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Arsenal are poised to complete the signing of a Premier League star imminently, with the player now undergoing his medicals ahead of his proposed move to N5.

Arsenal trying to convince £55m ace to join, Arteta is speaking to him

The Gunners boss is getting involved.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 4, 2025

Andrea Berta’s appointment is starting to pay dividends, as Mikel Arteta prepares to welcome a host of new signings to the Emirates Stadium.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£5m

Arsenal have already acquired Kepa Arrizabalaga, who officially became Berta’s first signing in a £5 million move from Chelsea earlier this week, with the Gunners also finally sealing a deal for Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad.

The Premier League title hopefuls are actively trying to sign an attacker too. Arsenal are reported to be in “advanced” talks with Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze over terms (L’Equipe), but this won’t have an impact on their efforts for Chelsea winger Noni Madueke, as it is believed both players could join them in separate deals (Fabrizio Romano).

All of this comes amid Berta’s pursuit of a new striker as well – likely to be one of Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres or RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko – with the director having worked extensively on deals for both men simultaneously before deciding which move would be best for the club (BBC).

However, one man who looks certain to land before the likes of Eze, Madueke, Sesko or Gyokeres is Brentford captain Christian Norgaard.

Arsenal recently agreed a deal which could reach £15 million for Norgaard, with reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano confirming that the necessary paperwork has been exchanged ahead of his switch.

The 31-year-old Bees figurehead is an adept and Premier League-proven player, with reliable journalist Ben Jacobs sharing when supporters can expect him to be announced as a new Arsenal player.

Arsenal expected to complete Christian Norgaard signing next week

Speaking on talkSPORT, Jacobs reports that Norgaard is undergoing medical tests at Arsenal, and has completed the first half of his physical assessments. The Denmark international is expected to fully complete his move next week, so it won’t be long until supporters can officially welcome him.

“It’s Eze plus a left winger, and then you have a number nine as well,” said Jacobs on the club’s transfer plans.

“Add in Norgaard, who has done the first part of his medical, and is expected to complete his move next week.

“On top of that factor in the €60m or so outlay for Martin Zubimendi and Arsenal are getting going. Mosquera is another one they’re very optimistic on.”

Arsenal’s signing of Norgaard has been praised by critics, like former Tottenham director Frank Arnesen, who recently told Danish news outlet Tipsbladest that he’s the full package.

“Christian is a fantastic guy,” said Arnsen.

“I have nothing but good things to say about him. You meet players many times in your life, but I always hoped this one would have a fantastic career. He has got that. He has become captain of Brentford and has done incredible.

“Mikel Arteta was fantastic as a player, I think, and as a coach he has done absolutely superbly, both as an assistant at Manchester City and afterwards at Arsenal with the way he plays football.

“He doesn’t just take a player in without knowing exactly what he’s going to use him for. Maybe he won’t play 50 games, you don’t know, maybe it’ll only be 30, but it’s about the whole package. He gets the whole package with Christian.”

علق عماد متعب مهاجم الأهلي الأسبق، على تعادل منتخب مصر أمام بوركينا فاسو في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما مساء اليوم ضمن لقاءات تصفيات كأس العالم 2026.

وانتهت المباراة بين مصر وبوركينا فاسو بالتعادل 0-0، ليتم تأجيل حسم تأهل الفراعنة إلى الجولة المقبلة أمام جيبوتي.

طالع | موعد مباراة مصر القادمة بعد التعادل مع بوركينا فاسو في تصفيات كأس العالم

وقال عماد متعب في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة اون سبورت: “مبروك لمنتخب مصر على النقطة وإن شاء الله على التأهل، تتبقى خطوة واحدة، اللاعبون كانوا رجالاً وكان عندهم إصرار وروح وهذا يُحسب لـ حسام حسن ولهم”.

وأكمل: “كانت توجد مساحات وفرص لـ منتخب مصر، بوركينا فاسو لم أشعر بشراسة هجومية أو دفاعية منهم، ومنتخب مصر لم يكن يريد أكثر من ذلك في المباراة”.

