There was no fairytale hundred, but Alastair Cook still managed to produce a medley of greatest hits on his Test farewell

George Dobell at The Oval07-Sep-20181:08

Thought ‘this is meant to be’ when Cook was dropped – Moeen

You didn’t need to be watching to know what had happened. The groan that went around the ground told the story.Alastair Cook was out. With a tiny kick of frustration, he was gone. He walked off the pitch the way he walked on: a standing ovation accompanying every stride. If there was any doubt about the affection in which he is held by the vast majority of England supporters, it had been dispelled. A great career, an era even, is coming to a close.You could feel The Oval willing him to succeed here. It wasn’t just the guard of honour the India players provided – even the umpires applauded Cook to the middle – and it wasn’t just the presentations made to him before the game. Nice though some moments are, they have become relatively customary.No, you could feel it more in the anxious silence that took hold around the ground as each ball was delivered. You could hear it in the cheers of relief that greeted the first boundary and you could see it in the sustained ovation – standing again – that greeted his half-century.Cook’s relationship with England supporters is interesting. Some players – think David Gower or Ian Bell – owe their popularity largely to the beauty of their play and others – think James Anderson or Ian Botham – to the abundance of their skill. But the love affair with Cook has taken a different course. Sure, he started well and there were times, such as in Australia in 2010-11, when the run-scoring business appeared gloriously simple. Times when he looked infallible.But there were lean times, too. Many of them. Times when every innings became a feat of endurance. Times when it seemed every run had to be hacked out of his soul with a blunt spoon. Times when he looked very, very fallible.In an odd way, perhaps that is why his popularity became so enduring. Because batting was, at times, so hard and because Cook clearly had to dig deep to overcome his limitations. He wasn’t an impossibly talented genius – like Viv or Virat – but an everyman giving his all to sustain his dream. And, in fair weather and foul, he would put himself in the firing line looking for neither hiding places nor excuses. It is a remarkable feat of endurance, persistence and determination that, of all those to have represented England, it is Cook who finishes as the leading run-scorer and centurion. He would be the first to admit he is nowhere near the most naturally talented.

It is a long, long time since Cook has batted better against a good attack in demanding conditions

Everyone watching at The Oval – a fair few of them in chef’s hats – knew what Cook has been through. The desperate, public struggle for runs. The equally public humiliation of losing the ODI captaincy on the eve of the World Cup. The abuse that was heaped on him in the aftermath of the Kevin Pietersen debacle. Many of us didn’t agree with that decision; few can have thought he deserved the level of vitriol directed his way by some. It didn’t help Pietersen, either. Increasing divides and scratching at wounds rarely does.They knew this was Cook’s farewell tour, too, and they were hoping he would show us a medley of the greatest hits. And, for a while, that’s exactly what he did. There was the classic cut-pull combination – successive boundaries off Jasprit Bumrah – which must have accounted for a fair proportion of the 1428 fours in his Test career; as good a cover drive as he can ever have played to bring back memories of the 2010-11 Ashes tour; and, early on, a perfectly timed flick through midwicket off Ishant Sharma that provided an echo of Cook at his very best.That was quite a revealing stroke. Cook can only play it – and the straight drives that punctuated this innings – when at his best. And, since the start of the Southampton Test, his technique has looked in far better order.Instead of going back as the ball is delivered, he had reverted to going back and across to ensure he doesn’t have to reach for deliveries on or around off stump. And, instead of standing square at the crease – as most coaches would suggest batsman should – Cook has reverted to the slightly more open stance recommended by his sometimes coach, Gary Palmer (who had his fingerprints all over this innings), that allows him to maintain his balance when the ball nips back at him and sees his back foot pointing towards mid-off when he drives. It’s anathema to many coaches, but it works for Cook.Perhaps it could work for Joe Root, too. He again fell due to a lack of balance at the crease. And he again squandered a review, as he has no idea where his head is at the moment of impact. Standing perfectly square – as the coaching manual suggests – Root finds his front foot in the way when the ball in angled in and tends to fall away to the off side as he plays around it. A more open stance may well be the solution. It’s not where he bats that is bothering him; it’s how.Might this innings – and bear in mind it was made on a day when only three men passed 11 – give Cook cause to rethink his retirement? It’s possible. He is only 33, after all, and an English winter – a season that overplays its hand like the last guest to leave a party – will drive even the happiest family man to wonder if that tour of the Caribbean was such a trial, after all.Alastair Cook raises his bat to the crowd while walking off•Getty ImagesBut realistically, he was able to play this innings because he knew he was in the home straight. It was his concentration that let him down in Southampton; twice drawn into loose strokes. But those powers of concentration, the focus, are easier to find if you know the requirement is finite. And here, freed from the concerns for his future, freed from concerns about the outcome of the series, freed from consequence, he seemed able to find those reserves once more.It is a long, long time since he has batted better against a good attack in demanding conditions. He’ll miss all this, of course, but there will be relief it’s over, too. If he finds himself in the Caribbean, it is much more likely to be as a member of the media.He had some fortune. Just after lunch – concentration disturbed, perhaps – he was lured into poking at one that flew low to gully. But, underlining how tough life has been for batting this summer, he went on to register the first half-century by an opening batsman on either side in the series. He probably deserved a little fortune. Few would begrudge him a few more hours in the sun.Gradually, confidence in the crowd began to grow. From those nervous ovations at the start, where every run was savoured and rewarded, so thoughts began to turn to the dream scenario. Could he pull off the impossible: a century on debt and farewell performance? They hardly dared give voice to the hope. But, as Kohli’s desperation seduced him into an optimistic review, as the nudges into the leg side for singles came more often, as he started to look more like Cook of old, you could hear the whispers grow. Maybe something special was unfolding.It was not to be. Sport doesn’t offer many fairytale endings and tends to remind us that, if it doesn’t end badly, it doesn’t need to end. There was to be no century. Not in this innings, anyway. Drawn into poking at one that nipped back at him, he was bowled off the inside edge. The Oval groaned and Cook walked back with his head bowed.But all the best performers leave you hungry for a just a bit more, don’t they? And, in providing this encore, Cook provided a reminder of his many qualities. And showed how much he’ll be missed.

