He has admitted to breaching article 2.4.7 of the code, which relates to obstructing or delaying an ACU (anti-corruption unit) investigation
ESPNcricinfo staff02-Oct-2024The ICC has banned Sri Lanka left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama from all cricket for one year, of which the last six months are suspended, after he admitted to breaching the global body’s anti-corruption code.In August the ICC charged Jayawickrama with two breaches of the code. He has admitted to breaching article 2.4.7, which relates to: “Obstructing or delaying any investigation that may be carried out by the ACU [anti-corruption unit], including concealing, tampering with or destroying any documentation or other information that may be relevant to that investigation and/or that may be evidence or may lead to the discovery of evidence of corrupt conduct under the Anti-Corruption Code.”Related
Sri Lanka spinner Praveen Jayawickrama faces ICC corruption charges
The charges, according to an ICC release, relate to international cricket and the Lanka Premier League (LPL).Having made his international debut in a Test against Bangladesh in April 2021, Jayawickrama has played five Tests, five ODIs and five T20Is. His last appearance for Sri Lanka was in a T20I series at home against Australia in 2022.In LPL 2021, Jayawickrama was a part of the Jaffna Kings side that won its second title. He played one match that season, taking two wickets. In LPL 2024, he turned out for Dambulla Sixers.
The season ended less than a month ago, and so much has already changed at Tottenham Hotspur.
In the space of a week, Ange Postecoglou, who led the club to their first trophy in almost two decades this season, was fired, and his replacement all but announced.
The man to come in and try to improve the Lilywhites’ Premier League form looks set to be Brentford’s Thomas Frank.
However, to ensure the Danish coach can do that, Daniel Levy and Co have to execute this summer perfectly, which means bringing in the right players and selling those who need to be sold, such as Son Heung-min and another big name.
Why Son should be sold
There is no doubt that in the pantheon of great and iconic Tottenham Hotspur players, Son is right near the very top, as not only has he spent a decade at the club, but he was the captain for their Europa League triumph last week.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
However, that is one of the reasons he should be moved on this summer, as if he were to go now, he’d be leaving on an incredible high and as an unquestionable legend of the club, but were he to remain for another year, there is every chance his declining ability would see him eventually leave on something of a sour note next year.
It’s not the South Korean superstar’s fault he’s become less effective in recent years, but just an unfortunate reality of getting older, a reality supported by research carried out by The Athletic showing that wide attackers peak at 26 and see their ability to take defenders on nosedive at 30 and beyond.
Son’s recent form
Season
23/24
24/25
Appearances
36
46
Goals
17
11
Assists
10
12
Goal Involvements per Match
0.75
0.5
All Stats via Transfermarkt
We can also see this in his numbers, with the Chuncheon-born ace racking up 27 goal involvements in 36 appearances last year but just 23 in 46 games this year.
Moreover, per FBref, the 32-year-old sat in the top 9% of attacking midfielders and wingers for successful take-ons per 90 in the 18/19 Premier League season, but then this season, he was in the bottom 42% for the same metric.
Now, the good news is that the North Londoners can probably still get some good money for the Bayer Leverkusen star, as according to French outlet Foot Mercato, he has been approached by Saudi Pro-league side Al-Hilal, and as we’ve seen in the past few years, they can pay an awful lot for ageing stars.
In all, Son is now a bonafide legend at Spurs, but this summer feels like the right time for him to go so he can leave on a high, and the club can cash in, which is the same for another star.
The Spurs star who should be sold
While there are a few players who should be sold this summer because they simply aren’t good enough, like Yves Bissouma, we are talking about one of the co-vice captains, Cristian Romero.
Now, before the pitchforks and torches come out, we are not for one second saying the Argentine isn’t good enough to play for Spurs under Frank.
However, there are a few reasons why the North Londoners should probably be looking to cash in on him, with the first being the interest.
There has always been the odd link here and there for the World Cup winner, but it has to be said that in the last few months, said links have increased in volume and believability.
For example, Real Madrid were reportedly keen on the former Juventus ace in early April, but since then, there has been a near-constant stream of reports touting him for a move to their city rivals, Atlético Madrid.
Worse still, the Córdoba-born “monster,” dubbed by journalist Charlie Eccleshare, has reportedly already spoken to his compatriot Diego Simeone and now wants to move to the Spanish capital, which is a want likely strengthened by the sacking of Postecoglou.
The second reason is intertwined with the first and concerns the money involved in a potential move.
If the club can get upwards of £60m for the wantaway defender, as it looks like they want, then that cash can go towards new players that actually want to play for the team and that Frank personally wants in his squad.
Finally, the the £165,000-per-week defender cannot be relied upon to remain fit anymore, as he missed a whopping 27 games for club and country this season, so even if he stays this summer, he could well end up missing half of the 25/26 campaign.
