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ESPNcricinfo understands CSA was not intending to stop Lee from participating in the Hundred, but was concerned with a perceived lack of discipline

Firdose Moonda17-Jul-2022

Lizelle Lee announced her international retirement on July 8•Getty Images

Lizelle Lee has accused Cricket South Africa of threatening to deny her an NOC to participate in the Hundred and said national coach Hilton Moreeng was aware of the organisation’s actions, which contributed to her retirement. Both Moreeng and CSA have rejected Lee’s assertions.The opening batter stepped away from international cricket on July 8, saying she was “ready for the next phase of my career”, and would continue playing franchise T20 cricket but provided no other reasons for quitting until today. After Moreeng was asked at a press conference whether CSA’s alleged refusal to let Lee play in the Hundred led to her premature retirement, he said, “No comment, I was not aware of that.” Lee, however, tweeted that Moreeng “was definitely aware”. She also said, “I told him in person and it was said in a meeting with CSA”, but clarified that Moreeng “was not in that meeting.”Lee later reiterated to ESPNcricinfo that Moreeng was aware of the development.ESPNcricinfo understands that CSA was not intending to prevent Lee from participating in the Hundred, but was concerned with a perceived lack of discipline, including not being on time for the team schedule and having a disrupting influence on others. Efforts to bring Lee in line with her team-mates were attempted but failed, leading to her retirement. Sources confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that CSA is willing to provide NOCs to all its players contracted to teams in the Hundred, as usual. The tournament does not clash with any of South Africa’s other engagements.Related

Marizanne Kapp: Lizelle Lee's retirement has been 'mentally tough' for South Africa

Lizelle Lee, leading woman cricketer in the world in 2021

Lizelle Lee retires from international cricket

Lee, who missed South Africa’s recently completed series in Ireland as she recovered from Covid-19, travelled to England and played in the one-off Test. She also played in the warm-up match against England A on July 4. Four days later, she announced her retirement, which blindsided everyone from Marizanne Kapp to Moreeng. “The retirement came as a shock for everyone. It’s not anything anyone expected to happen, especially on a tour that we were looking forward to,” Moreeng said. “It caught everyone by surprise.”Moreeng went on to praise Lee’s contribution over the last nine years, which included two Tests, 100 ODIs and 82 T20Is and, at one stage saw her ranked No.1 in the world among batters in ODI cricket.”Like she highlighted in her statement, she has given her all for the country, she’s enjoyed it and we also enjoyed having her as a player, the players have enjoyed having her as a team-mate and she had an incredible career,” Moreeng said. “At the end of the day, we need to respect the player’s decision although it is tough on everyone, because we didn’t foresee it was going to happen so quickly. We knew that one of these days it’s going to happen and now it’s for us to respect it and just give her some space. She’s made her decision. We thank her for the time she has given to the Proteas and she will always be remembered as one of those that played incredible cricket for the country.”Lee’s absence has affected South Africa’s batting and headspace, as Kapp confirmed after their loss on Friday night. South Africa have been bowled out for under 225 in both matches and their line-up has appeared listless. Moreeng recognised their shortcomings but stressed that it would be difficult to find someone in Lee’s mould immediately.”To try and replace Lizelle is not something that can happen overnight. There are players that are capable and they can still take the game forward but they need to be scoring consistently,” he said. “Lizelle is not a player you can replace overnight because of how explosive and dynamic she was. In the future hopefully we will find a similar player who can go out and be as explosive as her.”

