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James Maddison’s injury in Tottenham Hotspur’s most recent pre-season friendly will undoubtedly provide cause for concern, with the England international suffering yet another setback.

He entered a challenge during the clash against Newcastle United, before hobbling and eventually requiring treatment before being stretchered off the field.

It’s thought that it is the same knee the 28-year-old injured at the back end of last season, leading to Thomas Frank claiming he thinks it may be a serious injury.

Should the worst be confirmed, it would be a lengthy lay-off for the England international, once again disrupting his progress during his spell in North London.

As a result, it would be a surprise to no one that the hierarchy are subsequently targeting added reinforcements in the middle of the park in an area that was already being subject to investment this summer.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer

An attacking midfielder has been firmly on Spurs’ radar over recent weeks, as seen by their attempts to land Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White earlier this window.

The likes of Harvey Elliott, James McAtee and Jack Grealish have all been targeted since, but no deals have yet been agreed for any of the English talents this window.

However, moves have been made to land another talent this summer, with Atlético Madrid star Conor Gallagher once again in their sights this summer, according to one Spanish outlet.

The report claims that the Lilywhites are preparing a €50m (£43m) bid for the 25-year-old, who only moved to the LaLiga giants from Chelsea during last summer’s window.

It also states that he could be open to the possibility of a return to the Premier League, with his current employers open to negotiations over a move to offload the central midfielder.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be the perfect Maddison replacement

When he’s been fit, Maddison has often been the go-to choice to operate in a more attacking role within Spurs’ midfield – which usually operates in a three-man system.

The Englishman registered 12 goals and 10 assists across all competitions last season, helping the club win the Europa League, ending their 17-year wait for any form of silverware.

However, his injury record has massively plagued his spell in North London, suffering three separate injuries during his two-year spell at the club after his £40m move from Leicester City in 2023.

Their ambitions of landing other attacking midfielders before his latest setback are understandable, but they could now be on the back burner for the time being.

The hierarchy are evidently planning a move for Gallagher, which could allow for a change in shape within the three-man midfield, which could utilise new signing Joao Palhinha in his deep-lying role in the front of the backline.

The Portuguese international would be able to feature at the base of the side with two central midfielders ahead of him, which could include the Atlético star should he make the move.

He has all the tools to be a perfect box-to-box option, potentially being a key component in Frank’s system, which demands real quality in the middle of the park.

Gallagher, who’s been labelled “sensational” by journalist John Cross, starred in LaLiga last season, producing some incredible underlying stats within his 32 league appearances.

He achieved an 85% pass completion rate, whilst completing 2.6 passes into the final third per 90, having the creative ability despite his deep-lying midfield role.

Games played

32

Goals & assists

6

Pass accuracy

85%

Progressive passes

3.5

Passes into final third

2.6

Tackles made

2.5

Blocks made

1.3

Interceptions made

1.2

Take-ons completed

41%

The former Chelsea star also thrived out of possession, making 2.5 tackles per 90, along with 1.2 interceptions made, offering the Dane the perfect box-to-box option in his quest for success.

At 25, Gallagher is entering the prime years of his professional career, potentially making his £43m transfer fee an excellent piece of business for the Lilywhites hierarchy during this window.

Whilst he’s not a direct replacement for Maddison, he could help a needed transition take place at the heart of the side, which could offer a new dimension for the new boss ahead of 2025/26.

The dream Son replacement: Spurs make contact to sign "phenomenal" talent

Tottenham Hotspur have already made their move to land Son-Heung Min’s replacement.

ByEthan Lamb Aug 4, 2025

Essex director of cricket leaves Chelmsford after nine years of success across formats

