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All around the sun-bathed Oval they were on their feet in anticipation, well before he walked out – one last time – for England

Melinda Farrell at The Oval09-Sep-20183:42

#ThankYouChef: A tribute to Alastair Cook

And now, the end is near. And so he faced the final curtain.All around the sun-bathed Oval they were on their feet in anticipation, well before Alastair Cook walked out – one last time – for England. There was not the guard of honour from the India players and the umpires that had ushered him onto the field in the first innings. There didn’t need to be. The applause from all those standing to greet him did it all.It swelled as he jogged down the steps ahead of Keaton Jennings and onto the pitch. On the big screen a list of his greatest achievements scrolled past one by one. There were many: the milestones, the major series victories, the number of games, the captaincy records and, of course, the runs. And as the numbers flashed up, still they applauded.He paused on the outfield for a quick stretch, went through the usual routine as he has done 290 times before and strode to the middle. And still they applauded.There was a handshake from Virat Kohli, as there was in the first innings as India’s fielders settled into their positions and Jasprit Bumrah walked back to the top of his mark. And still they applauded. It was as if the crowd could hold off the final moment by clapping all afternoon.It was the longest ovation at least one reporter could remember witnessing in person. And it was filled with genuine warmth.Eventually the ground announcer spoke and the crowd, almost reluctantly, hushed and took their seats.He took his guard and Bumrah ran in, thumping the ball into Cook’s thigh-pad. The air evaporated from the Oval as the crowd collectively held its breath and released with a rumbling murmur of relieved tension.The first ball had passed and the last innings had begun.

The two T20Is turned into the Maxwell show as a brilliantly calculated hundred was able to overcome even Jasprit Bumrah

Varun Shetty at the Chinnaswamy Stadium28-Feb-2019Brave, cheeky, and not wearing a helmet for the most part: you could pop Glenn Maxwell on to a motorcycle outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium, and he’d get farther than most in a city where you don’t get very far very quick.This is where the metaphor dies. Unlike outside, chasing targets is not often a tedious task at the Chinnaswamy. Twenty-two of the 57 games played at the ground have involved successful chases of greater than 170. Eight of those didn’t even get to the end of the 19th over.From that lens, Maxwell had a bit going for him. But 191 is a difficult chase anywhere. And there were challenges beyond those posed by Jasprit Bumrah and Yuzvendra Chahal.”It is a tough place to come, the crowd’s calling out Kohli and Dhoni non-stop throughout the whole time, even when they’re not batting,” he said.Maxwell silenced that crowd a few times on Wednesday, often with hits into their seats. But through it all, the locals believed, because there was still Bumrah. And when he came back on in the 17th, he had 11 runs per over to defend, more than he normally needs.Right around then was where Maxwell sealed the game.ALSO READ: India suffer their third T20I whitewashA big part of why Bumrah ends up with sensational economy rates in most games is that teams prioritise not taking risks against him, choosing to keep wickets in hand as they take on the other bowlers. Maxwell had hit two sixes off Chahal’s previous over, though, and wasn’t close to displaying such caution.He made room off the second ball, and capitalised on a rare missed yorker – a slap through the covers. It had to be a yorker next, and it was almost a pre-emptive watchful poke to long-on next ball.Then strike was regained for the fifth delivery. Fine leg was back, so this wouldn’t necessarily be a yorker. It was worth getting deep in the crease. And that’s where he set up for Bumrah’s slower ball, dropped at a length and coming into him. The depth he created allowed him a monumental heave that took the ball past square leg, thwarting a possible plan to have him hole out to long-on. After all that, he sliced a yorker for one. Twelve off the over.”I was always trying to attack him. I think we needed 43 or 44 off the last [four] overs and he came back on. I suppose it was a key over,” Maxwell said. “If that only went for four or five, suddenly you need 13 an over. And it only takes six good yorkers from him to push that up to 18-19. That can be quite difficult to get in the last two overs, or the two other overs [at the other end]. So I was just hoping he missed a couple of times and wanted to pounce on that.”I was able to get him for two boundaries in that over, and keep the run rate in check, and I was able to target Siddarth [Kaul] next over and then we only needed 14 off 12 balls.”Kaul is a reputed death-overs bowler in his own right at the IPL, so there was still some work to do. Maxwell was beaten by the first ball, a slower one that hit him in the back as he looked to pull. The next ball, he calculated Kaul out of the contest. Accounting for both his go-to variations at the death – the knuckle ball and the yorker – Maxwell took a stroll down the pitch and carted him through the line and over his head.Kaul did pull things back, and with one ball to go in the 18th, Australia still needed 22. This had to be a boundary ball, lest Bumrah produce another 19th over that left them about 15 to get.He was down the pitch again, walking at a ball that eventually rose over his waist before he clubbed it over the midwicket boundary. The spectators had been truly silenced. Some began leaving for the exits. Most couldn’t get out before he brought up a third T20I hundred the next over, and were the reluctant participants of a standing ovation. It had been two overs of creative genius from Maxwell.Last time an ODI World Cup was approaching, Maxwell was in poor form and had made the infamous step-out-and-leave to be bowled, before sneaking in and having a stellar tournament.Four years later, he now seems undroppable, able to summon composure just as he can summon the madness. A tasty prospect when you consider he hit all nine of Australia’s sixes, including an audacious reverse-swat against long-time nemesis Chahal.”I was actually quite calm through most of it,” he said. “It helped, I suppose, having a bit of familiarity with D’Arcy [Short]. We had a good partnership last game and we both understand each other’s games pretty well.”We had an idea to try and get it to 100 off the last eight. We were able to just bat well enough, hit good cricket shots, and target certain bowlers and get it down to I think it was a 104 off ten. Probably exceeded our expectations a little bit there. From there we were able to just control the run rate.”Life’s not exactly been gentle off the field for Maxwell over the last year. A regular spot in the national teams has been elusive thanks to mixed messages, “careless whispers” , and a perceived lack of diligent training.But on Wednesday, as on Sunday during the first T20I, Maxwell looked in full control on the field, and a contented man off it. A complete, honest embodiment of that go-to post-match platitude of controlling the controllables.At the moment, Maxwell is in control. Of his technique, of his training, of where he wants the ball to go, and of his long-term plans.It’s against the grain for the enigma we’ve known, but we might finally have the best Maxwell we’ve ever seen.

