“My mind wants to keep going, but my body can no longer endure the pain, the breakdowns, and the strain”
ESPNcricinfo staff26-Sep-20241:58
Pollard: Champion Bravo has given cricket his all
Dwayne Bravo has confirmed his retirement from all cricket after his final season in the CPL was cut short by injury.Bravo, 41 next month, is the leading T20 wicket-taker in history. He had previously called time on his international career in 2021, and stepped away from the IPL last year, as he began to move into coaching – in the last 12 months he has worked with Chennai Super Kings and the Afghanistan men’s team.”My mind wants to keep going, but my body can no longer endure the pain, the breakdowns, and the strain” Bravo said in a post on Instagram. “I can’t put myself in a position where I might let down my teammates, my fans, or the teams I represent.”So, with a heavy heart, I officially announce my retirement from the sport. Today, the Champion bids farewell.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd
In an 18-year career, Bravo helped set the benchmark in T20 cricket, winning titles at the IPL, PSL and Big Bash, as well as becoming a two-time world champion with West Indies. He finishes with 631 wickets in the format from 582 appearances – second only to compatriot Kieron Pollard.Bravo announced before the ongoing edition of the CPL that it would be his last. He had been due to play in the third season of the UAE’s ILT20, having been retained by MI Emirates, but has decided to bow out after suffering a groin injury playing against St Lucia Kings in Tarouba on Tuesday.Bravo was the most decorated player in CPL history, having won five titles in all, including three with Trinbago Knight Riders alone. He had led TKR to back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018 before captaining Patriots to their first title in 2021.Related
Bryan Charles replaces Dwayne Bravo at TKR
Pollard: We need to produce next batches of Bravos, Pollards, Narines
Dwayne Bravo to retire from CPL after 2024 season
Injury draws curtains on Dwayne Bravo's CPL career
Russell and TKR pay tribute to CPL legend Bravo
In a number of T20 leagues around the world, especially at the CPL, Bravo has been harnessing his experience to nurture youngsters, settling into a role like MS Dhoni has been fulfilling for CSK for a while. During CPL 2021, for example, he took allrounder Dominic Drakes under his wing and helped transform him into a match-winner. Drakes came away with the Player-of-the-Match award in the CPL 2021 final and continued to work with Bravo in other leagues, including IPL (CSK) and T10 (Delhi Bulls).Bravo has also worked closely with Ali Khan, the USA fast bowler, who also often fronts up to bowl at the death for TKR. Bravo had first spotted Khan in the US Open T20 tournament and signed him on for the Winnipeg Hawks in the Global T20 Canada, before recommending him to TKR.
Sri Lanka just can’t catch a break. While still reeling from the almost comical nature of the defeat in the final T20I, one which handed India a 3-0 series sweep – and possibly a multitude of nervous breakdowns to those watching, their preparations for the ODI leg have been hampered significantly by the injury or illness-related absence of no less than five of their fast bowlers.This has meant that the uncapped Mohamed Shiraz and Eshan Malinga have been called up to hopefully – keeping all fingers and toes crossed here – provide support for the only other fit seamer in the squad in Asitha Fernando, and the all-round stylings of Chamika Karunaratne.The one silver lining in all this is that it might, however briefly, take their minds off the last two times these sides met in a 50-over contest, where Sri Lanka collectively scored 105 runs. In fact, across their last four ODI meetings, Sri Lanka have failed to reach triple digits on three occasions.Related
Jayasuriya: 'Don't see a lack of commitment, but SL players have to tackle pressure better'
The emotional rollercoaster that is Sri Lanka cricket
'It's not a practice ground, it's an international game' – Rohit Sharma keeps his focus on the present
Pathirana and Madushanka out of ODIs against India
That said, their best course of action might be to not put too much stock in the results of these upcoming games. Their next major ODI tournament is the World Cup in 2027 – they did not make it to the 2025 Champions Trophy – so focusing on the process and looking to put in place the right foundations may be the right play for the time being.In terms of recent form, Sri Lanka have had success in ODIs this year against Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe, but their last ODI win against India was back in July 2021. That result had brought an end to a five-match losing streak against India – in fact, each of Sri Lanka’s last three ODI victories against India have come in service of disrupting five-game losing streaks. So if you are looking for a straw to clutch onto, Sri Lanka’s current losing streak to India in ODIs stands at six. Something’s surely gotta give, right?As far as India go, this is just the next step in a pristinely mapped-out path to the Champions Trophy. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are back in the fold, with the team’s primary focus on ironing out kinks and settling into a nice team combination. You also imagine they will be quietly hoping for a sterner challenge than what was on offer in the T20Is.