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Oct-2024Yorkshire have announced the acquisition of Anthony McGrath as their new men’s head coach to replace the outgoing Ottis Gibson.McGrath, who joins on a five-year deal, returns to his home county having developed through the age-groups at Headingley as an allrounder, going on to earn 28 England caps, including four Test appearances. The 49-year-old began his coaching career at Yorkshire following his retirement in 2013 before moving to Essex, where he was appointed director of cricket as recently as July.The move south proved particularly fruitful for McGrath. He joined Essex initially as assistant coach to Chris Silverwood, and helped oversee promotion in 2016 followed by a County Championship title the following year.He was promoted to head coach when Silverwood left to take the England job and led Essex to a Championship and T20 Blast double in 2019, followed by the Bob Willis Trophy in 2020. A second-place Division One finish came in the 2023 season, in which they were also beaten finalists in the Blast.This season, McGrath juggled coaching duties at Chelmsford with a director of cricket role as part of a management restructure triggered by the resignation of chief executive John Stephenson in July.He inherits a Yorkshire team that has returned to Division One following relegation in 2022. The club were then docked 48 points in the 2023 season over their handling of the racism scandal that centred around allegations made by former player Azeem Rafiq. McGrath’s remit will be the performance and management of the men’s first team, and starts officially from November 1.”It is a great honour to be appointed Head Coach of Yorkshire Cricket’s Men’s team, and I am hugely excited by the challenge ahead,” McGrath said.”I know the history of this great club and the passion of the members and supporters, and I am absolutely determined to develop a team capable of delivering the success they deserve.”It was an extremely tough decision to leave Essex, and it’s one that I have taken a great deal of time to think about. I’ve been part of this club for almost nine years, and we’ve achieved so much together and created so many unforgettable memories in that time.”While I obviously spent all of my playing career at Yorkshire, Essex has become a second home to me, and I’d like to thank everyone for the warmth of their support over the last nine seasons.”Tom Westley, Essex’s captain, hailed McGrath as “one of the most influential figures I have come across during my career”, and wished him well in his new role.”Everybody within the club knows of his qualities as a coach and leader, but it’s the person that he is that we will all miss the most. It’s no coincidence that the success we have achieved over the last decade has coincided with [McGrath’s] time here. Although he would never accept it, he has been a huge factor in the trophies we have won in recent years.”Sanjay Patel, Yorkshire’s interim CEO, said: “We’re delighted to appoint Anthony as Head Coach.”During the past nine years with Essex, Anthony has proved himself to be one of the most exciting and successful coaches in English cricket. He is renowned for his team’s attractive, attacking cricket, supporting and developing world-class talent, and commitment to youth.”In the club’s conversations leading up to this appointment, we were deeply impressed with his long-term vision for returning Yorkshire Cricket to the level we want to be competing at, and his drive and determination to achieve that.”We look forward to welcoming him to the club this Autumn.”

تحدث أحمد حسن، مدير منتخب مصر الثاني، عن الأزمة التي حدثت مؤخرًا على الساحة الرياضية، بشأن فيديو عصام الحضري معه.

وكان عصام الحضري مدرب حراس منتخب مصر الثاني نشر فيديو عبر صفحته على “فيس بوك”، بصحبة أحمد حسن، واصفًا إياه بـ”العميد الأصلي”، في إشارة فسّرها البعض على أنها مقارنة مع حسام حسن المدير الفني للمنتخب الأول.

وقال حسن خلال تصريحات عبر قناة “أون سبورت” لبرنامج “ملعب أون”: “عصام الحضري من سنة يكرر نفس الكلمة وهذا مزاح، والجميع يعلمه”.

طالع | عصام الحضري يعتذر لـ حسام حسن: لدينا “عميدان”

وأضاف: “نحن في مهمة وطنية ومن وقت أن تولينا مسؤولية المنتخب للمشاركة ببطولة العرب، نتقبل النقد، لكن عندما ياخذ أحد عليك لقطة (ويعيش عليك دور الوطنية) أقول له توقف، ليس أحمد حسن والحضري الذي تقوم بعمل لقطة عليهما، إذا كنت تريد أن تعطي نصيحة تحدث معي، إنما الموضوع يذهب إلي طريق آخر، ويقال إننا نريد الهدم”.

وأردف: “إن شاء الله يمر المعسكر ثم بعد ذلك نرى ماذا سيحدث، في كل من يحاول أن ياخذ لقطة، نحن ليس في معركة”.

واستطرد: “نركز حاليًا مع منتخب مصر المشارك في بطولة كأس العرب، وأشكر اللاعبين على الانضباط والالتزام وهم على قدر المسؤولية، وفي مباراة تونس كانوا جيدين في الشوط الأول والثاني كانت توجد بعض الأخطاء أيضًا”.