A round-up of the 2018-19 season which shed light on New Zealand’s seam-bowling depth, Northern Districts’ riches, and the emergence of a strong fringe for the national side

Deivarayan Muthu18-Feb-2019Incredible seam-bowling depthTim Southee, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, Doug Bracewell, Scott Kuggeleijn, Adam Milne (who is fit again), Blair Tickner, Ben Wheeler, and Kyle Jamieson. How’s that for depth in the seam attack? Mitchell McClenaghan, who had opted out of an NZC contract in 2017, was also among the wickets in the Super Smash.Central Districts’ Tickner, who was the top wicket-taker in the 2017-18 Super Smash, proved that he was no one-season wonder, following it up with 16 wickets in nine games in his side’s title-winning run this season. His rich form culminated in a maiden call-up to the New Zealand side for the third T20I against India. He impressed there as well, dismissing the big-hitting Rishabh Pant in New Zealand’s series-clinching victory in Hamilton.Canterbury’s beanpole quick Jamieson made heads turn when he exploited a bouncy Eden Park track to claim 6 for 7 – the best return by a New Zealand bowler and the third-best overall in T20s. Jamieson’s remarkable feat had former New Zealand coach Mike Hesson gushing on Twitter: “An impressive bowler who at 6ft 8in can swing it……another one to add to the @BLACKCAPS stable.”Milne, whose career has been plagued by injuries, returned to action, and sealed Central Districts’ title victory. On a two-paced Seddon Park pitch against defending champions Northern Districts, he showcased his variations, including a fast legcutter that got rid of Kuggleijn. He came away with 3 for 12 in 2.4 overs – the best figures in the final. Has he done enough to force himself back into the World Cup reckoning?Northern Districts = New Zealand?After Tim Seifert shellacked 84 off 43 balls against India in Wellington, he quipped that it felt like a Northern Districts home game. Eight out of the XI in the team were Northen District players, including captain Kane Williamson.With their core mostly away playing for New Zealand, and Anton Devcich and Chris Jordan linking up with Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League, Northern Districts found new heroes. Daryl Mitchell, the son of former All Black John Mitchell, and Kyle Abbott particularly excelled in the end overs with their variety of cutters and yorkers, while Brett Hampton also caught the eye with his lusty leg-side clubs. When Ish Sodhi was unavailable, Tarun Nethula claimed 6 for 23 in only 19 balls – the second-best figures in a New Zealand T20 competition.So, can you even best this side? Yes, if you’re Central Districts.Where are the overseas stars?The Super Smash ran concurrently with the more popular Big Bash League, Bangladesh Premier League and the Pakistan Super League and flew under the radar. The presence of Ben Stokes gave the tournament a massive leg-up last season, but there were no such marquee names this season.James Vince played just two games for Auckland Aces before joining the Sydney Sixers and lighting up the BBL. Jordan, too, played only two matches before heading across the Tasman Sea.And Devcich, who is among the biggest local stars, was away too, featuring in the BBL and PSL.Kent’s Daniel Bell-Drummond, who was signed as Vince’s replacement, struck 223 runs in five innings at a strike-rate of just a shade under 140, but that didn’t quite set the tournament alight.The fringe players are ready“Some of the new guys who came into the [New Zealand] team – the Tim Seiferts and Daryl Mitchells – and Tickner was very good as well. Getting a taste of international cricket and showing that they can succeed here is positive as we build towards the 2020 World Cup… If you didn’t know if he [Mitchell] was wearing a black shirt or a pink shirt, he looked like the same player.That was national coach Gary Stead’s assessment after they had clinched a 2-1 series win over India.Mitchell played a starring role for Northern Districts, cracking a chart-topping 19 sixes and often bowling the pressure overs. After being called up to the national squad, he contributed in all departments to help New Zealand topple India.Seifert, who holds the record for hitting the fastest hundred in the Super Smash, reminded Ian Smith, the commentator, and several others of Brendon McCullum during the T20Is against India. So, New Zealand’s future is in safe hands after all.

