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According to reports out of Italy, there has been a big Southampton transfer update involving Bologna star Mattias Svanberg as manager Ralph Hasenhuttl potentially edges closer to another signing.

The Lowdown: Saints busy…

Saints transfer chief Martin Semmens has been busy in this summer market already, first sealing a deal for ex-Man City goalkeeper Gavin Bazanu, who dazzled on loan at south coast rivals Portsmouth last season.

Following on from the Republic of Ireland international, Hasenhuttl then saw colossal central defender Armel Bella-Kotchap arrive from Bundesliga side VfL Bochum.

It appears Southampton mean business as they gear up for the 2022/2023 Premier League season with another promising update now coming to light involving Svanberg.

The Latest: Svanberg terms agreed…

According to Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), it is believed the St. Mary’s side ‘have already reached an agreement’ on his contract and salary as they shake hands on personal terms.

Potentially edging closer to his signing, all that remains is for Southampton and Bologna to agree a fee over Svanberg.

The Verdict: Exciting?

An iNews source described the Denmark sensation as one of the top number 8’s in Europe, a potentially head-turning tag and one which could best sum up why Hasenhuttl wants him in England.

The 23-year-old, also called a ‘very talented’ player by the source in question, was a mainstay for Bologna over 21/22 – playing the sixth-most Serie A minutes out of anyone in their squad (WhoScored).

An exciting up and coming player, we believe he could be a brilliant capture after Bazanu and Bella-Kotchup if they can get it done.

Recent reports have seen Liverpool linked with a move for Saint-Etienne starlet Saidou Sow, with the central defender having reportedly been recommended to the Merseyside outfit by current star Naby Keita.

The midfielder plays alongside the 19-year-old at international level for Guinea and has advised the Reds to take a closer look at the teenager, with the club believed to have taken note by heading to watch the player in action against Egypt in Cairo last weekend.

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The 6 foot 1 gem has a contract that runs until 2025, although the Ligue 2 outfit could be tempted into a sale if they are to receive an ‘interesting’ offer for his services, with the player currently valued at £3.6m, according to Transfermarkt.

The “superb” youngster – as he has been dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig – has only made 30 senior appearances to date since making his debut back in October 2020, although that lack of action has also been caused by an ankle injury which hampered his game time in the second half of last term.

Prior to that, the centre-back had started the season strongly for the French side, eventually averaging 1.8 interceptions, 2.2 tackles and 2.5 clearances per game from his 13 league outings, while also winning 56% of his total duels and chipping in with two goals.

An all-round defensive talent, Sow can even be compared to Borussia Dortmund veteran Mats Hummels, as per FBref, as the pair share a number of statistical and stylistic similarities.

That will no doubt be of interest to a certain Jurgen Klopp, with the German having coached his compatriot during his hugely successful stint with the Bundesliga outfit, the pair overcoming the typical dominance of Bayern Munich to win successive league titles in 2011 and 2012.

Hummels was the bedrock of that side – which also reached the Champions League final in 2013 – with Klopp having even reportedly been keen to bring the World Cup winner to Anfield in 2016, before the defender opted instead to link up with Bayern.

Once labelled “extraordinary” by the Reds boss, the now 33-year-old has enjoyed a lengthy and successful career at the elite level, racking up 447 club appearances in all competitions, while also winning 76 caps for his country.

To think that Klopp may be able to find a similar talent in the form of Sow will no doubt be music to the ears of both him, but also to Liverpool supporters, with it always a joy to snap up an emerging, exciting young talent who can then blossom before your eyes.

The £3.6k-per-week starlet may be something of an unknown quantity to some, yet he could prove to be the next Hummels in the coming years. The Reds won’t want to miss out as their efforts in the window ramp up with Darwin Nunez close to arriving.

IN other news, Klopp now plotting Liverpool bid for “dangerous” £34m talent, just imagine him & Nunez

Nottingham Forest are interested in signing Blackburn Rovers midfielder Joe Rothwell, according to a report from the Lancashire Telegraph. 

The lowdown: Rothwell’s career so far

Formerly of Manchester United, Rothwell arrived at Ewood Park in 2018 and has since become a mainstay for the Lancashire side, amassing 161 appearances.

However, the 27-year-old is out of contract at the end of June (Transfermarkt), and it appears as though a move could be on the cards for the former England youth international.