وأردف: “حسام حسن كان ينتظر أن يفتح بوركينا فاسو الملعب ويلعب على الهجمة المرتدة ويستغلها”.

FSG weren’t lying when they said they were going to spend big this summer. Liverpool fans needed to buckle up ahead of the summer transfer window, with the Anfield side having crossed the £200m mark before even reaching July.

The club’s full-back problems have been resolved through acquisitions of Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, and sporting director Richard Hughes has also overseen the shattering of Liverpool’s transfer record by signing Florian Wirtz for £100m plus £16m in add-ons, which will make the German the most expensive player in British history.

Liverpool aren’t done yet. While Jarell Quansah’s summer sale to Bayer Leverkusen will open up space in central defence, and Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi is the centre of ongoing talks, many fans would point toward the front of the ship as the area most in need of a brush-up.

If and when Napoli sign the unconvincing Darwin Nunez, Hughes will be expected to find a focal frontman to lead the line for the Premier League champions next season and beyond.

What's the latest on Hugo Ekitike

Liverpool need a striker, and the man signed come autumn may turn out to be Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike.

The French forward, 23, enjoyed a tremendous breakout year in Germany, leading analyst Ben Mattinson to dub him “one of the best strikers out there.”

Liverpool have been getting ready to bid for the forward for a while, but FSG are understandably hesitant given Die Adler’s £85m valuation of their star man.

This is considerably more affordable than Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, who could set a successful suitor back £200m this summer, but still rather high for a club having already forked out bucketloads on fresh talents.

So then, who to go for? Well, Ekitike’s good, as the graphic above illustrates, but he’s not as complete and refined as another transfer target who would require a far more modest outlay.

Liverpool hold talks for Ekitike alternative

As per Caught Offside, Liverpool are still in the race for Sporting CP sensation Viktor Gyokeres, who will almost certainly leave Portugal this summer after a breakdown in relationships at his outfit.

In fact, the Reds are among the sides to have opened a dialogue with Sporting, seeking information on the marksman as he prepares to leave the club.

Arsenal and Manchester United appear to have the edge in the race, but if Liverpool raise their intrigue, there’s every chance Arne Slot could secure a top-class marksman for 2025/26.

Gyokeres will be available for a fee lower than his €100m (£85m) release clause, with the Liga Portugal champions hoping to bank €80m (£68m) for their number nine’s sale.

What Viktor Gyokeres would bring to Liverpool

While £68m is a rather hefty figure, Gyokeres’ performances over the past couple of years suggest Liverpool would receive bang for their buck.

After joining the Portuguese side from Coventry City in the Championship for around £20m two years ago, the Sweden striker has grown into his skin as one of Europe’s leading goalscorers, posting 97 strikes across 102 matches for the Leões, assisting 28 goals too.

While the Portuguese top division isn’t the highest in overall quality, that’s not to say that Gyokeres hasn’t proved his worth, with the levels of his clinical shooting underscoring his place among Europe’s elite. Indeed, the “lethal” forward has been described as “the best finisher in the world” by football statistician Spencer Mossman.

Ekitike has a high ceiling, all right, but he’s not yet the finished product, and we’ve seen plenty of rising stars not quite reach their potential when making the cosmic leap into the Premier League, where the hard graft only just begins.

Looking at the pairings’ contrasted statistics across the 2024/25 league campaign, Gyokeres for Sporting and Ekitike in Germany for Frankfurt, it may well be that Liverpool should go for the more experienced man.

Matches (starts)

33 (31)

33 (31)

Goals

39

15

Assists

7

8

Shots (on target)*

4.2 (2.4)

3.5 (1.5)

Big chances missed

23

16

Pass completion

73%

76%

Big chances created

11

12

Key passes*

1.9

1.3

Dribbles*

1.8

1.6

Ball recoveries*

2.3

2.6

Tackles + interceptions*

0.5

0.7

Duels (won)*

5.5

4.2

Like Ekitike, the 27-year-old is dynamic in his performances, dribbling at a frequent rate, getting stuck in with duels and providing creative support for his teammates, but he’s also far more prolific and less profligate when placed into a goalscoring radius.

