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It’s been an exhausting but brilliant summer for Chelsea so far this year.

On top of blowing everyone away at the Club World Cup and coming home as World Champions, the Blues have been as busy as ever in the transfer market.

The likes of Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens and Liam Delap have all come in to bolster Enzo Maresca’s attacking options, while Jorrel Hato has finally made his way to the big time and looks destined for greatness.

However, even with all the business they’ve already conducted, there are no signs of the West Londoners slowing down anytime soon.

In fact, they now look dead set on signing Alejandro Garnacho and Xavi Simons, although the pair will have to hit the ground running to see their valuations get anywhere near one of their soon-to-be teammates.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

Expand Collapse Why Chelsea want to sign Garnacho & Simons

It was confirmed by transfers expert Fabrizio Romano early yesterday morning that Chelsea have agreed personal terms with Garnacho and that they’re also looking to sign Simons at some point before the window slams shut.

Based on reports from earlier in the window, it looks like the former could end up costing the club at least £40m, while the latter appears to have a price tag of around £61m, taking the overall price of the pair to £101m.

It’s undoubtedly a lot of money to spend on two young players, but once you look past the enormous sums of money, it’s not hard to see why the Conference League champions want to add them both to their squad.

For example, despite being 20 years old for the entire campaign, and playing for a historically terrible Manchester United side, the Argentine international managed to rack up a tally of 11 goals and ten assists in 58 appearances, totalling 3,568 minutes – an average of a goal involvement every 2.76 games, or every 169.90 minutes.

The RB Leipzig star did even better than that, scoring 11 goals and providing eight assists in 33 games, totalling just 2763 minutes, which comes out to a sensational average of a goal involvement every 1.73 games, or every 144 minutes.

On top of their brilliant output, both players are positively versatile and can thrive in attacking midfield or out on the wing, which would give Maresca so many tactical options ahead of games next season.

Overall, it’s easy to see why Chelsea want to sign Simons and Garnacho and why they could cost so much, but even then, they’d have to hit the ground running to see their valuations even get close to someone already in the Blues’ squad.

The Chelsea star worth millions more than Simons & Garnacho

While Chelsea have certainly made their fair share of mistakes in the transfer market over the last few years, and received plenty of criticism for doing so, they’ve now got a squad bursting with incredible players, none more so than Cole Palmer.

Yes, it should come as no surprise that the star in question is the mercurial Englishman, as he’s undoubtedly been one of the best players in the entire Premier League since moving to Stamford Bridge two years ago.

His consistently sensational displays have seen his valuation soar as well, with the CIES Football Observatory pricing him at up to €157m, which comes out to £136m, or £35m more than Simons and Garnacho could cost combined.

While that is an outrageous number to place on a 23-year-old’s head, it would be hard to say he hasn’t earned it over the last couple of campaigns.

For example, in his first season with the West Londoners, the “exceptional” talent, as Pep Guardiola dubbed him, scored 25 goals and provided 15 assists in 45 appearances, totalling 3613 minutes.

Palmer vs Garnacho and Simons in 24/25

Players

Palmer

Simons

Garnacho

Appearances

52

33

58

Minutes

4247′

2763′

3568′

Goals

18

11

11

Assists

14

8

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.61

0.57

0.36

Minutes per Goal Involvements

132.71′

144′

169.90′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.12 games, or every 90.32 minutes, and he did almost as well last season.

In 52 appearances, totalling 4247 minutes, the game-changing international scored 18 goals and provided 14 assists, which came out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.62 games, or every 132.71 minutes.

Ultimately, while Simons and Garnacho will be great additions to this Chelsea team, we don’t think they’ll ever quite see their valuations rival Palmer’s.

Related He'd be unplayable with Simons: Chelsea agree terms with £40m "superstar"

The dynamic international could develop into something special at Chelsea.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 8, 2025

At their current pace, Sunderland could soon have a whole starting lineup of new players to call upon.

The Black Cats are picking up fresh signings at a breakneck speed, with a whopping £67m already dropped on the services of Enzo Le Fee, Habib Diarra, and Noah Sadiki.

Amazingly, another £19.5m could soon dent the weighty Sunderland back account, with Club Brugge winger Chemsdine Talbi the reported next big buy on Regis Le Bris and Co’s agenda.

Four signings are nearly through the door, but don’t expect the Wearside underdogs to stop here as they go about assembling a Premier League-capable squad, with plenty more standout purchases in the offing.