Leaving aside the odd season of injury comebacks, it’s been 15 extraordinary years since James Anderson last went into a home summer as anything other than England’s attack leader. You have to go way back to the India series in 2007, when his second Test five-for at Lord’s hinted at the bowler he was about to come, for the last time Anderson was genuinely out to prove his worth, rather than cement the credentials he had already established.And so it was an oddly cagey Anderson who faced the media in Leicester on Monday, at the behest of the Test sponsors LV= Insurance, but before he’d had any cast-iron assurances that his name will be back in the frame for another Lord’s appearance, when the squad for the first Test against New Zealand is announced on Wednesday.”Until that squad’s picked I’m not counting on anything,” he said. “My job’s to try and prove that I’m in good form, take wickets for Lancashire and help them win games. That’s all I’m bothered about, and then we’ll see what happens whenever the team is announced.”Chicken-counting aside, however, Anderson’s return for his 170th Test appearance, and 96th on home soil, is a given. Not only has he proven his form and fitness on the county circuit – including with the eye-catching dismissal of his former England captain, Joe Root, in last week’s Roses clash – he and his long-term sidekick Stuart Broad are just about the only capped England seamers available to Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum as they prepare to begin their captain-coach alliance in a fortnight’s time.Saqib Mahmood and Matt Fisher, both of whom debuted in Anderson’s and Broad’s absence in the Caribbean, have succumbed to stress fractures, the same complaint that Sam Curran is currently returning from, while Craig Overton and Chris Woakes – who shared the new ball in Antigua in March – are labouring with knee injuries. Jofra Archer and Mark Wood are coming back from elbow operations, and Ollie Robinson – the man who ought to be in possession – has been a fitness concern since struggling through the Hobart Test in January.Anderson and Broad, on the other hand, just keep rumbling on. “I don’t know, it’s just luck I guess,” he said of their longevity. “We still love playing, we’re really hungry to take wickets, and still love that feeling you get from it. I’ve spoken to Stuart a lot over the last few months, we still feel like we’ve got a lot to give the game, whether it’s for Notts or Lancashire, or for England.”Nevertheless, Anderson admitted that, with his 40th birthday approaching in July, his omission for the West Indies tour had caused him to reassess his priorities as he enters his 20th season as an international cricketer.”I definitely questioned it, yeah,” he said. “I talked it through with my family as well, and they saw it as I did, that I feel like I’ve got more to give to the game. The longer time went on, the more I was with the Lancs lads doing pre-season training. I was still doing the gym work, and I wasn’t bored of it. I wanted to be there doing it, irrelevant of what was going to happen in the summer.”If I play the whole season for Lancashire, then great. If I get a Test call-up then brilliant, but at the minute I’m really enjoying playing cricket. It did come into question, I guess – do I want to do I want to carry on? But in my head, I quickly decided I did want to see what happened this year.”James Anderson attended a #Funds4Runs community initiative in Leicester•LV= Insurance/#Funds4Runs

And if there were any residual doubts, then they were emphatically quashed by the 11th and most recent of his first-class wickets this season – the uprooting of Root’s off and middle stumps at Headingley on Sunday, as Anderson’s typically frugal figures of 15-7-17-2 briefly set Lancashire up for a final-day victory push against Yorkshire.”I did enjoy that one, it was nice to get a player of Joe’s quality out,” Anderson said. And it was doubtless all the sweeter given that Root had still been England captain for the Caribbean tour, and therefore was at least complicit in Anderson’s controversial omission.Did he say anything to Root when he got him out? “Absolutely not, no. Didn’t need to. Just pick the two stumps off the ground,” Anderson said. “We do talk. We’ve not fallen out or anything. Yeah, we chatted. I spoke to him before he announced that he was stepping down. There’s still a huge amount of respect between the two of us so there’s no animosity.”The biggest thing for me [on Sunday] was that we were pushing for a win,” Anderson added. “Obviously he got 140 in the first innings; we know how good a player he is. A few of our guys were seeing him up close for the first time and realising how good a player he is; they all commented on it. It was fruitless in the end, but we were pushing hard for that win, and he was the best player so it was nice to get the best player.”Three months after the event, Anderson says he hasn’t had a full explanation for his omission from the Test squad, and still doesn’t know whether there was a perceived issue with his attitude in Australia, where his eight wickets at 23.37 couldn’t prevent a 4-0 series loss. However, with his focus now back on adding to his England-record tally of 640 wickets, his thoughts are firmly fixed on the coming summer, as he hopes to help the new team hierarchy pick the performances up after a torrid 12 months.Related

