Liverpool are mulling over launching a bid for Wolfsburg centre-back Micky van de Ven this summer, with sporting director Jorg Schmadtke well-versed with the ace's skill set, having left the club for Anfield this year.

What's the latest on Micky van de Ven to Liverpool?

That's according to BILD's Christian Falk, who claims that the 22-year-old has a market value of just €18m (£15m) after impressing in the German Bundesliga this season.

Schmadtke signed the gem from FC Volendam in 2021 for a fee of just €3.5m (£3m) which has seemingly put Liverpool in pole position, with Premier League champions Manchester City also interested in a deal.

Stoking the fire on the swirling rumours, Van de Ven said to VI (via the Mirror): "Of course I heard of Liverpool links and I know they’ve been following me in the past. That’s it. Of course. Liverpool is a great club. There’s a chance for me to leave this summer. If a nice club with good plan arrives… I’d be open."

How good is Micky van de Ven?

The Bundesliga "giant" – as hailed by journalist Ronan Murphy – is left-footed and as such could be the perfect option for Reds boss Jurgen Klopp as he looks to strengthen his defensive ranks with a star to rival Virgil van Dijk on the left side of the Anfield backline.

And having made 33 appearances in the German top-flight this term, Van de Ven recorded an average league rating of 6.85 – as per Sofascore – and impressed with his assured passing, completing 88%; his sweeping excellence, tracking back to complete 3.1 clearances per game; and his solidness in the tackle, winning 64% of his duels.

Also said to be "flourishing" in Germany by Murphy, Van de Ven is one of the most dynamic defenders around; boasting superlative athleticism and blistering pace, the Netherlands U21 captain would slot into Liverpool's high-press superbly, capable of tracking back swiftly and matching even the most speedy of attackers in transition.

As per FBref, the £7k-per-week ace ranks among the top 10% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 7% for successful take-ons per 90, indicating that he utilises his innate abilities with aplomb.

A tenacious and fearless colossus, Van de Ven could therefore emulate Tottenham Hotspur centre-half Cristian Romero on English shores; despite Spurs' dismal defensive efforts this year, Romero has remained an impressive force and softened his domestic woes by basking in footballing glory with triumph at the 2022 World Cup.

Signing for the Lilywhites for around £42m from Atalanta in 2021, the 25-year-old has become known as a battleaxe of a defender, if somewhat brash, and has earned praise as a "Rolls-Royce" by Martin Keown.

The Argentine ranks among the top 17% of peers for successful take-ons per 90 and has clocked a top speed of 33.21 km/h this season, impressive given Van de Ven's standout attribute is his barrelling pace, producing a speed of 35.87 km/h.

Klopp must forge ahead with a deal for this Dutch dynamo, dubbed "dominant" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, providing his depleted defence with fresh legs to pump vigorous life back into the fold.

An update has emerged on Everton and their plans to bolster their attacking options in the summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Alfredo Morelos to Everton?

Colombian journalist Pipe Sierra has claimed that the Toffees are one of the clubs showing an interest in signing Colombian centre-forward Alfredo Morelos.

The reporter tweeted:

"Alfredo Morelos (26) and #Rangers did not reach a renewal agreement; everything is given for him to be a free agent from July 1. #Sevilla, #Cádiz, #Everton #Nottingham and #Fenerbahçe the first interested parties. There is also an Italian club that wants it."

Toffees boss Sean Dyche will now have to convince the soon-to-be-former Gers marksman to reject a host of other teams in order to secure his signature for the 2023/24 campaign.

Will Neal Maupay leave Everton this summer?

The Frenchman has been linked with a move to Serie A outfit Salernitana and the Blues head coach bringing Morelos in would surely allow him to sanction such a move, thus ruthlessly ditch the expensive dud.

Signing another striker to occupy one of the forward slots in the team would open the door for Dyche to kick Neal Maupay out of the club, after his dreadful season at Goodison Park.

