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It’s safe to say boss Sean Dyche has worked miracles at Everton this season, transforming the club into a solid defensive unit and securing Premier League survival.

The Toffees have enjoyed a brilliant end to the campaign, winning four of the last five games, drawing the other, in a run that has seen Dyche’s side concede just a singular goal against Luton Town.

Everton have succeeded on a foundation of being solid at the back and winning games by one goal – a feat that has happened in six of their 13 Premier League wins this season.

The Toffees have only conceded 1.3 goals per game this campaign, the best record in the bottom half of the table – a stat that has boosted the club’s league position astronomically.

However, the club have struggled in front of goal, scoring just 1.05 goals per match, with one player in particular struggling to add any creativity in the final third.

Jack Harrison’s stats at Everton in 2023/24

Winger Jack Harrison was brought in on loan to bolster Everton’s forward line ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, following Leeds United’s relegation to the Championship.

Following a season that saw him score five and assist seven in the Premier League, there were high expectations for the attacker to thrive at Goodison, but he’s failed to deliver.

In his 29 appearances for the Toffees, Harrison has only managed three goals and three assists, half the tally he managed at Leeds, with the 27-year-old outscored by the majority of the club’s other attacking options.

Everton senior attacker's PL stats 23/24

Statistics

Harrison

DCL

Beto

McNeil

Games

29

31

29

34

Goals

3

7

3

3

Assists

3

2

0

6

G+A per 90

0.2

0.3

0.1

0.3

Stats via Transfermarkt

His best performance undoubtedly came in the 3-0 win against Bournemouth back in October, with a third of his goal contributions throughout the entire campaign coming in that one match.

Harrison has only managed one goal contribution in 2024, with his last goal coming in the 2-2 draw against Tottenham back in February, going 12 matches without any goals or assists – having now also been ruled out of the club's final game of the season through injury.

With the winger only at Goodison Park on a temporary basis, the club confirmed that he wouldn't be staying ahead of the 2024/25 campaign – for now, at least – with the Toffees able to save a huge chunk on their wage bill next season.

How much Jack Harrison earns at Everton

According to Capology, the loanee earns a reported £90k-per-week, making him the club’s fifth-highest earner on Merseyside.

Over the course of his one-year loan, he will have pocketed £4.6m, a total that will have seen Dyche’s side fork out £766k per goal contribution during his time in Everton colours.

His weekly wage of £90k sees him earn more than James Garner and Jarrad Branthwaite, with the pair earning £30k and £35k-per-week respectively – a total of £65k, which is still £25k-per-week less than Harrison.

The young duo – who are just 23 and 21, respectively – could well have long-term futures at Goodison, if the club can fend off any lurking suitors, yet for Harrison, his time at the club is coming to an end.

It’s a real shame for both parties that the move hasn’t been a success, but the club will be relieved that the deal is coming to an end in June, with Dyche able to reinvest the wages saved over the summer.

Related Dyche could send Coleman packing by unleashing Everton's teen sensation

The 35-year-old is out of contract at the end of the campaign.

Posts ByEthan Lamb May 17, 2024

Everton have excelled in recent weeks under boss Sean Dyche, securing Premier League survival after three successive victories against Nottingham Forest, Liverpool and Brentford.

Idrissa Gueye has starred in midfield, even finding himself on the scoresheet in two of the victories against Forest and Brentford – securing vital points in their battle for survival.

The Toffees have had their setbacks this campaign, suffering an eight-point deduction after multiple breaches of the Premier League's PSR rules – putting their ever-present Premier League status at risk.

However, Dyche has transformed his side's fortunes in recent weeks, looking to build a stable platform ahead of the 2024/25 season, with the club aiming to consolidate as a mid-table side.

One player deserves to be a crucial figure within the Toffees squad next season, with his excellent recent form seeing a sharp increase in his market value.

