While India will be gunning to accomplish a 10-game winning streak for the first time in their ODI history, a consolation victory for Australia would feel like an achievement for the visitors at this point

The Preview by Brydon Coverdale27-Sep-20171:25

Agarkar: India should look to play six bowlers

Big pictureNew Zealand have done it once before. So have England. Pakistan, West Indies and Sri Lanka have each done it twice. South Africa have done it five times and Australia six. Bangladesh and Zimbabwe have never managed it. And, perhaps surprisingly, neither have India. What is “it”, though? A winning stretch of at least 10 consecutive one-day internationals. And why is that relevant? Because India have now won their past nine ODIs on the trot. In Bengaluru, on Thursday, in what will be their 926th one-day international, they have the chance to accomplish a 10-game winning streak for the first time in their history of playing the format. An extra reason, perhaps, not to fall victim to dead-rubber syndrome.India have not lost an ODI since they succumbed to West Indies by 11 runs in Antigua in July; Australia have not won a one-day international since January 26, when they beat Pakistan in Adelaide on Australia Day. While India’s form-line consists of nine straight wins, Australia have lost their past 11 ODIs away from home. They cannot rescue the series, but even a consolation victory or two would feel like an achievement at this point. Should they find themselves on the end of a clean-sweep, Australia could fall to fourth on the ODI rankings, to sit alongside their fifth ranking in Tests and seventh in T20Is.Form guide(last five completed matches, most recent first)
India: WWWWW
Australia: LLLLL
In the spotlightVirat Kohli is one-day international cricket’s Mr Consistent. In 2016, he scored 739 ODI runs from 739 balls. Incredibly, he has maintained that strike-rate of precisely 100 this year, too, having scored 1137 runs from 1137 balls in 2017. He is also the leading run-scorer in ODIs this year and has made a century in each of India’s completed bilateral series in 2017. Can he add a hundred in this series to the list?The axing of Matthew Wade in Indore left the wicketkeeping duties in the hands of Peter Handscomb, who had performed the role in two previous ODIs for Australia. In domestic cricket, Handscomb has been a semi-regular wicketkeeper over the years, though in the longest format, he has tried to leave that role behind to focus on his batting. It will be interesting to see how the job affects his run-making in the following games, and it is worth noting that in the 23 List A matches where he has kept wicket, his average is higher (45.75) than in the 43 games he has played as a specialist batsman (30.15).Team newsThere is no real need for India to make any changes unless, with the series won, they want to rest someone. An unaltered XI seems likely.India (possible) 1 Ajinkya Rahane, 2 Rohit Sharma, 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 Manish Pandey, 5 Kedar Jadhav, 6 MS Dhoni (wk), 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Yuzvendra Chahal, 11 Jasprit BumrahAshton Agar has gone home injured, which will mean a recall for Adam Zampa. Pat Cummins will be rested from the upcoming T20Is and there is the possibility that with the series already lost, the selectors may wish to start his break even sooner, in which case they could bring James Faulkner back in.Australia (possible) 1 David Warner, 2 Aaron Finch, 3 Steven Smith (capt), 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Travis Head, 6 Marcus Stoinis, 7 Peter Handscomb (wk), 8 Pat Cummins/James Faulkner, 9 Nathan Coulter-Nile, 10 Kane Richardson, 11 Adam ZampaPitch and conditionsThe Bengaluru pitch has become a little slower and trickier in recent times, but this will be the first ODI to be played at the venue in nearly four years, the last game having yielded a 57-run win for the hosts against Australia. It is, therefore, difficult to know precisely what to expect. There is the possibility of some stormy weather in the city on Thursday.Stats and trivia The M Chinnaswamy Stadium is Kohli’s worst home venue in ODIs: he averages 10.50 from four games there, with scores of 0, 8, 34 and 0. This will be David Warner’s 100th ODI, having made his international debut in the 50-over format in 2009 The most recent team to achieve 10 consecutive ODI wins was New Zealand, whose run ended in the 2015 World Cup final. The most recent 10-match undefeated stretch was, however, achieved by South Africa, whose winning stretch lasted 12 games, spanning September 2016 and Feb 2017.

