Harry Kane “scores all types of goals”, with one toe-poked effort in Bayern Munich training leaving the England star with a big smile on his face.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
| Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱 |
MatériaMais Notícias
da aviator aposta： O Flamengo divulgou os relacionados para o jogo deste sábado, às 16h30 (de Brasília), diante do Goiás, no Maracanã, pela 7ª rodada do Brasileirão. A lista de jogadores à disposição conta com a volta de David Luiz, baixa no jogo passado (pela Libertadores), por conta de lesão na panturrilha.
RelacionadasFlamengoReforço perde espaço no Flamengo com mudança no sistema de Paulo SousaFlamengo18/05/2022FlamengoPaulo Sousa se agarra a um fator para recuperar o Flamengo no BrasileirãoFlamengo18/05/2022Futebol InternacionalConmebol anuncia data do sorteio das oitavas de final da Libertadores e Sul-Americana; saiba quando seráFutebol Internacional18/05/2022
da jogodeouro： > GALERIA: relembre episódios que agitaram o Flamengo desde 2020
O provável time do Fla para ir a campo nesta tarde é o seguinte:Hugo Souza; Matheuzinho, David Luiz, Pablo e Ayrton Lucas; Willian Arão, Andreas Pereira (João Gomes), Everton Ribeiro e Arrascaeta; Bruno Henrique e Gabigol.
Já os desfalques são:Santos, Diego Alves, Fabrício Bruno, Gustavo Henrique, Filipe Luís, Matheus França e Vitinho. Todos por lesão.
Neste momento, o Fla soma apenas seis pontos no Brasileirão e inicia o próximo jogo na 16ª colocação, à beira da zona do rebaixamento. O Rubro-Negro não vence na competição desde a segunda rodada – e o triunfo ante São Paulo foi o único até agora, aliás.
> Confira a tabela do Brasileirão
VEJA A LISTA DE RELACIONADOS
Goleiros: Hugo, Matheus Cunha e Bruno
Laterais: Ayrton Lucas, Isla, Rodinei e Matheuzinho.
Zagueiros: Pablo, Léo Pereira, Rodrigo Caio e David Luiz.
Meio-campistas: Andreas, Arrascaeta, Diego, Everton Ribeiro, João Gomes, Lázaro, Thiago Maia, Victor Hugo e Willian Arão.
Atacantes: Bruno Henrique, Gabigol, Marinho e Pedro.
Confira os relacionados para a partida contra o Goiás pelo @Brasileirao. #VamosFlamengo pic.twitter.com/B1uhZENmXg
— Flamengo (@Flamengo) May 21, 2022
Pope vindicates selection at No. 3 as Root races to fastest century of his career
Valkerie Baynes12-Jun-2022
Joe Root consoles Ollie Pope after he fell for 145•Getty Images
“That’s what I’m talking about!” Ben Stokes might well have said watching Ollie Pope and Joe Root follow his captain’s decree for England to be “even more positive” than they were in victory at Lord’s.While Root’s second century in as many Test innings was almost expected given his rich run of form and the batting-friendly Trent Bridge pitch, it was no less eye-catching for its intent, fluency and importance to England’s task of closing in on New Zealand’s huge first-innings 553. By stumps, England had added 383 runs on the third day, reducing the deficit to 80 runs with Root unbeaten on 163.But it was Pope’s ton – his second in Tests and first on home soil, coming in just his third innings at No. 3 – that grabbed a big chunk of the headlines on a good-news day for the hosts. Stokes himself snatched back some of the attention with his positive – or downright aggressive – innings of 46 off just 33 balls, and opener Alex Lees wrote a little think-piece of his own by reaching his maiden Test fifty in his ninth innings before falling to a loose shot for 67.Pope’s innings vindicated the new England regime’s bold call to promote him to No. 3. Despite never having batted above No. 4 in first-class cricket before last week’s first Test at Lord’s, Pope told ESPNcricinfo last month: “I’ve always seen myself as a top-order batter in red-ball cricket.” His inexperience in the position and scores of 7 and 10 from his first two outings fuelled doubts over the decision to promote him.Related
Cult status alone can't sustain Jack Leach as New Zealand prove tough nut to crack
Ollie Pope learns on the job from England's 'greatest ever' Joe Root
Yes he can, yes he did: Ollie Pope vindicates England's show of faith
