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Due to sponsorship reasons, the stadium located in Mexico City will now be called Estadio Banorte

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• This agreement will make this legendary venue one of the most modern stadiums in the world

• It will have an investment of around $113 million dedicated to modernization

• Estadio Banorte will host five matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Estadio Azteca, one of the most iconic stadiums in world football, will change its name to Estadio Banorte. This change is the result of an agreement between Banorte Bank and Grupo Ollamani, which includes an investment of around $113 million to modernize the stadium ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Estadio Azteca, now renamed Estadio Banorte, will host five matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. These include the opening match on June 11, 2026, three group stage matches, and one knockout round match. The venue will be the first in history to host three World Cups.

  Details of the Modernization:

  Sustainability: Technologies and eco-friendly practices will be implemented to reduce the stadium's environmental impact.

  Connectivity: The technological infrastructure will be improved, including high-speed Wi-Fi and advanced information systems.

  Spectator Experience: Seats will be renovated, food areas will be expanded, and giant screens will be installed for better viewing.

  Accessibility: Spaces for people with reduced mobility will be adapted, and stadium access will be improved.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  América has not played at the Estadio Azteca since the Clausura 2024 due to the renovations the stadium is undergoing in preparation for the 2026 World Cup. Both América and the Mexican National Team have been forced to play their home games at other stadiums.

• WHAT NEXT FOR MEXICO NATIONAL TEAM?

  Mexico will face Canada on March 20 in the semifinals of the Final Four. The match will be held at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, and a large turnout from the fans is expected. Mexico has not won the Nations League championship since its inception.

A former Aston Villa employee suggests one £50 million player would jump at the chance to join Unai Emery, and the star in question could be a serious target for the Spaniard as well.

Aston Villa lose four consecutive games after electric start

Emery has endured a last fortnight to forget in the dugout, with his side losing four consecutive games in all competitions and bringing their electric start to 2024/2025 to an end, at least for now.

Aston Villa now told £30m enough to secure January signing ahead of Arsenal

He is seen as a future star in the making, and could be Villa’s this January.

By
Ben Browning

Nov 16, 2024

Villa were knocked out of the Carabao Cup Last 16 by Premier League strugglers Crystal Palace, who caused an upset in the Midlands, with Emery’s men then traveling to Tottenham for a 4-1 humbling just days later.

Defeats to Club Brugge in the Champions League and Liverpool at Anfield followed soon afterwards, with Villa now ninth in the table and brought crashing back down to Earth after a fairytale start to the new campaign.

“I am happy with the players,” said Emery on Villa’s 2-0 defeat at Liverpool. “We played with the plan we had. To get some points here is very difficult, and maybe we needed more. Even dominating some moments of the match, they were creating some chances in transition, and we have to work to improve it. We conceded two easy transitions for them from corners.

“We also created two good chances from corners, and we competed like we needed to get something but we didn’t get points here. I’m happy with the match we played. We have to try and keep balance and be consistent like we were last year. We are some points under the level we had last year, but the Premier League is very difficult and it’s tight with other teams in the table.

“I want to recover some players. They’re not getting fit like they have to but we are helping those players to get better, to feel better. We have to accept losing here because they are a team that can exploit their potential like they did. After we are coming back from the break, we have to try to be strong.”

Former scout suggests Alex Baena is "eager" to join Aston Villa

Injuries for the likes of Ross Barkley, Matty Cash, Boubacar Kamara, Pau Torres and Jacob Ramsey haven’t exactly helped matters, as Villa cope with a fair few absentees, similar to other elite Premier League sides right now.

The January transfer window could be a solution to add more strength in depth, with Villa reportedly eyeing a move for Villarreal forward Alex Baena.

The Spaniard has impressed in La Liga, and commands a £50 million release clause, with Emery also knowing the player well from his time at Estadio de la Ceramica. Speaking to Villa News this week, ex-Villans scout Bryan King has suggested that Baena would jump at the chance to reunite with Emery in Birmingham.

