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Tottenham Hotspur have “mounting interest” in Allan Saint-Maximin…

What’s the word?

That’s according to The Northern Echo’s chief sports writer Scott Wilson, who claims that Newcastle United are bracing themselves for formal inquiries over the French winger, with Spurs and Chelsea said to be very keen.

“TRANSFER LATEST:#NUFCcould find themselves with a decision to make over Allan Saint-Maximin this summer – amid mounting interest from both Chelsea and Spurs…” he tweeted alongside an accompanying article.

Despite the captures of Raheem Sterling at Stamford Bridge and Richarlison at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it appears as if the 25-year-old gem is a wanted man.

It remains to be seen exactly how much it would take to lure Saint-Maximin away from the northeast, with CIES Football Observatory currently valuing him at €40m (£34m). The Athletic believe it would take in excess of £40m, however.

Spurs’ next Ginola

This would certainly be a shock and surprising move from the Lilywhites, but that’s exactly how sporting director Fabio Paratici likes to operate, and the Magpies trickster would bring plenty of exciting flair to north London.

Given his ability, Saint-Maximin has earned some comparisons to that of ex-Tottenham star David Ginola, who came to Spurs from St James’ Park in the 1990s.

The French dynamo now has more goals for Newcastle than his 55-year-old fellow countryman and has certainly lived up to the billing as one of their most exhilarating entertainers in the Premier League era.

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“Can he be a David Ginola? He can be anything he wants to be, let’s be brutally honest, he can be anything he wants to be,” Saint-Maximin’s former manager Steve Bruce once claimed, adding: “I hope in time that little bit of maturity, which will surely come one day… and yet, you’ve got to still have that maverick in him which makes him the player that he is.”

Meanwhile, Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has dubbed the 25-year-old “breathtaking” at times.

Saint-Maximin topped the charts for dribbles per game in the English top flight last season by quite some margin. He averaged 4.3 successful attempts, 1.9 more than Dwight McNeil and Wilfried Zaha, which goes to show just how electric he can be down the wing.

Also dubbed “unplayable” and an “incredible talent”, it’s clear that the Newcastle gem would add a new dimension to Antonio Conte’s team, even if there’s not an obvious fit for him in the current setup.

Paratici could well find Ginola 2.0 in a swoop for Saint-Maximin this summer.

AND in other news, Paratici in talks to seal “Lampard-type” £43m gem, could be bye-bye “lazy” Spurs flop…

Phil Hay has dropped an update on the future of reported Leeds United transfer target Charles De Ketelaere.

What’s the latest?

In a recent post on Twitter, The Athletic journalist revealed that, despite Victor Orta being more than happy to match both Club Brugge’s asking price and the 21-year-old’s salary demands, it has been made clear to the Whites’ director of football that the attacking midfielder would favour a move to AC Milan ahead of Elland Road this summer.

In his tweet, Hay said: “In terms of what next for Leeds in the transfer market, they’re happy to match Club Brugge and Charles De Ketelaere’s demands but it’s been made clear to them that CDK favours a move to Milan.”

Orta will be livid

Considering just how exciting a signing De Ketelaere would be for Leeds, coupled with the fact that the Whites are willing to meet both the club and player’s demands in their move for the forward, Hay’s update claiming that the Belgium international would nevertheless prefer a move to the San Siro this summer is sure to have left Orta livid.

Indeed, over his 39 league fixtures in 2021/22, the £27m-rated talent undoubtedly proved how exciting a prospect he truly is, scoring 14 goals, providing nine assists and creating 16 big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 2.0 shots, making 1.8 key passes and completing 1.4 dribbles per fixture.

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These returns saw the £17k-per-week forward average a quite remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.25, ranking him not only as Brugge’s fourth-best performer in the Jupiler Pro League but also the 13th-best player in the division as a whole.

The 21-year-old also caught the eye over his six Champions League outings last season, registering one assist and creating one big chance, as well as taking an average of 1.5 shots, making 1.8 key passes and completing one dribble per fixture.

