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TKR captain embraces the fickle nature of T20 cricket and says he isn’t too perturbed by their up-and-down season

Deivarayan Muthu27-Sep-20241:58

Pollard: Champion Bravo has given cricket his all

Trinbago Knight Riders, the perennial pre-tournament favourites in CPL, have had an up-and-down season so far, but considering the number of challenges they’ve had to deal with, including injuries to Dwayne Bravo, Sunil Narine and Andre Russell, their captain Kieron Pollard isn’t too perturbed.While Bravo has called time on his playing career after a groin injury cut short his CPL 2024 stint, Narine is working his way back from a quad strain. As for Russell, who was nursing a hamstring injury at the start of the tournament, his workload is being managed. To add to their troubles, USA fast bowler Ali Khan had been sidelined from the entire CPL 2024 with injury.”From a performance perspective, we’ve played eight games – won five and lost three. We’ll take that,” Pollard said before TKR’s final home game of the season, against Barbados Royals. “The first step in any tournament is to qualify. If we were in fifth or sixth place, it would be a different conversation. So, you expect this to happen. This is T20 cricket but given all the obstacles that have transpired throughout the season, we will take where we are [fourth place] at this particular time.Related

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“We still have an opportunity to finish in the top two. We still have to play good cricket and we still have to play consistent cricket but this happens. The tournament has got a bit harder, despite having names on paper, all teams are stronger and they are playing very, very good cricket. Tactically, they are up there in terms of how cricket should be played, which is a good sign for us in the Caribbean.”Having had the services of Bravo, Narine, Russell, Pollard and Nicholas Pooran over the years, TKR put together what was arguably the most star-studded T20 line-up. In CPL 2024, they have unearthed some new T20 talents, including 21-year-old Shaqkere Parris and 27-year-old Keacy Carty, who has already represented West Indies in both ODI and Test cricket.Shaqkere Parris hit six sixes during his maiden CPL fifty•CPL T20 via Getty Images

Just six T20s old and an emerging player in the CPL, Parris has also attracted attention outside of the Caribbean. While speaking on his Youtube channel recently, R Ashwin said Parris has Pollard’s “touch” after he had cracked 57 off 33 balls against St Lucia Kings in Gros Islet. Then, in Port-of-Spain, he launched Guyana Amazon Warriors’ Gudakesh Motie for a 124-metre six. While Pollard was also pleased with Parris’ progress, he added that the youngsters in the region need to develop their game even further.”It augurs well. You talk about his scores in Barbados but he also played here in Trinidad as well for Victoria in the concluded local season as well,” Pollard said of Parris. “Again, it’s something as a team we had looked at in terms of scouting and he coming onto the scene and get an opportunity – play five games – and having a conversation about just not playing because you have to play but giving us an opportunity to select him as a normal player when that time comes is what exactly he’s done as an individual. So kudos must go to him as well, taking up the mantle to show that this is what he’s made of.”But if I can say this we would have loved to have some local guys – local from Trinidad as well – in the squad from a performance perspective. And that’s how we look at it. Not just because you’re from Trinidad, we’re going to select you, we look at performances as well. So that means our own players need to have a look at themselves and persons above as well to develop what is needed going forward.”This Under-23 is made for local guys to get the opportunity to fly the flag. For Parris and Nathan Edward, they’ve shown us what they can do and hopefully in the future we can have more of those talents coming through because we need the next batches of the Dwayne Bravos, the Sunil Narines and Kieron Pollards, Lendl Simmons and [Denesh] Ramdins from Trinidad as well. So, a lot of work to be done on that.”

Glasgow Rangers have less than two weeks to prepare for their first competitive match of the 2025/26 season.

Russell Martin’s side fought back to draw 2-2 against Club Brugge last week, with the second-half performance more in line with what the manager wants to see from his squad this term.

The clash against Panathinaikos will be a much tougher affair, however, but the former Southampton boss has wasted no time in signing the players that will fit his tactical system.

Indeed, Max Aarons, Joe Rothwell, Thelo Aasgaard, Emmanuel Fernandez and Nasser Djiga have all made the move to Ibrox in recent weeks.

It is a solid start, but there are still other areas which require improvement. Martin has been linked with making a move for Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper Carl Rushworth recently in a bid to challenge Jack Butland between the sticks.

Martin also appears keen to bring in a couple of wingers to the squad during the transfer window. At the time of writing, only Ross McCausland, Oscar Cortes and Rabbi Matondo are available to the manager on either flank.

As such, several names have been linked with a move. Djeidi Gassama looks close to sealing a switch to the Light Blues, but just what can he offer the club?