The 26-year-old flop joined from Brighton & Hove Albion for a fee of £15m last summer and endured a rough campaign in front of goal for the Toffees.

He averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.56 across 27 appearances in the Premier League and only contributed with one goal, as the misfiring striker failed to register a single assist or create a 'big chance' for his teammates. Maupay also missed seven 'big chances' and this proves that the service into him was not the reason behind his severe lack of goals in the division.

Morelos is yet to experience football in England and there is certainly no guarantee that he will be able to translate his form at Ibrox over to Goodison Park, but his form in Scotland suggests that the potential is there for him to be a big upgrade on Maupay.

The £33k-per-week international plundered an eye-catching 124 goals and 58 assists across 269 appearances for the Light Blues during his time at Ibrox.

During the 2022/23 campaign, the 26-year-old goal machine averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.98 in the Scottish Premiership and chipped in with 11 goals and five assists in 32 appearances, despite only having started 15 matches.

Morelos, who was anonymously described as a "nightmare for defenders" by one of his SPFL opponents, has been a reliable goalscorer, and provider, throughout his years in Scotland and Dyche could now be handed a perfect reason to ruthlessly axe Maupay by bringing the prolific striker in to take his place in the squad.

With the Egyptian expected to move to Saudi Arabia next summer, rumours are rife that the Reds are already searching for a worthy successor

Liverpool's decision to reject all offers from Al-Ittihad for Mohamed Salah just before the close of the transfer window has been fully vindicated, with their Egyptian king one of the main reasons why they're back in the top four of the Premier League right now and dreaming of a surprise title challenge.

However, while the Reds' refusal to let the winger leave was utterly unsurprising, given his ongoing importance to Jurgen Klopp's team, the feeling was that they were merely postponing the inevitable. It's still difficult to see Salah moving during the January transfer window, no matter how much money is on the table, but next summer could be a very different story altogether.

After all, he will turn 32 next June and have just one year left on his contract, so it would make perfect sense for Liverpool to belatedly cash in on their talismanic attacker. Of course, finding a replacement will not be easy, even if there are some excellent options.

However, right now, one name is generating more transfer rumours than most – Leroy Sane. And while it's easy to understand why Liverpool might view the Bayern Munich man as their ideal Salah successor, a certain degree of scepticism among the supporters is also understandable.

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  A familiar foe

  Liverpool know all about how dangerous Sane can be. During his time at Manchester City, he scored four times against the Reds, whom he consigned to their only defeat during the 2018-19 Premier League campaign – which, of course, played a pivotal role in the outcome of one of the greatest and most closely fought title races in history.

  However, the fans will also remember that by the time of that epic encounter at the Etihad, Sane was no longer a certain starter. He may have scored a career-high 16 goals that season, but speculation was already mounting that Sane wanted out.

  Guardiola certainly did little to hide the fact that he was no longer entirely happy with the 2017-18 PFA Young Player of the Year. The issue was Sane's work-rate. Guardiola felt the youngster wasn't fulfilling his defensive duties when City were out of possession and admitted that he was frustrated by Sane's famously laid-back attitude as he believed it was holding the forward back.

  "I am so demanding of him and sometimes I like to be critical of him," the Catalan coach confessed to reporters in April 2019. "We know his potential and we want to help him to be more consistent in his game."

  Guardiola failed in that regard, though, with Sane belatedly completing a transfer to Bayern in 2020 after the deal had been held up by a serious knee injury sustained in a Community Shield clash with Liverpool the year before.

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  Further struggles in Munich

  The change of scenery did little to remove the doubts surrounding Sane. If anything, they increased because many in Munich felt that the attacker simply wasn't right for Bayern; that he lacked the doggedness, determination and winning mentality demanded at the Allianz Arena.

  Sane continued to score goals, hitting double figures in all competitions in each of his first three seasons at the club, but sparkled only sporadically.

