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Todd Boehly and the Chelsea ownership team are the subject of fan protests, but finding a buyer will be "very hard" following a mammoth investment.

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Abramovich moved on in May 2022Huge investment but little return since thenFans growing tired of false promisesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Premier League heavyweights were the subject of a £4.25 billion ($5bn) takeover in May 2022, as Roman Abramovich saw his reign at Stamford Bridge come to close. Huge sums of money have been pumped into the club since then, including over £1bn ($1.3bn) on transfer fees, but little return has been seen.

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That has led to disgruntlement among the fanbase, with there now calls for Boehly and Co. to sell up and move on. It is, however, considered to be unlikely that another deal will be done in west London as the Blues’ current board overpaid initially and still have ambitious plans – which include a potential new stadium – up their sleeve.

WHAT FOOTBALL FINANCE EXPERT SAID

Football finance expert Stefan Borson has told when asked about the prospect of Chelsea coming back onto the market: “Boehly did a keynote on Thursday at the FT Business Summit. He was impressive actually. He spoke a lot of American. He spoke a lot about Netflix and how he believed that the Premier League content was as close to Netflix as you could get from a global perspective, just because football is a global sport almost uniquely.

“He clearly sees the opportunities for the media perspective going forward. He paid a very rich price for Chelsea based on his experiences I think in American sport and, therefore, what the potential value of English clubs could be.

“I think the chances of them selling are low and it would be very hard to find a buyer who would bail them out of what they’ve invested to date, which is probably close to £3.5 billion by now. They have also still got the stadium issue.

“I think it’s been too expensive and that they overpaid. If they can do everything that they want to do with English football as leaders of that disruption in terms of changes to the game, changes to the way it monetises itself, then clearly, they can still make a return. But it’s been a very expensive project, so I think it’d be very hard to find somebody that would take them out completely.”

Getty/GOALWHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

Chelsea remain in the hunt for major silverware this season, having reached the last-16 of the Europa Conference League, but have found consistency hard to come by in domestic competition of late and face a fight to the finish in a congested bid to claim Champions League qualification spots.

Matt Milnes leads Kent attack as 170th Canterbury Festival gets underway

ECB Reporters Network11-Jul-2022Northamptonshire 303 (Gay 112, Rickelton 55) vs KentNorthamptonshire were all out for 303 against Kent, after a fluctuating first day in the LV= Insurance County Championship match at Canterbury.Emilio Gay hit 112 after the visitors lost Ricardo Vasconcelos to the first ball of the day and Ryan Rickelton was the next highest scorer with 55, but having reached 205 for two, they lost their next eight wickets for 98 runs.Matt Milnes had Kent’s best bowling figures with three for 47, while Joe Denly took two for 31 and Matt Quinn two for 51.The 170th Canterbury Festival began with the temperature already over 25 degrees in the shade and in the day’s least surprising development, Northamptonshire chose to bat after winning the toss.The pitch, however, didn’t look benign early on. Vasconcelos went for a platinum duck when he was caught behind off Quinn and Rickelton and Gay then endured a torrid hour, during which they struggled to score at over two an over. Both survived, however, and as the session ground on, the runs came more freely, leaving the visitors on 95 for one at lunch.An elegant cover drive off Milnes took Rickelton to 50 just after the restart, but he then edged the same bowler behind.It was otherwise a session of few chances. Luke Procter was dropped at leg slip when on 12 off Linde and Gay reached his century with a glanced two off George Linde, but he fell in the penultimate over before tea. Kent skipper Sam Billings threw the ball to occasional red-ball spinner Denly and his second ball was pulled to Linde at midwicket, leaving Northants on 206 for three at the interval.Denly struck again soon after the resumption, getting Procter caught and bowled for 33 and Jack Leaning then bowled Rob Keogh for six.The new ball accounted for Josh Cobb who went for nine. He tried to cut Milnes and was caught by Ben Compton at point.Milnes then splayed Jimmy Neesham’s off and middle stumps, bowling him for 33, before Quinn bowled Lewis McManus for four.Ben Sanderson made 23 from 18 balls before he edged Grant Stewart and fell to a juggling catch by Billings and George Linde wrapped up the innings by bowling Simon Kerrigan for seven with the final ball of the day, leaving Jack White unbeaten on six.

