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The summer transfer window is already in full swing, although transfer activity has been rather muted at Everton so far, with the Merseyside outfit yet to bring in any new faces with the new season just over a month away.

With the Toffees having also previously made no new signings in January amid their bid for survival, the need for further depth and quality is seemingly now even greater, with Sean Dyche no doubt in need of the appropiate tools to help avoid another relegation scrap in 2023/24.

Despite the rather quiet nature of the club's window so far, one name that has been mentioned is Sheffield United star, lliman Ndiaye, with Fabrizio Romano naming the Goodison outfit as one of the clubs who are interested in signing the 23-year-old playmaker.

This follows claims made by Sky Sports journalist Rob Dorsett back in January which suggested that Dyche and co had lodged a £25m bid to sign the Senegalese international on deadline day, with the player facing an uncertain future at Bramall Lane having now entered the final year of his contract.

Fresh form having propelled the Blades to promotion – after scoring 14 goals and laying on 11 assists in 46 Championship outings last term – Ndiaye could be the man to help bolster Dyche's attacking ranks this summer, following in the footsteps of the likes of Phil Jagielka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin in arriving on Merseyside from the Yorkshire side.

Due to his likeness to the latter man as a figure who typically operates through the middle – or in a number ten berth – the hope will be that Ndiaye can prove as much of a success as Calvert-Lewin has been in recent years.

How much did Everton pay for Calvert-Lewin?

The England international was snapped up from the Blades on a bargain £1.5m deal back in the summer of 2016, having spent time on loan at Stalybridge Celtic and Northampton Town prior to that in his teenage years.

While injury has dogged the 26-year-old of late – having notably made just 17 league appearances last season – the 6 foot 2 striker has blossomed into the Toffees' main man in attack, having now scored 60 goals in 209 games in all competitions over the past seven years.

That includes a particularly fruitful spell during Carlo Ancelotti's time at the helm, with Calvert-Lewin bagging 13 league goals in the 2019/20 season, before plundering 16 top-flight goals in the following campaign.

Lauded as a "top striker" by Ancelotti, the Sheffield-born machine has proven to be a truly astute capture since joining from his local side, with the hope being that Everton can replicate that masterclass with the addition of another exciting forward in the form of Ndiaye.

The latter man has earned rave reviews as a result of his standout form in the second tier in recent times, with Sheffield United coach Jack Lester stating that the France-born sensation "does things you can't coach" such is his "natural" talent, with the 5 foot 11 gem also seemingly rather "fearless" when taking to the field.

That fearlessness could ensure that the fleet-footed ace is not overawed by the step up to life in the top flight, with the chance there for him to replicate Calvert-Lewin's success if he is to link up with Dyche and co this summer.

Top order a concern for Pakistan as they eye their first-ever Test series win in the Caribbean