Sunderland set sights on new £13m star

After a jubilant promotion, Sunderland might as well give it their all on their return to the top-flight, instead of just being content with making up the numbers.

Transfer Focus

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

Indeed, reports are coming thick and fast as to who Le Bris wants to add next to his ever-growing camp, with a bid of around £26m having allegedly been submitted to sign rising Real Madrid star Gonzalo Garcia.

Another name floating about is that of Armand Lauriente’s, with a new development from French outlet L’Equipe stating that Sunderland have entered negotiations to sign the 26-year-old attacker from Sassuolo.

Having caused a lot of havoc in Serie B last season, the hope will be that Lauriente explodes into life even more as a dangerous face down the Black Cats’ left flank.

How Lauriente can be Le Bris' own Amad Diallo

If Le Bris can bring Lauriente to Wearside this summer then he could potentially sign his very own Amad Diallo in the process, considering the Ivorian was once a slick attacker himself in Italy.

U19s

46

13

12

U17s

41

23

6

Youth League

6

1

3

Atalanta

5

1

0

Obviously, Amad is now more known for his exploits at Manchester United – with 26 goals and assists next to his name from 64 Old Trafford outings – but there was a time when he was considered an exciting winger ready for that next step on the books of Atalanta.

Whilst his Atalanta education ultimately won him that high-profile move to Manchester, Amad very much honed his craft at the Stadium of Light as a daring and entertaining option up top when he headed out on loan to the Mackems in 2022, leading to him strutting his stuff in style all across the 2022/23 season with 14 goals and four assists picked up from 42 clashes.

Sunderland’s new £13m-rated target will hope he finds his time at Le Bris’ men to be equally beneficial in advancing his game, with Lauriente having the useful advantage already of being proven at a top level when Sassuolo plied their trade in Serie A.

The blistering Frenchman is only two off Amad’s entire total for Man United when assessing his Italian top-flight numbers, with a mightily impressive 12 goals and 12 assists tallied up, but it’s his numbers last campaign for Sassuolo when they triumphantly moved back up to face the likes of Juventus and AC Milan again that will have really caught the eye of the Black Cats.

Games played

33

Goals scored

18

Assists

5

Big chances missed

4

Big chances created

6

In total, the former Lorient forward would pick up a bumper 23 goals and assists from just 33 Serie B games last season, with Lauriente now potentially ready to cause ripples on Wearside by challenging the likes of Enzo Le Fee and Romaine Mundle down the left wing.

Much like Amad needed Tony Mowbray’s guidance to get the very best out of him, Lauriente might be able to perform at the peak of his jaw-dropping excellence knowing he has Le Bris by his side, with this audacious free-kick below – which was heralded as “amazing” at the time by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – coming when the pair were together at Lorient.

Whilst Le Fee, Diarra, Sadiki, and Talbi will steal plenty of headlines, securing Lauriente’s services could be the best buy of the bunch, particularly if he morphs into being a star like Amad to help Sunderland beat the drop.

Dream squad Sunderland could build: £112m spent on 7 signings after Talbi

Sunderland looks ready to take the Premier League by storm, with this being potentially what their dream squad could look like very soon.

1 ByKelan Sarson Jul 6, 2025

Frontline spinner Abrar Ahmed has been released to play for the Shaheens

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Aug-2024Pakistan will take on Bangladesh in the first Test in Rawalpindi next week without a specialist spinner, after Abrar Ahmed was released from the Test squad to join the Shaheens squad.It means Pakistan will field an all-pace attack, with the return of Naseem Shah to the Test side after a year out bolstering an attack that also includes Shaheen Shah Afridi.Khurram Shehzad and Mir Hamza, who both impressed at times during Pakistan’s last Test assignment in Australia, and Mohammad Ali are the other fast bowlers in the squad. Aamer Jamal, though, is unlikely to be available for the first Test. Jamal was the standout performer in Australia, taking 18 wickets and scoring valuable runs. But he’s been suffering from a lower back complaint since earlier this summer, one which affected and ultimately curtailed his county stint with Warwickshire.Abrar, who missed the Australia Tests with an injury, has been released alongside Kamran Ghulam, in the interests of both playing cricket rather than sitting on the bench. Ghulam will captain the Shaheens side against Bangladesh A in a four-day game, which begins in Islamabad on August 20, one day before the Test series.Related

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Pakistan vs Bangladesh Test moved from Karachi to Rawalpindi