Form guide
Sri Lanka LWLWW (last five ODIs, most recent first) India WLWLW
In the spotlight: Pathum Nissanka and Kuldeep Yadav
It’s clear that Sri Lanka are still struggling to rectify their longstanding middle- and lower-order struggles; much of their recent success has been borne out of top-order contributions. The primary source of this has been Pathum Nissanka. His 497 runs across six ODIs is comfortably the most by any batter in the world this year. Not just that, his strike rate of 122.41 is also the best among those with at least 200 runs. Sri Lanka will need Nissanka at the top of his game if they are to challenge this well-rounded Indian outfit.Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir share a light moment during training•Ishara S Kodikara/AFP via Getty Images
With the action moving from Kandy to Colombo, the balance between bat and ball should also shift. The Khettarama has traditionally been one where scores of 300 or more are on the rarer side, with spin tending to play a pivotal role. Enter Kuldeep Yadav, who played an important part in India’s recent T20 World Cup triumph but sat out the T20Is against Sri Lanka. While Ravi Bishnoi and, particularly, Riyan Parag impressed in his stead, Kuldeep will be keen to make his mark on the tour.
Team news: Rohit, Kohli, Kuldeep return
Sri Lanka’s fast-bowling contingent is in disarray, but with the wicket likely to favour spin they may opt to go in with just the two frontline seamers. Provided they want an extra spin option, Dunith Wellalage might be preferred over Chamika Karunaratne.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Mendis, 3 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 4 Kamindu Mendis, 5 Charith Asalanka (capt), 6 Janith Liyanage, 7 Dunith Wellalage/Chamika Karunaratne, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Mohamed Shiraz/Eshan Malinga, 11 Asitha FernandoIndia’s top order picks itself, but it’s lower down where there may be some experimentation. With Hardik Pandya not part of the ODI series, one of Shivam Dube and Parag will fill in as a batting allrounder. If Parag gets the nod, India might have the luxury of playing three frontline seamers, meaning one of Khaleel Ahmed and the uncapped Harshit Rana could get a game.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 Rishabh Pant/KL Rahul (wk), 6 Shivam Dube/Riyan Parag, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Kuldeep Yadav, 9 Khaleel Ahmed/Harshit Rana, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Mohammed Siraj
Pitch and conditions: Rain in the air
If the recent Lanka Premier League is to go by, the conditions for batting might have improved in Colombo compared to recent years, but there is still a fair amount in it for the bowlers, particularly the spinners. But getting a complete game on Friday might be tricky, with pockets of heavy rain expected throughout the day.
Stats and trivia: India’s dominance
Only Zimbabwe, Ireland and Afghanistan among Full Members have a worse win-loss ratio against India over the past ten years than Sri Lanka. In that time India and Sri Lanka have played 24 ODIs, with Sri Lanka winning just three.
Kohli’s 2594 runs are the second-most by an opposition batter against Sri Lanka in ODIs. Sachin Tendulkar sits atop the list with 3113.
Since the start of 2023, no batter has more runs in ODIs than Nissanka’s 1648.
Aston Villa have lofty ambitions for next season, despite missing out on the Champions League.
Unai Emery’s project is still very much ongoing, and the next step is for him to lead the club to their first major trophy in nearly 30 years.
The Europa League might be their best shot, especially as winning it will secure a spot in the 2026/27 Champions League.
Aston Villa manager UnaiEmeryduring a lap of honour
In order to do this, he will have to sign a few high-profile players while also complying with PSR regulations in the process.
With this in mind, it looks as though the club are chasing a move for a current Barcelona player.
Aston Villa chasing swoop for Barcelona sensation
While it might be slightly more difficult to lure the type of players Emery wants at the club this summer, it isn’t stopping the Spaniard from trying.
Reports in Spain (as per Sport Witness) claim that Villa are battling it out with Chelsea and PSG to sign Barcelona starlet Fermin Lopez.
FC Barcelona'sFerminLopezin action with Las Palmas' Stefan Bajcetic
The report goes on to state that Villa and the French giants have made contact with Lopez and are showing the most interest.
Chelsea could be set to make an offer worth €75m (£63m) in the near future to secure his signature, meaning Emery will have to act swiftly to get his man.
Why Aston Villa must sign Lopez
There are so many talented players at the La Liga side now. Lopez joins a list which includes Pedri, Gavi, Pau Cubarsí and, of course, Lamine Yamal.
