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India A’s game will feature a strong Australia A attack at the MCG this week in the second four-day game

Andrew McGlashan05-Nov-20245:43

Rohit: Not going to look beyond the Australia series

The final auditions for the vacant batting spot in Australia’s Test side will again dominate the discussion in the second four-day A-team encounter at the MCG, but quick bowler Scott Boland is eyeing the opportunity to keep the pressure on India Test squad member KL Rahul after he flew in early to feature for India A.Rahul, who played the first Test against New Zealand before being left out when Shubman Gill was fit, and reserve wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel left India ahead of the rest of the Test group in order to feature against Australia A to get some match practice.Related

Rahul, Jurel to leave early for Australia and play second A game

Rohit: 'More comfortable' with match simulation than practice match

Rahul, who averages just 20.77 in Australia from five Tests despite a century at the SCG in 2015, could come into contention for the first Test in Perth if Rohit Sharma misses the game for personal reasons and Boland sees an opportunity to leave a mark.”I was lucky to bowl to him in a Test over in India a couple of years ago but it’ll be nice to play against him in our backyard,” he said. “He’s a world-class player but someone I think we can get on top of pretty early and hopefully stay on top of him for the majority of the summer.”Like a number of Australian players, Boland noted India’s 3-0 loss against New Zealand but cautioned how much to read into it. The visiting quicks did the damage in the first Test before the spinners took over in Pune and Mumbai to secure a famous whitewash.”There’s so much more bounce here, more seam,” Boland said. “The way they’ll structure their team will be completely different to what you see over in India.”The majority of India’s Test squad won’t have a full game in Australia before the first Test after the scheduled intra-squad game with India A was turned into match simulation with a view it giving more flexibility to the preparation.Scott Boland will come up against India A this week•Associated Press

“I think sometimes when you play that practice match, we’re travelling with a squad of 19 players and it was only three days that were allotted to us,” Rohit said. “And I don’t know how much workload we can get done in those three days in terms of getting everyone prepared.”So we, as a management as well, we feel that rather than having that, the match simulation where the batters can spend more time in the middle, batting in the middle, and then the bowlers as well can bowl a lot of balls, so that is something that, we as a team feel more comfortable doing rather than playing a practice game because game time is not a problem. All of us have been playing a lot of cricket. So it’s just about spending time in the middle.”Boland is expected to be the reserve quick in the Test squad and is being primed to feature at some point with a belief that the big three getting through the entire home summer last season was an “outlier” and reinforcements will likely be needed.Boland averages 12.21 in Tests at home and has previously admitted he expected to get an opportunity last season only be denied by the durability of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, aided by none of the matches going five days.He has been working his way back from injury early this season after a county deal with Durham was aborted due to a heel problem and he got through 28 overs in the Sheffield Shield against New South Wales last month. Boland said he was under a “little bit of restriction” in terms of his overs in that fixture but didn’t expect to be held back for Australia A.”It felt like a long six months between games,” he said. “Remember being out on the ground in the Shield game and was just really happy to be back playing cricket. Haven’t had too many breaks for injury throughout my career so was different going through all the rehab.”Luckily [we’ve] got really good physios and support staff at Cricket Victoria. So lucky I could lean on them, because few times I was like, ‘[are] any of these things getting better? But it’s all come good now and feeling really good.”

With Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez already potentially heading for the exit door, Liverpool now reportedly face the threat of losing another one of their key men to Barcelona.

Bayern make fresh move to sign Diaz

As Liverpool look to make their biggest statement yet by signing want-away Newcastle United star Alexander Isak, they could show the door to Diaz along the way. The Colombian has been linked with a move away from Anfield all summer long and it’s Bayern Munich who have been battling for his signature.

As ever, though, Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes are proving to be tough negotiators. The Bundesliga giants have consistently been told that Diaz is not for sale, but the chance for Liverpool to sign Isak may have left the door ajar for the two clubs to finally reach an agreement.

In the latest update, Sky Sports are reporting that Bayern have now re-opened talks to sign the 28-year-old winger for the first time since seeing their £58.5m offer rejected earlier this summer.

Those at Anfield are now reportedly braced for an improved offer, but it remains to be seen whether that will satisfy Edwards and Hughes’ demands to sell Diaz.

Meanwhile, Nunez could also be heading for the exit door amid reports that Al-Hilal are now holding internal discussions about securing his signature in a deal worth over £60m.

