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أشار هاري كين مهاجم منتخب إنجلترا إلى صعوبة تنفيذ بعض التكتيكات على أرض الملعب، في حديثه عقب تعادل فريقه أمام الدنمارك في كأس أمم أوروبا.

وسجل هاري كين هدف تقدم إنجلترا، قبل أن تدرك الدنمارك التعادل بهدف في مباراة الجولة الثانية لدور المجموعات بكأس الأمم الأوروبية “يورو 2024”.

وفي حديثه لبي بي سي، قال مهاجم بايرن ميونخ إن إنجلترا تواجه مشاكل سواء مع الكرة أو بدونها.

وقال كين: “أعتقد أننا نعاني سواء مع الكرة أو بدونها، أعتقد أن الضغط في كلتا المباراتين لم يكن صحيحًا ولم يكن التعامل مع الكرة جيدًا بما فيه الكفاية”.

وتابع: “الجميع ينخفض ​​​​إلى ما دون مستوياتهم قليلاً، كان الأمر صعبًا هناك، لكننا هادئون، لم تكن المباراة الأعظم لنا لكننا أفلتنا بنقطة واحدة”.

اقرأ أيضًا | ساوثجيت: الجماهير تشعر بخيبة أمل بسبب أداء منتخب إنجلترا.. ويوضح سبب استبدال هاري كين أمام الدنمارك

وأشار: “أعتقد أننا قلنا قبل البطولة إنه لا توجد مباريات سهلة وأعتقد أن هذا أمر واضح، لدينا مستويات يمكننا الوصول إليها ويمكننا أن نكون أفضل سواء مع الكرة أو بدونها”.

وأفاد كين: “أعتقد أن علامة الفريق الجيد هي عندما لا تلعب بأفضل ما لديك ولا تزال تجد طريقة للحصول على نتائج مثل التي لدينا في المباراتين الأخيرتين”.

واستطرد: “نحن في صدارة المجموعة، نعلم أنه يمكننا التحسن، أعلم أنه سيكون هناك على الأرجح الكثير من الضجيج وقليل من خيبة الأمل في وطننا، لكننا واجهنا ذلك في بطولة أوروبا الأخيرة أيضًا عندما تعادلنا مع اسكتلندا، خطوة بخطوة، سنصل”.

وأكمل كين: “لقد بدأنا المباريات بشكل جيد، لكن عندما تقوم الفرق بوضع بعض اللاعبين بشكل أعمق، فإننا لسنا متأكدين تمامًا من كيفية ممارسة الضغط، ومن هو اللاعب الذي من المفترض أن يضغط”.

وأتم: “في الشوط الثاني، قمنا بتغيير الأمر عن طريقي أنا وبيلينجهام، بتواجدنا أمام لاعبي خط الوسط لديهم، لكن الأمر كان صعبًا”.

Tottenham Hotspur’s start to the 2023/24 Premier League campaign has been solid, with Ange Postecoglou leading his side to two wins from three, including a wonderful victory over Manchester United.

His transfer business has also been impressive, managing to secure the signings of James Maddison, Micky van de Ven and Guglielmo Vicario among others as the Australian looked to build a squad that could challenge the top four and secure a return to European competition.

They were also interested in a move for Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher on transfer deadline day, according to reports, yet the former Celtic boss missed plenty of other chances to improve his midfield throughout the window.

What is Conor Gallagher good at?

The Englishman has been in decent form for the Blues so far this term, ranking third across the squad for overall Sofascore rating (7.4), while also ranking in the top five for accurate passes, big chances created and shots on target per game, showcasing his talents across a wide range of metrics.

It represents solid progress by the midfielder, as last term he struggled to display the form that saw him shine at Crystal Palace during the 2021/22 campaign, where he scored eight goals and grabbed five assists for the Eagles.

This dropped to just three goals and one assist last term. Perhaps a move and a fresh start away from the hustle and bustle of Chelsea could have reinvigorated the 23-year-old.

Could Postecoglou have made a more concrete effort to sign a midfielder who has shone on the continent, however? Nicolo Barella was linked with a move to the club during the embryonic stages of the transfer window in June and would arguably have been a better option, albeit an expensive one at a potential £69m.

How good is Nicolo Barella?

The Inter Milan sensation was an integral part of their success during the 2022/23 season as the Serie A side won the Coppa Italia and Italian Super Cup while also reaching their first Champions League final for 13 years, losing 1-0 to Manchester City.

