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Wriddhiman Saha might not have the charisma of India’s former Test keeper or the last star player from Bengal, but there’s no denying his solidity both behind and in front of the stumps

Sidharth Monga01-Oct-2016Five-day Tests might be under debate right now, but the last two times before this Test that two seasoned Bengal players played Eden Gardens Tests together five-day Tests weren’t yet the norm. In 1952-53, when Pankaj Roy and Kohkhan Sen played against Pakistan, there used to be four-day Tests in India. In 1969-70, when Ambar Roy and Subrata Guha played together, India were playing six-day Tests. Forty-seven years later, when Wriddhiman Saha and Mohammed Shami came to bat together, India were still some way from their desired total of 325-330. The two added 35 runs in entertaining fashion to take India to 316 and deflate New Zealand’s spirits, but this potentially match-sealing partnership between two Bengal players at the home of cricket in Bengal was witnessed by a disappointingly small Saturday crowd.There are reasons for the small turnout. This is festival season and end of the month both at the same time. Salaries are running out, and the newer ones are being saved for Puja shopping, when everyone must have at least new clothes. The two Bengal players don’t draw the same emotion from the locals those earlier ones did. Shami migrated to Bengal from Uttar Pradesh only after he was well into his development as a cricketer. Like many folk from UP and Bihar, he did so for employment. And Saha, to quote a local, is not “glamaraas” enough.We focussed on blocks of 10-15 runs – Saha

On his run-scoring approach
“The wicket was seaming a bit, so in those conditions if we didn’t play our shots and convert loose balls into boundaries, we might have reached only 260 at the maximum,” Wriddhiman Saha said. “So our effort was to convert loose balls into boundaries, so that we can get 280-plus and that went well for us.”
On his secret of batting with the tail
“There is no secret. The understanding we have among us is very good, and we are able to rotate the strike well. In our team, almost everyone plays his shots, so whether you get singles or boundaries, we end up having good partnerships.”
On his plan today
“We focussed on blocks of 10-15 runs and thought that the more we take it forward the better for us. We initially thought of getting to 270-280 and if all was going well to aim for 300-plus. That is what happened. There was a 40-odd run partnership with Jadeja and 30-odd with Shami.”

The biggest cheer during this Test so far has been for Sourav Ganguly, now the Cricket Association of Bengal president, as he spoke at a lunch-time discussion on day one. Saha can’t match the pull of the last Bengal superstar or the charisma of India’s last Test wicketkeeper, but the few that turned up saw their unglamorous wicketkeeper do a job for his team. He does the job by being inconspicuous behind the stumps, and with vital and timely contributions in front.When Saha came in to bat on day one, memories of Kanpur – when he had become part of a collapse that was arrested by Ravindra Jadeja in the end – would have been fresh. When Saha came out to bat here, India had lost three wickets for 13 runs. More importantly, these three wickets had fallen in the lead-up to the new ball becoming available. Trent Boult was ready. Matt Henry was ready. This was a pitch different from the one in Kanpur, where there was no bounce on offer for the quicks. Here there was bounce, some seam, and India were going at well under three an over. India needed to arrest this collapse badly because a score 220-230 in the first innings hardly puts any pressure on the team batting second. And the collapse had to be arrested without getting bogged down, because the new ball might do tricks and New Zealand could have gone flat out with just 10 overs to stumps.Saha attacked dextrously, hitting a six in the last over before the new ball. The shot was selected perfectly. He got one too full from Jeetan Patel and wristily lofted it over cow corner. In Kanpur Saha had been caught inside the line of a Boult delivery, but that didn’t put him off his game plan. Saha likes to stay beside the line of the ball and score through the off side. He did that to two Boult deliveries before stumps to end the day with 14 off 22.Still, having lost R Ashwin to a questionable umpiring call just before stumps, Saha had it all to do on the second morning against the new ball. He continued to bat enterprisingly, punishing errors, running hard, and then farming the strike with his Bengal team-mate, the last man Shami. Along the way, he wore one in approximately the same place as he did during his St Lucia hundred. Just like St Lucia he batted with a swollen forearm, but that clearly didn’t take away the punch from his shots.Towards the end Saha, in the company of Shami, had frustrated New Zealand enough to make them veer from their plans. He did so by playing out the first halves of overs, and then hitting boundaries when the field came up. One such was an inside-out beauty to clear long-off and bring up his fifty. As the dressing room applauded, he reacted – not with flashy celebrations, but a thumbs up. He had had a job, he had done it. But he shouldn’t always have to do so.The good news for the team is that the lower order is no longer a pushover. Since the start of the England tour of 2014, around the time this lower order came to its own, India’s last four wickets have averaged 23.16, behind only England and Australia. The bad news is, India’s top six wickets have averaged only 38.94 over this period, which is in the bottom half of the Test-playing nations. It shouldn’t always be Saha risking injuries to rescue India. It shouldn’t always be Ashwin showing the specialist batsmen how to defend. It shouldn’t always be Ravindra Jadeja wielding his bat like a sword. The lower order might be due a failure.

