James Anderson's 600: 'This milestone is just greatness'

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Cricketers around the world congratulated James Anderson on becoming the first fast bowler to 600 Test wickets

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Aug-2020Pacers sang praise.

Slow and steady gets the milestone?

Anil Kumble welcomes Anderson to the 600 club.

Former batsmen spoke of Anderson’s longevity and perseverance. He’s bowled the most among pace bowlers in Test cricket.

Words of appreciation from current opposition batsmen followed.

A true ambassador of the game.

Berta signing is in danger of becoming Arsenal’s biggest flop since Pepe

by rastrear-estafeta.com Uncategorized

While the defeat to Aston Villa has taken the wind out of their sails somewhat, Arsenal are still having an excellent season.

Mikel Arteta’s side are top of the Champions League table, having won five of five, and still sit two points clear atop the Premier League table.

However, while most of the team are playing at the level expected, a few stars aren’t quite where the manager would want them to be.

This latter camp includes one of Arteta’s most significant signings, who, if he doesn’t start improving, could become Arsenal’s new Nicolas Pepe.

What went wrong for Nicolas Pepe at Arsenal

In the summer of 2019, after Unai Emery’s first season in the dugout, Arsenal decided to go big in the transfer market, spending what was then a club record fee of around £72m to sign Pepe.

While the figure did raise a few eyebrows at the time, it wasn’t considered too outlandish as, in 41 appearances in the 17/18 season, the winger racked up a sensational haul of 23 goals and 12 assists.

Unfortunately, the Emirates faithful would never see the talented international reach that level during his time in North London.

In his first campaign in England, the former LOSC Lille star managed a reasonable, if a little underwhelming tally of eight goals and ten assists in 42 appearances.

However, as it was his first season in a new league, and he produced a goal involvement in the quarter-final, semi-final and final of the FA Cup, fans gave him some leeway.

Unfortunately, he also failed to hit the heady height of his Lille numbers the following season, ending it with a tally of 16 goals and five assists in 47 games, with ten of those goal involvements coming in the Europa League.

The 21/22 campaign would prove to be his last in red and white as Bukayo Saka was now well and truly Arteta’s first-choice right winger.

The 30-year-old spent the next two years on loan, first with Nice in France, and then with Turkish outfit Trabzonspor.

Arsenal finally agreed to terminate Pepe’s contract in the summer of 2024, and the player who was supposed to be the club’s superstar attacker left with a middling tally of 27 goals and 21 assists in 112 appearances.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Since then, the Gunners have been a bit better at spending money, but there is one of Arteta’s signings who could end up following the Ivorian’s path, lest he improve, and quickly.

Arsenal's new Nicolas Pepe

Now, it’s still early in the season, so making any concrete predictions about Arsenal’s summer signings would be unwise.

However, as things stand, the attacker who has somewhat underwhelmed since his big-money move, and could go down a similar route to Pepe, is Viktor Gyokeres.

Like the Ivorian, the Swedish international joined the Gunners for a fairly sizable fee off the back of a truly sensational season in a weaker league.

For example, the “absolute steam train,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, scored 54 goals and provided 13 assists in just 52 appearances.

Moreover, while nobody expected him to recreate those numbers in England, fans would have expected more than what he has delivered thus far.

For example, even though he hasn’t been a total flop like some other striker signings this season, the 27-year-old’s return of just six goals in 17 appearances is underwhelming.

Furthermore, all four of his Premier League goals have come against relegation candidates, and in games against the big sides earlier in the season, he looked somewhat out of his depth. As Gary Neville said earlier this term, he’s a bit of a “misfit.”

Appearances

52

17

Minutes

4248′

1130′

Goals

54

6

Assists

13

0

Finally, with Mikel Merino contributing up top, Gabriel Jesus back in matchday squads and reports that Kai Havertz is set to come right back in as Arteta’s first choice before Christmas, it’s not difficult to see a world in which the Stockholm-born powerhouse becomes a rotation option.

That was evident against Aston Villa. Arteta relied on the Swede to make a difference, bring him on at half-time for Merino. Yet, in his 45 minutes on the field, the centre-forward only had 11 touches of the ball and completed just four passes. He didn’t even have a single shot.