Barella displayed his attacking talents throughout the campaign, registering 19 goal contributions – nine goals and ten assists – across all competitions, whilst in the league, he ranked third for key passes per game (1.6) across the squad and first for successful dribbles per game (1.1), further evidence of his attacking skillset.

He could certainly have been a big upgrade on Gallagher. Indeed, the £152k-per-week gem ranked in the top 8% for non-penalty goals, the top 9% for progressive carries and the top 12% for shot-creating actions when compared to positional peers over the previous 12 months.

In comparison, Gallagher ranked outside the top 20% when compared to positional peers for the same metrics, and it proves that the Italian is more effective from an attacking point of view and this would have given Postecoglou something different in the midfield area.

Renowned scout Jacek Kulig had plenty of praise for the Inter player, lauding him as a “little warrior” back in 2019, and it looks as though Spurs have missed out big time by failing to bring the 26-year-old to the Premier League during the summer.

Gallagher may prove to be a hit for Spurs, yet the statistics state that Barella would have been the far better choice.

Shahid Afridi goes through his trademark celebratory routine•PCB/PSL

In a nutshellKarachi Kings completed a day of low-scoring runs and comfortable chases with a five-wicket win against Peshawar Zalmi to maintain their perfect record in PSL 2018. It was tighter than it needed to be, the chase completed with only two balls to spare. However, the defeat was no less than Peshawar deserved after a feckless first innings in which they were out to poor shots. They were even more indolent with their running: three run-outs meaning they gifted wickets to Karachi who bowled well enough to not require assistance anyway.An ephemeral cameo from Kamran Akmal at the top aside, Peshawar struggled to score at a good enough run rate, with the crease becoming a revolving door for batsmen to waltz in and out of. Dwayne Smith was the only one to chip in with an innings of any note, responsible for 71 of Peshawar’s 131. Karachi’s bowlers – particularly Mohammad Amir early on – were magnificent, setting the tone for the rest of the evening.A late surge had given Peshawar hope of eking out a scrappy win, but Karachi were clinical when they came out. They prioritised keeping wickets in hand, knowing the run rate wasn’t going to be an issue. Joe Denly and Babar Azam kept Karachi on course, before Colin Ingram injected some impetus with a 14-ball 23. A pair of late wickets and good bowling at the death meant Peshawar made it tight, but Imad Wasim’s men were never in real danger of blowing this, with the captain himself smashing the last ball for six to secure victory.Where the match was wonKarachi Kings effectively sewed up the contest with a superb effort in the field. Once Kamran was dismissed in the second over, they kept their foot on Peshawar’s throats. No bowler was a weak link as the run rate remained well below six for nearly the entirety of the first innings. Even though Darren Sammy’s men managed 48 in the last four overs, Karachi’s good work in the first 16 meant the target was still well within the Karachi’s reach.The men that won itMohammad Amir sustained an injury which meant he couldn’t bowl any more than two overs. Which was a shame, as he had been majestic in the first two. He swung the ball at pace and extracted every ounce of bounce the surface had to offer. He put an end to Kamran’s barrage at the start, which, if left unchecked, could have taken the game away from Karachi in the first Powerplay, as happened with Islamabad on Saturday. He also accounted for Tamim Iqbal with late swing, thereby setting the tone for an innings that was going to be heavily dominated by the bowlers.Dwayne’s distinctive dayIf you hadn’t watched the game, the scorecard would give you the impressions Dwayne Smith was the only Peshawar batsman who had a good day. After all, he scored an unbeaten 71 off 51 in a low-scoring game, accounting for nearly 55% of his side’s runs. But the other side of the coin is he was atrocious with his running and calling, at fault for at least two of the three run-outs that happened while he was at the crease. There is a case that the batsmen dismissed, Ibtisam Shiekh, Darren Sammy and Wahab Riaz may have been able to make useful contributions that made the difference in what ended up being a tight contest. But Smith’s consistency across the three editions of the PSL is unquestionable, and he once again demonstrated his destructiveness with the bat.Where they standKarachi are the only side with a perfect record in the PSL so far, and move to the top of the table. Zalmi now have one win from three, and are fourth.

Aston Villa have been in the conversation to sign Barcelona youngster Ansu Fati and it looks as though a move could still happen, following a new update.

How old is Ansu Fati?

The Spaniard is still only 20 years of age, having burst onto the scene as a hugely exciting teenager – one with a potentially massive future ahead of him at Barca. Instead, his rise has been stunted a little in recent times, with a lack of playing time coming his way due to a number of injuries.

