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Rain has followed the Sri Lankans around the World Cup but the forecast is better in London, where the main challenge will be their batting

The Preview by Daniel Brettig14-Jun-2019

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If Sri Lanka’s chances of progressing to the semi-finals of the World Cup are slightly better than the one in a million offered to Lloyd Christmas by Mary Swanson in , it’s not by much. But just as Lloyd replied with a goggle-eyed “So you’re telling me there’s a chance?”, so too must Dimuth Karunaratne’s men push on against an Australian side that, while not firing on anything like all their available cylinders, are comfortably ensconced in the race for the tournament’s knockouts.To progress, Sri Lanka will need to do it the hard way with games against England, South Africa, India and West Indies still to come after Saturday’s outing. For Australia, the equation is more likely to require three wins from their remaining five fixtures.At the same time Australia will be chasing improvement in terms of performance and also balance, having looked so far like a collection of jigsaw puzzle pieces with either one too few to complete the picture, or an abundance of pieces that won’t fit the remaining gaps. Chief among these are Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh in the middle order, while the bowling attack, too, has a significant lack of depth once Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins are dealt with.Sri Lanka, though, have more fundamental issues, needing somehow to find the collective confidence to get into a position to win. Their two completed matches feel an age ago when they were bowled out for 136 by New Zealand and 201 by Afghanistan. However, they have gained two points from washouts, and a victory over Australia would help provide the type of critical momentum required for the sort of unlikely progression that Lloyd Christmas had so desired.

Form guide

(Last five completed matches, most recent first)Australia WLWWW
Sri Lanka WLWLLGlenn Maxwell is bowled•Getty Images

In the spotlight

Against Pakistan, Glenn Maxwell showed off his skills – namely a rare combination of brutality and precision against spin – but also his drawbacks, beaten easily by pace when Sarfaraz Ahmed deigned to challenge him with it. Between the coach Justin Langer and his assistant Ricky Ponting, there appears a determination to ensure Maxwell is given the best opportunity to be a match-winner for Australia, more so after they attracted plenty of derision for holding him back too late in their chase against India. In 2015, Maxwell clattered the Sri Lankans for a brilliant and tournament-shaping century, just at the moment when the Australians were trying to shore up their place in the quarter-finals. The Oval and a less confident Sri Lankan side offer the chance to Maxwell to get his tournament going.Australia’s players have never forgotten Kusal Mendis after his match and arguably series-winning innings against them in a Test match in Kandy in 2016. It was Mendis’ breakout performance, but he did not fare as well against Australia in subsequent innings, not topping 42 in four Test innings down under earlier this year. Nevertheless a couple of ODI half-centuries against them in 2016 and also a wasted start in their warm-up match in Southampton ahead of the World Cup have demonstrated that Mendis has the skill and nerve to build Sri Lanka’s innings from the middle.

Team news

Nuwan Pradeep, who suffered a blow to his bowling hand while training and missed the game against Bangladesh, has returned to training. Whether he is match fit or not will be assessed later. The good news for Sri Lanka is that Lasith Malinga is on his way back to England after attending his mother-in-law’s funeral, and will join the team in time for the game. If Malinga is ready for action, Sri Lanka might not want to risk playing Pradeep.Sri Lanka (possible) 1 Kusal Perera, 2 Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), 3 Lahiru Thirimanne 4, Angelo Mathews, 5 Kusal Mendis, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Thisara Perara, 8 Isuru Udana, 9 Jeevan Mendis, 10 Suranga Lakmal, 11 Lasith Malinga
Australia are likely to take the field with four specialist bowlers, with Marcus Stoinis still injured but not yet replaced in the squad by Mitchell Marsh. Aaron Finch suggested that they will stick to the four-pacer plan, and Finch and Smith, who had a decent bowl in the nets on the eve of the game, are expected to help Maxwell out as the fifth bowler, providing ten overs of spin.Australia (possible) 1 Aaron Finch (capt), 2 David Warner, 3 Usman Khawaja, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Shaun Marsh, 6 Glenn Maxwell, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Nathan Coulter-Nile, 9 Pat Cummins, 10 Mitchell Starc, 11 Kane Richardson

Pitch and conditions

The Oval surface has thus far been on the slow, holding side, although this will be a fresh pitch. London’s weather forecast is for periods of clouds amid sunshine, but mercifully not much rain.

