scoring just a single Championship hundred after moving down to bat in the middle order. His tally of 578 first-class runs was his worst since 2006 but he is vastly experienced and passed 1000 runs four times between 2009 and 2016, usually as an opener.He was also Sussex’s leading run-scorer in the Blast last season but, having been overlooked for the captaincy, asked to leave – a request which was granted as Rob Andrew, the chief executive, decided rebuilding was in order at Hove.Nottinghamshire have also been active in recruiting. They missed out on England opener Keaton Jennings, who opted to join Lancashire, but did sign Paul Coughlin, another highly rated Durham prospect. With the retirement of captain Chris Read, Moores was pleased to bring in another senior player in Nash.Moores said: “You don’t expect a player to suddenly become available who’s such a good fit for us. It’s really exciting to have Chris join us, and I know he’s excited to come here too.”We were in the market for a senior batsman and he plays across all three formats with a good record in four-day cricket, as well as in T20 and 50-over cricket. Chris also adds some significant experience to the squad. Trent Bridge is a great place for him to showcase his skills and I think he will enjoy it.”

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery will be aiming to end the transfer window on a high by adding another couple of players to a squad which is brimming with talent.

The Spaniard has lured Moussa Diaby, Pau Torres and Youri Tielemans to Villa Park, despite the demand from much bigger teams and with Europa Conference League football to look forward to, it’s an exciting time for the supporters.

Emery isn’t resting on his laurels however as he could potentially make a swoop for Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho before the window closes.

Could Aston Villa sign Jadon Sancho?

According to Caught Offside, Villa are considering a late approach to capture the Englishman in the last few weeks of the transfer window.

There are other Premier League teams interested in the former Borussia Dortmund starlet however, including teams from abroad and this could give Emery some food for thought regarding a potential move.

Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…

Sancho cost United a staggering £73m in 2021 after shining in the Bundesliga for Dortmund, yet he has struggled to replicate that form for the Old Trafford side.

Erik ten Hag is reportedly open to letting him go, so long as a realistic offer is made and this could tempt Emery into testing the water with a bid.

What has happened to Jadon Sancho?

The 23-year-old emerged as one of the finest talents on the continent during his stint in Germany, registering an impressive 114 goal contributions – 50 goals and 64 assists – across just 137 games and upon moving to the Red Devils, it looked as though he would just get better.

The move hasn’t worked out as he scored just five goals during his first season and last term was plagued with a variety of issues. He missed the 2022 World Cup due to fitness and form concerns before missing a large chunk of club football.

Sancho didn’t make an appearance for United between October and January and it looks as though his days are numbered.

Emery could reignite the winger however, bringing him to an environment where there is considerably less pressure, forming a dangerous attacking duo alongside Diaby.

Like Sancho, the Frenchman saw the Bundesliga as his playground, scoring and grabbing assists for fun during his spell at Bayer Leverkusen, and he could take the Premier League by storm.

The former Paris Saint-Germain starlet ranked second across the squad for overall Sofascore rating while finishing top of the pile for goals and assists (17), big chances created (14) and third for successful dribbles per game (1.5).

These are impressive figures and the onus will be on him to shine in England. Sancho – lauded as a “phenomenon” by talent scout Jacek Kulig in 2021 – did rank fifth across the United squad for big chances created (six) and second for key passes per game (1.7), suggesting that even though he missed large chunks of action, he still contributed well.

The £350k-per-week dynamo may not have endured the greatest of times at Old Trafford, yet a change of scenery may just be the catalyst for him to return to his spellbinding best.

With Diaby prowling on the right wing, Sancho could add goals and assists from the left flank and Emery could have two genuinely world-class players supporting Ollie Watkins should he get his way in the next few weeks.

Everton may well have found their new talisman as Sean Dyche looks to finalise his summer transfer activity, with one journalist stating the club are homing in on a former Premier League star.

What's the latest on Che Adams to Everton?

Indeed, according to The Athletic's Jacob Tanswell, Southampton striker Che Adams is close to a move to Everton after the club submitted a £12m offer for the 27-year-old striker, bypassing interest from AFC Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest.

Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…

The Scotland international suffered relegation from the top-flight with Saints this year, but the figure of just £12m could lead it to be quite an astute purchase.

The Toffees have already signed Arnaut Danuma and Jack Harrison on loan, whilst also completing the £15m signing of teenage striker Youssef Chermiti.

How good is Che Adams?

