The bowling attacks of both teams have done well in the series so far but the difference has been Australia’s failure to execute with the bat
The Preview by Nikhil Kalro23-Sep-20171:19
Tait: Handscomb should be played in the middle order
Big PictureIn 11 completed innings during Australia’s previous ODI tour of India in 2013, 3569 runs were scored, at an average of 324.45 runs per innings. On this tour, 872 runs have been scored in two matches, including a 21-over innings in Chennai, an average of 218 per innings. If ODIs were a stock market, projected on a year-on-year graph, the batting standards would be the bull market and bowling, the not-so-scary bear. With the advent of T20s, that trend is changing. Bowlers are honing and executing their defensive skills better than ever before, and the balance between bat and ball is slowly being restored.An example is India’s bowling attack. All five bowlers are capable of bowling at any stage of an innings and can adapt their roles – holding an end up or attacking – to the situation of the match, the IPL contributing to this development. And Australia’s batsmen have failed to raise their own game, particularly against wristspin. They have scored 339 runs against pace and spin in this series for 19 wickets, an average of 17.84 per wicket.The same can be said of Australia’s bowlers, who have not allowed a strong Indian batting line-up to cross 300 – a benchmark modern-day ODI total – in either game. In Chennai, they dominated the first half of their bowling innings, and in Kolkata, the second half. Both teams’ bowling line-ups have delivered in tough bowling conditions, but the difference has only been Australia’s failure to execute with the bat. A flat surface in Indore may help. A win for India, meanwhile, in addition to clinching the series, can help them climb to No. 1 on the ICC rankings for ODI teams.Form guideIndia WWWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first) Australia LLLLLIn the spotlightHardik Pandya may be having the best year of his life: another terrific IPL season, a sensational debut Test series and now an indispensable cog in India’s limited-overs set-up. He has the attributes to be the seam-bowling allrounder India are yearning for. He is already one of the cleanest hitters in world cricket, he can hit 140 kmph and use the bouncer effectively. All those elements have already been seen in this series so far. Can he just build on that confidence?While the rest have been plagued by inconsistency, Steven Smith and David Warner have carried Australia’s batting on their backs over the past few years. Smith struck a measured half-century in Kolkata, while Warner has failed twice. Australia need them firing in Indore, not just for their runs, but also for the boost in morale they desperately need.Team newsAfter another failure in Kolkata, will India persist with Manish Pandey? If not, KL Rahul may come in at No. 4.India (probable): 1 Ajinkya Rahane, 2 Rohit Sharma, 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 Manish Pandey/KL Rahul, 5 Kedar Jadhav, 6 MS Dhoni (wk), 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Yuzvendra Chahal, 11 Jasprit BumrahOn Saturday, Aaron Finch, recovering from a calf injury, batted in the nets for 20 minutes, testing shots off both feet, and running twos and threes between the wickets. Peter Handscomb also took the gloves during training. Both could come in at the expense of Hilton Cartwright and Matthew Wade, strengthening Australia’s weaker suit, their batting. They may also consider bringing back wristspinner Adam Zampa for fingerspinner Ashton Agar on a batting-friendly surface.Australia (probable): 1 David Warner, 2 Aaron Finch, 3 Steven Smith (capt), 4 Travis Head, 5 Peter Handscomb, 6 Glenn Maxwell, 7 Marcus Stoinis, 8 Pat Cummins, 9 Nathan Coulter-Nile, 10 Kane Richardson, 11 Adam Zampa/ Ashton AgarPitch and conditionsShort boundaries and a flat surface, that’s how ODIs have been played in India for the last few years. The Holkar Cricket Stadium may provide the first 300-plus score of the series, maybe even two. Also in a first for the series, rain is not expected to intervene.Stats and trivia In the last year, since September 2016, India’s top-seven batsmen have averaged 58.13 runs per wicket in ODIs, the best for any team. In contrast, Australia’s top seven average 33.26 runs per wicket Since the 2015 World Cup, India have used 11 batsmen at No. 4Quotes”It’s about that middle period, against the spinners, we have to look to rotate the strike, minimise damage and that’s what you try and do in any one-day format, doesn’t matter who is bowling.” “When you end up winning matches even after scoring 240-ish totals, you establish yourself as the No. 1 team.”