These metrics saw the eight-cap international average a SofaScore match rating of 6.98, ranking him as Alfred Schreuder’s second-best performer in Europe’s most prestigious club competition.

As such, it is not difficult to understand why Orta is so keen to secure a deal for De Ketelaere this summer, nor is it hard to see why Hay’s latest update regarding the Whites’ pursuit of the Belgian sensation will come as extremely frustrating news for the Spanish sporting director and Jesse Marsch alike.

AND in other news: Orta can seal “the best summer signing” as Leeds plot bid for “massive” £17.5m target

Liverpool are hopeful of tying down Joe Gomez to a new contract, according to a report from The Mirror. 

The lowdown: Difficult campaign for Gomez

Once considered the favoured partner alongside Virgil van Dijk, the man signed from Charlton Athletic in 2015 has found himself down the pecking order in recent times.

Joel Matip seemingly usurped the Englishman in 2021/22, whilst new arrival Ibrahima Konate also overtook the 25-year-old in Jurgen Klopp’s preferred options.

That’s despite the Londoner making a successful return from a serious knee injury last term. However, Gomez was unable to recapture his best form when called upon, and that has sparked speculation regarding a potential move away from Anfield this summer…

The latest: Gomez’s future to be sorted

As per The Mirror, Liverpool’s newly-appointed sporting director Julian Ward will be tasked with ‘convincing’ Gomez to stay on Merseyside.

It’s claimed that the Reds are looking to tie down a ‘number of their key players to long-term contracts’ this summer but it’s the future of the 11-cap England ace which could prove the most problematic for FSG.

The report also claimed that the man once hailed as a ‘sensational footballer’ by Klopp following a stellar run of form in 2020 has become ‘frustrated’ with a lack of regular action for Liverpool and will therefore be viewed as a priority for Ward and co.

Darwin’s a Red! Get your special edition Darwin Nunez tee here.

The verdict: Agreement needed

With Gomez currently under contract until 2024 (Transfermarkt), there doesn’t feel a need to rush into a new deal for any party. However, with doubts hanging over the defender’s future and with the World Cup on the horizon, Liverpool need to appease an important member of the squad.

Last season, the 25-year-old made 20 appearances across all competitions, filling in as a right-back on 10 occasions. That was a much lower return than the 43 outings he made in his last injury-free campaign in 2019/20, when he was a huge part of the team which lifted the Premier League title.

Having played such an important role in numerous trophy successes in a world-class team, there can be no doubting Gomez’s ability, so securing his future as part of the succession plan for the club beyond this summer is crucial for Liverpool.

Likewise, FSG may still remain hopeful of securing a new deal for Mohamed Salah in what is a huge first summer for Ward in the job.

In other news, a transfer expert has dropped a key Liverpool claim. Read more here

Manchester City have been linked with a transfer move for Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from The Scotsman, the defender is on a list of potential left-back options for the Manchester club this summer.

After working his way through Celtic’s youth ranks, the Scotland international went on to make 170 senior appearances for the Hoops across all competitions.

In those appearances, the left-back found the net eight times and delivered 37 assists along the way.

Back in August 2019, Tierney then joined Arsenal in a deal worth £25m, where he has since gone on to score four goals and provide 12 assists in 86 appearances.

Earlier this year, Barry Ferguson claimed that should a side like Real Madrid sign the former Celtic star for a fee of £50m, this would be a bargain for them, which shows just how highly rated he is.

Guardiola’s new warrior

With 64 Premier League appearances under his belt for the Gunners, the 25-year-old has shown how much of a capable attacking figure he can be as well as a solid defensive unit.

From the attacking point of view, Tierney has made 209 crosses, 83 dribbles and racked up 107 shot-creating actions.

In terms of his defensive talent, the left-back has tackled 71 players whilst making 485 pressures, 107 blocks, 61 interceptions and 167 clearances.