Sri Lanka have never won a Test in Australia, losing 11 of 13. Here are three reasons why they have a better chance this time around

Andrew McGlashan22-Jan-2019The better batting line-up?Sri Lanka have toured Australia with stronger batting line-ups than this squad – in 2012 their No. 2 to 5 read Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera and Mathews – but the difference this time is that you could argue what they have is stronger than what the Australians can offer. Even without the injured Mathews there is proven quality in the top order. Kusal Mendis (second) and Dimuth Karunaratne (sixth) were both in the top 10 run-scorers last year and both were above Australia’s only entrant Usman Khawaja (seventh). You would go past two further Sri Lankans (Mathews and Roshen Silva) before reaching Australia’s next-best run-scorer in captain Tim Paine.If Karunaratne can help soak up deliveries and wear the bowlers down – something he only managed once in four innings in New Zealand – he can lay the platform for Mendis who holds the key to Sri Lanka’s middle order. It is why a shudder went through the camp when he took a fierce blow on the hand fielding at short leg in the warm-up match. How Mendis adjusts to the pace and bounce likely to be on show at the Gabba will be one of the fascinating parts of the series. He showed glimpses on his tours to England and South Africa to suggest he has the game and a month ago batted throughout the fourth day of the Wellington Test for an unbeaten 141. It was against Australia at Pallekele in 2016 that Mendis scored his maiden Test century, a magnificent 176, and if he comes close to matching that here it will cement him among the higher echelons of Sri Lanka batsmen.ALSO READ: ‘I knew if I scored a century against Australia I’d have a big future’Few scarsThirteen Tests in the 30 years since Sri Lanka first toured Australia shows that they have not been regular visitors and it means the turnover of players between trips can be high. In the six years since their last tour there has been considerable change. Only three of the remaining current squad – Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal and Suranga Lakmal – were on the 2012-13 visit (it was four but Nuwan Pradeep has gone home injured). Coupled with the brittleness of Australia’s batting, and general lack of confidence, it brings the sides much closer together before a ball is bowled.Many of this squad will have memories of the 2016 series between the sides in Sri Lanka when the home side prevailed 3-0. As with Australia on that occasion, the conditions on this trip will challenge Sri Lanka but don’t discount good memories of the type their countrymen rarely had in Test cricket. Before that clean sweep, Sri Lanka had only won one Test against Australia – the 1999 encounter when Steve Waugh and Jason Gillespie were badly injured. Things will be different in Australia’s backyard, of course, but that brings us to the next point…Kasun Rajitha appeals vociferously for a wicket•Associated PressDon’t underestimate the pacemenPink ball, floodlights, an uncertain opposition batting line-up. Any pace bowler worth their salt would be keen to be involved. Sri Lanka’s attack is led by the experienced Suranga Lakmal who produced a magnificent 16-over spell in the recent Test against New Zealand in Christchurch where he claimed a career-best 5 for 54 overall. Lakmal isn’t quick, but there is some pace alongside him: Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, and Dushmantha Chameera are all capable of giving the speed gun a nudge. Chameera was the pick of them in the first innings of the tour match in Hobart, claiming Matt Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne and Will Pucovski.They have also enjoyed success in Sri Lanka’s previous day-night Test where Lakmal, Rajitha and Kumara shared 17 wickets against West Indies in Barbados in what became just their eighth victory outside of Asia and Zimbabwe. Other than Lakmal, and in the absence of Pradeep, the attack remains raw – and with an ongoing issue of no-balls – but they have it in them to cause difficulties for an unstable Australia batting unit.

Coaches, professionals and stars of the Plate Group teams reflect on the season gone by

Hemant Brar18-Feb-2019
Click for: 1. Uttarakhand | 2. Bihar | 3. Puducherry | 4. Meghalaya | 5. Sikkim | 6. Manipur | 7. Nagaland | 8. Arunachal Pradesh | 9. Mizoram

“A proud season”

Team: Uttarakhand
Overview in numbers: Played 8, Won 6, Lost 0, Drawn/NR 2Highlight of the season: There is a fair bit of uncertainty vis-à-vis the cricket administration in the state with four groups vying for control. For 2018-19, the BCCI ran the affairs with Ratnakar Shetty heading operations. That allowed the latent talent to blossom, and after losing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy opener against Bihar, Uttarakhand went on a winning spree. They were only stopped by eventual Ranji Trophy champions Vidarbha in the quarter-finals, though not before putting on a commendable show. Next year, Uttarakhand will face teams of a much higher calibre, where their ability will be tested more.Insider account: Bhaskar Pillai, coachBig lesson learnt: When I took over, my biggest worry was the guys had played only T20 cricket. So I wasn’t really sure how they would shift gears in the four-day format. But as the tournament progressed, there were people who showed signs of staying at the wicket. They proved to be good learners, they wanted to prove themselves because it had been a long wait. That’s why I am very happy, very satisfied, and moving forward there is a lot to gain in the coming seasons.ALSO READ: Uttarakhand’s rise from Big-Bang chaos to the Ranji quarter-finalsReason for confidence: I wasn’t very sure if we were cut out for the main league but the way the guys shaped up against Vidarbha in the quarter-final and showed no signs of nervousness gave me confidence. Most of the other quarter-finals didn’t even last five days, we stood for five days. The way we batted on the first day against [Rajneesh] Gurbani and Umesh [Yadav], to recover from 20 [44] for 3 to 140 [184] for 3. Had we not lost three early wickets or had we won the toss and bowled first, maybe we could have had an outside chance. Or maybe if we were playing some other opponent, Kerala or some other team, maybe the result could have been different.Change for next season: I think one area we struggled in was the spin department. Our main force was our pacers. So there was a lot of load on them and by the time we reached the knockouts, they were a little jaded, a little tired. I think if we can have two good spinners in our team, that would do the trick.

“Did well, can do better”

Team: Bihar
Overview in numbers: Played 8, Won 6, Lost 1, Drawn/NR 1Highlight of the season: The highlights of their season were topping the Plate Group in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and making the quarterfinals, and Ashutosh Aman’s record haul of wickets in the Ranji Trophy. Bihar will have the opportunity to rub shoulders with higher-ranked teams in the one-day format now, but even in the Ranji Trophy, they have made a case to be the second best team in the Plate Group, and will eye qualification once again next season.Insider account: Subroto Banerjee, coachBig lesson learnt: How to approach a game, how to stay in a positive state of mind to get the desired results, and how to execute your plans. These are the things the team has learnt this year. Technically also, I have sharpened the batsmen and the bowlers and they have shown significant improvement.ALSO READ: Ashutosh Aman flights his way back from the Air Force to the Ranji Trophy record booksReason for confidence: The result was the biggest positive. We came No. 2. If the match against Puducherry hadn’t been washed out, who knows, we would have been at the top of the table. The thing is you have to give them some time. We were playing after 18 years. So you cannot go and straightaway smash the tournament. I know there is a huge difference in playing against Meghalaya and playing against Karnataka. But in India culture, cricket is inherited. So I am sure the boys will adapt quickly.Change for next season: I haven’t thought about the next season yet. Overall, we have to lift our standards and we have to match up to higher levels. We have a long way to go but this team will shape up properly in another three-four years.

