Tag Futebol

Viktor Gyokeres is a player who has been on Manchester United’s radar over the last couple of months, after previously playing under Ruben Amorim at Sporting CP.

The Swede has been a man in demand not just from the Red Devils, but from multiple sides all across Europe, with a big-money move expected during the off-season.

Amorim’s side have constantly been monitoring his situation in Portugal, but it appears as though they are set to miss out on any deal to land the 27-year-old talisman.

He’s previously stated his desire to join Arsenal if he were to move to the Premier League this window, leading to the Red Devils exploring other options within the market.

Numerous names have been mentioned as options for the centre-forward position this summer, with multiple players in their sights, which could see other players depart this window.

The latest on United’s centre-forward department this summer

Dušan Vlahović is a player who’s been constantly on their radar over recent weeks, with United in talks with Juventus over a deal for the Serbian international.

Victor Osimhen has been another name mentioned in the last few weeks, but the Nigerian could cost a pretty penny, with his current side, Napoli, demanding £64m to sell him during the off-season.

However, if they are to land any of the aforementioned stars, they may have to sell some current stars, with Rasmus Hojlund edging closer to a departure, according to Man United Source.

They claim that the Danish forward has agreed personal terms with Serie A side Inter Milan over a move to the San Siro this window, with negotiations at an early stage.

They also state that the player himself is pushing for a move to the Italian giants after scoring just four times in the Premier League throughout 2024/25.

Why one United star could be a repeat of Elanga

Anthony Elanga left United back in the summer of 2023, departing in a £15m deal to join Nottingham Forest and ending his stint at Old Trafford, which once held so much promise.

The Swede has taken his career to the next level since departing the Red Devils, with the winger reaching new heights under the guidance of Nuno Espírito Santo.

He featured in every single Premier League outing last season, notching a total of six goals and 11 assists, helping the Reds secure a place in the Europa Conference League.

However, it appears as though he’s set to leave the City Ground in favour of a switch to join Newcastle United, with a £55m deal being mooted for the 23-year-old’s signature.

The Red Devils are due a 15% sell-on from any deal this summer, but given his rise away from Old Trafford, it was a huge mistake in allowing him to depart a couple of years ago.

Such a deal could be repeated this summer with Hojlund, with the Dane potentially recapturing his best form if he secures a permanent move away from Amorim’s side.

The 22-year-old, who’s valued at £70m by CIES Football Observatory, is worth more than Gyokeres, who’s only worth £68m despite his recent goalscoring exploits.

1.

Paul Pogba

Juventus

£89m

2.

Antony

Ajax

£86m

3.

Harry Maguire

Leicester City

£80m

4.

Jadon Sancho

Borussia Dortmund

£75m

5.

Romelu Lukaku

Everton

£74m

6.

Rasmus Hojlund

Atalanta

£72m

7.

Ángel Di María

Real Madrid

£70m

8.

Mathue Cunha

Wolves

£62.5m

Whilst he only managed four league goals last campaign, his first year at the club demonstrated serious quality, registering 16 goals across all competitions, proving he can cut it at the top level.

Selling him would undoubtedly bank them some immediate cash, but given his tender age, he has bags of time to develop and prove why the club spent £72m on his signature.

However, as seen with Elanga, prematurely offloading young talents is a huge risk, potentially selling a player who could star for the Red Devils in the years ahead.

It remains to be seen if he will complete a deal to join Inter Milan this summer, but given the latest update, it appears he’s edging closer to a move – with his departure one the hierarchy will rue if he can replicate the Swede’s achievements.

He's better than Watkins: Man Utd in talks to sign "world-class" £26m star

Manchester United appear to be making moves to land a new striker this summer.

1 ByEthan Lamb Jul 4, 2025

Liverpool have ridden into the summer transfer window on the crest of a wave, having won the Premier League under Arne Slot in the first term since Jurgen Klopp packed his bags and left.

And who can say the Reds have since been resting on their laurels? Liverpool might have lost Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid, but they swiftly replaced him with Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong, then maintaining their line of communication with the German side to agree a deal for Florian Wirtz, which could rise to a British-record £116m.

With Milos Kerkez looking set to arrive from Bournemouth in the coming weeks, Liverpool will likely complete the lion’s share of their business nice and early, although one of the most pressing concerns, bringing in a new striker, will continue to hang over Anfield’s summer for the time being.