“I think he’d find it easy to join Villa and come into a club with a manager that he knows,” King said. “Baena has worked with Emery. Therefore, I see no reason why Emery wouldn’t push for that transfer, and tell the club that Baena is a great prospect, a good player, and the player that he wants.

“And as a player who has worked with him, I think he’d be eager to join Villa and continue his career in the West Midlands.”

Plays of the day from the match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders in Bangalore

Karthik Krishnaswamy02-May-2015Starc’s nifty footworkIt was the third ball of the match, and Mitchell Starc delivered it on a driving length. Robin Uthappa drilled it back, hard and straight. Too straight. Starc stuck his left boot out to slow it down and stop it from going to the boundary, nearly doing the splits as he did so. It was an excellent display of reflexes and agility, and Gautam Gambhir was mindful of this when he came on strike to face him. Starc’s first ball to Gambhir was a wide, but his next one was in the slot to drive, and Gambhir drilled it back, but away from the bowler and towards the non-striker, who skipped away smartly to let it race through for four.Bare-knuckle DKHarshal Patel was bowling a lot of slower balls in the penultimate over of Kolkata Knight Riders’ innings, and Dinesh Karthik knew, behind the stumps, that if the batsmen played and missed the ball would roll gently to him. Given the likelihood of an attempted bye, Karthik took his right glove off and stuck it in his pocket. Just as expected, Ryan ten Doeschate swung and missed at one of Harshal’s slower offcutters and set off for a bye. Karthik swooped on the ball, wasting no time to pull his glove off, and fired in a flat throw that caught Andre Russell inches short of the crease.The waist-land, part oneStarc came back to bowl the final over, and his fourth ball was a full-toss that Yusuf Pathan scooped straight into Virat Kohli’s hands at long-on. Kohli had seen even before he settled under the ball that the umpire had signaled no-ball, and his face was a mask of rage as he caught it and threw it back towards the bowler. Kohli didn’t think it was a no-ball, and replays proved him right. The ball was just below waist-height, and that with Yusuf on the front foot and in a low-ish position.The waist-land, part twoKohli was on strike to face the first ball of the third over of Royal Challengers Bangalore’s innings, and Pat Cummins sent down a leg-stump full-toss. Kohli whipped it away to the fine leg boundary, and immediately turned to the square-leg umpire, shrugging his shoulders questioningly. This was a fairly high full-toss too, and he seemed to be asking why this wasn’t a no-ball. Replays showed it was just below waist-height.

The batter is still trying to get better and will take it “one tour at a time”

Andrew McGlashan05-Jan-2023On the day Steven Smith went past Don Bradman with his 30th Test century, he admitted to being uncertain about how long his international career will continue.Smith’s 104 in Sydney was just his second hundred against South Africa in 12 matches – for an opponent he has played more than twice he holds his lowest average against them – yet it ended in frustration as he missed out on “happy hour” by giving Keshav Maharaj a return catch.While there is no doubt Smith will be in Australia’s plans for their upcoming series against India and England during the first half of this year, he said he was taking his career in small stages now.Related

• Smith hopes to 'get into a nice groove' for South Africa Tests

• Khawaja, Smith and Head pummel SA to put Australia in command

• Century No. 30 for Smith, a hat-trick of tons at SCG for Khawaja

“I don’t know, we’ll see,” he said when asked about his future. “I’m enjoying it at the moment. I really can’t say how long I’ll play for, I’m not sure. Take it one tour at a time, enjoy it, enjoy training and trying to get better. Whilst I’m doing that I’m happy playing, but don’t know how long it will last.”While personal success remains a major driver for Smith, he is equally motivated to help Australia’s next generation for when he and David Warner are no longer around – which may be sooner rather than later.”It’s [about] trying to get better, help the team win games of cricket,” he said. “Think we’ve played some really good cricket the last 12 months…we’ve got two really big hurdles in front of us with India and the Ashes. For me, it is trying to get better and trying to help some of the other batters coming through.”I still try to help Marnus [Labuschagne] as much as possible, [Travis] Head, Cameron Green, Matty Renshaw, Marcus Harris…try to impart as much knowledge of conditions and ways to go about. If I can say something and you see that lightbulb go on and someone figures something out I get a big thrill out of that. I’ll try and help them as much as I can.”Smith said he was not worried about being beaten on the outside half of the bat and went back and across to balls coming back in•Cricket Australia via Getty Images

