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Arsenal intend to remain active in the summer transfer window, even after their statement signing of Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres.

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After a near-two-month-long saga, sporting director Andrea Berta and manager Mikel Arteta welcomed the prolific centre-forward, with Arsenal finally agreeing an initial £55m deal which could be worth up to £64 million if add-ons are met.

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

25/26 – summer

£208m

Gyokeres was unveiled as a new Gunners player to a delighted Singapore crowd just before Arsenal’s 3-2 friendly win over Newcastle, and there is a possibility of him debuting against Tottenham on Thursday.

“We are so pleased with the excellent deal we have completed to bring Viktor Gyökeres to the club,” said Berta in an official statement.

“Viktor is an exceptional talent and has consistently demonstrated he has the qualities and winning mentality required of a top-level centre-forward. His physicality, intelligence and work ethic make him a perfect fit for our vision.

“We are confident Viktor will have a major impact on the pitch and become an important figure in our dressing room. Welcome, Viktor!”

Gyokeres’ arrival perhaps comes as Arsenal’s most significant bit of transfer business in the last few years, with a proven goalscorer long viewed as the missing piece of Arteta’s potential title-winning jigsaw.

The 27-year-old scored an incredible 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting, and their president Frederico Varandas seriously dug his heels in over letting Gyokeres leave the Portuguese champions.

Gyokeres’ agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, was even forced to waive his commission fee to help facilitate the transfer, and following weeks of talks, Arsenal at long last reached a full agreement last week (Fabrizio Romano).

After Gyokeres, Arsenal are believed to be targeting a number 10 to complement club captain Martin Odegaard, with Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze firmly on Berta’s radar as a key option.

Arsenal offered Arda Güler and Raul Asencio in Real Madrid part-exchange deal

Now, according to reports from Spain, Arteta and co have been offered a different playmaker in Turkey international Arda Güler.

Indeed, it is now believed Real Madrid are proposing Guler and defender Raul Asencio, plus £78 million, in exchange for star Arsenal centre-back William Saliba.

In what is an audacious claim from Europe, Berta is said to be “seriously considering” this part-exchange bid from Real, even if Arsenal and Saliba are currently locked in talks over a contract extension.

Guler has struggled for consistent game time at the Bernabeu overall, but did manage six goals and 11 assists by the end of 2024/2025 whilst playing every game of Real’s Club World Cup campaign under Xabi Alonso.

However, while Guler has displayed flashes of real brilliance since bursting on to the scene at Fenerbahçe, even being dubbed the ‘Turkish Messi’, losing Saliba would be far too big of a price to pay, even if Asencio would also immediately come in his stead.

It wouldn’t be hyperbolic to say this summer is turning into something of a disaster for Newcastle United.

The Magpies should be looking forward to a season of Champions League football and possibilities for more silverware, but instead are embroiled in a transfer saga involving Alexander Isak.

On top of that, Eddie Howe and Co have had to watch the club seemingly miss out on target after target in recent weeks, with it now not entirely clear what is happening regarding Benjamin Sesko.

However, perhaps it’s not all doom and gloom, as the League Cup champions have done some business, and it now looks like they’re planning to go back in for one international who could be something of another Anthony Elanga.

Newcastle target another Elanga

While there is plenty to be worried about from a Newcastle fan’s perspective this summer, it is worth noting that the club have conducted some promising business, such as getting Aaron Ramsdale in on a season-long loan with an option to buy.

Transfer Focus

The Englishman may have his detractors, but for two years at Arsenal, he was brilliant and played a big part in the Gunners’ surprise title push in the 22/23 season, pulling off some notable saves in games against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

On top of that, the club have also got their hands on Elanga, and while it would be fair to say pre-season has been mixed for the Swedish international, we all saw how effective he could be last season when he ended the campaign with six goals and 12 assists in 43 appearances for Nottingham Forest.

Interestingly, with just under a month until the transfer window slams shut, the Toon look set to go back in for one of their previous targets, someone who could be described as another Elanga.

At least that is according to a recent report from the Times, which claims Newcastle are interested in Marc Guehi again.

