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Last summer, Arsenal needed to sign a new centre-forward. Benjamin Sesko was in their crosshairs but he ultimately ended up signing a new contract with current employers, RB Leipzig.

In the end, the Gunners went without. The only signing to bolster the forward line was Raheem Sterling.

The Chelsea loanee promised we’d see the best of him. That did not happen.

In January, Mikel Arteta was crying out for a striker again but it wasn’t forthcoming. What happened next? Kai Havertz sustained a nasty hamstring injury during a warm-weather training camp in Dubai.

Arsenal’s Premier League form suffered drastically and it ultimately tripped them up in Paris when they exited the Champions League at the semi-final stages.

So, a year on from when a new centre-forward first should have arrived, Arteta and Co are back at square one, chasing Sesko again.

Arsenal moving closer to signing a new centre forward

When you end the campaign with Mikel Merino up top, you know something has gone drastically wrong.

In all fairness, Merino was fine. Fine being the key word. He wasn’t exceptional, he wasn’t the spearhead you need to win a Premier League or continental title but he did score six goals in 12 outings as a striker.

That’s not bad at all, but it’s not the 54-goal tally Viktor Gyokeres scored. It’s not the 27 goals Alexander Isak scored. It’s not the 21 goals Sesko scored either.

All three of those players would be excellent signings, but it’s Sesko who looks the most likely to arrive at the moment.

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That’s according to German publication BILD, via Sport Witness. They report on Wednesday that a deal is beginning to move on the player side.

Indeed, BILD states that Arsenal have ‘reached an agreement’ on personal terms between them and the striker.

While that doesn’t mean anything is wrapped up with Leipzig, the report does note that Arsenal have signalled to the Bundesliga club that they are set to made a bid that will not fall below their expectations financially.

It’s likely to take an offer between £68m-£85m to convince them to sell.

How Sesko could replicate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Arsenal

It’s safe to say that since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left Arsenal behind, Arteta has lacked a real potent centre-forward.

That’s not to say it was a mistake to let him go. After all, the Gabonese striker departed in controversial circumstances, stripped of the captaincy (video below) and then flying out to Barcelona on a trip that wasn’t sanctioned by the club.

Despite his flaws, Aubameyang was a mighty fine player for the club and was a key reason behind Arteta’s only trophy as a manager so far, the FA Cup in 2019/20.

Given Arsenal’s recent progress, it’s remarkable that they’re currently in the middle of a five-year trophy drought, but it’s perhaps no coincidence that they’re yet to win any major honours since Auba departed.

His record with the Gunners was exceptional, scoring 92 goals in 163 outings, most notably winning the Premier League Golden Boot in 2018/19.

He was one of the meanest forwards in the whole of English football during his time at the Emirates Stadium and even deservedly found his way into the PFA Team of the Year for 2019/20.

Aubameyang was relentless, netting 31 goals in 51 games throughout 2018/19 and then the following term, he bagged 29 in 44 matches.

Well, if Sesko did arrive then he’d certainly have a lot to live up to but there are similarities in the way they play the game.

Described as “the new Haaland” by scout Jacek Kulig, the Slovenian possesses a tall frame, standing at 6 foot 5. In contrast, the former Arsenal forward stands at 6 foot 2.

There is a slight difference there but what their height allows is for a longer and more powerful stride pattern. They can burst beyond the last line of the defence and surge towards goal in a similarly explosive fashion.

Rather than relying on intricate build-up play, they’re also very clever with their movement and rely on their instinctive finishing ability. In essence, they’re both mighty fine poachers. More often than not, they’re always in the right place at the right time.

Similarities between Sesko & Auba

Stat (per 90 mins)

Sesko (24/25)

Auba (19/20)

Shots

2.50

2.61

Shot on target %

43.9%

44%

Average shot distance

17.5 yards

15.5 yards

Expected goals (xG)

0.38

0.42

Shot-creating actions

1.93

1.98

Touches

34.1

35.4

Carries

16.8

20.9

Completed passes

15.7

17.6

Key passes

0.72

0.75

Pass completion %

67.6%

67.3%

Stats via FBRef.

Comparing one of Aubameyang’s best seasons at Arsenal with Sesko’s latest campaign, we can see see alike the pair are.