Smith’s personal drive to improve has been evident in the last 12 months as he has re-engineered his technique back to an earlier model where he moves less in the crease. This century followed the double he made against West Indies in Perth, although it was not an entirely fluent affair and after 55 balls he had 12 runs.”It’s not going to be perfect every time,” he said. “So when you aren’t feeling as good as you’d like you just try to grind it out, get through that initial period then hopefully things get easier. I didn’t feel great my first 60-70 balls, I reckon, then things started to click and feel a lot better. Pleased I was able to get through that initial period.”Yet, even within the innings itself Smith was making adjustments, reverting to the jump across the crease when facing Marco Jansen’s reverse swing from around the wicket. “Went back to my old set-up, [or] my old, old set-up,” he joked.”I didn’t feel overly threatened on the outside of the bat,” he added. “I was getting back and across just to cover the ball coming back in at me. I’d rather do it out there…rather than come back in the sheds and wonder why I didn’t do that. Felt I could still get my weight back through the ball.”After a cheeky celebration involving a chainsaw aimed at Labuschagne, Smith was ready to reset himself but fell three balls later to a leading edge. Disappointment was writ large over his face which he later explained was the frustration at missing out on a chance to experiment with some more aggressive strokeplay with an eye on the India tour.”I just missed out on happy hour, was time to go playing some shots as Heady just did,” he said. “Was time to have some fun. I was actually going to start practicing a few things, potentially like sweeping and things like that, with our upcoming Indian tour. I know that sounds bad in a way, but felt like it was an opportunity to do that against some good spinners.”For Smith that tour represents one of the pinnacles to reach this year. How much more there is to follow for him, only time will tell.

Gareth Taylor's side didn't have things all their own way in north London, but battled hard to come away with all three points

Aoba Fujino scored the winning goal with 12 minutes to play as Manchester City beat Tottenham 2-1 to maintain their hopes of securing a top-three finish in the Women's Super League, and the Champions League qualification that comes with it.

Fujino, who also teed up the first goal for Vivianne Miedema with superb skill, slammed in a left-footed effort to break Spurs hearts after a spirited performance.

The hosts had plenty of joy, equalising in the first half through Bethany England, but were eventually beaten after wasting a series of good attacking openings.

GOAL rates City's players from Brisbane Road…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Ayaka Yamashita (6/10):

  Made a late save to preserve her side's win having been unable to do anything to stop England's goal. Also contributed to City's ball-playing style.

  Kerstin Casparij (6/10):

  A solid performance, providing a platform for Fujino down City's right and contributing to the attack herself at times as well.

  Naomi Layzell (5/10):

  Often relied upon to mop up after City's mistakes when playing out from the back, but also made a couple of her own as the centre-backs were targeted.

  Laia Aleixandri (4/10):

  Seemed to be taking even more risks than Layzell and was eventually robbed of possession for Spurs' equaliser. Mistakes always felt possible when City were playing out.

  Leila Ouahabi (5/10):

  Also part of an unconvincing defensive display, but did not make as many errors as some of her team-mates.

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  Midfield

  Laura Blindkilde Brown (6/10):

  Occasionally played with fire on the ball, but also produced a couple of lovely moments to link up with Fujino.

  Yui Hasegawa (5/10):

  Another who struggled in possession as Spurs swarmed all over City as they tried to play out.

  Vivianne Miedema (8/10):

  Scored City's opener with a superb header before later blocking a goal-bound effort in her own six-yard box.

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  Attack

  Aoba Fujino (9/10):

  City's match-winner. Produced a superb assist for Miedema before cutting in on her left foot to score the winner 12 minutes from time. Clearly the standout player on the pitch.

  Khadija Shaw (6/10):

  Worked hard but was unable to really get into the game before being taken off midway through the second period.

