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Glasgow Rangers have just over a week left to complete their remaining business before the summer transfer window officially slams shut next Friday.

The Light Blues have added Jefte, Hamza Igamane, Connor Barron, Mohammed Diomande, Oscar Cortes, Vaclav Cerny, Robin Propper, Clinton Nsiala, and Liam Kelly to their squad so far.

There could be further additions to come before the deadline passes, though, after the Gers failed to qualify for the Champions League and failed to win on the opening day of the Scottish Premiership season.

It appears as though Philippe Clement's side still needs more quality to come into the group and they are now reportedly eyeing up a new winger to bring it.

Rangers eyeing swoop for Serie A whiz

According to a reporter in Italy, the Scottish giants have enquired about a deal to sign Fiorentina winger Josip Brekalo before the end of the window.

The journalist claims that the Light Blues have 'asked' for information about the Croatia international, as they look to bolster their options out wide.

Rangers are seemingly eyeing a swoop for the 26-year-old star and this latest update reveals that the player could move on from Fiorentina in the coming days, which suggests that they have a chance to secure his services.

The £34k-per-week wizard has the potential to be an excellent partner for current Gers striker Cyriel Dessers in the final third this season if they can get a deal over the line this month.

Why Brekalo would be a dream for Dessers

The Croatian ace spent the second half of the 2023/24 campaign on loan with Hajduk Split in his home country and caught the eye with his impressive attacking displays.

After a return of one goal and zero assists in 11 outings in the Serie A in the first half of the season, Brekalo registered a sensational eight assists in 12 HNL starts for Hajduk Split.

The Fiorentina loanee, who was once hailed for his "lovely" technique by journalist Josh Bunting, completed 1.9 dribbles and made 2.6 key passes per game in the HNL, to go along with two goals.

James Tavernier

3.0

Borna Barisic

1.7

Todd Cantwell

1.7

Ridvan Yilmaz

1.5

John Lundstram

1.5

As you can see in the table above, no Rangers midfielder managed more than Todd Cantwell's 1.7 key passes per game in the Scottish Premiership last term, and three of those players – Cantwell, Borna Barisic, and John Lundstram – are not currently in the first-team squad.

This suggests that Brekalo could come in and be a huge creative presence for the Gers if he can translate his form in the HNL over to the Premiership.

Dessers, therefore, would love the winger as his statistics suggest that the Croatian wizard would create chances for the striker on a regular basis.

The Nigerian marksman scored 16 goals in the Premiership last season and has started the current campaign with three goals in five appearances in all competitions.

Rangers could forget about Hagi in swoop for "terrific" £3k-p/w gem

The Light Blues are in a difficult position with the Romania international this summer.

ByDan Emery Aug 20, 2024

Brekalo arriving at Ibrox (Hampden for now) would provide the centre-forward with another source of creativity to derive goals from in the coming months, which is why they could be an exciting pairing for the Light Blues.

Australia know that Ryan Harris’ body is not on his side so save him for when he can have maximum impact, and his opening spell at Lord’s was a perfect example