Strategy punt

• Australia have been well served by promoting Pat Cummins to taking the new ball, shared with Mitchell Starc, but his move to the first ten overs of the innings have also left them somewhat vulnerable in the middle overs. Given the new-ball movement on offer to the likes of Coulter-Nile or potentially Jason Behrendorff, there is the option of moving Cummins back to first change to free up more of his valuable ten overs for the middle of an innings. A case of risk versus reward.
• Sri Lanka lack India’s batting depth, but the lesson learned by all teams following the victory by Virat Kohli’s side over Australia is that if Cummins and Starc are able to be tamed, then there are plenty of runs to be taken in targeted assaults elsewhere. Of course, the cautionary tale is in how skilfully this is done, as evidenced by Finch’s slow left-arm occasionals snaring a wicket via an ugly full toss against Pakistan in Taunton.
• Sri Lanka may seriously want to consider playing Jeevan Mendis and Jeffrey Vandersay. Since 2018, Australia have lost more wickets to legspin (38) than any other side. While the openers, David Warner and Finch, average over 40 against legspin, Khawaja (21.3) and Smith (27.1) are much lower.

Stats and trivia

• Last time Australia met Sri Lanka at The Oval they were eliminated from the 2013 Champions Trophy, in what was Mickey Arthur’s last game as coach before he was sacked ahead of the Ashes and replaced by Darren Lehmann.
• Lasith Malinga needs four wickets to become the fourth man to take 50 World Cup wickets. Three will tie him with Chaminda Vaas on 49 World Cup wickets – the second-highest for Sri Lanka behind Muttiah Muralitharan’s 68.

Quotes

“I think he’s always been a competitive beast. He loves the challenge, he loves the contest. I’ve never seen anything different since he was in the Under-19s, [as] an 18-year-old he used to love it. That’s what the greats do, that’s what the champions do. They love the contest. He loves the contest.”
“We are a team with limited talent. If you compare us with a lot of other sides, we have major limitations. For example, the India side has someone who hits a hundred virtually in every match. In our team, we’ve only had one or two centurions all year.”

The Manchester United outcast has given a timely reminder of what he can do on the biggest stage, and he could be worth the risk for the Three Lions

The task of picking a 26-man England squad for the European Championship will have been difficult enough for Gareth Southgate given the wealth of talent at his disposal, but a resurgent Jadon Sancho will have given him another headache. Having put a miserable spell at Manchester United behind him, the winger has rediscovered his confidence back on his old stomping ground on loan at Borussia Dortmund.

Granted, the 24-year-old has not hit the heights of the season that convinced United to shell out £73 million ($93m) to take him to Old Trafford in 2021, with a fairly modest return of three goals and three assists since returning to Germany, but he has caught the eye when it mattered most.

Sancho's outstanding Champions League semi-final display against Paris Saint-Germain will surely be lingering in the back of Southgate's mind when he sits down to finalise his selection, and there is a case to be made for him to go to Euro 2024 as a wildcard option. Under the lights at Signal Iduna Park, he looked like a man hell-bent on proving a point.

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  Champions League masterclass

  The main reason Sancho may have squeezed back into the frame for a place in Southgate's squad is a masterful individual performance on club football's biggest stage; with the world watching as favourites Paris Saint-Germain arrived in town for a Champions League semi-final first leg on May 1, Sancho was immense.

  The winger tormented his full-back Nuno Mendes all night long, completing the most dribbles by an English player in the Champions League since 's records began (12). He became the first player since Lionel Messi in 2008 to complete more than 11 take-ons in a Champions League semi-final, and he won the most duels (13) and created the most chances (three).

  Underdogs Dortmund would go on to win the game 1-0 and completed the job in Paris to reach an unlikely Champions League final, where Sancho will have an incredible opportunity to prove his worth to his country in colossal encounter that will be played out under the Wembley arch. His semi-final first-leg display is one that put the world on notice, and Southgate must surely have been impressed.

