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It’s been quite the start to life at the helm for Arne Slot, who has inherited Jurgen Klopp’s squad at Liverpool and recorded 11 victories in 12 matches across all competitions thus far – a club record.

The Premier League’s table toppers, who have also won each of their three opening Champions League contests, boast one of the most formidable frontlines across Europe, with Slot’s system also reviving Virgil van Dijk’s defence to redoubtable status.

But there’s an elephant in the room, and it’s starting to become a noisy one. Skipper Van Dijk, homegrown vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold and all-powerful talisman Mohamed Salah are just over two months away from being free to negotiate with suitors overseas for a pre-contract agreement.

The superstars’ Liverpool deals are firmly into their final year, and though it’s unthinkable, contingency plans must be taken. The £350k-per-week Salah is the highest-paid player on the books, and, understandably, FSG are looking at long-term successors.

Liverpool weighing up move for Salah heir

According to Caught Offside, Liverpool and Arsenal have sent scouts to watch Arda Güler in action and will pounce if anything changes in the prodigious talent’s situation at Real Madrid.

The Turkey international, 19, signed for Los Blancos in July 2023 for a reported €20m (£17m) fee, but he’s struggling to find space in Carlo Ancelotti’s superteam and may move for pastures new if the situation does not improve.

Newcastle United were interested earlier in 2024 and Spanish sources claimed that a bid of €80m (£67m) would convince Real to sell, though this exorbitant valuation might deter suitors such as thrifty Liverpool.

Arda Güler's talent in numbers

Replacing Salah with a teenager might feel like a foolish move, but Güler is a remarkable player and has already showcased his ability to step up in big moments, as he did for his nation at Euro 2024 this summer.

And he’s hardly flattered to deceive when blessed with football on the prestigious Santiago Bernabeu pitch, having scored six goals from just 23 appearances, of which only eight have come from the outset.

Güler, let’s be clear, is jockeying for the agency of success against the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior – de facto Ballon d’Or winner – and Rodrygo, with Endrick and Brahim Diaz also pushing for minutes of their own.

His lack of action is by no means a negation of the stunning skillset that impelled Florentino Perez and his transfer team to fork out funds for his signature, right at the fledgling phase.

As per FBref, despite his lack of minutes, Güler ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 6% for pass completion and the top 10% for tackles won per 90.

Examine Güler’s statistics from another angle. As per Sofascore, the winger has only started three La Liga games this term but has created three big chances, completed 88% of his passes, averaged 1.3 key passes per outing and won 61% of his ground duels.

Van Dijk, by comparison, has only won 50% of his ground duels in the Premier League under Slot’s management – though there’s no need to worry about that one.

Güler’s metrics point toward worth, such worth, that will have convinced Liverpool bosses, Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes, that this is a player worth investing in.

Of course, the only way that the £83k-per-week talent would be signed by Liverpool is if Salah does indeed leave at the end of the term, but if he does, this might just be the perfect young buck to keep Slot’s attack purring.

Why Arda Güler could succeed Salah

Salah might turn 33 next summer but there’s little notion that this supreme athlete is set to suffer a nosedive in performance any time soon.

He’s scored seven goals and added seven more assists across just 12 matches so far in 2024/25, starting 11 times. Pundit Gary Neville recently hailed the prolific winger as a “superstar” and the praise couldn’t be more apt.

With each passing season, never falling off, Salah is proving that he’s indeed one of the finest to ply their art on English soil, and his efforts under Slot’s leadership might just hold sway in the pursuit of the biggest silver prizes.

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Salah’s ball-striking ability has foiled incalculable defences, but in Güler, FSG might just find the second coming, especially since he’s been hailed as a “magician with a wand of a left foot” by one scout.

Though the Egyptian’s absurd consistency in front of goal is something that simply cannot be replicated, Real’s teenage talent has showcased a clinical edge and carries the full package besides.

160 goals for Liverpool in the Premier League (plus two for Chelsea) leave him joint-ninth in the all-time scoring charts, with just 16 goals required to leapfrog Chelsea legend Frank Lampard into sixth place.

Replacing him is a daunting task indeed, and even if Salah does pen fresh terms, extending his time at the club by a couple more years, prudently bringing in an heir would be a good call.