Dwight McNeil's stats in 2023/24

After joining the club for £20m from Burnley during the summer of 2022, midfielder Dwight McNeil endured a solid first campaign at Goodison Park, scoring seven times and providing three assists for his teammates – as the club narrowly avoided relegation.

However, whilst he's scored fewer goals this season, just three in total, his all-round play has been much improved – with McNeil's stats backing up his development.

The 24-year-old has provided six assists in the Premier League this season, the most of any player within Dyche's squad, with the winger making up for his lack of goals with his other contributions.

However, out of his three goals this season, two of them have come against Forest, with McNeil producing consistently against sides in and around the Toffees in the table.

His brilliant performances have seen the attacker achieve an average rating of 7.18, as per FotMob, the highest of any player in the Everton squad this season.

McNeil's excellent campaign doesn't stop there, with the former Burnley man creating 65 chances and 17 big chances, in the league – tallies that simply can't be matched by any of his teammates.

McNeil's stats at Everton in 23/24

Statistics

Tally

Ranking (squad)

Average rating

7.18

1st

Assists

6

1st

Chances created

65

1st

Big chances created

17

1st

Successful dribbles (per 90)

1

3rd

Stats via FotMob

As previously mentioned, his excellent displays have allowed for the winger's value to skyrocket, to the point where he's now valued more than one Everton talent who's been linked with a huge move this summer.

Dwight McNeil's market value in 2024

Less than two years on from his move to Merseyside, the "fantastic" McNeil, as described by journalist Zach Lowy, has seen an increase in his market value, with the 24-year-old now valued at £31m, as per Football Transfers.

His figure, which is £11m more than the club paid for him, is also two times higher than Amadou Onana, who joined the club for a fee of around £33m during the same summer as McNeil.

The young Belgian is now only valued at £15m after failing to truly kick on over the last two years or so, while McNeil has firmly established himself as a key figure at Goodison.

The latter man has been superb in what has been a difficult season for the Toffees, proving in recent weeks that he has the ability to be a crucial part of the club going forward.

With the wideman only being 24, he has the potential to grow into a sensational talent and increase his market value further, subsequently making the club a huge profit on their £20m investment.

Related Everton could hit jackpot by selling "complete" star for 6,900% profit

The Toffees titan has been linked with a move away from Goodison this summer.

Posts ByDan Emery Apr 30, 2024

Two Premier League clubs reportedly asked loan transfer questions of Real Madrid after seeing them acquire Brazilian wonderkid Endrick.

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Forward moved to Spain after turning 18Considered to be a hot prospectFaces fierce competition for placesWHAT HAPPENED?

The highly-rated forward agreed a move to Santiago Bernabeu in 2022, but only completed that switch after he turned 18 in the summer of 2024. He is considered to be the hottest of prospects and has already been likened to iconic countryman Pele.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Madrid intend to be the ones to benefit from Endrick’s undoubted potential, but they have also acquired World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe and already have the likes of Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham on their books.

DID YOU KNOW?

With that in mind, claims that two sides from England enquired as to the potential availability of Endrick and a short-term deal for the 2024-25 campaign. Those approaches are said to have been knocked back as Carlo Ancelotti intends to give the youngster plenty of game time this season.

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Endrick, who already has 10 senior caps and three goals for his country, has figured for Madrid during pre-season while Mbappe was granted an extended break. He will face fierce competition for places in the Spanish capital, but could be a useful impact option off the bench for the current holders of La Liga and Champions League crowns.