Isak's new Gordon: Liverpool lining up "explosive" £51m Diaz replacement

Liverpool are still ready to be active in the summer transfer market.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 25, 2025

If the arrival of Hugo Ekitike has pushed the former Benfica man down the pecking order, then the arrival of Isak would make him surplus to requirements entirely in Merseyside and that is likely to result in a departure.

Liverpool shouldn’t be overly concerned about losing either of their attacking stars, however, given the strength in depth in that department. Instead, their concern should be focused on elsewhere in their squad.

Barcelona enter race to sign Konate

According to reports in Spain, Barcelona have now entered the race to sign Ibrahima Konate from Liverpool alongside La Liga rivals Real Madrid. The French defender is currently on course to leave as a free agent this time next year and could yet follow in the footsteps of Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Anfield chiefs, meanwhile, will be desperate to avoid the same fate and have already reportedly tabled a fresh contract offer to their important defender.

Unlike Diaz and Nunez, Konate is not a player who can easily be replaced. The towering central defender is at the peak of his powers at 26 years old and should be seen as the eventual Van Dijk replacement in the leadership role within Arne Slot’s backline. But that won’t be possible unless he signs a new deal.

Games

14

Wins

9

Draws

2

Losses

3

Goals Conceded

19

What stands out the most when Liverpool were without their £70,000-a-week defender last season is the fact they conceded around 1.4 goals a game compared to their record of 1.2 when he is next to Van Dijk in their backline.

Simply put, replacing Konate at this stage of his career with someone who could instantly perform to similar levels would hand Liverpool their toughest task this summer.

West Ham United are on the hunt for arrivals and now find themselves in pole position to sign a talented midfielder from the continent, according to a report.

West Ham look for improvement ahead of next season

There are a lot of mitigating factors behind the Hammers’ poor campaign last time out, and James Ward-Prowse believes West Ham need to reflect ahead of the new season to ensure there is no repeat scenario next time out.

He stated: “We know it’s not been anywhere near the level that we know we can produce. In the years gone by, the club’s been used to European triumphs and the campaigns they’ve had.

“So for us not to be able to do that or deliver that again is disappointing. I’m sure we’ll have a period of reflection over the summer to look at what we can improve for next season.”

Inevitably, signings will be necessary for Graham Potter and company to navigate another full-on Premier League campaign, so who have the Hammers got their eye on with the window now well underway?

AC Milan midfielder Yunus Musah is said to be a West Ham target despite interest from Serie A champions Napoli amid reports that they have cooled their admiration for the United States international.

He'd perfectly replace Kudus: West Ham submit bid for £17m "creative force"

Kudus seems set to leave West Ham United this summer.

ByJoe Nuttall Jun 25, 2025

Plenty of work is there to be done as the Irons’ hierarchy look to bring the good times back to the London Stadium. However, rebuilds require patience, so it remains to be seen how Potter opts to reshape his side.

Stepping into the market, West Ham are now reportedly in pole position to sign a powerful midfielder who is attracting plenty of interest from elsewhere.

Tavolieri: West Ham in pole position to sign Raphael Onyedika

According to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, West Ham are in pole position to sign Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika despite rival interest from Everton in the Nigeria international.

The Jupiler Pro League outfit want around £25.5 million before agreeing to any sale, and it is said that the Hammers have the most concrete attachment to the 24-year-old at this point.

Operating as a protector of the back four, Onyedika registered two goals and two assists in 52 appearances across all competitions last term, and he also won no fewer than 120 duels on league duty.

Freshening up the engine room will be a key priority for Potter this summer and the man in question certainly fits the bill as someone who could help to elevate the Hammers should they manage to push a deal over the line.

Chelsea’s activity within the transfer market has been there for all to see over the last couple of seasons, spending over £1.3b since the takeover in May 2022.

The Blues have wasted no time in already bolstering Enzo Maresca’s side this summer, landing Liam Delap, Dario Essugo and Mamadou Sarr to provide depth in key areas of the pitch.

After securing Champions League football and winning the Conference League, the club are heading in the right direction, needing to build on the impressive work conducted in 2024/25.

If they want to go to the latter stages and Europe and mount a serious push for the Premier League, quality and depth are desperately needed, as seen by the business already conducted in recent weeks.

However, such moves don’t appear to be slowing down, with the manager and board already working hard to land more additions when the window reopens on the 16th of June.

The latest on Chelsea’s hunt for new additions this summer

Jamie Gittens has been the name on the lips of all Chelsea fans over the last couple of weeks, with the Blues having two separate bids rejected for the Borussia Dortmund star.