With all that said, there is still plenty of time for the former Coventry City star to come good, especially if he starts the next two games against Club Brugge and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Ultimately, the next six months will be vital in determining whether Gyokeres becomes Arsenal’s next superstar striker or their next Nicolas Pepe.

Their new Ozil: Arsenal ramp up move to sign £88m "generational talent"

The incredible talent could be a real game-changer for Arsenal and become Arteta’s own Mesut Ozil.

2 ByJack Salveson Holmes 2 days ago

Mousley dares to be different as fast offspin helps him to highest level

by csb10.top Uncategorized

When Dan Mousley walked out to bat on his ODI debut in Antigua, he was playing his first List A match in three years.And one million pounds to whoever in the audience knows which team his previous game was for. Because it was obviously, clearly, never-in-doubtedly for Burgher Recreation Club against Nugegoda Sports and Welfare in Sri Lanka’s 2021 domestic competition .A series of broken fingers meant he had been short of cricket, so a 20-year-old Mousley approached a coach at the Warwickshire Academy with connections to Sri Lanka and asked if he could get a game. A few weeks later he was off to Colombo.Mousley has never been one to do things the usual way. A point he is now proving with his one-of-a-kind “offspin”.Related

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Bowling 116kph/72mph yorkers off three steps, his first international wicket was secured with his signature move. Right-arm, round the wicket, fast, straight, out. Rovman Powell the victim.No one in the world bowls like Mousley does. According to CricViz, he is the fastest spin bowler since ball tracking records began in 2006. And by miles.The second fastest spinner on record, Manimaran Siddharth, averages 99kph/61.5mph. Mousley averages 109kph/68mph. The fastest he has been clocked is 132kph/82mph during the Hundred, but even he accepts that may be a juiced reading.”We’ll take it anyway,” he jokes.His speed has always been part of his style. But compared to when he was younger and encouraged to slow down, now he is being encouraged to lean into it.”I don’t know where he’s got it from,” England captain Jos Buttler said of Mousley, who was entrusted with the final over of West Indies’ innings on Sunday. “As a captain, it’s unique. Everyone will see him now and so they’ll come up with plans. But his character is one of his biggest attributes and to deliver a bit of unique skill and give us a point of difference is fantastic.”While Mousley is new to the international scene, he wouldn’t have been to Powell. Mousley’s fast spin/seamers first rose to national attention during the Hundred when he delivered a triple-wicket final set of ten to snatch victory for Birmingham Phoenix against Trent Rockets. In the Rockets team that day was Powell himself.Mousley will be a fascinating case study of whether this is the future appearing in front of our eyes, or a fad that’ll soon be understood by batters and launched into orbit.With T20 scores always on the up, some commentators, including Sourav Ganguly, have called upon bowlers to step-up and up-skill. New challenges have to be presented to players and Mousley is presenting one.If you wanted to be cruel, you could make the case that Mousley’s bowling is, by traditional aesthetics, bad. In the warm-ups, when other spinners are hammering the tea towel that’s been draped on a length, he is spraying it at pace in various different directions. There is no spin on the ball as it is released, instead he has flipped his fingers round and bowled what’s pretty much a standard seamer.But, as former England offspinner Gareth Batty once told ESPNcricinfo, there is “no place for your traditional ball in T20 cricket”.”Any player that is not trying to get better and diversify is a sitting duck,” he added.Mousley is not a one-trick pony either, with eight first-class wickets at an average of 38.37, he is capable of bowling in a traditional manner with a traditional skillset. But if you’re bowling to Andre Russell and Nicholas Pooran, pretty offies aren’t going to get you very far.In short, rather than attempting to always bowl wicket-taking deliveries, he is trying to bowl the ball that is hardest to hit for six.”I’m just trying to use the conditions,” says Mousley, who has played the majority of his T20 cricket at Edgbaston, which often has one long side and one short. “I know I bowl a lot of yorkers, but I try and use the dimensions and try to use the wind as much as I can.”Batters are honed on a lifetime of responding to certain cues. It is why left-handed bowlers feel faster than right-handed bowlers because batters don’t have the same level of muscle memory hard-wired into their body. And it’s this lack of familiarity which Mousley feeds off. Stick the ball in his hand and give him a ten yard run-up and he’s a 70mph seamer who’d go the distance. But off three paces and from round the wicket? No-one has seen that before. Batters are concert pianists that have been trained within an inch of their life; Mousley is asking them to play jazz.”It started off because people say offspinners can’t bowl at right-handers,” Mousley says.”But I don’t believe in that, I made it clear at Warwickshire I didn’t believe in that and then ended up getting a bit of confidence. It went from there. It’s a different skill, it’s probably not traditional offspin but it’s one of those things which I’ve just learnt to bring into my favour. It’s okay to be different as a bowler.”And if there’s one thing Mousley’s bowling is, it’s exactly that.