“Satisfying”

Team: Puducherry
Overview in numbers: Played 8, Won 4, Lost 0, Drawn/NR 4Highlight of the season: They lost a bunch of players at the start of the season, a blow that would cripple any team, but more so a new team just coming together. However, Puducherry showed great spirit and resilience to overcome that hurdle and finish third in their group in both the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Ranji Trophy. For a while in the Ranji Trophy, they looked like they would top their group, but rain robbed them of that opportunity in two crucial matches – against Uttarakhand and Bihar. They could be an even more formidable unit the next season if the players that were suspended make their way back to the team.Insider account: Pankaj Singh, fast bowlerBig lesson learnt: Doing well as a unit. Seven-eight players were not able to play the whole season and despite that, we gelled as a team. I think as a cricketer, and as a human also, we should be always ready because unexpected things can happen in cricket and life. To stay together and fight the situation, I think the team did that.ALSO READ: Puducherry – from legal battles to last-minute flightsReason for confidence: Although the team was playing for the first time, many players are playing some kind of cricket in other states, or leagues or even club matches, and they are very eager to do well. They had been waiting for a long time for their chance. They played and performed and proved that they are good at this level, they can play first-class cricket and perform. And the professionals they picked – Abhishek Nayar, Paras Dogra, me – and the team they prepared and the coaching staff of Aavishkar Salvi, [Dishant] Yagnik and others, I think it was quite like you are playing in the elite group.Change for next season: After the first match, eight to nine players were changed and we had to start with new players. Hopefully that won’t happen next year.Milind Kumar plays the ball square•Milind Kumar

“A learning experience”

Team: Meghalaya
Overview in numbers: Played 8, Won 4, Lost 2, Drawn/NR 2Highlight of the season: Their most significant moment of the league phase might have come when they piled on 826 for 7 declared against Sikkim – the highest score of the Ranji Trophy this season with Puneet Bisht registering the only triple-century of the season as well. Meghalaya’s bowlers showed promise, and the professionals led the way while batting. They might not be up to challenging for the top spot in the Plate Group yet, but they can lay claim to being the foremost among the northeastern states that debuted in the Ranji Trophy.Insider account: Puneet Bisht, wicketkeeper-batsmanBig lesson learnt: The experience of playing with the red ball. In domestic cricket in India, red-ball cricket is the most important. So the players are very keen to learn how to bat against the red ball, how to bat session by session.ALSO READ: An adventure-sports freak for captain, a traffic cop for a fast bowlerReason for confidence: That we finished fourth, and above us were only Uttarakhand, Bihar and Puducherry. The players are very keen to play the Ranji Trophy, they want to play for the next ten years. They want to work hard. Some of the players want to play off-season cricket in Delhi because in the northeast there are not many local tournaments.Another positive is our opener Raj Biswa, who scored more than 500 runs [546]. That’s a really good achievement for someone playing his first season. Our bowlers did very well. Aditya Singhania, the left-arm spinner, took almost 30 [24] wickets. So the boys are really keen to improve.Change for next season: Ground fielding is an important tool. And fitness is very important. Some guys broke down after two-three games because they are not used to such workloads. So I would like to see our guys putting extra effort in fielding and fitness from the off-season itself.

“Challenging”

Team: Sikkim
Overview in numbers: Played 8, Won 4, Lost 3, Drawn/NR 1Highlight of the season: Milind Kumar put Sikkim on the radar almost single-handedly. He scored 1331 runs, and threatened VVS Laxman’s season record of 1415 for a while. But more than the volume of runs were the situations in which Milind got them: 261 to take Sikkim from 15 for 5 to 372 and an innings win in the first game. In the very next match, 224 to take the team from 30 for 4 to 374. For good measure, he even picked up 22 wickets in eight matches (he had 11 wickets in 29 matches for Delhi before this). He was the main reason Sikkim went from being punching bags in the Vijay Hazare Trophy to being competitive – even forcing teams to alter their strategies to be more ‘Milind-proof’ with their scores.Insider account: Milind Kumar, middle-order batsman [highest scorer in the tournament with 1331 runs]Big lesson learnt: The biggest learning was how to play according to the match situation. The same players I played with in the first match had evolved a lot by the time the tournament ended. Earlier, the batsmen didn’t have the temperament to stay at the wicket, they used to lose hope. But, as the tournament progressed, they learnt how you respond in different situations. The batsman started scoring runs, started to defend better, learnt how to see off the new ball and also had big partnerships with me.ALSO READ: From being sidelined in Delhi to 1000 in the Ranji TrophyReason for confidence: Most of the guys were playing after a gap of 3-4 years but it was an achievement to win four out of eight games. We have done so well with only a couple of months in our hands, that means we can do even better. If the players get regular practice, regular matches, they are capable of doing well. The guys are working really hard and if you give them some time, they will definitely do well.Change for next season: Batting and bowling are the main skills, those you have to anyway improve upon. But fielding is totally in our hands. If we can improve our fielding, we can change the game.

“Tough, but a good experience”

Team: Manipur
Overview in numbers: Played 8, Won 3, Lost 5, Drawn/NR 0Highlight of the season: Their finest moment, perhaps, came in a defeat, against Bihar. Bowled out for 156, they kept Bihar to 257 and then mounted a strong second-innings resistance. It was going well at 184 for 2, but a collapse meant they set Bihar only 138 to win. They continued to fight, but Bihar squeezed out a three-wicket win. While the bowlers did well on the whole, the batting was thin after the top order. Yashpal Singh was a rock at the top, and the late entry of Mayank Raghav gave hope, but Manipur will need more of the middle-order to contribute runs next season.Insider account: Yashpal Singh, middle-order batsmanBig lesson learnt: Our batting was really poor. So our coach and I worked with the boys. They were trying but it wasn’t happening. Everybody has learnt by watching on TV. So it’s also not fair to expect a lot from them. So we expected that much only so that they also don’t feel the pressure.ALSO READ: Go pro – the template for success in Ranji Trophy’s Plate GroupReason for confidence: Our bowlers did really well. And that helped us in motivating our batsmen also, by saying if the bowlers can do it, why can’t the batsmen? And a couple of guys stepped up as well. All these things take a bit of time but the good thing is that the team spirit was really good, the attitude was good. And I am sure things will improve in the coming seasons.Change for next season: If the BCCI can provide the grounds to the teams that don’t have any right now, that would be really great. The ground we have for our camps is in a bad condition. Rainy season is also a bit longer here, that also hampers.Ashutosh Aman picked up 68 wickets in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy•Ashutosh Aman

“Nothing like playing for your own state”

Team: Nagaland
Overview in numbers: Played 8, Won 2, Lost 4, Drawn/NR 2Highlight of the season: Given the relative quality of the batsmen and the often-iffy pitches, the bowlers had a better time than the batsmen, but Nagaland suffered from not having a strike bowler. Abrar Kazi’s all-round show was immense, with 34 wickets and 814 runs, but that he was the highest wicket-taker and run-getter spoke of inadequate support. Captain Rongsen Jonathan ensured the season ended with something to cheer for, getting centuries in successive matches against Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh and Puducherry.Insider account: Rongsen Jonathan, middle-order batsmanBig lesson learnt: The players had never experienced Ranji Trophy, they had never played four-day games. But now they know exactly how it is. I personally did very well and was happy to guide others. In fact, after this season, we are looking for an academy where we can have a proper camp for two-three months and I can guide them further.Reason for confidence: We are starting various inter-district tournaments, we are starting a coaching academy for all the state players, we are going to have talent hunts in the state. Since the Ranji Trophy is here, everyone is very interested. People are coming out wanting to play. That’s a very good sign. So next season we should have a very good team.Change for next season: Right now we have very few youngsters. I would like to see more and more youngsters coming up because they will be the future of the team.

