All posts by h716a5.icu

At the helm of young teams, the contrasting leadership styles of Virat Kohli and Angelo Mathews could present a fascinating subtext to an important series in Sri Lanka

Andrew Fidel Fernando10-Aug-2015Virat Kohli, 26, strides purposefully to the crease, reputation always preceding him, collar often popped, a sharp tongue cocked, ready to return fire. Angelo Mathews, 28, ambles to the middle, impervious and imperturbable, lost somewhere in his own universe.Both are gifted batsmen, leading young teams into an important series. That is about where the similarities end.If he was a general in your army, Kohli would be the man to lead the charge on an enemy position. His blood runs hottest in attack. He has sometimes been accused of being too aggressive, but to Kohli’s ears, this is probably a compliment. He isn’t blind to the merits of defence. More likely he feels it is beneath him. He bats out of his crease on the quickest pitches in the world, against the fastest bowlers. Balls other batsmen only dare prod at, Kohli sends scorching through midwicket, wrists whipping like a sail that has caught the wind.But there is a dark side to this outlook. When Kohli keeps a full cordon in for Indian quicks after the sheen has come off the ball, you wonder if he is deluded. Some decisions are best made with a level head and a sense of detachment, but Kohli’s emotions are never far from the surface. Even publicly, he has admitted he would prefer to be less expressive.As far as poker faces go, Mathews’ is among the stoniest around. On the surface he is dull. But still waters run deep, they say, and at 28, he has already produced some of Sri Lanka’s greatest innings. He is the general you want in charge of the fortress, because when his team is outgunned, when they are tumbling into crisis, that’s when he goads the best from himself. Kohli has a famously poor record in England. Mathews has a Lord’s ton and a monumental 160 at Headingley – an innings that seems to grow in stature with each passing England Test.Mathews’ shortcomings are peculiar for someone in his 20s, though unsurprising, given the man. “Angelo has ice in his veins,” his team-mates say, but when opposition batsmen are stealing the match away and he stands inert at slip or cover, you want to prod him with a stick to see if he hasn’t frozen through. When he attacks, he attacks conventionally. He uses words like “positive” and “aggressive” whenever a microphone is set in front of him, but in reality his style seems a departure from a Sri Lankan tradition that has pioneered strategy and embraced adventure.Angelo Mathews’ leadership style has often been criticised for not being aggressive enough but as a player, his best performances so far have come in challenging situations•AFPOf the two, Mathews has the better batting average of 51.67, and is arguably the superior Test batsman, to say nothing of his expanding wit with the ball. Since the beginning of 2013, only Kumar Sangakkara has a better Test average than Mathews’ 67.59. Sangakkara would be the first to concede that his runs have come easier. When Mathews bats with an often-clueless tail, they come to sudden life. He has subdued many fires, and ignited a few as well.Kohli is fresh at India’s helm, but appears to be the more dynamic leader. Under him, there is strong, vibrant direction to India’s transition. “We want to play aggressive cricket, and we don’t mind losing that way,” is the cry from his camp. Backed by full-throated advocates like Ravi Shastri, Kohli has so far lived true to his words, even if his team has died by the sword more often than they have thrived, for now. Kohli has arrived on the island intent on playing five frontline bowlers. Talk of dumping a batsman from the top seven perhaps won’t even feature in the team meetings Mathews leads.The path ahead teems with unique challenges for each man. Mathews is expected to fashion a world-beating team out of players graduating from one of the weakest domestic leagues in cricket. Kohli is funded by the wealthiest cricket body that has ever existed, but will barely draw a breath that is not endlessly pored over and dissected. Mathews’ loved ones are of virtually no interest to the Sri Lankan public, for example. With any luck, they will never become scapegoats for his failures.They now embark on a series that will be closely followed in Sri Lanka. Local fans have lowered expectations after a poor 2015 so far, but India is the team they would really like their side to beat. Kohli and his men, meanwhile, have that embarrassing recent away record to amend.Both teams will try new things. Unknowns will search for stardom. Old hands will aim to make graceful exits. And the clash of contrary captains will play out, perhaps in the background, but always with the capacity to define the tour.

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.