When the rejoicing simmered down following Everton's 1-0 victory over Bournemouth on the final day of the 2022/23 season, Dyche will have hoped to swiftly make the requisite moves to effectively bolster the frontline.

Everton concluded the previous term as the division's second-lowest goalscorers, and with Dominic Calvert-Lewin spending large portions of the season out injured and Neal Maupay, who joined from Brighton & Hove Albion for £15m last summer, yielding just one goal for the Goodison Park side.

While Adams is not a marquee name, he is a solid and dependable striker and, at £12m, could very well be a shrewd signing for a team looking to restore their attacking impetus, once praised as "fantastic" by former manager Ralph Hasenhuttl.

Having scored 33 goals and supplied 15 assists from 148 outings for Southampton, Adams is definitely not the most prolific of forwards but he is a "clever" attacking outlet – as called by pundit Ally McCoist – and could improve the increased dynamism that stems from acquisitions of Harrison and Danjuma.

Despite Saints' woes last season, Adams plundered five goals and three assists from just 23 league starts, taking 1.7 shots and creating 0.9 key passes per game, very much the "focal point" – according to former Southampton midfielder Jo Tessem – that Everton need.

For a striker, 0.9 key passes is not half bad, with Calvert-Lewin averaging 0.5 and Maupay averaging 0.3, for example.

By introducing such a selfless, multi-faceted talisman, the goalscoring fortunes of Harrison and Danjuma would improve, but perhaps more integrally, it could be a sure-fire way of ensuring Dwight McNeil continues his Midas touch in front of goal.

Signing from Burnley for £20m in 2021 upon the Clarets' relegation from the Premier League, McNeil started slowly but finished the term with seven goals and three assists – Everton's top scorer in the division, somewhat alarmingly.

The £25k-per-week winger also created 11 big chances and averaged 1.4 key passes per outing, and his varied approach could set him up to blend seamlessly with Adams, who could offer something different to the Toffees attack.

Hailed as "magnificent" by scout Ryan Williams for his purple patch at the end of the previous campaign, scoring five goals and supplying one assist across the final 12 league matches, McNeil shone despite the discord plaguing the Everton attack.

But with the 27-year-old Saints striker entering the fold, Dyche could be making a move that, while it might go under the radar, would bolster the squad and increase the fluidity and harmony on Merseyside, pushing the club one step further toward security away from the pit of the Premier League table.

Graeme Labrooy, Sri Lanka’s chief selector, said the panel “didn’t want to throw Kusal Mendis to the deep end or take him to India and leave him on the bench”

Andrew Fidel Fernando07-Nov-20175:29

Break for Mendis might be best way forward – Arnold

Sri Lanka’s selectors dropped Kusal Mendis from the Test squad for the India tour in order to protect him from a further potential loss of form and confidence in India.Mendis endured a modest Test series against Pakistan, in which his contributions were 10, 18, 1 and 29. Although he made an excellent century against India in August, he had only crossed fifty in two of his last 14 innings.Mendis’ omission from the squad has caused some consternation, especially as he has been repeatedly talked up by coaches and management as the batsman on whom the top order might hinge in coming years. Earlier in the year, against Bangladesh, Mendis’ 194 also turned out to be a match-winning innings.However, according to chief selector Graeme Labrooy, it is precisely because the selectors are mindful of Mendis’ potential, that they left him out of the squad.”We don’t want a situation where he plays two more innings, gets two low scores and then drop him and destroy his confidence further,” he told . “He has got age on his side and we want him to go on to become one of the greats of the game. We want him to play for another ten years.”Not only were Sri Lanka comfortably whitewashed by India in the three-Test series in July and August, they have also struggled in India historically, having never won a Test there. The tour is likely to challenge even the most experienced Sri Lanka batsmen, with India’s bowlers in outstanding form at home.”We didn’t want to throw him to the deep end or take him to India and leave him on the bench,” Labrooy said. “What we tried to do was to let him play some domestic cricket, work on his game and regain his confidence. He is a confidence player. For him confidence is everything, and he has got everything in his armoury.”That Lahiru Thirimanne was preferred to Mendis has been a particular bone of contention, given Thirimanne’s very modest Test record. He averages 23.1 across 52 Test innings, and has crossed fifty only five times in his career.However, while Thirimanne has been picked in the squad, his place in the top order is not completely assured. Dhananjaya de Silva, who has returned to form with scores of 104, 73 and 64 for Sri Lanka A on the West Indies tour, could enter the top order. Though de Silva had made a successful entry into Test cricket from the lower middle order, it is as an opener that he regularly plays for his domestic club side, Tamil Union.”The No.3 position is a toss up between Thirimanne and Dhananjaya,” Labrooy said. “We are glad that Dhananjaya made some runs for Sri Lanka A in the Caribbean. He will be considered as an opener or No. 3 batsman in the future and we don’t want to drop him to the middle order.”With Kaushal Silva – who opened unsuccessfully for Sri Lanka in the UAE – left out of the squad to India, de Silva and 22-year-old batsman Sadeera Samarawickrama become the primary candidates to open the innings alongside Dimuth Karunaratne. Samarawickrama is often a middle-order batsman and wicketkeeper in first-class cricket, but does open the innings in limited-overs cricket for his club side.He had showcased substantial attacking flair in his maiden Test innings in Abu Dhabi, and it is the style and rate of his run-making that appears to have struck the selectors.”Sadeera is a player for the future. This is the correct time that we should bring him in. Now is the time for him to bite the bullet and take up that challenge against world’s number one ranked team. He will put pressure back on the bowlers by putting the loose balls away. We are very impressed with his game.”

Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag could look to make a surprise swoop for one of the most prolific strikers in English football, according to reports.

Who is coming to Manchester United?

According to reports, Manchester United are looking to enact a January swoop to bring in Brentford striker Ivan Toney after having discussions with the England international over a move to Old Trafford before flying out to the United States for pre-season.

The update from FootballTransfers claims that the Red Devils are 'prepared to wait' until the January transfer window to sanction a move for the £46k-a-week ace as Ten Hag aims to add further strength to his frontline following the acquisition of Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta.

Of course, Toney is currently under the restriction of a football ban from the authorities relating to 232 breaches of the Football Association's betting regulations; however, he will be free to resume his career upon the expiration of his banning order, as per Sky Sports.

Speaking on The Diary Of A CEO podcast, Toney has given an insight into his frustration at not being able to train with his Brentford teammates, stating: "Right now, not being around the training ground, it does hurt me. I just know when I'm at the training ground, I train harder. It's not a nice feeling. Not being allowed at the training ground is baffling to me. I'm counting down the days until I can be training and around the boys. It's like being in football prison at the moment."

Toney can return to participating in training activities on September 17th; however, he is ineligible to take part in matches until January 17th 2024, according to BBC Sport.

Both Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are also believed to be keen on Toney and could steal a march on Manchester United in their attempts to land the former Newcastle United frontman, according to various sources.

Would Ivan Toney be a good fit for Manchester United?

Unquestionably, Toney has a knack for scoring goals at the elite level that makes him stand out from the crowd and he would be a sound investment by Manchester United if they were willing to wait until his ban expires.

Last term, the England international performed admirably for Brentford, registering 21 goals and five assists in 35 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

According to WhoScored, Toney was a constant menace for opposition defences in 2022/23, averaging around 2.8 shots per match in the Premier League.

The 27-year-old led the line with efficiency over the duration of last season, fashioning 39 shot-creating actions in the English top-flight, eight of which directly resulted in goals, as shown on FBRef.

Back in 2021, Brentford boss Thomas Frank predicted his rise to prominence in an interview cited by The Evening Standard, as he stated: "He’s coming across so fantastically: he’s humble, calm, but with a mindset of a lion. I think for every person or player the sky’s the limit, then we will see in the future where they go."

Looking ahead, it will be intriguing to see where Toney may potentially end up if he can re-establish his consistent displays at Brentford before his ban materialised.

Steven Smith is desperate to complete a 5-0 whitewash over England but there could be a tricky decision to make over the fitness of Mitchell Starc

