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If it wasn't for a ten-point deduction, Sean Dyche's Everton would be flying high in the Premier League at this moment in time.

The Toffees would be competing with the likes of Manchester United and Newcastle United higher up the division than looking over their shoulders at the bottom three in the top flight if the points deduction never happened, winning four of their last five matches with four consecutive clean sheets tallied up along the way.

However, as much as Dyche's men are defensively solid, the Blues do arguably lack firepower going forward with striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin only helping himself to three goals this season in the league.

January could come at the best possible time therefore to recruit a new exciting forward player, with rumours indicating that the buoyed-on Blues are interested in former Sheffield United man Iliman Ndiaye who could fill the boots of Richarlison finally.

Everton transfer latest – interest in Ndiaye

TEAMtalk are reporting, via journalist Alan Nixon, that the Merseyside outfit are interested in bringing Ndiaye to Goodison Park this January, Dyche wanting positive reinforcements up top.

The deal could well only be a loan switch however, Ndiaye's current club Marseille wanting the Senegal international to get back to his explosive Sheffield United best after an underwhelming stay in France to date before returning back to Ligue 1 revitalised.

Everton could well be the next destination that ends up re-energising the faltering forward, the 23-year-old attacker previously vital to the Blades as a creative force.

The Blues could do with a vibrant attacker coming in and shaking things up, lacking a second exciting striker option in their ranks ever since former Everton great Richarlison upped and left for Tottenham.

How Ndiaye compares to Richarlison

Ndiaye could come in and play a similar starring role for the club that the Brazilian forward provided for Dyche, a skilful and exuberant attacker who also has the goals to back up the audacious flicks.

Last season under recently sacked Paul Heckingbottom at Bramall Lane, Ndiaye was paramount to the Blades winning automatic promotion from the Championship – scoring 14 goals and assisting a further 11, switching between playing as an out-and-out centre forward, competently playing down the channels or filling in as an attacking midfielder. That's certainly similar to Richarlison.

This blistering form saw former Blades striker Brian Deane wax lyrical about the Senegalese forward to the Sheffield Star, stating that the thrilling attacker is "worth the entrance fee alone."

Richarlison similarly was vital last season to the Toffees in their escape from relegation with electric performances, netting four less than his counterpart with ten goals but proving to be equally critical for his side.

The 26-year-old was also subject to glowing praise, heralded as "world-class" by former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson when speaking to Football Insider in the direct aftermath of his move to north London.

Ndiaye was also rewarded with a major move, although his time with Marseille has been anything but smooth sailing.

Sheffield United's former number 29 has found the adjustment to French football tricky, only managing one strike so far donning his new Marseille colours.

Ndiaye could seek some comfort relocating to England in January in a bid to recapture his form, the Toffees desperate to land the flashy forward even with his former relegation-threatened employers also reportedly sniffing around to clinch a South Yorkshire homecoming.

The out-of-sorts 23-year-old would also offer Dyche another presence who can potentially play down the flanks, Ndiaye pushing the likes of Jack Harrison and Dwight McNeil potentially to new heights by offering friendly competition.

It has all the makings of being a fascinating transfer saga, Everton leading the race so far for the hot property.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been on an exciting journey on the pitch since Chinese investment group Fosun International became the club's owners in 2016.

Who have been Wolves' biggest signings under Fosun's ownership?

The Old Gold were a Championship side at the time, after a stint in League One, and are now in their sixth Premier League season in succession, thanks – in part – to their work in the transfer market.

Most expensive signings

Fee paid

Matheus Cunha

£42.8m

Matheus Nunes

£38.5m

Fabio Silva

£34.3m

Raul Jimenez

£32.5m

Goncalo Guedes

£27.9m

Fees via Transfermarkt.

Fosun have not been afraid to splash the cash for the majority of their time in charge of the club and provided former manager Nuno Espirito Santo with enough funds to mount a promotion push from the second tier during the 2017/18 campaign.

They backed the Portuguese head coach and the former Porto chief used that money to great effect with a number of impressive signings.

One addition the 49-year-old tactician hit the jackpot with for the club was central midfielder Ruben Neves, who arrived from Porto in the summer of 2017.

How much did Wolves pay for Neves?

