Wayne Rooney claimed that Manchester United need a major overhaul of their squad in the summer as he shared his assessment of Ruben Amorim's side.
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Rooney shared his assessment of Amorim's team Called for overhaul of Man Utd squad Red Devils 14th in the Premier League Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The United legend came to Ruben Amorim's defence amid the club's nightmare journey in the 2024/25 Premier League campaign. Rooney called for a major overhauling of the current squad in the summer transfer window as he claimed that several players must leave the team before the next season starts.
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Amorim, who inherited an underperforming squad from Erik ten Hag in November, has not enjoyed much success in the league. In 16 Premier League outings under the Portuguese coach, the English giants have won only five and are currently 14th on the points table. The Red Devils also saw out-of-favour stars like Marcus Rashford and Antony leave the club on loan spells in the January transfer window.
WHAT WAYNE ROONEY SAID
Speaking on , the former England captain said: "Listen, I think it's been a difficult start of course with results and I think what he's trying to do is. We've seen players going out on loan and I think there's a lot of players who need to leave the football club and I think he's slowly trying to do that.
"Really, his time will start next season. I think you have to find a way to get through this season. The FA Cup is still a chance to win a trophy. I think big changes on and off the pitch at Man Utd and from next season we'll start to see real changes."
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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?
After their FA Cup fifth-round clash against Fulham on Sunday, the Red Devils will be back in action on March 6 as they take on Real Sociedad in the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 fixture.
Leeds United are among the teams who are interested in signing a “special” player who was strongly linked under former manager Marcelo Bielsa, according to a new report. The Whites remain in quite a difficult period due to mounting injuries, and even though they have already turned to the free agent market, they will want January to arrive soon so they can add in more areas of the team.
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Injuries to players such as Max Wober, Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev, and Daniel James have seen the Leeds squad become rather stretched. Therefore, despite him not being a big fan of it, Daniel Farke decided to turn to the free agent market and added Josuha Guilavogui to his squad.
However, the injuries do not stop there for the Yorkshire side, as Farke’s confirmed that Largie Ramazani is expected to be out for at least a month after picking up an injury against Watford last week.
That is another injury blow, and given the news, the Whites have now been tipped to make a move for free agent Ryan Kent by Carlton Palmer. Leeds are said to hold an interest in the winger, and now he is available on a free after leaving Fenerbahçe, which could interest the Championship side.
While Kent may be an option now, Leeds are also looking at players they could sign in January, and they now have their eye on a player who has been on their radar before.
Leeds now eyeing move to sign long-time Bielsa target
According to TEAMtalk, Leeds United are interested in signing Nottingham Forest’s Lewis O’Brien. The midfielder is currently on loan in the MLS with LAFC, and his impressive form for the American side has caught the attention of the Whites.
However, Leeds are not the only team interested in O’Brien, who is earning 30,769 dollars a week, which is roughly £23,000, as Southampton, West Brom, Sheffield United, Stoke, and Hull City are also keen.
O’Brien, who was once described as being a “special player” by his former manager Carlos Corberan, joined LAFC in July from Forest, and he will return to the City Ground at the end of the year if LAFC decide not to make the move a permanent switch. The 26-year-old spent time at Middlesbrough last season after falling out of favour at Forest, and he is unlikely to feature going forward.
Lewis O’Brien’s LAFC stats
Apps
15
Goals
1
Assists
1
Leeds are now among the teams interested in signing O’Brien in January as they look to improve their midfield options. This isn’t the first time that the Whites have been interested in the player, as back in 2021, Marcelo Bielsa was keen for Leeds to sign O’Brien and was left frustrated when talks stalled.
A deal to sign the midfielder may still not be easy to do, as the Whites face competition from other Championship teams as well as teams from the Premier League, and if LAFC decide to take up their permanent option, then he will be remaining in America.
An object was thrown from the crowd after Anderson Talisca had scored for Fenerbahce against Alanyaspor in Turkey's Super Lig.
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Anderson Talisca hit by objectDrink thrown at Fenerbahce forwardFan videos captured incidentFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Talisca doubled Fenerbahce's lead towards the end of the first half in their visit to Alanyaspor on Sunday afternoon. But as the Brazilian, newly signed from Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr during the winter transfer window, celebrated his first Super Lig goal by the corner flag with his back to the stands, what appeared to be a drink was launched from the crowd and struck him on the back of the head. The incident was captured on video from several angles by fans.
