Daniel Levy and co appear determined to put Tottenham’s Eberechi Eze humiliation firmly behind them, with Spurs considering a host of new late options for the number 10 role amid their dire need for a playmaker.
The Lilywhites, and Levy in particular, have attracted huge criticism after missing out on a deal for Eze – who had agreed personal terms to join Thomas Frank’s side with an agreement in principle also reached club-to-club.
However, Spurs’ apparent haggling over the 27-year-old’s now-expired £68 million release clause, as well as Palace’s hesitation, ultimately cost them.
Oliver Glasner’s side, at least initially, also wanted Eze to feature in their 1-0 Europa Conference League play-off win on Thursday.
Following this second public transfer humiliation of the transfer window after their famously botched deal for Morgan Gibbs-White, Levy and Frank are now tasked with reacting in the strongest possible manner.
The Gibbs-White deal was, to give Tottenham their due, much more complicated. The north Londoners were ready to pay £60 million and trigger his release clause, only for Evangelos Marinakis to block the deal, threaten legal action and tie the 25-year-old down in never-before-seen fashion.
Eze’s was a case of being beaten to the punch in a more traditional hijack, something which Spurs have done themselves before, but Frank will be devastated to miss out on yet another world-class, Premier League-proven creator.
Tottenham make approach to sign Xavi Simons after Eberechi Eze blow
Speaking of hijacks, according to Fabrizio Romano, it is believed that top Chelsea target and RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons has found his way on to Levy’s transfer shortlist.
Chelsea have been in talks to sign Simons for a long time now, but their need to sell players, whilst not yet fully agreeing a deal with Leipzig, has delayed the Dutchman’s move to London.
Simoms has been a revelation for the Bundesliga side ever since he initially joined on loan at the start of 2023/2024, and this isn’t lost on Levy, with Romano claiming that Tottenham have made contact over Simons in recent days.
As Frank’s side seemingly consider hijacking a deal of their own, it appears they may not have much luck, with the player determined to join Chelsea right now.
The 22-year-old, who joined Leipzig from PSG permanently in January, became their highest-ever paid player in the process – earning £192,000-per-week.
Noni Madueke might have been smiling after Arsenal’s 3-0 cruise past Nottingham Forest, but the winger was dealt a stinging jab from Martin Keown straight after the final whistle. The ex-Gunners hardman told the 22-year-old, to his face, that he had once seen him as “selfish”. It was a bold claim, especially on live TV, but Keown insisted that while Madueke has shown flair since swapping Chelsea blue for Arsenal red, he has finally started to balance his individual brilliance with more team-focused play.
Getty Images
Arsenal’s £48.5m man silences early doubters
Madueke only arrived in north London this summer, with Arsenal shelling out a hefty £48.5 million to prise him away from Chelsea. Some questioned whether the England international was worth the outlay, but the early signs are promising.
Against Forest, it was Arsenal’s new boys Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres who found the net, with the Spaniard bagging a brace before Gyokeres rounded off the scoring. Yet despite not being on the scoresheet himself, Madueke’s performance was once again eye-catching. His pace stretched the Forest backline, his trickery unlocked space, and his link-up play showed maturity beyond his years.
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Keown doesn’t hold back in TNT grilling
But Keown wasn’t about to let him bask in the praise unchallenged. Looking Madueke dead in the eye during the TNT Sports post-match chat, the former Arsenal defender dropped his verdict: "Noni, have you taken your game to another level? Because you look more collective. I was worried about you when you came. Because I thought sometimes you can be a little bit selfish. But now, you seem to have got really good balance to your play. The decisions you're making have been outstanding…"
Presenter Lynsey Hipgrave attempted to lighten the mood, joking that Madueke could dismiss the comment as “rubbish,” but Keown pressed on, insisting his decision-making had noticeably improved.
Keown continued: "No, no. I think it's getting that balance. I think your decision-making has changed. Is that the manager? Is it the new club? What has happened?"
Getty Images Sport
Madueke responds with maturity and class
If Keown thought his words would rattle the youngster, he was wrong. Madueke took the criticism on the chin, delivering a calm and confident response.
"I feel it's important to keep that self-belief that you can get the ball and do it yourself as well," he said. "As a winger, I feel like you need that. But of course, like you're saying, I'm playing with such top players and it's important for me to try and find them as much as I try and play my own type of game. It's easy to play with these guys. I'm having a great time. Maybe I have taken a step in that direction."