  Kerolin (7/10):

  Did not shine quite as much as Fujino, but was a threat down the left and dovetailed nicely with Ouahabi.

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  Subs & Manager

  Mary Fowler (7/10):

  Produced a couple of clever touches down the left as her side upped the ante after the second-half subs.

  Jill Roord (7/10):

  Teed up Park for a late chance to seal the points with a clever piece of skill and cross.

  Jess Park (6/10):

  A little quieter, but still played her part in a strong finish to the game for City.

  Gareth Taylor (7/10):

  City have a clearly-defined style and won this game with their subs, which Taylor deserves plenty of credit for. He won't forget the problems his side faced in the first 60 minutes, though.

In the first episode of Contenders, a special ten-part buildup to the 2015 World Cup, Rahul Dravid and Graeme Smith discuss the impact of local conditions on team compositions and the issues surrounding the format of the tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Jan-201531:02

Spinners can be effective in Australia – Smith

As the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand approaches, excitement is building about what the tournament holds. Who are the players to watch for? Which teams start favourites? Contenders, a ten-part ESPNcricinfo special series, examines the strengths and weaknesses of each team in depth, with two legends of the modern game – former South African captain Graeme Smith and former India captain Rahul Dravid. To kick off the series, Smith and Dravid reflect on the importance of a World Cup for a player, the impact of local conditions on team compositions, the issues surrounding the format of the tournament and the likely effects of the new ODI rules on the games.

What they said about…

Importance of playing a World Cup
Dravid: You want to make a mark in the World Cup, simply because you felt that the best players in the world were playing that tournament.
Smith: I was fortunate enough to play in three of them and never got to win one but have some great memories of those occasions.Memories of the 1992 tournament
Dravid: I had just started playing first-class cricket. One thing that we observed was the players’ colourful uniforms. We used to look at them and think, ‘Yes it would be nice to wear one of those someday.’
Smith: That was my first ever sort of exposure into international cricket. When I was 9 or younger, we used to lie on the bedroom floor, wake up at odd hours of the morning and watch television.Impact of local conditions on team composition
Dravid: You can’t have one set formula. Even if you are confident enough to qualify as one of the top eight teams, you can never predict where your quarterfinal will be. You’ve got to have a squad that covers all bases.
Smith: The unique thing about playing in Australia is the size of the grounds, it’s one thing that most other nations aren’t really used to. You have to put emphasis on scoring singles and running twos and threes.The format of the World Cup
Dravid: You can almost predict who the top eight teams are going to be. There comes a time in the tournament, when everyone starts to wait for the quarterfinals, because you know that those are the big games.
Smith: The experiences I’ve had with the football World Cup and the rugby World Cup is that every weekend, there’s a big challenge, and you’re looking forward to the next game. I think that’s crucial for us to create to keep cricket on the map and keep it competitive.Impact of new ODI rules
Dravid: When you have five fielders in the ring, it’s very hard to play a part-time bowler, you are almost forced to play five specialist bowlers. You’re going to be forced to attack and look for wickets than just sit back for long periods of play and see part-timers bowl.
Smith: You need to sum up the batting conditions with the two new balls in Australia and New Zealand. You need to set more of a platform and you can catch up in the last 20 overs if need be. The key is not to go three or four down for nothing.

The England fast bowler said she was recovering well and home in time for Christmas

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Dec-2022England pace bowler Tymal Mills has revealed his daughter suffered a stroke shortly before he was due to board his flight to play in the BBL with Perth Scorchers.Scorchers announced that Mills, who was part of England’s T20 World Cup squad, had withdrawn from the tournament due to a family emergency.”Home for Christmas after the most horrible 11 days,” Mills posted on Instagram. “As we were at the airport about to leave for Australia our daughter suffered what ended up being a stroke.”She lost complete use of the left side of her body and were told they couldn’t predict how much she would regain. “Despite all of the challenges she faced our little girl has amazed everyone with her recovery to point where we were discharged with her hopping and skipping out of the hospital.”She has lots of rehab, medication and scans ahead but we are so grateful to be where we are right now.”Thank you to everyone that’s reached out to us. Keep your loved ones close.”Scorchers announced David Payne, a fellow-left arm quick who plays for Gloucestershire, had been signed as Mills’ replacement.They have had to overhaul their overseas signs after all three of the players they brought in from the draft became unavailable. Alongside Mills, Phil Salt was injured during the ODI series against Australia and Laurie Evans’ contract was terminated after he failed a dope test.Faf du Plessis, Adam Lyth and Stephen Eskinazi and currently part of the squad.

