Kobbie Mainoo is in an "uncomfortable" situation at Manchester United at the moment due to his reduced playing time, according to head coach Ruben Amorim. However, the Portuguese manager has absolutely no doubt that the young Englishman can become one of the best midfielders in the world in the near future, drawing comparisons with Paris Saint-Germain's Vitinha.
Mainoo not comfortable with bench role
Just over a year ago, Mainoo was the name on everyone's lips. After a breakthrough 2023-24 season at Manchester United, during which he made 32 appearances, the Stockport-born midfielder became undroppable for England at Euro 2024, starting in both the semi-final and final. But Mainoo has become somewhat of an afterthought under Amorim. The head coach revealed that the youngster is "uncomfortable" in his current situation.
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The next Vitinha? Amorim confident in Mainoo's abilities
From being one of the first names on the team sheet under Amorim's predecessor Erik ten Hag, Mainoo has lost his spot in the XI, starting none of the opening three Premier League games and making just one appearance off the bench.
When asked by reporters how Mainoo is reacting to the situation, Amorim said: "He’s not used to fighting for his place, maybe. He’s uncomfortable, but he’s a very good kid. He wants to learn. Sometimes it’s hard to push different things from the players."
After being reminded of Mainoo's credentials and contributions to the Red Devils, Amorim made a comparison with Vitinha, who is often considered as one of the best midfielders in the world at the moment. "I remember Vitinha was not playing for Wolverhampton,” Amorim responded. "Nowadays, you can see that Vitinha is maybe the best midfielder in the world. So you never know. Something can happen sometimes.
"The way I play is completely different from the last manager. I watched a lot of games from the Premier League in Portugal. You can feel then that Manchester United really [played in] transitions. He was the only guy that calmed down the game. Now we have other players that calm down the game.
"Sometimes I expect more from Kobbie Mainoo. Sometimes, maybe if I start [him] more, Kobbie Mainoo is going to play and he’s going to get hard to take out. I need to go with what I’m feeling at the moment and that is the only feeling. He’s starting the final of the European Championship in a team that has a lot of talented players – [Phil] Foden played that game, [Cole] Palmer was on the bench. He was playing. I know all that, but sometimes I have a different way of seeing the game."
Mainoo facing uncertain future at Man Utd
In the final few days of the transfer window, Mainoo's future was subject to a lot of speculation. The England international is said to have demanded a move away from Old Trafford after it was evident he wouldn't be important to Amorim's plans for the 2025-26 season. Several teams expressed their interest in the midfield metronome. Indeed, rumours suggested that Premier League rivals Tottenham enquired about the availability of signing Mainoo. Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, too, were considering a potential last-minute loan move. However, it was his links to Napoli which garnered the highest attention. Ultimately, none of those moves came to fruition as United blocked a loan departure.
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Will Mainoo leave Man Utd in January?
Mainoo seems adamant on finding an exit route away from Manchester. Having starred for the Three Lions at last summer's European Championship, Mainoo will have his eyes set on nailing a place in Thomas Tuchel's squad for next year's World Cup. Reports indicate that he could depart the club in January, but things could yet change if he manages to convince Amorim of his abilities in the system the Portuguese manager is insistent on using.
Two young batters produced outstanding innings at North Sydney Oval, while a well-known name also starred
AAP01-Nov-2024
Georgia Voll hammered 92 off 55 balls•Getty Images
Sydney Thunder recruit Georgia Voll has enjoyed the red-letter day of her career, leading her side to their biggest win with a 64-run smashing of Adelaide.In a record-breaking blitz at North Sydney Oval, Voll’s 92 from 55 balls helped Thunder smash their highest total – 212 for 5.Related
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Spinner Sam Bates then claimed career-best figures of 4 for 21 from her four overs as Strikers collapsed to be all out for 148.The result marked the Thunder’s most emphatic victory in the competition’s 10-year history, and their second win in three games to start the year. Two-time defending-champions Adelaide are now 1-2 to start the summer, in the shortened 19-game season.And Voll was the star on Friday for Thunder, in just the 21-year-old’s third WBBL match since moving from Brisbane Heat. Brought to the Thunder on a three-year deal with the chance to open, the Queenslander smashed three sixes and 12 boundaries in her knock. It marked only her second half-century in 61 WBBL games, but offered a glimpse of what is possible at the top of the order.”Definitely [that’s the best I’ve hit them],” Voll said. “I’ve been up and down the order, so it’s nice to be settled at the top of the order, play my role really well and have the backing to play my shots.It was nice to be able to bat for a long time because I got out quite cheaply in the first couple of games.”She slog-swept Megan Schutt for a six early, pulled Darcie Brown for another six and put spinner Anesu Mushangwe deep onto the North Sydney hill. The right-hander looked set for a maiden century, before she picked out Amanda-Jade Wellington at short fine-leg while trying to scoop Orla Prendergast.Voll’s runs came in 54-run opening stand with Chamari Athapaththu, before she and Phoebe Litchfield combined for a 96-run second-wicket stand off 52 balls. Litchfield also peppered the leg boundary in her 49, while bringing her creative strokeplay with a typical mix of scoops and reverse sweeps. The pair at one stage added six boundaries in seven balls, taking the game away from Strikers.Heather Knight hit 28 from 15 late on as Thunder romped past their previous high total of 204 and to the third best score of any side in WBBL history.In reply, Strikers were barely in the contest. Only Katie Mack’s 51 held the innings together early, as Shabnim Ismail took 3 for 18 before Bates ran through the middle and lower order.Rhys McKenna flayed a 22-ball 52•Getty Images
Meg Lanning produced a vintage knock and Rhys McKenna announced her arrival as a legitimate WBBL force to help the Melbourne Stars beat the Sydney Sixers.On a record-breaking day at North Sydney Oval, Lanning and McKenna produced the fastest-scoring century-stand in WBBL history before rain ended the game early. Sitting at 68 for 2 at the halfway mark, Lanning and McKenna put on 104 runs from 43 balls.Sixers were then 56 for 4 in reply when rain stopped play, falling to a 32-run loss on DLS.McKenna, a 20-year-old, blitzed her 52 from just 22 balls, playing one of the shots of the tournament when she square-drove Ellyse Perry for six. She hit three sixes in total and seven fours, as she and Lanning took the game completely out of Sixers’ control.Lanning was also in imposing form, after helping steady the ship early in her innings. She led the way as the Stars took 28 off one Lauren Cheatle over, cutting a full-toss no-ball from the left-armer for six over point. The former Australian captain also hit one of her classic cover drives for six off spinner Sophie Ecclestone, as Stars hit 127 runs from their final 10 overs.Sixers then lost wickets cheaply in reply, with only Perry scoring an unbeaten 31 after Alyssa Healy was caught behind for 4 on return from a foot injury.
