All posts by h716a5.icu

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson has been linked with a shock move away from Anfield this summer and now a fresh update has emerged regarding his future.

Will Alisson leave Liverpool?

The 30-year-old has been a sensational signing for the Reds ever since arriving from Roma in the summer of 2018, becoming arguably the best player in the world in his position in the process.

Alisson has been a colossal figure between the sticks, making an enormous difference and playing such a key role in Liverpool becoming one of Europe's leading sides under Jurgen Klopp, winning the Premier League and Champions League along the way, as well as numerous other trophies.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

While the Brazilian is contracted at Anfield until the summer of 2027, worrying reports have emerged regarding a potential move to Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks, joining the likes of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson there in the process.

Fortunately, a new claim has now emerged that allays those fears, during a summer that is threatening to go wrong for Liverpool, particularly in the midfield department.

What's the latest on Alisson's Liverpool future?

According to reliable journalist David Lynch for This Is Anfield, a summer move isn't on the cards for Alisson, despite rumours suggesting otherwise:

"Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker has not been the subject of an approach from Saudi Arabia, despite some reporting of such on Tuesday.

"It was claimed that Al-Nassr, the club that has Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane among its squad, had made an approach for Liverpool’s Brazilian goalkeeper.

"However, This Is Anfield can confirm that no such approach has been made to Liverpool, and even if one was the club would swiftly reject it. Indeed, the Reds’ No.1 is happy on Merseyside, where he has a contract until 2027."

Frankly, the thought of Liverpool losing Alisson at any point in the near future is a horrifying one for supporters, with the Brazilian superstar arguably the first name on Klopp's team sheet these days, bailing his side out so often in one-on-one situations and winning the club's Player of the Season award last season.

At 30, he still has so many years remaining at the very top level, and if the Reds are to have any chance of mounting a Premier League title challenge this season, he has to be fit for almost every game. James Milner has rightly hailed Alisson as a "world-class" player in the past and to see him depart for Saudi Arabia at the peak of his powers would be a depressing sight.

This update is, therefore, a hugely positive one for anyone of a Liverpool persuasion, suggesting that he is perfectly happy on Merseyside for the foreseeable future, continuing to play a massive role in any success his team achieves.

The hope is that Alisson remains at Anfield beyond 2027, at which point he will still only be 34 when his contract expires, which can still easily be in and around prime age for a goalkeeper in the modern game. His importance cannot be downplayed and that isn't going to change at any point in the near future.

Matches on alternate days and little downtime between games against Australia and India have hampered Zimbabwe’s preparation, according to their Under-19 coach

Shashank Kishore in Mount Manganui19-Jan-2018Contrasting travel schedules, matches on alternate days and little downtime between games against Australia and India have hampered Zimbabwe’s preparation at the Under-19 World Cup, according to their coach. In the only rest day they had between “two of our biggest games in the tournament”, the team had to fly out from Christchurch to Tauranga and then watch their only training session called off because of rain.India, meanwhile, have had the luxury of being based in Tauranga for the group stages. Having taken little more than three hours to beat Papua New Guinea on Tuesday, the side has enjoyed plenty of rest. They have had an opportunity to climb the Mount, indulge in shopping, watch the Indian hockey team beat Japan in a four-nation tournament, have light pool sessions and even enjoy a day out at the cricket: they were at Bay Oval to watch South Africa take on West Indies.Zimbabwe Under-19 coach Stephen Mangongo felt this contrasting schedule of the two sides was hard on his team. Zimbabwe aside, only Namibia and Canada have had games scheduled on alternate days in different cities. “It is a very tough scenario,” he said. “We play a game, we recover, we travel, we have team meetings and before you know it, we are at a game next day.”Terming the situation “unfair”, Mangongo called for a level playing field in such a world tournament. “No team is bigger than the other, they’re all youth cricketers at the end of the day,” Mangongo said. “Definitely, we believe that in a tournament of this nature, there should be an even playing field. If it’s a two-day break, it should be a two-day break for everyone. If it’s a three-day break, it should be a three-day break for everyone. In our instance, we played yesterday, we traveled the next day, the same traveling day is the training day, and the next day is the match.”We believe it’s unfair, absolutely unfair. India have been resting, they’re ready. We would definitely raise that with our MD (managing director), our board, and when they go back to ICC, these anomalies have to be sorted out. There’s no team that is bigger than the other. We’re all Under-19 youth cricketers and we must be treated equally.”India aren’t the only team to enjoy the luxury of training and playing at one single venue in the group stages. England, Kenya, Ireland, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sri Lanka too have had all their group matches scheduled at a single venue.