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Jun-2015Taylor struck again six overs later to bowl Brad Haddin – who scored a brisk 22 off 23 balls – and pick up his fourth Test five-for•Getty ImagesDespite the flurry of wickets at the other end, Steven Smith anchored Australia, as they scored 92 for 4 in the first session on day 2•Getty ImagesSmith remained unbeaten on 175, scoring 50% of his team’s runs, as Australia went to lunch on 350 for 8•Getty ImagesSmith was dismissed after lunch for 199, his highest Test score, and Australia were bowled out for 399 not long after•Getty ImagesTaylor finished with his best Test figures, 6 for 47•Getty ImagesThings did not start well for West Indies with the bat, as Mitchell Starc had debutant opener Rajendra Chandrika caught behind for a duck•Getty ImagesThe wickets kept falling, and Nathan Lyon passed Hugh Trumble as Australia’s leading Test wicket taker among offspinners•Getty ImagesHaddin held on to a catch between his legs to dismiss Shai Hope•Getty ImagesJosh Hazlewood troubled the middle order and claimed 3 for 15•Getty ImagesMitchell Johnson had Veerasammy Permaul caught behind on the brink of stumps to leave West Indies at 143 for 8•Getty ImagesLyon led the Australians off after finishing with 3 for 35•Getty Images

There were very few of the strokes he is gifted with but Bell’s fortitude has given England the platform to strike the first blow in this series