The offspinner took a five-wicket haul to end India Green’s innings swiftly, but for a tournament that has largely lost context, where will this performance rank?

Shashank Kishore in Bengaluru07-Sep-2019″I don’t have an IPL contract, so I benefit monetarily from these games, but you get it right?” Faiz Fazal laughed as he spoke about the relevance of the Duleep Trophy. He was honest in admitting the current format didn’t help develop an “emotional connect” simply because the tournament has become an assortment of players coming together 24 hours before a game. The zonal system used to “invoke pride and a sense of accomplishment.”In its current form, team-mates from the Ranji Trophy winning team are pitted against each other – like Akshay Wakhare and Fazal were – and players who featured for India A in a one-day game three days ago are flown to a different city. Some who feel their performances in the season gone by merit reward are left ruing missed opportunities, and a few take a step further and let their frustrations known, as Manoj Tiwary and Sheldon Jackson did.”Gelling with players can get difficult,” Fazal weighed in on the format. “You can’t force things on everyone. Say I’m playing for Vidarbha, I can tell my players ‘this is the plan, you have to do this.’ Here, it gets difficult, people say ‘no, we’ll try this.’ Because the game is on TV, if you perform here, you could get to the next level so everyone wants to play individually. Whereas for the state team at the Ranji Trophy level, you’re chasing wins. So it is different. India Red may have the same opinion too, even though they’ve won now.”For Wakhare, who has been knocking on the doors of the India A team for a while, life hasn’t changed a great deal even though he has been at the forefront of Vidarbha’s rise as a serious force in Indian domestic cricket. At 33, there may be the argument that age isn’t on his side but try telling him that.On Saturday, he picked up his 19th first-class five-for, a classic exhibition of guile and craft on a surface that didn’t offer much, against a batting line-up that played as if they were in a rush to board the next flight home. India Red had already taken a 157-run lead in the first innings, and with Green shot out for 119 in 39.5 overs, Red won by an innings and 38 runs. Wakhare’s figures were an impressive 5 for 13 in just 5.5 overs.”I couldn’t quite believe how quickly they folded up,” Wakhare laughed afterwards. “The pitch wasn’t helping much, but they kept playing shots. For me, the basic plan was to attack. Anyway they were looking to play the big shots, so it was just a matter of time. My bowling plans have always been very simple, depending on how the wickets are playing, and for that, I have to thank Narendra Hirwani. We’ve been associated for more than 10 years now, and my mindset as a bowler has never been clearer, he has played a big part.”Wakhare’s biggest triumph has been to remove perceptions of being able to pick wickets only on rank turners. He has a clean action, gets the ball to drift gently, imparts plenty of revolutions, and relies largely on his stock ball while mixing it up with an excellent slider to left-hand batsmen. He doesn’t have the carom ball or the doosra, but those haven’t hindered his returns.He was on a hat-trick when he dismissed Tanveer Ul-Haq and Ankit Rajpoot, and though he didn’t get three in three, he had his five-for when Siddhesh Lad chopped on, attempting a flashy cut to one that skid back to cramp him for room. Wakhare had come on after drinks and polished off the tail with little fuss. Mayank Markande, who top-scored with 76 in the first innings to be one of the few bright spots for Green in defeat, didn’t walk out to bat due to a glute strain that also kept him off the field for Red’s innings.

The NCA director opens up on the upcoming Under-19 World Cup, new paths Indian cricket must walk, and much more

Saurabh Somani in Lucknow29-Nov-20194:31

India’s fast bowlers are all ‘role models’ – Dravid

India Under-19 and India A have been almost unbeatable since you took charge, winning against all teams everywhere. What do you think has gone right?
I think there’s a lot of talent in this country, for starters. More than winning – which I’ve always said is not a marker by which I honestly judge the success of a programme at this level – for the success of any of these developmental programmes [what matters] is how many of the players can we move on to the next level. The heartening thing for me is that, if you go back over the last three or four years that I’ve been involved in this – it’s not just me, obviously a lot of other coaches and people have been involved – is for us to see how many have gone on to become established players in their Ranji Trophy teams. Some of them have gone on to their teams at 21.I’d like to believe that in this cycle, over the last 14-16 months, nearly 40-45 boys have played for India Under-19. I think that’s the real credit. I’m really hoping that within the next two years, at least 30-35 of them go into first-class teams. If 10-15 of them establish themselves in their first-class teams, that will be a success for us.But the increase in performance and results has been more marked since you’ve taken over. Is there something being done that wasn’t done previously?
We’ve been able to convince the board and ensure the boys are playing more cricket at this level. I definitely feel there needs to be a step-up in level. For our Under-19 boys, there needs to be a step-up from Under-19 domestic tournaments if we want to develop these boys to be able to establish themselves quickly in first-class cricket. To do that we need to give them a slightly higher level of cricket. Same thing with India A. Our domestic cricket is good, but the India A programme is critical.ALSO READ: IPL teams ‘missing a trick’ by not using more Indian coaches – DravidThe good thing for us is that a lot of other countries play a lot of their international players in the ‘A’ teams, whereas we might focus more on younger players. Maybe because their numbers are smaller. I have played against teams like South Africa and Australia A, who had seven or eight of their international players in the team against you. That is really good competition and the standard is definitely higher than the first-class game, the pressure is more. Then that helps build confidence, if you succeed at that level against some of those guys.The other thing is, whenever we’ve been in control of the pitches, one of the things I’ve tried to do is ensure we play on good, sporting pitches. Leave a lot of grass on it, with a view of long-term development of these players. Not necessarily wanting to win that series, but more like saying, ‘Hey, what’s beneficial to these guys in the longer run?’ It’s actually been quite a satisfying three or four years for me personally. I really hope we can keep this going, and keep building, growing and improving these programmes.

