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Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak enjoyed a wonderful season for the club last year.

The Swede not only scored 27 goals across 42 appearances in all competitions, but he also helped the Magpies end their 70-year wait for a domestic trophy in the process.

Isak opened the scoring in the League Cup final against Liverpool, immortalising himself among the Toon support.

If Eddie Howe wishes to keep his star man in this sort of form, bringing in a quality winger or two this summer will help massively.

Just who have the Magpies got on their wishlist?

Newcastle could see bid for Premier League starlet accepted

Newcastle have been linked with Jadon Sancho, Jack Grealish and even Rodrygo from Real Madrid during the first couple of weeks in June.

All three would be statement signings by Howe, no doubt about that, but is there a more attractive option out there?

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Indeed, according to Football Insider, the Magpies now know exactly how much it is going to cost to sign Nottingham Forest wideman Anthony Elanga.

The report states that the club had an offer of £35m rejected last summer, but if Howe comes back in with a £15m increase, this £50m bid would likely be accepted by Forest.

Why Anthony Elanga could make Isak even better

Elanga has shone for the club since making the move from Manchester United two years ago and this form has caught the attention of Howe.

If he does make the move north, Isak will be licking his lips.

Last season, wingers Anthony Gordon, Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes registered seven, five and 14 assists respectively across all competitions.

Elanga recorded 12 assists in all competitions last term, with 11 coming in the Premier League alone, more than Gordon and Barnes.

Metric

Elanga

Gordon

Barnes

Murphy

Goals

6

6

9

8

Assists

11

5

4

12

Big chances created

9

6

8

12

Key passes per game

1.3

1.5

0.8

1.2

Successful dribbles per game

0.7

1.1

0.7

1

The Swedish starlet also created nine big chances in the top flight while also making 1.3 key passes and succeeding with 0.7 dribbles per game. These numbers indicate that he could be the dream winger for Isak, providing him with plenty of chances next term.

Indeed, when compared to his positional peers in the Premier League, Elanga ranks in the top 6% for assists (0.4) per 90.

The winger even ranks in the top 2% for shots on target (54.5%) per 90 and in the top 3% for crosses (6.66) per 90, which places him among the best in the division for these metrics. How exactly does he do that?

Well, it certainly helps that he was one of the fastest players in the entire division throughout 2024/25.

On that evidence, it is no wonder that Statman Dave hailed him as “dangerous” during his first few months as a Forest player, and he has gone from strength to strength ever since.

Linking up with his compatriot at Newcastle ahead of next season could see Howe field a front three of Elanga, Isak and Gordon.

This should be enough to strike fear into most sides in the top flight and, indeed, in the Champions League.

Will the manager shell out £50m for the 23-year-old this summer? Only time will tell.

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South Africa are “testing out all the scores,” as Tabraiz Shamsi jokingly put it when he accepted his Player-of-the-Match award after helping his team pull off another last-ball heist, against Nepal.Although South Africa topped Group D and are yet to lose a match in the tournament, their last two victories have come off the final ball and their match against Netherlands was decided in the penultimate over. “It’s a little bit closer than we’ve needed it to be,” Shamsi said.All four of their games have been low-scoring, starting with their opener against Sri Lanka, who they bowled out for 77. Then, South Africa chased 104 against Netherlands, having recovered from 12 for 4 to do it, and defended 113 against Bangladesh and 115 against Nepal. The first three totals could be somewhat explained by seamer-friendly conditions in New York, which was characterised by inconsistent bounce but the score in St Vincent was the result of what seemed like a misreading of conditions, which were more suited to spin. Captain Aiden Markram summed it up as them being “nowhere near our best and just lacked a bit of intensity and conviction in our game plans.”Related

• Nepal captain Paudel: 'We were very close but a little far'

• Heartbreak for Nepal as Shamsi scripts stunning turnaround

• Amid chaos and randomness, South Africa hold their nerve (for a change)

While he did not isolate the top three, their form remains a concern. Between them, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks and Markram have scored 129 runs from 12 trips to the crease, at an average of 10.75. Only Uganda, Papua New Guinea and Ireland’s top three have fared worse. After being put in to bat against Nepal, their old Achilles’ heel against spin seemed to re-emerge as all seven of the wickets that fell were to Dipendra Singh Airee’s offspin and Khushal Bhurtel’s legspin.There may also have been reflection of an element of facing the unknown in the way South Africa performed against Nepal. This was the first time South Africa and Nepal have met in an international match and Markram conceded that Nepal, “put us under a lot of pressure,” as South Africa also navigated between playing morning games in the USA and a night match in St Vincent. “It has been a bit different because we spent the whole day almost doing nothing and there [in New York], we’d be playing first thing in the morning,” he said. “Moving forward some things may change. It’s one of the big challenges of cricket, being open minded and adapting.”Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks are yet to fire like they can•AFP/Getty Images