Pakistan’s decision to play an unfit Shoaib Akhtar weakened their bowling attack and the Indian batsman took full advantage

Anand Vasu in Kolkata30-Nov-2007

Shoaib Akhtar was not match fit and it showed in his body language © AFP
Two errors of judgment, one from an inexperienced opening batsman and the other from an experienced umpire, caused minor blips in an Indian batting feast that left the first day’s play devoid of any contest. Wasim Jaffer, tall at the crease and elegant in stroke execution, provided much aesthetic pleasure to those who enjoy batting as spectacle, and the Kolkata crowd was happy just cheering India’s unchecked advance. However this isn’t why Test cricket is regarded as the highest and most pure form of the game.Beyond a point, there’s little joy in watching a set batsman dominating in conditions where the bowlers, fast and slow alike, have been defanged by a pitch so dead that you’re more likely to find life on Mars. But it’s hardly India’s fault that they dominated so, in fact it was to their credit. If anything, it was Pakistan who should be held accountable for taking the life out of this Test.The decision to play Shoaib Akhtar – flying in the face of common sense and, presumably, medical advice, given that he had been in hospital receiving antibiotics via an intravenous drip since Tuesday evening – was foolhardy rather than brave. Sure, Shoaib looked the only bowler likely to get a wicket in Delhi and might have been desperately keen to play, but if teams were merely decided on who was keenest to play, there would be no need for selectors.A 20-minute fitness Test on the morning of the Test deemed Shoaib fit to play. From his first spell, though, it was clear that he was nowhere near match fitness. After Anil Kumble chose to bat, denying Pakistan’s bowlers a chance to rest a bit more, Shoaib bowled four overs for nine runs, often pushing 140 kmh, before disappearing from the attack. He returned for a limping two-over spell just after lunch where enthusiasm rather than ability kept him going. The third spell, again two overs, was an apology and the final one – a solitary over before stumps – left Shoaib with 9-1-29-0 at the end of the day. In all honesty he should pass a large chunk of his match fees to Sohail Tanvir and Danish Kaneria. Having Yasir Hameed bowl offspin was an equally desperate measure, and to see these two [part-timers] operating in tandem on the first day of a Test was unedifying With their strike bowler out, Pakistan had only one option, and that was to take a leaf out of Nasser Hussain’s book and strangulate the opposition into making a mistake. On a pitch perfect for batting, Younis Khan, the stand-in captain for Shoaib Malik, should have done all he could to control the flow of runs. This would have meant putting men out on the fence to protect the boundaries, a conservative field in the ring, and bowlers operating on one side of the stumps.Instead, Younis had some strange fields in place, often employing two men in unorthodox and largely pointless midwicket and cover positions, slip and gully, giving Jaffer space on this large ground to pick off his boundaries. As the day progressed, Jaffer went past the milestones – 50, 100, 150 – with mind-numbing certainty and was unbeaten on the verge of his second double-century.By then, a procession of bowlers had tried their hand at changing Pakistan’s luck. It’s not clear if Younis was making a point by asking Tanvir to bowl left-arm spin. Abdur Rahman, the specialist practitioner of the art, was left out of the XI in place of two iffy fast bowlers. Having Yasir Hameed bowl offspin was an equally desperate measure, and to see these two operating in tandem on the first day of a Test was unedifying. To compound matters the ground fielding, spoken of as an indicator of team morale, began erratically and ended comically ragged.The only relief for Pakistan came in the form a Kaneria googly that Sachin Tendulkar failed to pick, being bowled for an unusually brisk 82. Once again the century proved elusive but, with Jaffer on 192 and India having reached 352 for 3 in a day, with VVS Laxman and Mahendra Singh Dhoni still to come, even the most optimistic Pakistani supporter would do well to curb his enthusiasm.