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Former Aston Villa striker Dean Saunders has told Football FanCast the player Unai Emery must keep hold of this summer amid exit rumours surrounding several of Villa’s top stars.
Villa players who could leave this summer
Emery has done a fantastic job re-establishing Villa on the European stage, reaching the Champions League quarter-final and narrowly missing out on the Premier League top five last season, but the success means rival clubs are now queuing up for their top players.
The likes of Morgan Rogers, Jacob Ramsey, Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez have all been linked with moves away, and with the Villans still treading a fine line PSR-wise, it could be tempting to cash-in on one of their older players this summer.
In fact, Manchester United have now tabled a loan offer for Martinez, which was knocked back, but the Red Devils are now expected to return with a permanent offer, although it remains to be seen whether they are willing to match the £40m asking price.
Watkins is also in Man United’s sights, with Ruben Amorim’s side weighing up a bid for a striker, although it would be a risk to cash in, having already sold Jhon Duran in the January transfer window.
Discussing the players who could be sacrificed either to raise funds for Emery or to comply with PSR, Saunders gave Football FanCast, in partnership with NewBettingSites.uk, an emphatic “no” when asked about Watkins.
Villa must keep Watkins despite PSR concerns
Unfortunately, PSR rules mean clubs are now often forced to cash-in on their best players to avoid punishment, with Villa believed to be hours away from a 10-point deduction before completing the sale of Douglas Luiz last summer.
However, as pointed out by Saunders, the England international is far too important to even consider a sale, netting 16 goals and eight assists in the Premier League last season.
That said, given that the 29-year-old remains contracted until 2028, Villa should be in line to receive a sizeable fee if they do decide to cash in, with reports suggesting they are set to hold out for £60m.
Manchester United have only made one senior first-team addition to Ruben Amorim’s squad since the 2024/25 campaign came to a close against Aston Villa.
The Red Devils swooped to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers attacking midfielder Matheus Cunha for a reported fee of £62.5m at the start of June to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.
In the 2024/25 campaign, the Brazil international racked up 15 goals and six assists in the Premier League for Wolves, which shows that he is a proven performer in the division.
Manchester United have, however, missed out on a deal to another proven Premier League star, as Tottenham Hotspur have snapped up Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United.
The Red Devils reportedly made contact with the Hammers to enquire about a potential deal for the Ghana international in June, but their top-flight rivals have stolen a march on them to win the race for his signature.
Whilst Kudus is an exciting player who has a lot of potential, it is also worth acknowledging that the 24-year-old star would have been a risky signing.
Why Mohammed Kudus would have been a risky signing for Man Utd
Spurs have reportedly paid a fee of £55m to sign the former Ajax starlet from West Ham this summer, and it is a fee that comes with a lot of risk based on his form in the 2024/25 campaign.
Kudus hit the ground running in England in the 2023/24 season, ending the term with a haul of 15 goals and seven assists in all competitions, but failed to kick on in his second year.
The left-footed attacking midfielder, who can play anywhere across the frontline, ended last season with a return of five goals and four assists in 32 matches in all competitions for the Hammers, a steep decline from what he produced in his debut campaign with the club.
His form in the Premier League in his second year, in comparison to his first, is concerning and shows that there is no guarantee that Spurs have signed a player who can deliver consistent quality.
Appearances
33
32
xG
5.16
6.90
Goals
8
5
Big chances missed
4
7
Big chances created
5
4
Key passes per game
0.8
1.0
Assists
6
3
As you can see in the table above, Kudus underperformed in front of goal as a finisher last term and rarely created high-quality opportunities for his teammates.
This is why it would have been a very risky signing for Manchester United to commit £55m to this summer, despite the fact that he has shown a lot of quality moments in the league, as shown in the clips below.
Meanwhile, the club are pursuing another left-footed Premier League star who would be an even better signing than Kudus for Amorim’s side this summer.
Man Utd confident of signing Premier League star
According to the Manchester Evening News, Manchester United are continuing to pursue a deal to bring Brentford sensation Bryan Mbeumo to the club before the end of the window.
The report claims that the latest bid submitted to the Bees is worth in excess of £60m, including add-ons, but there is no agreement between the two sides at this point, with two offers having been turned down already.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It does state, however, that the Red Devils are confident that they will be able to complete a deal to sign the Cameroon international to bolster their squad.