The Old Gold reportedly paid a staggering fee of £15m to sign the fantastic young talent, who was 20, in what was a club-record deal at the time.

Wolves and Nuno signed the 20-year-old technician for such an eye-catching fee at Championship level as he had already established himself as a first-team regular for Portuguese giants Porto.

Neves had racked up 93 senior appearances for the club prior to his move to Molineux and became the youngest captain in their history in 2015.

The talented maestro averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.08 and made 3.4 tackles and interceptions per game across 13 Liga Portugal outings during the 2016/17 campaign in the build-up to his switch to England.

Ten other players averaged a higher Sofascore rating within the Porto squad that season but Neves made sure that he was an outstanding performer for Wolves after failing to stand out among the pack in his home country.

How well did Neves perform for Wolves?

The Portugal international, who made his national team debut in 2015, enjoyed a phenomenal debut year in English football as he took the Championship by storm.

Neves averaged an exceptional Sofascore rating of 7.32 across 42 starts in the division as he contributed with six goals and one assist from midfield.

The tenacious midfielder did not get on the scoresheet often but did make sure that his goals were worth the wait, as shown in the video above, with some exceptional strikes from distance.

His defensive work, however, is where he excelled as the central midfielder averaged a superb four tackles and interceptions per match, which was the most by any midfield player for the club and the second-most in any position behind Willy Boly (4.2).

Neves' outstanding form in the middle of the park was recognised by his peers as the Wolves star was voted into the PFA Team of the Year for the Championship, alongside John Ruddy and Boly.

How many Premier League goals did Neves score?

The Portuguese was then tasked with dealing with the step up to Premier League football and he ended up with 21 goals in 177 top-flight appearances for the club over the course of five seasons.

His excellent defensive instincts were on full display again at the top level as Neves averaged 4.2 tackles and interceptions per game across 35 outings during the 2018/19 campaign, which was the joint-most of any Wolves player that term.

This shows that the former Porto starlet was able to deal with competing against higher-quality opposition in the Premier League, as opposed to playing second-division football in the Championship.

Neves' ability to consistently break up play in midfield was vital for Nuno's side as he was the defensive rock in the middle of the park to stop teams from threatening their goal.

The 26-year-old warrior, who was once hailed as "sensational" alongside teammate Joao Moutinho by Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville, played at least 33 Premier League matches in each of his five seasons at the top level for Wolves.

This suggests that he was a consistently reliable option for the manager as it was rare for him to miss a game over the course of half a decade.

How much did Wolves sell Neves for?

Wolves reportedly cashed in on the Portuguese ace for a fee of £47m this summer as Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal swooped to secure his services after six years at Molineux.

This means that the club made a significant 213% profit on the initial £15m they splashed out to sign him from Porto.

Nuno and Wolves took a gamble when they sanctioned a club-record deal to sign a 20-year-old prospect with no guarantee of a promotion to the Premier League or that the player would develop as well as be able to adapt to life in England.

However, they clearly had faith in Neves and he repaid them accordingly over the subsequent six seasons with consistently brilliant displays in midfield.

He ended his time with Wolves in excellent fashion as his performances throughout the 2022/23 campaign were outstanding. The Portugal international averaged a superb Sofascore rating of 7.23 across 35 games and made 3.7 tackles and interceptions per game to go along with six goals.

No other outfield player for the club averaged a Sofascore rating higher than 6.90 and Neves also topped the charts for tackles and interceptions combined as well as being the joint-top scorer alongside Daniel Podence.

These statistics show that the 26-year-old was a phenomenal performer for the Old Gold as he made a significant impact at both ends of the pitch, breaking up opposition attacks and finishing off chances to score goals, while delivering a consistently high standard with his displays in midfield.

This convinced Al Hilal to spend £47m on his signature and it will now be interesting to see how the rest of his career pans out, as he still has plenty of years left ahead of him to develop further.

Whatever happens from here, though, there is no doubt that Wolves struck gold when they decided to sign Neves as he ended up making the club millions alongside being a crucial player on the pitch for a number of years.

West Ham United have invested the £105m recouped from the mammoth sale of Declan Rice in an intelligent manner.

James Ward-Prowse, who joined from Southampton for £30m, registered two assists on his debut in a 3-1 win against Chelsea at the London Stadium.