It now seems as though Forest could be among the interested parties ahead of a crucial week…

The latest: Forest keen on Rothwell

As per the Lancashire Telegraph, Steve Cooper’s side, along with Sheffield United and already-promoted Bournemouth, are in the mix to sign Rothwell.

It is claimed that the Rovers midfielder is ‘expected to receive offers’ this summer from the aforementioned clubs.

The report stated that the man for whom Cooper admitted a ‘love’ following a 2-0 Forest victory at Ewood Park earlier this season is set to ‘leave’ the Lancashire club at the end of his current deal.

The verdict: Make it happen

Regardless of what happens next week at Wembley against Huddersfield Town in the play-off final, adding Rothwell to the City Ground ranks would be a smart move from Cooper.

During the 2021/22 campaign, the energetic midfielder scored three times and provided 10 assists in 41 Championship outings, earning an outstanding 7.08 Sofascore rating whilst winning three duels, making 1.7 key passes and playing on average 77 minutes per game.

Valued at £3.15m by Transfermarkt, signing Rothwell – who has been tipped to become a ‘top player’ by his manager Tony Mowbray – for free would have to be regarded as a superb piece of business to kickstart what could be an exciting summer on the transfer front at the City Ground… especially if there is a Premier League campaign for which to prepare.

Good plans and relentless execution made sure Australia took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series

Vishal Dikshit in Mumbai14-Jan-20203:56

Warner-Finch shatter records, Starc-Cummins stifle batting

Australia were playing an ODI for the first time since the World Cup last year and they were arguably facing one of the best one-day sides in their backyard – India in India. And yet they had no problems winning the game, showing, in the process, that they had planned for India’s main batsmen, prepared for subcontinent conditions and had players capable of executing them perfectly.Finch brings his captaincy A game to IndiaAt one point in India’s innings it looked like Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul were going to lead them towards 300 with their century partnership. Mitchell Starc’s and Pat Cummins’ first spells had been seen off and the two batsmen were tackling the spinners without trouble.Finch was not giving up though. When Adam Zampa bowled to Rahul, he blocked the cover region with two fielders – short cover and extra cover – to stop him from playing his fluid drives on the off side that fetched him plenty of runs against West Indies and Sri Lanka. But Australia needed wickets and Finch decided to change ends for Ashton Agar. The bowler struck immediately by dismissing Rahul, and Finch now had an opening. He brought back his (current) best fast bowler, and Cummins struck straightaway with a length delivery. The ball was sticking on the Wankhede pitch on Tuesday and Dhawan popped a leading edge to cover and both the set batsmen were gone.The Zampa v Kohli contestEveryone would have thought of the challenges fast bowlers Cummins and Starc would pose for Virat Kohli. But Finch had faith in someone else. Someone who had dismissed the India captain three times in previous ODIs. Adam Zampa. After Kohli pulled a half-tracker for six, the legspinner replied with a sharp return catch next ball.It was a half-volley and it had been smashed back down the pitch but Zampa stretched his arms over his head and grabbed the ball with both hands, and just like that Kohli was gone, for just 16. Overall, Zampa has bowled to Kohli in seven innings and picked him up four times. That’s well worth conceding 126 runs off 97 balls.Even when Zampa had bowled earlier, he sent down a tidy spell of seven overs for 34, tossing the ball up, bowling on the stumps and using the crease well to make his wrong ‘uns more threatening. The 27-year old conceded only two fours in the first spell, repaying the faith of his captain and continuing the impressive work from last year’s ODIs in India when he had taken 11 wickets, only behind Cummins’ 14, with an average of 25.81 and economy rate of 5.68.ESPNcricinfo LtdThe return of Mitchell StarcWith Kohli gone, India were 156 for 4, and Finch saw another opening into the hosts’ inexperienced middle order. So he brought back Starc for his fifth bowling change in seven overs.Starc was playing only his second ODI in India and he did not start the way he would have liked while opening the bowling: there was no swing from his end and he was taken for two fours by Rohit Sharma in the first over. Seeing the lack of movement, he bowled a cross-seam delivery at 147.7 kph on a good length to Sharma, who miscued it to mid-off for his first breakthrough.Now back in the attack in the 33rd over, with Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer in the middle, Starc served a mixed bag to Iyer. He pushed the batsman on the back foot with a mean short ball that Iyer negotiated a bit awkwardly for a single to the leg side.When he got back on strike two balls later, Starc went full and used the angle from over the wicket to make Iyer play away from his body. Iyer was caught behind for 4 off 9 balls.Aaron Finch kisses the badge on his helmet•AFPIndia slipped to 165 for 5 at that point and never really recovered. Starc and Finch can take credit for that too. The Australia captain had saved three of his spearhead’s overs for the end and asked him to do just one thing. Bowl yorker after yorker after yorker.The first ball of Starc’s final spell, Shardul Thakur lobbed a catch to long-on which Kane Richardson put down. The next ball, Starc was only a tad inaccurate with the yorker with DRS saving Mohammed Shami after Michael Gough had ruled him out lbw. On the last ball of the over, Starc nailed the yorker, right on the base of off stump, and Thakur didn’t have any reply for it.The angles changed, the batsmen changed, but Starc’s plans stayed the same. He conceded a few too many boundaries towards the end off low full tosses, but his job was done and he ended with 3 for 56 from his 10 overs.Starc returned to India after nearly three years. Australia were playing an ODI after more than six months. Neither looked out of place.