This shows how much of a well-rounded player he is up and down the pitch and why he’s caught the eye of the Citizens.

Praised for his “unbelievable” understanding with fellow Scotsman Andy Robertson on the international stage by former Scotland striker Kris Boyd, Tierney would certainly be a solid addition to City’s ranks.

Having also been labelled as a “warrior” by former Premier League full-back Ashley Cole, the Arsenal star could be just what Pep Guardiola would want in his side from both a defensive and offensive point of view.

Taking into account how City have not been shy when it comes to signing players from fellow Premier League clubs in the past, a move for the defender is definitely not out of their reach should they look to go after him this summer.

In other news: Pep can land his own Vinicius as Man City eye swoop for “exciting” £100m-rated maestro

According to The Athletic journalist David Ornstein, Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Brice Samba has turned down the offer of a new contract and wishes to leave the club this summer.

The Lowdown: Forest secure promotion

Samba arrived at the City Ground from Caen back in 2019, where he has featured 133 times for the club during his three-year spell in the Championship.

The 28-year-old enjoyed a hugely successful season with the Reds as they managed to secure promotion to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years following a 1-0 victory over Huddersfield Town at Wembley.

However, now entering the final 12 months of his contract with Steve Cooper’s side, a decision regarding his future with the Midlands outfit will soon have to be made, and following a fresh update, it appears as though the shot-stopper knows exactly the next steps he wants to take.

The Latest: Samba’s decision revealed

In a post on his personal Twitter account, Ornstein confirmed that Samba doesn’t have any intentions of staying at Forest.

“EXCL: Nottingham Forest suffer major blow as goalkeeper Brice Samba informs club he won’t be signing new contract (deal ends 2023) and reluctantly intends to leave this summer. NFFC still hopeful but 28yo deemed recent offer unacceptable.”

Expanding further in his column for The Athletic, the journalist stated that the keeper’s decision to turn the new proposal down is said ‘not to be financially motivated’, but more based on respect for his ‘achievements, importance and popularity’ at the club.

The source claims that Forest have directly told them that ‘talks are taking place’ with the player, and that they ‘remain determined’ to retain his services beyond the upcoming window.

The Verdict: Samba’s penalty heroics

Samba has become a favourite amongst fans during his time in England and played such a key role in the jump up to the top-flight, most notably for his incredible penalty shootout heroics against Sheffield United.

The Linzolo-born talent made 45 outings across all competitions for Forest this season, keeping a total of 16 clean sheets, as per Transfermarkt, and effectively played the number one role having been chosen as first-choice keeper by the Welsh boss.

Cooper has a great relationship with Samba, but whether that will be enough to convince him to stay at the club for their first campaign back in the Premier League yet remains to be seen.

In other news… a club have reportedly made an offer in a bid to sign one of Forest’s 2021/22 standout performers.

Wolves centre-back Romain Saiss was ‘waving goodbye’ to supporters after his team’s Premier League clash against Norwich City at the weekend, according to journalist Tim Spiers.

The Lowdown: Wolves draw with Norwich

It has been a disappointing end to the season for Bruno Lage’s side, who bowed out at Molineux for another campaign with a 1-1 draw against the relegated Canaries on Sunday afternoon.

It means that Wolves’ European dream is over for another year but the players still got a nice reception from the crowd as they showed their appreciation after the final whistle.

It was a moment to gauge the body language of some, in order to see if it looked as though they were saying their farewells in the Black Country.

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The Latest: Spiers reckons Saiss was ‘waving goodbye’

That certainly appeared to be the case with Saiss, with Spiers taking to Twitter to claim that the Moroccan may have played at Molineux for the last time as he shared a clip of the Wolves players acknowledging the fans in a post-match lap of honour.

The journalist tweeted: “Saiss at the end there. Waving goodbye you’d have to say.”