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“It’s gone now. It’s history. I’m not bothered about what’s gone in the past,” he said. “All I can control is what I do in the future. I’ve got to try to prove that I’m still good enough to play international cricket and keep my fingers crossed that the selectors and the captain think so as well.”I don’t think from a performance point of view my confidence would have taken a knock. I felt like I bowled well in Australia and since I’ve been bowling back in England I’ve felt like I’m in good shape and bowling well. So from that point of view I feel like I know what I’m doing and I don’t think that will change, really.”I guess you do start questioning other things when that sort of thing happens – is it something I’ve done around the group or whatever else? I guess that’s the one thing that you start thinking about. But when it comes to cricket I’m pretty confident that I’m doing okay.”Anderson will be reassured too by the vote of confidence he received from Stokes after his accession to the Test captaincy, and is ready to return the compliment after seeing glimpses of his leadership style during the Ashes campaign.”He’s a natural leader and the lads all look up to him in the dressing-room,” Anderson said. “When he’s had the opportunity to be captain… I think there was maybe an hour in Australia, and you could see he’s got a real good tactical brain on him. He’s the hardest trainer in the group and sets the example of how to be an international cricketer.”We’re at quite a low point at the minute as a Test side. Where we are in the Test championship, we’re going to have to do something serious to be able to turn it around and get back up towards where we want to be, towards the top. I don’t think that necessarily happens overnight. But with Brendon and Ben, we’re never going to take a backward step. It could be a really exciting time for English cricket.”James Anderson and other England cricketers surprised Leicester Electricity Sports Cricket Club during an inter-squad friendly game organised by Test partners LV= Insurance. The club will receive support to train a new coach and relaunch their women’s team as part of LV= and the ECB’s commitment to support 4000 coaches through their #Funds4Runs community initiative. Visit Funds4Runs for more information

The Aussies are finally batting, umpires are making howlers, and Trott’s temper is given a work out. Ah to be at Old Trafford…

Andy Bloxham02-Aug-2013Choice of game
With the Aussies returning to the shores from whence they came, and no Test scheduled for my local venue, Edgbaston (scandalous, I might add), I opted for the curtain-raiser of the pivotal third Ashes Test at an extensively redeveloped Old Trafford.
It’s the first occasion on which I’ve attended the opening day of an Ashes Test match, and nothing quite compares to that spine-tingling first airing of “Jerusalem” as the players take the field. Against the Old Enemy, it’s especially poignant.Key performer
Michael Clarke. Chris Rogers can consider himself rather unfortunate to have missed out here – it was his uncharacteristically fluent and aggressive innings at the top of the order that set the tone for a fine Australian batting performance – but the tourists, as is so often the case, owe much of their early success in this Test match to their brilliant captain.Clarke’s unbeaten century was not his most authoritative, nor was it bursting with the effortless elegance that we’ve become accustomed to, but it steered his team in to what could prove to be a match defining position of strength come the end of a scorching hot day in Manchester. After a tentative start in which he groped at a probing James Anderson like a promiscuous teen, Clarke found his dancing shoes and combined fleet-footed, crisp footwork with nothing short of Rolex timing. He knows a thing or two about making it a big one, too, so expect plenty more to be added on day two.One thing I’d have changed about the day
Well, England winning the toss would have been nice, wouldn’t it? On a magnificent English summer’s day which, when combined with a largely unresponsive surface, provided about as much assistance to England’s seam bowlers as a 16-year-old work experience employee would to MI6, it was just about the perfect day for batting.Oh, and the minor issue of howling third-umpire decisions as part of the DRS process could do with some remedying, couldn’t it?The interplay I enjoyed
Anderson to Clarke. James Anderson possesses a fine record against Australia’s captain, and for 30 minutes or so at the beginning of the latter’s innings it had looked a trend comfortably set to continue. Clarke offered the look of a man batting knee-deep in treacle, but somehow managed to survive the inquisition to see England’s conjuror off and set himself for what was to become his 26th Test century. Only Shane Watson, who served up the batting equivalent of Quasimodo, had looked more out of kilter before reaching double figures.Wow moment
Usman Khawaja’s dismissal being upheld. Then Steve Smith surviving after England were utterly convinced that he had edged a James Anderson delivery through to wicketkeeper Matt Prior. Without seeing replays any clearer than those displayed on the big screen inside the ground, they appear on the face of things to have been a) clearly incorrect and b) another nail in the coffin of a review system that has already had a 300ft deep grave dug by India’s cricketing hierarchy.Filling the gaps
Thwaite’s finest. A roast pork and stuffing bap. Spiced potato wedges. The varied cuisine that filled the gaps between the cricket (and the one in my stomach) had the simultaneous effect of emptying my wallet at a pace swifter than Mike Gatting going up for thirds at an all-you-can-eat buffet.Crowd meter
Pretty quiet, actually. Whether I’m just accustomed to the gladiatorial atmosphere of an England Test at Edgbaston, or whether the English contingent had been shocked in to silence by the sight of an Australian batting unit showing some application and looking like actual cricketers, it was a largely subdued affair.
A word for the large gathering of Aussie “Fanatics” sat behind me, though. They were naturally stunned and delighted in equal measure by the close of play scoreboard, but provided great value throughout the day and took banter as liberally as they dished it out. It is one of the great joys of being a cricket spectator that you can share a beer with someone from the other side of the world and have a good chat, regardless of what is taking place on the field.Close encounter
Jonathan Trott spent a short period of the afternoon session out on the boundary in front of where we were sat, and soon copped some abuse from a well-oiled Aussie. Trott is a batsman renowned for his ability to exist untroubled within his own bubble when out in the middle, but Trott the fielder is clearly a different proposition. Whatever had been said angered the England No. 3, and his Australian assailant was quick to ignore an offer to come down and say it to his face. The Australian bowlers should ask the spectator in question for a few tips.Overall
DRS gaffes aside, that was what Test cricket is all about. Blazing sunshine, unrelenting cricket from both sides and a full house. Australia are in a commanding position, but the beauty of Test cricket is that, come lunch tomorrow, that outlook could have dramatically changed.Marks out of 10
8. Painfully prolonged third-umpire referrals took plenty of the spontaneity out of the game, and the fact that they were then incorrect added a farcical edge that didn’t sit well. Thankfully, the weather and the majority of the cricket made for a tremendous day out.