Ollie Pope: 'I've always seen myself as a top-order batter. I know I've got the game to succeed'
Lees feels the need for big runs
He answered those doubts on Sunday with an assured knock that included 13 fours and three sixes. He had pressed the accelerator on the second evening: after facing 45 balls for his first 11 runs, he raced to 37 from 56 as he twice pulled Matt Henry for six. He should have been gone shortly afterwards but Daryl Mitchell dropped a slip catch off Trent Boult, just one instance in a rash of fielding errors by both teams.Pope went on to raise his fifty by stumps and went to lunch on the third day unbeaten on 84 after Lees took a more attacking role through the morning session. He cruised towards his ton after the break however, whipping Boult through midwicket for four and moving to 98 with a late back-cut off Henry which bounced over gully for another boundary.He raised his ton with a push to deep cover off Henry’s next ball and a sprint, which was punctuated by a brief hesitation before he saw Root – head-down, steaming back for the second run – and continued on his way, celebrating with clenched fists and a fired-up look on his face before receiving a warm embrace from Root.Root brought up back-to-back centuries after his match-winning 115 not out in the first Test. This one was the fastest of his Test career, which now boasts 27 tons in all, coming off just 116 deliveries.Ollie Pope whips through square leg•Getty Images
Pope fell to the seventh ball after tea. Having paused for running repairs at the end of the first over when his pad strap snapped while he dived to complete a quick single, he tried to pull a Boult short ball but sent a top-edge sailing into the air and Henry, running in from fine leg, took an excellent catch diving forwards. His dismissal ended a 187-run stand with Root.Root set out at a rapid rate reaching 35 not out off just 43 balls by lunch, which included seven fours and a second life on 27 when his attempted cut off Boult resulted in a top-edge flying high and through Tim Southee’s hands at second slip.Root brought up his fifty from just 56 deliveries – his fastest in Tests – with a flick off Henry to the rope through midwicket and his hundred with an under-edged cut off Mitchell, although the manner in which he reached the milestone didn’t matter given some of his strokeplay, like his straight-driven four off Southee after he had passed 150 that was greeted by a sea of footwear held aloft by the crowd singing: “Shoes off if you love Joe Root.”Jonny Bairstow’s dismissal for 8 shortly after Pope departed came as New Zealand had their appeal for caught behind turned down and reviewed, with replays showing Boult’s delivery which cut back in off the seam brushing Bairstow’s glove on its way through to Tom Blundell. It meant that in eight Test innings since his century in the first Test against West Indies in March, Bairstow has failed to reach 30.It also brought Stokes to the crease and he plundered six fours and two sixes before he mistimed a slog-sweep to the offspin of debutant Michael Bracewell and was caught by Boult.Lees had finally reached fifty in his ninth England innings, having acknowledged before this Test that he could do with a “good score”. Some fluid drives off the front foot as he amassed 11 boundaries were a case in point after he had come into this week with 171 Test runs and a highest score of 31.Having been dropped by Mitchell on 12 during the second evening, there’s no doubt, however, that his dismissal driving at a Henry delivery well outside off stump and edging to slip – where Mitchell held on this time – wasn’t quite what he had in mind.Ben Foakes, who joined Root in an unbroken stand of 120 as England won the first Test by five wickets, was also the beneficiary of a fielding mistake on 9 after he top-edged Southee to deep square leg, where Will Young dropped a sitter.In more bad news for New Zealand, strike bowler Kyle Jamieson left the field midway through the evening session suffering “sharp pain” in his lower back and did not return. By the close, Foakes remained united with Root, their latest partnership worth 68 so far.
