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With a depleted squad, on a spinning pitch, they chased 395 with two debutants the heroes

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Feb-2021
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They were without six first-choice players
Ten West Indies cricketers opted not to travel to Bangladesh amid Covid-19 concerns, including their Test captain Jason Holder, and vice-captain Roston Chase. Shai Hope, Darren Bravo and Shamarh Brooks, all likely to have made the XI, also opted out of the tour, as did first-choice keeper Shane Dowrich, for personal reasons. Shimron Hetmyer, who could have made the Test team for the first time since 2019 as a replacement batsman, also missed out.They fielded three debutants
All the absentees meant West Indies had to field three debutants in the first Test in Bangladesh: Shayne Moseley, Nkrumah Bonner, and Kyle Mayers, who batted from No.3 to No.5. Their wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva was playing just his second Test. Kraigg Brathwaite took over from Holder as captain.West Indies had lost 0-2 on their previous tour to Bangladesh
Even with a full-strength side, West Indies would have been underdogs in Bangladesh, having lost both Tests there on their 2018 tour. They had a near full-strength squad for that series, but their batsmen struggled on the turning tracks, only once getting a total of more than 250.They had been swept in the ODI series of this tour
Those vulnerabilities against spin were apparent on this tour as well, as West Indies’ ODI batting line-up crumbled for scores of 122, 148 and 177 in the three-match series. They could not get to 300 in either innings of the tour match before the Tests, and when they were bowled out for 259 in the first innings of the first Test, it looked like it would be another long series for their batsmen.The heroes of the win were two debutants
Left 395 to chase on a fourth and fifth-day pitch, West Indies would have had most of their hopes pinned on their captain Brathwaite, and more experienced batsmen, John Campbell and Jermaine Blackwood. Instead, the two heroes were debutants – Mayers, who scored an incredible 210 not out, and Bonner, who got 86; the pair put together 216 for the fourth wicket. Mayers is 28 and Bonner 32 – both have been on the first-class scene for a while, and when finally given the opportunity, produced memorable knocks.

Using his time away from competitive cricket to fine-tune his skills and bowling action, the left-arm quick aims to bounce back in 2022

Deivarayan Muthu07-Feb-2022India left-arm seamer T Natarajan, who missed a substantial chunk of playing time in 2021 because of injury and Covid, aims to bounce back in 2022 as the “Natarajan of the old”. Part of that process, Natarajan told ESPNcricinfo recently, involves him working on swinging the white ball more in his opening spells in T20 cricket.As far as return to competitive cricket is concerned, Natarajan is likely to feature in the second round of the Ranji Trophy where he will turn up for Tamil Nadu later this month. However, before that, Natarajan’s first test will come during the 2022 IPL auction, which will take place in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13. Natarajan is part of set no. 5 comprising specialist fast bowlers.That Natarajan remains confident he will get a good deal can be gauged from his base price, which the 30-year-old has listed at INR 1 crore. In 2018, at the last IPL mega auction, Natarajan was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for INR 40 lakhs when he was working his way back from an elbow injury. That was a year after Kings XI Punjab, prompted by their then mentor Virender Sehwag, had shelled out INR 3 crore to snap up the then uncapped Natarajan. Since then Natarajan has taken big strides, including playing for India in all three formats on India’s tour of Australia in 2020-21.Related