The report has revealed that the Crystal Palace star, who is valued at around £50m, is now back on the menu for the Magpies, and that they could finally go in with a fresh bid at any point in the coming weeks – although they do not want to spend more than £40m.

It would be another significant investment from the club, but the Englishman has proven his worth over the years, and there would be an Elanga-esque quality to the deal.

Why Guehi would be an Elanga-esque signing

So, before we get into a few reasons why Guehi would be an excellent signing for Newcastle in his own right, it’s worth going over why his arrival would be reminiscent of Elanga’s.

The first is that, like the Swede, the Englishman would be moving to St James’ Park from another Premier League side, and not just that, but one set to compete in Europe next season.

Moreover, while it’s not entirely clear just how much the Palace ace will cost at the moment, the likelihood is that the final price will not be too far off the £55m the Toon paid for the Malmo-born winger.

Lastly, like former Manchester United prospect, the Eagles star defender had to leave one of the Premier League’s ‘big six’ sides early in his career to really gain a foothold in English football and make a name for himself, and make a name for himslef, he certainly has.

That brings us to arguably the most crucial reason the 25-year-old would be an excellent addition to Howe’s squad, which is his vast experience.

Appearances

216

23

Goals

8

0

Assists

4

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.05

0.08

Despite still being relatively young for a centre-back and around two years off from hitting his peak, according to research carried out by The Athletic, the “exceptional” star, as dubbed by former goalkeeper Joe Hart, has now made 216 senior club appearances across his stints with the Eagles, Swansea and Chelsea.

On top of that, the former Blues gem has also won 23 caps for England and was a key member of the squad that made it to the final of the European Championships last season.

Ultimately, while it won’t be cheap, Newcastle should once again push the boat out to sign a player previously discarded by the ‘big six’ as Guehi looks like he has everything needed to elevate their backline next season.

Leeds United are believed to be interested in signing a “special” player in the summer transfer window, with Daniel Farke a big admirer of the individual in question.

Leeds preparing for Premier League return

The Whites are edging closer to their first game back in the Premier League, with Farke and his players preparing hard after their return to pre-season training.

Leeds’ first match is a home clash with Everton on August 18th, with Elland Road likely to be in raucous spirits under the lights and in front of the Sky Sports cameras, following a couple of seasons away from the top flight.

It has been a productive summer transfer window for the Whites to date, with the likes of Jaka Bijol, Gabriel Gudmundsson and Sebastiaan Bornauw all brought in, but further fresh faces are required, in order to give Farke’s side the best possible chance of avoiding a swift return to the Championship in 2025/26.

Leeds have reportedly made an offer for Fenerbahce and Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, as they look to find an upgrade on Illan Meslier between the sticks, but it looks as though another player who Farke knows well could be an alternative option in the coming weeks.

Leeds keen on signing "special" free goalkeeper

According to journalist Barry Anderson on X, Leeds are interested in signing goalkeeper Angus Gunn this summer, with the Scot available on a free transfer after leaving Norwich City at the end of last season.

Gunn could be such a shrewd signing by the Whites, not only because he would arrive for free, but also due to the vast experience he now possesses.

The 29-year-old is a 16-cap Scotland international, being hailed as “special” on the international stage by David Marshall, and Farke is a huge fan, saying of him all the way back in 2017:

“Angus is very highly-rated and a really talented goalkeeper. He’s brilliant with his feet as well as his hands and is tall too. We’re happy to have him here for the next season and are thankful to Manchester City for helping us with this deal. I’m looking forward to working with such a great talent.”

Gunn has come up against Leeds so many times in his career, losing on five occasions at Elland Road in total, four of which came as a starter, but he could bring great quality in goal for plenty more years.

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He already has 31 appearances to his name in the Premier League, as well as 166 in the Championship, and he could be a safe pair of hands for the Whites, even as a second or third choice option.