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  'Game by game'

  Sancho predictably wasn't called up for England's March friendlies against Brazil and Belgium, in what was Southgate's final opportunity to analyse the players available to him before picking his 26-man squad for the European Championship.

  That omission was considered to be telling for Sancho and the other overlooked players on the fringes of the Three Lions setup, with Southgate usually hesitant to spring a surprise or take a big risk when it comes to decision time.

  The Manchester United loanee will know, then, that his chances of sneaking onto the plane to Germany are slim, but he isn't giving up hope. Asked about his Euro 2024 hopes after running the show against PSG in Dortmund, he said: "I take it game by game and performances like today I hope it carries on."

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  Monumental failure

  However, Sancho's failed spell at United and acrimonious exit could feasibly override any of the good work he has done during his return to Dortmund, with Southgate likely acutely aware of his history of indiscipline.

  The attacker underwhelmed massively in his debut season at Old Trafford following his blockbuster transfer in the summer of 2021, with his eight goal contributions paling in comparison to the 36 he managed in his final season in Germany. A strong start to his second campaign was then derailed by physical and mental health issues, as he was removed from the squad altogether for a number of months.

  This season, a very public falling-out with Erik ten Hag has proven to be the death knell for his time at the club. Sancho reacted angrily after being left out of the squad that travelled to face Arsenal in September, and he was subsequently exiled from the first team. He has not played a minute for the Red Devils since, securing a loan return to Dortmund in January.

  It is said Sancho had issues with lateness throughout his time at United, while his application was also called into question. Speaking after his move in January, Ten Hag said: "So after he was signed, one year before (I was here), and there were issues. We have had issues all the way through, and so you can make out his stay at Manchester United so far is not a success."

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  Southgate's Bundesliga problem

  Although he risks contradicting himself with his captain Harry Kane now starring for Bayern Munich, Southgate has also been hesitant to lean heavily on players from the Bundesliga in the past, waiting some time before making now-key man Jude Bellingham a regular starter and using Sancho sparingly after his debut in 2018.

  Speaking about the German top flight in 2022, the England boss said: "The league is definitely a brilliant league for young players and coaches to develop, but of course the standard of the Premier League is undoubtedly higher."

  He made similar comments in reference to Sancho amid his initial struggles at United in 2021. "With Jadon, I’m not surprised," he said. "The Bundesliga is totally different, Dortmund is a big club but Manchester United is one of the biggest in the world. You’re not going to get the goals and assists numbers anywhere near in our league, that you are in the Bundesliga."

He is expected to feature in six of their final seven red-ball matches starting June

ESPNcricinfo staff23-May-2019India offspinner R Ashwin will join Nottinghamshire for the second half of the county season. Ashwin will replace Australia’s James Pattinson as Nottinghamshire’s overseas player at the end of June and is expected to feature in six of their final seven red-ball matches.His stint will start at home against Essex on June 30, followed by matches against Somerset and Surrey. He will miss the away fixture against Yorkshire but will return to play against Kent, Warwickshire and Surrey.”I’m really looking forward to joining up with Nottinghamshire, to playing cricket at an iconic venue like Trent Bridge and hopefully contributing to some County Championship victories,” Ashwin said. “I enjoyed my previous stint in England with Worcestershire. It’s a good, competitive standard of cricket over there and I can’t wait to get started.”ALSO READ: Ajinkya Rahane scores hundred on debut for HampshireThis will be Ashwin’s second stint in the county circuit. In 2017, he had played four matches for Worcestershire to take 20 wickets at an average of 29.15, and scored 214 runs at an average of 42.80.”We knew what we wanted to sign and that was a world-class bowler,” Nottinghamshire director of cricket, Mick Newell said. “Whether that was a fast or a slow bowler, we were prepared to look at all options.”As it happens, we’ve signed a very good spinner, a very experienced spinner and one we hope can contribute with the bat as well. We’ve seen world-class slow bowlers have a huge match-winning effect in county cricket over many years. Ravi certainly has that potential – and we’re very much looking forward to welcoming him to the squad and letting him loose on our opposition.”Ashwin will be the second Indian to play county cricket this season. Ajinkya Rahane had signed for Hampshire earlier and started his season with a century on Wednesday, against the team Ashwin has signed for.