The departure of Declan Rice will affect West Ham United in several ways.
The club has not only lost their imperious and ever-present talisman but also their captain – a pillar of leadership, composure, and tenacity.
It has left the Hammers scrambling as they assess how to adequately reinvest the mammoth £105m fee acquired from the record sale.
A new midfielder is the most pressing concern for West Ham, but David Moyes is reportedly also targeting a new right-sided centre-back.
One of those linked is Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
What’s the latest on Taylor Harwood-Bellis to West Ham?
According to the Guardian, the Irons are working on a deal for the Manchester City prodigy.
Alongside Harwood-Bellis, West Ham are also looking at Trevoh Chalobah and Harry Maguire. However, due to Wesley Fofana’s injury and the former Manchester United skipper’s high wages, the youngster could emerge as the most logical and attainable option.
The Evening Standard, meanwhile, claims the Premier League champions value their young talent at around £15m.
Would Taylor Harwood-Bellis be a good signing for West Ham?
Despite still being just a 21-year-old, Harwood-Bellis has amassed a commendable range of experience, including various Championship loans and a short stint with Anderlecht.
This means he’s accumulated 97 appearances away from the Etihad Stadium and is now well-placed to regularly feature for a Premier League side.
The 6 foot 2 gem has also sporadically made inroads into Pep Guardiola’s lineups, making his professional debut for his boyhood club in September 2019 in the EFL Cup.
At the beginning of 2020, he scored his first goal for City in an FA Cup victory over Port Vale and was rewarded with a new contract until 2024.
However, a pathway into the City first-team looks extremely complicated and murky.
The reigning European Champions already boast the likes of Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, John Stones, Manuel Akanji, and Aymeric Laporte, and seem on the verge of signing Josko Gvardiol.
Nevertheless, Harwood-Bellis deserves consistent top-flight football, thanks to a hugely impressive period at Burnley.
Last season, whilst on loan at Turf Moor, he made 31 second-tier starts, averaging the most interceptions (1.1) and blocks (0.7) per game in the squad as the Clarets cantered to promotion and conceded the least goals (35) in the division.
Internationally, the Englishman has also underlined his quality, as he captained the U21 Three Lions to European Championship. During this run, he started five of the six games, managed a 90% pass accuracy, and won 86% of his ground duels.
The Stockport-born titan is brimming with quality, and his former Burnley boss – and City legend – Vincent Kompany has predicted a huge future, saying:
“I think his biggest quality, that is perhaps more difficult to see on the eye, is his leadership and his incredible drive and high standards.”
These attributes perfectly encapsulate what Rice provided the London Stadium on a weekly basis.
Following the retirement of Mark Noble in May 2022, the former Chelsea academy product was named as West Ham’s captain.
This honour was a testament to his calibre, mentality, and reliability.
Declan Rice
Since the 2017/18 campaign, Rice has featured in 203 of the last 228 Premier League games, and while Harwood-Bellis occupies a different position, he has experience leading a side to success.
Securing his signature would be a fantastic way to soften Rice’s exit and kickstart their underwhelming transfer window.