Well, of those players, it is Yamal he is most similar to. When compared with positionally similar players in LaLiga this term, FBref suggest that the generational wonderkid and Ballon d’Or contender is the fourth most similar player to Lopez.
While the latter might play a more central role compared to Yamal, who operates on the right wing, the duo have shared similar statistics in La Liga last season.
According to FBref, the duo recorded similar metrics, including shot-creating actions (4.10 vs 5.92) per 90, goal-creating actions (0.50 vs 0.91), successful take-on percentage (45.5% vs 50.9%) and shots on target percentage (36.6% vs 31.9%) per 90 in La Liga for Barcelona.
On that evidence, they are both creative players who love to get at their marker/
Metric
La Liga
Champions League
Goals
6
1
Assists
5
3
Big chances created
8
3
Shots per game
1.5
1.5
Key passes per game
1
0.5
His former manager at the Catalan club described Lopez as having the “whole package” and judging by his statistics and performances last term, this assessment is bang on the money.
Alongside his 11 goal contributions, Lopez also created eight big chances in the top flight, along with averaging one key pass per game.
Considering he started just 12 league games, averaging only 45 minutes per match, these are impressive statistics indeed.
Should he make the move to Villa, he would certainly secure more gametime in the starting XI than he was afforded under Hansi Flick last season.
Will he want to drop and play in the Europa League, however? Or is the long-term project at Villa enough to entice the youngster?
The next few weeks could be interesting indeed, and given he offered similar statistics to those of Yamal last season, he would make for an excellent signing.
"Sensational" GK emerges as Aston Villa's top target to replace Martinez
The Villans have identified a 25-year-old goalkeeper as their first-choice option to replace Emiliano Martinez this summer.
It is no secret that Manchester United will be in the market to improve their squad in the upcoming summer transfer window after a dismal Premier League season.
The Red Devils lost for the 16th time in the top-flight this term when they were beaten 4-3 by Brentford on Sunday, and it is a result that leaves them 15th in the table.
Ruben Amorim, despite still having a chance to win the Europa League this season, will know that the supporters expect better from the club in the Premier League next term and beyond.
Scoring goals has been a clear issue for Manchester United in the top-flight, despite finding the back of the net three times against the Bees, as their top goalscorer after 35 matches is Bruno Fernandes with eight.
United do not have a centre-forward who can find the back of the net on a regular basis, a Wayne Rooney, a Cristiano Ronaldo, a Robin Van Persie, and that is a hole that they are reportedly looking to fill this summer.
The Red Devils have been linked with plenty of forward players in recent weeks, ahead of the next transfer window, including Victor Osimhen.
Manchester United's interest in Victor Osimhen
It was reported last month that the Premier League giants are pushing to strike a deal for the Nigeria international to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
United are hoping to snap up the Napoli frontman in the summer transfer window for a fee of £40m, because his current contract with the Italian team is due to expire in the summer of 2026.
Osimhen
This means that if Napoli do not cash in on him this year, then they run the risk of losing the striker on a free transfer at the end of next season, as he could negotiate a pre-contract deal from January onwards.
Osimhen is currently on loan at Galatasaray, though, and it remains to be seen whether or not the Turkish giants will be able to compete for United for his signature this summer.
Galatasaray's VictorOsimhenreacts
The Red Devils are not the only Premier League team in the running for the Nigerian marksman, though, as Chelsea have also been linked with an interest in the striker, who is said to be interested in a move to Stamford Bridge.
Manchester United, as aforementioned, need a regular goalscorer and that is why a move to sign the £40m-rated forward could make a lot of sense for INEOS and Amorim.
Why Manchester United need Victor Osimhen
The Nigeria international is a reliable and consistent goalscorer who could find the back of the net on a regular basis for the English giants, which means that he could fill the hole that they have in their squad at present.
No player has hit double figures for league goals at Old Trafford this season. Meanwhile, Osimhen has scored at least ten league goals in each of his six full seasons as a first-team player for Lille, Napoli, and Galatasaray.
The 26-year-old star plundered a staggering 26 goals in the Serie A during the 2022/23 campaign, as shown in the highlights above, which helped Napoli to the title alongside Georgian star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s contributions.
Osimhen scored 55 Serie A goals in his last three league seasons for Napoli combined before joining Galatasaray on loan last summer, where he has thrived in front of goal once again.
Appearances
26
7
xG
22.53
8.86
Goals
24
6
Big chances created
11
1
Assists
5
1
As you can see in the table above, the loanee has racked up a whopping 30 goals in the Super Lig and the Europa League combined, to go along with 16 ‘big chances’ created, in just 33 appearances.
