India and Sunrisers Hyderabad senior fast bowler says he has regained his rhythm and is ready for the World Cup

Varun Shetty16-Apr-20192:56

Does Bhuvneshwar see himself as the leader of India’s pace attack?

You had a lot of downs in the past year. Having missed most of the action in England in 2018, how does it feel to finally be going back there?I wouldn’t say it was down. It was up and down. Basically down because of the injuries.Your career has been stop-start over the last year. How has the board handled that and how have you handled it, personally?I would say thanks to BCCI and NCA (National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru). They weren’t rushing to send me back to the ground. They knew if I go back and get injured, it will be a longer period [of recovery]. So after England (2018 tour), I came back to the Asia Cup. I was pretty fit there, but since that [lower back] injury, I’ve been really taking care in terms of training and rehab. I’m not taking it for granted because I know if I get injured again, it’ll be a personal loss and also from the team’s perspective because of the set-up there right now.Regarding your fitness, there will be at least nine matches at the World Cup plus at least seven more here in the IPL. Is that something you’ve thought of?Not at the moment. But of course, it’s only the halfway stage of the IPL. If we go to the last phase of the tournament, we’ll see how the body goes. If everything goes well, there’s nothing to be worried about. If there’s a niggle or something like that, we can talk to the [Sunrisers] management. The franchise has been really kind to me and other players as well. They keep asking how we’re feeling because they know the World Cup is important for us as well.

The good thing is that when you talk to others or give them advice, there are things you also learn

You have been that captain for a while at Sunrisers, while Kane Williamson was out with an injury. How has that been?It’s been good. The good thing is that when you talk to others or give them advice, there are things you also learn. Sometimes you say something to a bowler and it strikes that this thing can work for you as well. In that way, it’s been good. Otherwise, there’s a good coach and mentor. They’re helping everyone out.Is there anything about captaincy that you didn’t expect?Not really different, but it’s been good for me in terms of experience and maturity. When you are in those shoes, you know how things work. When I go back to the Indian cricket team, I can look back at it that way that things are not easy for a captain or a coach. I’ll try to make things easy for them. Not ask too many questions. I can feel that.Bhuvneshwar is India’s best swing bowler, a useful trait in England•Getty ImagesHave you ever wondered about your decisions after a game?Yes, of course. Not just as a captain, as a player as well. Especially when you’ve lost the match. You think you could have changed something, you shouldn’t have done something; these thoughts come and it helps you not make the same mistakes in the other matches.How has it been to manage those thoughts, both as a senior player and as captain?It’s all about responsibility, not just as a captain but also a senior bowler. There’s a responsibility to make them feel comfortable. But if you look at bowlers like Sandeep [Sharma], Siddarth [Kaul], they’re also senior bowlers. If you look at Sandeep, he’s been in the IPL for many years. Siddarth did really well for us for two years. So there’s not many changes, but of course if you talk to them, you learn one or two things from them.You’re known to be really good at the death. It was one of the reasons why your limited-overs fame came about, when you started maturing as a fast bowler. But you have slipped a little bit over the last year. Why do you think that has happened?Look, the first thing is that IPL is a big tournament. You cannot bowl well in all 14 matches, there are a few matches where you will go for runs. But if you look at the last two-three matches, I’m happy the way I’ve bowled. Whatever I wanted to execute, it is happening. So it’s not a concern for me right now. There were a few matches where I couldn’t bowl the way I wanted to, but it’s a part of the game.

When you’re not in the rhythm, or when you’re coming back after a break, you want to bowl more

An economy of 13.4 and eight wickets in death overs say you’ve probably not done well since the last season. Which is shocking to many, because how does that just happen? Have the batsmen picked you better? Have injuries played a role?See, it’s everything. The batsmen could be picking me well. They know what my plan is. But if you look at the last four years of the IPL, I’ve done really well. If you’ve done well for so many years, there’ll be a few bad years as well. But economy of 13 or taking wickets, it’s not really a concern. Sometimes there’s a match of 200 and you get hit for a few runs. Stats are something which can’t define everything. It could be hiding more things than it shows. But, of course, I haven’t been as good as what I was two years back. Last year, I wouldn’t count because I was injured. But this year, the first two matches I wasn’t really good. It could be anything, they’re picking me well, I’m not executing well, or I’m not in the rhythm. But last two matches it’s been really good for me.Does it change how you train over the next few days if you get hit in a game?It doesn’t change the training, but I bowl more. Because I know when you’re not in the rhythm, or when you’re coming back after a break, you want to bowl more. You don’t want to be dependent on the matches, saying after five matches I’ll be in rhythm. It depends if you feel that you want to bowl more. Sometimes what happens is you’re not getting wickets, you’re going for runs, you just want to get away. So sometimes you don’t practice at all. It depends.Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowls•AFP/Getty ImagesDo you think it depends on who is bowling with you? There’s a theory that when Jasprit Bumrah bowls with you, they play him out and attack you.Could be. I’m not sure, but it can happen sometimes. They want to defend against a particular bowler, they want to target a particular bowler. But in the end, if they want to target me and I’m not able to execute, they’ll easily hit me. But, of course, if they want to target me and I execute properly, I can get the wicket as well. It’s not an excuse but it’s about execution.Is it easier to bowl yorkers in ODIs because the ball is older?No, it’s almost the same, whether it’s T20 or ODIs. But when there’s dew, you’re not able to grip the ball, then it’s difficult.Do you think batsmen pick the knuckle ball better these days?Yes, they know a few bowlers bowl the knuckle balls, so they figure out ways to pick it.