That’s because Slot’s title winners cannot advance on that front until the future of Darwin Nunez has been sorted out.

Darwin Nunez's Liverpool future

When Liverpool signed Nunez from Benfica for an initial £64m fee in 2022, they purchased one of the most talented young centre-forwards in Europe.

But the Uruguay star’s confidence and spark have eroded away against the unrelenting tide of Premier League football, swallowed and spat out by the intensity of Liverpool’s and the English game. This season, under Slot’s wing, he’s only scored seven goals, starting just one top-flight fixture since December.

Silky and stylish, Nunez was supposed to emulate his countryman Luis Suarez and former Liverpool sensation Fernando Torres in becoming one of the meanest goalscorers on the block, but it hasn’t worked out, and Slot is instead searching for a new focal frontman who could produce performances on the level of someone like El Nino.

However, it hasn’t worked out for him, and with suitors from Italy and the Saudi Pro League sniffing around, it’s probably for the best that the maverick moves on.

After all, Liverpool have already held talks with their dream successor.

Liverpool chasing new striker

As per Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool have been locked in talks with Eintracht Frankfurt for the transfer of Hugo Ekitike, and have been told his price tag is €100m (£84m).

However, FSG feel they have a fantastic chance to secure the 22-year-old striker’s signature despite rival interest from Chelsea and Manchester United, which suggests that they are confident that they can win the race for his services.

Though sporting director Richard Hughes needs to finalise Nunez’s departure before a concerted effort can be made to sign Ekitike, who is said to be aware of the situation.

What Hugo Ekitike would bring to Liverpool

Ekitike might not be the finished article, but he’s already established himself as one of the most talented forwards in the game, with analyst Ben Mattinson even hailing him as “one of the best strikers out there.”

Might it be that Slot could secure his own version of Torres in Frankfurt’s dynamic striker? Liverpool’s iconic marksman was an incredible ball-striking talent, but his intelligence, sharpness and off-the-ball movement all combined to leave the likes of Steven Gerrard marvelling at his quality, the skipper even once saying he was the “best striker in the world.”

At Liverpool, the Spaniard scored 81 goals and supplied 19 assists across 142 appearances, so it’s a pretty high bar that Ekitike is going to have to reach for, but then he, too, is more than just a goalscorer, described by journalist Graeme Bailey as being “the new Mbappe.”

Ekitike has what it takes, just look at the underlying data. As per FBref, he ranked among the top 6% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues last season for shot-creating actions, the top 4% for progressive carries and successful take-ons, and the top 19% for ball recoveries per 90.

And that’s without even addressing his return across the 2024/25 campaign: over 48 appearances in all competitions, the former Paris Saint-Germain prospect scored 22 goals and supplied 12 assists. Clearly, he will be grateful for his move to Frankfurt.

Moreover, his 15-goal return in the Bundesliga surpassed that of any other player across Europe’s top five leagues aged 22 or younger.

His step-by-step progress appears to have borne dividends, and Ekitike is showing no sign of letting up. In a Liverpool team consisting of superstars like Mohamed Salah and Wirtz, there’s no telling how impressive the French forward could be next season.

Ekitike should take this leap, joining a Liverpool side who are in need of a high-class number nine. He might be young, but there’s already a lot of talk about this man being one of the brightest stars of his generation.

And let’s not forget, Liverpool signed Torres from Atletico Madrid when he was still in relative professional infancy, joining aged 23 in a deal worth £20m. This was back in July 2007, mind, so such a figure was considered a pretty penny indeed.

Clearly, Liverpool could hit the jackpot by sealing a deal for Ekitke, who has also been courted by the club’s divisional rivals but is surely tempted by moving to a team with such a high ceiling, Slot and Hughes bringing together a variety of different styles in a melting pot that could breed sustained success at the top of the European ladder.

Transfer Focus

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

Sure, Ekitike’s finishing could do with a bit of work, but he’s already established himself as a talented forward, earning acclaim for his complete performances, which would align perfectly with Liverpool’s wider vision.

If Nunez is sold in the coming weeks or months, and Liverpool bank a healthy sum for their flagging forward, if FSG can redirect the transfer cannon toward the Bundesliga’s Frankfurt, we could be in for some exciting seasons ahead on Merseyside.

