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Tottenham Hotspur could hijack Newcastle United’s move for a “sensational” midfielder, as they are now keen on securing his signature, according to a report.

Spurs looking to bolster midfield options

One of the most talked-about summer transfer sagas up to this point has been Tottenham’s controversial pursuit of Morgan Gibbs-White, with Nottingham Forest left unhappy by the approach, given that rival clubs shouldn’t have been aware of the £60m release clause.

However, Fabrizio Romano has revealed Spurs are hopeful of being able to get the deal over the line, with the transfer expert saying: “Now, Tottenham remain confident about their chances of signing the player. But, obviously, now this is a legal topic. They need to have discussions directly with Nottingham Forest to find the solution.

“Of course, it changes the timing of the deal. Tottenham’s perfect plan was probably to sign Kudus and Gibbs-White in 24 or 48 hours. It is now going to take a bit longer, but they remain intent on signing the player. That is still their plan.”

Tottenham "seriously" keen on signing "unstoppable" £50m Simons alternative

Spurs are looking to sign an attacking midfielder this summer.

1 ByDominic Lund Jul 21, 2025

Gibbs-White has been earmarked as a major target in the attacking midfield area, but the Lilywhites are also keen to strengthen in a deeper midfield role, with Bayern Munich’s Joao Palhinha and Juventus’ Douglas Luiz among the potential targets.

In a recent report from The Boot Room, it has also been revealed that Tottenham are keen on signing Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher, who could be set to leave the La Liga club this summer, given that regular game time may not be on offer next season.

Thomas Frank is said to be a fan of Gallagher, suggesting the manager could green-light a move, with Spurs looking to bring in a new number 6 this summer, but there could be competition for his signature.

Newcastle are currently leading the race for the midfielder, with Eddie Howe also believed to be a big fan, but the north Londoners’ interest suggests they may look to hijack their Premier League rivals.

"Sensational" Gallagher could be solid signing for Spurs

The former Chelsea man has already proven himself in the Premier League, being lauded for his “sensational” attitude by reporter John Cross during his time with the Blues, where his attacking talents were regularly on display.

The £50m-rated maestro amassed five goals and seven assists in the Premier League during the 2023-24 campaign, and he has since gone on to impress Atlético Madrid manager Diego Simeone from a defensive point of view.

Simeone said: “It’s never easy for players coming from England to adapt to the Spanish championship, to the language … He has competed very well in different places and in positions where he doesn’t feel more comfortable.

“He will evolve, he has room for growth. He is very intense in offensive and defensive play, he brings a lot to us.”

As such, Gallagher could be a solid signing for Tottenham, but given that he is “very happy” at Atletico, it could be difficult to get a deal done.

Kohler-Cadmore makes fifty as home side bowled out for 136 but Hampshire slip to 62 for 5 in reply