The Manchester Evening News also reveals that a move could become complicated if Yoane Wissa leaves Brentford first, amid interest from Spurs and Nottingham Forest.
United will want to avoid a situation where Wissa leaves the Bees and the asking price for Mbeumo soars because they do not want to lose their top two scorers in the same window.
Why Man Utd should sign Bryan Mbeumo
The club should push to get this deal done as quickly as possible because the Cameroon international would be an even better signing than Tottenham’s move for Kudus.
Mbeumo’s form in the Premier League last season suggests that he would arrive at Old Trafford with far less risk attached to him, as he is an in-form star who is at the peak of his career.
The 25-year-old sensation ended the campaign with an outstanding haul of 20 goals and seven assists in the top-flight for Brentford on the right flank, as he showcased his ability to make a big impact in the final third on a regular basis.
Mbeumo has produced at least eight goals and at least six assists in all six of his seasons at Brentford to date, whilst Kudus only managed five goals and four assists for the Hammers last term, which speaks to his consistency in the final third.
Appearances
38
65
xG
12.26
12.06
Goals
20
13
Big chances created
17
9
xA
14.89
6.37
Assists
7
9
As you can see in the table above, the Bees star scored more goals and created more than twice as much xA for his team last season than Kudus managed in both of his campaigns with West Ham combined.
The £60m+ star, who was once hailed as “unplayable” by Thomas Frank, is a winger who has shown that he can consistently deliver quality in front of goal in the Premier League, which is why he could be such an impressive signing for the Red Devils.
Unlike Kudus, Mbeumo is coming off the back of an electric season in the top-flight and could bring almost guaranteed quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals, given his consistency over the last six years with his club.
It is now down to the club to ensure that they can strike a deal with Brentford to bring the winger to Old Trafford before long, as he would arrive at United as an even better signing than Kudus would have been.
Amorim's own Haaland: Man Utd make "world-class" £60m CF their top target
Manchester United appear to be making moves for a new forward in the transfer market.
Celtic are taking stock ahead of another busy transfer window and could now be set to field interest in one of their star players from the Premier League, according to a report.
Celtic set to pursue reinforcements in the wide areas
By now, everyone knows that Celtic are in the market to buy a striker this summer and several names have began to crop up on their radar to address the position, including Telstar forward Youssef El Kachati.
However, their pursuit of a winger over the coming months is arguably just as important, especially when you factor in that Jota is a long-term injury casualty at Parkhead.
The iconic Portuguese winger is set to be out for another six months, give or take, meaning there is plenty of room to secure another body or two to prop up Brendan Rodgers’ range of options.
Sarpsborg talent Sondre Orjasaeter was a Celtic target in January and there is every chance the reigning Scottish champions could return to bid for the Norwegian during the window, albeit he won’t be the only name on their shortlist.
Royal Antwerp’s Michel-Ange Balikwisha has also been mentioned in connection with a move to Glasgow and could be available due to his current employers’ wish to cut costs drastically during the summer.
Jeremie Frimpong repeat: Celtic eyeing move for "outstanding" £1m star
Celtic are lining up a move for an English full-back who could be a repeat of Jeremie Frimpong.
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Dan Emery
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Daizen Maeda had to feature out wide and as a centre-forward during the second half of the campaign, and it would be wise for Rodgers to provide cover for the Japanese attacker in light of his extraordinary 33-goal campaign for the Bhoys.
Nevertheless, Celtic are also aware that everyone has their price; something that could now be put to the test if recent developments are to be believed.
Brentford emerge as frontrunners to sign Nicolas Kuhn
According to TEAMtalk, Brentford are now frontrunners to sign Nicolas Kuhn from Celtic as they search for potential replacements in light of developments that could point Bryan Mbeumo in the direction of Manchester United, while he also has interest from Arsenal.
The outlet claim a bid of around £20 million could be difficult to reject for the Bhoys, who have made a habit of regularly selling players for profit down the years.
Nicolas Kuhn’s 2024/25 campaign – all competitions
Appearances
51
Goals
21
Assists
15
Mbeumo could be set for Old Trafford if the Red Devils pay in excess of £60 million, and Brentford have turned their attention to the former Germany Under-20 international alongside Brighton & Hove Albion and three other unnamed English top-flight clubs.
