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Leeds United have now officially unveiled Sean Longstaff as their fifth summer buy after promotion to the Premier League.

This is the first time this summer that the Whites have actually purchased some experience of the division; however, with Longstaff able to boast a mammoth 171 Premier League appearances for former employers Newcastle United – with ten goals and nine assists tallied up along the way – before Elland Road came calling.

Still, there are more exciting signings potentially on Leeds’ radar than the 27-year-old’s £12m switch to West Yorkshire, as a versatile forward presence is now eyed up.

Leeds ready to hijack deal for £12m star

A far more eye-catching pick-up than Longstaff’s arrival onto the scene would surely come in the form of Rodrigo Muniz entering Daniel Farke’s ranks, with recent reports suggesting that Leeds are continuing to pursue a move for the Fulham attacker who has a healthy 17-goal return in the top-flight.

Moreover, Igor Paxiao is also on the Whites’ agenda from Feyenoord as they try to replicate their Crysencio Summerville magic, but a move might be on the table for Juventus star Timothy Weah, too, if Leeds can hijack Marseille’s advances at the final hour.

Indeed, as per football journalist Mirko Di Natale, via his X account, Leeds and Everton remain in the background for the hunt for Weah, but a hijack could be on the cards owing to no agreement being reached yet between Marseille and the Old Lady.

The interest is still there – and at a reported £12m – this might well go down as one of the standout deals from Leeds’ hectic transfer window, with Weah potentially going on to be a far more exciting buy than the ex-Toon midfielder.

Why Weah would be a more exciting signing than Longstaff

Longstaff does have that added boost of plenty of Premier League experience, but it will be a competition for the 27-year-old to make Farke’s XI from the get-go, when considering the Whites’ already stacked midfield options.

The German already has Ao Tanaka at his disposal centrally, who is fresh from a standout Championship season where he collected seven goal contributions in total, on top of also having the steady presence of Ilia Gruev by his side.

The brand new Leeds purchase will also need time to get up to speed with proceedings, having only made eight starts in league action last season for Eddie Howe’s Magpies as a rotation member of his squad.

Weah did also struggle for consistent first team minutes in Turin last campaign, with 18 starts being handed his way in the hustle and bustle of Serie A, but the “versatile” ace – as he’s been praised in the past by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley – has still managed to shine in spurts across various positions on the pitch for Igor Tudor’s giants across 78 clashes.

RM

32

2

1

RB

11

1

1

RW

10

3

1

LM

6

0

0

CF

3

0

0

LW

3

2

1

LB

1

0

0

Despite such limited opportunities, Weah would manage to chip in with an impressive five strikes last campaign for his Italian employers, with the American even lining up in defence on occasion.

This flexibility for the cause will be music to Farke’s ears, considering the ex-Norwich City boss loved utilising a similarly fluid body in the form of Archie Gray when he was situated at Elland Road.

Away from his adaptable nature piquing Farke’s interest, Weah would also be capable of pushing Daniel James all the way to a starting spot on the right channel when you weigh up the Welshman’s previous Premier League difficulties – with only 12 goals next to his name in the daunting division – next to the 25-year-old’s more assured presence in Serie A.

This isn’t to say that Longstaff won’t be a valued member of Farke’s squad, with his know-how of the taxing league no doubt coming in handy.

But, the “wonderful” £12m star – as he’s been labelled by ex-boss Brendan Rodgers – might just be a slightly more captivating signing to someone peeking in, when you take into account his malleable nature and his bursts of quality at the very top of Serie A.

Farke's own Joelinton: Leeds made contact over deal to sign £22m "monster"

Leeds United have made contact over a potential deal for a star who could be their own Joelinton.