ECB Reporters Network26-Sep-2024Kyle Abbott and Liam Dawson claimed four wickets each as Hampshire boosted their bid for runners-up spot in the Vitality County Championship by skittling nearest rivals Somerset for 136 on the opening day of the final Division One match at Taunton.Seamer Abbott returned 4 for 37 and left-arm spinner Dawson 4 for 28. Only Tom Kohler-Cadmore, with 63, offered much resistance after the hosts had won the toss and elected to bat first on a dry surface, expected to take spin.By the close of a rain-interrupted day, Hampshire had struggled to 62 for 5 in reply, Toby Albert unbeaten on 38 and Jack Leach taking 3 for 9. But, having failed to claim any batting points, Somerset now have to win the game to overtake their opponents and finish second behind champions Surrey.The home side’s batting problems began with the fourth ball of the second over when Tom Lammonby, promoted from No. 3 to open with Archie Vaughan, fell lbw to Abbott without scoring. Soon it was 4 for 2 as Andy Umeed was caught by wicketkeeper Ben Brown off the same bowler for a second-ball duck.Tom Abell, on 5, survived a confident appeal for a catch behind off Mohammad Abbas, who then bowled him through the gate for 10 with the total on 29. Kohler-Cadmore’s response was to launch his innings with four boundaries in the space of five balls.Vaughan had recovered from an uncertain start and was unbeaten on 19 when rain interrupted play with Somerset 52 for 3 from 14 overs. An early lunch was taken at 12.15pm and the action resumed at shortly after 1.20pm, with ten overs lost.Hampshire immediately introduced Dawson to the attack and he quickly found some turn to pin Vaughan leg before for 29 with his sixth delivery to make it 63 for 4. With only a single added, James Rew edged Abbas to second slip where Albert snapped up a low two-handed catch. Kasey Aldridge went 22 balls without scoring before trying to sweep successive deliveries from Dawson, the second of which saw him fall lbw.Lewis Gregory helped an increasingly restrained Kohler-Cadmore add 27 for the seventh wicket before being struck on the back pad by a delivery from Dawson and departing to another leg before decision for 16.At 98 for 7, Somerset were in disarray. But Kohler-Cadmore stood firm to record his first Championship half-century of a red-ball season heavily curtailed by participation in the IPL. He had faced 85 balls and struck five fours and a six over midwicket off James Fuller.Leach looked to be lending decent support when caught at slip for 9 aiming a big hit off Dawson. When tea was taken at 3.30pm, the scoreboard read 128 for 8.Kohler-Cadmore did his best to farm the strike at the start of the final session and the scoreboard ticked slowly to 136 before he was caught behind driving at a ball from Abbott. Last man Shoaib Bashir, who had survived being bowled first ball because of the distraction of Abbott’s towel flying to the ground as he released the delivery, quickly became the fifth lbw victim of a sorry batting display lasting just 53.5 overs.Alfie Ogborne had battled away for 24 balls to score 1 not out and the young left-arm seamer lifted Somerset spirits by having Fletcha Middleton caught at second slip off the eighth ball of Hampshire’s reply. It would have been 0 for 2 had Aldridge not spilled a routine slip catch offered by Albert off Gregory in the third over.With the total on 13, Nick Gubbins edged Gregory to first slip where Abell took a good catch low to his right. Somerset were back in the game when James Vince, having hit Vaughan for six over deep square, aimed another big hit at Leach and skied a catch off a leading edge to Abell at backward point.Leach struck again when Tom Prest drove a catch to extra cover and then bowled Dawson between bat and pad. For the first time in a Championship match, Somerset had picked both Leach and Bashir, bowling the two England spinners in tandem towards the end of the day.

Chelsea know exactly what they need to do to secure qualification for the knockout stages of the Club World Cup.

A win and a defeat in their first two games means the Blues must defeat African side ES Tunis in their final group stage match.

With around $125m awaiting the winner of the competition, Enzo Maresca won’t be settling for an early exit. That much is certain.

Several players have impressed stateside for the Stamford Bridge outfit across their opening two matches.

Liam Delap recorded an assist on his debut against LAFC last week, delivering an inch-perfect cross into the path of Enzo Fernández, who slotted home the club’s second goal.

How to Watch the FIFA Club World Cup for Free

Everything you need to know about the Club World Cup.

ByCharlie Smith Jun 13, 2025

Elsewhere, Pedro Neto is enjoying a stunning tournament so far. Not only has the Portuguese winger scored in both games thus far, but he has also succeeded with four dribbles per game, and has created two big chances while averaging 2.5 key passes per match.

If he can deliver another wonderful display on Wednesday, the Blues will seal a place in the last 16 without much fuss.

Not everyone has shone in America, however, with Nicolas Jackson enduring a tournament to forget so far.

Why Nicolas Jackson's future is uncertain at Chelsea

Jackson was chosen by Maresca to start the first match against LAFC, where he did manage to grab an assist and make three key passes, although the striker did miss a big chance, something he’s become famed for since moving to London.

It was a solid, if unspectacular, start to the Club World Cup, but Liam Delap’s impressive cameo in the same game meant he would be tasked with leading the line from the start against Flamengo.

The Englishman performed admirably, but was substituted off with just under 30 minutes left, replaced by Jackson.

The former Villarreal star didn’t have long to make an impression, but just four minutes after coming on, he committed a dreadful challenge on Lucas Ayrton, which saw him receive a straight red card.

He can have no complaints, especially given the studs-up nature of the challenge. Jackson will now miss the final group stage match for the Blues.

Goals

10

Assists

5

Shots per game

2.5

Goal conversion percentage

13%

Key passes per game

0.9

Big chances missed

19

Both Juventus and Napoli have reportedly shown interest in signing the Blues centre-forward this summer amid his poor displays and now recent sending-off.