For Shamsi, the key to playing in the Caribbean is recognising that there will be a need to shift away from reliance on pace to spin. “Our fast bowlers did a great job in New York but our slower bowlers will have to take up the mantle now,” he said.South Africa came prepared for that, and included three specialist spinners in their 15-player squad. So far, they have only fielded one of them per game, with Keshav Maharaj playing in New York and Shamsi in St Vincent, but Markram conceded they both should have played against Nepal. Left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin has yet to come into the conversation but with a reputation for taking wickets with the new ball, he may also feature in the Super Eight. South Africa were the first team to qualify for that round and Markam is hopeful they can “put a more complete game of cricket together now that we move forward to the business end of the competition.”Ultimately, some may be of the view that may not be what it takes for South Africa to win their first World Cup. Historically – and often despite strong performances in the group stages – South Africa have crumbled in crunch moments and lost games that they seemed on course to win. Now, with three close results, they’ve shown an ability to hold their nerve. “We’ve been put under pressure in every single game and we have stood up to it,” Shamsi said.Importantly, they also found different match-winners. Against Netherlands, David Miller’s 51-ball 59 took them over line, against Bangladesh, Keshav Maharaj’s 3 for 27 did the trick and against Nepal, Shamsi’s 4 for 19 was vital to their victory. Throughout Ottneil Baartman’s performances have been exemplary and added variation to an attack that has sometimes been too one-dimensional.The top order issues aside, South Africa seem to be ticking along well or as Shamsi said: “When this team is rolling, everybody knows their roles.”

The Premier League has been honoured by plenty of iconic midfielders since its creation back in 1992. Whether it be no-nonsense defensive midfielders, passing maestros who control the game or attacking midfielders who score as many goals as some strikers, plenty of legends have come and gone.

But who is the best midfielder in Premier League history? Ranking such an accomplished group of players is no easy task…

Ranking factors

• Honours
• Appearances
• Goals
• Assists
• Teams played for
• What others have said about them

20 best midfielders in Premier League history: in pictures

20

Gareth Barry

Aston Villa, Man City, Everton, West Brom

Starting the countdown is the Premier League’s record appearance holder – Gareth Barry. Playing more than 650 top flight games, Barry was a reliable figure during his career and was known as a more defensive-minded midfielder who could also chip in with goals in the early stages of his career.

The Englishman earned a marquee move to Man City from Aston Villa in 2009 and would go on to win the top flight and the FA Cup at the Etihad Stadium.

19

James Milner

Leeds, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Man City, Liverpool, Brighton

Another long-lasting central midfielder who has been the engine for numerous sides he has played for is James Milner.

After bursting onto the scene at the age of 16 for Leeds United in 2002, Milner has gone on to have an extremely successful career, winning multiple honours with Man City and Liverpool.

At the age of 39, Milner, who has played in a variety of midfield roles throughout his career, is currently still going with Brighton and may have his eyes on breaking Barry’s record.

18

Paul Ince

Man Utd, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Wolves

Paul Ince had the perfect blend of attacking and defensive qualities as a central midfielder, even managing to squeeze in a stint with Inter Milan between playing for Man Utd and Liverpool.

A member of the first squad to ever win the Premier League, Ince would win the trophy again in 1993/94, with his last Premier League appearance coming for Wolves in 2004.

Former teammate Christian Ziege once said of Ince: “He goes forward looking to score goals and goes backwards to defend his own goal with the same determination. Not a lot of players have that – good at defending and going forward.”

17

Luka Modric

Tottenham

Arguably one of the best signings Tottenham have ever made in the Premier League is Luka Modric, who would spend four years in north London before Real Madrid came calling in 2012.

The Croatia icon caught the eye with his exceptional passing and playmaking ability, and even though he didn’t win the league with Spurs, is still regarded as a great.

Modric went on to become a Ballon d’Or winner, which wouldn’t have surprised Harry Redknapp, who called the midfielder Tottenham’s one “world-class player” back in 2010.

16

Xabi Alonso

Liverpool

Another midfielder who could dictate the tempo of the game was Xabi Alonso, who signed for Liverpool in 2004 from Real Sociedad.

The Spaniard, who was Rafael Benitez’s first addition at Anfield, would go on to form a brilliant partnership with Steven Gerrard on Merseyside and help win the Champions League in 2005.

In the Premier League, Alonso may not have lifted the title, however, he was called “by some distance, the best central midfielder” Gerrard has played alongside.

15

Claude Makelele

Chelsea

Chelsea legend Claude Makelele was so good as a defensive midfielder during his career that it is now well known as the the “Makelele role”.

The Frenchman actually only moved to England and the Premier League at the age of 30, but during those five years at Stamford Bridge, won two titles under Jose Mourinho.

Recently, Mourinho named Makelele in his best XI of players he’s worked with, which just shows the impact he had on the iconic manager.

14

Michael Carrick

West Ham, Tottenham, Man Utd

Despite winning five Premier League titles with Man Utd, Michael Carrick is arguably a midfielder who went under the radar during his career.

After coming through at West Ham and joining Tottenham for two years, the Red Devils made their move in 2006, with Carrick spending 12 years at Old Trafford.