Sri Lanka have a problem of plenty. This is not something that has been true for Sri Lanka Test sides in recent years. Even stranger, the kind of players they have too many are seam bowlers.In their most recent Test at The Oval, Sri Lanka’s quartet of quicks decked England for 156 in the third innings and swung the whole match around. Now, at Galle, one of the most reliably dry tracks in the world, they can’t play four specialist quicks. In fact, they have to drop half their frontline attack.Sri Lanka’s interim coach Sanath Jayasuriya spoke about the sensitivity with which they had to approach the omission of Milan Rathnayake, who in his debut series not only took 11 wickets but also produced decent innings, making 72 at Old Trafford and 43 at Lord’s.Related
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“When you come to the matter of a third fast bowler, you are talking about someone who is one of our best,” Jayasuriya said. “In the last series he [Rathnayake] not only bowled well, he batted very well too. But in Galle you have to bring spinners for the balance of the side.”The seamers make way for the return of the spinners – Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis.’We have to mention Milan specifically, because the things he did on his first tour should be appreciated,” Jayasuriya said. “He played like a mature cricketer. Unfortunately we can’t bring Milan into this XI. We can only play two quicks. Everyone knows what the Galle pitch is like. We already have filled those spots with our two best quicks: Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara.”But Milan doesn’t go out of the side having done anything wrong. I’ve spoken to him personally and impressed on him that these are the reasons, so that he knows for sure. Other players also know that he’s gone out of the side having done well.”Left-armer Vishwa Fernando, the other seamer to be omitted from the XI, had also been excellent at The Oval, bowling one of the most memorable spells of the series. He’s taken 21 wickets at an average of 21.61 this year, but will not play in Galle, with the express pace of Kumara preferred.Sri Lanka’s other conundrum is the wicketkeeping spot. Dinesh Chandimal started as keeper in their last match at The Oval, but appeared to suffer a back injury while keeping in the second innings of that game. In the first match of that series, he’d also been hit on the thumb and as such been unable to keep wickets for several days after.Chandimal will now be moved up to No. 3, however, while Kusal Mendis takes the gloves and moves down the order, possibly to No. 7.”Chandimal won’t keep, and that’s the team’s decision,” Jayasuriya said. “We had to figure out who will come out at No. 3, and it’s very tough for a No. 3 batter to keep wickets. Chandimal has taken the responsibility to bat at No. 3, and he’s doing that for the team and for the country. We have to look after him and give him that confidence.”The batting order Sri Lanka have settled on is to bring Kamindu Mendis, whose batting proficiency was thought by some to be wasted somewhat at No. 7, will now come up to No. 5, where Chandimal used to bat. Meanwhile Kusal takes Kamindu’s old spot.”We talked a lot about how we go about this, because it’s a complicated decision. We talked to Chandimal. Moving him up meant we had to bring someone else into the middle order. If we can bring a wicketkeeper to the lower middler order, that’s the best for this team in terms of balance.”
Manchester United’s side is one that has massively struggled over recent seasons, struggling to match the levels that were produced during Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign.
The Red Devils have now gone 12 whole seasons without a Premier League triumph, with current boss Ruben Amorim the latest to try his luck at Old Trafford.
However, so far, the 40-year-old has been unable to transform the situation, achieving a 40% win rate in his 42 games in the role, leading to a 15th-place league finish this season.
Leeway should be handed his way, however, only having the January transfer window earlier this year to make the additions he wanted to help him in his quest at the club.
However, this summer is a huge period in his stint in charge at the Theatre of Dreams, needing to find the right players for his system if he is to be a success in the role.
The latest on United’s hunt for new additions
Viktor Gyokeres is a player who has been firmly on their radar over the last couple of years, but United now appear to be in pole position for his signature after the latest update on his future.