وأتم: “اتفاقي مع الكابتن حلمي طولان، إن المنتخب سينافس في بطولة كأس العرب، لكن في النهاية نحن نجهز اللاعبين لـ حسام حسن، الجميع لا بد أن يفهم أن المنتخبين يكملان بعضهما، وإذا حسام حسن طلب أي لاعب فله الأولوية”.

ويستعد منتخب مصر الثاني بقيادة حلمي طولان، للمشاركة في بطولة كأس العرب المقرر إقامتها في بداية شهر ديسمبر المقبل، في قطر.

Manchester United are ready to make a bid for a “world-class” star, who is now expected to cost €80m (£68m), according to a report.

Man Utd set to spend big despite missing out on Champions League

Man United’s loss against Tottenham Hotspur was disappointing on a number of levels, with suffering a defeat in a European final always tough to take, while the result meant they also missed out on qualification to next season’s Champions League.

Despite missing out on Champions League football, however, the Red Devils have displayed a willingness to splash the cash this summer, and Sky Sports’ Dharmesh Sheth has now explained how they plan to fund their summer transfer business.

Sky Sports: Man Utd also eyeing £60m Mbeumo alternative who Amorim loves

The Red Devils have set their sights on another forward, despite making an approach for Bryan Mbeumo.

1

By
Dominic Lund

Jun 11, 2025

Sheth said: “A lot of people are saying – how can they afford Cunha, who’s already at the club? Mbeumo, who’s going to cost the thick end of £60m as well, and Viktor Gyokeres, who’s going to cost over £60m as well?

“Well, I don’t think Manchester United, despite all their much-publicised financial issues, are going into a transfer window with £0 to spend.

“They will have a certain budget, which we understand to be covered by Cunha and Mbeumo, and then maybe they will have to make sales.”

The interest in Viktor Gyokeres has been stepped up in recent days, with United making an initial approach for the Sporting CP striker, but there has now been a new update which suggests he could be even more expensive than they anticipated.

According to a report from Portugal (via Sport Witness), Man United are now ready to make an offer for Gyokeres, but Sporting are set to hold out for a fee of €80m (£68m), which has left the centre-forward ‘furious’.

Sporting increasing their asking price has unsettled the forward, given that a fee of €60m -€75m (£51m – £64m) had previously been touted, and he has now removed references to the club from his social media accounts.

"World-class" Gyokeres deserves summer move

Having led Sporting to Liga Portugal and Taca de Portugal glory, the Sweden international has earned the chance to prove himself at one of Europe’s top clubs, and it is understandable that he is angry the club could now price him out of a move.

That said, it is also clear to see why the Portuguese side are reluctant to sanction a departure for a fee that does not reflect the 27-year-old’s value, having performed remarkably well across some key attacking metrics over the past year.

Statistic	Average per 90
Non-penalty goals	0.87 (99th percentile)
Assists	0.22 (91st percentile)
Progressive carries	4.27 (99th percentile)
Successful take-ons	1.93 (98th percentile)

Lauded as “world-class” by one analyst, Gyokeres has shown he is more than ready to test himself in the Premier League, and it is exciting news that Man United are now ready to make an offer, although it remains to be seen if they can afford to stump up £68m.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta will personally try to convince Mikel Arteta to green-light a move for one PSG star, who he tried and failed to sign during his 12-year stay at Atletico Madrid.

Andrea Berta kick-starting Arsenal transfer plans for this summer

One of Berta’s first acts, following his confirmed appointment in late March, was to reach out to the representatives of Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, according to The Guardian’s Ed Aarons, and he’s shown little sign of slowing down since then.

£42m Chelsea target now privately imagining a transfer to Arsenal instead

The Gunners are emerging as favourites.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 6, 2025

The Italian’s reputation as an astute operator in the transfer market has excited plenty of on-lookers ahead of his debut window at Arsenal, and it is believed the 53-year-old could spearhead a £300 million spend on as many as seven major signings (GiveMeSport).

Arsenal’s final Premier League games	Date
Liverpool (away)	May 11th
Newcastle United (home)	May 18th
Southampton (away)	May 25th

According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Berta is also pushing to sign Sporting Cp striker Viktor Gyokeres, in a bid to end Arsenal’s long wait for a prolific centre-forward who can guarantee 25-plus goals-per-season for Arteta.