Daniel Brettig at Lord's18-Jul-2013On the opening day of the 2008 season, Ryan Harris made his Lord’s debut. In the kind of performance that suggested he was born to bowl at the home of cricket, he plucked 4 for 36 for Sussex against MCC. Ed Joyce, Michael Carberry and Ravi Bopara were among the victims, all dismissed by balls that swung or seamed. In the Members Pavilion, a gaggle of Egg and Bacon ties wondered why they had not seen him before, and assumed it would not be long before he returned for a Test.It has taken five years, but Harris has finally returned to fulfil that earlier promise. On his first day as a Test match cricketer in England he went close to emulating the figures of his first appearance at the ground. In doing so, Harris demonstrated exactly why Australia’s decision-makers have always kept him in their thoughts, even as he creaked towards his 34th birthday in a career pockmarked by injuries and moments of doubt. They, and Harris, are determined to extract the maximum from his ageing body on this tour. Watching him set about England’s top order on a glorious summer’s day it was not hard to see why.Having lost the toss, Australia’s bowlers had minimal time to exploit the new ball and any residual moisture in the pitch before circumstances levelled out into those of the kind relished by any batsman. In this there were parallels with Adelaide in 2010, when James Anderson claimed the wickets of Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke during the narrowest possible window for movement and bounce. Those incisions made it possible for England to work their way through the rest on a blameless surface, subsequent Australian mistakes compounded by the earlier losses.By recalling Harris, Australia had among their number a bowler who seldom wastes the new ball in the manner James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc had done at Trent Bridge. And with Pattinson struggling to master the slope and his own rhythm at the other end, Harris could not afford to. Clarke’s concern that the Dukes be used effectively was underlined when he called Shane Watson into the attack early, hoping for swing and seam. He responded by pinning Alastair Cook lbw, before Harris defeated Joe Root and Kevin Pietersen.One of Harris’ greatest attributes has always been his ability to move the ball just the right amount in either direction. Seldom has he sent down the big, curling away swinger or the treacherous in-ducker, hooping in to leg stump after starting well wide. Instead he has built his reputation on gaining deviation of about a bat’s width either way, generally away in the air or back off the pitch.Pietersen was bewitched by the former after Root was confounded by the latter, surprised also by skiddy pace, and given lbw. Harris appealed loudly and successfully, but then endured a long wait while the dismissal was confirmed after Root’s referral.Lehmann rebukes bowlers over Bairstow no-ball

Ryan Harris revealed Australia’s bowlers had been rebuked by their coach Darren Lehmann during the tea break after a Peter Siddle no-ball cost the tourists the wicket of Jonny Bairstow. Bowled by Siddle on 21 when England were 171 for 4, Bairstow was reprieved by replays showing the bowler had overstepped, going on to make 67.

“There’s no excuse for it, the line is there for a reason and it’s not acceptable,” Harris said. “It cost us a lot of runs today and potentially could cost us the Ashes. Darren wasn’t very happy when we got in to [tea], you just can’t afford to take 11 or 12 wickets, as simple as that.”

Three wickets were a fine return for Harris on his first Test match day at Lord’s, and he spoke of his ambition to enjoy a tour unaffected by the injuries that have limited his appearances despite a handsome record when fit.

“It’s been pretty frustrating absolutely,” he said of his injuries. “I know if I’m bowling I can play at this level, but for me it’s trying to say fit. I’ve got constant niggles, which any fast bowler has, so it’s just a matter of managing that. My goal on this tour is to be on the plane home with the rest of the guys instead of going home early, that was my main goal on this tour as well as playing as many games as I can.”

In some ways that wait mirrored the one Harris had to endure to play a Test at Lord’s. Beset by injuries, fickle form and the occasional bout of wayward behaviour early in his career, he also took time to grow fully into his body and his action, only developing the pace that would make him an international proposition after several seasons with South Australia. It was in the season before the Sussex visit to England – cut short by a passport wrangle – that Harris finally began to deliver on his ability, winning SA’s state player of the year for 2007-08. That performance attracted the interest of Queensland, and their offer of a multi-year deal that the Redbacks curiously failed to match.Harris agonised over the decision, but ultimately chose to move to where he would be shown greater faith than a series of one-year contracts. The SACA president Ian McLachlan bid him an unkind farewell with the following words: “Ryan Harris was the best player for one year. He got 37 wickets in 10 games, that’s not a lot. We took all of the aspects of cricketers into account. When you put all of those aspects in, we needed a culture change.”McLachlan’s dismissiveness would fade as Harris did well for the Bulls, and began earning international recognition. He always took wickets, sometimes in dramatic sequences, such as his 6 for 47 to wrap up the Perth Test during the previous Ashes series. But by this time injuries had begun to bother Harris, a series of unrelated ailments showing that his body, now over 30 years old, was not quite up to the rigours of constant cricket.So the selectors began using him sparingly, withdrawing him from the ODI team despite an eye-popping record, and also granting him the somewhat dubious distinction of being the first player rested for preventative reasons, in the West Indies last year after he had been Man of the Match in Barbados.This careful treatment has not always sat well with Harris, who has always possessed the sort of wholehearted, unaffected attitude so loved by team-mates, friends and family. But it has enabled him to reach England, and Lord’s, when at times it has been easy to presume he would not make it this far.Australia’s husbanding of Harris has been finely tuned, to the point that he was kept out of the team for Trent Bridge in the knowledge that he would be unlikely to make it through back-to-back Tests, and his wicket-to-wicket method appeared so suited to Lord’s. Beyond this match lies a 10-day break, making him a likely retention for Old Trafford. Durham may then arrive too soon, but the final and possibly decisive fixture at the Oval will be a distinct possibility.Thus rested from the privations of a dry and dusty Nottingham surface, Harris had the chance to charge in on the ground he had first made an impression in England. Early wickets showed his worth, and the later defeat of Jonathan Trott reinforced it. In the evening Steve Smith’s surprise spell of legspin ensured Australia would walk off the field with hope in their hearts. They could not have done so without Harris, whose return to Lord’s had been entirely worth the wait.