However, an update from Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol quashed the rumours of a potential departure, stating that “Chelsea are planning to have at least two frontline strikers in their squad next season which means Nicolas Jackson is not for sale at the moment.”

It appears as though Jackson will still be a player that Maresca needs in his squad next season, but things have to change if he wishes to contribute effectively.

Could signing a new attacking midfielder perhaps help in this regard?

Chelsea target move for Bundesliga sensation

Maresca has been searching for a new winger over the previous few weeks and players such as Mohammed Kudus, Tyler Dibling and Jamie Gittens are among the main targets.

Transfer Focus

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

There are other positions which need bolstering too, including the defence and midfield. This has led Maresca to search far and wide for potential new signings.

One player who is on their radar is RB Leipzig starlet Xavi Simons. That is according to football.london, who also state that the likes of Joao Pedro, Kudus and Ekitike are those on the club’s wish list this summer.

No transfer fee has been mentioned regarding a move for the Dutchman, but considering he has a contract until 2027 with the club and is valued at €70m (£60m) by Transfermarkt, the Blues could be forced to splash the cash.

This is, of course, nothing new to the Blues, and if Simons does make the move to London, he could be the man to revive Jackson. That’s for sure.

Why Xavi Simons could revive Nicolas Jackson

Last season for Leipzig, Simons demonstrated why, in the words of one data analyst, he is “one of the best 10s in the world,” not only scoring 11 goals, but also registering eight assists in all competitions.

In the Bundesliga, the Dutch starlet created 12 big chances while also averaging two key passes per game and these sorts of numbers could be music to Jackson’s ears.

If deployed directly behind the Senegal international, Simons would surely create chance upon chance for the player, hopefully helping him hit that magic 20-goal-a-season mark next term.

Furthermore, he displayed his creative abilities in the Champions League last season. When compared to his peers in the competition, Simons ranked highly on a range of metrics.

Indeed, he ranked in the top 9% for successful ons (1.88) per 90, in the top 2% for shot-creating actions (5.91) and also in the top 89% for progressive carries (3.22) per 90 in the competition.

Yet more evidence of how Simons could revive Jackson. He can beat his man consistently while bringing the ball into the final third with ease.

All Jackson has to do is get into the correct positions, and he will have a plethora of chances to score next term.

Further hailed by journalist Alex Barker as “one of the best youngsters in Europe” towards the end of the 2022/23 campaign, it won’t be long before he hits the very top and he could do just that at Stamford Bridge.

Will Chelsea ramp up their interest in the player as the transfer window goes on? While a winger remains the priority for Maresca, signing someone like Simons is a must.

Jackson could turn into a new man next season by having Simons operating just behind him. As evidenced, the Dutchman can generate chances galore and regularly bursts into the opposition penalty box.

Better signing than Ekitike: Chelsea ready to launch bid for "elite" star

Chelsea must try and get this fantastic deal over the line.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 22, 2025

A decision on Babar’s captaincy is not immediately expected, given Pakistan’s next white-ball game isn’t till November

Danyal Rasool20-Jun-2024

Pakistan selector Wahab Riaz was travelling with the team during the T20 World Cup•Getty Images

