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Chaotic run-out buoys Essex before champions regroup in follow-on

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay07-Apr-2025Surrey 365 (Foakes 92*, Burns 73, Harmer 4-83) and 219 for 6 (Sibley 66, Foakes 60) drew with Essex 582 for 6 dec (Critchley 145*, Cox 117, Pepper 109, Walter 95)Dom Sibley remained immovable for 77 overs to underpin Surrey’s successful fight to salvage a draw in their opening match in the defence of the Rothesay County Championship title.Surrey had started the final day with a target of 217 to avoid an innings defeat and Sibley appeared determined to make sure the reigning champions batted throughout to save both the game and their faces after a chastening four days at Chelmsford.The former England opener put on 101 in 41 overs in a decisive fourth-wicket stand with Ben Foakes before he departed for 66 after a four-and-a-half hour, 221-ball vigil. Foakes reprised his first-innings stubbornness with a second half-century of the match before Ryan Patel and Jordan Clark saw them sneak over the line at 219 for 6 and handshakes on the draw at 5.36pm.Two wickets in seven balls early on day four gave Essex a brief scent of a victory that had looked highly probable when they asked Surrey to follow-on, but apart from three late wickets the match meandered towards the inevitable draw. They used eight bowlers in the innings in an effort to change the narrative, but to no avail.Surrey might have lost Sibley to the first ball of the day but his edge to Jamie Porter fell short of slip. Sibley was in stereotypical obdurate mode and took 26 balls to get off the mark, an angled shot down to third man off Porter.The openers set the tone for the day in the first 49 minutes, trundling along at a rate of around two an over. By then Harmer had arrived in the attack. He required just 13 balls of niggling and probing before Rory Burns went back to a fuller ball and was trapped lbw on his stumps.Then in the next over, Ollie Pope slashed wildly at a widish delivery from Shane Snater and, for once on a slow pitch, the ball carried through to the wicketkeeper. The England man’s cameo lasted four balls for a solitary run.The strike-rate increased significantly for a spell when Paul Walter was introduced. Jamie Smith went after him, taking 23 runs off eight balls faced, including a pulled six and four fours. Not surprisingly the left-arm seamer was immediately retired with figures of 2-0-25-0.However, Smith’s stay proved brief as he was involved in a run-out of ridiculous proportions with Sibley. Sibley decided there was a second run, Smith didn’t, both men finding themselves at the same end. Despite an initial miss-take by Michael Pepper from Snater’s throw to the wicketkeeper, the ball was eventually transferred to the non-striker’s end where Critchley was able to effect the dismissal.With spin at both ends, Essex wheeled through the overs at a rate of knots – indeed the official over-rate was showing at plus 13 – with Sibley and Foakes content to thrust their legs down the wicket to negate any turn.So it was something of a jolt to the system when Sibley punished a wayward delivery from Critchley through midwicket for only his fourth four and then immediately drove straight for his fifth. He also executed a well-timed cover drive off Harmer for another boundary.Despite those occasional flurries it still took Sibley 181 balls to reach his fifty, achieved midway through the afternoon session having started his innings the previous evening. To emphasise the pace of his innings, he added 21 runs in 94 balls pre-lunch and 38 from 103 between lunch and tea.However, the seemingly immovable force lasted just nine balls into the final session when he had a rush of blood produced a wild top-edge swing at Noah Thain and he was walking before the square-leg boundary fielder took the catch.Foakes had hung around for 134 balls and 50 runs before he was cleaned out by Jamie Porter’s third delivery with the new-ball, his middle-stump left at 45 degrees.With overs running out and two runs shy of their target, Dan Lawrence fell to a slip catch by Jordan Cox for the second time in the match.

Asalanka, Nissanka fifties trump Hetmyer’s unbeaten 81 in high-scoring clash

Andrew Fidel Fernando04-Nov-20212:12

Where do Sri Lanka go from here?

The kids are alright. Both Sri Lanka’s and West Indies’.In a game featuring some of T20s greatest names – Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard etc – it was a group of players under 27 that really shone. Perhaps the baton has been passed.