Sunderland have finally confirmed another new signing this summer, as Republic of Ireland international Alan Browne joins up with Regis Le Bris' group ahead of the forthcoming Championship campaign.

The 29-year-old has bags of experience at the level, having been a loyal servant to former employers Preston North End for a staggering decade, with a fresh new challenge now coming his way.

This could be an ingenious free agent swoop, as Sunderland were crying out for more seasoned heads last season when the wheels started to come off, with another second-tier veteran reportedly following Browne in through the door.

Sunderland hold talks with EFL star

According to a report by the Northern Echo earlier this week, alongside previously being in talks with their new Irish recruit before he officially signed on the dotted line, Sunderland have also held conversations with former Sheffield United man Oliver Norwood over a summer switch to the Stadium of Light.

It's stated in the article that the Le Bris was keen on adding calm and experienced heads to the dressing room this transfer window, with Norwood able to offer that in spades, alongside the ex-Preston midfielder.

It has been reported that Sunderland's interest might have cooled down on Norwood after the capture of Browne however – according to football journalist Michael Graham – but the new French boss wouldn't turn his nose up at the prospect of having two second-tier experts at his disposal if possible.

When still on the books at Bramall Lane, Norwood would oversee two promotions up to the Premier League, with a mind-boggling four on his career resume overall.

With the Northern Irishman's knowledge of the division evident, signing the 33-year-old could prove to be another cheap masterstroke on the end of the Black Cats, as the pair could strike up a fantastic partnership to steer a youthful Sunderland side back to the top positions in the league.

What Norwood and Browne can offer Sunderland

As can be seen with this stylish finish from Norwood back in 2018, the ageing midfielder can offer lots all over the pitch for his new employers if signed, whether that be racing forward to join in with attacks or helping out with defensive duties.

Amassing a ridiculous 381 Championship appearances to date, with 25 goals and 48 assists managed along the way, it's almost a certainty that the former Blades man will be a reliable and dependable figure that Le Bris can rely upon in moments of deep crisis or tension.

Browne has accumulated similarly impressive numbers across his career, as can be seen looking at the table above, with all of those coming donning a Preston jersey.

The 29-year-old will quickly need to grow accustomed to his new surroundings, therefore, with Le Bris no doubt a fan of Browne's adaptability across the midfield spots too, as the Republic of Ireland international can play in an attacking midfield role or as a defensive option when needed.

It was from the attacking midfield spot last season where the ex-Preston number eight wreaked most of his havoc though, helping himself to four goals and four assists from league action.

Browne could act as an experienced head for Bellingham to lean off of subsequently, with Norwood – who has been dubbed the "finished article" in the division by former Blade, Carl Asaba – also pushing the likes of Dan Neil and Pierre Ekwah as a utility figure in a more holding role.

Sunderland fans will be encouraged by the players that look to be joining the building ahead of next season, praying that everything clicks into place and Le Bris can push the Black Cats back into the promotion reckoning.