One of the issues that has faced Manchester United over the last few years has been losing players on a free transfer. Whether that has been a player they didn’t want to leave and could not convince to stay at the club, such as Angel Gomes, or a player they failed to sell before their contract expired, like David de Gea, it has been a long-term issue.

It is something that incoming manager Ruben Amorim will hope is cut out when he is in charge at Old Trafford. There are a few players in this position in 2025, including the likes of Harry Maguire and Christian Eriksen.

However, the one player they will not want to lose is winger Amad.

Amad’s record at United

Despite his obvious talent, Ivorian attacker Amad has had a slow start to his career for the Red Devils. He has played 36 times, scoring six goals and grabbing three assists in that time. However, his opportunities have been limited, especially under former manager Erik ten Hag.

Although the 22-year-old has played well over the past 12 months, the Dutchman simply did not give him many opportunities, despite the fact he put in some impressive performances when he did get a chance to play.

This term, he has played just 700 minutes spread out over 15 appearances in all competitions. He already has three goals and one assist in that time. His most recent game came in the Europa League against Greek side PAOK, and before that, he had not started in six successive games.

Indeed, his performance against the Greek side was exceptional. The winger scored both of United’s goals to seal a huge three points in Europe. He received a 9/10 rating from Samuel Luckhurst, the Manchester Evening News’ chief Man United reporter. He explained the youngster was the ‘only good outfield performer’ in the first half.

United fans will be hoping they can finally see the talented young winger flourish under Amroim, and sign a new contract.

His current deal will expire in 2025, and whilst the club have the option to extend it by a further year, they will surely look to offer him a bumper new contract worth more than his current £28k-per-week deal.

Incredibly, there is someone who earns far more than Amad who United seem to be out of patience with after an awful United career. That man is Antony.

Antony’s United record

Brazil international Antony cost the Red Devils £81.3m from Ajax back in 2022. He was a player Ten Hag pushed for, after the pair had plenty of success together in Amsterdam. Sadly, he has not lived up to his extortionate price tag.

The 24-year-old winger has played 87 games for the Red Devils so far. In that time, he has managed just 12 goals and has five assists to his name. Granted, he scored in some important games, including one against Liverpool in the FA Cup and one against Barcelona in the Europa League.

This term, Antony has struggled to get any minutes for the Red Devils. In all competitions, he has played just five times, starting once in the Carabao Cup against Barnsley, in which he scored. He is yet to start in the Premier League and has played just 27 minutes in the top flight.

What makes Antony’s time at United even more outrageous is the amount of money he earns each week. The Red Devils number 21 is currently on £200k-per-week, one of five players to earn that amount or more at Old Trafford.

Player

Weekly wage

Yearly wage

Casemiro

£350k

£18.2m

Bruno Fernandes

£300k

£15.6m

Marcus Rashford

£300k

£15.6m

Mason Mount

£250k

£13m

Antony

£200k

£10.4m

Incredibly, that is 614% more than United’s young winger Amad. Given the difference in their performances this season, it is certainly surprising that United’s Ivorian starlet earns so little compared to Antony.

He certainly seems like a player Amorim will look to move on when he is through the door. Given the lack of contribution in two and a half years at Old Trafford, and the fact he earns such a fortune each week, it does not feel like the incoming boss will have any patience to keep him beyond January, if any offers come in.

Mason Mount injury history: Every game Man Utd star has missed since 2022

The midfielder hasn’t had much luck.

ByCharlie Smith Nov 8, 2024

West Ham United have endured a tricky start to the new Premier League campaign under boss Julen Lopetegui, often failing to hit the heights many anticipated them to in pre-season.

The Hammers saw a massive overhaul of the playing squad, with nine first-team additions during the off-season, spending upwards of £120m on new talent to take the side to the next level.

However, in the first nine league outings of 2024/25, the Spaniard’s men have only won three times, currently sitting in 13th place and just a couple of places above the relegation zone.

Players such as Guido Rodriguez, Max Kilman and Niclas Füllkrug all arrived at the London Stadium, with hopes of returning the club towards European contention.