Arsenal are also in the market for wide players and potentially an alternative to star forward Bukayo Saka, with the England international’s spells out through injury at points this season giving Arteta a major headache.

Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sané is still a target for Arsenal in that regard, as the ex-Man City star is yet to pen fresh terms at the Allianz Arena, and his contract is due to expire this summer as things stand.

Sane switched agents at the last minute during negotiations over a new deal at Bayern, as confirmed by club president Herbert Hainer, which has now thrown a spanner in the works.

However, if the Germany international does end up officially putting pen to paper, Arsenal will need to move on to other targets.

Andrea Berta wants Lee Kang-in at Arsenal

According to a report from The Sun and journalist Simon Barlow, versatile £119,000-per-week PSG forward Lee Kang-in is attracting attention from Arsenal, and Berta specifically.

As per their information, Berta will push Arteta to approve an Arsenal swoop for Lee, coming after the 53-year-old attempted to sign him for Atletico during his time with the La Liga side.

Berta was apparently the driving force behind Atletico’s pursuit of the South Korea international when he was at Mallorca, only for him to choose a move to the Parc des Princes instead.

Lee has featured in a variety of attacking roles under Luis Enrique this term, predominantly on the right-wing, but also on the left, as an attacking midfielder, a centre-forward and even back in defence. This could be highly attractive from Arteta’s perspective, as he’s known to seriously value versatility in any new player.

PSG are also eager to sell the 24-year-old, as per this report, so a deal could be completed in quick fashion.

Tottenham Hotspur are now prepared to offload a top-performing regular this summer in a bid to reshape the squad and raise funds, with his replacement already there.

Tottenham make transfer plans amid Ange Postecoglou uncertainty

Right now, it is being reported that under-fire boss Ange Postecoglou is facing the Spurs axe at the end of this Premier League campaign, which could happen regardless of whether they end up winning the Europa League.

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This news comes courtesy of reliable journalist Matt Law and other credible media sources, with a parting of the ways becoming increasingly likely after Tottenham suffered their eighteenth Premier League defeat of the season against Nottingham Forest on Easter Monday.

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Brighton (home)

May 25th

While the Lilywhites have a major chance to clinch their first piece of silverware in 17 years, that still may not be enough to save Postecoglou after a dismal domestic season, but their problems lie beyond just the manager.

Tottenham’s lack of strength in depth when compared to their elite Premier League rivals was exposed time and time again this season, thanks to the plethora of injuries to key players throughout 2024/2025, so this is an issue which needs addressing in the summer.

“[The top clubs have] been doing it many years. They know exactly what they’re doing,” said winger Dejan Kuluseviski, who criticised Spurs’ transfer policy.

“They’re bringing in a lot of players that are ready to play both competitions. And they are prepared for it.

“This year we cannot say that we’re prepared for it because we had so many injuries, and we did a lot of things wrong from the beginning of the season, and we’re paying for it right now.”

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, in a piece for The Boot Room, Tottenham are planning to strengthen “almost all areas” of the squad in the next transfer window, but they must first raise funds.

Tottenham "ready to sell" Pedro Porro and replace him with Djed Spence

Bailey also writes that star right-back Pedro Porro could be among the players sacrificed, with the emergence of 24-year-old Djed Spence as an impressive full-back option handing Spurs a ready-made replacement for the Spaniard.

Tottenham are apparently “ready to sell” Porro and bolster their transfer kitty, but will demand north of £50 million for the ex-Man City and Sporting Lisbon defender as Levy eyes a small profit on the £40 million they paid for him.

While Porro has impressed, Spurs’ need to reinforce multiple areas of the squad is taking centre stage, and Spence has showcased that he’s more than capable of being entrusted with a regular starting spot on either flank.

The 25-year-old has been called “sensational” for some of his performances since joining Tottenham from Sporting when Antonio Conte was in charge, and he was a target for Real Madrid before Los Blancos eventually turned full attention to Trent Alexander-Arnold.

It’s set to be all change this year in terms of left-backs at Celtic for Brendan Rodgers.

Neither of the Hoops’ current players in that position are contracted to the club beyond 30 June, more on both shortly, while a local hero is poised to return to Parkhead.

However, did Celtic let go the best left-back of them all for just £39k, after he never made a competitive appearance for the club?

