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Even though Sri Lanka have made large totals in recent games, a closer look reveals a deeper issue

Madushka Balasuriya16-Oct-20231:23

Maharoof: ‘Absolutely pathetic batting display from Sri Lanka’

Sri Lanka’s batting has been lopsided in all their three World Cup games so far but it was only against Australia that it was truly exposed. After racking up a 125-run opening stand, they lost 10 wickets for just 84 runs.While it’s easy to say it was just a bad day, it would be disingenuous not to acknowledge the signs leading up to this meltdown. While last month’s dire Asia Cup final – 50 all out – is still fresh in the memory, you could argue that was down to facing one of the best fast-bowling attacks in conditions that favoured them. What is of greater concern for Sri Lanka is how they have fared on more batter-friendly surfaces.If you include the two World Cup warm-up matches against Bangladesh and Afghanistan, Sri Lanka have posted totals of 263, 294, 326, 344 and 209. A closer look, however, unearths promising positions wasted in each of those games.Related

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Against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka scored only 131 runs after the 20th over; against Afghanistan they went from 240 for 2 in the 30th to 294 all out; and against Pakistan they scored only 115 runs in the final 20 overs. Even against South Africa there is an argument to be made that after Kusal Mendis’ blistering start, he might not have lost his wicket as early as he did if he had adequate support from his team-mates.”Despite our promising start, we deeply regret not being able to sustain it, resulting in us being limited to a score of 209 runs,” Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka said after their five-wicket defeat to Australia. “On a wicket like this, I believe we should aim for a total closer to 300 runs, and this was a contributing factor to our defeat.”Nissanka, who scored 61 off 67 balls during the opening stand of 125 with Kusal Perera, is doing his job for the most part. The Sri Lankan blueprint is pretty straightforward – lay a platform and then launch. But they haven’t been able to launch as far as they would have liked to.”To be candid, the opposition’s bowlers consistently hit good areas during the middle overs, which created a challenging situation for our batsmen,” Nissanka said. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t handle it as effectively as we would have liked. Had we managed to play better, we could have achieved a total of 300.”Against Australia, the openers performed but Sri Lanka’s two centurions this tournament – Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama – did not, falling to Zampa for 9 and 8 respectively.”That’s the nature of cricket. We performed admirably in the previous two games, but such fluctuations can occur,” Nissanka said. “Our focus now is to learn from our mistakes and strive for strong performances in the upcoming matches.”The lack of consistent output from the middle and lower order is of greater concern, but when asked why such collapses were happening, Nissanka evaded the question.”As a team, we play every game hoping to win. Unfortunately, we lost the last three matches. we had played well before that. And we hope to play well in the remaining matches.”After suffering three defeats in three games, Sri Lanka’s middle and lower order need to start chipping in before it gets too late. If not, when the top four crumble under the burden placed on them as they did against Australia, such collapses will become more commonplace regardless of the type of surface they play on.

Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee was spotted racing towards referee Anthony Taylor in fury during their Premier League clash with Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.

The spoils were shared at Old Trafford as the two rivals played out a 1-1 draw, with Declan Rice’s second-half strike cancelling out Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick just before the interval.

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The result was an encouraging one for the home side, who almost won it in the final moments but for an incredible stop from Gunners goalkeeper David Raya to deny Fernandes a second.

Meanwhile, the draw is another setback for Arsenal, who have now failed to win their last three games in the league, handing Liverpool a 15-point lead at the top.

Amid the latest clash at Old Trafford was a sudden flashpoint at the end of the first half, which saw Joshua Zirkzee appear intent on confronting referee Anthony Taylor.

The Red Devils had just gone 1-0 up through a Bruno Fernandes free-kick, bringing a fairly sub-par game to life with one swing of the Portuguese’s boot.

With the wind in their sails, United soon looked to break from an Arsenal corner, but the move ended with Zirkzee being left furious with the referee – with his reaction somewhat obscured on the Sky Sports coverage.

After Martin Odegaard’s corner was headed out by Victor Lindelof, the ball eventually broke to Fernandes, with Alejandro Garnacho and Zirkzee racing forward in a 2v2 attack.

But just as the Argentinian had looked to have been released down the right-hand side, with Zirkzee ahead of his man in the centre, Taylor called time on the first half.

Zirkzee could then be spotted hurtling back up the field to remonstrate with the referee, only for his captain to stop him from boiling over. But was his frustration justified?

Four added minutes were signalled just as Alejandro Garnacho was fouled by Leandro Trossard for the free-kick which gave the hosts a half-time lead.

