Fans have criticised Everton's new stadium name, with one claiming "nobody will be calling it that".
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The MoU plans to achieve parity in various ways by October 1, 2027
ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jan-2024Cricket West Indies (CWI) and the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) have signed a “historic” four-year MoU to promote gender pay equity within West Indies cricket. A media release said that the MoU “outlines plans to achieve parity in international and regional match fees, international captain’s allowances, international team prize money and regional individual prize money for all West Indies cricketers by 1 October 2027.”The MoU aligns the performance grading criteria for international women’s and regional men’s contracts with the established standards for international men, ensuring a uniform evaluation process across domestic and international cricket from October 1, 2024. Calling it a “groundbreaking development,” the release further said CWI wishes to create a more equitable playing field and an environment where “talent is valued irrespective of gender”.The MoU is for the period between October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2027 and includes all agreements in respect of player remuneration, and updated terms and conditions across the West Indies system.Some of the important features agreed upon in the MoU are:
“This is a historic day for West Indies cricket,” Dr Kishore Shallow, president of CWI, said. “As we overhaul the compensation structures and align performance grading, we are taking a significant step towards creating a more inclusive and progressive cricket framework. This step reflects our unwavering commitment to gender equality and acknowledges the immense contributions of female players to West Indies cricket.”In the preceding year, we undertook substantial enhancements to our travel policy, mandating that the West Indies Senior Women’s team travel business-class on all extended international flights and are accommodated in single rooms during international assignments. This aligns seamlessly with the established policy for West Indies Senior Men’s tours. Today, with the signing of this MOU, we take another significant stride in narrowing the gender gap within our cricketing community.”The release further stated that the “MoU also introduces opportunities for compensation enhancement for both international and regional men, and new team and individual incentive bonuses for the top performers in the system. The top contract band values for men at international and regional level have also been increased, underscoring the commitment to fostering a culture of player growth, improvement and high performance.””Achieving gender parity and equity has always been a strategic objective of our players’ union, and we’ve certainly done so with our female members,” Wavell Hinds, president and CEO of WIPA said. “Without a doubt, this is a truly historic and exciting time for our membership as the MOU addresses most levels of our pay scale. As we operate within a very fluid cricketing landscape, we are duty bound to conscientiously reward our regional and international players within the constraints of CWI’s budget and agree on policies that will produce and promote world class performances.”
da winzada777： Arsenal’s Premier League tussle with rivals Chelsea certainly isn’t one that will live long in the memory, with Mikel Merino’s inventive, first-half header proving the difference in what was a tetchy affair at the Emirates.
da jogodeouro： That rather lifeless meeting pitted two injury-hit teams against each other, although it was arguably only the Gunners who looked intent on securing victory, with the visitors rather resigned to their fate.
The Blues were without Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson, among others, although the hosts were without the likes of Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz, as Merino maintained his role as a makeshift centre-forward.
To the Spaniard’s credit, he has taken to that role in respectable fashion of late having also scored against PSV Eindhoven, alongside his brace against Leicester City, with Enzo Maresca perhaps in need of his own novel solution in the absence of Jackson.
Mikel Arteta must then be delighted to have seen his experiment pay off, although fielding the former Real Sociedad man in that attacking berth will likely be a short-term venture. A new centre-forward is a must this summer…
The latest on Arsenal's search for a striker
Not since the summer of 2022 have the Gunners forked out for a new number nine, albeit with even Gabriel Jesus not exactly an orthodox striker, having largely featured on the flanks during his time at Manchester City.
Arsenal’s top PL scorer by season (since 2015)
Season
Player
PL goals
2024/25*
Kai Havertz
9
2023/24
Bukayo Saka
16
2022/23
Martin Odegaard & Gabriel Martinelli
15
2021/22
Bukayo Saka
11
2020/21
Alexandre Lacazette
13
2019/20
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
22
2018/19
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
22
2017/18
Alexandre Lacazette
14
2016/17
Alexis Sanchez
24
2015/16
Olivier Giroud
16
Stats via Transfermarkt
Havertz, meanwhile, was initially signed to replace Granitz Xhaka in a left-sided number eight berth, and while he has scored 29 goals since for the north London side, that desire for a more prolific attacking figurehead has not abated.