England is a place where the ball swings, but if you look at the last few tournaments, the ball didn’t really swing. It was more of flat wickets

Tom Moody said you’re someone who needs a lot of games to get into your flow. Do you agree with that?Of course. Not (just) me, but anyone. When you’re not playing games and you come back to playing a competition like this, you need a few games to get back to the rhythm. I’m no different than anyone. If you get more games, you’re in the rhythm, that gives you confidence.Was it difficult at the start of the season with the lack of match fitness?I wouldn’t say match fitness, but I’d say rhythm. The first match didn’t go well, then you can feel that rhythm is something I can improve. And that comes back after playing two-three matches. If you look at the last two matches, I’m almost up there with my rhythm.Match fitness-wise have you hit your peak?Last two-three matches it’s been really good for me. I wouldn’t say peak, but close, the way I bowled in the last match. It’s not about taking wickets, but how you’re feeling when it comes to rhythm and execution.Would you be keen to rest yourself to manage workload? Or would you rather be playing?Of course, at this point, if everything goes well with the body, I won’t take rest. If there’s a niggle, I have to. It’s not just because of the World Cup but it’s general. If I feel good, I won’t be taking any rest.Do you enjoy playing in England?Of course. England is a place where the ball swings, but if you look at the last few tournaments, the ball didn’t really swing. It was more of flat wickets. It’s going to be a challenge for us a bowling unit. They’re batting-friendly conditions, but we are up for the challenge.Is there anything different you do when you go there?In India, the wicket tends to get a bit slower once the ball gets old, but in England it’s pretty much the same whether it’s new ball or old ball. So there’s a few variations which we can bring in or strategise when it comes to the last 10-15 overs. If the ball is swinging, we can afford to bowl up, if not, of course you have to pull it back. Everything depends on how the condition will be there.

Starting on the back of a successful season in 2018-19, Unadkat added four more wickets to his tally, bowling for India Red in the Duleep Trophy final

Saurabh Somani in Bengaluru04-Sep-2019Jaydev Unadkat is an Indian bowling behemoth.Hear me out before you get going with those eye-rolls, those who have memories of him only from the last two IPL seasons. Those who remember only his Test debut, suspend your disbelief.Since the start of the 2013-14 season, Unadkat has taken 174 wickets in first-class crickets in India. Only six quick bowlers have taken more wickets than he has. One of those – Pankaj Singh – got 45 wickets in the Ranji Trophy 2018-19 season, but in the Plate Group, for Puducherry. Excluding games played there, only five quick bowlers have taken more wickets than Unadkat. And among those with at least 100 wickets in that time frame, nobody has a better strike rate than Unadkat’s 43.6, and only three bowlers have a better average than his 21.55.And he has done all this playing a majority of his games at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot, which is famous for not being friendly to fast bowlers.Season after season, Unadkat has pounded in, bowled in tough conditions, bowled for a team that is much better known for its batsmen and spinners – as evidenced by Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja – than its quick bowlers. And he has done it well enough to be taking wickets quicker than anyone else of his ilk.On Wednesday, Unadkat added four more wickets to his tally, bowling for India Red against India Green in the Duleep Trophy final. He could have had five, when he had a desperately close lbw shout against No. 10 Tanveer Ul-Haq when the batsman was on 1. But his 4 for 58 meant India Green are on a precarious 147 for 8 on a rain-truncated first day after having chosen to bat, and this despite the ninth-wicket stand being worth 35 runs until now, the highest of the innings.Not that Unadkat had only luck going against him. He admitted that India Red were thinking of batting first if they had won the toss, but a cloudy and rainy day meant it became “a good toss to lose”. Further, the breaks in play – there were four stoppages that totalled two hours 49 minutes overall with only 49 overs bowled in the day – meant that Unadkat could bowl longer without tiring, and he delivered 18 overs.Having Unadkat fresh enough to bowl that many overs was crucial. One of the features of his bowling is that he is equally at ease going over the wicket or around, and does so frequently throughout his spells. It doesn’t matter if it’s a right-hander or left-hander, with new ball or old, Unadkat can change angles seamlessly. To do that and be effective, a quick bowler needs to have the skill to move the ball both ways, and be accurate.

“I am right up there in terms of mental levels. I want to do it, I want to prove that I have the abilities which can get me to the highest level and be successful. It’s bound to happen for sure”Jaydev Unadkat

“I can move the ball both ways, and when you can do that from two different angles, it becomes more difficult for the batsmen,” Unadkat said.”It’s good to be able to say that ‘Yes, I bowled well from both angles’, but it requires more accuracy than bowling from one angle. I get into a zone when the ball is coming out of my hand nicely, and I don’t really think about too many things to do with the batsman. Yes, it comes naturally that if a batsman is planting his foot really early, then you obviously tend to swing it in. But as I said, I go into my own zone when the ball starts moving and starts coming nicely out of the hand.”Unadkat is starting on the back of a successful season in 2018-19. He led Saurasthra to the Ranji Trophy final, and picked up 39 wickets at 17.17 (strike rate 40.1). Add the seven wickets he took in last year’s Duleep Trophy, his most productive season – wickets-wise – so far. And yet, while the rewards have been consistent, the last time Unadkat played for India A was in 2013 despite having been on a spectacular domestic run since then.”Obviously playing for the nation – or one level higher than what you’re playing – is going to be a goal every time you go out there on the field,” Unadkat said. “If I’m playing a Ranji game, I’ll be aiming to be selected for Duleep Trophy or India A or whatever. That happens naturally. But after having played eight or nine seasons now, those are things I don’t get worried about.”It’s all about setting standards for myself, and that’s what I did last season. It was a season that went according to how I wanted. Yes, I got the wickets, but I was able to execute the plans I was setting before every single game for different kinds of batsmen. That is one season I want to keep as a benchmark and keep pushing from there. Apart from that, I would say that it’s not because I want to get selected somewhere that I’m doing what I’m doing.”What he is doing has included two underwhelming IPL seasons, made starker because each time he fetched a hefty price at the auctions.”I have been asked this a lot in the last couple of seasons because I haven’t had a season as good as I would have wanted it to be,” he admitted. “I believe it has been about execution. If I could have executed my plans better in the last couple of seasons, I would have been successful. It’s very simple and [to be] very honest I think it’s going to get better this season. I am right up there in terms of mental levels. I want to do it, I want to prove that I have the abilities which can get me to the highest level and be successful. It’s bound to happen for sure.”If the ball keeps coming out of the hand as well as it has for Unadkat of late, his fate could well align with his belief.