ByDan Emery Jul 19, 2025

A lot is happening in Bangladesh cricket at the moment, but new head coach Phil Simmons wants the focus to be firmly on the upcoming Test series against South Africa.Things are messy. Simmons took over as Bangladesh’s head coach on Tuesday, replacing Chandika Hathurusinghe, who was sacked earlier this week and has since hit back at the BCB. Shakib Al Hasan, who hasn’t returned to Dhaka because of protests against him (for political reasons), has withdrawn from the Test side.When Simmons attended Bangladesh’s training session at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Saturday, protests for and against Shakib were on. All this, two days out from the first Test.Related

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• Shakib 'unavailable' for first South Africa Test

• Hathurusinghe sacked for 'assault' on player

“[Keeping distractions away from the players] is a big part of our job over the next few days, to make sure the focus is on the cricket, and not on the outside of cricket,” Simmons said. “We can control how we prepare for Monday, that’s how we are trying to get the team to focus.”The good thing is we have a very important Test match to prepare for. We win the next few Tests, and we are in contention for the [WTC] final. My first port of call is cricket and about getting the squad ready for Monday. The last two days [of training] have been brilliant. We have tried to leave out the confusion that’s around the cricket, and concentrate on preparing for Monday.”Simmons comes in with vast coaching experience, having worked with Zimbabwe, Ireland, West Indies, Afghanistan and PNG as well as several T20 franchises in the last 20 years. He was one of the candidates interviewed for the Bangladesh job in 2017 – to fill the role left vacant by Hathurusinghe – but was not selected.”All these experiences [with other teams] will help me in the next few days to get me ready for Monday,” Simmons said. “Afghanistan helped me with the language barrier sometimes. Ireland helped me with developing young players. It all comes in [handy] at the end of the day. I have to use all those experiences in this assignment.”Conversation with the captain [Najmul Hossain Shanto] has been about his thoughts on players and direction he wants to take the team. It was also about what we do before Monday. It is generally about how we go into the first Test match. As we get to know each other, there will be more discussions about ODIs etc. Now it is about Test cricket, and what we are going to do in these two matches.”Shakib Al Hasan’s fans show their support for the cricketer outside the Shere Bangla Stadium•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Simmons said he took more interest in the role after Bangladesh’s 2-0 Test series win against Pakistan and was particularly impressed by the youngsters in the side.”The interest comes from seeing the quality of the young players. They handled themselves well against Pakistan,” he said. “They didn’t do well in the T20Is against India but they played against the best T20 team in the world, so you have things to take out of there. It all added up to an assignment, which I enjoyed. One, [there are] young players to develop. Two, there’s Tests and ODIs involved. It wasn’t a hard decision [to take the job].”He believes Bangladesh have a good chance to beat South Africa, who haven’t won a Test series in the subcontinent in the last ten years, but was wary of taking them lightly.”It is definitely a good opportunity. Bangladesh are usually very strong at home. So it is a very good opportunity for us to win the Test series,” Simmons said. “South Africa has that [record in the subcontinent] hanging over their head but they are a resilient team. They will work hard to change that.”

An exciting transfer update has emerged regarding Liverpool’s quest to build a squad capable of retaining their Premier League crown, courtesy of Fabrizio Romano.

Liverpool closing in on stunning Wirtz move

The Reds appear to be edging closer to completing the most exciting signing of the summer in England, with Florian Wirtz on the verge of joining from Bayer Leverkusen.

He is expected to smash Liverpool’s transfer record, with a move of £116m mooted, in what could be among the club’s most significant signings of the past decade or so.

Wirtz has been voted as the best player in the Bundesliga in each of the past two seasons by his peers, highlighting his brilliance, and Reds supporters will be hoping that he can enjoy the same level of world-class influence that the likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson have at Anfield.

Once the German superstar is confirmed as a Liverpool player, it will be time for the Reds to turn their attention to other targets.

Romano: Liverpool "on fire" with Kerkez set to join

Speaking on TikTok late on Sunday evening, Romano confirmed Wirtz will join the club once he finishes his holidays and completes a medical, but he also had news on Bournemouth star Milos Kerkez, revealing the Reds are “on fire”.

At this point, it would be a huge surprise if the Reds didn’t bring in Kerkez this summer, with the Hungarian at the top of their list for a long time now, and it’s not hard to see why.

The Bournemouth man, on just £30,000-a-week on the south coast, already looks like such a polished footballer, despite his tender years, and the energy and competitive edge in his game have echoes of a young Andy Robertson, with former teammate Mat Ryan once heaping praise on him.