George Dobell at Trent Bridge12-Jul-2013Sometimes it is not the shots a batsman plays that are so impressive, but those he does not.So it was for Ian Bell on the third day at Trent Bridge. Coming to the crease with the match in the balance – England were just 66 ahead when they lost their fourth second innings wicket a few minutes after Bell’s arrival – Bell summed up the conditions and the match situation perfectly in playing an innings of denial, patience and maturity to retain England’s hopes of escaping – and yes, it would constitute an escape – with a victory from this Test.It might just be remembered as his best innings for England. Not his prettiest, not his highest, but his most valuable, his most determined and his most professional.This is a slow, low wicket. It is a wicket on which attempts to force progress are strewn with danger. Where timing the ball is difficult. Where any attempt to push the bat in front of the body risks the possibility of playing-on, as Kevin Pietersen proved.So Bell waited. He played straight. He left well and he refused to be drawn into pushing at anything away from his body. He wore down a consistent attack who gained impressive reverse swing and bowled admirably straight, he waited for them to err and he picked them off. He had, by stumps on day three, faced 188 dot balls – from 228 deliveries faced – and not scored a single run between mid-on and mid-off. Ten of his 12 fours came from deflections, either late cuts or leg glances, behind the wicket.That constitutes a remarkable act of restraint from a batsman as gifted as Bell. He forged his reputation as a strokemaker who could time the ball with a sweetness granted to very few; a man who could make a packed house purr with pleasure and gasp with joy.But here, like Monet opting to use only shades of grey, he reined in all those attacking instincts to provide the innings his team required. While it would be stretching a point to suggest that he showed the determination to make ugly runs – even Bell’s nudges and nurdles are prettier than most – he did reiterate that he is far more than the luxury player that his detractors sometimes suggest.There are those that still think of Bell as an unfulfilled talent. It is an appraisal that perhaps says more about the great expectations that have burdened Bell than any reasonable analysis of his record: after 6,000 Test runs, an average in excess of 45 and 17 Test centuries, he has already enjoyed a fine career and, aged 31, there are trunk loads still to come.A persistent criticism of Bell is that he rarely scores runs in the toughest conditions; that his contributions may adorn but rarely define a game. It is a harsh judgement – he has valuable performances under pressure several times, not least at The Oval in 2009, Cape Town in 2010, Trent Bridge in 2011 and Auckland in 2013 – but it has been a tag that has been hard to shed entirely due to lapses of form that have been as maddening as they have hard to understand.Ian Bell in full flow was a rare sight on a day where scoring was difficult•PA PhotosBy the end of 2011 it appeared Bell had resolved any lingering doubts over his worth at this level. Recalled to the side midway through the Ashes of 2009, he scored 2,023 runs in the next 30 months and 23 Tests, averaging 72.25 and recording eight centuries. But set back by his struggles against Saeed Ajmal in the UAE Bell had scored only 898 runs in the subsequent 19 Tests ahead of this series at an average of 32.07. The doubts and whispers were starting to return.He will have quelled them here. Perhaps not for long – the vultures never sleep for long – but for a while. On the biggest stage, against a decent attack bowling at their best, on a tricky pitch and with his team under substantial pressure, he delivered. It was an innings without a caveat.One of the more revealing moments of Bell’s innings came when he was at the non-striker’s end. Exasperated – not for the first time – by Stuart Broad attempting a heave into the leg side, Bell came down the wicket to remind his partner of his responsibilities to the team. When Broad avoided eye contact, Bell gestured angrily to the fielder and shouted until Broad understood. It was the act of a man confident of his own senior position within the team and a man whose eyes were fixed not on a not out or a personal milestone, but on the team’s success. It was as impressive a moment as any in this innings.”We know how good Ian Bell is,” Kevin Pietersen said afterwards. “He does not need to keep proving it to us. But that was an absolutely brilliant innings. He has proven why we think he is a fantastic player. He has come out there and played a very mature innings on quite a tough wicket. Michael Clarke set some very good fields and their bowlers bowled really well.”It would be a shame, then, if Bell’s innings was overshadowed by the furore over Broad’s decision not to walk for an edge so clear that Stevie Wonder might have given it out. It was a poor decision from Aleem Dar – a great umpire enduring a moment of human weakness – and most batsmen would not have had the gall to remain.But the moral outrage should be suspended: very few batsmen walk in international cricket and while Broad was guilty of shamelessness, he was also consistent. There is no moral difference between a thick edge and a thin edge and, many of those who do walk tend to do so because they know they are going to be given out anyway.It would not have been honour that prevented them from doing so in a situation similar to Broad’s but an absence of his cheek. Unless the Australian batsmen in this series walk, they have little grounds for their indignation: Broad is no better and no worse than the vast majority of professional cricketers.Broad batted well. While his batting in recent months has tended to be characterised by the slogs and heaves of a tailender, here he was prepared to graft and wait a little more. It was not perfect – he was still lured into a couple of reckless moments that required fortune to survive – but he lent Bell the support the team needed and had already scored more runs in this Test than any since the 2011 Trent Bridge match against India. A series of long net sessions with Graham Gooch and, perhaps, a change of mentality, have done Broad the world of good.It might be remembered that two days remain in this Test. To listen to some commentators and analysts – not least Andrew Strauss – you would have thought that England would have benefitted from a more pro-active approach on the third day. It is not so.There is plenty of time left in this Test and Bell’s cautious approach was entirely appropriate. Bell gave the impression of a man who had the strength of his convictions to play the innings his team required; not to please the media or spectators. More hard work lies ahead – the lead respectable but not impregnable – but Bell’s fortitude has given England the platform to strike the first blow in this series.

For only the fifth time in Test history, a team won a match losing only two wickets

S Rajesh23-Jul-2012The most stunning aspect of South Africa’s win at The Oval is that they won a Test match against arguably the best bowling attack in the world losing just two wickets. Last season, this attack had decimated India’s much-hyped batting line-up, averaging 25.55 runs per wicket over four matches. Against South Africa in this game, they took two wickets for 637 runs, an average of 318.50 runs per wicket. England’s batsmen, on the other hand, averaged 31.25 in the match. The difference of 287.25 is the highest in a Test which has produced a result, which makes this the most comprehensive win ever.In fact, for South Africa, this is sweet revenge for the humiliation they had suffered at Lord’s in 1924 in a Test match with similar numbers: England racked up 531 for 2, and dismissed South Africa cheaply on either side of their batting effort. In that game, South Africa had averaged 25.65 runs per wicket compared to England’s 265.50; the difference between the two averages was 239.85, which was the previous record for the highest difference between averages in a decisive Test.