The Preview by Danyal Rasool29-Apr-2017Match facts
April 30, 2017
Start time 10:00 local (14:00 GMT)Misbah-ul-Haq could add yet another chapter in his captaincy book in Bridgetown•AFPBig pictureNow that the buzz around Younis Khan’s 10,000th run is over, the focus shifts to the dreary business of the Test series unfolding around it. Weather delays and uninspiringly sedate batting at times from both sides give the first Test a dreary, old-fashioned feel. However, there were absorbing periods that left you wanting more, particularly in the last session of the fourth day, when Yasir Shah beat West Indies into submission just as the Test threatened to meander to a forgettable draw.The build-up to the second Test is not so different to the first, particularly for the West Indies, who must go back to the drawing board. It’s all very well working out the opposition’s weaknesses and setting elaborate plans, but all that is unlikely to bear fruit when you then go on to lose five wickets in the first 30 overs of the game, and drop straightforward catches, like they did in Kingston.From Pakistan’s point of view, it was as efficient a Test as they could have hoped for. They were on top right from the start. Mohammad Amir turned in his best performance since his return to cricket, Yasir did what world class second-innings spinners need to do, and their middle order piled on the runs. Their only concerns might centre around the seemingly intractable puzzle of an endlessly misfiring top order, a concern only appeased by the fact that it was well hidden in Jamaica.Form guideWest Indies LWLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Pakistan WLLLLIn the spotlightIn a depleted side that suffers from a paucity of genuine quality, West Indies appear to have found, in Shannon Gabriel, the man who comes closest to matching that description. He was the man his captained turned to every time it looked like the West Indies were out of ideas, with the 29-year old providing the breakthrough – or at least creating chances – more often than not. His aggression cost him half his match fee in Kingston, but that sort of passion might be appreciated by the West Indies fans. On a Barbados pitch that has traditionally offered more pace and bounce than the Sabina Park surface, Gabriel is perhaps the likeliest to make the sort of telling contribution that eluded his side last game.Ahmed Shehzad, not for the first time, finds his Test career at a precipitous stage. It is a pattern that has regularly repeated itself: inconsistency at the international level, rich form domestically, rinse, repeat. Apart from a pair of fifties, Shehzad has struggled to get going since his return to the highest level during the limited-overs leg of this tour. With Pakistan’s selectors showing impatience at the top order – Kamran Akmal has already been dropped from the Champions Trophy squad – Shehzad must be feeling the pressure of playing for his place again. Whether that stifles him or spurs him on may well have a significant outcome on the second Test.Team newsWest Indies’ squad is unchanged from the one that fell to a seven-wicket defeat in Kingston. Eyebrows were raised when Shimron Hetmyer and Vishaul Singh were both selected to make their debut in a side that already lacks experience, and one of them could make way for Jermaine Blackwood.West Indies (possible): 1 Kieran Powell, 2 Kraigg Brathwaite, 3 Jermaine Blackwood, 4 Shai Hope (wk), 5 Roston Chase, 6 Vishaul Singh/Shimron Hetmyer, 7 Shane Dowrich, 8 Jason Holder (capt), 9 Devendra Bishoo, 10 Alzarri Joseph, 11 Shannon GabrielPakistan could stick to the side that won the first Test, even though Misbah-ul-Haq did say they would consider the possibility of playing two spinners. That would also give them a fifth bowling option, so necessary in an attack that relies on three fast bowlers.Pakistan (possible): 1 Azhar Ali, 2 Ahmed Shehzad, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Younis Khan, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Asad Shafiq, 7 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 8 Mohammad Abbas, 9 Mohammad Amir, 10 Wahab Riaz, 11 Yasir ShahPitch and conditionsThe forecast for the second Test is better than the it was in Kingston, even though rain is expected on the fourth and fifth days. The surface in Bridgetown is generally hard and fast, and if it is overcast, the toss could assume great importance. Jason Holder, the West Indies captain, felt the pitch looked “unusually” dry on the eve of the Test, so spin could play a fairly significant role as the match goes on.Stats and trivia If Pakistan win this Test, it will mark their first ever Test series win in the Caribbean. The first Test marked the sixth time two Pakistan bowlers took six or more wickets in a Test. The last time this happened was in 2002. Quotes”It’s interesting. I’ve been out there a few times since I’ve been back here, and it looks pretty dry – unusually so. Normally you would expect a little bit more in terms of the surface but it looks quite dry, it’ll be interesting to see if it’ll last all five days or if it deteriorates quickly. Not quite sure, so it’s just a matter for us, especially, to make use of our first innings when we bat.”

Matt Miazga was "forcibly removed" from the officials' locker room after FC Cincinnati beat New York Red Bulls last weekend.

Article continues below

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• Cincinnati advanced to knockout round on penalties
• Miazga handed second yellow in shootout
• USMNT star entered referee's locker room after match

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Professional Soccer Referees Association posted a statement claiming that a player had gained unauthorized access to the officials' locker room and was "forcibly removed" by security.

  They said: "After the Nov 4th NYRB/FC Cincinnati match, a player gained unauthorized entry into the Officials’ locker room & was forcibly removed by stadium security while acting in an aggressive & hostile manner. No one's safety should ever be at risk & we expect MLS to act accordingly."

  The Philadelphia Enquirer followed the PRSA statement with a report that the individual was Cincy defender Miazga . However, the Cincinnati Enquirer then claimed that stadium security was 'not involved at all' in the situation, and that the PRSA report was exaggerated. The Athletic confirmed the report of exaggeration, revealing that a source on the incident said “the entire thing has been blown out of proportion.”