“A dream come true”

Team: Arunachal Pradesh
Overview in numbers: Played 8, Won 0, Lost 7, Drawn/NR 1Highlight of the season: Arunachal Pradesh had opted for only two professionals, but neither of Kshitiz Sharma and Samarth Seth could deliver in the manner the other professionals did for their teams. That not a single batsman crossed 500 runs in the season and no bowler took more than 25 wickets either underscored Arunachal’s struggles. Deendayal Upadhyay, their highest-wicket taker with 23 strikes at 16.82, played only four games.Insider account: Sandeep Kumar Thakur, medium-pacerBig lesson learnt: We got to know the value of fitness. I personally had put on a lot of weight, but our trainer and physio are very friendly and motivating. The physio used to tell how to prevent injuries, how to overcome injuries. We also realised that we needed to work on our fielding. Whatever the mistakes we made this season, we have to work on that.Reason for confidence: When we look at the professional players and see them scoring runs, it gives us the confidence that we can also do it. This time we didn’t get enough time to prepare, it all happened so quickly. Now there is one year’s time and we are geared up to improve.Change for next season: This was our first season, so our association also didn’t have much of an idea. The professional players came and performed. If there are more professionals in the next season, the team would be more balanced.

“A learning curve”

Team: Mizoram
Overview in numbers: Played 8, Won 0, Lost 7, Drawn/NR 1Highlight of the season: Mizoram ended below Arunachal on the points table – the only match the two teams didn’t lose was when they played each other – but they might feel disappointed about it. Mizoram would have banked heavily on Taruwar Kohli to deliver, and he did produce 826 runs, but apart from fellow professional Akhil Rajput, not an established name in domestic cricket by any means, Kohli had limited support – no other batsman crossed even 150 runs for the season. The bowling was barely adequate, but it paled in front of the batting woes, and Mizoram will have to fix that aspect with some haste.Insider account: Taruwar Kohli, top-order batsmanBig lesson learnt: The experience of playing against the likes of Pankaj Singh. For young fast bowlers to watch him bowl, I think that was a great experience. The same goes for the batsmen, to watch the professionals bat, score hundreds. I think it was a very good learning experience for a youngster to understand how to score a hundred, how to build an innings. I think the guys learned these things really well.Reason for confidence: Most of the players are very disciplined, they are very focused. That’s why they had so much improvement. They normally used to play T20s. They have now learnt that it’s important to play the longer version as well. And back in Mizoram, they have immediately introduced a tournament of two-day matches. The guys have started to play a lot more cricket now. In past, they used to play for only two-to-three months. They have started to take cricket as a career. So the trend is slowly changing.Change for next season: I think the thinking in the first season was to have some experience, have a feel of it. The professionals or the support staff were not pushing them so hard, because we all knew it was the first season and it was not going to be that easy. But the boys need to pull their socks up in the coming season. We are trying to change that thinking now, okay you have got the experience of playing now at this level. Now it’s taking up to the next level, becoming a good competitive side and our vision should be to qualify, not just participate. The players should be aiming to play for India and as a team, we should be aiming to qualify.

With three abandonments in less than a week, this has already been the most rain-affected World Cup

Alan Gardner11-Jun-2019Following a third washout in five days, questions have been asked about the planning for wet weather at the World Cup. The tournament does not feature reserve days for the group stage – although the semi-finals and final are covered – but ticketholders can at least be assured of refunds if the rain continues to rule. Here is everything you need to know about the current soggy scenario.Why are there no reserve days?
The lack of reserve days basically boils down to logistics. The nature of setting up a ground to host an international match is such that doing it all again the next day – not to mention booking hotels, rearranging travel schedules, and keeping broadcast teams on site – is prohibitive. With group games on 45 consecutive days, there is virtually no wriggle room. The ICC takes into account statistical rainfall when creating its schedule but, in the words of chief executive David Richardson, has had to contend with “extremely unseasonable weather” over recent days.”Factoring in a reserve day for every match at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup would significantly increase the length of the tournament and practically would be extremely complex to deliver,” Richardson said. “It would impact pitch preparation, team recovery and travel days, accommodation and venue availability, tournament staffing, volunteer and match officials availability, broadcast logistics and very importantly the spectators who in some instances have travelled hours to be at the game. There is also no guarantee that the reserve day would be free from rain either.”Up to 1200 people are on site to deliver a match and everything associated with it including getting it broadcast and a proportion of them are moving around the country so reserve days in the group stage would require a significant uplift in the number of staff. We have reserve days factored in for the knockout stages, knowing that over the course of 45 group games we should play the large majority.”Haven’t previous editions had reserve days?
They have, but not for a while. The last World Cup to feature reserve days was 2007, in the Caribbean, while they were also used the last time it was held in England, in 1999. Only two matches made use of the back-up option on that occasion, one of which enabled India to complete victory over England and knock out the hosts. Subsequent tournaments saw an increase in teams, and therefore matches, with reserves days usually the casualty.

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What is the ICC policy on refunds?
If the game is a complete abandonment, then you will be entitled to your money back. In fact, if you see 15 overs or less (as at the Hampshire Bowl on Monday), it is still a full refund; between 15.1 and 29.5 overs of play, then 50% of the ticket price will be returned. If you purchased your ticket online, a refund will be issued automatically within 28 days, while those bought from the box office should be returned via post.Is this the most rain-affected World Cup ever?
In short: yes. There had previously only been two complete abandonments (without a toss) in the history of the tournament – there have now been two within a week at Bristol. Added to Monday’s no-result in Southampton, that means three matches lost to the weather. The 1992 and 2003 World Cups both saw two no-results.Who has benefited/lost out?
No one has much to gain from rained-off games, although Sri Lanka perhaps have a couple more points than might have been expected had they actually played Pakistan and Bangladesh, both teams higher in the ICC rankings. South Africa got their first point of the tournament but, after three defeats in a row, already face a difficult path to the knockouts. The top four – New Zealand, England, India and Australia – have not been affected (so far), and will doubtless hope it stays that way.Is there more bad weather to come?
That is, unfortunately, a possibility. The forecast for the next few days is patchy, with matches in Taunton (Australia v Pakistan), Nottingham (India v New Zealand) and Southampton (England v West Indies) unlikely to avoid the rain completely. The Met Office has issued flood warnings for the south east, while some bookmakers are taking bets on this being the wettest UK June in history. So we might be turning to the Duckworth Lewis Method once again.