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The Verdict: Great servant for Wolves

It makes sense for Saiss to move on at this point, with his contract expiring next month. At 32, it would seem that his best days are no longer in front of him.

He should be remembered as a brilliant servant for Wolves, though, with the Moroccan making 206 appearances for the club, scoring 15 goals for good measure and standing out as one of their best performers this term.

It is now a case of replacing Saiss, who has been such a reliable and regular part of the defence for a number of years, to ensure that Lage’s side remain as defensively savvy next season as they were for the bulk of 2021/22.

In other news, Spiers has also lamented the decline of one Wolves player. Find out who it is here.

He’s only played three T20Is, but he’s confident he has the skills to bowl four overs regularly and finish games with the bat

Deivarayan Muthu in Hyderabad04-Dec-20191:07

‘Not thinking about replacing Hardik’ – Shivam Dube

India’s latest allrounder Shivam Dube has a bit of swagger about him, both on and off the field. You might have noticed that swagger when he launches mighty sixes for Mumbai or India A. On Wednesday evening, he showed similar swagger in front of the mic in Hyderabad and sounded out a warning to West Indies, the reigning world champions in the shortest format.”I think India is the best team in world cricket and we’re going to win the series,” he said.That confidence stems from having played a crucial role in India winning their most-recent T20I series, against Bangladesh last month. In the series decider in Nagpur, India gambled by picking just five bowlers, including Dube, who had bowled a mere three balls on his T20I debut in Delhi, and then just two overs in the second match in Rajkot.ALSO READ: Dube ready to ‘be the player the Indian team needs’In Nagpur, with the series on the line, Dube teamed up with Deepak Chahar and triggered a game-changing Bangladesh collapse. Dube had leaked 23 runs in his first two overs, and when he returned to the attack for the 14th over, Bangladesh needed 65 from 42 balls with seven wickets in hand, with half-centurion Mohammad Naim and the vastly experienced Mushfiqur Rahim in the middle.Dube struck with the first ball of his new spell, tricking Mushfiqur with a slower cutter and having him chop on for a golden duck. Then, in his next over, he nailed an off-stump yorker to get rid of Naim for 81. Chahar ran amok at the other end and bagged 6 for 7 – the best figures ever in men’s T20I cricket – but it was Dube’s double-strike that had cracked the game open.’Don’t worry, I’m going to show my game and win the matches for India’ – Shivam Dube•BCCISo is he good enough to bowl four overs consistently, as India look to fill in the Hardik Pandya-sized hole in their side?”Yes, I’m very confident as a bowler,” Dube said two days before the T20I series opener against West Indies. “It’s a T20 game and yes every bowler gets a bad game and a good game. So, I prepare myself for very good situations and I feel I can be in the bowling side also as a proper bowler who can bowl four overs and I’ve done that job. It really feels good.”While Dube admitted that the step-up to international cricket hasn’t been easy, he believed that he could do the job as a finisher with the bat too. Dube was Mumbai’s finisher in the recently-concluded 20-overs Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the 50-overs Vijay Hazare Trophy. In a Group A clash against eventual champions Karnataka in the Vijay Hazare tournament, he clattered a 67-ball 118 from No.6 and nearly powered Mumbai to victory out of nowhere in a chase of 313.”Yes, [the switch from domestic to international cricket] has been very difficult and being an allrounder is a difficult job and [it’s] more important for me to prepare my fitness level because as allrounder you need to bat and bowl also. The fitness is really a difficult job and yes I’ve done something and I’m proving it,” Dube said. “I’ll go more further.”It helps Dube that he has the backing from India’s team management as well, and he is in line to make his ODI debut following the T20I series against West Indies. This, after chief selector MSK Prasad delivered a glowing appraisal of his performances for India A.”Everyone is supporting me very highly,” Dube said. “The support from the captain and support staff has been very good for me and they give me a lot of confidence. So, [I] felt really happy and relaxed in the dressing room and the ground also.”If you’re still wondering whether he will fit into the dual role for India, he has asked you to stop worrying about him.”Yes sir, I’ve prepared a lot. Don’t worry, I’m going to show my game and win the matches for India.”

