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Newcastle United are “informed” on the situation of Napoli defender Kim Min-Jae ahead of the summer, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Is Kim Min-Jae leaving Napoli?

Since joining from Fenerbahce last summer, the centre-back has been a regular feature of Luciano Spalletti’s former side, making 45 appearances across all competitions during his debut season at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

In his CaughtOffside Daily Briefing last month, Romano stated that the Magpies had sent scouts to watch the 26-year-old and suggested that Eddie Howe and Dan Ashworth could compete with Manchester United in the race to bring him to the Premier League.

Journalist Raimondo De Magistris has since claimed that the Red Devils have offered the South Korean a “huge salary” so the northeast outfit will have to act fast, but with his contract including a £52m release clause that’s set to become active next month, anything can still happen.

Are Newcastle signing Kim?

Taking to Twitter, Romano revealed that Newcastle are keeping close tabs on Kim as they weigh up a potential hijack this summer. He wrote:

“Manchester United have Kim Min-jae on their list since October and remains the main target. Release clause, only valid in July as United are in contact with agents; Newcastle are informed too. Understand Man Utd are also monitoring the French market for plan B options.”

Could Kim be a good addition for Howe?

Newcastle obviously hold a clear interest in Kim to be considering a swoop during the upcoming window, and having been dubbed a real “leader” by former professional Park Ji-Sung, the centre-back putting pen to paper would be a massive coup for PIF.

The Serie A champion averaged 3.5 clearances and 2.6 aerial wins per league game last season, alongside recording a 91% pass success rate, via WhoScored, which was higher than any of the black and white striped players, highlighting his calmness and composure on the ball.

The Nike-sponsored ace is also capable of contributing to his team’s efforts at the opposite end of the pitch having clocked up four league goal contributions (two goals and the same number of assists) in 35 appearances last term.

Finally, Kim has spent the majority of his career playing in the heart of the defence but he also has the versatility to operate out wide at right-back so he would be a great option for Howe to have at his disposal should rotation be needed as a result of an injury crisis, in a similar way to how the gaffer has used Dan Burn this season.

West Ham United have been linked to a forward ahead of the summer transfer window, with a busy summer expected at the London Stadium.

The primary focus until the break is on the Europa Conference League final, which takes place on June 7th as David Moyes’ side face Fiorentina in the bid to win the club’s first European silverware since 1965.

Despite the hype surrounding the historic final, the Irons have a lot to improve on ahead of next season, having only mathematically survived relegation from the Premier League last weekend.

Most of the focus on West Ham’s transfer news has revolved around the future of midfielder Declan Rice, who is expected to be snatched by Arsenal this summer, however, it’s not just outgoings expected in east London.

News reported this week has revealed the club’s potential plans to bring a forward from the Bundesliga to the club, in a bid to add depth to the squad ahead of the next campaign.

What’s the latest on Alassane Plea to West Ham United?

As reported by Foot Mercato earlier this week, West Ham are reportedly one of the clubs interested in signing Borussia Monchengladbach forward Alassane Plea this summer.

The 30-year-old is wanted by former club Olympique Lyon, however, the report states that the French outfit should expect some rivalry to sign the attacker from the Premier League.

West Ham, along with Crystal Palace and Fulham have “already made some contact” with the player’s representatives, with his value believed to be in the region of €10m – €12m (£8m – £10m).

What could Alassane Plea bring to West Ham United?

Hailed as being “versatile, quick and clever” by Monchengladbach’s former director of sport Max Eberl, the forward could offer a lot to West Ham.

While the Hammers already have a kitted-out left-wing department, which is Plea’s dominant position, the forward has been used through the middle before as a striker, which could make him an attractive player in Moyes’ system.

Current strike options at the club are Michail Antonio and Danny Ings, one being the club’s top goalscorer this season but the other in Ings finding the net just twice in the Premier League since arriving in January.

When comparing the form of both Ings and Plea over the past year, it’s clear to see why the Frenchman is reportedly on West Ham’s radar.

The £61k-per-week ace offers a lot more to an attack than goals, securing nine assists in 20 Bundesliga starts this season, showing his eye for a pass and instinctual nature in the final third.