About 45 seconds were added on top despite Fernandes’ set-piece goal coming in the 47th minute, followed by some passionate celebrations.

Therefore, there should have been more time allowed for that attack to progress – with Arsenal in danger of going two goals down in a flash.

Of course, Zirkzee would only have got himself in trouble had he reached the referee to vent his anger, so United may end up being grateful to Fernandes for preventing a more serious situation from developing.

Looking to pick up where they left off in the January transfer window this summer, Manchester City have reportedly made contact in the race to sign one particular gem in the coming months.

Man City set sights on rising star

The Citizens are likely to be one of the busiest clubs in the Premier League this summer, as Pep Guardiola plans his first major overhaul since his first season in charge at the Etihad.

The rest of English football already received a glimpse of what that rebuild could look like during the January window when the likes of Omar Marmoush and Abdukodir Khusanov arrived.

Now, Manchester City could add to those arrivals and complete a swift and effective rebuild which should ensure that results such as this weekend’s 2-2 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion become a rarity once again.

On the incomings front, names such as Michele Di Gregorio have already been mentioned in recent reports in what could see the Citizens replace Ederson following his recent struggles.

Meanwhile, those at the Etihad have also reportedly turned their attention towards a rising star.

According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Manchester City have now made contact over potentially signing Benja Cremaschi from Inter Miami this summer, but face competition from the likes of Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur for his signature.

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The 20-year-old has played an important part for Inter Miami in the MLS this season, starting in all three of their league games with one of those coming alongside the great Lionel Messi.

Despite his age, Cremaschi already has impressive experience to his name, including at the Olympics when playing for the United States in Paris last summer.

"Technical" Cremaschi is one to watch

Ahead of what looks set to be a Premier League race for his signature, Cremaschi is undoubtedly one to watch.

At just 20 years old, the MLS star is yet to reach his peak and has crucially starred alongside several serial winners to form the foundation for a player destined for big things. Whether those big things come courtesy of a move to Manchester City remains to be seen, however.

The young midfielder has unsurprisingly earned plenty of praise in recent years, including from former Fulham defender Tim Ream. The American said on his podcast ‘The American Dream’ when the topic of Cremaschi’s ability came up: “He’s looked sharp. He’s technical, not afraid to get into a tackle.

“Benja and I think Kristoffer [Lund], he’s kind of settling in [too]. Obviously English is more of a second language, but both very good with their English. [Cremaschi] has been the most impressive for sure in the couple of training sessions that we’ve had.”

As Manchester City look to add youthful exuberance to an ageing squad, the arrival of a rising star in the form of Cremaschi would certainly make sense. The 20-year-old, meanwhile, should jump at the opportunity if it comes his way this summer.

Everton are one of a host of clubs who have been offered the chance to sign a speedy new attacking player in the January transfer window, according to a new update.

Everton seeking striker reinforcements

The Blues continue to be linked with new signings in the coming days, with Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi seen as a possible option. The 27-year-old has had to accept playing second fiddle to the impressive Chris Wood this season, making only two starts in the Premier League, so a move to another club midway through the campaign could appeal to him.

Rangers striker Hamza Igamane is another rumoured target for Everton, with the 22-year-old a young player with a huge amount of potential, scoring nine goals in only 13 Scottish Premiership starts this season. He also has four goals in as many starts in the Europa League, showing that he can cut it in one of Europe’s top competitions.

Sean Longstaff has also been backed to seal a move to the Blues before the end of the window, having fallen down the midfield pecking order at Newcastle United this season, following the excellent form of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton. The Englishman could be a shrewd addition at Goodison Park, providing David Moyes with extra legs in the middle of the park.

Everton offered chance to sign "flamboyant" ace

According to a new report from Calciomercato, Everton have been offered the opportunity to sign AC Milan winger Samuel Chukwueze, with the Serie A giants looking to generate funds for new signings by selling fringe players.

The Blues are far from the only club in the mix to snap up the 25-year-old, however, with Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Tottenham all mentioned as potential suitors.

Chukwueze is the type of player that Everton could badly do with right now, given the attacking quality he possesses, primarily cutting inside from the right-hand side. The Nigerian has been described as “flamboyant” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and he bagged 68 goal contributions (37 goals and 31 assists) in 207 appearances for Villarreal before his move to Milan.

The fact that Milan are seemingly so willing to sell Chukwueze is merely financial, rather than them not rating him, and Everton should be looking to swoop in and sign a player whose best years are still likely to be ahead of him.