Previous Sri Lanka sides might have been beset by anxiety following a big overseas loss, but this one has tasted enough recent success to remain confident about its ability to roar back

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Wellington01-Jan-2015Wellington woke bleary-eyed from a year-end party that had stretched late into the night, but the Basin Reserve was tense with purpose and energy early on New Year’s day.Sri Lanka had been relaxed following their eight-wicket loss to New Zealand in Christchurch. The post-match football game – a tradition in overseas Tests, win or lose – was played in typically high spirits, before the team set out on a farm excursion in Canterbury the day after.Previous Sri Lanka sides might have been beset by anxiety following a big overseas loss, but this is a team for whom the successes of 2014 are fresh in the mind. Their captain is, as ever, a wellspring of zen. “One loss doesn’t suddenly make us a bad team,” is Angelo Mathews’ go-to refrain at these times, and on that count, his team has proved him correct on several occasions over the past six months.Back in the nets after two days of rest and travel, though, Sri Lanka were refreshed and focused. Kumar Sangakkara’s desperation to overcome an awful first Test manifested in a long batting session. Unsurprisingly, he was among the last to emerge from the nets, tired coaches in tow. Openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Kaushal Silva had some extra attention too, and there was a marked collective spring to the fielding session. Had Sri Lanka not spilled four catches on the first day in Christchurch, that Test might have played out a little differently.They were perhaps goaded on by a pitch that appeared greener than even the strip they had encountered at the Hagley Oval in the approach to Boxing Day. Players who looked closely at the pitch reported close to an inch of grass – enough to make the square almost indistinguishable from the rest of the field. But while that could have been a cause for worry, there were no grumbles from the Sri Lanka camp, only acceptance of poor performance, and determination to preserve a reputation as a decent team outside Asia.”We know we didn’t bat well in the first innings,” Lahiru Thirimanne said. “It wasn’t actually that hard to bat on that wicket, but we played some rash shots. So we need to concentrate a little bit more about leaving the ball and playing close to the body. We practiced really hard today, so hopefully we can do those things in the match as well.”Sri Lanka were bolstered between Tests by the arrival of Rangana Herath, who was sufficiently recovered from the hamstring tear he suffered in mid-December to go through an extra fielding session with coach Trevor Penney. Though Brendon McCullum had laid waste to the Sri Lanka attack in the first innings in Christchurch, a quiet confidence has built in the bowling group after their spirited defence of 105 on the fourth day.”In the first Test we saw some green on the surface, but this looks even greener I think,” Thirimanne said. “Our fast bowlers might like it as well because they will look forward to getting some early breakthroughs. Our bowling in the second innings was quite good. We bowled good areas and they couldn’t get runs easily, so we just want to bowl those same areas and make it hard for them to score runs.”Herath’s return is particularly significant, because of New Zealand’s struggles against him in the past. In four matches, Herath averages 19.58 against them – his best against any nation. That figure stretches to 40 in the only Test he played in New Zealand, but he is now a vastly improved bowler since that game in Napier in 2005. In the last three years, he has picked up five-wicket hauls in Australia and South Africa, and made significant contributions in early-summer English conditions in 2014.”I think Herath will play the second Test,” Thirimanne said. “He took wickets in similar conditions in England, so we’re confident about his ability to take wickets here.”Thirimanne’s return to the Test team and move to no.4 in the order has not been immediately successful, as he collected a match aggregate of 49 in Christchurch. Thirimanne said he took plenty of confidence in his long stay at the crease in the second innings, however, when he played out 124 deliveries in over three hours in the middle.”Batting at No. 4 is a big challenge for me, because that was Mahela Jayawardene’s spot. I need to work very hard to live up to that. It’s a position that’s very valuable for the team and we’re used to some top performances from our No. 4 batsman. That’s not an easy loss to fill. But I’m taking it game by game, and I’ve filled my head with thoughts about how the next match should be approached.”In the second innings, what we needed most was for someone to build a partnership with Dimuth Karunaratne. The way I batted in that innings is perhaps not my natural style, but it was good in the sense that I hit a lot of balls in the middle of the bat. I’m happy with that.”