Fashioning 52 chances on Scottish Premiership duty, Kuhn was a thorn in the side of opposition defences and has previously been labelled “breathtaking” by Marvin Bartley due to his excellent attacking displays.
Celtic won’t want to lose one of their prize assets. However, they usually do make a signature sale at this time of year, so it is a scenario that cannot be ruled out.
Rangers have made contact to sign a £20,000-a-week player who has been likened to full-back Jefte, according to a Sky Sports reporter.
Rangers window ramps up as Cameron unveiled as first signing
Russell Martin is currently preparing for his first Scottish Premiership season in charge at Ibrox, with players set to report back for pre-season on Monday ahead of an early Champions League qualifier in July.
However, in the transfer market, the 49ers are looking to back their new manager with additions in the window. One move that was agreed before Martin arrived and the 49ers officially took over was a pre-contract agreement for Lyall Cameron, with the midfielder joining Rangers from Dundee.
Cameron was unveiled as a new Rangers player on Tuesday after a stellar 2024/25 campaign which saw him score 14 goals and provide nine assists. Speaking on his recent performances, Cameron said:
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Alongside the midfielder, there have also been strong links to AFC Bournemouth right-back Max Aarons, with claims even suggesting a verbal agreement was done and a loan move was close for the Englishman.
However, there has been a new update on a move for the full-back who has been likened to Jefte.
Rangers in contact to sign Aarons as Bournemouth stance shared
Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam provided an update on Rangers’ attempts to sign Aarons on Tuesday.
He stated that contact has been made by Rangers for the 25-year-old, however, while the Gers are looking at doing a loan deal for the £20,000-a-week defender, Bournemouth would prefer a permanent transfer.
Aarons appears to be out of favour at the Vitality Stadium under Andoni Iraola but is still under contract on the south coast until 2029. Therefore, a move could be complicated as the Cherries are looking to recoup as much of the £7m they paid for Aarons, whereas Rangers want him on a temporary basis.
Milan van Ewijk
Coventry City
Jefte
Rangers
Isaac Schmidt
Leeds United
Jordi Alba
Inter Miami
Alistair Johnston
Celtic
One way the clubs could get around negotiations could be to include an option or obligation to buy Aarons next summer, but at this moment in time, a deal doesn’t appear to be as advanced as previously suggested.
Celtic wrapped up their fourth title in as many seasons last weekend when they beat Dundee United 5-0 at Tannadice Park in the Scottish Premiership.
An own goal from Ryan Strain put the Hoops 1-0 up early on in the match, before two goals apiece from Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah made sure of the victory.
The Scottish giants now have four matches left to play in the league with little to play for but pride and to extend their points total, as well as using the games to warm up for the SFA Cup final.
Brendan Rodgers’ side are due to face Aberdeen at Hampden Park in the SFA Cup final at the end of this month, knowing that a win would mean that they have completed the domestic treble this season.
Celtic manager BrendanRodgersbefore the match
It has been a terrific season for the Hoops, who also made it to the play-off round of the Champions League, and some of their signings in the last summer transfer window have contributed to that.
Celtic decided to splash the cash, after Matt O’Riley’s move to Brighton & Hove Albion, with a club-record swoop to sign Arne Engels from Augsburg for a reported fee of £11m.
Why Arne Engels has been a successful signing for Celtic
The Belgian midfielder had only started 13 of his 32 appearances in the Bundesliga for Augsburg in the 2023/24 campaign, which meant that the Hoops were breaking their transfer record to sign a young player who had yet to prove that he could perform consistently as a regular starter.
It was a gamble that has already paid off for the Scottish giants, though, as Engels has enjoyed a terrific debut season at Parkhead, nailing down a place as an influential figure in midfield for Rodgers.
The 21-year-old talent has scored ten goals and provided 12 assists in 48 appearances in all competitions for the Hoops this term, which shows that he has made a big impact at the top end of the pitch.
It is worth adding that eight of those ten goals have come from the penalty spot. Of course, you still have to score from 12 yards, but it does suggest that the midfielder does not carry a huge goal threat from open play.
Starts
22
9
Big chances created
11
3
Key passes per game
1.7
1.8
Assists
5
3
Tackles + interceptions per game
0.8
2.4
Duel success rate
48%
59%
As you can see in the table above, Engels has provided consistent quality as a creator for his teammates with 14 ‘big chances’ created in 31 starts in the Premiership and the Champions League combined, whilst also holding his own in physical duels.