They took a near identical number of touches and completed a near identical rate of successful passes per 90 minutes, suggesting their actions in the build-up are very similar.

Likewise, they come out very closely for key passes and shot-creating actions, underlining how often they make something happen in the final third of the pitch.

Aged just 22, Sesko clearly has a lot of development left to do but if Arteta could extract that in north London, the Spaniard may well have the next Aubameyang on his hands, just without the excess baggage. That doesn’t sound too bad, does it?

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Posts ByMatt Dawson Jun 18, 2025

Celtic find themselves in the market for reinforcements this summer and have now moved closer to landing a new target amid recent developments.

Celtic begin to motor in the transfer market

On the face of it, Celtic fans will attest to the fact that the last few days have become a whirlwind in their search for new additions, with several names mentioned in connection with a move to Glasgow’s east end.

Josh Doig could replace Greg Taylor at left-back following Kieran Tierney’s arrival at Parkhead, which would add significant depth on that side of the backline alongside strengthening the Bhoys’ homegrown quota.

Casting the point of focus to Brendan Rodgers’ hunt for a striker, Shay Given has recommended a loan move for Evan Ferguson to Celtic as the Brighton & Hove Albion striker searches for consistency after an unfortunate spell at West Ham United.

He stated: “I just feel he’s ready now to burst onto the scene for a full season with somebody. For us with Ireland it would be great too.

“I don’t know (what) the finances would be to buy him, but if you said for a loan for the season it would be perfect. But I’m not the financial power at Celtic or Newcastle, so I don’t know!”

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BySean Markus Clifford Jun 12, 2025

The Champions League qualifiers will soon be on the horizon for Celtic. Being seeded will help, but potential opponents such as Basel and Sturm Graz aren’t to be sniffed at.

Finding value for money on the market is paramount. The Bhoys have a proven track record of bringing in talent with sell-on value, so it will come as no surprise to hear they are heading down the right lines on that front.

Celtic granted permission to speak to Benjamin Nygren

According to Sky Sports, Celtic have been granted permission to speak to Nordsjælland playmaker Benjamin Nygren, and they are now in talks with his representatives to try and convince him to move to Glasgow.

The Sweden international is out of contract in December and is free to explore a transfer due to a gentleman’s agreement with his current employers. It is mooted that he will be available for just £2 million.

Should Celtic agree terms with Nygren, negotiations will then begin with Nordsjælland to agree on a fee. However, it remains to be seen if other players come to the table.

Enjoying a fantastic campaign, the 23-year-old registered 16 goals and four assists in 32 appearances across all competitions this term, operating mainly off the right flank.

Showcasing his versatility, Nygren is also capable of fitting in as an attacking midfielder, centre-forward or on the left-hand side, carrying a level of appeal due to his multi-functional nature.

Now, it remains to be seen if Celtic can push this one over the line as they aim to prolong an era of domestic dominance in Scotland that nobody has been able to match.

And just like that, Arsenal’s Premier League dreams are officially over for a third year on the bounce.

Mikel Arteta’s side had to watch Liverpool claim the title yesterday afternoon after they blitzed Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 at home.

While there have certainly been some extenuating circumstances this year, it would be fair to say that the Reds are deserving winners, as with four still left to play, they’ve outscored the Gunners by 17 goals.

With this in mind, it’s no secret that Arsenal fans are desperate for the club to sign a new striker in the summer, so it’s rather unfortunate that Arteta sanctioned the sale of one who’s currently outscoring two of their most heavily linked targets: Benjamin Sesko and Alexander Isak.

Why Arsenal want Isak & Sesko

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at why Arsenal would want to sign Isak and Sesko this summer, as the last few months have seen them constantly linked with the club.

Starting with the former, the most obvious answer is that, since moving to Newcastle United, he’s become a lean, mean goalscoring machine.

For example, this season alone has seen him rack up a brilliant haul of 26 goals and six assists in 39 appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.21 games.

However, what is just as important is that he’s performing at this level in the Premier League, meaning he’d likely need little to no time to adapt at the Emirates.

In contrast, Sesko doesn’t have that experience, but on top of his 26 goal involvements this term, he has two other advantages.