Whilst the £35.4m signing of Edson Alvarez looks to be another shrewd acquisition due to his strong defensive capabilities.

However, the Irons are yet to add any attackers to the squad, despite Gianluca Scamacca returning to Italy after an underwhelming season in England.

Rumours are now viciously circulating around potential forward options…

What’s the latest West Ham transfer news?

According to Sacha Tavolieri, West Ham are interested in Genk’s Mike Tresor.

But, before any deal advances, the Hammers must first settle and finalise Lucas Paqueta’s uncertain future.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

Nevertheless, the east Londoners are keen to make progress from next week and be will in touch with Genk in due course.

Other reports have suggested that the Belgian whiz could be available for around €20m (£17m).

Would Mike Tresor be a good signing for West Ham?

Last season, the 24-year-old dynamo was thrown into European prominence thanks to a scintillating term with Genk – across 42 appearances, he scored eight times and crafted 24 assists.

This astonishing form meant that Tresor was named Belgian Pro League Player of the Season, whilst also breaking the assist record.

As a result, it was announced that the left-winger was in his nation’s squad for upcoming European qualifiers against Austria and Estiona back in June 2023.

Following his incredible numbers and achievements, talent scout Jacek Kulig described the joyous technician as “sensational” and he looks ready to make the next step in his career.

The jump from Belgian football to the Premier League is insurmountable, but a player of Tresor’s productivity, technique, and flair could provide some healthy and much-needed competition for Said Benrahma.

In a short space of time, the Algerian winger can dazzle and infuriate, but he is undoubtedly one of the club’s most important players.

Last season, Benrahma made 52 appearances in all competitions for the Hammers, the second-highest in the squad, to underline his valuable nature under David Moyes.

However, the tricky winger continues to massively divide opinion.

On one hand, Joe Cole has described him as “unplayable” and someone he has “always been a fan of” due to his natural “ability” – this is mainly down to wonderful dribbling as he ranks within the best 22% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90.

But, he is equally frustrating, with the Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg labelling the former Brentford livewire as “underwhelming” who suffers from a “constant lack of discipline and focus.”

Although Benrahma ended last campaign as the club’s joint-top scorer with six goals, Steinberg felt this was misleading as the majority were penalties and his assists were just simple passes for stunning, long-range efforts from his teammates.

Therefore, the arrival of Tresor could be the perfect antidote to eradicate Benrahma’s inconsistencies, whilst also proving to be a pivotal piece of squad depth.

This will be vital for West Ham, who face a third-consecutive season of European football, whilst also trying to build upon a disappointing 14th-place finish in the Premier League last term.

Will Luke talks to the West Indian fast bowler, Daren Powell

Will Luke in Dublin12-Jul-2007

Daren Powell: putting a spring back into West Indies’ step © Getty Images
Watching West Indies celebrate their win over England in the one-day series was special, and marked a remarkable transformation in fortunes for such a brittle side. And for Daren Powell, their fast bowler who suffered during the preceding Tests, the win was a relief as much as anything else. For once, his team could walk tall on this tour.”It was a big relief because we’d been losing, and we didn’t want to be going home with our heads down,” Powell told Cricinfo after West Indies’ thumping win over Netherlands in Dublin on Monday, “For the past year or so, I’ve been saying that I really want to come home from a series with my head up, smiling – and it’s so good that we beat England, you know, it was a real good one.”When we travelled down on the bus to London, I spent some time looking at everyone on the bus…and it was just completely changed, a different bunch of players. Happy, joking, laughing and having a nice time. It’s good to see everyone smiling, happy about what we did, and how we felt.”For a team whose decline in the past 10 years has been as stark as it has been depressing, the victory was a timely fillip, especially as they now have to pit their wits against some of the lesser teams of the world. The squad has decamped to Ireland for a Quadrangular tournament that also involves Netherlands and Scotland, and the onus is on them to maintain the same intensity they showed against England.”It’s pretty hard when you’re playing a team that’s less competitive,” said Powell. “But we haven’t been winning much cricket, and then had a really good series in the one-dayers against England. And after those one-dayers, we just forget everything that happened in the [preceding] Tests.”It just showed that it’s good to win,” he said. “And whatever happens here, we just have to remember how good it is to win. Winning gives you confidence, and then you know how to carry on in other games, when you reach tougher opposition. [In the past] West Indies haven’t pulled off the victory when we should.”Why has it been a tour of two halves, though? West Indies were so dismal during the Test series that few gave them much hope of even challenging England in the one-dayers. Yet they lifted themselves to a new, thrilling level – and, crucially for them, they were clearly enjoying it all so much. Powell, too, was a man reborn, consistently bowling in excess of 90mph and showing excellent control, picking up six wickets at 21.83. Could it have had anything to do with the identity of his captain, Chris Gayle?