Lancashire scrape into triple-figures but Luis Reece, Brooke Guest make short work of chase

ECB Reporters Network31-Jul-2024Pat Brown recorded his best one-day figures as Derbyshire thrashed Lancashire by nine wickets in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup match at Derby.Brown took 5 for 37 in six overs to bowl the visitors out for 99 in 20 overs while Zak Chappell and Harry Moore each claimed two wickets.The highest score for Lancashire was extras at 19 with only three players, one of them Andrew Flintoff’s 16-year-old son Rocky, making double figures.Derbyshire easily reached their target, ending on 100 for 1 in the 20th over with Luis Reece 52 not out to celebrate a third victory in Group A which boosts their chances of making the knock-out stages while Lancashire suffered a third defeat.Lancashire had no answer to Derbyshire’s pace attack and never recovered from losing three wickets in the first seven overs.Sam Conners trapped Harry Singh lbw before Chappell struck twice in his fourth over to leave the visitors on 27 for 3.Josh Bohannon was defeated by one that came back to clip the top of off stump and George Bell was lbw half forward to a full ball for 18.Flintoff played one dismissive pull to the ropes but was hit on the helmet trying to take on a short ball from Chappell in the ninth over.Although he was able to continue, he fell to another short delivery as Lancashire lost two wickets in Brown’s first over.Indian all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer marked his debut with two glorious drives for four off Moore but then pulled Brown into the hands of deep mid-wicket.Given Lancashire’s position, it was a poor decision by an international player and Flintoff fell into the same trap when he skied another Brown short ball to reduce his side to 55 for 5.The procession continued with Chris Green missing a big drive at Moore and Tom Aspinwall caught behind off Brown.who bowled Jack Blatherwick with a full ball in his next over.After Moore had George Balderson caught behind, Brown bowled Charlie Barnard to complete the rout.It was now a question of how quickly Derbyshire would wrap up victory and Reece pressed the accelerator with two sixes off Blatherwick in the fourth over.Reece and Harry Came shared a double century opening stand against Middlesex on Saturday but this time they were parted in the 8th over when Singh took a smart one-handed catch at second slip off Blatherwick to send back Came.But there was little else for Lancashire to enjoy on a chastening day as Reece and Brooke Guest with an unbeaten 37 added 65 to put the seal on an impressive Derbyshire display.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is now personally keen for the Gunners to sign a Premier League rival star, with the transfer target in question also “pushing” to leave this summer.

Mikel Arteta's rumoured transfer ideas to strengthen Arsenal

Arteta recently had to affirm to the press that both him and new sporting director Andrea Berta are on the same page when it comes to the club’s recruitment strategy, following some reports of disagreements between the pair.

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Naturally, while Berta’s arrival from Atlético Madrid is seen as an undoubted boost for the north Londoners, following 12 successful years in La Liga, Arteta will have his own ideas on how to reinforce his squad this summer.

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

Journalist Simon Phillips even reported last week that Arteta would prefer Arsenal to sign RB Leipzig starlet Benjamin Sesko over the heavily-linked Viktor Gyokeres, coming after the Slovenia international rejected their advances last year.

The 43-year-old, as per Spanish media sources, is also a big admirer of Athletic Bilbao attacking midfielder Oihan Sancet, who’s scored 17 goals in all competitions and could leave Bilbao for the value of his £67 million release clause.

Now, as per The Sun and journalist Anthony Chapman, £195,000-per-week Chelsea winger Christopher Nkunku is attracting Arteta’s personal attention as well.

The France international isn’t exactly a mainstay under Enzo Maresca, despite scoring 14 goals in all competitions, and this has led to reports that Nkunku is eyeing an exit from Stamford Bridge when the window reopens.

Mikel Arteta thinks Christopher Nkunku would be a good Arsenal signing

Chapman reports that Arsenal are “lining up a move” for the versatile forward, who can play almost anywhere in the attacking third.

It is also claimed that Arteta sees Nkunku as a potential “good” signing for Arsenal this summer.

One thing worth noting is that, barring his sky-high salary, Nkunku may turn out to be a fairly astute deal. Chelsea have apparently set his price tag at around £35 million, and are willing to make a £17 million loss by shipping him out of the door, just two years after signing him for £52 million.