It has become clear that Xavi doesn't see Fati as a key part of his plans moving forward, considering he only started 12 games in La Liga last season. Admittedly, he did come on as a substitute on 24 occasions in the competition, but it is difficult to see his squad status changing in the near future, with a place on the bench coming his way in the opening two league games of 2023/24, too.

For that reason, Fati could depart the Camp Nou this summer after winning the league title last season, even though his current deal doesn't expire until 2027, meaning a hefty bid would be required to prise him away.

Villa have been mentioned as potential suitors for Fati earlier in the window, with numerous clubs in the conversation to snap him up, including other Premier League sides. Tottenham are one of them, and it looks as though a late move to England isn't out of the question, ahead of deadline day next Friday.

Will Aston Villa sign Ansu Fati?

According to journalist El Chiringuito journalist Jose Alvarez Haya [via Sport Witness], both the Villans and Spurs are interested in sealing a move for Fati in the coming days. His agent Jorge Mendes is offering him to the Premier League, with his valuation currently at €50m (£42.8m).

There is no mention of a bid actually being submitted for the Barca forward, but it looks like something that could potentially develop quickly before the transfer window closes.

There is no question that Fati's stock has fallen a little of late, considering how highly he was rated when he first emerged as a huge talent, which is shown by his Transfermarkt valuation falling, but he could still be such an exciting signing for Villa.

If Unai Emery believes he can get the best out of him, the youngster could flourish at Villa Park, providing the team with an extra attacking spark out wide, not to mention an incredibly high long-term ceiling.

Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…

Granted, things are threatening to peter out for Fati, on £200,000-a-week, at Barca, but he could be reinvigorated by being a star man elsewhere, and that's exactly what he could be at Villa, raising the level of those around him. Xavi has described him as "extraordinary" in the past, showing that he rates him highly, and a fresh challenge could do him the world of good.

He has scored 29 goals and chipped in with 10 assists for Barcelona in 111 appearances, which is a respectable return for such a young player, and Villa may look to take a punt on him.

Arsenal are reported to be close to cashing in on the sale of Hale End graduate Folarin Balogun, leaving questions over whether Mikel Arteta will eye another striker.

The Spaniard has already signed versatile forward Kai Havertz this summer in attack, however with Gabriel Jesus only just nearing his return from injury, the Gunners have had to rely on Eddie Nketiah to lead the line so far this campaign.

Arteta has utilised Havertz in midfield at the Emirates, which is a plus for the German who excelled in such areas while at Bayer Leverkusen, however theoretically leaves Arsenal short in the depth of their strike department.

Who could Arsenal sign this summer?

Considering the injury blow to Jurrien Timber, it’s highly unlikely that the north Londoners will prioritise anything above signing a defender in the time remaining in the transfer window.

However, a swoop in January could come at the perfect time for one player that has been rumoured to be of interest to the Gunners.

A report from the Times has revealed that Brentford are braced for bids in the attempt to sign striker Ivan Toney in January, with Arsenal named as one of the ‘interested parties’.

The Englishman will be able to return to action in January 2024 from his eight-month ban from football due to betting breaches of the FA’s rulings, setting up a potentially exciting swoop for the north Londoners in the winter window.

It’s said that the forward is valued at £80m by the Bees, who will be reluctant to let the 27-year-old leave when he returns.

What could Ivan Toney offer to Arsenal?

Most clubs in the Premier League would be honoured to have a marksman as potent as Toney in their squad, not many more than Arsenal who are arguably a reliable goalscorer away from being in the same calibre as Manchester City.

Considering Balogun’s transfer status, it could be the ideal time for Arteta to consider a potential move for Toney, who revealed on the Diary of a CEO podcast his admiration for the Gunners.

In Balogun, the north Londoners could have had more potent goalscorer than the likes of Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus, with the American netting 21 times in Ligue 1 last season during his loan at Rennes.

On his return, it never seemed as though the 22-year-old’s future would be within Arteta’s squad, making the opportunity to cash in on him an attractive prospect for both parties.

While the Hale End graduates’ scoring streak was impressive, it was the first time he had consistently found the net at senior level, with his three goals scored on loan at Middlesbrough the season prior far from impressive.

In Toney, Arsenal could have the definition of an “extremely prolific” striker, as he was once lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Scoring 24 goals in his final campaign in League One at Peterborough before joining Brentford, where he then scored 31 goals in the Championship to fire the Bees to promotion, via Transfermarkt, there were naturally questions over whether he could do it in the top-flight.