Sunderland have a perfect Bellingham rival emerging in the academy

Regis Le Bris could call upon this Sunderland youngster to compete with Jobe Bellingham next season.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jul 10, 2024

From Nishad Jayasundara, Sri Lanka

Cricinfo25-Feb-2013
The tussle is on•AFPSixty years ago, Sri Lankan cricket used to be a gentleman’s game. Gentlemen used to be and had to be only English-speaking elite from Colombo. Wild-haired Malingas and wide-eyed Muralitharans were clinging on to metal fences outside prestigious cricket clubs watching men in white taking tea breaks.Times have changed for Sri Lankan cricket and cricketers. Since independence, if there is anything Sri Lanka has made a significant progress in, it is cricket. It has become a part of life, a topic of debate in the parliament and in the street corners. It has pierced through to the smallest village in the country, crossing socio-economic boundaries and defying ethnic barriers. Over the last two decades players from all corners have rallied together making an unorthodox yet very effective unit, ready to take on the world. And they did it in style in 1996.They named it the Sri Lankan brand of cricket; it is a blend of aggression of the Australians, efficiency of the South Africans, raw talent of the Pakistanis, passion of the Bangladeshis (now) mixed with a Caribbean flair. The Sri Lankan brand has been a treat to watch. In this World Cup, the Sri Lankan team looks more prepared than ever, with a mix of youth and experience in the likes of Mahela Jayawardene and Angelo Mathews coupled with the flamboyance and fortitude of Kumar Sangakkara and Thilan Samraweera.Unlike a few centuries ago, this time they are prepared for the Queen’s team. In their own backyard, playing against a team known for its weakness on spin-friendly surfaces and looks visibly tired from being on the road for the past six months, the Sri Lankans could not have asked for a better team to play against in a crunch match. Twenty million people are hoping for a re-enactment of 1996 quarterfinals – when the English were comprehensively beaten.Although a repeat of that act appears just around the corner, there is a hint of skepticism in every fan. There is something about the Sri Lankan outfit that creates a doubt in your mind. It might be the fact that Sri Lanka, barring New Zealand, haven’t yet beaten a significant opponent this tournament. Even against New Zealand, the Sri Lankan middle order faltered. Malinga has been wayward, except for one game against Kenya, Upul Tharanga looks a bit edgy and Tillakaratne Dilshan is due a big score.Compared to 1996, England have come a long way as an ODI team. They boast a group of utility players in Ravi Bopara, Paul Collingwood, James Tredwell and Tim Bresnan. Greame Swann looks threatening on spinning tracks, except when there is dew. More importantly, England are the only team in this World Cup to not to lose a game to a bigger Test-playing nation. No matter how tired they look, regardless of the battered psychological state of the English camp, when they are up against a formidable side, they seem to pull it off.Can they do it on Saturday on a tricky Premadasa track against the quality of Murali and Malinga? Would they be mystified by Mendis? A couple of solid performances from the top order, accurate bowling from Malinga and some late over fireworks from Mathews should be enough to take Sri Lanka through. We all know Sri Lanka can do it. But no one wants to say it, every one gulps the words when they appear to come out, because you just never know. After all it is against the Queen’s team, and they invented the game.

Tabraiz Shamsi replaces the Nepal legspinner in the Oval Invincibles squad

Matt Roller21-Jul-2021Sandeep Lamichhane has urged the ECB to give him “a clear answer” after visa issues ruled him out of the Oval Incincibles’ side for the inaugural season of the Hundred.In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Lamichhane said he was “extremely gutted” to miss the tournament – having previously been ruled out of the Vitality Blast at short notice because of similar reasons – and said that he had “followed all the instructions given to me by ECB officials”.ESPNcricinfo revealed on Monday that Lamichhane had been told that his £60,000 contract with Invincibles was in doubt despite the fact that he was close to completing his mandatory ten-day quarantine in London following his arrival from Nepal, and the ECB confirmed on Wednesday that he had been replaced in the squad by Tabraiz Shamsi.Related