These statistics show that the Belgium international has been a successful signing for Celtic because he has hit the ground running as a star for the Hoops.
However, the Scottish giants could land an even bigger talent than Engels by swooping to sign one of the reported transfer targets ahead of next season.
Celtic's interest in Premiership star
The Scottish Sun recently revealed that Celtic had an offer turned down for Motherwell central midfielder Lennon Miller in the January transfer window.
It was claimed that the Hoops and Italian side Udinese had bids rejected for the Scotland U21 international, who remained at Fir Park for the second half of this season.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The outlet added that Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise are lining up a swoop for the Scottish starlet in the upcoming summer transfer window, with a fee of £5m said to be on the cards.
Arne Engels
Celtic must, now, press ahead with another attempt to sign the Motherwell sensation when the summer window opens for business, because he has the potential to be an even bigger talent than Engels for the Bhoys.
Why Miller is an even bigger talent than Engels
Firstly, Miller is three years younger than the Belgian midfielder, who plays in the same position as him, and has already established himself as a regular starter in the Premiership.
He has started 48 matches in the Scottish top-flight since the start of last season, which shows that the teenage gem already has plenty of experience in the league despite his age.
This also means that he has even more time left ahead of him to develop and improve as a player in comparison to Engels, as he has established himself as a star at first-team level at a much younger age.
Miller’s performances in the Premiership for Motherwell, including his stunning assist against Celtic last season in the clip below, also suggest that he could offer even more than the Belgian ace in the short-term as well.
The Scottish ace, who has been hailed as “ridiculous” by pundit James McFadden, has the quality to offer a similar level of creativity whilst providing more to the team out of possession.
Appearances
31
28
Big chances created
11
10
Key passes per game
1.7
1.6
Assists
5
6
Tackles + interceptions per game
0.8
3.1
Ball recoveries per game
2.5
6.5
Duel success rate
48%
52%
As you can see in the table above, Miller, despite playing for an inferior side at Premiership level, has only created one fewer ‘big chance’ in three fewer appearances.
The Motherwell dynamo has, however, won the ball back far more frequently for his side and come out on top in a higher percentage of his duels with other midfielders.
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Therefore, Celtic could land an even bigger talent than Engels by signing Miller because he has performed as well as the Hoops star in possession, whilst doing more for his team defensively, and is three years younger than him.
It is now down to the club to get a deal over the line for the teenage starlet, who could develop into a star for the Scottish giants next season and for many seasons to come.
Chelsea are now going all out to sign a “stunning” winger, and they may be willing to trigger the £42m release clause in his contract, according to a report.
Blues keen to strengthen in attack
Nicolas Jackson made a flying start to the campaign, but the 23-year-old is still without a Premier League goal in 2025, having now failed to score in his last 11 matches, most recently drawing a blank in the 2-2 draw against Ipswich Town.
The Blues’ disappointing draw against Ipswich may have significantly dented their Champions League aspirations, while also underlining the need for Enzo Maresca to strengthen his squad this summer, and new forwards are of particular interest.
Ipswich star Liam Delap is one of the main targets at striker, with the west Londoners recently opening talks over a deal for the Englishman, while they could also consider a move for Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel, who is currently on loan at Tottenham Hotspur.
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Not only is signing a new striker on the agenda, but there may also be a need to bring in a new winger, given that Noni Madueke has widely been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge this summer.
According to a report from Spain, a new target has now entered the frame, with Chelsea going all out to sign Real Betis winger Jesus Rodriguez, who has a £42m release clause included in his contract with the Spanish side.
The Blues are yet to make an official bid, but they are considering stumping up the release clause to ensure they win the race for Rodriguez’s signature, amid interest from other unnamed clubs.
Real Betis'JesusRodriguezcelebrates scoring their second goal
Betis hope to keep hold of the winger for at least one more season, but they are powerless to prevent his departure, should any of the interested parties be willing to fork out the release clause.
"Stunning" Rodriguez enjoying breakthrough season
The ongoing campaign has been a real breakthrough season for the 19-year-old, having made 24 appearances in all competitions, picking up two goals and two assists in the process.
The teenager has certainly managed to impress the Spanish media with his performances, having been lauded as “stunning” by journalist Alvaro Borrego, who adds the youngster will soon be part of the Spain national team set-up.