Since Thibaut Courtois left Chelsea in 2018, joining Real Madrid for around £35m, the Blues have struggled to find a permanent number one between the sticks to replace him. Courtois made 154 appearances for Chelsea, conceding just 152 goals and keeping 58 clean sheets.

Chelsea signed Kepa Arrizabalaga in 2018, in an attempt to replace Courtois, for a whopping £71.6m, making him the most expensive goalkeeper of all time. Kepa made 163 appearances for the Blues, conceding 175 times and keeping 59 clean sheets.

The closest Chelsea have come to effectively replacing Courtois, is Edouard Mendy, who signed for the Blues from Rennes for around £22m in 2020. The Senegal international kept 49 clean sheets in just 105 games for the club, playing a massive hand in their Champions League triumph in 2021.

However, in the modern game, goalkeepers are required to do so much more than just stop shots. Their ability on the ball, to join in during the build-up, play out from the back, and even pick direct passes to the forwards is extremely important, which could see Chelsea dip into the transfer market yet again.

Chelsea's search for a goalkeeper

According to reports from CaughtOffside, Chelsea remain interested in Porto goalkeeper, Diogo Costa. However, the Blues could face competition for the 25-year-old shot-stopper, as Bayern Munich also appear to be interested in Costa, to replace Manuel Neuer who is considering his retirement at the end of this season.

Costa has made 167 appearances for Porto, conceding just 142 goals, whilst keeping 71 clean sheets and totaling 15,111 minutes played. He is also the Portugal number one, already having 31 caps for his country.

The in-demand talent would cost around £58m according to the reports, but he could prove to be the long-term answer Chelsea have been looking for since losing Courtois in 2018, providing a mixture of elite shot-stopping, and comfortable on-ball traits.

Robert Sanchez vs Diogo Costa comparison

Sanchez was signed by Chelsea in 2023, joining from Brighton for around £25m. He was quickly replaced as the number one last season, with Mauricio Pochettino preferring Djordje Petrovic between the sticks, after Sanchez made multiple errors leading to goals early in the campaign.

However, with Enzo Maresca’s appointment, Sanchez has found himself reinstated as the Chelsea number one, with the Italian manager wanting composure on the ball from his goalkeeper, and a willingness to play out from the back, sticking to the gameplan, and not panicking on the ball.

Costa, who has been described as “superman” by Jacek Kulig, has a higher clean sheet rate, fewer goals against, and a better pass completion percentage than Chelsea’s Sanchez. The Spanish goalkeeper is making more saves per 90, but this is also due to the 5.22 shots being conceded per 90, compared to the 2.81 against Costa per 90.

One positive Sanchez does have over Costa, is his ability to prevent crosses, and provide the team with high claims/punches, due to his 6 foot 5 frame. Costa, on the other hand, is just 6 foot 1, opting to stay on his line more often, and trust his reactions with shots from crosses.

Whilst he may not have the height of Sanchez or Courtois, Costa could be exactly what Chelsea need, in order to aid the build-up from the back, whilst also providing the defenders with the assurance and protection if shots do make it on goal.

The goalkeeping department has been a problem position for a number of years now at Stamford Bridge, yet the Porto titan could represent the long-awaited solution.

Chelsea eye £160k-per-week Jackson partner who once "really wanted" to join

The Senegalese has been in electric form this season.