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Talisca crumpled to the floor in pain and was surrounded by team-mates appealing to the officials and medics for intervention, although former Manchester United midfielder Fred appeared to goad the Alanyaspor fans with arm gestures after arriving on the scene first. The forward sufficiently recovered to carry on playing, only withdrawn much later in the 70th minute.
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WHAT NEXT?
Fenerbahce coach Jose Mourinho has previously branded Turkish football "toxic", and incidents like this won't help that overall reputation or serve to further its limited international appeal. Still, Talisca has made a great start to life at his new club, having also scored in their thumping 5-0 Turkish Cup win over Erzurumspor last week.
Liverpool have won eight of their nine fixtures under Arne Slot. The Dutchman took on the daunting task of replacing Jurgen Klopp back in June but has exceeded expectations thus far.
One of the repeated themes throughout the summer was that Liverpool would not spend, no, not big, not for the sake of spending.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
The suction of club action throughout the off-season heightens fan desire for something to cheer about, and fresh faces to improve the squad assume the natural source of catharsis.
But Liverpool didn’t address their lack of a holding midfielder equipped to succeed in Slot’s control-focused system, and went into the 2024/25 term lacking – or did they?
Gravenberch's performances in 2024/25
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it Martin Zubimendi, signed for €60m (£50m)? No, it’s Ryan Gravenberch – and what a ‘signing’ he’s been this season.
Last year, under Klopp’s wing, the Dutchman needed time to bed into life on Merseyside, and he also found himself lower down the pecking order than that of fellow summer signings Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and even Wataru Endo, starting only 12 Premier League games.
Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch.
He’s been repurposed in a deep-lying role under Slot’s management, and he’s thriving. His gaffer said that he was “again outstanding” as Liverpool defeated Bologna this week, claiming the Man of the Match award. The 23-year-old has played every minute of the Reds’ Premier League and Champions League campaigns so far.
When Liverpool signed Gravenberch from Bayern Munich for a £34m fee, one year ago, Klopp’s final signing, he was saved from a spell of struggle in Germany, and last season’s account spelt more of the same. Now he’s not so much reborn as transcendent in his robust midfield role. He’s the real deal alright.
Imagine if things had turned out differently – had Liverpool succeeded in their long-term pursuit of Aurelien Tchouameni, it’s safe to say that Gravenberch would not be enjoying his present fruits.
When Liverpool failed to sign Aurelien Tchouameni (twice)
In 2022, Real Madrid signed Tchouameni from AS Monaco in a move worth worth €100m (£85m), ending rife speculation about the France international’s future.
The athletic midfielder is a tenacious tackler with first-class technical qualities, and he’s been instrumental under Carlo Ancelotti over the past few years, completing 98 appearances and winning La Liga and the Champions League.
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Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Liverpool were tussling against Paris Saint-Germain and Los Blancos for his signature in 2022, but Real prevailed, as they would do again in the race for Jude Bellingham one year later.
Liverpool were actually linked with the Frenchman once again last year but he flat-out rejected any notion of moving to England, of leaving football’s holy land at Santiago Bernabeu.
Aurelien Tchouameni for Real Madrid.
As per FBref, he ranks among the top 13% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted, the top 4% for passes completed, the top 15% for interceptions, the top 9% for clearances and the top 7% for aerial battles won per 90. It’s no surprise that he’s considered “world-class” by Transfermarkt’s Stefan Bienkowski, among many, many others.
He’s a big ol’ boy, with a presence and power that is fit for… well, Real Madrid. However, did Liverpool score the shrewdest of shrewd signings, in hindsight, given that Gravenberch is now outperforming him, signed for £50m less than Klopp and Co would have had to have forked out?
Matches (starts)
7 (7)
6 (6)
Goals
0
0
Assists
0
0
Touches*
85
80
Shots (on target)*
0.7 (0.0)
0.3 (0.3)
Pass completion
92%
89%
Key passes*
0.3
0.3
Dribbles completed*
0.4
1.0
Ball recoveries*
5.0
6.5
Tackles + interceptions*
4.6
4.2
Total duels (won)*
5.1 (60%)
6.3 (64%)
In all truth, the respective stars are pretty well matched. Tchouameni is perhaps a tad more aggressive in the tackle, slightly crisper with his distribution, but Gravenberch is a bit more combative and more athletic, covering more ground and winning more balls for the Reds.