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Natarajan is not fussed about his IPL price as long as he gets back to the field. “I’m not thinking too much about it [the auction],” Natarajan said. “IPL, another T20 World Cup – there are talks about 2022 being a big year – but I just want to focus on my strengths and keep working hard. If I do that, the rest of the things will fall in place. I’m coming back after a long break, so [nervousness will be there]. I’ll be lying if I say I’m not nervous.”I’ve done well in the IPL and for India before, so people will expect strong performances from me. Once I play one or two matches, I will hit my rhythm and will be more clear with my plans. I’m feeling refreshed now and just want to keep doing whatever has worked for me in the past – focusing on my yorkers and cutters. I want to come back as the old Natarajan.”Since his fairy-tale tour of Australia, Natarajan has spent more time on the sidelines than on the field. His knee injury flared up during the first leg of the IPL 2021, cutting his stint short, and then when he was ready to return to action for the UAE leg, he tested positive for Covid-19.More recently, Natarajan was part of the Tamil Nadu side that successfully defended the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 title, but his body struggled to cope with the match-intensity following those bouts of knee issues and Covid-19. As a result, he missed the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy in December.Natarajan underwent rehab for around five months at the NCA in Bengaluru and later trained in Chennai and his hometown Chinnappampatti, near Salem, where he is currently setting up a new cricket ground. He recalls that the rehab was monotonous but he learnt to embrace it.”It was boring to start with,” Natarajan said. “You will have to keep doing the same things again and again, but you need to do it properly to become fit again. I was in Bangalore for around five months at the NCA. During the weekends, I used to go back home to Salem and spend time with the family.”Apart from talking to my mentor Jayaprakash (brother), I used to call up Washy (Washington Sundar), Rajinikanth (trainer) and Shyam Sundar (Sunrisers Hyderabad physio) during the recovery phase. I had the confidence and motivation from my Jayaprakash. He always frees up my mind. Motivational words have always inspired me from childhood. The major learning was that cricket – and life – has both ups and downs and you’ll have to learn to accept it.”‘Looking to swing the white ball more’
Natarajan used his time away from competitive cricket to fine-tune his skills and bowling action, with help from Sreenath Aravind, the former Karnataka seamer who is now part of the state team’s coaching staff.T Natarajan made his debut in all three formats during India’s tour of Australia in 2020-21•Getty Images”I’m looking to swing the new ball more in white-ball cricket; sometimes in the past I haven’t got much swing under pressure in big matches,” Natarajan said. “I’m looking to have more control over the legcutter and have been in touch with Sreenath Aravind. He’s a superb red-ball bowler, through [R] Prasanna (Tamil Nadu assistant coach) I have spoken to him previously too.”During the last Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament, I wasn’t in a good rhythm. I realised something was wrong and I passed my videos to him. He spotted that I was falling over in my action – the loading and landing was unstable – and I have rectified it since. His inputs have been very helpful for me.”Natarajan’s protegees part of accelerated auction
That Natarajan will keenly follow this IPL auction is also because two of his protegees G Periyaswamy and V Gowtham will be up for bidding. Periyaswamy, a right-arm seamer with a sling-arm action, has been among the highest wicket-takers in the last two TNPL seasons and was a net bowler for Sunrisers in the second leg of IPL 2021 in the UAE. Gowtham, a left-arm seamer, made his TNPL debut last year and has also bowled at the Chennai Super Kings nets. Gowtham attended trials at Mumbai Indians last month and Periyaswamy at Punjab Kings.”My dream was always to start an academy in my village, nurture talent and encourage them to play on the big stage,” Natarajan said. “I’m very proud and pleased to see their progress. I’ve opened the bowling with Periyaswamy for Tamil Nadu and he has been very impressive at the TNPL. Gowtham often reminds me of myself. He has a good yorker and will definitely go to the next level in the next couple of years. You never know, they could become my opponents in the IPL in the future .”

The triple century was scored with speed and vitality, supreme fitness, and outstanding concentration