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For Sri Lanka, their two best batters of the tournament, Charith Asalanka (aged 24), and Pathum Nissanka (23), put on a 91-run stand off 61 balls for the second wicket, to help set up a total of 189 for 3, which always seemed commanding, even on a good Abu Dhabi pitch.Both hit fifties, but Asalanka’s was the better one. He struck 68 off 41, cracking a six and eight fours. In defence of a pretty big total, Wanindu Hasaranga (24), took two further wickets to finish at 16 for the tournament – a T20 World Cup record.For West Indies, the greats didn’t really show, but two young batters did, and despite the incompetence around them even got West Indies to within 20 runs of Sri Lanka’s total. Twenty-four-year-old Shimron Hetmyer’s 81 off 54 was the more substantial of the two. Nicholas Pooran (26) hit 46 off 34. No other West Indies batter made double figures.The Asalanka-Nissanka standWhen Sri Lanka started this tournament, Asalanka wasn’t even in the XI. He then came in at No. 3 for Dinesh Chandimal, who had failed in the first couple of games. Since then he’s hit 8, 80*, 35, 21, 12, and 68. His innings on Thursday wasn’t even his best of the tournament (that would be his 80* while chasing, against Bangladesh). It was still impressive though. He found regular boundaries while the spinners were operating (he is especially good against spinners), worked the singles and twos efficiently the rest of the time, and thanks largely to him, Sri Lanka were skipping along at more than eight an over for the majority of their innings.Nissanka, meanwhile, wasn’t quite so regular with the boundary-hitting, but found plenty of runs square on the legside, and took calculated risks that mostly paid off in his 51 off 41 balls. Their partnership defined the match. And they both ended up with more than 200 runs in the tournament – Asalanka making all but eight of those in the Super 12 stage.

West Indies penalised for slow over rate

West Indies have been fined 20% of their match fee for maintaining a slow over rate against Sri Lanka as they were ruled to be one over short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration.

West Indies captain Kieron Pollard pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.

David Boon of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanction after on-field umpires Aleem Dar and Langton Rusere, third umpire Paul Wilson and fourth umpire Richard Kettleborough leveled the charge.

In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel relating to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined 20% of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl within the allotted time.

Sri Lanka’s finishThe second-wicket stand had set Sri lanka up nicely, but it still needed a fillip to get into the commanding territory they eventually achieved. Dasun Shanaka promoted himself up the order, though, and produced his best batting performance of the tournament, hitting a six and two fours in his eventual 25 not out off 14. With Asalanka also raising the tempo until he was eventually caught at square leg in the 19th over, Sri Lanka made 52 in the last four overs.West Indies’ collapseGayle, match-winner in so many T20 internationals, played his fourth meek innings in a row. He hit one single off his first four balls, and holed out to mid off playing his first aggressive shot of the match, to be out for one off five deliveries. Evin Lewis and Roston Chase were also dismissed inside the Powerplay, substantially denting West Indies’ chances.If there was one half-decent stand, it was the 30-run affair between Pooran and Hetmyer, until eventually Pooran fell early in the 12th over. By then, the required rate had climbed to well over 12. Hetmyer, who was 9 off 15 when Pooran fell, then started playing much more aggressively, but wickets kept falling at the other end. If one other batter had contributed a rapid 35, West Indies could maybe have got close.In the end though, Sri Lanka were good with the ball and excellent with the field, and they closed the match down efficiently.