Known for his passing qualities and ability to control a game, Sir Alex Ferguson even called Carrick “the best English centre-midfield player” in 2014.

13

Rodri

Man City

One of the best defensive midfielders in the current modern-day era, Rodri has been Man City’s most important player since joining from Atletico Madrid in 2019.

Replacing Fernandinho at the heart of the City midfield, Rodri has even come up with some crucial goals, including netting the Champions League final winner to complete a treble for Pep Guardiola’s team in 2023.

A four-time Premier League winner, Rodri has also lifted the Ballon d’Or at the Etihad Stadium and has been called a “reference point for every aspiring midfielder in the game”.

12

N’Golo Kante

Leicester City, Chelsea

Arriving in England for just over £5m in 2015, N’Golo Kante would go on to star in his first Premier League season, helping Leicester City shock the world to win the title.

The Frenchman made more tackles and interceptions than any other player in 2015/16 and would move to Chelsea a year later, where he would lift the title again at Stamford Bridge.

Eden Hazard and Joe Cole even said that having Kante is like having “two” in his position due to his engine, and he has gone on to become a world-class midfielder.

11

David Beckham

Man Utd

One of the best set-piece takers in Premier League history, David Beckham was a quality right-midfielder at Man Utd in the top-flight between 1995-2003.

The Englishman won six league titles during that time and was named as the Ballon d’Or runner up in 1999, highlighting the impact he made at Old Trafford.

A global icon, Beckham was only 20 years of age when he became a regular under Sir Alex Ferguson, who called the right-midfielder “magnificent” before he left for Real Madrid.

Liverpool have made a shock offer for a £400k-a-week star who is now keen to play in Europe next season, according to Sky Sports journalist Gianluca Di Marzio.

Reds' summer transfer plans taking shape

After two quiet transfer windows since replacing Jürgen Klopp in the dugout, Arne Slot will be tasked with strengthening his squad in a number of key areas this summer, and FSG are prepared to back their manager with significant financial backing.

A new striker could be required, with Darwin Nunez’s future in doubt, and the aforementioned report names Napoli’s Victor Osimhen as a potential option, alongside RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and prolific Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres.

With Trent Alexander-Arnold recently confirming his decision to leave his boyhood club this summer, the Reds have also ramped up their pursuit of a new right-back, and David Ornstein believes Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong is keen on a move to Anfield.

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Having perhaps overrelied on Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister, there have also been suggestions that Slot could look to bring in a new midfielder this summer, and there is serious interest in Stuttgart maestro Angelo Stiller.

However, a surprise move for a Premier League attacking midfielder could also be on the cards, according to Di Marzio, with the Sky Sports journalist recently stating Liverpool have now made a shock offer for Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne.

De Bruyne is set to leave Man City on a free transfer this summer, with Pep Guardiola’s side taking the decision not to extend his contract, but the Belgian wants to remain in Europe, despite widespread links to the MLS.

Napoli are making a concrete attempt to sign the 33-year-old, so there could also be competition for his signature from some of Europe’s top clubs.

"World-class" De Bruyne likened to Gerrard

In truth, the Man City legend moving to Anfield doesn’t seem particularly realistic, given that he was in direct competition with the Reds for a number of years, during which time he impressed Klopp, who described the maestro as “world-class”.

Wayne Rooney has also likened the Belgium international to Steven Gerrard in the past, saying: “De Bruyne reminds me a bit of Steven Gerrard. He drifts out to that right-hand side and plays some brilliant balls whipped in, like Stevie used to. What I like most is he takes chances, he takes risks, he doesn’t go for the easy ball – he plays the hard pass.”

The £400k-a-week star is evidently in the twilight years of his career, given City’s willingness to sanction a departure, but he has still impressed in the Premier League at times this season, while also catching the eye in the FA Cup.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Premier League

25

4

7

FA Cup

3

2

1

As such, De Bruyne could still be a difference-maker for a top club, but a move to Anfield would be extremely controversial.

This summer has to be a massive one for Tottenham Hotspur.

Ange Postecoglou’s side have seriously struggled this season through a combination of poor form and a torrent of injuries, so much so that they’ve lost more games than they’ve won in the Premier League.

However, as there were at the start of last season, there have been signs that the Australian could make things work with more backing, and based on reports from the last few weeks, Daniel Levy and Co appear to be looking to make signings in the coming months.

One of the players most heavily touted for a move to N17 has been Southampton gem Tyler Dibling, although if he did join the Lilywhites, he’d be worth considerably less than one of his main rivals for game time.

Why Spurs want to sign Dibling

While Spurs’ interest in Dibling is now in the open, the North Londoners are not the only club keen to secure the youngster’s services, with fellow Premier League outfit Newcastle United also said to be interested.

So, why are a number of the league’s biggest clubs circling a winger from a club who look destined to be relegated to the Championship?

Well, simply put, he has been one of the very few bright spots for Southampton this year, and while he hasn’t necessarily lit the world alight, he’s done enough to suggest that his ceiling is extraordinarily high.