Perfect for Isak: Liverpool told £75m bid for PL star will be accepted

Liverpool may need to sign a new left-sided forward this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 14, 2025

With European football secured, Nottingham Forest now reportedly want to sign a Ligue 1 captain who is represented by the same agency as Elliot Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White.

Marinakis' controversial Nottingham Forest outburst

Although Nottingham Forest secured European qualification on Sunday, that was only half the story as they fell to a frustrating 2-2 draw against a relegated Leicester City side. From potentially finishing as high as third, a place in the top five is now out of Forest’s hands after picking up just one win in their last five Premier League games.

Many were left disappointed around the City Ground following the draw against Leicester, but none more so than Evangelos Marinakis. The Nottingham Forest owner marched onto the pitch to seemingly air his discontent at manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

Marinakis has since released a statement revealing that his anger was aimed at the medical staff who misjudged Taiwo Awoniyi’s ability to carry on following his collision with the goal post in the dying embers, but the moment certainly sparked plenty of controversy.

The forward gave staff the green light to continue before then coming off not long after Forest had decided to make an alternative substitution.

Nottingham Forest now "ready" to make move for "talented" £17m Milan star

He has won 10 caps for England and played at the World Cup.

By
Henry Jackson

May 12, 2025

The Greek owner said in his statement: “We are extremely proud and close to Nuno and the team, and we must all celebrate the historic achievements of this season.

“Everybody – coaching staff, players, supporters and including myself – we were frustrated around the injury of Taiwo and the medical staff’s misjudgment on Taiwo’s ability to continue the game. This is natural, this is a demonstration of the passion we feel for our club. Let’s all be grateful, passionate and keep on dreaming!”

Nottingham Forest targeting Rennes captain Truffert

Away from any on-pitch controversies, meanwhile, it looks as though Marinakis is looking to put European qualification to instant use. According to The Telegraph, Nottingham Forest now want to sign left-back Adrien Truffert from Stade Rennais this summer.

The club’s captain at just 23 years old, whether Forest can pry Truffert away from Stade Rennais remains to be seen in the coming months, but what should help any deal is the fact that he’s represented by the same agent as Anderson and Gibbs-White.

In terms of numbers, Truffert has endured an excellent season in comparison to Nottingham Forest’s Neco Williams. Outperforming the Welshman when it comes to ball recoveries and key passes, there’s every chance that the Frenchman would gain a starting place at the City Ground if he completed a move this summer.

What his move would do as well is add key depth for Espirito Santo. As his side step into European football, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss will need quality in depth more than ever and Truffert would seemingly provide that at left-back.

Manchester United are now making moves to sign an “incredible” playmaker, who is set to be available for a bargain fee this summer, according to a report.

Man Utd keen to add new creative midfielder

Bruno Fernandes has taken on much of the burden of creating chances for Man United this season, racking up 18 assists in all competitions, and Ruben Amorim is eager to provide the captain with more support in midfield.

Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers is among the more audacious targets for United, having recently launched a £70m move for the Englishman, but it could be difficult to get a deal done, with Unai Emery eager to keep hold of the attacking midfielder.

A bid is also being prepared for Paris Saint-Germain’s Desire Doue, who has caught the eye of Old Trafford chiefs with his fantastic performances for the French side this season, but once again a deal would be expensive.

Man Utd and INEOS now looking to hijack Newcastle deal for £25m wide player

Man Utd have now joined their Premier League rivals in the race to sign an exciting attacker.

ByBrett Worthington Apr 14, 2025

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made it clear the Red Devils are dealing with serious financial difficulties, which means it could make sense to pursue a move for a low-cost attacking midfielder this summer.

According to a report from Spain, Man United are now making moves to sign Lyon star Rayan Cherki, who scored the equalising goal for the French side in the 2-2 draw in the Europa League last week.

There is a belief that Cherki would suit Amorim’s’s system, but his impressive performances for Lyon this season mean he is attracting widespread interest from the Premier League, with Chelsea also believed to be keen.

The Frenchman could be allowed to leave for just £20m this summer, given the difficult financial situation Lyon find themselves in, with the Ligue 1 side willing to negotiate a sale if they receive a convincing offer.

Cherki could be "incredible" signing for Man Utd

It is little wonder some top Premier League clubs are queuing up for the 21-year-old, given just how impressive he has been for Lyon this season, collecting 18 assists in all competitions, while also chipping in with 11 goals.