Coach also keen to persist with top three of Nissanka, Perera and Chandimal

Andrew Fidel Fernando19-Oct-2021Two quicks capable of bowling faster than 145kph, one allrounder who gets up into the high 130s range, a spanking new mystery spinner who is yet to be decoded, and a world No. 2 legspinner with a killer googly. These are Sri Lanka’s frontline bowling stocks for this World Cup. They are so good, says coach Mickey Arthur, they could be “almost the ideal attack”.They were excellent against a Namibia side that Sri Lanka were expected to overpower, with Maheesh Theekshana (the mystery spinner) picking up three wickets, and Lahiru Kumara producing good overs at each stage of the innings. But Ireland, a more formidable outfit, will be a step up.Still, Arthur is excited, particularly by Dushmantha Chameera (who bowled one delivery at 149kph on Monday, and whose bouncers can be truly nasty) bowling in tandem with Kumara, who also comfortably breached 145kph. This may be the lowest-rated Sri Lanka outfit ever to arrive at a T20 World Cup. But they’ve also never had a quicker attack.”For us to have two bowlers of genuine quality bowling at 145kph – that makes a massive difference,” Arthur said. “We know that any team doesn’t like facing them. They’re genuine wicket-takers. Their skills have got better and better over the last couple of months. We’re really happy having them attack for us.Related

• Dead rubber against Netherlands provides Sri Lanka opportunity to solve top-order woes

• Hasaranga, Nissanka, Theekshana down Ireland to seal Sri Lanka's Super 12s spot

• Bazid Khan: In the UAE, if you get 140, you're still not out of the game

• Preview – SL have much to be worried about against Ireland

• Jayawardene's data-driven insight helps Avishka find stability

“Dushmantha Chameera has gone to another level. He’s now genuinely world-class. To have those bowlers in our line-up gives us a good balance. Chamika [Karunaratne] brings a little bit of swing. And we’ve got our two spinners. It’s almost the ideal attack, if you like.”They will be tested by an Ireland batting order that seems to be finding its feet, but if they bowl second in Wednesday’s match, they will also have to contend with the dew. Across both World Cup venues so far, sides bowling second have struggled to keep the ball dry. Sri Lanka bowled first against Namibia for this very reason. But they are prepared if the toss goes the other way against Ireland, Arthur said.”We came out the night before the Namibia match and checked the amount of dew, and there was a fair amount. I don’t think it’s impossible to bowl if we have to bowl second. We’ve prepared that way – using wet balls, etc. We’ll be ready. Once the wicket cools down and gets a little bit of moisture on it, it just tends to come on a little bit nicer as well.”Sri Lanka will stick with the same top three, according to Arthur. They did not fire against Namibia, with each of Kusal Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, and Pathum Nissanka all getting out cheaply. While Perera has produced some good T20 performances, Chandimal and Nissanka are not highly rated hitters – their gifts favouring the Test format. Arthur sees no reason to change, though, with Perera dropping back into the top three following his latest injury layoff.”I’m pretty confident with Kusal Perera back at the top of the order now,” Arthur said. “He’s a world-class player, so to have him back there gives us a lot more solidity. I’m pretty sure he’s going to fire for us soon.”Pathum Nissanka is a work in progress. I’ve said numerous times that he’s the one young Sri Lanka batsman that I’ve seen in my time that is going to go on and genuinely become a world-class player for Sri Lanka. We’ll keep going with Pathum because we’re investing in him. That No. 3 position has been an Achilles heel for us, ever since we lost Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka and Niroshan Dickwella, we’ve battled to find the right balance in our top five. I’m comfortable we can find that balance if we can nail down that No. 3 position.”

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Former Celtic hero Jackie McNamara has stated Ryan Christie is doing well after being ‘held back’ by injury, he told Football Insider.

What’s he said?

Christie missed 15 games for his club last season through a variety of injuries, but the midfielder has already come back with a bang. The 24-year-old was arguably the man of the match in the second leg of the FK Sarajevo tie on Wednesday after a goal and assist in the 2-1 win.

The former Inverness man suffered from three unrelated injuries last year in a frustrating season. Christie did establish himself in the 38 games he played for Celtic yet faces tough competition under Neil Lennon this term.

Tom Rogic and Mikey Johnston are two capable of playing his preferred number 10 role, yet Christie looks to be nailing it down after an impressive start.

McNamara knows that Christie is making the most of his opportunity after a difficult year, telling Football Insider: “He had to be patient, he had a couple of injuries which held him back a little bit. He had the bad one in the semi-final against Aberdeen, it was a really bad one at the time.

“He’s taken the opportunity and done well. Good for him to grab his goal, he’s had two strong performances. I think just now he’s trying to stake a claim.”