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A five-goal and 38-cap Nigeria international, he could light up the right flank similarly to how Iliman Ndiaye has excelled on the left wing at times this season, making the Blues a more potent attacking force straight away.

Samson is one of two keepers named in the squad alongside Ishan Kishan

Shashank Kishore23-Jun-2023Sanju Samson has earned a recall to India’s ODI squad for the three-match series in the Caribbean in July. With KL Rahul still in rehab for a thigh injury and Rishabh Pant in recovery after surviving a car crash in December, Samson is one of two wicketkeepers in the 17-member squad alongside Ishan Kishan.Related

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Ruturaj Gaikwad, whose only ODI so far came against South Africa in October last year, is also part of the squad along with the uncapped Mukesh Kumar. Most of the regulars in the frame for the ODI World Cup have been included in the Rohit Sharma-led squad. Hardik Pandya is the vice-captain.With Mohammed Shami rested, Mohammed Siraj is expected to spearhead a pace attack that also includes Jaydev Unadkat, Shardul Thakur, Mukesh and Umran Malik apart from the allrounder Hardik.Suryakumar Yadav, who occupied one of the middle order slots during the home ODIs against Australia in March, has been retained. Playing in the absence of Shreyas Iyer, who was out with a back injury, Suryakumar finished the series with three first-ball ducks, but bounced back with prolific returns in the IPL for Mumbai Indians.Washington Sundar, who was also part of the Australia series, has been left out, with Ravindra Jadeja and Axar preferred as the spin-bowling allrounders. Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav are the two frontline spinners.Samson will have an opportunity to add to his 11 ODI caps if the team management wants to play a keeper-batter suited to the middle order; Kishan typically bats higher up the order. Samson has so far scored 330 ODI runs in 10 innings at an average of 66.00, with two half-centuries. One of them came in a match-winning chase against West Indies in Port-of-Spain last year. Samson can also play as a specialist batter even if Kishan is picked as keeper.India ODI Squad: Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya (vice-capt), Shardul Thakur, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammed Siraj, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar.

Manchester United are set to present their long-term striker plans to Benjamin Sesko as they prepare a formal offer for the RB Leipzig star. The Red Devils are determined to prove that the Slovenian is their No.1 priority this summer, amid rival interest from Newcastle. Sesko is expected to make a final decision in the coming days between the Red Devils and the Magpies.

• Man Utd prepare formal bid for RB Leipzig striker Sesko
• Red Devils to present striker project to convince Slovenian
• Sesko weighing United and Newcastle offers ahead of decision

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has reported that Manchester United have informed RB Leipzig of their intention to submit a formal bid for Sesko. The Red Devils are also preparing to present a detailed plan to the player outlining how he fits into their future. Sesko is weighing up proposals from both Manchester United and Newcastle, with the Old Trafford outfit currently in pole position.

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• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The move for Sesko is reportedly being pushed by Manchester United’s head of recruitment, Christopher Vivell, despite manager Ruben Amorim preferring other options. The £64m-rated striker has become the Red Devils' top target following internal disagreements over striker priorities. INEOS sees Sesko as a key piece in their rebuild, and believes he could thrive alongside Rasmus Hojlund.

• Getty Images
  

  TELL ME MORE…

  Sesko is believed to favour a move to Manchester United, with Newcastle still hopeful of swaying the decision. Despite speculation, Hojlund is not expected to leave, and Amorim sees Sesko’s arrival as healthy competition for the Dane, who scored in United's 4-1 win over Bournemouth in a recent friendly and reaffirmed his commitment to the club.

• WHAT NEXT FOR SESKO?

  Manchester United are expected to submit their official bid in the coming days and present their project directly to Sesko. The striker will then make a final decision between the two Premier League suitors. RB Leipzig are open to selling if the valuation is met, paving the way for a potential transfer before mid-August.

The former South Africa batter and captain looks back at her career, ahead to the World Cup in her country, and league life after

Firdose Moonda08-Feb-2023Mignon du Preez broke cricket’s glass ceiling in heels. Sort of.”When people hear the word ‘cricketer’, they think you need to be a little bit more butch. They don’t think you can be a cricketer and be girly. They think if you’ve got your nails done, surely you can’t catch a ball. I tried to show that you can still be a girly girl and be competitive,” she says. “There was a definitely a time when people would think cricket and that it’s only for boys.”Du Preez was one of the “Iconic Women” who took part in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Trophy Tour recently. Now retired and hoping to start a family, she played international cricket for over 15 years in a career that spanned South African women’s cricket’s transition from amateur to professional. And she did it all with long blonde hair.Related