The “incredible” playmaker, as dubbed by journalist Julien Laurens, is showing signs he is now ready to make a move to one of Europe’s biggest clubs, and it is exciting news that United are making moves to secure his signature.

While Fernandes has once again been impressive for the Red Devils this term, it is clear the Portugal international needs more help, given that the only other players to have registered more than one assist are Diogo Dalot and Amad.

Cherki’s performances this season, coupled with his availability for such a low fee, indicate he could be the perfect addition to a Man United squad clearly in need of more creativity.

Regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in New Zealand, 25-year-old Matt Fisher is ready to make the most of a surprise call-up

Deivarayan Muthu27-Jul-2025Matt Fisher wasn’t supposed to be in New Zealand’s Test squad for the upcoming two-match series in Zimbabwe. Having just worked his way back from injury, the 25-year-old Northern Districts fast bowler was building up his loads for the New Zealand A tour of South Africa, which begins next month, instead.But, with a number of the top-rung fast bowlers away in T20 leagues and county cricket over the winter, Fisher was called up to New Zealand’s preparatory camp in the lead-up to the Zimbabwe tour as a net bowler, and new head coach Rob Walter was so impressed with his raw pace – he can hit 140kph and is regarded as one of the fastest in New Zealand – that he fast-tracked Fisher into the Test squad, Walter’s first since taking charge. Walter had also previously coached Fisher on an A tour to India in 2022 and has been quite big on out-and-out fast bowlers.”Yeah, he [Walter] just pulled me aside for a chat. He said he was going to have a chat with me at the start of the camp,” Fisher recalled after winning his first call-up. “Had a bit to do with him with the A tour to India a couple of years ago, so I thought he was just going to catch up and see how my body was and just have a yarn.Related

• O'Rourke ruled out of second Test with back injury

• Matt Fisher earns first NZ call-up, Williamson remains unavailable for Zimbabwe Tests

• Bracewell replaces Phillips for first Test against Zimbabwe

“And then just said he was interested in taking me to Zimbabwe and, yeah, to be honest, it’s probably just a blur from there. But, nah, it’s pretty epic stuff!”With tearaway Ben Sears injured, Fisher has been called up to provide New Zealand’s attack with express pace. Walter believes that Fisher can be an “X-factor” bowler.”Raw pace is highly regarded everywhere in the world, and generally it brings a point of difference to your team,” Walter said. “So, for me, that’s the main thing. We’ve got Will O’Rourke, who’s probably the top end of speed in our team, and to have someone who can then come and back him up if needs be is very important from a squad point of view. But, as we build a battery of fast bowlers, we’re very blessed in the country at the moment to have a large number of really good, strong fast bowlers.”And we’re just adding Fish into that mix now, giving them a little bit of touring experience, a bit of taste of what it means to be part of the Black Caps, and that just bodes well for our stable of fast bowlers.”Like Sears’ career, Fisher’s has been a litany of setbacks, from back issues and ankle injuries to shin splits more recently. Fisher played just three matches for Northern Districts in the 2024-25 Plunket Shield, taking 14 wickets at an average of 17.71. But New Zealand’s coaches and his team-mates see potential and a high ceiling. Overall, Fisher has picked up 51 wickets in 14 first-class matches at an average of 24.11.Matt Fisher is regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in New Zealand• Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images”Great to see Fish [in the Test side]. He’s had his injury troubles in the past, but, you know, in the last couple of seasons, at least for ND, he’s been bowling really quick and with great control,” Mitchell Santner, the New Zealand ODI captain and Fisher’s team-mate at Northern Districts, said. “I think he really impressed the boys back in New Zealand with that. When he arrives [in Zimbabwe], he will be pretty fired up and ready to go. For someone to be able to bounce back from injuries and potentially make a Test debut will be pretty cool for him.”Fisher’s emergence is a positive sign for a New Zealand attack that is in transition following the Trent Boult-Tim Southee era. With Kyle Jamieson also on a personal break for the birth of his first child, New Zealand have included two uncapped quicks in their squad. Apart from Fisher, Jacob Duffy is the other new face in the Test side. From having grown up watching Boult, Southee and Neil Wagner lead New Zealand’s line over the years, Fisher could potentially take his first step towards emulating his heroes in Zimbabwe.”Yeah, I grew up watching Bolt, Southee and Wags [Neil Wagner] and they’re just kind of all I remember,” Fisher said. “Probably started watching [them] when I was a teenager and just loved watching them bowl. You know, they’ve all different skill sets. They all just slotted in and, I suppose, worked with each other beautifully.”Yeah, they’re the reason why the Black Caps have the name they do now. I think they’re the backbone, as any cricketer, fast bowler would say. They are the engine room of the team. So, yeah, if I could have half the career they had, I’d be more than happy.”Fisher was part of the 2018 New Zealand Under-19 batch that has produced the likes of Rachin Ravindra and Finn Allen. Fisher was New Zealand Under-19s’ second-highest wicket-taker, with seven strikes in six games in that World Cup.Matt Fisher was New Zealand’s second-highest wicket-taker in the 2018 Under-19 World Cup•ICC via Getty ImagesThen came the injuries. Fisher was dealing with a stress fracture in his back through much of his time in Dunedin, where he studied law at the University of Otago. He has been contracted to Northern Districts since 2018. Over the years, Fisher has evolved, and has learnt to deal with the highs and lows of life as a fast bowler.”You’re getting injured some days. You don’t feel good some days. Everything’s going for four or six and I suppose you’re just chasing those good days,” he said. “So, in cricket, you have more bad days than good. So, I think it’s just that thought that each time you go out and play, you’re going to have a good day and, like, ‘it’s going to be your day’ and you’re going to prove yourself.”So, yeah, I love it. I wish I was a batter as well, but there’s no better feeling when you’ve got a new ball in hand and you’re just feeling nice, wind behind you, and trying to bowl fast and break the game open for your team.”It’s been five months since Fisher had experienced that feeling in a competitive game. Fit and firing at the New Zealand nets, he is now ready to make the most of his unexpected Test call-up.