Indeed, as reported by Football Insider, Arsenal are believed to be interested in signing Inter sensation, Marcus Thuram, this summer, having moved ahead of title rivals Liverpool in pursuit of the Frenchman.
Transfer Focus
As per the report, the in-demand striker is believed to have a £71m release clause in his current contract which can be activated at the end of the season, albeit with the Serie A leaders currently trying to negotiate a new deal with the 27-year-old.
The Gunners would have to rival Chelsea and Liverpool for his signature, with the Reds seemingly viewing Thuram as a perfect replacement for Darwin Nunez, who could leave Anfield if a suitable offer arrives – according to the piece.
Whether Arteta and co can win that fight remains to be seen, although if the former Borussia Monchengladbach marksman does end up at the Emirates, he could represent the centre-forward solution that the club have been craving.
Arsenal could land the next Thierry Henry
Dipping into the Italian market has been a fruitful venture in the past for the Gunners, having notably plucked Patrick Vieira and Dennis Bergkamp from AC Milan and Inter, respectively, prior to the golden Arsene Wenger era.
That interest in recruiting from Serie A was also on show with the signing of the club’s all-time top scorer, Thierry Henry, with the legendary World Cup winner arriving from Juventus in 1999. The rest, as they say, is history.
While replicating the talents of arguably the Premier League’s greatest-ever player, as crowned by fans previously, is almost an impossible task, Thuram has shown qualities that parallel his compatriot.
The likeness between the pair was notably highlighted by Wenger, with the iconic Gunners boss stating in the past that one player who “reminds” him of Henry is Thuram, amid the striker’s fine form at Gladbach.
After scoring 44 goals in 134 games during his time with the Bundesliga side, the Parma-born forward has been a revelation since his free transfer switch to Milan in 2023, scoring 31 goals in 84 games for his current side, while registering 12 assists.
A player capable of operating through the middle or off the left, much like Henry, Thuram has scored 16 times in 38 games this season for Simone Inzaghi’s side, showcasing just why talent scout Jacek Kulig has described him as “an absolute beast” of a striker in the past.
With Thuram also interestingly noted as a statistically similar player to another leading Arsenal target, Alexander Isak, in relation to centre-forwards in Europe’s top five leagues, all the signs point to a summer move proving a successful one for the Gunners.
Having waited so long to get a new number nine in the door, there could be worse decisions than settling on Henry 2.0 – as long as Liverpool don’t get there first, that is.
Saved by Merino: Arteta must axe 5/10 Arsenal flop after Chelsea display
Not everyone in red and white starred for Arsenal against Chelsea.
ByMatt Dawson Mar 16, 2025
Liverpool have reportedly slapped a huge price tag on an out-of-favour player amid Premier League and Bundesliga interest.
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Liverpool man struggling for game timeLinked with summer transfer exitReds set huge asking price for defenderFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Daily Mail journalist Lewis Steele states that Liverpool will want around £50 million ($67.3m) for centre-back Jarell Quansah, despite his lack of game time this season. If he does go, though, a replacement will be needed.
Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Quansah made 25 appearances for Liverpool last season but just 13 of those were starts. He was behind captain Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate in the pecking order, and as a result, fellow journalist David Lynch believes the 23-year-old is a 'genuine candidate for a departure'. Lynch adds that Premier League and Bundesliga sides are keen on the defender but £50m does seem a lot.
DID YOU KNOW?
Liverpool academy product Quansah, whose Anfield contract runs until 2029 and there is an option to extend that a further year, made most of his starts (five) this season in the Reds' run to the Carabao Cup final – where they lost to Newcastle United.
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?
It remains to be seen if Quansah will still be at Liverpool next season, or if he will seek pastures new in a bid for more game time. For the time being, it seems he will be a back-up to Van Dijk and Konate.
نجح الهلال السعودي في تحقيق الفوز الأول له في بطولة دوري روشن للموسم الجديد 2025-2026، على نظيره الرياض بهدفين دون رد.