The latter has only featured for 63 minutes in the league, suffering an injury and failing to make an impact after his £27m move from Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund.

One player has shown glimpses of his talent, with his most recent outing for the Irons his best during his short stint in East London.

Crysencio Summerville’s stats for West Ham

Despite huge interest from various sides all over Europe, West Ham won the race for the signature of winger Crysencio Summerville from Championship side Leeds United.

The 22-year-old cost the Hammers £25m before add-ons, with real expectations of providing that added quality in attacking areas, but he’s often struggled in recent months.

He’s often found himself behind Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus in the pecking order, featuring for just 215 minutes in the Premier League.

However, after Kudus’ dismissal against rivals Tottenham Hotspur a couple of weeks ago, he could’ve been handed a rare start against Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.

Lopetegui opted with Carlos Soler in a wide role instead, but Summerville was given the opportunity to impress off the substitutes’ bench – taking his chance with both hands.

The Dutchman scored the opener, helping the Irons secure a victory over the Red Devils, subsequently resulting in Erik ten Hag losing his job over the last couple of days.

However, he still earns less than one player who cost the club an arm and a leg during his unsuccessful stint at the London Stadium.

The man who earned more than Summerville at West Ham

Striker Sebastian Haller arrived at West Ham with high expectations after his £45m transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer of 2019 under Manuel Pellegrini – a deal that still remains as a club record.

However, the Ivorian’s time in East London never lived up to the hype, scoring just 14 times in his two full seasons as a Hammer, before departing the club.

The 30-year-old would join Ajax in a £20m deal, a move which saw them lose £25m in a two-year period, further showing how much of a poor deal it was in hindsight.

Games played

54

Cost per game

£977k

Minutes played

3681

Cost per minute played

£14.3k

Goals scored

14

Cost per goal

£3.7m

Assists

1

Cost per assist

£52.8m

Haller’s transfer fee was bad enough, but the forward pocketed himself £75k-per-week during his time at the London Stadium, one of the highest figures during the 2019/20 campaign.

His subsequent weekly income saw him earn over two times more than current first-team ace Summerville, who only earns £30k-per-week despite his big-money transfer this summer.

When combining Haller’s wages during his time in the Premier League along with his transfer fee, he cost the club a staggering £52.8m – which worked out to around £3.7m per goal he scored.

Given the staggering money spent, the deal was a complete disaster, undoubtedly burning a hole in the club’s finances.

The hierarchy undoubtedly made the right call in offloading the striker when they did, preventing them from losing any more money on their club-record investment.

West Ham must rue offloading star who's the perfect Paqueta replacement

Lopetegui has already got rid of a West Ham talent who’d replace the underperforming Paqueta.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 28, 2024

West Indies captain expects resistance from Bangladesh batters, says “first hour on Saturday is crucial”

Mohammad Isam18-Jun-2022In a rare show of emotion, Kraigg Brathwaite slammed the bat on the pitch after getting out for 94. The Khaled Ahmed delivery had surprised him by keeping low as it hit him on the pads Jermaine Blackwood tried to convince him to take the review but Brathwaite knew what had happened. Replays confirmed that it would hit the leg-stump.Captaincy has brought the best out of Brathwaite, who has led West Indies to two impressive series wins in the last 18 months, and has now put his team ahead in the ongoing Antigua Test against Bangladesh as well. “I always enjoy captaining,” he said. “I like the challenge. I like to lead from the front. I am really enjoying it. I want to continue to lead to the best of my ability.”His captaincy is reflected within his batting. He is an accumulator, and takes his time to score runs. On Friday too, Brathwaite batted responsibly, not allowing the impressive Bangladesh pace attack to make any in-roads. He left most of what was bowled to him, scoring off deliveries pitched on the stumps. He made 61 of his 94 runs on the on-side, proving a batter’s discipline does indeed force bowlers into making mistakes.Related