Moreover, he ranked among the top 12% of forwards in the Champions League last term for goal contributions, the top 10% for shot-creating actions and the top 6% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref, emphasising his ability to do it on the biggest stage.

Of course, a blunter illustration would be his emphatic hat-trick against Manchester City, picking Pep Guardiola’s side apart last November.

Ultimately, Liverpool know they should manage to secure themselves an upgrade on Nunez this summer, the Uruguayan only scoring seven times for Slot all season, but it’s important for FSG to pick the right man.

Gyokeres might not be the youngest on the block, but he’s still got many years of reliable service ahead of him and would surely provide Liverpool with a reliable scoring presence, settled as he would be among some of Europe’s most devastating and dynamic forwards in Wirtz and Salah, and more besides.

He's like Salah & Isak: Liverpool join the race to sign £43m "superstar"

Liverpool may need to enforce further change up top this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 30, 2025

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has a few intriguing players on his extensive shortlist of targets for the north Londoners, and one of them is now believed to be a marquee Premier League star.

Arsenal pursuit of new winger suggests dressing room shake-up

Bukayo Saka’s three-month lay-off midway through 2024/2025, combined with Leandro Trossard’s contract expiring in 2026, has reportedly prompted Berta to enter the market for a quality new wide player.

Arsenal ready to make "bold" bid to sign £86m Serie A star who Berta wants

He’s emerged as a “prime” target for the Italian.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 5, 2025

New names are being linked regularly, with £86 million Juventus star Kenan Yildiz among the wingers attracting interest from Arsenal, according to reports in Turkey.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

While there’s no outright plan to sell Gabriel Martinelli, a recent piece from The Athletic suggested that Berta and Mikel Arteta would entertain substantial offers, with the Brazilian valued at around £50 million.

Given Arsenal already have an abundance of proven wide-players, including the emergence of highly-rated starlet Ethan Nwaneri, ex-Gunners defender Mikael Silvestre is convinced the club’s interest in signing another winger could indicate a dressing room shake-up.

“I’d be wary of bringing in too many wingers like Nico Williams through the door,” Silvestre told Esports Insider.

“You need to give Ethan Nwaneri some game time; they have Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli already.

“I don’t see why they’d want to bring another winger unless one of those players wants to leave or if the club are planning to break the bank on a world-class wide player. It would surprise me if the club spent heavily on a striker and a winger in the same window.”

Given the high-profile names eyed by Berta, it is very reasonable to assume that Arsenal could indeed splash the cash on a world-class winger.

Andrea Berta identifies Morgan Rogers as a top Arsenal target

Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas, writing in a piece for the broadcast giant, claims Aston Villa sensation Morgan Rogers is on the club’s agenda – alongside the heavily-linked Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Leroy Sane (Bayern Munich) and Athletic Bilbao’s Williams.

The Englishman is fresh off the back of an excellent campaign under Unai Emery, racking up 14 goals and 15 assists in all competitions after becoming a very important player for Villa.

Rogers finished 2024/2025 as Villa’s second-best performer in the Premier League by average match rating per 90, according to WhoScored, all while completing more successful take-ons than all of his teammates.

His rise to the top has even prompted NSWE to slap a £100 million valuation on the 22-year-old’s head to deter suitors, but according to Sky’s Thomas, Berta has identified Rogers as one of his top Arsenal targets for the wide area regardless.

There is little denying that, if Arsenal were to formalise their interest in Rogers, they’d be looking to bring down his mammoth reported price tag. However, the former Middlesbrough man could certainly be worth that effort.

“I think he’s going to be a player,” said pundit Tony Cascarino.

“He really looks, there’s something about, he reminds me a little bit of Jamal Musiala. He’s that guy that picks up the ball, and he’ll just make runs, and he’ll create problems for others. He’s got a lot about him.”