  MLS has begun an investigation of the incident, releasing a statement saying: “The safety of PRO officials must never be compromised and an investigation into this matter is being conducted.”

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The USMNT defender was shown a yellow card during regulation of the match before receiving a second in the shootout; he scored his kick, and then, in the eyes of the official, appeared to mock the New York Red Bulls fans with heart gestures. He also blew a kiss to the crowd.

  Postgame, Miazga said: “I’m annoyed,” he told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “The referee gave me a yellow card. For what? I went to my fans that I played for since I was 14 years old and gave them a heart. I gave them a heart and I was showing them my love. I get a yellow card for that? For what? And I have to take (that) and I’m suspended now. And after the game he gives me a yellow card because I asked ‘what the hell are you doing?’ Everyone’s yelling at the referee. Yeah, of course. I feel singled-out. I was speaking to (Rivas) the whole game normally. He’s talking to me nicely all game.”

  Miazga, per The Athletic report, went to speak with referee Victor Rivas about the yellow card postgame and was then removed from the situation by an FC Cincinnati staff-person, not stadium security.

  Head coach Pat Noonan said that Miazga 'knows better' and should not have put himself in that scenario postgame. “Matt’s suspended for the next game and that shouldn’t happen,” he said. “Matt knows better, we shouldn’t be missing him for the next round, as simple as that.”

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Miazga came through the academy at New York Red Bulls and grew up in New Jersey. There is, therefore, also a suggestion that he was merely paying homage to his hometown after scoring his penalty, but the gesture was not well received by the referee or the home fans.

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  After advancing from Round One of the MLS playoffs after knocking out the New York Red Bulls, the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and 2023 Supporters' Shield winners will host the winner of the best-of-three series between the New England Revolution and Philadelphia Union in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

  As things stand, the Union lead the series 1-0 and game two takes place Wednesday evening.

Manchester City have tried to snap up Warren Zaire-Emery as part of a potential transfer deal to send Bernardo Silva to PSG, according to a report from reliable journalist Fabrice Hawkins.

Is Bernardo Silva leaving Manchester City?

The Portugal international has once more been a first-team regular for the Premier League outfit, helping his team to not only claim another league title but to win both the FA Cup and Champions League too, completing a historic treble. With 34 games under his belt in the top flight this campaign, he managed four goals and five assists along the way and now has three more winners medals to his name thanks to his efforts.

His showings have led to keen interest in his signature this summer from PSG, who now want to try and secure a deal for the player during the transfer window. The French side have already tried to convince City into doing business with them by offering both players and cash, with the Ligue 1 club prepared to let both Marco Verratti and Gianluigi Donnarumma leave the club to bring Silva in.

Now, according to a report from Fabrice Hawkins, Pep Guardiola's side were prepared to do a swap deal with PSG – but not the one that the French club wanted. Instead, City "offered" to take Warren Zaire-Emery off their hands as part of a potential deal for their versatile maestro.

The Ligue 1 side though promptly rejected this approach and it seems as though they are not too keen to let go of the youngster. It's unclear how much he would cost to buy outright too, although CIES Football Observatory suggest his value could be around the 20 million Euros (or £17.1m) mark.

How many games has Warren Zaire-Emery played this season?

Despite being just 17-years-old, he has already featured quite frequently for PSG. Over the course of the 2022/23 season for example, the player featured in the league on 26 occasions, with eight starts.

Even though Zaire-Emery is fairly inexperienced, he still managed to score two goals for the side though and the fact he has been selected so often shows how highly he is rated and valued in a squad packed with big money signings. He certainly appears to have the ability to go far in the game too, with football talent scout Jacek Kulig calling the player a "top talent" based on his form over the course of the current season.

It's no surprise then that City were eager to snap him up as part of a potential transfer deal – it appears though that they may have to try something different if they do want to add the youngster to their ranks this summer window.

Newcastle United have opened "talks" regarding a contract extension for Joelinton at St. James' Park, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

When is Joelinton out of contract at Newcastle?

The Brazil international first arrived in the Premier League from Hoffenheim back in 2019 and has since gone on to become a regular feature in the northeast, clocking up a total of 157 appearances to date.