A major chunk of that figure will have been spent on bringing the World XI team to Lahore. It is thought the players are being paid in the region of $100,000 each, and the rest is made up mostly by the logistic costs involved
Osman Samiuddin in Lahore12-Sep-2017
AFP
The PCB will end up spending anywhere between US$ 2.5-3 million for the staging of the three-match T20I series against World XI, as it bids to build on unprecedented international goodwill and bring more cricket back to Pakistan.A major chunk of that figure will have been spent on bringing the World XI team to Lahore. Nobody has spoken publicly about how much the players are being paid but it is thought to be in the region of $100,000 each. The rest is made up mostly by the logistic costs involved.The PCB will not, at least, have to pay for the entire costs of the security apparatus for the series. Two international security consultants – Reg Dickason and Nicholls Steyn and Associates – have been engaged, with the $1.1 million cost picked up by the ICC. That is a result of efforts by the PCB over the last year to seek some kind of assistance from the game’s governing body from their projected loss of revenues from the absence of international cricket at home.Although the total spend on the series may appear hefty for a board that hasn’t hosted an India series in well over a decade and has hosted one international series at home since 2009, the PCB’s financial health appears to be better than has been often thought.The board has made a profit every year since 2011 and has, in fact, tripled it in the three years to June 2016 – for the year 2015-16, according to its annual report, the PCB made a profit of $14.5 million dollars.That is one reason a member of the board’s governing body said he would be happy even if they manage to just break even over the course of this week. Since this series was not part of Pakistan’s original FTP schedule, it does not come under the five-year broadcast deal they signed with Ten Sports in 2013, thought to be around $150 million.Instead, the PCB has crafted the same deal they did for the PSL, whereby they buy airtime in bulk and sell advertising space, taking a majority share of the revenues that generates.Ordinarily, the rest of their revenues would come from various series-specific commercial deals and ticket sales. But the talk around Lahore over the last few days has been of disappointing ticket sales, a result of a pricing policy that has not quite worked out. Hours before the game, the PCB chairman Najam Sethi took to Twitter calling on fans to not wait to see how the series develops and instead buy tickets now. Ten overs into the first game on Tuesday evening, the 25,000-capacity Gaddafi Stadium was nearly but not entirely full.What they end up making, the investment, as the board member pointed out, is a longer-term one. If this series goes off without incident, it paves the way for Sri Lanka to play a solitary T20 in Lahore on October 29 and, potentially, West Indies to visit for a three-match series of T20s in November.With more games of the PSL due to be played in Pakistan next season, this period becomes a critical one in determining the future extent of international cricket in Pakistan.
Arsenal are in talks to sign Brentford goalkeeper David Raya and sell USA international shot-stopper Matt Turner to Nottingham Forest, according to reports.
Who will Arsenal sign?
Mikel Arteta has been seriously backed in this summer transfer window, with Arsenal spending over £200 million on three major signings so far.
The big one is England international star Declan Rice, who swapped West Ham for the Emirates Stadium in a deal worth a club-record £105 million (including £5 million in add-ons).
He joins both winger Kai Havertz, who signed for £65m from Chelsea, and versatile Netherlands international defender Jurrien Timber following his £38m Ajax transfer.
Despite their huge outlay, reports have suggested that the possibility of further signings is very likely, and it is believed sporting director Edu is looking firm up Arsenal's goalkeeping options.
Reliable media sources, like transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, have claimed that Brenford's Raya has already reached an agreement with Arsenal on personal terms.
Fellow reporter Pete O'Rourke, writing for Football Insider, echoes Romano's point that the Gunners are in talks to sign the Spaniard.
However, it appears Arsenal are plotting a one in, one out double transfer, as they're also in simultaneous negotiations to offload Turner to Nottingham Forest.
"Arsenal are in talks to sign Brentford goalkeeper David Raya and sell backup shot-stopper Matt Turner to Nottingham Forest," wrote O'Rourke.
"It is believed the framework of each deal is close to being agreed."
The report adds that Brentford have placed a £40 million price tag on Raya's head, while Turner comes as a Forest alternative target to Dean Henderson.
Despite being the USA's number one, Turner has been exclusively used as a backup option to Ramsdale, meaning Arsenal are happy to let him depart for the City Ground.
What's been said about David Raya?
Brentford boss Thomas Frank, commenting on Raya's first ever Spain call up last year, revered his keeper's "very aggressive" style of play and mentality.
"I think that mentality we all know, or mental state in the game, the mindset is so important," said Frank.
"So that's one thing you know you're only building stronger with your setbacks. You can't have a strong mentality if you don't have any setbacks.
"I know setbacks are different to a lot of people, but his clear and obvious abilities in terms of playing with his feet, high position, very aggressive in terms of his positioning and going for crosses, he definitely deserves this.