“Milos is a great boy. A crazy dude, in a good way. He is always positive and smiling. Hopefully he can develop even further in England and become even more mature. He is aggressive, powerful and has so many qualities. A unique skill set. Bournemouth is going to get stronger because of him. Milos still has a great career ahead of him.”

Liverpool could easily get close to a decade of great service from Kerkez, assuming he avoids serious injury, and regardless of whether Robertson stays or not this summer, the Cherries ace must be considered the Reds’ first-choice left-back.

When it comes to transfers, Arsenal are set to be one of the more active Premier League sides over the coming months, with Mikel Arteta even admitting that the club will undergo a “big” window of recruitment.

Arsenal laying groundwork for key summer signings

A lot of groundwork has already been laid on Arsenal’s summer deals by sporting director Andrea Berta, not to mention his boardroom predecessors Edu and Jason Ayto.

Arsenal back off with Liverpool now favourites to sign "dream" striker

Arne Slot’s side are in pole position right now.

2 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 6, 2025

Predating Berta’s arrival at the Emirates, Arsenal entered advanced talks to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad as far back as January, and the Gunners are now hoping to finalise the Spain international’s capture despite very mixed messages.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Members of the media are convinced that Arsenal are set to sign Zubimendi, while Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay and the player himself have publicly tried to pour cold water over an imminent move to N5.

Arsenal will be mindful that the 26-year-old publicly rejected a move to Liverpool at the last minute in 2024, and supporters will also be erring on the side of caution when it comes to celebrating Zubimendi’s capture, at least until he’s pictured hoisting the red shirt aloft.

In any case, they’ve worked extensively on his transfer, not to mention a potential move for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

The Slovenia international is one of Arsenal’s top striker targets alongside Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP, but as things stand, it appears Berta is prioritising a deal for the former.

Fabrizio Romano shared news on Friday that Arsenal are advancing for Sesko, but cautions fans that it still isn’t on the verge of being done just yet.

With critics eager to see Berta sign a much-needed striker this summer, Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg has shared another update on their pursuit of Sesko.

Benjamin Sesko keen to join Arsenal with talks ongoing

According to the reliable reporter, Sesko is keen to join Arsenal, and the north Londoners are currently in very positive talks with his representatives.

Arteta’s side are moving forward with conviction when it comes to agreeing personal terms, but Berta will also have to dig deep into the Arsenal coffers to get this one over line.

Called an “underrated” striker by members of the press, Sesko bagged 21 goals in all competitions last season, which is a fairly modest return, but the club’s repeated attempts to sign him in the last 12 months show what a big fan Arteta must be of the player.

At this stage, Arsenal may as well just go all in and finally acquire the 22-year-old’s signature.

Last summer, Arsenal needed to sign a new centre-forward. Benjamin Sesko was in their crosshairs but he ultimately ended up signing a new contract with current employers, RB Leipzig.

In the end, the Gunners went without. The only signing to bolster the forward line was Raheem Sterling.

The Chelsea loanee promised we’d see the best of him. That did not happen.

In January, Mikel Arteta was crying out for a striker again but it wasn’t forthcoming. What happened next? Kai Havertz sustained a nasty hamstring injury during a warm-weather training camp in Dubai.

Arsenal’s Premier League form suffered drastically and it ultimately tripped them up in Paris when they exited the Champions League at the semi-final stages.

So, a year on from when a new centre-forward first should have arrived, Arteta and Co are back at square one, chasing Sesko again.

Arsenal moving closer to signing a new centre forward

When you end the campaign with Mikel Merino up top, you know something has gone drastically wrong.

In all fairness, Merino was fine. Fine being the key word. He wasn’t exceptional, he wasn’t the spearhead you need to win a Premier League or continental title but he did score six goals in 12 outings as a striker.

That’s not bad at all, but it’s not the 54-goal tally Viktor Gyokeres scored. It’s not the 27 goals Alexander Isak scored. It’s not the 21 goals Sesko scored either.

All three of those players would be excellent signings, but it’s Sesko who looks the most likely to arrive at the moment.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

That’s according to German publication BILD, via Sport Witness. They report on Wednesday that a deal is beginning to move on the player side.