Ultimately, Romero is a brilliant footballer and was important in the Europa League this year, but with him increasingly looking like he wants to leave, combined with his fitness problems, it would make sense for Spurs to cash in now and hand Franks the funds to sign his own players.
Dream Semenyo alternative: Spurs plot bid to sign "terrifying" £21m star
The dynamic attacker could represent a sensational deal for Spurs.
Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground this afternoon was enough to secure the club Champions League football ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Levi Colwill’s strike just minutes into the second half was enough to secure all three points for Enzo Maresca’s men, ending the year in fourth during the Italian’s first season at the helm.
Such an achievement is exceptional, handing the hierarchy a needed boost in the financial department, certainly aiding the current PSR standing and easing any concerns.
The win in the East Midlands was certainly a hard-fought contest, with the side deserving of a place among Europe’s elite, having the opportunity to claim a third European Cup.
However, despite the triumph, numerous players struggled to make the desired impact on Trentside, potentially putting their place in the side at risk over the summer transfer window.
Chelsea’s poor performers against Nottingham Forest
Midfielder Enzo Fernández has been widely linked with a move away from Chelsea in recent weeks, with Real Madrid the main outfit in the race for his signature.
The Argentine struggled to produce his best display in the win, failing to win a single tackle and only managed to complete 70% of the passes that he attempted.
He wasn’t alone in failing to impress, with attacking midfielder Cole Palmer once again disappointing and needing to recapture his best form in 2025/26.
The 23-year-old failed to complete any of his attempted dribbles, and registered a measly completion rate of just 17% from the crosses he put into the box.
However, despite the showings from the aforementioned duo, one other first-team regular was unable to extract his highest performance levels, putting his long-term future at Stamford Bridge at huge risk.
The 5/10 Chelsea star who may never play for the club again
This summer is now likely to be an exciting one for Chelsea supporters, with the manager now able to have the extra funds to make the changes he desires to his playing squad.
He’s done a magnificent job in leading the side to a place in the top five, deserving the chance to land any targets he feels would improve the options at his disposal.
However, he will likely want to move players on in the process, with winger Jadon Sancho still having a huge question mark next to his future in West London over the coming months.
The 25-year-old joined on loan from Manchester United last summer, with an obligation to buy for £25m, but they could pay a fee in the region of £5m to send him back to his parent club.
However, his showing in the East Midlands was one that wouldn’t have satisfied the hierarchy, which could spell the end of his stint as a Chelsea first-team player.
Sancho featured for 62 minutes of the contest, failing to register any efforts on goal and was unable to complete any dribbles, showcasing his lack of impact in the final third.
He also only registered a measly tally of 32 touches, a figure that was lower than that of goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, who managed a total of 44.
Minutes played
62
Touches
32
Shots taken
0
Dribbles completed
0
Tackles won
0
Aerials lost
100%
Possession lost
6x
The loanee also failed to win a single tackle, whilst losing 100% of the aerial duels he entered, showcasing his inability to impress across all areas of the pitch.
As a result of his disappointing showing against the Reds, he was handed a measly 5/10 match rating by The Standard’s Malik Ouzia – highlighting the disappointing performance he produced.
Such a display will put doubt in Maresca’s mind over his long-term future, potentially saving them £20m to invest in other targets if they send him back to Old Trafford.
It’s safe to say that his time with the Blues has been well below the levels many expected, with the hierarchy needing to make sure that his outing today was his last for the club.
Their new Palmer: Chelsea lining up move for "direct" £75m PL star
Chelsea are again forecast to be busy in this summer’s transfer market, so could they sign a “direct’ Premier League star to be the next Cole Palmer?
Celtic clinched their 55th top-flight title when they won the Scottish Premiership with a 5-0 win over Dundee United at Tannadice Park on Saturday.
An own goal from Ryan Strain put the Hoops ahead before Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah both netted braces to secure a comprehensive victory for the away side, and one that wrapped up the title.
One player who was not involved in the matchday squad for the crowning moment, however, was Maik Nawrocki, who has fallen out of favour despite a couple of impressive outings recently.
Why Maik Nawrocki's time at Celtic might be over
The Polish defender, signed from Legia Warsaw, has only played two games in the Premiership this season, despite being available for every match, and they both came in March in back-to-back games against Rangers and Hearts.
Maik Nawrocki
Vs Rangers
Vs Hearts
Minutes
90
90
Clearances
7
9
Blocks
0
3
Tackles + interceptions
5
1
Duels won
7/10
8/9
Dribbled past
0x
0x
Pass accuracy
93%
98%
Error led to shot/goal
0
0
Stats via Sofascore
The rarely-seen star stepped up in those matches, as shown in the table above, with dominant defensive displays, whilst also being reliable in possession.