Chris Gayle: ‘The whole team has changed since the day he took over’ © Getty Images
“Chris really is tremendous you know,” Powell, a good friend of Gayle’s, said. “Maybe people will take this the wrong way, because we’re from the same country [Jamaica], but really, I’ve played under so many other captains in the past. He doesn’t say much, but he knows how to gel the team together – to spark off your plugs and stuff – and it’s very pleasing to see someone like him generating this team spirit.”He’s a funny guy – always jovial around the team, not like what you see on TV when he probably has a serious face. He’s a jovial kind of guy and often in team meetings, he’ll just say ‘believe in yourself’. He just has a way with people. To me, the whole team has changed since the day he took over.”That’s quite some statement. Who, honestly, would have thought Gayle – as laid back as a flattened deckchair – could inspire so much from his troops? Gayle himself has been very quick to maintain that he’s keeping the seat warm for Ramnaresh Sarwan, who left their tour of England through injury. But inspiration, fortune and success can manifest themselves from the most unlikely of sources and people.Gayle to captain the Test side, then? A broad smile and a revealingly guffawing laugh from Powell suggests he’s already given it some thought. But why the laugh? “Well, because of the name Sarwan! [cue even more laughter].”Sarwan is also good, but it’s up to what the selectors want to do now,” said Powell. “To me, if they want to have different captains for the one-day side and the Test side, that would be nice. And if they pick Sarwan again, that too would be tremendous, you know, as long as the guys can keep up the same momentum as with Chris.”And the impression you get from Powell – a character almost as hynotically relaxed as Gayle – is that West Indies are in no mood to let up the pressure on Ireland, Scotland – or anyone else. Maybe Gayle is the man for the job, after all.

The Indian board’s latest warning to Sehwag was totally uncalled for and reeks of double standards, writes Siddhartha Vaidyanathan

Siddhartha Vaidyanathan10-May-2006

Virender Sehwag: mum’s the word, keep the secret © Getty Images
Here we go again. How irresponsible can Virender Sehwag get? One can understand his liberal swishing of the bat out in the middle, but look what he’s done now. He actually had the audacity to publicly go on record and say that there’s too much cricket and that players “need a break” to guard against burn-out. Worst still, he was cheeky enough to say that Sourav Ganguly was the best captain he has played under and added that (take a deep breath) “we miss him”.Obviously, none of this would sit well with the Indian board, who promptly issued a warning. One wonders how Niranjan Shah, the board secretary, controlled a chuckle when he read out this statement: “As a player you cannot give your opinion on any other player.” Shah, probably realising his folly a day later, attempted a cover-up operation: “It was not a warning, just our advice to him. There is no question of taking action against Sehwag. The matter is closed.”But, more pertinently, why was it an issue in the first place? Sehwag isn’t the first to be pulled up for opening his mouth. The two Singhs – Harbhajan and Yuvraj – have been gagged earlier and Greg Chappell has faced the music as well, except that his comments, unlike the other three, were against Ganguly. So it’s 3-1 at the moment, but the refereeing has been quite hopeless.Around a month back, at the pre-match press conference before the sixth one-dayer against England at Jamshedpur, Sehwag was asked about Ganguly. His response was guarded, more an effort to pass the question rather than create a stir: “… there’s no question of looking back … We have already forgotten that chapter.” No warning then, no yellow card, no nothing.Around two weeks back, Sachin Tendulkar was asked, again in a press conference, about too much cricket. One of his responses: “I have been happy with my schedule. It is important to physically and mentally recharge yourself after every series. One must make sure there is a break after matches and series.” Tendulkar expresses his opinion. No hassles. Sehwag expresses his opinion. Warned. Inference: open your mouth but just don’t say what the board doesn’t want to hear.And what if you are asked about your former captain? He might have been your greatest backer, he might have revitalised your career, and he might be your hero, but it’s almost anathema to take his name, more so if you are praising him. If the Indian board has its way, a few years down the line you may watch this version of a player interview.Interviewer: Who have been the key players in India becoming the best team in the world?
Player: Sorry, I am not in a position to answer that.I: Tell us about the World Cup final. What a superb innings from your captain …
P: I wish I could talk about that innings. But I can’t publicly comment on other players.I: Do you still have fond memories of your debut?
P: Great moment. I need to thank one man for having faith in me during that time. I am sure you know who I am talking about. That’s all I can say.I: A thousand Twenty20 games in the last year. Isn’t it too much?
P: That is for the board to comment.