Jos Buttler has admitted he is “not quite performing to the standards” he would like with the bat in Test cricket.Butter is averaging just 23.14 since the start of the Ashes – a period of 14 innings in seven Tests – with one half-century (70 against Australia at The Oval). His average since he was recalled to the Test team in May 2018 is now 34.10, while his overall Test average, after 38 Tests, is 33. He has made just one century.ALSO READ: Pope fit and raring to make Test spot his ownNow Buttler concedes he is still “trying to work out” a way to play Test cricket with the natural aggression that has rendered him one of the world’s most dangerous limited-overs batsmen. And he has resolved to be “a bit more positive” in the future if the situation allows.”I feel like I’m not quite performing to the standards I need to,” Buttler said. “I’m trying to improve that and affect games in positive ways for England.”Since I’ve come back into Test cricket I’ve tried to trust my defence for longer periods of time. I’ve been able to do that on occasions. But [playing my natural game] is certainly something I’m trying to work out.”You can do a lot of work in the nets but I’m spending a lot of time thinking about the game when I’m sat in my room or trying to visualise things or work through them in my head. Moving forward I’ve got to play the situation, but I will try to be a bit more positive.”He doesn’t have to look too far for an example. For while Buttler made 12 off 39 balls in the first innings in Centurion, failing to marshal much resistance from the tail, his South Africa counterpart Quinton de Kock thumped 95 from 128 balls in the first innings and 34 from 37 in the second, to speed the game away from England.”Quinton played a really good knock and put pressure back on the bowlers,” Buttler said. “He tried to take the initiative and, watching that from behind the stumps, it resonated with me.”When you’re batting with the tail, you try to sum up situations and work out how best you can score. You work out your risk management.: what is too much risk; what is trying to push the game on.”Looking ahead to this Test, I want to look to be a bit busier and try to look a bit more on the positive side.”Jos Buttler has endured a tough run in Test cricket•Getty Images

While some have suggested Buttler would benefit from a position higher up the batting order to allow him time to build an innings, the England management believe that batting him at No. 7 allows him the freedom to play his familiar, aggressive game in the knowledge that he has limited before the lower-order are dismissed.He has batted everywhere from No. 5 (eight times) to No. 8 (twice) since his return to the Test side (he has batted 13 times at No. 6 and 15 times at No. 7) with little obvious change in strike rate or average. Overall, he averages slightly more at No. 7 (33.15, with a strike-rate of 56.77) than No. 5 (28.62; strike-rate of 53.62) with No. 6 (average 39.69; strike-rate 63.15) his best position.”It’s obviously nicer to be 300 for 5 than 100 for 5,” he said. “But you turn up and try to play the situation.”With Jonny Bairstow – who averaged just 18 in 2019 – also having lost form, there is not the pressure on Buttler’s position from within the squad that there might be. But Ben Foakes, who averages 41.50 from his five Tests and is, in the eyes of many, the best wicketkeeper available to England, in the background, Buttler will know neither he or his team can afford a sustained fallow period.

Australian left-arm seamer set for fourth stint at Old Trafford

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Dec-2019James Faulkner, the Australian left-arm seamer, will return to Lancashire for his fourth stint at the club for next year’s T20 Blast.Faulkner first appeared for the county in 2015, and has been one of their overseas players in the Blast since 2018. This season, he took 11 wickets with an economy rate of 7.88 as Lancashire topped the North Group, but were beaten by eventual winners Essex in the quarter-finals.”I am thrilled to be returning to Emirates Old Trafford for next season’s Vitality Blast,” Faulkner said. “It feels like a home away from home for me and I cannot wait to get started again in May.”We were unlucky not to progress past the quarter-finals last year and we are all determined to put that right in 2020. We will be going all out to repeat the success of 2015, which remains one of the proudest memories in my cricketing career.”Emirates Old Trafford is an amazing place to play cricket and I can’t wait to reunite with the squad next summer. I’m determined to win the Vitality Blast trophy back for the Club.”Paul Allott, the club’s director of cricket, said: “James is a fantastic, well-rounded cricketer of significant experience and we are delighted to welcome him back to Emirates Old Trafford for a fourth season in 2020.”He is the very definition of an all-rounder. He can bowl in any situation, which he has done successfully for us at both the beginning and back end of an innings, and is still a powerful batsman, not to mention his outstanding ability in the field too.”His enthusiasm in representing the Red Rose is evident and he has established himself as a key figure in our T20 side. He is a proven winner and a great role model to the younger players.”