Warren Zaire-Emery is another surprise name on the club’s shortlist, after the hierarchy made an enquiry to sign the PSG youngster, who’s currently valued at £85m.
However, a new name has entered the mix over the last couple of days, with Borussia Dortmund’s midfield star Felix Nmecha on their radar, according to one Spanish outlet.
They claim that the Red Devils are preparing an offer to land the 24-year-old this summer, with a £28m price tag mooted for his signature in the coming months.
It also states that the former Manchester City academy star could have his head turned by the Red Devils ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, but that the Bundesliga side have no intention of offloading him.
Why United’s £28m target would be perfect for Mbeumo
Bryan Mbeumo has been a name on the lips of all supporters over the last couple of weeks, understandably so given the keen interest in his signature.
The 25-year-old has been a player who’s thrived in the division over recent years, but he produced his best-ever campaign last time around, scoring 20 times in the Premier League for Brentford.
However, a deal hasn’t been easy up until now, with the Red Devils having two separate offers rejected, the latest being a fee in the region of £60m.
A deal should be completed smoothly if a fee is agreed, after the Cameroonian international has agreed personal terms with Amorim’s side over a move to Old Trafford.
He could be boosted in his chances of success should Nmecha move to the club, as the German possesses a lot of qualities that would aid the forward in attacking areas.
Borussia Dortmund's FelixNmechaleaves the pitch
When delving into his stats from this campaign, he’s thrived in numerous key areas, making him the perfect box-to-box option within Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system.
Nmecha, who’s been labelled “exceptional” by former boss Nuri Şahin, has registered an 88% pass accuracy along with 5.1 progressive passes per 90 – subsequently showing why he’d be perfect for Mbeumo and having the tools to provide him with the opportunities needed.
Felix Nmecha’s stats for Dortmund in the Bundesliga (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)
Tally
Games played
26
Goals & assists
5
Pass accuracy
88%
Progressive passes
5.1
Passes into final third
5.4
Progressive carries
1.3
Take-ons completed
65%
Tackles won
1.3
Interceptions made
1.4
Aerials won
1.4
Stats via FBref
He’s also completed 65% of the take-ons he’s attempted, whilst also registering 1.3 progressive carries per 90, further demonstrating his desire to take the ball into forward areas.
The German has also starred without the ball, winning 1.3 tackles per 90 and 1.4 interceptions per 90, making him the perfect ball-winning option in the middle of the park.
£28m for a player of Nmecha’s calibre could prove to be one of the bargain additions of the summer, offering Amorim a new dimension to his midfield and taking the side to new heights.
If he can excel without the ball and provide Mbeumo with added chances in front of goal, it would be a sensational signing and one that could push them back up the table in 2025/26.
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Manchester United appear to be making a move in a deal to sign a new talisman.
Liverpool opted against significant first-team investment after Jurgen Klopp packed his bags and put an end to his Anfield dynasty last summer.
One of the esteemed coach’s final acts, in typically larger-than-life fashion, was to bellow his successor’s name into a mic, Liverpool having finished the 2023/24 Premier League season in third place, and as Carabao Cup champions.
“Arne Slot,” the manager roared, and Liverpool’s fans echoed his rallying cry. It was the end of an era, an illustrious period of sustained success that saw the Reds win the whole gamut after several interminable seasons of disappointment, languishing below their rightful place among the big boys.
Klopp’s decision has been vindicated. Slot has won the Premier League in his first term at the helm, so dominant, taking the team left to him and shaping it into something greater.
Now, though, it is time for first-team investment. The pieces are being moved well ahead of the summer transfer window, and though fans anticipate a raft of exciting arrivals, some departures are needed too.
Darwin Nunez chief among them.
Why Liverpool must sell Darwin Nunez
While the thought of Florian Wirtz driving a Nunez resurgence is tantalising, it’s probably not going to happen.
The Uruguay international, 25, has just completed his third campaign in a Liverpool shirt, and it was probably his least productive yet.
Liverpool'sDarwinNunezreacts
When Nunez arrived in July 2022 for a fee rising to a club-record £85m, he arrived to much fanfare. Here was a robust, athletic and deadly forward who scored 34 goals from 41 matches in his final season for the Portuguese giants.
But he’s failed to make it work in the Premier League. Here’s a statistic: Nunez has only scored 25 goals in the English top flight, featuring 95 times and avoiding any serious stretch in the infirmary.
Darwin Nunez’s Liverpool Career by Season (all comps)
Season
Apps
Goals
Assists
24/25
47
7
7
23/24
54
18
15
22/23
42
15
4
Data via Transfermarkt
Klopp’s tactics are perhaps characterised by their chaos. Nunez, then, embodies some of the German’s core principles, but Slot’s businesslike approach has led to a regression, with the boss even stating in February that he “can’t accept” Nunez’s work-rate.
While the £140k-per-week talent’s time on Merseyside has been defined by wastefulness, this hasn’t really been the case this term. Instead, he’s been reduced to a small part in the grand play, scoring only seven goals across all competitions and starting but once in the Premier League since Boxing Day.
Darwin Nunez warming up for Liverpool
Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Liverpool’s plan is to part ways with the record man, and all parties welcome the prospect. With Saudi suitors interested, Liverpool might just find they can sign a suitable replacement to add to the exciting rebuild Richard Hughes is currently fronting.