The Spaniard’s performances over the past year indicate he is a well-rounded winger, who is effective on the front foot, but also willing to pitch in defensively.
Statistic
Average per 90
Interceptions
0.64 (83rd percentile)
Successful take-ons
2.78 (90th percentile)
Progressive carries
4.59 (77th percentile)
Blocks
1.39 (94th percentile)
That said, while Rodriguez is showing very promising signs at such a young age, his attacking numbers are yet to justify a £42m outlay, and Chelsea should continue to monitor his performances between now and the end of the season.
The South Africa allrounder has played an important role with the ball as a final tussle for the knockouts looms
Firdose Moonda12-Oct-20244:48
Takeaways: Mlaba too quick, South Africa too good for stifled West Indies
The beats that bring out the best in players at this World Cup include Lady Gaga’s , which was the tonic that turned West Indies around after their opening defeat and inspired two big wins, Punjabi music in the Pakistan camp that even has the injured Diana Baig dancing and a proverbial mix-tape of Afrikaans music and Amapiano – a mix of house, electronic, jazz and soul – that keeps South Africa’s squad connected.”We have a team playlist that we put together and we ask girls to add their music in, so we have a lot of music that we listen to and learn what kind of music everyone likes,” Chloe Tryon told ESPNcricinfo in Dubai. “I absolutely love it. It’s so nice to have a diverse team and I feel like we get along really well. We’ve gelled really well as a group in the last couple of months.”Related
Kapp sets the tone before bowlers combine in SA's NRR-boosting win over Scotland
October 12 at the T20 World Cup: NZ, SA look to boost semi-final chances
South Africa’s team spirit has not gone unnoticed at this tournament and squad members are regularly asked what it means for them to represent the country that have been in the last two T20 World Cup finals (at the women’s 2023 and men’s 2024 tournament) but have never won the trophy. They are serial semi-finalists and on track to qualify for another knockout but need a big win over Bangladesh and to keep an eye on Tuesday’s match between West Indies and England to secure their spots, and then things will really get serious.Expectation always stalks South Africa and, more so, their senior players at big tournaments, as Tryon is finding out.She is one of five South Africans to play 100 T20Is – three of them are at this event – and is playing her seventh World Cup. But she has yet to fire, especially with the bat, and hopes the time for big-hitting finishers like herself, is still coming.”On these wickets, when you come in to bat, you need to take a couple of balls to get yourself in. And as finishers, we can say that it hasn’t been that easy,” she said. “But our batting coach [Baakier Abrahams] spoke to us about out making an impact whenever get in, so I’m still playing really positively.”Chloe Tryon’s main impact has been with the ball•ICC/Getty ImagesTryon has been dismissed for 2 in each of her two innings at the tournament so far but has looked as though she wanted to maximise the limited opportunities she’s had at the crease. Against England, she was in during the 16th over as South Africa looked to push towards 140. She was aggressive from the second ball she faced when she got forward to Sophie Ecclestone and then charged Charlie Dean off the fifth ball, missed and was bowled. Against Scotland, she was in the 18th over, with South Africa two away from 150 and pushing for a big score. She started playing her shots from ball one, hitting to midwicket, then long-off, then swinging and eventually skying one to long-on.The slowness of the surfaces and the amount of pace-off bowling has meant batters have had to be innovative about run-scoring. The sweep shot has been one way of doing that, as players have struggled to get another ball, and for Tryon, strike rotation is another option.”As a finisher, you kind of have to back yourself from ball one and look at the options. With the outfields quite big as well, running hard between the wickets is something we’ve been doing really well,” she said. “And I think it’s about being a lot more proactive at the crease. If I’m going to sweep first ball, I need to be really confident and have to back myself to do that.”For now, that has happened more from a bowling perspective for Tryon. She has found herself in a slightly different role of operating in the powerplay, and in the last two games before fellow left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba. Both have been working with CSA’s spin-bowling coach Paul Adams – Mlaba on varying her pace, and Tryon with angling the ball in – using weighted balls to align themselves correctly. In Tryon’s case, it’s helped with her action and to make her more attacking.”As a spinner, you kind of have to get your hips over the front foot and when I first started, I was quite flat-footed and I’d fall to the side quite a bit,” she said. “So Paul spoke about that hip drive, going over the front leg and getting a really good motion into the ball. The more I started doing it, the more the motion felt really good and natural. And then obviously, there’s my variations. Paul