For example, despite being just 19 years old and playing for a genuinely awful Saints side, the Exeter-born “game-breaker,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored four goals and provided two assists in 30 appearances, which is not bad going for his debut season in the top flight.

Moreover, while his primary and best position is off the right, the young Englishman has also shown himself to be a versatile attacker, making five appearances as a centre-forward this season, five in attacking midfield, and one in right midfield.

Right-Wing

12

1

0

Centre-Forward

5

2

1

Attacking Midfield

5

1

2

Right Midfield

1

0

0

Finally, over the last year or so, Tottenham have clearly chosen to target up-and-coming talents in the transfer market, with moves for Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray, and Wilson Odobert.

So, in their case, signing Dibling would also fit nicely with their long-term vision for the team, and it seems more than likely that his €25m valuation from Transfermarkt, which is about £21m, will start increasing very soon.

That said, if Levy and Co can bring the youngster to North London in the summer, he’ll have to work hard to match the valuation of his biggest competitor for game time.

The Spurs star worth millions more than Dibling

Now, when it comes to the winger options at Spurs, Postecoglou has a few players who can choose from on the left, but when it comes to the right, the only truly natural option he currently has is Brennan Johnson.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

The Welsh international joined the North Londoners from Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2023, and while things haven’t necessarily been plane sailing since then, he has established himself as a useful attacking outlet.

For example, despite enduring a slow start to his first campaign in the capital, the 23-year-old scored five goals and provided ten assists in 34 appearances, totalling 2248 minutes. This comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.26 games or every 149.86 minutes.

This season has been even better, as in 39 appearances, totalling 2493 minutes, the “frightening” ace, as dubbed by content creator HLTCO, has scored 14 goals and provided four assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.16 games, or every 138.5 minutes.

Appearances

34

39

Minutes

2248′

2493′

Goals

5

14

Assists

10

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.44

0.46

Minutes per Goal Involvement

149.86′

138.5′

Impressively, despite getting so much stick earlier in the season that he deactivated his Instagram account, the Welshman is currently the club’s top goalscorer.

So, when you take all that into consideration, it’s not massively surprising that Transfermarkt values him at €50m, which is about £42m, or £22m more than Dibling is currently worth.

Ultimately, if the Spurs do sign the young Saints star, then they’ll have yet another promising prospect in their squad. However, seeing if he can take Johnson’s spot from him in the long run will be interesting.

An incredible Son replacement: Spurs in talks to sign "world-class" star

The immense talent would be a brilliant signing for Spurs.

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Vote for the best individual Border-Gavaskar Trophy performance by an Indian in Australia since 2000

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Oct-2024Update: This poll has ended. Virat Kohli’s performance goes into the quarter-finals. Check the other polls here.ESPNcricinfo LtdAnil Kumble bowled 88.5 overs and took 12 wickets at the SCG•William West/AFPAnil Kumble – 8-141 & 4-138 in Sydney, 2004Match drawn, series drawn 1-1Anil Kumble’s match-winning ability was unquestionable at home but he hadn’t earned a similar reputation overseas. This Australia tour was an opportunity to improve that aspect of his game. Having started the tour on the bench, he replaced an injured Harbhajan Singh in the second Test. By the time the final match began at the SCG, with the series level 1-1, Kumble had bowled the most overs by an Indian bowler and taken a five-for in the famous win in Adelaide.In Sydney, after India posted 705 in the first innings, Kumble bowled 46.5 overs to pick up 8 for 141, his second-best haul after his perfect ten, and give India a lead of 231, which they extended to 442 before declaring late on the fourth day.Bowling another 42 overs in Australia’s second innings, Kumble went on to take 4 for 138 – his match-haul of 12 was his best overseas – but India were only able to take six wickets in total, falling agonisingly short of what would have been their maiden series win down under.By Shashank KishoreWatch the highlights of these performances on the Star Sports network at 10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm IST, from October 25 onwards.Virat Kohli was batting on another level in Perth 2018•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesVirat Kohli – 123 in Perth, 2018India lost by 146 runs, series level 1-1Virat Kohli was already one of India’s greatest batters before 2018. He stepped up to an even more rarefied level that year, scoring 1322 runs at an average of 55.08 over 24 innings, of which 22 were played in South Africa, England and Australia.Conditions in all three tours were hard on batters, but the more challenging they became, the more Kohli seemed to relish them. When he walked in to bat in Perth, everything must have looked familiar. India had lost the toss and conceded a bigger total than they should have, bowling well but not without spells of releasing pressure. Then they lost early wickets.In similar circumstances, Kohli had scored 153 at Centurion and 149 at Edgbaston. Now, from 8 for 2, he proceeded to play an even better innings. This was a proper trampoline of a pitch, and Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins were routinely getting the ball to rear throat-high from just back of a length. Kohli negotiated the vertical threat expertly, though not without suffering blows to his arm and ribs, but the standout feature of his innings was how well he dealt with Australia’s attempts to sucker him with full balls after pushing him back.Almost every time there was an opportunity to drive, he did so pristinely, down the ground or through the covers with a decisive front-foot stride. A 20th century version of this list would have undoubtedly contained Sachin Tendulkar’s 114 in Perth in 1992. Kohli’s innings came at Perth Stadium and not the WACA, and just as the new ground seamlessly carried forward the old one’s legacy of pace and bounce, a new master had carried forward an old master’s legacy.Karthik Krishnaswamy