Rangers closing in on signing Djeidi Gassama

Adding two or three high-quality wingers this summer could make all the difference for Rangers throughout the season.

Transfer Focus

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

If you take away the 18 goals and nine assists notched up by Vaclav Cerny, the remaining widemen in the squad registered just nine goal contributions between them.

Another campaign without greater contributions from the wingers will see the Gers finish second behind Celtic once again.

Metric

Cerny

McCausland

Matondo

Goals

12

0

2

Assists

4

1

2

Key passes per game

2.5

0.6

0.8

Successful dribbles per game

1.4

0.8

1.3

Big chances created

6

0

2

Shots per game

2.9

1.2

1.7

As such, a move for Gassama sounds promising indeed, especially judging by his performances for Sheffield Wednesday.

The left-winger came through the PSG youth system, before making the move to Belgium in 2022. A year later, the Owls came calling and the 21-year-old has scored 12 goals and grabbed four assists across 84 matches for the club.

Amid the links to the exciting youngster, content creator and scout, Kai Watson, profiled Gassama, saying:

“He’s capable of producing moments of brilliance although hasn’t quite hit a consistency level with his end product yet. He loves carrying the ball, running at defenders and has great close control in tight areas.

“Sheffield Wednesday fans have suggested that he’s unstoppable on his day but can be frustrating at times.”

Depending on the fee, this move could either turn out to be a masterstroke, or it will end in disappointment.

Given the need for wingers to arrive and settle straight into the first-team squad, if Gassama does wrap up a move soon, he will need to lay down a marker swiftly.

He isn’t the only winger being linked with a move to Ibrox, as Martin has clearly targeted several in the hopes of signing two or more this summer.

Latest on Rangers' search for a winger

As well as Gassama, the Light Blues have been touted as making moves for David Brooks, Thierno Ballo and even Josh Windass in recent weeks.

It is clear the Ibrox side aren’t going to be able to sign every winger they are linked with. That’s for sure.

According to Sky Sports reporter Sahil Jaidka, the Light Blues are seemingly “weighing up” a move for Hull City star Abu Kamara in the coming days.

Kamara has been with the Tigers since last summer, but it looks as though he wants out of the club. They are suffering financial issues, which could open the door for Martin to perhaps seal him for a knockdown price.

He has plenty of experience down south. The question is, would he be a better signing than Gassama for the manager?

Why Rangers must sign Abu Kamara

Throughout his embryonic career thus far, Kamara has already racked up 95 senior appearances for Hull, Portsmouth and Norwich, scoring 16 goals and grabbing 15 assists for these clubs.

He shone for Portsmouth during the 2023/24 campaign, recording 18 goal involvements in League One as the club secured a place back in the second tier.

Kamara returned to the Championship last season and performed fairly well for Hull, chipping in with eight goal contributions.

The 21-year-old also managed to create seven big chances for the Tigers in the Championship, while also grabbing three assists and finishing the season with a 14% goal conversion percentage.

In comparison, Gassama could only create three big chances, recorded a single assist and finished the campaign with a 10% goal conversion percentage.

Furthermore, Kamara also delivered more crosses into the attacking penalty area last season compared to Gassama (55 vs 44), while he also registered more goals and assists per game (0.32 vs 0.24) than the Sheffield Wednesday starlet.

These statistics show that there is not much between the pair of wingers. Ideally, Martin would look to sign both in the coming weeks, really giving his Rangers squad a boost heading into the Champions League qualifiers.

The £5k-per-week winger has been lauded for his ability in the past, with former teammate Conor Shaughnessy lavishing the most praise on his talents, describing him as a “dangerous” talent on the right wing.

Kamara has the potential to truly shine in Scotland should he secure a move to Ibrox this summer. The chance to challenge for trophies and play European football should be enough of an enticement for the youngster.

If so, Martin would be bolstering his options on the right flank. That much is certain.

Better signing than Aasgaard: Rangers exploring move for "incredible" star

With Russell Martin having already made six summer signings so far, Rangers are now targeting an “incredible” talent on loan.

ByBen Gray Jul 11, 2025

Manchester United have spent big on strikers over the years, as the club looks to bolster their ranks and consolidate their place as England’s most successful club.

However, their investment over recent seasons has massively hindered their progress in the Premier League, leading to their bottom-half finish in 2024/25.

Rasmus Hojlund has been the Red Devils’ main talisman since Ruben Amorim’s appointment, but he’s massively struggled to provide the goods – netting just four league goals throughout this season.

As a result, he’s been touted with a move to join Inter Milan this summer, less than two years after his £72m switch from Atalanta, ultimately failing to live up to expectations as seen by his measly goal tally.