CA’s implicit argument that domestic cricketers are non-earning assets, and thus less deserving of good pay, is disingenuous and unlikely to pass muster

Daniel Brettig06-Apr-20174:17

Brettig: Players want a significant say in financial matters

In May 2014, Australia’s then treasurer, Joe Hockey, handed down his first federal budget in which he characterised a point of difference between those who contributed to the nation’s economy and those who did not. “We must always remember that when one person receives an entitlement from the government,” he said, “it comes out of the pocket of another Australian.” His speech ended with the phrase “we are nation of lifters, not leaners”.A little less than three years later, a similar sentiment pervades Cricket Australia’s formal pay offer to the Australian Cricketers’ Association. The recurring theme is that international cricketers fund the game, and are doing their domestic colleagues a mighty favour by bankrolling state and Big Bash League contracts.The document is littered with references to how international players deserve credit for sharing the money they earn with domestic players. On page six: “CA commends international men for continuing to support domestic cricket.” Page eight: “International men should also be commended for continuing to support domestic players.” Page 21: “International men deserve significant credit for supporting domestic players given that domestic cricket does not generate a financial surplus.”In summary, Australia’s international players have been deemed the game’s “lifters”, and domestic players the “leaners”. Following that logic, CA have indicated that rises in domestic player wages will be minimal over the next five years, with only international players eligible to share in any surpluses above projections.

The logic applied to the pay offer would appear to suggest that Australian cricket exists in distinctly separate realms: international players having nothing to do with their domestic counterparts. This is a hard claim to justify

Even this measure, allowing international men and women to share in the money raised from the staging of the matches in which they play, is merely vestigial next to what was available in the past. It is the only sliver of “blue sky” left for any players under the current deal, in sharp contrast to the fixed revenue percentage inked into all previous pay deals between CA and the ACA.Yet, the logic applied to the pay offer would appear to suggest that Australian cricket exists in distinctly separate realms: international players having nothing to do with their domestic counterparts and vice-versa. This is a hard claim to justify in light of the fact that the Sheffield Shield has long been described as the breeding ground for Australia’s Test team, while the recent growth of the BBL has put domestic players at the forefront of an area that stands to reap rich financial returns for CA over the coming decades.It has been odd to hear CA’s chief executive James Sutherland consistently talking up the BBL’s burgeoning status as a source of new fans but also new revenue for the game over the past six years, then contorting his logic in the context of the pay offer by saying: “It’s true that on the surface, the BBL may be starting to break even in certain quarters, but we’ve still got a very significant deficit from previous years”. Estimates for next year’s looming renewal of the BBL television rights deal have its value tripling from A$100 million (US$76m approx) to A$300 million (US$227m approx).Equally, all the game’s broadcast and commercial partners are happy to invest in Australian cricket out of the belief that domestic competitions are strong enough to produce international players whenever necessary. The success of the likes of Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb, two players moulded as much by the Shield as anything else, over the past season confirmed that this low-profile competition is vital to maintaining the standard of talent coming into the teams that generate the revenue CA builds its operations around.This is all without mentioning that CA has itself been pushing for greater cooperation across the nation over the past eight years, starting with the Australian Cricket Conference in 2010. That event led to reforms such as the start of the BBL, the introduction of an independent CA board of directors, and even the adoption of a national philosophy called “One Team”, meaning that CA and the state associations should all be pushing in one direction, leaving old differences behind. The pay offer’s repeated assertions that domestic players do not contribute to the financial whole make for quite the contradiction to all this – One Team, or divide and conquer?Cast in the role of Hockey for CA is Kevin Roberts, the board’s head of strategy and people, appointed after serving first as one of its first independent directors, and a former Sheffield Shield cricketer himself. Roberts is fair-minded and sharp, and has at least avoided Hockey’s mistake of being caught smoking a cigar on the day the 2014 budget was announced. But like the former treasurer, he has been caught between competing demands and ideologies – those that have been in place for two decades, and those of the new board and its chairman, the former Rio Tinto managing director David Peever.Things get curiouser still when examining the rich – and deserved – increases in pay allocated to female cricketers under the offer. In explaining why CA has moved to bring greater financial rewards to the women’s game in advance of the financial returns it currently gains, the board states that research suggests a past deficit is in need of correcting: “Independent experts have highlighted that the historical disproportionate investment in international men’s cricket relative to international women’s cricket has contributed to the value differential between the two.”That is an undeniably fair justification for bringing full professionalism to women’s cricket down under. But it is also an argument that may be applied to domestic cricket across the board, given how the BBL has flourished with the help of greater investment to promote the competition and its players. CA’s appeals to find more money for grass roots falls into similar territory – funding areas that don’t bring direct financial returns but help build the game as a whole.So it must be concluded that the reality of “lifters and leaners” in Australian cricket becomes more complex and nuanced the more closely one looks, not unlike that of the national economy. Which brings us to one more parallel between Hockey’s budget and the CA pay offer: the first was blocked from passing through the Parliament, the second stands about as much chance of being agreed to by the players.