والتقى الهلال مع الرياض، على أرضية ملعب المملكة أرينا، وذلك ضمن مواجهات الجولة الأولى من بطولة دوري روشن السعودي.
وافتتح متعب الحربي التسجيل للهلال في الدقيقة 22 من عمر الشوط الأول بتصويبة صاروخية سكنت الشباك.
طالع أيضاً.. فيديو | بـ10 لاعبين.. عمرو السولية يقود سيراميكا كليوباترا لفوز صعب على المقاولون
وأضاف مالكوم الهدف الثاني في الدقيقة 45+3، من تصويبة قوية متقنة من على حدود منطقة الجزاء سكنت المرمى.
بتلك الفوز، حصد الهلال أول ثلاثة نقاط له في مشواره ببطولة الدوري السعودي محتلًا المركز الأول، بينما يتواجد الرياض بالمركز الأخير بدون نقاط. هدف الهلال الأول أمام الرياض في الدوري السعودي
الهدف الذي افتتح به متعب الحربي المواجهة بين الهلال والرياض. 🥅 pic.twitter.com/Ot8Zb5Wv2t — رياضة ثمانية (@thmanyahsports) August 29, 2025
هدف الهلال الثاني أمام الرياض في الدوري السعودي
هدف الهلال الثاني بقدم مالكوم، في الدقائق الأخيرة من شوط المباراة الأوّل. ⏳ pic.twitter.com/R4pUtoTNug — رياضة ثمانية (@thmanyahsports) August 29, 2025
da fazobetai： Manchester United have struggled in the transfer market as of late, overspending massively on players who ultimately haven’t been at the level required for the Premier League.
da brdice： Casemiro is one player that springs immediately to mind, costing a mammoth £70m from Spanish giants Real Madrid in the summer of 2022, with the Brazilian unable to provide the impact he would’ve wanted.
The 33-year-old has only started 13 league matches out of a possible 29, highlighting the lack of faith boss Ruben Amorim has in him to change the game in a positive manner.
His contract doesn’t expire until the summer of 2026, still having another year left until the hierarchy can move him on without having to pay out the rest of his deal – unless a side decides to purchase him this summer.
It’s safe to say the deal for the experienced talent has been a failure, with the manager needing to replicate similar deals in the future given the success of one signing.
Patrick Dorgu’s stats since joining United in January
Left-back Patrick Dorgu joined United in a £30m deal back in January, looking to finally end the torment endured in such a position over the last few years.
Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia have been the senior options in recent years, but both have massively struggled with injuries, restricting their first-team action at Old Trafford.
However, the Dane has wasted no time in impressing in the North West, winning 2.4 tackles per 90 along with 9.3 duels won across his first three Premier League outings.
The 20-year-old had also won an average of 4.1 fouls per 90, whilst also averaging 2.8 touches in the opposition area per game – having a real positive impact at both ends of the pitch.
Given his tender age, he’s only going to improve further, but despite his big-money move to Manchester, he’s still valued less than one other first-team member who’s thrived since Amorim’s appointment.
The United player who’s worth more than Dorgu
Since the arrival of the 40-year-old back in November, numerous players have staked their claim for a regular starting role, taking their performance levels up a notch under Amorim.
Bruno Fernandes has always been the most influential player in the current first-team, but the Portuguese international has excelled in recent outings, notching five goals and two assists in his last three outings for the Red Devils.
Winger Amad Diallo was another player who could be put into that category, nailing his starting place down in the first-team, before his recent ankle injury ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign.
The Ivorian has had to bide his time at United, being sent on multiple loan spells to the likes of Sunderland and Rangers, before having his opportunity to shine this season.
Amad, who’s previously been labelled “sensational” by journalist Daniel Hussey, has registered 11 combined goals and assists since the former Sporting CP boss took the reins, starring on the right-hand side of his 3-4-2-1 system.
Arguably his best moments of the season came against local rivals Manchester City, scoring the winning goal at the Etihad, whilst also netting a hat-trick over Southampton back in January.