The seven-member PCB selection committee is likely to undergo changes in the wake of Pakistan’s dismal T20 World Cup campaign. While the PCB will undertake a review to assess what went wrong for Pakistan, it is understood streamlining the operations of the selection committee is a top priority for the board. ESPNcricinfo understands the number of people on the selection committee will be reduced, with the PCB also considering ditching its brief experiment of having a selection committee without an official head or chief.It was less than three months ago that the present selection committee was unveiled. Wahab Riaz, who had until then served as its chair, was stripped of that title, although he did remain a member of the committee. Each of the seven members carried an equal vote, with PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi saying at the time that the committee would “make a majority decision based around debate and argument to reach a satisfactory conclusion”.Wahab, though, is not expected to regain his position as the head of the committee, should the post be recreated. ESPNcricinfo understands there is frustration at the PCB, including from Wahab himself, about public perception that he runs the selection committee as its de facto head, and consequently shoulders the brunt of any criticism. Wahab’s departure from the committee altogether remains a very strong possibility, with Naqvi keen to publicly demonstrate no one is immune from adverse consequences.Meanwhile, it is believed a decision on Babar Azam’s captaincy is not immediately expected. Despite a situation that has become increasingly emotionally charged since Pakistan were knocked out of the ongoing T20 World Cup, it is felt the need to take a call either way is not pressing, given Pakistan’s next white-ball game isn’t till November.The review will include feedback from several members of the management who were with the side on tour, most notably head coach Gary Kirsten. Kirsten’s opinion holds sway at the PCB, having been appointed in April after an extensive search for a coach. Following Pakistan’s exit from the tournament, multiple reports emerged of Kirsten expressing dismay at the lack of unity in the side. And while the veracity of the specific content of Kirsten’s remarks remains hazy, it is understood there was a frank and robust exchange of views, which could set the tone for the tour report he submits to the PCB.If no decision is publicly communicated by that time, indications of any further changes to the national set-up may lie in the revisions made to players’ central contracts when they expire on June 30. Though the PCB and the players agreed to three-year contracts in a landmark decision last year, that only applies to the overarching terms of the contract. Individual players can be moved up and down in categories – or left out altogether – depending on their performances. At the moment, there are three players in the highest category: Babar, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Celtic have designs on breaking the glass ceiling in the Champions League next term and could now launch a move for a powerful enforcer to help their bid, according to a report.

Celtic's summer window and where they need to strengthen

The Bhoys are currently taking stock before deciding where to prioritise in the market safe in the knowledge that Kieran Tierney and Ross Doohan will arrive on free transfers from Arsenal and Aberdeen, respectively.

While the homecoming of the former will be widely celebrated by supporters, Chris Sutton believes time is ticking for Celtic and indicated three bodies are needed to supplement the reigning Scottish champions’ squad between now and the Champions League qualifiers.

He explained: “In an ideal world you’d have two or three new faces reporting for the first day of pre-season, giving them time to bed in ahead of the new campaign and the crucial Champions League qualifiers.

“The transfer market doesn’t always work that way but they will need to move quickly to bring in at the very least three new players.”

Adding another attacking option appears to be their main priority at the moment, and the notion of a sensational Celtic reunion with Kyogo Furuhashi is alive as he is set to be left out of Rennes’ pre-season plans by Habib Beye.

Celtic braced for lowball £8.5m bid as Spurs could hijack forward deal

The Bhoys are fielding interest for star players…

1 BySean Markus Clifford Jun 7, 2025

Peterborough United’s Harley Mills has been approached by the Bhoys and could add some support behind Tierney at left-back, though the two positions mentioned aren’t the only areas Rodgers may look to bolster during the window.

Taking things up a notch, Celtic have now made contact to sign a midfielder who could add some bite in the engine room if recent developments were to escalate.

Celtic make contact to sign Demir Tiknaz

Per A Bola, Celtic have initiated contact over a potential deal for Turkish defensive midfielder Demir Tiknaz, who spent the campaign gone on loan at Rio Ave from parent club Besiktas.

Intriguingly, the Primeira Liga side are expected to trigger a release clause option to sign the Istanbul-born man for £4.2 million. Then, they will aim to double their money with a quickfire sale at around the £8.4 million mark.

Demir Tiknaz at Rio Ave in 2024/25 – why do Celtic want to sign him? (Fotmob)

Tackles won

37

Pass completion

85.9%

Duels won

121

Chances created

16

Aerial duels won

25

Standing at 6 foot 4 he is currently on duty with the Turkish national team and would add some much-needed steel into an engine room made up primarily of technicians.

Callum McGregor isn’t getting any younger and the lack of a deeper like-for-like alternative to the Bhoys’ club captain could now be resolved if negotiations were to accelerate.

Ligue 1 outfit LOSC Lille are also keen on Tiknaz and will provide stiff competition for his signature, though the carrot of Champions League football at Celtic is something worth dangling for intended targets.

If you had told Arsenal fans that Jakub Kiwior would start in a 3-0 home win and 2-1 away win against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals earlier this season, they would likely have laughed in your face.

It’s not that the Polish international is a bad player; he has stepped up at points in the past, but it would be fair to say that for much of this season, he’s been something of an afterthought and has struggled in the few appearances he’s made, like away to Fulham.

Yet, since Gabriel Magalhães’ injury, the former Spezia star has seriously stepped up, and perhaps the biggest compliment is that he’s made the Brazilian’s absence something of an afterthought.