Daniel Brettig in Adelaide30-Nov-2019How remarkable was David Warner’s 335 not out, the highest Test score at Adelaide Oval, and the second-highest score ever by an Australian in Test cricket?It was an innings big enough to take him past the iconic 334s of Sir Donald Bradman, whose name adorns the pavilion into which he walked at its end, and Mark Taylor, who applauded warmly from a radio commentary box at the achievement of his fellow left-handed opening batsman.It was scored with speed and vitality, supreme fitness, and outstanding concentration in conditions that, while not unpleasant for batting, were no picnic. Unpredictable enough that a batsman as well set as Marnus Labuschagne, on 162, was clean bowled between bat and pad, and helpful enough for Australia’s pacemen that Pakistan would slide to 6 for 96 by the close.Most remarkable, though, is the fact that this innings took place at all.ALSO READ: David Warner becomes seventh Australian in triple-ton clubOne of Justin Langer’s first – of innumerable – meetings after his appointment as Australian coach in May last year had a simple, vital premise: to hear all that he could hear about the Newlands scandal, and to ponder how Warner might be readmitted to the Australian team.Steven Smith and Cameron Bancroft were not central subjects of this discussion, for there was little doubt that they would return to the fold once eligible. Warner, as has been the case so often in his career, was the wildcard, after he had been isolated by Cricket Australia as the figure on whom most blame was publicly placed. Fair or not, this focus had made the journey back so much harder, and the public attacks on Warner so much more intense.With time, and perspective, views of Warner have cooled from that pitch of desperation and assumption. Whatever the rights and wrongs of Cape Town, he had so often acquiesced to the Australian team’s demands in the past; he had always batted for team first; he was still one of the most gifted opening batsmen Australia have ever had. So he started on the road to selection and acceptance, keeping quiet when Smith and Bancroft made far more noise in exile, and wearing the fact that, in contrast to the other two, he was banned for life from any leadership role.It was around March 2019 that Warner began seriously preparing for his international return, having observed a summer in which it was patently obvious that Australian cricket was not so chock full of quality batsmen that it could discard him.ESPNcricinfo LtdHe was to arrive via an IPL in which he hammered the world’s best T20 bowlers and looked very much like his old self, only hungrier and leaner. Quite a return to major cricket, this was also something of a false dawn: Warner was unable to dominate the World Cup, though he scored plenty of runs at a more sedate tempo, and he was unable to have any impact at all on the Ashes, repeatedly confounded by Stuart Broad even as Smith turned in the finest series of his career.Worries and questions swirled, not exactly about Warner’s place in the Australian team, but about where his story might go next. Sponsors and broadcasters who had rushed back to Smith still kept their distance; the selection chairman Trevor Hohns openly queried how he might fare when asked questions from around the wicket by other international bowlers; journalists still wondered whether Warner might be received by more boos than cheers on home soil.Adelaide, as it happens, provided the first flash of promise for Warner this summer, as he hustled his way to a first-up century in a T20I against Sri Lanka. The confidence derived from this innings gradually built into a powerful wave of poise and performance as he recalled the sort of dominance he had previously enjoyed on home shores. It was building, steadily, towards something, somewhere. Unfortunately for Pakistan, Warner found the return visit to Adelaide Oval to be to his liking.Moment of history: David Warner brings up his triple century•Getty Images and Cricket AustraliaLike most innings of this magnitude, Warner’s had a background (how he got there) and a foreground (how he did it). The foreground at Adelaide Oval was the way in which he called, ran, backed up and bullied Pakistan’s fielders, unrelentingly. Daring them to run him out, and ultimately defeating their will to do so. Having seen off the early attempts of Mohammad Abbas and Shaheen Afridi to threaten him in similar areas to Broad, Warner grew progressively more confident and pugilistic in his pursuit of boundaries, yet he still scored only 162 of 335 runs by reaching or clearing the rope. Instead, he was all fitness and engine, batting as ironman race.And what could be more fitting than that, given the long and productive relationship with his wife Candice, a former ironwoman. The moment Warner started preparing for an innings of this kind dates back to the very first year of their union. In 2013, not too long after they got together, Warner was hitting balls with his longtime mentor Trent Woodhill.Tired and ready for a break after an hour, Warner and Woodhill started packing up, only to be asked by Candice why the session had been so short. No-one taught Warner more about the value of physical stamina and the diligence required to achieve it than Candice did, and there was every indication that, even in the darkest moments of 2018, this quality helped to keep Langer convinced that he should return to the national team.”I love the way he plays his cricket,” Langer had said back in May 2018. “The way he runs between the wickets, the way he fields, the way he bats – they’re things that for the less-trained eye, you might not respect as much. Has he got areas to get better at? Yep … we’ve all got areas we can get better at.”So it was entirely fitting that Candice would be in the crowd of 33,943 at Adelaide Oval to witness Warner march off towards the Sir Donald Bradman Pavilion with a higher Test score than its namesake, and with every indication that he could have batted long enough to double his 335 not out had Australia not been pressing for victory against an uncertain weather forecast.Warner was fresh enough, in fact, to walk straight back out after a ten-minute changeover with team-mates to take the first catch of Pakistan’s innings, ahead of a passage that underlined that this pitch was far from placid. He had played a remarkable innings all right, remarkable for its existence as much as for its conception.