The company has strengthened its hold on television and digital rights to cricket in India by retaining worldwide rights to Indian cricket for USD 944 million for the period 2018-23

Nagraj Gollapudi05-Apr-20181:32

Indian cricket’s rags to riches broadcast rights story

Star India has strengthened its hold on television and digital rights in cricket by retaining worldwide rights to Indian cricket for INR 6138 crore (USD 944 million) for the period 2018-23. They now hold the two most valuable broadcast rights in cricket, having bought the IPL rights for INR 16,347.5 crore (US$ 2.55 billion) in September 2017 for the period 2018-22.In addition to its Indian presence, Star also has a strong grip internationally, having paid USD 1.9 billion for the broadcast rights for ICC tournaments between 2015-23.Star’s bid was declared the winning bid once its close rival, Sony Pictures Network India, listed INR 6118.59 cr as its final bid in the first ever e-auction in sport, which spanned three days. Star’s bid was an increase of 59% from the previous cycle of Indian cricket rights, which were sold for INR 3851 crore (USD 750 million at the time) for the period 2012-18, also to Star. The average cost per match for the Indian cricket rights sold on Thursday was about INR 60 cr (USD 9.2 million approx), which is higher than the average cost per IPL game for the 2018-22 period – INR 54.5 cr (USD 8.4 million approx).ESPNcricinfo LtdStar India gets to telecast 102 men’s international matches over the next five-year period, compared to 96 in the previous six-year cycle from 2012 to 2018. The 102 matches will be split across the home seasons as follows: 18 in 2018-19, 26 in 2019-20, 14 in 2020-21, 23 in 2021-22 and 21 in 2022-23. As per the BCCI, Star listed the following figures as the per match value for each of the five seasons: INR 46 cr, 47 cr, 46.5 cr, 77.4 cr and 78.9 cr respectively. The rights will also include men’s domestic matches as well as the India women’s international matches.There were three categories of rights up for bidding: the Indian television rights and rest of the world digital rights (GTVRD), digital rights for the Indian subcontinent alone (ID), and the global consolidated rights (GCR) for which the winning bid was eventually made.The e-auction, an unprecedented exercise in sport, became a three-horse race after the BCCI pruned the original list of six bidders on Tuesday morning, having conducted feasibility checks on eligibility of the bidders. Star, Sony, and Reliance were the final competitors when the e-auction began at 2pm on Tuesday.On Thursday, bidders had 30 minutes to contest a bid, unlike on Tuesday and Wednesday when they had an hour. There was a 35.81 % difference between the final bids on the first two days: from INR 4442 crores (USD 680 million approx.) on Tuesday evening to INR 6032.50 crore (USD 925 million approx)  by Wednesday evening.On Thursday, the bids rose in smaller increments: INR 6061.05 cr, INR 6085.30 cr, INR 6111.70 cr, INR 6111.70 cr, and finally INR 6138 cr.

Club commits to ambitious initiative to phase out single-use plastic by the year 2020