However, he was then an unused substitute in the next two games and was not named on the bench against Dundee United, with Liam Scales preferred as a starter and Auston Trusty preferred on the bench.
Nawrocki has only played 12 Premiership matches in almost two seasons at Parkhead and that may be why his time at the club could be over heading into the summer window, as the defender may want to go and play regular football.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
The 24-year-old ace may not be the only centre-back to move on from Parkhead this year, though, as Celtic must ruthlessly bin Stephen Welsh as well.
Why Celtic should sell Stephen Welsh
Once dubbed “excellent” by Brendan Rodgers, the 25-year-old flop was sent out on loan to Mechelen in Belgium during the January transfer window but he’s done very little to suggest he deserves a future at Parkhead, something the player clearly wants.
Welsh has started 11 matches in the Pro League during the second half of the campaign, and his team are yet to keep a single clean sheet – conceding 25 goals in the process.
Celtic defender Stephen Welsh.
Those statistics do not suggest that the Scottish dud is likely to return to Parkhead to challenge for a starting berth next season, given how poor his current team’s defence has been with him in the side as a starter.
His disappointing form is reflected in his current market value of £700k, as per Transfermarkt, which is even lower than Nawrocki’s valuation of £1.7m, despite him having only played two league games this season.
Welsh’s current contract at Celtic does not expire until the summer of 2027. However, the decision to send him out on loan, coupled with his market valuation and his dismal defensive numbers with Mechelen, suggests that he does not have much of a future at Parkhead.
Therefore, the club must ruthlessly bin the central defender by cashing in on him in the upcoming summer transfer window, and Nawrocki may follow him out of the door if he wants to play regularly next term.
Celtic can bin Idah by signing "absolutely sensational" £10m star
Brendan Rodgers could land an instant upgrade on Adam Idah by signing this star for Celtic.
It has been a series of ups and downs for Jaiswal, but with the bat, he managed to end on a high
Sidharth Monga02-Aug-20253:22
Bangar: ‘Jaiswal’s Sehwag-esque impact makes it easier for batters to follow’
A five-Test tour can feel like a lifetime within a life. It can be a selfish existence, even for those working on it on the outside, but more so for cricketers. There is no other responsibility or commitment other than to look after every aspect of your game. Everything else is taken care of for you, which is a privilege, but it takes a huge emotional toll to deal with this constant examination of your game, the variety of conditions and situations, and the vagaries of sport.For Yashasvi Jaiswal more than others, this tour of England has been a lifetime of ups and downs. He started with a dominating century at Headingley, but dropped catches and saw them play a huge role in losing the unloseable Test, was taken out of the cordon, has had the odd spray from the captain for not being on the field, and has also seen the team’s fortunes go up and down.Jaiswal might have got starts but a second big score eluded him till the end. He has tried to do all the right things, he has tried to keep his emotions on an even keel, but he is also an intense person, whose reaction to anything is to go into the nets and face more balls. He does that any break he gets: before the start of play, lunch, tea, between innings or whenever anyone is available to throw balls at him. It must have taken some effort to keep him away from training two days before this match. Or perhaps his family’s presence in London might have helped.Related
England made to toil amid mishaps of their own making
Jaiswal hundred, Siraj's late strike make India favourites
Akash Deep joins nightwatch lore with Oval knock to remember
Butter-fingered England spill six chances
What must have really freed up Jaiswal’s mind, though, was the nature of the pitch. This was not the kind of pitch where you can battle it out and hope for things to get easier. Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley enjoyed success by being attacking. When Jaiswal walked out for his final innings of the series, India were trailing by 23 – only 23, thanks to a big effort from just the three fast bowlers – and needed a big third innings to give themselves hopes of levelling the series in the tour finale.There was an hour and 40 minutes on the second day to go to stumps, so it wasn’t as if India needed to bat time. Jaiswal came out and cut the first ball hard. The sound echoed in the stadium although Duckett denied him any runs. This much was clear, though: Jaiswal was going to look to score off anything remotely loose. He was not going to let the three standing England bowlers settle into any rhythm.Opening in Test cricket is a lot about taking care of many things that can go wrong, and it isn’t always possible to cover them all. Here, Jaiswal was focussing more on what can go right. It was as though he told himself he had done what he could in preparation, and now just needed to trust the universe.Throughout the whole innings, Jaiswal showed an exaggerated return to what has worked for him in the past: both in attitude and with his rituals. His walks to square leg between balls became longer, sometimes ending