However, there is no room for sentimentality in football, and if recent reports are to be believed, Mikel Arteta and Co have identified a defender they want to sign in the summer, a defender who would be an upgrade on Kiwior.

Arsenal's transfer targets

Now, as they once again missed out on the title this season, Arsenal are obviously looking to strengthen all over the pitch, and one of the names most heavily linked with the club in recent weeks has been Benjamin Sesko.

Transfer Focus

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

The Slovenian striker, who’s still just 21, has enjoyed another stellar campaign with RB Leipzig this year, racking up 20 goals and six assists in just 41 appearances, making his supposed £58m release clause look fairly reasonable.

Another 20-year-old touted for a move to the Emirates this summer is Lyon’s incredible Rayan Cherki.

The Frenchman could be available for just £25m, which sounds like a total bargain considering he’s racked up a staggering haul of 12 goals and 18 assists in just 40 games this season and has been tipped as a “future Ballon d’Or winner,” by The Athletic’s Alex Barker.

However, neither of these exciting attackers will replace Kiwior, which is where Dean Huijsen comes in.

Yes, according to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, Arsenal have maintained their strong interest in the Bournemouth star and insist he is someone they want to sign.

The report does not mention a potential price, but stories from earlier this month reiterated the claim that the Spaniard has a £50m release clause in his current deal.

It might not be an easy deal to get over the line, but given Huijsen’s immense ability and potential, it’s one worth fighting for, even if it could be bad news for Kiwior.

How Huijsen compares to Kiwior

If Arsenal were to get their man in the summer and bring Huijsen to the Emirates, it seems unlikely that he’d break up the partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel – at least for a while – so his biggest competition for a place in the squad would likely be Kiwior.

So, with that said, how do the pair stack up against one another?

Well, while it’s certainly less important for a centre-back, it’s the Bournemouth ace who just about comes out ahead when it comes to their respective output, producing three goal involvements in 31 games at an average of one every 10.33 games.

In contrast, the former Spezia ace has provided two assists in 23 games, coming out to an average of one every 11.5 games.

Unfortunately for the Polish international, he also comes out on the losing side when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.

In fact, in practically every relevant metric for a modern centre-back, Huijsen comes out on top.

Kiwior vs Huijsen
Statistics	Kiwior	Huijsen
Non-Penalty Expected G+As	0.08	0.16
Progressive Passes	2.93	4.69
Progressive Carries	0.29	1.54
Passing Accuracy	90.7%	84.0%
Key Passes	0.29	0.61
Passes into the Final 1/3	3.64	6.05
Passes into the Penalty Area	0.14	0.31
Shot-Creating Actions	0.57	1.67
Goal-Creating Actions	0.00	0.13
Tackles Won	0.67	0.90
Blocks	0.64	1.45
Interceptions	0.62	1.90
Clearances	3.21	7.19
Ball Recoveries	2.14	3.99
Aerial Duels Won	1.14	2.68
All Stats via FBref for 24/25

Assessing the data, it really is no surprise that data analyst Ben Mattinson called him “the most in-demand centre-back in the world” with the Cherries defender notably a clear upgrade in key metrics such as progressive passes, ball recoveries, key passes and aerial duels won per 90 minutes,

Ultimately, Kiwior has done an exemplary job in recent weeks, but there is no way around it: Huijsen is a far better player and prospect. Therefore, Arsenal should do all they can to sign the Spaniard this summer.

Best signing since Rice: £58m goalscoring "monster" wants to join Arsenal

The incredible international could be just what Arsenal need.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Apr 21, 2025

Manchester City are now reportedly seriously hopeful about signing a Premier League rival who would instantly replace the departing Kevin De Bruyne when the summer arrives.

De Bruyne announces departure

Bringing an end to what has been an incredible decade at Manchester City, in which he became an undeniable Premier League legend, De Bruyne took to social media to announce that he will be leaving the Etihad this summer. With his contract coming to an end, the Beglian will bow out a free agent and look towards the closing chapter of a sensational career.

Announcing the news, De Bruyne released a statement which read: Seeing this, you probably realise where this is heading. So I’ll get straight to it and let you all know that these will be my final months as a Manchester City player.

Not just KDB: Man City could lose "incredible" ace as UCL club make contact

It’s set to be a busy summer at the Etihad…

ByTom Cunningham Apr 5, 2025

“Nothing about this is easy to write, but as football players, we all know this day eventually comes. That day is here – and you deserve to hear it from me first.