Chasing Lions’ lofty score, Smuts played a virtual lone hand with a boundary-laden century that took his team to within touching distance of victory

The Report by Liam Brickhill05-May-2019Both captains scored hundreds, but JJ Smuts’ 121 off 60 was not enough to better Temba Bavuma’s 104 off 63 and the Lions won the final of the CSA T20 Challenge by 11 runs at the Wanderers.Chasing Lions’ lofty 203 for 4, Smuts played a virtual lone hand with a boundary-laden century that took his team to within touching distance of their target after they had been down and out at 161 for 8 with 18 balls remaining. But Smuts would not be stopped, storming to a 51-ball hundred in the 18th over – beating his own record of 54 deliveries for the fastest T20 hundred by a Warriors batsman.With only No. 11 Sithembile Langa for company going into the penultimate over with 34 needed from 12 balls, Smuts turned down three singles in a row and then smashed 16 off the next four – including a no-ball above waist height that was lifted cleanly over the leg side for six. That left Warriors needing an improbable 18 from the last over, bowled by Migael Pretorius, but when Smuts cracked the first ball over long-on for his seventh six, Warriors might have dared to dream.But Smuts top-edged the next delivery, and though Nono Pongolo and Reeza Hendricks collided in the outfield while trying to take the catch, Pongolo was able to hang on, bringing a heart-stopping finale to an end. Pongolo’s catch under pressure ensured that Lions secured their second trophy of the season, having also won the 4-Day Franchise Series in similarly nail-biting fashion in January.It meant that Smuts’ century was upstaged by Bavuma’s maiden century in T20s that set up what was ultimately a winning total. Bavuma’s efforts were ably backed up by Rassie van der Dussen, who contributed 73 runs off 41 balls to a record 165-run third wicket stand that set up Lions’ innings after they were put in to bat by Warriors and slipped to 30 for 2.Van der Dussen’s knock, which included three fours and five massive sixes, continued his trend of vital runs in T20 tournament finals. He also scored 59 not out to guide Jozi Stars to victory in the inaugural Mzansi Super League last year and contributed a vital, unbeaten 44 in the final of the Global T20 Canada last year.Smuts’ and van der Dussen’s partnership beat the long-standing record of 154 held by Henry Davids and Benji Hector for Cape Cobras against Eagles in Kimberley in 2006-07. It was also the second-highest stand for any wicket in the franchise T20 tournament, with the pair especially brutal on Langa, thrashing him for 69 in four overs, another competition record and one that surpassed the 0 for 57 by Junior Dala for Titans against Knights in 2016-17.Set a massive task in chasing down the second-highest total of the tournament on a late-season track, Warriors looked like they were going to roll over even before the chase could get going as the outstanding left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin, one of the stars of the competition and its leading wicket-taker, ripped through their top order.He was well supported by Pretorius as the match appeared to be headed for an early finish. Smuts finally found some support from Onke Nyaku, who contributed 27, as they added 73 for the sixth wicket to get the score to 129.Although there was not much support from there, Smuts took the game till the last over, aided by that expensive 16-run penultimate over from Lizaad Williams. But Pretorius enticed the vital false stroke with just 12 needed and Pongolo held on to the skier from the key batsmen to end Smuts’ valiant knock and send Lions into delirium.

Almost 30 years ago, a beloved Colombian star was brutally killed in his hometown – this is his story

The story of Andres Escobar is perhaps one of the most tragic that soccer has ever witnessed. A star defender for the Colombia national team and Medellin giants Atletico Nacional, he was just 27 years old when he was gunned down in his homeland after the 1994 World Cup in the United States.

Escobar was blamed for his country's group-stage elimination. It was his own goal in the first half of their 2-1 loss to the U.S. in their second game that gave the South Americans an insurmountable challenge to stay in the competition, despite beating Switzerland in their third match.

Less than a week after their exit, Escobar was killed outside of a nightclub in Medellin. The man who was subsequently arrested for and admitted to the murder was Humberto Castro Munoz, a bodyguard and driver for two notorious drug traffickers in the large Colombian city in what was yet another collision between Colombian football and the cocaine business. The two worlds had essentially merged together as drug cartels became heavily involved, and the sport was ravaged with corruption. Even Atletico Nacional were at one point funded by world-famous drug baron Pablo Escobar.