Amad Diallo’s PL stats for Man Utd in 2024/25
Statistics (per 90)
Tally
Games played
22
Goals & assists
12
Pass accuracy
85%
Chances created
2.2
Successful dribbles
2.1
Shots taken
2.3
Tackles won
79%
Stats via FotMob
As a result of his consistent showings before his ankle issue, the 22-year-old has seen a sharp increase in his market value, now worth £33.5m according to Transfermarkt.
His subsequent value is higher than that of full-back Dorgu, who’s only valued at £21m just a couple of months after his own big-money move to the club.
It’s evident, given the performance levels and age of the aforementioned talents, that they will be the stars of United for many years to come, hopefully leading the side back to Premier League success.
If the club are to return to their previous heights, Amorim desperately needs to replicate such business and identify players like Dorgu and Amad to push the Red Devils back in the right direction.
Man Utd thought they had their new Beckham, but Ten Hag sold him for £9m
Manchester United certainly made a mistake selling a player who could’ve been their next David Beckham.
ByEthan Lamb Mar 21, 2025
Aston Villa secured passage to the FA Cup quarter-finals with a battling win over Championship strugglers Cardiff City on Friday night.
It wasn’t a vintage performance, but Unai Emery’s side were in control throughout and now step into the last eight of England’s top cup competition for the first time in a decade – and doesn’t Emery just love a knockout-style trophy.
The Bluebirds were resilient and thwarted Villa Park’s hosts before the interval, with Ollie Watkins and Marcus Rashford missing great chances to put Villa in front, but it was Marco Asensio once again who came up with the goods to avoid a cup upset and shift one step closer.
Aston Villa welcomed Asensio from Paris Saint-Germain in January, bringing him to England on loan until the end of the term.
After scoring twice during last weekend’s dramatic victory over Chelsea, the 29-year-old was benched at Selhurst Park as Villa were thrashed by Crystal Palace, but he proved his clinical worth once again in the FA Cup.
Sharp positioning and cutting finishing left the second-tier opponents unstuck, thwarting a determined defence and giving Emery something different in attack when Watkins doesn’t have his shooting boots laced.
|
Marco Asensio Performance vs Cardiff |
|
|---|---|
|
Match Stats |
# |
|
Minutes played |
82′ |
|
Goals |
2 |
|
Touches |
53 |
|
Shots (on target) |
4 (2) |
|
Accurate passes |
30/35 (86%) |
|
Key passes |
2 |
|
Dribbles |
1/2 |
|
Tackles |
1 |
|
Duels won |
3/6 |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
|
That’s four goals from six matches for the Spaniard, who’s proving to be a real asset as Aston Villa step into the business end of the season.
However, he wasn’t the only one to shine in the FA Cup, with a much younger teammate showing the signs of becoming a top player.
Dutch defender Lamare Bogarde has been at Aston Villa since joining the academy from Feyenoord in 2020, with his technical quality and strong defensive skills seeing him become an increasingly familiar face in Emery’s first team.
Cardiff were limited in their attacking play, but he was composed and cultured, very much settled among his more experienced teammates.
As per Sofascore, the 21-year-old was willing to get on the ball, taking 89 touches, winning three of four contested duels and making three clearances. He was crisp in possession too, completing 96% of his passes (79/82).
Birmingham Live’s John Townley was impressed by the young centre-half as he reprised his starting berth, handing him a 7/10 match rating and praising him for his partnership with Ezri Konsa, chasing back effectively when Cardiff attempted to play in behind the home side’s high line.
Konsa has risen from good to great over the past few years, regarded as a “Rolls-Royce” of a defender by former boss Dean Smith, but since becoming an enviable cog in a rounded and thriving team.
His versatility is one of the things that makes him so impressive, and Bogarde is demonstrating similar positionally flexible virtues, as you can see below.
|
Lamare Bogarde – Career Stats by Position |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Position |
Apps |
Goals |
Assists |
|
Defensive midfield |
44 |
4 |
5 |
|
Centre-back |
41 |
0 |
1 |
|
Central midfield |
18 |
0 |
3 |
|
Right-back |
6 |
0 |
0 |
|
Stats via Transfermarkt |
|||
In fact, Bogarde’s noteworthy ranking among the top 4% of positional peers for pass completion and the top 5% for tackles per 90, as per FBref, has seen him drawn as one of Konsa’s most comparable players right now, among those in Europe’s top five leagues.