Erik ten Hag has admitted that Antony "hasn't shown his big potential" for Manchester United while opening the door for Amad Diallo to take his spot.

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Ten Hag claimed Antony needs to prove himselfHas scored just once this seasonWill face competition from youngstersGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The Dutch manager, who also worked with Antony at Ajax, has acknowledged the face the Brazilian is struggling to live up to expectations at Old Trafford. Antony, who cost United £85 million ($108m) when he joined the club in 2022, has also been warned that he could now fall behind Amad Diallo and 19-year-old Omari Forson in United's attacking pecking order.

AdvertisementWHAT ERIK TEN HAG SAID

Speaking to reporters, Ten Hag said of Antony's current position in the squad: "He has to prove a point, that he will do. And he has big potential. He hasn’t shown it lately, but I know what his talent is, and it’s about proving his talent, and it’s about him. And, yeah, he will probably get his opportunities, right? But, yeah, I think that was always the idea.

"You have competition, and now he has to show himself on the training pitch, but also others because we have opportunities there. With [Amad] Diallo returning from an injury, he’s doing well in the training. Omari Forson is doing well. So we have options to fill in those positions. And it’s not set that Marcus Rashford has to play as a centre forward."

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Both Amad and Forson have made just one Premier League appearance each in the current season. While the former Sunderland player appeared against Norwich City in December, Forson made his league debut against Wolves earlier this month.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR ANTONY?

Brazil international Antony, who has experienced a poor run of form in the ongoing campaign having scored just once in 25 appearances across all competitions, could be next seen in action on Saturday as the Red Devils take on Fulham in a league clash.

Andre Onana was reportedly left fuming at his AFCON snub by Cameroon, with the Manchester United keeper asking: “Why did I come on a private jet?”

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Red Devils shot-stopper delayed journey to Ivory CoastArrived in time for tournament openerLeft out of matchday squad by head coach SongWHAT HAPPENED?

The Red Devils star figured for his club in a Premier League clash with Tottenham on Sunday, before immediately making his way to John Lennon Airport in Liverpool and catching a flight to the Ivory Coast in order to link up with his national team.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

He was unable to land in Yamoussoukro – where Cameroon were kicking off their Africa Cup of Nations campaign against Guinea – but did complete a 5,000-mile journey three hours prior to that game getting underway. Onana was still left out of Rigobert Song’s matchday squad, with Fabrice Ondoa taking on starting duties while Devis Epassy and Simon Ngapandouetnbu filled spots on the bench.

WHAT ONANA SAID

Onana reportedly had to be calmed down by former Liverpool and Senegal star El Hadji Diouf, with the 27-year-old shot-stopper said to have bellowed in the direction of Cameroon’s coaching team: “If I wasn't going to play or make the team, then why did I come here on a private jet?”

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR ONANA?

Onana has endured a strained relationship with Song, leading to him being sent home from the 2022 World Cup. An international retirement decision was reversed in order to join AFCON plans in 2024, but a man that has struggled for form at Old Trafford now has to convince his head coach that he should figure against Senegal on Friday – with the Indomitable Lions being held to a 1-1 draw in their opening game of another quest to savour continental glory.

Facundo Pellisti has joined Granada on loan until the end of the season after struggling to hold down a place in Manchester United's starting XI.

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Pellistri moves to Granada on loanMade just one PL start this seasonAgent lashed out at Ten HagWHAT HAPPENED?