The team has two Pakistanis and two South Africans – one of whom is now playing for Namibia – making up the overseas contingent

Deivarayan Muthu03-Oct-2022 1. Brandon King (Jamaica Tallawahs) Runs: 422, Average: 38.36, Strike rate: 135.25In CPL 2019, King topped the run-charts for Guyana Amazon Warriors and broke into West Indies’ white-ball squads soon after. Three years later, King marked his homecoming to Jamaica Tallawahs by topping the run-charts once again and establishing himself as one of the top white-ball openers in the Caribbean. His century against Amazon Warriors at Providence and unbeaten 83 in the final against favourites Barbados Royals were among the highlights of Tallawahs’ campaign.Related

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2. Kyle Mayers (Barbados Royals) Runs: 366, Batting strike rate: 134.55; Wickets: 8, Economy Rate: 5.37Mayers extended his rich form from West Indies’ international home season, leading the way with the bat for Royals, too. He regularly hit over the top in the powerplay and also maximised this phase with the ball in swinging conditions. His 4 for 4 in two overs against St Lucia Kings in St Kitts proved to be the best bowling figures in an innings this season. Mayers also works particularly well with King, which is why we have pushed the Kings pair of Johnson Charles and Faf du Plessis down the order. 3. Johnson Charles (St Lucia Kings, wk) Runs: 345, Average: 43.12, Strike rate: 133.20Charles had such a good season with the bat for Kings that he elbowed his way into West Indies’ T20 World Cup squad as the back-up opener to King and Mayers and back-up keeping option to Nicholas Pooran, ahead of St Kitts & Nevis Patriots’ Andre Fletcher. His three half-centuries in four innings towards the back end of the tournament played a crucial role in Kings making the playoffs. Along the way, he surpassed Chris Gayle to become the second-highest run-getter in the CPL, behind Lendl Simmons. 4. Faf du Plessis (St Lucia Kings) Runs: 332, Average: 41.50, Strike rate: 168.52Du Plessis usually aces the powerplay by taking on the quicks, but he can also do the job in the middle order, as he had shown during his IPL stint with Chennai Super Kings. King and Shamarh Brooks aside, he was the only player this CPL to hit a century. Du Plessis’ strike rate of 168.52 is the best among batters with a minimum of 200 runs in the competition. 5. Rovman Powell (Jamaica Tallawahs, capt) Runs: 281, Average: 35.12, Strike rate: 123.78; Wickets: 2, Economy rate: 13Having improved his game against spin and impressed in IPL 2022 for Delhi Capitals, Powell enhanced his reputation by captaining Tallawahs to their third CPL title overall and first since 2016. In addition to contributing with the bat under pressure, Powell often fronted up to bowl yorkers at the death. His leadership was vital to Tallawahs winning three knockout matches in four days after a mid-tournament slump.ESPNcricinfo Ltd 6. Jason Holder (Barbados Royals) Runs: 155, Average: 51.66, Strike rate: 120.15; Wickets: 17; Economy rate: 6.86Holder can bat anywhere in the line-up and bowl across phases – skills that make him an elite allrounder in T20 cricket. With the ball, he forged a strong partnership with left-arm seamer Obed McCoy and bested the opposition with his variations. His forties against Amazon Warriors in Tarouba and Guyana showed that he could pinch-hit as well as pinch-block, depending on the situation. 7. David Wiese (St Lucia Kings) Runs: 126; Average: 25.20, Strike rate: 150; Wickets: 12, Economy rate: 6.75Wiese was Kings’ second-highest wicket-taker, with 12 strikes in ten games, often denying batters pace by bowling cutters in the pitch. With the bat, Wiese manufactured his own pace, producing powerful cameos down the order. In the absence of Tim David, who left the CPL for Australia duty after playing just five games, Wiese stepped up to give Kings’ side a potent point of difference. 8. Imad Wasim (Jamaica Tallawahs) Runs: 138; Average: 19.71, Strike rate: 121.05; Wickets: 17, Economy rate: 5.97Imad is out of Pakistan’s white-ball sides on fitness grounds, but he continues to be an ever-present in Tallawahs’ line-up. Six years after Tallawahs them to the CPL title, Imad repeated the feat. He was thrifty as usual with his left-arm inswingers and arm balls, and also slid up the order to deny oppositions favourable match-ups. Imad’s explosive 15-ball 41 not out in an unbroken 103-run stand off 30 balls with Shamarh Brooks in the second qualifier was among the highlights of the season.Sunil Narine’s economy of 4.80 was the best among bowlers who bowled more than 20 overs in the competition•Ashley Allen – CPL T20 / Getty 9. Sunil Narine (Trinbago Knight Riders) Runs: 111, Average: 13.87, Strike rate: 120.65; Wickets: 11, Economy rate: 4.80Narine struggled with the bat as an opener and was eventually demoted down the order. In a way, his failures with the bat mirrored the overall batting failure of Trinbago Knight Riders. However, Narine, the bowler, continued to be un-hittable: his economy rate of 4.80 was the best among bowlers who had bowled more than 20 overs in the competition. 10. Alzarri Joseph (St Lucia Kings) Wickets: 18, Economy rate: 6.75After having won the IPL earlier this year with Gujarat Titans, Joseph torched the CPL with his high pace, hit-the-deck bustle and inch-perfect yorkers. These skills enabled him to take wickets in all three islands – St Kitts, Trinidad and Guyana – and top the charts. These skills also attracted the attention of Jo’burg Super Kings in the SA20 auction midway through the CPL. 11. Mohammad Amir (Jamaica Tallawahs) Wickets 16, Economy rate: 6.43Sure, Tallawahs’ batting was hit-or-miss in the league phase, but Amir and Imad were consistent with the ball, performing the dual role of taking wickets as well as plugging the flow of runs. The Pakistan left-arm seamer bowled just 11 balls in the second qualifier and missed the final altogether with a groin injury, but his powerplay bite was central to Tallawahs qualifying for the knockouts. He swung the ball both ways, collecting nine wickets in the first six overs at an outstanding economy rate of 4.99.