Pakistan to play Karachi Test against Bangladesh without spectators

Abrar’s absence means Pakistan will be without a frontline spinner for only the second time in a home Test – including their UAE Tests – since September 1995 (though they did play a couple of Tests in the early 2000s with Shahid Afridi as their sole spinner). The only other time they played an all-pace attack was also at Rawalpindi, in December 2019, in what was their first Test in Pakistan in 10 years. That was part of a strategic shift under the new leadership of Azhar Ali, who, with Yasir Shah’s form dipping drastically, wanted to rely more on pace. It didn’t last long as Yasir returned and, in subsequent seasons, pitches were prepared to assist spin.Abrar Ahmed will play for Pakistan Shaheens against Bangladesh A next week•Matthew Lewis/Getty ImagesThe move to release Abrar doesn’t mark a broader change in philosophy as much as it acknowledges what Pakistan hope the surface in Rawalpindi will be – one with pace and bounce. If so, that will be a significant change from recent Test surfaces at the venue: lifeless and full of runs.It is also a nod towards the relative lack of resources in Pakistan’s spin cupboard, with neither Sajid Khan nor Noman Ali really having nailed down a spot in the Test side over the last few seasons. The first Test will be the fourth instance of Pakistan not picking a spinner in their playing XI in their last 32 Tests. By contrast, only twice in 201 Tests before that did they not play a specialist spinner.

I believe we have all bases covered, and it’s a very exciting time for the Pakistan Test sideRed-ball coach Jason Gillespie

It will leave Salman Ali Agha to shoulder the spin load for this Test, though increasingly that is a responsibility he has looked well-equipped for. In his last six Tests, since the start of 2023, he has bowled on average 12 overs per innings, including twice bowling 20 or more overs in Australia. He’s also made a habit of picking up useful wickets in that time, something that has not gone unnoticed.Asked on the last week whether Pakistan were short of spinning options, Test coach Jason Gillespie said: “You can look into whatever you want. But to start, I think we’ve got two special spinners. Salman Ali Agha is good enough to be classified as a specialist spinner. From what I’ve seen, he has a lot of potential with his offspin. Abrar (Ahmed), obviously, is a fine young bowler in the early stages of his career.”So, I think we’ve covered a lot of bases. We have a lot of seam-bowling options and spin-bowling options. Our batting is varied as well. I believe we have all bases covered, and it’s a very exciting time for the Pakistan Test side.”Both Abrar and Ghulam will rejoin the Test squad after the conclusion of the Shaheens four-day game and will be available for selection for the second Test in Karachi.

Aston Villa are still looking to fill the void left by Jhon Duran as the summer transfer window enters its embryonic stage.

The Colombian was sold for £71m in January after scoring 12 goals for the club during the first half of the season.

While Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford contributed well between January and May, scoring 12 goals between them, both have since returned to their parent clubs.

This means Unai Emery enters the market looking for a forward who can make a difference. Might he turn to Ligue 1 again?

Aston Villa lead the race for Belgian sensation

It appears as though Rashford won’t return to Villa next season. The club have shown interest in Tyler Dibling and Jadon Sancho in a bid to improve their wide options next season.

Transfer Focus

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

Rather than focus on Premier League talent, the manager also has eyes on the continent. According to TEAMtalk, Villa are among the clubs leading the race for talented Lyon winger Malick Fofana.

Liverpool and Arsenal are also in contention for the player and the report states that Lyon’s financial troubles could see Fofana available for just £40m this summer.

A young, left-footed talent ready to make his mark in the Premier League. Can Emery sign his new Duran in a move for Fofana?

Why Villa must sign Malick Fofana

Duran certainly had the potential to become Emery’s main attacking option, but the offer from the Middle East was too good to turn down.

The youngster dazzled with his displays off the bench for the Midlands side, eventually scoring 20 goals in 78 appearances, yet only 17 of those were starts.

Metric

Ligue 1

Europa League

Goals

5

6

Assists

4

1

Big chances created

6

1

Key passes per game

0.9

1

Successful dribbles per game

0.8

0.9

Emery has been craving a talent like Duran ever since he departed, and in Fofana, the Belgian starlet could become his next exciting young forward. Indeed, journalist Antonio Mango has lauded him for his “frightening speed” and “game-changing potential” – remind you of anyone?

The 20-year-old made his debut for Gent during the 2022/23 campaign, impressing sufficiently to secure a move to Lyon in January 2024.

His spell with the French giants has been a major success. Across 62 games, the youngster has registered 22 goal contributions – 15 goals and seven assists – particularly impressing last term.

