Category Uncategorized

“I thought it was just good thinking of using home tactics [to] your advantage,” Trent Boult says of Gujarat Titans opting for a black-soil pitch

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Mar-20251:40

Pujara: Good to see Prasidh developing variations

Prasidh Krishna hadn’t played any IPL cricket since 2022. At one point, he seemed locked-in as a bowler India would turn to during the middle-overs of a white-ball game because he had pace, height, and an ability to hit the middle of the pitch hard and trouble batters with his natural variations. However, injuries forced him into the sidelines.Playing his second game of IPL 2025, for a new franchise, Prasidh came on when Mumbai Indians (MI) were 97 for 2, needing 100 runs in the remaining 54 balls. “I was itching to bowl actually,” he said at the post-match presentation. “It was the tenth over. I was just thinking I haven’t really waited so long in a game, in a T20 game, before bowling but everything paid off.”We were sitting on top and watching how the first innings went. We could kind of read that cutters into the wicket and balls into the wicket were doing well. So just had that in mind and whenever I got to bowl, the plan was to make sure I use the length.Related

Hardik the bowler gets the better of Gill the batter, again

Gujarat Titans show how home advantage is done

Sai Sudharsan, Prasidh Krishna consign MI to big defeat

Gill second-fastest to 1000 IPL runs at a single venue

Titans off the mark with a thumping win over Mumbai Indians

“I just figured [slower balls] were working well. I didn’t really want to test the speed gun or try and do anything different. I just wanted to keep things simple. Knowing what the scoreboard was, I knew every single over, every single ball was really important. Just tried to keep things simple.”Prasidh is not particularly known for his variations but here they worked so well that he bowled his four overs on the trot, picking up the wickets of MI’s two top-scorers, Suryakumar Yadav for 48 off 28 and Tilak Varma for 39 off 36. He was named Player of the Match.”I think he did more than pretty well,” Prasidh’s Gujarat Titans (GT) captain Shubman Gill said in the press conference. “He did a pretty amazing job for us to be able to come in like that in a pressure situation and I think he changed the game for us in the way he bowled. I think he gave around 14 runs [18] out of which I think a couple of boundaries that he got hit for came in the last over. In the first three overs he gave around six or seven runs. In a T20 game, when the opposition is chasing 200 [197 to win], you know the match is almost done.”Ahmedabad, GT’s home ground, has two kinds of pitches – red soil and black soil. Gill and his team management chose to play this game on a black-soil pitch, which tends to be a little slower and lower than its red soil counterpart.1:40

Pujara: Good to see Prasidh developing variations

“I thought it was just good thinking of using home tactics [to] your advantage,” Trent Boult, the MI quick, said in the press conference afterwards. “Obviously there should be an advantage for the home team. We understood the wicket, that was black soil, and we didn’t adjust nicely enough.”Obviously there’s a difference. Wankhede is obviously typically red soil. Good tactics from the opposition. If you’ve got those options to do that, it obviously makes things… But I don’t think we will be using that as an excuse. There are players in our team that have played all over the country on all different types of wickets, as well as the international players there. So, I don’t want to say [anything] off the game tonight. They scrapped their way to a good total and they showed us how to bowl on that wicket. So credit to them.”Gill explained why GT did what they did.”I think each team has their own strengths and the way they like to play certain type of cricket I think this kind of a wicket suits our batting and bowling and overall strength of our team more than on the red soil and I think the way the game is going, you know, we see 250 to 240 runs [being scored].”We have to sometimes give that cushion for the bowlers so there’s something in it for the bowlers and it’s an equal game. We just don’t want all the games to be, you know, 240 to 250 runs. I feel if there are such high-scoring games the skill out of cricket, it takes away from that.”

Barcelona star Joan Garcia remains sidelined after a successful knee operation with the goalkeeper in danger of missing the Clasico showdown against Real Madrid in late October. The 24-year-old stopper, signed this summer from Espanyol for €25 million, has been ruled out for between four and six weeks after arthroscopic surgery on a torn meniscus in his left knee.