Glasgow Rangers had little to play for but pride and bragging rights when they faced Celtic in the Old Firm derby at Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

Their city rivals had already wrapped up the league title last weekend, resigning the Gers to another second-placed finish, but Barry Ferguson’s men restored some pride with a 1-1 draw in front of their home fans.

Cyriel Dessers scored the only goal of the opening 45 with a tidy finish just before the half-time break, slotting into the bottom corner with his left foot after Liam Scales failed to complete a tackle on him, before Adam Idah’s second-half equaliser.

The Nigerian forward held the corner flag aloft and basked in the joy of the home support, able to celebrate in view of away supporters, finally, in an Old Firm clash.

It was his 17th goal of the season in the Premiership and the Europa League combined, which is a respectable return but does not tell the full story of his campaign.

Why Rangers could sell Cyriel Dessers

With the summer transfer window on the horizon, Rangers will have some big decisions to make on the players currently in the squad, as they have now failed to win the title in each of the last four seasons.

The Light Blues have to find a way to improve and close the gap to Celtic in the league in order to compete for the title in the 2025/26 campaign, and Dessers is one star who could be a candidate to move on from Ibrox.

During the Sky Sports commentary of the 1-1 draw with Celtic, former Gers midfielder Scott Arfield noted that Dessers is “on his heels” too often when the ball comes forward, which limits how effective the team can be in transition when passes are played down the sides of the defenders.

Cyriel Dessers (Premiereship)	23/24	24/25
Appearances	35	32
Goals	16	14
Assists	4	2
Pass accuracy	70%	73%
Duels won per game	2.3	1.9
Ground duel success rate	29%	33%
Aerial duel success rate	40%	32%
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Rangers striker struggles with the physical side of the game, losing the majority of his duels without winning many per game, and is not particularly reliable as a passer.

Dessers has also missed a whopping 59 ‘big chances’ in the Premiership and European competitions combined since the start of last season, which shows that the striker is very wasteful in front of goal to go along with his struggles out of possession.

The 30-year-old forward could, therefore, be sold if the new Rangers manager does not want him to be his first-choice striker, and that could be the case if the latest report is to be believed.

The latest on the Rangers manager search

According to Football Insider, Steven Gerrard has emerged as the leading candidate to take the permanent Rangers job as manager this summer.

The report claims that the English head coach is now the ‘favourite’ to land the role for the second time in his career, having left the club back in 2021.

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It states that the former Aston Villa boss, who is currently out of work, is the favourite to be appointed as the next Rangers manager ahead of Marco Rose, the former RB Leipzig tactician.

Football Insider reveals that the 49ers are expected to play a key role in the appointment and that the 4-3-3 favoured boss is currently at the top of their list of targets for the job.

If the iconic Liverpool midfielder does become the Gers manager for the second time, this could be bad news for Dessers and his future at Ibrox beyond this season.

Why Gerrard's appointment would be bad news for Dessers

The English boss returning for a second go at Ibrox would be bad news for the Nigeria international because of the kind of striker he liked in his first spell at the club.

Only Connor Goldson (182) and James Tavernier (178) made more appearances for Rangers as outfield players under his management than Alfredo Morelos (158), which illustrates how important the Colombian star was for him in Glasgow.

Gerrard, whose reputation was described as “amazing” by former England defender Glen Johnson, won the league title for the Gers in the 2020/21 campaign with the Colombia international as his main man up front.

Morelos, once described as a “real battering-ram” by ex-coach Scot Page, scored 12 goals and provided four assists in his 29 Premiership outings, but it was also the physicality in his performances that made him so influential for the Scottish giants.

Alfredo Morelos (Premiership)	20/21	21/22
Appearances	29	26
Goals	12	11
Assists	4	7
Pass accuracy	80%	80%
Duels won per game	3.7	4.1
Ground duel success rate	42%	41%
Aerial duel success rate	36%	48%
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the powerful forward provided a physical presence in the number nine role for Gerrard, winning more duels and winning a higher percentage of his duels than Dessers has in his two seasons at Ibrox.