up in hand-shaking distance of the square-leg umpire. Even at the non-striker’s end, he would walk almost to midwicket between balls, switching off into a world of his own. It was as though his emotions were bubbling up and he wanted to keep them in check. So was his attacking intent, but that he didn’t want to check.Yashasvi Jaiswal brought out his own version of Bazball•Getty ImagesJaiswal’s first six scoring shots were boundaries, the last of those hit so hard that the worst possible result would be a half chance, which burst through the hands of Harry Brook at second slip. The universe was now beginning to look after him. A hook shot later in the evening didn’t stick in Liam Dawson’s hands. If a series is a life, it was coming a full circle. He dropped four at Headingley, and was now the beneficiary of two in a crucial period before stumps on the second day.This innings was not about head position or stance or guard or being in control. This innings was more about trusting his game built on painstaking hard work, about trusting everything will fall in place if he let instinct take over. This was more about his emotions.This innings was also about squaring certain things off, about the circle of life, about collecting receipts. Like Faizal Khan in , Jaiswal was now saying he will avenge dropped catches, low-control innings, and even time-wasting, which he did almost comically by cramping up at the non-striker’s end in what proved to be the last over before lunch. Although it wasn’t necessarily gamesmanship; he has tended to struggle with cramps in a few of his long innings.Jaiswal’s emotions were on an all-time high when he was in his 90s, going off at non-striker Karun Nair for not alerting him to a change in the field and then not running a third that could have got him his hundred. The release of emotion upon reaching the hundred said a lot.Jaiswal has ended his series as he began: a belligerent century to end up with a tally of 411 and an average of 41.10. Top-six batters overall have averaged 48.77 in the series so far; Jaiswal is used to being head and shoulders above his peers in his young career so far. That is probably why he was edgy.A century in challenging conditions should be succour if Jaiswal had been hurting. It is said you don’t become a great cricketer without having at least one bad tour of England. Jaiswal, who clearly aims to end up as a great, hasn’t had a bad tour by any measure, but has had all the extremes in one tour. A whole lifetime’s worth of ups and downs.
Anil Kumble, Mushtaq Ahmed, Alana King and Piyush Chawla talk about what it was like to watch that magic ball
ESPNcricinfo staff04-Jun-2023June 4 marks the 30th anniversary of a delivery that changed the game. At Old Trafford, Shane Warne sent down his first ball in Ashes cricket. From over the wicket, it curved out of his hand, drifted outside leg stump, pitched and turned sharply past the bat of a startled Mike Gatting to take off stump. A new chapter in Ashes – and cricket – history was written that day. We spoke to a selection of legspinners from across generations about the impact of that delivery.Can you recall when you first saw the delivery from Warne to Gatting?Anil Kumble, former India bowler and captain I saw it later. I was possibly playing somewhere – I don’t remember. That was the first time he was playing in England, and bowling at Mike Gatting, who was, by far one of the better players of spin in that English side. And ripping that from outside leg stump, drifting and taking the off stump was a perfect delivery for any legspinner – or any spinner for that matter. I think it not only had an impact on that particular game but also on the minds of English batters from there on when it came to facing Shane Warne.Alana King, Australia bowler I first watched it at a very young age when I was getting involved in cricket, and legspin especially. Looking up to Warnie when I was a kid, I just got told by many people at my junior cricket club and everyone involved in cricket in my life, “You’ve got to watch this ball.” Ever since, it just keeps popping up.Related
Alana King back doing what she loves: 'Ripping a few leggies'
Shane Warne: the showman who could do hard graft
Facing Warne: the magic, the theatre, and the whole shebang
What Shane Warne's greatest deliveries tell us
The ball of the century
Mushtaq Ahmed, former Pakistan bowler: A month before this Test, Australia were playing Somerset and Ian Healy brought Warne to me after the game. We had a chat for about an hour and a half, discussing how to read the English pitches, how to work around rain, gripping the ball…He was a great bowler, no doubt. When I saw that delivery, it felt amazing, because it’s a dream ball. I was busy with Somerset and watched the ball in the highlights later in the day.2:25
Kumble, Mushtaq and Chawla on the magic ball