Surgery sidelines summer signing

Barcelona confirmed on Friday that Garcia’s operation had been a success, though the recovery period will dictate just how many matches he misses. The injury is similar to the one suffered by team-mate Gavi earlier this week, although the damage was far more severe in the midfielder’s case as he has been ruled out for up to five months. Garcia’s prognosis is less drastic, but even four weeks on the sidelines leaves little margin before El Clasico scheduled on October 26. Six weeks out would all but guarantee his absence for the high-voltage fixture.

AdvertisementAFPFrom dream debut to cruel setback

Since arriving from city rivals Espanyol, Garcia had wasted no time cementing his place as Barca’s number one. Handed the gloves by Flick from day one, he started every match of the new campaign and quickly won over the fans with his command in goal. Conceding only five goals in seven league appearances, the Spaniard was lauded for his shot-stopping and composure, though he did draw criticism on Thursday after a loose pass led to Oviedo’s opener. Flick, however, defended his young goalkeeper, praising his overall form and leadership from the back.

Szczesny set to step back in

The setback means Wojciech Szczesny will be thrust back into the starting XI. The experienced Pole, who had already proven his worth last season during Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s spell out with injury, now has another chance to be Barca’s guardian between the sticks.

Speaking at Saturday’s press conference, Flick struck a defiant tone despite the blow.

"It’s not good news to have Joan Garcia out, he was fine. He got injured in the last game against Oviedo, but these things happen," he said. "Now, Tek is back, and if you look at the second half of last season, we won almost every game with Szczesny; he was there, and we won three titles with him. He’s a great goalkeeper, a great person, and I have no doubt about him.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportInternational break gives Barca breathing space

Barcelona will at least find some relief in the timing of the international break, which eases the fixture congestion during Garcia’s rehabilitation. Garcia is already ruled out of the Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain, a game that will go a long way to shaping Barca’s European ambitions. He will miss La Liga games against Real Sociedad, Sevilla and Girona, at least, before the Madrid match in late-October.

As part of the summer rebuild at Manchester United, Ruben Amorim has splashed the cash, with all three of his major additions to date being made in the final third of the pitch.

Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have all made the move to Old Trafford – setting the hierarchy back a sum in the region of £200m in the process.

However, such moves were desperately needed, especially after the Red Devils only managed to average 1.15 goals per game in the Premier League last campaign.

Such movement has formed a new deadly trio for Amorim, but he must now turn his attention to other areas of the squad, with the September 1st deadline rapidly approaching.

The midfield department is desperately crying out for another reinforcement, which could see the hierarchy land a big-money partner for Bruno Fernandes for 2025/26 and beyond.

The latest on Man Utd’s hunt for a new midfielder

Over the last few weeks, United’s hunt for a new midfielder has been dominated by a potential deal to sign Brighton and Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba.

Despite deliberations between the player’s representatives and Amorim’s side, it appears as though the Cameroonian will stay at the AMEX this window – with his £100m asking price deemed too expensive.

However, it appears as though the Red Devils hierarchy have moved onto another Premier League talent in the form of Crystal Palace youngster Adam Wharton.

According to Spanish outlet AS, Amorim’s side are currently leading the race for the 21-year-old’s signature, with Real Madrid also in the race for the Englishman’s signature.

The report also states it’s unclear whether the Eagles will be willing to let him depart after Eberechi Eze’s deal to join Arsenal, only entertaining offers in the region of €80m (£69m).

Why United’s target would be perfect for Cunha & Mbeumo

There’s an understandable amount of excitement building at United, with their business in the transfer market certainly playing a huge part over recent weeks.

Moves for Cunha and Mbeumo have added needed Premier League experience, with the hope the pair can replicate their impressive goalscoring form from the 2024/25 campaign.