West Ham explore January deal for “unbelievable” striker who wants PL move

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

West Ham United are keen on a January swoop for an “unbelievable” striker, who now wants a move to the Premier League.

West Ham looking to provide Jarrod Bowen with support in attack

West Ham have become more difficult to beat since the arrival of Nuno, having lost just one of their last six Premier League games, but they will be disappointed they were unable to hold on against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.

The Hammers were in the lead until stoppage time, before Georginio Rutter netted a controversial late equaliser, which Nuno believes should’ve been ruled out, saying: “It was a handball, wasn’t it, and a high foot. No need to speak with the referee. I think it was the main factor.”

Picking up three points against an in-form Brighton side would’ve been an impressive result, but it wasn’t to be, despite Jarrod Bowen putting in an impressive performance, netting his fourth Premier League goal of the season after starting in a central role.

Callum Wilson came off the bench to assist Bowen’s goal, with the former Newcastle United man now up to five goal contributions this season, but with his contract due to expire in the summer, the Irons are looking to provide their captain with some additional support in attack.

That is according to a report from Hammers News, which has provided a new update on West Ham’s Ivan Toney pursuit, stating Nuno’s side are keen on signing the striker in the January transfer window.

The Hammers have already explored a deal for Toney, having been impressed by his performances in England for Brentford, and the centre-forward now wants to make a return to the Premier League ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

However, it is unlikely the east Londoners will be able to get a deal over the line, given the Al-Ahli star’s huge wage demands, which could be a major obstacle.

West Ham now lining up concrete January move for £80k-a-week Chelsea player

The Hammers are looking to sign a “leader” in the upcoming transfer window.

ByDominic Lund 4 days ago "Unbelievable" Toney could help fire West Ham to safety

Despite West Ham being difficult to beat in recent weeks, they are still in real trouble, currently sitting two points from safety and inside the relegation zone.

The former Brentford striker has proven he has what it takes to help fire the Hammers to safety, maintaining a fantastic attacking record across his three seasons in the Premier League with the Bees.

Season

Premier League appearances

Goal contributions

2021-22

33

17

2022-23

33

24

2023-24

17

6

Former manager Thomas Frank also waxed lyrical about the Englishman upon his departure, saying: “It’s been a pleasure to work with Ivan over the last four years. He has averaged more than one goal every two games, which is an unbelievable number.”

With West Ham at real risk of relegation, they definitely need to make some new additions in the January window, and Toney is exactly the calibre of signing they should be looking to make.

Wayne Rooney gets into the podcast game! Man Utd and England legend announces new venture as pundit appears to move on from managerial ambitions

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney appears to have put his managerial ambitions on hold after announcing a new podcast.

Rooney puts management on back burnerMan Utd icon back in punditryEx-England man launches new podcastFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The 39-year-old has been back in punditry after being sacked by Plymouth Argyle late last year. And this week, the former England international and his wife, Coleen, celebrated the launch of his new podcast, 'The Wayne Rooney Show', at a special BBC event. 

AdvertisementGetty Images EntertainmentWHAT ROONEY SAID

He wrote on Instagram: "Great event last night celebrating the start of a new football season with @bbcsport and the launch of my new podcast, The Wayne Rooney Show! Episode 1 is out now, available on @bbciplayer, @bbcsport YouTube, and @bbcsounds."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The former Everton man is taking a break from management after two disastrous spells at Plymouth and Birmingham City. The ex-striker has proven that not all great players make great managers, and now Rooney is deciding to go down the punditry route for the foreseeable future. 