What Ishant, Shami, Umesh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Bumrah are doing, is they are actually in a way becoming role models for a lot of younger generation of boys who believe now they can be fast bowlers.Rahul Dravid

How do you rate India’s prospects at the next Under-19 World Cup?
We are very confident with the process and preparation we’ve set up. At the start of the cycle, I tell a lot of these guys who are pushing for spots: ‘We’ll give you enough opportunities to put your hand up and select yourself.’ And honestly, hand on heart, at least 40-45 boys can say, ‘Hey, we got a chance. We got opportunities.’What might happen at this level is that boys miss out in a particular year. They’re all growing still. I see this a lot at this age, that people have bad years. You see them playing very well one year and then suddenly they struggle the next. So they don’t get picked on form. But I always try and tell them, ‘Don’t worry, it’s not about getting selected for the World Cup. In the long run, nobody’s going to remember if you played in the Under-19 World Cup or not.’It’s about: Can I become a successful first-class cricketer and from there, go on to play for India? There will be very good players who are going to miss out on the final 15. But like I always them, ‘Don’t lose heart. It’s just one World Cup. It doesn’t define your career. You will go back and play Under-23, play for your first-class teams, and in one or two years you can easily catch up with some of these boys who have played in the World Cup.’Just because you’ve played a World Cup doesn’t mean you will play for India, and just because you haven’t played a World Cup doesn’t mean you won’t. It’s a nice achievement to have, but it’s not the be-all and end-all of everything. Look at Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devdutt Padikkal – they didn’t make our World Cup squad. And they have started doing really well for their first-class teams.What would you say is India’s strength?
We have got a good balance in the team. We probably had more good allrounders in last year’s team. People like Kamlesh [Nagarkoti] and Shivam [Mavi] could all bat. So last year’s World Cup team could bat all the way to No. 10. But this year too, the selectors have done a pretty good job in picking a good side. Depending on the conditions in South Africa, if they aid fast bowlers, we have got a pretty good attack. We have got batting all the way down to seven-eight-nine. We have got spinners, if conditions suit.India captain Prithvi Shaw and coach Rahul Dravid hold the World Cup trophy•ICC/Getty ImagesThe issue of mental health is in the spotlight at the moment. What would you advise younger players on this so that they can deal with it best?
It is a big challenge. This is a tough game. There is so much competition, a lot of pressure, and kids are playing all year round now. It is a game in which you do sometimes spend a lot of time waiting around, having a lot of time to think.So, you really need to look after yourself on and off the field, and look after stuff like mental health. That’s again something that, as much as we talk to these boys about, it’s really important to maintain a certain level of balance in everything you do. Be able to find that balance between not getting too excited when you succeed and not getting too disappointed when you fail. I just think being able to lead a slightly balanced life potentially helps.We are also putting a few things in place at the NCA wherein we want to be able to give people an opportunity to talk about these things and address some of these things, and have people that they can speak to. So, yes, there has been some work on that as well, wherein eventually we’ll get to a point where hopefully we should have professionals on board. I think sometimes some of these things need to be handled by professionals.I don’t think some of the coaches, or some of us, have the ability to deal with some of the issues. Some things we might be able to, but there may be some things where we might need to look at professional help. It’s one of the things we are definitely keen on doing at the NCA: giving some of these boys access to some level of professional help if they do require it.There’s been a renaissance in Indian fast bowling at the international level. Do you see the same sort of enthusiasm among fast bowlers coming up?
Yes, definitely. Every year now in Under-19 cricket, we’ve had some very good fast bowlers. Last time, we had three of them in Kamlesh, Shivam and Ishan [Porel]. This year also you will see some good fast bowlers in the team.When you have role models and you have heroes like the senior team… I think what Ishant [Sharma], [Mohammed] Shami, Umesh [Yadav], Bhuvneshwar Kumar and [Jasprit] Bumrah are doing, is they are actually in a way becoming role models for a lot of younger generation of boys who believe now they can be fast bowlers. They can bowl fast and be successful in India. It’s great to see that. Obviously we had people like Kapil [Dev], Sri [Javagal Srinath], Zaheer [Khan] and all in the past. But as a group, this is probably one of the best fast-bowling attacks we have ever had. I think that’s a great inspiration for a lot of these young boys.