Indeed, BILD states that Arsenal have ‘reached an agreement’ on personal terms between them and the striker.

While that doesn’t mean anything is wrapped up with Leipzig, the report does note that Arsenal have signalled to the Bundesliga club that they are set to made a bid that will not fall below their expectations financially.

It’s likely to take an offer between £68m-£85m to convince them to sell.

How Sesko could replicate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Arsenal

It’s safe to say that since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left Arsenal behind, Arteta has lacked a real potent centre-forward.

That’s not to say it was a mistake to let him go. After all, the Gabonese striker departed in controversial circumstances, stripped of the captaincy (video below) and then flying out to Barcelona on a trip that wasn’t sanctioned by the club.

Despite his flaws, Aubameyang was a mighty fine player for the club and was a key reason behind Arteta’s only trophy as a manager so far, the FA Cup in 2019/20.

Given Arsenal’s recent progress, it’s remarkable that they’re currently in the middle of a five-year trophy drought, but it’s perhaps no coincidence that they’re yet to win any major honours since Auba departed.

His record with the Gunners was exceptional, scoring 92 goals in 163 outings, most notably winning the Premier League Golden Boot in 2018/19.

He was one of the meanest forwards in the whole of English football during his time at the Emirates Stadium and even deservedly found his way into the PFA Team of the Year for 2019/20.

Aubameyang was relentless, netting 31 goals in 51 games throughout 2018/19 and then the following term, he bagged 29 in 44 matches.

Well, if Sesko did arrive then he’d certainly have a lot to live up to but there are similarities in the way they play the game.

Described as “the new Haaland” by scout Jacek Kulig, the Slovenian possesses a tall frame, standing at 6 foot 5. In contrast, the former Arsenal forward stands at 6 foot 2.

There is a slight difference there but what their height allows is for a longer and more powerful stride pattern. They can burst beyond the last line of the defence and surge towards goal in a similarly explosive fashion.

Rather than relying on intricate build-up play, they’re also very clever with their movement and rely on their instinctive finishing ability. In essence, they’re both mighty fine poachers. More often than not, they’re always in the right place at the right time.

Shots

2.50

2.61

Shot on target %

43.9%

44%

Average shot distance

17.5 yards

15.5 yards

Expected goals (xG)

0.38

0.42

Shot-creating actions

1.93

1.98

Touches

34.1

35.4

Carries

16.8

20.9

Completed passes

15.7

17.6

Key passes

0.72

0.75

Pass completion %

67.6%

67.3%

Comparing one of Aubameyang’s best seasons at Arsenal with Sesko’s latest campaign, we can see see alike the pair are.

They took a near identical number of touches and completed a near identical rate of successful passes per 90 minutes, suggesting their actions in the build-up are very similar.

Likewise, they come out very closely for key passes and shot-creating actions, underlining how often they make something happen in the final third of the pitch.

Aged just 22, Sesko clearly has a lot of development left to do but if Arteta could extract that in north London, the Spaniard may well have the next Aubameyang on his hands, just without the excess baggage. That doesn’t sound too bad, does it?

He's shades of Nwaneri: Berta holds talks to sign £40m star for Arsenal

Arsenal are looking at signing one of Europe’s best young prospects this summer.

ByMatt Dawson Jun 18, 2025

Arsenal are reportedly set to kickstart a significant squad overhaul over the course of this summer transfer window, as Mikel Arteta attempts to build a Premier League-winning team after missing out on this year’s crown to Liverpool.

Andrea Berta set for busy summer at Arsenal

La Liga expert and respected journalist Guillem Balague has already shared what supporters can expect from new sporting director Andrea Berta, with the Italian already hard at work to back Arteta in the transfer market.

£50m star could now reject Arsenal move and sign new deal after talks

He also snubbed an exit last summer.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 4, 2025

Berta has held extensive talks over a move for Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres, and met with RB Leipzig director Marcel Schafer in London to discuss the prospect of a deal for Benjamin Sesko, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Arsenal are working to discover the conditions of deals for Sesko and Gyokeres before deciding which striker to prioritise, according to the BBC, but Berta is believed to have other key items on his agenda this summer as well.