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“When I applied for the Tier 5 visa, I was told that one Certificate of Sponsorship [COS] would be enough for my gig at Vitality Blast and the Hundred,” Lamichhane said. “Due to COVID-19 situation, there was a delay in my visa and Worcestershire pulled out but it was again communicated to me by officials that as long as I come into the UK before July 10, I would be okay as my COS was still active.”I came in the UK by July 9, had no issues whatsoever at the immigration and moved into the government managed quarantine facility to complete my quarantine. On July 18, two days before my quarantine completion, I was told by ECB that may visa is not valid and I have to leave the country ASAP. I have been asking what went wrong but apparently no-one at the ECB have the correct answer. I can totally understand that things can go south at any time, however I at least deserve a clear answer on why my valid visa is not valid anymore.”I left a lot to be part of this exciting tournament and totally pray and wish the best for all teams out there. I always got love from the lovely people of UK and I would urge ECB to look into the matter so that no-one else has to go through this ordeal. I can also feel for my people who were so looking forward to my participation in this amazing tournament. There will be better days ahead.”It is understood that while Lamichhane was able to enter the UK through a valid visa, that visa did not entitle him to play in the Hundred. He worked with the ECB to try and rectify the issue, but was told that the timeframe to re-apply would be too long for him to play in the competition.An ECB spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo: “We are really disappointed that Sandeep isn’t able to play in the first edition of the Hundred due to visa issues. We hope cricket fans will be able to see him in action in the competition in the future.”Shamsi, Lamichhane’s replacement, is the No. 1 T20I bowler in the world in the ICC’s rankings, and is expected to be available for six group games following South Africa’s series in Ireland. The Invincibles will field only two overseas player in the opening men’s match – Sunil Narine and Colin Ingram – with Middlesex’s Nathan Sowter likely to play in Lamichhane’s absence.Benjamin replaces injured Hose at Phoenix
Elsewhere, Birmingham Phoenix have suffered a late withdrawal from their men’s squad, with Adam Hose missing the tournament because of a foot injury. He has been replaced by the 22-year-old Warwickshire wicketkeeper-batter Chris Benjamin, who made 60 not out off 34 balls on his T20 debut for Birmingham Bears on Sunday and provides keeping back-up to Chris Cooke. The Phoenix expect Tom Abell, who has missed the last month with a hamstring injury, to play “a big part” in the tournament, though his availability for their opening game is unconfirmed.Daniel Vettori, the Phoenix men’s coach, said: “We’ve had a lot of good reports about Chris from our local contacts at Warwickshire and he played a fantastic innings on Sunday, which was even more impressive given that it was his senior debut. Whilst he is still very young, we want to build a squad that can grow together and consistently challenge for the Hundred title year after year.” Vettori’s backroom staff has also been boosted by the addition of Ian Bell as an additional assistant coach.Jamie Overton and Richard Gleeson’s withdrawals through injury have been confirmed, with Dan Douthwaite and Calvin Harrison signed by Manchester Originals as replacements. Brad Wheal, the Hampshire seamer, is a temporary replacement for Mark Wood at London Spirit. In the women’s competition, Hannah Baker has replaced Bethan Ellis at Welsh Fire and Northern Superchargers have signed Liz Russell as a temporary replacement for Helen Fenby.

da spicy bet： The Euros are coming to a climactic conclusion this weekend as England have somehow slugged their way into the final to face off against the competition's great entertainers, Spain.

da bwin： The Three Lions made it past the Netherlands in the Semi-final thanks to a spot kick from former Tottenham Hotspur icon Harry Kane and a last-minute goal from substitute Ollie Watkins.

However, while the tournament has transfixed the whole country over the last month or so, Premier League clubs have been hard at work in the transfer market.

In fact, based on recent reports, the latest striker touted for a move to N17 has won comparisons to England's most recent hero, Watkins, and outscored Son Heung-min and Richarlison last season.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Tottenham have maintained their long-term interest in Feyenoord star Santiago Gimenez.

Alongside the Lilywhites, the story has revealed that their North London rivals Arsenal and Italian giants Napoli are also keen to land the Mexican's services this summer.