Just because you’ve played a World Cup doesn’t mean you will play for India, and just because you haven’t played a World Cup doesn’t mean you won’t. It’s a nice achievement to have, but it’s not the be all and end all of everything.Rahul Dravid

In the past, crowds in India would come to see batsmen. Do you think in the future they’ll be going to watch fast bowlers intimidating batsmen with pace and bounce?
I hope so. Now that I have retired, I don’t mind the others being intimidated (laughs).A lot of young pace bowlers are coming up, but one of the major concerns are injuries they pick up early in their careers.
It is part and parcel of being a fast bowler. Unfortunately, it’s a very unnatural activity. One of the things that has improved in India is the focus on fitness and physiotherapy, the care that we are able to give. Some of the facilities that our Under-19 boys have today are amazing; access to some of the best physios and trainers at the NCA. Indian teams of the past didn’t have that kind of support. It is there, but you will still have injuries.Fast bowling, especially for young bodies with people still growing up and developing, it’s just going to happen. We have to get better at managing it. But unfortunately, in this sport, there’s no such thing as: ‘I will keep playing, and I will keep bowling fast and not get injured (chuckles).’ Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that, so you have to accept it and work out ways to minimise that – that’s all we can do. Will we ever get to a stage where we will have no injuries? Unfortunately, not.As science develops, as research improves… that’s again an area we need to do a little bit more, in research – on our own bodies, our own bowlers, right from junior and camp level. We are doing a little bit of that now, starting it at the NCA and zonal camps. We are doing more research, collecting more data and information on our cricketers. We are using data and research that has been done on different bodies [than ours]: Caucasians, English and Australian players.We need to do our research, we need to do data collection on our own athletes and that will give us insights. A lot of that process has already started; it’s been going on for about two years now and all that is helping us in a large way. We need to keep doing more of that and improve at that. That’s really one of the things I want to drive forward at the NCA level as well.What are your thoughts on the next generation of spinners?
Spin is a little bit more of a challenge. There are a number of good spinners in the country, don’t get me wrong. But because of the amount of white-ball cricket, which has increased with Twenty20 cricket and there are so many domestic tournaments with the white-ball, it’s a bit tougher for younger spinners to balance that. That’s one of the challenges we face at the Under-19 level: for young spinners to find that balance between white-ball and red-ball cricket.Going ahead, that’s one of our goals. We want to try and work with our spinners, help them improve. How do they make those adjustments? It’s not that easy for spinners to do it. There is a challenge from the ranks coming up. But we are still producing good spinners, don’t get me wrong. Even at Under-19, we have got some good spinners. But this adjustment from Under-19 cricket to first-class cricket has probably been, from my experience, easier for batsmen and fast bowlers. It hasn’t been that easy for spinners. So, we have to keep working on it.Getty ImagesYou’re no longer just the head coach of the Under-19 team or the ‘A’ team, you’re NCA director now. How has your role changed?
It’s changed a little bit in the sense that this time it’s not as much hands-on with a lot of these boys. I have been around with them, I was in England and I came here as well. But it’s also really about working with the coaches we’ve had. We’ve got some really good coaches for these guys at the moment – Paras [Mhambrey], Hrishi [Hrishikesh Kanitkar] and Abhay [Sharma]. Top-class coaches, very experienced, who’ve been in the system.Paras and Abhay have been with me on both the other World Cups. So, this really gives us an opportunity to not only develop players, but also develop our coaches. This is a platform where we should also be developing and growing our coaches, so we’ve tried to do that at the Under-19 and India A level. That’s also part of my role as well now. It’s slightly broader in terms of also helping us identify and develop the next generation of coaches coming through, giving them a lot more responsibility. Yes, I’m involved, and around. I’m here and might probably go to the World Cup for some part, maybe the start or during the preparation phase. But really, I think it’s been about giving them a lot more freedom and allowing them to develop and grow.Through the NCA we’re also going to try and help a lot of our coaches. We’ve hired Sujith [Somasundar] now, who has come on as head of education. A part of our goal is to create a programme for coaches as well, so that we can give them certain skills in which they can develop – and hopefully then get the opportunities to work at a slightly higher level. I think a lot of IPL teams miss a trick by not using more domestic talent in the coaching area and the talent identification area, even if it is as assistants. That’s my personal opinion.Ever since Sourav Ganguly took charge as the president of the BCCI, he has said his priority will be first-class cricket. What are the areas that require changes in first-class cricket?
It’s the small things in the system that Sourav probably was mentioning – like ensuring security for first-class players, the quality of our pitches, the quality of the facilities that first-class and Under-19 cricketers get to train in, practice in. Fitness, physiotherapy… all of these things have improved, but it’s just a constant process. You just have to keep getting better at it..For many, many years now, we’ve got a pretty successful system going. We play a lot of matches, people get opportunities. You just need to keep improving them. Attention to small things, attention to detail, I would say is something we can maybe focus on and do a bit better. There’s no such thing as a perfect system. You always learn, and you always improve. That’s true of players, systems, competitions and everything really.Does the IPL still remain a favourite route to gain attention quicker than other formats?
I wouldn’t say that. In the Twenty20 format, yes, maybe. But I think the selectors have also been very good, in the sense that they are expecting people to do well in the Ranji Trophy as well. So, whether it is a Shubman Gill or a Prithvi Shaw from the last batch who came in, if you look at their performances, they have got into the Indian team not only based on their IPL runs, but really on their Ranji Trophy runs, their India A runs.So, the selectors are not only looking at IPL performances. In the conversations and discussions I have with them, it becomes very clear to me that they have put a lot of value on domestic cricket, they have put a lot of value on domestic runs, India A runs. That is really good to see. If the selectors drive that, then people will understand that it’s important.