The current Rangers striker does not have the pace, the raw strength, or the mobility that Morelos consistently displayed under the English boss during that successful period in the club’s history, as evidenced by his struggles in the Premiership this season.

Dessers’ wasteful finishing in all competitions is another reason why Gerrard may not want the Nigerian number nine to lead the line for his team next season, should he be appointed as Ferguson’s successor this summer.

Therefore, the ex-Serie A marksman may not want the legendary former midfielder to get the job because it could spell the end of his career at Ibrox if he wants a forward who is similar to Morelos at Ibrox.

Kris Boyd 2.0: Rangers lining up move for "pretty special" SPFL talent

Rangers are eyeing up a young striker who could be the club’s new Kris Boyd.

By
Dan Emery

Apr 30, 2025

It is now down to the 49ers and Kevin Thelwell to convince Gerrard to take the job, if he is their favoured candidate, to bring glory back to the club next season and beyond.

Fulham are reportedly expected to hand one of their most influential players a new contract, according to a promising new update regarding his future.

Fulham still eyeing European finish

The Cottagers face a massive game this weekend, taking on Chelsea in a match that not only represents a west London derby, but is also a key fixture in the race for European football in the Premier League.

Monday’s 1-0 defeat away to Bournemouth leaves Marco Silva’s Fulham side sitting ninth in the table, meaning they are now trailing sixth-place Chelsea by six points.

Realistically, only a win will do for the Cottagers at home to the Blues this weekend, but even if they do fall short in the quest to be in Europe next season, it has still been a positive campaign overall.

The key is for Fulham to build on this season, and the right players will need to be signed this summer, in order for them to find another gear, such as Werder Bremen full-back Felix Agu who has been linked in recent days. Now, a key update has emerged regarding a player who it is vital to keep hold of.

Fulham plot new contract for Rodrigo Muniz

According to The Boot Room‘s Graeme Bailey, Fulham are “ready to hand” striker Rodrigo Muniz a “bumper” new deal at the club, in order to tie him down, amid interest from Nottingham Forest and West Ham.

“They think they’ve got a real gem there, there’s also a real chance Brazil’s number nine at the World Cup might end up being Muniz. He thinks he’s got a great chance. A bumper new deal, because there are other teams sniffing around him, West Ham and Forest. His goal-scoring record has been great. He’s in line for a big new deal at Fulham. They’re very happy with and want him to commit.”

Sealing a contract extension for Muniz is vital, with the £50m-rated star a vital figure throughout the campaign, scoring eight goals in as many Premier League starts, also coming off the substitutes’ bench 23 times in the competition.

Meanwhile, Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has heaped praise on the Brazilian, with the former England captain knowing a thing or two about what makes a top striker.

“He really was a handful. Tough to play against, horrible to play against in fact. That’s always a good thing for a centre-forward, that’s what you have to be. “He was strong, he ran the channels, he brought players into the game and he really upset the Bournemouth defenders in every way, in everything he was doing.”

Fulham now looking at signing £12m ex-Tottenham player in free transfer

He could be a bargain.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 17, 2025

The fact that Bailey mentions Muniz starting for Brazil at the 2026 World Cup says so much about his ability, showing why Fulham will do all they can to retain his services. To lose him now would be a major blow, especially as he is still only 23 years of age.