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“We had to change people’s perception,” she says. “There was lack of visibility. Nobody knew about us. Our games were not televised and girls’ cricket was not a mainstream sport in schools. The hardest thing was to get girls to take up the sport.”Her own primary school did not have a girls’ team, so, like so many from the pioneering generation of women’s cricketers, she played with boys. “There was one parent that had a complaint because there was a girl [du Preez] in the team and their son was not playing and I remember the coaches said, ‘But she’s better than him,'” she says.There was no arguing with that. Du Preez was only 12 years old when she struck 258 in a 40-over match and “kind of realised that cricket could be a career choice”.Five years later she made her international debut. “It was during the holiday time and one of the players got injured and I got a call-up,” she says.Du Preez holds up the World Cup trophy during a promotional event for this year’s tournament in South Africa late last year•Liezl Zwarts/ICC T20 Women’s World Cup Trophy Tour by NissanIt was only seven years into her career that South Africa’s matches were first televised. In September 2014, SuperSport screened the three-match T20I series between South Africa and England. Earlier that year the team du Preez led reached the semi-final of the T20 World Cup. The broadcast interest in them was reward for a decent campaign but they were unable to repay the faith immediately. South Africa were completely outplayed in the first two matches in England and also lost the third, though they put up more of a fight in that game.At the time du Preez was halfway through her captaincy, a role she was thrust into almost by accident at 22, when the regular captain was injured. “I was a very young captain, so tactically I felt like I kind of was thrown into the deep end and I didn’t really know much,” she says. “On the first couple of tours, I almost needed to have script notes for who is going to bowl when and where.”But what I thought I was really good at was people-management skills. I had an open-door policy and definitely wanted to get the best out of the players. We weren’t professional and so we were just trying to change perceptions.”That same year du Preez played her first, and only, Test, where she scored the century she describes as one of her career highlights, although not for the reasons you may think.”It was really special but also quite a challenging experience. What I remember most was how I got out in the second innings,” she says. “Because I did so well in the first innings, I just kind of hoped I would pick up where I left off. Poonam Yadav was bowling to me and I had this plan that if she tossed it up, I was going to use my feet and hit her. But then also, she’s a legspinner, so a sweep was a good option if she tosses it down leg. She ended up tossing it up and down leg, I double-stepped and missed it completely and got stumped. It was not your typical Test-match shot. Today you can get away with it, with a lot of innovative cricket being played, but then it was not the typical dismissal you would see in a Test.”Most South Africans would not even have been aware that the match took place. The women’s team didn’t become a big part of the national cricket conversation until 2017, when du Preez stepped down from the leadership but played in her 100th ODI and South Africa made the semi-final of the 50-over World Cup. “That’s when people started taking notice and our players started becoming role models. That was where the big change happened,” she said.Du Preez during a partnership with Celeste Raack of Ireland in the Fairbreak tournament in 2022. “What made that tournament special was the camaraderie,” she says. “It was where sport just united everybody”•FairBreak GlobalNow in 2023, South Africa find themselves in focus in women’s sport. Last month they hosted the inaugural Under-19 women’s T20 World Cup, and this month they host the senior event. In July-August, they will stage the netball World Cup, and the national women’s football team will compete in the World Cup for the second successive time – an incredible feat against the backdrop of the men not qualifying for the same event in 20 years (they qualified automatically as hosts in 2010).Du Preez is no longer involved in a playing capacity for South Africa but remains a keen observer from the sidelines, and is still a sportsperson through and through. On the day of this interview she was also in the nets.”It’s almost like riding a bike but sometimes it’s not like that,” she says. “The last time I didn’t play for a while, I struggled to get the timing because I was just so eager to get bat on ball and I’d be too early on every shot. But today I think it was a lot more relaxed. I think that comes with age. Practice is there to make mistakes and it ended up being fewer mistakes than I thought.”Like so many female cricketers, du Preez has put her name in the hat for the WPL auction, where she hopes to get what could be a life-changing deal. Although she recognises that the growth of leagues could be a threat to the international game, having spent so much of her career in the amateur era, no one will begrudge her cashing in. “These leagues pay their players really well but ultimately you want your best players to be available for national selection, and to do that you also need to ensure that you pay them well enough so that they want to play for their country,” she says.Essentially that’s part of the story for her own reasons for retiring. After she opted to step away from ODI cricket in April last year, du Preez was unable to keep her central contract because CSA do not offer single-format-only deals. With bills to pay, du Preez decided to call it quits completely and seek opportunities in franchise leagues.She won’t be lured into a national comeback for the World Cup but will be involved in the tournament in a commentary role. She will be rooting for South Africa, though.”If I think with my heart, I’m going to say they are going to win,” she says. “But if I think with my head, realistically, Australia have dominated women’s cricket in the last couple of years and they are just so far ahead. They’ve got a lot of talent to pick from. In South Africa we don’t have such a big pool. But I am excited to see a few other teams. England – they’ve also invested quite a bit – and then India, they’ve been really good recently and it will be really good if they do well because if India does well, women’s cricket does well.”Du Preez top-scored with 76 not out in the semi-final of the 2017 50-over World Cup but it wasn’t enough to get South Africa across the line•Getty ImagesClosing the gap between those top-tier teams and the rest is a subject that interests du Preez. She was involved in the inaugural Fairbreak T20 tournament in the UAE last year and has since become a marketing consultant for the organisation. She sees competitions like that one as a way to level the playing field.”Fairbreak gives opportunities to players that come from Associate nations to earn a living from cricket. They get their first professional contract and they get to play alongside their heroes. We had all the big names, from Stafanie Taylor and Sophie Devine to Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka,” she says.And though events like Fairbreak are competitive, it’s less about which team wins or loses and more about individuals gaining from it. “What made that tournament even more special was the camaraderie. When you go to a World Cup or the WBBL or the Hundred, it’s really feisty and the competition is fierce. This tournament was where sport just united everybody. It was so good just to see the interaction between the players and how the players from the Full-Member nations shared their knowledge with the Associate players and how everybody was rooting for them to do well. I remember everyone cheering for Wini [Malaysia captain Winifred Duraisingam]. It’s growing and it’s going to offer more opportunities.”One of the players at the tournament was then 18-year-old Henriette Ishimwe from Rwanda, who went on to take four wickets in four balls at the U-19 World Cup, leading Rwanda to a historic first win at a major tournament. Well before Ishimwe achieved that feat, she had fans from her time at Fairbreak. “My husband actually asked me to speak to Henriette because he wanted her shirt,” du Preez says.And in doing that du Preez and her husband, Tony, shattered another glass ceiling. It’s only recently that female sportspeople, especially in team sports, have become role models and du Preez believes that as perceptions continue to change, that will only increase. “I was part of the commentary team for the U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup and I was looking through the player bios and so many of the girls had women role models, and I was like, wow, we’ve done something right. Finally.”