Who better than Güler? Though Real Madrid will view the Turk in their long-term plans, he might not find regular minutes coming his way for several seasons yet, and Liverpool can be sure to put together a compelling case to move to Anfield.

A magician of a young player, this would be a statement of intent to send waves of excitement rippling across Merseyside.

Liverpool must axe star who earns 2x more than Jones & Bradley combined

Liverpool arguably wasted £21.4m on one statement signing

1 ByJoe Nuttall Oct 22, 2024

Dean returns from England duty to strangle Sunrisers after Scholfield, Hill half-centuries

ECB Reporters Network23-Jul-2022Charlie Dean returned from England duty to claim three wickets as two-time winners Southern Vipers professionally remained unbeaten in this year’s Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.Offspinner Dean was the leading wicket-taker in the recent ODI series against South Africa and brought that form to the Ageas Bowl with a tight 3 for 31 in 10 overs.Georgia Elwiss also picked up 2 for 50 as Vipers turned pythons to strangle winless Sunrisers to a 11-run defeat, despite Cordelia Griffith maintaining her form with 65.Earlier, Kate Coppack claimed 4 for 48, after a seven-over opening spell of 4 for 37, to leave Vipers 38 for 5 inside nine overs, but Paige Scholfield and Chloe Hill’s maiden half-centuries at this level resuscitated the hosts to a defendable 233.Related

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Vipers have got themselves into a pickle a few times this season. They were 35 for 3 and 74 for 4, against South East Stars before clocking up 306, and against Thunder, they lost three wickets for two runs, albeit after a 153-run opening stand.So, when Coppack had quaffed the top order with a relentlessly accurate 4 for 37 to leave Vipers 38 for 5, having chosen to bat first, there wouldn’t have been the cataclysmic worries that other teams would have faced.Mady Villiers was the first to strike when she had Georgia Adams lbw when trying to work the ball into the legside. Then Coppack, raised in Cheshire and with international wickets for Peru to her name, flung into action.The fast bowler only had four wickets in her first eight Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy appearances but had Dean leg-before in her third over before bowling former international Georgia Elwiss through the gate.Scholfield may have scythed the hat-trick ball to point but Ella McCaughan chipped to midwicket and Emily Windsor flashed a drive to slip to give Coppack her third and fourth.Kate Coppack in her delivery stride•Getty Images

The inevitable recovery came in the form of a 105-run stand between Scholfield and Hill. The former took a punchy attacking route out of the collapse by pummelling the short boundary with flicks and cuts.There were moments of style, most notably a glorious cover drive early on and a slog-sweep off Grace Scrivens. A swept six off a full toss was also included on her way to a 42-ball fifty.Hill, on loan from Central Sparks, was less stylish, but her stickability complemented Scholfield. Her own half-century came in a sedate 103 deliveries, with five either straight or pulled boundaries coming in her 55.After Scholfield holed out to deep midwicket for 74, Tara Norris joined Hill for a 51-run stand. The USA international was run out trying to get Hill to her milestone, with Hill and Lauren Bell dismissed before the 50-overs were up.Sunrisers steadfastly refused to take risks in the chase and therefore the modest rate got away from them – as proved with only 28 runs coming in the first 10 overs.Griffith, on the back of 74 against Western Storm, was unflappable in the 74 balls needed to reach back-to-back fifties. Naomi Dattani’s 34 only included a pair of boundaries but plentiful nudges, with 74 added with Griffith. Dean had earlier bowled Scrivens with her second delivery and would now have both Dattani and Villiers bowled.Having struck five boundaries in her first 56 balls, Griffith failed to hit another in her further 53 deliveries to highlight the problems Sunrisers were having timing the softer balls on a slow wicket. She was leg-before to Adams, before Elwiss bowled Mia Rogers.Jo Gardner bashed 43 off 45 in a 56 stand with Jess Olorenshaw to give Sunrisers a glimpse of stealing back the win. But Bell bowled Olorenshaw in the penultimate over and Adams comfortably defended 17 off the last over.

As well as looking to give Ola Aina a new contract, Nottingham Forest are also keen on tying down another key player, with Nuno Espirito Santo pushing for it to happen, according to a new report.