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.

Enzo Maresca has enjoyed a solid start to life as Chelsea boss, only losing twice in their first 11 matches of the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.

The Blues have only tasted defeat against Manchester City and Liverpool, sitting third in the table on 19 points – but remain nine points off Arne Slot’s side, who occupy the top spot after the third international break.

After another summer of transfer arrivals, the new talents have wasted no time in making an immediate impact at Stamford Bridge, undoubtedly boosting their chances of finishing within the top four come the end of May.

Pedro Neto arrived from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a deal in the region of £54m, but has already showcased his talents, scoring his first league strike against Arsenal last time out, securing a point for the Blues against their London rivals.

Big-money additions have become a regular occurrence after the takeover of Todd Boehly in 2022, but the club have often had to balance the books as a result.

The club are no stranger to a big-money departure, recouping a lorryload of money over the years from player departures.

Chelsea’s record departures from Stamford Bridge

Winger Eden Hazard was undoubtedly a fan-favourite during his time in West London, scoring 110 times within his seven years as a player at the Bridge.

The Belgian captured the hearts of the fanbase with his mazy dribbling ability, helping the side get out of numerous close encounters and cagey affairs.

However, despite their Europa League triumph at the end of the 2018/19 season, Hazard departed the Blues for a deal in the region of £130m – joining Spanish giants Real Madrid in a club-record departure for Chelsea.

Kai Havertz joined the Blues in a £75m deal back in the summer of 2020, making himself an instant hero at the club during his debut campaign in England.

The German international scored nine times during his opening year in the capital, only finding the net once in Europe, but that would be his biggest goal during his time at Chelsea, scoring the only goal in the Champions League final against Manchester City back at the end of 2020/21.

However, a handful of years on, he now plays his trade for London rivals Arsenal, after joining the Gunners in a £65m deal last summer – aiming to bolster Mikel Arteta’s ranks.

The transfer makes him the second most expensive departure in Chelsea history, but the club may currently have their own version of a £100m star who was of interest to Maresca this summer.

1) Eden Hazard

2019/20

£130m

2) Kai Havertz

2023/24

£65m

3) Mason Mount

2023/24

£60m

4) Diego Costa

2017/18

£57m

5) Oscar

2016/17

£52m

Chelsea’s £100m star in the making

Over the summer, Chelsea were on the lookout for a new striker, which led to Newcastle United talisman Alexander Isak being linked with a transfer to the Bridge.

However, despite the interest, the £100m valuation from Eddie Howe’s side put the Blues off a potential move for the Swede, with the Italian sticking with Nicolas Jackson as his primary option in the final third.

It’s a decision that appears to have been a blessing in disguise, with the Senegalese international enjoying his spell as a regular starter this campaign – being ranked as a similar player to Isak by FBref after his displays in the Premier League.

The “extraordinary” Jackson, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has outscored the Magpies’ talent, whilst achieving a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate than his fellow striker.

Games played

11

9

Goals & assists

9

6

Shot-on-target accuracy

56%

39%

Shots on target per game

1.5

1.2

Pass accuracy

74%

74%

Take-ons completed

45%

25%

Jackson has also completed more take-ons whilst also matching Isak for his pass accuracy, showcasing how much his all-round game has developed this season – undoubtedly benefiting from the faith shown in him by Maresca this season.

At the age of just 23, the former Villarreal ace has the opportunity to develop even further and become a real crucial player in the Maresca era at the Bridge, possibly preventing any big-money additions in the centre-forward position.

Many fans craved that big-money signing over the summer, but Jackson has proven that he has the skill set to be a success in England’s top flight and be the main man for the club as a focal point.

Like for Isak, a £100m price tag will surely soon be coming his way…

Sanchez & Jackson axed for £124m signings: Chelsea's dream XI after January

Chelsea could replace Sanchez with a £58m signing in their dream starting XI after January.