Inducted into the Hall of the Fame, the allrounder had an outstanding career on the field and is now hugely influential off it

Daniel Brettig05-Feb-2021A persuasive case can be made for the fact that between the retirement of Shane Warne in 2007 and the rise of Nathan Lyon as an established member of the men’s team after 2013, no spin bowler in Australia was in greater command of their craft than Lisa Sthalekar. Unquestionably, none was more influential.The aggressive and inventive use of spin bowling in the women’s game, primarily in T20 but also in other forms, can be traced largely back to Sthalekar’s reinvention of spin as an attacking weapon for New South Wales, who she captained to multiple domestic titles, and then Australia on the world stage. This after decades in which they had been seen largely as run-stoppers while the seam and swing bowlers rested.

On being inducted into the Hall of Fame

“As a player there were plenty of times when I sat in the auditorium watching those players being inducted and hearing their stories, and you kind of wonder ‘will I ever get that chance, will my career ever be seen in a similar light as those before me’ and I get this opportunity now. It’s been an interesting road as an immigrant coming into Australia and trying to fit in and sport was certainly the way that I did it.

“Cricket was my second sport but I soon fell in love with it pretty quickly. Once I realised that women’s cricket existed and there was a pathway for me to not only represent my state but my country, that was something I certainly wanted to achieve at about 15 or 16 years of age. My family, my parents were very supportive, my father was the one who first introduced me to the game of cricket where I really fell in love with it. Went to the SCG and that kind of sold me to want to play for my country and hopefully be able to play there.

“One coach that has been from my NSW Under-18s right up to the Australian level was Steve Jenkins, so a shout out to him for him putting up with me but also me putting up with him as well, and then also the captains and my team-mates. They’re the ones you experience so much with on tour and they drive you to be better and I was very fortunate to come into the NSW and Australian teams with absolute legends of the game who are already inducted – Belinda Clark, Cathryn Fitzpatrick, Karen Rolton, the list goes on and on. So to be seen in a similar light to them I pinch myself. I’m very fortunate and very blessed to have represented my country and my state.”

Seldom can a cricketer have enjoyed a more triumphant career conclusion either, as Sthalekar twirled her way through opponents at the 2013 ODI World Cup in India, playing a major role in helping Australia to wrest back the crown they had lost on home soil four years previously, and bowling distinctively in her gold and green cap. As a person of colour, Sthalekar is a pioneering member of the Hall of Fame for other and equally significant reasons, as part of a personal story that intertwines so closely with the quantum leap made by the women’s game.”That’s something certainly that I’m proud of. I see myself first and foremost as an Australian cricketer and as I’ve gone on this journey I’ve realised that I’ve been seen as a role model for those of south Asian descent, an immigrant as well,” Sthalekar said. “Hopefully I’ve been a positive role model to all of them that you can make it in Australia; you can achieve what you want to if you keep your mind at it and (are) willing to work hard – anything is possible.”Unlike Warne and Lyon, of course, Sthalekar made her start in the game at a time when it was not exactly clear whether it was a game for her, with no women’s teams to speak of in the vicinity of her childhood home in Sydney’s west. “I didn’t even know women’s cricket existed,” Sthalekar recalled. “I remember speaking to my father and saying I wanted to play cricket and he said ‘I don’t think girls can play, because they’re all boys that play on Saturday mornings’.”In time, Sthalekar’s father went to West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook and got her a trial, before they discovered the existence of women’s teams more or less through happenstance.”I went down to my first trial and it was all boys there, certainly didn’t want to step out of the car, but my father insisted and I’m glad he did,” she said. “I was fortunate to be able to play with three guys all the way through to Under-16s and the penny only dropped because one of the senior players was actually dating a female cricketer at the time and said ‘there’s the Gordon Women’s Club’, so at the age of 13 I realised women’s cricket existed and joined – played boys’ cricket in the morning and women’s in the afternoon.”Lisa Sthalekar poses with the 2013 ODI World Cup trophy in Mumbai•ICC/GettyThe development of spin bowling as Sthalekar’s chosen skill was a largely self-taught affair, as she spent one whole summer learning how to deliver an effective offbreak, and can now admit that it was only in the later days of her long career for Australia that she was able to benefit from specific and directed advice as to how to develop further. Since retirement, she has enjoyed watching the rising stocks of left-arm spinners in particular, and hoped they all got greater chances to apply themselves in Test matches.”I still remember learning how to turn the ball, you know how they say get your seam to fine leg, that’s how you’re going to get your drop and drift and I couldn’t figure it out until I spent a whole summer in the nets by myself mucking around with different grips and techniques,” she said. “So a lot of it was self-taught, there weren’t a lot of spin bowling coaches going around. I got private coaching from a batting perspective from Wayne Seabrook, so spent a bit of time with him growing up, but when I came into the NSW side, I think offspinners were seen as very economical.Related