  When he first arrived, he spoke enthusiastically about playing under Hansi Flick, whom he first came across while playing for Germany's Under-21s. However, it later emerged that Flick had actually been pushing for the Bavarians to sign Timo Werner instead. This, then, was a deal very much of Hasan Salihamidzic's doing, as even Sane had admitted himself, explaining that the sporting director had been "behind the transfer from the first moment".

  In that context, it's perhaps unsurprising that Sane struggled. Flick regularly questioned his work ethic and rarely gave him a full 90 minutes.

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  Positional problems

  The arrival of Julian Nagelsmann looked like the turning point in Sane's spell at the Allianz Arena, with the new, young coach giving him an inside-left role, which he relished, as he was part-winger, part-No.10. Indeed, during the first half of the 2021-22 season, Sane looked perfectly primed to become a bona fide superstar, netting 10 times before the winter break, with half of those goals coming during an electrifying Champions League group-stage campaign.

  However, as he admitted himself, Bayern's season then screeched to a standstill and they were sensationally dumped out of Europe by Villarreal. Many pundits blamed Nagelsmann's decision to change formation, from a 4-2-3-1 to a 3-4-3 that saw Sane moved back to the right, where his output dipped dramatically. He would score just four goals after Christmas and looked a shadow of his former self.

  His frustration was obvious, too, and the fans became enraged by his air of resignation. Talk of a move away from Munich only intensified as Nagelsmann's reign unravelled earlier this year. The word was that Bayern were open to offers for their €60 million (£52m/$63m) signing.

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  Right coach at the right time?

  It wasn't initially clear if Thomas Tuchel taking over from Nagelsmann, who was sensationally sacked in March, was a positive or negative development for Sane. The former Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain coach has a reputation for asking a lot of his forwards from a defensive perspective, but at the same time, he managed to get something approaching the very best out of enigmatic characters like Neymar and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

  Tuchel also primarily deployed Sane on the right during the first weeks of his tenure and there was no marked improvement in the winger's performances. However, behind the scenes, the pair were bonding.

  Despite the ongoing transfer talk, Tuchel was adamant that Sane had a key role to play in his side. He was convinced that he was the right coach to extract the absolute maximum out of one of the game's great unfulfilled talents.

  Putting Sane back on the left certainly helped, but it was clear that there was more to it than that. There was, as Tuchel put it, "good chemistry" between the pair, so when he challenged Sane to dominate the Bundesliga, the winger obliged.

  He's already well on his way towards obliterating his previous best goals tally for a single season (eight), having struck six times in seven outings in 2023-24, and Tuchel enthused after the 3-0 win over Freiburg just before the international break, "If he continues to play with that kind of freedom, hunger and positive body language, he can make the difference.”

  As for Sane, he's in no doubt that Tuchel is not only "the right person for Bayern" – but also him as a player. "I talk to him a lot," he recently admitted. "He gives me a very good feeling and I feel a lot of trust."