Liverpool are interested in signing Brighton & Hove Albion left-back Pervis Estupinan this summer, with manager Jurgen Klopp impressed by the Ecuadorian's performances in the Premier League.

What's the latest on Pervis Estupinan to Liverpool?

According to FootballTransfers, the Reds have expressed a concrete interest in signing Estupinan after raiding the Seagulls earlier this summer for the £35m Alexis Mac Allister.

There are believed to be concerns over Andy Robertson's fitness levels and form in Liverpool's tinkered system, and Estupinan could be the Scotsman's long-term heir for the Anfield side.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

The report claims that Klopp's side were offered the opportunity to sign the 25-year-old from Villarreal last summer, but he ultimately chose to pen a £15m deal with the Seagulls.

How good is Pervis Estupinan?

It's something of a disservice to Robertson and all that he has done for Liverpool since signing from Hull City for just £10m to suggest that he is finished after a smattering of subpar showings, with the 29-year-old having played 267 matches for the Merseyside club, scoring eight goals and supplying 63 assists.

The 61-cap Scotland captain has played an important role in gleaning the full sweep of silverware under Klopp's wing, though admittedly was "poor" – as described by journalist James Nalton – toward the business end of the 22/23 campaign as the rest of the team unearthed a late purple patch.

He did record an average Sofascore rating over the campaign of 6.95, completing 84% of his passes, registering eight assists, making 1.6 key passes and 1.3 clearances per game, though his form suffered a discernible deterioration over the final weeks.

Estupinan has thrived on English soil over the past year, recording an average Sofascore rating of 6.89 during his maiden Albion campaign, also completing 84% of his passes, averaging 1.5 key passes, 1.7 tackles and one clearance per outing and scoring one goal and supplying five assists – hailed as the "complete player" by his boss Roberto De Zerbi.

As per FBref, the South American gem ranks among the top 17% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 16% for shot-creating actions, the top 14% for passes attempted and the top 16% for progressive passes and progressive carries per 90.

Such a 'complete' skill set has drawn comparisons to Chelsea's newly-appointed captain Reece James, with FBref likening the two players.

The England international ranks among the top 17% of positional peers for goals, the top 5% for shot-creating actions, the top 7% for passes attempted, the top 9% for progressive passes and the top 10% for progressive carries per 90, highlighting his superlative rounded qualities.

The £250k-per-week phenom has been described as "the best in the world" in his position by pundit Ian Wright and was instrumental in winning the Champions League in 20/21.

While the 23-year-old spent the lion's share of the past season out injured, he did showcase his ability across his 16 appearances in the English top-flight, recording an average rating of 7.19, completing 91% of his passes, averaging 1.3 key passes and 1.9 tackles per game, succeeding with 64% of his ground duels and 69% of his dribbles.

Estupinan is not quite at this refined level yet but he is definitely making the increments to lead toward a role as a first-class phenom at the highest level, and with Klopp a keen admirer, a move could be forthcoming, if not this summer, then perhaps during the winter or even in one year.

After all, the 35-cap international was praised to have "handled [Mohamed] Salah exceptionally" by football content creator and senior reporter Kendall Rowan during Villarreal's 3-2 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final second leg in May 2021, forging two clearances and interceptions, making three key passes and succeeding with both of his attempted dribbles.

Liverpool's Egyptian focal point did earn an assist and created two key passes, but mustered only one off-target shot and one blocked effort all game, marshalled well by the all-encompassing former Yellow Submarines left-back.

He boasts the full package, and if Klopp does decide to target a new left-sided full-back in the near future, Estupinan is the man for the job.

Burnley are reportedly keen on sealing a deal for Galatasaray defender, Sacha Boey, amid reports that the newly-promoted side have lodged a bid to sign the promising Frenchman.