The T20 tournament may provide entertainment but it will not paper over the cracks at Cricket South Africa, the former national wicketkeeper said

Firdose Moonda06-Nov-2019The second edition of the Mzansi Super League, which gets underway on Friday, may provide entertainment but it will not paper over the cracks at Cricket South Africa (CSA), according to Mark Boucher.The former national wicketkeeper and current Titans and Tshwane Spartans coach is the first person involved with the MSL to comment on wider issues in South African cricket, which is deemed by several insiders and observers to be in crisis.At administrative level, CSA is fighting two court battles, one against the players’ union and another against the second-biggest provincial affiliate, Western Province, have suspended three senior members of staff and are projecting financial losses of millions of Rands (R654 million is the figure CSA use, the South African Cricketers Association put that closer to R1 billion). On the field, South Africa’s Test team is reeling from five consecutive losses in 2019 and have not won three of their last four series, and there is no certainty over the director of cricket or team director positions as a tour of England looms.”I think there are bigger issues that need to be dealt with, to be honest,” Boucher said. “There might be quite a few people looking at this and saying we’re sugarcoating the actual situation were are in with South African cricket at the moment. We’ve got ourselves into a pretty bad state. Hopefully, there are some clever heads there to try and turn things around. And they need to be sorted out very soon, for the good of cricket our country and for the good of world cricket. There are guys around the world talking about the state we’re in, it’s not good. It’s sad to read, watch and listen about our cricket. There’s a lot of negativity.”

“The tournament [MSL] will be well-supported as it was last year, but we’ve got to be very careful with putting too much emphasis on this tournament. There are bigger problems that need to be sorted out.”Mark Boucher

Current and former internationals including Jacques Rudolph, Paul Harris and Herschelle Gibbs have been vocal on social media but Boucher’s comments could also be a response to Michael Vaughan calling the Test team’s form a “real concern” for the game. With that in mind, Boucher, despite his involvement in the MSL, has cautioned against placing too much store in the tournament or its results, because he believes it will not accurately reflect the state of the game.”I wouldn’t read too much into this tournament. I think people will enjoy the action regardless because they love T20 cricket in general. It’s new faces, it’s new teams and new environments. The tournament will be well-supported as it was last year, but we’ve got to be very careful with putting too much emphasis on this tournament. There are bigger problems that need to be sorted out,” he said.Temba Bavuma shapes to throw the ball•BCCIDown the road at the Wanderers, newly appointed Jozi Stars’ captain Temba Bavuma indicated that there was an attempt to solve some of these issues over the weekend. CSA held a team-building event at the luxury Zimbali estate, north of Durban, with administrators and players, where Bavuma said the relationship between CSA and the players’ association was discussed.”Last week‚ we had a conference in Durban where CSA‚ the leadership and the players were there together,” Bavuma said. “That was an opportunity for CSA to outline their plans for the next couple of years and for the players to iron out the issues. There’s obviously been a spat between CSA and SACA in the media. Players have had the opportunity to resolve whatever issues that they feel need to be resolved.”Although Bavuma did not offer finality on whether the issues had been put to bed, he conceded that the uncertainty in the administrative corridors has not helped with the national team’s transition. “It’s not ideal to have those types of issues at the top. As the Proteas‚ we’re in a construction phase if I were to call it. It also seems there’s a lot of constructing that needs to happen through the levels.”In Cape Town, Blitz coach Ashwell Prince shouldered arms when asked whether players would be better off preparing for the England tour playing four-day cricket instead of spending five weeks in a T20 tournament. “I don’t want to make comments about the Proteas and Test cricket at the moment. I’m sure there are people in much higher positions than myself, at Proteas level and CSA level, who know exactly how they are going to go about improving the situation,” he said.

West Ham United and chairman David Sullivan have been told they could sign a "bargain" replacement for Lucas Paqueta, and he may be available for "next to nothing".