Christie’s time to shine

The industrious talent should hopefully put his injury troubles behind him this season as he aims to become a guaranteed starter under Lennon. Rogic’s uncertain future and Johnston’s performances out wide might just give the 24-year-old the perfect chance to impress this season.

Christie’s strike on Wednesday shows he can step up in important moments and there’s going to be a lot of those as Lennon aims to defend the treble the club won last season.

Christie now has an opening at Celtic – it’s just up to him to grab it and become a Celtic star just like McNamara.

It went down to the final over but Hurricanes’ top-order problems against cost them

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Oct-2021Sydney Sixers made rather heavy weather of closing things out, but Shafali Verma’s battling half-century ensured they were able to make it two wins from two at the start of their WBBL campaign.Shafali’s innings was rarely convincing – she survived a marginal lbw shout early on, regularly just managed to evade the fielders and was striking under 100 at 16 overs – but she took on Tayla Vlaeminck in the 18th over which began with Sixers needing 24 off 18 deliveries.She scooped Vlaeminck for a boundary to reach fifty off 45 deliveries then clubbed her through the leg side with one of the most authoritative shots of the innings. With Nicole Bolton also finding the rope, the over cost 15 and all-but decided the contest.However, Shafali couldn’t quite see Sixers home when she was caught at long-on to give Molly Strano her third wicket and it was briefly nervy when Angela Reakes fell to the first ball of the last over, but Maitlan Brown kept her cool.Sixers had restricted Hobart Hurricanes to 125 but stumbled at the start of the chase. Alyssa Healy was beaten for pace by Vlaeminck as she played across the line and Ashleigh Gardner charged at Strano to leave them 2 for 14.Shafali and Ellyse Perry steadied the innings with a stand of 63 in 10 overs then, after Perry was stumped, Shafali continued to ride her luck.Hurricanes’ batting again struggled – they have a bowling attack to make an impact this season but desperately need top-order runs – and were 3 for 26 after the Powerplay. Perry claimed two wickets and Brown one, the latter courtesy of a terrific catch at point by Radha Yadav to remove Mignon du Preez.Gardner’s four overs, which included 12 dot balls, continued to keep a lid on the scoring and it was largely in the hands of Richa Ghosh to hold things together. Ghosh hit three sixes before falling to her India team-mate Yadav as Hurricanes limped to the 20-over mark.

Tallawahs’ batters couldn’t build on their starts while Dwayne Bravo impressed with the ball

Andrew McGlashan02-Sep-2021Sherfane Rutherford’s outstanding CPL continued with another matchwinning hand as he and Fabian Allen turned what appeared a challenging chase into a canter to maintain St Kitts and Nevis Patriots’ unbeaten start to the tournament.On a night where a number of batters couldn’t cash in on starts – Carlos Brathwaite’s 27 was the top score for Jamaica Tallawahs – Rutherford’s became the decisive hand. His stand of 55 in just 20 balls with Allen took control of what was a 50-50 chase when Ravi Bopara departed to leave Patriots 114 for 4 in the 15th over.With five overs to go, Patriots needed 50 when Allen helped take 17 off an Andre Russell over to turn the tide. Phil Simmons, the West Indies coach watching from the stands, would have been concerned to see Russell repeatedly flexing his leg.The next over decided the contest when Rutherford took three sixes off Migael Pretorius – the second two coming after he got away with a spiraling top edge that substitute fielder Kirk McKenzie could not get underneath. Allen then sealed the match by taking the tally of sixes to six in the space of 14 balls.Patriots had been quick out of the blocks but were hauled back when Devon Thomas edged to slip and the struggling Asif Ali was trapped in front. Evin Lewis, who was given a life on 24 by Tallawahs’ stand-in wicketkeeper Kennar Lewis, was shaping to play the key innings before he top-edged off Rovman Powell.Kennar Lewis had the gloves after Chadwick Walton suffered a hamstring injury during the first innings which forced him to retire hurt on 26 in the eighth over. It was around that period where Patriots had a strong hold over the scoring rate having initially gone for 34 off the opening three overs.The next seven overs up to the halfway mark brought just 31 which included Dwayne Bravo, who had a fine evening with the ball, taking a neat one-handed return catch to remove Haider Ali.Brathwaite provided an increase to the scoring rate but lost his off stump attempting to lap Sheldon Cottrell. This time there was no onslaught from Russell who toe-ended a short ball against the impressive Paul van Meekeren. Pretorius’ 15 off five balls ensured 160 was in sight but in the end it proved well short of being enough.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has confirmed that the club will continue spending in the transfer window as they look to improve the team, per the Daily Telegraph.