What's the latest on Boey to Burnley?

According to ex-GOAL journalist Marc Mechenoua, the Clarets are said to be in talks regarding a summer move for the 22-year-old, with an "offer" having seemingly already been made by those at Turf Moor.

Writing on Twitter, the transfer insider revealed: "Burnley, which is interested in several young French players, wants to recruit Sacha Boey (22). The English team led by Vincent Kompany has already sent an offer to Galatasaray. Ongoing discussions."

While Mechenoua did not state the value of that bid, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has previously suggested that the Turkish giants are looking for a fee in the region of €25m (£21m) if they are to sanction a sale, with Arsenal among those also showing an interest.

Who is Sacha Boey?

The in-demand defender could well represent a potential long-term solution for the Lancashire side at right-back, with the youngster's arrival potentially set to spell bad news for Wales international, Connor Roberts and his hopes of securing a regular role in the side.

The latter man did feature in 43 games in the Championship last season – 39 of which came from the start – after establishing himself as the first-choice option in that full-back berth, although the 27-year-old could find his place under threat by the presence of "a true warrior" like Boey, as described by journalist Kaya Temel.

While also comfortable at left-back, the former Stade Rennais ace has typically lined up on the right flank in recent times, having chipped in with one goal and four assists in 31 Super Lig outings in 2022/23.

While Roberts' tally of ten goal involvements places him ahead of Boey in that regard, the former France youth international did showcase his superior creative class after creating eight big chances in total, while the current Burnley man failed to create a single big chance, by contrast.

Equally, what is perhaps most impressive about the reported Clarets target is his defensive acumen as he averaged a mammoth 4.4 tackles and interceptions per game from his full-back berth, while the 5 foot 10 ace also showcased his physical prowess after winning 65% of his aerial duels.

That return is undoubtedly far more impressive than what Roberts achieved under Kompany last season, with the former Swansea City man averaging just 1.7 tackles and interceptions per game, while also winning just 47% of his aerial duels.

Boey's eye-catching form ultimately saw him record a standout average match rating of 7.14, as per Sofascore, in 2022/23, with that placing him fifth among the Burnley squad in that regard – with Roberts further back in seventh.

That should indicate that despite the key role that the Welshman played in helping Kompany's side to secure promotion, the 5 foot 9 ace could find himself swiftly usurped if Boey is to be brought to England this summer.

Although the likes of Arsenal are also showing an interest, the former Anderlecht boss should do all he can to push for a move…

Manchester United are believed to be considering a range of options in their bid to strengthen their centre-back ranks this summer, with a replacement seemingly needed for departing former skipper, Harry Maguire.

Will Man United replace Maguire?

With a £30m deal having been agreed with West Ham United for the sale of Maguire, journalist Graeme Bailey has since reported that the Red Devils have a number of potential targets who they could turn to in order to plug that gap, with Torino's Perr Schuurs among those to have been mentioned.

Writing on Twitter, the transfer insider revealed: "Man Utd are already working hard on centre-back options when Harry Maguire leaves the club. Benjamin Pavard, Jean-Clair Todibo, Perr Schuurs, Jarrad Branthwaite and Antonio Silva all discussed within Old Trafford."

Read the latest Manchester United transfer news HERE…

In his attached piece for 90min – alongside colleague Scott Saunders – Bailey went on to add that the Schuurs is a figure who is 'liked behind the scenes' at Old Trafford, with the 6 foot 3 Dutchman believed to have been valued at around £28m, amid interest from fellow Premier League side, Tottenham Hotspur.

How good is Perr Schuurs?

It may not come as a surprise to see United yet again linked with a player who has worked under manager Erik ten Hag previously, with the Dutch tactician having already secured reunions with the likes of Andre Onana, Antony and Lisandro Martinez during his time in Manchester to date.

In the case of Schuurs, the 23-year-old played alongside that trio at Ajax prior to making the move to Turin last summer, having scored three times in 94 appearances in all competitions from his centre-back berth under Ten Hag's watch.