By
Emilio Galantini

Oct 30, 2024

Of Wellington’s three venues, only one will see World Cup action. But the other two are worth a look-see as well

Alex Braae02-Jan-2015Wellington has not one but three venues capable of hosting first-class cricket. Two of those – Karori Park and the Basin Reserve – will not be used for the World Cup, but they provide a unique cricket watching experience nonetheless.Karori Park
Only the truly committed will be here on game day. Under grey skies, bitter winds sweep over the Makara hills, bringing chilly damp air to the fields of Karori Park. Deprived of shelter from trees or grandstands, they can count only on the walls of a small café and a raincoat on the back. Grim, wind-hardened faces squint out at the players, going through the motions of their cricketing purgatory. Pity the players – they who have no choice but to be here – but do not pity the spectators. Watching cricket in Wellington can be an endurance sport on its own, made possible in awful weather conditions by the simple act of deciding to be there.They wear battered raincoats, carry a thermos of tea, and ham and cheese sandwiches wrapped in thin plastic. They sink slowly into the few park benches with a view of the field, impassive through the slow progress of the day. An exchange of a word or two with whoever sits down next to them to mark a wicket or a particularly classy cover drive, then back to slow fossilisation.The seasons change daily in Wellington, and the second day of the match brings bright sunshine and a gentle breeze. Fair-weather fans begin to congregate around the outfield, forming small clumps around picnic baskets and blankets. With no security guards or fences, bottles of wine are slipped out of paper bags. Karori Park is vast and flat, with an expanse of field that stretches away from the main game. Matches are set up on the unused pitches: backyard cricket on a grand scale. The players play on, oblivious to the enjoyment of summer around them.Sleeping bags are optional, though useful•Getty ImagesA young father slowly pushes a baby in a pram around the outfield, taking care to pull the shade away to give the young one an uninterrupted view of the game, pointing out this detail and that, explaining the tactics and strategies, his audience giggling at the sounds and shouts. When the lunch break takes effect, he crosses the boundary line, walking the pram up to the edge of the square, to the thin wire that rings the pitch. He picks up the baby, holding him so he can see the wickets, introducing him to the obsession that the father hopes will one day take hold.Basin Reserve
He got here at 10 on the dot. The ticket said play in the Test match starts at 10.30, but he got here at 10. No matter, a good chance to beat the queues that will strain the entrances at each end when the first over approaches. Walking in at the Adelaide Road end, he turns left after having his bag checked by security. Nothing to see in there: a small radio, a newspaper, and some warm clothing for if the wind picks up. He settles into a spot on the brick terraces, watching the groundsmen finish their final preparations. Taking out a broad copy of the Dominion Post, he turns immediately to the back page, where the teams are laid out. Meticulously, he reads every article about the game, noting the contests that await. The players jog out, and he folds the paper away, taking out the radio and putting the earphones in. Bryan Waddle’s cheerful, jovial voice fills his head, describing the sight on the field. Now the cricket season, so abstract before it was laid out before all his senses, has truly begun.If you don’t want to shell out to keep warm, bring your own picnic hamper•PA PhotosThe kids get bored easily. Holding miniature cricket bats and tennis balls, the play on the field quickly becomes secondary to the main event: pick-up games using the long straight alleyways that run into the bowels of the stands. One hand one bounce, the oldest has to bat left-handed, hit the ball on the field and you’re out – all the house rules are debated and tested. Batsmen and bowlers rotate quickly, wickets tumbling every few minutes. The fielders slowly drift away, with so few positions except short leg and long off to fill, their interest taken by the boundary riders. When the game finally winds down, the one who owns the miniature bat takes it over to the picket fence and holds it out to the fine-leg fielder. “Can I have your autograph?”As the afternoon drifts on, the sunlight and the crowds shift to the grassy banks. Here they lounge on the slopes, sipping beer from plastic cups. They marinate in sun and watery beer. When the day is almost over, the gates are opened to the public for cut- price admission. The Basin Reserve becomes a thoroughfare for those leaving work in the CBD, taking the opportunity to see the last few overs of the day on their way home. A man in a suit is spotted by a particularly rowdy group of supporters, who snigger at his formal outfit. A chant starts up: “Take your tie off, take your tie off!” The besuited man hears, looks around, and realises he is the subject. For a second he looks almost affronted, before relaxing and grinning up at the chanters. “Take your tie off, take your tie off.” He loosens the knot and slips it over his head, which earns a small cheer. The man in the suit holds it aloft and theatrically swings it around his head, causing the bank to erupt with applause. He sits down for the last over of the day. The Basin Reserve banks have won over another convert.Westpac Stadium
Everyone walks the causeway to get to Westpac Stadium. A trickle at midday, then a stream, then a river, then a flood of fans, walking purposefully to catch the first ball. They pile out of trains that shuttle regularly into the station underneath the stadium, thousands coming into town from the northern suburbs. Buses from the south, the east, the western suburbs, all full. There isn’t a spare car park in sight for miles. Still they come, huge groups of revellers walking in from the city, stopping at the pubs along the way for just one more quick one before the stadium. If the Basin Reserve is the temple of cricket in Wellington, the Westpac Stadium is the modern mega-church. A congregation of the casual and the committed: come one, come all.Bubbling with excitement: come the World Cup, the Cake Tin will be a sweet place to be•Hamish Blair/Getty ImagesHalf the ground loses the sun early and wraps up against the chilly breeze. The other half bakes. Soaking in watery beer, pounding pop songs and the dry Wellington sun, the punters get louder. They are part of the game here, not just spectators. The Cake Tin, as the stadium is affectionately known, becomes a cauldron when it is full. The Kiwi quick is pulled to the crease each ball by a steady rise in noise, reaching a crescendo when the ball is let loose.The crunch of bat on ball echoes, picked up by stump microphones, and bouncing around the concrete walls. It flies high in the air, hanging at eye level with those sitting at the very top. The noise changes, yearning, pleading for the fielder to get underneath it. Nobody prays silently here; thousands of voices urge the fielder on. Get there. Get there.Running at full tilt, the man on the boundary reaches up with both hands. Mere metres away, hundreds of hands stretch out, pointing at the ball. It’s right there! The fielder leaps, fingers grasping at the air. The ball hits a hand, smacking into the palm and bouncing up. Trying a second time, the hand swipes, misses, the ball falls on the ground and stops, just over the boundary. The fielder ruefully picks it up and throws it back in, wondering how he managed to miss it. A group of young men in the front row howl with laughter, at their friend with the bruised hand, and the even more bruised ego. But then the replay comes up on the big screen, and he raises his arms in mock triumph. He may not have made the catch but at least he was part of the game.