Here’s a list of players who could impress at the upcoming Under-19 World Cup

Sreshth Shah16-Jan-2020Vriitya Aravind (wicketkeeper-batsman, UAE)Born in India but raised in the United Arab Emirates, Aravind is one of the few players in the tournament to have already played senior-level ODI cricket. His 53 against New Zealand in the warm-ups helped UAE upset their more fancied opponents and he followed it up with 98 against Japan to put himself in a good frame of mind going into the tournament proper.Tilak Varma (batsman, India)The left-handed batsman from Hyderabad was the top-scorer at the quadrangular series India played just before the World Cup warm-ups and has scored half-centuries in each of his last four games. He bats at No. 3, is a wristy batsman and isn’t afraid to take on quality spin either. He first entered the limelight during the domestic U-16 tournament two years ago, where he finished as the highest run-scorer with 960 runs for Hyderabad.ALSO READ: All you need to know about the Under-19 World CupJordan Cox (wicketkeeper-batsman, England)He joined Kent at the age of 10, and at 18 he collected his professional contract at the county. He made his first-class, List A and T20 debut in 2018 and is one of the most experienced members of the England squad. The right-hander carried his bat for 122 in a 50-over match for the side against Bangladesh in the summer of 2019 and went on to be the second-highest run-scorer in the winter tri-series in Antigua, with another classy century against Sri Lanka.Mackenzie Harvey (batsman, Australia)The Australia captain, nephew of former international player Ian Harvey, first garnered global attention when he was selected for the Prime Minister’s XI for a one-dayer against an England XI, where he thumped senior international bowlers like Mark Wood, Liam Plunkett and Chris Woakes for an unbeaten 48-ball 59 as a 17-year old in 2018. Since then, he has created some buzz in the Big Bash League as part of the Melbourne Renegades squad, when they won the title in 2019. He scored 55, 54* and 83* against New Zealand in his first outing as Australia captain.Towhid Hridoy (batsman, Bangladesh)If his average of 55 in the 2018-19 Dhaka Premier Division T20 tournament isn’t impressive enough, Hridoy enters the competition having gained useful experience at the 2018 edition of the World Cup in New Zealand. His last nine scores read: 51*, 73, 8, 82*, 123*, 115, 111, 53 and 36. He’s also a handy offbreak bowler and is the side’s vice-captain.Jonathan Bird (allrounder, South Africa)Bird, a top-order batsman who bowls left-arm spin, has earned praise from Mkhaya Ntini, who called him “one of the greatest young players in South Africa.” On his List-A debut for Western Province, he struck a century, showing he has the technique and temperament to play long innings. The left-hander is strong against the short ball and possesses a drool-worthy cover drive.Dane Schadendorf (wicketkeeper, Zimbabwe)The subject of one of the first viral cricket videos of 2020, Schadendorf follows the footsteps of elder brother Jayden who represented Zimbabwe in the 2018 edition. The younger sibling is acrobatic behind the stumps and has shown his ability to apply himself in the lower middle-order during the qualifiers. Case in point: his 81 against India earlier this week took Zimbabwe close to a win in a warm-up game last week.Kartik Tyagi (bowler, India)With 17 wickets in his last 10 youth ODIs – including back-to-back three-wicket hauls in the warm-up games, Tyagi is a fast bowler who is menacing with the swinging ball. He has a front-on action and has a bowling action reminiscent of Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He’ll be high on confidence after collecting an IPL contract with Rajasthan Royals, and will lead the attack for the defending champions. A warning for batsmen: protect your toes when this teenager from Uttar Pradesh runs in to bowl.Adithya Ashok (bowler, New Zealand)The tall, classical legspinner has taken eight wickets in his last three matches and gets the ball to turn menacingly with his Ish Sodhi-esque action. He’s not afraid to flight the ball, and his height allows him to generate extra bounce as well. He also possesses the slider and the wrong’un, so batsmen will have to be wary while facing him. He’s most dangerous when batsmen are looking to attack him, and will be used as New Zealand’s primary wicket-taking option in the middle overs.ALSO READ: Gayle to Gill: stars of U-19 World Cups pastShoriful Islam (bowler, Bangladesh)The lanky left-arm pacer from Panchagor in Bangladesh will be potent in conditions that offer something for seam bowlers. He set the U-19 stage on fire after taking a five-wicket haul against New Zealand in Lincoln late last year and has followed it up with a four-for against Australia in the warm-ups. He is one of the most experienced players in the World Cup, having played eight first-class games and 26 List-A matches, where he averages 22.50 and 24.93 respectively.Charlie Peet (bowler, Scotland)Against teams that are not familiar with top-quality spin, left-arm orthodox bowler Peet can be a handful. Against Jersey last year, he claimed 7 for 12 in Amsterdam and in the warm-ups finished with ridiculous figures of 6 for 2 against Japan. Not many opponents have seen Peet bowl, so the surprise element may find batsmen wanting. He’s also very accurate, never conceding more than 35 runs in his youth ODI career.