The No. 4 position has become a problem for South Africa and captain Faf du Plessis is best placed to fill the hole in their batting line-up

Firdose Moonda at Old Trafford05-Aug-20171:35

A bad day today, but the Test isn’t gone – Amla

Nothing is working for South Africa. Not changing up the opening pair, not trying three different No. 4s, not altering the balance of the side from seven specialist batsmen to six and then going back to seven again. Not counterattacking, not trying to bat time, not even leaving. Nothing is working and, as this tour hits Groundhog Day, South Africa have to ask themselves why.The answers may lie in their failure to address the issues that existed last summer, when they were winning. And that is understandable. A team on the up – and South Africa were on a major up after slipping to No. 7 in the Test rankings this time last year – can brush their inadequacies aside. They can excuse them as mere speed bumps on the road to success, so that is what South Africa did. They said home pitches were generally seamer-friendly, especially in season when Sri Lanka were the sole visitors last summer, and they blamed conditions for the lack of hundreds in the New Zealand series in March, where Dean Elgar was their only centurion.Elgar is also the only one to have made a hundred in this series so far and South Africa can’t claim clouds and movement are the only reasons for that. Especially not after this showing.With the sun out at Old Trafford and after the early bite, this should have been a batsmen’s day. It was in the morning session, when England’s tail added 102 runs to their overnight total against a listless South Africa attack, whose only tactic seemed to be to wait for an error. And the defensive, dare we say negative, approach came from the top. Half of those runs came after Faf du Plessis moved the field out when the ninth wicket fell and Jonny Bairstow was then dropped on 53. The pressure was completely off the last pair and James Anderson could enjoy the best view of Bairstow taking England to a decent total, but not one that should have scared South Africa as much as it seemed to.

South Africa have thrown their two most promising players – de Kock and Bavuma – to the wolves while leaving the captain to clean up the mess