It has been an excellent start to the Premier League season for the Reds, as they have lost just one of their seven games and already have a comfortable cushion above the relegation places.

Nottingham Forest plot Ola Aina contract talks amid £10m Roma transfer plan

Nottingham Forest face a battle to retain one of Nuno’s key players.

ByBrett Worthington Oct 9, 2024 Nottingham Forest news

Forest secured a 1-1 draw with Chelsea over the weekend, but it was bitter sweat as their talisman Morgan Gibbs-White suffered an injury. There was concern he may be missing for a few weeks, but Forest are hoping to have Gibbs-White back available for their game against Crystal Palace after the international break.

As stated before, one player that Forest are already looking to tie down to a new contract is Aina, as he’s entered the final year of his deal at the City Ground. The Reds are set to open contract talks with the defender soon, as they now face a battle to retain his services.

Italian side AS Roma are keen on signing Aina, and they believe they can sign him for around £10-12 million, given the fact he is in the final year of his deal. Aina has played in Italy before, and Roma believe this works to their advantage, as he will fit well into their team and knows their manager, Ivan Juric, as he played under him at Torino.

While Forest and Evangelos Marinakis aim to tie Aina down to a new contract, they are also keen to give a new contract to another player who has become important under Nuno.

Nuno wants Nottingham Forest to open contract talks with Chris Wood

According to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook, Nottingham Forest are keen to tie Chris Wood down to a new contract. The New Zealand international is now in the final year of his contract at the City Ground, and the club are keen to extend his stay beyond this campaign.

Wood joined Forest first on loan from Newcastle United in January 2023, and then that deal was made into a permanent switch that summer after he helped play a role in the club staying in the top flight.

The 32-year-old, who earns £4.1 million a year at the City Ground, has become a key player under manager Nuno, and it is him who is pushing the club to give the striker a new contract. The forward has made an impressive start to this season, and he has already come in for high praise, as Match of the Day 2 pundit Stephen Warnock labelled Wood as an “outstanding” player who offers so much to the team as well as his goals.

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Warnock said on Wood: “They’ve got Morgan Gibbs-White, Anthony Elanga, and Callum Hudson-Odoi; it’s pace in attack.

“But I’ve got to say Chris Wood is outstanding. Not only his goals, but as a focal point, he takes the pressure off the rest of the team.”

Debutant Bishnoi’s 2 for 17 as well as Suryakumar and Venkatesh Iyer’s unbroken stand help construct India’s win