The duo netted 35 times between them in England’s top-flight last season, which led to the Red Devils hierarchy forking out a combined £133.5m for the pair.

Both are likely to operate behind Sesko at Old Trafford, needing ammunition from players around them to provide the chances to impress within the final third.

Bruno has dropped into a deeper role in recent weeks, but could also be joined in such a position by Wharton before the end of the summer window.

The youngster would likely provide the ball-winning option needed at the heart of the side, but he could also offer a threat in forward areas – should he replicate his form at Selhurst Park.

Wharton, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by HLTCO, managed to complete 7.3 progressive passes and 5.3 passes into the final third per 90 last time around, having the ability to provide the aforementioned duo with numerous chances in front of goal.

Adam Wharton’s stats for Palace in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

20

Goals & assists

2

Pass accuracy

76%

Progressive passes

7.3

Key passes

1.8

Passes into final third

5.3

Tackles won

2.3

Interceptions made

1.4

Clearances made

1.8

Recoveries made

6.9

Stats via FBref

He also registered 1.8 key passes per 90 – at an accuracy rate of 76% – further highlighting the talent he possesses when having the ball at his feet.

However, out of possession, the youngster has also impressed, winning 2.3 tackles per 90 and making 1.4 interceptions – subsequently having the tools to offer the ball-winning player Amorim has craved at the heart of his side.

It would undoubtedly be yet another expensive addition for the Red Devils this summer, but it’s one that would massively solve the issues currently apparent at the Theatre of Dreams.

If he can sit deep and regain possession, whilst also having the tools to provide others with chances in dangerous areas – it would be an excellent piece of business, not to mention an investment that could be worth millions more in the years ahead, given his tender age.

Related He's like Baleba: "Extraordinary" £35m star now wants to sign for Man Utd

Manchester United appear to have moved on from Carlos Baleba with a move for another star.

Posts 1 ByEthan Lamb Aug 22, 2025

Chelsea were dealt a seismic blow defensively in the last few days, with news that Levi Colwill will now miss the majority of 2025/2026.

He was meant to be one of the pillars of Chelsea’s defence next season, but the 22-year-old has now ruptured his ACL, ruling him out for the majority – possibly the entirety – of the new campaign.

Colwill sustained the problem at the end of his first training session back at Cobham earlier this week, and after he underwent successful surgery, the centre-back’s recovery timeline is expected to stretch to around six to nine months.

The injury is a brutal blow. Colwill was a mainstay last season, starting 35 Premier League matches and playing a key part in Chelsea’s Champions League qualification push – not to mention Club World Cup glory.

With him now sidelined for the foreseeable future, boss Enzo Maresca has declared that his defence is a top-priority position to strengthen during these final few weeks of the window – confirming that Chelsea will dip into the market amid their ongoing talks for Alejandro Garnacho and Xavi Simons.

“It is a priority for me,” Maresca told Channel 5, via Standard Sport. “Levi is a fantastic player. What we achieved last season is because of him. He played a lot of games with me, I love him. We are going to miss him.

“We are trying also to find different solutions.”

Jorrel Hato, signed from Ajax for around £36 million, steps into the spotlight. Despite being just 19, Maresca insists the Dutchman’s senior experience – over 100 Ajax games – makes him “mature enough” to slot into the backline immediately.

However, Chelsea are reliably believed to view the teenager as more of a left-back to cover for Marc Cucurella (Ben Jacobs), and even before Colwill’s injury, the west Londoners were looking at signing another centre-half (Simon Phillips).

Their need for another option has now intensified, with Benoit Badiashile also out till September.

Chelsea open talks with Ajax defender Aaron Bouwman

According to TEAMtalk, Chelsea could turn to another Ajax teenager – Aaron Bouwman – after Hato.