St. James’ Park’s overseers are not yet in situ, with sporting director Paul Mitchell set to leave at the end of the month, but Newcastle United plan to make headway in the transfer market all the same.

Namely, Eddie Howe has his sights set on Brighton & Hove Albion’s Joao Pedro, a dynamic and versatile striker whose qualities would see him complement and contest Alexander Isak in equal measure.

However, with Liverpool running rampant in the transfer market and monitoring Anthony Gordon, the Magpies may need to find an out-and-out winger to join Howe’s cause, too.

Newcastle in the race for PL star

As per Caught Offside, Newcastle United are in the race to sign Jadon Sancho, who is almost certain to leave Manchester United this summer.

However, the Toon are joined by a host of clubs on the continent – including Borussia Dortmund, Napoli, and AC Milan – after his loan spell with Chelsea, who paid a £5m penalty to waive their obligation to buy the 25-year-old for £25m.

A swarm of interest from the Saudi Pro League throws a spanner in the works, but from a sporting perspective, Howe may offer the electric winger the perfect lifeline in his homeland.

Why Jadon Sancho could thrive at Newcastle

There’s no denying that Sancho has fallen by the wayside since leaving Borussia Dortmund and signing for Man United in a £73m package.

His recent campaign at Chelsea wasn’t poor by any stretch, but neither was it show-stopping to the degree that was promised upon his first move to the Premier League.

24/25 – Chelsea

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14

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22/23 – Man Utd

26

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21/22 – Man Utd

29

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20/21 – Dortmund

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His numbers for Chelsea in the Premier League certainly left something to be desired, but then Sancho also demonstrated his intense levels of fitness and athleticism, ranking among the top 11% of the division’s attacking midfielders and wingers for progressive carries, the top 9% for successful take-ons and the top 15% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref.

Contrast that with Gordon, who may yet leave and sign for Liverpool this summer in an £80m deal, and you begin to see how Sancho might just thrive in stable conditions on Tyneside.