Deivarayan Muthu16-Feb-20221:59

Jaffer: A very positive approach by India to play two wristspinners

Ravi Bishnoi overcame a nervy start on debut and then let rip his wrong’uns to give India a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series. He bowled four overs full of wrong’uns, according to ESPNcricinfo’s logs, to help India restrict West Indies to 157 for 7, despite Nicholas Pooran’s half-century.What could’ve been a challenging chase was initially made to look like small fry by Rohit Sharma who hit 40 of the 63 runs India had scored in the powerplay. However, the target looked a whole lot bigger once Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant all fell in quick succession. India were 114 for 4 in the 15th over at that point; they were also sweating over the fitness of Deepak Chahar, who had suffered a blow on his bowling hand while fielding. He didn’t return to bowl his final over.As it turned out, India didn’t need his batting either in the slog overs, with Suryakumar Yadav and Venkatesh Iyer absorbing the pressure and sealing victory.Spotlight on Bishnoi
Bhuvneshwar Kumar found swing in the early exchanges and had Brandon King spooning a catch to backward point for 4. Kyle Mayers, the other opener, however, regularly jumped out of his crease or across his stumps to give West Indies some early impetus. He backed away and laced Bhuvneshwar through the covers before swatting Harshal Patel over backward square leg.Yuzvendra Chahal cut short Mayers’ innings at 31 when he trapped him lbw in the seventh over. Chahal could have struck first ball had Bishnoi not misjudged a skier at the long-off boundary. Bishnoi stepped back on the skirting and ended up conceding a six.Bishnoi was introduced into the attack in the very next over and missed his lines, darting three wides. He hit his rhythm soon after, dismissing both Roston Chase and Rovman Powell in the next over.Chase missed a fizzing wrong’un and was pinned lbw while Powell holed out to long-on. Bishnoi, too, troubled Pooran, keeping him to eight off nine balls against his legbreaks googlies.Ravi Bishnoi earned the Player-of-the-match award on international debut•BCCIPooran revives West Indies
Like Bishnoi, Pooran, too, had a scrappy start and was on 17 off 19 balls at one stage. He finally broke free when he clattered a pull over the square-leg boundary off Chahal. Pooran was particularly severe on the legspinner, taking him for 26 off a mere 12 balls, including three sixes. He reached his fifty off 38 balls when he carved Chahal through backward point for four.Kieron Pollard, who had recovered sufficiently from the knee niggle that had forced him out of the last two ODIs, also did his bit, scoring an unbeaten 24 off 19 balls. He had slid down the order to deny India’s wristspinners a favourable match-up. Instead, Akeal Hosein was bumped up to No.6, but he could manage just 10 off 12 balls. Nevertheless, Pooran and Pollard hauled West Indies closer to 160.The storm and the calm
Rohit went on a boundary-hitting spree in the powerplay, using the hardness of the new ball and quickness of the outfield to his advantage. After whipping Romario Shepherd for six and pulling Sheldon Cottrell for four, he cranked up the tempo against Odean Smith, going 4,6,4,6.It was Chase’s offspin that delivered West Indies the breakthrough and slowed down India. He first had Rohit caught at the midwicket boundary before getting Kishan too. Kishan had been the tortoise to Rohit’s hare, labouring to 35 off 42 balls.Kishan’s wicket triggered a mini-collapse as India lost 3 for 21. Chase bowled into the pitch and despite the onset of dew later in the evening, he extracted some turn and bounce to unsettle India. However, the left-arm spinners Hosein and Fabian Allen released all the pressure at the other end.Suryakumar and Venkatesh cashed in, putting on an unbroken 48 off 26 balls and leaving West Indies still searching for their first win on this tour.

West Bromwich Albion supporters would have been worrying going into this new Championship season that there wasn’t enough firepower in the striker positions at the club, with Brandon Thomas-Asante jumping ship to Coventry City weakening the Baggies up top.

Now, however, those concerns have very much dissipated with the emergence of Josh Maja as the main leading man in attack for Carlos Corberan’s table toppers, after he managed to bounce back from an injury-ravaged first campaign at the Hawthorns.

Corberan will just hope those injury demons don’t come back to haunt the former Sunderland man moving forward, who was on the scoresheet yet again for the West Midlands side last weekend versus Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth Argyle.

Maja's start to the season

Amazingly, the goal-shy 25-year-old who only picked up one Championship goal from 12 games last campaign now has six to his name this season from as many league clashes, as second-tier defences begin to be scared stiff by the clinical nature of the Baggies number nine.

He only needed 26 touches of the ball against the visitors from Devon to tap home the winner, after new summer recruit Uros Racic put it on a plate for the 5 foot 11 forward to win the tight clash deep into the second 45 minutes.

West Brom will just be delighted that their patient approach with Maja’s injury issues has now paid off, with the promotion hopefuls needing to exercise a similar calmness with striker Daryl Dike soon, who is now back training himself after a long time out in the Hawthorns treatment room.

Whilst Corberan’s men have undoubtedly won with Maja in the here and now, there’s a botched deal from four years ago that will still bother those at the Baggies, with the striker in question – that was once very much on West Brom’s radar – now worth an unbelievable £40m.

When West Brom missed out on Ivan Toney

In conversation on talkSPORT earlier this year, Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony and Luke Dowling revealed how West Brom turned down the chance to sign then EFL sharp shooter Ivan Toney in 2020 for just £10m, with Brighton and Hove Albion and Celtic also interested at the time.

Dowling said: “We did have a conversation with them about the great Ivan Toney which in hindsight you look back. You’d look back now and say you’d pay it all day long [£10m fee].

“What we thought at the time, we’d just got promoted to the Premier League and we weren’t brave enough to take a player from League One. Is he going to score us the goals to keep us in the league? It wasn’t the right time.”

He more than showed that he could handle the pressures of the top-flight when moving onto Brentford though, after a goal laden few campaigns in Cambridgeshire, with a mightily impressive 72 strikes notched up in total for the Bees across 141 games.