Ange Postecoglou says assists are the "most useless statistic in world football" in a bizarre rant ahead of Tottenham's clash with Manchester City.

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• Tottenham host Man City in Premier League
• Postecoglou asked about Scarlett
• Goes on bizarre rant about assists

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Australian was asked about Spurs forward Dane Scarlett's recent contribution for the first-team, where he has scored a goal and bagged two assists in all competitions. Postecoglou praised the 20-year-old's perseverance after some difficult loan spells at Portsmouth, Ipswich Town, and Oxford United; but then greatly downplayed the importance of assist-making.

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  WHAT ANGE POSTECOGLOU SAID

  He told reporters: "Dane, like you said, he's had a couple of difficult loans and that's part of the process as well for him. We were just talking about Djed [Spence], who had three difficult loans, so some of it is just perseverance and keep working hard and waiting for your opportunity. He has done well for us. I said when he came back, he wasn't in the greatest physical condition and he's working hard on that and hopefully he gets more opportunities. As an aside, I've got to say the assist is the most useless statistic in world football. Seriously, it could come off your backside, fall to somebody on the halfway line he scores, and it's an assist. So it doesn't impress me, but Dane's assist at the weekend was a good one."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Aside from Scarlett and the importance of assists as a statistic, Tottenham are aiming to win a fourth-straight Premier League game as they try to close the gap on the top 10. They host a City side who will be smarting from their 2-0 loss to Liverpool last time out. Postecoglou is seemingly one bad result from being under pressure so he will hope for another win this time out.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Tottenham, who sit 12th in the division, host fourth-placed City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday night. It remains to be seen if Scarlett will feature.