has been helping me with getting it to angle in a lot more because on these wickets you can cramp the batter which I think is a good thing to do. It helps to have those options.”South Africa also have choice when it comes to the type of bowlers they want to use, including a reinvented Sune Luus. The former captain turned to offspin from legspin, after losing her confidence with the latter and identifying where South Africa had a gap. “I’m happy she took on the challenge of bowling offspin,” Tryon said. “It gives another option, especially with match-ups, whether it’s a left-hand batter or something like that.”South Africa have the chance to reach another semi-final•ICC/Getty ImagesWith 18-year old legspinner Seshnie Naidu on the bench, alongside two other seamers in Tumi Sekhukhune and Ayanda Hlubi, South Africa have all their bases covered but have, so far, opted to go batting-heavy into games. They use to Nadine de Klerk at No. 8 which, in the absence of runs from Tryon, and to an extent Luus, has papered over most cracks.”We have a long batting line-up which is something we haven’t had for a really long time,” Tryon said. “Since the last World Cup, we’ve got a lot more depth with the bat, which is important.”The last World Cup was the home tournament where South Africa enjoyed a dream run to the final. Tryon was part of that squad and “happy that in my career, I could play a home tournament and be part of a team that did that.” She believes this group can repeat the feat and perhaps go further because despite a string of results that saw South Africa fail to win a series between the end of the last World Cup and their trip to Pakistan last month, she feels they have a collective spirit.”Whenever we walk out there, we want to do our best, for South Africa and for our family and our friends. We just want to go out there and make them proud and bring the nation together; pull them close together. We know sport brings a lot of people together, and we just want to do that.”As for the music Tryon’s personal choices include “a little bit of R&B and some hip-hop,” which she thinks “everyone likes a bit of,” and a glimpse at her Instagram also shows she’s got some singing skills. There’s a little of Beyonce from her time with the Mumbai Indians at the WPL and some Flo Rida from CSA’s annual awards. The South African national football and rugby teams are known to sing in the tunnel as motivation before they walk out onto the field. Do the women’s cricket team do the same?”We just sing on the bus,” Tryon said. “Just some good Adele songs.”And Tryon is not expecting anyone to go easy on her.
England’s Multan match-winner hails Ben Stokes as a “world-class” captain
Vithushan Ehantharajah13-Dec-2022There aren’t many better people to chart the evolution of Ben Stokes into England’s Test captain than his good friend Mark Wood.Since joining the Durham academy aged 15 and 16 respectively, they have grown as cricketers in tandem. They were previously opponents, notably in a minor county Under-15 game between Cumbria, where Stokes was building his hype, and Northumberland, when Wood was a top-order batter who bowled a bit of medium pace. Supposedly, they also played each other when Cockermouth Cricket Club took on Ashington Cricket Club in a festival competition in York. Neither remembers much of it, though Stokes insists his Cockermouth won.From travelling to matches together when making their way at Chester-le-Street – often enough that Wood’s mother would buy Percy Pigs for him to take on away trips because she knew how much Stokes liked them – they are now in their early 30s having represented England together for seven years and counting. The series-clinching victory in the second Test against Pakistan was the 77th time they shared the field across all international formats.Related
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Multan, however, was the first time Wood has experienced the new, “do-as-I-do” captaincy of Stokes. A previous experience came in the Covid-19 summer of 2020 when Joe Root missed the first Test against West Indies for the birth of his second child. This, however, was the real thing.Wood helped secure an eighth victory in nine for Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, taking 4 for 65 in the second innings, along with 2 for 40 in the first and 36 not out on day one, as England sealed the series with a game to spare. While ecstatic at his own performance, having not played a Test match since March 2022 after two elbow operations and an injured hip, Wood admitted he was equal amounts surprised and impressed by Stokes’ ability as leader, both on and off the field.”It’s weird, the lad I grew up with,” Wood said, “Stokesy now is much more mature. He speaks so well – he’s always had a fantastic cricket brain. But the way he comes across, the way he conducts himself and the messages that he gives, he’s just so much more rounded than when we were growing up.”He was this alpha guy who would whack it, never back down. He’s still got all that, but he’s got other sides to him now. He’ll put an arm round people, express what he means really articulately. I didn’t think he had some of the words in his locker. But he’s been world-class, to be fair.”