Biggest difference in runs per wkt between winning and losing teams

Winning teamRuns per wktLosing teamRuns per wktDifferenceVenue, yearSouth Africa318.50England31.25287.25The Oval, 2012England265.50South Africa25.65239.85Lord’s 1924West Indies263.33Pakistan34.22229.11Kingston, 1958Sri Lanka237.67Zimbabwe22.95214.72Bulawayo, 2004South Africa235.00Bangladesh20.50214.50Chittagong, 2003England229.50India19.05210.45Edgbaston, 1974This is only the fifth time in a Test that a team has won a Test losing two wickets. For South Africa, this was the second such instance – they’d beaten Bangladesh in a similar manner in 2003 – but the last time any team had inflicted this humiliation on an opposition not named Bangladesh was in 1974, when England thrashed India by an innings and 78 runs at Edgbaston, scoring 459 for 2 in their only innings. In fact, England and South Africa are the only teams to win Tests losing two wickets: England achieved these results against South Africa (1924) and New Zealand (1958). South Africa, though, are the only side to achieve this overseas – all three of England’s wins have come at home.

Winning a Test match for the loss of two wickets

TeamOppositionResult marginVenue, yearSouth AfricaEnglandInnings and 12 runsThe Oval, 2012South AfricaBangladeshInnings and 60 runsChittagong, 2003EnglandIndiaInnings and 78 runsEdgbaston, 1974EnglandNew ZealandInnings and 71 runsHeadingley, 1958EnglandSouth AfricaInnings and 18 runsLord’s 1924More stats Dale Steyn’s second-innings haul of 5 for 56 is his first five-for in a Test in England. It improves his career record against England to 38 wickets in nine Tests at an average of 32.05. Of his 18 five-wicket hauls, 14 have led to victories, while three have come in draws and one in a defeat. (Click here for Steyn’s Test career summary.) South Africa’s win is their 12th in England, but their first at The Oval in 14 attempts. It’s also their sixth by an innings against England, and the second such result in that country. Hashim Amla won his fourth Man-of-the-Match award, and his first against England. His previous three had been against Pakistan and India (twice). This was the first taste of a Test defeat for Tim Bresnan, after 13 wins and a draw in his 14 previous Tests.

Use your bowlers well, pick the best batting line-up, and keep an eye on the time-outs and over rates

Aakash Chopra08-Apr-2010Adam Gilchrist said earlier this week that as the game gets shorter, the role of the captain is getting bigger. Nothing could describe the Twenty20 situation better.Why is leading a Twenty20 side different and more difficult than leading in other formats? Cricket played over five days or spread over two 50-overs innings should logically be far more taxing than the slam-bang three-hour Twenty20. Well, Twenty20 defies logic time and again, for it isn’t a thinking man’s game; which is not to say that you don’t need to be smart to play it.Not too long ago, just as this format was beginning to gain popularity, players tended to treat Twenty20s like ODIs. In the 50-over format the best bowlers are kept for the Powerplay and the death overs, under the assumption that batsmen are most aggressive during these periods. The other bowlers are reserved for the middle overs, when the batsmen are expected to go a little easy. But when applied to Twenty20, this strategy failed. With eight an over considered par, and the luxury of being able to lose 10 wickets over 20 overs, batsmen remain on the offensive all through.Bowling changes
It’s no longer mandatory to give your best bowler the first over. In fact, it’s often smart to start with a part-time bowler, since most batsmen take at least a couple of deliveries to gauge the pace and bounce of the track. But you must know the batsmen’s strengths and pick the bowlers accordingly. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to start with a spinner against David Warner, who is usually more comfortable against pace.Also, you need to not get carried away by an economical first over, because the same bowler can go for plenty in his next. Batsmen tend to size up the bowler in his first few deliveries and mark their scoring areas for the next over. More often than not, the second over is more important than the first, so that should be bowled by your best medium-pacer.Rotating your bowlers in the first six overs will work if your bowlers are comfortable bowling one- or two-over spells. Shane Warne does it successfully, often using up to five different bowlers in the first seven overs without letting the batsmen get away. Gautam Gambhir used Daniel Vettori and Amit Mishra to counter Bangalore’s overseas openers in the first six overs. It’s like a game of chess, where you try to preempt the opposition’s moves. At times you let the opposition score in the first six overs because you think it will be easier to pull things back once the ball gets old, and on other occasions you stifle the batsmen at the top to create pressure.There are no foolproof methods to succeed, so you have to go with hunches. One wrong choice can change the momentum of the game. Brett Lee went for 25 in an over against Bangalore and Cameron White 19 in his solitary over against Delhi. A captain makes more bowling changes in a Twenty20 than he would in a 50-over game. You can always recover from a bad over in an ODI, but in a Twenty20 it is 5% of the innings and can cost you the game.In terms of bowling, captains also have to keep in mind the hefty fines they can be slapped with for slow over-rates.Batting line-up
Deciding the batting order isn’t easy in Twenty20s. When do you send in your best striker? Warne uses Yusuf Pathan according to the demands of the situation and Tendulkar has done the same with Kieron Pollard. It’s tempting to give the big hitters the chance to get the most strike, but it may not always be the wise option. Bangalore have assigned Kallis the sheet-anchor’s role, and given the rest the licence to go berserk around him. Most other teams haven’t done the same. Kings XI Punjab tried to give Ravi Bopara the same role but he never had in-form hitters around him.