Their approach was to bed in. After the early losses of Elgar and Hashim Amla, just as he was getting going, Heino Kuhn and Temba Bavuma scored just 17 runs in the next 11 overs as they tried to show they could bat like Test players. But Kuhn got frustrated. Even though he was carrying a hamstring strain, he tried a tip-and-run and it almost cost him, then he was almost involved in a run-out after a mix-up with Bavuma, then he gloved a sweep and was almost caught behind and then he nicked off. Then the real rescue act was supposed to begin.Du Plessis spoke pre-Test about being “extremely hungry to make a play” at the place he used to call home; he spoke at the end of the last Test about “really enjoying those situations where there is almost no hope and you can just do your thing”. With him and Bavuma at the crease, South Africa were steady but when they were dismissed within three balls, South Africa had sunk to a position where a series-saving victory seemed impossible. And to where the proper scrutiny should begin.The No. 4 position has escaped the microscope because the opening partnership has been so poor but it can’t for much longer. In this series alone, South Africa have tried to fill it with experience in the form of JP Duminy, attack in the form of Quinton de Kock and an anchor in Temba Bavuma. They have not looked at making it the place for a leader.Du Plessis is probably the best candidate to bat there but is hidden at No. 5 instead, perhaps because the demands of the captaincy necessitate that he has some breathing room lower down the order; perhaps because his preference is to bat lower so he can come in if there is a real crisis. He should instead be thinking back to when he stepped into the role and how he fared. Du Plessis only batted at No. 4 in seven innings but in the time performed one his greatest rescue acts. His 134 against India in Johannesburg allowed South Africa to draw. When Jacques Kallis retired in the next match, there was talk of du Plessis taking over permanently but he only batted there in three more Tests before being moved.Temba Bavuma was the latest to bat at No. 4 for South Africa in the series and he top-scored with 46•Getty ImagesDu Plessis moved back to No. 5 for the tour of India and the home series against England and then he was dropped. When he returned, it was as captain and the decision was taken to move Duminy to No. 4. Duminy scored two hundreds in that position but a lean run in the last two series all but ended his Test career – he has not even been included in the A side that will play India A later this month – and means South Africa have to look elsewhere.Given that de Kock has been the most consistent performer in the last year, he was promoted to No. 4 but three failures in four innings forced another rethink. Bavuma was then promoted and it sounds like he will stay there. “Technically, Temba is very sound. He has been getting starts and the captain and coach feel he is the guy to hold the mantle,” Amla said, though he admitted South Africa are “still looking for the right combination”.Really, they have thrown their two most promising players to the wolves while leaving the captain to clean up whatever mess remains. It does not sound like the most effective way to order a batting a line-up, it sounds like a reaction to what could quickly become a crisis.South Africa are struggling for depth and though they may blood Aiden Markram in the home summer, Theunis de Bruyn – who made 11 batting at No. 7 here – is the only viable middle-order option. They need more batsmen to come through and the upcoming A series may help in that regard. David Miller has been included, Stephen Cook has been given a lifeline and the likes of Khaya Zondo and Jason Smith are on the radar. But none of them is likely to be the next No. 4. For that, they need du Plessis to step up again and maybe start to get things working.

On some days, nothing can stop them. Batsmen get away with risky shots, bowlers run through the opposition. Sometimes it seems like a higher force works in their favour

Jarrod Kimber in Nagpur12-Mar-2016When Afghanistan have a good day on the field, there is something magical about it. They already inhabit a special place in cricket history, but their days aren’t magic just because of history, it is the way they play and this almost preternatural feeling that on some days, nothing can stop them. Like the spirit of cricket is real, interventional and a member of their team.Today was one of those days.There is certainly something on Mohammad Shahzad’s side when he bats. All of his shots, his adrenal gland chomping slaps, would be caught for another batsman, that batsman dared to play his shots. But Shahzad’s just find the gaps, clear by inches, or land safely. Almost every time he plays you can hear the ghosts of cricket’s past moaning, “on another day, that’d be out”.But today wasn’t another day, it was Afghanistan’s day. You didn’t need a madcap Shahzad masterclass to know that.Even after Zimbabwe had fought back, with Afghanistan at 63 for 4, it just felt like it was to add drama. Maybe on another day Zimbabwe would have taken those four, added a few others, stripped down the total and kept their nerve. It didn’t happen, because it wasn’t that day.Richmond Mutumbami has been the form wicketkeeper on a tough pitch at Nagpur. The ball has spun a lot, it has bounced several times, and he has handled it all well. So when Nabi ran past Wellington Masakadza, he should have completed the transaction. Instead, divine intervention in the form of a wicketkeeping error saved Afghanistan. On another day, it would have been a wicket to Zimababwe. On this day it was a run to Afghanistan.

Afghanistan hit the ball in the air, a lot. They use air like other teams use the ground, as if it is the safe place to hit the ball. But on days like this, it just feels safer