Lucas Paqueta exit fears surround West Ham

Supporters reluctantly waved goodbye to former club captain and fan favourite Declan Rice last summer, and if recent reports are to be believed, Paqueta may well follow the England international to pastures new.

Journalist has "heard" West Ham are eyeing "underrated" Moyes replacement

The Hammers boss’ future remains up in the air.

ByEmilio Galantini Mar 1, 2024

Paqueta is attracting interest from Man City, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Tottenham ahead of the summer window, with reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano lifting the lid on an £85 million buy-out clause which becomes active in June.

SC Freiburg

March 7th

Burnley

March 10th

SC Freiburg

March 14th

Aston Villa

March 17th

Newcastle United

March 30th

The 26-year-old has started 20 league matches, scoring two goals and assisting five others, and has been one of West Ham's star players alongside winger Jarrod Bowen.

“Lucas was terrific,” Moyes said on Paqueta. “He drives me mad sometimes but everybody who watched him would have said: ‘This player has got incredible talent’.

“There is a word that goes around, a maverick. He is that for us. It is really important we get him in and adapt to him and accept some of his things. He may not do things which are what I would say conventional but we are really enjoying him at the moment and he is terrific at taking the ball under pressure. But also there are moments when I say: ‘What are you doing?’”

Paqueta attracted real interest from Man City last summer, and were attempting to get a deal done, but their move was put on ice following investigations into the South American's alleged gambling breaches.

West Ham have "world-class" Dybala opportunity

He's set to be a hot topic of discussion again this year, and journalist Robin Bairner has claimed in a piece for Football Transfers that West Ham have a "world-class" opportunity to sign Paulo Dybala as a replacement.

Even though they play different positions, Bairner says that Paqueta's level of excitement could be replicated by Dybala, who's scored 12 goals and assisted seven others in 19 league appearances this season.

Dybala's contract also contains a pretty tantalising £12 million release clause, which Roma are working "hard" to eradicate right now. This sort of fee, as per Bairner, is a potential "bargain" with the World Cup winner also bringing plenty of pedigree to the table.

Pundit Paddy Kenny, speaking to Football Insider on Tottenham's links to Dybala in 2021, called him a would-be "statement" signing.

“But you look at the players Tottenham did sign, two of them from Juventus," said Kenny. “Conte was at Juve as well so if he stays at Tottenham then maybe he can convince Dybala to join. What a statement that would be, by the way, he’s a brilliant player and one Tottenham would love to have.”

For the first time since 1972 there was a drawn Ashes series as England prevailed by a convincing 135 runs at The Oval with Stuart Broad and Jack Leach taking four wickets apiece alongside two for Joe Root who enjoyed a good day as captain. Matthew Wade struck a fantastic century, which included a compelling duel with Jofra Archer, but England shifted Steven Smith for 23 and Wade could not find anyone to stay with him long enough to bring the target within sight.After what happened at Headingley just a few weeks ago – and because Australia have the best since Bradman – even with a target of 399 it didn’t quite feel like a foregone conclusion when the chase started early on the fourth day. However, with Broad continuing his stranglehold over Australia’s openers – getting David Warner for the seventh time in the series – and returning to have Smith caught at leg gully (and plan 774-runs in the making) it was 85 for 4 with the feeling the end could come swiftly.ALSO READ: How Broad has owned WarnerWade then added stands of 63 with Mitchell Marsh, 52 with Tim Paine and 44 with Pat Cummins, each time England nabbing the breakthrough before things got troublesome. He and Archer went toe-to-toe during an hour of thrilling cricket after tea – Archer touching 95mph but staying wicketless during an eight-over spell – with Wade reaching his hundred from 147 balls before being stumped off Root which heralded the end. On a day where he saw plans come together, Root had the satisfaction of taking the final catch with a brilliant snare at midwicket.Broad made the early moves with the new ball as he has done so often during the series. A beauty extracted Marcus Harris’ off stump (of course from around the wicket) and then had a skittish Warner sparring outside off to third slip where Rory Burns was again very sharp. The first of those wickets made him the only England bowler to take 20 wickets in four-Ashes series and the Warner scalp put him in a small club of those to remove a batsman seven times in a series.Getting through the top two has not been a problem for England (today’s stand of 18 was Australia’s best of the series) but the third-wicket stand has caused more difficulties. Therefore, Leach’s first incision, shortly before lunch, was key when he lured Marnus Labuschagne down the pitch, beat him with spin and Jonny Bairstow completed a slick stumping.Matthew Wade and Jofra Archer exchange glares during a tense battle•Getty Images