Indeed, in April, talent scout Jacek Kulig hailed the winger for “showing flashes of his enormous potential” and he was especially dangerous in the Europa League.

When compared to his positional peers in the competition, Fofana ranked in the top 1% for non-penalty goals (1.05), progressive carries (7.88) and touches in the attacking penalty area (8.23) per 90 in the Europa League.

His explosiveness and desire to make things happen in the final third make him an excellent prospect, and he could continue his development under Emery at Villa.

Like his fellow left-footer, Duran, he would be an exciting young signing with potential, and there is no doubt Fofana could have a similar sort of impact as the Colombian forward.

With Villa playing in the Europa League – a competition Fofana excelled in – then bringing the Belgian sensation to the Midlands this summer could turn out to be one shrewd move by the manager.

Better than Watkins: Aston Villa ready offer for £28m "pure goalscorer"

Aston Villa are eyeing up a swoop for a striker

1 ByRoss Kilvington Jun 6, 2025

Manchester United’s front line has massively disappointed throughout the 2024/25 campaign, being one of the main reasons for their dismal Premier League finish.

The Red Devils finished in 15th place, just three places above the relegation zone, finishing the season with two times fewer points than eventual champions Liverpool.

Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo finished as the top scorers for Ruben Amorim’s side, both notching just eight goals, with no player managing to reach double figures in the league.

Strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee were both massively out of form throughout the entire year, only scoring seven goals in the Premier League between them.

As a result, the hierarchy have wasted no time in targeting reinforcements in such a department, with numerous names already mentioned with a summer switch to Old Trafford.

The latest on United’s hunt for new attackers this summer

With the transfer window set to open over the next couple of weeks, United have already begun work to land new stars to help Amorim’s quest of being a success in charge of the club.

Viktor Gyokeres, Hugo Ekitiké and Benjamin Sesko have all been touted with a summer switch to join the Red Devils, but as of yet, no progress has yet been made on such deals.

However, work has been conducted on a deal to sign Napoli forward Victor Osimhen over recent days, that’s according to Italian journalist Valter De Maggio.

He claimed on radio station Kiss Kiss Napoli, that the Red Devils hierarchy have met up with the Serie A side and negotiated a potential deal for the Nigerian international.

The journalist also confirmed that Antonio Conte’s side would want £40m plus current striker Hojlund in the other direction for the 26-year-old, who’s scored 36 times in 40 appearances on loan at Galatasaray this season.

Why United’s latest target would be a better signing than Delap

Over the last couple of weeks, striker Liam Delap has been widely touted with a move to join United this summer after his £30m relegation release clause became active.

The 22-year-old scored 12 goals for relegated Ipswich Town, undoubtedly being their shining light in a dismal campaign, leading to his subsequent links to join the Red Devils.

However, despite the interest, it appears as though Amorim’s side are set to miss out on a deal for his services, with Chelsea taking the lead in the race for his signature in recent days.

It’s been reported that United’s lack of European football has handed the Blues the advantage, leading to the potential interest in a deal for Osimhen as a result.

However, when comparing the pair’s respective stats from the recent season, the Nigerian has managed to better him in various key areas – undoubtedly being a better addition than Delap.

The Napoli star, who’s been labelled “the best striker on the market” by Statman Dave, has massively outscored the Englishman and registered a higher shot on target rate – highlighting his clinical edge in the final third.

He’s also managed to complete more of the passes he’s attempted and achieved a higher take-on success rate, handing Amorim an all round option in the final third – something he’s greatly missed.

Osimhen’s dominance doesn’t end there, winning more aerials, with his ability in the air offering the club a needed focal point, which they desperately need to take them back to their former glory.

The reported deal, which could see Hojlund move back to Serie A, may prove to be a blessing in disguise for United, moving on a player who’s simply not at the level required for the Premier League.

It may be disappointing to miss out on Delap given the bargain price he’s available for, but the Nigerian has demonstrated that he’s a better option, handing the club the elite-level attacker they need to right the wrongs of 2024/25.

Forget Garnacho: Man Utd must sell flop who's worth even more than Cunha

Man Utd could find a different solution to selling Alejandro Garnacho…

By
Robbie Walls

May 29, 2025

The forward line at Manchester United has massively disappointed throughout 2024/25, undoubtedly having an impact on their lowly Premier League standing.

Ruben Amorim’s team have only managed to find the net on 42 occasions within their 35 league outings – an average of just 1.2 per game, with numerous players failing to deliver.

Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund have been the two senior forward options throughout the campaign, but have largely struggled in the final third, netting just seven league goals between them.

Such form has allowed youngster Chido Obi to emerge into the first-team squad at just 17, becoming the youngest United starter in the Premier League after his appearance from the off against Brentford on Sunday.

However, if they are to get anywhere near their former glory next season, it’s crucial the board back Amorim and hand him the funds to allow him to make themselves changes he desires.

The latest on United’s hunt to sign new attackers

A new striker needs to be high up on the club’s list this summer, with the hierarchy evidently wasting no time after entering talks to land Nigerian talisman Victor Osimhen.

The 26-year-old, who’s spending the year on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, appears to be of interest to the club after scoring 24 times in 27 league appearances.

However, the striker isn’t the only forward on their radar, with Sporting CP winger Francisco Trincao firmly on their radar ahead of the summer, according to CaughtOffside.

The report states that manager Amorim is leading the charge to the 25-year-old’s signature after previously managing the attacker during his time in charge of the Liga Portugal outfit.

It also claims that the boss has personally requested the board to land the Portuguese international who’s said to be available during this window for a fee in the region of £34m.

Why United’s £34m target could be Amorim’s next Amad

Ivorian Amad Diallo has been a key player for United throughout this campaign, registering 17 combined goals and assists across all competitions.

However, his progress has been massively halted over the last three months, only returning to action in recent weeks after his extended lay-off, but he has already showcased his quality.

The 22-year-old scored off the bench in the defeat to Brentford last weekend, but his return to full fitness could hand the Red Devils a mammoth boost in their Europa League triumph hopes.

Regardless of who’s signed this summer, Amad will remain a key member of the side, undoubtedly playing a crucial role in any success they could achieve in the manager’s first full campaign in charge.

However, Amorim could land his new version of the Ivorian in the form of Trincao, who possesses very similar attributes, given their ability to cut inside onto their favoured left foot off the right-hand side.

They can also both feature in a wing-back role if needed, with the Sporting ace massively outperforming the current United star when delving into their respective figures from this season.

Trincao, who’s been labelled “world-class” by journalist Rafael Hernandez, has notched more combined goals and assists, highlighting the threat he poses in attacking areas.

How Trincao compares to Amad in 2024/25

Statistics (per 90)

Trincao

Amad

Games played

32

23

Goals & assists

22

13

Shots taken

3.3

2.3

Shot-creating actions

5.1

4.5

Progressive passes

4.9

3

Passes into final third

3.1

1.3

Take-ons completed

2.3

2

Aerials won

40%

37%

Stats via FBref

He’s also completed more progressive passes and completed more take-ons per 90, having all of the tools to hand other attackers the chance to increase their own tallies in the final third.

The former Barcelona ace has also managed to take more shots per 90, whilst also winning more aerials, certainly handing Amorim an all-round presence to transform his attack in 2025/26.

£34m in today’s market is an excellent price for a player who’s proven his quality, producing countless stats that are well above those of current star Amad.

Depth is also just as important to the first-team squad next season, handing the manager the opportunity to rotate his side and have the best possible chance of success in multiple competitions.

Related He'd be amazing with Cunha & Amad: Man Utd in talks to sign elite striker

Manchester United could be allowed to land a new talisman who could supercharge their overhaul this summer.

Posts ByEthan Lamb May 6, 2025

Arsenal are now leading the race to sign an “incredible” £30m forward this summer, having overtaken rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the race for his signature, according to a report.

Gunners set sights on new forwards

While the dream of winning the Premier League title may be over, it is an exciting time to be an Arsenal fan, with Mikel Arteta’s side potentially just two games away from reaching the Champions League final.

The Gunners blitzed past Real Madrid in the quarter-final, despite being without an out-and-out striker, but in order to push for the title next season, Arteta may need to bolster his attacking options this summer, and multiple forwards could be brought in.

A striker is of particular interest to the north Londoners, having recently held talks over Lille’s Jonathan David, with the Canadian joining the likes of Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres and Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak on the shortlist.

"I can tell you" – Fabrizio Romano says striker "will arrive" at Arsenal

The reliable journalist has shared an update on Andrea Berta’s plans this summer.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 19, 2025

With Bukayo Saka’s absence this season exposing the lack of depth out wide, Arteta could also look to sign a new winger this summer, and it was recently revealed that Bayern Munich’s Kingsley Coman could be available for a fee of just £30m.