While the mix between narcotraffickers and football had resulted in many deaths, the assassination of Escobar was one that shook the world, and it is still not truly known why, exactly, the centerback was murdered.

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  Making Medellin proud

  Escobar was born and raised in a middle-class family in Medellin. He stood out as a talented player in school soccer teams and eventually started to prioritise the sport over his studies, following his older brother, Santiago, into the professional game. Initially playing as a defensive midfielder, he was convinced by famous local coach Carlos 'Piscis' Restrepo to instead become a central defender so as to make better use of his height, strength in the air and confidence on the ball.

  Before turning 18, Escobar signed for Atletico Nacional, where his brother already played. It took some time for the youngster to make his debut, though, and even longer to secure a regular place in the starting lineup. He eventually had a bit of luck, however, as the regular left-sided centerback, Francisco Maturana, got into an argument with the team's assistant manager and was soon banished. Shortly after turning 20 years old, Escobar was trusted to replace him permanently.

  He then had even more luck, as Atletico coach Maturana also happened to be the national-team manager and, in March 1988, gave Escobar his senior debut for Colombia in a 3-0 win against Canada. Maturana immediately made the defender a regular starter alongside legends like Rene Higuita and Carlos Valderrama, and it didn't take long for Escobar to become a household name in the South American nation.

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• Hero for club and country

  Escobar's lack of experience and his youth sparked some concerns amid his rise to mainstay in the Colombia squad, despite his capable performances against Canada, the U.S. and Scotland. It was in a game against England that he truly announced himself, though, as he got on the end of Alexis Garcia's corner kick to head in a goal, securing a 1-1 draw against the likes of Bryan Robson, Gary Lineker and John Barnes. "I went to look for the header because I had confidence in myself and because we were at a disadvantage," he said.

  The following year was a monumental one for Atletico Nacional and Escobar. At the time, Colombian drug lords were akin to today's American billionaire and Middle East royal families as they took control of clubs and ran them as their own playthings. Pablo Escobar's revolutionising of the Medellin team was well underway, while Cali cartel leader Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela oversaw America de Cali.

  They invested in training facilities and in new players, usually using financial tricks to inflate costs so that they could launder their money. Corruption soon plagued the game, too, culminating in the murder of an official after he refereed a match between teams run by Orejuela and Pablo Escobar.

  Atletico Nacional reaped the benefits on the field, though, and in 1989, Andres Escobar helped lead them to their first ever Copa Libertadores success. The centerback played in every single game and even scored the late winner as they beat Deportivo Quito 2-1. The Colombian team beat the likes of Racing Club and Millonarios on their way to the final, where they overcame a 2-0 deficit from the first leg against Olimpia to see off the Paraguayan team on penalties. No Colombian team had ever won the competition before.

  They also went on to beat Mexican side UNAM 6-1 on aggregate in the Copa Interamericana – a two-legged tie between the Copa Libertadores and CONCACAF Champions' Cup winners – and were runners up in the Intercontinental Cup, losing 1-0 to an AC Milan team consisting of Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Frank Rijkaard, Carlo Ancelotti and Marco van Basten.

  Atletico were making a name for themselves, and as a trusted centerback at the age of 22, Escobar's stock was rising, too.

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  World Cup woe

  After his 1989 success, Escobar was lured to Europe, joining Swiss side Young Boys. Despite convincing his brother to join him, his venture in Bern did not go well as he failed to adapt.

  "We had a transparent relationship and that's why when he told me to stop playing in Colombia to accompany him to Switzerland, where he signed for Young Boys, I didn't hesitate," Santiago Escobar recalled. "We lived there for six months, during which we shared and learned together. That marked me and today I remember it with a mixture of joy and sadness."

  After a few months, Escobar returned to his homeland, where he won the Colombian top-flight in 1991 and was ever-present as the national team competed in the Copa America that year.

  The defender suffered a horrible knee injury, however, and missed the 1993 Copa America – where Colombia finished third – as well as the entire 1994 World Cup qualifying campaign, including a famous 5-0 victory against Argentina. He was, however, back for the start of 1994 and was immediately returned to the lineup as Colombia went on a seven-game unbeaten run in the build-up to the summer tournament in the U.S.