Getty Images/GOALWHAT NEXT?

After hitting back at minority Birmingham owner Tom Brady in the first episode of his new show, following the NFL icon's critique of his "work ethic" at the West Midlands club, more fireworks could happen in Rooney's podcast next week.

Stansfield 2.0: Birmingham City keen on signing "dynamite" £10m forward

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Birmingham City were an absolute joy to behold at the very top of League One last season.

Chris Davies’ rampant Blues would only lose three of their 46 league fixtures, leading to a colossal 111-point total being reached, with standout figures such as Jay Stansfield very much raising the excitement levels with a bumper 19 strikes tallied up in third-tier action.

Come the end of their very enjoyable League One marathon, Birmingham would go on to accumulate a mightily impressive 84 goals.

They won’t be receding into their shell when heading back up to the Championship, with plenty of fresh strikers now being linked to make the switch to St. Andrew’s to boost their already frightening firepower, which includes a promising Premier League-bound talent.

Birmingham monitoring situation of £10m striker

According to a report from GIVEMESPORT, the super-confident Blues are now monitoring the situation of Leeds United striker Mateo Joseph.

GIVEMESPORT states that Birmingham have been interested in the Spanish hotshot for some time now, with Davies’ men potentially seeing this opening in the summer transfer window as the perfect opportunity to strike up a deal.

RC Strasbourg are also noted as an interested party- on top of a January £10m bid from Real Betis being mentioned – but Birmingham have successfully flexed their muscles recently to win a similarly expensive striker from a Premier League side.

Of course, Stansfield cost £15m to pick up from Marco Silva’s Fulham last summer, with everyone at St. Andrew’s hopeful that Joseph can go down as an unbelievable success story much like the former Cottagers forward.

How Joseph can be Stansfield 2.0

It was somewhat of a gamble to fork out £15m for Stansfield’s services, considering the electric number 28 only had 21 strikes next to his name in senior action in the EFL before confirming a permanent Birmingham stay.

Now, that lavish fee doesn’t look too steep, with Stansfield an integral part of the Blues’ promotion story.

When moving up a division, Birmingham will be keeping their fingers crossed that Joseph can play an equal starring role, but this time around he could be the exact figure they desire in helping Davies’ men consolidate themselves as a Championship-worthy outfit.

After all, despite fading into the background at times last season under Daniel Farke’s wing, Joseph would still chip in with three goals and three assists in league action. This is a more than respectable return when you weigh up the fact that the 21-year-old only started 11 Championship contests.

With Leeds now in the big time, Joseph will be worrying that his first-team opportunities will become even more sparse. Therefore, a move to St. Andrew’s could be just what the Spain U21 international needs to kick on as he aims to follow in the footsteps of Stansfield, a fellow young striker who was also on the periphery of his then employers, Fulham, before finally becoming a main striker option in the West Midlands.

Joseph’s G/A numbers for Leeds/Spain

Club played for

Games

Goals

Assists

Leeds

73

6

3

Leeds U21s

33

19

3

Leeds U18s

4

1

1

Spain U21s

11

8

0

Sourced by Transfermarkt

That was the case even as Stansfield scored a blistering 38 goals for both the Fulham U18s and U21s combined, with Joseph not that far behind on a healthy total of 20 on the youth pitches at Thorp Arch, away from also hammering home six strikes in the senior ranks.

Staggeringly, Stansfield would only ever reach two senior goals at Craven Cottage, but all of that is firmly at the back of his mind now as Birmingham’s leading star.

The “dynamite” Leeds forward – as he was once glowingly labelled by U23 scout Antonio Mango – will want to be held in the same high esteem soon, rather than fighting it out for scraps at Elland Road.

Therefore, another statement striker deal could soon be on the cards at St. Andrew’s, as Joseph possibly joins and fires in the goals to make Birmingham’s transition to Championship life as smooth as possible.

Birmingham City want to beat EFL rivals to sign Klarer 2.0 this summer

Birmingham City could land their next Christoph Klarer by signing this gem from Germany.