Liverpool have triumphed with this one. It’s all coming together.
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Arsenal fans have been handed a much needed fitness update on Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori after speculation swirled on social media suggesting he had picked up a knock against Leicester City.
Arsenal leave it late to beat Leicester City
Mikel Arteta’s side needed two stoppage time goals to claim all three points against a resolute Leicester City side at the Emirates Stadium, despite leading 2-0 at half time and seemingly comfortable. Goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard put them in the driving seat to continue their unbeaten start to the Premier League, but a complacent second half saw them pegged back to 2-2 thanks to two goals from Leicester defender James Justin.
Arsenal vs Leicester City Match stats
Arsenal
Leicester City
Possession
74%
26%
Shots
36
5
Shots on target
16
3
Big chances
9
0
Expected goals
4.62
0.32
Heroics from Mads Hermansen threatened to deny Arsenal, with the Foxes goalkeeper making 13 saves to keep his side in the game.
However, he was eventually beaten as a set-piece took a deflection off Wilfred Ndidi deep in stoppage time, before Kai Havertz added a fourth with the last kick of the game to ensure all three points for Arsenal, which moved them within a point behind league leaders Liverpool after six games.
Though far from their fluent best and still without several first team options including talisman Martin Ødegaard, Arsenal’s start to the season suggests that they should be firmly in the mix for the title come the end of it.
However, there was concern on the injuries front after Ben White, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu all missed the clash with the Foxes, leaving Calafiori and Jurrien Timber as the only options for Mikel Arteta at full back.
Calafiori concern and latest injury news
And in the aftermath of the game, Arsenal insider TeamNewsandTix set alarm bells ringing by telling his followers of “unconfirmed reports that Riccardo Calafiori suffered a knee injury”, which left him “apparently in tears after the game”.
Eagle-eyed fans spotted the moment that he appeared to suffer an issue when challenging for the ball late on, before photos surfaced of the Italian defender with his left knee in a compression sleeve in the aftermath of the win.
Having suffered a horror injury to that knee during his time at Roma, and with Timber having suffered a serious knee injury in August last year, there were fears that history may be repeating itself. However, the same source has now since confirmed that Calafiori’s scans have shown no sign of a major injury, which will come as a major relief to Arsenal fans, while Fabrizio Romano has shared an update directly from the manager on Monday morning.
“Calafiori? We’ll see how he feels today, he was a bit emotional after the game,” Arteta has admitted about the Italian’s injury scare.
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It may also mean that Calafiori keeps his place as the Gunners welcome PSG to the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night, looking for their first win in the Champions League this season after drawing with European Champions Atalanta in Bergamo last week. That news will come as a major boost to Arteta, who is already a big fan of his latest defensive addition.
“He’s really good. He’s adapted really well to the group, his understanding is exceptional and you see he’s a player with an enormous courage and personality to play, so he’s going to give us a lot”, he told the media after he scored in their draw against Manchester City.
With left-back options at a premium in north London, his fitness could be key across the course of the season.
West Ham United will be without a key player this weekend as they prepare to host newly promoted Ipswich Town, according to reliable club insider ExWHUemployee.
Lopetegui under pressure after poor West Ham run
The Irons will be desperate to secure a much-needed three points against Kieran McKenna’s plucky Premier League newcomers on Saturday afternoon.
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West Ham haven’t won a single game since late August, with their last one coming in a 1-0 victory against Bournemouth in the EFL Cup – a competition they have since crashed out of courtesy of a 5-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.
Alongside their loss to Arne Slot’s side, West Ham have suffered heavy defeats to the likes of Chelsea and Man City, with manager Julen Lopetegui also lucky to escape Fulham without another defeat thanks to Danny Ings’ last-gasp equaliser to make it 1-1 in added time.