"He's been on the radar from the Federation of Spain, I'm pleased to see him there. I think it shows definitely a lot of credit to him because there's a lot of good goalkeepers for Spain."
According to WhoScored, the "exceptional" Raya stood out as one of Brentford's best-performing players per 90, all while playing more league minutes than any other Bees player.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was also full of praise for the keeper's distribution in late 2021, coming after Raya wreaked havoc with some of his balls in behind the Reds.
“The goalkeeper could have the shirt with No 10,” the Liverpool manager said.
“He played a few incredible balls but it was the right thing to do against us today.”
Southampton have real interest in Norwich City defender Max Aarons, according to talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook.
The deal could depend on some departures in the full-back position, however.
What is the latest news regarding Max Aarons?
The Norwich fullback could be departing the club this summer for a new challenge.
According to a report from talkSPORT, the Saints are lining up a move for the English defender as manager Russell Martin aims to revitalize the recently relegated club in the hopes that they are able to bounce straight back to the Premier League at the first time of asking. The report states that the deal is seen by Southampton as a potential replacement for Tino Livramento, who has been heavily linked with a move to Newcastle United throughout this window.
Norwich defender Max Aarons.
According to the Telegraph, the fee required to sign Aarons is in the region of £10m, with the player also attracting the interest of Premier League side Fulham earlier this window.
Norwich director of football Stuart Webber has stated that this summer could be the right time for all parties to go their separate ways, with Aarons having "out-grown" the club: "People on the outside might have this perception that we have these close relationships. Max [Aarons] needs to go. He needs to go. He's out-grown us. We can't help him anymore. And I hope he gets the move that I think he deserves. I think he's been really unlucky not to have got a move by now, But on the business side, and what I truly believe is right for Max, and probably what's right for the team as well it is time to freshen it up. I think if the right offer came this summer, it could be really good for all parties.”
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Crook said that whilst Southampton's interest in the player is genuine, the Canaries will demand a large fee to part ways with the player who has been at the club his whole career: "I believe so, but a lot will have to happen because I think Norwich want a lot of money for him.
Currently, they've got Kyle Walker-Peters and Livramento as well. If they stay, he wouldn't necessarily go straight into the team. Romain Perraud, the left-back, could play over there as well. But he's got some interest from clubs. He could be one that could go towards the end of the window. But, I think the interest is genuine.”
Is Max Aarons a good signing for Southampton?
Aarons, who has been hailed as "underappreciated", could be a really solid pickup from the Saints.
The Englishman is incredibly experienced despite his tender age of 23, having made 213 first-team appearances for the Canaries, 70 of which have been at the Premier League level. The defender also has relevant experience for the Saints, having been a part of two Norwich sides that have won promotion to the English top flight, which is the aim of the Saints for next season. The player also has a strong youth international career, having made 34 appearances for the England youth sides and most recently being a part of the Euro U21 squad that won the tournament.
Described as "outstanding" by former manager Aidy Boothroyd, the defender could be a better option than Livramento for this level. Aarons averaged a WhoScored rating 6.69 last campaign, however in previous Championship campaigns has managed an average rating as high as 6.93, which is higher than Livramento managed in his best PL campaign. The current Southampton fullback has never played in the Championship before, therefore manager Martin could be leaning on Aarons experience as a deciding factor. The injury factor could also be important, with Livramento having just come back from a major knee injury that kept him out for 43 games. On the other hand, Aarons has missed just two games in his career with injury.
Should Livramento seal a switch to Newcastle, Aarons could be a strong upgrade on the former Chelsea man due to multiple factors.
Liverpool have now made an approach for Fluminense midfielder Andre, but they are set to make a decision on Thiago's future before pursuing a deal, with the Reds now open to offers for the midfielder.
Who are Liverpool signing this summer?
Jurgen Klopp has already brought in Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai this summer, with the duo arriving for a combined £115m, but the manager is still keen on additional midfield reinforcements, with Romeo Lavia remaining a target.
The 19-year-old would inject some youth into the manager's ageing side, but the Reds have had two bids knocked back by Southampton already, with the Saints sticking to their £50m valuation of the Belgian starlet.