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Apr-2018The “beer snake” could soon be a thing of the past during matches at The Oval, thanks to an ambitious initiative from Surrey CCC to phase out single-use plastic by the year 2020.The club’s vow is their latest step to address the mounting problem of plastic pollution. Earlier this year, they introduced a ban on the use of plastic straws, brought in compostable coffee cups, and made a move to reduce plastic bag usage in the club shop.However, the move against plastic glasses is their biggest commitment yet, and comes in the wake of a realisation from Richard Gould, the club’s CEO, that Surrey had been getting through approximately 1.3 million such items in the course of a season.”The club has always been very conscious of reducing its impact on the environment wherever possible and, after a great deal of thought, has decided to make this ambitious commitment,” said Gould.”Ever since the introduction of recyclable and reusable pint glasses in 2015, we have been introducing more sustainable policies around the ground – and the banning of plastic straws, introduction of compostable coffee cups and phasing out of plastic bags will all play a big part.”To achieve this, we will need to work with our Members, fans, partners and staff to analyse all areas of the business and work out where we need to introduce alternative products and ways of working.”With so many big events at the ground over the next three years, it’s going to be really exciting to see how we continue to improve the sustainability of everything we do and work out how we will achieve this target.”Two further partnerships this year will deepen Surrey’s commitment to environmental matters. A recommitment to Sky’s Ocean Rescue Campaign is expected later this summer, following the success of their initial tie-up in 2017, when 20,000 reusable water bottles were handed out to spectators, as well as the installation of 20 new permanent water fountains.And they have also announced a partnership with Fidelity Energy and ENGIE, which will ensure that all electricity used at the ground will be generated from sustainable sources.This deal, which was brokered by James Benning, the former Surrey player and now business development manager at Fidelity, helped to save 223.8 tons of carbon during the 2017 season. According to the club, the arrangement is estimated to save 6,252 tonnes of carbon from being pumped into the earth’s atmosphere over the duration of the contract.

Glasgow giants Celtic have had their fair share of producing some of the finest Scottish footballers.

You just have to look at Scotland’s recent squad to see the influence the Scottish Premiership side has had on the Tartan Army with the likes of Aaron Hickey, Kieran Tierney and Callum McGregor having all previously been on the Hoops’ books.

The Bhoys’ fans are some of the most loyal set of supporters with the love and affection they show to their players is unmatched, so when an academy player is brought through Lennoxtown it makes their connection with the player so much more special.

Former Celtic player John Hartson previously stated that McGregor has “become a legend” for the Scottish giants and it looked like former academy wonderkid Karamoko Dembele was once on track to achieve the same icon status as the Hoops’ captain.

Fast forward to 2023 and the once-proclaimed “good talent” by former Celtic teammate Moussa Dembele is now looking for game time in League 1.

Who is Karamoko Dembele?

If you were an avid football fan in 2016, then Dembele was a name you would hear very frequently, especially on social media platforms.

The hype train surrounding the teenage sensation had officially left the station when media outlets noticed the then 13-year-old playing for Celtic’s under-20 side. The tiny winger going up against adults was quite the sight to see but he often came out on top.

Highlight competitions of the English-born winger lightning up opposition defenders in youth matches soon flooded YouTube as he became one of the most highly anticipated prospects in the world.

Dembele was eligible to play for England and Scotland with both nations soon fighting over the player who was described as “very similar to Lionel Messi”, according to the winger's former youth coach David Feeney.

The Celtic phenomenon controversially decided to play for England at youth level having already made appearances for the Tartan Army. An international tug-of-war began for what was thought to be for a future starter for their senior teams.

How did Dembele play at Celtic?

At the age of 13, the spotlight fell onto the Celtic wonderkid and by the time he was 16, he finally made his first team debut, coming off the bench to replace Oliver Burke during the final league match of the season in 2019.

The atmosphere around Celtic Park was electric as it was the day that the Bhoys would lift their eighth consecutive league title, one of the biggest roars that the Green Brigade produced was when Dembele was gearing up on the sidelines to show everyone what the hype was about.

Despite not being involved in any goals in the 44 minutes he played, the talented winger still showed glimpses of a future star waiting to be unearthed.

Then Celtic manager Neil Lennon said after the winger's debut that fans have just seen a “glimpse of the future”.

Lennon’s vision of the future turned out to be misjudged as Dembele played just nine more times for the Glasgow outfit over the next three seasons.

Failure to break into the first team the England youth international’s hype was fading quickly and if he was to resurrect his career to align with what pundits have previously predicted of him, then he needed to find a new home to give him more minutes.

What was Dembele’s next move?