Manchester United could be set for a transfer U-turn as INEOS eye the signing of a player the club have just recently sold, according to a new report. Given the Red Devils’ poor start to the campaign, United may be set for a busy January as they continue to be linked with new recruits who they hope will improve the team.

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United brought in five new players during the summer, but given that there were a lot of departures, there could be room to add one or two more when January arrives. One area they may address is goalkeeper, as while Andre Onana has done very well this season, there is little serious competition behind him.

United have their eye on Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Sam Tickle, as scouts have taken in performances of the shot stopper and left impressed with what they have seen. At 22 years old, United see him as someone who can provide cover and competition for Onana.

Another area that may need addressing at Old Trafford is at left-back, as Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia continue to recover from injuries, which means Diogo Dalot has been heavily relied upon to fill the void. So, United are considering their options, and they have an interested in signing Ben Chilwell from Chelsea. The Red Devils have made him their top target, and they believe they can sign him when January arrives.

However, Chilwell is not the only left-back that United are looking at, as they are also considering re-signing a former player.

INEOS may now buy back £5m Alvaro Carreras

According to Portuguese outlet O Jogo, relayed by Sport Witness, Manchester United are closely monitoring Benfica defender Alvaro Carreras, while Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona are also keen.

The 21-year-old is well known at Old Trafford, as he spent four years with the Premier League side between 2020 and 2024. Carreras joined United from Real Madrid’s youth team but failed to make a first team appearance, spending time on loan at Preston, Granada and Benfica.

The left-back joined the Portuguese side on loan in January this year, and then that deal was made into a permanent switch, as Benfica paid 6 million euros, which is around £5 million. The 21-year-old has cemented himself in the Benfica team, appearing nine times in all competitions this season.

Apps

25

Goals

1

Assists

1

That hasn’t gone unnoticed, as his performances have caught the eye of the three named teams, with all three sending scouts to watch him in action. United have a buyback clause in his deal that saw him join Benfica, and they will be able to activate that to try and beat Barça and Madrid should they wish to do so, though there seems to be an element of chaos in buying back a player you just sold to fix a position with two injury-prone players.

Liverpool supporters have fallen head over heels for Arne Slot already, with the new era at Anfield spearheaded by the ex-Feyenoord boss starting on a fantastic footing.

Three wins from three in Premier League action means the confident Reds are tied at the top of the league with Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, who are – unsurprisingly – the only other unbeaten team in the division, but Slot's men do boast the fact they are yet to even leak a goal.

Despite these staunch defensive displays, the transfer rumour mill seems to indicate that the Premier League title chasers are eyeing up this new centre-back, who could soon be available on a free transfer.

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ByStephan Georgiou Apr 22, 2025 Liverpool pondering free transfer

As has been reported by Caught Offside, Liverpool are keen on a potential deal to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Jonathan Tah, after the central defender nearly joined German giants Bayern Munich this summer.

With Virgil van Dijk's current deal at Anfield expiring next year, it makes sense that Slot and Co are keeping their options open as to who could join if the Dutch colossus does end up walking away from Liverpool.

Likewise, back at Leverkusen, the reigning Bundesliga champions are unsure about Tah's future at the club with his contract up next year too, with the Reds tempted down the line to try and secure the 28-year-old on a free transfer.

It is noted that a dream move for the Leverkusen number four would be to join the Premier League, having been linked with a move to Newcastle United in the past, with the allure of the Reds far stronger than the Magpies.