Liverpool want to sign a new striker
As per Spanish reports, Liverpool are ready to challenge Newcastle United for Brighton & Hove Albion forward Joao Pedro, who is ready to leave the south coast club this summer.
The clubs in question are ready to meet Brighton’s €70m (£58m) demands, both eager to take the lead in the race.
Despite earlier reports to the contrary, transfer insider Ben Jacobs claims Chelsea are not actively pursuing a move, only enhancing Liverpool’s chances of getting a deal done.
What Joao Pedro would bring to Liverpool
Newcastle’s success in qualifying for the Champions League after Aston Villa were controversially beaten at Old Trafford surely ends Anfield’s hopes of signing Alexander Isak this summer, with PIF set to demand north of £150m for his sale.
Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their first goal
Joao Pedro, conversely, is expected to leave the AMEX, and for a far smaller figure at that. The Brazil forward has been a success since joining Brighton from Championship side Watford in 2023, a deal that narrowly missed the £30m mark.
Across 70 appearances for the Seagulls, the 23-year-old has scored 30 goals and supplied ten assists. However, he’s not defined by his goal metrics, promising though they may be, with Bundesliga commentator Kevin Hatchard hailing his “really magical” quality on the ball.
Beaten by Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch to the Premier League’s Young Player of the Season award, he’s got the physicality and technical ability to become a star under Slot’s wing, smoothly replacing Nunez at number nine.
As per Sofascore, Joao Pedro has only missed 16 big chances across his two top-flight campaigns at Brighton, scoring 19 goals and supplying nine assists. He’s only started 42 matches during this period.
The foundations have been laid, and now Slot can welcome this rising star into his brood and take him to the next level, providing the title winners with a new focal frontman who can provide a richer goal threat while maintaining a dynamic, multi-faceted approach to benefit the likes of Wirtz and Mohamed Salah, among others.
Nunez’s day is done, but in his place, Liverpool can sign a striker capable of proving an upgrade while echoing some of the South American’s finer qualities.
But there’s no denying that Joao Pedro is a sharper and more complete version, as the table below highlights.
Prem 24/25 – Darwin Nunez vs Joao Pedro
Stats (per 90)
Nunez
Joao Pedro
Goals
0.40
0.46
Assists
0.16
0.28
Shots taken
2.70
1.94
Shot-creating actions
2.46
3.33
Touches
29.07
43.43
Touches (att pen)
5.88
5.64
Progressive passes
2.14
3.60
Progressive carries
1.83
3.05
Successful take-ons
0.64
1.34
Tkl + Int
1.99
1.16
Stats via FBref
As you can see, Nunez pales in comparison to the Brighton man, who has yet to reach his potential and already has showcased high-level qualities in the Premier League.
It’s time for change. Nunez will leave Liverpool with the goodwill of the fanbase, but he must indeed depart – especially if a deal for a player like Joao Pedro is in the pipeline.
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Of all Mikel Arteta’s signings as Arsenal boss, there has perhaps been none as controversial as Kai Havertz.
Since the German joined the club for £65m in the summer of 2023, he has faced his fair share of criticism from fans and pundits alike, and considering his slow start to life in North London, scoring one goal and providing one assist in his first 12 Premier League games, it’s wasn’t hard to see why.
However, once he moved up top, things started to look much, much better, and before his hamstring injury in February, the German international had amassed a tally of 32 goal involvements in 47 appearances there for the club.
Yet, if recent reports are to be believed, even a rate of return such as that might not be enough to keep him in the starting lineup, as the club are now confident of signing one of Europe’s most exciting strikers.
Arsenal's striker search
Before getting to the striker in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other top poachers Arsenal are reportedly interested in ahead of the summer transfer window, such as Benjamin Sesko.
The Slovenian international could be available for around £58m at the end of the season and with a tally of 20 goals and six assists in just 41 appearances, that could prove to be value for money.
Closer to home, the Gunners have kept Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins on their shortlist.
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The Englishman is a player liked by new Sporting Director Andrea Berta, and, with a haul of 29 goal involvements in 49 games this term, it’s not hard to see why, although he’s still some way off the club’s most exciting target: Viktor Gyokeres.
According to a recent report from Spain, the North Londoners have maintained their strong interest in the Sporting CP monster and are now ‘confident’ of securing his signature.
Sporting CP's ViktorGyokerescelebrates after the match
However, there is still the small case of his fee, which, according to the report, would be around €70m, which comes out to about £60m.
While that’s a sizable sum of money, this is still a transfer Arsenal should do all they can to get over the line, as Gyokeres could be transformational for them, even if he’d be bad news for Havertz.
How Gyokeres compares to Havertz
Should Arsenal get this transfer over the line and bring Gyokeres to the Emirates next season, it would undoubtedly be with the intention of having him start as many games as possible.
Sporting CP's ViktorGyokerescelebrates scoring their third goal
So, that would also mean that, when fit again, Havertz would be his primary competition for regular game time, but who comes out on top when we compare them?
Well, despite his decent rate of return in the last year or so, the Sporting CP star wipes the floor with the former Chelsea ace when it comes to their raw output, which is, of course, the most important metric for a number nine.