The first is that, at just 21 years old, there is every chance he could continue to develop into a seriously impressive player by the time he reaches Isak’s age, and the second is that, at 6 foot 5, he’d help make the Gunners even more intimidating to play against.

However, while either striker would be a fine addition to the club, it must be frustrating for Arteta to know he oversaw the sale of a player who’s outscoring both of them.

The former Arsenal ace outscoring Isak & Sesko

While Arteta made several impressive sales last summer, like Eddie Nketiah’s £30m move to Crystal Palace and Emile Smith Rowe’s £34m move to Fulham, he made one which has since backfired.

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In July, the Gunners agreed to sell young striker Mika Biereth to Austrian outfit Sturm Graz for about £4m.

The Danish poacher had spent the latter half of the previous campaign on loan with the club, where he racked up a reasonably impressive tally of nine goals and four assists in 22 appearances, so it would be fair to say that even at the time, the fee seemed low.

Unfortunately for the Gunners, that has since proven to be the case, as in the first half of this season, he ended up scoring 14 goals and providing five assists in 25 appearances.

This incredible start to the campaign was enough to convince AS Monaco to spend around £10.8m on him in the January transfer window.

Since moving to the French Riviera, the “outrageous” talent, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has gone from strength to strength, scoring 13 goals and providing three assists in just 17 appearances for his new club.

That means that the young striker, who Arteta sold for what now looks like pennies on the dollar, has managed to rack up a tally of 27 goals and eight assists in just 42 appearances, which works out to a goal involvement every 0.83 games.

Appearances

42

39

42

Goals

27

26

20

Assists

8

6

6

Goals Involvements per Mat

0.83

0.82

0.61

In other words, Biereth is currently outscoring Isak and Sesko, making Arsenal’s decision to sell him in the summer all the more baffling.

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Tottenham Hotspur have seemingly been offered the chance to sign a noteworthy Chelsea player this summer, and he could prove a very useful addition for Ange Postecoglou or his potential replacement next season.

Tottenham transfer plans amid Ange Postecoglou uncertainty

Spurs are on course for their worst ever Premier League season, resulting in uncertainty surrounding Postecoglou’s long-term future, and reports suggest the former Celtic boss could be shown his P45 regardless of their campaign in Europe (The Telegraph).

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It would be a real head-turner.

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A succession of managerial candidates have been tipped to potentially succeed Postecoglou, but as technical director Johan Lange and Daniel Levy assess Spurs’ options in that regard, they must also begin preparations for the summer transfer window.

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Brighton (home)

May 25th

Tottenham are reportedly in the market for a forward, and have even been linked with a surprise move for West Ham star Jarrod Bowen this week.

Levy is apparently willing to bid around £51 million to sign Bowen for Spurs, even if this may not be anywhere near enough, but the England international isn’t their only rival player to be mentioned as a possible incoming in the last few days.

Christopher Nkunku holds talks to join Tottenham via agents

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, speaking to The Boot Room, £195,000-per-week Chelsea winger Christopher Nkunku is actively looking to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.

The Frenchman, who’s actually scored 14 goals in all competitions this season, verbally agreed terms over a move to Bayern Munich in January (Florian Plettenberg), and looks set to be one of the many men sold or loaned out by Enzo Maresca’s side when the window reopens.

Bailey writes that, while a move to Europe is more likely, Nkunku’s camp have reached out for talks with Tottenham recently, as the ex-RB Leipzig sensation’s representatives attempt to offer him to a host of clubs.

“I am told that a move to Europe is the most likely option – but his people are touching base with clubs in England,” said Bailey.

“Arsenal, Liverpool, Man United, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Tottenham have all been spoken to in the past few months. Chelsea want to recoup as much of their plus £50m outlay, but that looks difficult at this juncture.

“I am told the player is very happy in London, and so would a move to a Arsenal or Tottenham appeal? I believe it would but as it stands those options are not advanced – but Arsenal and Spurs both have an historic interest in the player. Both want a wide forward, so you could see the fit.

“There is interest back in Germany – Bayern Munich like him, a new deal for Leroy Sane doesn’t rule out them making a move but it is not pressing. Former club RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen also admire him.”

The versatile 27-year-old has displayed real quality on occasion since his switch to London, and was a revelation in the Bundesliga. However, this could prove to be a costly operation, especially for a price around £50 million, not to mention his lofty salary.