Having Antonio firing when leading the line could allow Moyes to use the Frenchman as a decoy or as a rotating striker to add competition to the 33-year-old.

The 30-year-old has a lot more in his locker creatively than Ings, as shown through FBref, with the Borussia star averaging 4.67 progressive passes to the Englishman’s 1.26 per 90.

The Lille-born forward also averages two progressive carries per 90 to Ings’ 1.38, showing his ability to float around the attack rather than remain as a stationary striker.

One of the most prominent areas of his game is his playmaking, with him ranking in the top 3% of players in Europe’s top five leagues for his rate of assists, averaging a huge 0.46 assists per 90 – as per FBref.

Moyes could utilise the forwards’ strengths in a way more useful to West Ham than those that Ings portrays, and as such would be a greater signing.

R Ashwin has said that he believes patience will be the key for him and India’s other bowlers on the slow tracks of the West Indies

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Jul-20163:28

‘We are prepared for the long haul’ – Ashwin

Offspinner R Ashwin believes patience will be the key for him and India’s other bowlers on the slow tracks of the West Indies. He would have to be “as boring as possible”, Ashwin said, stubbornly sticking to good lines and lengths to get the better of the batsmen during the four-Test series that begins on July 21.”I’m sure it’s going to be challenging because of the kind of wickets, the kind of heat … From whatever I saw in the last [warm-up] game, the wickets were pretty slow,” Ashwin told . “I’m sure I’ll have to be as boring as possible in terms of trying to plug away all day long.”Ashwin did not play India’s first warm-up game, but said he learnt a lot from watching legspinner Amit Mishra – who picked up four wickets – bowl. “[The pitches are] getting slower. If the wickets are going to be tailor-made for us, if it starts spinning, then we come into our own. But until then, it’s all about patience.”The other day you saw Mishy bowl for about 15-16 overs without any wickets, but once he got a breakthrough, he started breaking through at regular intervals. So that’s what we have to look for – especially the first couple of days or probably even three days of the Test match, there is not going to be a lot in it for the spinners. There might be a little bit of bounce or little bit of slowness in the wicket that you can exploit, but it’s got to be pretty boring lines and lengths and keep teasing with your flight.”Ashwin said watching new head coach Anil Kumble bowl in the nets was already benefitting him. He had spoken to Kumble, he said, and knew what the coach expected of him. “He has brought in a lot of meticulousness among the group. There is some very good discipline in the nets. The batsmen get out to the nets at the perfect time for a start, and that’s not been going around for some time [laughs].”And he [Kumble] has already started bowling in the nets, which is something I pick out notes from. So far, he has provided me with a lot of confidence and a lot of responsibility. It’s been more of giving me the license to try and express myself, which is something I really relish. We’ve had a very open chat and he has already told me what he’s looking forward to from me, and I have already told him what I’m looking forward to him teaching me. “With captain Virat Kohli largely preferring a combination that features five bowlers, Ashwin’s batting could also come into play for India. He had been working on it with batting coach Sanjay Bangar, Ashwin said. “That [batting] is something I work very hard on. I have set some goals with the coaching staff, as to what I want to achieve – not just in terms of numbers, but in terms of how correct I can be, how much more solid I can become as a batter.”And that’s a process, because the first phase is to not give your wicket away and then you can accelerate – I’ve got the shots to do it. Sanjay has worked day in and day out with me, and, at last, he seems to be happy with how it’s shaping up.”India play a second warm-up game in Basseterre from July 14, over three days, before heading to Antigua for the first Test.

A key feature in Celtic's recent rise during the Ange Postecoglou regime has been experienced goalkeeper, Joe Hart, with the veteran gem having enjoyed a real career revival at Parkhead over the last 18 months or so.

Having been cast out by Tottenham Hotspur after enduring a difficult few years following his Manchester City exit in 2018, the former England number one was "down on his luck" prior to joining the Old Firm giants in the summer of 2021, as per pundit Alex McLeish.

As it has proved, however, the Shrewsbury native has proven himself a "really great signing" having been "transformed" in the green and white jersey, as per McLeish, having kept 43 clean sheets in 97 games for the Hoops to date.