The then 19-year-year would decide to part ways with Celtic and would swap Glasgow for the northwest of France as he put pen to paper to officially become a Stade Brest player on a four-year deal.

Upon signing for Brest, Dembele said:

"I came to Brest because I saw that the project presented by Greg Lorenzi was good. It's something that suits me and I think I can have some playing time here. It was a great opportunity that presented itself to me and it interested me.

"I'm very explosive, I like to have fun and give it to the fans. I like to score and win."

A move to the mid-table Ligue 1 outfit may not have been in the plans of Dembele.

One of football’s best up-and-coming talents was once linked to a move to Premier League giants Manchester City, and would now be playing for a side that was participating in the second division of French football four seasons prior.

Life at the Stade Francis-Le Blé was particularly successful for the £1k-per-week player as he played just 15 games (all coming from the bench) during the course of the 2022/23 season while not contributing to a single goal.

According to WhoScored, Dembele averaged a measly 0.1 dribbles and 0.2 key passes per game signifying how tough he was finding his time in France.

Why did Dembele fail to live up to the hype?

There have been countless players touted as being the next future superstar looking to conquer domestic and international football.

Like Dembele, former AC Milan prodigy Hachim Mastour and American prospect Freddy Adu were expected to become global superstars before they were even 16.

Most teenage prospects fail to live up to their hype due to a lack of dedication and professionalism but Dembele injuries hampered his momentum.

Under former manager Ange Postecoglou, the 5 foot 7 winger failed to break into the dominant Celtic starting 11 with the Hoops being stacked with options. His rivals for a position in the squad were with the likes of Jota and Kyogo Furuhashi who would end the season scoring double figures.

In a make-or-break season for Dembele, the agile forward played just one game after being ruled out for 213 days and missing 44 matches as he picked up an ankle injury.

Celtic's wingers 2021/22 stats, as per FBRef Name Games Goals Assists Karamoko Dembele 1 0 0 Jota 29 10 9 Daizen Maeda 16 6 5 Kyogo Furuhashi 20 12 0 James Forrest 19 1 2 Where is Dembele now?

Still contracted to Brest, Dembele now finds himself back in his native Britain playing for League 1 side Blackpool on loan.

The Tangerines will hope they can bounce back to the Championship following their relegation last season.

Blackpool head coach Neil Critchley has recruited some relatively young players to help him guide Blackpool to promotion – 21-year-old Jenson Weir and 23-year-old Albie Morgan are some of the more noteworthy players brought to Bloomfield Road.

Dembele has played once for the Seasiders so far this season, the former Celtic winger produced an impressive performance in his side's 2-0 victory over Barrow in the EFL Trophy at the start of the month.

However, he is yet to start in the league since making his temporary switch.

Andy Robertson and Serge Gnabry are some examples of players who were written off too early so if Dembele can make the most of his loan spell in the north west there’s still a good chance he can revitalise his career into the top player we know he can be.

Sean Dyche has finally got Everton closer to their best in the Premier League, enjoying a successful season that even a ten-point deduction has failed to completely disrupt. The Toffees are already back out of the relegation zone after the deduction and would be in the top half of England's top flight if it wasn't for the loss of those aforementioned points.

With it all coming together for Everton, the January transfer window could be a dangerous month, with those at Goodison Park potentially forced into a battle to keep hold of their best players. Planning ahead, the Toffees have reportedly already reached a decision regarding one particular player who has attracted interest.

Everton transfer news

Whilst arrivals such as Jack Harrison and Ashley Young will get some credit for how they've settled in, it's been the likes of Dwight McNeil and Abdoulaye Doucoure who have stood out for Dyche, helping Everton to pick up some crucial points.

Their last win over Newcastle United summed up how good they can be when at their best under the former Burnley boss, and now, Everton will only look to kick on. If they can keep their star players then they may just return to the heights they once found themselves at, especially if one specific player stays put as planned.