For Kohli, it was the second innings defeat as captain, and also the second loss suffered after winning the toss

Sampath Bandarupalli28-Aug-202127 – Test wins as captain for Joe Root. He is now England’s most successful captain in Test cricket, surpassing Michael Vaughan’s 26 wins.17 – Number of home Test wins for Root as skipper, only behind Andrew Strauss’ 19.63 – Runs added by India after the fall of the fourth wicket in this match (over two innings), the second-lowest for them when they have batted twice. Their poorest effort came against Australia in 2017 in Pune, when they added just 41 runs.120 – The total out of India’s 356-run match aggregate that came after the first three wickets had gone down. It is the fifth-lowest for them overall, and the lowest since 1959.3.5 – False shots per wicket by India on the fourth day in Leeds. India lost their last eight wickets on Saturday while playing just 28 false shots. Contrastingly, they lost only two wickets on the third day despite playing 88 false shots. England needed 71 false strokes from the Indian batters to bowl them out for 78 in the first innings.ESPNcricinfo Ltd400 – Wickets for James Anderson in Test matches in England. He is only the second player to bag 400 or more Test wickets in one country after Muthiah Muralidaran (493 in Sri Lanka). The Leeds Test match was his 94th on home soil, the joint-most by anyone in a country, alongside Sachin Tendulkar in India.2 – Innings defeats for India in 64 Tests under Virat Kohli. The previous one came in 2018, also against England at Lord’s, by an innings and 159 runs. The defeat in Leeds is also the second time India have lost a Test where Kohli won the toss. The other such instance was against Australia in 2020 in Adelaide, where they were 36 all out in the second innings.6 – Test matches at home without a win for England before defeating India in Leeds. Their last home win came against Pakistan at Old Trafford last year. It was England’s longest winless streak in Tests at home since eight between 1989 and 1990. The innings win in Leeds was also England’s first win in eight Tests since defeating India in February.

MatériaMais Notícias

da imperador bet： Estêvão, joia da base do Palmeiras de apenas 16 anos, é mais um jovem do Verdão cobiçado por gigantes da Europa. Andre Cury, empresário do jogador, revelou que altas propostas já foram feitas pelo atacante e ainda o comparou a Messi, afirmando que há características em comum entre o craque argentino e a joia alviverde.

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da fezbet： + O erro que o Palmeiras não pode repetir se quiser passar pelo Atlético-MG

– Sim (pode sair), já há ofertas. Muito alto, aliás, mas não estamos falando desse assunto porque ele ainda é muito jovem. Ele tem 16 anos, categoria 2007. Acho que depois do Mundial Sub-17 ele vai fechar com alguém. Talvez Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City… com um dos grandes se fará (uma negociação). Ele vai ser um grande jogador – disse Andre Cury, em entrevista ao diário AS, da Espanha.

– Ele é muito parecido com Leo (Messi). Ele tem força nas bolas paradas, também é canhoto. É muito parecido. Fisicamente não porque é mais alto, é negro, mas há coisas que lembram o Messi.

continua após a publicidade

O jovem, apelidado de “Messinho”, atua pelo time sub-20 e assinou o seu primeiro contrato profissional com o Verdão em abril, quando completou 16 anos. O agente revelou que Estêvão chegou a ser oferecido ao Atlético de Madrid-ESP, mas a negociação pelo o que ele chamou de “Bola de Ouro” não avançou.

– Nesse jogo que essa pessoa foi, o Estevão jogava na categoria dele, no sub-15, mas não podia jogar na categoria dele porque fez quatro gols, três bolas acertaram a trave… Com esse jogo essa pessoa ficou maluca, mas desapareceu. Ele voltou para Madrid e nunca mais ligou. O que vou fazer? Não vou ligar de novo para ser recusado. Ofereci a Bola de Ouro ao Atlético de Madrid e eles me ignoraram. Eles vão lá, olham, gostam e nada – concluiu o empresário.