While Martin Zubimendi’s signing is proving more complicated than first thought, with the Spain international now denying he’s set for an imminent Arsenal move, it is also rumoured that the Gunners are actively pursuing a new wide player.

“He’s been described to me by one of the decision makers, one of the ones that decided to bring him in, that he’s experienced, he’s a hard worker, and he’s very brave,” said Balague about Berta to TNT Sports.

“But basically, he’s going to have to be creative as well. Arsenal are not here with the intention of spending £200 or £300 million. They just want to be creative with what they’ve got and what they bring in.

“They’re going to have to create three or four players that go straight into the line-up. I would say a left winger, centre-forward and holding midfielder. Mikel Arteta said it’s the biggest transfer window for a long while and having Berta next to him as a partnership will definitely help.”

Jorginho set for Flamengo medical after leaving Arsenal

A new centre midfielder, which could still be Zubimendi, is especially vital considering Jorginho is leaving the Emirates, with Arsenal announcing his departure today via their retained list.

The Italy international has agreed a pre-contract deal to join Brazilian side Flamengo, and has been in talks to terminate his Arsenal contract earlier than June 30 so he can feature for his new team at the Club World Cup.

That is apparently done and dusted, with GE Globo reporting that Jorginho is set for a medical on Friday ahead of signing a three-year contract at Flamengo.

With the 33-year-old leaving, it makes the arrival of Zubimendi and a potential contract extension for Thomas Partey all the more important, otherwise Arteta risks being left very short in that area.

“I know him a lot, so for me it is nice to play with him, he knows me well,” said Kai Havertz about Jorginho in 2024.

“It makes life easy for me, he is a world-class player.”

Manchester United are still yet to determine their fate ahead of next season, but may now have a surprise proposal to consider at Old Trafford under Ruben Amorim, per reports.

Man Utd's transfer business hinges on Europa League outcome

Nerves are slowly starting to kick in as the Red Devils prepare for their two-legged Europa League semi-final against Athletic Club, a competition that remains their only viable route to Champions League qualification.

Ruben Amorim wasn’t dealt the best hand at Old Trafford after replacing Erik ten Hag and will be given an extended grace period to piece together a squad of his own making. Still, Manchester United have hardly been convincing on Premier League duty.

Ultimately, the importance of the Portuguese boss bringing Europa League silverware back to English shores cannot be understated, especially considering the finances involved.

As a reward for such an achievement, Manchester United could launch a significant bid to sign Southampton’s Tyler Dibling to offer a new dimension between midfield and attack.

However, without the £85.8 million prize pot on offer for winning the Europa League and subsequently qualifying for the Champions League, there may be limited scope for big-money deals to take place.

6 players Manchester United should sign this summer

United are in need of a revamp in the summer.

2

By
Barney Lane

Feb 4, 2025

Taking PSR regulations into account, selling one or two star assets could be a scenario the Red Devils will have to consider to ensure their books remain in check.

Manchester United could sell Rasmus Hojlund to kickstart a chain of movement in both directions, though he is unlikely to be the only one at risk of being let go to breathe new life into the club.

Now, Amorim may have another proposal to consider once the summer window opens for business, per recent developments.

Andre Onana in major talks to leave Man Utd for Saudi Arabia

According to Foot Mercato, Saudi club Neom SC have started major discussions over a move for Andre Onana and the Cameroon international is open to leaving Old Trafford for a new challenge in the Gulf region.

Earning over £6 million a year at Old Trafford, the former Inter Milan stopper is said to be ‘unsettled’ in his current surroundings, which isn’t a major surprise when taking into account his patchy form this term.

Andre Onana’s patchy Man Utd form this season – Premier League (26/04/25)
Save percentage	67.7%
Goals conceded	42
Clean sheets	9
Penalty saves	1
Pass accuracy	70.2%
High claims	21

In turn, Manchester United are close to signing Freddie Woodman on a free transfer from Preston North End to populate their goalkeeping pool of talent.

Admittedly, the former England Under-21 international is likely to be brought in to strengthen their homegrown quota, but it may be a sign of changes to come between the sticks as Amorim searches for added security.