There has now been a new update on Arsenal’s pursuit of Coman, with a report from Football Insider revealing they are now leading the race to sign the forward, despite interest from rivals Tottenham.

The Frenchman could be allowed to leave Bayern this summer, given that he has fallen down the pecking order, and the Emirates Stadium is said to be his most likely destination, with Spurs unable to offer consistent Champions League football.

The Gunners may face competition for the winger’s signature from Saudi Pro League clubs, but they should stand a good chance of winning the race, given that Arteta will have a lot of money to spend this summer.

Arsenal’s upcoming fixtures

Date

Crystal Palace (h)

April 23rd

Paris Saint-Germain (h)

April 29th

AFC Bournemouth (h)

May 3rd

Paris Saint-Germain (a)

May 7th

Liverpool (a)

May 11th

Coman could be "incredible" signing for Arsenal

The Paris-born winger may not currently be receiving as much game time as he has previously, but he continues to impress when given the opportunity, most recently scoring in his side’s 4-0 victory against Heidenheim last time out.

Not only that, but the “incredible athlete”, as lauded by BBC journalist Raj Chohan, has proven himself at the highest level in the past, most famously scoring the winning goal for Bayern Munich in the 2020 Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.

It is clear the Gunners could do with more depth in attack, having been left light on numbers for large parts of this season, and Coman’s top-level experience indicates he could be a fantastic signing, especially at just £30m.

There was physical courage, there were technical tweaks, and nothing really worked. But the final act showed not all was lost

Alagappan Muthu03-Jan-2025The old saying only mentions sticks and stones. Rishabh Pant might want it amended to include leather as well. He had a big red welt on his left arm where a back-of-a-length ball from Mitchell Starc had reared up off the Sydney pitch to strike him flush.Thanks to his heroics on his last Border-Gavaskar tour, this one began with a lot of focus on him. Even otherwise, with the pitches in Australia getting spicier and the new Kookaburra ball making life more difficult for the top order, the impact of players like Pant and Travis Head, coming down the order, always had the potential to change the course of Test matches.Related

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• Smith '100%' certain he got his hand under Kohli's catch

• Boland leads the charge as Australia dominate on green pitch

The conversation around Pant began to shift, though. The risks that he takes to play those unorthodox shots had begun to catch up with him. His scoop in the first innings in Melbourne, where he was trying to pick out the gap at fine leg – he got hit on his body the first time he tried it and was caught at deep third the very next ball when he went for it again – came in for a lot of criticism. Being dismissed by a part-time bowler in the second innings, when India were trying to save the Test, took that discourse to a whole other level. There were other batters not doing their job as well but his wicket was singled out.With that as the backdrop, Pant walked in in Sydney and spent 98 balls being someone else. There were still glimpses of his disdain for that red ball. In the 43rd over, he helicoptered a cut shot. Those usually involve back and across movements. But he couldn’t be bothered. He just trusted his hand-eye coordination and then, at the point of contact, let his wrists go for a whirl, and the ball skipped away behind point. Under normal circumstances, that’s what a Pant highlights reel would be all about.An exchange with Steven Smith, caught on the stump mic, didn’t end well for Shubman Gill•Getty ImagesThese weren’t normal circumstances. His application had come under question. During optional training, reserve wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel had a long net, large parts of it right alongside Pant, and he looked quite good. It took a while for Pant to become a regular in India’s Test team – largely because his keeping needed to improve; his batting was already there – and since then he’s been among the first names on the sheet. Melbourne cast doubt over his temperament. Sydney almost became the scene of his redemption. He took so many body blows. Two back-to-back in the gut. Then another in the gut which left him winded enough he went down to the floor. One right on the side of the helmet, which looked awful. He tried to get out of the way but that bouncer just kept following him. Starc looked extremely concerned and wouldn’t leave Pant’s side until he got a nod of the head from the batter.”I think this is the first time I’ve gotten hit so much,” Pant said, “But you know in cricket you can’t plan anything, so everything happened for the first time for sure at some point of time in your career, but that was me today.”India were showing bravery. They were trying to correct their mistakes. Virat Kohli abandoned his open stance to be more side-on, which in theory would reduce the chances of him playing away from his body because his alignment was putting his front shoulder closer to balls outside off stump. They tried to rely on their defensive skills. Ravindra Jadeja tried to leave as many as he could. They tried to play the situation and ignore their natural instincts.As much as they did all this, though, they seemed to gain little. They still collapsed from 57 for 2 to 148 for 8. The only difference was, it was a slow-burn collapse spread out across 41 overs. It’s back to their bowlers to bail India out, and it is possible that they could. There are frailties in the Australian batting order and the pitch is offering plenty of help.It was edged and taken yet again for Virat Kohli•Getty Images”I feel it was a little tough pitch,” Pant said. He believed India’s 181 was not quite a par score but was close to it. “The ball was doing off the wicket quite a bit especially after the end of second session I would say.”India did expect batting to be difficult when they won the toss and chose to put a total on the board. What they didn’t expect was the consistency of movement and the extra bounce. It gave them zero breathers. When they tried to manufacture shots, it backfired.Shubman Gill wanted to make sure it was the last ball before lunch so he went down to do some gardening. Steven Smith at slip saw that and said, “This is bull****. Oi, let’s play”. Gill turned around and replied, “You take your time, Smithy, nobody says anything to you.” Then he faced up to Nathan Lyon and got caught by Smith at slip. Kohli’s side-on stance seemed to be helping until once again Scott Boland produced a ball that he nicked.India went to stumps in a rage. The penultimate ball of the day sparked a confrontation. Usman Khawaja asked Jasprit Bumrah to wait. Sam Konstas got involved with a couple of words from the non-strikers’ end. Bumrah didn’t like it. The two of them had to be separated by the umpires. The last ball of the day produced a wicket. Khawaja was out caught, and Bumrah whipped around and walked towards Konstas. He knew he couldn’t get in his face. He held his emotions in check and then vented them when Konstas walked off. Veins popping. India haven’t been a happy team on this tour. They’ve felt antagonised. They had come to Sydney damned for all that they did. Sydney damned them when they didn’t, too. That last ball wicket, though, felt powerful. All 11 players ran up to their captain bristling with life once more.