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+ João Martins recebe punição do STJD por fala sobre o ‘sistema’ e vai desfalcar o Palmeiras

Estêvão está no Palmeiras desde 2021. O atacante foi integrado à equipe sub-17 com apenas 15 anos e acabou se destacando. Com isso, foi promovido para o sub-20, categoria em que conquistou a Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior, a Copinha, de 2023. O seu contrato profissional tem vínculo de três anos.

Tudo sobre

Palmeiras

Manchester City may have one eye on the Club World Cup this summer, though they are refusing to relent in their pursuit of additions and could now be in a position to land one of PSG’s leading stars.

Man City's changing dynamics this summer

The end of a trophyless campaign for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City appears to have only fueled his desire to ensure his side doesn’t end up empty-handed next time out.

Fortunately, the Club World Cup will offer a quickfire chance to atone for a year without silverware alongside a bounty of nearly £100 million for the eventual winners of the competition.

Of course, Manchester City are hardly struggling for cash. Still, a sizeable extra windfall would allow more room for manoeuvre in their quest to rejuvenate a squad that will see some experienced figures depart over the summer.

Kevin De Bruyne appears to be on his way to Napoli and bows out as possibly the Citizens’ greatest ever player, leaving a void to be filled not only in the engine room but in terms of leadership.

Jack Grealish could be on his way to Tottenham Hotspur after becoming a spare part. Although his influence has waned in recent times, there is no doubt that his experience has helped to set a culture of success inside the Manchester City dressing room.

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AC Milan star Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Ait-Nouri could arrive to work under Guardiola. Nevertheless, their prospective moves don’t undermine the need for stars capable of producing match-winning moments to arrive, no matter where they may feature on the pitch.

Man City eye surprise Gianluigi Donnarumma move

According to CaughtOffside, Manchester City have made contact over a move for Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma if number one Ederson is sold this summer.

The Brazil international is attracting interest from clubs in the Saudi Pro League and could be allowed to leave for just over £25 million if appropriate offers come in.

Gianluigi Donnarumma in 2024/25 – all competitions

Appearances

40

Clean sheets

12

Goals conceded

39

On the other hand, former AC Milan star Donnarumma is in the middle of a contract wrangle with Paris Saint-Germain and is also being tracked by Arsenal, Manchester United, Inter Milan and Juventus, with City also registering their interest.

Intriguingly, he has been labelled a “top goalkeeper” by Guardiola back in 2017 and won’t have done himself any harm after picking up the Champions League trophy last weekend.

Speaking about his future at the French giants, Donnarumma stated: “New deal or leaving? We will see what happens… I don’t know.

‘It’s time to enjoy this magic season now. I will go on holiday and then we will see.”

From a Manchester City standpoint, that doesn’t sound like a man who has completely ruled out the prospect of playing elsewhere next term. Now, it is over to their recruitment staff to try and tempt the £205,000 per week earner to English shores.

تحدثت شبكة “ليفربول إيكو” الإنجليزية عن أداء نجم فريق ليفربول، محمد صلاح، في الوقت الحالي، وسط تعرضه للكثير من الانتقادات بسبب أدائه الضعيف ذلك الموسم رفقة كتيبة آرني سلوت.

وفقد ليفربول صدارة الدوري الإنجليزي يوم السبت الماضي بعدما خسر أمام تشيلسي، بهدفين لهدف، في الجولة السابعة على ملعب “ستامفورد بريدج”.

وقالت شبكة “ليفربول إيكو” الإنجليزية في تقرير لها:”لم تكن صيحات الاستهجان التي اُستقبل بها محمد صلاح خلال زيارته الأخيرة إلى ناديه السابق تشيلسي نهاية الأسبوع الماضي جديدة على جناح ليفربول، ولكن، ولأول مرة على الأرجح في مسيرته الحافلة مع الريدز، يواجه اللاعب المصري الآن تساؤلات حقيقية حول مكانه في التشكيلة الأساسية للفريق”.