Osimhen is a ruthless and consistent goalscorer who has proven himself in Italy and in Turkey in recent seasons, which is why he could be exactly what United need with their current lack of regular goalscorers in the Premier League.
Galatasaray's VictorOsimhenis picture wearing a protective face mask
Whilst the £40m-rated forward could be the perfect signing for United in the short-term to solve their attacking problems, Amorim may already have an exciting homegrown version of Osimhen brewing at Carrington in Chido Obi-Martin.
Why Chido Obi Martin could be Man Utd's own Victor Osimhen
The 17-year-old striker, signed from Arsenal this season, was handed his full Premier League debut with a start against Brentford as the lone number nine on Sunday, in what was his sixth appearance of the season in the top-flight.
It was a difficult afternoon for the youngster, who lost seven of his nine duels and failed to find the target with either of his shots on goal, but that was to be expected at this stage in his career.
The Manchester United forward has yet to score a goal at senior level, in seven outings for the Red Devils, but his record in academy football suggests that the potential is there for him to kick on in the future.
Arsenal podcaster Will Balsam once described Obi-Martin as a “homegrown Osimhen” and a “physical menace” whilst he was firing in the goals for the Gunners at youth level, and he does share a similar frame – standing at 6 foot 2 – to the current United target.
The Danish marksman, who was described by talent scout Jacek Kulig as a “goalscoring machine”, also has the goalscoring record to back up a comparison with Osimhen, having racked up a whopping 32 goals in 21 matches for Arsenal at U18 level before his move to Carrington.
Arsenal U18s
21
32
Arsenal U21s
2
0
Man Utd U18s
10
12
Man Utd U21s
4
2
Man Utd first-team
7
0
As you can see in the table above, Obi-Martin has also excelled as a goalscorer in the youth ranks in Manchester since his move up north, with 14 goals in 14 matches for the U18s and U21s combined.
These statistics show that United have an incredibly exciting young striker on their hands, as he has delivered an exceptional number of goals for Arsenal and the Red Devils at youth level in recent years.
Whilst he may not be ready to deliver goals in the Premier League at the age of 17, as evidenced by his performance on Sunday, Obi-Martin could be a future star for the club if they manage his development right.
He could eventually emerge as a homegrown version of Osimhen and having the Nigeria international at Old Trafford as a mentor, someone to learn from, could benefit his development next season, which is another reason why INEOS should sanction a move for the Napoli man.
He'll be amazing with Bruno: Man Utd agree personal terms to sign £53m star
Manchester United are closing in on a “special” star who would thrive alongside Bruno Fernandes.
2 ByDan Emery Apr 28, 2025
It would then be down to the teenage forward to make the most of the opportunities that he gets to shine at first-team level, whilst developing in training by learning from Osimhen, before being United’s homegrown version of the striker further down the line.
The David Moyes revival has already taken Everton so far; Goodison Park is unrecognisable from the tumbledown slump that the Scotsman inherited, confidence at a low ebb after colourless football under Sean Dyche’s wing.
Dyche did a good job, all told, but he couldn’t take the Toffees any further and rightly parted ways when The Friedkin Group looked to christen their ownership with an uplifting appointment.
Moyes has done very well indeed, losing just four of his 16 Premier League games at the helm. However, he needs new recruits this summer, especially at the front of the ship.
With Everton stepping into a new home at the Bramley-Moore dock, it feels the right time to replace the ailing Dominic Calvert-Lewin with a new number nine.
Everton's search for a new striker
Calvert-Lewin has been a stalwart for Everton, playing 270 matches across nine seasons, scoring 71 goals. He’s out of contract this summer, though, with brittle fitness levels and consequent struggles for form suggesting he should be allowed to leave.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Beto’s resurgent as a focal frontman, but Everton want more, with Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Tim Kleindienst identified as the perfect player to join Moyes’ project.
According to Caught Offside, TFG are ready to pay the €35m (£30m) asking price for the powerful striker, though the same could be said for Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Further interest from overseas complicates matters, but Everton’s willingness to place a bid suggests that Moyes and the owners are driven toward making improvements during the off-season.
Why Everton want Tim Kleindienst
Time was when Everton would cede swift defeat in a jam-packed race for a talented striker, Goodison Park devolving into something of a hotbed for disappointment in recent years.