It was six overs after the break, though, when England celebrated the wicket they surely presumed would secure victory. England have gone with a leg-side heavy field plenty of times during the series but Smith has endlessly found the gaps. This time, when he went to flick Broad off his hip, he didn’t quite keep it down and Ben Stokes took a superb diving catch. Smith walked off to a fully deserved standing ovation, any lingering boos drowned out by loud applause. A personal mission accomplished.Australia made England work hard for the rest of their success but in a theme of the series starts were not converted. Marsh, who was given a life on 6 when caught at slip off Chris Woakes’ first Test no-ball, turned Root lazily straight to short leg and Paine was pinned lbw by Leach from a delivery that pitched on leg stump. Kumar Dharmasena took an age to raise his finger; England were relieved he did as they had spurned their two reviews.Around this, Wade dominated with a very fine innings. He had been positive from the start, driving strongly and picking off anything straight through the leg side, but the highlight was when Archer revved things up after tea against a player who has got under England’s skin throughout the series. A top-edge six seemed to really get Archer’s juices flowing. There was very little pitched in Wade’s half – and when there was a full delivery, Wade generally pounced – and he took a stinging blow on the shoulder. Words were exchanged but Archer also responded with an extended starring contest.Archer survived and Wade spent 14 balls moving from 96 to his century when he worked Broad into the leg side. In the next over from Root, Bairstow missed a tough stumping and next ball Stokes missed a high, fast edge at slip to just suggest that the mood was with Wade as Cummins blocked effectively alongside him. However, Broad then found Cummins’ edge with a full delivery and could have had a five-wicket haul if there had been a second slip to Peter Siddle.Wade had been given caught at slip, driving at Root the ball after Cummins fell, but the DRS showed bat had hit the ground. The England captain kept throwing the ball up outside off, extracting considerable turn from the rough, and eventually beat Wade as he charged down the pitch with Bairstow having plenty of time behind the stumps.With that, the match was not heading into a fifth day – which was probably a good thing for everyone – and Leach finished off the series with two wickets in two balls. Root was the catcher for both, firstly at square leg and then, with his final act of an historic, draining, dramatic and thrilling summer, plucking out Josh Hazlewood’s flick at midwicket. Australia’s Ashes, England’s match and one heck of a season.

Bangladesh’s 2019-20 season begins this Monday with a training camp for 35 cricketers and among them are a few highly promising youngsters