وأضافت: “كان أداء محمد صلاح المخيب للآمال ضد تشيلسي يُعد آخر حلقة في سلسلة من العروض المخيبة له، والتي لم ترتق إلى مستوى التوقعات التي وضعها في طريقه ليصبح أفضل لاعب في إنجلترا ولاعب العام من رابطة اللاعبين المحترفين وبطل الدوري الإنجليزي الموسم الماضي”.

وواصلت: “ولكن هذا لا يعني أن محمد صلاح قد توقف عن تقديم أرقام معقولة، حيث سجل 3 وصنع 3 في 10 مباريات في مختلف المسابقات ذلك الموسم، مع العلم أنه لم يتفوق عليه في المساهمات التهديفية سوى 6 لاعبين فقط، ولكن مع التعمق والتركيز، نجد أننا أمام لاعب يعاني من أجل استعادة مستواه”.

اقرأ أيضًا | بعد إهداره هدف التعادل.. محمد صلاح يلفت الأنظار بتصرف مثير في مباراة ليفربول وتشيلسي

وأفادت: “لعل الإحصائية الأكثر إثارة للقلق خلال مباراة ليفربول وتشيلسي، هي أن محمد صلاح لم يتمكن من إحداث مراوغة ناجحة كاملة، ولم يتجاوز لاعبًا مرة واحدة، وكان صاحب أقل عدد من اللمسات بين جميع اللاعبين الذين لعبوا 90 دقيقة، حيث يبلغ معدل مراوغاته الناجحة حاليًا 12.5% ​​فقط، مقارنةً بـ 42.3% في الموسم الماضي”.

وأوضحت: “في حين قد انخفضت مقاييسه بشكل عام، حيث تراجع متوسط عدد تسديداته ولمساته في منطقة جزاء الخصم إلى النصف في الدوري الإنجليزي حتى الآن ذلك الموسم، بينما انخفض عدد مرات تقدمه بالكرة للأمام والفرص التي يصنعها، كما يحصل على عدد أقل من الركلات الحرة في المباراة الواحدة مقارنة بالموسم الماضي”.

وأشارت: “ولا يعني هذا أن ليفربول لا يركز على محمد صلاح بشكل كاف، حيث تلقى اللاعب تمريرات أكثر تطورًا بكثير من أي لاعب آخر في الدوري الإنجليزي هذا الموسم، ولكن تراجع مستواه لم يقتصر على الشهرين الماضيين فقط، ففي آخر 24 مباراة له في جميع المسابقات مع ليفربول، سجل 4 أهداف فقط من 52 تسديدة، بعيدًا عن ركلات الجزاء”.

واستكملت: “ليس من الصعب إيجاد أسباب لذلك، يأتي على رأسها رحيل ترينت ألكسند أرنولد، فقبل بداية الموسم، لعب محمد صلاح 316 مباراة من أصل 401 مباراة مع ليفربول، وكان أرنولد خلفه على الجهة اليمنى، وكان بمثابة المحور الإبداعي لفريق حصد ألقابًا مهمة بشكل منتظم، في حين شهد الموسم الحالي مشاركة كل من برادلي، فريمبونج، سوبوسلاي، واتارو إندو وجو جوميز في مركز الظهير الأيمن، ولا يزال سلوت يبحث عن لاعب أساسي في ذلك المركز”.

واسترسلت: “كما شهد خطالهجوم تجديدًا شاملًا بتكلفة باهظة، حيث انضم ألكسندر إيزاك (125 مليون جنيه إسترليني) وهوجو إيكتيكي (79 مليون جنيه إسترليني) إلى جانب لاعب الوسط المهاجم فلوريان فيرتز (116 مليون جنيه إسترليني)، هذا يعني أن الأنماط والإيقاعات المعتادة لم تعد موجودة في أسلوب لعب ليفربول حتى الآن، إذ يبحثون عن هيكل هجومي جديد”.