But this is a new era, and Moyes has restored the feel-good factor. Kleindienst, 29, could make this new feeling even better still, with a clinical track record in Germany denoting his capacity to confidently take Calvert-Lewin’s place in the squad.
The Germany international has scored 16 goals and added ten assists across 32 matches for Gladbach this season, arriving from Heidenheim last summer.
Standing at 6 foot 4, he carries the imposing physicality that Moyes has made such good use of throughout his managerial career, and with Kleindienst winning 4.7 aerial duels per Bundesliga match this season, he has what it takes to flourish in the area Calvert-Lewin so expertly excels.
Matches (starts)*
23 (19)
30 (30)
Goals
3
16
Assists
1
7
Big chances missed
1
14
Pass completion
64%
62%
Big chances created
1
11
Key passes*
0.3
0.9
Dribbles*
0.4
0.4
Tackles + interceptions*
0.7
1.3
Total duels won*
5.5
6.9
The two strikers have a lot in common. Both strong and tall, they win many duels through their focal role in the air; each forward dribbles infrequently, with neither proving the most accurate in his passing.
However, therein lies the disparity. Kleindienst is far more fruitful in his passing, so creative and intelligent with his knock-ons, his lay-offs. Indeed, as per The Athletic’s Seb Stafford-Bloor, the German is “an exquisite one-touch player”.
Defensively, there’s a lot to admire too. FBref record Kleindienst ranks among the top 19% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for tackles, the top 11% for interceptions and the top 1% for both blocks and clearances made per 90.
To be sure, signing a striker on the brink of their thirties would be something of a risk, but Kleinsdienst’s athleticism, power and dynamism would be perfect for an Everton side on the up.
Profiled in a similar way to Calvert-Lewin and coveted by divisional rivals, Everton will want to make this statement of intent.
An amazing Rooney repeat: Everton open to signing "world-class" PL star
Everton are at an important juncture as they prepare to reinforce David Moyes’ squad this summer.
GT have assembled a squad of neatly interlocking parts, with a bowling attack that allows their top order to play to their strengths and maximise them
Karthik Krishnaswamy18-May-20251:21
Moody: Gill, Sai Sudharsan now have five gears
On Saturday night, Bengaluru’s cricket fans paid tribute to Virat Kohli’s Test career when they poured into the M Chinnaswamy Stadium for a T20 game that never happened. On Sunday night, another man from Bengaluru paid his own tribute to Kohli – in Kohli’s hometown, no less – though this was a T20 tribute in a T20 game.It came in the 19th over of Delhi Capitals’ (DC) innings against Gujarat Titans (GT), and it came off a ball that pitched 8.7m from the stumps. That’s solidly back of a length, a length that’s incredibly hard to hit down the ground for six, especially off a rapid, hit-the-deck bowler, with a bat not quite vertical but certainly more vertical than horizontal.Kohli famously hit a 19th-over six like that, off Haris Rauf at the MCG. Sunday’s effort at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, from KL Rahul off Prasidh Krishna, was similar in conception and mechanics, even if it went over long-off rather than back over the bowler’s head.Related
Gill and Sai Sudharsan 'have learnt how to move through the gears'
Moody: KL Rahul 'a lot better player than a lot of people give him credit for'
Race to IPL 2025 playoffs: three teams battle for one spot
Sai Sudharsan: 'I have expanded my batting; mentally I'm a bit more free and expressive'
Stats – GT second team to pull off double-century chase without losing a wicket
Rahul hit GT’s fast bowlers for three sixes over long-off during his unbeaten 112 on Sunday, and none of them was straightforward. The one off Prasidh took the prize for difficulty level, but the two off Kagiso Rabada didn’t come off slot balls either. In the sixth over, he used his reach to extend his arms through a lofted front-foot drive off a 6.75m ball – 6-8m is the fast bowler’s good-length band. In the 11th over, Rabada followed his movement away from leg stump with a 6.99m ball, seemingly cramping him for room, only for Rahul to manufacture a straight-bat jab down the ground.There were only four sixes in Rahul’s innings – that’s the joint-fewest he’s hit in his seven T20 hundreds. That he hit only four sixes, and that three of them came off genuinely hard-to-hit balls, told a tale – an important tale in the context of this match and of IPL 2025 on the whole, but one that won’t immediately leap out of the scorecard.That scorecard is dominated by three big innings from opening batters – Rahul’s 65-ball 112, B Sai Sudharsan’s 61-ball 108, and Shubman Gill’s 53-ball 93, all three unbeaten, all three scored at strike rates between 172 and 178.GT won by ten wickets, with an over to spare, and they romped home in a manner so clinical that the target they were chasing, 200, seemed inadequate. It probably was, but the story of this match wasn’t the usual story of matches like this, of the team batting first showing too little ambition and ending with a below-par total, of the first-innings centurion ending up with question marks over his intent or lack thereof.1:13