The latest on Greg Taylor's future at Celtic

Following Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Hearts, manager Rodgers admitted that left-back Greg Taylor is likely to leave the club upon the expiration of his contract in June, stating “it’s probably more likely now that Greg will move on than stay”.

Rodgers added “we know we’ll need to have someone else if Greg moves on… which is a big shame for me because I love him”.

Davorin Olivari of Croatian outlet Jutarnji List has previously reported that GNK Dinamo Zagreb have ‘sent an offer’ to Taylor, seeking to snap him up on a free transfer, with this his most-likely destination at the moment.

Meanwhile, Jeffrey Schlupp has usurped Taylor in the pecking order, starting the last four Premiership matches, as well as the away leg in Munich, albeit the Ghanian international’s future is up in the air too, given that he’s only on loan from Crystal Palace.

Regardless, Kieran Tierney is set to commence next season as Celtic’s first choice, having reportedly agreed to rejoin his boyhood club on a Bosman from Arsenal.

Of course, Tierney is undeniably a fans’ favourite in Glasgow, and his return will bring with it much fanfare once it is announced, but did Celtic sell an even more impressive left-back for just £39k?

Celtic's forgotten former left-back on fire in MLS

Back in January 2019, Celtic signed a 22-year-old defender by the name of Andrew Gutman from Indiana Hoosiers, after the American had been on trial at fierce rivals Rangers.

Gutman said he was “really honoured” to make the move, adding “I can’t wait to join Celtic and be part of such a storied institution.”

Well, unfortunately for Gutman, he did not play much of a part, never making a competitive appearance in hoops, loaned out to both Charlotte Independence of USL League One and then FC Cincinnati in Major League Soccer, before moving permanently to MLS outfit Atlanta United for only $50,000 (£39k) in General Allocation Money in March 2021.

Since then, Gutman has rather bounced around MLS, spending time at both New York Red Bulls and then Colorado Rapids, before joining the Chicago Fire ahead of the start of the 2024 season.

Back in his home state of Illinois, Gutman has really looked at home under Gregg Berhalter this season, scoring during victories over both FC Dallas and Toronto, earning rave reviews, including from Felipe Cárdenas of the Athletic, who labels him ‘incredible’.

So, let’s assess how his statistics compare to Taylor.

Appearances

22

19

Minutes

1,598

1,257

Goals

0

3

Assists

6

1

Chances created

29

10

Passing Accuracy %

88.1%

76%

Tackles

34

32

Interceptions

13

17

Clearances

37

52

Blocks

1

16

As the table outlines, during a similarly sized sample size, Gutman’s performances in MLS are similar to those of Taylor in the Premiership, with the American actually coming out on top when it comes to most defensive metrics.

Also worth noting that, according to Global Football Rankings, Major League Soccer is the ninth strongest division on the planet, with the Premiership down in 34th place.

So, perhaps letting Gutman leave for a small fee was a mistake, as he could’ve been an upgrade on Taylor had he been given an opportunity, especially considering Transfermakt believe his current market value to be around £586k, around 15 times more than he was sold for.

Cost £3m, now worth more than Jota: Celtic hit gold on inspirational star

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ByDan Emery Mar 31, 2025

Stats highlights from the high-scoring thriller between KKR and LSG at Eden Gardens

Sampath Bandarupalli08-Apr-20252:04

Does Nicholas Pooran have any weakness?

5 Consecutive wides bowled by Shardul Thakur in the 13th over of Kolkata Knight Riders’ chase at Eden Gardens. No bowler had done that before in the IPL. Four bowlers have bowled four wides in a row previously – Jasprit Bumrah (2015), Praveen Kumar (2017), Mohammed Siraj (2023) and Khaleel Ahmed (2024). Thakur also equalled the record for the longest over in the IPL (11 balls).15 Number of wides Lucknow Super Giants bowled against KKR, the most by a team in an IPL innings. Thakur bowled eight, the most by any bowler in an IPL match.1198 Number of balls Nicholas Pooran took to complete 2000 runs in the IPL – the second quickest behind Andre Russell (1120 balls).238 for 3 LSG’s total against KKR at Eden Gardens – their second highest in the IPL. It was also the second highest total against KKR in the IPL.Shardul Thakur bowled five wides in a row, a first in the IPL•Associated Press70.81 Win probability as per ESPNcricinfo’s forecaster for KKR in the chase after 12.5 overs, when they needed 77 runs with eight wickets in hand. It came down to 21.99 % at 16.1 overs after they lost five wickets for 23 runs in the space of 20 balls.87* Pooran’s score against KKR is the second highest in the IPL by any batter coming in after ten overs. Andre Russell’s 88 not out against CSK in 2018 is the highest.12.64 Combined economy of the pace bowlers in the KKR-LSG game, having gone for 316 runs in 25 overs. It is the fourth highest economy for fast bowlers in an IPL match, for a minimum of 150 balls bowled.