وأكدت: “هذا الأمر سمح لدفاعات الخصوم بالتركيز بشكل أكبر على إبطال خطورة محمد صلاح، ففي كثير من الأحيان يجد نفسه في مواجهة مدافعين أو ثلاثة دون أي منفذ واضح متاح بسهولة، مع العلم أن ذلك الجيل الجديد من اللاعبين يمثل مستقبل ليفربول، في حين يمر صلاح بمرحلة صعبة تتمثل في تسليم الراية ونقل خبراته إلى زملائه، محاولًا بناء علاقات ميدانية مع أولئك الذين سيحلون محله في نهاية المطاف، مع العلم أنه لن يُنظر إليه على أنه الرجل الرئيسي للريدز لفترة طويلة”.

واستأنفت: “كما أن هناك العامل البشري، فمثل العديد من اللاعبين المرموقين، يولي محمد صلاح أهمية كبرى للتقدير الفردي، وإن لم يكن يفضل ذلك على الجوائز الجماعية، وكان من المؤسف عدم فوزه بالكرة الذهبية الشهر الماضي نظرًا لأنها تمثل فرصته الأخيرة للتتويج بها”.

وشرحت: “إلى جانب ذلك، جاء رد فعل محمد صلاح العاطفي أمام جماهير ليفربول بعد الفوز على بورنموث، دليلًا على كيفية محاولته رفقة زملائه تجاوز وفاة ديوجو جوتا المأساوية في يوليو الماضي، وبخلاف ذلك، يجب ألا ننسى أنه رغم برنامجه التدريبي الدقيق، فإنه مع بلوغ سن 33 عامًا، بدأت سرعته ونشاطه في تراجع مستمر”.

ونوهت: “في آخر عامين من عقد من الخدمة الرائعة لـ ليفربول، يقع العبء الآن على عاتق كل من محمد صلاح وسلوت لإيجاد طريقة لمواصلة تقديم أفضل ما لديه، مع تقبل وجود تراجع تدريجي في بعض الجوانب، كما أن فترة التوقف الدولي الحالي، والتي يستطيع خلالها المصري التأهل إلى كأس العالم 2026 وكيفية تحسين ما حدث في نسخة 2018، قد تعطيه دفعة ثقة ضرورية”.

واختتمت:”في النهاية، يشير تطور محمد صلاح المستمر خلال مسيرته في أنفيلد إلى أنه لم ينتهِ بعد، مع ذلك فقد حان الوقت لنسخة أخرى من المصري، حيث لا يزال ليفربول بحاجة إليه”.

Phoenix to play Southern Brave in eliminator; Oval Invincibles head straight to Lord’s final

ECB Media15-Aug-2024Birmingham Phoenix will meet Southern Brave in The Hundred Eliminator at The Kia Oval on Saturday after a nine-wicket victory over Manchester Originals.Moeen Ali’s side came out on top in a 30-ball-per-side match at Edgbaston, earning themselves the point they needed after rain delayed the start.Phoenix chased down their target of 42 with ease, Jamie Smith depositing Fazalhaq Farooqi over the boundary twice in the first five balls to set the tone for the chase.After a quieter second five from Farooqi, Ben Duckett smashed Tom Aspinwall’s first ball for six and then hit three of his next four to the boundary as the rain teemed down in Birmingham, the umpires remaining unmoved, determined to see the game to a result.Smith (14) was caught on the cover boundary by Sikandar Raza off Scott Currie, but Duckett (22*) and Moeen (6*) knocked off the remaining seven runs required with eight balls to spare, the skipper securing the win with a six off Currie over fine-leg.Winning the toss and bowling first, Birmingham Phoenix struck early, Kiwi speedster Adam Milne removing Matthew Hurst from the second legal delivery of the match when the young Lancastrian skied a chance to Liam Livingstone at mid-on.Milne’s compatriot Tim Southee took the second set and was immediately smashed into the stands by Phil Salt. He was then sliced over short-third by Max Holden from the final ball of the powerplay as the Originals took their score to 15 for 1.At the halfway point of the innings, the Originals were 22 for 2, Salt (12) mistiming a cross-bat shot off Milne from the 15th ball of the innings to give Livingstone his second catch of the evening.Sean Abbott then accounted for Paul Walter (1), caught at deep cover, to make it 24 for 3. Holden (15) continued to swing hard, the left-hander top-edging Southee for another boundary, but his luck soon ran out when he failed to go over mid-off as Livingstone held onto a third catch.Chris Wood closed out the innings, conceding just three runs and taking the wicket of Raza, caught by Jacob Bethell at deep midwicket as Originals closed on 41 for 5, hitting just one six in their innings.Phoenix had just 42 to chase to earn a trip to South London and they did it with ease, ensuring Andrew Flintoff’s first year as Northern Superchargers Head Coach would end with a fourth-place finish.Meerkat Match Hero Milne, who took 2 for 8, said: “To come out of the shortened game and into The Hundred Eliminator is very good for us.”There was a little bit of swing and seam so it was nice to use that first up, but in these shortened games anything can happen, so [you] just mix it up.”Anytime it’s moving around off the straight it’s nice. There’s been lots said but as a bowler it’s nice to have a little bit going your way sometimes in these shorter formats, there can be flat wickets and not much movement, so it’s nice to see a bit of swing and seam occasionally.”