With the summer window reopening later this week, it presents the manager with the perfect opportunity to strengthen his squad and help them mount a charge up the table next campaign.

United’s hunt for new attackers this summer

Given the lack of goals scored by Hojlund throughout 2024/25, it’s no surprise to see the hierarchy targeting added reinforcements in the final third this summer.

The likes of Benjamin Sesko, Gonçalo Ramos and Liam Delap have all been linked with a move to Old Trafford this summer, but no deals have been completed – with the latter rejecting Amorim’s side in favour of a move to Chelsea.

However, progress has been made on a deal to sign Viktor Gyokeres this summer, with United taking a huge step towards winning the race for his signature this summer, according to one Spanish outlet.

They claim that Jason Wilcox and Co are preparing an offer for the Swedish international, after Arsenal entered the race for the 27-year-old, who’s scored 54 times this season.

It also states that the Portuguese outfit are demanding a fee in the region of €80m (£67m) to part ways with their star man, but doesn’t say how much they’re set to offer for his services.

Why Gyokeres could be United’s answer to Haaland

Erling Haaland is a talisman who has taken the Premier League by storm in recent seasons, helping rivals Manchester City claim the treble back in the 2022/23 season.

The Norwegian forward has just completed his third year in the North West, scoring a total of 85 goals in his 97 league appearances – finishing as the Golden Boot winner in two of the last three campaigns.

Such form in England has made him one of, if not, the most deadly attacking options in Europe, with every side wishing they could rely upon a finisher as lethal as the 24-year-old.

However, the situation could’ve been completely different, with the Red Devils hierarchy rejecting an opportunity to sign the star during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tenure at the helm.

Gyokeres’ goalscoring record has undoubtedly caught the eye, but his underlying stats are just as impressive, outperforming Haaland in numerous key areas – becoming United’s own version of the Norwegian should he move to Old Trafford.

The Swede, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by one analyst, may have outscored Haaland, but he’s also registered a higher shot-on-target rate – demonstrating his accuracy within attacking areas.

He’s also managed to complete more of the take-ons that he’s attempted, whilst registering more carries into the final third, having the ability to create changes for himself rather than relying on his teammates.

Games played

33

31

Goals & assists

46

25

Shot on target accuracy

53%

52%

Shots on target per 90

2.2

1.8

Take-on success

46%

38%

Carries into final third

1.3

0.4

Aerials won

54%

53%

Gyokeres’ dominance doesn’t end there, winning more of the aerials he’s entered, subsequently handing Amorim the focal point he’s lacked since taking the reins back in November.

Whilst £67m may seem like a hefty fee for a player who’s never played in the Premier League before, it’s a risk worth taking given his recent goalscoring exploits.

Should he get close to the levels produced by the City star over recent years, it would be one hell of an addition, proving to be a bargain despite the huge fee they would have to fork out for his signature.

Amorim's own Carrick: Wilcox preparing Man Utd move for £20m "monster"

Manchester United appear to be making a move for a player who could emulate Michael Carrick’s achievements.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 11, 2025

Raucous win over Trent Rockets puts Sam Billings’ side on the cusp of a third consecutive title