Whilst Toney managed to improve more and more under Thomas Frank’s guidance – with the Brentford manager even labelling the senior England international as “remarkable” last year when discussing his rise with the club – West Brom struggled in the Premier League to be a threat in attack after missing out on the deadly finisher and were relegated straight back to the second tier at the end of the 2020/21 campaign.

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West Brom would only manage to have one player on their roster hit double digits during that term in the form of Baggies favourite Matheus Pereira, as Toney fired home a ridiculous 33 goals in the division below to further add insult to injury.

One that got away

The transfers that nearly happened but never did. This article is part of Football FanCast's One That Got Away series.

The former Peterborough man would then go on to be a wanted figure by the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea among other Premier League suitors, with his predicted price tag once coming in at an eye-watering £70m according to reports.

He would leave eventually depart West London for a lesser £40m, as Saudi Arabia came calling in the form of Al-Ahli this summer, where Toney continues to show off his clinical prowess in-front of goal with a brace on his debut in the Middle East.

West Brom would have loved to have been one club Toney played for on the way to his path to stardom, but they just weren’t prepared to gamble.

Of course, not every punt does pay off like this, as Corberan’s side now just focus on winning promotion back to the Premier League, to then perhaps be more risky in the transfer market.

West Brom could axe star who earns more than Maja & Johnston combined

Carlos Corberan could look to move on this forgotten West Bromwich Albion man soon.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 23, 2024

Wayne Rooney has been sensationally told to head to Manchester City and learn from Pep Guardiola after an "embarrassing" spell at Plymouth.

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Rooney sacked by PlymouthTold to go to City and learn from PepCurrently considering optionsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Manchester United legend is out of work once again after being sacked by Plymouth at the end of 2024. Rooney left the Championship side on the bottom of the table after a disastrous run of nine games without a victory and is now facing an uncertain future after another unimpressive spell in a management role.

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It's not clear if Rooney will try to continue in management or look for a new challenge after his departure from Plymouth. The 39-year-old has already been tipped to play "second fiddle" to wife Coleen, following her successful stint on TV show andSky Sports pundit Don Goodman thinks Rooney may be better offer going to work as an assistant coach.

WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

Goodman told Plejmo.com: "I do feel sorry for Wayne Rooney. Every role he's taken has been a really difficult one. It's difficult to see where he goes next. I understand the decision (Rooney's departure). Plymouth suffered some terrible away defeats with no quality and, more worryingly, no fight. They scored just three and conceded 35 goals in his 13 away games at Plymouth which is embarrassing, really. Something had to be done and I think Wayne knew that too.

"I get the feeling he'd like to stay involved in football but might need some time out. Perhaps he could go somewhere as a number two? It's hard to see him getting a manager role at any high level in the immediate future.

"I remember him joking about going to Manchester City and learning from Pep Guardiola previously. It sounds funny but it wouldn't be the worst idea, would it when you look at what Mikel Arteta and Enzo Maresca learned?! Obviously, that’s probably a non-starter but Coleen's been in the jungle so they might want to take some family time. He was an excellent as a pundit in the summer at the Euro’s and I’d imagine people would like to see him do it again. My best guess though, is that he'd like to get back in football in a ‘hands-on’ capacity.”

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR ROONEY

Rooney has also been tipped to return to former side Manchester United to work as a specialist coach as he mulls over his future. His standing in the game, after a brilliant playing career, means he may not lack for offers despite his recent struggles at Plymouth.

Barcelona could reportedly lose over £218 million after La Liga rejected their attempts to register Dani Olmo before January.

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La Liga have rejected Barcelona's attempt to register OlmoCatalan club could lose upto £218m ($273m)Olmo is currently a free agent and could sign for another clubFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Barcelona received grim news as La Liga rejected their attempt to register Olmo before the January deadline, putting the Catalan giants in a precarious financial situation. Currently, Olmo is technically a free agent. Despite this, his agent, Andy Bara, confirmed to Fabrizio Romano that the player's intention is to "stay at Barcelona" and that they are "not considering any other option." However, if the situation isn't resolved, the financial repercussions for Barcelona could be staggering, according to .