Piyush Chawla, India bowler I was 14-15 years old and I’d heard so much about that particular delivery, so I went on YouTube to see it. As a legspinner it was a dream ball, the way it drifted in the air, pitched on leg stump and then hit off stump, and Mike Gatting, one of the better players of spin bowling, he also had no clue about it. So that was something really amazing to watch. It is very difficult to get those kind of revs on the ball, like he got. His ball used to pitch somewhere around sixth, seventh stump on the leg side; mine is around fifth stump. Both our bowling actions were different, so it was very difficult to copy him.What made the delivery so special?Mushtaq As a legspinner, I’ve never seen anyone else do it. The beauty of the ball is that it fully drifted in the air, like a fast bowler bowling an inswinger. Mike’s head was following the line and the moment he committed himself to play it, the ball pitched sharply. I don’t think anyone other than Warne could do it.Chawla When the legspinner pitches on or outside leg stump, the ball generally drifts in onto the legs of the batter and then it spins away. But that ball drifted a long way, pitched almost on sixth or seventh stump outside the leg stump and from there, spinning such a long way before hitting the top of off – you can say it was something like a miracle. The most important thing for any spinner is to get dip, drift and revs. We all knew Warnie had strong wrists and broad shoulders, and because of that he got such a good revs. The other important aspect of spin bowling is the hip drive: his hip drive was so high, it was almost over the stumps, which is very rare to find. The combination of all those things and the effort he put into the ball allowed him to get that kind drift, dip and spin.King When you watch that delivery, and obviously being a legspinner, you see how many revolutions Warnie put on the ball, the drift he got – it just makes it so much more special. That’s the dream of a leggie. You’ve put that many revs on the ball, got that nice drift, pitched outside leg stump and hit the top of off stump. That was incredible. Every legspinner dreams of that and it was just as perfect, perfect a legbreak as has ever been bowled.Anil Kumble on Warne: “The amazing thing about Warne was how he bowled batters around the legs. Yes, people have misjudged sweep shots, but here was someone who could literally go behind your back and get you out”•Aijaz Rahi/Associated PressKumble I think because it was his first [Ashes] ball, it was by an Aussie against an Englishman, and it was the Ashes, it was really special. He spun the ball a big mile and he gave it a massive rip.Does it stand the test of time 30 years later?Chawla Hundred per cent. It is a beautiful sight to see the ball pitching on leg stump and squaring up the batter – it is a drama ball for a legspinner.King Absolutely, hands down. Don’t think anyone comes close to bowling something like that. He was a once-in-a-generation player for that reason, the amount of spin that he got. That was early on in his Test career too, so what he went on to do – over 700 Test wickets – it all started with that ball. Think that delivery will always be the pinnacle of legspin.Kumble That ball is one which certainly stood out. There have been many similar bowled dismissals since then, but, yeah, an important Ashes series, first ball by an Aussie spinner playing in his first game in England.Mushtaq Ahmed: “Warne was a bowler who never relied on pitches. He used his skills to take wickets and that is why we used to call him Sher Khan”•Richard Heathcote/Getty ImagesMushtaq It will always be an unplayable one. There was a delivery Adil Rashid bowled in an ODI to Virat Kohli in England, and Yasir Shah bowled one to Kusal Mendis – these are balls us legspinners dream of. I used to bowl my googly way outside off, making the batsman leave it, and it suddenly comes in between the legs to dismantle the stumps. That can’t be matched. Shane’s ball will be enjoyable to watch even 60 years later.How important an influence was that delivery on the rise of legspin?Kumble We all sort of looked up to someone like Warnie. I had various conversations with him and Muthiah Muralidaran in that era, and we had conversations with Mushtaq Ahmed as well. India has always had a focus on spin right from the golden era, before I played. But I don’t think teams like Australia or England have had that kind of spin dominance, and Warne brought that about. He had a major influence, and for me as a fellow legspinner, it was a learning as well. I watched Warnie bowl whenever I had the opportunity.Mushtaq That ball changed the way people thought about legspinners in Tests and one-day cricket. Teams started looking for legspinners. When I was coaching in England, we used to talk about getting a legspinner from grassroots or county, that even a half-good legspinner had a chance.King Don’t think it was just legspin, it was spin bowling in general. Everyone wanted to become Warnie, or pick up some form of spin because of how much fun it was. When you can do stuff like that, be so crafty with the ball – he made it fun again. Legspin was kind of losing its value in the game and all of a sudden Warnie comes into the game and you were like, “Yeah, I want to be like him, that looks fun” and it’s exactly the reason I picked up the art of legspin. And I think lots of leggies around the world have drawn inspiration from him.A mic-ed-up Warne bowled Brendon McCullum in a 2011-12 BBL game after setting up the dismissal on commentary•Chris Hyde/Getty ImagesChawla Legspin is one of the most difficult arts in cricket. Getting that rhythm right daily, bowling at the same spot. The way Shane Warne used to bowl, it was magical. Every legspinner wanted to be like him. But Warnie was really special: the kind of art he had in his hands, I don’t think many bowlers are gifted with that.Is there another Warne moment or delivery that stands out for you?King There was a Big Bash game, he was playing for [Melbourne] Stars and bowling