It is Pellistri's second loan spell in Spain after spending the second half of the 2020-21 season and the whole 2021-22 campaign with Alaves. The Uruguayan made 14 appearances this season for United but just one start in the Premier League, the 1-0 defeat by Crystal Palace. Granada, who are second from bottom in La Liga will cover Pellistri's wages and pay an undisclosed loan fee to United.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Pellistri grew frustrated with his lack of opportunities and before completing his move to Granada his agent took aim at United boss Erik ten Hag, hinting that the player is unlikely to return to Old Trafford for next season if the Dutchman remains in charge. "Ten Hag hasn’t used him, valued him, or treated him like a professional," Edgardo Lasalvia told . "Whether he returns to Manchester in the middle of the year will depend on the performance he shows. If Ten Hag continues, it’s going to be difficult."

DID YOU KNOW?

Pellistri is a Uruguay international with 18 caps under his belt. He has made 24 senior appearances for United throughout his career, and will now aim to feature regularly in Spain.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR PELLISTRI & MAN UTD?

Pellistri could make his debut for Granada at home to Las Palmas on Saturday. United are in Premier League action away to Wolves on Thursday, searching for their first league win since December 26.

On the day of a heroic draw, the big number that loomed was that New Zealand have played only four Tests this season, a reality that captain Williamson said was frustrating

Andrew McGlashan in Christchurch 03-Apr-2018Kane Williamson had never bagged a golden duck in Test cricket. When he edged his first ball from Stuart Broad on the final day in Christchurch, it meant New Zealand had lost two wickets off the first two balls of the day – just the fourth time that had happened in Test cricket.By the end of the first hour they had lost four wickets, including Ross Taylor, and the prospect of preserving their 1-0 lead was rapidly slipping away. Yet six hours later, as the setting autumn sun illuminated Hagley Oval until the dying moments of a gripping contest, they were celebrating just a fourth series win over England.Though, officially, the umpires ended things because of the light, there was no assistance in this escape. New Zealand did it all themselves, from a position few would have given them a chance. It was a shame that Neil Wagner was given out – eventually caught off an inside edge on the DRS – because there was no time for the match to continue, but Wagner had left the field so could not walk off triumphant alongside Ish Sodhi.Instead, there was the somewhat odd scene of Sodhi the lone batsman in the middle, Tim Southee having not yet reached the centre, being embraced by the 12th man as the umpires removed the bails and the England players sagged in disappointment. Sodhi, unbeaten on 56 off 168 balls, had played the innings of his life and so, too, had Wagner as he blocked for 103 balls in making 7 when every ounce of him was probably wanting to try and deposit the spinners out of the ground.At times, the pair even managed who would take which type of bowling with Sodhi reckoning Jack Leach’s spin was more of a danger to Wagner out of the footmarks but easier for him to defended as a right hander.”He kept me going, there were some demons out there for sure,” Sodhi said. “The ball started turning from rough a little and found it quite to pick up the bowlers from around the wicket. He’s a bit of mongrel with the ball and he’s got that same mentality with the bat. He was trying to keep fighting against his instinct. Was probably tough but he did it so well. The way he played the bumpers was amazing and showed his character…we got a bit of luck along the way but you have to ride it.”New Zealand’s tail had looked a little longer in this Test without the injured Todd Astle, but in the first innings Tim Southee made an important half-century to narrow the deficit then Sodhi and Wagner defied England during the final session. The pitch, by and large, continued its history of not deteriorating massively but for the eighth-wicket pair to soak up 31 overs was a magnificent effort along with the previous stand between Sodhi and Colin de Grandhomme which lasted 25 overs. The efforts of Tom Latham, in stemming the early trouble, were also very impressive.Sodhi was given a life at silly point before he had scored – at that time it did not appear a major moment – then after tea, when England found the second new ball didn’t swing, he was handed a peppering by the short stuff from Mark Wood and Broad (as was Wagner in a taste of his own medicine) taking a blow on the arm which required treatment and a hastily delivered arm guard.”I was trying to figure out which balls to play and which to get under,” he said. “It started becoming quite difficult when the odd one would jump and another would keep a bit low. But you can’t really nick it, you can’t really get bowled or lbw so if you can get out of the road it’s a bit of a win.”The result meant Williamson joined the small group of New Zealand captains to secure series wins over England: Stephen Fleming, Geoff Howarth and Jeremy Coney. His attempts to control the final day ended with the first-ball lifter from Broad, so all he could do was watch nervously through 100 overs.”We thought there were all three results still possible at the start,” he said. “The first two balls today changed that, but credit to the way the guys batted – de Grandhomme curbed his instincts, Neil and Ish were heroic really. If it wasn’t for them, putting their hand up and weathering the storm, bumps and bruises and all, this series result could have been so different. Fantastic to see that, credit to their character. Just so satisfying to come away with the series win.”Emotions are running high, guys are pretty stoked in the sheds so it’s a great way to finish the season which had a lot of white-ball cricket. The way the Test team performed was superb in a number of different situations.”That Test team is now ranked No. 3 in the world after leap-frogging Australia on the back of their hammering in Johannesburg. There can be no sweeter feeling for a New Zealander than to be above the Australians in a sporting table. But this home season has consisted of just four Tests and the 2018-19 summer is likely to be same with visits from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. When the team faces Pakistan later this year, it will be their first Test cricket overseas in two years.”We’ve played four Tests this year, I think there’s a little bit of frustration, guys want to play more Test cricket,” Williamson said. “But it is what it is, a year without much Test cricket. We know the coming years have a lot more so it’s about being patient. We’ve had so many great games against England. The team love playing Test cricket. As a Test team we are growing, and I think we’ve seen that in this series.”This team consists of some of New Zealand’s finest ever Test players and some new heroes. For now they can bask in the glory of a significant series win, but they deserve not to be undersold.