His World Cup dominance was the result of meticulous preparation, from pushing for the No 3 spot to using his long IPL downtime

Mohammad Isam07-Jul-2019Shakib Al Hasan played only three matches during this year’s IPL, ceding his spot in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s combination to Rashid Khan.The Bangladesh allrounder is not used to being dropped. He could well have spent that time as other benched players do, swimming in the hotel pool, living the life of the idle rich sportsman, seeing the bank balance go up without much effort. But he had a plan. With the World Cup just weeks away, Shakib called up his mentor Mohammad Salahuddin and brought him to Mumbai for extra batting sessions. He worked on his fitness, lost weight and retained focus.That hard work – completely off his own bat, pardon the pun – paid off spectacularly in England. Shakib left the campaign as the first cricketer in the tournament’s history to score more than 600 runs and take 11 wickets. Only Neil Johnson’s tally of 367 runs and 12 wickets in the 1999 edition comes statistically close to Shakib’s performance, which included two centuries, five fifties and a five-wicket haul.ESPNcricinfo LtdOn Saturday, Shakib reflected on that plan with more than a degree of satisfaction. “Personally, it was a good World Cup,” he said. “I am very happy. I am satisfied in the way I have achieved what I had hoped for, particularly after the way I had prepared for the tournament.”When he said he knew it would go well from the start, it was believable – not just because of his preparations but because he usually starts World Cups with fifties. And so, after that customary good start against South Africa in Bangladesh’s spectacular tournament opener, he knew the trick was to continue through the tournament. “I was hoping to get the momentum, and then hold on to it.”ALSO READ: Jarrod Kimber on why there aren’t more true allrounders like Shakib in ODIsOnce again, Shakib’s planning was evident. He struck consecutive centuries against England and West Indies, highlighting how well he had prepared against the short pitched deliveries. He scored 67 runs off the 43 short balls that West Indies’ fast bowlers sent down in Taunton, and 72 off 70 similar deliveries by the England bowlers in Cardiff.

Played, Shakib.
Undoubtedly the best Bangladesh player ever…. #EngvBan #CWC19

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) June 8, 2019

Shakib’s sustained assault was quite different from how he had approached bouncers in the past. He would just hook at everything, often losing his wicket as a result. But here, he was happy to duck under Jofra Archer, Mark Wood and Sheldon Cottrell and pick the right moment to play the aggressive shot. He would often get a boundary early in the over, riding his luck with a few top edges, and with the bowler under pressure, sustain the run-rate with singles and twos off back-foot shots on the leg side.Shakib, and the rest of the Bangladesh batsmen, had three days of intense net sessions against bouncers ahead of the West Indies game, often getting hit on the chest or hand. The training sessions paid off as Cottrell and co kept bowling bouncers, which became too predictable by the end.

Shakib @Sah75official On the prowl… showing not only that he is the Worlds No1 allrounder but making a statement that he is a World class batsman too. Congratulations #CWC2019 #BANvsWI Wonderfull knock

— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) June 17, 2019

Shakib’s true all-round performance came against Afghanistan when he scored a fifty and took a five-wicket haul. Defending a competitive total, Bangladesh only got into the game when Shakib was introduced into the attack. And suddenly we weren’t at the Rose Bowl. We were back in Mirpur.Using a pitch comes from experience and at times opponents have struggled against Shakib simply because he read the conditions quicker than they did. It happens all the time at home but even somewhere like Christchurch, couple of years ago, the New Zealand batsmen took a while to figure him out because he kept changing the pace on another slow pitch (despite the deceptive grass cover on it)Shakib also showed a lot of patience when he batted in the Afghanistan game. He didn’t go charging unnecessarily against their spinners. “It was challenging to tackle the Afghanistan bowling attack, mainly because of their high-quality spinners on that type of pitch,” he said yesterday.Shakib was among the most impactful performers at the World Cup•Getty ImagesBy the time he got to the last two matches – against India and Pakistan, when he also made fifties – he was running on reserves. “I was mentally fatigued in the last two matches, but I think my fitness levels have helped me stay in the game. I think I might have done better had I worked on my fitness for a couple of days, but tiredness came in the way. It was difficult to balance the two, so the last couple of matches was challenging.”You could say Shakib’s preparation for this success began even before that IPL downtime – it began with his insistence on moving up the order to No 3. He had built most of his career as a No 5 batsman, but had, for some time, been pushing then coach Chandika Hathurusingha to promote him to first drop.Hathurusingha kept insisting that Shakib was better off lower down the order. Shakib didn’t budge, and, after Hathurusingha left, he still managed to convince the rest of the team management to give him the No 3 spot. He averaged 43.92 in the 15 innings at the position leading up to the World Cup.Shakib has always been this confident, always been this calculating, ever since he took guard for the first time as a teenager in the BKSP sports institute. The story goes that when he and Mushfiqur Rahim started batting there, the coaches predicted they would be playing for Bangladesh one day.So, really, nothing has changed in Shakib to suddenly make him a run machine. He has always backed himself to the fullest, particularly when he is committed to a cause. And this World Cup showed how sheer strength of will made him into such a successful cricketer.