A Wolverhampton Wanderers player who has been praised by Vitor Pereira recently is looking to leave Molineux this summer, it has been claimed.

Wolves transfer rumours as Pereira plans for 2025/26

The Old Gold are on course to remain in the Premier League after a crucial come-from-behind win over relegation rivals Ipswich Town last time out.

Goals from Pablo Sarabia and Jorgen Strand Larsen took Wolves to 32 points after 31 games – 12 clear of Ipswich in 17th.

Talking after the victory, Pereira said: “I’m very happy for the club, the supporters and the team because we deserved it. Today they scored first, but we had some chances. In the second half, we increased our level and we started to feel we came here to win. It’s not time to wait, it’s time to play, press them and win the game. I was very happy with that.

“I don’t care if we lose, I just want my team pressing and putting more pace on the ball and changing one or two things. It’s a result because we played with quality in second half, creating opportunities.”

Over the last few weeks, there have been numerous transfer rumours coming out of Molineux as Pereira and co plan for his first full season in charge in the Midlands.

Reports have claimed that West Brom star Grady Diangana would be open to joining Wolves, whereas another winger in Jadon Sancho is also of interest to the Old Gold.

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Contact has been made by Wolves over a deal for Sancho, however, with incomings, there is also expected to be outgoings. Fabio Silva could be one who leaves on a permanent basis, with Wolves wanting £25m to sanction a full-time exit.

Sam Johnstone looking to leave Wolves this summer

Now, according to The Telegraph, relayed by Molineux News, goalkeeper Sam Johnstone is eyeing a move away from Wolves over the coming months.

Signing a new goalkeeper is a priority for Wolves and Pereira, with Johnstone keen to exit after arriving for £10m last summer.

The 32-year-old has made just 10 appearances this season keeping one clean sheet in the process. However, Johnstone has come in for praise from Pereira recently, who said he was “very happy” with the shot-stopper.

“He’s competing with Sa, Daniel, and King. He’s competing every day. He plays at a good level with his feet. For me, it’s important.

“He’s a goalkeeper that can control the space in the back of the defensive line. He has good skills on the goal, good skills outside to control the crosses. He’s a good goalkeeper.

“We have four good goalkeepers. Very hard workers. With the personality to be leaders and to help everybody in the club. I’m very happy with them.”

Now, it seems as if a move away from the Midlands for Johnstone is one to keep an eye on.

Celtic are on the verge of a domestic treble and could have some exciting signings lined up moving into next season under Brendan Rodgers at Parkhead.

Celtic eye flourish to campaign ahead of summer window

The Scottish Premiership title is destined to reside in Celtic’s trophy cabinet, and the Bhoys could ratify their fourth successive league triumph by claiming a point against Dundee United on Saturday.

Rodgers led his side into the Scottish Cup final against St Johnstone at Hampden last weekend, setting up a showcase occasion with Aberdeen that could see the Irishman become the first manager at Parkhead to win three trebles in charge.

Casting an eye to the summer, there is every reason for the Irishman to be backed as Celtic scale up for the task of navigating Champions League qualifiers.

Crystal Palace Jesse Derry has become a Hoops target after opting not to sign an extension at Selhurst Park, though he would likely be a developmental capture at Lennoxtown.

Soon-to-be free agent Danny Ings is also admired by Celtic, albeit it remains to be seen whether the former England international could emerge as a potential arrival.

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With a place in Europe’s premier competition not a guarantee ahead of next campaign, additions will need to be finalised swiftly to ensure they have an adequate bedding-in period at the reigning champions.

Complacency also can’t be allowed to creep in amid a renewed domestic challenge from Rangers, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see a squad refresh at Celtic involving movement in both directions.

Tapping into that school of thought, Prutton has predicted that the Bhoys could come up trumps in their pursuit of an attacking livewire.

Celtic backed to seal deal for Stoke City winger Million Manhoef

Recently, Celtic’s interest in Stoke City winger Million Manhoef came to light, and the Bhoys found out they may need to pay £10 million to prize the Dutchman away from the bet365 Stadium.

Now, Sky Sports pundit David Prutton has claimed Celtic would be a “tremendous” move for Manhoef should circumstances align this summer, per Football League World.

Prutton stated: “I think firstly, you can instantly see the attraction of what being a Celtic player would be. Never having had the privilege of being north of the border playing, but knowing people that played for both sides of that particular divide, their description and their passion for it is all-consuming.

“So, I think swapping a club that’s perennially bottom-half in the Championship, which again, from Stoke’s point of view needs to be addressed ASAP; a glaring gulf between a team as we saw on Monday in Leeds heading back to the Premier League, and a team in Stoke that were once part of the Premier League furniture is there for all to see.