  Escobar's first World Cup experience had gone well – he played every game as Colombia made it to the last 16 in Italy in 1990 – and there was plenty of excitement around La Tricolor's camp. Those hopes took a bit of a blow, however, when they lost 3-1 to Romania in their opening game, but the team could recover given U.S. men's national team drew with Switzerland. A win against the tournament hosts and a strong showing against the Swiss would still see Colombia through.

  Catastrophe struck in the first half against the Stars and Stripes, though, when John Harkes' cross flew into the Colombia box. Escobar stretched out a leg to block it, but it trickled into the goal and the South Americans were trailing. Early in the second half, Earnie Stewart doubled the USMNT's lead and it was all over.

  Colombia never truly gave up and managed a stoppage-time consolation goal through Adolfo Valencia, and that spirit was on show again when they met Switzerland and managed a 2-0 win, but the damage had been done and they were soon on their way home.

• Senseless slaying

  "Life does not end here," Escobar told reporters hours after the defeat to the U.S. He wrote an article for under the same title, writing: "We must be gallant in victory, but much more so in defeat… But please, let the respect remain… A big hug for everyone and to tell them that it was a phenomenal, rare opportunity and experience that I had never felt in my life. See you soon, because life doesn't end here."

  Escobar had a horrid time after the own goal, naturally. He had trouble sleeping and could have gone to meet his brother's family in Miami for a holiday to recover from the trauma, or accepted an offer to stay on as part of a Colombian television station's coverage of the tournament. Instead, he opted to go home immediately, telling his sister, Maria Ester: "I want to go to Colombia and show my face."

  Friends said he obviously wanted to be alone, but also felt the need to talk about the incident and be open with the Tricolor fans. "When Andres returned from the United States, he was sad, as expected, but also optimistic because he knew that he had not committed any crime by scoring the own goal," childhood friend Juan Jairo Galeano said. "In fact, he was calm and looked strong, because he was a person of great character."

  Just days after his return to Medellin, Escobar visited a club with Galeano and other friends. Sitting at another table were drug traffickers David and Santiago Gallon.

  Jesus Albeiro Yepes, the prosecutor in charge of the case, put it: "Andres was with Juan Jairo Galeano and two friends at the nightclub. From the table of Pedro and Santiago Gallon, who were with a group of friends, they began to shout: 'Own goal, Andres, own goal.' They provoked him again and again. He asked for respect and walked away. Andres was uncomfortable all night. When he left the place, already in his car, he realised that those who bothered him were in the parking lot and entered there."

  Escobar is said to have gone to his car when the three men confronted him. He said the own goal had been an innocent mistake, but one of the men pulled out a gun and fired six times. "Goal!" it was claimed he shouted with every blast. The three men fled and Escobar bled out before dying in hospital less than an hour later.

Orlando City star Duncan McGuire opened up on his failed move to Blackburn Rovers as he admitted it would be difficult to return to the club.

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• McGuire unsure of Blackburn move
• Orlando City star frustrated by fiasco
• Striker has five goals in 2024

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  McGuire was all set to join Blackburn in a January move, but the deal fell apart in the final moments due to an "administration error". When filing the paperwork to complete the deal, Blackburn hit "save" and not "submit" on the documentation, causing them to miss the deadline despite both clubs announcing the completed deal.

  Blackburn filed an appeal to the EFL Board of Directors in an attempt to push the deal across, but that appeal was ultimately denied. As a result, McGuire returned to Orlando City, having seen a dream move to England fall apart through no fault of his own.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  McGuire's move came after a breakout rookie campaign that saw him score 13 goals in his first professional season. He's scored five goals already this campaign in just 697 minutes.

  Reports out of England have indicated that Blackburn are hoping to return for McGuire this summer, as the club remains interested in acquiring his services. The club will remain in the Championship next season after finishing 19th in the league.

  McGuire, meanwhile, isn't fully interested in a move, as he told GOAL's Studs Up show that he would need convincing after this winter's fiasco.