How Tah can be the next Matip

Tah could end up being Liverpool's next Joel Matip, away from any talk about the Germany international being Van Dijk's successor, with Matip never looking back after exiting the Bundesliga himself for new pastures back in 2016 when Liverpool came calling.

There are further similarities too, if Tah does end up making the leap to the Premier League, with Matip also joining on a free transfer after his Schalke deal had expired.

The 33-year-old defender would go on to lift a Champions League and a top-flight title during his decorated spell with the Reds, with 11 goals and six assists managed from 201 games, as Matip garnered the reputation for being a consistently steady and reliable option to have around the building.

Games played

31

Goals scored

4

Assists

1

Touches*

79.1

Accurate passes*

66.7 (95%)

Ball recoveries*

5.2

Clearances*

3.1

Total duels won*

2.9

Clean sheets

12

Tah has also proven his worth for Xabi Alonso's men as a source of goals, with four managed last season on the way to Alonso's side lifting the Bundesliga proudly aloft, on top of managing 12 important clean sheets too.

Calm on the ball with a 95% pass accuracy averaged per game, Tah does play in a similar way to Matip, who managed 49.8 accurate passes per game last season when he was thrown into action by the now-departed Jurgen Klopp in the Premier League.

Slot would have loved Tah being around on the opening day when he had to hook Jarell Quansah off at half-time versus Ipswich Town, with the 21-year-old nervous against the Tractor Boys.

On the contrary, the Leverkusen star – who stands at a towering 6 foot 5 frame – would have knocked Ipswich's confidence by imposing himself on to the contest, with one of his former teammates Christoph Kramer once referring to the 28-year-old defender as a "defensive battleship".

Liverpool didn't go overboard in the recently closed transfer window with Federico Chiesa joining as the only real notable addition, but they could win themselves an excellent deal soon if they end up landing Tah for nothing, especially if he becomes as dependable as Matip used to be for the Reds.

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He’d be perfect for Arne Slot…

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The 235-page report concluded that Graeme Smith, Mark Boucher and AB de Villiers had all engaged in prejudicial conduct

Firdose Moonda15-Dec-2021Cricket South Africa unfairly discriminated against players on the basis of race, according to the Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) commission’s final report. In the 235-page document, submitted to CSA, ombudsman Dumisa Ntsebeza concluded that the administration, as well as former captain and current director Graeme Smith, current head coach Mark Boucher and former captain AB de Villiers had all engaged in prejudicial conduct.The report recommends that a permanent ombudsman is appointed, funded and handed resources to deal with race and gender-based complaints and that CSA puts in place an anonymous grievance policy. It does not have any consideration for reparations for those found to have been unfairly discriminated against but recommends that a permanent office considers if any reparations should be paid.CSA confirmed that the SJN process, which was initially supposed to last four months but ended up lasting over six months, cost the organisation R7.5 million (US$500,000). However, they felt the process was both necessary and productive. CSA said the issues facing cricket “are a complex interaction of multiple factors stemming from the history of this country and consequent socio-economic factors that prevail today.” They will engage with the report further in 2022.No punitive action is being taken against anyone immediately, however.”The board is still considering the report. It is a hefty document and needs a holistic response,” Lawson Naidoo, the CSA board chairperson, told ESPNcricinfo.”No decisions have been taken on any issues raised in the report and it would be premature to speculate on any action that may be taken. The board has got to look at the report in its entirety and engage with it seriously. This will be a continuation of what we are already doing. Overall, the SJN was an important process and that’s why the board backed it all the way. It is now the responsibility of the board to engage with the report.”Three of the more eye-opening findings, however, revolve around the main pillars of South Africa’s golden years – Smith, Boucher and de Villiers – and in two of the cases, specifically around the non-selection of black players.Related