Later, when the game tried to suggest that Samiullah Shenwari should be caught at deep midwicket by Malcolm Waller, someone up high said no again. This time it was the very real, very human figure of the third umpire Ian Gould, who decided after many replays that the ball had bounced. Maybe he was right, maybe it just looked that way to the cameras, but it always felt like something would save Afghanistan. This time it was Gould, the magical pixie from the land of Slough.When Afghanistan’s fate wasn’t changed, they were just actively given things. Extras scored 25 runs, at better than a run-a-ball. Wides weren’t conceded, that were gift wrapped lovingly and delivered more than one at a time.Mutumbami did break the stumps in the 17th over, trying a run-out, but instead of a smart piece of keeping, it became another cherry on Afghanistan’s cake as they took an overthrow. Later when he had to hit, he missed. Then when he finally did hit, it was too late. Zimbabwe weren’t playing Afghanistan, they were playing against fate, with no luck, and increasingly poor form.Afghanistan hit the ball in the air, a lot. They use air like other teams use the ground, as if it is the safe place to hit the ball. But on days like this, it just feels safer. When they try to hit to leg, the ball goes straight, in the air, and safe. When they try to hit to leg, again, the ball goes to the off, safe again. When the ball finally found a fielder, it seemed like it was just a chance to let someone else have fun.Zimbabwe’s innings wasn’t a threat, Sean Williams played a beautiful straight drive, it should have been four, at least two, but the fielding was too good, and they could only get one. Next ball Mutumbami was on strike and he found deep midwicket with one that felt like it hit the middle of the bat but was still preordained for the middle of Najibullah Zadran’s hands. Williams was dismissed when it almost seemed like someone had moved him out of his crease just so he could be stumped. Waller was bowled playing a ball that was created by a higher power.This was clearly Zimbabwe’s role in the match, the prat fallers, extras, and the faceless vanquished.By the time danger hitter Elton Chigumbura was allowed to bat the game had finished, he had not entered a cricket match he could win but a party in Afghanistan’s honour. Dawlat Zadran pointed excitedly. Hamid Hassan kissed the grass. Shahzad smiled. Asghar Stanikzai giggled. It was all magic.Afghanistan won the match, their match. Some of it was good spin, quality pace, confident batting and just a bit was magic. Hamilton Masakadza said that they were a team suited to the conditions that can win one or two matches in the main tournament.Afghanistan have had three of these magical days so far, if they get two or three more, it could be a magical tournament. Not just for them, but for cricket.

The semi-tropical weather brings an extra edge to the cricket – and to the spectators

Benjamin Golby01-Nov-2014Cricket in Brisbane offers a bit of everything. The wicket at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, known only as the Gabba, often proves a belter, resulting in a cavalcade of runs and aggressive strokeplay. The bounce of the pitch can assist spinners, with the city proving a particularly happy destination for Shane Warne. Most dramatically, Brisbane’s humidity and surly clouds assist swing bowling, even in ODIs. Recently Nuwan Kulasekara swept through Australia’s top order to remove the side for 74.The city’s semi-tropical weather is certain to impose itself on a trip to the cricket. The conditions invariably are warm and sticky, dictating loose clothing along with regular consumption of water. Rain can sweep in during the afternoon but rarely lasts for long. Equally arresting are the people. Queenslanders can be brash and excitable, like all Australians, but are generally always friendly and open. It would take an uncommon tourist to get through an evening’s cricket without some sort of chat to a sociable local.The venue
The Gabba is a short trip south from the city. It draws its odd name from the surrounding suburb of Woolloongabba. While it once featured an infamous hill, broad Moreton Bay fig trees, and a dog track for greyhound racing, it’s now a thoroughly modern stadium. Enclosing the ground is a ring of tiered stands, complete with fast-food vendors and bars serving the local XXXX Gold mid-strength beer. It hosts cricket through the summer and football in the winter, having long since banished the dogs.The most distinctive feature around the Gabba is its confetti of blue, gold and maroon seating, designed by an algorithm to give the illusion of a perpetually full ground (it works if you don’t think about it). All up, the Gabba is a comfortable, amiable and functional venue in which to enjoy cricket.Ground page | FixturesGreat matches
Australia v England, 2014
For the first time on their bleak Ashes tour last summer, England, with 300 runs on the board (and Australia 244 for 9), looked at a win. Respite and a bit of dignity beckoned before James Faulkner made the first stupefying heist of his ODI career and ran the total down with three balls to spare. The marvellous advent of Faulkner was balanced by the depths of the tourists’ humiliation.Australia v India, World Cup 1992
The tight match at the Gabba from the last World Cup here featured a fine innings of 90 from Dean Jones, matched by Mohammad Azharuddin’s 93. India were hampered by the archaic rain-disruption laws, and following a collapse in a late charge for runs, the No. 11 was run out a few strides shy of tying the game on the final ball.Top performers in ODIs
Most runs Dean Jones, 513 at 57 | Top score David Warner, 163 v Sri Lanka
Most wickets Glenn McGrath, 21 at 16.28 | Best bowling Chris Woakes, 6 for 45 AustraliaHome team
Queensland floundered for a long time in Australian cricket, taking nearly 50 years to win the Sheffield Shield and contributing few international representatives. This has changed in recent decades, for the side has flourished in the domestic competition and many of Australia’s key players have emerged from the Sunshine State. While Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson have both left their home, new hopefuls such as Ben Cutting, Chris Lynn and Alister McDermott may soon make their mark for the national side.Major players
Bill Brown | Don Tallon | Wally Grout | Craig McDermott | Ian Healy | Matthew Hayden | Andy Bichel | Shane Watson | Mitchell Johnson