Deals for Alex Hales, Benny Howell alongside million-dollar men Liam Livingstone and Jofra Archer
ESPNcricinfo staff13-Feb-2022Eoin Morgan, England’s white-ball captain, went unsold at the IPL mega-auction in Bengaluru but there were a couple of multi-millionaires among the English contingent, plus deals for Alex Hales and Benny Howell, two players currently outside the international set-up.The big-money signings of Liam Livingstone, for GBP 1.125 million (USD 1.53 million) by Punjab Kings, and Jofra Archer, for GBP 783,000 (USD 1.06 million) by Mumbai Indians – the latter despite not being able to play this season – took the headlines on day two of the auction, following successful bids for Mark Wood (GBP 734,000 to Lucknow Super Giants), Jonny Bairstow (GBP 660,000 to Punjab Kings) and Jason Roy (GBP 197,000 to Gujarat Titans) on Saturday.Overall, there were contracts for 11 England-qualified players across the two-day event, bringing the tally at the 2022 IPL to 13, with Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali already having been retained by their franchises.Related
IPL 2022 mega auction: Mumbai Indians splurge on Tim David and 'non-playing' Jofra Archer
Multimillion, multi-purpose Livingstone cements superstar status
Live blog: IPL 2022 auction, Day 2
IPL 2022 auction: The list of sold and unsold players
Day 1 stats – 24 players get million-dollar bids
Among those to miss out, Morgan and Dawid Malan, currently the ICC’s No. 5-ranked batter in T20Is, were the most high-profile. Morgan captained Kolkata Knight Riders to the final of last year’s competition but has averaged 18.13 with a strike rate of 118.13 in T20 since the start of last year.In a somewhat ironic twist, Hales, the prolific top-order batter whose England career has been on hold since 2019 because of what Morgan has called “trust issues”, was picked up by KKR for GBP 147,000.Elsewhere, Tymal Mills won a return to the IPL five years after being bought for GBP 1.4 million at auction, taken this time around by Mumbai Indians at his base price of GBP 147,000. He could end up playing alongside Archer, although that is unlikely to happen this year, with Mumbai signing the injured quick as a long-term investment. The involvement of Mahela Jayawardene, Mumbai’s head coach who also works with both players at Southern Brave in the Hundred, was revealed to be key.”Jofra is a player Mahela gave his first professional debut to. So happy to have gotten them together,” Akash Ambani, the Mumbai owner, said. “Although it is going to be in next year, but very happy to have a lethal combination. Tymal has been a lethal death bowler. Mahela coaches him in the Hundred and he has managed to stay injury-free.”There were also deals late in the day for Sam Billings, who will make KKR his third IPL franchise, Chris Jordan, joining his fourth team in Chennai Super Kings, and David Willey, who went to Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final accelerated round. Howell, the Gloucestershire slower-ball specialist who is currently enjoying a productive season at the Bangladesh Premier League, won a GBP 39,000 payday with Punjab Kings.A number of high-profile English players – including Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes – had decided not to enter the mega-action, but there were still 24 potentially on the block. Adil Rashid, Reece Topley and Laurie Evans were among those unable to attract bids, while several other names didn’t make it out of the hat.England-qualified players at IPL 2022: Moeen Ali* (Chennai Super Kings), Jofra Archer (Mumbai Indians), Jonny Bairstow (Punjab Kings), Jos Buttler* (Rajasthan Royals), Sam Billings (Kolkata Knight Riders), Alex Hales (Kolkata Knight Riders), Benny Howell (Punjab Kings), Chris Jordan (Chennai Super Kings) Liam Livingstone (Punjab Kings), Tymal Mills (Mumbai Indians), Jason Roy (Gujarat Titans) David Willey (Royal Challengers Bangalore), Mark Wood (Lucknow Super Giants)*Retained previously
Newcastle United claimed a point against Manchester City over the weekend and the result should certainly give Eddie Howe a boost heading into the next few matches.
The Magpies take on AFC Wimbledon in the third round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday evening after the game was postponed last week due to a waterlogged pitch.
The game gives Howe an ideal chance to rotate his squad, giving a chance to a few young players in the starting XI, especially considering the City game was on Saturday afternoon.
Alexander Isak looks like he could still be missing for the game, however.
Alexander Isak's latest injury blow
The striker missed the Man City game due to a broken toe suffered against Wolverhampton Wanderers a few weeks ago. He played through the pain barrier against Fulham last weekend, but it looks like a couple of weeks’ rest could be the perfect remedy.
Now he is ruled out of the clash against AFC Wimbledon, while the Swede may also be out for the weekend tie against Everton, the last game before the international break.
The striker has scored once so far this season and against Man City over the weekend, Howe unleashed Anthony Gordon as a centre-forward to compensate for his injury.
Anthony Gordon’s game in numbers vs Man City
Due to Isak missing from the starting XI, Gordon was tasked with leading the line in Howe’s starting XI against City.
The tactical tweak certainly worked a treat as the Englishman delivered a solid performance, despite operating in a slightly uncomfortable position throughout the 90 minutes.