Onana is evidently a talented stopper and has enjoyed plenty of highs alongside the lows he has experienced at Old Trafford. Still, it feels like a clean break could be best for all parties.

Nottingham Forest are now eyeing a surprise move for an “incredible” Premier League forward, who could be brought in instead of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Cunha, according to a report.

Cunha race heating up

As we approach the summer transfer window, it is becoming clear that Cunha will be one of the most sought-after strikers, with a number of Premier League clubs vying to sign the Wolves forward, who has scored 16 goals this season.

Arsenal have recently held exploratory talks over a move for the Brazilian, while there is also interest from Newcastle United and Forest, having been in talks over a potential £62.5m deal for quite some time.

However, it appears as though Manchester United could end up winning the race for the 25-year-old, with a report revealing Ruben Amorim’s side are now on the verge of getting a deal done, having recently held positive talks.

Nottingham Forest could now hijack Dortmund move to sign new £7m "machine"

The Tricky Trees are interested in signing a left-back, but they will have to move quickly to secure his services.

ByDominic Lund Apr 23, 2025

As such, the Tricky Trees may be forced to move on to alternative targets, of which there is no shortage, with the likes of Benfica’s Vangelis Pavlidis and Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin being shortlisted.

However, a new target has now entered the picture, with a report from GiveMeSport revealing Nottingham Forest are now eyeing a surprise move for Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo, given that Cunha would rather move to Old Trafford.

Forest will find it difficult to win the race for the Brazil international, which means Mbeumo could be brought in instead, and there is a feeling the Cameroonian could be perfect for Nuno’s counter-attacking style of play.

A move would not be cheap, with the Bees set to hold out for £50m for their talisman, but Nuno’s side are confident the forward could be tempted by a move to the City Ground, given that European football is expected to be on offer next season.

"Incredible" Mbeumo outscoring Cunha

Not only is the Cameroon international likely to be cheaper than Cunha, but he has also been outscoring the Wolves star in the Premier League this season, netting 18 goals, the fifth-highest number in the division.

Reporter Dom Smith lauded the Brentford star as “incredible” earlier this season, while he was also described as “unplayable” by manager Thomas Frank after playing a key role in his side’s 4-2 victory over Newcastle United in December.

With Nuno implementing a counter-attacking style this season, it is crucial the manager brings in players who fit his system this summer, and former Manchester United man Danny Higginbotham thinks the France-born forward fits the bill.

Mbeumo could be a fantastic signing for Forest this summer, so it is exciting news that he has now been identified as a target.

Steven Smith and Scott Boland are excellent replacements as captain and bowler, but missing Cummins for at least the first Test is very significant

Alex Malcolm27-Oct-20252:25

Mitchell Starc backs Australia’s fast-bowling depth

It has been inevitable for a month, but Australia have finally accepted that Pat Cummins won’t be available for the first Test against England despite hopes of a Lazarus-like recovery from his lumbar stress injury.The countdown clock now resets to the Brisbane Test which starts on December 4 after he returns to bowl later this week.Australia coach Andrew McDonald and chair of selectors George Bailey are bullish that their captain will play a major part in the series and there’s a belief he could be ready for the Gabba. Cummins’ comments at various media commitments over the past six weeks have been more sober and grounded in the reality that the trajectory of his recovery is completely unknown.Related

Webster hopeful he doesn't get 'squeezed out' of Australia's XI for Perth Test

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Cummins ruled out of first Ashes Test due to back injury