Mohammad Isam17-Aug-2019Bangladesh’s 2019-20 season begins this Monday with a training camp for 35 cricketers that includes Shakib Al Hasan and Liton Das among those who missed the Sri Lanka ODI series. In the absence of Tamim Iqbal, who was given a break recently, and the presence of several question marks over the fast bowling department, here is a list of rookies to watch out for.Mohammad Naim is one of the more promising among the newcomers. An elegent strokeplayer who doesn’t hold back, he was the second-highest scorer in the last Dhaka Premier League List-A competition and he impressed for Bangladesh A against Afghanistan A last month, concluding the one-day series with a match-winning 126.Yeasin Arafat is a six-foot tall pace bowler who has earned his second call-up to a seniors’ training camp in as many years. He has the best List-A figures in Bangladesh’s domestic history (8 for 40) and is among the few in Bangladesh who is known for getting extra bounce from the slow pitches.Saif Hassan was the top scorer in the Dhaka Premier League, with 814 runs at 62.61. Many age-group coaches have predicted this youngster to have a bright future and he has so far proved them right. The 20-year old has a strong front foot game and is excellent at leaving the ball.Aminul Islam is a talent who emerged out of BKSP, the country’s top sporting institute. He made 440 runs for them in the Dhaka Premier League, and was picked for Bangladesh A last month. The 19-year old is a batting allrounder who also bowls handy legspin, a style of bowling Bangladesh have been searching for a long time.Jahurul Islam played the last of his 24 international matches more than six years ago but he has done well recently in domestic cricket. The 32-year old is known as a batsman who has never quite achieved his potential, but in the absence of Tamim, he is among the two openers being seriously considered as a replacement.The full preliminary squad: Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Shafiul Islam, Farhad Reza, Taijul Islam, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Mahmudullah, Mohammad Mithun, Mosaddek Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza, Abu Jayed, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Nayeem Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, Imrul Kayes, Abu Hider, Jahirul Islam, Ariful Haque, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Afif Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Yasir Ali, Saif Hasan, Nayeem Shaik, Shahidul Islam, Shafiqul Islam, Yasin Arafat, Aminul Islam.

Kusal Mendis, too, has started the World Cup with two low scores, but John Lewis says both players are too good not to come right soon

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Bristol10-Jun-2019

Sri Lanka batting coach Jon Lewis talks to the press•AFP

Angelo Mathews has batted 11 balls at this World Cup, and made a grand total of zero runs. Kusal Mendis has faced all of three deliveries, getting out to two of those, and hitting a streaky two past slip off the other. Together, the pair are supposed to comprise Sri Lanka’s middle-order engine room, but in both matches so far, they have hastened collapses, and copped criticism in vast volumes. But they are too good not to come right soon, insists batting coach Jon Lewis. Mathews knows how to get himself out of these funks. And young Mendis just needs a bit of love.ALSO READ: Nuwan Pradeep ruled out of Bangladesh game”I think with Angelo, you’ve got to have faith in the guy who has done as much as he has over such a long period of time, and he tells me that he’s in a good place,” Lewis said ahead of Sri Lanka’s match against Bangladesh. “He’s comfortable with his game. You know, at this stage I’ve got no reason to doubt that the runs will come for him. You can’t expect him to go on not producing big runs soon. It’s going to come for a player of his quality.””Kusal could do with a little bit of a confidence boost. For him it’s just a case of getting through those first 20 balls, because in the build up to the World Cup, in Scotland, he played very well. The two warm-up games against excellent bowling attacks, he was in good form. He only got 20s and 30s (24 and 37), which was a bit of a downer – it would have been a good opportunity to get a big score. But there was nothing about his form in those two games that suggested that there’s anything to worry about. He’s had two low scores, and yeah, it will be good if he had some more runs behind him. But he’s probably only 20 balls away.”Although a developing Test batsman, having hit 1000 runs in the longest format last year, Mendis, 24 now, hasn’t quite cracked ODIs. Late last year he went through a stretch when he made three consecutive one-day ducks, and then a five. A free-flowing player at his best, he has made only one ODI hundred, and averages 27.77 after 63 innings.”In Tests and T20s, Kusal’s numbers at the moment look good, but in 50-over cricket, his numbers aren’t where a player of his ability should be, yet,” Lewis said. “He’s still quite early in his career to be fair to him. I know he’s played a lot of games, but they do rack up quite quick. I think his conversion from 20s and 30s into 80s, 90s, hundreds is the big step forward he needs to make. He looked in really, really good touch in the warm-ups, but got 30-odd in both games, so those are the sorts of days when you’ve got to get a hundred because you know you can’t be in good touch every day.”It would give him a lot of confidence if he can get those big scores. He’s only got the one hundred so far in his career, and I think that was against Bangladesh. So maybe that’s a good omen, and he’ll get a second one tomorrow.”