Goals
1
Key passes
2
Dribble attempts (successful)
1 (1)
Total duels (won)
11 (4)
Possession lost
9
Touches
34
Indeed, alongside his goal, Gordon also won the penalty, made two key passes and succeeded with 100% of his dribble attempts, while the player still managed to drift out wide on occasions, delivering four crosses, of which two were accurate.
He has certainly earned a rest, as Howe could call upon one of his summer signings to replace Gordon in the starting XI for the clash against AFC Wimbledon…
Gordon & Isak's replacement for the EFL Cup
Youngster William Osula joined the Magpies in the summer for a fee in the region of £15m as Howe aimed to add some depth to his attacking department.
For Sheffield United last term, the Dane scored three goals in 24 appearances. While hardly the most prolific of tallies, his potential is clearly promising, hence why Howe secured his signature in the transfer window.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
The 21-year-old usually operates as a striker, but he can also play out wide when required, which might prove to be a useful option for the Toon as the season progresses and injuries begin to pile up.
Despite starting just nine league games last term, Osula still created a big chance and averaged a shot per game, showing flashes of his talents, although the Blades eventually suffered relegation.
It was obvious that his talents would go to waste in the Championship, leading to Howe signing him before the start of the season.
His signing was praised by Scoutedftbl on X, who said: “Newcastle spending £15m on William Osula is a prime example of clubs valuing profile and potential more than anything: he’s not done much in senior football, but he’s big, fast, direct, and 21 years old. Coaches like that, and sporting directors love it.”
All he needs now is a chance to demonstrate his abilities. A clash against the League Two side on Tuesday evening represents an ideal opportunity for the youngster, not only to replace Gordon, but as a potential replacement for Isak over the next few matches.
Saved by Hall: Howe must immediately drop 6/10 Newcastle star
He didn’t offer much against Man City in the Premier League…
ByAngus Sinclair Sep 29, 2024
Wolves are among the teams considering a transfer swoop for a free agent defender, according to a new report. Picking up just one point from a possible 12 so far this season, the Old Gold are seeking reinforcements outside of the transfer window.
Wolves signed Dendoncker instead of elite PL star who's now worth £67m
They could have had a treble-winner in their side
ByJoe Nuttall Sep 17, 2024 Wolves star singled out for praise despite terrible start
Wolves looked set for their first win in the league on Sunday as they took the lead against Newcastle United, but unfortunately Gary O’Neil’s side were unable to hang onto the lead and see out the game.
Despite eventually losing 2-1, one Wolves player was on the receiving end of some big praise for his work in Mario Lemina’s goal. Joao Gomes won the ball back in the middle of the park and played the ball forward to Matheus Cunha, before producing a moment of magic in the box by letting the ball through his legs for Lemina to tap home.
The move and in particular the dummy from Gomes left Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson amazed, labelling the skill as “unbelievable” and even comparing Gomes to the great Lionel Messi.
But that goal wasn’t enough for Wolves to claim all three points, and with the wait for a win still on, it seems that O’Neil might be prepared to turn to the free agent market to bolster his squad further.
Wolves considering free transfer swoop for "fantastic" player
According to HITC, Wolves are among the clubs considering making a move to sign free agent Joel Matip. Matip has been without a club since the end of last season when he left Liverpool, and now the West Midlands side are looking into a possible deal.
However, they are not the only team interested in the defender, who was once labelled as being “fantastic” by Jamie Carragher. AFC Bournemouth and Fulham are in the mix, while he’s also held talks with French and German sides already too.
Matip turned 33 in August and did have some injury problems during his last campaign at Anfield, as he only played 14 times last season, but the defender brings a wealth of experience with him and could be a welcome addition for a team like Wolves who are fighting at the foot of the table at this present time.
Apps
201
Goals
11
Assists
6
Matip, who is valued at €8m, which is roughly £7m, would add competition to a defence that already consists of Toti, Santiago Bueno, Yerson Mosquera, Craig Dawson, and Bastien Meupiyou.
It is fair to say that Manchester United have been shambolic this season. Erik ten Hag’s side are struggling for any kind of good form this season, and are scratching around for points in the Premier League.
They currently sit 14th in the top flight with just eight points from seven games and only five goals in that time, the joint second-lowest in the league.