That time in Amsterdam notably saw the Netherlands U21 international likened to one of his compatriots and former teammates, with Edwin Van der Sar stating in 2020 that he "looks very much like Matthijs De Ligt", with fellow United legend Rio Ferdinand also adding:

"I said at the time he reminded me a little bit of De Ligt, who they sold to Juventus. He was strong, an imposing defender who read the game very well. Once he gets his big legs going, he goes out there and is very determined.

"He’s assertive, he understands when to go in and make his tackles."

With De Ligt having been a firm favourite of Ten Hag – after being given the captain's armband at the age of just 18 at the Johan Cruyff Arena – it could represent a real masterstroke to be able to sign a potential clone of the Bayern Munich man.

There may be those wondering whether it may not be better to simply land De Ligt instead, although the former Juventus man is likely to come at a premium as he is valued at €60m (£53m) by CIES Football Observatory, having also been criticised for his form in Germany of late, as ex-Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge stated that both the 23-year-old – and Sadio Mane – "are not world-class players".

Schuurs, by contrast, has been particularly impressive in Italy of late, with the towering asset having been dubbed a "mountain" at the back by journalist Josh Bunting amid his stellar form in Serie A during the 2022/23 campaign.

That is showcased by the £29k-per-week man's defensive prowess in relation to his peers as he ranks in the top 20% in Europe's top five leagues among those in his position for tackles made per 90, while his ability on the ball is showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 19% for successful take-ons per 90 – illustrating his ease in possession.

That is in stark contrast to De Ligt, with the senior Netherlands international ranking in just the bottom 21% and the bottom 2% for those same two metrics, respectively, perhaps indicating that he has suffered since leaving his homeland.

Although the 6 foot 2 menace was the man who led Ajax's charge to the Champions League semi-final under Ten Hag back in 2018/19, the United boss could perhaps find a new defensive figurehead by turning to another familiar face in the form of Schuurs.

Moeen Ali has declared himself fit and ready to take on Australia in next week’s first Test at Brisbane

George Dobell in Townsville13-Nov-2017Moeen Ali has taken an innovative approach – and received a few blows in the process – ahead of the belated start to his Ashes preparations as he prepares to take on Australia’s fast bowlers.Moeen, who returns to the England side for the warm-up match in Townsville having recovered from a side strain which has sidelined him since arriving in Australia, has been using a wet tray and extra bouncy balls in an attempt to replicate the pace and bounce he anticipates he will receive.”I’ve been doing that recently to exaggerate the pace with the ball coming at you,” Moeen said. “It just sharpens you up.”It’s a tray and you just wet it. It’s an Indian drill. The balls I bring with me, they’re slightly different. It skims off it. You need a good thrower, which Paul Collingwood is. I’ve been hit before loads of times but the more I’m doing it the better I’m feeling.”It doesn’t mean you’re going to be the best player of fast bowling it just means you’re probably going to be better than you were.”I’ve been practising everything to be honest with you as much as I can – pace in general. I almost try and go over the top with it and then hopefully it’ll be a lot easier after that.”Moeen played a key role in the 2015 Ashes – his lower-order partnerships with Stuart Broad, especially at Edgbaston, giving England crucial late runs – but his technique against the short ball has occasionally been tested when batting higher up the order. With Ben Stokes absent, Moeen is expected to move up a spot to No. 7 where his runs could be even more important.”Some days I feel like I’m seeing it better. Some days I’m seeing it well but in the past I definitely didn’t have the technique to deal with it. But that’s something I’ve been working on. I am definitely a better player than I was in the 2015 Ashes series. I actually didn’t do that badly in that series but I feel like I’m a much better player than I was then.”While Moeen was understandably eager to get back to action after watching the first two warm-up matches, he felt that his time on the sidelines was not without its benefits. “It was a bit frustrating not playing but also not a bad thing,” he said. “You get a lot more work done than anybody else.”Sometimes when you’re playing you don’t get the chance to focus on yourself. Another benefit of not playing those two games is that it makes you hungrier to get out there and be with the guys.”I’m ready to go now. I can’t wait to put my whites on and start performing, getting a bit of game time in my system and then I’ll be ready to play at the Gabba.”Australia’s traditional venue for the first Test of their summer is one of the most notorious grounds for visiting teams – no side has won there since West Indies’ fast bowlers ruled the roost in 1988. However, Moeen said he was unconcerned by the reputation of the “Gabbatoir”.”I’m very excited and looking forward to the atmosphere,” he said. “Australians like to talk a lot, big themselves up. That’s part of the game. It’s not something that I haven’t had before.”That doesn’t faze me. It’s something you have to block out. You have to focus on your game and the situation that the team is in. I’m just going to come out and play like I always do for England and give it my best shot.”