What’s he said?

Spurs confirmed on Thursday that they had extended their sponsorship agreement with AIA.

The deal is said to be worth £360m in total or £45m per season.

The report states that the deal is the third-highest in the league, behind only Manchester United and Manchester City.

And Levy has revealed that the club are likely to continue spending after breaking their transfer record to sign Tanguy Ndombele from Lyon earlier this summer.

He said: “If I’m honest, we don’t feel the pressure.

“Our view is wherever we can we will improve the team. We have embarked in recent years on two very major capital projects, which I think in the long term will be of great benefit to the club.

“We will continue wherever we can to improve the team.”

The report states that the club are in talks over a deal for Fulham teenager Ryan Sessegnon, which could cost £20m, while manager Mauricio Pochettino would also like to sign Paulo Dybala from Juventus, though his asking price is reported to stand at £80m.

Grand plans

This feels like the endgame for Levy’s long-term vision.

The chairman has overseen the club’s move from White Hart Lane into the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, though the club did not spend any money at all in the summer transfer window of 2018, and the January window thereafter.

This summer, then, suddenly feels like a major one, particularly with the club bringing in Ndombele in a deal that has smashed the previous record £42m splashed on defender Davinson Sanchez.

Watch Tottenham Hotspur Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

There could be more to come, particularly with links to Dybala and Sessegnon, and Real Betis’ Giovani Lo Celso.

Suddenly, the funds appear to have been freed up; perhaps Levy was right to save his pennies and subsequently spend big in 2019/20.

The squad looks likely to be further improved; the plan is coming to fruition.

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Shock and awe are the two feelings most commonly stirred up by the old warhorse called the WACA

Tristan Lavalette04-Nov-2014Perth, the capital of vast Western Australia, is a magnet for tourists despite being one of the world’s most isolated cities, with Sydney and Bali each about four hours away by air. Perth’s major attraction is its aesthetics (its beaches rival any worldwide), sunny weather and tranquil lifestyle.Locals, referred to as Sandgropers, believe Perth is a healthy fusion of its more famed compatriot cities. It boasts Sydney’s splendour, and, like Melbourne, has an eclectic mix of small bars and alternative cafés, thanks to a concerted cultural push from some local governments. Still, Perth finds it difficult to shake off its inglorious moniker, “Dullsville”.Situated a short stroll from the city’s central business district heartbeat, the Western Australian Cricket Association Ground (WACA) is Perth’s most iconic sports facility. Despite its pristine surrounds and close proximity to the Swan river, the WACA is not the archetypal picturesque cricket ground, and certainly would not pose a threat to Adelaide Oval in the beauty stakes. The WACA is neither an awe-inspiring colosseum nor a quaint ground. Worse, it looks tired and dated, the very antithesis of Perth’s newfound energy.The ground’s exterior can evoke some pity – after all, its major redevelopment, initiated in 2007, has stalled – but the uncomfortable innards make it difficult for spectators to embrace an outing to the cricket. Basic amenities, most notably toilets, are inadequate and there’s barely any shade for most of the ground. The last is especially unfortunate, given the uncanny coincidence of sweltering weather and international matches. Even if you’re oblivious to the cricket, it is difficult not to realise what spectators have to endure at the WACA.Low though the WACA may be on creature comforts, cricket connoisseurs may have another story to tell. For those enamoured of Hollywood westerns, the “Wild West” evokes lawlessness and roughness. The WACA’s inimitable pitch has helped spawn gunslingers. Dennis Lillee’s swinging gold chain and thick moustache never menaced more wickedly than when he was steaming towards the WACA’s pitch. Relocating to the “Wild West” has helped Mitchell Johnson rediscover his mojo (although many attribute his rekindled powers to his handlebar mo’).But it’s not just the pace bowlers who have all the fun. Adam Gilchrist’s swinging blade was never so destructive than when he eviscerated poor Monty Panesar at the WACA during an Ashes Test in late 2006. Justin Langer scored a half-century on Test debut on a difficult pitch in Adelaide and emerged as one of the steeliest batsmen of his generation, because he had been brought up on a diet of bumpers at the WACA.