A Bangladesh fan revels in the joyous atmosphere at the first day-night Test in India, despite a familiar tale of disappointment

Tawhid Qureshi25-Nov-2019Choice of game
The distance between Kolkata and Dhaka is around 200 miles. Exploring the close bond between Bengali-speaking people on either side of the India-Bangladesh border was one of the reasons to escape from cold London to Kolkata and watch cricket in India for the first time. Only after I had booked my flights was it announced that it would be a day-night affair at Eden Gardens, which made it even more interesting. Sourav Ganguly, the BCCI president, would ensure it was a “prince”ly occasion in Kolkata.The pink effect
Approaching the Eden Gardens, it was obvious this wouldn’t be a run-of-the-mill Test. From afar, I could see the huge floodlight towers that were covered in pink lights. Once inside the ground, in every corner the pink-ball theme was apparent, from the pink lettering on the old manual scoreboard to the pink fabric covering every pillar in the stands. Before the first ball was bowled the emcee ratcheted up the anticipation with ever-louder appeals to the crowd to show appreciation towards the gathered dignitaries, with a marching band in brilliant white uniforms providing the soundtrack. In attendance were the who’s who of Indian cricket, with Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman all around. The emcee also ensured Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina didn’t go unnoticed by the crowd.A no-contest
After all the pomp and ceremony, when the cricket did begin it took on a slightly frenzied, turbo-charged feel. Bangladesh lost four wickets in the first hour, eventually capitulating for 106, with two players substituted for concussion. It was disappointing to see the Bangladesh batsmen making elementary mistakes, with angled bats and feet being firmly planted in the crease resulting in a predictable outcome. Ishant Sharma took full advantage by claiming a five-wicket haul; his commitment was perfectly encapsulated during the tea break on day two, when he was practising his bowling.Wow moment
Rohit Sharma’s catch to dismiss Mominul Haque was an excellent low diving grab, but it was probably bettered on day two when Taijul Islam caught Virat Kohli on the leg-side boundary; had Taijul not intervened, Kohli’s nonchalant flick appeared to be heading for a six. Similar to Ben Stokes’ World Cup wonder-catch, Taijul caught the ball mid-air while diving backwards.BCCIWhat I’d change
After watching a fair amount of cricket in Bangladesh, I’ve become accustomed to the spectator experience in south Asia, with the absence of queuing and questionable food hygiene being two features. The lack of clean seats is something that I hadn’t remembered, so it was a clear mistake to wear a pair of white shorts to the game; some would consider it a mistake in the fashion sense too!Crowd meter
My first experience of boisterous Indian crowds certainly didn’t disappoint. The stands at Eden Gardens looked full throughout the opening day and the noise generated reached a crescendo on either side of the tea break. The party vibe continued during the tea break, with local musicians performing on the outfield and a lap of honour from former India captains. An even bigger music and dance show was promised at the close of play, but I had to miss it as my jet-lag proved to be a party-pooper.Eden Gardens came to prominence in my mind during the 1996 World Cup semi-final; the volatile crowd that day setting fire in the stands and forcing an abandonment. Happily the Eden crowd I experienced were only good-natured, showing an enormous amount of warmth and goodwill towards the Bangladesh players and the small pockets of Bangladeshi supporters. The affection was such that it felt like a Bengali bromance was being revived. It would make sense for the boards of both countries to take note and arrange a regular fixture at Eden Gardens; there’s certainly an appetite among the fans.Marks out of 10
A resounding 9, the sense of occasion and ceremony were unparalleled, even though Bangladesh’s batsmen failed to live up to the billing. I’m already looking forward to my next Indian cricketing adventure.
Want to do a Fan Following report? Read our FAQ here.

Will the top six that starts the Test season on Thursday be the same one that finishes it in six weeks?