According to Football Insider, Everton are set to reject offers for Jarrad Branthwaite in January, amid interest from Tottenham Hotspur. Having just signed a contract extension at the club until June 2027, it looks as though the star defender is set to stay put for now and help his side as they continue to climb back up the Premier League table in a major boost for Dyche and co. Everton will hope that the case remains the same in the summer transfer window.

"Outstanding" Branthwaite the key to Everton survival

Branthwaite's rise into Everton's first-team has been vital for Dyche's side so far this season, and even at 21 years old, the central defender stands tall as one of the Toffees' best options – Branthwaite's stats prove as much.

Jarrad Branthwaite

14

68

22

Michael Keane

2

7

4

James Tarkowski

14

59

26

It's no surprise that the defender has earned high praise throughout the season as a result of his performances. That includes from England U21s boss and ex-Everton midfielder Lee Carsley, who said (via the Liverpool Echo): "There were a few players that could've worn the armband. It was a way of showing Jarrad how well we think he's doing at present as well. I think it's part of the game he can add to in terms of leadership.

"He leads by example, he's not too loud, he's quite a quiet guy but the way he plays, he's very imposing. I thought he was excellent tonight and it's something that he should be proud of to lead the team out.

"It was (a) low-key (response), he's very much a team player. I'm not sure he was too keen on being the one in the limelight, you've seen that tonight both he and Jarell (Quansah), they play like men. I thought they were outstanding, they played with real matureness in their defending, it was good to see."

Liverpool's tumultuous transfer window has left the Merseyside club scrambling to secure a defensive midfielder, but a shrewd option might have been identified.

Who will Liverpool sign instead of Caicedo?

According to ESPN, PSV ace Ibrahim Sangare is attracting the attention of Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.

The Premier League side sold Fabinho to Al-Ittihad for £40m and are yet to sign a replacement, missing out on Moises Caicedo to Chelsea, who are also hoping to swipe Southampton's Romeo Lavia from under Jurgen Klopp's nose.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

Sangare has a release clause of £32m and could prove to be a worthy alternative for the Anfield side, bringing tenacity and a tough-tackling approach to fortify the ranks.

How good is Ibrahim Sangare?

Liverpool technical director Jorg Schamdtke is approaching desperation mode and will need to act swiftly to provide the club with the best chance of succeeding this season.

Liverpool drew 1-1 against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last weekend in the Premier League opener, and while there were positives to take from the affair the absence of a sturdy No. 6 was clear, with The Athletic's James Pearce saying, "the lack of both control and protection in front of the back line was glaring."

Whether the Reds succeed in their bid to sign Lavia remains to be seen, but Sangare could prove to be a first-rate alternative, having impressed in the Netherlands over the past several seasons, chalking up 136 appearances, scoring 14 goals and supplying ten assists.

Described as a "dangerous" player in the centre by analyst Aad de Mos, Sangare could quickly allow the Merseyside club to forget about Caicedo, who has been heralded as a "physical monster" by Dr. Rajpal Brar and admittedly looks to be a superlative machine in the middle, ranking among the top 5% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and the top 14% for tackles and interceptions per 90, as per FBref.

Comparatively, the 31-cap Ivory Coast international ranks among the top 8% of midfielders across the eight leagues most comparable to the Eredivisie for goals, the top 18% for passes attempted, the top 9% for progressive passes, the top 13% for successful take-ons, the top 19% for clearances and the top 12% for clearances per 90.

While it's important to remember that Sangare plies his trade outside the top five European leagues and this, therefore, is reflected through his metrics, he clearly boasts an all-encompassing midfield skill set and has the passing ability and defensive work rate to provide Klopp's team with the component it has been missing. With such traits and attributes in mind, you could say he is Caicedo 2.0.

Pivotally, he would also be available for a portion of the price of Caicedo, who is expected to cost Chelsea £115m. In turn, this would allow Liverpool to focus on further targets and perhaps create a winning squad, spreading the need for reinforcements across several players.