A captain makes more bowling changes in a Twenty20 than he would in a 50-over game. You can always recover from a bad over in an ODI, but in a Twenty20 it is 5% of the innings and can cost you the game

The captain also has to pick the right overseas players for every game. He’s usually spoilt for choice and it must be tempting to want players like Tillakaratne Dilshan or Sanath Jayasuriya in the XI even when they aren’t in form, and difficult to leave out someone like Dale Steyn.Changing the field
The captain and the bowlers need to work out the fielding positions for every delivery: get third man inside the circle for a slower one, have mid-off in the circle for a bouncer. Bowlers need to assume leadership and the wicketkeeper and the fielders must chip in too, because it’s hard for the captain to keep tabs on everything. The keeper is often assigned the role of getting the fielders in the right positions. In the match against Bangalore, Gambhir didn’t notice there were only three fielders inside the circle, but the keeper, Dinesh Karthik, stopped the game to get a player in.But there is still more to leading a Twenty2O side, particularly in the IPL. You have to know and remember the strengths of all your players, understand their temperaments, and how they will react to different situations in the middle.The time-outs
We have seen teams lose momentum and falter after the breaks. Fielding captains can use the time-outs to their advantage – as the batsmen tend to take a few deliveries to get back into the groove – and slip in an over from a part-time bowler.The teams that try to continue playing the way they did before the break often pay dearly. Mumbai lost two wickets against Deccan in the over after the break.I wonder if Yuvraj Singh and Brendon McCullum will really complain about having lost the captaincy of their sides. It’s certainly not an enviable job. Most captains will have aged a bit by the time the IPL ends.

The tour “offers us a chance to refine our World Cup squad, defining roles and personnel more clearly,” says coach Daren Sammy

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Apr-2024

Roston Chase played a big hand with bat and ball in West Indies’ last T20I fixture, against Australia in February•Getty Images and Cricket Australia

Cricket West Indies have named a number of strong list of T20 specialists in their 15-member ‘A’ squad that will tour Nepal for five T20s later this month. Fabian Allen, Johnson Charles, Mark Deyal, Andre Fletcher, Obed McCoy and Hayden Walsh are all part of the side, which will be led by Roston Chase, who has Alick Athanaze as his deputy.The tour, a first for a West Indian side in Nepal, “serves as another phase in preparation leading up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024,” West Indies’ lead selector Desmond Haynes said in a statement. “It presents an invaluable opportunity to get our players who are not in the IPL back on the park playing competitive T20 cricket, as well as provides the chance for us to expose a few emerging prospects.”Chase, initially considered a Test specialist in the West Indies, made his T20I debut only in 2021. He was in West Indies’ team for their last bilateral T20I engagement, in Australia earlier this year, and scored a 20-ball 37 and picked up 2 for 19 in his four overs in the only match he played in the series, which was also the only game out of the three which West Indies won.Nepal vs West Indies A