During the two campaigns since Brentford’s promotion, the Englishman has scored on 32 occasions in the Premier League, including 20 goals last term, seeing him dubbed a “lion” by manager Thomas Frank in 2021.

Arsenal could ease the woes of Balogun’s departure by making a swift move for Toney in January, in a purchase that could make Arteta’s side forget all about the Hale End product and close the gap on City.

An update has emerged on Celtic and their plans to bolster the playing squad before the end of the summer transfer window…

What's the latest Celtic transfer news?

According to FootballTransfers, the Hoops are one of the clubs eyeing up a swoop to sign West Ham United centre-forward Michail Antonio.

The report claims that English Championship side Leeds United are also in the market to land the Jamaica international as they look to improve their forward options.

It states that the former Sheffield Wednesday attacker is keen on a move away from the London Stadium but will not be allowed to leave until David Moyes is able to bring in a replacement.

There is no mention of exactly how much the Hammers would demand for his services but the outlet does state that the no.9 has one year left on his contract and would not command a significant fee.

How good is Michail Antonio?

Brendan Rodgers could finally replace Giorgos Giakoumakis for Celtic by securing a deal to sign Antonio before the deadline passes at the start of next month.

The Hammers marksman has proven himself to be a reliable Premier League goalscorer and could, therefore, thrive in the Scottish Premiership against lesser-quality opposition, given that England has the highest UEFA club coefficient – eight places ahead of Scotland.

Antonio has racked up ten top-flight strikes in three of his last four seasons and assisted 11 goals in those campaigns combined, whilst only Jota and Kyogo Furuhashi managed more than ten in the league last term for the Hoops.

Giakoumakis scored 15 goals in 35 league games for the Bhoys and the West Ham powerhouse could produce a similar level of production at the top end of the pitch if the drop-down in quality allows him to improve upon his regular ten-goal hauls.

The Greek international moved on from Parkhead to sign for Atlanta United in February and the Hoops have been left with two senior centre-forward options since then – Kyogo and Hyeon-gyu Oh.

Giakoumakis provided the club with a different profile up front to complement Kyogo as the 28-year-old ace offered a level of physicality that the Japan international was unable to.

The former VVV-Venlo star came out on top in at least 1.1 aerial battles per match across his two Premiership seasons and won at least 51% of his battles in the air during that period, as per Sofascore.

Whereas, Kyogo, who stands at 5 foot 7, won 0.2 or fewer aerial contests per game over the 2021/22 and 2022/23 league campaigns and lost a whopping 87% of his duels in the air last term, also per Sofascore.

Antonio could replace the physicality that came with Giakoumakis as the English-born talent has won an impressive 2.4 aerial battles per outing over the course of his career, which shows that he is able to compete with opposition defenders when Celtic need an out ball to relieve pressure.

This suggests that the 33-year-old gem, who Brentford boss Thomas Frank claimed is "a handful" and is "a little bit like Lukaku", has the physical and goalscoring attributes to finally replace the Greek finisher at Paradise this season.

Antonio could be an excellent option to compete with Kyogo and Oh and the £69k-per-week bulldozer knows what it takes to be successful in Europe as the impressive forward scored six goals in seven Europa Conference League matches as his side won the competition last term.