Jacek Kulig hailed the 25-year-old as "one of Ligue 1's best midfielders" before he made the move to PSV, and while Sangare is not the highlight name of the Brighton ace, he could prove to be a most shrewd acquisition and bolster Liverpool's midfield with the toughness and tenacity to set them on their way this season.

The South Africa batsman has said that he is in a ‘good space’ physically and mentally after series-turning contributions against India

Sidharth Monga in Johannesburg18-Jan-2018South Africa coach Ottis Gibson was asked in the lead-up to the series if the Indian pace attack had enough in it to make them reconsider the usual policy of batting first in Cape Town. This was, after all, not the usual Cape Town pitch; it had more grass than usual on it. Gibson said it would depend on the overheads on the morning of the Test. The morning was bright with no clouds, and South Africa thought about putting India in, but went ahead and took the challenge of batting the first session out.Three overs in, South Africa were in crisis. Dean Elgar nicked behind while Aiden Markram was pinned lbw. The ball did a lot, and Hashim Amla would soon perish to make it 12 for 3. Bhuvneshwar Kumar took three wickets in each of his first three overs. Batting seemed treacherous. South Africa were pretty close to their gamble of a spicy pitch backfiring on them.AB de Villiers, though, batted as if on a different plane. He was helped by Mohammed Shami bowling the first ball to him on his pads. The score didn’t matter, the situation didn’t matter; the ball was there to be hit, and he hit it. Soon he hit Bhuvneshwar Kumar for four boundaries in one over. In crisis he scored 65 off 84 balls, benefitting from some loose bowling along the way, to take South Africa to a total they could win the Test with.In Centurion, South Africa didn’t get the pitch they wanted. It was slow, it didn’t have much bounce, and it turned on day one. Morne Morkel said it felt “100%” like bowling India. South Africa won the toss again – a big advantage this time – but let India back in by not scoring over 400. There was some ordinary running, some loose shots, that let India off the hook. They took a lead of 28 in the first innings, but the third innings was now important. This pitch seemed to now favour India’s bowlers whose default mode of operation is to attack the stumps. Two early wickets fell to balls that stayed low and were at the stumps.South Africa were now 31 for 2 effectively, and it was anybody’s game. It was de Villiers’ game. Once again he scored 80 at the rate of two runs per three balls to pull South Africa out of trouble. These were two crucial innings in the context of the series even though none of these got him the Man-of-the-Match award. They were played at strike-rates you would be proud of in crisis in ODIs. These were what you would call counterattacks, but to de Villiers these are normal innings.ESPNcricinfo Ltd”Not at all,” de Villiers said when asked if he consciously made an attempt to hit South Africa’s way out of trouble. “I watch the ball and I just play. I have always said that I don’t feel there’s a big difference between the three formats. It is just a mindset applying yourself to the wicket and conditions, and that’s always been the way that I have played. So no definitely it’s not something that I force.”That is how de Villiers bats. He sees the ball early, gets into attacking positions, and defends or leaves only if he must. In an interview to ESPNcricinfo in 2015, he said: “My mindset in all three formats, in any situation, is exactly the same. I just want to get myself in, get myself a nice foundation to hopefully attack and dominate the bowlers. After a period what I call – let’s say a period when you have got to earn the right to dominate the bowling. In some innings it takes one ball, sometimes it takes 10 overs, sometimes five overs…”It hasn’t all been smooth of late for de Villiers, with injuries keeping him out of Test cricket. It must feel great to come back and immediately make such a big impact on a grudge series. “Test cricket is the ultimate challenge,” de Villiers said. “It was very enjoyable to be a part of a really important and good series win. I think it was a great team effort from everyone, from the fielding to the bowlers with big pressure moments with the bat in hand, just an all-round really good team performance. I am obviously enjoying my cricket and loving it out there with the boys. And it has been a great couple of Test matches.”These might not have been big hundreds, but these have been match-turning, and consequently series-turning, innings. And de Villiers has never felt better about his game. “I feel like I am in the best form of my life right now,” de Villiers said. “I am never guaranteed results, never guaranteed five hundreds in a row, I could get five ducks in a row but I am happy where I am at. And I am playing well, and I am doing my preparation well, and I am meeting the ball well. It’s just up to the day to take care of itself. I feel at the best phase of my life right now.”AFPPhysically, too, de Villiers said he felt he was in a good space. “It feels like my debut back in 2004 when I started as an opening batsman then a keeper at no.7 and back to opening, and up and down,” de Villiers said of his body. “It’s funny with my comeback now similar to back in the day. But it has been very enjoyable. I feel very fresh, and I have said it on numerous occasions in the last few months that I just feel like just getting out there and playing, and that’s what a good break does to you.”I am feeling in a good space, and the energy is good, and my body is feeling right at the moment. I do have niggles but that is part of Test cricket. You never get up feeling a 100%. The back is still there, the ankles and knees, everything is hurting at times but to be playing the ultimate form of the game again has been a great challenge.”De Villiers is not done yet with India. He will laugh about the last series in India, where some of the best batsmen in the world lost confidence playing on tracks that Faf du Plessis said bordered on the “extreme”, but they are gunning for 3-0.”I can’t remember what happened,” de Villiers joked. “What happened in 2015? Oh we won the ODI series, yeah. It would be great, India have really impressed me and surprised us in terms of the bowling department so they have shown lot more skill and definitely there is lot more pace than we expected. So we know we are going to have to be watchful in that last Test. They will come out fighting and wanting to finish well in the Test series, and wanting to take that confidence into the ODIs, but obviously we would love to beat them 3-0. But you are never guaranteed of a result. We know we are going to have to dig deep again and make sure that like in the last two Tests we adapt to the conditions and put in our best type of cricket in the conditions.”