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Mark Boucher and Paul Adams Adams testified that he was nicknamed “b**** s***” by his national team-mates, including Boucher. In a responding affidavit, Boucher admitted that he was among those who sang a song which included the slur. Boucher apologised and explained that white players were unprepared for the realities of post-Apartheid team dynamics. The ombudsman found that Boucher’s response revealed a “lack of sensitivity and understanding of the racist undertones,” of his comments, that Boucher attempted to excuse racism because it was done in a team setting and that he does “not comprehend the South African apartheid/discriminatory and racist history.”The reports cite case law in which those who have uttered racial slurs have been found guilty of hate speech and suggests that Boucher has not “undergone diversity and transformation training,” and where he has, that he is “apathetic towards diversity and transformation.”Graeme Smith and Thami Tsolekile This concerns Tsolekile’s non-selection for the national side following the retirement of Boucher in 2012. At the time, Tsolekile was contracted to CSA, with a view to taking over from Boucher at the end of the series against England. However, Boucher’s career was cut short by an eye injury at the start of the England tour, and de Villiers took over wicketkeeping duties until 2014, when Quinton de Kock made his debut.”The decision of the panel was totally irrational and showed clear signs of systemic racism,” the report reads. “CSA, Mr Graeme Smith and some selectors at the time really failed Mr Tsolekile and many black players of this time in many ways,”AB de Villiers and Khaya ZondoKhaya Zondo was part of South Africa’s ODI squad that toured India in 2015 but was not selected in the team when JP Duminy was injured for the final match of the series. Instead, Dean Elgar, who was part of the Test squad was flown in early and played in that match. In testimony given to the SJN, Hussein Manack, the tour selector at the time, said he was pressured into selecting Elgar over Zondo by then-ODI captain AB de Villiers. Selection convenor Linda Zondi was not involved in the decision as he was not on the tour, and was also not consulted, after de Villiers discussed the matter with then-CEO Haroon Lorgat instead.The ombudsman found that de Villiers flouted the National Selection policy by talking to Lorgat ahead of Zondi and that he did so “just to ensure that a black player was not placed in a position which he deemed as requiring greater experience,” the report reads. “The only reasonable conclusion is that Mr de Villiers unfairly discriminated against Mr Zondo on racial grounds.”In response to the report, de Villiers told ESPNcricinfo that he had “wholly supported the aims of Cricket South Africa’s Social Justice and Nation Building process, to ensure equal opportunities in our game. However, throughout my career, I expressed honest cricketing opinions only ever based on what I believed was best for the team, never based on anyone’s race. That’s the fact.”The ombudsman found that AB de Villiers flouted the National Selection policy during the ODI series against India in 2015•Associated Press No evidence of racial discrimination Roger Telemachus had alleged that he was overlooked for the position of Kwa-Zulu Natal Inland coach in favour of Michael Smith on the basis of race. This was disputed by CEO of the Dolphins, Heinrich Strydom, who detailed the appointment process. Smith’s appointment was made in line with employment policy guidelines and on “a balance of probability, Mr Telemachus failed to demonstrate that there was a differentiation on the listed ground of race.”Lonwabo Tsotsobe’s contention that he was made to carry bags of senior players while newly selected white members of the squad were not required to do the same, was contested by then-team manager Mohammed Moosajee. Tsotsobe’s evidence and the subsequent rebuttal meant that the ombudsman concluded there was “insufficient evidence to make out a prima facie case of unfair racial discrimination.”Several testimonies were made by players who accepted sanctions for conspiring to fix matches in the 2015-16 domestic T20 competitions and claimed that they were investigated by anti-corruption officials on the basis of race. While the SJN was not mandated to look into the match-fixing investigation, the ombudsman “could not find any evidence supporting the contention that black players were targeted during the investigation.”

Not since Gilchrist’s debut in 1999 as an Australia keeper made their Test debut at home

AAP02-Dec-2021Adam Gilchrist expects Alex Carey to warm to Test cricket, knowing all too well the upside of serving a long-term apprenticeship in the coloured clothes before donning the baggy green.Carey, having captained Australia’s ODI side earlier this year and represented his country in 83 white-ball matches, will replace Tim Paine behind the stumps in next week’s Ashes opener at the Gabba.The catalyst for Carey’s elevation, confirmed on Thursday, is notably different to that which resulted in Gilchrist succeeding Ian Healy as Test wicketkeeper at the same ground in 1999.Related