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City may be going through a dark time of it late, but they do still have a chance of winning the FA Cup after defeating fellow Premier League outfit AFC Bournemouth last weekend.

With no top-flight title or Champions League in sight, there will likely be a changing of the guard at the Etihad this summer, with faces such as Kevin De Bruyne perhaps leaving the building for some fresh blood to then excite the City masses.

One position that is dire need of refreshing is the right-back spot with new reports suggesting that City have a target in mind to begin such a transformation.

Man City looking at signing new full-back

With Kyle Walker departing on loan to AC Milan in January and academy graduate Rico Lewis not preferred in recent times, signing a new right-back should be one of their top priorities this summer.

Well, according to a report from journalist Graeme Bailey, plenty of top-flight clubs in England, including City are considering an approach for 22-year-old right-back Kiliann Sildillia, as current employers SC Freiburg brace for lots of activity involving their star-man.

Liverpool, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion are all named as interested parties, but City will hope they can race to the front of the queue for Sildillia’s services shortly, with recent weeks suggesting that Guardiola and Co have been watching the defender’s matches in the Bundesliga intently.

How Sildillia can become Cancelo 2.0

The right-back position in Manchester is lacking in numbers, with Matheus Nunes notably struggling up against Andoni Iraola’s challenging Cherries.

Indeed, Simon Bajkowski, chief Man City writer for MEN, gave Nunes a 4/10 for his showings, stating that he was “abysmal” for the goal.

Therefore, the attack-oriented Sildillia could be the perfect choice in this problem area, with the Frenchman perhaps becoming the faltering team’s next Joao Cancelo down the line.

Cancelo was a beloved figure at the Etihad for many of his successful years donning sky blue, with the expansive Portuguese defender going on to notch up an impressive nine goals and 21 assists from 154 clashes.

Unfortunately, the end of his time in England turned sour, leaving City with a lack of personnel down both the left and right flanks, with Cancelo comfortable in both slots in Guardiola’s XI.

Looking at the table above, the new City target is also capable of being versatile for the cause like Cancelo, with Sildillia lining up all over the pitch for Freiburg from his 102 appearances and counting.

But, it’s clear his most comfortable position is in the right-back area, with six goal contributions coming the Frenchman’s way from 60 contests in this spot on the pitch.

Two of those contributions have come this very campaign in the Bundesliga, with Sildillia managing to solidify himself as a trusty first-team option in Germany for both his attacking prowess and his ability to resiliently defend.

From those 16 clashes, Sildillia has managed to tally up a promising six clean sheets, with 3.3 duels won on average per league outing also matching that of Nunes back in Manchester.

But, Guardiola might be hesitant to stick it out with the ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers man, especially if the former FC Metz ace is available, knowing full well that adding in fresh, young bodies defensively can work wonders in the case of rising star Abdukodir Khusanov.

Likewise, Nunes’ natural position isn’t on the right flank, with the attacking energy of Sildillia also potentially gifting City their next “complete” star – as he has been labelled by scout Jacek Kulig – in a similar mould to Cancelo.

Better than Marmoush: Man City want to sign "one of the best CFs in Europe"

One of the world’s best young strikers is available on a free this summer, and Manchester City are reportedly “interested” in his signature.

By
Ben Gray

Apr 1, 2025