ByConnor Holden Nov 21, 2024

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 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.”

Stats highlights from the third day of the first Test between South Africa and Sri Lanka in Port Elizabeth

Gaurav Sundararaman28-Dec-20161929 The previous instance when the same opening pair shared a 100-plus partnership for South Africa in both innings of a Test. Stephen Cook and Dean Elgar added 104 in the first innings and 116 in the second in Port Elizabeth. Bob Catteral and Bruce Mitchell added 119 and 171 respectively against England at Birmingham in 1929. Overall, eight other opening pairs have shared century stands in both innings of a Test.2012 The last instance of a century stand for the opening wicket in both innings of a Test match for South Africa, against England in 2012 at Leeds. However, this was achieved by two different pairs: Graeme Smith added 120 runs each with Alviro Petersen and Jacques Rudolph respectively.1970 The last instance of two fifty-plus partnerships by the opening pair for South Africa in a Test in Port Elizabeth. Barry Richards and Eddie Barlow added 157 and 73 against Australia in 1970.70 Innings taken by Vernon Philander to reach 11 five-fors in Tests. He is the third-quickest bowler from South Africa to reach this mark after Hugh Tayfield (43 innings) and Dale Steyn (54 innings). Philander now has three five-fors each against Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand.3 Centuries scored by Stephen Cook in 2016, the most by a South Africa batsman in 2016. Hashim Amla, Faf Du Plessis and Quinton de Kock have two hundreds each. Cook has three hundreds from 12 innings and also made his top score of 117 today.84 Dean Elgar’s average at St Georges Park, Port Elizabeth, the second-best across all venues he has played in after Durban, where he averages 88.5. He has scored 420 runs with two hundreds and two fifties in Port Elizabeth.49.90 Hashim Amla’s current average. This is the first time his average has dropped below 50 since November 2012.

Manchester United could now reportedly be offered a swap deal for Marcus Rashford which would see him depart Old Trafford in exchange for another forward as soon as the January transfer window.

Man Utd and Rashford on course to part ways

Just weeks into Ruben Amorim’s time in charge of Manchester United, it seems that Rashford’s future lies away from Old Trafford. The Englishman has been left out of the squad for each of his side’s last three games, including the Manchester derby in the Premier League and the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Tottenham.

It comes after he admitted that he felt he needed a new challenge away from the north west.

“For me, personally, I think I’m ready for a new challenge and the next steps”, he told the media, before adding that he felt his best years remained ahead of him.

Appearances

287

Goals

87

Assists

40

Minutes per goal/assist

155

“I don’t expect my peak to be now. I’ve had nine years so far in the Premier League and that’s taught me a lot, that’s helped me grow as a player and as a person. So I don’t have any regrets from the last nine years. I won’t have any regrets going forward because I take things day by day and sometimes bad things happen, sometimes good things happen. I just try and keep a fine balance.”

For their part, Manchester United are willing to cash in on their homegrown star, who tops their wage bill with a massive £375,000 a week. Of course, that salary will be a major sticking point for any potential suitors, with few clubs on the planet able to afford that on top of what is likely to be a hefty transfer fee for the England international.

However, now one club have reportedly proposed a way out of what threatens to be a prolonged standoff.

Barcelona ready swap offer for Rashford

That is according to a fresh report from Spain, which claims that Barcelona are readying an audacious swap deal in a bid to try and sign Rashford in January.

The report claims that the Blaugrana are ready to offer up their own forward Ansu Fati in exchange for the 27-year-old, and even add that the club have “begun working on negotiations”.

Like Rashford, Fati is out of favour at his club and taking home a hefty salary (£221k per week in his case). Still just 22-years-old, injury and form have seen him start just a single La Liga game this season.

However, he is undoubtedly talented, inheriting Lionel Messi’s shirt at Camp Nou and singled out for praise by former boss Xavi, who dubbed him an “extraordinary” talent after working with him.

Despite this, a deal seems farfetched, especially with Barcelona already struggling with their salary cap to the point where they cannot register summer signing Dani Olmo for the second half of the season as things stand.

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It comes just weeks into Ruben Amorim’s reign.

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Adding Rashford to the mix may only make the situation worse, while United would surely demand a fee on top of the arrival of an injury-plagued Fati for any deal to materialise.