A comprehensive review of the Pakistan-England series

Andy Zaltzman25-Feb-2013A few quick thoughts and numbers arising from the Pakistan v England series (I will do a full review of it in next week’s World Cricket Podcast). Some people are outlandishly claiming that the series ended in a 3-0 whitewash of the Universe’s Number One-Ranked Cricket Machine by a side that recently was not merely plumbing depths of on-pitch ineptitude and off-pitch naughtiness, but was fitting a basin, bath and power shower in those depths. This story is so far-fetched that it must be discounted. It cannot have happened. It cannot have happened. It simply cannot have happened. I checked the rankings this morning. England are still the Universe’s Number One-Ranked Cricket Machine. It must have been a hoax.Nevertheless, until the hoax is conclusively proved and accepted by the ICC, we must reflect on what allegedly happened. And what allegedly happened was one of the most extraordinary collective batting failures in cricket history, and one of the finest series wins of recent decades. England averaged below 20 runs per wicket for only the second time since Archduke Franz Ferdinand had his clogs controversially and unhelpfully popped, and registered their lowest team series runs-per-wicket figure since shortly after Tchaikovsky premiered his smash-hit ballet , and shortly before the birth of professional French President and eight-time European Nose Of The Year winner Charles de Gaulle (in 1890 – thank you, Wikipedia).England’s numbers 4, 5 and 6 (Pietersen, Bell and Morgan, with one innings at 6 by Prior) averaged 11.94, a figure that, since the First World War, has only been out-ineptituded once in a three-Test series ‒ by a motley collection of Indians against New Zealand in 1969-70.The people I feel most sorry for, with regard to this historic disintegration of England’s stellar batting line-up, are the poor, unfortunate bat sponsors. For the last year they had got their money’s worth. In their previous 13 Tests over three series, England bats had been waggled in celebration on 93 occasions – 54 times on reaching 50, 22 times to mark a century, ten times for 150, six times to celebrate double-centuries, and once by Alistair Cook to mark England’s first 250 since Gooch clomped India all around Lord’s in 1990. These had been unprecedented times for English bat-waggling. But in the three UAE Tests, those same bats remained eerily unwaggly.The five half-centuries England mustered in the series, none of which was converted into a hundred, represents the fewest times England batsmen have waggled their bats in celebration in a series of three or more Tests since the Ashes of 1888. Only once in that time have they scored fewer than five 50-plus scores – in the 1986 debacle against India, when England’s elite batsmen managed to pass 50 just three times. However, one thing you could not criticise England for in that series was failing to build on good starts. Of those three fifties, one became a century for Gooch and another a 183 for Gatting. It was the other 63 innings England’s batsmen played that were the problem.This was also only the third series since the First World War in which England have mustered only one score above 75. The two previous occasions were the three-match series with India in 1946, when the third Test was heavily curtailed by rain, and the five-Test 1985-86 series in the West Indies, when England’s batting was heavily curtailed by the West Indian bowlers. Curtailed, and, on occasion, facially rearranged.As wake-up calls go, for England, after a year in which they touched extraordinary heights against some far too ordinary opposition, this series was the equivalent of being whacked in the face with a live barracuda at 3.30am by a man dressed as a cross between Freddie Krueger and Richie Benaud. Bracing, unexpected, and hopefully not to be repeated.Extras● Azhar Ali justified his pre-series selection as The Confectionery Stall’s One To Watch with another innings of throwback craft and an almost medieval determination. Pre-medieval, perhaps. He gave the impression that, had he been a Roman gladiator facing up to a dangerously peckish man-eating lion in the Coliseum, he would have calmly blocked the lion with his sword, and kept blocking the lion with his sword until the lion got bored and tootled off to buy a hot dog from the fast-food stall outside. His partnership with Shafiq turned the Abu Dhabi Test, and his stand with the masterful Younis Khan effectively won the final match in Dubai. Both partnerships began with Pakistan trailing and having already lost second-innings wickets. Ajmal fractured England’s confidence in the first Test, and Abdur Rehman shattered its flimsy remnants in Abu Dhabi, but, in a bowler’s series, Azhar arguably had as much impact on the final scoreline.● Rehman finished the series with 19 wickets at an average of 16.7, and, by the end of the series, some of the English pundits were even beginning to acknowledge that he is a useful bowler. I heard it said of him during the series that “he is no Derek Underwood”. However, nor has anyone else been, since Derek Underwood, other than Derek Underwood himself, and even he is not the bowler he was. Rehman currently has the best Test average of any left-arm spinner to have taken 30 Test wickets since the Kent Conniver ended his 297-wicket career, and the third best of any left-arm tweakman to have debuted in the last 50 years (behind Underwood and Pervez Sajjad).● The ICC has rebuffed calls in the British media that they should step in and investigate after Saeed Ajmal appeared to admit in a TV interview that he was a French spy during the Napoleonic Wars. The Pakistan Cricket Board leapt to Ajmal’s defence, saying his comments had been misinterpreted, whilst the ICC confirmed that it had definitively cleared Ajmal of being an early-19th-century secret agent. One British journalist, who did not wish to be named, commented: “Well, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen him in the background of a painting of the Battle of Austerlitz, wearing a distinctly French-looking hat and waving a baguette around. I don’t care what the evidence suggests.”