The 17-year-old is yet to make a senior appearance for the Eredivisie giants but is amassing quite the reputation as one of Europe’s rising stars defensively, impressing in the pre-season Como Cup, and Bouwman is a standout in Ajax’s prestigious youth set up right now.

It is unclear whether Chelsea plan to integrate him into the first team, but they’re serious about potentially capturing him.

TT state that Chelsea have opened talks with Bouwman’s agents in the last few days and are in pole position to sign the Dutch starlet ahead of both Man City and Arsenal – who are also looking at him.

If Bouwman isn’t exactly ready to reinforce Maresca’s senior defensive options, then other reports suggest that Chelsea could U-turn over selling Renato Veiga and give the Portuguese a chance to stake his claim in the squad.

أوضح وائل القباني قائد الزمالك الأسبق، رأيه في يانيك فيريرا المدير الفني للأبيض، كما علق على تعادل الفريق أمام الجونة في المباراة الماضية ببطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

وتعادل الزمالك مع الجونة بهدف لكل فريق في المباراة التي أقيمت بينهما على استاد القاهرة الدولي في الجولة الثامنة لمسابقة الدوري الممتاز.

وقال وائل القباني في تصريحات عبر قناة “إم بي سي مصر”: “فيريرا ما زال لم يواجه فرق كبيرة مثل الأهلي وبيراميدز، أفضل مباراة لعبها الزمالك أمام المصري، لكن باقي الفرق التي واجهها لم يكن تحت ضغط”.

طالع أيضًا.. عاجل ورسميًا | حكم مباراة الأهلي والزمالك في الدوري المصري

وتابع: “مباراة القمة هي التي ستظهر هل فيريرا يُجيد لعب المباريات الكبيرة أم لا، وسيظهر فكره”.

وأوضح: “شيكو بانزا ما زال لم يقنعني، خوان بيزيرا أقنع الجميع لكن لديه مشكلة إنه (بتاع شو) تشعر وكأنه يركز خارج الملعب، وهذا مع الوقت سيتسبب له في مشاكل”.

وأفاد: “الزمالك لو دخل مباراة الأهلي وهو يعتمد على ألفينا فقط ستكون مشكلة، لأن لو الأهلي أوقف اللاعب سيغلق على مفاتيح لعب الزمالك”.

وأكد: “مشكلة الزمالك إنه لم يهتم بمباراة الجونة، حتى لو كان يريد إراحة اللاعبين كان من الممكن أن يُريح لاعبًا أو إثنين، وعندما تقدم بهدف شعر وكأن المباراة أصبحت سهلة فخرج بتعادل وأضاع نقطتين”.

واختتم: “لو كان الزمالك خاض مباراة الأهلي وهو متفوق على الجونة ستكون فرصته أفضل، خاصة أنه متصدر الدوري، لكن التعادل أمام الجونة وضع الزمالك تحت ضغط، وعلى الجانب الآخر بيراميدز قادم”.

Newcastle United are at a bit of a crossroads this summer. The Magpies’ latest transfer target was clear: sign a right winger.

Yet, their reported number one target, Bryan Mbeumo, rejected Eddie Howe’s side, as well as North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, in favour of a move to Manchester United, as per David Ornstein.

The North East giants were forced to move on to their next target, Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga. However, their bid for the Sweden international, worth a reported £45m according to Ornstein, was rejected by the City Ground side, although they could return with a new offer.

So, that leaves Newcastle somewhat in limbo, although they have been linked wth a few more players who could become their new right-winger.

The latest on Newcastle's pursuit for a winger

Finding a new right-sided attacker has certainly been a frustration for the Magpies. They have missed out on two primary targets and must now go back to the drawing board to figure out their next move.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Well, Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has recently broken the news that they are ‘exploring other options’ with regards to wide options. Two of those include PSV Eindhoven starlet Johan Bakayoko and West Ham United attacker Mohammed Kudus.

If the Magpies are to move for Bakayoko this summer, it seems like it could be a bargain move. According to reports, the Eredivisie side could accept as little as £17m for their winger this summer.