Now 36, however, and with just over a year to run on his existing deal in Glasgow, it could well be time for the Scottish champions to consider finding a long-term replacement for Hart this summer, with pundit Frank McAvennie having already predicated that the ageing 'keeper will be a "backup next year".

Postecoglou and co could have potentially identified a dream successor to the 75-cap ace in the form of Liverpool rock, Caoimhin Kelleher, with reports last month having suggested that the Bhoys are among the clubs interested in the Republic of Ireland international.

While the suggestion is that the 24-year-old could cost as much as £30m if a permanent deal is to be agreed, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has also revealed that a loan exit could be on the cards, with the £10k-per-week man looking for "regular minutes" elsewhere.

Would Kelleher be a good signing for Celtic?

Although Kelleher has been forced to play second fiddle to Brazilian superstar, Alisson, at Anfield in recent years, the Cork native has been handed the chance to impress in cup competitions of late, racking up 20 appearances across all fronts since his debut back in 2019.

The 6 foot 2 ace was notably a vital figure in the Merseysiders' Carabao Cup success last season after featuring four times in the competition, notably starting and starring in the shootout victory over Chelsea in the final, having netted what proved to be the winning penalty.

Although chances have been few and far between for the emerging ace of late, the young stopper has certainly made a strong impression on manager Jurgen Klopp, with the German hailing him as "exceptional" after saving three penalties in the League Cup win over Derby County earlier this season.

The Irishman was also praised as an "exceptional goalkeeper" by national team boss Stephen Kenny, albeit with the ten-cap ace seemingly in need of more regular game time if he is to establish himself as the first-choice pick for his country, ahead of Southampton's Gavin Bazunu.

As such, a move to Paradise could be just what is needed for young Kelleher to finally be able to blossom as the starting pick at a club, with that possible swoop allowing Postecoglou to acquire an ideal replacement for the ageing Hart in his side.

Mumbai captain Aditya Tare wants to build on the team’s success; Naman Ojha thinks he has the personnel to challenge the 41-time Ranji champs

The Preview by Arun Venugopal05-Mar-2016If the nature of the competition in the Irani Cup over the last two editions were to be assessed, it wouldn’t reflect too well on the Rest of India sides. Karnataka swamped them by an innings and 222 runs in 2013-14 and followed it up with a 246-run thrashing last season.It is hard to argue against the logic of Ranji Trophy champions being successful; they are, after all, well-drilled units playing together for a considerable length of time and familiar with the winning habit. The Rest of India team, in contrast, is only an assembly of the best players that season, who have very little time to gel as a unit.However, a larger sample size over a longer period does not conform to such ‘logic’.Consider this: Karnataka’s victories have been the only instances of Ranji Trophy champions winning the Irani Cup in the last ten seasons. Mumbai have 15 Irani Cup titles, including one that was shared in 1965-66, but haven’t won in their last seven attempts. The last time they won the Irani Cup was in 1997-98. It is this anomaly that Mumbai, clearly big on history and legacy, is seeking to rectify.”I think our great history inspires us. It’s not easy for any team to win 41 championships,” Aditya Tare, the Mumbai captain, told