‘DC got it wrong with their bowling match-ups’
Those questions have been asked of Rahul numerous times in his career, but Sunday’s innings wasn’t that sort of innings. If DC only made 199 despite losing just three wickets, they did so not because they didn’t take enough risks with the bat but because GT tied them down with the quality of their bowling.And that quality, though apparent if you watched closely, only really began to stand out when it had something to stand out against. And that something was the opposition’s bowling.Sai Sudharsan and Gill batted brilliantly, in a manner we have come to watch with open jaws, putting on an unbroken 205, their highest partnership in a season that has so far brought them 839 runs as a pair, at an average of 76.27, with seven 50-plus stands of which three have gone past the century mark. It’s almost unheard of for an opening pair to score so consistently, with such control, while seeming to take so few risks, without leaving you wondering if they left ten or 15 runs out in the middle.It’s a neat trick, and it’s partly explained by the quality of batsmanship: you only need to watch Sai Sudharsan’s no-look flicked six off T Natarajan, or Gill’s flicked six off the same bowler, hit nonchalantly against the angle, to know that these are hugely gifted strokemakers.But that’s not the whole story. The other thing that makes this trick possible is GT’s bowling attack, which gives Sai Sudharsan and Gill the luxury of taking chances less frequently than opening pairs who play for teams with inferior attacks.Watch the highlights of Rahul’s innings and count the boundaries off hit-me balls. Do the same with the highlights of GT’s chase. Compare.1:07
Moody: ‘Rahul has managed to adjust again to a different role’
Sai Sudharsan hit four fours and a six off the first nine balls he faced, and four of them came off hit-me balls: two hip-high balls angling down the leg side, two short balls offering room to free the arms.There were periods when DC managed to string together sequences of quiet overs – they only conceded 27 from the fifth to the eighth overs, for instance – and neither Sai Sudharsan nor Gill tried to break free by manufacturing a boundary. But DC simply couldn’t sustain that pressure for long enough, and this is how most IPL attacks operate.And GT, at all times, were only chasing 200, because their attack hadn’t operated like most IPL attacks. They operated, instead, like an attack that had Ashish Nehra’s eyes on them at all times.As GT’s head coach, Nehra’s bowling philosophy is simple: bowl good lengths, bowl to your field, and keep at it; if the batter still manages to find the boundary, say “well done, let’s see you try that again”. A lot of coaches talk the same game, but few keep their bowlers on as tight a leash as Nehra does, screaming instructions from the edge of the playing area.And it helps when those instructions are carried out by fast bowlers as good as Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh – both of whom have benefited immensely from the simplicity of Nehra’s stick-to-your-strengths philosophy – and spinners as good as Rashid Khan and R Sai Kishore. All four have featured in all of GT’s matches this season.2:40
What could DC have done differently?
The moment that best illustrated GT’s bowling quality on Sunday came from their one questionable tactical call, giving Sai Kishore the 16th over when Axar Patel was at the crease. That over, pitting a left-arm fingerspinner against a left-hand batter known for his prowess against spin, brought DC 15 runs, but Sai Kishore really made Axar earn his runs. Both the four and the six he hit in that over came off quick, good-length balls angled away from his hitting arc; both times, Sai Kishore forced Axar to use all of his immense reach to find a way to hit down the ground.The contrast between that over and the big overs that littered GT’s innings was stark, the latter invariably chock-full of slot balls or balls offering width.And this wasn’t just the story of this match. It’s been the story of IPL 2025. GT have assembled a squad of neatly interlocking parts, with a bowling attack that allows their top order to play to their strengths and maximise them. DC have never quite found that sort of structure or coherence – they didn’t have it even during their run of four straight wins at the start of the season.It’s why the two teams are where they are right now. GT are into the playoffs, and DC need other results to go their way to have a chance of joining them. And while the top order will take a lot of credit for how GT’s season has gone, they will know that their bowlers have made things a lot easier for them.
Podcast: We review the India vs Australia Test series and look ahead to the WTC final
ESPNcricinfo staff18-Mar-2023Andrew McGlashan and Karthik Krishnaswamy join Karthik Iyer to look back at the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series, which had a lot of excitement for three of the four Tests, till a lifeless Ahmedabad pitch spoilt the fun. Here, they pick the best and worst performers and performances, and also look ahead to the World Test Championship final, to be contested by the same two sides.