Manoj Tiwary and Virat Singh’s unbroken 149-run partnership for the third wicket steered East Zone to an emphatic eight-wicket win against North Zone in Mumbai.Put in to bat, North Zone’s top three amassed 85 run in 11.1 overs, with Shikhar Dhawan, Gautam Gambhir, and Unmukt Chand registering identical scores of 20.Yuvraj Singh top scored with a 24-ball 38. However, his dismissal in the 14th over triggered a collapse, with North Zone losing three more wickets within the next 14 balls.Manan Sharma (18) and Pradeep Sangwan (21) resuscitated the flagging North Zone innings, adding 29 runs for the eighth wicket.Pragyan Ojha returned figures of 3 for 33 for East Zone, while medium-pacers Sayan Ghosh and Pritam Das bagged two wickets each. Amit Verma accounted for Yuvraj and Parvez Rasool, who was out hit-wicket.Chasing 160, East Zone stuttered early on, losing Shreevats Goswami and Ishank Jaggi within the first two overs, before Tiwary (75 off 43) and Virat (74 off48) overhauled the target in 16.3 overs.Mayank Agarwal’s 46-ball 70 guided South Zone to a five-wicket victory against West Zone at the Wankhede Stadium.Having elected to bowl, South Zone spinners M Ashwin and Rahil Shah struck early to remove openers Sheldon Jackson (23) and Parthiv Patel (10) respectively.Medium-pacer Vijay Shankar lent able support to the duo; the three returned combined figures of 6 for 79, while Chama Milind – despite going at 10.25 in his four overs – finished with three wickets.Vishnu Vinod’s 20-ball 36 set the tone for South Zone’s 141-run chase, before Agarwal’s turbocharge – peppered with nine fours and two sixes – powered them to 136 in 16.4 overs. The Karnataka batsman shared a 52-run partnership – the highest in the match – with Dinesh Karthik (17), who came in after captain Shankar retired hurt in the seventh over with 62 for 1 on board.Pavan Deshpande and Ashwin then closed out the game for South Zone with 14 balls to spare.

Chelsea continue to take things “very slowly” with Mykhailo Mudryk despite having spent £89 million ($109m) on the Ukrainian winger back in January.

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Big money spent in winter windowForward still waiting on first goalBlues have full faith in his abilityWHAT HAPPENED?

The Blues had hoped to see the jet-heeled forward become an immediate success at Stamford Bridge, with rival interest from Arsenal having been fended off in order to put a big-money transfer deal in place.

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Mudryk has, however, struggled for form throughout his time in English football – with the 22-year-old still waiting on his first competitive goal. Mauricio Pochettino has full faith in the youngster, as he brings different qualities to his young squad, but admits that an adapation process will take time.

WHAT THEY SAID

Pochettino has said of bringing out the best in Mudryk, who arrived in the Premier League from Shakhtar Donetsk: “The life of these guys, when they are so young, (it) changed. You pay big money, big change form where they came. Also it’s not about to arrive and to perform when you are young. It’s about to adapt, it’s about to help them to settle. Then the most difficult thing is to understand what these guys need to settle and to feel comfortable and to express their talent. If you ask me about Misha, he’s a very talented player of course, but you need to go with him very slowly. Cultural and everything is completely different to Latin people, from different countries or part of the world. He’s now trying to be more open, to adapt and be more involved in every situation, not only on the field but outside also. I think he’s doing a massive effort to try to integrate himself and to understand better what it means to play like a team. He’s unique. I can’t find a player to say he is similar, I can’t remember one. It’s a good challenge for him, and it’s a good challenge for us.”

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GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Mudryk has started Chelsea’s last three games, as they search for a collective spark in an underwhelming start to the 2023-24 campaign, and the Blues will be back in action on Monday when taking in a derby date with west London neighbours Fulham.

Mohammad Nawaz was oozing confidence after defending six runs in the final over against Peshawar

Osman Samiuddin in Sharjah01-Mar-20170:50

WATCH – Mohammad Nawaz concedes no runs off the last three balls to take Quetta Gladiators to the final