With the death of the World Cricket League after this event, the tournament gives teams a chance to resurrect, with ODI status also up for grabs for four teams

Peter Della Penna in Windhoek19-Apr-2019Valentine’s Day 2018. It was an occasion when the hearts of some cricketers in Windhoek were made full (Nepal and UAE) or left completely broken (Canada and Namibia) on the last day of round-robin play at the previous edition of the World Cricket League Division Two. For Canada and Namibia, it’s been an agonising 14-month wait for the eight days of cricket action to come.This year’s tournament – also in Windhoek – is at once a sad and happy occasion; the World Cricket League ends after this event but those who finish in the top four of six competing teams have a shot at ODI status.For Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea, it’s a chance to resurrect the ODI status that died in Zimbabwe at last year’s World Cup Qualifier. For Canada and Namibia, it’s a chance to piece themselves back together from the heartbreak of 14 months ago, especially for Canada, who will try to regain ODI status for the first time since 2014. For USA, it’s a chance to complete their resurrection and to get back into the top tier of Associate cricket since playing their only ODIs at the 2004 Champions Trophy. For Oman, it’s an opportunity to ascend to a height they’ve never experienced in one-day cricket before.Papua New Guinea (9th place at 2018 World Cup Qualifier) After being in first place in the 2015-17 WCL Championship through the end of the first four rounds, PNG stumbled in the final three rounds to win just two of their last six matches and finish six points behind eventual champions Netherlands. At the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe three months later, five straight losses ensured they relinquished ODI status.An unstable management structure didn’t help the on-field performance. Long-time coach Dipak Patel was dumped in the summer of 2017, followed by a very brief tenure for Jason Gillespie, before Joe Dawes took over on an interim basis at the end of the year leading into the World Cup Qualifier. Dawes has taken over full-time now, giving him an opportunity to find an elusive winning combination.Since the World Cup Qualifier, PNG’s only official international cricket has been in two regional rounds of 2020 T20 World Cup Qualifier. Opening batsman Tony Ura has been the leading scorer during that stretch against watered-down competition, scoring at 458 runs at 65.43 including two centuries. Far more impressive was his 151 against Ireland in Zimbabwe, but as the rest of PNG’s scorecard from that match shows, too often, Ura has lacked support. PNG’s batsmen need to be far more consistent in Namibia to reclaim ODI status.Hong Kong (10th place at 2018 World Cup Qualifier)In January 2017, Hong Kong very narrowly lost a pair of one-dayers in the WCL Championship to Netherlands by margins of five runs and 13 runs. Had either of those matches gone Hong Kong’s way, they would have finished at the top of the table, securing ODI status through 2022 and a place in the 13-team ODI Super League. Instead they went to Zimbabwe where – despite a win over eventual World Cup qualifier Afghanistan – they struggled through the rest of the group stage and loser’s bracket playoffs to finish last.Hong Kong showcased their mercurial resilience by not only qualifying ahead of UAE and Nepal for the Asia Cup six months later, but in giving India a huge scare. Yet another blow came in October when brothers Irfan and Nadeem Ahmed along with Haseeb Amjad were all suspended indefinitely after being charged by the ICC with breaching the anti-corruption code.Nizakat Khan, whose 92 opening the chase against India was one of the top five innings by an Associate player in 2018, will miss the tournament in Namibia while on compassionate leave, spending time with his ill father in Pakistan. It means captain Anshuman Rath and ex-captain Babar Hayat will be under heavy pressure to prop up a paper-thin batting order.Davy Jacobs goes through a warm-up sprint in a Canada training session•Peter Della PennaCanada (3rd place at 2018 WCL Division Two)After going 3-0 to start the tournament, Canada were in control of their destiny heading into the final two days of round-robin play. They ran out of steam chasing 268 and lost by 17 runs to Namibia, and, on the final day of the round-robin stage, still had a World Cup Qualifier berth in their grasp, needing one more wicket against Nepal. Karan KC and Sandeep Lamichhane famously denied them with a 51-run last-wicket stand to win off the final ball.Canada return with the majority of that squad, but have added reinforcements in a few key areas. Davy Jacobs, the former Warriors captain from South Africa who spent two years with Mumbai Indians, has gone from coaching Canada in 2016 [a year after he moved to Ontario] to now captaining his adopted home, after qualifying to play under the ICC’s residency criteria. In his debut tournament, he finished second on the team’s aggregate and averages during the Cricket West Indies Super50 in October.On the bowling side, their pace department has gotten a boost in the form of Romesh Eranga. Despite playing only six matches in Canada’s group-stage participation in the Super50, the left-arm swing bowler topped the tournament wickets list with 17, including two five-fors. Along with Cecil Pervez, he forms a potent new-ball combo that makes Canada one of the tournament favourites.Namibia (4th place at 2018 WCL Division Two)The dramatic nature of Canada’s heartbreak against Nepal relegated Namibia’s 19-run loss to UAE – when they needed 28 off the last 15 balls with a batsman well-set on 58 – to a footnote in the tournament saga. But the repercussions were no less drastic. Captain Sarel Burger retired while Gerrie Snyman, who was not a part of the squad but was a devastating presence when available, also called time on his career.The reins have subsequently been handed to 24-year-old Gerhard Erasmus, who showed tremendous maturity in the tournament under immense pressure in a win against Oman, as well as a fifty in a win over Canada. He also struck a half-century in the loss to UAE, where his wicket effectively clinched the match for the opposition. Had Namibia gotten over the line against UAE, Erasmus likely would have presented a strong case for Player of the Tournament instead of Sandeep Lamichhane.Namibia have shown flashes of being worthy of Division One Associate status. Despite finishing last out of eight teams in the 2015-17 WCL Championship, one of their three wins came against second-placed Scotland in Edinburgh. On that day, Christi Viljoen’s presence was immense in a cameo return during the Otago offseason. With Viljoen named in their 14-man squad, Namibia have every chance to contend for the top four.Bilal Khan races away to celebrate another wicket•Peter Della PennaOman (1st place at 2018 WCL Division Three)Arguably the team with the most topsy-turvy ride at last year’s Division Two in Windhoek was Oman. Blown out on a damp wicket on the opening day by Canada, they came back the next day to hand Nepal their only loss of the round-robin stage. They had Namibia 65 for 7 chasing 166 before letting them off the hook. In a de facto semi-final against UAE on day four of the round-robin stage, they needed less than three per over with seven wickets in hand chasing 159 before the chase went pear-shaped, sparked by a needless run-out. They were relegated after ending 2-3, yet they easily could have gone 4-1 and qualified for Zimbabwe alongside Nepal.Chastened by some of the harsh lessons from that experience, they went undefeated on home soil in November to earn a trip back to Namibia. More impressive have been some of their recent results against the current top-class of Associates. After being wiped out for 24 in a record mauling by Scotland in February, they produced a stunning turnaround 24 hours later to win by 93 runs, before a spirited chase that ended with a 15-run loss in the series decider.Those results against Scotland came without arguably their two best batsmen, captain Zeeshan Maqsood and Aqib Ilyas who both sat out injured. With them, they chased 252 to beat UAE by two wickets at the start of April and were in position to win again with 36 needed off 11 overs before a late stumble in a 14-run loss. Their batting depth has increased dramatically in recent years and with a pace battery spearheaded by Bilal Khan, the joint-leading wicket-taker with Lamichhane in Windhoek last year, Oman are poised to take a top-four spot.Xavier Marshall walks off after his first century in a USA uniform•Peter Della PennaUSA (Runner-up at 2018 WCL Division Three)On their fifth attempt, USA finally got over the Division Three hump in Oman. Last month’s tour of the UAE showed that despite entering Namibia as the lowest-ranked team in the event, USA have transformed into a well-oiled machine to earn a tag as one of the tournament favorites. A comfortable six-wicket win over a Lancashire side that featured the England duo of Keaton Jennings and Haseeb Hameed was followed by wins in two of three one-dayers over the UAE senior side, that too in dominant fashion by five wickets and nine wickets.Perhaps the most salient point about the first two victories in that run were that they were achieved without Trinbago Knight Riders spearhead Ali Khan, who sat out with back spasms. A spicy 3 for 29 in the final encounter played a major role in USA only having to chase 143 in the series clincher against a country with ODI status for the last five years.USA’s batting, which was historically brittle in high-pressure situations, suddenly turned rock-solid in Oman with the middle-order addition of Aaron Jones and Hayden Walsh Jr. Factor in Xavier Marshall’s sizzling re-entry to the top of the order in the UAE, where he was the leading scorer on tour, along with Steven Taylor’s dynamic all-round assets and it’s hard to imagine USA leaving Namibia without ODI status under their belt.