Matt Roller22-Aug-2025Can anyone stop Oval Invincibles? They gunned down a target of 172 inside 89 balls against Trent Rockets, their nearest challengers, at The Oval on Thursday night, all but confirming their progress to the knockout stage. One win in their last two group games should be enough to take Invincibles straight through to next Sunday’s final at Lord’s, as they chase a third title in a row.This was an exhilarating game decided by two extraordinary innings: Sam Curran belted 52 off 24 balls, including six sixes in an eight-ball stretch, and Jordan Cox smoked 58 not out off 32. Invincibles needed 102 off the last 40 balls when David Willey took the Rockets’ strategic time out; it took them just 29 more to finish the chase. It was stunning ball-striking under the pressure of a run chase.Cox made the first play, hauling Willey over the short boundary towards the dugouts, before Curran went on a rampage. He had scored just 7 off 12 balls at the time out, but resolved that every ball had to go thereafter: “I knew it was six or out for me, because I was struggling a bit.” Ten balls and six sixes later, he raised his bat to acknowledge the applause for an outrageous fifty.Invincibles still needed 38 off 24 when Curran was dismissed. Cox took the baton, hoisting Marcus Stoinis over wide long-on, and then reverse-ramping him for four. Donovan Ferreira cracked his third and fourth balls for sixes before Cox finished things off with consecutive boundaries, punching the air in celebration.Sam Curran and Jordan Cox’s ten-ball charge put Invincibles in control•Alex Davidson/Getty Images”It felt like we were in a really strong position, but you have to give credit to the opposition sometimes,” Joe Root, who had scored 76 in 41 balls for Rockets, said. “There was great ball-striking and that phase of ten balls in the middle really changed the momentum and made it very difficult for us to get a hold back on the game… Clearly, [Invincibles] have got a formula that works, with some extremely good players.”The Oval was raucous. “It’s our first midweek game: a lot of people come in from the city and enjoyed the evening. You get a couple out of the middle, and the fans kept going and going,” Curran beamed. “It almost felt like one of those games in India, where there’s so much energy… You forgot about the situation, and you just remember how cool this is.”Since England left Cox and Curran out of their white-ball squads last Friday, they have scored 338 runs off 173 balls between them, including 26 sixes. Rob Key, England’s managing director, told the podcast on Thursday morning that Curran had to force his way back in through weight of runs. This knock was as clear a message as he could have ever hoped to send.”They’ve been pretty clear with me what I need to do,” Curran said. “I’m chasing three trophies at the moment: the Hundred, the Championship, and the T20 Blast for Surrey… Normally guys come into September with an end-of-season feeling, so to be able to say I’m pushing for three trophies and enjoying my cricket is a nice place to be.”Invincibles sealed back-to-back titles last year•ECB/Getty ImagesA three-peat would be a phenomenal achievement. The Hundred – like most short-form leagues – is designed to ensure competitive balance, with its strict salary bands and annual drafts devised to uphold the theory that anyone can beat anyone. In practice, Invincibles have beaten everyone: across the last three seasons, they have won 19 games and lost only four.The secret is an open one: continuity is key. They identified a core of local players ahead of the first season and have tried to minimise squad turnover. Will Jacks, the Curran brothers, and Sam Billings have generally been the stars, but Cox, Nathan Sowter and Saqib Mahmood have all been retained throughout the tournament’s short history.”Our roles are so consistent,” Curran said. “We’ve been very smart with the way we’ve signed players… Guys like Rashid Khan comes in for [Adam] Zampa last year, and then [Jason] Behrendorff comes in for Spencer Johnson. It’s pretty smooth planning. We turned up two days before the tournament and there weren’t too many meetings, because we knew our roles.”They have actively avoided speaking about the prospect of a third successive title. “We know it’s quite a dangerous thing to do,” Curran warned. “We know there are a lot of teams that are playing really well and are a lot more settled. The Hundred’s into its fifth season, so guys know how to play the format, and we’ve kept our side pretty solid as well. One game at a time.”Rashid Khan is done for the season with Invincibles•ECB via Getty ImagesThursday’s win was Rashid Khan’s final appearance of the season – he is heading to Sharjah for Afghanistan’s tri-series with UAE and Pakistan – and he will clearly be missed. He was the game’s standout bowler, taking 2 for 19 from 20 balls, and his googly to clean up Root with the final ball of his spell was a turning point.Rashid had one off-night, conceding 59 runs against Birmingham Phoenix when Liam Livingstone took him down; in his other five appearances, he has combined figures of 12 for 105 from 100 balls. Invincibles will go into their final two group games with two overseas players, with Zampa – last season’s leading wicket-taker – set to return for the knockouts.It should be another seamless transition, for which Tom Moody and Billings – as coach and captain – deserve substantial credit. The Hundred may only be in its infancy, but a third consecutive trophy would be an achievement that only a handful of teams in the history of short-form cricket can match.

You know what you’re going to get from Trent Boult, but that doesn’t make it any easier to face