Mohammad Nawaz was having a rough night with the ball in Sharjah. The three overs he had bowled until the 20th had already gone for 46. Excessive dew meant he could barely grip the ball and it hadn’t helped that he was bowling one-over spells. There had been moments of smartness – the key dismissal of Mohammad Hafeez was one, and without the ball the catch to dismiss Shahid Afridi was, in hindsight, the moment the game turned.But he had already conceded four sixes and three fours, thus defending six off this final over, with a two-time World T20I winner on strike, could only produce an unhappy ending.Leaving him, or the rookie left-arm spinner Hasan Khan (3-0-36-0) with the last over, in fact, had seemed like a mistake. And when Tymal Mills’ valiant but unsuccessful effort at short third man off the second ball actually helped the ball along to the boundary, the game was done. Except it wasn’t.Nawaz conceded a single off the next four balls. He dismissed Chris Jordan first, a flatter, quicker delivery that found the edge and which Sarfraz Ahmed did well to hold on to. And then two inch-perfect yorkers in succession forced two run-outs, allowing Quetta to pull off a sensational one-run win – a margin replicating last year’s playoff win over the same opponents.”There was a lot of pressure, the way the ball had been coming on to the bat and how wet it was,” Nawaz told Geo TV. “But our plan was to bowl the first three balls outside off and break it away.”Once the equation came down to two off three, the plan changed. Among others, Kevin Pietersen, playing his last game of the tournament, suggested going for yorkers.”KP said on the fifth ball ‘just bowl a yorker’. It came out perfect. On the last ball a few said bowl length, some said go for the yorker. But we agreed to bowl a yorker and they just came out perfect.”I had a lot going through my mind at the time. But I was also calm, thinking I could do this.”Nawaz was one of the poster boys of the PSL’s first season, the very reason such a league was created in the first place – to bring to the fore young players like him and turn them into big-game players.He was the third-highest wicket-taker last year and his 13 wickets included arguably the ball of the tournament: a delicious, orthodox spinner that undid Brad Hodge, incidentally also in the playoff win over Peshawar.Finding his feet with Pakistan has not been as simple, in any of the formats, even with their desperate search for any kind of allrounder. But bowling an over like this – all of it to international cricketers – can be an important developmental landmark.”Absolutely, this is one of the best overs I have bowled. In such a big match, on this pitch, with so much dew. Especially after that kind of over I can’t help but feel pretty confident.”This is how big players are made, when they perform in big matches like this. This is only the start of my career, but in future I hope to learn more from it and keep performing.”

New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said that on a pitch that did not provide a lot of assistance the side needed a bowler who could create opportunities, something Neil Wagner had done consistently

Firdose Moonda in Dunedin08-Mar-2017New Zealand’s brains trust may have spent Tuesday night sleepless as they mulled over which bowler to bench, in order to accommodate two spinners in their XI at the University Oval. In the end, they left out vice-captain Tim Southee, who has not been dropped in five years since India 2012, in a move that blind-sided everyone including the opposition.”I was surprised because he is their trump card. He and Boult have been phenomenal for New Zealand, in Test and one-day cricket so I was surprised to see him not playing,” Dean Elgar, South Africa’s centurion, said. “I know to play two spinners you have to sacrifice someone. But I was surprised because he bowls with a lot of control and brings the right-arm aspect to the bowling department.”Mike Hesson explained that once New Zealand had decided on their spin duo, they had to choose two of their “three very good seamers” to make up the rest of the attack. With Trent Boult the mainstay, the choice was between Southee and homeboy Neil Wagner, and Wagner won out.”We didn’t think there was a lot in the wicket and we needed one of the two seamers to be able to create things when there’s not a lot on offer, and Neil has done that consistently over the last few years. So that was relatively straightforward,” Hesson said. “It’s certainly something Kane, myself and senior players spent some time tossing over and I think no matter which way we went it would have been a difficult decision. Whoever missed out would have felt a bit miffed.”A sullen Southee was spotted throughout the first day but he wasn’t the only one who would have felt hard done by. Colin de Grandhomme, who has impressed in this home summer, made way for Jimmy Neesham, who is regarded as a better batsman, for tactical reasons. “If we thought the wicket was going to seam then we would have played Colin de Grandhomme. It hasn’t seamed this year and it didn’t seam today,” Hesson said.Hesson conceded that the real test of whether there is any movement on offer will come when South Africa take the field and Vernon Philander has the ball in hand.Elgar is confident that even if there isn’t much for Philander to exploit, South Africa’s attack is good enough to make inroads despite having picked only one specialist spinner in Keshav Maharaj.”I’m going to say our bowlers will perform brilliantly,” Elgar said. “We are fortunate to have similar wickets, like at St George’s Park, where we play good cricket and the wicket is very similar with regards to the pace. Our bowlers seem to have a lot of success there.”Even though Elgar found his most free-scoring period when the New Zealand quicks were using the older ball post-lunch, he believes the South Africa’s speedsters could pose real problems for New Zealand, especially with the new ball. “Having a little bit of extra pace on the ball seems to be key, which is why I find it a bit odd that Neesham didn’t bowl a bit more because he does bowl a quicker, heavier ball. We’ve got Morne and KG who can crank it up to 145-plus, which could work in our favour in this kind of wicket,” Elgar said.Before South Africa get to that, they will want to ensure they give their bowlers enough to work with. After losing four wickets on a slow first day and with two batsmen well set, they could already be rethinking their estimation of what they would like to end up with. “We were looking at about 250-280 at about tea time but now being in a good position after not losing a wicket in the last session we can readjust,” Elgar said. “I think 350 is maybe a 450 on that wicket just because of the slowness of the wicket.”The pace of the match is a concern for other reasons too. The scoring rate on day one eked over 2.5 to the over, and with rain around on the weekend, there is already suggestion there may not be enough time for anything other than a draw. Hesson, however, thinks it’s too early to look further than the next day or two. “Any time you play against South Africa, it’s always a result pitch,” Hesson said. “Dunedin has put on a cracking day today and I wouldn’t expect it to be much different the next couple of days. As for the weekend, when you live on the coast, predicting the weather two days out can be a bit of a guessing game.”