Leach injury less than a fortnight from the Ashes has thrown England’s planning up in the air

Andrew Miller04-Jun-2023

Joe Root

(and an all-seam attack)It’s probably the obvious option given how short-notice this injury is, plus the clear concerns over Stokes’ knee, which had already left Leach’s role looking vulnerable within a four-man attack. Root’s attacking offies, habitually delivered from round the wicket with a flat trajectory and an emphasis on overspin, have already claimed 54 wickets in the course of his career, and he’s deeply familiar with England’s bowling plans, having turned his arm over in all but two of England’s 13 Tests since Stokes became captain. His presence would allow England to recall each of James Anderson, Ollie Robinson and Mark Wood without a complete clear-out of the seam attack that did the needful at Lord’s.

Rehan Ahmed

England surely wouldn’t be that crazy, would they? Hold my Bazbeer! Rehan doesn’t turn 19 until August, when the Ashes will have been and gone, and for all that holding roles aren’t really Stokes’ thing, the control that Leach offers with his slow left-arm is a distinctly different skill to the magic and madness of red-raw legspin. And yet, there Rehan was in Karachi in December, claiming seven wickets in a fairytale debut, and even emerging as the first official “Nighthawk” in England’s gleeful romp to victory. His time will surely come, but once again, the doubts over Stokes rather undermine his credentials. Unless he plays as an allrounder, of course…Rehan Ahmed enjoyed a successful Test debut in Pakistan•Getty Images

Will Jacks

England’s other debutant spinning success of the Pakistan tour. Jacks hadn’t expected his call-up until the eternally luckless Ben Foakes keeled over with the sickness bug that almost delayed the Rawalpindi Test, and within three days, he’d picked off a first-innings six-for. He might not have bowled so many overs had his fellow debutant Liam Livingstone not limped out with a knee injury, but he fulfilled his brief admirably, albeit with some of the most optimistically flighted deliveries you could hope to witness. That diet of ‘hit me’ balls served a purpose on one of the most lifeless pitches in world cricket, but it might not prove quite so successful against Smith, Labuschagne et al at Edgbaston. Last season for Surrey – effectively his first as an allrounder after head coach Gareth Batty encouraged him to add the string to his bow – he claimed the workmanlike figures there of 1 for 93 in 36 overs.

Matt Parkinson

The man in possession … sort of. At least, when it comes to replacing Leach at short notice. This time last year, Parkinson was plucked off his sofa to make his Test debut, on the opening day of the Lord’s Test against New Zealand, after Leach hurtled after a straight drive in front of the pavilion, and concussed himself as he tried to save a boundary. He was the first concussion sub in England’s Test history, and though Stokes and Brendon McCullum deserved full marks for the clarity of their decision-making, Parkinson’s performance was somewhat underwhelming. He did at least claim his first Test wicket with the last ball of New Zealand’s innings, but not only has he never been picked again, he’s slipped so far out of favour at Lancashire that he was last month loaned out to Durham in a bid for some Championship action.Matt Parkinson bowls on his Test debut•Getty Images

Dom Bess

All aboard the Bess Bus? We can only wait and see. Here’s another man who has benefitted from Leach’s prior misfortune, in this case the broken thumb in 2018 than earned his then-Somerset spin-twin Bess a maiden Test cap at the age of 20, and he showed his ticker from the outset, albeit more visibly with the bat, with a battling fifty in England’s defeat to Pakistan at Lord’s, and a further 49 as a nightwatcher one match later. There’s little doubt that he’d make an outstanding Bazballer – and when England turned their fortunes around in South Africa in 2019-20 with a team of greenhorns including a young Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley, Bess was in the thick of it claiming five of the top six in the first innings at Port Elizabeth. His form and fortunes crumbled during Covid, and he was virtually unselectable on the tour of India, but in a dressing-room that’s overflowing with positive vibes, there’s reason to believe he could thrive once again.