“I wondered if I’d go white-ball only. At some my point my body will say that it’s the way to go but I didn’t prepare for white-ball, I prepared for all cricket. I desperately wanted to experience all this, with Stokesy and Brendon, so I’m pleased I’ve stuck with it.”Mark Wood feels his investment in his Test career has paid off
Among a series of tactical tweaks throughout the Test, with Stokes his quick bowlers in short, sharp bursts at various stages of Pakistan’s first and second innings, the decisive moment came just before lunch on day four.Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Nawaz were taking the game away from England with a fine stand for the sixth wicket, before Wood was introduced in the 92nd over with 69 required of Pakistan’s target of 355. Bowling short and around the wicket to both left-handers, Wood removed Nawaz (45) and Shakeel (94) in the space of six balls, both down the leg side, the second of which a point of controversy with disputes over whether Ollie Pope had caught Shakeel cleanly. Nevertheless, it was a passage of play that put England back in front – a position they would not relinquish, going on to win by 26 runs.Mark Wood burst through Zahid Mahmood•Matthew Lewis/Getty Images”We tried reverse and he (Shakeel) played really nicely so we thought we would try something different,” Wood said. “Stokesy asked me to be a game-changer just before lunch, asked me to mix it up. He was really clever with his fields. When you bowl short, people think you just whack it in but you have to get the line and height right.”We pulled the three-quarter man into leg slip and all of a sudden, he has played a shot down the leg side whereas before he was standing up and leaving it because he didn’t want to take it on. I am really glad we managed to get the plans right.”The wicket of Nawaz in particular, which ended an 80-run stand with Shakeel, drew an emphatic reaction from Stokes, who squeezed the life out of Wood, relieved and grateful. “He said you can have a big bear hug for that,” Wood recalled. “Those were his exact words. He asked me to change the game and he was very pleased I did that.”After injuries kept Wood out of the English summer, it has been a spectacular return to action. After tuning up in the T20I series here in Pakistan a couple of months ago, he helped England to the T20 World Cup title in Australia, taking nine wickets at an average of 7.71 in four matches. A hip injury kept him out of the semi-final and final, and the first Test in Pakistan at Rawalpindi, before his comeback in Multan to play a key part in a first English series win in the country for 22 years.While he is enjoying success with the red and white ball, Wood accepts the nature of his work as one of the fastest bowlers in the world means there will come a time when he has to choose a specific path. His will to play all formats is as strong as ever, but with a 33rd birthday coming up next month, there is an acceptance a decision will be based on his body rather than ambition.Mark Wood will play for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2023•BCCIHe has retained a lucrative IPL deal with Lucknow Super Giants (worth INR 7.50 crore/£735,000 approx.) for 2023 after being ruled out of the tournament last year and has previously played for Chennai Super Kings. That, so far, has been his only taste of the franchise circuit. He recently turned down an undisclosed offer from Durban Super Giants, the SA20 franchise affiliated with Lucknow, to spend time with his young family after just 10 days at home since the end of the English summer. If he were to fully commit to that world, he would not be short of suitors.When asked if he thought a return to Test cricket would not come after he succumbed to an elbow injury during the first Test against West Indies nine months ago, his immediate response was “not really”. Then came some reluctant honesty. “Well, in fact, yes. I wondered if I’d go white-ball only.”At some my point my body will say that it’s the way to go but I didn’t prepare for white-ball, I prepared for all cricket. I desperately wanted to experience all this, with Stokesy and Brendon, so I’m pleased I’ve stuck with it. And I’m pleased we won here. I’d have been gutted if we’d won, I’d come in, and we’d lost. They’d have been pointing fingers at me!”Having only bowled in four-over stints since March, Wood felt “knackered” after 32.5 overs on a flat pitch. An appearance in the third Test, which begins in Karachi on Saturday, will largely depend on how he recovers over the next four days.For now, being back around the Test squad – the format he revers most – is something to cherish. And like the rest of the dressing room, the feats of Pakistan are there to savour, though it might only be down the line that they fully appreciate just how well they have performed out here.”The word in the dressing room is we want to entertain and do things differently. So to do it differently and write it in the history books is a fantastic feeling – especially here, because nobody comes here and does this. It has not sunk in yet but in a few days’ time, thinking about it over Christmas, we will think what a fantastic achievement it is, winning in Pakistan.”