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry heaped praise on the ex-RB Leipzig sensation in 2022, admitting back then that Nkunku is a player he loves watching, and it would appear that Arteta is in full agreement. Of course, it remains to be seen whether Chelsea would be willing to sell to a direct rival.

Liverpool will sign Jeremie Frimpong in the coming weeks (perhaps even sooner). The Bayer Leverkusen star was swiftly identified by FSG as the perfect player to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, who will join Real Madrid when his contract expires next month.

Though some fans will point toward Frimpong’s advanced role in Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen side and reserve judgment until a personal gauge on his defensive ability can be delivered, there’s no question he’s an exciting profile, different to Trent but still a “monster in the final third,” as said by The United Stand’s Beth Tucker.

With the balanced Conor Bradley already making headway in Arne Slot’s team, this contrast of profiles on the right could work a treat for the Merseysiders as they look to defend their Premier League title and challenge for silverware across other fronts.

But it stings that Liverpool have been forced into replacing Alexander-Arnold all the same, with the atmosphere around the vice-captain souring since he intimated his decision to the world earlier this month.

Especially when Los Blancos constantly prove to be the scourge of the Anfield side, with their success in signing Dean Huijsen proving a double whammy.

Why Liverpool wanted Dean Huijsen

Liverpool have two of the finest defenders kicking about today in Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, but the skipper is nearing the twilight of his Premier League career and the latter has just one year remaining on his current deal.

And you can bet your bottom dollar Real Madrid have a vested interest in bringing him to the Spanish capital.

Huijsen was one of Liverpool’s top targets for the summer, but the Bournemouth centre-back has indeed agreed to join Alonso’s new crew, so will partner with Trent in the Madrid backline.

Slot’s side were thought to have had the lead in the young Spaniard, whose breakout campaign in England has drawn plenty of praise, talent scout Jacek Kulig hailing his “extraordinary rise.”

The prototypical modern centre-half, Huijsen’s technical control, rangy physique and natural intelligence make him the perfect player to slot right into the Liverpool project – and he’s left-footed besides.

However, this one’s done, and FSG need to turn their attention elsewhere. Luckily, sporting director Richard Hughes is on the case.

Liverpool make new CB a top target

Liverpool need to sign a centre-back, to be sure. Konate’s actually the last senior signing in that area, arriving from RB Leipzig for £36m four years ago.

Slot needs a rising star, and he might just find one in Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapie, with the 23-year-old understood by Spanish sources to be the Premier League champions’ favourite now that Huijsen’s out of reach.

The defender still has four years left on his current deal and is a player of significant potential, with Chelsea quoted at £59m when asking about the Ecuadorian’s availability back in January.

What Piero Hincapie would bring to Liverpool

Hincapie has made 164 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen, scoring seven goals, assisting five more, winning an invincible domestic double last season.

Described as a “prodigy” by journalist Jose de Jesus Ortiz two years ago, Hincapie has made incremental progress in Germany, signing from Argentine club CA Talleres as a 19-year-old in 2021.

Piero Hincapie’s Leverkusen Stats by Season (all comps)

Season

Apps

Goals

Assists

Titles

24/25

45

3

2

1x

23/24

43

1

1

2x

22/23

43

1

1

0x

21/22

33

2

1

0x

Data via Transfermarkt

With Van Dijk set to stay for the next couple of seasons, Hincapie could make a shrewd career move by moving to Merseyside and serving as the defensive great’s understudy before ascending to superstardom himself.

He certainly has the attributes to make his mark. As per FBref, the 6 footer ranks among the top 15% of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues this season for goal involvements, the top 16% for passes attempted and shot-creating actions, the top 17% for progressive passes and the top 4% for progressive carries per 90.

As you can see, he’s got the skill and gifted approach to make a real difference in Slot’s squad, capable even of becoming an even better player than Huijsen.

Also hailed as an “absolute beast” who “can become one of the world’s best centre-backs” by journalist Antonio Mango, Hincapie might have even outperformed Bournemouth’s star defender this term.