Karthik Krishnaswamy02-Apr-2023Prithvi Shaw and Ajinkya Rahane. KL Rahul and K Gowtham. Abhishek Sharma and Rahul Tripathi .Three times now, Trent Boult has taken two wickets in the first over of an IPL innings. He’s done it once for Mumbai Indians, and twice for Rajasthan Royals, most recently on Sunday against Sunrisers Hyderabad. No other bowler has done more than twice.ESPNcricinfo LtdOutside the three times in the IPL, Boult has taken two wickets in the first over of an innings once in the Big Bash League, for Melbourne Stars against Sydney Thunder last December, dismissing Matthew Gilkes and Rilee Rossouw and making a defence of 122 look plausible.Only one other bowler has matched Boult and done it four times in all T20s – Sohail Tanvir.Tanvir might not be the first left-arm quick, or even the first Pakistani left-arm quick, you thought of when you thought of frequent wreakers of first-over havoc, but it’s notable first of all that Tanvir, like Boult, is a left-arm quick. A swinging new ball is a dangerous weapon in any fast bowler’s hands, but a quality left-arm quick is perhaps the hardest kind of bowler for a top order to face first up.And since Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mitchell Starc don’t play in the IPL, Boult is easily the biggest new-ball gamechanger in the league.Since the start of IPL 2020, Boult has taken 33 powerplay wickets, ten more than his nearest challenger Mohammed Shami. Of the eight bowlers with at least 15 powerplay wickets in this time, Boult has the best average (22.69), and is one of three with an economy rate below 7.His method is utterly straightforward and time-tested, swinging the ball at pace against the angle from left-arm over, but it takes immense skill to make a straightforward method work as often, and as devastatingly, as Boult does. There were three left-arm quicks playing this game in Hyderabad, and while it’s possible that there was more swing available to Boult in the evening than there had been for Fazalhaq Farooqi and T Natarajan in the afternoon, it was only Boult who made the new ball look anything like menacing.When Sunrisers began their chase of 204, in fact, they may have viewed the new ball as their likeliest source of quick runs. The Royals batters had taken the new ball to the cleaners, scoring 85 for 1 in their powerplay, but had found it a lot harder to find the boundary when the ball became older. They scored 122 in their first 10 overs, and just 81 in their last 10.During the innings break, viewers may have wondered if Royals had failed to make the most of their start.It took Boult just five balls to erase all those doubts. The left-handed Abhishek Sharma looked to go inside-out to his third ball, and lost his stumps to an outswinging near-yorker. The right-handed Rahul Tripathi charged at his fifth ball, possibly looking to hit over the covers, and ended up slicing a catch to slip, possibly yanked out of shape by the ball swinging less than he expected.Abhishek Sharma lost his off stump to Trent Boult•BCCINow this is T20 cricket and there’s a high degree of randomness to what balls get wickets and what balls fly towards un-aimed-for boundaries. Boult’s new-ball spell was as good as it was because its quality wasn’t confined to two wicket-taking balls. Unlike the Sunrisers quicks earlier in the day, he constantly swung the ball, and constantly kept the stumps in play, without feeding the batters slot balls.The last ball of Boult’s second over, to Harry Brook, summed up the effect he was having. Brook shaped for a booming, on-the-up drive, backlift high and front foot unweighted to move towards the line of the ball. He’d made those same movements in the previous over and launched KM Asif thrillingly over mid-off. But this Boult delivery forced him to curtail his ambitions – it wasn’t quite as full, and it swung back late, threatening lbw if Brook continued his front-foot thrust.That Brook stilled his front foot, adjusted to the swing, and brought down a vertical bat to defend this delivery spoke volumes about his gifts of eye and balance, gifts that portend a long and sparkling career. In the context of this steep T20 chase, though, it was just another dot ball Sunrisers couldn’t afford.There were 13 dot balls in Boult’s new-ball spell, which he ended with figures of 3-1-8-2, figures that had seemed unimaginable on this surface before he began bowling. It’s what only he and a handful of others in world cricket can do.Viewers in India are fortunate to watch Boult do his thing time and again in the IPL, but the IPL has contributed to restricting his ability to do it in international cricket. Between them, New Zealand Cricket and Boult have handled the situation as well as any board and player could have, but at least one difficult decision remains to be made.Would it be unfair for New Zealand to pick Boult in their squad for the ODI World Cup later this year, ahead of a fast bowler who’s been a consistent part of the build-up to the tournament? It probably would. But given Boult’s quality, his experience, and the fact that the tournament will be in India, it might be one of those decisions that are both unfair and correct.

Jamieson “a much better bowler” than Richard Hadlee was at the same age, says mentor Dayle Hadlee

Deivarayan Muthu01-Jun-20211:00

Kyle Jamieson: James Anderson’s ability to move the ball both ways is ‘special’

Thirty-six wickets in six Test matches at an average of 13.27. Kyle Jamieson was, arguably, the story of New Zealand’s last home season, taking wickets for fun, which culminated in a bumper IPL contract worth INR 15 crore (USD 2 million approx.).Fun fact: Jamieson was primarily a top-order batter through high school at Auckland Grammar, where Lockie Ferguson and Jimmy Neesham were his seniors. Until early 2013, he batted in the top three, someone who could roll his arm over too. But in the lead-up to the 2014 Under-19 World Cup, Dayle Hadlee, the former New Zealand bowling coach – and Richard’s elder brother – was so impressed with his towering frame (6’8”) that he transformed him into a genuine fast bowler.”It was a long time ago. I think it would’ve been at the New Zealand Under-19 national tournament where I think I saw Kyle first,” Dayle recounts, speaking to ESPNcricinfo. “It was prior to him being selected to go to the World Cup in 2014. I saw him playing there and I was impressed with him, especially the height side of things.Related