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Barcelona would still owe Olmo £41m ($51m) in wages for the remainder of his contract, which runs until 2030, even if he departs the club. Additionally, the club is still obligated to pay RB Leipzig £47m ($59m) as part of the transfer agreement when they signed the forward. Furthermore, Barcelona would miss out on any potential transfer fee for Olmo, whose market value is currently estimated at £53m ($66.5m) by Transfermarkt.

DID YOU KNOW?

The financial blow doesn’t stop there. Barcelona recently sold VIP boxes at the Spotify Camp Nou for £87m ($109m) as part of a revenue-generation strategy during the stadium's ongoing renovations. However, experts believe the club could have secured double that amount—an additional £87m – had the sales been properly optimized. When all these figures are combined, the potential loss exceeds £218 million ($343m), a sum that the cash-strapped club cannot afford to lose. While some fans hold onto a sliver of hope that Barcelona can reverse the ruling by January 3, the dominant mood among supporters and insiders surrounding the club is one of pessimism.

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

This isn’t just a footballing crisis; it’s a financial catastrophe that could have long-lasting effects on the club's operations and ambitions. With mounting obligations and diminishing revenue streams, the Catalan giants face an uphill battle to stabilize their accounts. As the saga unfolds, Barcelona will have to move forward without Dani Olmo. The team is set to face lower-league side Barbastro in the Copa del Rey on Saturday. Following that, they will compete in the Supercopa de España semi-final against Athletic Club.

England need to cross a statistical hurdle of stellar proportions if they are to win the third Ashes Test