Match
Date
Opponent
Competition
Result
#8
28/09/2024
Brentford (A)
Premier League
1-1 draw
#7
25/09/2024
Liverpool (A)
Carabao Cup
5-1 loss
#6
21/09/2024
Chelsea (H)
Premier League
3-0 loss
#5
14/09/2024
Fulham (A)
Premier League
1-1 draw
#4
31/08/2024
Man City (H)
Premier League
3-1 loss
#3
28/08/2024
Bournemouth (H)
Carabao Cup
1-0 win
#2
24/08/2024
Crystal Palace (A)
Premier League
2-0 win
#1
17/08/2024
Aston Villa (H)
Premier League
2-1 loss
The Hammers also drew 1-1 at Brentford last weekend, with Tomas Soucek finding an eventual leveller after Bryan Mbeumo handed the Bees a very early lead. There are concerns over West Ham’s lack of bite, especially considering they spent nearly £120 million on new signings in the summer transfer window on nine quality squad additions.
“When you’re in a bad run of form and you concede with 41 seconds on the clock, you fear the worst. In that context, the way West Ham bounced back to earn a point at Brentford is a positive,” said Sky journalist Ron Walker.
“But that’s still as good as it gets. For a team with the depth and quality of this Hammers side, the lack of memorable moments they produced is still a concern. The Hammers’ defending has been a major cause for concern but their attacking return is an even greater worry when Julen Lopetegui was tasked with delivering a more expansive style.
“That will take time, but with an expected goals tally lower than Southampton despite Lucas Paqueta, Mohamed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen featuring in every game, even their individual quality should be enough to produce more than this.”
Some believe Lopetegui is at risk of losing the West Ham job if things don’t improve, and the Spaniard has been forced to cope without summer signing Niclas Fullkrug lately, after the German suffered an Achilles injury on international duty with Germany.
West Ham star Niclas Fullkrug set to miss Ipswich through injury
As per Ex, Fullkrug is set to miss West Ham’s clash with Ipswich through injury too – which will come as a bitter blow for Lopetegui who will have to rely on Michail Antonio and Danny Ings yet again.
“We can reveal that German forward Niclas Fullkrug is likely to be missing for the game against Ipswich,” stated Ex on The West Ham Way Patreon.
“His injury has taken longer than expected and the club are now saying they expect he will only be fit after the international break, which comes after the Ipswich game.”
The 31-year-old racked up 26 goal contributions (10 goals, six assists) for Borussia Dortmund in all competitions last season, but has been limited to just 63 minutes in the Premier League over three substitute appearances so far at West Ham.
Jonas Eidevall is 'very disappointed' that USWNT boss Emma Hayes hasn't reached out since making comments
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Hayes called Eidevall out for 'male aggression' last yearFormer Arsenal boss says he was 'very disappointed'Also unsatisfied by lack of contact from USWNT boss sinceFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Eidevall and Hayes had many managerial battles during their time with Arsenal and Chelsea, respectively, but none more memorable than the League Cup final in March 2024. Though the Gunners emerged 1-0 thanks to Stina Blackstenius' extra-time goal, the game sticks in the mind more because of Frida Maanum's worrying collapse and, after full-time, Hayes seeming to shove Eidevall.
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The then-Chelsea manager was asked about Eidevall in her post-match press conference and it was there that she said things that the former Arsenal boss has now spoken out about.
“Listen, I think there’s a way to conduct yourself on the touchline, I really do. I think it’s absolutely essential that we role model in the right way. I’m not down for male aggression on the touchline, I’m really not, and fronting up to players, for me, that’s unacceptable. I’m disappointed and I told Jonas that," Hayes said, referring to behaviour from Eidevall towards Chelsea midfielder Erin Cuthbert, as she looked to take a throw-in late on.
"I don’t think it’s okay to behave like that. He got a yellow card, and he should have probably been sent off. I’m all for competing to win. I’ve never been booked in 12 years, my time here. I totally accept he’s a winner and wants to win but his behaviour on the touchline wasn’t acceptable."
WHAT EIDEVALL SAID
Following Eidevall's appointment as head coach of the San Diego Wave in the NWSL, the Swede has spoken candidly about his relationship with Hayes in a long interview with . "Maybe we didn't talk much to each other, but we talked in a good way, about league developments and players. But after the League Cup final, we haven't had any relationship at all," he said.
"The reaction after the game when she gives me a little push, that was for me a non-event. I can live with that. I understand those who say that if it had been the other way round, what would have happened to me? But that is so far from my picture of reality, I would never have done that. So I put that aside. However, the comments after the match, when the adrenaline has subsided, I was very disappointed. Very disappointed. And I'm also very disappointed that she hasn't been able to send a message or make a phone call and say that it was wrong. We can go from having a good relationship to having no relationship. I'm not going to be the one to reach out either because I don't think I've done anything wrong or crazy in the situation."