For example, in 46 appearances, totalling 3700 minutes, the Stockholm-born “powerhouse,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored 47 goals and provided 11 assists.
That means he’s currently averaging 1.26 goal involvements per game or one every 63.79 minutes, which only lends credence to ESPN Head Writer Mark Ogdan’s claim that he’s “the hottest striker in Europe.”
Appearances
46
34
Minutes
3700′
2776′
Goals
47
15
Assists
11
5
Goal Involvements per Match
1.26
0.58
Minutes per Goal Involvement
63.79′
138.8′
In comparison, prior to his injury, the former Bayer Leverkusen star had amassed a tally of 15 goals and five assists in 34 appearances, totalling 2776 minutes, which comes out to a less impressive average of a goal involvement every 1.70 games or one every 138.8 minutes.
There is an argument to be made that the Portuguese league is an easier level, but given the extent to which the former Coventry City gem is outperforming the Gunners ace, we reckon he’d still be more prolific in a top-five league.
Ultimately, if Arsenal have the chance to sign Gyokeres this summer, they have to take it, even if it spells the end of regularly starting games for Havertz.
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Zimbabwe-born batter has sights set on higher honours after sparkling in sunshine at The Oval
Matt Roller11-Aug-2025The Hundred’s relentless social-media push for viral moments can make it hard to know where to look across a weekend featuring eight matches, 2,084 runs and 95 wickets. But Tawanda Muyeye’s roar of celebration after Jordan Cox hit the winning runs at a brimming Oval on Saturday afternoon was the culmination of a performance which demanded attention.Muyeye punched the air and shouted in celebration in the south London sunshine, after playing an innings that had been two years in the making. First signed by Oval Invincibles in 2023, he has been backed as a first-choice player this season and his unbeaten 59 off 28 balls to set up a nine-wicket thrashing of Manchester Originals showed precisely why.When Muyeye walked along Cottesloe Beach earlier this year to meet Invincibles coach Tom Moody for coffee, he feared that he was about to be released. He was playing grade cricket in Perth, and knew the retention deadline was imminent. “I was like, ‘Goodness, this could be one of two things: either I’m getting flicked, or he’s going to continue with me,'” Muyeye said.Related
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But Moody was clear in his belief that after struggling to find an opening partner for Will Jacks – Jason Roy and Dawid Malan were both inconsistent – it was time to back Muyeye. “We felt that T was ready to play a frontline position,” Moody said. “He’s come along leaps and bounds over the last 12 months, and has been part of our dressing room for some time now.”Muyeye has had a breakout T20 season for Kent – only D’Arcy Short has scored more than his 516 runs in the Blast – and he believes he is a far better player than the one Moody first signed as a wildcard on Matt Walker and Sam Billings’ recommendation: “Every time I’ve come into this group, I’ve improved so much [from] being around a gun group of cricketers.”His innings on Saturday was dominant, part of an opening stand worth 114 in just 49 balls. Jacks appeared determined to break the back of the game inside the powerplay – he slashed his second ball over deep third for six – and Muyeye soon emerged from his slipstream, hitting his first ball for four and then belting another off James Anderson.
“If I keep working hard, we don’t know what can happen in the future. [International cricket] has always been my dream… But I’m just trying to focus on getting better and being the best player possible.”Tawanda Muyeye
“Jacksy just took the attack to them and I was like, ‘Okay, well, I might as well join the party,'” Muyeye said. “It was good. He took the initiative… I don’t play like that without him, so it was a bit of yin and yang. I think our games complement each other pretty well, and we showed it today.”The most impressive feature of Muyeye’s innings was his takedown of Noor Ahmad: he had never previously faced a left-arm wristspinner in a short-form match, but hit five of Noor’s first six balls for four. It was substance to match his undeniable style. “I just saw a few opportunities, and played my strongest shots against him,” Muyeye said.”We talked about one of their threats being Noor, who is one of the most effective wristspinners in the game,” Moody added. “We talked about concentrating on vertical-bat shots through the off side, and he played a couple of great ones: one just past cover, then one lifted over cover-point. Absorbing information is one thing; being able to execute under pressure is another.”For all of Muyeye’s success in the Blast this year, the Hundred is a step up. His innings on Saturday came in front of a soldout crowd at The Oval, in a televised game, and in a tournament with a concentrated talent pool. “For me personally, this is the closest thing to international cricket there is,” he said.!function(){“use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var t in a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data[“datawrapper-height”][t]+”px”;r.style.height=d}}})}();
Muyeye’s path to international honours may not be straightforward. He moved to the UK as an asylum seeker when he was a teenager – his mother felt unsafe at home in Zimbabwe as a supporter of the opposition party – and his winter plans are up in the air: “I need to apply for my leave-to-remain, all that sort of jazz.”But his long-term ambition is to play Test cricket for England, and innings like these can only help his case. “It’s obviously proof that you can do it, and if I keep working hard, then we don’t know what can happen in the future. [International cricket] has always been my dream… But I’m just trying to focus on getting better and being the best player possible.”For Moody, Muyeye’s next task is to prove he can win games consistently. “The Hundred is an opportunity for him to do that, along with his cricket at Kent… If he continues to do that and to evolve like he has done over the last 12 months, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t present himself as an exciting option [for England].”If he can, Muyeye will significantly boost the Invincibles’ bid for a third successive title – and repay Moody’s faith in him. “That clarity [means that] when you go into the summer, you know that all you need to do is get your game in good order, and everything takes care of itself. I’m so blessed that a day like [Saturday] happens at The Oval, my favourite ground. I’m a lucky boy.”