No price is mentioned, but a report out of Italy in May claimed that a fee of around €50m would be enough to tempt the Dutch side into selling, which is around £42m.

It might still be a sizeable investment, but given how well he played last season and his flattering comparisons to Watkins, Daniel Levy and Co should be doing all they can to sign Gimenez.

Gimenez's comparisons to Watkins

Now, before getting onto Gimenez's impressive goalscoring record, let's take a look at this comparison to England's recent hero, Watkins.

It stems from FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues. In the Mexican's case, they consider the Aston Villa ace to be the eighth most similar forward.

This conclusion is easier to understand when looking at their respective underlying numbers.

Gimenez & Watkins

Stats per 90

Gimenez

Watkins

Progressive Carries

1.79

1.74

Progressive Passes

1.41

1.54

Shot-Creating Actions

2.73

2.80

Goal-Creating Actions

0.48

0.50

Carries into the Penalty Area

1.25

1.15

Aerial Duels Won

1.44

1.37

All Stats via FBref for the 23/24 League Season

For example, they rank very similar in metrics such as progressive passes and carries, aerial duels won, carries into the penalty area, and shot and goal-creating actions, all per 90.

It's not just his similarity to the England ace that makes the "insane" Feyenoord star, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, worth signing; he's also incredibly prolific in front of goal.

In fact, his tally of 26 goals and eight assists is better than anything a Spurs player could muster, including Son, who scored 17 goals and provided ten assists in 36 games, and Richarlison, who found the back of the net 12 times and produced four assists in 31 matches.

Ultimately, Gimenez looks to be an outstanding attacking talent, and his comparisons to Watkins and proficiency in front of goal should be all the reasons Levy and Co need to pull the trigger and bring him to N17 this summer.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 11, 2024

Old-school knock steers tricky chase and makes it goodnight, Bangladesh

S Sudarshanan07-Oct-20253:25

Knight to the fore as England overcome spirited Bangladesh

Heather Knight was drenched in sweat. Two days in a row. Once under lights, once under the hot, baking afternoon sun.In each of the two training sessions England had before their Women’s World Cup 2025 match against Bangladesh, Knight batted long and worked particularly hard on getting her sweep shots right. She faced a mix of throwdowns and net bowlers bowling left-arm spin, offspin and legspin. All that effort culminated in her Player-of-the-Match effort of 79 not out off 111 balls on Tuesday, which headlined England’s jailbreak.On match eve, Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana had called upon her team to “show our capabilities so that teams like England and Australia show interest in playing against us”. It was only the second time Bangladesh were playing England in an ODI. Her team-mates responded by reducing England to 78 for 5 and 103 for 6 in defence of 178. Marufa Akter once again set the tone with a fiery new-ball spell, accounting for both the English openers. She had Knight twice but the DRS came to the former captain’s aid on both occasions. Then the spinners, led by leggie Fahima Khatun, applied the squeeze.Related