ESPNcricinfo on the eve of the match. “If you see the 50s, 60s and 70s, that’s the time Mumbai dominated for three-four decades. Obviously the biggest attribute of Mumbai cricket is that hunger to win every season. The teams in the past have done that and we have to learn from that and take that legacy forward.”It will be great if we win because it’s been a long time since Mumbai have won the Irani Trophy, so it’s a big motivation to do something special, do a double in the first-class tournaments. It’s going to be a big challenge for us and I think the boys are pumped up. It is a great opportunity for us to showcase our talent against a tough opposition.”Tare said his team drew inspiration as much from Mumbai’s proud past as its own achievements in recent times. This synergy, he felt, gave Mumbai an advantage over other sides. “The style of cricket we play, the grit and determination, we have been groomed with that since childhood,” he said. “Even in the [under-]16s and under-19s we have coaches who talk about what teams in the past have achieved.”Having said that, it’s a young team and it’s important we keep motivating ourselves at every level we reach and keep that hunger going strong. In Mumbai everyone is on the same page, everyone wants to win games and everyone wants to keep that tradition going. That’s the difference. It makes us stand out from the other teams.”I think we have got the momentum and it’s not easy for a team [Rest of India] to quickly gel in a day or a two. That’s one thing that adds to our advantage, but by no means we can take the opposition lightly because there are players who have done well throughout the season. So we are wary about it and we are ready for the challenge.”Naman Ojha, the Rest of India captain, on the other hand, played down the relative disadvantage of not having enough time together as a team. “Playing for Rest of India is a great honour,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “They all want to play one level higher, and it would be good for them if they perform here, so automatically focus comes.”Ojha said he was impressed by Vidarbha batsman Faiz Fazal, Haryana offspinner Jayant Yadav and Assam seamer Krishna Das, and agreed it was a situation where individuals taking greater ownership for their performances would give the team a better shot at success. “I think that’s the only thing [that changes from a Ranji Trophy environment],” he said. “I think we don’t need to tell them [what their roles are]; they know why they are here. They need to do the same things that they are doing with their respective sides.”Mumbai play in a very disciplined manner; that’s the only thing where they are a little ahead of other teams. I think that [the will to counter Mumbai’s discipline] should come from within; if they want to play one level higher they will have to perform here.”There have been some strange omissions from the Rest of India side, like those of KB Arun Karthik, who scored 802 runs for Assam this season, Madhya Pradesh’s Jalaj Saxena (588 runs and 49 wickets) and Kerala’s Rohan Prem (705 runs).Mumbai, on the other hand, have been strengthened by the addition of young batsman Jay Bista, who scored a double century a few days ago to help Mumbai win the Colonel CK Nayudu under-23 trophy.Both Tare and Ojha agreed that performances in high-profile domestic matches like the Irani Cup carried greater weight. “It’s a game that a lot of people watch and pay a lot of attention [to],” Tare said. “If you take wickets or score runs in a Ranji Trophy final or an Irani Trophy game, there is a lot of impact. That’s one incentive I would say that players from both sides will have in this match.”