“A chastening reminder for Mark Robins about the job that needs to be done at Stoke, and if Million is not going to be part of that, then if he ends up at Celtic, it’s a tremendous move for him.”

Ultimately, Celtic’s potential to play Champions League football may be the deciding factor for Manhoef, who now has plenty to consider ahead of the summer.

Moving north of the border may give him a unique shop window, but Burnley, Sheffield United, Genk and Club Brugge are also mooted to be in the hunt for his services.

Manchester United are now working to seal a deal for a £60m+ star “very soon”, with the “incredible” forward “keen” on a move to Old Trafford, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Man Utd stepping up summer transfer plans

Although Rasmus Hojlund bagged a late equaliser, the recent 1-1 draw against AFC Bournemouth once again underlined the need for Ruben Amorim to strengthen his squad considerably this summer, with Daniel Sturridge dubbing the current Man United team the “worst” since he was born.

As we edge closer to the summer window, it is becoming clear Amorim wants to bring in a number of new forwards this summer, with Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta among the targets at striker, alongside the likes of Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres and Atalanta’s Mateo Retegui.

There have also been widespread suggestions that the Red Devils are progressing towards agreeing a deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Matheus Cunha, having reportedly submitted a five-year contract offer in recent days.

Romano has now taken to X to drop an update on Man United’s pursuit of Cunha, stating they are “working” to seal the deal “very soon”, with negotiations now underway over the final details of the contract.

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The Wolves star is “keen” on a move to Old Trafford this summer, but he is unlikely to come cheap, given that he is protected by a £62.5m release clause in his contract.

Reports from elsewhere have stated the Brazilian is set to be brought in to play as a number 10, which means United are still tasked with signing a new striker, and there is no shortage of potential targets.

"Incredible" Cunha could help transform Man Utd's attack

United have been particularly poor from an attacking point of view this season, having scored just 39 goals in 34 Premier League games, which suggests they may need to make a number of additions to their frontline this summer.

Joshua Zirkzee and Hojlund have struggled to adapt to life in England, but Cunha has proven himself in the Premier League, playing a major role in steering Wolves clear of relegation trouble by picking up a total of 15 goals and six assists.

The Wolves star has been impressing in the Premier League for quite some time, having previously been lauded as “incredible” by reporter Jacob Steinberg after scoring a hat-trick against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last season.

There are some doubts over the signing of Cunha, with suitors said to be put off by his disciplinary record, but Paul Scholes believes he has the “attributes” to fit into Amorim’s style of play, and there are plenty of indications that he could be a success at Old Trafford.

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ strong start under Vitor Pereira could be the catalyst for a promising 2025/26 campaign.

If they can secure a couple of high-profile signings in the summer transfer window while also keeping some of their key players, a top-half finish isn’t out of the question.

Much will depend on just exactly how much cash the Portuguese manager will have to spend, however.

Could the Old Gold be ready to raid a fellow Premier League team for one of their players this summer?

Wolves ready to raid Premier League rival

The Molinuex outfit will be aiming to bolster their squad this summer, and it looks as though they have already targeted a midfielder playing for Chelsea.

Journalist Ben Jacobs was speaking to the Wolfpack Podcast about potential targets, mentioning that Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall could be of interest.

“I think Wolves and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is going to be one to watch, from what I understand,” said Jacobs about the Englishman.

“Because Chelsea may be willing to sanction a sale. Dewsbury-Hall may be looking for regular game time, with a view to somehow kind of forcing himself into the England setup. Wolves could be one to watch there. I’m not aware yet of any significant out-and-out attackers who Wolves are specifically looking at.”

Despite an underwhelming season at Stamford Bridge, Dewsbury-Hall could be an excellent signing for Wolves. Especially for Jorgen Strand Larsen.

Why Wolves must sign Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

Strand Larsen has emerged as one of Wolves’ key players of late, scoring six goals in his previous six Premier League matches.

Overall, the Norwegian striker has netted 13 times while grabbing three assists, starring under Pereira’s management.

He will join the club on a permanent deal this summer and will lead the line for Wolves heading into next season. Could his output increase by having someone like Dewsbury-Hall operating behind him?

Lauded by his former manager at Leicester City, Brendan Rodgers, for being “sensational”, it was his time at the Foxes where the playmaker began to showcase his talents.

His spell in the Championship during the 2023/24 campaign saw the Englishman shine for the club across a range of attacking metrics.

Indeed, he created 20 big chances, averaged 2.5 key passes and succeeded with 1.3 dribbles per game. Furthermore, the midfielder also registered 26 goal contributions of his own – 12 goals and 14 assists – to help seal the club’s return to the top flight.

His spell at Chelsea may not have gone as expected, with the player starting just 17 games this season, primarily in the Conference League., although his Leicester heroics showcased the creative output that he can supply to the likes of Strand Larsen.

Equally, even amid his west London woes, the £30m signing has still managed to net three goals and chip in with three assists for the Blues, but it is clear that he needs a fresh challenge next term.

Wolves would be the ideal destination for the midfielder, who still has plenty of time left at his peak to make an impact at Molineux; that much is certain.

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