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Carey is not as dynamic a batter as Gilchrist; nor has he enjoyed the same stability while batting in every spot from No. 1 to No. 8 for Australia. But Gilchrist, who last month gave Carey a technical tune-up over the phone, says recent years will help the South Australian handle a pressure-laden Test debut against England.”I see a lot of similarities between Alex’s journey and mine,” Gilchrist told AAP at Fox Cricket’s season launch. “When I walked out to bat, Mark Waugh was at the non-striker’s end and I’d opened with him 70-odd times.”Starting my Test career, it wasn’t completely new. There was a really nice settling air of familiarity. That doesn’t guarantee success but it certainly gives you a nice launching pad.”Alex deserves the opportunity, he’s worked really hard in that white-ball set-up. His keeping has been really consistent, I think he’ll warm to Test cricket really nicely.”Carey, who edged Josh Inglis in a selection showdown to replace former captain Paine in a 15-player squad for the first two Tests, will be the first gloveman to be presented with a baggy green on home soil since Gilchrist.Carey, whose head is still spinning after breaking the news to a tearful mum, dad and wife, hoped previous experience keeping to Australia’s Test attack would help settle any nerves in “the biggest game I’ve played”.Carey passed 50 in just one of eight Sheffield Shield innings this season but posted a timely one-day century on Sunday. In the previous three seasons, he has celebrated four Shield hundreds from nine games while routinely missing red-ball cricket to play ODIs and T20s.”The focus has never really been on his keeping. As is always the way in this day and age, it’s all about the runs if you’re a keeper,” Gilchrist said. “He reached out a couple of weeks ago just to have a chat about a few things.”He will often touch base – whether it’s around little technical things, bat and gloves, approach or just what I’ve seen. There aren’t many of us keepers, so you have to try to stick together.”

Enzo Maresca and his new Chelsea side begin their Premier League campaign by facing last year's champions, Manchester City, on Sunday.

Having already lost to them 4-2 in pre-season, Chelsea will be hoping to flip the script, and not come away from the game only scoring two goals, despite creating five "big chances".

On the day, Christopher Nkunku and Marc Guiu both spurned massive opportunities and if the Blues want to beat the best teams in the league, they will need to convert their big chances, hence the growing interest in a striker acquisition, particularly Napoli's Victor Osimhen.

Osimhen has scored 65 goals in Serie A in his 108 appearances for Napoli, also providing 16 assists in that time. The 2022/23 Golden Boot winner is now very highly regarded and is seen as one of Chelsea's top targets.

Chelsea transfer news

According to French football expert Jonathan Johnson, via CaughtOffside, Lille striker Jonathan David, could be a story to keep an eye on going into the final weeks of the summer transfer window.

The expert stated that "it is possible that Chelsea or Tottenham could revisit their interest" in the forward before the window concludes.

The 24-year-old doesn't look like he is going to sign a new contract with Lille, and therefore, they will want to resolve his situation in order to avoid him leaving the club on a free next summer.

David made 47 appearances for Lille in all competitions last season, scoring 26 goals, providing nine assists, and totalling 3,615 minutes played.

David vs Osimhen comparison

Jacek Kulig described David as "superb" back in 2021, alluding to his excellent second half of the 2020/21 campaign, where he scored 11 times in 25 games.

David has shown his goal-scoring ability over the past few years, bagging 85 goals in his 185 games for Lille, including a 26-goal in 40 game season in 2022/23. So, he clearly find the back of the net, but what else can he provide?

Goals

0.66

0.62

Assists

0.19

0.11

xG

0.66

0.65

Shots Total

2.76

3.69

Shots on Target

1.54

1.53

Goals/Shot

0.21

0.14

Shot-Creating Actions

2.59

2.47

Progressive Carries

1.49

1.59

Touches (Att Pen)

4.54

6.83

Aerials Won

0.75

1.81

David's best asset is his clinical finishing, and composure in front of goal, and this is massively backed up by his metrics. Averaging 0.66 goals per 90, whilst accumulating 0.66 xG per 90, and scoring at a rate of 0.21 goals/shot ratio.

Not only this, but the Canada star does this by taking fewer shots than Osimhen, averaging 2,76 shots per 90, whilst actually averaging more shots on target, despite having almost one whole fewer shot per 90.

One area Osimhen clearly dominates, though, is with his box presence, averaging over two more penalty area touches per 90, and more than double the number of aerials won per 90. This is a profile Chelsea have been lacking for some time now, and David, whilst being a clinical finisher, doesn't bring that same physical profile of an Osimhen.

That said, David – whom journalist Tony Marinaro described as "one of the best strikers in the world" – would offer Chelsea a much cheaper alternative to Osimhen, whilst bringing a higher level of clinical finishing.

The main question, though, would be whether he offers enough in the finishing department, to abandon their desire for a box dominator.

He's like Henry: Chelsea could sign a £100m Omorodion & Osimhen alternative

Chelsea looking at Omorodion alternatives

ByConnor Holden Aug 12, 2024

Reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano says Tottenham are eyeing a £12 million player alongside their pursuit of Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke.