College’s international alumni show how cricket is still the ticket in the Caribbean

Cameron Ponsonby15-Nov-2024As the woman on the radio says: “Barbados, the island that always punches above its weight.”It’s a phrase that’s been associated with the nation for decades and been used by the good, the great and the mediocre. It’s used on the radio as a jingle, it’s been used by former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan and now it’s being used on ESPNcricinfo. What a trifecta.The latest hotspot of talent to come to attention has been Harrison College. A school known more for its academic prowess than athletic, it nevertheless counts among its alumni Jacob Bethell, Phil Salt and Hayley Matthews as active international cricketers to pass through its halls; Bethell and Matthews as students, Salt a cricketing loanee who did his studies at a nearby private school.Salt and Matthews were team-mates at school, while Bethell played in the same Harrison College team as TV broadcaster Nikhil Uttamchandani, who has become a regular presenter of cricket around the world. Uttamchandani played in Bethell’s first school match and ran him out.”Without facing a ball,” Bethell quickly adds when it is brought up.Arguably what makes Harrison College special, though, is its reflection of Barbados as a nation as opposed to its own individual excellence.Because despite the fact you could turn on your TV tomorrow and watch Salt and Bethell batting, as Uttamchandani commentates, Harrison is far from the most prestigious cricketing school on the island.That award would go to one of Combermere, Lodge or Foundation. Lodge was the first ever school team to be promoted to the first division and Foundation is the alma mater of Jofra Archer. Combermere boasts the ultimate alumni top trumps of Kraigg Brathwaite, Carlos Brathwaite, Chris Jordan and, of course, Rihanna.Cricket is still taken exceptionally seriously on the island. Yes, fewer lower-level games take place than previously, but the Barbados Cricket Association Elite Division (the highest level of the club game) is broadcast on national radio and acts as a pipeline to the national team, and more pertinently, a career.Salt and Bethell produced a key partnership in England’s opening victory in Barbados•Getty Images”Let me put it in simpler terms,” says Corey Edwards, a former Barbadian seamer who was the coach of Bethell and Matthews at Harrison College.”Kraigg Brathwaite, Jomel Warrican, Carlos Brathwaite, Jason Holder, Dwayne Smith. I could name another five or ten on this hand here. These people are millionaires, or people that have made a decent amount of money. Cricket is still the ticket. Name me one footballer from Barbados that plays in the Premier League.”It remains a bugbear that the decline of cricket in the West Indies is spoken about so nonchalantly, when the truth is that the sport, even if slightly less popular than it was previously, still sits so far higher in the national consciousness in the Caribbean than almost anywhere else in the world. By way of example, a colleague got into a taxi in St Lucia where the driver bemoaned the fact that Johnson Charles’ return from injury was delayed. When, exactly, was the last time you got into a taxi in the UK and the driver was in a bad mood because Will Jacks’ hamstring scans came back with a grade two, rather than grade one, tear?Related

Bethell hoping to dodge Barbados boos on West Indies homecoming

Liam Livingstone trumps Shai Hope to square series in battle of captain's hundreds

Phil Salt's century, Saqib Mahmood's four, power England to eight-wicket win

Rihanna has to wait, it's family time for Salt and Bethell at Kensington Oval

Jacob Bethell, England's renegade – and next red-ball hope?