Roelof van der Merwe didn’t hold back in this innings but there was no desperation in his game

Abhishek Purohit in Hyderabad26-Sep-2011At times, a batsman takes so much control over the flow of a game that
even a partisan crowd is stunned into silent acceptance of an inevitable
defeat. That moment arrived in the tenth over of Somerset’s chase when
Roelof van der Merwe, who had already brutalised his way to 62 off 30, got
a bouncer from Jacques Kallis.van der Merwe’s response was to arch back
and guide it over the wicketkeeper. He ended up playing the shot so
delicately that the ball went to the fine leg boundary. There was a gasp
from the crowd as it realised decisively that Kolkata Knight Riders had
run into a batsman so confident in his approach that there was no stopping
him.It was that kind of innings from van der Merwe. He is usually not one to
hold back but there is also, almost always, a sense of desperation to his
hitting. He didn’t hold back today either but importantly, the desperation
was absent. From the moment he came in, there was a sense that he was
going to go after the bowling, and that he was going to get away with it.
This made him even more dangerous, as he managed to inflict irreversible
damage by the time he was dismissed in the 14th over.In the second-wicket partnership of 105 between van der Merwe and Peter
Trego, Trego’s contribution was 23. He didn’t need to anything other than
get van der Merwe at the right end. The first four overs of the stand, all
against spin, went for 43 with van der Merwe finding the boundary seven
times. Gautam Gambir even brought Brett Lee back for an over but by then
van der Merwe had gathered too much steam to be reined in.He later admitted that the knock was much more than his usual frenetic
cameos. “I felt that it was one of my more controlled innings upfront,” he
said. He is aware of the active role he has to play at No.3 in the
absence of Craig Kieswetter and Jos Buttler and gave it everything.Whatever the Knight Riders threw at him, the boundaries just kept coming.
He played the late cut, he drove over cover, he whipped over midwicket, he
even reverse-swept for six. That last shot brought a playful intervention
from his captain Alfonso Thomas at the media briefing. “Don’t encourage
him,” Thomas told a reporter who asked van der Merwe how he had managed to
play the shot. “It was maybe just a rush of blood to upset the field a
bit; luckily it worked but won’t be playing it too much,” van der Merwe
said.When the deft upper cut was mentioned, van der Merwe said with a straight
face that he was “just trying to get out of the way” of the ball. But the
joke was on the Knight Riders. After a flowing 40 against them four days
ago, van der Merwe had again managed to hurt them, for the second game
running.

Stats highlights from the fourth day of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India

George Binoy and HR Gopalakrishna29-Dec-2007