Indeed, Gordon, for all his qualities, only scored six goals and assisted six more in the league last term, ranked only among the top 22% for progressive carries and the top 46% for successful take-ons per 90.

FBref considered through statistical analysis the two players to be of a certain likeness, but Sancho, arguably, offered a finer illustration of his underlying qualities and the potential for even more with a more potent finish.

He’s a powerful and pacy winger, but perhaps he didn’t activate his physical attributes to the best of their ability, evidenced by Howe’s decision to bench him across five of the final eight matches of the 2024/25 campaign.

Gordon is a brilliant player, but as pundit Stan Collymore says, “at his best” Sancho is an “unplayable” forward, outfoxing his opponents with fleet-footed movements and a potency that was, frankly, ridiculous during his Dortmund days.

It’s been a rough road for the Three Lions star these past several years, but his finest football lies latent, and Howe’s remarkable tactical and interpersonal skills might just see Sancho revived as a starring member of a high-flying Newcastle team.

Therefore, Newcastle could provide the perfect stomping ground for Sancho, whose fall from grace may yet see a resurgence that could see him realise his potential and surpass even the £80m-rated Gordon.

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The fast bowler made the announcement as the team returned from Sri Lanka where they lost 2-0

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Oct-2024Tim Southee has stepped down as New Zealand’s Test captain following the series defeat in Sri Lanka, and will be replaced by Tom Latham, saying he believes it is in the best interests of the side.Southee led the team in 14 Tests with a record of six wins, six losses and two draws since taking over from Kane Williamson in 2022. New Zealand lost a hard-fought first Test in Galle but were soundly beaten by an innings in the second making it four defeats in a row either side of the Afghanistan fixture which was abandoned without a ball bowled. New Zealand’s next assignment is a three-Test series in India later this month.Related

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NZ's little shop of horrors prompts uncomfortable questions

Southee hopes New Zealand 'learn and move forward' from Sri Lanka loss

“Captaining the Blackcaps in a format that’s so special to me, has been an absolute honour and a privilege,” he said. “I’ve always tried to put the team first throughout my career and I believe this decision is the best for the team.”I believe the way I can best serve the team moving forward is focusing on my performances on the field and getting back to my best, to continue taking wickets and helping New Zealand win Test matches.”I will, as I’ve always done, continue to support my team-mates, especially the exciting young bowlers making their way on the international stage. I wish Tom all the best in the role and he knows I’ll be there to support him on his journey, as he has done for me over the years.”Southee said that it was his own decision to step down as captain. “Yes. We have discussions with Gary [Stead] like we do at the end of every series,” he said at the Auckland airport after having arrived from Sri Lanka. “It was my decision to move aside and it’s Tom’s time to keep moving this team forward. [We have] got six Test matches to look forward to and I’m excited about that.”I love Test cricket and it’s a game I care deeply about. I love playing, so yeah will be nice to be part of the six Test matches moving forward.”Southee’s own form has been in the spotlight this year. He has taken just 12 wickets in his last eight Tests and, though he played both matches in Sri Lanka, there was a chance he wouldn’t feature throughout the upcoming India series depending on the make-up of the attack.Now, without the captaincy, he will return to the selection mix alongside Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke and Ben Sears. O’Rourke was impressive in Sri Lanka while Henry, who was outstanding in the last home summer, and Sears did not feature.Southee isn’t taking the franchise T20 route yet and has reaffirmed his commitment to New Zealand Cricket for now. “I guess it’s all options but I’m committed to New Zealand Cricket for now and Test cricket is a format I love playing and really enjoy.”Latham has previously captained the Test side on nine occasions between 2020 and 2022.Head Gary Stead praised the selflessness of Southee’s decision and said he continued to see him as a key part of the Test side as he searches for the 18 wickets he needs to be just the second New Zealand bowler to take 400.”Tim’s a fantastic player and a very good leader who is held in high regard by the players and support staff,” he said. “He’s been a great servant of New Zealand Cricket over nearly 17 years playing on the international stage, and I’d like to acknowledge his humility in stepping down from the role as Test captain.”It’s not easy giving up something you love, but Tim is a true team-man and he’s made the decision with the team’s best interests at heart. He’s one of our greatest ever players and we still very much see him playing a part in our Test side moving forward.”NZC CEO Scott Weenink added: “It’s a measure of the man that he continues to put the team interests ahead of his own and, despite his obvious personal disappointment, wants to do the best thing possible for everyone else. To me, that’s the sign of a true leader in every sense of the word.”New Zealand’s 15-player squad for the three-Test tour of India will be confirmed in the coming days.