With Spurs in for a ‘sell to buy’ summer, as per The Telegraph, these factors may well deter Levy.

From going unsold at the IPL auction to becoming Punjab Kings’ designated finisher, he has seen heartbreak and redemption, and come out on the other side with renewed belief

Ashish Pant10-Oct-2025The night of June 3 still haunts Shashank Singh. Punjab Kings had done most things right in IPL 2025. They topped the group stages, qualified for their first IPL final in 11 years, and looked set for a maiden title. But they fell short in the final.Shashank was a central figure in the team’s run to the final. He was their fifth-highest run-getter, with 350 runs in 17 innings and a strike rate of 153.50. More importantly, he was their designated finisher.When he came in to bat in the final, PBKS were four down, with the required rate close to 12 an over. Quickly running out of partners, Shashank got a few boundaries away, and while he finished unbeaten on 61 off 30, it wasn’t enough. PBKS lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru by six runs.”It still hurts,” Shashank says. “Sometimes, when I recall what could have happened… it is very easy to say that I have moved on. But these things take time.Related

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“You say things [like] the sun will rise tomorrow, there will be another day. These things are nice to say and hear. It is very important to move on in cricket, but sometimes it doesn’t happen. The next ten to 14 days were very tough for me.”Every ball. I remember every ball even now. Where could I have been better? Should I have attacked Krunal Pandya? Should I have gone after Romario Shepherd a little early? Should we have done better [in] the field? What could I have done differently? I have moved on, obviously, and there are lots of things to look forward to. But yeah, sometimes it still hurts.”Since the start of IPL 2024, only Prabhsimran Singh has more runs than Shashank’s 704 in 28 innings for PBKS. Shashank averages nearly 47 across these two seasons, while striking at 158.91. While things are on the up now, it was very different three years ago, when he was left devastated after going unsold at the auction for the 2023 IPL. Having been on the IPL circuit since 2017 with Delhi Daredevils (2017), Rajasthan Royals (2019-21) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (2022) and still only having played ten games, Shashank, 31 at the time, was left contemplating his future.Shashank was the top scorer for PBKS in the 2025 final, but his unbeaten 61 couldn’t stave off defeat while the rest of the batting collapsed around him•Getty ImagesHis PBKS signing for the 2024 season was mired in confusion after a mix-up during the auction where for a while it seemed that Punjab Kings wanted to rescind their winning bid for him. It led to plenty of trolling on social media for months. But now, with the worst behind him, Shashank firmly believes it was all for the best.”Whatever I am today is because of that IPL auction where I did not get picked on December 23, 2022. I am what I am today because of that date,” Shashank says. “If someone tells me that I am gradually improving, it is because of that year – it keeps me in check. I get reminded about it sometimes, once a year, sometimes once a month, but I do get reminded of it. And then suddenly I start getting scared. And then you realise, no one is bigger than the sport and can never be. So I start again. It was an eye-opener for me. Whenever I slack [off] or get laid back, I immediately snap out of it, recalling that time.”If that wouldn’t have happened, I probably wouldn’t have loved this sport as much, nor would I have been working so hard. Till two years back, I used to say that cricket is a part of your life, not your life. But I’ve realised lately that cricket is my life. I don’t know what I will do without this sport. If someone asks me my plans after five-six years, I get scared because this sport has become my life.”Over the last few years he has transformed himself from a middle-order batter to a death-overs specialist. It didn’t come naturally, but he took the plunge to give himself a chance to stand out from the competition. He first explored the finisher’s role at the DY Patil tournament in February 2023 in Mumbai and realised he had the “calmness and maturity” required to play in the position. For the rest of the year he practised batting with the tail and worked on his power-hitting. It gave him a fresh lease of life when he was picked up by PBKS.In this year’s IPL, no batter had more runs than Shashank’s 242 in the last five overs of an innings. Across the last two IPL seasons, only Tristan Stubbs (360) has more runs in the death overs than Shashank’s 318 at a strike rate of 213.42.”Surya [Suryakumar Yadav] once told me that the player who bats at No. 6 and 7 gets judged the most,” Shashank says. “There are more times that you will fail, because the level of risk you take is the highest.ESPNcricinfo Ltd”See, I want to be a superstar for my team. That role of a hero, I want to be that. And I feel that the