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Kelan Sarson

Jun 18, 2025

Personal terms agreed: Newcastle trump Chelsea as £60m star accepts salary

by z3u9t.icu Uncategorized

Newcastle United have now moved ahead of Chelsea in the race to sign a £60 million star with a bid now being prepared and salary terms already agreed, according to a recent report.

Rashford among Newcastle targets as Howe seeks new forwards

The Magpies have added just one new player to their squad so far this summer, and that is winger Antonio Cordero, who joins the club on a free transfer at the start of July following the expiration of his contract at Malaga. Cordero is not expected to be the only arrival at St James’ Park, as the Magpies continue to be linked with several high-profile players.

Big upgrade on Burn: Newcastle open talks to sign "outstanding" £60m star

Newcastle are looking to overhaul their defence

2 ByJoe Nuttall Jun 19, 2025

It was reported earlier this week that Newcastle made contact over signing defender Evan Ndicka from AS Roma. Newcastle are in the market for a new central defender, as they’ve been heavily linked with a move for Marc Guehi, but Ndicka is another option who could come at a cheaper price.

Meanwhile, they are also in the market for attacking reinforcements, and they have held internal talks over signing Mohammed Kudus from West Ham, as the forward is free to leave the Premier League side.

In fresh news, Newcastle are now also interested in signing Marcus Rashford on a season-long loan deal.

Aston Villa – Marcus Rashford

The Englishman’s future at Old Trafford looks to be coming to an end but he has yet to receive any concrete offers to leave United. The Magpies are now weighing up making a loan bid, as they can offer Rashford Champions League football, but the Red Devils are more interested in selling Rashford this summer than loaning him out again.

Newcastle move ahead of Chelsea in Joao Pedro race

As such, a permanent move for Rashford may not be on the cards for the Magpies, as according to Brazilian outlet UOL Esporte, Newcastle are now preparing a bid to sign Joao Pedro from Brighton & Hove Albion.

Brighton forward Joao Pedro

The report states that the Magpies have moved ahead of Premier League rivals Chelsea in the race to sign Pedro, as they have already agreed personal terms with the forward. However, Chelsea’s interest in Pedro has reportedly ‘shaken’ the player, and now both clubs are preparing to make an official offer.

It isn’t clear how much Newcastle would be willing to spend on Pedro, but it’s been previously reported that Brighton value the forward at around £60 million. The 23-year-old scored 10 goals in 27 league games during the 2024/25 season, but a falling out at the club means he is now likely to leave during this summer transfer window.

Apps

70

Goals

30

Assists

10

Newcastle chasing Pedro may be seen as them looking to replace Alexander Isak, but Pedro being able to operate anywhere across the frontline as, well as a number 10, makes him a player who could be a perfect partner for the Swede.

The Brazilian has had back-to-back impressive campaigns in the Premier League now, and a move to Newcastle could accelerate his career further, as he will be able to play on the biggest stage of them all, the Champions League.

ييس توروب بعد التعادل مع المصري: الأهلي يعاني من أزمة نحاول علاجها

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

تحدث الدنماركي ييس توروب، المدير الفني للنادي الأهلي، عن تعادل الفريق أمام المصري، في المباراة التي أقيمت بينهما اليوم الأحد، ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

وتعادل النادي الأهلي مع المصري، سلبيًا، في إطار مواجهات الجولة 13 من عمر مباريات بطولة الدوري المصري.

وقال توروب خلال تصريحات في المؤتمر الصحفي بعد المباراة: “في كرة القدم أهم شيء تسجيل الأهداف وهو ما لم نفعله أمام المصري،أتحمل المسؤولية عن ذلك”.

وأضاف: “خلقنا 5 فرص محققة خلال اللقاء، ولكن الأهداف هي الأهم في كرة القدم، للمباراة الثانية نخلق فرصًا عديدة ولا نستطيع تحويلها إلى أهداف”.

طالع.. فيديو | زيزو يهدر ركلة جزاء والأهلي يواصل نزيف النقاط بتعادل محبط مع المصري في الدوري

وتابع: “كمدير فني، دوري هو إخراج أفضل ما لدى اللاعبين ووصولنا إلى المرمى يعني جودة اللاعبين ولكن هناك أزمة ثقة بالنفس سوف نعمل على علاجها”.