Pakistani legspinner Mir first pick among overseas players at the draft in Dhaka

Mohammad Isam16-Sep-20171:11

Isam: Rajshahi lucky to get first foreign and domestic picks

Rajshahi Kings picked Mustafizur Rahman with the first overall pick at the BPL players’ draft in Dhaka. The franchise also had the good fortune of getting the first pick among the overseas players, and they took Pakistani legspinner Usama Mir with it.Mustafizur will receive $60,000 as the only player in Grade A+ in the local list. Abu Hider, another left-arm pace bowler, was taken by defending champions Dhaka Dynamites as the second overall pick in the draft before Khulna Titans and Rangpur Riders went for left-hand batsmen, taking Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Shahriar Nafees respectively.Comilla Victorians took pace bowler Al-Amin Hossain, Chittagong Vikings went for left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam, and Sylhet Sixers took local pacer Abul Hasan the first time around.Mir, the first overseas pick, will be paid $30,000 as he is in Grade D in the draft. Joe Denly (England and Dhaka), Najibullah Zadran (Afghanistan and Chittagong), Solomon Mire (Zimbabwe and Comilla), Shehan Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka and Khulna), Sam Hain (Warwickshire and Rangpur) and Chaturanga de Silva (Sri Lanka and Sylhet) were the first picks among the overseas players.Raza Ali Dar, Akeal Hosein, Luis Reece and Ghulam Mudassar, little-known players in the international T20 market, made it as high as the second round of the draft among the overseas picks.Squads
Chittagong Vikings: Misbah-ul-Haq, Anamul Haque (wk), Soumya Sarkar, Luke Ronchi (wk), Jermine Blackwood, Sikandar Raza, Liam Dawson, Jeevan Mendis, Taskin Ahmed, Subashis Roy, Sunzamul Islam, Al-Amin, Alauddin Babu, Tanbir Hayder, Najibullah Zadran, Luis Reece, Irfan Sukkur, Naeem Hasan, Yasir ArafatComilla Victorians: Imrul Kayes, Tamim Iqbal, Marlon Samuels, Darren Bravo, Shoaib Malik, Jos Buttler, Liton Das (wk), Mohammad Saifuddin, Fahim Ashraf, Mohammed Nabi, Rashid Khan, Hassan Ali, Imran Khan Jr, Al-Amin Hossain, Arafat Sunny, Alok Kapali, Mahedi Hasan, Solomon Mire, Rumman Raees, Mehedi Hasan Rana, Enamul Haque, Raqibul HasanDhaka Dynamites: Mehedi Maruf, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Evin Lewis, Cameron Delport, Mosaddek Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan, Shane Watson, Kevon Cooper, Rovman Powell, Shahid Afridi, Sunil Narine, Graeme Cremer, Mohammad Shahid, Mohammed Amir, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Ronsford Beaton, Abu Hider, Jahurul Islam, Nadif Chowdhury, Saqlain Sajib, Joe Denly, Akeal Hosein, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Shadman Islam, Noor Hossain SaddamKhulna Titans: Rillee Roussow, Dawid Malan, Ariful Haque, Mahmudullah, Chadwick Walton, Sarfraz Ahmed, Carlos Brathwaite, Seekkuge Prasanna, Shadab Khan, Mosharraf Hossain, Kyle Abbott, Benny Howell, Junaid Khan, Shafiul Islam, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Abu Jayed Rahi, Afif Hossain, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Shehan Jayasurya, Jofra Archer, Imran Ali, Mukter Ali, Dhiman Ghosh, Saif HassanRajshahi Kings: Mominul Haque, Luke Wright, Lendl Simmons, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Malcom Waller, James Franklin, Farhad Reza, Darren Sammy, Samit Patel, Mehidy Hasan, Kesrick Williams, Mohammad Sami, Mustafizur Rahman, Zakir Hasan, Nihaduzzaman, Rony Talukdar, Usama Mir, Raja Ali Dar, Hossain Ali, Naeem Islam jnr, Kazi AnikRangpur Riders: Adam Lyth, Kusal Perera, Johnson Charles, Mohammad Mithun, Ravi Bopara, Thisara Perera, David Willey, Sohag Gazi, Samuel Badree, Rubel Hossain, Mashrafe Mortaza, Shahriar Nafees, Nazmul Islam Apu, Ziaur Rahman, Fazle Mahmud, Sam Hain, Samiullah Shenwari, Abdur Razzak, Ebadot Hossain, Elias Sunny, Nahidul Islam, Zahir KhanSylhet Sixers: Babar Azam, Andre Fletcher, Davy Jacobs, Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Andre McCarthy, Ross Whiteley, Nurul Hasan, Dasun Shanaka, Taijul Islam, Wanidu Hasaranga, Liam Plunkett, Usman Khan Shinwari, Krismar Santokei, Abul Hasan, Shuvagata Hom, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Nabil Samad, Chaturanga de Silva, Ghulam Mudasser Khan, Mohammad Sharif, Imtiaz Hossain, Mohammad Sharifullah