It’s fun to watch the ball rocket from the pitch and hurtle towards a batsman’s throat. It’s fun to watch the cut, pull and hook in abundance. Simply, cricket at the WACA has more action than an Arnold Schwarzenegger film

Apart from a sedate period in the mid-2000s when it was rendered lifeless, the WACA’s pitch has brimmed with fury through the sharp bounce and rapid pace extracted from its hard surface. But it is not just a fast bowler’s nirvana. Tall spinners – such as WA’s Michael Beer, who earned a baggy green after relocating from Victoria – have relished plying their craft at the traditional graveyard for slow bowlers. Batsmen adept on the back foot and at attacking square of the wicket have always been rewarded with scoring opportunities, and the runs can flow rapidly.Perhaps a by-product of the WACA, aggressiveness is the overriding characteristic of WA cricketers. WA cricket teams relish playing a brand of cricket with a hard edge. Perhaps the trait can be traced to the state’s golden era of the 1970s, when they were led by the talismanic Lillee. A generation imitated Lillee, resulting in a bevy of speedsters until the production line suddenly halted sometime in the late 1990s, forcing WA to import.Even though Lillee’s playing days are several generations removed, he casts an unforgettable and permanent shadow over WA cricket. He emerged in the late 1960s, during a period of cultural change and at a time when Perth was starting to transform from a sleepy country town into a developing city. Alongside Rod Marsh, and later Kim Hughes, Lillee became a mirror to Perth’s evolving self-belief. He showcased confidence, brashness and resoluteness, but he also possessed a sense of humour. Cricket was important, and he competed fiercely, but there was a tongue in cheek element to his demeanour. Winning wasn’t everything, cricket was just a game. After all, there were beers and gags to revel in with team-mates and adversaries after a hard-fought match.Perth’s cricket fans are ardent and devoted to their team. It should not be forgotten that WA is ridiculously patriotic, with an undercurrent of scepticism towards the eastern states. This leads to the occasional silly chatter on whether WA should secede from the Commonwealth.So WA cricket fans follow their team with fervour and WA players in the national team are revered (an annual highlight of Australian matches at the WACA is hearing the stadium reverberate when a WA player is announced). Of course, winning is enjoyed and celebrated. But defeats do not leave that permanent painful pang – like they do for sports fans in a place like Melbourne – because there is always beautiful weather to embrace and overall, life is pretty good, thanks to WA’s resource-rich powerhouse economy.Still, WA cricket fans thirst for exciting play. They cherish the sight of athletic pacemen, bounding into the crease off long run-ups. There is perhaps no visual more pleasurable than watching a wicketkeeper planted halfway towards the boundary, reinforced by a plethora of catchers. Fans long for energetic action – plenty of wickets and bones broken, fused with a healthy dose of boundaries. But it’s not merely flash that captivates. Substance and grit are appreciated too. Batsmen willing to take a few blows to their body are lauded. Bowlers prepared to toil through arduous spells under Perth’s scorching sun are admired, especially by fans who flee to find comfort at nearby watering holes.Perth: not quite Dullsville•Getty ImagesRecently I met the Afghanistan cricket team during their visit to Perth to play two warm-up matches against a WA XI team. It was a chance for the players, used to the dustbowl pitches of the subcontinent, to acclimatise to the WACA’s cauldron before the looming ODI World Cup.After talking to several Afghan players, it was evident that the WACA’s aura has taken on a life of its own. It is little wonder so many batsmen – not just foreigners but also from the other side of the country – are befuddled before they even set foot on the hallowed pitch. “I expect the ball to bounce sharply and quickly… I can’t imagine what it would be like to face Mitchell Johnson here,” was basically what several players told me on the eve of Afghanistan’s first match against WA. A fusion of excitement, awe and apprehension was evident in their voices.It dawned on me that no other ground holds such trepidation for visiting players. And that’s what makes watching cricket at the WACA so compelling. It’s fun to watch batsmen walk to the crease slightly sheepish. It’s fun to watch the ball rocket from the pitch and hurtle towards a batsman’s throat. It’s fun to watch the cut, pull and hook in abundance. It’s fun to watch spinners get treated with disdain, and batsmen occasionally perishing because of it. Simply, cricket at the WACA has more action than an Arnold Schwarzenegger film.However, the WACA’s days as Perth’s premier cricket venue could be dwindling. A new sports stadium, which will have a capacity of 60,000, is set to be completed by 2018. It is being built in close proximity to Perth’s only casino, and many believe cricket needs to be moved to the emerging Burswood locale. Even former WA cricket legend and Australia Test captain Kim Hughes believes the WACA’s days are numbered, and is backing calls for international cricket to be played in Burswood.Despite its uncertain future, I’m pretty certain the WACA’s treasure trove of memories will forever resonate with cricket fans.