League Stats 24/25 – Dean Huijsen vs Piero Hincapie

Stats (* per game)

Huijsen

Hincapie

Matches (starts)

30 (25)

32 (28)

Goals

3

2

Assists

1

2

Touches*

64.4

78.5

Pass completion

84%

89%

Key passes*

0.5

0.5

Ball recoveries*

3.4

3.1

Tackles + interceptions*

2.9

2.6

Clearances*

6.0

3.3

Duels (won)*

3.8 (57%)

5.2 (62%)

Stats via Sofascore

Left-footed, he’d also be a suitable successor for skipper Van Dijk, who has renewed his Liverpool contract by two years but turns 34 this summer.

There’s indeed a case to be made that Hincapie is playing at a superior level to Huijsen right now. That’s not to discredit Los Blancos’ new recruit, who already coats himself with the trappings of something special, world-class, but rather, highlights the quality of Leverkusen’s rising star, whose dynamism and athleticism have even permitted him to play on the left flank 11 times this term.

Hincapie is more active in the duel and more accurate too, with several years more experience that have tuned his completeness to a degree that would see him thrive alongside Van Dijk before finally taking his place.

If Liverpool are able to engineer a deal for a figure not too far north of Huijsen’s £50m release clause, something they were willing to meet, this could prove to be an exceptional deal for the Reds.

Having proven himself and then some as one of the best young defenders in the game, Hincapie could veritably explode under Slot’s wing in the Premier League.

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Sheffield United have clawed their way to the top of the Championship and could now be ready to pinch one of their rivals’ star assets should promotion be achieved at Bramall Lane, per reports.

Sheffield United look to build on slender Championship lead

Nerves are starting to kick in across the board in England’s second-tier as Sheffield United, Leeds United and Burnley battle it out for an automatic place in next season’s Premier League.

The Blades hold a two-point advantage at the Championship summit over their direct rivals for promotion, while Sunderland, Coventry City and West Bromwich Albion occupy the remaining coveted playoff slots.

Since their agonising defeat at home to Leeds, Sheffield United have gone on a five-match unbeaten run at the perfect time and will take encouragement from monumental recent triumphs over Sheffield Wednesday and Coventry.

Coinciding with Daniel Farke’s Whites losing momentum, this period of the campaign may be looked back on as a sliding doors moment when all is said and done.

Nevertheless, Sheffield United are active in the transfer market and Jimmy Dunne is a target regardless of what division they end up in come May. Queens Park Rangers are holding out for £3 million after the Republic of Ireland international came close to joining the Blades during the January window.

Sheffield United’s run-in as Chris Wilder looks to secure promotion

Oxford United (A)

Kassam Stadium

Millwall (H)

Bramall Lane

Plymouth Argyle (A)

Home Park

Cardiff City (H)

Bramall Lane

Burnley (A)

Turf Moor

Stoke City (A)

bet365 Stadium

Blackburn Rovers (H)

Bramall Lane

Chancing their luck with divisional rivals’ star assets could be a running theme if promotion is achieved in Yorkshire, with Wilder now lining up a swoop for another proven Championship performer.

Sheffield United line up move for Sunderland star Ballard

According to Football League World, Sheffield United are chasing Sunderland defender Daniel Ballard’s signature and are ready to pounce for the Northern Ireland international if they manage to claim promotion to the Premier League.

Reported to earn around £25,000 at Sunderland, the Stevenage-born star has become a target due to Harry Souttar’s season-ending injury in Yorkshire, which has prompted Wilder to evaluate dipping into the market for defensive reinforcements.

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Despite being a leading light for the Black Cats, Ballard has been restricted to 19 appearances this term due to injury problems, yielding two goals and an assist across all competitions.

Labelled “a natural leader” by Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill, the central defender has been a dominant presence for Sunderland, winning 85 duels and making 42 recoveries in the Championship.

Ultimately, Sheffield United will have to be creative when tasked with where to utilise their resources if they end up in the Premier League next term, so it makes sense to target players whom they have already had the opportunity to profile at close quarters.

Despite defeat to the Titans, MI still have their fate in their own hands

S Rajesh06-May-20251:25

Rapid Fire: Is this the end of the road for KKR?