All five T20s at Kirtipur’s Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, on April 27, April 28, May 1, May 2 and May 4

“Chase has exhibited over the past few years an impressive work ethic and proven leadership qualities,” Haynes said. “No doubt since Chase made his T20I debut in October 2021, for West Indies against Bangladesh, he has continued to make considerable strides.”The World Cup, to be played in June in the USA and the West Indies, will feature Nepal among the 20 teams in the fray.West Indies white-ball coach Daren Sammy said, “From a coaching perspective, the Nepal tour couldn’t have come at a more opportune time. It offers us a chance to refine our World Cup squad, defining roles and personnel more clearly. Additionally, with nine players in the IPL, we can truly gauge and push the limits of our T20 team’s depth.”The nine West Indians at the IPL are Andre Russell, Kyle Mayers, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Alzarri Joseph, Shimron Hetmyer and Shamar Joseph, apart from Sunil Narine, who has ruled out a comeback for West Indies for the World Cup.The West Indies side in Nepal will be coached by Floyd Reifer, with Rayon Griffith as his assistant.West Indies A squad for T20 tour of NepalRoston Chase (capt), Alick Athanaze (vice-capt), Fabian Allen, Kadeem Alleyne, Joshua Bishop, Keacy Carty, Johnson Charles, Mark Deyal, Andre Fletcher, Matthew Forde, Obed McCoy, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh

Victoria are closing in on the Sheffield Shield final after another strong day at the WACA

Tristan Lavalette15-Mar-2023Opener Marcus Harris hit a sublime 84 before quick Scott Boland again tormented Western Australia as Victoria moved closer to a pivotal Sheffield Shield victory at the WACA.Enjoying a first innings lead of 176, Victoria’s strong attack continually threatened late on day two with WA reaching stumps at 3 for 88.After taking 4 for 29 in WA’s first innings, having rushed back from Australia’s Test tour of India, Boland dismissed opener Sam Whiteman lbw for a duck.Related

Boland, Holland, Sutherland run through Western Australia on day one

All-round Beau Webster adds to Queensland's woes as final hopes dim

New South Wales chip away after Jack Edwards' century

WA’s woes deepened when teenager Teague Wyllie fell for 16 to leave the hosts in tatters at 2 for 25.Routed for 122 on the opening day, particularly bogged down by Victoria’s disciplined bowling, WA decided to play more aggressively as Hilton Cartwright led the way with a slew of fluent strokes.He combined with opener Cameron Bancroft, the leading run-scorer this season, in a steadying half-century partnership to provide hope for WABut Boland summoned one last burst before stumps and bowled Bancroft, who inside-edged onto his stumps attempting a drive.Having already secured a home final starting on March 23, WA have so far been unable to match the intensity of a desperate Victoria who are locked in a fierce battle with second-placed Queensland for a spot in the decider.After a dreary opening day, where just 192 runs were scored in 91 overs, left-handed Harris provided a spark as he sped past his half-century.He was in imperious touch with sweet drives down the ground to dominate a weakened WA attack without regular quicks Joel Paris and Matt Kelly. Harris scored at a run-a-ball pace before out of nowhere being caught behind down the leg-side off seamer David Moody.It was essentially Harris’ first mistake in his 140-ball knock and the former Test player, who last played for Australia during the 2021-22 Ashes, knew he left a big score on the table.Harris was furious with the dismissal and shouted his disgust as he trudged into Victoria’s dressing room. But his wicket failed to halt Victoria’s momentum with in-form Matt Short, who has scored three tons in his last five innings, in glorious form.He drove beautifully down the ground to pounce on wayward bowling from WA’s quicks, who were unable to conjure menacing movement like their counterparts from the previous day.Short combined with 20-year-old Campbell Kellaway in a century partnership as Victoria eyed a massive first innings lead. After an uninspiring effort from WA’s frontline seamers, Cartwright sparked his subdued team with a terrific spell in the second session.Cartwright was selected as an allrounder for two Test matches in 2017, but rarely bowls these days. He had only bowled 4.4 overs in the Shield season before his six-over burst accounted for three wickets, including Kellaway for 64 off 167 balls. Cartwright triggered a slide for Victoria as Short’s brilliant 95-ball innings ended when he mistimed to mid-off.Victoria were left slightly disappointed at their vice-like grip on the contest being loosened, but they remain firmly in the box seat after Boland’s late heroics.