Asked why he believes Hayes was so 'triggered' after that particular match, Eidevall responded: "No idea actually. I think there's something in the fact that I'm the only one who has won many matches against her Chelsea. I don't think any manager has done that, so maybe that's why. Then football is a lot of emotions, and I realise it was a match with emotions from all sides. Besides the fact that the game went to overtime, we had the worries about Frida Maanum, a game to be played… There was a lot going on."
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DID YOU KNOW?
Hayes and Eidevall should have had contact since then because one of the USWNT's top players, full-back Emily Fox, was signed in January 2024 by Arsenal, the club Eidevall left in October. However, he says the two didn't even talk about that. "She is the only manager who hasn't asked for a national team player since she took over the U.S," Eidevall revealed. "It's always been an assistant or something like that."
He is the fourth player from the KKR camp to test positive
Nagraj Gollapudi08-May-2021
Prasidh Krishna played all seven matches for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the curtailed season of IPL 2021•BCCI/IPL
India and Kolkata Knight Riders fast bowler Prasidh Krishna has tested positive for Covid-19. Krishna becomes the fourth player from the Knight Riders camp to test positive after Varun Chakravarthy, Sandeep Warrier and Tim Seifert.It is understood that Krishna had cleared all the tests before coming out of the IPL bubble in Ahmedabad, where the Knight Riders were playing the second leg, before returning to his home in Bengaluru. ESPNcricinfo understands Krishna flew business class on a commercial airline from Ahmedabad to Bengaluru on May 5, and got a test done on May 6 after feeling uneasy. It was in Bengaluru where Krishna tested positive, but it is believed to be a mild case.On Friday, the BCCI had named Krishna among the four standbys for the World Test Championship final and the Test series in England.Krishna, 25, made his India debut earlier this year in the ODI series against England in Pune and picked six wickets in three matches.Chakravarthy and Warrier were the first two players to test positive for Covid-19 in the bubble not just from the Knight Riders camp but in the 2021 IPL, which was postponed indefinitely. It later emerged that Wriddhiman Saha of the Sunrisers Hyderabad and Amit Mishra of the Delhi Capitals had also tested positive among players.On Saturday, NZC announced that Seifert had also tested positive and would stay back in India before flying back to New Zealand.Krishna played seven games for the Knight Riders in the 2021 IPL, picking up eight wickets at an economy rate of 9.16.Krishna will hope to recover in time to be in a bubble with the Indian side, which is expected to leave for the UK on June 2. Krishna, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Avesh Khan and Arzan Nagwaswalla were among the four standby players named by the selectors as part of the enlarged squad that will remain in the UK from June to September.
Century stand with No. 8 Olly Stone sees home side chase down target of 333
George Dobell18-Apr-2021
Tim Bresnan carried Warwickshire to their target•Getty Images
Warwickshire pulled off a heist of which Robin Hood would have been proud in completing a three-wicket victory over Nottinghamshire.Set 333 to win – easily the highest score of the game – Warwickshire were reduced to 184 for 6 shortly after lunch on the final day. With all the specialist batters gone and the presumption that Dom Sibley, who sustained a broken finger earlier in the game, would be unable to bat, a Nottinghamshire win seemed all but inevitable.But nobody had told Tim Bresnan and Olly Stone. And in a seventh-wicket stand of 113 – the highest of the match – they turned the game on its head.Bresnan, apparently the calmest person on the pitch, finished unbeaten on 68, while Stone made the second-highest score of his first-class career, and his highest for Warwickshire, in contributing 43. Victory was achieved with 8.1 overs of the match remaining. It was Warwickshire’s first under their new head coach, Mark Robinson, and their first in first-class cricket since they last played Nottinghamshire, in September 2019.This was an impressively resilient performance from Warwickshire. They went into the third day of this match in an apparently hopeless position – Notts were 200 ahead and retained eight wickets in their second-innings – but produced an outstanding bowling performance on day three to give themselves an outside chance. To follow it up with a memorable run-chase reflects well on this new-look side and its coaching staff. It has been a while since a Warwickshire side showed this toughness.Bresnan was at the heart of that. He might, as a bowler at least, have lost a yard or two of pace. But he retains vast experience and remains a worthy batter. At tea, with 96 still needed, he returned to the dressing room to tell his team-mates, “It’s on boys, it’s on.” Such confidence, when backed with competence, can lift a side.It was noticeable towards the end of the game that Sibley padded up, too. He approached Robinson when the equation was reduced to 50 and suggested he would like to contribute if he could. It’s a gesture that reflects well on Sibley’s