to Brendon McCullum, and he was mic-ed up. McCullum was sweeping him quite a bit and [Warne] literally said it live on TV, “I’m going to bowl it a bit quicker, a bit flatter, and I want him to play the same shot and hopefully get a wicket.” And believe it or not, he talked through how he got the wicket, and that’s just an incredible mindset. He just knew the game so well. That sticks in my mind because he knew exactly what the batter was doing and wanting to do.Chawla Andrew Strauss at Edgbaston in 2005. The ball pitched in the rough and Strauss tried to get his pad in the way but it went through and hit the wicket. People say if you bowl in the rough, it will spin, but getting that kind of spin even from the rough is very difficult. I must have watched that ball around 100 times. The most important thing for a legspinner is the pace, because if you don’t have that pace behind that ball, it’s very difficult to beat the batter – then he can adjust. Here, Strauss was trying to put his pad in the way to defend, but he had no clue how it spun. It was no fault of Strauss. That ball was so special that I think anyone would have got out on that particular delivery.Mushtaq I know of big-name batsmen who used to say that they knew his delivery was drifting and knew that they wanted to block it, but he still got their wicket. The ball to Andrew Strauss at Edgbaston in 2005 spun from miles to get his leg stump, but that one used the rough to gain spin. The ball he bowled to Gatting was special because the pitch was flat. When you don’t get support from the pitch, and need to use your natural variation and power to make it drift – that makes it special.Andrew Strauss had no answer for Warne’s ripper at Edgbaston•Hamish Blair/Getty ImagesKumble I am sure there have been many memorable deliveries, and he bamboozled many batsmen in taking 700-plus wickets. The amazing thing about Shane Warne was how he bowled batters around the legs. I don’t think we had seen that happen often. Yes, people have misjudged sweep shots, but here was someone who could literally go behind your back and get you out. That, to me, was the true sort of image of someone like Shane Warne.As a legspinner, is there a better feeling than sending down the perfect legbreak?Mushtaq There is no bigger joy for a legspinner than when the ball is turning hugely and you beat the batsman over and over. Pitching the ball on the fifth or sixth stump and the batsman thinks it’s going away, but it comes in and cuts through your pads to dismantle the stumps – that gives you immense satisfaction. Warne was a bowler who never relied on pitches. He used his skills to take wickets and that is why we used to call him Sher Khan.King It’s all about rhythm. You want to be as smooth as possible in every delivery. When you release the ball, you know it’s got so many revs on it and everything is smooth. When I release a good legbreak, I’m like, I’m in with a chance here. Natural variation can happen, but I know when I’m bowling at my best, everything is smooth, it’s not forced.Chawla No. Because it doesn’t come that easy. Legspin is an attacking option. The joy of getting a wicket by defeating the batter with drift, dip, guile is something else.
Also, is it sustainable for them to approach all series like they did against South Africa?
Danyal Rasool08-Feb-2021After Pakistan wrapped up a famous win in Rawalpindi to seal just their second series victory against South Africa, ESPNcricinfo looks at what lessons can be learned from an absorbing couple of Tests in Pakistan.Related
Babar Azam: No 'negative thoughts' even when Pakistan were under pressure
Stats: South Africa's horror run in Asia and a rare fourth-innings feast for fast bowlers
Hasan Ali ten-for gives Pakistan first series win over South Africa since 2003
Rizwan learns from Shafiq to make Pakistan No. 6 spot his own
Hasan Ali resurfaces with threatening zeal from slump and life in the sidelines
Pakistan will prepare pitches to maximise home advantage It was this second Test in Rawalpindi that was the real giveaway. The Karachi Test produced outrageous turn, but a curator barely has to break sweat to get a Karachi pitch behaving that way. When the action moved to Rawalpindi, Pakistan demonstrated how eager they were to make up for lost time in maximising any edge playing at home can give you.Rawalpindi is a fast bowler’s paradise, and has always been so. The milder climate, the harder surface, the greater moisture in winter has meant quick bowlers have always thrived in a city that produced the likes of Shoaib Akhtar. Pakistan have always prided themselves on the richness of their pace-bowling history, throwing the absence of that tradition in the rest of the subcontinent into sharp relief.This time, Pakistan dispensed with all of that and swallowed their pride. Recognising that South Africa didn’t possess as much quality in the spin department, head coach Misbah-ul-Haq declared that Pakistan were trying to dry out the surface days in advance to get it to crack up earlier. They shelved any thoughts of an extra fast bowler and lined up with two spinners once more. They wanted to win, and everything else was secondary.It might not have panned out quite like that, but this series is an indicator for what New Zealand, Australia and England can expect when they finally rock up here in the next two years. Pakistan are at home, and they want everyone to know it.Fast bowlers remain a factor in Pakistan