Maresca desperately wanted to sign the 20-year-old winger ahead of the Club World Cup, but no doubt will return after the competition to secure a deal for the Englishman.

However, he could be joined at Stamford Bridge by Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White, after the England player emerged on their shortlist, according to Football Insider.

They claim that the Blues have been monitoring a deal for the 25-year-old in recent weeks, with Nuno Espírito Santo’s side demanding a fee in the region of £100m for his signature.

It also states that he wants to play Champions League football next season, something he could do in West London after Maresca’s side beat the Reds 1-0 at the City Ground on the final day.

Why Gibbs-White could be Maresca’s own Wirtz

Over recent weeks, Florian Wirtz has been a name almost every English football fan has become familiar with after Liverpool’s attempts to sign the Bayer Leverkusen star.

The German attacking midfielder has caught the eye in recent times, registering 30 combined goals and assists across all competitions, making him one of the hottest prospects in European football.

It’s been reported that he’s agreed a €150m (£127m) deal with Arne Slot’s side to move to Anfield this summer, massively increasing their chances of retaining their Premier League title.

However, Maresca could land his own version of the superstar this window by pursuing a move to sign Gibbs-White, with the Forest sensation having the tools to thrive at the Bridge.

When comparing his stats with those of the German international this season, he’s managed to outperform in numerous key areas – showcasing how much of an impressive addition he would be for the Blues.

Gibbs-White, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one journalist, may have registered fewer combined goals and assists, but has managed to register more goals per shot on target – showcasing his excellent ability in front of goal.

He’s also managed to match him for passes completed, with the Forest star registering more passes into the final third per 90, handing the attackers ahead of him the chance to thrive in the final third.

How Gibbs-White compares to Wirtz in 2024/25
Statistics (per 90)	Gibbs-White	Wirtz
Games played	34	31
Goals & assists	15	22
Goals per shot on target	0.4	0.2
Pass accuracy	78%	78%
Passes into final third	4.1	3.6
Aerials won	42%	20%
Tackles won	1.4	1.2
Key passes made	2.6	2.1
Stats via FBref

The Englishman’s talents don’t stop there, winning more aerials and more tackles, handing Maresca another excellent option without possession in West London.

While £100m may appear a ludicrous figure for the 25-year-old, he has the talents to take his game to the next level, especially if he’s operating around elite-level stars.

Given how he’s managed to outperform Wirtz in some key areas, it would be a superb signing and one that could catapult the club into a Premier League title battle in 2025/26.

A bigger talent than Gittens: Chelsea still looking at "special" £50m star

Chelsea are looking for new attackers this summer

By
Joe Nuttall

Jun 11, 2025

Sheffield Wednesday are looking to build the foundations for another tilt at the Championship playoffs next term, though they may now face a fight with Blackburn Rovers to sign a reported target.

Sheffield Wednesday remain in a state of limbo with Danny Rohl

Usually, stability at a football club starts from the manager and filters down to his players, but the future of Danny Rohl at Hillsborough appears anything but certain at this point.

With the 36-year-old’s work in South Yorkshire not going unnoticed, interest is starting to mount in his services as clubs around Europe enter a period of change in the off-season.

If he were to leave South Yorkshire, where could the Sheffield Wednesday boss end up? Glasgow could be a potential destination after Rangers identified Rohl as a prospective permanent successor to Philippe Clement.

Fulham are another side intrigued by his managerial style, though ties haven’t been formally severed, which has led to a state of limbo involving all parties.

Regardless, Sheffield Wednesday need to start building for the new season. Some clarity over the direction of their squad has been found in Thursday’s retained list amid a lack of communication on matters at managerial level.

Sheffield Wednesday ready to make five new signings including Leeds 17 y/o

The Owls could welcome as many as five future stars.

ByTom Cunningham Apr 15, 2025

Barry Bannan, Akin Famewo and Callum Paterson are in talks to stay, while Anthony Musaba, Michael Smith and Josh Windass have been tied to new deals following the club’s decision to trigger their options. Stuart Armstrong, Mallik Wilks and Marvin Johnson are among notable departures, paving the way for eventual reinforcements to take their place.

Undoubtedly, a feeling of anxiety exists over Rohl’s future, but forward planning is underway regarding their pursuit of a highly-rated defensive target.