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  WHAT MCGUIRE SAID

  "It's tough to say," McGuire told GOAL."That was a pretty bad mistake, a pretty bad mistake by them. I'd be open to maybe having a conversation but it would have to be a lot to get me to go back there. On the plane ride back, I just felt like my tail was between my legs. I asked my agent how often this happens and he was like 'This doesn't happen'.

  "I didn't burn bridges with my teammates or have it be like 'Oh you wanted to leave and now you're back'. When I got back, it was like I never left."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MCGUIRE?

  The striker will continue on with Orlando City, with the Lions set to face Inter Miami on Wednesday night. McGuire is also set to be a key figure for the U.S. U-23 men's national team later this summer as he's expected to be in the mix to start at the Olympics.

Australian opener knows that run in county cricket could push his Test case – but he will have to wait a little longer for his chance

Paul Edwards at Taunton05-Apr-2019″Do you want a detailed analysis of the day’s play?” Matt Renshaw may have spent little of his adult life in England but he has a pleasing line in dry humour, and such an approach is well suited to the life of a county cricketer in an English spring. Hoping for the best but relying on nowt remains a sensible way of dealing with a climate that offers 69F temperatures in February and snow in early April.But it is when umpires inspect conditions during a heavy shower that one knows the day’s end is near. No amount of optimism can prevail against the rain that fell on Taunton during Friday morning. The wicket and square were fully covered by the scheduled start of play and the decision of umpires Rob Bailey and Richard Illingworth to abandon play in the early afternoon was, in its way, merciful.Thus Renshaw’s first day as a Kent cricketer ended with him doing little more than eating lunch. It was the gentlest of starts to a season that may yet end with him playing in the Ashes. And it was also in particular contrast to his experience a year ago when he decorated the first few hours of Somerset’s competitive season with a century against Worcestershire. That was the first of three hundreds Renshaw was to make in six Championship matches but now he is back sporting Kent’s colours and keen as ever to face all that English pitches and Division One seamers can throw at him.”I’ve never played against a side I’ve previously played for and it’s a bit weird coming back here, to a small town where I know so many people,” he said. “But I thought it would be really good to have a couple of months over here in April and May when it’s really testing for us batters. English county cricket is great. It’s a different challenge to what we have in Australia and it’s excellent to understand the differences between county and Sheffield Shield cricket.”The speed at which Renshaw understood such matters a year ago put him in the fast stream among current overseas cricketers. His 513 runs at an average of 51.3, plus his wholehearted commitment to his county’s fortunes, made him an attractive proposition for Kent’s officials when they were casting around for a batsman who could plug the holes created by the absence of both Joe Denly and Sam Billings.”I just tried to keep it really simple last year,” he said. “It was seaming about but I really enjoyed it and I think that’s why I scored some runs. I played against Kent in the Royal London Cup but I gave my new team a few tips about the younger Somerset batsmen at the analysis meeting this week.”But for all that the Ashes are nearly a third of the year away Renshaw has to field questions about the series which begins at Edgbaston on August 1. It is over a year since he last played a Test match but he knows runs this spring will strengthen the argument he should be recalled.”The Ashes is big but it’s still probably four months away,” he said. “I couldn’t tell you exactly how long but it feels like ages. I’ve got a few mates who have already booked tickets but I’m trying not to think about it too much. Obviously there is that carrot dangling in the distance but I know that I bat well when I’m relaxed and not worrying about the next ball. If I try too hard then I probably won’t be on that plane.”It’ll come up quick and if I’m there, I’m there. If I’m not, I may try and get back to Kent depending on what they want. I’m really looking forward to playing for the county for a couple of months because Canterbury is a really nice place to play your cricket.”