The inescapable conclusion is that for Pakistan, the 2019 World Cup is going the exact same way as the 1992 tournament

Osman Samiuddin in Edgbaston25-Jun-2019Will this carry on?•Ishita Mazumder/ESPNcricinfo LtdThe similarities begin, credibly, with the formatIn 1992, the tournament had nine teams, with everyone playing against everyone else and the top four progressing to the semi-finals.
In 2019, the tournament has 10 teams, and everyone plays everyone else and the top four progress to the semi-finals.Even the playing conditionsIn 1992, the administrators decided to use two new white balls per innings, one at each end.
In 2019, the teams are also playing with two new white balls per innings, one at each end.Then, the most credible and compelling similarities – Pakistan’s sequence of results:In 1992, Pakistan’s sequence for the first six games read: Lost, won, washout, lost, lost, won. In 2019, Pakistan’s sequence for the first six games read: Lost, won, washout, lost, lost, won.In 1992, Pakistan lost their opening game to West Indies. In 2019, Pakistan lost their opening game to West Indies.That sequence will be tested firmly at Edgbaston on Wednesday when Pakistan take on New ZealandIn 1992, when Pakistan took on Martin Crowe’s side, the co-hosts were unbeaten. Pakistan eased home by seven wickets in Christchurch and sealed their entry into the semi-finals.In 2019, Pakistan take on an unbeaten New Zealand again. This time though, a win doesn’t guarantee them a place in the last four, though considerably increases their chances. Also, a worrying sign for Pakistan fans: the 1992 game was the tournament’s 34th match. Edgbaston will be this tournament’s 33rd.Around now, the theory starts stretchingIn 1992, Pakistan had Inzamam-ul-Haq, one of their breakout stars.
In 2019, Pakistan have his nephew Imam-ul-Haq.In 1992, a Pakistani left-hand batsman named Sohail (Aamir) was the Man of the Match in their sixth game.
In 2019, a Pakistani left-hand batsman named Sohail (Haris) was Man of the Match in their sixth game.In 1992, India and then Australia had won the previous two World Cups.
In 2019, India and then Australia have won the previous two World Cups.And finally, the theory goes bonkersIn 1992, Asif Ali Zardari, a former president of Pakistan and husband of the late Benazir Bhutto, was in jail.
In 2019, Asif Ali Zardari again is in jail.In 1992, was released as an animated musical film.
In 2019, an reboot was released.Before you get too carried away though, the 2019 Pakistan team is not going there. Not 1992 in any case, as Azhar Mahmood pointed out:”If you see the 1992 World Cup and this one, there are a few similarities. But we’re not thinking like that. If you look at the 1999 World Cup, the situation that we are in, Australia was in that situation. If they lost any games, they would’ve been out. We are in that situation. But for us, every match is a final, that is how we are looking at it. We know that if we perform poorly anywhere, we could be out.”

On the eve of the Ranchi Test, our correspondent went to a movie theatre to watch a former World Cup winner take the silverscreen

Karthik Krishnaswamy in Ranchi18-Oct-2019On the eve of the India-South Africa Test match in Ranchi, I’m watching .That isn’t a misspelling. It’s a movie, starring Kirti Azad, the former India allrounder of 1983 World Cup fame, and former Member of Parliament, playing himself in a fictionalised narrative of Bihar’s victimisation in Indian cricket. I’m watching it in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, the neighbouring state that is the principal villain in this narrative.Azad’s face, glaring out of posters for the movie, had been all over the roads leading to the JSCA Stadium in the days before the Test match. Curiosity had brought me, and maybe 15 others, to Plaza Cinema on the day of ‘s release.The story is held together by a loose skeleton of fact. Briefly: Bihar was split into two in 2000, with Jharkhand, its southern half, gaining full statehood. A year later, the BCCI recognised the Jharkhand State Cricket Association as a full member, and deaffiliated the Bihar Cricket Association.As Bihar, India’s third-largest state by population, languished without representation in India’s domestic competitions, Jharkhand, the 14th largest state according to the 2011 census, prospered.The starkest measure of the chasm that opened up between the two states was financial. The BCCI paid out INR 180.95 crores (upwards of USD 25 million going by the current exchange rate) to Jharkhand across the five financial years from 2012-13 to 2016-17. Bihar received INR 50 lakhs (USD 70,000 approximately) in 2012-13, and nothing in the next four years.It was only in 2016 that Bihar became a full member again, and only in 2018-19 that it returned to top-flight domestic cricket. Azad headed the Association of Bihar Cricket, one of three entities vying to gain the BCCI’s recognition. The ABC failed, as did the CAB (you can work out the full form yourself), with the BCA winning the three-way arm-wrestle. addresses all this only indirectly, via the vehicle of resentment, some of it no doubt justified, blown up to a shrill pitch of melodrama.

Ah, yes, Dhoni. He isn’t actually in the movie, but his ghost is all over it. Dhoni, the face of Ranchi, the face of Jharkhand. Dhoni, who has played all of four first-class matches for Jharkhand, and, before that, 23 for Bihar.Karthik Krishnaswamy on Kirket

At one point, a BCCI bigwig tells Azad, “Bihar mein cricket nahin, kirket khela jaata hai (They don’t play cricket in Bihar, they play kirket).”Kirket is how the non-English-speaking masses in much of north India, and not just Bihar, pronounce the word. Bihar, the bad guys keep reminding us, is full of yokels and thugs. At various points during the movie, even the good guys seem only too keen to embrace that stereotype.Beyond that, there’s caste and communal politics, selection intrigues, a TV sting operation, an amateurishly filmed T20 tournament, guest appearances from various former cricketers (Atul Wassan, Manoj Prabhakar, Maninder Singh, Vivek Razdan) and even a twist on the Misbah-Joginder moment from the 2007 World T20 final. The acting is terrible, the dialogues are all tell and no show, and if you want production values, you’ll get them in the ads during the interval. Like the one for an apparel brand featuring Dwayne Bravo, Shane Watson, and MS Dhoni.Ah, yes, Dhoni. He isn’t actually in the movie, but his ghost is all over it. Dhoni, the face of Ranchi, the face of Jharkhand. Dhoni, who has played all of four first-class matches for Jharkhand, and, before that, 23 for Bihar.Imagine an alternate reality where Bihar kept its BCCI membership in 2001, and Jharkhand had to wait until 2016. Where Dhoni had to move from Ranchi to, say, Patna. Where Bihar received 360 times the funding Jharkhand did, which helped pay for a state-of-the-art stadium in Patna, which is about to host an India-South Africa Test match.If all that had happened, we would not have . What we might have in its place is too terrifying to contemplate.