Women's Super League teams will continue to take the knee following the Jess Carter racism row during the 2025 European Championship. In July, Carter took to social media to outline the abuse she had received during the tournament and announced her intention to step back from online platforms. Before their semi-final clash, England had announced they would stop taking the knee as a mark of protest.

WSL teams to take the knee before matchesEngland stopped the tradition after Carter was racially abused during EurosThe new WSL season starts on September 5Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

During the course of the 2025 European Championship, Carter had revealed that she had experienced a lot of racial abuse, which forced her to withdraw from online platforms temporarily. It has been more than a month since that incident and on Thursday, a man was arrested by Lancashire Police on suspicion of sending malicious communications following racist and abusive messages sent to the Lionesses hero. The suspect has since been released under investigation.

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Two days before England's semi-final clash against Italy, the Lionesses had announced that they would stop taking the knee as a mark of protest against Carter's racial abuse. In a joint statement, they had said: "It is clear we and football need to find another way to tackle racism." , though, now reports that WSL have decided, after discussions with club captains, to continue with the pre-match ritual that was started back in 2020.

DID YOU KNOW?

Carter went on to have an up and down campaign at the Euros, but played a key role in England beating world champions Spain in the final in the tie-breaker to defend their title. After missing out on the last-four game, the defender returned for the final and had a massive outing, which ensured England's second consecutive Euro title. 

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The 2025-26 campaign will formally start on September 5, with reigning champions Chelsea taking on Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.

Paris Saint-Germain will sign Lucas Chevalier as their first-choice keeper, leaving Gianluigi Donnarumma facing the prospect of an exit this summer.

• PSG to sign Chevalier for €40m from Lille
• Frenchman given clear No.1 role ahead of Donnarumma
• Italian keeper's contract ends next year

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Ligue 1 giants are close to completing a €40 million (£34m/$44m) deal, with €15m (£13m/$17m) in easily achievable bonuses, for Lille goalkeeper Chevalier. According to , the 23-year-old Frenchman is expected in the capital this Friday, where he will undergo his medical in the morning before signing a five-year contract in the afternoon. He is set to become PSG’s undisputed No. 1, replacing Donnarumma, who now faces an uncertain future despite his desire to stay and fight for his place.

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  According to , PSG have grown tired of goalkeeper rotation and want a clear first-choice option to avoid dressing room tension and have decided on Chevalier. Donnarumma’s contract runs until next year, and with no agreement on an extension, the club are open to selling him this summer. Interest from Manchester United and Galatasaray has already emerged.

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  Chevalier only agreed to join Les Parisiens after assurances that he would be the starting goalkeeper. Luis Campos and Luis Enrique have ruled out alternating between him and Donnarumma, a situation that previously caused problems in Paris. While Donnarumma is comfortable in France, staying would mean accepting a backup role, something PSG are not keen on managing.

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  Chevalier could debut against Tottenham on Thursday in the UEFA Super Cup, while PSG explore transfer options for Donnarumma. If no move materialises, the Italian appears doomed to a place on the bench.

Marseille forward Mason Greenwood struck his fourth goal in two pre-season matches to secure a draw for the Ligue 1 side in a friendly on Monday.

Greenwood on target again for Marseille Has scored in both of club's pre-season fixturesGirona up next for Ligue 1 clubFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Marseille continued their pre-season preparations with a friendly against OC Charleroi on Monday night and were forced to come from behind to snatch a draw. Greenwood was the scorer for Robert De Zerbi's side with a vicious strike that made it 1-1 in the second half. The former Manchester United forward did not start the game but came on at half-time and delivered the good for the Ligue 1 club.

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Greenwood has been in the goals in pre-season for Marseille. The 23-year-old bagged an 11-minute hat-trick in a 5-0 win over Dutch side Excelsior as he prepares for his second season in Ligue 1 with Marseille. The former Manchester United star has been linked with a move away from the French club, with Atletico Madrid still believed to be keen, but appears set to start the new campaign with De Zerbi's men.

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Greenwood and Marseille are due to continue their pre-season preparations with another friendly on Saturday against La Liga side Girona.