Crystal Palace are looking to provide a new start for one of the Premier League’s forgotten men…

What’s the latest Crystal Palace transfer news?

Football League World has revealed that Tottenham Hotspur are willing to offload Djed Spence on loan.

It suggests that both Crystal Palace and newly-relegated Southampton are leading the race for his services.

Earlier this month, the Evening Standard reported that new Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou had deemed the full-back surplus to requirements, and he is free to leave after being left out of the squad in the 2-2 draw against Brentford on the opening weekend of the season.

Although Palace are interested, FLW understands that Southampton, who are expected to challenge for promotion and play a possession-heavy brand of football under Russell Martin, are viewed as serious contenders for Spence.

Jurrien Timber’s knee injury has prompted a domino effect, as Kyle Walker-Peters has emerged as a target for the Gunners, leaving an open spot for Spence at Saint Mary's.

Nevertheless, it is believed that the 23-year-old feels he is ready for regular Premier League football, so he may prefer a move to Selhurst Park.

What is Djed Spence good at?

Last summer, Spence sealed a £20m move to north London – this was meant to be the youngster’s chance to thrive in a top-flight setup, but it unravelled into disaster.

The £25k-per-week Englishman played just 41 minutes over six appearances under Antonio Conte, who brutally underlined his unwillingness to use Spence:

“If I don't decide to pick a player, it's because maybe he's not ready. We are talking about a young player with a good prospect, but I try to pick the best team. 'm not stupid, I don't want to lose. I try to pick the best team.”

A perplexing situation eventually forced Spence to leave Spurs on loan in January, and he spent six months at Rennes in France.

Now, Spence finds himself back in England and is on the lookout for a new club. Potential suitors should remember his form before his calamitous move to north London, as this indicates he is still a tremendously astute defender.

The brightest period of his career was during the 2021/22 season when he joined Nottingham Forest on loan from Middlesbrough.

That year, Spence started 39 of the club’s 46 Championship and played every minute of the playoff run in which the Reds clinched promotion back to the Premier League.

In January 2022, when Forest secured a 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the FA Cup, Ian Wright was gushing over his quality, saying: “That was one of the best right-back performances I have seen for a very long time. A very long time.

"But I have not seen a combative, technical, swashbuckling performance like that for a very long time.”

Spence seemingly possesses the potential, and if Palace took a gamble on the London-born titan, then he could provide some healthy competition for Joel Ward.

The 33-year-old is entering the twilight years of his career, and although he has been a phenomenal servant for the Eagles, he could undoubtedly be upgraded.

Spence emphatically trumps his elder in forward areas, averaging considerably higher progressive carries per 90 (3.65 vs 1.00), and successful take-ons per 90 (1.94 vs 0.28).

Moreover, the former Fulham academy graduate ranks within the best 8% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for the aforementioned metrics.

Therefore, Palace could offer a new start for Spence to resurrect his stuttering career.

Tottenham Hotspur seem set to complete their defensive revolution, should reports regarding another centre-back acquisition be true…

Is Aymeric Laporte leaving Manchester City?