Andy Zaltzman12-Dec-2013The WACA has seldom been a happy place for England’s Test team. Never, in the past 25 years. Six Tests, six defeats, a collective bowling average of 39 (their seventh worst out of the 29 Test venues where England have played at least three Tests since 1988), and a collective batting average of 19, making it England’s worst venue with the bat over the past quarter of a century – their worst on any ground in that time.In terms of venues at which to begin one of the greatest comebacks in the history of English sport, it is about as auspicious as a plump baby seal booking in for swimming lessons in a shark tank.If England are to avoid surrendering the Ashes in the third Test of five for the sixth time in their last seven tours to Australia, it will take a Herculean effort. They have the players to do it. Whether those players can find the runs and wickets to do it is, of course, an entirely different kettle of out-of-form fish. It would, obviously, help if they stop hitting the ball in the air to fielders on the leg side – a strategy with little historical success – and if Australia’s rampant destroyers with bat and ball can be reminded of the frailties that engulfed their game and their team relatively recently. Part A of that ought to be possible; part B might be.Confectionery Stall Prediction: Australia to win by six wickets, or 143 runs.Confectionery Stall Prediction Rate For This Series So Far: 0%.And now, in advance of England’s efforts to overcome historical precedent, a form book that contains some rude numbers and fruity language, and their own technical glitches with bat, ball and hands, a deluge of stats.(Warning: these numerical nuggets are unlikely to prompt proud English cricket fans to rush out for that St George’s Cross facial tattoo they have been vacillating over until the statistical time was right.)* In the five Tests since Australia were obliterated at Lord’s by a potent combination of England and themselves, their batsmen have collectively averaged 39.5 runs per wicket, and scored at 58 runs per 100 balls. England’s have averaged 25.5, with a strike rate of 44. No England bowler has kept his economy rate below 3.2.* Australia’s bowlers have struck on average every 36 balls in England’s two first innings in the series so far – currently the best first-innings strike rate any team has managed in a series against England since 1899.● Australia’s current economy rate of 2.59 is their best in an Ashes series since 1993, and their best in a home Ashes since 1978-79. England’s batting strike rate for the year of 45.0 is their lowest since 2001.* Matt Prior became the second wicketkeeper ever to bag five Test ducks in a year. Australia’s Wally Grout did so in 1961, heroically achieving the anti-milestone in just 13 innings (compared to Prior’s 22). Previously, no England keeper had ever scored four ducks in a year. In the process, the England gloveman equalled the record for most ducks by an England player in a year – nine players had done so previously (including Panesar and Anderson twice each). Prior’s anti-joy was short-lived however – four overs later, Anderson bagged his sixth quacker of 2013, setting a new England record.* England’s numbers 6 to 11 in this series collectively averaged 11.5 in the first two Tests – currently, albeit only after two matches, their third worst such figure in an Ashes series, behind only 1886-87 and 1956. Their average partnership for the fifth to tenth wickets of 13.6 is currently the second worst performance by an English middle and lower order in any series of more than one match, beaten only by the 1998 home series against South Africa.● From all three of those series, however, England emerged victorious. We know how exhaustive (and, perhaps, exhausting) England’s preparations are. Perhaps their tail-end subsidences are a statistical stratagem based on these three series wins that will inevitably bring glorious success come Sydney in January. Perhaps not.● By comparison, in England’s three recent Ashes series wins, their numbers 6 to 11 have averaged 24.8 in last summer’s victory, 29.1 in Australia three years ago, and 28.3 in 2009 – all in England’s top ten mid-to-low order Ashes series collective averages. Australia’s 6 to 11 are collectively averaging 50.7 after the first two Tests, which is currently their best ever in an Ashes series.* Alastair Cook in 13 first innings since his hundreds in Mumbai and Kolkata last year: average 21, strike rate 34, with two half-centuries, and a highest score of 62.* England have failed to score a hundred in the past three Tests. If no one posts three figures in Perth, it will be their first four-Test run without a hundred since 1999, when their batsmen failed to trouble the honours boards in six consecutive matches.* Brad Haddin, having scored 94, 53 and 118, has become the second wicketkeeper to pass 50 in his first three innings in an Ashes series. Gilchrist did so in his one innings in each of the first three Tests in 2001 (152, 90 and 54), which was also the only previous occasion on which a keeper had scored 90 or more in two innings in an Ashes series. Haddin’s current series is the 11th instance of a keeper hitting three 50-plus scores in an Ashes series.* England were bowled out for under 200 in their first three innings of an Ashes for the first time since Gregory and MacDonald blasted them away in 1921. Evidently, England have not learned as much about playing high-paced bowling in the intervening 92 years as they might have done. (They would have also been out for less than 200 in all four innings in the first two Tests of 1950-51 had they not plumped for a sticky-wicket-affected declaration at 68 for 7 in their first innings of the series.) (But let’s not harp on about that, it was ages ago.)● England have lost more Tests in Perth since 1990 than they have lost at Old Trafford or Trent Bridge, despite only playing there once every four years. If they lose for a seventh consecutive time, Perth will hop into joint second place on the list of grounds where England have lost most often since 1990, behind only Lord’s where they have played 42 Tests in that time (losing ten of them).● Cricketing gods, please have mercy.

Number of professionals in women’s domestic game increases from 41 to 51

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Oct-2021Teenage allrounder Alice Capsey, winner of the PCA Women’s Young Player of the Year award, has received her first professional contract in the expanded list announced by the ECB for 2021-22.The expected increase means the eight regional teams now all have six contracted players, with extra funding at Northern Diamonds and Thunder bringing the total number of women on domestic deals to 51 – in addition to the 16 centrally contracted by England Women.Alongside Capsey, who starred for Oval Invincibles as they won the inaugural Women’s Hundred while still studying for her A Levels, the other players on their first full-time contracts are: Ami Campbell, Katie Levick, Bess Heath, Charlie Dean, Danielle Gregory, Grace Scrivens and Laura Jackson.Related