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The track at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati wasn’t the most batting-friendly. It had a darkish look to it, played a little slow and aided spinners without really turning square. In Knight’s words, it was the “inconsistency of the turn” that made life tough for the batters. The wickets were proof, in that none of the England batters actually fell for spin.Nat Sciver-Brunt shunted a full toss straight to midwicket. Sophia Dunkley played down the wrong line, was beaten on the inside and out lbw. Emma Lamb was done in by the dip and miscued one to mid-on. Alice Capsey missed her shot across the line with an angled bat and was trapped leg before.Only Knight was able to apply what she thoroughly practised. This was Knight’s first international innings after returning from a hamstring injury and first in ODIs since January. She was in at the start of the second over and, understandably, a bit slow to start off. The hallmark of her innings was that she was willing to bide her time. She was willing to go old-school since the conditions demanded. For a large part of her innings, her strike rate hovered under the 50 mark; she did not score on 24 of her first 26 balls and on 65 of her 111.Heather Knight uses the sweep against spin•Getty Images”[I] didn’t find it my most fluent [knock], particularly at the start,” Knight said. “It was just a case of trying to get through. The conditions were tricky; obviously. Marufa got a huge amount of swing at the start. She was really tricky and [I] just tried to find a method just to get through the period.”I knew that if we had a set batter that was able to bat through, I probably had to be a little bit more attritional than I would have liked. I started to find my feet and my rhythm in that middle period, which was really nice. The hardest thing sometimes coming back from injury is that the rhythm of batting in the middle can take a little bit of time to get back. Delighted that I was able to spend a little bit of time out there, get through that pressure.”Since they played Pakistan in Kuala Lumpur in 2019, England had not played an ODI in the subcontinent up until this World Cup. It was down to Knight’s experience and muscle memory: it was her 28th ODI in this part of the world. She used the sweep to telling effect to score 14 off five balls using the traditional sweep, and a four with the one reverse sweep when England were in sight of their target. A couple of fours she hit against legspinner Shorna Akter stood out – when she rolled her wrists to get the ball behind square and then when she used her reach to nail the shot in front of square. When the sweep was out of question, she charged down the track to launch the bowler in the ‘V’.”It was really hard to pierce the off-side ring,” Knight said. “[It] felt like I had to take a few risks and get the feet going. The sweep shot is obviously one that’s really strong for me and when the bowling is a little bit slower, not a huge amount of pace on the ball, it can be one that I go to. Picking what works for which bowler [matters], so some of the left-armers it felt a lot easier to go down the ground. Being really clear on what I was going to sweep, what I was going to hit down the ground and when I had to soak up pressure and trust my defence as well [was important].”England had an inkling of what to expect after flexing their spin mettle in the afternoon. Their spinners, led by Sophie Ecclestone, had picked up nine of the ten Bangladesh wickets and Knight knew it was “going to be hard work”. Yet, it came down to a good Knight knock for England to have a good night in Guwahati.

da supremo： Newcastle United look set for a busy summer, looking to make multiple signings and bolster their squad in several positions.

da bwin： Having suffered 14 losses in the 2023/24 Premier League campaign, nine more than their five in the prior season, the Magpies will be looking to bounce back and make some additions to their side to rectify their drop-off this season.

One of the names being linked could be a brilliant complement to forward Alexander Isak, who scored 25 goals in all competitions last season for Newcastle, also providing two assists and playing 40 games in total.

Newcastle transfer news

According to reports from Football Insider, Newcastle are interested and keeping tabs on Leeds United winger Crysencio Summerville.

The report states Summerville alongside another option in West Ham's Jarrod Bowen, whilst also mentioning there are other names on their radar.

If Newcastle manage to make a right-winger signing, Miguel Almiron will reportedly be allowed to leave the club this summer, with strong interest in the Paraguay international.

How Summerville complements Isak

The 22-year-old winger is coming off the back of his POTY campaign for Leeds United, scoring 21 goals, providing ten assists and making 49 appearances for the club.

The Dutchman was awarded with the Championship POTY at the EFL Awards, after scoring 17 goals and providing eight assists in the Championship this season.

Primarily, Summerville excels as a creative outlet, posting exceptional metrics on that side of his game. The star produces 6.1 shot-creating actions per 90, has an xAG (expected assisted goals) of 0.3 per 90, and makes 2.88 key passes per 90.

He would instantly offer that extra creative edge for Newcastle, making more key passes, producing more xAG and more shot-creating actions than the club's current wide forwards.

This would perfectly complement the Magpies' clinical goalscorer in Isak, who, as mentioned previously, scored 25 goals in all competitions last campaign. The Sweden international does create his own shots at a good rate, producing 2.7 shot-creating actions per 90, however by adding more creativity around him, it would allow the talisman to flex those goalscoring muscles even more.

But it's not just Summerville's creative passing that would help Newcastle. His ability to drive the ball forwards, beat his man and progress play would help get the side up the pitch with intention, and add more attacking thrust.

The Dutchman completes 5.04 progressive carries per 90, 2.52 successful take-ons per 90, and 3.01 carries into the final third per 90. The attention he draws by driving forwards and beating his man 1v1 creates space for others.