Fronting in Dhaka for his 68th Test, Nathan Lyon, at last, talks more forcefully now. The words themselves don’t explode but are delivered with greater oomph, reflective of his seniority

Adam Collins in Dhaka25-Aug-2017As the Prime Minister tossed the coin, Nathan Lyon watched formalities alongside the pitch. It was January 2010, he was 22 and captain of the Western Districts Cricket Club in Canberra. He was also on the ground staff at Manuka Oval where the PM’s XI fixture is played annually. Lyon was in his work boots and shorts, so close yet so very far from professional cricket.”No one is taking wickets today,” Lyon said to me (then a team-mate at Wests) with a smile when asked about the track he had been involved in preparing for the Prime Minister’s XI and the touring West Indies. He knew what was coming: Chris Gayle slugged 146 in 89 balls from a tally of 399 for 5 back when those numbers meant something truly excessive.Then, Lyon was young in age but old-school in appearance, a proper cricketer rather than an athlete who happened to excel at the game, and barely more muscular than he is today. From pitch whisperer to Australia’s first-choice tweaker 18 months on, the tale doesn’t get any less remarkable. This week in Dhaka, barring any major glitch, he will have taken more Test wickets than Richie Benaud, for so long the gold standard in Australian spin.Fronting in Dhaka for his 68th Test, Australia’s most capped player now, at last, talks more forcefully. The words themselves don’t explode but are delivered with greater oomph, reflective of his seniority. For example, in response to Shakib Al Hasan’s proposition that the Bangladesh spinners are better placed to turn the series than Australia’s, he stands up for the younger colleagues he is now shepherding into the international game. “It is a big statement to come out and say that,” he said spikily.It helps that Lyon is now the team’s undisputed senior spinner. As recently as a year ago, he returned from a Sri Lankan pasting with a looser hold on his position than had been the case since Ashton Agar nabbed it off him momentarily in 2013. He returned home with a bowling average in Asia that had swelled to over 40. Later, he spoke about flogging himself in the nets in January to ensure the lacklustre form didn’t repeat when they arrived in India in February.It wouldn’t. His 19 wickets in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was punctuated by two masterful performances. In Bengaluru, his 8 for 50 was a triumph of control. In Dharamsala’s series-decider, his 5 for 92 was different, needed to drag his side back into a contest, throwing the ball up with high risk to earn maximum reward.He speaks of the leap taken by the team during the four Tests, but the words are more directly applicable to him than any other. “We have grown a lot,” he says. “It was disappointing not to get over the line. But to win a game there, in those conditions in Pune, was very special. The team got a lot of belief out of that.”Lyon can also draw from a home side full of left-handers. Overall, he buys his wickets nearly seven runs cheaper against left-handers, and for just 24 apiece when taking them on in Asia. He could be excused for quietly licking his Zinc-covered lips.But it’s noteworthy that he now won’t have the experience of Steve O’Keefe as his partner, omitted despite also claiming 19 Indian wickets, including 12 in the Pune romp. Steven Smith signalled this was a decision taken with an eye to future Indian adventures that Agar and Mitchell Swepson will both be closer to their conventional prime.That Lyon has seen off O’Keefe as a longer-term challenger for the number one spinner spot is a victory for his resilient body, always the more sturdy of the pair and seldom injured. On various occasions, the left-arm orthodox looked the more attractive of the two, but the offspinner is the last man standing.As for O’Keefe’s replacements, Lyon has given both the 23-year-olds an emphatic tick. Especially Agar. “I’ve seen him improve out of sight,” Lyon said of the man almost certain to get the opportunity alongside him. “He’s confident in his own game and he’s expressing himself. You have to believe in yourself. He’s in the right mindset so if Ash gets a nod, I’ve got no doubt he’ll perform.”When asked to turn his attention to the Benaud milestone, Lyon is predictably coy. “Got to get there first,” he said. “I’ve always said from day one in my career, at the end I’ll look back and see where I get to. But I’m not here to make milestones.” Just as it was the case for the politician he watched from close quarters all those years ago, no one can accuse him of departing from the script.Like Benaud, Lyon was an Australian cricketer before he was ready for it. Unlike Benaud, with his broader responsibilities, Lyon’s body and mind are focused on nothing other than wickets and wins. For that comes acclaim and attention he may never enjoy as much as many of those he shares a change room with, but it’s recognition he has truly earned.