England spinner on her No. 1 ranking, the pressure of being an overseas player, and hopes for the Women’s T20 Challenge
Interview by Matt Roller28-Oct-2020How are you getting on in quarantine so far? What have you been doing to pass the time?
It’s day three, so halfway, and I’m bored now. I want to get out. Me and Dan [Danni Wyatt] got a paint-by-numbers before we came out. She’s nearly finished hers, but I think I got a really hard one, so I’ve lost interest in that already. It’s so tedious. So yeah, it’s been Netflix and… just scrolling through TikTok again and again. I’ve just started watching . My brother said it’s really good, and I thought I may as well give it a go. I’ve watched the first 15 minutes and it’s all a bit doom and gloom. We’re only allowed out of the room to go for our three Covid tests, otherwise I don’t get to see anyone. [Danni and I] have done a few HIIT classes together which have kept us entertained, but it’s generally been just feeling stuck a hotel room.Details for the T20 Challenge were released fairly late, and last time we spoke you weren’t sure what the winter would hold. Was this always in the back of your mind?
I was going to go to the Big Bash. Initially I said yes, but since the quarantine was two weeks and in a bubble I was like: no, I’m all right, I’ll pass and try and do it next year. When this [the Women’s T20 Challenge] came along with six days of quarantine and in Dubai, I thought I could cope with that. I was going [to the WBBL] at one point. I had to send them an email saying I’m really sorry, but I don’t think I can do it. Hopefully I can do it next year. I feel bad really, but hopefully they’ll have me back at some point.ALSO READ: Sophie Ecclestone turned down WBBL contract over bubble fatigue concernsWe had the England training camp at Derby, which was two or three weeks, then the bubble at Burleigh Court [Loughborough] and then Derby again which was a month and a bit, and I think the girls had a three-day turnaround before they flew to quarantine in Australia. I think that would have been too much.You played in the T20 Challenge last year, and did well. What are your memories of that tournament? It must be nice to have some familiar faces in the Trailblazers squad, too?
I’m really excited to get playing again. I loved it last year. The girls were so nice and I get on with everyone really well. We’ve got a really good team, so hopefully we can make the final this year. It was a great experience to go out there. I was really nervous. It was the first team I’d gone to as an overseas, so I was really nervous with the expectations of being an overseas. But I think meeting the girls was the most nervous part – a new team, and I didn’t know anyone. But then to meet them all, and they were so nice and welcoming. It really helped. Really glad to be in the same team this year.What is Smriti Mandhana like as a captain? She backed you with some overs at the death in tight games last time
The Indian players are very chilled out – everyone can see that. She’s a really good captain – she knows the game really well, and being on the same team as her is really good. She’s not my favourite batter to be bowling at so to be on the same team is ideal. I was really glad to know that she had my back. As an overseas, you’re going to get those roles and be put in pressure situations, so for her to give that to me was really nice.
I think 2022 will be a great year for women’s cricket. To play in a Commonwealth Games and try and win a gold medal will be really surreal
Your other team-mates include Deandra Dottin – the leading run-scorer in the T20I series you played last month – and Nattakan Chantam from Thailand…
It’s an exciting thing for me and DD to be on the same team. She did so well during the West Indies-England series, so I’m really glad that I don’t have to bowl at her any more. She’s up there when she gets going – if you put it in the slot she’s definitely going to hit you for six or four. And yeah, I’m really excited to meet her [Chantam] because I don’t know too much about her. Obviously during the T20 World Cup we played each other, but I’m really excited to get to know her. I don’t remember much about that game, but I definitely remember the name so I’m excited to be on the same team as her.ALSO READ: Women’s T20 Challenge to be played in Sharjah Nov 4-9The T20 Challenge was an exciting tournament last year, but plans for expansion were shelved for obvious reasons. Do you hope that this season can act as a precursor to a fully-fledged women’s IPL?
Yeah, I loved it last year. It’s quite hot in Dubai but it looks amazing. I just can’t wait to get going now and get out of quarantine. I’m really excited to see what the future holds for the IPL. I think it’s a great tournament, and the men’s is doing so well, and cricket is becoming so big for the women over there that I don’t see why it can’t go big. I’d heard rumours that there were meant to be four teams this year, but because of Covid I don’t think that was possible. Hopefully in the next few years it can happen and we can get a big tournament.You mentioned your No. 1 ranking earlier. Does that put extra pressure on you in this tournament? Did you feel that during the series against West Indies?