That unknown aside, what does it all mean for Perth?Harry Brook said “hopefully that plays into our hands… [But] we can’t take anybody lightly.”Some former England players turned pundits have suggested the visitors should not fear Scott Boland and “the worst Australian team since 2010″ in Cummins’ absence.It is worth noting that of the six Tests Australia have played without Cummins since he became the Test captain in 2021, they are yet to lose having won five and drawn one. That included victory in Adelaide during the 2021-22 Ashes with an attack that was missing both Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.”The worst Australian team since 2010” has also won eight of their last 10 Tests and lost only one, this year’s World Test Championship final, including three wins at home against the same India side that drew with England 2-2 just recently.However, India did pummel Australia in the last Test they played in Perth. An attack without Cummins – a bowler with 309 Test wickets at 22.10 and currently ranked No. 4 in the world – could provide an early chance for England’s aggressive batters to make an impression.Leader of the team, leader of the attack: Pat Cummins leaves a big hole to fill•AFP/Getty ImagesIt has been the best batting surface in Australia across the last four years by some margin since the new Kookaburra and greener surfaces have come into vogue.Only five overseas batters have scored centuries in Australia in that time and three of them have come in Perth, including one each to Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli last year. Kohli’s century is notable for the fact that the same player returned scores of 7, 11, 3, 36, 5, 17 and 6 at Australia’s other venues and retired from Test cricket after the series.It is, however, Cummins’ least effective venue in Australia, albeit the numbers are far from poor. He has never taken more than three wickets in a Test in five appearances there. He averages 26.33 and strikes at 62.2 when he averages under 22 and strikes at under 46.4 at the other four Ashes venues with at least one five-wicket haul at each of them.

No matter how well opposition teams are going in Australia when the surface flattens out, and no surface in Australia can flatten more than Perth does on days two and three, the threat of Cummins is ever-present when he’s on the field

The steep bounce on offer in Perth can be a weird kryptonite of sorts for Cummins. His ability to extract bounce from placid surfaces is what has made him so great for so long. However, Perth is a place where he has had trouble finding the right length to threaten the top of the stumps without overpitching.That may be a different story for Boland’s lower release point. McDonald noted recently that criticism of Boland’s 2023 Ashes performance should be viewed in the context of how little bounce was available for him in England.Boland averages 12.63 in nine Tests in Australia, a truly insane number that highlights how sporting Australian pitches have been. But he has not played a Test or even a first-class match at Optus Stadium. He has only featured in a handful of BBL games at the ground. His first venture there with a red ball will be an unknown.Beyond the bowling, the loss of Cummins the captain in the short-term will likely have more of an off-field effect than it does on. Steven Smith has led Australia to five Test victories in his absence, among 23 captaincy wins in his career, and the bowling attack with a combined total of 329 appearances will unlikely need careful shepherding.Don’t underestimate the role that Pat Cummins plays in the lower order•Matt Roberts/CA/GettyCummins will still be in the dressing room for the first Test, which will be unique in some ways. But it will also add to a sense of business as usual for Australia in terms of internal dynamics. Nathan McSweeney, who captain’s South Australia and Australia A, noted Cummins’ calmness as he spoke to the group following the defeat to India in Perth last year when the intensity of the external criticism was at its fiercest.While Cummins’ primary role is with the ball, where Australia may also feel his absence is with his batting and fielding. Australia’s lower order is weakened without him. He won Australia an Ashes Test at Edgbaston with the bat in 2023 and played two vital hands in the win over India at the MCG last summer.Australia’s ground fielding is also weaker as a result given they are not the most agile and dynamic fielding group ever assembled, although Marnus Labuschagne’s likely recall offsets Cummins’ absence somewhat and the catching cordon remains incredibly strong if Beau Webster and Cameron Green are both selected.Whichever way you cut it up, there’s no doubt England’s batting group will sleep sounder ahead of the first Test in Perth. No one has knocked over Joe Root in Test cricket more times than Cummins’ total of 11. Cummins has also removed his opposing captain Ben Stokes six times in Test cricket.No matter how well opposition teams are going in Australia when the surface flattens out, and no surface in Australia can flatten more than Perth does on days two and three, the threat of Cummins is ever-present when he’s on the field. He has a unique talismanic ability to extract something out of nothing at a time when his team needs it most. Finding another man to stand tall in those moments will be Australia’s greatest challenge in his absence, however long that may be for.