The Magpies talisman still has another two years remaining on his contract at St. James’ Park, but having established himself last season in a remarkable personal campaign as Eddie Howe’s overall second best-performing player with a WhoScored match rating of 7.24, he’s bound to attract interest during the upcoming window.

PIF and the boss will be pleased to learn that the 26-year-old is yet to have any clubs chasing him as far as public knowledge is concerned, but you can never be too careful as we approach this busy time of year and it sounds like the hierarchy are keen to tie him down before any potential suitors start circling.

Have Newcastle offered Joelinton a new contract?

Taking to Twitter, Plettenberg revealed that Newcastle have now entered discussions with Joelinton about the possibility of him putting pen to paper and committing his long-term future to the club. He wrote:

"Excl. News #Joelinton: @NUFC wants to extend his contract beyond 2025 now! Talks have started. Early stage. Result open. After a top season the 26 y/o is about to make his debut with Brazil. Key player."

Newcastle will know that Joelinton was one of their most standout performers last season, and considering the high standard of quality that he displayed, the attacking midfielder being rewarded with improved terms is nothing less than he deserves.

The ROGON client, who earns £85k-per-week, racked up eight goal contributions (six goals and two assists) in the top-flight during the previous term and ranked in the 97th percentile for number of attacking touches in the opposition’s penalty area and the 94th percentile for successful take-ons, as per FBRef.

The Alianca native, who offers wonderful versatility with his ability to operate in seven different positions, is also highly regarded among his fellow players and black and white striped supporters having taken home the Player of the Year award in 2021/22, and this love story will only develop even further should he sign on the dotted line in the weeks ahead of us.

The Argentine has done the unthinkable by taking over at Stamford Bridge, but it's a move that makes sense, despite his Spurs love affair

After an exhaustive and exhausting search for a permanent manager, Chelsea's co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart have found their man: Mauricio Pochettino.

It was unthinkable that the cherished former Tottenham boss would ever take charge of another Premier League club, let alone one of Spurs' greatest rivals, but the concept of Pochettino taking his seat in the Stamford Bridge dugout is something that Chelsea and Spurs fans alike will have to get used to, with the Argentine's arrival on an initial two-year deal finally being confirmed on Monday.

It will be a divisive appointment in some quarters, given his seemingly unbreakable bond with the Tottenham fanbase (however one-sided that relationship has become), but he is the ideal candidate to guide Chelsea out of the mess they currently find themselves in and on to better things.

GOAL breaks down just why that's the case…

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  The perfect project

  Things were supposed to be wildly different at the end of Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali's first full season as Chelsea owners, especially after two transfer windows of lavish spending.

  But instead of fighting for silverware, the Blues find themselves out of each cup competition and desperately staving off a descent into the mire of lower mid-table, more than 30 points off the pace set by Premier League leaders Manchester City and second-placed Arsenal.

  Similarly, but perhaps not as drastically, Pochettino's stock has dipped since his unceremonious dismissal at Paris Saint-Germain a year ago, but he is still regarded as one of the best in the business and will be keen to prove that at Stamford Bridge – much like another PSG cast-off, Thomas Tuchel, before him.

  As a result, Pochettino's arrival cannot be viewed as a top manager joining a top club, but rather a coach with a point to prove joining a team that is in desperate need of galvanising.

  Chelsea could well be the perfect fit; Pochettino's reputation is built upon improving struggling teams and helping them to reach their full potential; he guided Southampton to what was their highest-ever Premier League finish in 2013-14, before famously taking a Tottenham side that had been incapable of qualifying for the Champions League to the final of the 2019 edition.

  That incremental improvement at both clubs has been underpinned by an exciting, front-footed brand of football, and Boehly and Eghbali will be desperate for Pochettino to implement those ideas with an expensively assembled squad bursting with unfulfilled attacking talent.

  Chelsea and Pochettino are wounded animals, and together they could become something very dangerous.

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  The longevity Chelsea crave

  That's not to say that Pochettino turned Spurs' fortunes around as soon as he arrived at White Hart Lane.

  He only took Tottenham from sixth to fifth in his first season and still missed out on that elusive Champions League place – something Tim Sherwood was effectively sacked for a year prior.