commitment and the spirit within the dressing room. Sibley sees a specialist on Monday and there is a possibility that broken finger is just a little more serious than they would have had us believe. He will not be playing cricket for a few weeks.This defeat will sting Nottinghamshire. It’s not just that it extends their horrendous run of form to 29 first-class games without a victory, but that they really did seem to have the win within their grasp. The dejection on their faces at the end spoke volumes. As, perhaps, did their anxiety as Warwickshire started to draw closer. This is a team that has lost a bit of confidence in itself to get over the line. Less than half of them have won a first-class match with Nottinghamshire. Afterwards, Peter Moores, their head coach, admitted the result was “a tough one to take”.To some extent they were unfortunate. Certainly, they came up against an impressively determined opponent and saw much of the life leave the pitch as the sun came out on the final day. The second new ball, taken when Warwickshire were six down and still required 136, moved far less than any of its predecessors. They were without two or three first-choice seam bowlers, too, due to injury or illness.But they might also reflect they lacked a bit of ruthlessness in their second innings, when they lost four wickets for three runs at one stage. And in struggling to 119 for 6 in their first innings, they failed to establish the platform they might have. They will forgive the young bowlers who served up a few more loose balls than they would have liked on the final day – these things are inevitable when trying to develop players – but might also reflect that their catching wasn’t as good it might have been.Crucially, Bresnan was reprieved on 56, when 33 were still required for victory. The chance, to the right hand of Tom Moores, was not easy by any means. But perhaps Moores, appearing to react late and then seeming to dive a bit far, made it appear more difficult than he might have done. Tellingly, there were also 19 byes in Warwickshire’s second innings.Stuart Broad was the unfortunate bowler on that occasion. He certainly didn’t deserve to be on the losing side in this game, getting through 49 overs including 20 on the final day and bowling with a pace and hostility that reflected his commitment. “Our lads couldn’t have given any more,” Moores said. “It was a great scrap.”Related
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Indeed, it was. Even before that Bresnan-Stone partnership, Warwickshire had shown admirable resistance. Matt Lamb and Sam Hain batted throughout the morning session and added 89 runs to revive their hopes.Hain’s contest against Broad was a particularly compelling session of play. Broad, alternating from round and over the wicket, unleashed a barrage of short-pitched deliveries with a field that included, at various times, a leg slip, short leg, silly point and long leg set for the hook.Hain just about weathered the storm. But he sustained three blows – one to the shoulder, one to the chest and the other to his head which resulted in a concussion check – and looked deeply uncomfortable. Later Broad unleashed a similar spell upon Stone, who continued to get into line bravely despite taking one horrid-looking blow to the left elbow.But when Dane Paterson struck three times in quick succession, it seemed the resistance had been futile. Paterson came into this match having not played a first-class game since January 2020, when he was part of the South Africa team beaten in Johannesburg by England, and improved markedly for the workout. He had Hain, attempting to hit an outswinger through the leg side, caught behind, Lamb bowled off his elbow by one that bounced more than anticipated and Michael Burgess bowled by a lavish inswinger.But that was as good as it got for Nottinghamshire. And while Stone was drawn into attempting a drive against one that left him from the deserving Broad, the target was down to 36 by then.Perhaps it was fitting that Danny Briggs should be there at the end. He had come out as nightwatchman on the first evening and then batted throughout the morning session to keep his side in the game. He returned his best bowling figures since 2016, too. He looks an astute acquisition.It will be little consolation to Nottinghamshire right now, but when both head coaches described the match as “a great advert for four-day cricket” they were right. Nottinghamshire did a lot right in this game. If they keep playing like this, the results are bound to come. On this evidence, there really isn’t much wrong with this team.For Warwickshire this result sets them up for a top-of-the-table encounter against Essex in a few days. The batting still looks a little fragile and it may be that Stone requires resting after his exertions here. But Graeme Welch, the Warwickshire bowling coach, rated his side’s bowling effort in the second innings as the best he had seen from them “for years” and this run-chase will instil great belief in that dressing room.”It was a really hard-fought game,” Robinson said. “And I feel sorry for Notts. They fought hard and it really hurts when you lose that sort of game. But from our perspective, there is a sense of excitement and pride. You don’t often win those sort of games. We’re going in the right direction.”