A look at some of the players franchises might want to let go off before November 14

Gaurav Sundararaman13-Nov-2019Note: the remaining purse is the balance left after the 2019 IPL auction. Each franchise will have an additional INR 3 crore added at the forthcoming auction.

Mumbai Indians

Jason Behrendorff (INR 1 crore)
A lower spine injury earlier this year has forced Beherendoff to miss six-plus months of cricket, and he is therefore unlikely to take part in the IPL.Ben Cutting (INR 2.2 crore)
Having acquired the services of Sherfane Rutherford from Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians now possess three overseas medium-pace-bowling allrounders in Kieron Pollard, Rutherford and Cutting. With the possibility of only one of them usually playing in the XI, they could look for an overseas player who has a different skill set.Beuran Hendricks (INR 50 lakh)
The South African was a replacement for West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, who clocked the best-ever bowling figures in the IPL in his debut season last IPL, but had to immediately check out of the tournament because of an injury. It is understood that Joseph is likely to be retained, which will mean Hendricks will be released.

Chennai Super Kings

Mohit Sharma (INR 5 crore)
Sharma played just one game for Super Kings last season and has not played any form of cricket since then. Like Mumbai, the Super Kings believe in being loyal to their players, but he is an expensive option to retain in case he is not going to be a regular. Importantly, the money can help the franchise look for a younger alternative.David Willey (INR 2 crore)
He missed out on the IPL last season and failed to make the England squad for the World Cup, and Super Kings might well look beyond him. With South Africa fast man Lungi Ngidi back this season, they could look at other overseas bowling allrounders as potential replacements.Scott Kuggeleijn (INR 50 lakh)
He joined as a replacement player for Ngidi last season, but Kuggeleijn played just two matches. He has not played consistently for New Zealand recently, and returned below-par numbers against England during their home T20I series in November.Sam Billings (INR 1 crore)
The Englishman played just one match last season, and found it hard to get a game despite offering a wicketkeeping alternative, given that MS Dhoni was around.Marcus Stoinis spills a chance from Nicholas Pooran•BCCI

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Marcus Stoinis (INR 6.2 crore)
They have overhauled the coaching set-up, and Royal Challengers desperately need to free up the bench to have a good purse at the auction. Stoinis was traded from Kings XI Punjab before last season, but the Australian allrounder didn’t make much of an impact.Colin De Grandhomme (INR 2.2 crore)
Another allrounder who has been less effective in the IPL. The New Zealander played just four games last season. In the IPL, de Grandhomme averages just 19 with the bat, though he has a strike rate 134.66. But that is still a long way below his career strike rate of 162.Shimron Hetmyer (INR 4.2 crore)
The Guyana left-hander has had a pretty disappointing 2019 in white-ball cricket. He made his IPL debut last season, but a combination of poor returns and limited opportunities meant he couldn’t create too many ripples. There is a possibility that Royal Challengers will release Hetmyer and think of buying him back at a lower price.Heinrich Klaasen (INR 50 lakh)
Klaasen failed to impress in the limited chances he has got, but despite a low price, the franchise might want to cut out excess baggage.Tim Southee (INR 1 crore)
Despite being one of the most experienced players around, Southee has just nine wickets from 14 matches at an economy rate of 9.89 and an average of 52.77 in the last three seasons. With Dale Steyn and Nathan Coulter-Nile likely to be retained, Royal Challengers might not need Southee.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Martin Guptill (INR 1 crore)
With David Warner and Jonny Bairstow available for the full season, the chances of Guptill getting a game are bleak. Also, his form in India has never been as dominant as elsewhere, which means new head coach Trevor Bayliss might want to look at younger and cheaper options.Shakib Al Hasan (INR 2 crore)
Shakib will not take part in this year’s competition after being banned from all cricket.Yusuf Pathan (INR 1.9 crore)
At 36 years of age, Yusuf might find it hard to prove his worth. Over the last couple of years, his hitting ability has gone down drastically, and he is not the swiftest of fielders either. He is another player who could find himself on the sidelines, with the franchise going for younger players.Robin Uthappa looks on as Lasith Malinga celebrates with his team-mates•BCCI

Kolkata Knight Riders

Robin Uthappa (INR 6.4 crore)
The 2014 Orange Cap winner has been in poor form in the ongoing domestic season. Uthappa has scored only 140 runs from ten white-ball matches this season across formats, and he also struggled for Knight Riders last season, failing to get anywhere close to his usual standards.Kamlesh Nagarkoti (INR 3.2 crore)
Nagarkoti was picked at the 2018 auction after his potential to bowl raw pace became evident at the Under-19 World Cup. However, injuries have prevented him from playing even a single match over the last two IPLs. He has not played any domestic cricket yet either. Will Knight Riders risk him again, at such a high price too?Carlos Brathwaite (INR 5 crore)
Ever since the 2016 World T20 final, expectations have been high when it comes to Brathwaite. He has, however, blown hot and cold, and was even dropped by West Indies and lost the T20I captaincy.Joe Denly (INR 1 crore)
Injured and now more focused on his Test spot, Denly’s IPL record could well end with being dismissed off the only ball he has ever faced in the competition.Chris Lynn (INR 9.6 crore)
Has he justified his price over the last two seasons? Probably not, but that’s the question Knight Riders will ask, and try to answer, when it comes to the Australian opener. There is always an option of buying him back at a lower price.

Delhi Capitals

Amit Mishra (INR 4 crore)
Having traded in R Ashwin from Kings XI, Capitals could well feel Mishra is surplus to their requirements. What will not help is that the 36-year-old’s numbers this domestic season have been underwhelming. Capitals are likely to take a long, hard look before figuring out what to do with the veteran legspinner.Chris Morris (INR 11 crore)
Ever since he was injured two season ago, the South African allrounder has not had the impact he did earlier, with bat or ball. A gun death bowler with incredible finishing abilities, Morris was the second player retained by Capitals ahead of the 2018 auction. However, his performance has tapered off since then, and the team could free up the money to buy more effective death bowlers.Colin Ingram (INR 6.4 crore)
T20 globetrotter Ingram had an average IPL last year, and is not getting any younger. The franchise could look at buying him back for a much lower price, or just release him.Hanuma Vihari (INR 2 crore) and Rahul Tewatia (INR 3 crore)
Both of them will find it hard to be part of the playing XI, and could either be traded or released altogether.Varun Chakravarthy was taken apart by Sunil Narine in his first over•BCCI

Kings XI Punjab

Varun Chakravarthy (INR 8.4 crore)
He picked up an injury and played just one game last year. Moreover, Chakravarthy has not played any competitive cricket since then. His mystery spin continues to remain a mystery, and Kings XI may not want to wait to find out what it is.Simran Singh (INR 4.8 crore)
The 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman from Punjab was bought for a big sum. He has not set the domestic scene on fire though, and his price is way too high for a cricketer who will barely get a game.Andrew Tye (INR 7.2 crore)
Once the go-to bowler, especially at death, for whichever team he played for, Tye lost his mojo and recently suffered an injury that will put him out for a few months.Sam Curran (INR 7.2 crore)
He did shake a leg with Preity Zinta, one of Kings XI’s co-owners, but the Englishman failed to be the game-changer that he was meant to be, although he did have a memorable hat-trick when Kings XI pulled off a heist against Capitals. However, Curran remains a candidate who could be put back on the auction block.Hardus Viljoen (INR 75 lakh) and Moises Henriques (INR 1.5 crore)
Neither proved to be terribly effective in the opportunities given, and that could mean the franchise might want to look at other available options.