This is another factor that could help Isak go up another level, giving him more space to operate and stopping teams from doubling up on the talented centre-forward.

Adding the "world-class" Summerville – as he was described by journalist Jake Winderman – would not only improve Newcastle as a whole with the metrics being quoted, but also help to raise the level of their talisman, forcing attention to be focused elsewhere and creating more chances for the Swede to unleash that lethal right-footed strike of his.

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Posts ByJoe Nuttall Jun 26, 2024

Barcelona have confirmed the extent of Lamine Yamal's injury after the 17-year-old was seen limping following Spain's win against Denmark.

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Yamal suffers hamstring strainWithdraws from Spain squad for testsBarcelona host Sevilla on SundayFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

While Yamal allayed fears that he had suffered a serious injury in Spain's 1-0 win against Denmark on Saturday, tests carried out on Monday morning confirmed that the 17-year-old has an issue, with his return to full fitness currently unknown. Yamal has strained his left hamstring, Barcelona have confirmed, and will be out until he recovers.

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A club statement read: "Tests carried out this morning on first team player Lamine Yamal have confirmed that he has a left hamstring strain. His return to training will be determined by his recovery time."

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Barcelona were already planning to keep a close eye on the wonderkid during the international break, aware of the heavy workload he has received already in the 2024-25 season. Before Saturday's contest, he had played 1,014 minutes out of a possible 1,170, and he added another 90 to that tally in the Denmark match. Despite nearly getting through the whole game – Yamal was replaced in second half injury-time – he was spotted leaving the Enrique Roca Stadium with a noticeable limp.

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Yamal's setback is concerning news for a Barcelona side that have benefitted from his brilliance this season. The Euro 2024 winner has scored five goals and provided the same number of assists for Hansi Flick's side this season and is a vital part of their attempts to improve upon last season's trophyless campaign.

Opener slams 103 not out as visitors run riot, leaving Northants rooted to bottom

ECB Reporters' Network20-Jun-2021

Josh Inglis struck a T20 career-best 103 not out as Leicestershire beat Northamptonshire by 34 runs to record a first Vitality Blast win of the campaign.The Australian thrashed four sixes and 13 fours in a stunning 62-ball knock, sharing a century stand with skipper Colin Ackerman for the third wicket as the previously winless Foxes piled up 200 for 2. Callum Parkinson, with 2 for 19, and Gavin Griffiths, 2 for 23, made sure still winless Northamptonshire fell well short, finishing 166 for 7 despite an unbeaten 50 from Rob Keogh.Inglis dominated from the get go, his six over midwicket off Ben Sanderson in the second over a sign of things to come.Fellow opener Scott Steel left early after splicing Tom Taylor to mid-off and the hosts were left to regret skipper Adam Rossington missing a chance to stump the new batsman Arron Lilley when he’d made just 12, Nabi the unlucky bowler.Lilley made the most of the reprieve, hitting Graeme White for successive sixes, the second landing in a nearby garden, as he made 44 off 29 balls in a second wicket stand of 67 with Inglis before holing out at mid-off.Inglis, starved of strike during that stand, picked up where he’d left off, going to 50 off with a glorious straight six off White. With Ackerman content to play second fiddle, Inglis unfurled nine more fours, finding all parts of the boundary in a stellar display of improvisation. He would also outdo team-mate Lilley in smiting the biggest six of the day before dinking Sanderson over fine leg to reach three figures in the final over.The Steelbacks soon lost skipper Rossington when he sliced one skywards to backward point from the bowling of Parkinson. Richard Levi responded by bludgeoning Ackerman over the ropes at cow corner, but the visitors struck again when Naveen-ul-Haq produced a brute of a yorker which struck Ricardo Vasconcelos on the foot leaving him plumb lbw.Levi was castled by a flighted delivery from Ackerman before Griffiths struck twice in three balls, removing Wayne Parnell for 15 and Saif Zaib for a duck to leave the hosts 69 for 5. Nabi hit a six onto the pavilion roof and Keogh reached his half-century from the last ball of the match, but the game was long gone.