Having seemingly tied up a deal for Wolfsburg defender Micky Van de Ven, much of the fanbase remains incensed that one signing in that area will not be enough to spark the necessary change from the last campaign.

So, the recent report from The Mirror suggesting that they will capitalise on the uncertainty surrounding Aymeric Laporte will likely have supporters excited.

With Manchester City having welcomed Josko Gvardiol this weekend, the Spanish defender has fallen even further down the pecking order after a season where he featured far less than he would have desired.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

As such, the Lilywhites are seeking to save him from his exile, having monitored the £37m-rated stopper for some time now; they clearly retain their interest in prying him from Manchester.

How good is Aymeric Laporte?

To think that someone as talented as the 29-year-old titan is being thrown to the wayside only emphasises the embarrassment of riches at Pep Guardiola's disposal.

He continues to build upon a side already recognised as a superpower, having made history last season with their treble win.

However, it will have remained a frustrating term for Laporte, who only featured 24 times across all competitions. He remained professional throughout, and did aid in their push for unprecedented silverware, but he was not half as influential as he was during the 2021/22 season.

That year saw him maintain a 7.12 average rating in the Premier League, buoyed by his 95% pass accuracy, 15 clean sheets, one tackle and 1.8 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

This came just a year after Guardiola had suggested there was nobody better in his role, noting:

"For me, when he is fit, he is the best left-sided centre back in the world."

He is the quintessential modern-day centre-back, and yet it could be Spurs who are now set to benefit from his services.

To place such a hulking defensive unit beside their imminent new signing could prove revolutionary, as they arguably boast the perfect complementary physical profiles to thrive in the top-flight. Especially given Ange Postecoglou will be desperate to shore up a backline that shipped 63 goals in the league last campaign, the fifth-most in the division.

After all, Van de Ven was recently lauded by Marcel Schäfer, Wolfsburg’s managing director for sport, for his surprising pace that partners his 6 foot 4 frame.

"Left foot, extreme speed, plays every second. Micky [has performed] consistently very well throughout the season," he said.

With Laporte as the pass master, the Dutch ace could instead progress the ball with that pace and power, given how he ranks in the top 10% for progressive carries per 90 and the top 7% for successful take-ons per 90 when compared to other centre-backs across Europe.

He is a classy, powerful presence, and would likely thrive beside the elegance and authority of the Spain international.

Writer Bill DiFilippo helped outline the steelier side of Laporte's character to supplement his classy ball-playing exploits though, simply writing on Twitter:

"Laporte is a warrior".

To suggest that he is not good enough for the Citizens means little regarding his talent, as many outcasts from Guardiola's squad would likely thrive for most clubs across Europe.

Should Postecoglou be the man to capture him, he could instantly solve Spurs' glaring defensive woes and have a foundation for a fine debut season in north London.

Netherlands, currently first on the WCL Championship table, will take the final spot in the newly-proposed 13-team ODI League if they remain on top at the end of the last round of matches in December

Peter Della Penna27-Oct-2017

Netherlands – who lost ODI status following a calamitous performance at the World Cup Qualifier in 2014 – are on the verge of a great triumph after the ICC confirmed this month that the winner of the ongoing World Cricket League Championship will join the inaugural 13-team ODI League. The league, approved earlier this month and slated to begin in 2019, will also help decide the ten teams that will qualify for the 2023 World Cup.With the Dutch in pole position on the WCL Championship table, holding a two-point lead over Papua New Guinea heading into the final two-match round to be played in the UAE in December, their head coach Ryan Campbell lauded the ICC’s decision and is working to make sure Netherlands don’t run out of steam before the finish.”I think it’s a fantastic decision by the ICC,” Campbell told ESPNcricinfo regarding the announcement of the 13th team in the ODI League. “We can talk about how many teams go to World Cups and the Associate world is obviously down in the dumps with the number of teams going, but what I think the ICC have shown with the elevation of Ireland and Afghanistan to Test status and now confirming that the 13th team will come from the winner of the WCL, I think it gives all us lesser nations something to strive for.”To be involved in the [ODI] league for two years against the top 12 teams in the world, whoever wins [the WCL Championship], it’s going to make their cricket so much better for us here in the Netherlands. Hopefully it’ll really take giant strides forward in making the game more of a sport where kids, and parents of kids will say, ‘Yeah we do want you to play cricket because we can see a future. We can see that you’re going to play against teams around the world and there may be full-time contracts.'”Following three straight World Cup appearances in 2003, 2007 and 2011 which strengthened their reputation as top-tier Associate team, Netherlands finished one point behind Afghanistan in the 2011-13 WCL Championship and narrowly missed out on an automatic 2015 World Cup berth. Then a devastating loss to Kenya on the last day of the opening round of the Qualifiers in New Zealand not only knocked them out of contention but also took away their ODI status.Ryan Campbell, Netherlands head coach•KNCB