Simmons heaps praise on 'unique' Brathwaite

Report: Brathwaite, Blackwood fifties add to WI dominance

Isam: Bangladesh's fielding is in decline and nobody knows why

Brathwaite was candid about his displeasure at getting out six runs short of a well-deserved Test hundred, though it was a crucial innings on a two-paced track that pushed West Indies to a lead of 162.”When I started the innings, the pitch was a bit slow,” he said. “It got a little harder this morning but still it was on the slow side. But I think it was a decent pitch to bat on. I am obviously disappointed but I am happy that the team has an important lead. I was pleased (with the 94) but the most important thing was to build on a foundation for my team. I was happy with the time I spent. Obviously well done to the team for getting a lead.”Brathwaite added 62 and 63 for the third and fourth wicket with Nkrumah Bonner and Blackwood respectively, partnerships although not too big, were crucial in the context of the game.”The partnerships were really important. I think the Bangladesh bowlers did really well. Even the spinners held their line really well. The pitch was a little slow but it still had something for the pacers off the surface. I think those were crucial partnerships. I thought we did a good job to get a lead.”Bangladesh are 50 for 2 in the second innings, trailing by 112 runs and Brathwaite knows that his team faces a decisive period of play on the third day. “We lost some wickets in a cluster which wasn’t good but that can happen,” he said. The pitch doesn’t have as much moisture as it did on the first day. It is important that we start well (on Saturday).”The first hour is crucial. We have to keep it tight even if we don’t get wickets. Once we build pressure, that’s how we will take wickets. I don’t think we can run them over. We have to bowl well.”

USMNT legend says of health scare, 'If I get one of you to go to the doctor and get a checkup, this was all worth it'

Meola has health scare on the eve of his 56th birthdayEx-teammates and fans send well-wishes for a speedy recoveryUSMNT icon uses experience to encourage others to prioritize health checksGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED

Tony Meola, former goalkeeper for the U.S. men's national team, had a heart attack on Thursday night, on the eve of his 56th birthday. The soccer community quickly rallied around the American soccer legend, with tributes and well-wishes pouring in from former teammates, fans, and soccer organizations.

Meola underwent an unspecified procedure after the heart attack. He told Front Row Soccer that he ran four miles last Saturday and had the heart attack five days later.

The former goalkeeper used this experience to advocate for regular health check-ups.

“If I get one of you to go to the doctor and get a checkup, this was all worth it for me,” Meola said, according to Front Row Soccer. “I’m going to be fine in a week, but I should have been smarter.”

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Meola, a legendary USMNT goalkeeper, earned 100 caps between 1988 and 2006. He represented the U.S. in three World Cups (1990, 1994, 2002) and was known for his shot-stopping abilities and leadership.

Meola's club career spanned various teams, including the New York/New Jersey MetroStars and Kansas City Wizards, where he won the MLS Cup and MLS MVP in 2000. Post-retirement, Meola transitioned into coaching and broadcasting.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Meola will focus on his rehabilitation and the broader message he's promoting about preventive health care.

Matthew Hoggard, who is taking to the water for charity, talks about the 2005 Ashes, current fast-bowling stocks and whether an old rival should take charge of England

Tim Wigmore06-May-20152:11

‘I can’t swim but at least it doesn’t hurt!’