Shreyanka Patil and Saika Ishaque both made the most of the chances they were given this series, while youngster Amanjot Kaur also joined in on the fun

Sruthi Ravindranath11-Dec-2023It was only a couple of days ago that India captain Harmanpreet Kaur spoke about keeping faith in the new faces in the team. Opportunities will be given, but their selection for next year’s T20 World Cup will also be about the execution, she said.And the new faces – Shreyanka Patil and Saika Ishaque – have made the most of the chances they’ve been given by playing a big part in India’s only win in the series. Youngster Amanjot Kaur joined in on the fun too, by not only bagging two wickets for 25 runs, but also taking the No.1-ranked T20I bowler Sophie Ecclestone on to seal the win for India in the third T20I on Sunday. Add to that her fielding efforts – she took a superb catch in the series – and you have a well-rounded player that India very much need in the format.Related

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“”The word roughly translates to ‘carefree’: that’s how Harmanpreet described Ishaque’s personality, at a press conference a day after the left-arm spinner made her India debut. Harmanpreet also indicated that’s how she was on the field as well, calling her a “character in the team who can bowl in any phase of the innings and get breakthroughs.”On Sunday, Ishaque made an impact as soon as she was handed the ball in the sixth over. After having Alice Capsey caught at extra cover on the very first ball she bowled, she returned in the 12th over and got the prized wicket of Amy Jones, also breaking a crucial stand in the process. She made Jones drag the sweep from outside off to have her caught at deep midwicket. To make things worse for England, Danielle Gibson failed to read Ishaque’s arm ball and was bowled the very next delivery trying to cut through the offside. The bit probably came in when she cheekily smiled whenever she conceded boundaries, probably knowing she’d eventually compensate with wickets. After all, she’d once famously quipped, “” [I’m a bowler. I’m here to take wickets].””Shreyanka was elated after her three wickets in four miserly overs. She capped off a dream year by making an impact in the series against England, following her superb WPL and Women’s CPL stint. She finished the A series between India and England with five wickets in three games and was then handed a debut in the T20Is.She took two big wickets of Heather Knight and Jones in the first game and finished as the Player of the Match in the third one on Sunday. An overall disciplined effort, where she bowled stump-to-stump lines and varied her trajectory, gave her three wickets to go with an economy of just 4.75. Those three wickets came in a span of seven deliveries which left England languishing at 78 for 6.””Amanjot Kaur creamed a couple of fours through covers to help India win•BCCIThat was India’s fielding coach Munish Bali heaping praise on Amanjot. The batting allrounder made her debut earlier this year against South Africa and has played nine T20Is so far, impressing instantly with a 41 not out off 28 in that game.After bagging two wickets to wrap up England’s innings for 126, She made her impact felt at an important point during the match, coming in when India had lost three quick wickets with 11 needing off 12. She broke the pressure with a cover drive and hit two more boundaries off the last two balls of the 19th over to complete the chase in style. Amanjot fits right in to make up for the lack of batting firepower in the lower order, which has been one of the issues for India in T20Is. And the fielding: be it the blinder to dismiss Alice Capsey in the second T20I having come in as a sub, or the neat take at short third to send Bess Heath back in the third, she seems to want to grab every chance she gets to make an impression. A stint in the WPL, where she will also be working closely with captain Harmanpreet and other experienced players, will only help her enhance her skillsets further.Saika Ishaque ran through the England middle order•ECB/Getty ImagesDespite the series loss, a few other positives also emerged for India. After a debacle in the second T20I where misjudgments with the bats cost them, India’s two senior batters Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues stepped up against England’s spinners on a tricky wicket. Mandhana used her feet well against spinners and targeted the quicker bowlers for boundaries and sixes, while Rodrigues used the sweep to good effect in her 33-ball stay. The loss in the second T20I, where they collapsed for 80, was an eye-opener for the side to focus on their game against spin. The game-time was important too for them to get going, Harmanpreet said at the post-match presentation.”Wicket was tricky,” Harmanpreet said. “Some balls, especially when offspinners were bowling, were turning and some were going straight. So sometimes you think which ball is going to turn and which is going to be straight. As a batting group, we just wanted to pick the bowlers, which ones we want to take charge. The left-right combination [of Rodrigues and Mandhana] also played a big role for us.”Another big boost has been the return of Renuka Singh, whose crucial wickets in the powerplay has given India a headstart in all three matches so far. India might not have got the result they wanted in the series, but the positives will give them a push forward in their prep for the 2024 T20 World Cup.