Having gone through that heartache in 2014, the Netherlands squad is acutely aware of the ramifications of their final two games in the WCL Championship against Namibia in Dubai starting December 6.”I know as an organization, we’ve learned, the KNCB [Koninklijke Nederlandse Cricket Bond] has learned from their mistakes in 2014,” Campbell said. “The team went out of season to New Zealand and didn’t have enough preparation and the players played accordingly. We’re not going to be thinking about that.”I have 11 players at the moment working [hard] in South Africa staying ready to go because we’re heading into winter here in the Netherlands. More players will be joining them in Pretoria to prepare well and then we’re going to Dubai even earlier. So everything will be in place and it’s just about us keeping our nerves and playing good cricket.”The preparation plan may seem like overkill for two games against Namibia, who are currently tied for last place on the WCL Championship table. However, thanks to first-choice players’ availability, Namibia struck a convincing win in Scotland last June, a result that has left Scotland three points behind Netherlands. Campbell was in Edinburgh at those matches to do some advanced scouting and believes them to be a dangerous opponent regardless of ranking.”Namibia’s batting is as good as any team in Associate cricket,” he said. “[Gerhard] Erasmus is a very good player and they’re very aggressive at the top and don’t leave anything to chance. I think they’re a very good team. They lost games early on through lack of [player] availability, which hurts every team. They’re dangerous.”They have match-winners all the way through. [Sarel] Burger is a very good captain. He’s been there for years now and is a very good competitor… we’re planning accordingly and taking them on as if they’re number one on the table, not down at the bottom. They play in the South African domestic competition so they play against good players. They’re very good and we’re not going to take them lightly, that’s for sure.”Peter Della Penna

The final round of the WCL Championship is a prime reminder that Associates rarely play dead rubbers. Not only is there a battle for the top of the table to gain entry into the 13-team ODI League, but close attention is also being paid to the middle of the table because the top four teams will be guaranteed entry to the 2019 World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe.Hong Kong can jump from fourth to first if they win both their remaining matches against PNG, while keeping their run-rate up, and Netherlands lose twice to Namibia. Kenya can clinch fourth place – and so enter the World Cup Qualifier – if they beat Scotland and PNG knock Hong Kong out in both games.Should that happen, Hong Kong would have to go back to WCL Division Two, where they would compete against UAE, Namibia, Nepal, Canada and Oman for a top-two finish to claim one of the final spots in the World Cup Qualifier.”What it does say is that as far as Associate cricket goes, they’ve all got something to play for and it’s going to be an absolutely awesome round of cricket [in Dubai],” Campbell said. “The top four go to Zimbabwe automatically. So Kenya and Hong Kong will be fighting for that. Scotland are only three points behind so they’ll be wanting to win to go to the top.”Papua New Guinea, what a great story that would be if they end up winning the whole competition. Of course for us, we want it bad and we want to be the 13th team. I just think the World Cricket League conclusion is going to be absolutely awesome and everyone around the world should take notice because there’s going to be some good cricket.”