Ten years on from the 2005 Ashes, Matthew Hoggard is not feeling nostalgic. “No, I’m feeling quite tired,” he says, drawing breath as he gets out of an outdoor pool in Hackney as his preparations for his summer exertions intensify.Starting with the Great North Swim at Lake Windermere next month, Hoggard will complete four of Britain’s five great swims this summer to raise money for Cricket Without Boundaries, a charity that promotes cricket in Africa while promoting HIV/Aids awareness and female empowerment. “It takes money and it’s fantastic to be able to get into some open water and raise money for charity,” he says.”Until a month ago, the last time I swum a length of freestyle or front crawl was about 15 years ago so it’s been a very quick, steep learning curve, but I’m enjoying it – hopefully I can do these 3kms without drowning. Swimming in a wet suit is fantastic – it’s the first time I’ve been able to float in a swimming pool, being rather heavy!”The swims form the backdrop to Hoggard’s summer and, in warmer climes than this choppy morning, he will not lack for chances to reflect on that magnificent series a decade ago: the PCA are taking him to every Ashes Test. A number of dinners are also planned for members of the team, including England’s ‘Fab Four’ bowling attack: Andrew Flintoff and his relentless back-of-a-length hostility, Steve Harmison’s brawn and pace, Simon Jones’ reverse swing and Hoggard’s less demonstrative qualities. His job was to “brush up the debris of the shop floor” as he once put it.Together they formed a formidable quartet, albeit one seen too fleetingly. “We all had different attributes and couldn’t care less who got the wickets. We were a proper team and we just wanted to get off the pitch as quick as possible – whoever got the wickets it was fantastic, and the other three tried to support him. To be able to go into the series and stay a settled side until the last game was brilliant. Every one of us had a brief moment in the sun.”Tim Wigmore joins Matthew Hoggard in the water at London Fields Lido•ESPNcricinfo LtdIf Hoggard always embraced his role as a shaggy-haired shop steward, he was rather better than that, offering not only prodigious new-ball swing and nagging accuracy but also the ability to cut the ball on flat surfaces, as in Nagpur and Adelaide in 2006. He had longevity too – of the quartet, Hoggard ended up as the leading Test wicket-taker. “It’s a good bragging right – but when we do meet up we don’t really talk about cricket,” he says.The combination of the sheer drama of the 2005 Ashes and cricket’s absence from free-to-air TV since means that the series has come to be remembered as the last time when English cricket captivated the nation. But Hoggard is of the view that the benefits of free-to-air coverage risk being overstated.”I don’t think it’s the be all and end all. It’s nice if you can get cricket on free-to-air, but again you need money to grow the game, to put back into grassroots level, to be able to get the next group of youngsters coming through. So you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place,” he says. “Chance to Shine has been fantastic getting cricket into state schools, so everybody gets a chance to try the game.”Hoggard also thinks that a T20 franchise competition has the potential to galvanise the sport. “England cricket needs a boost – it’s finding that window to do that and finding the right formula that works for everybody.”England may currently seem overly reliant on one quick – James Anderson – but Hoggard avoids criticising the state of English fast bowling, citing Mark Wood and Mark Footitt as men who could provide the attack with extra pace. “We’ve got some good bowlers in the wings they’re just not quite ready for international cricket yet, but are plying their trade in county cricket,” he says. “So I think it’s not all doom and gloom and the next James Anderson is just around the corner.”But Hoggard is rather less positive about England’s current coach Peter Moores. It was Moores who ended Hoggard’s international career when he dropped him for Anderson in New Zealand in 2008 – “he’s been proved right” – but, like many members of the side in Moores’ first stint, Hoggard preferred life under Duncan Fletcher.”Duncan was very much a thinker and very much a strategiser, and would come out with different techniques, with different thoughts and different plans,” Hoggard says. Moores, meanwhile, had “lots of energy, lots of get up and go… completely different styles”.”What made him successful as a coach in county cricket is getting people up and getting people motivated and getting people to be up for the day-in day-out grind of county cricket. Test matches are a little bit different – you shouldn’t have to be motivated to get up for a Test match. You need that fine-tuning, you need to be in the right state of mind, you need to be thinking ‘I’ve got the backing of everybody, I just need to go out and show the world what I’m capable of.'”Hoggard has not been won over by Moores’ second stint either. “He’s just said we had a good tour [of the West Indies] and the young players are progressing – and you think, well, they didn’t blood the young players. Some of the things he says are a little bit baffling, and you cringe at times. Whether he’ll still be there come the Ashes is the new director of cricket’s prerogative.” On Andrew Strauss’ supposedly imminent appointment, Hoggard is unconvinced. “It’ll be tricky knowing everybody intimately.”In fact, it is an Ashes opponent from 2005 who Hoggard suggests England most need. He credits Jason Gillespie, who ended up with 11 more Test wickets than Hoggard’s 248, with Yorkshire’s recent success. “He’s gone out and given the players the power to entertain. He keeps it so simple,” Hoggard says.”He’s done a fantastic job with Yorkshire, and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be able to do a similar job with England. Sometimes they say change is as good as a holiday.”