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“I didn’t focus too much on his batting. When I watch a game of cricket, I mainly focus on bowlers. He had quite a nice action, but there wasn’t a lot of energy in it. For an imposing physical bowler, I felt like he wasn’t getting enough from what he did at that time. We had a chat and eventually he was selected in the New Zealand Under-19 team to go to the World Cup and I was there with him at that tour. That’s when I really got excited about what his possibilities were.”In the Under-19 World Cup in the UAE, in his first major tournament as a bowler, Jamieson came away with seven wickets in four matches at an average of 23.85 and economy rate of 4.51. Those numbers aren’t quite flash and while Dayle remembers Jamieson often bowling too full in that tournament, he points out that Jamieson didn’t get carried away by his height.Jamieson understood fairly early in his bowling career that his natural length would be a heavy length for most batters, another thing that impressed Dayle. After that Under-19 World Cup, Jamieson won his first contract with Canterbury; Dayle was the bowling coach there at the time. Dayle approached Gary Stead, who was the head coach of Canterbury then, and said, “This boy has something really special, but he’s just not harnessing it yet.”Dayle took Jamieson under his wing and often spent time with him at the nets before he would join the rest of the bowling group at training. Dayle had noted that Jamieson’s run-up wasn’t stable and his action wasn’t strong enough. So, the pair focused on a number of tweaks to bring the best out of Jamieson.Dayle Hadlee (L) and Richard Hadlee during New Zealand’s 1973 tour of England•Hulton Archive/Getty Images”He had a nice action but there wasn’t much energy or strength in it,” Dayle says. “When he ran into bowl, I told him ‘you run as though you are treading treacle’. In other words, running in a gumboot and everything was so slow and ponderous. So, that was one of our first discussions and then when I got a chance to look at his technique in a lot more detail using cameras and those things, I noticed that in his running technique, the last few strides were getting out of alignment. His left foot was going to the right and so he was getting out of balance.”I also noticed that his front arm was going up and back, which means if it goes back it has to stop and if it stops, it has to start again. We spent one winter trying to get more energy into his front-foot landing. We did a drill going up and down the gym, slapping the front foot. In the end, he got a stress fracture and I remember saying to Kyle, ‘I’m really sorry Kyle, I might have contributed to that’. But, he didn’t think so, he was very kind and let me off the hook.”Jamieson also began working on his inswinger and the back-of-the-hand slower ball to add to his stock outswinger and standard offcutter. He often delighted in trying to outwit Dayle during the seam-release drills by mixing up his deliveries.However, as Jamieson climbed through the ranks and entered the New Zealand winter camps and trained along with the big boys, he initially doubted if he belonged to that level. Dayle, though, had no such doubts and believed that Jamieson was even better than Richard Hadlee was at a similar age.”I think everybody wonders where they are in relation to everybody else,” Dayle says. “He was no different and we tried to encourage him really. I meant it genuinely when I told him that he was a much better bowler than Richard was at the same age. Richard had major technical issues [in his early days] and was inconsistent. Kyle was much more consistent and had the extra bounce that Richard didn’t have. Richard had to bowl shorter to get that bounce. I patted Kyle on the back and said he was doing extremely well for his age and said it was onwards and upwards for him.”Last home summer, Jamieson showed everyone that he indeed belonged to the top level, helping New Zealand to No. 1 on the ICC Test rankings for the first time in their history. His ability to bounce out batters, like Neil Wagner often does, gives the attack another dimension, but like Trent Boult and Tim Southee, he can also pitch the ball up and set up batters in swinging conditions. Case in point: Mohammad Rizwan’s dismissal at Hagley Oval. Having spotted Rizwan attempting hard-handed jabs that occasionally forced his bat to travel too far in front of his body, Jamieson disguised his inswinger as a ball potentially up there for the drive, only once it pitched it turned into something entirely different, barging through the Pakistan batter’s defences.Jamieson’s first international tour, with the WTC final thrown in, could potentially be a career-defining one•Getty Images”It’s not often that you have two bowlers in Trent Boult and Tim Southee in the top ten in the same time in the same era,” Dayle says. “We’ve had some great bowlers over the past, but a lot of them have been surrounded by not-so-quite-good bowlers. Now, we’ve got two world-class bowlers and Neil Wagner has done remarkably well, but he does things absolutely differently. He can swing the ball, but when the ball is old and the pitch is flat, his modus operandi is to bowl short and bounce the batsman. Kyle being exposed to both those techniques will do him good because you just can’t pitch the ball up on a flat track. There will be times when he has to impose himself physically and do a bit of chin music around the batsmen.”Jamieson is now preparing to play his first overseas Test, at Lord’s, a venue where his mentor Dayle had made his Test debut back in 1969. In the possible absence of Boult, Jamieson could potentially take the new ball along with Southee, although Matt Henry is in the new-ball mix as well.”Every time I see Lord’s, it brings back memories,” Dayle says. “I’ll be delighted to sit and watch Kyle walking out on that ground because it’s the home of cricket and it has its own aura. You walk on to the field, you actually feel it. It’s about settling down and trying to cope with it – just another 22 yards or 20 metres and bring your focus in narrowly rather than getting overawed by the occasion.”As for Jamieson, he says, “It was a pretty cool experience to just soak in everything – the ground and the history that comes with it. Walking through the Long Room and going across to the nets and just standing out in the middle. Getting used to the slope and all that sort of stuff – so it was a pretty cool day to be part of. Just soak it all in – kind of be present in this moment and just enjoy it.”These are still early days for Jamieson, but for the batter-turned-bowler, his first international tour, with the World Test Championship up for grabs, could potentially be a career-defining one.