Daniel Brettig in Perth18-Dec-20172:04

‘We’ve kept our foot on the throat’ – Smith

Australia’s captain Steven Smith broke down in tears in the dressing room immediately after regaining the Ashes, but he and the selectors have a decision to make on Mitchell Starc as they set their sights on emulating the teams of 2007 and 2014 by shutting out England 5-0 over the final two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney.Starc has a bruised heel, which he bowled through on the final day in Perth, but with a four-match assignment in South Africa in March next year, much debate will now be had off-camera as to whether or not to keep the same bowling attack for the remainder of the series or ensure the injury does not deteriorate. Australia’s team was unchanged throughout 2013-14 but has already been tweaked this time around with the inclusion of Mitchell Marsh for Pete Handscomb. The same squad of 13 has been named for Melbourne.”Having seen him just there he just said ‘I’m playing’, whether he has a choice in the matter I’m not sure,” Smith said of Starc. “But he wants to play. I think he was a little bit sore, he said it didn’t get any worse when he was bowling. But that’s something we have to sum up. We’ve wrapped the series up here and we’d love to win 5-0 and have the big three going all the time.”But we’ve also got an important tour to South Africa after this series, which we’d love to have him available for. A few things for us to sum up, and we’ll see how he pulls up over the next couple of days. I’m sure that’ll determine which way we go.”Though the hosts always looked likely to roll England’s last six batsmen with enough time to spare to beat the intermittent rain that swept across the WACA Ground for much of its final day as an Ashes venue, there was still plenty of joy and emotion at the moment Pat Cummins claimed the day’s final wicket.For Smith, who has experienced the pain of Ashes defeat three times in 2010-11, 2013 and 2015, the sense of achievement in winning a series at home as captain was palpable. There was relief, too, for securing the result expected of everyone associated with Australian cricket, not just the 11 players who huddled tightly in the middle of the ground after Chris Woakes fell.”Playing in Australia we expect big things of ourselves,” Smith said. “We know these conditions really well and whether we’re playing against England or anyone else, we’re expected to go well and we ourselves expect to do a good job as well.”I’d love to do that [win 5-0]. I was part of the series obviously back in 2013-14 when we did that and it was amazing part of my life and everyone else’s who was involved as well. I’d love to do that again but we’ll just take it one step at a time at the moment and first of all enjoy the success we’ve had over last couple of weeks and have a good celebration tonight and we’ll move on from there.”We’ll talk about Melbourne when we get there, the Boxing Day Test match is an amazing occasion, particularly an Ashes Test match. We’ll talk about that when we get there but right now just really satisfied with what we’ve achieved in these first three Test matches. Been remarkable and look forward to having a good celebration with the boys this evening.”Mitchell Marsh roars after hitting his maiden Test hundred•Getty ImagesPlenty of criticism was directed at the national selectors for a series of courageous calls at the outset of this series, whether it was recalling Shaun Marsh after stripping him of his CA contract earlier in the year, picking the Tasmanian Tim Paine as wicketkeeper when he was not the first choice for his state, or choosing Mitchell Marsh so soon after he had returned to bowling in the wake of shoulder surgery. Smith said Trevor Hohns’ panel deserved due credit.”I thought they were really good selections,” Smith said. “Painey’s been mentioned as the best keeper in the country for a long period of time and the way he’s kept has been exceptional, the way he’s batted has been exceptional as well. We’ve had some very valuable runs from him at No. 7 and also Shaun Marsh.”I know Justin Langer was saying for a while that Shaun was in the best form of his life and he’s come in and done a terrific job. The way he’s batting, just watching him in the nets facing all three of our quicks, you get a pretty fair gauge of how the batter are going if they’re playing them really well and he’s looked incredibly comfortable against them. We’ve seen every time he’s gone out to the middle he’s looked good and done a terrific job.””A lot of people came out and said they were some very bold selections at the start of the series, and the selectors get criticised quite a lot but I think they’ve done a terrific job with the squad we picked at the start and everyone that’s come in has done an exceptional job, so a lot of credit’s got to go to the selectors.”In contrast to the teams of 2007 and 2014, Smith’s side is far more youthful, with the prospect of largely staying together for some years to come. To win an Ashes series away from home in 2019, something not achieved by an Australian side since Steve Waugh’s successful tourists in 2001, is high on Smith’s long-term agenda.”We have conversations here and there, myself and Boof and selectors about certain things we could do over there, but still a fair way away,” Smith said of 2019. “Right now I just want to enjoy what we’ve done over the past couple of weeks, to be up 3-0 and have the Ashes back, it’s been quite remarkable and almost a dream come true. You never know with injuries and form and things like that but I think the guys that have played in this series have done a terrific job.”Everyone has contributed in some part and the performances we’ve put up have been outstanding. I’d like to hope this team can keep growing and getting better and keep working our way up the rankings and just try and get better as a team and keep gelling as a team and trying to have the successes we want to have as a team. We’ve still got a long way to go but this has been an incredible couple of weeks and one I’m sure we’ll look back on in time and just be so proud of what we’ve achieved.”