Sam Hain continues purple patch but Bears come up short

ECB Reporters Network19-Jun-2022Derbyshire 160 for 3 (Madsen 55) beat Birmingham 159 for 7 (Hain 73*, Conners 3-25) by seven wicketsDerbyshire Falcons’ Vitality Blast charge continued with a thumping seven-wicket win over Birmingham Bears at Edgbaston. Falcons lodged their fourth successive victory as they comfortably beat a Bears side which had piled up a Blast record total against Notts Outlaws only two days earlier.This time they were restricted to 159 for 7 by excellent bowing led by Sam Conners and Mattie McKiernan. Sam Hain continued his sublime form with an unbeaten 73 off 40 balls but no other batter escaped the shackles.The visitors made light of the modest target, racing to 160 for 3 with 11 balls to spare. Luis Reece supplied early impetus with 38 off 24 balls before Wayne Madsen, who made 55 off 34, and captain Shan Masood added 89 in 59 balls to seal victory.The win lifts Falcons into the qualification spots while Bears are also still there but remain hit and miss, their record total of 261 on Friday sandwiched between defeats by ten and seven wickets. Another concern for them was Hain’s absence when fielding due to a sore back.Bears chose to bat but soon hit trouble against well-directed bowling. They were 23 for 3 after Connors removed Paul Stirling and Alex Davies, and Rob Yates lifted Mark Watt to long leg.Sam Hain continued his fine form•Getty ImagesHain motored to 50 from 29 balls, but support for him was fleeting. Adam Hose lifted McKiernan for six but edged the next ball to wicketkeeper Brooke Guest.The Falcons attack, astutely orchestrated by captain Masood, kept the pressure high. Chris Benjamin, Carlos Brathwaite and Jake Lintott all cleared the ropes once but perished trying to repeat the big blows. Hain found himself too often at the non-striker’s end as Bears came in short.Falcons’ reply was given a flier as Masood and Reece put 50 on the board in 33 balls. A comical mix up, which saw them both at the same end, did for Reece but Madsen hit two sixes from his first six balls and applied measured acceleration while Masood played the perfect anchor role.Bears’ unhappy day continued when they were penalised five runs after bowler Brathwaite, seeing Madsen set off for a single, sent in a throw which would have hit the stumps but struck the batter. The umpires’ bizarre decision to deem it dangerous play summed up a bad day for the home side.Madsen said later: “The umpires deemed Carlos Brathwaite’s throw reckless and that is what it was. I was in my crease and he didn’t even look. I know it’s a competitive game but if that had hit me on the back of the head, like the umpires said, there is real trouble.”Madsen advanced to a 29-ball half-century and Falcons rose impressively into the top four of the North Group.

Stats highlights from the Group A match between Australia and Sri Lanka in Sydney