In the same report, it is detailed that Klopp still wants to sign an additional midfielder even if a deal for Lavia eventually gets done – and Liverpool have recently been linked with a move for Andre.
It has been claimed that an offer of €25m (£21m) for the Brazilian is set to be made in the next few days, with the player himself keen on the move. However, a more recent report suggests the Reds may bide their time.
Read The Latest Liverpool Transfer News HERE…
According to a report from Anfield Watch, Liverpool have made some progress in their pursuit of the Fluminense ace, having recently approached the Brazilian club, but they may choose to resolve Thiago's situation before taking any further steps.
The Reds are now open to offers for the £200k-per-week maestro, who has just one year remaining on his contract at Anfield, with a new deal not in the pipeline, as a result of his concerning injury record.
A deal for Andre is said to be feasible, with sources from Brazil claiming that a move could be finalised for €30m (£26m) if the full amount is paid, but he would not be permitted to leave for any less than that until the winter.
Is Thiago leaving Liverpool?
It now appears as though there's a good chance the Spaniard could be on the move this summer, which could be a blow for the Reds in some ways, given that he has previously been hailed as "special" by Klopp.
However, the 32-year-old has been absent for far too many games through injury in recent times, missing a total of 22 games last season, and considering he is now approaching the twilight of his career, it may be a wise move to let him leave for a good fee.
There is plenty of evidence that Andre could be a solid replacement for the central midfielder, particularly considering his passing ability, ranking in the 99th percentile for his pass-completion rate per 90 in the past year, when compared to players at a similar level.
Fluminense midfielder Andre.
Lauded as a "leader" by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, the Brazil international is ten years Thiago's junior, at 22 years old, and he could make a real impact for Liverpool on the front foot, having also been described as a "roaming playmaker" by Kulig.
It would undoubtedly be sad to see Thiago leave the club, but Andre has all the right attributes to be a fantastic long-term replacement.
With Shakib Al Hasan also absent, Bangladesh will be without their two highest Test run-getters for the first time since March 2013
Mohammad Isam04-Oct-20171:03
Isam: Tamim may just return before the ODI series begins
Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal has been ruled out of the second Test against South Africa in Bloemfontein after aggravating a left thigh injury he sustained during the pre-series warm-up match in Benoni. Tamim played the first Test in Potchefstroom, scoring 39 and 0 in Bangladesh’s 333-run defeat.A scan after the first Test confirmed the scale of the injury, a grade 1 tear that usually takes four weeks to heal. With rehab, Bangladesh are hoping Tamim recovers earlier and returns to fitness in time for the ODI series. As a result of the slim hope, he will stay back with the team in South Africa. Soumya Sarkar is likely to replace him as opener in Bloemfontein.Bangladesh are already without allrounder Shakib Al Hasan, who has been rested from the Test series. With Tamim now ruled out, Bangladesh will be without their two highest run-getters in the same Test match for the first time since March 2013, when both missed the Galle Test against Sri Lanka.
Liverpool need to move fast if the prestigious Premier League outfit is to reassemble the squad to the desired level before the transfer window closes in several weeks, and bolstering the backline is surely paramount.
Who are Liverpool going to sign?
Reds sporting director Jorg Schmadtke whirred into action swiftly on Merseyside this summer, completing deals for Alexis Mac Allister and Dominick Szoboszlai to combat the mass midfield departures at Anfield.
And while more work is to be done in the centre, the defence needs a fresh face and, as such, Sporting Lisbon centre-half Goncalo Inacio has been linked with a move to Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool this summer.
Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…
And now, according to The Athletic, Liverpool have been 'looking at' the Portuguese titan, who is said to have a €45m (£40m) release clause in his contract.
How good is Goncalo Inacio?
Liverpool's pathway back to success is a little convoluted, but signing Inacio from Sporting Lisbon could be the game-changing acquisition to restore the Reds' trophy-winning credentials.
After falling by the wayside last season and missing out on Champions League football for the first time in seven seasons, James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were released upon the expiry of their contracts, while Jordan Henderson and Fabinho compounded the problem by completing transfers to Saudi Arabian sides.