According to Football Transfers, the 27-year-old Konsa is valued at £39m, a measure of his progress since signing from Brentford for £12m in 2019.
But in actuality, Aston Villa would be within their rights to field enquiries totalling much more.
In Bogarde, Emery may well have a new young prospect to fashion into a top-class star. He will face tougher tests over the coming months but has come up trumps in recent weeks to help combat injury issues and indeed keep the trophy dream alive.
During the heavy defeat at Selhurst Park, Bogarde still won five of eight duels on the evening, making four clearances and preventing the likes of Ismaila Sarr from dribbling past him even once.
There’s real potential with this one.
Aston Villa let their new Benteke leave for £0, now he's outscoring Rogers
Aston Villa’s former club-record signing, compared to Christian Benteke, has rediscovered his scoring form in the Turkish second-tier.
By
Ben Gray
Feb 28, 2025
أكد فيرمين لوبيز، نجم نادي برشلونة، أن زملائه في الفريق تمسكوا ببقائه مع الفريق وعدم رحيله خلال فترة الميركاتو الصيفي الذي انتهى للتو، موضحًا أنه يريد الاستمرار لسنوات عديدة مع البلوجرانا.
لوبيز ارتبط بالرحيل عن صفوف نادي برشلونة هذا الصيف، حيث قدم نادي تشيلسي عرضًا رسميًا لضم ابن الـ22 عامًا، لكن اللاعب استمر مع البرسا في نهاية المطاف.
اقرأ أيضًا .. فيرمين لوبيز يوضح سبب رفضه عرض تشيلسي المغري.. ويؤكد: أنا لاعب مهم في برشلونة
وقال لوبيز في مقابلة مع صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو”: ”تحدثتُ مع بعض زملائي قليلًا، لكن الفريق بأكمله كان داعمًا جدًا هذا الأسبوع، والجميع أراد استمراري أيضًا، أقدر دعم غرفة الملابس”.
وعن لاعبي برشلونة الذين أرادوا بقائه وتحدثوا معه أضاف: ”عدد كبير، لكن يمكنني أن أخبرك، تير شتيجن، على سبيل المثال، ومع رونالد أراوخو، وبيدري، مع عدد لا بأس به من اللاعبين، في الواقع، رافينها أيضًا تحدث معي”.
وعن مدرب برشلونة، هانز فليك وتأثيره عليه للاستمرار مع البلوجرانا، أوضح لوبيز: ”أنت تعلم أن المحادثات مع المدرب خاصة، نعم، أجريناها، كلانا يثق ببعضنا البعض، هو بي وأنا به، إذا كنا جميعًا متحدين هذا العام، يمكننا أن نقدم موسمًا جيدًا أيضًا”.
واستمر لوبيز في حديثه عن فليك وتأثيره عليه للاستمرار مع برشلونة حيث أردف: ”لأنه المدرب، وهو يظهر لك الثقة ويشعرك بأهميتك، حسنًا، تشعر بمزيد من الحب والثقة بالبقاء، ما تحدثنا عنه هو التمسك بالفريق لمواصلة نفس النهج الذي اتبعناه العام الماضي والفوز بالألقاب مع النادي”.
وعن تمسك نادي برشلونة بخدماته قال لوبيز: ”من المهم أن يعتبرك النادي لاعبًا مهمًا للنادي وللمستقبل، هذا أيضًا موضع تقدير”.
وأشار لوبيز إلى أنه يرى نفسه لاعبًا في برشلونة لسنوات عديدة، حيث أضاف: ”لا أحد يعلم ما يخبئه المستقبل، هناك أمور لا يمكنك التحكم فيها، ولكن نعم، نعم، أرى نفسي أُفي بوعدي، وآمل أن أقضي سنوات عديدة هنا في برشلونة”.