Sheffield Wednesday make enquiry to sign Aston Villa youngster Rowe

According to Football Insider, Sheffield Wednesday are pursuing Aston Villa youngster Triston Rowe on a loan basis amid competition from Blackburn Rovers for his signature and have made a move by launching an initial enquiry.

The Villans have seen enough in the England Under-19 international’s development to decide on farming him out to the EFL Championship for further experience after his role in their Under-18 side’s treble victory.

Triston Rowe in 2024/25 – all competitions

Appearances

35

Goals

1

Assists

1

Primarily a right-back, Rowe can also deputise in central defence or further up the flank if needed and was previously called up to Aston Villa’s matchday squad in their 2-1 EFL Cup victory over Wycombe Wanderers last year.

Nevertheless, he isn’t yet viewed as a viable competitor to Matty Cash, so a loan move would allow him to continue developing without the spotlight of being thrust into a high-stakes top-flight environment.

Former Scotland international Liam Palmer isn’t getting any younger, which may have prompted Sheffield Wednesday to assess their own pecking order on the right-hand side of defence.

Now, their challenge will be to convince the youngster that Hillsborough is the correct environment to thrive while growing into the senior game next campaign.

While there is certainly more than one issue at Manchester United, much of the current problems can be centred around the long-standing woes of one key position – centre-forward.

Since arriving from Atalanta on a £64m deal back in 2023, Rasmus Hojlund has just scored 24 goals in 88 games in all competitions. Another Serie A import, Joshua Zirkzee, scored just seven times during his injury-curtailed debut campaign in Manchester.

Prior to Hojlund’s arrival, Erik ten Hag had been forced to rely on an injury-prone Anthony Martial for much of 2022/23, following Cristiano Ronaldo’s hasty exit, a fact that led to the shock, short-term signing of two-goal loanee, Wout Weghorst.

The January addition of the Dutchman marked the lowest ebb in United’s search for a stop-gap, short-term striker – following the days of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani and Odion Ighalo – while the desire for more long-term acquisitions, like Hojlund and Zirkzee, has also backfired.

Season

Player

Goals

2024/25*

Bruno Fernandes

8

2023/24

Bruno Fernandes & Rasmus Hojlund

10

2022/23

Marcus Rashford

17

2021/22

Cristiano Ronaldo

18

2020/21

Bruno Fernandes

18

2019/20

Marcus Rashford & Anthony Martial

17

2018/19

Paul Pogba

13

2017/18

Romelu Lukaku

16

2016/17

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

17

2015/16

Anthony Martial

11

2014/15

Wayne Rooney

12

2013/14

Wayne Rooney

17

2012/13

Robin van Persie

26

That latter pursuit has sparked speculation surrounding the capture of Ipswich Town’s 22-year-old talisman, Liam Delap, although Ruben Amorim’s side need a proven, ready-made goal machine to arrive through the door this summer.

The latest on Man Utd's striker search

Alongside the desire to bring in a new number ten, in the form of Matheus Cunha, the latest reports indicate that the Red Devils are also ramping up their pursuit of Delap, with the Englishman available for £30m this summer, amid Ipswich’s imminent return to the Championship.

The former Manchester City academy graduate has enjoyed a fine season regardless of the club’s collective woes, after scoring 12 Premier League goals, although such a move would still represent a risk, considering he scored just eight times for Hull City in the Championship last term.

With that in mind, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is among those seemingly under consideration as a potential upgrade, while The Mirror have only recently reported that Amorim and co are keen on a deal for Napoli’s Victor Osmihen.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to the report, the Old Trafford outfit are ‘pushing’ to strike a ‘cut-price’ deal for the Nigerian sensation, with Amorim said to have made the on-loan Galatasaray man his ‘top striker target’.

The belief is that United are keen to strike a bargain £40m deal with the Serie A side, capitalising on the fact that the 26-year-old is set to enter the final year of his current contract back in Naples.

Amorim is said to ‘favour’ a move for Osimhen, ahead of Delap, and it’s easy to see why…

Why Osimhen could be the best signing since Bruno Fernandes

It has been made clear that INEOS are keen on pursuing a youth-centric approach to transfer dealings, a fact showcased with the recent signings of Patrick Dorgu (20) and Ayden Heaven (18), during the January transfer window.

That desire to plan for the future is all well and good, but United are crying out for figures who can instantly hit the ground running in Manchester. No longer can Amorim and co afford to play the waiting game.

Going down the route of signing the likes of Hojlund simply hasn’t worked, with the Old Trafford hierarchy needing to snap up players entering their peak years – much like with the capture of Bruno Fernandes in January 2020.