Andrew McGlashan19-Nov-2019It was hardly going to be a state secret, but Justin Langer revealed Australia’s hand for the first Test against Pakistan at the Gabba two days before it starts, all but confirming that Michael Neser and Cameron Bancroft would sit out.There remains a chance for things to go wrong, but in reality, the decision was made pretty simple once James Pattinson was ruled out after his code of conduct breach. Neser is a fine bowler, and with two day-night Tests this season his chance could still come, but the in-form Mitchell Starc slots back in alongside Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood – the trio that retained the Ashes at Old Trafford.However, the bowling was never really going to be the issue. The tough choices were made a few days ago when the squad was named in the wake of Australia A’s collapse to 9 for 57 in Perth.”I was disappointed for the guys that no-one banged the door down,” Langer said. “But I did say leading up to that game that it wouldn’t just be picked on that game, it’d be a whole range of things. I just came to realise that we’re going to have to show Pakistan great respect.”Australia may have regained the services of Steven Smith and David Warner – both now set to play their first home Tests for 21 months – but as with last season when they were absent, there remains significant uncertainty around the batting. Joe Burns and Travis Head are those who have been given the first chance to bring stability as Langer balances the twin ambitions of immediate success and longer-term planning.Burns’ last Test brought him 180 against Sri Lanka in Canberra and Head has only been absent for one game when he made way for Mitchell Marsh at The Oval, so there is plenty of logic around their returns. But it would not take long for questions to be asked if substantial returns aren’t forthcoming.”We’re No. 5 in the world in Test cricket at the moment, and there’s a reason for that. One of them is that we don’t score 300-plus in the first innings enough,” Langer said. “Our batters are very aware of that. We understand there’s a spotlight on our batting at the moment and the boys have got to embrace that. They understand that and that’s part of the responsibility and privilege of being selected in the top six in the Australian Test team. We’re not going to shy away from that.”Burns’ comeback recreates an opening partnership with Warner that has enjoyed success at Test level – four century stands and an average of 44.31 – with Langer hoping their contrasting styles and personalities can form a long-term alliance.”He’s got a very good first-innings record as well, and I know Davey likes batting with him,” Langer said. “And I obviously have some understanding of how important it is for the openers to get on really well, and work well together and understand each other. I’ve said one of the things we need to do is get our top three cemented and get that as strong as possible because it’s a pivotal part of winning games of cricket. So I’m hopeful the odd couple will get out there and, like we’ve seen in the past, form a really good opening partnership.”Meanwhile, Head remains Australia leading run-scorer since Newlands albeit Smith has done his best to overtake him in just four matches. A maiden Test hundred against Sri Lanka in Canberra capped a successful home summer amid a struggling batting line-up before a combination of a failure to build on starts and team balance cost him his place.For a little while at the beginning of the season, it appeared Head may struggle to make the case for an immediate return, but a century against a strong New South Wales attack was enough.”Runs didn’t come early, I probably missed out at Junction Oval and missed out here [against Queensland] but at no time did I doubt what I was doing, was making sure I backed what I’d been over the last 18 months and trying to get better,” Head said. “Fortunately, I was able to spend some time in the middle in Adelaide and finish not out in Perth.”[It’s about] trying to continue the work I did last summer. I felt like I started the Ashes really well, but wasn’t able to post a score. I knew what was working and probably went away from that in Manchester which probably led to me missing out, but it was good learnings to work out the reasons why. I’ve looked at that over the last month, feeling I’m moving really well again. I continue to get better at the technical aspect, it’s still a work in progress.”Though he won’t play, barring a late injury (or concussion substitution), Bancroft’s selection in the squad was the most contentious call given his first-class average of 17.67 for the season – and that was boosted by his 49 against Pakistan. Usman Khawaja’s first-class season has been an equal struggle (average 17) but he averages 52.97 in Australia and has scored six of his eight Test hundreds on home soil.”He knows what he has to do,” Langer said. “In this instance, we probably don’t need a 33-year-old like Uzzie [being around the squad] not playing the Test match. That’s what it comes down to. I’ve got great admiration for Uzzie, I think he’s a fantastic player, and I’m sure when he finds a bit of touch he’ll be pushing really hard to get back into the team.”Will the Australia top six that starts the Test season at the Gabba on Thursday be the same one that finishes it in Sydney in six weeks?

And who’s the only teenager to score a double-century in a Test?

Steven Lynch17-Dec-2019Marnus Labuschagne has just scored three centuries in successive innings. Has anyone else done this for Australia? asked Michael Brossetti from Australia
Marnus Labuschagne’s 143 in the first Test against New Zealand in Perth was the 38th instance of a batsman scoring three centuries in successive Test innings. That includes the three men who scored four in a row – Jack Fingleton for Australia in 1936, South Africa’s Alan Melville in 1938-39 and 1947, and Rahul Dravid of India in 2002 – and the one man who went on to make it five, Everton Weekes of West Indies in 1948.Apart from Labuschagne and Fingleton, the other Australians to score three successive Test centuries are Warren Bardsley, in 1909 and 1910-11, Charlie Macartney in 1926, Arthur Morris in 1946-47, Don Bradman in 1947-48, Adam Gilchrist in 2004-05, Adam Voges in 2015-16, and David Warner, who achieved the feat twice – in 2014 and again in 2015.Somerset’s Lewis Gregory took a wicket with his first ball for England recently. How many others have done this? asked Harry Tregoning from Somerset
Lewis Gregory bowled New Zealand’s Colin de Grandhomme with his opening delivery in the recent T20I in Wellington. He was the 17th man to take a wicket with his first ball in T20Is, as this list shows, but only the second for England, after Joe Denly, who dismissed South Africa’s captain Graeme Smith in Centurion in 2009-10.The others to take a wicket with their very first ball in international cricket for England were Bill Bradley (1899), Ted Arnold (1903-04), Jack Crawford (1905-06), George Macaulay (1922-23), Maurice Tate (1924) and Dick Howorth (1947) in Tests, and Rikki Clarke (2003) in a one-day international. Although Richard Illingworth took a wicket with his first ball in a Test, in 1991, he had already bowled in ODIs; Geoff Arnold struck with his first ball in ODIs, in 1972, but had already bowled in Tests.Regarding last week’s question about people who captained in their first Test, Lee Germon played 12, all as captain. Has anyone had more than this? asked Murugan Balasubramanian from the United States
In all there have been 25 men who played all their Tests as captain, including Ireland’s William Porterfield, who recently stood down, so may yet leave this list. The only one to have played more Tests all as captain than Lee Germon’s 12 was the South African wicketkeeper Percy Sherwell, who skippered in each of his 13 Tests between 1905-06 and 1910-11. Jackie Grant of West Indies also played 12 Tests all as captain, during the 1930s – the same decade in which Herby Wade led South Africa in each of his ten Tests.Although Abdul Hafeez Kardar captained Pakistan in all his 23 Tests for them in the 1950s, he had previously played three for India, not as captain. Similarly, Kepler Wessels skippered in all his 16 Tests for South Africa, but had previously appeared in 24 for Australia as a player alone.Five men captained in what turned out to be their only Test, most notably the future Hollywood movie star Aubrey Smith.England’s Mike Hendrick is the bowler with the most Test wickets (87) without ever getting a five-for•Getty ImagesWho’s the only teenager to score a double-century in a Test? asked David Dudgeon from Hong Kong
The answer here is Pakistan’s Javed Miandad, who was around 19 years five months old when he hit 206 against New Zealand in Karachi in 1976-77. He broke the record established by George Headley, who was 20 when he scored 223 for West Indies against England in Kingston in 1929-30. He’s still the second-youngest, with 21-year-olds Vinod Kambli third and Garry Sobers fourth. For the full list, click here.Further to last week’s question about the late great Bob Willis taking 325 Test wickets without a ten-for, what’s the most taken by a bowler who never managed five in an innings? asked James Lewcock from England
The answer here is another man who played alongside Bob Willis for England: Mike Hendrick took 87 wickets in 30 Tests, with a best return of 4 for 28 – one of five four-fors – against India at Edgbaston in 1974. Mashrafe Mortaza of Bangladesh came close to beating Hendrick’s tally: he took 78 wickets in 36 Tests, with a best of 4 for 60 against England in Chittagong in 2003-04. Although Mortaza captained Bangladesh in the 2019 World Cup, he last played a Test in July 2009.For a full list of the most Test wickets without a five-for, click here.Use our feedback form or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Tottenham Hotspur are in the midst of a transitionary period.