وأوضح: ”أريد تقديم 200% من مستواي مع برشلونة، منذ أن وصلت في الثانية عشرة من عمري، لطالما كنت ملتزمًا بهذا النادي، كان حلمي؛ لقد عملت بجد لأكون هنا، وهذا العام جميعنا هنا، نبذل قصارى جهدنا، كما أخبرتكم، لنسعد جماهير فريقنا”.
وعن عدم مشاركته خلال مواجهة برشلونة وليفانتي في الدوري الإسباني، أردف: ”هذا هو برشلونة، المنافسة دائمًا قائمة، أي زميل يمكنه اللعب لأننا جميعًا جيدون جدًا، في النهاية، القرار يعود للمدرب، لن تقدم كل ما لديك في مباراة واحدة”.
وعن المنافسة على مكان أساسي في تشكيلة برشلونة هذا الموسم مع وجود العديد من اللاعبين في مركز الجناح الأيسر وصانع الألعاب تابع لوبيز: ”سيظل هناك دائمًا لاعبون رائعون في برشلونة، وستكون هناك دائمًا تعاقدات ومنافسة، لكنني واثق من قدراتي. سأحاول مساعدة الفريق عندما يحتاجني المدرب، وسأواصل العمل بتواضع كعادتي”.
وعن مركزه المفضل مع برشلونة قال فيرمين: ”لطالما قلت أينما يضعني المدرب سوف ألعب، لكنني أفضل اللعب كلاعب خط وسط مهاجم”.
وأضاف لوبيز عن انتقاد فليك للاعبي برشلونة بعد التعادل ضد رايو فاليكانو في الليجا: ”تعادلنا مع رايو فاليكانو، ولم تكن مباراة جيدة لنا، على المدرب أن يضغط علينا، إنه متطلب للغاية، ونحن كذلك، إذا حافظنا على وحدتنا، وهو أمر أساسي العام الماضي، وحافظنا على تواضعنا، يمكننا تحقيق أشياء عظيمة”.
وأوضح: ”كل منا يعرف ما يجب عليه فعله، أؤكد على ما كنت أقوله، حافظوا على وحدتكم، وفكروا دائمًا في مصلحة الفريق، وأنا متأكد من أن الأمور ستسير على ما يرام”.
وعن طموحاته مع برشلونة هذا الموسم أردف لوبيز: ”كل شيء، في العام الماضي، فزنا بالعديد من الألقاب، وبقي أمامنا لقب دوري أبطال أوروبا، وهذا العام نسعى لتحقيقه بنفس الهدف، وبنفس التواضع، وقبل كل شيء، بجهد كبير”.
وعن كأس العالم العام المقبل وتواجده مع منتخب إسبانيا تابع: ”آمل أن أكون هناك، لكن الأهم هو تقديم أداء جيد في النادي، وتقديم موسم جيد، إذا قرر المدرب ذلك، فسأحاول المساعدة”.
وواصل: ”أنا ممتن لوجودي في المنتخب الوطني، أحب المجيء إلى هنا وأن يزرع المدرب هذه الثقة في، علي أن أبذل قصارى جهدي في الملعب، سواءً في النادي أو هنا، حتى يستمروا في ثقتهم بي”.
وقال عن مواجهتي إسبانيا أمام بلغاريا وتركيا في تصفيات كأس العالم خلال فترة التوقف الدولي الجاري: ”نعم، هما مباراتان مهمتان، ومبارياتنا خارج أرضنا أكثر تعقيدًا، سنحاول السير على نفس النهج والالتزام بخطتنا للفوز”.
وعن المنافسة على مركز أساسي في منتخب إسبانيا اختتم لوبيز حديثه: ”كما هو الحال في برشلونة، الأمر نفسه: أفضل لاعبي إسبانيا ينضمون إلى المنتخب الوطني، من الصعب دائمًا الحصول على وقت للعب، لكنني هنا للمساعدة عندما يحتاج المدرب ذلك، أتدرب بجد وأعمل بجد للحصول على الفرص”.
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.