وعن إهدار زيزو ركلة الجزاء، قال: “أحمد سيد زيزو لاعب جيد وقدم المطلوب منه خلال اللقاء، ولكن كان هناك عدم توفيق”.

وأتم: “الفريق يتحسن وينقصنا ترجمة الفرص إلى أهداف، وسنحاول علاجها في المباريات القادمة”.

وبعد تعادل الأهلي اليوم أمام المصري، يحتل المارد الأحمر المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري، برصيد 23 نقطة، من 12 مباراة.

Tombense x Vila Nova: onde assistir ao vivo e horário do jogo pela Série B

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

MatériaMais Notícias

da fezbet： Quinta-feira (19) tem Tombense e Vila Nova em jogo importantíssimo para as equipes. A partida é válida pela 33ª rodada do Brasileirão Série B. A partida está marcada para às 19h (de Brasília), no Almeidão.

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da apostaganha： Com 28 pontos, a Tombense é a 18ª colocada na tabela de classificação da Série B, tendo empatado com o Juventude na última rodada. A equipe mineira pode se colocar mais perto de sair da zona de rebaixamento em caso de vitória sobre o Vila Nova, que briga pelo G4.

+A sua carreira no futebol pode começar hoje. Garanta a sua vaga no curso Gestor de Futebol e capacite-se!

+ Athletico-PR consegue virada no fim e vence o Grêmio fora de casa pelo Brasileirão

Querendo se aproximar do quatro primeiros, o Vila Nova tem 51 pontos, e está a cinco pontos do Juventude, último time dentro do G4. Nesta quinta, o Tigre quer ter a chance de encostar de vez nos gaúchos e acirrar a reta final. Na última partida, o Vila venceu o Botafogo-SP por 3 a 1.

TOMBENSE X VILA NOVA
33ª RODADA DO CAMPEONATO BRASILEIRO DA SÉRIE B

Data: 19 de outubro de 2023.
Horário: 19h (de Brasília).
Local: Estádio Almeidão, em Tombos, Minas Gerais
Árbitro: Maguielson Lima Barbosa (DF)
Assistentes: Lucas Torquato Guerra (DF) e Luis Filipe Gonçalves Correa (PB)
VAR: Philip Georg Bennett (RJ)
Onde assistir: SporTV e Premiere

Where does Joe Root rank among England's greatest batters?

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

He’s up there with the likes of Hutton, May, Gooch and Cook. Like his team-mates seem to think, might he be the greatest of them all?

Mark Nicholas07-Jun-2022These past four days the United Kingdom has celebrated the 70-year reign of Her Majesty the Queen with gusto. There have been numerous parties in her name since she ascended to the throne in the cold February of 1952, but this platinum jubilee has been the mother and father of them all. Happily, yesterday’s finale coincided with England’s thrilling Test match victory at Lord’s. It had not been 70 years since England last won but it felt a bit like it – a long ten months let’s say.In the summer of 1952, England played four Test matches against India, winning the first three comprehensively and watching the rain fall for much of the fourth. At the top of the batting order was Len Hutton and at three, four and five in the first two matches were Peter May, Denis Compton and Tom Graveney, each of them wizards in their way. Hutton was technically close to perfect and, typically of Yorkshiremen, resilient. Bowlers used to say that they felt any ball bowled to May could have been hit for four; the only other batter I’ve heard that said of was Viv Richards. Compton had hints of genius in him, created by quicksilver feet, an eager eye, and the most splendid expression. Graveney was elegant beyong imagination and blessed with extraordinary powers of concentration. These were wonderful batters during something of a golden age for English cricket, and the legend of each lives on in the hearts of those for whom cricket is so much more than just a game.None of them, however, were better than Joe Root. The current players like to refer to Root as the best English batter of all time. I don’t know about that, and nor, really, do the players, but they are hugely proud of him. Root is a man of great dignity and no little modesty. He would rather they didn’t fuss but, then again, it is a fine thing to be so appreciated by your peers.Related

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'England's most complete all-round batter of all time'