  The key in north London, though, was that he was given the time and afforded the patience to mould the team in his image, ultimately building something incredibly special over a five-year period and breathing life into the club both on and off the pitch.

  Given the resources and existing squad that will be at his disposal at Stamford Bridge, Pochettino will back himself to replicate his exploits on the west side of the capital and oversee gradual improvement. A title challenge within the next three seasons should perhaps be the realistic aim.

  At 51, he is still relatively young, he has previously professed his love of living in London, and he is an advocate for the attacking brand of football the Chelsea owners seem to want their team to play.

  Boehly and Eghbali had hinted that they wanted a manager for the long-term and there would be patience throughout the bad times, but having pulled the plug on their Graham Potter project very prematurely, they should have some confidence that Pochettino has the credentials to oversee the development of the team for a number of years.

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  The fans wanted him

  The general consensus has always been that Pochettino's profound connection with the Tottenham fanbase would be a stumbling block to a move to any other Premier League club.

  As it turns out, that is probably wasn't the case – and he was even willing to join one of Spurs' most bitter rivals.

  The Chelsea hierarchy was reportedly pleasantly surprised by the fans' reception to the news that Pochettino was in line for the role, a testament to the Argentine's popularity throughout the game and a reflection of a desire to laud his arrival over Spurs.

  Surprisingly, this is unlikely to be a divisive appointment, with Blues followers clearly craving the kind of synergy the coach fostered with Tottenham supporters during his time there – especially having failed to warm to his predecessor Potter – and another stick with which to beat their foes across the capital.

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  The players wanted him

  It's not just the supporters who are in favour of Pochettino becoming Chelsea manager – the players are keen on the idea, too.

  According to , the first round of news that he could be coming generated excitement in the dressing room, with many members of the squad aware of the Argentine's coaching, motivational ability and man-management skills. They've no doubt been reading more about him since then.

  During his time in north London, it was clear that Pochettino's players would run through a brick wall for him, and having looked distinctly unmotivated at times under both Potter and interim manager Frank Lampard, the Chelsea squad is clearly prepared to get down to work for the right person.

Leeds United have been guilty of some poor transfer deals in the past but the appointment of Victor Orta in 2017 has helped to transform the Yorkshire outfit from Championship strugglers into a fairly solid Premier League side.

The Spaniard has also made mistakes, with the likes of Jean Kevin-Augustin no doubt at the forefront of Leeds fans' minds after the club were ordered to pay £24.5m in compensation to the rarely-seen Frenchman earlier this month, but in the large part, he has been responsible for signing some incredible players at Elland Road.

One such example is Tyler Adams, as the young midfielder's value has flown up during his time in the Premier League, and he looks set to be a vital player for The Peacocks in the significant future.

How much did Adams cost Leeds United?

Following the exit of Kalvin Phillips in the summer of 2022, it seemed clear that Leeds were going to have to invest heavily in a new defensive midfielder to fill the boots of the home-grown England international.

The USA international had accumulated 103 appearances during his time with RB Leipzig, contributing two goals and three assists, so represented a great option for Leeds when considering his experience of top-level football and obvious long-term potential.

Orta sanctioned a deal worth €17m (£15m), which could rise to €23m (£20.2m) with add-ons, and he has established himself as a key player at Elland Road throughout the 2022/23 campaign, earning regular starts under both Jesse Marsch and Javi Gracia.

Across his 24 Premier League appearances so far this campaign, the tough-tackling midfielder has averaged a solid 6.73 rating from WhoScored for his performances, which sees him currently ranked as the fifth-best player in Gracia's squad.

Journalist Tomi Oladipo was quick to label Adams a "monster" in Leeds' midfield after their 3-0 demolition of Chelsea earlier this season and his average of 3.7 tackles per game, the best of anyone at Elland Road, certainly reinforces that.

Although Adams has been absent for Leeds' recent games through injury, with the Yorkshire outfit very much in the Premier League's relegation battle after their 5-1 defeat against Crystal Palace last time out, his performances have not gone unnoticed by the wider footballing world.

As per Football Transfers, the midfielder's transfer value has shot up to €39.6m (£34.8m), which represents a hugely impressive 133% increase on the £15m Leeds initially paid.