more than anywhere else in Asia In the battle between the Pindi groundsmen and the surface itself, there was a clear winner. No matter what the groundstaff tried – and it was evident to anyone paying attention they did whatever cutting edge soil science would permit – three of the four five-wicket hauls went to quick bowlers, including a career-best ten-for by Hasan Ali. But for a brief period on the third evening when Pakistan struggled to negotiate George Linde and Keshav Maharaj, fast bowlers continued to carry the greater threat for both sides. And on the final day, by which time, had this pitch been more pliant to the groundstaff’s needs, it would have been a minefield, Shaheen Afridi and Hasan took nine of South Africa’s 10 wickets.This suggests that Pakistan could produce some diverse cricket at home. There are places like Karachi, where having quality spinners is an asset, but those conditions are not replicable everywhere. Once Test cricket branches out past Karachi and Rawalpindi, the varying climates of Lahore, Multan and other potential venues means there may be a variance to conditions in Pakistan to a degree not seen on the subcontinent.That means most visiting sides may feel they have a chance at success here, just as South Africa had their opportunities in both Test matches. Equally, Pakistan’s fast bowlers need not worry about redundancy, and the second Test shows Pakistan will never fully turn its back on their storied fast-bowling stockpile.Despite the series win, Pakistan will be wary that Azhar Ali hasn’t fully emerged from a slump in form•PCBThe way Pakistan won this series is unsustainable The openers can’t buy a run, Azhar Ali hasn’t fully emerged from a slump in form, Babar Azam had his least prolific series in well over a year, and the spin bowlers were largely anonymous for most of this Test – and yet Pakistan still managed a clean sweep.A 2-0 scoreline can gloss over all of that, but Pakistan ignore these concerns at their peril. Faheem Ashraf was the highest scorer for the hosts, but that’s as much an indictment of the rest of the order as it is a tribute to the all-rounder’s utility. Mohammad Rizwan – named Pakistan’s Test cricketer of the year today – is taking on much more responsibility with the bat than an ideal Test side would accord to a No.6 wicketkeeper-batsman. Abid Ali has, ten Test matches in, still scored half his Test runs in his first two, and averages under 17 since and the other opener doesn’t even exist currently.It is encouraging that the lower-middle order contributed, and the tail wagged; Pakistan have recently been accused of carrying three number 11s in their side, so this makes for a welcome change. But it isn’t a replacement strategy for a misfiring top order, and while Azam’s indifferent series was most likely a one-off, the top of the order continues to be a cause for concern.Despite a not-so-stellar series with the bat, Pakistan won’t have too many complaints with Babar Azam’s captaincy•AFP via Getty ImagesBabar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are a better captain/vice-captain combo than many feared Like an umpire, a doctor or a politician, it’s generally when a captain is bad at their job that they tend to be noticed. And perhaps the biggest compliment you could pay Azam this series is that few people cribbed his on-field captaincy. The bowling changes were sharp and proactive, and, bar a little spell on the final morning, the field placements made sense. It is, of course, easier on these grounds that he will have known since childhood, but the hierarchy at the PCB may be relieved Azam isn’t quite as overwhelmed with captaincy as many feared he might be. He doesn’t talk about the game in the most engaging way, but that doesn’t mean he has no ideas worth putting into practice.And alongside him, it pays to have a deputy like Rizwan, whose blossoming confidence in his role is one of the highlights of Pakistan over the last year. Not content with the runs and flawless wicketkeeping, he’s assumed a more vocal leadership role on the field than even Azam himself. Having had the experience of captaincy in New Zealand would not have hurt, despite the result, and now the Azam-Rizwan double act looks promising for Pakistan.Pakistan – dark horses for WTC 2023? On a final, speculative note, the series win might provide a template for how Pakistan approach hosting England, New Zealand and Australia, all of whom are due a visit during the 2023 World Test Championship league cycle. If Pakistan can take advantage as they did of South Africa, they might be able to capitalise on a somewhat easier run when it comes to away series: they travel to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the West Indies in that league cycle, giving them perhaps the clearest shot at a final berth that a side of their quality will ever have.
O Santos deve ter algumas mudanças no elenco que disputou o Paulistão 2024 e chegou à final do torneio. Isso porque o clube planeja pelo menos a saída de quatro jogadores, enquanto alguns reforços podem chegar.
continua após a publicidade
➡️ Siga o Lance! Santos no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Peixe
➡️A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta e tá na mão!
O zagueiro Messias está trocando o Peixe pelo Goiás, por empréstimo. O defensor perdeu espaço com o técnico Fábio Carille, e o jovem Jair se tornou a terceira opção para a posição. Joaquim e Gil são os titulares.