تقدم فريق ليفربول أمام ليدز يونايتد، بهدفين خلال مباراة الفريقين المقامة مساء اليوم السبت ببطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “البريميرليج” موسم 2025-2026.

ويستقبل ليدز يونايتد خصمه ليفربول، في إطار مباريات الجولة الخامسة عشر للدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز للموسم الجاري.

وانطلقت مباراة ليفربول وليدز في تمام الساعة السابعة والنصف مساءً بتوقيت مصر، وانتهى الشوط الأول بتعادل سلبي.

وسجل هوجو إيكتيكي الهدف الأول لصالح ليفربول وذلك في الدقيقة 48 من عمر اللقاء، وعقب دقيقتين أحرز الهدف الثاني بشباك ليدز.

اقرأ أيضًا | سلوت عن استمرار جلوس محمد صلاح كبديل: أنا صاحب القرار في ليفربول

الهدف الأول جاء بعدما لعب جو رودون كرة عرضية في الملعب واعترضها هوجو إيكتيكي، قبل أن يتغلب على عدد من المدافعين ويسدد الكرة في مرمى الحارس. هدف إيكتيكي الأول في مباراة ليفربول وليدز

والهدف الثاني جاء بعد كرة عرضية من كونور برادلي، واستقبلها إيكتيكي وسجل في مرمى الخصم، وعاد الحكم لتقنية الفار ومن ثم أكد صحة الهدف. هدف إيكتيكي الثاني في مباراة ليفربول وليدز

 

West Ham United are now preparing a January offer to sign an impressive midfielder for Nuno Espirito Santo after entering pole position, according to reports.

West Ham plotting January striker move

Despite their improved form under Nuno Espirito Santo, West Ham remain in the Premier League’s relegation zone and two points adrift of safety. It’s a major concern for the Hammers with Christmas approaching and there’s simply no denying that they must enjoy a busy January transfer window if they are to avoid what would be a disastrous relegation.

Adding another clinical goalscorer to their ranks should sit top of their priority list on that front. Whilst Callum Wilson has shown plenty of quality, there remain plenty of questions over his ability to stay fit and firing for a full campaign.

If it’s not the former Newcastle man, however, then it becomes tough for Nuno to select a reliable, natural striker without sacrificing Jarrod Bowen’s work out wide. That has to change in January.

As for potential targets, names like Santiago Gimenez have been mentioned ahead of next month in a deal which could kill two birds with one stone. Reports have claimed that West Ham could strike a swap deal with AC Milan which would see Niclas Fullkrug head in the opposite direction.

Those at the London Stadium could also add to their midfield after they welcome a new No.9, with midfield star Tochukwu Nnadi quickly becoming a serious option.

West Ham now preparing Tochukwu Nnadi offer

According to TeamTalk, West Ham are now preparing a bid to sign Nnadi after entering pole position for his signature and sending scouts to watch the Zulte Waregem midfielder.

The Hammers are preparing a €4m (£3.5m) move to sign the Nigerian, who scouts described as “relentless” when speaking to TeamTalk ahead of the January transfer window.

At 5’7, Nnadi makes up for his smaller stature with his ability to win duels, break up play and drive his team forward – all traits that West Ham’s midfield has been lacking at times this season.

Before Lucas Paqueta: Nuno must finally cash in on "shocking" West Ham star

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With the future of Guido Rodriguez still in doubt at West Ham, a move for Nnadi would make perfect sense next month. In one move, Nuno could bid farewell to a transfer flop and welcome a much-needed upgrade.