Return to the Wankhede brings memories of record World T20 chase against South Africa in 2016

Andrew Miller20-Oct-2023There’s been a strange and unfamiliar intruder in England’s dressing-room over the past few weeks. A haggard old demon of doubt, sitting on the shoulders of some of the most unfettered cricketers of their generation, and cramping their style with whispers of impending doom.Perhaps it’s not a fear of failure per se that’s been holding England back in their anodyne displays against New Zealand and Afghanistan, but a recognition of finality – an unconscious acceptance among this remarkable group of players that the end is nigh, no matter how well or badly they play.After November 19, come what may, many of these players will never play another ODI, let alone feature in another 50-over World Cup. Some, like Liam Plunkett after the 2019 triumph, may never play for England in any format again.Related

• Not panic stations yet but Mott hopes perspective can fire up England's World Cup campaign

• 'I thought I was done' – Stokes glad to recover from hip injury after fearing the worst

• When the heart and tummy are nourished in Mumbai

• 'The confidence is unwavering' – Bairstow backs England to return to winning ways

• Slow and steady England not winning the powerplay race

As such, it would be understandable if a few real-world concerns have overwritten the team’s keenest exhortations to “play our way” and “attack” the World Cup, as per Jos Buttler’s oddly manic pre-tournament pronouncement.And as the squad gathers in Mumbai ahead of Saturday’s immense clash with those inveterate World Cup worriers South Africa, the shrinks have been out in force, seeking to defankle the knots in England’s psyche.There’s Ben Stokes, the team’s “spiritual leader” in the words of head coach Matthew Mott, calling for England to “go down doing what we’re known for”. And then there’s Brendon McCullum, whose role as an ambassador of the New Zealand meat-exporting industry just happens to have given him an excuse to stay in the team hotel in Mumbai this week.England “need to stay true to their method which has brought them so much success,” McCullum told the Times this week, and seeing as it was his influence, way back at the start of their journey in 2015, that instilled the method in the first place (long before he transferred it onto the Test team), no one’s better placed to preach that particular message.Without wishing to get reductive about the mindset that has given England their superpowers across formats in recent years, the broad thrust of “Bazball” (as no one in McCullum’s presence will dare to call it) has been about embracing the joys of playing sport for a living – of casting aside the doubts and cynicism that come with age and wisdom, and just remembering how much fun it used to be to play the game as carefree kids, without a jot of expectation about the endgame.