Match Facts

August 3-7, 2017
Start time: 1000 local (0430GMT)2:10

Agarkar: Tough on Abhinav but he will have to make way

Big Picture

Fourteen overs. That’s about as long as Sri Lanka stayed in the contest in Galle. As soon as Shikhar Dhawan’s catch went down and Asela Gunaratne left the field, shoulders seemed to drop, bowlers’ lines seemed to stray, and India rampaged more or less unhindered for four days.How Sri Lanka can get themselves into this series without trying something even slightly radical, it is difficult to see. They are strengthened by the return of their captain Dinesh Chandimal, but the balance of the side has been compromised by Gunaratne’s absence. A chance then, finally, to play five frontline bowlers? The SSC pitch may be a surface that requires an extra bowler, in any case. Matches there are no longer the bad old borefests of years ago, but at least two-and-a-half days generally still go to the batsmen. In Galle, India had hit their 840 runs at a rate of 4.5 per over, for the loss of only 13 wickets. Sri Lanka can’t afford to approach this match with the same bowling strategy.India have a selection call to make at the top of their order now that KL Rahul is fit again, but are unlikely to favour Abhinav Mukund despite his good second-innings knock in Galle. There, though, lie the extent of their “problems”. Having out-batted, out-bowled and out-strategised Sri Lanka (that they out-fielded the hosts goes without saying lately), India appear almost as short of weaknesses as Sri Lanka were of ideas.Sadly for the hosts, it’s also probably too early in the tour for complacency to have begun wrapping its tentacles around India’s game. With each of the opposition’s top five having scored at least one fifty in the Galle Test, and with all the bowlers having claimed wickets, Sri Lanka need to climb a very tall, very steep, very in-form mountain.

Form guide

Sri Lanka LWLWL (completed matches, most recent first)
India WWDWL

In the spotlight

When KL Rahul last came to Sri Lanka, he was a century or nothing batsman, hitting 7, 5, 108, 2, 2 and 2 across his six innings here in 2015. Now, his batting seems to have the opposite personality. In his seven most recent innings, Rahul has made six half-centuries, the best of which was the 90 on a spitting Bangalore track against Australia. In a country that has been notoriously unkind to openers, India have enough faith in Rahul to restore him to the XI, despite having other good options.Also coming back from illness is Dinesh Chandimal, though he has not quite recovered completely yet – having received special ICC permission to use an inhaler during the game. His has been a fraught captaincy so far. He was appointed only two days before the Zimbabwe Test last month, and is now faced with having to raise morale after what was a difficult Test in Galle. In order to properly claim his position as the captain of this side, Chandimal also needs runs.Dhananjaya de Silva could get a place in the Sri Lanka XI ahead of Lahiru Thirimanne, to fill in for Asela Gunaratne•AFP

Team news

Sri Lanka may play three spinners in this match, with Chandimal issuing strong hints that Malinda Pushpakumara may make an international debut. If they play with only four frontline bowlers, Dinesh Chandimal has hinted that Dhananjaya de Silva is more likely to enter the side ahead of Lahiru Thirimanne, who was selected in the squad 13 months after last playing for Sri Lanka. Danushka Gunathilaka is set to make way for Chandimal.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Upul Tharanga, 2 Dimuth Karunaratne, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Dinesh Chandimal (capt.), 5 Angelo Mathews, 6 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 7 Dhananjaya de Silva, 8 Dilruwan Perera, 9 Rangana Herath, 10 Malinda Pushpakumara, 11 Nuwan PradeepIf India believe the pitch will take a lot of turn, left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav becomes a strong contender for the XI. If he plays, Hardik Pandya is likeliest to be displaced.India: 1 KL Rahul, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Cheteshwar Pujara, 4 Virat Kohli (capt.), Ajinkya Rahane, 6 R Ashwin, 7 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 8 Ravindra Jadeja, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Umesh Yadav, 11 Mohammed Shami

Pitch and conditions

There is dead grass holding the surface together, but the SSC track looks decidedly drier than the pitch at Galle. Generally though, it takes at least three days for the ball to begin taking sharp turn at this venue. There were five centuries in the most-recent SSC Test. Isolated showers are forecast throughout the Test.

Stats and trivia

• This will be Cheteshwar Pujara’s 50th Test. He has scored hundreds in each of the two Tests he has played in Sri Lanka so far, including at the SSC, where he made 145 not out in 2015.
• R Ashwin needs 50 more runs to get to 2000 Test runs.
• Sri Lanka’s highest scorer from Galle – Dimuth Karunaratne – is also their highest scorer for the year so far, though by a very slim margin. His 448 runs in 2017 is one more than Kusal Mendis. Both have played the same number of innings.