Jack Carson

If Josh Tongue’s surprise call-up for Lord’s is any indication, then Sussex’s young spinner Carson ought not to leave his phone on silent in the coming days. Tongue’s modest haul of 11 wickets in four Championship games for Worcestershire this summer didn’t deter the selectors, most particularly Rob Key, who had witnessed his exploits for England Lions in Sri Lanka, including a five-for in the unofficial Test in Galle. And Carson, likewise, was in the wickets on that trip, claiming 4 for 94 in a spirited Bazball-style attempt to set up a run-chase (that proved a touch too ambitious in the end). He’s been in the wickets this summer too, including five first-innings scalps against Yorkshire at Hove last month. Liam Patterson-White was also in the Lions mix, but has since picked up a solitary scalp in five matches for Nottinghamshire.

Liam Dawson

Hampshire’s ever-ready bench-warmer, a man possessing of one of the weirdest England careers of all time. The last of his three Test appearances came against South Africa way back in 2017, and he was picked for three 50-over caps against Australia in November having most-recently played the format in October 2018. Yet he still collected a World Cup winner’s medal in 2019 after being drafted in as a Mr Dependable back-up, and was also a travelling reserve for the T20 World Cup last winter too, after a similarly lengthy time in the wilderness. He seems utterly unperturbed at his lot in life, and would come into the Test set-up with some impressive red-ball form. His most recent outing for Hampshire in May reaped second-innings figures of 6 for 61, as Northants were routed by an innings.Moeen Ali last played Test cricket in 2021•AFP/Getty Images

Moeen Ali

Is this the moment for Mo? Though he officially retired from Test cricket last year, Moeen Ali was clearly tempted by the prospect of a comeback for last winter’s Pakistan tour, after being courted by McCullum in the early weeks of his tenure as coach. In the end, his white-ball commitments made it all too much of a hassle, but if ever there was a window to dip back in, it is now. After all, the Hundred doesn’t begin until the day after the Ashes are over, and having just won the IPL with Chennai Super Kings despite barely lifting a finger in the competition’s closing stages, he might conceivably be itching to get stuck in. That said, Australia has never been a favourite opponent of Moeen’s. In 11 previous Ashes Tests, his 20 wickets have come at a costly 64.65, and though he’s only five away from the 200 mark, he may well decide – rather like his fellow white-ball stalwart, Jos Buttler – that that ship has sailed.

They have played just five ODIs since the 2019 World Cup but the series in South Africa may offer a glimpse at the future

Danyal Rasool and Umar Farooq01-Apr-2021Despite not making it to the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup, Pakistan had their moments. They won four games in a row to sign off the tournament and they beat both teams that ended up making it to the final. They lost out on a semi-final spot to New Zealand on net run-rate, thanks to a crushing defeat against West Indies in their first game, a contender for their worst World Cup performance of all time.That could be viewed as a positive tournament for a nation ranked seventh going into it, but the PCB came to a different conclusion, letting go of the coaching staff and replacing the captain. The job was given to Misbah-ul-Haq, his first major coaching role since his international retirement in 2017. But two years on from an ODI tournament which the PCB felt necessitated a change, what do we know about the new man’s plans for that format?Surprisingly little, really, but the blame for that can hardly lie at the head coach’s feet. Pakistan have played a mere five ODIs since Misbah’s appointment, fewer than Papua New Guinea, Oman and Namibia; only Nepal, with four, have played less ODI cricket in that time. Two ODIs against Sri Lanka in 2019 and the three Zimbabwe played in Rawalpindi last year offer the only glimpse into Pakistan’s roadmap for the 2023 World Cup for now.While that might have taught us little, Pakistan are about to head into a series that should offer plenty more insight. The three-match series in Centurion and Johannesburg is the first real test of a Misbah-led ODI side, and the head coach’s first audition to retain that position going into the 2023 World Cup. With much of Pakistan’s focus on T20 cricket over the past year – understandably so, given there are two T20 World Cups before the next ODI World Cup – this format has been something of an afterthought.Related