Kolkata Knight RidersThe two-wicket defeat against Chennai Super Kings leaves Kolkata Knight Riders on the brink of elimination. With only two games to go, the maximum that KKR can get is 15 points; there are already two teams who have more than 15, while Punjab Kings are on 15 with three games to go.Assuming that those three teams go through, KKR will have to hope that Mumbai Indians lose their two remaining matches and stay on 14. Since one of their matches is against Delhi Capitals, who are currently on 13, that will take DC to 15. The fourth spot will thus come down to an NRR battle between KKR and DC.On the other hand, if Punjab Kings lose their three remaining matches, then MI will go past 15, while DC, PBKS and KKR could all be on 15 points, fighting for the fourth spot.Gujarat TitansGujarat Titans’ last-ball win at the Wankhede means they’re now just one win away from making the playoffs – 18 points will now assure a team of a top-four finish. However, if they lose their three remaining games they could get knocked out as four teams can still finish on 17 or more points. Titans have a favourable itinerary too, with their last two games scheduled at home, where they have a formidable 4-1 record so far.Mumbai IndiansDespite the loss to GT, Mumbai Indians (MI) are still in control of their own destiny, as wins in their last two matches will ensure a place in the playoffs. For them to go through on 16 points, though, they’ll need help from other results, while defeats in their two remaining games will eliminate them. MI also have an excellent net run rate of 1.156, which could yet be crucial if qualification comes down to that.Royal Challengers BangaloreThe washout between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Delhi Capitals (DC), and GT’s win against MI, means that Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are now only one win away from securing their place in the playoffs. That’s because only four teams can make it to 18 or more points. RCB can also make the top four with 16 points if other results go their way. However, two wins will not yet guarantee a top-two finish as three teams can still finish with 20 or more points.Punjab KingsWith KKR’s defeat to CSK, Punjab Kings will qualify for the playoffs if they beat DC, as DC play MI later and only one of those teams can then get to 17 or more. If PBKS lose to DC, they will need to win their last two and get to 19, as in that case DC and MI can both finish on 17 or more. PBKS can sneak through even if they lose all three matches and stay on 15, but for that to happen DC will have to lose their last two matches, so that they stay on 15, and LSG will have to win no more than two of their three games. It’ll then come down to run rates between them (and KKR, if they win both matches) for one spot.Delhi Capitals
Like DC, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are also struggling for momentum, having lost three in a row, and four of their last five. The best they can do now is win their three remaining matches, finish on 16 points, and hope that a couple of in-form teams suffer a sudden reversal of fortunes. If they lose one more match, though, LSG will be eliminated. Their terrible NRR of -0.469 doesn’t help their cause either.

Also, everything you needed to know about venues, reserve days, and… checks notes … boundary countbacks

Karthik Krishnaswamy29-Sep-2023A World Cup! That glorious celebration of a truly global sport, with 32 teams representing every region on the pla…

Er, no. Not that one. This is the men’s World Cup, featuring ten teams.Ah, right. That one. So ten teams, then? No room for the… what do you call them… Associates?

Well, no. Not entirely. There was, you see, a Qualifier, featuring a bunch of Associates plus the teams that finished outside the top eight of the World Cup Super League…The what?

It’s too complicated to explain here, but this should give you an idea. Anyway, it’s been scrapped now, or maybe not, but to get back to your previous question…Related

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Which was?
I’m not entirely sure, but I vaguely remember talking about the Qualifier? So it involved six Associate teams plus Sri Lanka, West Indies, Zimbabwe and Ireland. Ten teams in all, fighting for two World Cup spots.So who made it?

Sri Lanka and Netherlands.Netherlands?

Indeed. A weakened Netherlands team, that too, who did this to West Indies and this to Scotland in a gloriously improbable turn of events.And that means West Indies, two-time champions, are…

Yup, not at the World Cup for the first time ever.Brutal, eh? So where is this World Cup happening?

India. They have co-hosted it before, in 1987, 1996 and 2011. Now they are hosting the entire thing themselves.Netherlands grabbed a World Cup spot at the expense of two-time champions West Indies•ICC/Getty ImagesAll part of their grand plan to win it themselves, no doubt?