best time to become a hero is by batting at No. 5 and 6. I enjoy taking responsibility, I like it when the odds are against me. When the team needs 12 runs off two balls, I want to be the batter to hit the two sixes.”Sometimes I feel I would have got more visibility if I had batted up the order. I have batted there all my life, I have scored runs also. But I feel I am the best as a finisher and that’s why the team has selected me in that position.”Shashank is also a handy medium-pacer, and while he hasn’t bowled much in the IPL, he has picked up 37 wickets in List A cricket and 20 in T20s. In the 2023-24 domestic season, he became the first Indian to make over 150 runs and pick up five wickets in the same List A match, against Manipur.Earlier this year he won the BCCI’s Lala Amarnath award for the best allrounder in domestic limited-overs competitions for the 2023-24 season.Despite all that and his decently consistent run with the bat, Shashank hasn’t received an India, or even an India A, call-up yet. “I won’t say that I don’t feel bad [at not getting a national call-up],” he says. “There is disappointment. But again, can I do anything about that? Yes, keep on performing and keep on asking what else I can do better.”I don’t want to just play for India; I want to win matches for the country. I visualise and think the same way. Even today, when I’m training, power-hitting, I think about what I need to do to win matches. If I’m playing in Australia, I’ll be facing conditions where there is extra bounce, so I need to improve my pulls and cuts. If I’m playing in India, I’ll need power-hitting so that I can clear the ropes easily.”See, my job is to tick the boxes, to work hard. I can only control the things which are in my hand. That national call, that India A call-up, how that will happen, when it will happen, I don’t know. But one thing is that I still have a dream. That dream of winning matches for India. It will happen. The belief is still there.”Some might think that at 34 Shashank is past his prime, but he feels his best years are ahead of him. He draws inspiration from an illustrious former Mumbai team-mate who made his T20I debut at 30. “Surya hit Jofra [Archer] for six in his first match [innings] and now he’s the captain of the Indian team,” he says.”Then there’s Pravin Tambe. He didn’t play for India, but at the age of 41, he debuted in IPL. Can you imagine that!ESPNcricinfo Ltd”Sometimes, when you are disappointed about not seeing your name [among those picked], then these examples come to mind. These players had that belief and that’s why they are there.”In our sport, there is no criteria for age. It all depends on the performance of an individual and the team’s needs. I think age is unnecessarily categorised as an important thing. I just feel it is an excuse. If I am a liability for the team, if I can’t run quickly between the wickets, if I can’t field in the outfield, then yes, surely the age factor comes into play. But when you are proactive, you are an asset to the team. Then age is just another number.”IPL 2025 was the first time PBKS made it to the final since 2014, and Shashank attributes the team’s success to the captain and coach, Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting.”Shreyas is at a different level altogether,” Shashank says. “He has his own aura, a different mindset altogether. Won’t talk rubbish, won’t tolerate rubbish. When he bats in the nets, he knows what he is doing. If someone asks me: who is the best captain you have played under? Hands down, Shreyas Iyer.”And then Ricky sir, he has made the game very simple. Cricket can be a complicated sport at times. If you ask a batsman, the leg shouldn’t go across, the head shouldn’t fall, but Ricky sir has simplified the game brilliantly.”You know why he is a great coach? It’s because he knows what a player wants. I’ll give you an example. I did not bat in the nets a single day throughout the IPL. Once the matches began, for two-and-a-half months, from the first match against Gujarat Titans till the final, I did not bat in the nets even once. Even Shreyas sometimes used to say, ‘Bro, what are you doing?'”Everyone has their own rhythm. After so many years, I now know my game. IPL is a high-pressure tournament. Even on non-match days there is a little pressure on everyone involved. Sometimes when batting in the nets, if you miss a few balls, if you mistime a few shots, there is added pressure on yourself. If I play a bad shot in the nets, I start thinking about that one shot rather than the other good shots I played. And I don’t know how but Ricky sir understood this.”Ahead of the last IPL season, Shashank had just one goal in mind: to not be a one-season wonder. Having ticked that box, he now wishes to manifest two things in the next year.”If you ask me about the team, then Punjab is lifting next year’s IPL for sure,” he says “And one more prediction I have, and that is in the upcoming [T20] World Cup in India, I’ll be playing, and I’ll be winning games for the team. I don’t know how that will happen, but I surely believe that it will happen.”