استطاع فريق زد الفوز على نظيره سموحة بهدفين مقابل هدف، في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما اليوم الخميس، ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

والتقى زد مع سموحة على أرضية استاد الإسكندرية، في إطار مواجهات الجولة 22 من عمر بطولة الدوري المصري.

وسجل محمد سمير الهدف الأول في الدقيقة 15 من زمن الشوط الأول، من ركلة جزاء سددها ببراعة داخل الشباك وتم احتسابها بعد عرقلة ديلسون كاموني من اللاعب جاستيس أرثر.

طالع أيضاً.. فيديو | بهدف قاتل.. الإسماعيلي يفوز على الداخلية في الدوري المصري

وتقدم شادي حسين بالهدف الثاني في الدقيقة 61، بعد تمريرة رائعة من معط ماجاسا استقبلها شادي حسين بسديدة مرت داخل الشباك.

وأحرز جونيور أجاي هدف فريق سموحة في الدقيقة 90+5، من ركلة جزاء تم احتسابها بعد عرقلة مصطفى البدري من اللاعب أحمد الصغيري.

بهذا الفوز، يحتل زد المركز الثالث في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري، برصيد 36 نقطة، بينما يتواجد فريق سموحة بالمركز السادس، ولديه 31 نقطة. أهداف مباراة زد وسموحة في الدوري المصري

Tottenham Hotspur have started talks for Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku as La Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Davide Chinellato shares a transfer update.

Who will Spurs replace Kane with?

Ange Postecoglou could be set for a busy final few weeks of the summer after star striker Harry Kane completed his potential £103 million move to Bayern Munich.

The north Londoners must now find a replacement for Kane heading into the last fortnight of this transfer window, and there have been many linked, including the likes of Montpellier striker Elye Wahi, Gent's Gift Orban, Chelsea forward Lukaku and Juventus ace Dusan Vlahovic.

Postecoglou has admitted that Spurs must focus on outgoings for now, as the squad is currently too bloated, but the 57-year-old did express that he knew Kane would leave before deadline day.

“I had a conversation with Harry the first day he arrived and he was up front and honest, and I was the same,” the 57-year-old said ahead of their opener against Brentford on Sunday.

“You get an indication there that he kind of made up his mind: that if the clubs agreed he would go, particularly if it was before the first game. That was my preference as well.

“There's nothing along the way that's sort of made me feel there's anything other than this outcome. None of these things happen in isolation, everyone is pretty clued into to what's going on, so from my perspective I hadn't received anything from Harry, the club or anyone else to suggest to me anything had changed about his stance."

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Kane's haul of 30 league goals in 38 appearances last term will be very hard to replicate for any incoming striker, but one man who has reached similar figures in England before is Lukaku.

The 30-year-old's best Premier League campaign came during his time at Everton, where he managed 25 in 36 league starts over 16/17. Lukaku, most recently, also managed an impressive 24 goals and 11 assists during Inter Milan's 2020/2021 title-winning campaign.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reporter Chinellato, sharing an update for the Italian newspaper on Spurs' links to Lukaku (via Sport Witness), says club-to-club talks have started.

Indeed, it is believed Tottenham "contacts have started and an agreement is possible" for Lukaku, who is said to prefer them over a potential move to Saudi Arabia.

If chairman Daniel Levy wishes to sign the forward, a €45 million (£38.6m) fee is needed, while Juventus remain in contention for a swap deal involving Vlahovic.

How good is Romelu Lukaku?

The Belgian is an international star for his country, having bagged 75 goals for the Red Devils in total since his making his debut against Croatia in 2010.

Former Spurs boss Antonio Conte has also previously praised the player for his contribution during Inter's impressive Scudetto win in 2021.

“Right now, he is one of the best strikers in the world,” said Conte that year (L'Equipe via Sport Mob).

"He already had important physical and technical skills, but in these two years we have made him progress even more. His presence in the match, his teamwork and clarity in front of goal [has improved]."