Shiva Jayaraman08-Mar-20153:26

Insights: Best World Cup for No. 5 batsmen

51 Balls taken by Glenn Maxwell for his hundred – the second-fastest in World Cups after Kevin O’Brien’s 50-ball hundred against England in 2011. Maxwell took one ball less than AB de Villiers, who hit a 52-ball hundred against West Indies earlier in this World Cup. This is the fastest ODI hundred by an Australia batsman beating James Faulkner’s 57-ball century against India in 2013.2 Number of hundreds by Australia’s No. 5 in World Cups before Maxwell’s. Brad Hodge was the last one to hit a century at that position for Australia, against Netherlands in 2007. The first such hundred was the famous Steve Waugh century against South Africa in 1999.5 Centuries by No. 5 batsmen in this World Cup – the most, by far in any World Cup. Along with Maxwell , there have been centuries by David Miller, Mahela Jayawardene, AB de Villiers and Brendan Taylor batting at No. 5. The 1996 World Cup saw two such hundreds – by Vinod Kambli and Chris Harris. The other World Cups have had only one such hundred each at most.195.12 Strike rate of the partnership between Maxwell and Shane Watson – the second highest in a century partnership by an Australian pair in ODIs. Mitchell Marsh and Maxwell had added 109 runs at a strike rate of 201.85 against Zimbabwe last year, which is the highest. Overall, this is the third-highest strike rate in a stand of 150 or more in ODIs. De Villiers and Hashim Amla had added 192 runs at a strike rate of 286.56 against West Indies in this World Cup which is the highest.1 Batsmen to complete 14000 ODI runs before Kumar Sangakkara; Sangakkara has taken 378 innings to Sachin Tendulkar’s 350 to pass the landmark. Like Sangakkar, Tendulkar had also passed the milestone with a century, against Pakistan in 2006.0 Number of batsmen to have scored three consecutive centuries in a World Cup. Kumar Sangakkara is the first batsman to do so. Only three other batsmen have scored three hundreds in a World Cup before him – Mark Waugh in 1996, Sourav Ganguly in 2003 and Matthew Hayden in 2007. Overall, six other batsmen have hit three consecutive centuries in ODIs.24 Runs plundered off Mitchell Johnson’s third over by Tillakaratne Dilshan. This was just two runs short of the most conceded by an Australia bowler in an ODI. Three Australian bowlers – Simon Davis, Craig McDermott and Xavier Doherty have each conceded 26 runs off one over.0 Number of hundreds Sangakkara had in his first-25 innings in the World Cup. He had scored 778 runs at an average of 40.94 with six fifties. His last-eight World Cup innings have produced four centuries and one fifty and he has scored 585 runs at 97.50.160 Runs added by Maxwell and Watson – the second-highest fifth-wicket partnership in World Cups. The highest had also come in this World Cup – an unbeaten 256-run stand between JP Duminy and Miller against Zimbabwe. This was also Australia’s third-highest fifth-wicket partnership in ODIs.92.30 Maxwell’s strike rate against Lasith Malinga, who took 2 for 59 from his 10 overs. Malinga bowled 13 deliveries to Maxwell and conceded only 12 runs, while the other Sri Lanka bowlers collectively conceded 90 off 40 balls. While Maxwell hit only one four off Malinga, the other bowlers were hit for nine fours and four sixes in 40 balls.

4s 6s Dismissal Runs Balls SRLasith Malinga 1 0 0 12 13 92.30v other SL bowlers 9 4 1 90 40 225.0022 Balls taken by Dinesh Chandimal to hit his fifty in this match – Sri Lanka’s second fastest in ODIs. Sanath Jayasuriya’s 17-ball fifty against Pakistan in 1996 is their fastest. The fastest Chandimal had completed his fifty before this match in international cricket was off 40 balls, against Pakistan in a T20 international.1 Number of times a team had scored 300 chasing in a losing cause in the World Cup before Sri Lanka in this match. Zimbabwe had scored 326 all out against Ireland just two matches earlier.376 Total conceded by Sri Lanka in this match – the highest conceded by them in World Cups, beating the 373 for 6 scored by India in Taunton in 1999. This was also the third-highest total scored against Sri Lanka in ODIs. This was also Australia’s fourth-highest total in ODIs, but only their third highest in World Cups.* An erroneous stat on Mitchell Starc’s economy was removed from the piece

A Chelsea director says Enzo Maresca's position is "100 per cent" safe this season despite the club's poor run of form.

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Chelsea's form nosedivesDirector backs MarescaSays he's doing a "great job"Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Chelsea have gone from Premier League title contenders to sitting sixth in the division and winning just two of their last nine league fixtures in a few short months. Despite that, Blues director Jonathan Goldstein says head coach Maresca is "doing a great job" and his job is secure for the foreseeable future.

AdvertisementAFPWHAT THE CHELSEA DIRECTOR SAID

Goldstein said on : "He's doing a great job. Chelsea started the season very well. The past six weeks have been, you know, finding their feet a little bit more. But Enzo has clearly done a great job in bringing the team together; bringing the talent through."

When asked if Maresca would stay for the rest of the season, he replied: "100 per cent."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Chelsea are just one point behind fourth-placed Manchester City with 13 games of the season to go, have a great chance of qualifying for the Champions League next term and are one of the favourites to win the 2024-25 Europa Conference League crown. If they fail to achieve any of those goals, Maresca's position may not be so secure this summer.

Getty/GOALWHAT NEXT?

Chelsea will hope to return to winning ways, after a 3-0 drubbing at Brighton last time out, when they visit Aston Villa on Saturday in the Premier League.