“Football led me to all of you – and to this city. Chasing my dream, not knowing this period would change my life. This City. This club. These people… gave me EVERYTHING. I had no choice but to give EVERYTHING back! And guess what – we won everything.

“Whether we like it or not, it’s time to say goodbye. Suri, Rome, Mason, Michele, and I are beyond grateful for what this place has meant to our family. “Manchester” will forever be on our kids’ passports – and more importantly, in each of our hearts. This will always be our HOME.

“We cannot thank the city, club, staff, teammates, friends, and family enough for this 10-year ride.

“Every story comes to an end, but this has definitely been the best chapter. Let’s enjoy these last moments together! Much love, KDB.”

Whilst De Bruyne’s exit will be an emotional one, Manchester City have seemingly wasted no time before turning their attention towards signing the heir to his Etihad throne.

Man City hopeful about signing Morgan Rogers

According to TEAMtalk, Manchester City are now seriously hopeful about signing Morgan Rogers this summer in what would need to be a mammoth deal for the Aston Villa star. Of course, it wasn’t so long ago that the Sky Blues were swinging open the exit door for the midfielder to join Middlesbrough, only for that decision to become a major regret ever since.

A player that Pep Guardiola reportedly loves, Rogers could instantly replace De Bruyne and earn Manchester City redemption – achieving the dream he had as an academy product all those years ago in the process.

Minutes

2,423

1,103

Goals

7

2

Assists

6

6

Key Passes

39

41

Outperforming De Bruyne when it comes to output – albeit whilst playing far more minutes – Rogers is only just getting started in the Premier League. With his performances this season dubbed “superb” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, it may not be too long before the midfielder finds himself back on his way towards the Etihad.

All the records that the South Africa batter broke on his Test debut against Zimbabwe

Sampath Bandarupalli28-Jun-202519 years, 93 days Lhuan-dre Pretorius’ age on Saturday, when he scored 153 in the first Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. He became the youngest batter to score 150 in Test cricket, bettering Javed Miandad, who was 19 years and 119 days old when he notched up 163 against New Zealand on the opening day of the Lahore Test in 1976.4 Number of players younger than Pretorius with a hundred on their Test debut. Three of those four have done it in the second innings on debut.1 Pretorius is also the youngest among seven South African men to score a hundred on their Test debut. In fact, no man younger than Pretorius had scored a fifty in any format for South Africa in International cricket. His hundred off 112 balls is also the fastest for South Africa on debut.157 Balls that Pretorius needed for his 150 against Zimbabwe. It is the fastest 150 for South Africa in Tests, a record previously held by AB de Villiers, who had achieved it off 162 balls against Australia in 2012 (where data is available).
His effort is also the second fastest by a debutant in Tests, only behind Shikhar Dhawan, who got to his 150 in only 131 balls against Australia in 2013.4 Batters to have scored a century on their Test debut as well as their first-class debut. Pretorius had scored 120 on his first-class debut in December last year against the Warriors. Gundappa Viswanath, Dirk Wellham and Prithvi Shaw are the other players to have achieved this feat.38 Balls that Dewald Brevis needed for his half-century on Saturday, the fastest by a debutant for South Africa in Tests. The previous quickest was by Dave Nourse, who scored a fifty off 40 balls on his debut against Australia in 1902. Brevis’ 38-ball effort is also the joint-fourth fastest on debut in men’s Tests.95 Partnership runs between Pretorius and Brevis for the fifth wicket. It is the highest partnership between two debutants for South Africa in men’s Tests. The previous highest was 92 between Andrew Hudson and Adrian Kuiper, also for the fifth wicket against West Indies in 1992.

And has anyone else done the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets in a year as Kapil Dev has?