Unsurprisingly, this is their worst start to a season in the Premier League era. Ten Hag achieved the embarrassing feat for the second time in as many seasons, breaking his unwanted record of nine points from 2023/24.
It has been a disaster for the Dutchman so far, and the rumours of his potential sacking recently have begun to intensify. Sir Jim Ratcliffe is thought to be lining up a surprise replacement.
Man United’s shock manager target
With the speculation of a new boss at the helm at Old Trafford beginning to gain traction, they have been linked with a shock move for 32-year-old Elfsborg manager Oscar Hiljemark, who has impressed at the Swedish outfit.
This is according to reports in Sweden via Sports Witness, which suggest the Red Devils scouted an Elfsborg match recently, with both players and the head coach on the agenda for the trip.
The report states that Hiljemark is ‘likely to be on the radar of bigger sidesl across Europe, after success domestically and on the European stage. The 13-time Premier League champions were joined by scouts from fellow English top-flight sides Tottenham and Bournemouth.
Manager Focus
Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast's Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.
Who is Hiljemark
The 32-year-old former central midfielder is making waves across European football at the moment. His side, who are something of an unknown quantity, have proven to be extremely effective, and Hiljemark recently masterminded an impressive 1-0 Europa League victory over Italian giants AS Roma.
The Swede has an impressive record as a manager already. Despite the fact he has managed just 75 games so far, the former PSV Eindhoven and Palermo midfielder has already won 40 games, with a 53% win rate.
Games
75
Wins
40
Draws
19
Losses
16
Goals for
145
Goals against
89
Win percentage
53%
In recent times, he has favoured a back three formation, with a 3-4-3 system being his go-to system. However, the 32-year-old has shown plenty of tactical flexibility, deploying 4-3-3 systems in the early days of his managerial career.
This is similar to another supposed Red Devils managerial target, Thomas Tuchel. According to a recent report from Samuel Luckhurst of The Manchester Evening News, United bosses are ‘lining up’ a move for the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager.
Indeed, a back three is something the Red Devils’ faithful might need to become accustomed to. During his time at Chelsea, the German was notorious for playing a back three. He has also shown great tactical flexibility at other clubs, playing a 4-2-3-1 system at the Allianz Arena and a 4-3-3 during his time as Paris Saint-Germain boss.
There can also be a similarity drawn between Heljemark and esteemed Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard is now regarded as one of the best managers in the Premier League, but when he first moved to the Emirates Stadium, he was inexperienced and fairly young, just 37 years of age.
That is certainly similar to the Elfsborg boss. Although he has managed at the professional level, there is quite a difference in managing United, and he could certainly consider himself inexperienced in this sense, like Arteta, although for different reasons.
Arteta was a coach at an elite European club, and Heljemark is the manager of one of the best sides in Sweden, something quite incomparable to managing at Old Trafford. Similarities can also be drawn in their age, with the Gunners boss just five years older when he took the Arsenal job to the Swede now, aged 32.
With that being said, there is no reason to suggest that Heljemark does not have it in him to manage the Red Devils.
It has not exactly been a place where managers have succeeded since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club in 2013. Who knows, perhaps this inexperienced young manager from Sweden, with impressive tactical nous, could be the man to take United back to the top. It can’t go any worse than Ten Hag’s reign, can it?
Not just Evans: Man Utd star who won 100% duels just saved Ten Hag
Jonny Evans was a rock at the back for Manchester United.