Therefore, Orta deserves a huge amount of credit for bringing in the £55k-per-week star on such a bargain deal, and Leeds fans will be hoping to see the 24-year-old continue to shine upon his return from injury.

ScorecardTymal Mills took three wickets and bowled a maiden in his four overs•Getty Images

South African David Wiese hit boundaries of successive deliveries in the final over to ease Sussex to a four-wicket win over Kent in a low-scoring thriller in the NatWest T20 Blast at Hove.Chasing 141, after Tymal Mills had again impressed with 3 for 15, Sussex needed eight off the final over but after David Griffiths conceded a single and then bowled a wide, Wiese – who has extended his stay as second overseas player at Hove for another two weeks – drove to the extra cover boundary before guiding the next delivery to the third man rope to seal victory with three balls to spare.It was Sussex’s other overseas player, Ross Taylor, who set up the win with a measured 62 off 50 balls. Sussex were struggling on 68 for 4 after 12 overs in their response when Taylor was joined by Chris Jordan in a match-winning stand of 61 from 39 balls.Taylor struck offspinner James Tredwell for 16 off three balls in the 16th over to tilt the contest Sussex’s way and although both he and Jordan fell to catches in the deep off Mitch Claydon in the penultimate over, Wiese held his nerve to secure a third win out of four in the South Group for his side.Claydon took 3 for 25, having earlier bowled Ben Brown while Matt Coles also impressed, finishing with 1 for 17 and claiming the key early scalp of Sussex skipper Luke Wright, who was caught at deep square leg for 3.Kent had been bowled out for 140 off the final ball of their innings, having been put in, after some impressive work from Sussex’s seamers on a slow pitch.England international Jordan led the way with 3 for 18. In his first spell he removed Daniel Bell-Drummond with a slower ball and returned to the attack to have Alex Blake caught at cover and Darren Stevens at midwicket.Jordan was well backed up by left-armer Mills, whose searing pace made it tough for the Kent batsmen. Mills yorked Coles and then removed Tredwell and Griffiths in his final over to finish with 3 for 15 while Wiese took 2 for 33 including Kent captain Sam Northeast, who returned to form with 53 off 33 balls which included two fours and four sixes, all struck in the area between long on and mid-wicket before he mis-timed a leg-side pull allowing Wiese to take a simple return catch.Sussex’s seamers were well supported by leg-spinner Will Beer, who had the dangerous Sam Billings lbw sweeping as Kent’s innings tailed off alarmingly, with the last five wickets falling for nine runs.

Surrey have announced Michael Di Venuto as their new head coach on a three-year deal to replace Graham Ford who has recently returned to work with Sri Lanka.Di Venuto, who played nine ODIs, is currently Australia’s assistant and batting coach and recently took charge of the team when Darren Lehmann suffered DVT. His final Australia assignment will be the T20 tour of South Africa next month and he will join Surrey in early April ahead of the start of their Championship campaign against Nottinghamshire on April 10.Greg Blewett, who is currently Australia’s fielding coach, will take on the batting responsibilities with the national side.Di Venuto has extensive experience of the county game having played for Sussex, Derbyshire and latterly Durham with whom he won back-to-back County Championship titles in 2008 and 2009.”It has been a huge honour and privilege to have worked with the Australian team but the chance to come to a club of the size and potential of Surrey as head coach was too big an opportunity for me to turn down,” Di Venuto said.”As someone who has always enjoyed the county game, I have followed Surrey’s progress over the last couple of years and look forward to working with this talented squad of players.”Alec Stewart, the Surrey director of cricket, said: “Following the departure of Graham Ford it was vitally important that we found another high quality coach with a great work ethic and excellent knowledge of the English county game.”Michael is a good people person and his twelve years of county experience will be invaluable. He is highly regarded within the Australian setup for his ability to work with and get the best out of players both individually and collectively.”Being able to appoint a coach from a top quality International team can only serve to benefit the club and I would like to thank Cricket Australia for their professional dealings and understanding in enabling us to make this appointment in time for the start of the new season.”Pat Howard, Australia’s general manager, thanked Di Venuto for his work alongside Darren Lehmann over the last three years.”Michael has played a very important role supporting the Australian team over the last three years, including this past home summer when he stood in for Darren Lehmann as head coach,” Howard said.”He has brought a tremendous work ethic and commitment to the role and we have no doubt that this head coaching opportunity with Surrey will provide him with fantastic experience leading his own team, continuing his rapid development as an elite coach.”