Manchester United are tussling with Real Madrid to complete the signing of a player who is among the "most-watched" in his position, according to a fresh transfer rumour.

Man Utd transfer news

Erik ten Hag will already be eyeing up summer additions, especially with Sir Jim Ratcliffe seemingly keen on having a big transfer window at Old Trafford as his influence grows.

Juventus attacker Samuel Iling-Junior is seen as someone who could provide competition for the likes of Marcus Rashford out wide, and while he wouldn't arrive as the finished article, he could have a big future in the game.

Centre-back is also an area of the pitch that United could look to bolster their options, especially with Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans all in their 30s. Jarrad Branthwaite and Jhon Lucumi have both emerged as reported targets at Old Trafford in that position.

The former has been a rare bright spark for a disappointing Everton side this season, averaging 4.2 clearances per game in the Premier League, while the latter has caught the eye for Bologna, completing 93.3% of his passes across 20 appearances in Serie A.

Teenage Boca Juniors defender Aaron Anselmino has also been linked with a summer move to United, with the 18-year-old a "dominant" player who only has a £15m release clause in his current contract.

Man Utd eyeing "most-watched" players

According to a report from Spain, Manchester United are interested in signing Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka, seeing him as a good summer option to snap up.

However, the Red Devils aren't alone in expressing a willingness to acquire his signature, with La Liga giants Real Madrid also very much in the mix.

While Andre Onana has improved after a worrying start to life at United, bringing in Bulka could provide him with the extra competition that he needs moving forward. It could be argued that the jury is still out on the Cameroonian with some supporters, rather than him having the complete support of the fanbase.

Bulka is an impressive figure, shining for both Nice at club level and Poland internationally, and his current manager Francesco Farioli has heaped praise on him, saying:

"In the space of four months, he went from a luxury substitute to one of the most-watched goalkeepers in international football. He knows the level that he has to stay at. He is a serious, hard-working boy who has his head well screwed on. He knows he has to continue to work with his hunger, for himself and for the team."

At 24, Bulka is still a young goalkeeper with so many years ahead of him, but history would suggest that United have not had too much success in the goalkeeping department over recent years, with even David de Gea coming in for criticism throughout his time at Old Trafford.

That inevitably means there will be plenty of scrutiny over their next move for a goalkeeper, which could lead to plenty of pressure riding on Bulka's shoulders if he is chosen to compete with Onana for the No 1 slot.

Nothing in football is ever certain but Tottenham Hotspur supporters can rest assured that their team is in for a gripping finale to Ange Postecoglou's first season at the helm.

Fifth-placed in the Premier League with just ten matches left to go, Spurs are on the heels of Aston Villa in the top four with Manchester United snapping at their feet in sixth.

Only a few days ago, Tottenham were buoyed by a resounding victory over fourth-placed Aston Villa and knew that by winning their game in hand they would leapfrog Unai Emery's side, but last weekend's sobering loss against Fulham at Craven Cottage comes as a bitter reminder that this is squad is a work in progress.