1 ByMatt Dawson Oct 6, 2024
Stories of Arjuna, of Sanath, and of a third-world country recovering from war and trying to set its house in order
Rasitha Herath27-Aug-2014One of my earliest memories of cricket goes back to the year 1992. It was an Australia v Sri Lanka match played at the P Saravanamuttu Stadium in Colombo. Australia batted first and got around 250 in their 50 overs. The Sri Lankan openers that day were Roshan Mahanama and Hashan Tillakaratne. Both got out within the first few overs. Asanka Gurusinha at No. 3 made a painstakingly slow fifty. Aravinda de Silva came at No. 4 and smashed the Aussie attack that consisted of McDermott, Whitney, Dodemaide and Moody all over the park and made a run-a-ball hundred.But just when it seemed like Sri Lanka was going to steal an unexpected win, Aravinda got out. Australia saw the opportunity and clawed their way back in with a couple of quick wickets, leaving Sri Lanka needing about 30 to win in the last 3 overs. At the crease, Sri Lanka had Arjuna Ranatunga who had to shepherd the tail, and finish the game.***Finishing chases in the subcontinent is an art as much as it is a science. Spinners slowing it down, forcing the batsman to generate all the power, the ball gripping off the surface and turning square at times, the discoloured white ball, the heat, batting gloves drenched with sweat. In my mind, there have been three great ODI finishers in subcontinental conditions – Javed Miandad, Arjuna Ranatunga and MS Dhoni.All three have fascinating similarities. Stocky, portly even, in build, with tinges of gray in their hair in the latter stages of their careers, all three had a Don Draper like presence – confident but not self-absorbed. All three were respected in the Western cricketing fraternity but were not necessarily looked at as Spirit of Cricket material.All three had the ability hit the ball to unorthodox areas in the ground that were hard to protect.Miandad was one of the earliest proponents of the reverse sweep. Ranatunga had a trademark flick that would bisect the leg-side field with surgical precision. Dhoni has the helicopter shot that can send even the fullest balls into the stands.All three were perceptive runners, excellent judges of the quick single and seemed to always know of opposition fielders, their throwing arms, their aches and pains and the times when they were taking their afternoon siestas. And all three knew how to take it easy and conserve energy, when there was no incentive to hare off.Most importantly, all three had the ability to bring their A game under pressure.***Cricket is Sri Lanka’s biggest pastime, perhaps its only major one. Cricket is played in beaches, in alleys, in classrooms when teachers are late, and inside office lunch rooms. Cricket is played with tennis balls, leather balls, plastic balls that reverse swing, taped tennis balls, rubber balls and even pingpong balls. Softball bats are made from a wide variety of wood. In the Pita Kotte area where I grew up, a suburb of Colombo, there was a local (cricket club) where the bats were hand-crafted by the batsmen themselves. Some of the bats that were made would have left the engineers who work for big bat manufacturers in awe.***To me, the greatest thing that happened to Sri Lanka following the 1996 World Cup win was the transmission of cricket to villages. Before 1996, Sri Lankan teams were predominantly composed of players from bigger city schools. In the 1970s and 80s it was mostly the elite schools in Colombo such as Royal, St Thomas, St Peters, Amanda and Nalanda. The late 80s and early 90s heralded the emergence of cricketers such as Sanath Jayasuriya from Matara, Muttiah Muralitharan from Kandy and few others from Kurunegala and Galle.Still, talent from the rural areas had a mountainous task on its hands to make it in Colombo, in cricket and in life. To begin with, they had to get to Colombo. It is said that when Sanath Jayasuriya first came to Colombo to take part in a youth team audition, he had asked for a chance to bat early so that he could catch the last bus back to Matara. I remember the tour of the Under-19 Indian team led by Ajit Agarkar that played against Sri Lanka in 1996-97, and even then the Sri Lankan team consisted of players mainly from the bigger schools. There was Kumar Sangakkara from Trinity, Russell Hewage from St. Benedict’s, Hemantha Boteju from Thurstan, and Rangana Hearth from Maliyadewa. All these schools had the infrastructure and strong alumni support to run cricket programs. The vast majority of the Madhya Maha Vidyalayas (town based schools) from rural areas did not, even as late as 1996.