Aston Villa are reportedly eyeing Serie A ace Hirving Lozano as the Villans prepare to introduce reinforcements to their squad.

Unai Emery isn’t expected to be the only Spaniard with control in the market this summer, with former Sevilla sporting director Monchi sealing a move to Villa Park.

The club have been linked to a host of top talent already, with the latest link being a potentially strong suitor to partner Ollie Watkins.

What’s the latest on Hirving Lozano to Aston Villa?

As reported by various Spanish outlets this week, Aston Villa have emerged as a club interested in Napoli forward Lozano.

One report states that Villa have shown ‘clear interest’ in the Mexico international, who could depart Naples this summer due to a frailed relationship with the board.

It’s claimed the Midlands club are among the ‘most attractive’ options for the 27-year-old, with Villa planning a ‘formal offer’ believed to be in the region of €30m (£26m).

What could Hirving Lozano offer to Aston Villa?

Hailed as a “sensation” by broadcaster Bolarinwa Olajide, the forward could be a revolutionary addition to Emery’s attack.

Likened to Premier League ace Bukayo Saka based on statistics by FBref, the winger is a seasoned attacker, as supported by his career statistics representing PSV, Napoli and Pachuca.

As per Transfermarkt, the Mexican has contributed to 184 goals in 383 recorded appearances, scoring 113 goals and registering 71 assists in consistent streaks that convey a danger in the final third.

When speaking to The Athletic in April, Emery revealed his plans to sign a second striker to play either alongside Watkins or in rotation with the Englishman – which is something he could deliver in signing Lozano.

While the two are most notably strong in front of goal, they have opposing attributes that suggest they could form a complete partnership leading the line at Villa Park.

In the past, Lozano has been likened to Lionel Messi, with his low centre of gravity contributing to him being called “explosive and agile” by PSV director of football Marcel Brands, who formerly scouted the forward – as relayed by football.london.

As per FBref, the £97k-per-week attacker averages better than Watkins in areas that could greatly benefit the ex-Brentford man, registering 4.78 progressive carries per 90 to his average of 1.44.

Having a player that excels in progressive play beside him could be vital to taking the 15-goal striker to the next level, with an added benefit being the Napoli star’s ability to score himself.

Emery has a comprehensive right-winger already in his arsenal in Jacob Ramsey, but to adhere to the Spaniard’s aims of adding depth to his squad that will challenge in Europe next campaign, the move could be significant.