Batting is a craft that has evolved over a couple of centuries. Film of WG Grace in the nets does not tell us much, other than how different the game was back then. The same can be said about grainy footage of Jack Hobbs, though 197 hundreds must count for something. Photographs at the MCG of Walter Hammond and Bill Ponsford remind us that many of the pitches of the day were barely identifiable from the outfields and therefore the balance between bat and ball was far less weighted in favour of batters than it is today. In 1937, the lbw law changed so that bowlers could trap a batter in front by pitching the ball outside off stump and bringing it back into his pads. Previously the ball had to pitch on the stumps and be going on to hit them, which takes some bowling.Tom Graveney was among those who bucked the trend of predominantly playing back on the pitches of his day•Getty ImagesOf course, batting is a subjective skill and has changed considerably even in the relatively short time that I have been involved with the game. On uncovered pitches and before the introduction of helmets, the tendency was to play back. This allowed more time to react to the uncertain bounce of the ball and more time to respond to its speed. The clarion call on uncovered pitches was for “soft hands”, meaning a loose grip and a gentle method of letting the ball come to you before dropping it safely at your feet. If you study footage of Compton against Keith Miller, for example, or of the Australians being bowled out by Jim Laker at Old Trafford in 1956, you will see them play back almost exclusively. Just occasionally a player emerged to buck the trend and foremost among those was Graveney, who was best known for his cover drive but became much admired for his ability to hook and pull off the front foot.Root appears to have all these skills and more. He is, as they say these days, a 360-degree player, and more remarkably in an age when batters come so hard at the ball, he is that player off both feet. Picking a signature shot is difficult, though the cut might be the one. He has the ability to score without being noticed and to change the tempo of a match while doing so. The pitch at Lord’s was tricky, offering swing and seam to the bowlers and suggestions of uneven bounce and pace. Footwork was crucial, as proven by the fall of those who stayed trapped on the crease, as was Root’s ability to play the ball late enough to flow with its movement in his strokes or watch it fly by.For much of the first act in this Root exhibition, he simply hung around at the other end while Ben Stokes went about justifying his pre-match rhetoric. Of the 90 runs they added together the new captain made 54 – a dazzling array of the ridiculous and sublime – and the old one 30-odd. When Stokes went, the second act began as Root upped the ante in a manner that took courage and all of his skill. Far from dropping anchor to ensure that one wicket didn’t bring two, he began to look for scoring opportunities with an increased sense of urgency and purpose. This caught the New Zealand players off guard and whisked away their potential for momentum. Root knew that the sunlit Saturday evening – play had been extended to 7pm after morning rain and a generally slow over rate – with the pitch drying, the ball soft, and the opponents wilting, was England’s moment. All the best players can sense this and most move in for the kill.Which one’s better?•Philip Brown/Getty ImagesWhen stumps were drawn that evening, England needed just 61. Ben Foakes had become to Root what Root had been to Stokes. When cricketers use the phrase “bat in partnerships” this is exactly what they mean. In that final hour’s play on Saturday, Foakes made 9 of the 57 he and Root put on together in 15 overs: runs that negated the likelihood of New Zealand dragging the game to the point at which they could use a second new ball on the fourth morning and, to some degree at least, allowed the England dressing room to sleep easy.For sure, England got lucky when Colin de Grandhomme overstepped the popping crease by less than a centimetre to give Stokes a reprieve early in his innings, but it is said, better to be lucky than good. Or just be Joe Root.As it was, New Zealand bowled poorly on the fourth morning but Root deserves the credit for that. He simply outplayed them. The innings was a masterpiece, one of which any player, from any age, would have been proud. He had rescued the Stokes-McCullum dream start from ignominy, and gave the country a wonderful sidebar across a weekend in which joy and celebration were the national mood.How good is he? Well, the line of exceptional English batting began with Grace and moved through such players as Hobbs and Herbert Sutcliffe, Hammond, Hutton, Compton and May, Ted Dexter, Colin Cowdrey, Ken Barrington, Geoff Boycott, Graham Gooch (latterly), David Gower, Graham Thorpe, Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook. Root is as good as any of them and better than most. You could make a shortlist of five, I reckon, but I’ll leave that to you. Suffice to say that the lad from Sheffield with 10,015 Test match runs to his name is amongst them and that no one is happier about that than his successor as captain.

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