Spurs pursuing move for Dominic Solanke and other strikers

Manager Ange Postecoglou confirmed last week that Spurs are actively looking to sign a striker as a priority before deadline day, so it appears a new number nine is certainly one to watch in the coming weeks.

Tottenham predict late exit as £134,000-per-week star holds talks to leave

He could be yet another name out of the door at Spurs.

ByEmilio Galantini Aug 8, 2024

Postecoglou was heavily reliant on both Son Heung-min and Richarlison for the majority of Spurs' goal tally last season, with the duo scoring 29 between them in all competitions, but Postecoglou doesn't want a repeat of that for the 2024/2025 season – explaining how he would've certainly utilised Harry Kane if he hadn't decided to join Bayern Munich.

"If Harry would have stayed I definitely would have used him!," said Postecoglou on Tottenham's plans to sign a new striker.

"So I think for us what's more important is the type of striker we get. You know we play a certain way. We demand certain things from a physical perspective from the technical aspects of it that it's going be a striker that fits that mould.

Player

Goals scored

Son Heung min

17

Richarlison

12

Dejan Kulusevski

8

Brennan Johnson

5

Cristian Romero

5

James Maddison

4

"It's still the area of the park we're really probably the thinnest when I talk about squad-wise at the moment, so obviously that's a focus for us.

"Irrespective of the approach, I like to think I've always been pretty clear on what I want. I've had success for the most part of my career with transfers and, I mean, I thought last year's window was excellent."

According to Fabrizio Romano, Tottenham are in talks over signing Solanke from Bournemouth, and Spurs are pushing to seal a deal for the Englishman who scored 21 goals in all competitions for the Cherries last term.

However, he is by no means the only forward target on their radar, as fellow reliable reporter Ben Jacobs of GiveMeSport backs that Tottenham have a concrete interest in signing Brentford's Ivan Toney as well.

While bringing in a striker is a top priority, Spurs also may need to sign another right-back, with Emerson Royal thought to be closing in on a move to AC Milan.

Tottenham also thinking about signing Issa Kabore from Man City

Speaking to GiveMeSport, amid their high-profile chase for Solanke, Romano says that Tottenham are considering a move for Issa Kabore – who would come in to replace Emerson if the Brazilian does, at long last, seal his San Siro move.

“Tottenham would look to fill the gap, for sure, because they have Pedro Porro, but they would need one more player," said Romano.

“It's true that Kabore at Manchester City, former Luton Town player, is appreciated by Tottenham. But I’m told he is not the only option. So there are several possibilities being considered."

The Burkina Faso international spent last season on loan at Kenilworth Road, making 24 Premier League appearances, with City believed to value Kabore at around £12 million. Ex-Marseille boss Igor Tudor also branded Kabore a "top athlete" when the pair worked together in Ligue 1.

Barcelona are reportedly keen on Alphonso Davies as Hansi Flick is pushing for a reunion – with Real Madrid and Manchester United still in the race.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Speculation grows over Davies' future
• Defender is yet to sign an extension at Bayern
• Barca join the race along with Real & Man Utd

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After a period of inconsistent form, Davies has once again showcased his abilities as one of the premier full-backs in the game. Under Kompany’s leadership, he has returned to the electrifying displays that earned him acclaim early in his career. However, as contract discussions with Bayern continue to stall, it appears unlikely that the German club will meet Davies’ demands. The Canadian has requested a €20 million (£16m/$21m) annual salary and a signing bonus of €15m (£12m/$16m), a figure Bayern are reportedly reluctant to meet, which will likely see the defender depart on a free transfer next summer.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  According toreporter Christian Falk, Real Madrid remain the frontrunner in the race but Barcelona are equally determined to sign Davies. The Blaugrana’s pursuit has been rekindled with the arrival of Hansi Flick, who coached Davies during Bayern’s 2020 Champions League triumph.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Despite Barcelona’s recent financial challenges, the potential to sign Davies on a free transfer presents an attractive opportunity. Blaugrana officials are reportedly optimistic that the club can afford the high demands Davies is likely to set, and discussions with his camp have reportedly already begun earlier this year, as previously revealed by Fabrizio Romano

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  WHAT NEXT?

  If Bayern remain steadfast in their refusal to meet Davies’ demands, the likelihood of his departure will only intensify. Whether he heads to Real Madrid, reunites with Flick at Barcelona, or joins Manchester United, his next move will be among the most closely watched in the next summer transfer window.