From his Man of the Match performance against Wolverhampton Wanderers on debut, the Portuguese playmaker has looked every bit a Manchester United player. Fast forward just over five years, and the now-30-year-old boasts 96 goals and 85 games in all competitions for the club.

It could be argued that bringing in Osimhen would represent a signing of similar ilk, with the former Lille man having ripped it up wherever he has been, as evidenced by his career tally of 144 goals in 258 club games.

Previously the driving force behind Napoli’s Scudetto success in 2022/23 – in which he scored 26 league goals – the towering striker is currently thriving out in Turkey, having only recently powered to 30 goals for the season across all fronts.

Lauded as the “best striker on the market” by Statman Dave, Osimhen looks like a centre-forward at the peak of his powers – much like Fernandes represented in his final full season at Sporting CP.

Games (starts)

24 (22)

33 (33)

Goals

21

20

Goal frequency

89mins

147mins

Big chances missed

21

7

Big chances created

10

9

Assists

4

13

Key passes*

1.1

3.2

Pass accuracy*

67%

75%

Successful dribbles*

0.6

0.9

Possession lost*

7.7

22.8

While yet to sample Premier League action, Osimhen has proven himself in France, Belgium, Italy and now Turkey, with it unlikely that he’ll find the jump too great a challenge next term.

In the case of Hojlund, United can hardly be too surprised by his current woes, considering he scored just ten goals for Atalanta prior to moving to Manchester. The promising Dane is a player of potential, but in Osimhen, Amorim could find the real deal.

Indeed, with club legend Gary Neville stating that Fernandes is the only signing of the last decade who has “done more than I thought he would”, perhaps the Napoli outcast could be the best addition since the Portugal star’s arrival.

New Cantona & Berbatov: Man Utd on the verge of signing £90k-p/w "maverick"

Man Utd appear to be closing in on what could prove to be a real marquee move

ByRobbie Walls Apr 22, 2025

Playing her first international game since October 2022, the allrounder played a match-winning hand in a rain-curtailed contest

Srinidhi Ramanujam01-May-2024There’s an air of confidence around D Hemalatha of late. The allrounder had had to wait for more than 18 months before stepping into international cricket again. But when she finally got the opportunity to do that on Tuesday, against Bangladesh in the rain-hit second T20I, she ensured she made a case for herself with a blistering 41 not out off 24 balls. It came in an India innings of 47 for 1 in a curtailed chase lasting just 5.2 overs.It feels like a long time ago when Hemalatha made her T20I debut as a 23-year-old in 2018, at the T20 World Cup (then called the World T20) in the Caribbean. For someone who had shown so much potential at the domestic level for Tamil Nadu and Railways, Hemalatha had found it hard to translate it into runs in international cricket. Before her comeback game, she had played 15 T20Is and had scored a total of just 90 runs, shuttling between No.3 and 7 in the batting line-up with the highest score of 20.Related

• How Radha Yadav levelled up her game with a 'smiling face'