Despite the one-sided result, West Indies will be pleased with the performances of some of the young players

Peter English29-Nov-2005

Dwayne Bravo gave West Indies some much-needed spark in the final two Tests © Getty Images
8 Dwayne Bravo
The find of the series. Somehow missed the first Test, but showed his all-round value and starred over the next two weeks. Posted his second Test century with a clever and patient 113 to avoid another team embarrassment at Hobart, and showed his bowling capabilities at Adelaide with 6 for 84, including a brilliant caught-and-bowled to dismiss Shane Warne. Chipped in with 64 in the second innings and injured his thigh, the only thing that could slow him down.7 Denesh Ramdin
An impressive 20-year-old who made a big impact with his calm batting and keeping. Stood out with 71 as part of a 182-run stand with Bravo at Hobart and three more starts earned him an average of 34.20. A lack of chances restricted him to six catches, although he spilled an easy chance off Adam Gilchrist at Adelaide, but he can be proud of out-scoring his opposite number.7 Brian Lara
Took the world run-scoring record at Adelaide with 226, an innings that included splashes of sparkles and hours of hard work. Deserved the chance to thrive after suffering two wrong decisions and a doubtful one in his first three innings. Played his final Test in Australia and waved goodbye for 17 after falling to an amazing catch from Matthew Hayden.5.5 Corey Collymore
West Indies’ most economical bowler and the leader of the attack who regularly tied down his opponents. Began the series with 4 for 72 and quickly asked for more support from his bowling team-mates. They improved as the series continued and Collymore deserved his eight wickets.5 Fidel Edwards
Fast and mostly expensive, he made some batsmen jump and picked up at least two wickets in each first innings. However, his two three-fors leaked more than 100 runs and he was unable to make any impact when Australia batted a second time.

Chris Gayle needed heart surgery after the second Test © Getty Images
5 Ramnaresh Sarwan
Performed better than on his first tour in Australia, when he made only 54 runs in six innings with three ducks, but was outclassed again and couldn’t restrict his big shots. Worked hard over 31 off 92 balls in Brisbane and found his feet with a bright 62 in the final innings at Adelaide before being cut down by a poor umpiring decision. West Indies need more from their vice-captain if he is to remain at No. 3.5 Chris Gayle
Created the most sensational news of the series when revealing he needed heart surgery. However, the procedure was minor and he was recovering by the time of the third Test. Retired hurt with an irregular heartbeat on his way to 56 at Bellerive Oval and left his mark by pounding two brutal sixes off Glenn McGrath at the Gabba. Took three wickets with his offspin.4 Devon Smith
Started the series in aggressive style and provided the side’s only first-innings resistance with 88. Will have nightmares about facing Brett Lee, who dismissed him four times, and Glenn McGrath as he finished with scores of 3, 4, 8, 7 and 0.4 Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Uninspiring with the bat, he scored only 87 runs at 14.5 and made some confusing decisions with bowling changes. Can be satisfied with the way the team rallied after the 379-run defeat to push the final Tests into five days, and should do better than Jimmy Adams, who was sacked after losing 5-0 in 2000-01.3.5 Daren Powell
Added only two wickets to his three at Brisbane and finished with an average of 76.40. Was hit for a huge six by Brett Lee that cleared the Gabba, although he knocked him over next delivery with a replacement ball.3 Marlon Samuels
Threatened great things with a double-century in the warm-up against Queensland but didn’t manage anything of substance in his two Tests. Suffered a knee injury at Hobart and went home early with a top score of 29.1.5 Jermaine Lawson
Came back from heel surgery too soon and laboured in his only match of the series. Bowled 14 no-balls and returned figures of 0 for 47 off 6 overs and 1 for 73 from 14.1.5 Dwayne Smith
Called up for the third Test, he scored 14 (hit a nice six) and 0 (horrible decision), and dismissed Glenn McGrath.1.5 Wavell Hinds
Broke a finger in the warm-up game in Queensland and came in for Gayle at Adelaide, where he made 10 and 15 and bowled nine overs.