He has just one year left on his contract, and a move seems inevitable, which could give Newcastle a perfect opportunity.

How Bakayoko compares to Kudus

At just 22 years of age, Bakayoko has already made a great impression across Europe. He is clearly deemed Premier League quality by some sides, after a move to Brentford fell through a couple of years ago.

Now, two years on from that potential move, he is still making waves in the top flight of the Netherlands. Last season for PSV, the Belgium international played 47 times across all competitions, scoring 12 goals and grabbing three assists.

However, that is not Bakayoko’s best season for PV, whose academy he is a graduate of. His quality was really on show in the 2023/24 campaign. The winger featured in 33 Eredivisie games that season, and scored 12 goals, whilst grabbing nine assists.

Of course, the Magpies might pursue a move for Kudus, but there is no guarantee that they will secure the services of the Ghanaian international. He has been offered to other clubs, including Chelsea, as recently as the 6th of June, according to Sky Sports.

He certainly has a good record in the Premier League for West Ham. The 24-year-old has made 65 appearances in the English top flight, scoring 13 goals and grabbing 12 assists in that time. His best season came in 2023/24, when he contributed eight goals and nine assists.

However, he hasn’t hit the heights for the Hammers that Bakayoko did for PSV a couple of years ago. This certainly suggests that the Belgian could be an excellent alternative to Kudus if the Magpies decide to move for him instead.

The underlying stats on FBref also suggest that it is the case, too. When looking at their numbers from 2023/24, Bakayoko averaged 0.76 goals and assists and 7.11 progressive carries per 90 minutes.

In comparison, Kudus averaged 0.54 goals and assists and 4.32 progressive carries each game.

The stats are there to suggest that, if they bring Bakayoko in this summer, he would be an excellent alternative to Kudus. Not only is he a “clinical” goalscoring winger, as Antonio Mango described him, but he is a fantastic ball carrier too, as the stats show.

For just £17m, this could be one of the bargains of the summer for Newcastle. It hasn’t been an easy summer so far, with the rejections they have faced, but this could be a huge turning point and key addition.

Dream Pedro alternative: Newcastle advancing move for £40m "goal machine"

Newcastle plan to make a series of attacking signings this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 25, 2025