A constitution provides cricket with stability and protection; in selection processes, in development of domestic cricket, in nurturing of regional associations

Osman Samiuddin26-Mar-2006

Will Shaharyar Khan’s plan of implementing a new constitution finally come through? © Getty Images
Constitutions are not big in Pakistan. The country didn’t have one until 1956 and the one that governs the nation now only arrived in 1973. And this one can argue that toilet paper is accorded greater respect in some countries around the world, such is the fiddling, chopping, changing, misinterpretation and disregard it has faced by various leaders over the years. Cricket is not much better; it has been waiting on a new constitution now since 1999, when, within the second six months of the year, in turn four different men were heads of Pakistan cricket. To this day, the board is run by an ad-hoc committee in constitutional ambiguity.One of the many tasks in current chairman Shaharyar Khan’s in-tray when he took over on 9 December, 2003 was to devise and implement a new constitution. For two years, deadlines were repeatedly set for the constitution to be put into place. In November 2004, in an interview to this website the chairman said it would take three to four months. A few months earlier, in May, he had told , a national daily, the constitution would definitely be in place in three to four months.A draft, created by a body headed by Justice Karamat Bhandari was finally completed in mid-2005 and handed to President Pervez Musharraf (the head of state in Pakistan is Patron of the PCB and has to approve the constitution) in June. Given that he is president and may have more pressing matters at hand, nothing has happened since, no approval, rejection, only more limbo.”I cannot add much to that I am afraid,” Shaharyar told Cricinfo. “Occasionally, I get the impression that the President’s House has sent the constitution out to legal experts to have it vetted. Beyond that I cannot say anything with any certainty.”Is it likely to emerge any time soon, say before the end of the year? “I am fairly confident that something will emerge in the next two to four months. They are moving on this, it’s not lying around gathering dust.” It’s been said before though and only the foolish would rule out it being said again.Is it disappointing then that over two years after having taken over, one of the primary objectives still hasn’t been achieved? “Frankly I won’t say disappointed but I really would prefer that we had one as soon as possible. In the areas where the old constitution is alive, like district level governance, we have held elections. It is only with the executive committee and electing a general body that we haven’t had elections. But our democratic credentials are still better than many boards in that we have had elections in many districts across the country.”It is a rationalisation Pakistan is familiar with; in 2005, local level elections, although widespread, were widely-disputed and there has only been a referendum for the ultimate head of state – the President – in 2002, the results of which were also disputed. Democracy, it is argued by the government, is not so black and white a concept, or indeed one that, one-size-fits-all, can be applied to every nation. Strands of similar reasoning persist in Pakistan cricket, where it is often argued that the centralised and autocratic functioning of the board allows a smoother administration of affairs nationwide, shred of pesky, dissenting regional voices.”We have spread out the decision-making process with the ad-hoc committee which is a good body with sensible people on it. Look around in India and Sri Lanka and the problems they face in running cricket, particularly in India where it is difficult to make decisions because so many voices are there,” says Shaharyar. But there is of course good reason for its speedy implementation, as Shaharyar reiterates, “I would rather we have a constitution, particularly as the new one has improvements in it and covers loopholes, anomalies and contradictions that the older one didn’t.”The safeguards of accountability and transparency a constitution guarantees is vital, as the current administration, dogged by financial scandals after every big home series may appreciate. And as Imran Khan has pointed out more than once, a constitution provides cricket with stability and protection; in selection processes, in development of domestic cricket, in nurturing of regional associations (which this administration has failed to do) all of which have traditionally been problematic areas for Pakistan. Above all, it makes the chances of something like the administrative shambles of 1999 unlikely to happen so easily.The chairman’s own position is likely to come under review if and when the new constitution is approved. Not only is his three-year term coming to an end in December, the draft constitution has also left the process of finding a chairman in the President’s hands. Traditionally they have been appointed directly by the President. “We have left that to the Patron to decide. He can nominate and have all other positions elected, or he can ask candidates to come in and stand for election. Or a mixture as in he nominates a person and the general body approves or disapproves.”My tenure ends in December. We’ll see after that: if the constitution is there and calls for an elected head I don’t want to run for that. If it is a nomination then I might consider it. Logically if I have been there three years then I should stay another three months for the World Cup. It makes sense to see it through till then. I’m not hankering for it though – I have done a few things and a few still need to be done. The constitution is one of them.” As it has been, unfortunately, since the day he took over.

تقدم فريق ريال مدريد بهدف أول أمام خصمه ديبورتيفو ألافيس، خلال مباراة الفريقين ببطولة الدوري الإسباني مساء اليوم السبت.

ويحل ريال مدريد ضيفًا على ديبورتيفو ألافيس، في إطار مباريات الجولة السادسة عشر لبطولة الدوري الإسباني “الليجا” لموسم 2025-2026.

وأحرز الفرنسي كيليان مبابي هدف ريال مدريد الأول في شباك ألافيس وذلك بالدقيقة 24 من عمر المباراة.

الهدف جاء بعد تمريرة متقنة من جود بيلينجهام وصلت إلى مبابي ليستلم الكرة وينطلق ويمر من مدافعي ألافيس ومن ثم يسدد ببراعة في شباك الخصم. 

ورفع مبابي رصيده في جدول ترتيب هدافي الدوري الإسباني للموسم الجاري، إلى 17 هدفًا في الصدارة ويمكنك مطالعة ترتيب الهدافين من هنا. هدف مبابي في مباراة ريال مدريد وألافيس

ريال مدريد يتقدم عن طريق مبابي#الدوري_الإسباني#LaLiga pic.twitter.com/vArMkf1KMK — beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) December 14, 2025

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

Nagraj Gollapudi05-Apr-20181:32

Indian cricket’s rags to riches broadcast rights story

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

New Zealand kept their unbeaten ODI run alive, inflicting a rare defeat on England, in a contest which tested their resilience with bat and ball