A lot of things are in flux right now but their batting leaders are still churning out those tough runs

Deivarayan Muthu28-Dec-20222:26

Latham: ‘It’s not going to get any easier for us to bat on’

In 2021, Kane Williamson staked his claim to be New Zealand’s greatest ever captain by leading them to the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) title and final of the T20 World Cup. However, his long-standing elbow injury and a slump in form – both in international cricket and IPL – put his future under scrutiny. Given the congested cricketing calendar, Williamson was expected to give up white-ball captaincy and continue to lead New Zealand in Test cricket. Except that didn’t happen.When the time came, Williamson stepped down from Test captaincy but kept hold of the white-ball sides, perhaps fueled by the dream of going one better at the 2023 ODI World Cup. Even in this unlikely event, it was thought that Tom Latham would be his successor. He had stepped in for him often enough. But New Zealand Cricket (NZC) felt differently and appointed Tim Southee to the post.Related

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Around the time New Zealand desperately needed a wicket on the opening day of the Karachi Test, Trent Boult was in action for Melbourne Stars at the BBL. Then, on the second, Martin Guptill, was making his BBL debut for Melbourne Renegades. Colin de Grandhomme has retired from international cricket, as has Ross Taylor. New Zealand’s cricketing landscape is in flux, but there is still one constant: Williamson and Latham are still the batting leaders of the Test side.The cracks on the Karachi pitch are opening up. The ball landing in the rough was routinely drawing puffs of dust, and towards the close, Pakistan’s spinners were getting turn even off the straight. But it was slow turn. Batters don’t mind that. What did bother them was the low bounce.Kane Williamson made his 25th Test century•AFPWilliamson, in particular, relishes standing up tall and dinking the ball down to third man on true pitches. This one was anything but. So he had to lower his stance, tighten his defence and play as straight as possible. That naturally messes with your chances of scoring quick runs, which is why, at one point, he was just 7 off 45.Latham followed a similar template. It’s funny, the son of Rockin Rod doesn’t even have a franchise T20 deal, but when his team need him he’s always there. He blunts the new ball across conditions in an era where opening the batting in Test cricket is a difficult job. He has vastly improved his keeping to become New Zealand’s frontline ODI keeper and offer the team balance. Rahul Dravid selflessly did that back in the day for India. And whenever Williamson has been unavailable, Latham has always been ready to captain the team. He will lead the side in India in January 2023, when Williamson and Southee will rest at home after the Pakistan tour.It is too early to tell what impact these two centuries have on the Test but one thing is for certain, this was Williamson and Latham at their calculative best. They took great care not to be caught at the same end for a long time, using something they have in common – a strong back-foot game – to keep piercing gaps on the leg side. Their boundaries, though, were the result of special skills.Latham is one of the best sweepers in the modern game and he used it to great effect en route to becoming the most prolific century-maker among New Zealand’s openers, surpassing John Wright with his 13th Test hundred. Williamson, on the other hand, just extended his impeccable defence whenever there was too long a lull. His down-the-track lofts against Nauman Ali were all virtually perfect, giving no warning that he would be on the charge, reaching the pitch of the ball every single time and taking the most risk-averse route to the boundary. Straight down the ground.This has been a slow-burning Test match on a slow pitch where it hasn’t been easy to score freely or strike quickly. But it has produced an image that lingers. That of a long work day ending – and perhaps a new era in New Zealand cricket beginning – with Williamson walking back to a warm reception from Latham and Southee in the dressing room.