We might be nearing the end of Ange Postecoglou’s second season in charge of the North Londoners, but it would be disingenuous to suggest the squad is anywhere near where he’d like it to be.

Now, the Australian has been backed in the market thus far, with the likes of Micky van de Ven, Dominic Solanke, and Brennan Johnson all important first-teamers, but the reality is that to take the club to the next level, he needs even more attacking firepower.

Fortunately, recent reports suggest Daniel Levy and Co are trying to sort that out for him, although the player touted for a move to N17 could spell trouble for club captain Son Heung-min.

Spurs' attacking targets

They say the best defence is a good offence, and based on the reports we’ve seen in recent weeks, that seems to be something Spurs have taken to heart.

Transfer Focus

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

For example, despite the North Londoners’ apparent problems at the back, they have been linked with a whole host of sensational forwards, such as former Everton flop and current Fiorentina star Moise Kean, who’s racked up a sensational haul of 24 goal involvements this term.

Closer to home, the Lilywhites are also said to be incredibly keen on Wolverhampton Wanderers and Premier League star Matheus Cunha, who has a release clause of £62.5m in his contract.

However, Levy and Co are not just trying to lure centre-forwards to the capital.

According to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, they are incredibly interested in Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sané.

In fact, the report goes a step further, revealing that, alongside fierce rivals Arsenal, the Lilywhites have already held talks with the player’s camp, while Liverpool, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Newcastle United have also been approached.

While the level of competition is far from ideal, the good news is that, due to his £321k-per-week contract coming to an end this summer, he’ll be available on a free transfer.

It could be a complicated deal to get over the line, but given Sane’s immense ability and experience, it is worth pursuing, even if it could be bad news for Son’s game time.

How Sane compares to Son

Now, while Sane has an impressive ability to play on either wing, he’d likely get most of his game time off the left at Spurs, as that remains his primary position and with Postecoglou spending £47.5m on Brennan Johnson in his first summer at the club, we can’t see him taking him out of the first team already.

Moreover, with Mikey Moore still too young to start regularly, Mathys Tel potentially not staying, and Wilson Odobert being relatively unproven, there is a lack of competition for an ageing Son off the left.

With all that said, though, how do the pair stack up against one another? Well, when it comes down to their raw output from this season, it’s the Bayern ace who just about comes out ahead when broken down by goal involvements per minute of action.

Appearances

36

40

Starts

19

33

Minutes

1827′

2834′

Goals

11

11

Assists

4

12

Goal Involvements per Match

0.41

0.57

Minutes per Goal Involvements

121.8′

123.21′

In 36 appearances, totalling just 1827 minutes, the “world-class” German, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has scored 11 goals and provided four assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.4 games, or more importantly, every 121.8 minutes.

In contrast, the South Korean superstar has scored 11 goals and provided 12 assists in 40 appearances, totalling 2834 minutes, which comes out to an average of one every 1.73 games, but crucially, only every 123.21 minutes.

What about their underlying number, then? Who comes out ahead when we take a look under the hood?

Well, once again, it is reasonably close, but in the majority of relevant metrics, it’s the former Manchester City ace who comes out on top, including, but not limited to, expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes received, passing accuracy, successful take-ons, shots and shots on target, aerial duels won and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.88

0.63

Non-Penalty G+As

0.95

0.73

Progressive Passes

3.09

4.61

Progressive Passes Received

14.3

11.3

Progressive Carries

3.60

3.93

Shots

3.45

2.42

Shots on Target

1.32

1.11

Passing Accuracy

82.4%

79.2%

Key Passes

1.91

2.38

Live Passes

47.2

37.0

Shot-Creating Actions

4.18

5.28

Successful Take-Ons

1.91

1.36

Carries

42.4

32.9

Carries into the Final Third

2.43

2.09

Ball Recoveries

4.71

3.64

Aerial Duels Won

0.44

0.29

Ultimately, Son is a Spurs and Premier League icon, but he’ll be 33 years old at the start of next season, so Postecoglou will need a more dynamic winger to rely on, and it looks like Sane could be the perfect option.