For it was at this venue seven-and-a-half years ago, and against the same opponents too, that England’s white-ball thrusters took their first steps towards immortality

How much fun it was, to use a random example, when Joe Root sidled up to Buttler in the middle of the Wankhede on March 18, 2016 and – with 82 runs still needed from 48 balls – declared to his team-mate: “We’re cruising this – we’re absolutely cruising this.”For it was at this venue seven-and-a-half years ago, at a similarly make-or-break juncture of their first major tournament of the post-2015 era, and against the same opponents too, that England’s white-ball thrusters took their first steps towards immortality.”Embrace the naivety” was Eoin Morgan’s rallying cry in his team’s unlikely run to the final of the 2016 World T20, a seemingly throwaway slogan at the team’s arrival press conference in Mumbai, but one that took on a life of its own as his greenhorn charges defied expectations time and again (at least until their fateful ending in Kolkata, when the limits of winging it finally caught up with them).Going into that tournament, Morgan had been the only member of England’s squad with prior IPL experience. Under the directorship of Andrew Strauss, the ECB were on the brink of a new, more laissez-faire attitude to overseas franchise leagues, and in February that year, Buttler had become a notable signee for Mumbai Indians.But until that moment that Carlos Brathwaite launched Stokes’ final over of the tournament into the history books, England had cast aside any doubts about their readiness for the challenge, and simply set about enjoying the ride of their young lives. And never more so than in their group-stage clash with South Africa, where they hunted down a massive target of 230 – still to this day the highest chase in T20 World Cup history.Then as now, England’s backs had been against the wall after a shellacking in their previous group game – albeit there is a world of difference between being bested by arguably the greatest exponent of T20 batting, Chris Gayle, in an 11-sixes onslaught, and being hounded out of Delhi by Afghanistan.England must lift themselves for South Africa after a shock defeat to Afghanistan•Associated PressNevertheless, as many as ten survivors from the South Africa contest might find themselves locking horns once again this weekend – a remarkable seven from England’s ranks alone, with Root, Buttler and Stokes returning alongside Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, David Willey and even a young Reece Topley, whose second and final appearance of that campaign comprised two overs for 33 runs, and would be his last in England colours for four injury-plagued years.For Root, however, the South Africa match was his single finest hour as a T20 batter. He would play six matches in that campaign, and had the final gone England’s way, he would have been a shoo-in for Player of the Match and Tournament. And yet, for reasons of raw power on the one hand, but moreover the time constraints of his Test captaincy and ODI pre-eminence on the other, he’s only ever featured in 12 subsequent T20Is, and none since 2019.But on that night of nights, Root’s 83 from 44 balls was a declaration of his genius – a performance of incredible stillness, not unlike Aiden Markram’s recent 49-ball century against Sri Lanka in fact, in which the virtues of placement and poise transcended the blood and fury of headlong attack. In fact, until the moment of his dismissal, with 11 runs still needed from 10 balls, Root faced a mere two dot-balls out of 43 – and the first of those he would swear blind was a wide.In the course of his innings, Root even unfurled a prototype Root-scoop – a startlingly effective inverted ramp over third man for six, to bring up a 29-ball fifty. “How do players think of shots like those? Let alone execute them. What a world…” wrote Will Luke on ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball commentary. Root for his part later admitted in White Hot, the recent book about the team’s rise and rise, “my heart felt like it was pounding out of my chest … thankfully it was exactly where I wanted it”.The first sighting of Joe Root’s reverse-ramp came at the Wankhede in 2016•AFP/Getty ImagesThis contest was not the first stirring of England’s bold new approach – that had come the previous summer against New Zealand and Australia, a thrilling pair of seat-of-the-pants rides that would finish 5-5 across the ten ODIs but later be recalled by Morgan as his favourite games in their run to the 2019 title. And to all intents and purposes, the World T20 had arrived too soon to draw any long-term conclusions about England’s new-found aptitude. Even so, an early elimination from yet another global tournament would have done the rebooted project no favours whatsoever. Whether they embraced the implications or not, the Wankhede chase was a de facto stress test of their no-consequences attitude.In the final analysis, they passed it with flying colours, with Jason Roy’s thrilling powerplay onslaught providing the bugle blast. He cracked 43 from 16 balls, including five fours, three sixes and – in league with Alex Hales – 44 runs from the first two overs of the chase.Kagiso Rabada bore the brunt of the first of those – he disappeared for 21 runs, including one of the most rifled straight drives that has ever been executed on the world stage – and he’ll be one of three South Africans back for the rematch on Saturday. Neither Quinton de Kock (52 from 24 balls) nor David Miller (28 not out from 12) has any personal reason to regret their efforts on the night, and the presence of each of them will be a reminder of quite how much situational knowhow will be distilled into the coming contest.”It was a fantastic game, one of my favourite games,” Buttler said in Mumbai on the eve of the rematch. “It had a lot of value in terms of where we were going as a team. It’s a long time ago, and that style is a different format, but we want to find different ways to put the opposition under pressure. It doesn’t always mean fours and sixes, it means can we push back when the opposition is on top, or take the initiative in different ways? That’s what we want to live by as a team, and when we commit to that, that gives us the best chance of positive results.”The challenge for both teams, therefore, will be to play without fear – like the kids that they used to be – yet manage the clutch moments with the wisdom that comes from such vast tournament experience. In terms of accessing such an elusive mindset, therefore, “embracing the naivety” is clearly no longer an option for England’s weary worldbeaters, although the manner of their eventual defeat in that year’s final might yet offer them some solace in their current plight.With two global titles in 2012 and 2016, and a further run to the final in between whiles, West Indies’ T20 team of the mid-2010s is perhaps the only recent international dynasty to rival the side that England have compiled over the past eight years. And the cool-headed mugging that they instigated in the heat of the moment in Kolkata serves as timeless evidence that – contrary to the impression that England’s frazzled veterans are currently giving off – experience when the going gets tough actually counts for everything.