I don’t think so. I’m quite young – only 21 still – so I still see myself as the baby of the squad, somehow. To be that young and still learning and be No. 1 is quite weird, but I’ve got to keep working hard. I think being an overseas in general is quite a lot of pressure – when an overseas comes to play for your team in England, you expect a lot from them. So I’m hoping I can give back – they’ve had me twice now.Sophie Ecclestone celebrates with her team-mates•BCCIDo you remember what you were doing when you found out you’d moved up to No. 1?
It was during the World Cup and I was out for tea with my boyfriend, because he was there. He was like ‘Sophie, have you seen Twitter?’ I said ‘no’. He said ‘look!’ and it was me and Shafali [Verma] at the top of the ICC’s account. It was really cool, and then my mum and dad texted me so it was really nice. It’s been a goal for me – that was a long-term goal for me to achieve, to be No. 1 in the world. To get it so soon and to be recognised was really good. Hopefully I can stay there for a while – to be honest I’d be really sad if I get dropped to No. 2. When that day comes I’ll be really sad, but hopefully I’ll stay there for as long as I can.After this tournament, England have a series lined up in New Zealand at the start of next year, and will then start building up to a huge year in 2022, when there are two World Cups and a Commonwealth Games in the schedule. Has that year been at the back of your mind?
I’ve never been to New Zealand before, so to play there… I’ve heard lots of good things about it. I haven’t really thought about 2022. Now you’ve said it, I think it will be a great year for women’s cricket. To play in a Commonwealth Games and try and win a gold medal is really surreal. I think for the squad the 50-over World Cup is a big one – trying to retain the title. And then the T20 World Cup is a big one because we got knocked out in that semi due to the rain, so they’re all really important to us. I was really sad to miss that [England’s World Cup win in 2017] – I was sat in the crowd and it was amazing to watch, and I’d have loved to have been a part of it. But what they did for women’s cricket that day, and to hopefully be part of the squad in 2022 to try and retain the title would be great.If I told you that you could only win one of those three tournaments, which would it be?
I think it’d have to be the Commonwealth Games. Obviously we’ve not played in that before. To win a gold medal… not many people get to do that. If it’s on the BBC, hopefully everyone can watch it. That game we played against West Indies was brilliant for women’s cricket – so many people who hadn’t watched before saw it and really enjoyed it. My nan normally has to buy Sky for the month when I’m on there, so for it to be on the BBC was so much easier for her to find. For people like that who don’t have access, it was great: not everyone is lucky enough to have Sky, and hopefully that can help us to inspire the next generation.
O Cruzeiro anunciou, na manhã desta quarta-feira (13), a volta de Marcelo Moreno ao clube. O atacante brasileiro naturalizado boliviano será integrado ao grupo até o fim do Campeonato Mineiro e irá se preparar para partida que marcará sua despedida do futebol, ainda sem data definida. Durante a semana, o retorno do jogador já vinha sendo veiculado.
continua após a publicidade
➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte
Moreno teve três passagens pelo Cruzeiro, sendo a última entre 2020 e 2021, na Série B. O vínculo terminaria no fim de 2022, mas ele não entrou em acordo com a diretoria pela redução salarial e acabou acertando com o Cerro Porteño, do Paraguai. Em 2014, foi Campeão Brasileiro pelo clube.
Além de ajudar o clube em campo, o boliviano também deu uma força fora dele. Moreno fez um empréstimo à gestão de Sérgio Santos Rodrigues, quando o Cruzeiro estava com dificuldades para cumprir compromissos. O atacante receberá da Raposa, em Recuperação Judicial, R$ 33 milhões – acumulado pelo empréstimo e outras dívidas.
continua após a publicidade
Confira, na íntegra, a nota de anúncio da volta de Marcelo Moreno ao Cruzeiro:
Seja bem-vindo de volta, Flecheiro Azul! 🏹 💙 Cruzeiro prepara despedida para Marcelo Moreno, atleta será integrado ao grupo até o fim do Campeonato Mineiro.
O Cruzeiro abre as portas da Toca da Raposa 2 para que o Flecheiro se integre ao grupo do futebol, se recondicione usando toda a infraestrutura do CT e, junto ao clube, viabilize a partida que selará a aposentadoria dos gramados, ainda sem data definida. Campeão Brasileiro em 2014 e Bicampeão Mineiro em 2008 e 2014, Marcelo Moreno é uma referência dentro e fora de campo, contribuindo no momento mais difícil da história do clube.