True, it has become a thing for host teams to win World Cups. India beat co-hosts Sri Lanka to win the 2011 final, then Australia beat co-hosts New Zealand in 2015, and four years later it was England’s turn to win by virtue of being hosts.Hey, that’s not fair. They also won by virtue of … *checks notes* … boundary count-back. Is that going to be a thing again?

Ah, no. Super Overs will decide tied games throughout the tournament, and if the Super Over is tied, they will just play another, and another, until they get an actual winner.Cue the final that never ends. Anyway, before we get that far, what’s the format of the tournament?

Just like 2019. Each of the ten teams plays every other team once in the league stage, and the top four go through to the semi-finals.Super Overs will decide tied games in the knockout stage, and if the Super Over is tied, they will just play another•Tom Jenkins/Getty ImagesWho are the favourites to get there?

India are hosts, and they are also the No. 1 ODI side in the ICC rankings. They have a team with almost every base covered, particularly in their home conditions. England may not have the same aura they went into the 2019 World Cup with, but they are defending champions, won a T20 World Cup last year, and remain the deepest and fastest-scoring batting line-up in ODIs. Then there is Pakistan, who held the No. 1 ranking until India took it from them – their top order and fast bowling are serious strengths, though they have weaknesses elsewhere.New Zealand were losing finalists at the last two ODI World Cups as well as the 2021 T20 World Cup. They have a core group of highly experienced, skilful players who will want to go one better this time. And you can expect Australia and South Africa, who recently tussled in an incredibly high-scoring five-match series, to be fiercely competitive at a world event.Won’t the conditions negate non-Asian teams’ strengths somewhat?

Possibly. Even though pitches at ICC white-ball events tend to be flat, spin could be hugely influential at least at some of the venues. Australia might find themselves seriously tested by Sri Lanka in Lucknow, for instance, and New Zealand by both Bangladesh and Afghanistan in Chennai. Afghanistan may also pose a big threat to Pakistan, who don’t really have a gun wicket-taking spinner, when they meet in Chennai.Where and when will the really high-profile contests take place?

Well, mostly in Ahmedabad. The biggest, highest-capacity, and most self-congratulatory venue in the world can’t stop hosting big games. The opening game on October 5, pitting 2019 finalists England and New Zealand, will be in Ahmedabad. So will Australia-England on November 4. And the final, of course, on November 19.Not to mention the small matter of India-Pakistan on October 14.Ahmedabad will host several big-ticket games, including the final on November 19•AFP/Getty ImagesIndia-Pakistan! I to be in Ahmedabad for it.

Lol.Okay, what other big games should I call in sick for?

India and Australia have played some cracking games in Chennai, including a thriller during the 1987 World Cup. They meet again in Chennai, on October 8, to open their respective campaigns. England and South Africa are among the most power-packed batting line-ups in the tournament, and their meeting at the Wankhede Stadium on October 21 should be full of runs. There could be a bit of help for fast bowlers in Dharamsala, where Australia meet New Zealand on October 28. The two best ODI teams of the last two World Cup cycles, India and England, face off in Lucknow on October 29, and then there is the rivalry to end all rivalries, the derby, on November 6 in Delhi.Right. So at what time do these matches begin?

There will be six day games, starting 10.30am IST (0500 GMT), but every other match will be day-night contests, starting at 2pm IST (0830 GMT).Are there reserve days in case of rain?

Yup, there will be reserve days for both semi-finals – which are scheduled to take place in Mumbai and Kolkata on November 15 and 16 – and the final.

There’s nothing raw or naive about the India quick, even though he’s barely two months old in Test cricket

Karthik Krishnaswamy04-Mar-20211:15

The aim was to bowl consistently in the same spot – Siraj

You probably remember the Cameron Green dismissal. Outswinger, outswinger, outswinger, and then the coup de grâce.

Out, out, out, in.

Well bowled, Siraj

Live #AUSvIND: https://t.co/qwpaGhwHFU pic.twitter.com/uhfP8f38fM

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 26, 2020