• Asha, Sajana earn maiden call-ups for Bangladesh series

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In those 15 games, she had come in at No.3 only twice, in 2022, and notched up 10 off 15 and 9 off 10 against England. This was a time when Yastika Bhatia and Jemimah Rodrigues were not part of India’s squad. In this series against Bangladesh, with Rodrigues out with a back niggle, the left-handed Yastika was India’s first-choice No.3. Yastika top-scored for India with 36 in the series-opener but had to miss the second game with a niggle. That’s when the stars aligned for Hemalatha.”Feeling great, playing for India and giving some contribution from my side,” Hemalatha would say after taking away the Player-of-the-Match award.At 29, she forced her way back into the India squad on the back of impressive performances in the domestic circuit and the WPL. In the senior women’s T20 trophy in October, Hemalatha scored 199 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 130.06 while batting at No.4 for Railways. This included an unbeaten 98 off 61 against Jharkhand, including 11 fours and five sixes. Her ability to negotiate spin and score quickly was on display for Gujarat Giants in WPL 2024 as well. After playing four matches in the middle order, the Chennai-born allrounder was promoted to No.3 against Mumbai Indians. The result: 74 off 40 at a strike rate of 185.A promotion to No. 3 during the WPL brought Hemalatha a 40-ball 74 against Mumbai Indians•BCCIIt was this big-hitting ability that took India over the line in Sylhet to go 2-0 up in the five-match series. After India had bowled Bangladesh out for 119 in overcast conditions, Hemalatha was out on the field for the third ball of the chase with Shafali Verma caught behind for 0. She scored four off her first seven balls, before dancing down the track and lofting offspinner Sultana Khartun high over the cow corner fence, bringing up the first six of the match. She then struck three fours off seamer Marufa Akther and left-arm pacer Fariha Trisna – a drive through backward point, a powerful cut, and a lofted shot straight over the bowler’s head.This was before she muscled left-arm spinner Nahida Akhter for a six over long-on and a four through the covers. Marufa came back to bowl the final over of the powerplay, and off the last ball before it started raining again, Hemalatha pierced the gap between extra cover and mid-off with a pleasing drive. In all, she hit five fours and two sixes.India were 19 runs ahead on the DLS calculations when the match was abandoned. At the post-match press conference, Hemalatha – usually a person of few words in media interactions – revealed that she was practising with the new ball at the WPL and that had given her the confidence to bat in the top order for India.”It’s really amazing. It always feels amazing when you are playing for your country,” she said. “In the domestic [circuit], I used to play at No. 4 and 5 in the [batting] order. When I came to GG [Gujarat Giants], I was playing at No.3. For that, I started playing with the new ball in WPL, and it has worked for me here also because I was confident playing against the new ball. We were planning to play just according to our strengths, it was a run-a-ball game, 120 was chaseable. We didn’t plan that much.”Rain might have robbed Hemalatha of a big innings, but it was a day to remember, nonetheless. Whether India persist with her when Yastika returns to full fitness is something to look at. But if she keeps firing like this when the management throws opportunities at her, and with four months to go for the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, India will have a happy headache fitting in Rodrigues, Yastika and Hemalatha.

Where Sri Lanka trusted Jayasuriya and Mendis to win the game for them, Pakistan always kept chopping and changing

Danyal Rasool28-Jul-2022It was almost exactly midway through this second Test, midway through the third innings, that Sri Lanka decisively pulled away from Pakistan. The 40th over had just been sent down by Yasir Shah. A poor one, with two loose balls put away by Dhananjaya de Silva, who was then in single digits; he would finish up in three figures. Five wickets down, two new batters at the crease and the skies darkening, Sri Lanka’s lead looked particularly vulnerable.Babar Azam had five spin options at his disposal, and Yasir’s ordinary over was more an aberration than anything else; he’d been fairly solid in his preceding seven, and also removed Oshada Fernando early on. Agha Salman at the other end was operating with impressive consistency, landing the ball in the danger area more frequently than perhaps any other Pakistan bowler; one drifting, non-turning offbreak had taken Angelo Mathews’ outside edge just before tea. Babar, however, opted for a change from that end.He didn’t bring on a fast bowler, or any of the other five spinners. Suddenly, there was the Pakistan captain, cap off and ball in hand, against two new batters who could barely believe their luck. Hindsight, foresight, and indeed sight at that moment could all tell you what was about to unfold and yet, seemingly oblivious to the magnitude of the moment, Babar began to bowl.Related

• Jayasuriya: 'I gave my everything to play for Sri Lanka'