***Not many are aware of the struggles Sanath Jayasuriya had to go through in his formative years before becoming a superstar•Getty ImagesJayasuriya was the first rural Sri Lankan player to make his mark as an international star. Lots of sports analysts think of Sanath as someone who possessed tremendous natural ability, which he did, but a lot of them forget his unwavering desire to succeed during his formative years. For five years, from 1989 to 1994, Sanath did for Sri Lankan Cricket what the Chandimals and the Thirimannes have been asked to do for the team now (and what the Mubaraks and Kapugedaras failed to do in their time). Sanath was prolific, having scored back-to-back 200s in the Sri Lanka B team tour of Pakistan in 1989, but had no choice but to bat at Nos. 7 and 8 due to the top-order slots already being occupied by heavyweights like Aravinda, Gurusinha and Ranatunga. Sanath would come in to bat in the last 3-4 overs and get out trying to clear the boundaries.He knew he had to build more muscle so he started working harder in the gym. He also knew that he had to add value by improving his left-arm spin and by being as asset in the field. I still remember the two brilliant catches he took against South Africa in the 1992 World Cup game.Sanath got his opportunity to bat up the order around 1994. He was given a few chances at No. 3 when Gurusinha was out of the side and he batted with gusto and flair. I remember him opening in a game against New Zealand and making 140 which was the highest ODI score by a Sri Lankan batsman at the time. He made the limited opportunities he got count, probably more so than anyone else in world cricket. The forearms were becoming bulkier and the self-doubts were slowly but surely being conquered.In 1996, when Phillip DeFreitas ran in to bowl in the World Cup quarter-final, Sanath Jayasuriya was ready. It was a classic case of preparation meeting opportunity.***Life in Sri Lanka in the 80s and 90s was complicated. There was a brutal war going on in the North. There was an insurgence of youth from 1987 to 1989 leaving many killed. There were riots in 1983. There were bombs in Colombo that went off near schools targeting children. There were terrorists, there were freedom fighters, there were rebels and it was all blurry. Blurry and tangled. Our survival was nothing short of miracle.The biggest difference between the first world and the third world is that in the first world you have a higher probability of achieving your potential. There is no guarantee but the probability is higher. Exponentially, in some cases.And in the end, whether a nation or an institution or sports team succeeds depends on how well it can capitalise on its human potential. The smaller the difference between potential and achieved potential is, the more successful your society, your organization, your team is going to be.When Kevin Pietersen faced rejection in South Africa, he had a way out – his British passport allowed him to move to England and to realize his potential. Manny Ramirez came from an impoverished background in Washington Heights, New York but was part of a system that was tolerant enough to see his potential and allow him to flourish. Diego Maradona was only eight years old when he was spotted by talent scouts while playing in the neighbourhood club Estrella Roja. Maradona was part of sub-system that was visionary enough to identify raw soccer talent very early on, even when the larger socio-political landscape was dysfunctional.Sri Lanka has come a long way since those dark days during the war but there are still miles to go in terms creating a system that identifies nurtures and unleashes the true potential of its citizenry, be it in sports, business or art.***I still vividly remember the way Arjuna went about his business that day at the P Sara. He was in his element, waiting to seize the right moment, like the great Ali against Foreman. The singles were walked briskly, energy getting conserved in the process, while the twos were run with more purpose. There were glides and dabs, and flicks and sweeps. There was finesse and force, and charm and cunning.And in the 48th over, Arjuna hit 20 runs off Craig McDermott. It was clean, precise, single-minded power-hitting. There was not a pinch of self-doubt. There were two sixes. McDermott did not know what had hit him. His system had not prepared him for this kind of assault.Arjuna had delivered the final blows. For a polarized nation finding its feet. For the bruised and battered. For their hopes and dreams. For the mothers of the disappeared. For the ones who could not flourish. For the resilient few who showed up every day amidst all the chaos. For the love of the game.If you have a submission for Inbox, send it to us here, with “Inbox” in the subject line
He has his sights on another pre-Ashes spell with Glamorgan if the schedule allows him
ESPNcricinfo staff06-Jun-2022Marnus Labuschagne will be aiming to copy Joe Root’s playbook in Sri Lanka as he prepares for what he expects will be his toughest challenge yet against spin.Labuschagne completed his latest county stint with Glamorgan on Sunday in an abandoned T20 clash against Surrey, but not before he had taken 2 for 27 from his four overs ahead of a tour were his legspin could be used more regularly by Aaron Finch and Pat Cummins.However, it will be with the bat where he will have his best chance to define games, especially the two Tests in Galle which conclude the tour.Related
Warning signs for Australia ahead of litmus test against spin in Galle
'Told him not to walk out into the ball' – the Warner advice that might have helped Finch
Tim David looms large in Australia's plans despite Sri Lanka absence
Mitchell Marsh's belief soars after career-shaping 12 months
Hazlewood comfortable in new avatar as full-time T20I bowler, part-time Test quick