A recap of the major talking points from the latest round of Shield matches

Andrew McGlashan03-Nov-2020Burns in the spotlightThere has been no shortage of in-form batsmen during the first three rounds of the Shield – 19 centuries have been scored – so when someone has struggled a little it stands out. Five of Australia’s incumbent top seven are in action (David Warner and Steven Smith the two at the IPL) and all have made telling contributions except for Joe Burns. His three innings have brought 7, 29 and 0. The middle of those scores is probably the most frustrating as he had got himself settled before top-edging an indecisive pull. His second-innings duck, edging the superb Trent Copeland, came at around the same time that Will Pucovski and Marcus Harris were breaking records, while Sam Whiteman has also piled on the runs. Burns’ returns last summer against Pakistan and New Zealand were solid rather than spectacular – two half-centuries in eight innings – although a substantial score in the final round of matches would probably see him retain his place. But the competition has suddenly become fierce.Swepson’s hub gainsFew players have gained as much from the tournament being forced into the single-city hub in Adelaide than legspinner Mitchell Swepson. The conditions have meant he has had a central role for Queensland and he has delivered with 15 wickets in two matches. He played a match-winning role in the opening game against Tasmania and came within a whisker of doing it again in the compelling match against New South Wales where he collected a career-best 10 for 171. Among that haul was the ripping legbreak from around the wicket to bowl Sean Abbott and another fizzing delivery to beat Daniel Hughes in the second innings. Australia will have to include a second spinner in their enlarged Test squad; it would probably have been Swepson in any case, but the last few weeks should have ended any debate.It did not take long for Cameron Green to make a mark with the ball•Getty ImagesGreen shootsIt was only 12 overs, but they were another significant step in what is starting to feel like an inevitable Test debut for Cameron Green this season after his call-up to the limited-overs squad. Given his run-scoring it may not even matter how much he can bowl, but his return to action was a reminder of the enticing package he will be providing injuries can be kept at bay. He bowled three four-over spells in the match against Tasmania, removing Jordan Silk twice, and was getting the ball to carry through at good pace. His second-innings spell with the new ball was especially lively as he found the outside and inside edge of Charlie Wakim’s bat in an over that somehow cost him 14 runs.Contrasting returns for Shield veteransShaun Marsh appears to be playing as well as ever. If it hadn’t been for the search for quick runs to bring a declaration against Tasmania he could have had twin hundreds in the match and three in five innings this season. At 37 his Test career is surely behind him, although in this of all years it’s probably wise to expect the unexpected. His first-innings 115 in the latest round, with Western Australia in trouble against a ball moving around, was a display of the highest quality. Across town, things did not go as well for another stalwart of Shield cricket: Callum Ferguson bagged a pair against Victoria, edging a wild drive against Will Sutherland in the first innings and nicking the new ball from Scott Boland in the second.ESPNcricinfo LtdSouth Australia keep their HeadIt was a sobering time for the Redbacks as Pucovski and Harris piled up the all-time Sheffield Shield partnership record of 486. On the second evening, when the score stood at 0 for 418, coach Jason Gillespie did not try to sugarcoat things and when they were 2 for 10 early in the second innings, facing a deficit of 354, defeat looked certain. However, in Travis Head they have an exceptional leader and batsman – for the second game running he led from the front to show that survival was possible with 151 off 296 balls. Still, he needed help and in 19-year-old Liam Scott he found it as the young allrounder added his name to the ‘ones to watch’ list as he took South Australia to the brink of the draw. The Redbacks have batted 288 overs across two second innings in their last two matches – to compete they must score first-innings runs, but they are a side that won’t give in.