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“Just tie down one end for us, the rest will come at the other end. It probably changed when I took over the captaincy of the NSW side, I felt I could have the fields that I wanted, I started to bowl a little more aggressively and toss the ball up a little bit more old school spin bowling from that point of view.”Then, from a coaching perspective, the first time a coach really gave me a lot of feedback in a match situation was Stuart Law, he was assistant coach of us in the 2012 T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka, and he ran on a message in the final that I needed to slow it up because the pitch was quite difficult and I was getting the ball to bite. He provided feedback and then John Davison was part of our 2013 World Cup campaign, so right at the back of my career I got probably the biggest mentorship from a former spinner and a revered international coach.”That final campaign in 2013 still brings a twinkle to Sthalekar’s eye, with her part in the final victory over West Indies remembered as much for a spectacular catch to close out the game as for the spell of 2 for 20 that showcased all that was great about her flight, drift, dip and spin, and the critical wicket of Deandra Dottin.”I didn’t tell too many people, I think I just told my family and four friends, didn’t tell any of my team-mates,” she said of her retirement plans. “I pushed myself to finish off that six months, prior to that I wasn’t necessarily enjoying my cricket, I wasn’t quite sure where it was going, and I’m glad I did that and I can probably thank Shelley Nitschke and Sarah Andrews, two of my team-mates at the time and one obviously in Sarah had already retired, but Shelley was still heavily involved in the game and they kept pushing me to keep going.After retirement, Sthalekar has done some prolific work as a commentator•BCCI”So I’m glad I did, because most female cricketers back then would play a World Cup, play the Ashes and then after the Ashes everyone retired. But within our side we had Megan Schutt playing for the first time, Alyssa Healy was on the sidelines, Meg Lanning had just come in, I was seeing that next generation and we had just won the T20 World Cup, we’d won the Ashes back in 2011 and then we’d finished with the 2013 World Cup.”I thought ‘right, we’re No. 1 in every format, it’s time to go’ and given the fact I came in when Australia were really strong and dominant, it was nice to leave the team in that situation and then allowing the next generation a chance.”Since then, Sthalekar’s influence has been huge, across her involvement with the Australian Cricketers’ Association and also some prolific work as a commentator, a job that presently has her in Abu Dhabi for the ongoing T10 tournament. She is outspoken about the fact that administrators cannot afford to let Covid-19 cruel the strides made by the women’s game up to and including last year’s T20 World Cup, and must continue to invest for the long-term.”I understand that women’s cricket was building up really nicely and the T20 World Cup played at the MCG on March 8 showed what you can do if you invest heavily and market it properly, and I felt like women’s cricket was just about to kick off because of that, and then a week later the whole world shut down,” she said. “What that showed me was national boards and everyone went back to automatic pilot – ‘what’s going to give us revenue, it’s the men’s game, we’ve got to get that up and running’.”I understand you’ve got to pay bills and money’s got to come in, absolutely, but if you can find a way to get men’s cricket up and running in a bio-secure bubble, then surely you can do that for the women’s game. I look at India and they are a prime example. The last time they played as a country was March 8, and we’re nearly coming up to a year. Some countries have done really well, Pakistan women’s side have a couple of series locked in and they’re playing South Africa at the moment, Australia leading the way as well and New Zealand and we’re in that same bio-bubble.”But I urge national boards and the ICC to make sure the women’s game grows globally and goes off the back of that T20 World Cup – I hope that 80,000 at the MCG becomes a common occurrence.”Given how far the women’s game has come since Sthaleker attended that first trial session for a boys’ team, such a vision should be well within reach.