In theory, this could be the solution to the club's quandary, especially after the crux of Liverpool's remarkable breakdown last season was the midfield's inability to protect the backline and control the flow of games, powerlessness to dictate the sequences in a manner that was so intrinsic to Klopp's system until the rust started spreading last year.
To rectify this, a tactical tweak saw the system shift to move the floundering Trent Alexander-Arnold away from the right-back position – where he was exposed far too often and even branded a "training dummy" by journalist Casey Evans after being dismantled by Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr. in the Champions League – and move him into midfield in possession in a sort of double-six, enhancing his incredible ball-playing skills.
Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson.
While this worked impressively – the change kickstarting a superb run of form that saw seven successive league victories, before two draws to close out the season – left-back Andy Robertson has been left in the mud, struggling to perform in a new role – having seen a drop in performances during the latter phase of the term -moving him into a back-three, but with Inacio added to the ranks, such concerns could be swiftly dispelled.
The 21-year-old has made 122 appearances for the Leões, scoring 11 goals and supplying eight assists, and is considered to be perfect for Klopp's system by BBC Sports' Raj Chohan.
He said on Twitter:
"Gonçalo Inácio is the perfect counter-weight to Konaté. Inacio-VVD-Konaté: Build-up conductor. Leader/aerial dominator/switches of play. Immense recovery speed & coverage of space."
Also dubbed the "complete" centre-back by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Inacio ranks among the top 6% of central defenders across Men's 'Next Eight' divisions for pass completion, the top 1% for assists, shot-creating action and progressive passes, the top 3% for progressive carries and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.
The two-cap international is also left-footed, meaning that he could slot into the Liverpool set-up like a tailor-made glove, providing the ball-playing ability to complement the high-octane, intense approach and allowing Alexander-Arnold to thrive in his new role.
What it would mean is Robertson would likely lose his place to the younger, dynamic man, but with Liverpool looking to compete for silverware across four competitions this year, healthy competition would only increase the prospects of success.
He would not cost any lower than the £40m fee touted, and if Liverpool do have the means to complete a deal this month, they simply have to throw the kitchen sink at Sporting Lisbon to convince one of the most precocious defensive talents of the current age to move to Anfield and don the famous Red jersey.
Kenya’s win took them to fourth on the points table while Netherlands maintained first place
ESPNcricinfo staff08-Oct-2017 ICCCollins Obuya’s steady half-century shepherded Kenya to a two-wicket win against Netherlands in a chase that turned a bit shaky towards the end, courtesy Peter Borren’s two wickets late in the chase. The win moved Kenya to fourth on the tournament’s points table.A middling target of 225 was not the real challenge for Kenya as much as the regular wickets that fell in their chase. They began the last 10 overs needing 49 runs with five wickets in hand and the settled sixth-wicket pair of Obuya and Nelson Odhiambo, went about taking Kenya gradually closer. However, Netherlands had a glimmer when they dismissed Nelson and Gurdeep Singh in the space of a few overs. Obuya, however, thwarted those hopes with his second consecutive List A half-century against Netherlands. Obuya’s innings built on a stabilizing half-century from Dhiren Gondaria (69), who also made his second-successive List A fifty against Netherlands.Netherlands’ position at the top of the WCL Championship table was unaffected by the loss but they would rue the batting slump that prevented them from setting a higher target for Kenya. The openers, Stephan Myburgh and Wesley Barresi, had put together 120 runs in a little over 20 overs but Netherlands slumped once Barresi was out for a 74-ball 69: they went from 120 for 0 to 134 for 4 in a span of five overs, Shem Ngoche and Rakep Patel taking two each. Myburgh was also dismissed in that period for a 58-ball 50.Michael Rippon, who had a fifty in a win against Kenya two days back, fashioned a rescue act. His 75-ball 51 helped Netherlands eventually reach 224 for 9. Ngoche took his second List A five-for for returns of 4 for 33.The final matches of this round of the WCL Championship, between Hong Kong and Nepal, will be played on October 13 and 15 in Mong Kok.