Manchester City have offered legendary right-back Kyle Walker a new and improved contract, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Is Kyle Walker leaving Man City?

The 33-year-old has enjoyed an incredible career at the Eithad since joining from Tottenham back in 2017, winning all there is to win in the game, including a historic treble last season. He has made 255 appearances in total, becoming one of the best full-backs in Europe in that time, combining unstoppable speed with an ability to keep the most dangerous wingers on the planet quiet, from Vinicius Jr to Neymar.

Walker's City future has been up in the air this summer, however, with a move to Bayern Munich potentially on the cards, as he eyes up a possible new challenge in his career. His current deal expires next summer, at which point he will be able to depart on a free transfer, if he hasn't agreed an extension with the Cityzens at that point.

Now, a new update has emerged regarding the England's international's future – one that could be met positively by City supporters.

What's the latest Man City transfer news?

Taking to Twitter, Romano claimed that a new contract offer is on the table for Walker this summer, with improved terms in it, and the decision is now up to him with Bayern still looking to snap him up:

"Understand Manchester City have now offered new contract to Kyle Walker, as the proposal has been improved. Same process as Bernardo Silva who’s close to extending his contract.

"Kyle Walker has to decide between Bayern move with Tuchel pushing…or new deal at Man City."

This is huge news for City, with Walker someone who it would be far more beneficial to keep hold of than lose this summer, considering he remains such an influential figure. At 33, he doesn't appear to have lost much of the incredible pace that he has always possessed, and it is such a huge weapon for Pep Guardiola, allowing him to mop up potential threats on the counter-attacking from opposition teams.

City are often not the same force when Walker isn't playing, so losing him this summer would suddenly leave a void in that hybrid right-back role, and he will surely be swaying towards staying put for a number of years to come, considering Guardiola's side are the best in Europe currently, and will no doubt be desperate to defend their Premier League and Champions League crowns in 2023/24.

Walker's brilliance is undeniable at this point and his importance to the cause is summed up his manager's comments about him in an interview last year, with the Spaniard saying:

"He is so consistent and year after year he puts in great performances. He has been one of the greatest signings for City in modern history because he rarely gets injured and he always performs."

Extending Walker's stay at the Etihad is, therefore, an absolute no-brainer for City, with few signs of him waning as a player and hopefully more trophies to come over the next few years, as he further adds to his iconic status.