New Zealand’s left-arm spinner claimed Fakhar Zaman with his version of the carrom ball, but now he knows everyone is talking about it

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Jan-2018Inspired by watching R Ashwin. Honed in English county cricket. Unfurled against Pakistan in Hamilton. Mitchell Santner’s new delivery, his version of the carrom ball, has been the talk of New Zealand over the last few days.During the fourth one-day international at Seddon Park, Santner defeated Fakhar Zaman, who was well set on 54, when the opener advanced down the pitch and was bowled. Closer inspection revealed Santner had flicked the ball out of his fingers, rather than spinning it in the traditional way for a left-armer, and the delivery gripped to turn the opposite way, from the left-handers leg to off stump.”I’ve been working on a few things and the grip is very similar to Ashwin’s. He used it against us in the Test series over there and I thought ‘yeah, that’s not a bad ball’ so thought I’d give it a crack,” Santner said after New Zealand wrapped up a 5-0 whitewash in Wellington.”I actually used it in county cricket and some of the T20 stuff over there, but on a pitch that suits, it works better because it’s hard to put a lot on it. I am just flicking it out. If there is a little bit of spin, ideally I’d use it a little bit more.”The challenge now for Santner is that everyone is looking for the delivery, which has been termed the “Santner Claw” in New Zealand.”You guys have been analysing it quite a bit now so I might have to put it away,” he joked. “I might have to disguise it a bit more because every time I look up it’s on the big screen. It adds another element to my game. I tend to just work with changes of pace so if one can go the other way it puts a bit of doubt in the batsman’s mind. If you can stay one step ahead, predict what the batsman can do, then it’s ideal.”Santner chipped in with quietly effective performances with the ball during the five one-day internationals: 1 for 34 in Nelson, 1 for 43 in Hamilton (when the carrom ball came out) and then 3 for 40 in Wellington when Pakistan got closest to nipping a victory.He was aided by New Zealand’s quicks having invariably made inroads to leave Pakistan in recovery mode, although at the Basin Reserve responded to his captain’s call to quell a late charge which put New Zealand under a rare spot of pressure. Santner responded with the wickets of Haris Sohail and Shadab Khan, the two half-century makers, before adding Faheem Ashraf”On a holding wicket like that there was more chance for me to get a few wickets and that’s what happened,” he said.New Zealand are unbeaten during their season – 12 victories alongside an abandoned T20 against West Indies – as their attention now turns to the three T20s against Pakistan followed by the marquee part of their summer with the T20 tri-series involving Australia and England before the latter stay for one-day and Test series.”Looking forward to both those series, they are quite big for us,” Santner said. “But first things first it’s the T20s against Pakistan and hopefully we can take the momentum into the tri-series.”