The economy rates were eye-watering but Pat Cummins and co did produce key spells to help retain the urn
Andrew McGlashan29-Jul-2023The Ashes remain in Australia’s hands, but over the five Tests their attack has come under a sustained bombardment like nothing they have felt before. They were under pressure from ball one of the series when Zak Crawley drove through the covers at Edgbaston. None of the frontline bowlers will finish with an economy rate of less than four an over, while overall it’s comfortably the least maidens Australia have managed in a series of at least five matches.To their credit, they have had only one innings where things completely blew out – when England piled up 592 at Old Trafford – and they were able to make inroads often enough in the first two Tests to take the 2-0 lead that ultimately has proved the difference in the series. At times they have responded to the pressure well, but England have also held the upper hand for significant stretches, particularly in the latter part of the series, which has left Australia chasing their tails.Related
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With only one more wicket to take, should England decide to bat on at The Oval, here’s a look over how Australia’s bowlers have fared over the five Tests.
Mitchell Starc (23 wickets at 26.82, economy 4.85)
After the 2019 series where he played just one Test, this has been a significant success story for Starc. He was again omitted for the opening game at Edgbaston but since then has been ever present, fighting a shoulder injury to complete the series at The Oval. Four years ago he tried to buy into the team philosophy of bowling dry, but economy rates were always likely to skewed in this series and that worked to Starc’s strength of being a strike bowler. He was particularly impressive at Lord’s and Headingley, but saved one of his best deliveries for the final Test when he cleaned up Ben Stokes with a late-swinging beauty.
Pat Cummins (18 wickets at 37.72, economy 4.27)
At times he was the usual irrepressible Cummins, notably the second innings at Edgbaston and Lord’s (where he produced one of the balls of the series to remove Harry Brook) and, largely, the first innings at Headingley. In a sign of his durability, having played all six Tests on the trip, he saved one of his best spells for the opening day at The Oval, which only earned him one wicket. However, at Old Trafford he suffered the worst outing of his career where captaincy and bowling challenges collided and rarely has he had the sustained pressure on the batters he is so accustomed to. In the latter two Tests of the series, he has (with one wicket left) managed just three at 91.33 and gone for more than five an over. Often, because of deep-set fields, England have been able to rotate the strike against his natural good length by dropping and running into the off side. His average is comfortably the highest where he has played at least three matches in a series.
Josh Hazlewood (16 wickets at 31.68, economy 4.56)
Before the series, after being ruled out of the World Test Championship final against India, Hazlewood said that playing three Ashes Tests would be minimum for him to be satisfied after a stop-start two years due to injury. In the end he managed four, being rotated out for Headingley, and at times has been able to produce threatening spells. He had a big impact on the final day at Lord’s, claiming Ben Duckett and then the vital wicket of Ben Stokes to end his stunning 155. The delivery to remove Brook on the third day at The Oval was trademark Hazlewood, lifting and nipping away on off stump, but sometimes there was a feeling of a bowler who may have passed his peak. Or perhaps that was just the Bazball effect.
Scott Boland (2 wickets at 115.50, economy 4.91)
Boland entered the series on the back of an outstanding showing in the WTC final – at which point he had 33 wickets at 14.57 from eight Tests – but the Ashes proved a tougher prospect as England embarked what appeared a calculated approach to take him down in the opening Test where he conceded 5.65 an over. The one moment he looked really threatening was under the lights on the third evening at Edgbaston and he bowled better than a wicketless return at Headingley would suggest.
Todd Murphy (6 wickets at 30.16, economy 4.82)
Murphy has had huge shoes to fill after the injury to Nathan Lyon and only really in his final bowling innings of the series had a chance to get into his work. He was hit by a Stokes onslaught at Headingley (but did get him out) and was only used for two overs in England’s chase. Then, for first time in 11 years, Australia went without a specialist spinner at Old Trafford. Recalled at The Oval, he has shown his mettle and produced a ripping delivery, aided by some low bounce, to remove Joe Root.
Mitchell Marsh (3 wickets at 55.66, economy 4.91)
He did a handy job at Headingley on his recall where his nipping outswingers twice removed Zak Crawley. It was a surprise he did not bowl to Crawley at Old Trafford until he had 112. At The Oval he has largely managed to hold his economy as well as anyone. In the allrounder debate that looks set to follow for the Test team, the question could be how his body can sustain the workload.
Cameron Green (5 wickets at 47.00, economy 5.14)
Green was a willing participant in the short-ball plan at Lord’s after the attack lost Lyon and was the first bowler to, marginally at least, slow England’s rampant scoring at Old Trafford. The fact England’s innings have not extended for too long has reduced the need for the fifth bowler.
Nathan Lyon (9 wickets at 29.33, economy 4.00)
Lyon limping off the ground at Lord’s, in his 100th consecutive Test, felt like a huge moment. Without two days of rain in Manchester, it might have been Ashes defining. He had been superb at Edgbaston, holding his nerve against England’s aggression, and defeating Root in the second innings was a key dismissal. Australia will hope they are several years away from having to replace him permanently, but this was a window into the size of that task.