“Here’s the thing,” continues Edwards, who himself briefly moved to England in the early 2000s with a view to playing county cricket. “There is no proper system in place for these youngsters – and especially youngsters that have the talent of a Jacob Bethell.”There’s no easy way in Barbados that you could be on someone’s staff to make a living. To be producing stats day in, day out so that you could get picked for West Indies.”So if cricket is the ticket, how do we make sure that ticket keeps ticketing?”The talent-drain from Barbados to England is well-known: Jordan, Archer, Bethell etc. And while no ill will is harboured on the island towards those players who moved abroad, it is nevertheless still galling from an English perspective to be cheering the addition of two generational talents with one breath and then sighing at a weakened West Indies team losing 3-0 across the Test summer. Let me just take your food and then ask why you’re hungry.Nor, if the status quo remains the same, will they be the last. Che Simmons, 20, is currently on Warwickshire’s books and could be the next Windies-qualified talent to swap allegiances.What is needed are playing opportunities … and cash.The cricket square at Harrison College, Barbados•ESPNcricinfo LtdOne solution could be to allow dual nationals, as Archer and Bethell were, to play in the County Championship without having to give up their eligibility for West Indies. We’ve seen that process play out in reverse already, with Ireland’s development as a Test nation built in part due to a raft of players competing in the County Championship, only for their accession to Test status to cause those players to be classified as overseas, which closed off a vital source of experience (and income).If dual nationals were allowed to play as locals, this development pathway would remain open, the standard of county cricket would improve and so too the standard of global cricket, as any player – Bajan, Irish or otherwise – from around the world with a British passport could play domestically. All without having to convince the big boys to reach into their pockets and hand out some more cash.On the other end of the scale, it could also mean players like Daniel Bell-Drummond, who is British-born but qualifies for West Indies through his parents, could play Test cricket without having to revoke his right to play for Kent as a local player. The modern world is increasingly transient. The game could reflect that.”I had conversations with the West Indies six, nine months back before they arrived about what assistance we can provide,” ECB chief executive Richard Gould said in July.”The specific request that came from the West Indies was can you help us with an Under-19 tour so that we can get more of our players accessing red-ball cricket in those [English] conditions. So it’s not always about the money and there are different ways of doing it.”This would provide red-ball cricket. And isn’t about the money.The Caribbean still loves cricket, with Barbados remaining a nation that, as ever, punches above its weight. It is to everyone’s benefit, for any idea however big or small, to let the cricket ticket keep ticketing.

The team built by Shanaka and Silverwood – without much time for planning, mind you – has proved to the world, again, that they are no pushovers

Shashank Kishore10-Sep-20225:52

Asia Cup final: are Sri Lanka the favourites?

It seemed inconceivable on the opening night of the Asia Cup that Sri Lanka would end up beating Bangladesh, Afghanistan, India and Pakistan on the bounce. From nearly being dumped from their own party – they are the hosts, remember? – to a run to the final, their spree has added a refreshing twist to a tournament many felt would be a three-match India-Pakistan series with some undercards thrown in between.Sri Lanka’s ordinary record coming into the tournament has made their run all the more awe-inspiring. They landed in Dubai having lost nine of their previous 11 T20Is. Injuries within the group delayed their squad announcement until they had to go ahead with it, without Avishka Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha and Kusal Perera.Two weeks on, their young outfit, led by the mild-mannered and smiling Dasun Shanaka, will be looking to pull off one of their biggest white-ball wins in recent times. For a side that doesn’t have towering superstars, or many in-demand players for their T20 skillsets – barring Wanindu Hasaranga, of course – this will be a battle of mind over matter, and skill over stardom.Related

• Tactics Board: Tackling Hasaranga, Sri Lanka's in-form openers and the toss impact

• Nissanka, Mendis, Shanaka, Theekshana – the heroes of Sri Lanka's memorable Asia Cup campaign

• Pakistan look to end decade-long Asia Cup drought but Sri Lanka have psychological edge

• Sri Lanka continue to ace the big chase, somehow

• Sri Lanka are discovering new heroes, one match at a time

This isn’t a team built on the genes of the past, or with the ammunition and aggro of a Sanath Jayasuriya or Romesh Kaluwitharana. It isn’t a team with the magical skills of Muthiah Muralidaran or Lasith Malinga. There is no sage-like wisdom – what Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene brought – to turn to.Simply, this is an inexperienced team having little or no choice but to learn on the fly. They have racked up these wins despite having a mediocre domestic T20 set-up when compared to India or Pakistan or Bangladesh. Although the Lanka Premier League has had two seasons [it has been postponed this year], the IPL, PSL and BPL are more established events.However, the situation at home – with the raging economic crisis – might have put some things into perspective. Shanaka has time and again spoken of trying to put smiles on people’s faces back home. Bhanuka Rajapaksa wants to give back to the fans the brand of cricket Sri Lanka played in the 1990s. Hasaranga wants fans to start believing in the team again. There is a collective sense of happiness and freedom. It has spread to every corner of the traveling contingent.Under new coach Chris Silverwood, the team has already achieved a landmark 3-2 ODI series win over Australia at home, apart from Test wins over Australia and Pakistan. So they know they are good enough. Even if that confidence has at times been replaced by diffidence, like on that opening night of the Asia Cup against Afghanistan, or in the first Test against Australia in July.1:53