Agarwal’s 99 on IPL captaincy debut in vain as Kings slump to fifth loss in eight matches
Sidharth Monga02-May-2021On his IPL captaincy debut, Mayank Agarwal scored 60% of Punjab Kings’ runs in fewer than half the balls but his unbeaten 99 was not enough to push his side to a total that would challenge Delhi Capitals in the chase. Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan broke the back of the chase in the Powerplay, and Dhawan went on to seal the win, reclaiming the orange cap as he did so. A sixth win in eight matches took capitals to the top of the table.Replacing KL Rahul, who had to be pulled out because of appendicitis, Agarwal found himself in a Rahul-like predicament. Losing wickets at the other end added extra slowness to his apparent role of batting through the innings, but a Rahul-like finishing kick took him from 40 off 34 to 99 off 58. However, as with Rahul, you need at least one quick contribution from the other end to make the strategy work. Agarwal found none, with IPL debutant Dawid Malan’s run-a-ball 26 being the only other contribution to talk of.Ishant circles the prey, Rabada swoops inIshant Sharma, an under-rated part of Capitals’ success, began the match with a maiden to Prabhsimran Singh, moving the ball either way to tie up the batter. With just 15 off the first three overs, Capitals knew there was an opportunity around. On came Kagiso Rabada and for the first time in the IPL took two wickets in the Powerplay. The under-pressure Prabhsimran found mid-off, and Gayle missed a swinging full toss that hit the top of off. Kings 39 for 2 at the end of the Powerplay.Two men drop anchorAgainst two fingerspinners, Lalit Yadav and Axar Patel, Agarwal and Malan failed to transfer the pressure back on to the bowlers. Only one boundary came in the next five overs. The spinners denied them the rank bad ball, and the batsmen weren’t too keen to take risks on good balls.Malan began the 12th over at 11 off 17, but a bowling change to pace brought some freedom for him. The freedom was short-lived as Axar came back to knock his leg stump over. The run-out of Deepak Hooda followed to make it 88 for 2 in the 14th over.Agarwal takes offAt this point, Agarwal had faced only 29 of the 81 legal deliveries bowled for a debate-inducing 35. Not only did he turn around the share of strike in the remaining innings, Agarwal corrected the strike-rate too. He faced 29 of the remaining 39 balls, sending nine of them past the fence and scoring 64 additional runs. The remaining 10 balls brought two wickets and 10 runs. The hitting was breathtaking but it was also evidence that the pitch was easy enough to hit through the line of the ball.Dhawan, Shaw carry on the fireworksAnd the Capitals batting is built to hit through the line. Before this match, three of the top four Powerplay scores in this IPL belonged to Capitals. They duly made a fourth entry in the top five with an unbeaten 63 in the first six overs. Believe it or not, it came after Riley Meredith troubled both Dhawan and Shaw in his first two overs. Against other bowlers, though, Shaw ran riot and Dhawan followed suit. Shaw hit three sixes and three fours in the Powerplay, and Dhawan managed four fours. It included a first-ball six off Kings’ key bowler in the middle overs, Ravi Bishnoi.Dhawan carries onShaw perished trying to dominate everyone, bowled first ball by left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar, but he left the job to a man in the T20 form of his life. Dhawan might not be brightest star while Shaw is around, but what a side won’t do to have a second fiddle who is averaging xx and striking at xx per 100 balls.The start gave Dhawan and Steven Smith some breathing space as they added just 34 in the first five overs of their partnership. Dhawan, though, settled any nerves in the dugout by unleashing his slog sweep against Bishnoi. It didn’t matter which way Bishnoi turned it; Dhawan took 25 off the 12th and 14th overs, making it 41 required off the last six even though he lost Smith in between.If there was any doubt this was a done deal, Shimron Hetmyer removed it with two sixes and a four to end it in the 18th over.