With a host of New Zealand’s key players still at the IPL, the start of the tri-series offers a chance for some new – and recalled – faces to impress the selectors

The Preview by Nikhil Kalro13-May-2017Match factsMay 14, 2017
Start time 10.45am local (0945 GMT)Neil Wagner has excelled in whites and now could get his chance in coloured clothes•AFP

Big pictureNew Zealand have faced Ireland just twice in their 721 ODIs. The last time was nine years ago, in 2008, in Aberdeen. Back then, Brendon McCullum strutted with blonde hair, James Marshall was his opening partner and Daniel Vettori was in charge of New Zealand. McCullum and Marshall’s massive tons led New Zealand to 402 for 2, their only 400-plus score to date. The only surviving member of that team in this squad is Ross Taylor.New Zealand will be without key personnel at least for the start of this series with Kane Williamson, Martin Guptill, Corey Anderson, Mitchell McClenaghan, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Adam Milne and Colin de Grandhomme on duty at the IPL although some may filter over to Ireland as their IPL campaigns conclude. That means New Zealand have the opportunity to test the depth of their reserves in all departments.Bowling allrounders Seth Rance and Scott Kuggeleijn haven’t played an ODI. George Worker has played just two games. Stand-in captain Tom Latham, Neil Broom, James Neesham, Colin Munro and Henry Nicholls have all struggled for fluency in the format. What better way to show your mettle than perform in tough batting conditions.Ireland began the tri-series with discipline and accuracy, before rain scuppered their chances of springing an upset on Bangladesh. As has often been the case, Ireland didn’t find the penetration they needed to sustain pressure over a considerable period, letting Bangladesh recover from 70 for 4. Still, they’ll find that the experience of having played games like those against international teams will hold them in good stead.Form guide(last five completed matches, most recent first)Ireland LLLWW
New Zealand LWLWLIn the spotlightPaul Stirling is in the midst of a productive run in ODIs: his last eight innings have been 48, 20, 51, 28, 99, 95, 68 and 41. With an impressive strike rate in excess of 90, Stirling, more often than not, gets Ireland off to strong starts with the field restrictions. Against a relatively inexperienced bowling attack, Stirling’s attacking approach could put Ireland ahead of the game early.Ross Taylor found form in New Zealand’s home summer against Australia and South Africa. He struck two hundreds and a fifty in taxing batting conditions. Dublin’s overhead and underfoot conditions won’t suit batting much either. After recovering from the calf strain which kept him out of the last two Tests against South Africa, will he tune-up for the Champions Trophy by continuing to score tough runs?Team newsThe signs from Ireland’s bowlers were promising in the 31.1 overs possible in the first ODI. Their seamers were accurate and had Bangladesh stuttering at 70 for 4 at one point. That means Ireland are unlikely to tinker with their bowling combination. If Ed Joyce recovers from the back problem that kept him out of the series opener, he’ll slot back in for Stuart Thompson.Ireland (probable) 1 Ed Joyce/Stuart Thompson, 2 Paul Stirling, 3 William Porterfield (capt), 4 Andy Balbirnie, 5 Niall O’Brien (wk), 6 Gary Wilson, 7 Kevin O’Brien, 8 George Dockrell, 9 Barry McCarthy, 10 Tim Murtagh, 11 Peter ChaseThe New Zealand selectors have shown faith not just in Tom Latham’s sound technique, but also his leadership. He will be able to turn to Taylor for experience but elsewhere there will be a new-look to the side. Neil Wagner could make his ODI debut after 32 Test appearances and Hamish Bennett is in line for his first appearance since 2014. The pitch was very green for the Bangladesh game which could mean legspinner Ish Sodhi misses out. Luke Ronchi is set for another chance as openerNew Zealand (probable) 1 Tom Latham (capt), 2 Luke Ronchi (wk), 3 George Worker, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Neil Broom, 6 James Neesham, 7 Colin Munro, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Neil Wagner, 10 Seth Rance, 11 Hamish BennettPitch and conditionsThe series opener was played on a seamer-friendly, green pitch, under cloudy skies with a high chance of rain. Those conditions are unlikely to change. Rain is forecast at 2pm, around the turn of the innings.Stats and trivia Only three players who were part of the previous encounter between these two sides are in either squad – Ross Taylor, Paul Stirling and Gary Wilson Kevin O’Brien is still three wickets away from becoming the first Ireland bowler to take 100 ODI scalps.