• Stats – Jayasuriya's record-breaking start, Babar's fourth-innings form

• Jayasuriya, Mendis run through Pakistan as Sri Lanka level series

• Babar rises to No. 3 on Test batters' table

Across a wretched over, Sri Lanka were presented 10 runs on a golden platter, with the pressure release palpable across the Galle Fort ramparts. Babar took himself off, but the spark for that embryonic stand had been lit; de Silva and Karunaratne added 126 runs for the sixth wicket, stomping on any final hopes Pakistan had nurtured for another dramatic fourth-innings heist.To say Sri Lanka’s win represented justice being done would be something of an understatement; it is perhaps a travesty the hosts were ever made to sweat on a win in a contest they grasped by the scruff of the neck from the first session. Sri Lanka’s approach to this second Test demonstrated a clarity of strategy wholly absent from Pakistan’s game from day one, something Mohammad Nawaz admitted to when expressing frustration with Pakistan’s first-innings bowling plans.Sri Lanka had a multitude of spin options to choose from, too, but Karunaratne and Dhananjaya, who stood in for him for large swathes of the Test match, would not allow themselves to get lost in the maze of choice. Identifying Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis as their key spinners, Sri Lanka let them operate for extended lengths in each innings, backing them to stick to Plan A even while Pakistan built up frustrating partnerships. Today, as time ran out and rain and bad light both threatened to play spoilsport, Dhananjaya would not panic in the face of a seemingly impermeable Babar-Rizwan partnership that saw Pakistan sitting pretty at 176 for 2 in 53 overs.Pakistan lost eight wickets for 85 runs in the final innings•AFP/Getty ImagesAside from seven overs from Dunith Wellalage, Ramesh and Jayasuriya were nigh on the only game in town. From the 50th onwards, no other bowler sent down a single over, the entire 8 for 85 collapse scripted by that most traditional of combinations: a left-arm orthodox spinner and a right-arm offspinner operating in tandem with the confidence of their captain and a patience that stemmed from trusting the process they had followed to the point of muscle memory.”Patience” was a word Babar continued to return to in the post-match press conference. He ascribed a lack of it to his batters, and praised Jayasuriya for possessing it in spades. “Even if he gets hit for a boundary, he doesn’t deviate from his length,” Babar said.Pakistan may not currently possess the spin bowling quality that always feels like it’s bursting at the seams in Sri Lanka, but the part a captain plays in enabling them to put their best foot forward is difficult to overstate. According to ESPNcricinfo’s ball-tracking figures, nearly half of Jayasuriya’s deliveries on the final day – 52 off 114 – landed full on the stumps, rather than the safer shorter length wider outside off stump. He would concede a run-a-ball operating that line and length, but continued to work away on that tactic.It was responsible for three of his four wickets on the day, including the match-defining ones of Babar and Rizwan. Babar’s struggles against Jayasuriya in an otherwise excellent innings were also laid bare, with the batter not in control of 33.3% of all deliveries the left-armer bowled. Ramesh, too, was more productive when he operated along the fuller line that gave batters the opportunity to score runs, three of the four wickets he took falling that way.The notion that Karunaratne, who has exactly as many wickets at Test level as Babar, would have even considered bringing himself on for an over for whatever reason bordered on risible, and Dhananjaya – a far more accomplished bowler than either – only sent down two overs in the final innings; yet Pakistan have often felt chained to their bowling choices rather than feeling liberated by them. The longest any two of their spinners operated in tandem all Test amounted to 17 overs, and never once did a Pakistan spinner lay siege to an end, as Sri Lanka so successfully did.It might have to do with the quality of the personnel, but as a theme across his captaincy, Babar’s ideas on management of spin resources have felt strategically light. In Karachi, Pakistan had asphyxiated the Australian middle order around tea on the first day, allowing just 16 runs in 13 overs. Instead of keeping that pressure on, the next 26 overs were bowled by the ineffectual Sajid Khan, Nauman Ali, Azhar Ali and, of course, Babar himself. Australia did not lose a single wicket during that spell, and went on to amass 556.It’s much easier when you have Jayasuriya and Ramesh in this kind of form at your disposal. But Karunaratne, and Sri Lanka, know exactly what to do with them, while Babar, and Pakistan, have much of their figuring out ahead of them.

They spent countless hours together as kids learning “correct cricket” and they brought all of it on Tuesday