Rajasthan Royals

Jaydev Unadkat (INR 8.4 crore)
Despite being among the most expensive buys in the last two auctions, Unadkat has struggled to live up to expectations, including his own. The franchise is likely to think of buying him back for a lower price or letting him go altogether.Ish Sodhi (INR 50 lakh)
To play an overseas wristspinner in the XI is extremely tough, especially when you have Steven Smith, Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, Jos Buttler and Shreyas Gopal around. Therefore, Royals might be better off buying someone else.Oshane Thomas (INR 1.1 crore)
Out of the West Indies squad because of his inconsistent performances, Thomas might not remain the team’s No. 1 pick when it comes to to picking among the support acts for Archer.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is now keen on signing a Premier League forward this summer, and he could join as part of a swap deal, according to a report.

Newcastle eyeing forwards amid Isak uncertainty

Newcastle can only hope that Alexander Isak’s first taste of success at St. James’ Park inspires him to compete for more honours at the club, but there is widespread speculation over his future as we approach the summer transfer window.

Manchester United are the latest Premier League club to be linked with an audacious move for Isak, joining the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool in the race for his signature, although it will take a huge bid to tempt the Magpies into a sale.

As things stand, Howe’s side remain in a strong negotiating position, and their reluctance to sell the Swedish striker means they may not have to worry about bringing in a top forward in the summer.

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However, potential targets are still being identified, with the PIF recently making contact to discuss a move for Lille striker Jonathan David, while they have also opened talks to sign Fiorentina’s Moise Kean.

GiveMeSport have now dropped a new update on Isak’s future, reporting that Liverpool could offer to send Darwin Nunez in the opposite direction as part of a swap deal, however, Newcastle have no interest in a deal of that nature.

As such, Diogo Jota and Harvey Elliott could be offered instead, and the Reds could be more successful by proposing the duo, given that Howe would be keen on bringing both of them to St. James’ Park.

That said, a move will only transpire if the Magpies soften their stance on allowing Isak to leave, and they are currently showing no signs of being willing to sanction the 25-year-old’s departure.

"Monster" Jota could be versatile option for Howe

The £41m Portugal international is able to play on both wings, as well as through the middle, and he has proven himself over a number of seasons in the Premier League, which could make him a solid signing for Newcastle this summer.

Season

Premier League appearances

Goals

Assists

2021-22

35

15

4

2022-23

22

7

4

2023-24

21

10

3

2024-25

18

5

4

Liverpool blogger Si Steers has also singled out the 28-year-old for praise, although he does express concern about his injury record, which has continued to be a problem this season.

Jota’s injury struggles, coupled with the fact a move may only be possible if Isak heads in the opposite direction, means a deal should probably be avoided this summer, despite the Portuguese forward having a lot to offer on his day.

Chelsea have already started to make additions to their squad ahead of next season, with Dario Essugo set to join in the summer from CP Sporting and Geovany Quenda also signed from the Portuguese outfit, set to join the club in 2026.

Estevao and Kendry Paez will also arrive in the summer months having been purchased by Chelsea before they turned 18, meaning they both had to wait to join up with the London club, staying at their respective sides to continue their development.

The Blues will also have a fair few arrivals this summer returning from their respective loans, with a handful of players expected to play a part in Enzo Maresca’s first-team squad next season.

Chelsea's returning loan stars

Andrey Santos is one player currently thriving on loan with Strasbourg, Chelsea’s sister club, who find themselves fourth in Ligue 1.

The 20-year-old Brazilian has made 28 appearances for the French outfit this season, scoring ten goals and providing three assists, In the process, he was described by manager Liam Rosenior as “the best midfielder in the league”.

It’s safe to say he’s ready to come back to the Bridge and make an instant impact, but he’s not the only one.

Djorde Petrovic is another Chelsea star who’s ready to come back and impact an impact.

Like Santos, he is currently on loan with the in-form Strasbourg, with the 25-year-old shot-stopper making 25 appearances this season, conceding 29 goals and keeping nine clean sheets across 2,250 minutes played.

While they should play a big part in any success Maresca’s side has next season, they’re not the only two who will come back and hope to go straight into the first team.

Chelsea's next Carvalho is thriving

Cast your mind back to the days of Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea and you’ll remember Didier Drogba thumping in the goals, John Terry monstrously brushing strikers aside and Ricardo Carvalho cooly and classily playing out from the back.

While Drogba and Terry will go down as icons, Carvalho went about his career as a rather underrated figure. Coincidentally, they may now have their next version of the Portuguese centre-back in Renato Veiga.

Chelsea signed Veiga from Basel in the summer transfer window, with the 21-year-old joining for a fee of around £11.8m. Since then, he played a bit-part role in the Chelsea squad, making 18 appearances for the Blues between joining and January.

He then made a surprise loan move to Juventus in the January transfer window where like the aforementioned Petrovic and Santos, he has shone.

Since arriving in Italy, Veiga has started as a central defender, making eight appearances for Juventus, keeping two clean sheets and totaling 611 minutes played. The Portuguese defender saw the opportunity to play as a central defender as more beneficial ahead of the 2026 World Cup having recently broken into the Portugal side as a centre-back.

So, what qualities does he bring? Well, when comparing the underlying metrics of Viega and Levi Colwill this season, you can see how both players thrive as a progressive orchestrator in the back line, looking to progress play with their passing quality and use their defensive qualities to keep things tight.

Goals + Assists

0.14

0.06

Progressive Carries

1.36

0.36

Progressive Passes

3.98

3.89

Pass Completion %

87.2%

89.6%

Passes into Final Third

4.20

4.61

Tackles

2.05

1.21

Blocks

1.48

1.07

Interceptions

1.25

1.01

Ball Recoveries

3.75

3.25

Aerial Duels Won

1.82

2.46

Described as a “Swiss army knife” defender by scout Jacek Kulig due to his ability to play as a centre-back, a left-back, a defensive midfielder and even an attacking midfielder under Maresca at Chelsea, the future looks bright.

While Carvalho wasn’t a versatile player, featuring for his entire career in a central position, the two players in question here do share a key attribute; the ability to progress the ball and remain composed under pressure.

Coincidentally, Chelsea previously had a Portuguese and English centre-back pairing of Carvalho and Terry which was very successful. Could Viega and Colwill provide a similar dynamic in the future, becoming Chelsea’s next legendary defensive duo? Time will tell.

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