Andrew McGlashan26-Feb-2018

New Zealand are a victory away from equalling their best streak in ODIs of 10 wins on the bounce, and number nine of the current sequence was their most satisfying yet as they overcame a formidable England team in a contest that twisted and turned through 100 overs.West Indies barely offered a fight in the first ODI series of New Zealand’s season and though Pakistan occasionally challenged them, it only really came after the series had been decided. At Seddon Park on Sunday, New Zealand grabbed the early initiative inflicting England’s first defeat in a live bilateral ODI since the India series last January.The sight of Ross Taylor scoring a masterful hundred should come as no surprise – it was his 18th in ODIs, although among his better ones – but around him New Zealand found fresh matchwinners. Tom Latham, who had endured a barren run of ODI form at home since his century against Bangladesh in late 2016, counterpunched when England were on top and most thrillingly Mitchell Santner sealed victory with a late dart. To win without contributions from Martin Guptill or Kane Williamson was a big tick for the home side.”The partnership between Ross and Tom certainly set it up and was deserved of a good finish,” the coach, Mike Hesson, said. “We lost our way a little but the way Santner and even Tim [Southee] came out and were composed at the end was good for us”Under pressure, a lot of times [the middle order] have had to come in and play cameos, be quite selfless. Sunday was quite different, they had to play a substantial innings and the way Tom and Ross set the side up was exceptional”That’s why we play six frontline batsmen, you can’t always rely on your top order to set the platform even though they’ve done it for the majority of the summer. It was nice for the middle order to dominate.”For Latham it was just his second fifty-plus score in 32 ODI innings at home – and nine of his previous 13 knocks in New Zealand had been single-figures – while Santner’s batting has faded, or at least stalled, as his spin bowling had improved.”Tom’s been in good touch the last week or so,” Hesson said. “He got in really good positions yesterday which shows that he’s put the work. We know he’s a quality player. He’s taken the keeping on as well so we’ve asked quite a lot of him. He made a great start in India [last October], struggled a little bit at home and he’s been reminded of that a few times but we know he’s a good player. The more experience he gets in the role the better he’ll get.”Mitch has been doing that in the nets for us for a long time, we know what a good striker he is. He played nicely against these guys at Trent Bridge a while ago and showed his power, so it’s always nice for someone to get us over the line. He’s put a heck of a lot of work into his batting in recent times and nice to see it come off.”The chance of victory was restored by the Taylor-Latham alliance of 178 and capped off by Santner, but in a game of so many subplots New Zealand’s performance with the ball should not be forgotten. Tim Southee and Trent Boult excelled at both ends of the innings – the first 10 overs brought 41 runs, the last 67 – while someone snagged a breakthrough each time England threatened to get away. Hesson, who was a touch more critical of the bowling performance in the middle 30 overs, singled out Colin Munro’s knuckle ball to deceive Joe Root as a key moment.”The ability to keep taking wickets throughout the innings was critical, even though they can bat to 11 you’ve still got to start,” Hesson said. “If we can keep bringing out new guys, you earn yourselves some dots, a reprieve really. The key to any one-day game is to make sure you can still have an attacking option at one end.”We kept chipping away, we didn’t really go bang, bang but we just chipped away when they started to get away from us. I think the wicket of Joe Root was critical for us, to get them five down meant we got five overs of them trying to rebuild a little.”

Jamie Carragher has admitted that he thought that Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool exit announcement was a hoax when he first saw it.

Article continues below

Article continues below

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• Klopp set to leave Liverpool
• Carragher reacts to German's exit
• Believed announcement was a hoax

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  With the German set to depart the club after nine years at the helm, his announcement came as a surprise to not only fans but also to the former Liverpool defender. Carragher admitted that at first, he believed that the news was fake as he couldn't comprehend the club legend's departure.

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• WHAT CARRAGHER SAID

  In his article with The Telegraph, Carragher said: "After seeing the news he is leaving at the end of the season, my heart sank. I genuinely thought it was some kind of hoax, or cruel joke.

  "The immediate reference point was the resignation of Kenny Dalglish in 1991, when Liverpool were top of the league and preparing for an FA Cup replay with Everton. I was an Everton fan then, delighted Kenny was going."

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Klopp has been hailed as one of the best Premier League managers, and the Reds will have a difficult time replacing him at the club. During his nine years with the club, Klopp won six major trophies, including the Champions League in 2019 and the club's first Premier League title since 1990.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

  Liverpool will be in action next when they take on Norwich City in the FA Cup on Sunday, January 28. With the club still active in all four competitions that they will compete in this season, they will be eager to end Klopp's Liverpool run on a high.