Shashank Kishore in Rajkot10-Mar-2020As kids, Cheteshwar Pujara and Arpit Vasavada spent countless hours in each other’s houses at Railways Colony in Rajkot. When not summoned to do homework, they’d train together, wanting to out-do each other with the bat. Arvind, Pujara senior, wanted them to channel their cricketing pursuits better and would have them alternate at the nets. Then over countless meals, he would drill into them the need to play “correct cricket” and to prove themselves on tough wickets outside Rajkot.On Tuesday, Vasavada and Pujara exhibited those very virtues that were ingrained in them as young players wanting to make a name in Saurashtra. And in doing so, Saurashtra took another step closer to their Ranji Trophy dream, after three failed attempts.Sure this final wasn’t being played outside Rajkot – regarded widely as a wicket by casual cricket observers in the country – but Arvind, a keen watcher from the stands, would’ve been delighted because this was far from a typical Khanderi surface they grew up on. This could’ve well been a surface in Kalyani or Karnail Singh Stadium in Delhi, one that needed both batsmen to dig in and exhibit substance over style. And they did.Pujara and Vasavada are the artisans of this team. There is a reason why the batting revolves around them. The more flamboyant artists were back in the pavilion. Sheldon Jackson looked a dream, but flattered to deceive. Vishwaraj Jadeja set himself up and was bowled through the gate. Such dismissals can potentially cause doubts for batsmen at the other end.Vasavada soaked it all from the non-striker’s end on Monday, even as Pujara battled throat infection, dizziness and fever. Pujara didn’t come out for pre-match warm-ups and the usual batting routines on Tuesday to preserve his energies. But when it was time for him to use them, he did it the way he knows best. Bengal’s fast bowlers kept trying to land the punches. Pujara had one answer: block.Short ball on the body: block. Left-arm over from outside leg: pad away. Left-arm spin from around the wicket: step-out-smother. Bouncer from around the stumps: duck and weave. He had answers to all questions the bowlers tried to ask of him. The approach comes out of years of training and knowledge of the surface, where batsmen, especially those from outside, can be worn down by demons they can’t see. In all fairness, conditions were tough and runs came in a trickle in the morning. It needed batsmen to fight and these two were prepared for the hard grind without the worry of being made to look ugly.They came together at a crucial time on Tuesday morning, with Saurashtra resuming on a dicey 206 for 5. A few quick wickets and Bengal’s hopes of restricting them below 300 would’ve been a real possibility. The onus was on them to see off the first hour at least. They added 25 in the first 15 overs of play, Pujara on occasions having mild discomfort against Shahbaz Ahmed’s left-arm spin. Once, he was even referred to the TV umpire for an lbw decision but survived because of his intent to try and get to the pitch of the ball, which got him outside the nine-feet mark. And while the impact was in line, he was too far down the pitch.Vasavada, at the other end, was equally watchful. Playing behind the line, rising with the bounce, weaving away from short balls, and resisting the temptation to sweep, a shot he plays very well. Most knocks of his generally has a good portion of runs square of the wicket through the sweep shot. But this was different. His determination to not play it as often seemingly evident.From time to time, Pujara kept walking up to him in between overs, sometimes in between deliveries, at the first sign of him trying to do something outside the manual. But these instances were few in a dogged effort. The mantra was clear: ‘There are no points for grace. Time and runs are our currency’.There was a poignant moment when Vasavada got to his century, though. Vasavada was consumed by emotion as he roared towards the dressing room, whipped off his helmet and waved his bat animatedly. Pujara had started to run towards him to give a big hug but stopped, held himself back and allowed Vasavada to let his emotions flow. And once he regained his composure, Pujara walked up to him and gave him a quiet hug and handshake. It was the hug that validated Arvind’s “tough runs outside Rajkot” philosophy.All along, Pujara was hardly been deterred at his own scoring rate. There was not even an inkling of that word ‘intent’ being heard from any corner. He didn’t get to his fifty until his 191st delivery, when he put away a long hop to the point boundary with all his might. It was sane batting, dour batting but a masterclass in putting mind over all else.Then a release shot came off his 200th ball, a length delivery that had him take a big stride forward and disdainfully crash on the up for four through cover point. But such luxuries of letting instincts take over were very limited, and the beauty of his knock lay in his self-restraint, like Vasavada, fully aware that while he wasn’t a 100%, he couldn’t afford to not give anything but 100% for his team. In four innings in the final, Pujara had a best of 27. This was his space, his home and he wasn’t going to pass another chance.The partnership was worth 142; but its value far greater than many stands they’ve had on flatter wickets. Pujara only made 66, off 237 balls. Vasavada 106, before being stumped. But as stumps approached and shadows lengthened in Rajkot, they had more than done their bit to give Saurashtra a real shot at history.On Holi, it wasn’t quite a colourful batting display you’d expect from an Indian mainstay, but the bloodymindedness to get the job done showed his steely resolve and how much the old virtues of occupying the crease and bail the team out meant to him.

The baseball world suffered a huge loss Monday when Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg died at the age of 65 following a diagnosis of metastatic prostate cancer.

Sandberg played 16 years in the majors, with the final 15 of those coming with the Cubs. He was a legend in Chicago and fans were rightfully heartbroken over the news.

On Tuesday, Sandberg's longtime double-play partner, Shawon Dunston, shared that he and some other former teammates had special conversations with Sandberg before his death.

"The last couple of days, he wanted to speak to me, Andre [Dawson] and Mark Grace," Dunston said during an emotional appearance on the MLB Network. "He told us that he loved us and he loved all you fans too. Go Cubs."

Here's that segment:

The Cubs will celebrate Sandberg with a patch on their uniforms for the rest of the season. The team will be back home at Wrigley on Friday, which will likely be an emotional day for a fanbase and a city that lost a former player that they all loved.