Since his comeback from a stress fracture in early 2020, his shorter deliveries have not brought as much reward

Shiva Jayaraman09-Jan-2022That was the ESPNcricinfo ball-by-ball commentary when Jasprit Bumrah hit Dean Elgar with a bouncer in the Johannesburg Test.You would have expected no less from Bumrah on a pitch with as much up-and-down bounce as that one. Over the past few years, Bumrah has troubled many batters in a similar manner, courtesy his hyper-extended elbow and delayed release point.Of course, Bumrah is much more than his freak anatomy. He is smart. He is incredibly skilled. If you are in any doubt, watch his slow yorker to Shaun Marsh at the MCG in 2018. Or his spell in the second innings of the Antigua Test in 2018, where he took 5 for 7, swinging the ball both ways. With an action tailor-made to swing the ball in to right handers, he had learnt to make the ball leave them in the air as well. In just two years of playing Test cricket. Most bowlers take years to swing the ball both ways.However, something is amiss at the moment.Related

Virat Kohli returns as India resume hunt for history in South Africa

Bumrah perfects his latest weapon: the outswinger

The making of Bumrah's slow yorker to Shaun Marsh

Bumrah happens. And England's challenge ends

Two kinds of Jasprit Bumrah magic

After all, you don’t expect a bowler of Bumrah’s calibre to not take a single wicket from 17 overs on a pitch with as much uneven bounce as in Johannesburg, especially in the second innings. He did beat the bat often enough to have picked up more wickets. But he didn’t. All he got was one wicket in the whole Test from 38 overs? And he is a bowler who strikes every 50 balls.But a bit of digging gives us surprising results. Of the seven fast bowlers in the Johannesburg Test – barring Mohammed Siraj who hurt his hamstring in the first innings and didn’t bowl at full pelt thereafter – Bumrah caused the least trouble to batters with deliveries that were pitched shorter than good length. According to ESPNcricinfo’s length data, Bumrah induced false shots in 20 balls out of the 101 (19.8%) he bowled on short or short-of-good-length areas in the Test. Shardul Thakur comes in next, inducing false shots 22% of the time. Mohammed Shami was at 23.5%. Expectedly, the South Africa bowlers were a lot more difficult to handle with their higher points of release owing to their heights.The more surprising fact was that this Test wasn’t an exception for Bumrah.Ever since his comeback after the stress fracture in February 2020, Bumrah has been less threatening with his short balls according to our data. Prior to the injury, Bumrah induced false shots off 26.3% of deliveries that he pitched shorter than on good length against batters in the top seven in Tests. Since his return, that percentage has come down to 17%. That’s a drop of a whopping 35.4% – from troubling top-order batters once every 3.8 balls before injury to once every 5.9 balls since. The trendline in the chart below shows how his short balls have become increasingly less threatening. The inflection point – to apply the term loosely – came in the first Test on his return from injury, in Wellington. This was the least he has troubled batters with short balls – only three out 39 he bowled shorter than good length troubled the batters. Perhaps the pitch was flat and perhaps Bumrah, understandably so, wasn’t at his best.