David Warner will bow out of Tests as one of the best openers to have played for Australia, and perhaps the best opener of his era

Shiva Jayaraman31-Dec-2023David Warner will end his Test career as the fifth most prolific batter for Australia. With one Test left in his career, he’s scored 8695 runs at an average of 44.58. No opener has scored more runs for Australia in Tests than Warner. Warner went past Matthew Hayden’s 8625 runs for Australia in his penultimate Test at the MCG. Hayden is the only Australia opener to score more Test hundreds than Warner’s 26.For someone who was in danger of being straight-jacketed as a white-ball specialist in the early days of his career, Warner finishes with a handsome record in Tests: he is the fourth most prolific opener ever. Only Alastair Cook, Sunil Gavaskar and Graeme Smith have made more runs in Tests as an opener. Australia fast-tracked Warner to T20Is – he made his debut even before he had played first-class cricket – because of his attacking style at the domestic level. Warner brought that style to his Test match batting as well, striking at 70.31 in the format. Among 35 batters to score 8000 or more Test runs, and those for whom strike-rate data is complete, only Virender Sehwag had a higher strike-rate.The best at a tough gigRemarkably, despite scoring at that clip Warner has been more enduring than any other opener in an era that has been largely difficult for openers. Since Warner’s debut, only seven other openers have survived long enough to score at least 3000 Test runs. Cook, who was an established opener for England long before Warner started, is the next most prolific opener with 6555 runs since Warner’s debut. Warner’s average of 45.08 is also easily higher than any of the above seven batters. With a lower cut-off of 2000 runs only Usman Khawaja and Rohit Sharma average higher than Warner.Warner also hit more hundreds than any other opener during his career. Warner’s 26 hundreds are ten more than Dimuth Karunaratne’s, who is the next-most prolific opener in terms of hundreds. Openers from New Zealand (22) and West Indies (18) and Bangladesh (12) have collectively hit fewer Test hundreds than Warner.ESPNcricinfo LtdBetter home than awayWarner was undoubtedly a better batter at home than he was away on tour. He scored 5336 runs as an opener at an average of 58.63. Among 21 openers to have scored 3000 or more runs at home, none average higher than Warner. The next best is Len Hutton, whose 3885 runs as an opener in England came at an average of 57.98. Overall, Warner has scored 5347 runs in Australia at an average of 58.11. He made 3348 runs on away tours at an average of 32.50.Not that Warner didn’t have his highs playing outside Australia: in the 2013-14 series in South Africa, he made 543 runs at an average of 90.50 with three centuries and two fifties in six innings. Among visiting batters, only Neil Harvey has made more runs at a better average than Warner in a Test series in South Africa. Harvey made 660 runs at 132.0 in eight innings in 1949-50. Ken Barrington is the only other visiting batter to score 500 runs in a series in South Africa at a better average. Best phase That South Africa tour came at the beginning of Warner’s best phase in Test cricket, which started with the Ashes hundred at the Gabba in 2013-14. From that Ashes series to end of the home season in 2015-16, Warner wasn’t just the best opener at the Test level but was also among the top batters. He scored 3066 runs at an average of 62.57 and made those runs at a strike rate of 81.49 in 27 Tests in that period. No batter scored more runs in Tests than Warner during this time. Among 76 batters to have played at least 20 innings in that period, Warner’s average of 62.57 was the fourth-best, only behind Kane Williamson, Steven Smith and Angelo Mathews, who was ahead of Warner by the smallest of fractions.The Gabba hundred in the 2013-14 Ashes would be the first of the 13 hundreds he would make in a span of just 50 Test innings. That is as prolific a streak as any of the currently active batters have had. Steven Smith and Virat Kohli are the only other currently active batters to make 13 centuries in any span of successive 50 Test innings. Warner accumulated 3017 runs at an average 62.90. Apart from Warner, only four batters with active Test careers scored 3000 or more runs over 50 successive innings – Virat Kohli, Steven Smith, Kane Williamson and Marnus Labuschagne. At his peak Warner rubbed shoulders with the best batters of this era.