Steven Lynch02-Jan-2024In the Boxing Day Test, Pakistan conceded 52 extras in dismissing Australia for 318. Where does this rank in terms of the highest percentage of extras in an innings? asked Graeme Phipps from Australia
Australia’s 318 in the exciting Test in Melbourne last week included 52 extras (20 byes, 15 leg-byes and wides, and two no-balls), which accounts for 16.3% of the total. This actually comes in sixth on the list of highest percentages of extras in a Test innings, looking at completed innings only.On top is England’s 315 against West Indies in Port-of-Spain in 1986, which included 59 extras – 18.7% of the total. Another England innings in the Caribbean – 339 in Kingston in 2004 – included 60 extras (17.6%).Ten of the Australian team that took on Pakistan recently had scored more than 1000 runs in their Test careers. Was this a record? asked Gavin Stevenson from Australia
You’re right that ten of the Australian team which took on Pakistan in the first two Tests – in Perth and at the MCG – had amassed more than 1000 runs. The exception was Josh Hazlewood, who started the series with 465.The first team to contain ten men with 1000 Test runs to their name was, unsurprisingly perhaps, the ICC World XI which took on Australia in a one-off match in Sydney in 2005. The odd man out then was England’s Steve Harmison. No national team had matched this until earlier this year, when the England sides in the fourth and fifth Ashes Tests, at Old Trafford and at The Oval, contained ten men with 1000 or more, the outlier on both occasions being Mark Wood, who finished the series with 724 runs.Kapil Dev did an unusual double of 1000 international runs and 100 wickets over his matches in 1983. Has anyone else ever done this in a calendar year? asked Abhishek Sharma from India
You’re right that in Tests and one-day internationals in 1983 (no T20s back then), Kapil Dev scored 1106 runs and collected exactly 100 wickets. And it turns out that Kapil is unique – no one else has managed this excellent double.There have been a few not-so-near misses: six players have completed the lesser double of 750 runs and 75 wickets in internationals in the same year. Shaun Pollock made 882 runs and took 89 wickets in 1998, Abdul Razzaq had 1029 and 82 in 2000, Andrew Flintoff 1205 and 90 in 2005, Daniel Vettori 832 and 76 in 2008, Mitchell Johnson 836 and 113 in 2009, and Shakib Al Hasan 1329 and 77 in 2010.Kapil Dev is the only player to have scored 1000 runs and taken 100 wickets across formats in one calendar year•Adrian Murrell/Getty ImagesHas a batter ever scored two double-hundreds in the same match? asked Peter Masud from the United States
This has not yet happened in a Test match, although there are two instances of someone scoring a triple-century and a single hundred in the same game – Graham Gooch hit 333 and 123 for England against India at Lord’s in 1990, and Kumar Sangakkara followed suit with 319 and 105 for Sri Lanka against Bangladesh in Chattogram in 2014. There have been six other instances of a double-century and a hundred in the same Test.For many years, the only man to score two separate double-centuries in the same first-class game was Arthur Fagg of Kent and England, who later became a Test umpire; he hit 244 and 202 not out in a Championship match against Essex in Colchester in July 1938. Fagg’s feat was finally equalled in Sri Lanka in February 2019, when Nondescripts’ captain Angelo Perera made 201 and 231 against the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.Is it true that India have played 12 Boxing Day Tests without ever winning one? asked Richard Daniels from South Africa
Indian fans will be relieved to learn that this is not true. India have now played 18 Tests that started on December 26, and although their record in them is not great – the defeat in Centurion the other day was their 11th loss – they have won four: against South Africa in Durban in 2010 and in Centurion in 2021, and against Australia in Melbourne in 2018 and again in 2020. They have also drawn three.India have also had six other Tests which started earlier but included play on Boxing Day, losing three and drawing three.Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

She’s had a patchy run since the 2016 T20 World Cup final, but on Friday, the West Indies allrounder put in a performance to remember against New Zealand

Annesha Ghosh04-Mar-2022It was almost as if Hayley Matthews was sending out a message in the first five overs of the 2022 ODI World Cup opener: “Save the legs, I’ll do it in fours.”After all, at one stage, she had raced to 21 in 15 balls, just one of those runs not a boundary.Almost like she was asking us to remember her name, and her range, that was most memorably on view that day six summers ago, which you probably remember for another name.Related

Devine 108 in vain as Matthews powers WI's opening-day upset

'When Dottin says give me the ball, you just give her the ball'