Spurs' award-winning CF was ahead of Kane, then Poch sold him for £208k

The promising forward wasn’t able to reach his potential at Spurs.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 28, 2025

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers will expect to end this campaign with another three medals in his cabinet, but a former international has now intimated that one of the Hoops’ old bosses could be open to an emotional return to replace the Irishman.

Brendan Rodgers in the hunt for a domestic treble at Celtic

Despite a frustrating defeat at St Johnstone last weekend, Celtic remain on course to claim the Scottish Premiership crown and could still mathematically confirmed as champions should they defeat Kilmarnock followed by Aberdeen seeing off Rangers at Pittodrie.

In a potentially decisive few weeks for Brendan Rodgers, he could also take one step closer to winning the Scottish Cup if his side can dispose of St Johnstone at Hampden next Sunday.

With the Premier Sports Cup already in the bag, the Irishman could finish this campaign by inheriting a 13th trophy in charge across two spells, which would place him third in Celtic’s all-time most successful managers list.

Nevertheless, Rodgers will demand significant backing at Parkhead this summer in his mission to elevate the club’s standing in comparison to those on Europe’s biggest stage.

After leading Celtic to the Champions League knockout playoff phase, the 52-year-old wants to build on their continental success by securing talented arrivals to prop up a squad bristling with talent.

"What?" – Sutton baffled by what he's seeing from £12k-a-week Celtic star

He had a poor game in the defeat to St Johnstone.

ByHenry Jackson Apr 7, 2025

By nature, most managers in Glasgow have a shelf life. Whether it be a consequence of admiration from the Premier League or failing to deal with the unique level of pressure associated with coaching one of the world’s most reputable brands, there is never a true sense of permanence in the dugout.

Casting a tentative eye towards the future, Celtic have now been told one of their former managers could be open to completing a sensational Parkhead return later down the line.

Ange Postecoglou tipped for dramatic Celtic return

Ange Postecoglou hasn’t had it all his own way at Tottenham Hotspur. The 59-year-old has been in charge for the best part of two seasons in North London, but pressure is mounting on the Australian due to a series of inconsistent results with the Lilywhites.

Now, per reports via The Glasgow Times, former Greece international Giorgos Karagounis has hinted that Postecoglou could be open to a Celtic comeback story in the future due to the immense success he had north of the border.

Brendan Rodgers vs Ange Postecoglou at Celtic – how both managers have fared

Ange Postecoglou’s managerial record at Celtic

Trophies

2x Scottish Premiership, 2x Scottish League Cup, Scottish Cup

Points per game

2.64 PPG in normal time, 1.80 PPG in post-split fixtures

European record

Finished third in Europa League group 2021/22 (knocked out of Europa Conference League by Bodo Glimt at Round of 32 stage). Finished bottom of Champions League group in 2022/23 on two points despite admirable performances against Real Madrid, RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk.

Fan approval

Loved for daring style of football and commitment to play on front foot at all costs.

Brendan Rodgers’ managerial record at Celtic

Trophies

3x Scottish Premiership, 3x Scottish Cup, 4x Scottish League Cup

Points per game

2.45 PPG in normal time, 2.20 in post-split fixtures

European record

Finished fourth in Champions League group 2016/17. Finished third in Champions League group 2017/18 (knocked out of Europa League Round of 32 by Zenit St Petersburg). Finished second in Europa League group 2018/19 (knocked out at Round of 32 by Valencia). Finished bottom of Champions League group 2023/24 Qualified for Champions League knockout playoff phase in 2024/25 (narrowly beaten by Bayern Munich).

Fan approval

Seen as a proven winner who rarely falters on big occasions.

Karagounis stated: “Ange Postecoglou did a great job with Celtic, a fantastic job, so one day I think we will see him back there.

“Having said that, at the moment, he is at another great team in Tottenham, and of course, he’s coaching in the Premier League, so I don’t think he’ll want to go back to Scotland straight away.”

Commended for his “excellent” work at Celtic by Martin O’Neill, Postecoglou is someone who is deeply admired by supporters, but it remains to be seen if a future return is something that could come to fruition.

Chelsea chiefs are refusing to rule out signing a more experienced player behind-the-scenes, which goes against BlueCo’s usual transfer strategy, and they’re actively considering a free agent who Barcelona really want at the Camp Nou.

Chelsea planning to sign a new centre-back this summer

Amid Wesley Fofana’s long-term injury, which has ruled the Frenchman out for the remainder of 2024/2025, Chelsea are believed to be weighing up the possibility of another central defender this summer.

Related Chelsea "serious" about signing £62m Liam Delap alternative after weekend twist

The west Londoners are debating their best summer striker target.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Apr 8, 2025

Their centre-back shortage prompted Enzo Maresca and co to activate the recall clause in Trevoh Chalobah’s loan deal at Crystal Palace, temporarily plugging the gap, but Chelsea are intending to reinforce that area of the squad with a star signing for the long-term.

Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen is a top target for Chelsea, according to reports, but they’re likely to face major competition for the Spaniard’s services considering he’ll have an active £50 million release clause in his contract this summer.