Lozano's contract in Naples expires next summer, so it’s likely that the Serie A champions will wish to cash in on his talents rather than see him leave as a free agent at the close of next season.

Lionel Messi is “very happy” at the moment and that should help to keep him on course to play at the 2026 World Cup, says Javier Zanetti.

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• All-time great savoured global glory in 2022
• Boasts record-breaking cap and goal tallies
• May be tempted to grace more tournaments

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has offered a mixed response to questions of his international future. Messi originally suggested that, after guiding Argentina to global glory at Qatar 2022, he would bow out before FIFA’s flagship event heads to the United States, Canada and Mexico.

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  He has backtracked on those comments slightly since then, offering hope to the Albiceleste that he can be convinced to play on, and the legendary 36-year-old is playing with a smile on his face again after leaving European football to continue his club career in MLS with Inter Miami.

• WHAT THEY SAID

  Argentina icon Zanetti has told when asked for his assessment of Messi in 2023: “I see Messi really very happy. He looks whole and eager to continue playing football, which is what he loves the most. I hope he continues playing for a few more years because someone who loves football enjoys watching him play.”

  Pressed on whether the all-time great can be talked into gracing the 2026 World Cup, Zanetti added: “I am one of those who thinks that one must live in the present. And if Messi's present is to be content, it is very likely that between now and when the World Cup arrives he will continue to feel the same way, wanting to continue playing and wanting to play in another World Cup. You have to take it little by little and take care of him. Above all, that he feels comfortable and that he has the desire to continue competing.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Messi already boasts record-setting hauls of 178 caps and 106 goals for his country and will be enhancing those tallies over the coming months as he takes part in World Cup qualifiers at the 2024 Copa America – another title that Argentina are looking to defend.

With a number of pitches in the competition defying their usual character this year, assessing conditions quickly has been a challenge for teams in the IPL, according to the Rising Pune Supergiant coach Stephen Fleming

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Apr-2017

With a number of pitches in the competition defying their usual character this year, assessing conditions quickly has been a challenge for teams in the IPL, according to the Rising Pune Supergiant coach Stephen Fleming.In his column in the , Fleming has written that conditions in some grounds have been more difficult to bat in than in previous seasons, leading to a better balance between bat and ball. He took the example of Rising Pune defending 160 to beat Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium.”Conditions have not been traditional this season,” Fleming wrote. “Bangalore, for example, is a low-scoring ground. Mumbai was very dry, with not a lot of dew, while Kolkata produced a seaming wicket, with quite a bit of pace and bounce.”Therefore, the key this year is to read the conditions and play accordingly. So even though people may have expected us to score more than we did against Mumbai, 160 on that pitch was a challenging total. The expectations of fans may be based on past years but this edition of the IPL has seen the world’s best players struggle to score at the death.”That means one of two things – either the bowling has been extremely good or the conditions aren’t easy to score in, particularly when the ball gets old. I feel the balanced competition is a good thing, instead of 190-200 every time. The best T20 games are often the low-scoring ones.”Rising Pune’s win at the Wankhede came a day after Kolkata Knight Riders defended 131 to win an even more low-scoring game at the Eden Gardens, where Royal Challengers Bangalore slid to 49 all out, the lowest-ever IPL total. According to Jacques Kallis, the Kolkata Knight Riders coach, the scores were a reflection of poor batting techniques rather than a particularly diabolical pitch.”There was absolutely nothing ‘wrong’ with the pitch for that match,” Kallis wrote in his column. “There was a little bit more pace and bounce than the average Indian pitch – and certainly more than there used to be at the Gardens – but nothing that a decent technique couldn’t handle.”In truth, it was a poor batting display from both teams.”Rising Pune and Kolkata Knight Riders meet on Wednesday evening at the MCA Stadium in Pune. Knight Riders are second on the table with five wins from seven matches, while Rising Pune are fourth with four wins in seven.