Left-arm wristspinner has developed the hard way to seize chance with Birmingham Bears
Matt Roller21-Jun-2021There is no good time to test positive for Covid-19 but for Jake Lintott, Sunday was a particularly frustrating one. He is due to miss at least three Birmingham Bears fixtures in the Vitality Blast while self-isolating, and the fact that the first ended in defeat underlined his importance to the side since the start of last year, during which time he has been their leading wicket-taker.Lintott, a 28-year-old left-arm wristspinner who bowls nearly as many googlies as stock balls, had played three T20s for Gloucestershire in 2018 and a single one for Hampshire the year before, but as he headed into his late 20s, appeared destined for a career playing club, minor counties and second-team cricket, which he combined with a job as director of cricket at Queen’s College, Taunton. His success for the Bears – Warwickshire’s T20 moniker – in the Blast seemed a long way off 15 months ago.Lintott had been due to travel to La Manga on Warwickshire’s pre-season tour last March after Ian Westwood, the 2nd XI coach, had talked him up following some impressive performances the previous summer, but when the UK went into lockdown, he was furloughed from his job and uncertain about what lay ahead.Related
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“I was in a bit of a grey area,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “I didn’t know where counties were going to come out financially at the end of it, and everything was a bit uncertain. When I got furloughed from the school job, I tried to use lockdown as a big opportunity to focus on me and invest as much time as I wanted to in myself.Having struggled to find time to focus on his fitness while working during the week and playing every weekend, Lintott took up running and lost nearly three stone (18kg). “When you’re in a full-time working environment, it can be really hard to find time for yourself. I’ve always moved quite well, even as a biggish lad, but to lose weight, it means the perception disappears and it’s another box ticked. I think it was the last thing I had to do [to earn a contract].”He had spent time on Zoom with Graeme Welch, the club’s bowling coach, working on his action – “it sounds bizarre that he was coaching me through a computer screen” – but turned up to a second-team game before the Blast and left the coaching staff taken aback: “I think I looked like a completely different person, having lost all that weight.”On the first day of the 2020 group stage, he signed a short-term contract to cover the five weeks of Blast cricket, which he combined with his job at Queen’s, regularly driving 130 miles up to Edgbaston and then 130 more back down to Taunton. While the Bears missed out on the quarter-finals after letting a winning position slip against Northamptonshire in their final group game, Lintott’s return – 10 wickets in nine games, with an economy rate of just 6.30 – marked him out as one of the season’s breakout stars.After discussions over the winter – during which time he briefly trained with Jack Leach while working as a pathway spin coach for Somerset – Warwickshire offered him his first professional deal in February, which he is combining with his job at Queen’s this season. He took eight wickets in his first five games in the Blast and since 2020, only three spinners – Matt Parkinson, Danny Briggs and Dan Moriarty – have taken more wickets in the competition; all three have a higher average and economy rate than Lintott.ESPNcricinfo Ltd”I’ve trained a couple of days a week since February up in Birmingham: travelled up, stayed overnight, two days of training, back to the school,” he said. “To be honest, I’ve had no days off since April. It’s tough work but it’s all worth it.”For a while I felt like I’d been a bit unfairly treated. It’s quite hard to break into the county system once you’ve reached a certain age, and that was a good example of it. I felt like I was good enough but my age was holding me back. Because I do lots of coaching I understand that people develop at different ages, but I’m not sure the system here allows players to come in late. The fact I’m different and you see how big wristspin has become in T20 has always kept me going but it has taken a lot of determination. It would have been easy just to give up.”Naturally, he attributes much of his success to his novelty factor. Tabraiz Shamsi, Kuldeep Yadav, Zahir Khan and Noor Ahmad have made reputations for themselves around the world, and the percentage of balls bowled by left-arm wristspinners in T20s around the world has grown fourfold over the last eight years, according to ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball data. But they remain as rare as Fabergé eggs in England, a graveyard for unorthodoxy: Lintott is already the all-time leading wicket-taker among left-arm wristspinners in the Blast’s history.”I think I’m the only contracted one in the country,” he said. “D’Arcy Short does it for Hampshire on a part-time basis and there are young lads in the academies at Northants [Freddie Heldreich] and Yorkshire [Sam Wisniewski] but there’s really not much of it about. That’s definitely an advantage: it’s just different, isn’t it? And that’s a big thing in T20, being unpredictable. It makes me harder for batters to line up, because they’re not used to it. It’s good fun, as much as anything.”While Lintott has had to put up with various coaches suggesting he revert to bowling left-arm orthodox, wristspin has always come naturally to him. When he was nine years old, he naturally bowled out the back of his hand while masquerading as a seamer, and once he had realised wristspin was a viable option, he pursued it seriously. “It’s nice to be able to spin the ball both ways. That’s the best thing about it: my job is to take wickets and make batters look a bit silly.”