For all Yorkshire’s history, no Yorkshire batsman has ever made two hundreds in a Championship match. Gary Ballance has gone one better – a hundred and a double hundred – to defy Hampshire

Vithushan Ehantharajah at the Ageas Bowl24-Apr-2017
ScorecardA draw that felt like a victory. That’s how Yorkshire ranked this encounter: scoreboard pressure from the off, England’s Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow scoring 18 between them across both innings and Hampshire hellbent on knocking more county noses out of joint. Not only did Yorkshire leave with a share of the polls, but Gary Ballance’s unbeaten 203 on the final day ensured he had a few things to celebrate.With 108 in the first innings, Ballance became the first man to score twin hundreds in a match as captain of Yorkshire. A remarkable feat considering they have been led by a few who could hold a bat.It was also the second time he has brought up centuries in both innings of a first class match – the first coming against Surrey in 2013. He is now the second Yorkshire batsman to score a century and double century in the same match after Younis Khan, who just yesterday brought up 10,000 Test runs for Pakistan, did so against Hampshire in 2007.We’re just into the last week of April and Ballance already has 508 Championship runs from five innings. If he continues on this path England selection, he says, will take care of itself. Andrew Gale, gestured to the Yorkshire dressing room where Root was readying himself for the long journey north and said: “There’s a captain in there that rates him.” Ballance knew one thing for sure: he was knackered. Understandably so.The pillar of Ballance’s hundreds – the second brought up today off 210 balls; the double off 384 – was stubbornness. Yorkshire were damned if they were going to lose two games to Hampshire in three weeks.”We showed what Yorkshire cricket is about, if you can’t win, don’t get beat,” said Gale and Ballance, leading with distinction, was a shining example of that. Across both innings, he batted for 12 hours and 52 minutes, facing 582 balls. Across four days of cricket, he was only off the field for 12.3 overs. So set was Ballance as he plotted Yorkshire’s final escape route that, if anyone had removed him, they might have been made King of England.For Hampshire, it is the second home game in succession that they have ended up with the rougher part of the draw. In the last fortnight, they have had Middlesex and Yorkshire, County Championship trophies from 2014, 2015 and 2016 between them, on their knees. Both were able to escape relatively unscathed.Hampshire’s recruitment over the winter has, objectively, been excellent. To be able to tie down a bowler of Kyle Abbott’s quality, who toyed with Root and Bairstow throughout the match and removed them both in the follow-on innings, is a masterstroke. Their squad depth is impressive: soon, they will have to decide how to get Rilee Rossouw and George Bailey into their batting line-up. Reece Topley’s return, despite not much reward with figures of two for 143, can be charted as a success given he bowled with good pace and has not lost his ability to move the ball both ways. Precocious leg spinner Mason Crane has yet to play a game. But ultimately, personnel may not prove a deciding factor on how this season goes, even if they do sit third.Quite simply, they do not have the pitches to force results. Across the country, as teams convert draws to wins – and occasionally loses in pursuit of those wins – Hampshire are at risk of standing still. It feels counter-productive that, having been saved from relegation by the financial mismanagement of others and working hard to “future proof” their squad for the rigours of Division One, they may find themselves held back as individuals, as a team and as a county by docile, unresponsive wickets. Teams that do well in the Championship tend not to draw too many games.With so much resting on the new ball, Abbott and Gareth Berg performed admirably. They decimated Yorkshire in the first innings by reducing them to 19 for four. In the follow-on, they had them 20 for two. Then, with the first delivery of the second new ball, Abbott drew Bairstow forward and, with the help of a fresh seam, moved the ball off the pitch and into the hands of James Vince at third slip. But, just as they found last week, when they reduced Middlesex for 44 for three in their follow-on innings, prising out the remaining wickets was an arduous task. Over the last two days of this match, only 10 Yorkshire wickets fell across both innings.There were a couple of moments that might have Hampshire thinking: ‘what if?’ Peter Handscomb, who shared a stand of 88 with Ballance that took Yorkshire into the lead for the first time in the match, was dropped on 33 by Jimmy Adams at point, which would have made it 236 for 4 – a lead of just 12.Then, in the 91st over, when Bresnan was 10 off 29, Vince dropped a chance in the cordon off Abbott, which would have meant a lead of 58 with four more wickets to get. The hosts also had to make do without the zippy Brad Wheal, unable to bowl after injuring his side on day three, the seriousness of that not yet known.”It was a frustrating day,” said Hampshire director of cricket Giles White. “You turn up and hope things go your way and you get a win but it didn’t go our way. We knew it would be hard work, it was a good wicket and remained a good wicket all the way through.”White is almost certainly the one who could ask the groundstaff for more to work with. His players are certainly doing their bit.