Shanaka: My records don’t matter, we need to win more matches

Without some of their best players available for the Asia Cup, which took away a lot of pace and batting firepower, Sri Lanka had to do a quick fix; there wasn’t enough time for an overhaul. In any case, Silverwood has had to hit the ground running. In the four months he has been with Sri Lanka, he has barely had time to breathe.The caravan has rolled so quickly that he has had to be dynamic almost at all times. Like the move to open with Kusal Mendis, who has provided some clean, frills-free batting, in place of Danushka Gunathilaka. Or hedging bets on Pathum Nissanka, an old-school, orthodox batter. Or handing the new ball to Dilshan Madushanka, the wiry left-arm quick, who didn’t have bowling spikes until three years ago. He had to find ways to avoid his father’s wrath every day to play cricket. Here he was, splaying Virat Kohli’s stumps with a vicious inswinger. He may not have played if not for the injuries, but it’s now hard to see how Sri Lanka will leave him out.On the field, there’s been no filth from Shanaka. He’s a genial character, happy to offer his insights whenever his bowlers need it, but happy to watch their execution from afar at other times. He hasn’t been at their ear all the time mouthing instructions.Dasun Shanaka, in the background, but at the centre of Sri Lanka’s revival•AFP/Getty ImagesIn fact, Shanaka has been that quiet contributor who has risen above pressure and delivered with the bat without a fuss. It’s almost as if his job is to walk out in pressure situations and bail the team out, like he did with a match-winning knock against India after Sri Lanka had lost four wickets for next to nothing, turning a canter to the target into a full-blown meltdown.You can’t look at him and think he is a reluctant captain. He’s a bowler’s captain. He gives them fields they want, and allows them leeway for errors. And he stays in the background. Apart from a quip or two about Afghanistan’s bowling being more threatening than Bangladesh’s. Even that, ESPNcricinfo expert Farveez Maharoof said, wasn’t like Shanaka at all.If it became a flashpoint of sorts, it wasn’t of Shanaka’s making. And we know how Bangladesh’s “at least we have Shakib [Al Hasan] and Mustafizur [Rahman]; Sri Lanka have none” ended.Calmness has been at the centre of Sri Lanka’s success. They haven’t so far been intimidated by pressure. They have also had oodles of luck, having won each of the tosses in their four wins. And so, batting first is a challenge they are yet to embrace. How they react to this unfamiliar challenge in the final – if they have to – could well decide the outcome of the contest.But for a team that has withstood several challenges thrown at them to punch above their weight and show themselves and the world that they are no pushovers, Sunday night could yet be the springboard to a brighter future.

Fingerspinners are increasingly making their presence felt in the powerplay in IPL matches

Andrew Fidel Fernando16-Sep-2020In the early years of the IPL, offspinners were the go-to spin bowlers. Late-career Muttiah Muralitharan kept the Chennai Super Kings’ middle overs tight, Harbhajan Singh rocked it for the Mumbai Indians, and before long, Sunil Narine and R Ashwin would come through. In the first five IPL seasons, offspin comprised 41% of the spin deliveries, compared to 24% for wristspin and 35% for left-arm orthodox.In the years since, however, offspinners have slipped in popularity in limited-overs cricket, compared to slow bowlers of other descriptions. Globally this perhaps has something to do with the crackdown on the doosra, which many offspin bowlers have not been able to consistently deliver legally. (The carrom ball is generally much easier to pick from the hand.)It has been no different in the IPL. Although offspinners deliver roughly the same proportion of deliveries, relative to other kinds of bowling, as in the early years of the last decade, the rise of wristspin has been marked. Where in the 2014 season offspinners, left-arm orthodox bowlers and wristspinners all delivered just under 15% of the overall deliveries bowled, the popularity of wristspin has grown significantly since then, largely due to their wicket-taking potential.