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Yorkshire have provided funding for two further contracts at Diamonds, awarded to Netherlands batter Sterre Kalis and Rachel Slater; while Lancashire will also support an additional pro player, with Phoebe Graham moving across the Pennines from Diamonds.Sophia Dunkley moved on to an England contract in the summer, with Kirstie Gordon now on a domestic deal. Marie Kelly has switched from Central Sparks to Lightning, with Abbey Freeborne going in the opposite direction.”It’s absolutely fundamental to the future of women’s and girls’ cricket in England and Wales that we’re able to continue increasing the depth of our regional game by offering more professional contracts to our players,” Clare Connor, the ECB’s managing director of women’s cricket, said.”We cannot overstate the impact that a new professional structure is having on our game. We’ve already seen the positive impact it has had on players’ performances in a relatively short space of time. The players are thriving, raising standards across the game and deepening the potential talent pool for England Women.”Just as important is the visibility of these players, showing young girls that cricket is a game that can offer them a professional future.”Professionalising the women’s game is a significant chapter for our sport and I’m thrilled that we’re able to continue that momentum by increasing the number of professional contracts on offer.”ECB women’s professional contracts 2021-22Central Sparks: Emily Arlott, Ami Campbell, Gwenan Davies, Abbey Freeborn, Eve Jones, Issy WongLightning: Kathryn Bryce, Sarah Bryce, Bethan Ellis, Kirstie Gordon, Lucy Higham, Marie KellyNorthern Diamonds: Hollie Armitage, Jenny Gunn, Bess Heath, Beth Langston, Katie Levick, Linsey Smith, *Sterre Kalis, *Rachel SlaterSouthern Vipers: Georgia Adams, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Charlie Dean, Tara Norris, Paige ScholfieldSouth East Stars: Alice Capsey, Aylish Cranstone, Alice Davidson-Richards, Danielle Gregory, Tash Farrant, Bryony SmithSunrisers: Amara Carr, Kelly Castle, Naomi Dattani, Jo Gardner, Cordelia Griffith, Grace ScrivensThunder: Georgie Boyce, Alex Hartley, Laura Jackson, Hannah Jones, Emma Lamb, Ellie Threlkeld, ** Phoebe GrahamWestern Storm: Dani Gibson, Alex Griffiths, Georgia Hennessey, Sophie Luff, Fi Morris, Nat Wraith*Funded by Northern Diamonds regional host, Yorkshire CCC
**Funded by Thunder regional host, Lancashire CCC

da bwin： With just two weeks left until deadline day, Chelsea have spent the summer stealing the headlines once again and could now end on their most surprising addition yet, according to reports.

Chelsea transfer news

da realbet： Once again, the Blues face a guessing game as to how their season is going to go with a new manager in Enzo Maresca alongside a sensational nine fresh faces. Chelsea have welcomed the likes of Filip Jorgensen, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and, most recently, Pedro Neto in another overhaul.

Speaking to the official website, Chelsea's ninth signing of the summer said: "I feel really grateful to have joined this club. I have worked really hard in my career to be here and I’m looking forward to getting on the pitch with this shirt."

The winger arrived for a reported £54m in a hefty deal, but even after splashing the cash once again, the Blues may not be done on the incomings front this month.

Related Chelsea prepared to offer Lukaku discount as Napoli table £26 million bid

The deal is heavily tied in with Chelsea’s move for Victor Osimhen.

Posts 1 ByEmilio Galantini Aug 16, 2024

Now, according to Fussball News, Chelsea are willing to offer Jadon Sancho an escape route out of his Manchester United misery and to Stamford Bridge before the summer window slams shut. The Blues are reportedly willing to hand Manchester United two academy stars in a swap deal for the former Borussia Dortmund star or land a loan deal with an obligation to buy, in which they'll cover his £250,000-a-week wages.

Whilst Sancho did patch things up with United boss Erik ten Hag, there's been no signs to suggest that he'll be a starter at Old Trafford this season, once again leaving the door open for an exit. In what would be one of the most surprising deals of the summer, Sancho could yet be on his way to Chelsea.

"Great" Sancho is a risk not worth taking for Maresca

Although he showed several signs during his loan move at Dortmund in the second half of last season that he is still capable of becoming a game-changer, Sancho is yet to show it in the Premier League. And given that Chelsea have just signed a winger in the form of Neto, the England international is arguably not worth the risk, especially considering his £250,000-a-week salary.

Of course, it would be on brand for this modern-day Chelsea side to ignore their growing squad and the red flags that Sancho would come with and secure his signature, nonetheless, but only time will tell whether they push on with their move.

Former Dortmund boss Edin Terzic was full of praise for Sancho last season, saying via BVB Buzz: "We were very happy with Jadon's performance against PSG. He had a really great game. We've emphasised again and again that he shows us in every training session how good he is. He hadn't played for a long time, but now he's fit, bursting with energy, and enjoying playing for us."

The move would undoubtedly steal the headlines. Whether it will take place remains to be seen, however.