Chelsea’s next five Premier League fixtures

Date

Ipswich Town (home)

April 13th

Fulham (away)

April 20th

Everton (home)

April 26th

Liverpool (home)

May 4th

Newcastle (away)

May 10th

There have also been rumours of Chelsea and a potential move to re-sign former Cobham academy graduate Marc Guehi. Maresca’s side are among the favourites to strike a deal for the England international, who is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract, but his price tag will still reportedly range from £50-60 million.

Given the west Londoners are linked with bringing in a new goalkeeper, midfielder, winger and striker, Chelsea will need to tread carefully and find the best-value option possible to solidify their backline.

Chelsea considering Jonathan Tah move amid Barcelona interest

According to journalist Simon Phillips, Bayer Leverkusen stalwart Jonathan Tah is under consideration at Stamford Bridge.

The 29-year-old played a role in Leverkusen’s historic Bundesliga triumph last term, helping them to end the domestic campaign unbeaten, and he’s set to be up for grabs as a free agent this summer as things stand.

Chelsea are weighing up the possibility of signing Tah at zero cost, but Barcelona pose a threat, as they are “pushing hard” to land the German.

“We have heard through a source that Chelsea are never going to rule out signing an older and more experienced player if they can sign that player under the right circumstances,” wrote Phillips, via his Substack.

“We have heard that 29-year-old centre back from Bayer Leverkusen Jonathan Tah is still under consideration this summer. He is at this moment a free agent in the summer and although Barcelona are pushing to sign him, Chelsea do have him as a potential option but only if they can agree on wages with the player.

“However, there is no indication yet that the player would accept anything from Chelsea but he is keeping his options open right now. I’m unaware as of now if Chelsea have made an approach, but I’m hearing new noise on him.”

He would be an intriguing option for Maresca, and it is clear to see Tah very much remains an elite-level defender.

Over the course of 2024/2025, the 35-cap international has started 27 top-flight matches this season as a mainstay under Xabi Alonso, averaging an impressive 93% passing accuracy out from the back (WhoScored).

Tah would be a snip for Chelsea, regardless of his age, and it is an option which should definitely be given deserved thought.

Harvey Barnes played an important role in Newcastle United’s most recent outing against Brentford, in which the Magpies won 2-1. Goals from Alexander Isak and a sublime effort from Sandro Tonali were enough to claim all three points for Eddie Howe’s side.

For that strike from the Italian, it was Barnes who provided the assist. The winger, who started on the left wing, put in a strong performance. As per Sofascore, he created three chances, completed two dribbles, and, of course, grabbed his assist.

After a performance like that, you might expect he’d keep his place in the Newcastle starting lineup for their next game against Leicester City. But, with some players returning from injury, that is not a guarantee.

Newcastle’s team news vs. Leicester

There could be some big players returning from injury for the Magpies’ clash with Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester side. One of those is experienced defender Kieran Trippier, who was withdrawn from the game against Brentford.

Likewise, Newcastle’s talismanic striker, Isak, was substituted in the 66th minute. Given his injury issues at times in a Magpies shirt, they certainly do not want to risk him getting sidelined for an extensive period of time.

In his pre-match press conference, Howe gave an update on both of their availability ahead of the Monday night trip to Leicester. The Englishman explained that his squad have managed to avoid “any big injuries from Wednesday night”.

With that being said, he did imply that there was a chance they might be sidelined at the King Power Stadium. Howe explained that his side “certainly have a few niggles”, and it remains to be seen if Trippier and Isak will be available.

There is another player who could be set to return from injury in time to feature in the East Midlands. Newcastle fans would surely love to have him available.

The Newcastle player who could feature vs. Leciester

If Newcastle have Anthony Gordon back for the game against the Foxes, it would be a huge boost. As well as his three-match suspension, the winger picked up an injury on England duty during the March international break.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Howe was quizzed about him in the press conference before the Leicester game and gave an update on his progress. It certainly seemed positive, explaining that he is being “monitored” by the medical staff, before saying they “will have to wait and see” if he can play.

It has been another excellent season for Gordon in 2024/25. He has featured 34 times for the Magpies, scoring nine goals and grabbing seven assists. Between the start of November and the end of January, the winger went on an unstoppable run, scoring or assisting ten goals in a run of 14 games. As football talent scout Jacek Kulig said, he is “having a superb season”.

He is a player who steps up in the biggest moments, scoring goals in both legs against Arsenal, in the Carabao Cup semi-final. His goal in the second leg at St James’ Park was the fourth Newcastle scored in the tie and sealed their place at Wembley.

Gordon has the potential to hurt Leicester on Monday. His pace is deadly, and the directness with which he attacks is frightening for defenders. As per Sofascore, he has completed 1.5 dribbles and plays 2.1 key passes per game this term.

Goals and assists

0.5

11

Key passes

2.1

50

Dribbles completed

1.5

35

Expected goal involvements

0.54xGI

12.65xGI

Big chances created

0.3

6

Dropping Barnes for the “exceptional” Gordon, as football scout Antonio Mango called him, might be deemed harsh after his performance against Brentford. However, having the former Everton star available for the Champions League run-in will be crucial.

As he showed against Arsenal, he is a big game player, and with the skillset he possesses, he can be deadly against a fragile Foxes side. If Gordon is fit enough, he surely starts on Monday evening.

Best since Isak: Howe struck gold signing “big game player” for Newcastle

Eddie Howe hit the jackpot signing this “big game player” who’s Newcastle’s best signing since Isak.

ByConnor Holden Apr 6, 2025