Radu Dragusin endured a starting debut to forget after signing from Serie A side Genoa in a £27m deal in January, but the Romanian centre-back was certainly not the only player at fault, with Yves Bissouma flattering to deceive and continuing to ebb and flow this year.

The tough-tackling midfielder is so talented and offers a singular quality in the centre of the park that no other Lilywhite can replicate to the same degree.

But Postecoglou has displayed a ruthless streak throughout his maiden year in charge and while Bissouma is a good player, would it be unjust to suggest there's an upgrade out there, somewhere?

Why Spurs signed Yves Bissouma

Tottenham secured the signing of Bissouma from Brighton & Hove Albion for a fee rising to £35m in July 2022 after his stellar efforts on the south coast, with Graham Potter, Seagulls manager at the time, hailing him an "incredible" talent.

Champions League football had been achieved under Antonio Conte and it was the allure of Europe's elite club competition that had persuaded the 27-year-old to close the door on his Brighton career and join the Spurs project in the capital.

The prominence that he had achieved with the Seagulls dissipated rather quickly at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the £55k-per-week ace only starting 11 Premier League matches all campaign, averaging just 0.7 tackles and 0.5 interceptions per match, as per Sofascore, while succeeding with just 47% of his contested duels.

Yves Bissouma's 2023/24 season in numbers

Described as a "monster" by journalist Aaron Stokes, Bissouma has enjoyed plenty of success when on the pitch this season but has missed five Premier League matches due to suspension and was culpable for a dreadful performance against Fulham on Saturday evening.

Writing in his post-match comments, football.london's Alasdair Gold handed the midfielder a lowly 3/10 score and wrote: 'Wasn't helped much by his wandering fellow midfielders but he struggled to make his presence felt in the game or inspire confidence in those around him.'

Make no mistake, Bissouma is a high-class midfielder with a range of qualities in the engine room that suit Postecoglou's system well, but the best ability is availability and his recklessness has hampered Spurs' campaign.

As per FBref, the Malian midfielder ranks among the top 1% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 14% for progressive passes, the top 10% for successful take-ons, the top 5% for tackles, the top 6% for interceptions and the top 12% for clearances per 90.

Clearly, he's blessed with some pretty remarkable attributes, an adept distributor, a fearsome recycler of possession and a deceptive dribbler.

But Bissoma has got to ensure that he sees out the remainder of the campaign with a level head and a focused drive toward ensuring Tottenham succeed in their pursuit of Champions League football.

Yves Bissouma's market value in 2024

According to Football Transfers' player valuation model, Bissouma is currently worth just £10m, which marks a startling £25m depreciation in less than two years since joining.

Sure, this is largely down to the dismal 2022/23 campaign, and this price tag should see a rise over the coming months given his comeback and cementation of a starring spot in the Tottenham team. However, the fact remains that Bissouma is continuing to flicker up and down, lacking the stability and consistency needed in this N17 squad.

The fact that Bissouma is valued lower than Oliver Skipp, who is firmly a utility presence at the club, is indicative of his inconsistent performances, but he would be most disgruntled to learn that Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg remains a more valuable asset than himself.

Hojbjerg is out of contract in 2025 and was expected to have completed a transfer away from Tottenham in January, only to reject interest from outfits such as French club Lyon.

Moreover, the Danish midfielder has only started six Premier League matches in 2023/24 and is too conservative and static on the ball to truly flourish in Postecoglou's system, averaging just 0.2 key passes, 0.9 tackles and two successful duels per game this season, as per Sofascore.

Spurs must bin forgotten player who's worse than Sessegnon

Ange Postecoglou’s squad bears no future for this dud…

By
Angus Sinclair

Mar 17, 2024

While a prosperous future at Tottenham could be on the cards for Bissouma, he's not quite proving himself an immovable starter at the heart of this new project, and a discussion regarding his sale certainly wouldn't be a bad move as Tottenham look to gauge whether cashing in and reinvesting on a more reliable star could be worthwhile.