On April 3, 2016, just hours before Carlos Braithwaite scripted a heist for the West Indies men’s team, fellow Barbadian Matthews, too, had achieved cricketing immortality. With a 45-ball 66 in the final of the Women’s T20 World Cup, she unseated Australia from the T20 throne, thwarting their hopes of a fourth straight title in the format.One of the narratives that emerged on that heady April evening of West Indies’ twin T20 World Cup triumphs in Kolkata was of Matthews’ likely dominance on the international stage in the foreseeable future. She was clearly destined for even bigger things, for herself and for her team.In the six years since, West Indies have somewhat fallen short of expectations that 2016 T20 World Cup-winning campaign set for them. They made the 2018 T20 World Cup semi-final at home but crashed out in the league stage in the 2020 edition, and their performances in the 50-over format especially have been on a downward spiral. Since their 2016 high, they have won 22 of their 49 T20Is and tied one; in ODIs, they have won 18 out of 55 games, including the win on Friday over New Zealand, and tied two.After an unbeaten hundred against Pakistan at home last year, Matthews scored only 12 runs in five innings as opener•CWI”I guess our batters probably like the shorter format of the game and find it more exciting,” captain Stafanie Taylor had said before the latest World Cup when asked why West Indies, finalists in the 2013 edition, have struggled to get going in ODIs more recently.Inconsistency has long been Matthews’ problem, too. In the last 20 T20Is, for example, she has a high score of only 32. Having debuted in ODIs in 2014, she made three fifties in her first three matches, but she has made 50 or more only seven times in the 58 innings that followed. More recently, after an unbeaten hundred against Pakistan at home last year, she scored only 12 runs in five innings as opener, following which she was pushed down to No. 5.In the opening match of the World Cup on Friday, Matthews was back in the opening position but only because the regular opener, Rashada Williams, was out, recovering from concussion. Partnering Deandra Dottin, Matthews scored 16 in her first four scoring shots to set the tone for her maiden ODI World Cup century.”Obviously, I’ve been shuffled around the order a little bit over the past maybe eight or nine months. But at the same time, I think my job is to do as best as I possibly can for the team wherever they need me,” she said after West Indies’ thrilling three-run win over New Zealand in Tauranga. “When I got the call yesterday that I had to go up the order, it was just about me going out there and doing as best as they possibly could. And, yeah, I got some (runs) today.”

“You talk about playing on the biggest stage, you talk about World Cups… To be able to put on a really good all-round performance obviously means a lot to me”Matthews on leading her side to an opening victory in the World Cup

Pivotal to West Indies’ total of 259 – their third-highest score in a 50-over world tournament – were Matthews’ three fifty stands in the middle-order – with Taylor, Shemaine Campbelle and Chedean Nation. Along the way, she struck 17 boundaries, with a solitary six, measuring 75 metres, against Sophie Devine.”Initially, going out there to open, I probably thought I try to take it a bit steady, obviously; [I] haven’t opened the batting in a couple of months,” she said. “But when we got out there and saw how good the wicket was playing, I was able to capitalise without trying too much.”That’s pretty much how I just played my whole innings – taking it ball by ball, setting small targets with my partner, always looking for partnerships. That happened to work really well and then we were able to push pretty hard at the end.”Asked of her up-and-down batting performances across limited-overs formats since the 2016 T20 World Cup final, Matthews said, “I feel like that’s what I’ve been doing over the last couple of years. Maybe I guess some people might say I haven’t hit the expectations I’ve wanted to.Remember the names! Carlos Brathwaite and Hayley Matthews pose by the sea in Mumbai after West Indies’ double triumph in 2016•Getty Images”But at the same time, I feel like over the last one year or two, I’ve really been able to improve. Yeah, just show what it takes, and yeah, hopefully I can continue doing that.”It wasn’t only with the bat that Matthews left a mark in West Indies’ final-over victory, twice pegged back as she was through the day by a hamstring niggle.First, Matthews dealt New Zealand a critical blow with the wicket of the in-form No. 3, Amelia Kerr. Her bowling forearm strapped with Kinesio tape since the start of New Zealand’s chase, Matthews pushed Kerr deep into the crease with just her second ball and trapped her lbw for 13. Later, in the 35th over, she had left-hander Brooke Halliday caught at first slip, the mix of Matthews’ high-arm action and generous revolutions in her offspin too good for the New Zealand No. 7.An innings of 119, and 2 for 41 with the ball from ten overs: did she ever have a more memorable all-round outing?”Probably not,” she said. “I think you talk about playing on the biggest stage, you talk about World Cups. First game, obviously – really, really big for us against the home team. To be able to put on a really good all-round performance obviously means a lot to me and even more to the team seeing that we got the win.”