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But Pakistan’s belief is that the cricket we get to see in the upcoming ODIs should put paid to any ideas that the format is being neglected. Having closely followed the India-England series over the past week, Pakistan feel there are several lessons to be learned, and while England’s generational talents make it difficult for any side to repurpose their template for their own use, expect to see Pakistan try and emulate India’s approach at their best.Pakistan have played safe, perhaps even anodyne, ODI cricket for several years now, and results in major competitions have reflected that. A brilliant, if inexplicable, 2017 Champions Trophy aside, Pakistan’s two most recent World Cup performances have seen them finish fifth (2019) and exit at the quarter-final stage in 2015. The Champions Trophy in 2013 saw them lose all of their group stage games; since the start of 2013, Pakistan have won just 22 of 81 ODIs against Australia, England, India, New Zealand and South Africa – the sort of sides you generally compete against at the back end of big tournaments.That approach, talk from within the camp suggests, might be belatedly shelved, and that the cricket they play in South Africa will reflect that. That means it is likelier to see them get bowled out for 250 in pursuit of totals in the mid-300s, rather than opting for the safety of 280.While a top four of Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan doesn’t necessarily suggest explosiveness, the thinking seems to be that consolidating early on will allow versatile players like Azam and Rizwan to move through the gears in the middle overs, letting Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf and Shadab Khan loose later on.Pakistan need Shadab Khan to rekindle his effectiveness with the ball•Getty ImagesThis would appear to suggest an approach reminiscent of the kind India take, of prioritising wickets in hand over flying starts. Zaman’s contributions up top become essential to any kind of positive start, with an early departure likely to entrench Pakistan into caution.This is where a lower middle order comprising Asif, Shadab and Ashraf begins to look slightly frail; while those players look great walking out in the final 15 overs, their ability to consolidate should the top order fall early is yet to be tested. Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez in the middle have historically provided a buffer, but with Pakistan intent on moving on, this is an area that will need close attention in the run-up to 2023.It would also signal, if indeed Pakistan take this approach, a departure from the style Pakistan favoured in the ODI series against Zimbabwe, where a scratchy 2-1 win did little to suggest tangible progress. In South Africa, conditions might be more favourable to a progressive approach with the bat, especially at the Wanderers and SuperSport Park.While much of the focus when it comes to Pakistan’s quaint approach to ODI cricket has zeroed in on the batting, Pakistan’s bowling is in a transitional, uncertain phase, too. Mohammad Amir is out of the picture, as, most likely, is Wahab Riaz, two of the sides’ spearheads at the World Cup. And while this is an area often deemed to be Pakistan’s strength, the numbers, especially at the death, are concerning.Since the end of the 2015 World Cup, only West Indies, Sri Lanka and England have been more generous in the final ten overs than the 7.47 runs Pakistan allow. Shaheen Afridi aside, none of the quick bowlers have quite nailed that phase of the innings. Hasan Ali, set to play his first ODIs since the World Cup game against India, began his career in the death overs well (his economy rate until the end of 2017 was 5.11) but faded as his overall form did. Managing Pakistan’s resources at the death provides an interesting challenge for fledgling captain Azam.The spin department might also see some turnover as the games progress, but this series might well be a bellwether for the direction Shadab’s ODI career. As his skills with the bat have improved, his struggles with ball in hand – his primary value to the side – have continued to trend in the wrong direction. For obvious reasons, the most useful sample size comes from T20 cricket, but Pakistan will have their head turned by Usman Qadir’s sharp rise in the shortest format, and they may well wonder if he can be pressed into ODI service at some point.With the lack of control the bowling department seems to offer, the absence of Imad Wasim might seem curious, but it appears attitude and disciplinary reasons have taken precedence over cricketing ones. Ditto Haris Sohail, which puts Danish Aziz front and centre at No. 5 in the order.There is enough to suggest though that this is a budding, developing side not a decaying one. This series might be an important pre-credits scene in a captivating coming-of-age story if the ideas behind it come to fruition over the next week, but not all the plot points make complete sense just yet. It might need extensive work from a young cast to sell the idea, because in the world of Pakistan cricket, those behind the script might just as easily be left on the cutting room floor in the big picture.