Root had a phenomenal Test series in Sri Lanka in early 2021 where he made first-innings scores of 228 and 186 in Galle which followed a century in Pallekele on the previous tour.Labuschagne’s Test career started against Pakistan in the UAE in 2018 but his only other experience in Asia was the recent series in Pakistan. The home side’s spinners underwhelmed in those three matches where Labuschagne started with 90 in Rawalpindi before collecting first-innings ducks in the next two games.”For me, it’s my first real subcontinent challenge against spin, it’s about conquering that challenge,” Labuschagne told . “Joe Root played phenomenally over there, I’ve learned a lot from how he went about his game there.”As a team we want to be the best in the world, it doesn’t matter where you take us, we want to be winning games and I certainly think we can do that in Sri Lanka. I’ll have to get used to conditions, the heat and sweating it out, which is something we haven’t had the last few games [in the UK].”Although Labuschagne is now returning to Australia duty at the start of what will be a hectic period of national action he is keen for another pre-Ashes stint with Glamorgan next year.Labuschagne’s schedule is not as crammed as some of Australia’s three-format players as he is not yet a regular in the T20I side, but there are 11 Tests scheduled up to next March plus a lot of ODI cricket so he is aware he may need to manage his workload while his wife Rebekah is also expecting their first child later in the year.He has often credited his 2019 spell with Glamorgan as a key part of why he was able to have immediate success when parachuted into the side as Steven Smith’s concussion substitute at Lord’s.”There’s a lot of things in the mix, but I can’t see anything wrong with trying to copy the last time I played in the Ashes here, and play some county cricket with Glamorgan [going] into the Ashes next summer,” he said.”That’s our blueprint but we’ve got so much cricket this year, around 16 Tests and 18 one-day games, so we’re going to have to make sure I’m fit and healthy, and also get to spend time at home with my wife and child at some stage.”
Brighton and Hove Albion's Chairman Tony Bloom has revealed just why Roberto de Zerbi was surprisingly let go from his post at the end of last season, stemming from a fundamental disagreement between the Italian and the club that was present from day one.
Ahead of Brighton's clash with Manchester United on the final day of the 2023-24 Premier League season, the Seagulls announced that Italian coach Roberto De Zerbi would be leaving the club.
"We have mutually agreed to end Roberto’s contract at a time that suits both parties allowing us the earliest opportunity to plan for next season, and Roberto plenty of time to consider his next move and his future", Bloom explained.
It came as a major shock, with De Zerbi having been hailed by fellow managers and the media for his stint at the AMEX Stadium, and having been linked with a move to Chelsea, Manchester United, Barcelona and AC Milan, only for his release clause on the south coast to prove prohibitive.
|
Roberto De Zerbi's Premier League stint |
|
|
Games managed |
70 |
|
Wins |
26 |
|
Win % |
37% |
|
Points per game |
1.39 |
|
Goals scored per game |
1.66 |
He helped guide Brighton to their first ever taste of European football, but a tough season saw them slip to 11th as injuries and defensive woes crippled the Seagulls in the wake of the exits of Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister the previous summer.
Now at Marseille, the top level interest which promised to transpire never did, and now Bloom has revealed just why his sudden exit had to happen.
That comes thanks to a major disagreement over the transfer strategy that Brighton utilise, which often revolves around selling their best assets for a massive profit and replacing them with young, largely unknown talents based on data-driven recruitment, as they did when replacing Caicedo with youngster Carlos Baleba.
The transfer and scouting department have the major and final say on proceedings, something that De Zerbi was clearly not keen to buy into, judging by comments made by Bloom about his departure.
"Roberto had thoughts on certain players, but that is not the way we as a club work. The club will decide on the players potentially to bring into the club, in conjunction with the head coach", Bloom explained to The Athletic.
"It’s not a situation, the way we work, that the head coach says, ‘I like this player and that player’, and that’s what we do (in terms of signings). If a head coach has some ideas, that comes in as part of the process, but a head coach really liking a player has got to fit many characteristics, it has got to fit with the data analysis we do.
All 20 Premier League clubs' record signings
From Manchester City to Ipswich Town, here’s a look at each Premier League club’s most expensive signing.
By
Brogan Clasper
Sep 4, 2024
"When Roberto came in (After Graham Potter's departure in September 2022), we explained the process and the philosophy. If there is non-alignment between the head coach and the club, things are never going to work out long-term."
Clearly successful as a strategy to date, even the ability of De Zerbi in the dugout was not enough to convince Brighton to change their policies, and they will be hoping that in Fabian Hurzeler they have found a man who is just as tactically adept while also being happy to work with the players he is given.