Striker greenlights January exit with West Ham bid expected ahead of immediate move

The struggles continue for the New York Mets' $765 million man, Juan Soto.

Soto, hitless in his last 14 at-bats, has now seen his batting average (.224) dip 57 points below his career average in a first half that has thus far been a massive disappointment relative to expectations for his first season in Queens. And as the struggles compound, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns believes that Soto is pressing.

"I honestly don't have like a 'this is the issue he needs to fix to get better'," Stearns said when asked what he believes the issue is. "I think he's taking pretty good at-bats. Controlling the strike zone pretty well. Hitting the ball on the ground a little bit more than he has in the past. That's something he's aware of."

"But telling yourself, 'Hey, I need to hit the ball in the air more,' doesn't immediately translate to hitting the ball in the air more. Do I think he's trying to do a little bit too much right now? Yeah, I think he's probably trying to do a little bit too much right now. And that is natural for a player who cares about improving."

Stearns's words somewhat echo those of Soto's agent Scott Boras, who told Tom Verducci that he believes Soto is having a hard time getting used to wearing "the crown" as baseball's highest-paid player. And while there are a whole host of reasons for Soto's underwhelming start to 2025, Mets brass has been unified in the belief that this too shall pass.

Stearns on Friday didn't seem concerned about Soto and Mets manager Carlos Mendoza has been adamant that Soto is passing the "eye test" despite the lack of results at the dish. Even Mets owner Steve Cohen, the man who opened his checkbook to sign Soto to the biggest contract in North American sports history, preached patience when it comes to his star slugger's struggles.

Despite the slow start from Soto, the Mets (34-22) sit in second place in the National League East.

West Ham are preparing for what could prove to be a season-defining January transfer window, with chairman David Sullivan and manager Nuno Espírito Santo identifying a new striker as one of their top priorities amid Niclas Fullkrug’s imminent departure.

Fullkrug has decided to pursue fresh opportunities when the winter window opens, with his representatives already exploring possibilities in Germany and elsewhere (Fabrizio Romano).

The veteran forward, who’s suffered from a plague of injury issues ever since arriving in East London, aims to revive his international prospects ahead of the 2026 World Cup, viewing a January exit as essential to securing his place in Germany’s squad.

West Ham’s spending power remains limited following their £131 million summer outlay, meaning they may need to balance incoming and outgoing transfers carefully, which adds another layer of complexity as the hierarchy make clear they won’t sanction Fullkrug’s exit until a suitable replacement arrives (Claret & Hugh).

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Brentford

Leeds 2-1 West Ham

West Ham 3-1 Newcastle

West Ham 3-2 Burnley

The Irons want a permanent sale rather than a loan for the striker, with German clubs Hamburg and Stuttgart, as well as AC Milan, expressing interest (TEAMtalk).

Meanwhile, midfielder Guido Rodriguez wants to depart as he chases World Cup selection with Argentina, attracting attention from Marcello Gallardo’s River Plate alongside several European clubs. James Ward-Prowse is another player destined for the West Ham exit door, with Lucas Paqueta reportedly considering his options as well.

With Nuno’s side languishing in 18th and staring at a relegation dogfight, January represents their best chance to course-correct, and any funds acquired from these potential sales could be put towards a cut-price move for Fulham winger Adama Traoré.

The Spaniard, who was once on fire under Nuno at Wolves, is attracting serious interest from West Ham, and Fulham could be forced to sell on the cheap with his contract expiring at the end of this season.

Now, an update has come to light on the situation, courtesy of TEAMtalk and reporter Dean Jones.

West Ham given 'approval' to sign Adama Traoré in January

West Ham have been handed encouragement in their pursuit of Traore, with Fulham now willing to entertain offers for the winger and set to ‘approve’ his sale.

The Whites are planning a squad overhaul as manager Marco Silva targets up to three new signings following a disappointing campaign that has left them 15th with only three wins. Traore represents an opportunity for them to raise funds and recoup some value, so a London Stadium switch may be on the cards for him.

The ex-Barcelona loanee flourished under Nuno at Wolves, making 131 appearances and racking up 28 goal contributions during their successful partnership, and sources indicate that West Ham will make contact before the window officially opens to explore whether a deal can be done.

Traore, while mostly impressing at Molineux, has enjoyed his moments in a Fulham shirt too.

The 29-year-old was a mainstay for Silva last season, making 41 appearances in all competitions and registering nine assists, so his best years may not be a thing of the past just yet.

His pace and directness has been a nightmare for Premier League opponents to defend at times, and he’d offer Nuno something very different out wide for a potentially affordable fee.