Marcelinho, que atua como atacante, pouco jogou e acertou rescisão contratual com o Santos. Ele está a caminho do Juventude e foi contratado anteriormente como uma aposta, que não vingou.
continua após a publicidade
O lateral Felipe Jonatan, que está no Alvinegro desde 2019, tem negociações avançadas para ser jogador do Fortaleza. Ele fez postagem em suas redes sociais em tom de despedida e deve ser trocado pelo argentino Gonzalo Escobar.
Por fim, outro lateral deixará o Santos. Hayner negocia com o Vitória e jogará a Série A pelo clube nordestino, após ser eleito pela Federação Paulista de Futebol (FPF) como o melhor da posição no Paulistão.
continua após a publicidade
REFORÇOS?
Visando mudar algumas peças do elenco, o Santos pretende repor as saídas e fechar o grupo que disputará a Série B. Nomes como Patrick, do Atlético-MG, e Alexandre Pato, sem clube, estão em análise. O atacante Maceió, da Portuguesa, também interessa. O lateral Rodrigo Ferreira já foi contratado junto ao Mirassol.
West Ham are willing to take a significant financial hit by selling a mainstay player who hasn’t done enough to impress Nuno Espírito Santo, according to a new report.
West Ham enjoy mini Nuno revival ahead of Aston Villa clash
West Ham supporters have witnessed encouraging signs of recovery under Nuno, with the Hammers suffering just one defeat across their previous six fixtures as they prepare to face Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.
The Portuguese’s impact has gradually manifested following a nightmare start that saw West Ham collect merely four points from nine Premier League matches.
West Ham’s results in the Premier League so far
Sunderland 3-0 West Ham
West Ham 1-5 Chelsea
Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham
West Ham 0-3 Tottenham
West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace
Everton 1-1 West Ham
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
West Ham 0-2 Brentford
Leeds 2-1 West Ham
West Ham 3-1 Newcastle
West Ham 3-2 Burnley
Bournemouth 2-2 West Ham
West Ham 0-2 Liverpool
Man United 1-1 West Ham
Brighton 1-1 West Ham
Recent performances suggest Nuno has successfully identified solutions, with his side demonstrating renewed resilience.
Their latest outing saw them salvage a dramatic 1-1 draw at Brighton on Sunday, with Jarrod Bowen’s exceptional sliding finish almost securing all three points before Georginio Rutter’s controversial stoppage-time equaliser denied them.
Prior to that, West Ham fought back to claim a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford against Man United, with Soungoutou Magassa’s late intervention sending the travelling contingent into raptures.
The mini-revival includes other positive results against Newcastle, Burnley and Bournemouth, with only the 2-0 home defeat to Liverpool interrupting their momentum.
That defeat was largely self-inflicted, as Lucas Paqueta received a bizarre red card for dissent that arguably cost them the game.
Saturday’s clash at home to Aston Villa represents another significant test. Unai Emery’s side currently sit third, just three points behind Arsenal following their recent victory over the Gunners, and some suggest they could well be outside title challengers.
Villa are also on a formidable run of form, winning seven of their last seven games in all competitions, with Emery’s last defeat coming at the very start of November.
West Ham 'set to sign' prolific Tottenham starlet as Mark Noble seals 'coup' of a deal
The Hammers sporting director played a key transfer role.
ByEmilio Galantini Dec 6, 2025
It is a tall order for West Ham to upset the applecart, especially with Villa buoyed by their dramatic weekend win over the league leaders, so they’ll need every man at their very best.
That includes £40 million defender Max Kilman, who’s attracted criticism this season.
West Ham ready to take huge loss on Max Kilman
However, according to club insider Claret & Hugh, the Englishman might not be relied upon for very long.
It is believed that West Ham are willing to green-light Kilman’s departure for £25 million in January, representing a substantial £15 million loss on their record defensive acquisition signed just 18 months ago.
The 28-year-old arrived from Wolves last year as part of Julen Lopetegui’s extensive recruitment drive that witnessed ten players secured for £145 million.
However, few acquisitions from that recruitment spree have justified their substantial price tags.
Recent speculation linking Kilman with Crystal Palace has been dismissed by C&H sources close to the London Stadium hierarchy as fabricated transfer gossip.
Nevertheless, insiders have also confirmed that West Ham would immediately accept any legitimate £25m proposal, highlighting their eagerness to recoup finances on the struggling defender.
Kilman featured regularly under both Lopetegui and Graham Potter, establishing himself as an ever-present selection despite underwhelming performances.
The same can be said under Nuno, with the centre-back starting 13 out of West Ham’s 14 league matches this season and playing the third-most minutes out of any player in their squad.
However, Kilman has apparently ‘failed to impress’ Nuno in that time, and reports suggest that West Ham are in the market for a new centre-back next month.
Toulouse defender Charlie Cresswell, who was ‘close’ to joining in the summer, is believed to a top target for the club in that regard (ExWHUemployee).