Mere minutes after reportedly acquiring shortstop Carlos Correa from the Minnesota Twins, the Houston Astros seemingly showed they aren't done.

The Astros are acquiring outfielder Jesus Sanchez from the Miami Marlins for pitcher Ryan Gusto, according to a Thursday afternoon report from Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.

Sanchez, 27, has played his entire six-year career for the Marlins. He's seen action in 86 games this season, slashing .256/.320/.420 with 10 home runs and 36 RBIs. Sanchez has career averages of 21 home runs and 69 RBIs per 162 games, though he has played more than 100 just twice.

Houston is enjoying a five-game lead over the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers in the American League West division despite a glut of injuries.

Gusto, who will reportedly go to the Marlins in the deal, has started 14 games for the Astros this season. He's currently 7-4 with a 4.92 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 86 innings pitched.

Thursday nights were Ruben Amorim’s saviour at Manchester United last season, although there was to be no solace in that slot this week, following the dismal draw at home to relegation strugglers, West Ham United.

A tepid and uninspiring display saw the hosts almost sleepwalk to that eventual 1-1 scoreline, despite taking the lead through Diogo Dalot in the second half, with the Red Devils showcasing almost a refusal to put the game to bed.

Even with the returning Matheus Cunha reinstated in the forward line, it was particularly concerning just how light United looked with regard to attacking options, not least with Benjamin Sesko the only senior star who is currently sidelined in that department.

At the back too, the frustrating absence of the previously ever-present Matthijs de Ligt also left Amorim scrambling to rejig his defensive unit, with the surprise inclusion of 19-year-old Ayden Heaven having seemingly backfired.

Ayden Heaven's game in numbers vs West Ham

A January arrival from Arsenal, the teenage sensation looked impressive during his handful of outings last season, with club legend Wayne Rooney suggesting that it looked like he’d “been there for years”, following his standout, albeit brief, impact.

Cruelly struck down by injury against Leicester City just a few games into his United journey, Heaven has since been on the periphery in 2025/26, with his only start prior to Thursday having come in the debacle down at Grimsby.

As was the case that rainy night at Blundell Park, the England youth international had a rabbit in the headlights feel to his performance against the Hammers, notably receiving an early yellow for a rash challenge on Jarrod Bowen.

Unsettled in a new role at the heart of the backline, in the absence of De Ligt, Harry Maguire and the benched Leny Yoro, the youngster was somewhat bullied up against the experienced Callum Wilson, having failed to win a single duel at all, as per Sofascore.

Indeed, the towering defender was unable to make a single tackle or interception, while recording a lowly 67% pass accuracy rate from just 17 touches, before being rightly withdrawn at the break.

Such is his age, the £1m signing certainly shouldn’t be written off, with that showing unlikely to prove terminal for his United career.

If anything, more of the scrutiny should rest on Amorim, with the Portuguese’s substitutions also needing to be put under the microscope.

Man Utd substitute looks to be on borrowed time

As treble winner Roy Keane suggested post-match, the hosts were almost attempting to see the game out as if they were champions, knocking the ball around with little belief that they would need a second goal to win the game.

That approach perhaps stemmed from Amorim’s second-half changes, with Joshua Zirkzee and the aforementioned Cunha both withdrawn for midfielders Mason Mount and Manuel Ugarte.

There were also eyebrows raised at the decision to remove goalscorer Dalot, not least with the Portuguese defender having actually looked settled in that unorthodox left wing-back berth.

That move remained even more bizarre considering the criticism that Amorim had directed at his replacement, Patrick Dorgu, ahead of the weekend trip to Selhurst Park, highlighting the “anxiety” that has been a feature of the Dane’s game of late.

Such woes were evident even during the 21-year-old’s cameo appearance, a display that epitomised the drop off that United tend to endure once alterations are made mid-game.

Minutes

22

Touches

28

Pass accuracy

93%

Key passes

1

Successful crosses

1/3

Successful dribbles

2/3

Total duels won

3/5

Tackles

0

Possession lost

6

Indeed, Dorgu memorably wasted a promising opening late on after producing a wayward cross that evaded everyone in red, having lost the ball six times from just 28 touches during his 22-minute outing.

Equally, there were audible groans from the Old Trafford crowd at one stage as the ex-Lecce starlet opted to let the ball run out of play for a throw-in inside his own half, rather than try and keep the play alive.

That might be a case of nit-picking, but nothing appears to be going right for the left-footer right now, with content creator Liam Canning of the assessment that he is “miles off the standard” required to be a success at Man Utd, suggesting the attack-minded talent is “nowhere near it”.

With Amorim now approaching a period where his squad will shrink even further amid the loss of Mbeumo, Amad and Noussair Mazraoui to AFCON next week, the likes of Dorgu and other peripheral figures will have to be relied upon more heavily.

On the evidence of Thursday and this year in general, United’s number 13 has shown little sign that he is up to that challenge.

18x ball lost: Amorim must ruthlessly bench overhyped 5/10 Man Utd man

This Man Utd ace struggled in their 1-1 draw at home to West Ham

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