“I’m a really ambitious guy and want to take my cricket as far as I possibly can. That’s shown in how hard I’ve had to work to get here”Jake Lintott
The arrival of Briggs, the slow left-armer who is the Blast’s all-time leading wicket-taker, at Warwickshire has worked in his favour, with their bowling styles and personalities naturally complementing each other. “I’m quite emotional and eccentric and like to get into the battle, whereas he’s chilled and level-headed. He never really gets hit which means players have to start coming hard at me; that brings me into the game, spinning it both ways.”I’ve been working on being more effective to left-handers: generally people think of me as spinning the ball away from them and into right-handers, but I bowl a lot of googlies – near enough a 50:50 split. With right-handers trying to slog me leg-side, I get wickets and dot balls going across them, whereas with left-handers, my legspinner doesn’t rip quite as much as my googly, just because of my angles. I make it a big part of my routine to do analysis on where opposition batters like to hit boundaries, and where I can get dot balls to them.”Things have clicked for the Bears so far, joint-top of the North Group halfway through the group stage, with two players in particular standing out for Lintott. “I’m obviously biased, but how Sam Hain has not played for England is remarkable: he’s easily the best white-ball batter in the country at the moment. Carlos Brathwaite has added a lot to the group as an overseas player, too – in terms of character, and obviously match-winning performances with bat and ball.”It was Brathwaite, a Manchester United fan, who came up with the idea for Lintott’s newly-minted celebration: fists together with the thumb and forefinger pointing out to make a ‘J’ and an ‘L’, evoking midfielder Jesse Lingard’s trademark ‘J-Lingz’ pose. “A few lads got their hair cut before we were on Sky but I don’t need to worry about that… I guess T20’s all about fun, isn’t it?”Propelling the Bears to a top-two finish in North Group after returning from self-isolation is his immediate focus, with a ‘wildcard’ spot in the Hundred or opportunities with Warwickshire in the Royal London Cup potentially down the line. “I know if I keep taking wickets I’ll be in with a shout,” he said. “I’m a really ambitious guy and want to take my cricket as far as I possibly can. That’s shown in how hard I’ve had to work to get here. I’m just happy to finally be settled with a county: I’ve got three years to invest in Warwickshire, because they have invested in me.”
Arsenal wonderkid Max Dowman is reportedly facing a lengthy spell out after suffering an ankle ligament injury. The 15-year-old was in action in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Manchester United at the weekend and was left hurt after a heavy challenge.
Dowman joins the treatment room
Dowman made history at just 15 years and 308 days when he featured for 18 minutes in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Slavia Prague in the Champions League. However, the teenager is facing a brief pause in his development and could be out for around two months, as reported by
Although he does not require surgery, the injury is serious enough to rule him out for a significant time, long enough for UEFA’s updated regulations to permit a squad replacement in European competition. Arsenal confirmed the news on Tuesday, removing the England youth international from their Champions League squad and adding Gabriel Jesus in his place.
A club statement read: "Gabriel Jesus has replaced Max Dowman on our UEFA A list with immediate effect. Therefore, Gabby is eligible to play in our match against Club Brugge in Belgium on Wednesday night. Max, who picked up an ankle injury playing for our under-21s on Saturday, will be added to our UEFA B list in January, but will not be permitted to play in any UEFA competitions for 60 days from today (February 6)."
Speaking ahead of Wednesday night’s Champions League fixture against Club Brugge, Mikel Arteta could not hide his frustration at yet another fitness blow within his already depleted squad.
"Yeah, a big one. I mean, losing Max again, it's obviously not ideal with Leo [Trossard], who is just coming back, that we have to manage the minutes," he said.
"Max [Dowman] picked up an injury last weekend and had to come off. So he did some scans and he is going to be out for weeks and then we have the situation of Gabi [Jesus], who we were expecting to be training with us by the end of December. Gabi has been pushing every single day and he kept telling everybody 'I am going to be earlier, earlier, earlier' and he has done it. So thanks to his work and all the work that the medical staff have done in all these months, and we had the possibility to make a swap there and we have done it. Yes, on one side, you see Max and the situation and on the other, you see the joy and how happy Gabi is to be back in the Champions League."
Speaking to the club’s matchday programme, Jesus expressed both relief and caution.
"I'm feeling great, my knee is responding very well. I'm looking forward to being around the team again soon, to come back to do what I love to do," the Brazilian said. "It's been too long, this one is the biggest injury I've had in my life. An injury like this, one that is so long, you split up the recovery periods into smaller timings. So now I'm at the stage where I need to hold myself back a little bit because I'm doing great work off the pitches, but it's tricky because I need to not rush myself too hard over the line. When you can see the end it's important you don't push too hard, keep my feet on the floor, and then as soon as the time comes, I will be ready."
Breakthrough season paused but not derailed
Dowman’s rise this season has been swift. After starring in pre-season for Arsenal, he made his senior debut in August as a substitute in the 5-0 win over Leeds United, becoming the second-youngest player ever to appear for the club. Since then, he has collected five senior appearances and assisted once. Off the pitch, Arsenal confirmed in October that Dowman had agreed scholarship terms, paving the way for a professional contract when he turns 17.
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AFPArsenal aim to rebound against beleaguered Brugge
Arsenal travel to Belgium seeking a timely response after their last-minute Premier League defeat at Aston Villa on Saturday. While injuries continue to present challenges, the Gunners enter the fixture with a flawless record in the Champions League with five wins from five games. Their opponents, meanwhile, are in turmoil as Club Brugge dismissed head coach Nicky Hayen on Monday after a poor run of two wins in seven.