Hill also in the wickets as Patel, Foakes efforts aren’t enough

ECB Reporters Network25-Jul-2024Will Luxton’s 79-ball 83, George Hill’s 51 off 38 balls and four dramatic late sixes by Matt Revis propelled Yorkshire Vikings to 240 for six from 33 overs and an eventual 25-run win against Surrey in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup at the Kia Oval.Luxton, 21 and making just his 15th List A appearance, hit 12 fours and played the innings of a rain-shortened Group B match, while 23-year-old Hill also took three for 41 with his medium pace as he and Revis, 22, added wickets to their earlier run-scoring exploits. Surrey, set 248 from their 33 overs after Duckworth Lewis Stern calculations, were restricted to 222 for nine in reply.And a fourth homegrown Yorkshire young gun, 23-year-old James Wharton, followed up a quickfire 22 by pulling off two memorable boundary catches – the first of them a quite astonishing one-handed over-the-shoulder effort – to remove Ben Geddes and Rory Burns.With Ben Coad producing a beauty to bowl Ryan Patel for 40 towards the end of a superb seven-over new ball spell of 7-1-25-1, it was an eye-catching all-round performance by the Vikings – who failed to qualify for the knock-out stages in last year’s 50-over competition but, on this evidence, could be contenders 12 months on.Yorkshire’s innings was interrupted by three separate rain delays of various lengths. The first came at 31 for one, after six overs, and lasted just 14 minutes, but the second was of almost two hours’s duration and was quickly followed by the third, lopping a further 35 minutes’ play from the day’s schedule.The upshot of it all was a final seven-over sprint, from an already strong position of 158 for three after 26 overs, and a DLS adjusted target for Surrey to chase that most onlookers had expected to be higher.Surrey lost Dom Sibley for one in the second over, lofting a drive at Dom Leech straight to cover, but left-hander Patel briefly flourished – despite being dropped on 27 at deep mid wicket off Leech – until Coad angled one through his defences from around the wicket.That came soon after Geddes, on 13, had slashed Hill high to deep cover where Wharton plucked the ball out of the air right-handed as he leapt backwards just yards inside the rope.And Hill was again the bowler when Wharton, at deep square leg, cleverly threw the ball up just as his momentum took him over the boundary before stepping back inside the ropes to complete a catch from a well-struck sweep by Burns (7).Ben Foakes slog-swept Dan Moriarty’s left arm spin for six and added 68 with Cam Steel, whose 37 was ended by a top-edged hoick at Hill to short fine leg.Surrey needed 121 from their last 10 overs and that became 77 from five after Foakes (40) was caught in the deep, leaving Josh Blake (26) and Conor McKerr (25) to plunder what they could in a losing cause.Finlay Bean fell early on for three after Yorkshire had been put in, brilliantly caught by keeper Blake who dived to his right to clutch a fast-travelling inside-edge when the left-hander was beaten off the pitch by a fine ball from James Taylor.Luxton, however, was soon into his stride with regal offside fours off both Matt Dunn and Taylor, and the young opener dominated a second wicket stand of 97 in 13 overs with Shan Masood until the Pakistan Test captain gloved a hook at a McKerr bouncer to Blake to go for 24.Wharton advanced to loft Steel’s leg-spin over mid off for four and, next ball, carved him wide of long on for six, but on 22 he connected well enough with a scooped sweep at left-arm spinner Yousef Majid only to see Steel pull off a stunning one-handed catch at short fine leg, quickly back-pedalling and diving away to his right.Then came the second rain break at 139 for three, with Luxton already on 76 from 67 balls, but he sacrificed the chance of a maiden List A hundred when, soon after resuming again on 81 following the final weather interruption, he skied a catch swinging hard at Dunn.Hill had by then launched a six over long on off Majid and it was not long before he completed a fine fifty by pulling McKerr for his eighth four.Steel removed both Hill and Dom Bess in the 31st over, convincing Surrey captain Burns to keep him on for the final over of the innings.It backfired badly with Revis pulling the first ball high over the mid-wicket ropes before finishing the over with three successive sixes – a full toss smoked over long on, a length ball hit straight and another short one also pulled dismissively into the stands.

The ICC is yet to release a statement about whether his addition to the Nepal squad has been approved

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jun-2024

Not long after he was denied a US visa, Sandeep Lamichhane has landed in the West Indies to play Nepal’s last two league games in Kingstown, St Vincent. Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) told ESPNcricinfo on Monday that the board had requested the ICC to allow Lamichhane as a late addition to their World Cup squad, which the governing body has approved, and he does not require a visa for St Vincent.Lamichhane was not part of the original 15-man squad, which was also listed on the ICC website, announced last month and couldn’t fly with the contingent to the USA because he couldn’t get a US visa for that leg.All boards were allowed to make changes to their T20 World Cup 2024 squads by May 25, but when Lamichhane didn’t get a US visa even on second attempt, and Nepal were to play their first two games in the USA, CAN had said on May 30 that Lamichhane was going to miss the tournament. But CAN president Chatur Bahadur Chand told ESPNcricinfo on Monday that the board had originally submitted 14 names on May 24 to the ICC to allow for Lamichhane’s late addition. An ICC spokesperson also confirmed the allowance was given to Nepal since they had originally submitted only 14 names.Lamichhane, however, landed in the West Indies on June 9, local time, and tweeted that he was going to join the Nepal national team “for the last two matches,” which they are to play against South Africa on June 14 and Bangladesh on June 16.