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Apr-2016Robin Uthappa was dismissed early, but Manish Pandey was in prime hitting form. He made 52 off a mere 29 balls•BCCIMumbai’s fielding was a bit below par. Rohit dropped a catch in the ninth over and Jasprit Bumrah dropped one in the 17th•AFPGautam Gambhir, the beneficiary on both occasions, held Knight Riders together with his 64 off 52 balls•BCCIWhile Andre Russell’s big hitting powered them to 187 for 5•BCCIMumbai began their chase with a solid 53-run opening stand, but it ended when Parthiv Patel misjudged a single and was run out•BCCIKnight Riders’ spinners were taking hold when Mumbai sprang a surprise by sending Mitchell McClenaghan at No. 4. The New Zealand fast bowler struck 20 off only eight balls•BCCIJos Buttler carried that momentum forward, striking three fours and three sixes in his 22-ball 41•BCCIKolkata’s three spinners cost 101 runs but Russell had the worst figures – four overs for 52 runs•BCCIRohit remained unbeaten on 84 off 54 balls as Mumbai eased to victory with six wickets and nine balls to spare•BCCI

With the pointy end of the World Cup around the corner, Australia’s attack will have to find a way to cope with the absence of a high-quality attacking spinner, on pitches where their pacers may not find much help

Daniel Brettig in Sydney08-Mar-2015Indisputably, Australia have the pace bowling to win this World Cup. They also have the batting, now calibrated nicely by a shuffling of the order that has Steven Smith in optimum position to influence the course of the innings. But on a bewitching evening at the SCG, the hosts’ suspected blind spot was revealed by a pitch on which they will have to win once more in order to progress to the tournament final.Sydney did not spin quite so much as expected, meaning Sri Lanka’s bowlers were rendered more or less defenceless by Glenn Maxwell and a recalled Shane Watson after the platform set by Smith and Michael Clarke. But their batsmen showed precious little fear of the Australian bowling attack once it became apparent that neither swing nor lift would be extracted by Mitchells Starc and Johnson.Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Dinesh Chandimal were especially savage on Xavier Doherty, leaving many a nation to fancy themselves should they encounter Australia in similar climes during the knockouts. Since West Indies’ hegemony was ended by India in 1983, high-quality spin bowling has been a significant element of all Cup-winning teams, and Australia would run against the grain of history by winning without it.On their arrival in Sydney after brushing Afghanistan aside on a flier in Perth, the Australians were unimpressed by the 22 yards prepared for this match. A late season SCG pitch always has a chance of being slower, lower and less inclined to suit the pacemen than strips used earlier in the summer. Even so, Australia have become used to something offering a little more pace, bounce and carry than this one.The bowlers were nonplussed when earlier this summer India’s batsmen were able to hold their own on strips rather less lively than those of 2011-12. For the remainder of this tournament, they will need to find ways to prosper on similarly dull surfaces, given that Adelaide Oval and the MCG are drop-in wickets while, on the evidence of Sunday night, the SCG will be offering plenty to batsmen but very little to anyone other than a high-quality spin bowler.None of this seemed likely to be too much of a concern when Michael Clarke, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell and Shane Watson were pulling together a gargantuan tally. The changes to the batting order first made in Perth, with Watson dropping out to allow Smith to move up to No. 3, were bedded down further here, and the resultant stability made for a stark contrast with the hectic rush of wickets witnessed against New Zealand in Auckland. Smith is fast becoming the cornerstone of the top six, and his new posting reflects that solidity.Equally Clarke, Maxwell and Watson looked better for the change, playing the roles each looked most comfortable with. Clarke’s decision not to take part in the giddy later overs at the WACA Ground was made to look sound as he took time to build an innings