England’s Test team will have a new batting coach, with Graham Thorpe favourite for the role

George Dobell in St Kitts08-Mar-2019
Mark Ramprakash has been axed from England’s coaching set-up in the build-up to this summer’s Ashes, after England’s 2-1 Test series defeat against West Indies.Ramprakash, who was out of contract in October, has been one of the ECB’s two lead batting coaches since 2014 and, latterly, has had responsibility for the Test side. That role has now effectively ended six months early.”I’ve just been informed that I will not be involved in the Ashes series,” Ramprakash announced via his Twitter feed. “It’s been a huge privilege to support the team over the last 5 years. I’d like to wish all the staff & players the very best of luck for the future.”While the England camp did not confirm his replacement, it was likely that Graham Thorpe – the ECB’s lead batting coach – will take on the added responsibility. In recent times, Thorpe has toured with England’s white-ball side but he has let it be known that he is prepared to tour more often and would like to be considered for the head coach role once Trevor Bayliss leaves after the Ashes.The news of Ramprakash’s departure was not unexpected. England’s batting has remained fragile and prone to collapse and, while Ramprakash has spent many hours in the nets hurling balls at batsmen with the dog-stick, there has been limited evidence of improvement.He may, however, be somewhat unfortunate. With the emphasis at the England level largely on building confidence and batting with freedom, Ramprakash may feel he has been prevented from making the technical interventions with players he would have wanted to.The news continues the restructuring of the coaching staff since the appointment of Ashley Giles as managing director of England’s men’s cricket and perhaps underlines how ruthless Giles will be when he feels it necessary.Paul Farbrace leaves his role as assistant coach at the conclusion of the Caribbean tour on Sunday – he had hoped, in an ideal world, to stay on until the end of the World Cup – with Giles announcing that Bayliss would be supported by three coaches – Paul Collingwood, Chris Silverwood and Thorpe – until the end of that tournament. It is likely that structure will continue into the Ashes and once the new head coach is appointed.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland gave a brutal response to Roy Keane after smashing in four goals against Wolves.

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• Haaland savagely responded to Keane criticism
• Norwegian scored four goals against Wolves
• On course to win another Golden Boot

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Norwegian had been on the end of stinging criticism within the last few weeks from the former Manchester United captain, who famously injured his father Alfe-Inge in 2001 during a derby. But Haaland was back to his brutal best against Wolves, his haul taking his tally for the season to 25 Premier League goals.

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• WHAT HAALAND SAID

  "I really don't care about that man," Haaland told when asked about Keane's continued criticism of the City and Norway superstar despite his impressive goal tally over the course of the season.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Keane had compared Haaland's build-up play to that of a League Two striker after a quiet display against Arsenal. He then joked that he was more like a Championship striker after he scored against Nottingham Forest last week. City boss Pep Guardiola admitted that Haaland had needed time to recover from the foot injury he sustained in December due to his height but said he was delighted with his performance against Wolves.

  The manager said: "He was injured, an important one, he's so tall and you need time, he's not like Julian [Alvarez] or Phil [Foden] who with nothing can be ready. The penalties are not easy but the second and the fourth was unbelievable. Really pleased for him."

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Haaland became only the third Premier League striker to score two first-half hat-tricks, joining Michael Owen and Andrew Cole.

Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney was spotted giving an emotional speech as the club's successful League Two campaign came to an end.

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• Wrexham secured promotion to League One
• McElhenney has invested heavily alongside Ryan Reynolds
• Beat champions Stockport on final day

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 47-year-old actor – who took over the club alongside Hollywood co-star Reynolds – was present at Wrexham's win over Stockport on the final day of the League Two season. McElhenney was captured on video delivering a speech expressing his gratitude for everyone's hard work this year before sinking a shot of whiskey with a Red Dragons scarf wrapped around his neck.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  They may not have finished in first place, but Wrexham proved they have quality in abundance compared to the other teams in the fourth division. Phil Parkinson's side had a 10-point cushion to MK Dons in the first play-off spot and you wouldn't bet against them to compete in a tougher division next term.

• WHAT ROB MCELHENNEY SAID

  McElhenney's emotional moment was captured on video and posted to Instagram. Addressing those he had watched the game with, he said: "Every single person here plays and has played a role in this club. Going from the National League to League One in three years is just absolutely incredible. Everybody here at the club puts in maximum effort shift after shift. Nick Grad is here, he works at FX and is a very important part of the process. So to everybody, cheers!"

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

  Wrexham have achieved back-to-back promotions and will play in League One for the first time since 2005. Their 15-year absence from the EFL is but a distant memory and their 15 wins in the 2023-24 campaign was only bettered by champions Stockport. Next season, the Dragons will have trips to Reading, Blackpool and Huddersfield to look forward to as they take their next step under their famous owners.