before accelerating with typical mastery of spin, and Maxwell benefitted greatly from the launchpad he was granted to career away to an emotional first hundred for his country.Xavier Doherty’s flatter deliveries did not pose tough questions to Sri Lanka’s batsmen•Getty ImagesMost significant of all was the freedom with which Watson played in his new middle-order posting. There is every chance he would not have played for the rest of the tournament had the SCG pitch not been quite so dry, but he took his chance with the sort of refreshed vigour that indicated his omission and the resultant hand-wringing by selectors and team-mates was actually some sort of relief. Certainly, Watson looked more concerned with hitting the ball and less with tackling his technical foibles. It remains to be seen whether he can retain his spot ahead of Mitchell Marsh for the rest of the tournament.When Australia returned to the middle to defend 376, they were given a brief glimpse of former lopsided results against Sri Lanka, notably during the Test series of 2012-13, when Johnson had Lahiru Thirimanne fending a short ball behind. This proved less the start of a trend than a bowling outlier, and as Dilshan and Sangakkara became established, Clarke had to resort to more than new ball options.Doherty has been a peripheral figure during this tournament so far, doing a lot of training and net bowling but never seriously being considered for the starting XI, even though when the squad was announced it was said he would be needed in New Zealand. In reality it looked as though the selectors had thought they could win the Cup without recourse to a full-time spinner, and thought it would be better for Nathan Lyon to be plying his trade in the Sheffield Shield rather than warming the bench for the national team.Lyon is a bowler capable of turning a limited-overs innings, as he showed against Pakistan last year and more recently for the Sydney Sixers in their run to the Big Bash League final. But Doherty’s flatter offerings do not pose the same questions, and are designed mainly to contain. Oddly, the selectors chose him despite knowing that the Cup’s playing conditions were devised to encourage aggressive bowlers hunting wickets rather than run-stifling misers. Even more oddly, at a tight moment of Sri Lanka’s chase, the selector Mark Waugh was heard to say on the broadcast that Doherty needed to be brave and toss the ball up in search of wickets. Waugh seemed unaware that Doherty has seldom if ever done this in ODIs.Clarke is usually a great champion of spin bowlers, and he spoke supportively of Doherty after the game with the admission that a catch he dropped when Dilshan miscued might have been the key to his left-arm spinner securing better figures. But at the same time, Clarke conceded that entering the final 10 overs with Chandimal and Angelo Mathews firing, Australia were under genuine pressure – this was largely the result of a missing ingredient in the middle overs.”The whole Sri Lankan batting innings they played well and we were under pressure, there’s no doubt about it,” Clarke said. “We had to continue to take wickets, and our attitude was we’ve got to find a way to take wickets, and it shows how far the game has come that you can even think about chasing 375 runs. But it’s the skill of the players, the work they put in, and credit to the ground staff … I thought the wicket was exceptional.”In the end, Australia were aided greatly by an ill-timed muscle strain for Chandimal, while James Faulkner proved his spinal importance to the team by bowling critical overs through the middle and dismissing both Dilshan and Sangakkara. It said much for the element missing from Australia’s XI that Faulkner’s over-the-wrist slower balls gained more purchase than anything from a spinner – he will be critical to any further progress beyond the quarters.As they gathered to celebrate victory by a wider margin than seemed likely for much of Sri Lanka’s chase, Australia’s players showed as much relief as elation. They will have to find ways and means to excel through the middle overs at the pointy end of this event, and the pitches they are likely to encounter will not grant too much assistance for an otherwise fearsome pace-bowling attack.