Liverpool made an audacious offer to swap Luis Diaz for Julian Alvarez last summer, only for the idea to be quickly rejected by Manchester City.
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Fenerbahce were keen on signing Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma but they have now pulled the plug on the deal. The Mali international, who was part of Spurs' Europa League-winning campaign last season, was linked with a move away from North London this summer after falling down the pecking order under manager Thomas Frank.
Fenerbahce were keen on signing BissoumaNo longer want Spurs starBissouma in the final year of his Spurs contractFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
With Bissouma entering the final year of his contract at Spurs, it was believed that the Premier League outfit would be keen on selling the player in the summer transfer window. Turkish clubs like Galatasaray and Fenerbahce had even shown interest in signing the midfielder, however, a deal never materialised.
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While the Turkish transfer window is still open for one more week, it is now unlikely that Fenerbahce will pursue a move for the Mali international due to a list of the player's personal issues. Bissouma also wants to stay in England for one more year to become eligible to apply for UK citizenship.
WHAT HAS BEEN SAID
Explaining why Fenerbahce are no longer interested in signing Bissouma, journalist Sercan Hamzaoglu has said: "Fenerbahce was going to sign Bissouma. But he has an injury problem. He has a trial (problem). He has a nightlife (problem). He is a very good player, but you have to take a lot of risks to transfer him. They put a whole sheet of paper in front of Ali Koc about the player’s problems."
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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR SPURS?
Thomas Frank's side will be back in action in the Premier League on September 13 as they take on West Ham United away from home.
Test aspirant Matt Renshaw fell cheaply, but captain Marnus Labuschagne led Queensland’s recovery with a half-century against Western Australia at the WACA. Labuschagne was in superb touch, as he hit 77 off 96 balls and looked in total command until falling lbw to offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli late on day two. It was a major blow in Queensland’s rally, but No. 4 Jack Clayton held firm and finished unbeaten on 52.After toiling in the field for 124.2 overs, openers Renshaw and Usman Khawaja were challenged by accurate new-ball bowling from quicks Matt Kelly and Cameron Gannon. The pitch flattened considerably amid sunny conditions, and represented a golden opportunity for Renshaw, who might be in the frame for a Test recall given the uncertainty over Cameron Green’s back injury.Renshaw started with a gorgeous drive down the ground off Kelly in the first over, but was worked over by Gannon, and edged to third slip. He made just 6 off 24 balls.Labuschagne, with his father watching on in the terraces, was cautious early, before counterattacking Rocchiccioli with quick footwork down the pitch. He combined well with Khawaja, who also pounced on an unusually ragged effort from Rocchiccioli.Gannon, playing against his former team, was the standout of WA’s shorthanded attack missing speedsters Lance Morris and Jhye Richardson, with allrounder Mitchell Marsh playing as a specialist batter. Having starred in WA’s Shield triumph against Tasmania last season, Gannon was relentless, and knocked over Khawaja, who on 31, played a short ball on to his stumps.WA debutant Brody Couch, recruited from Victoria and who has played in Major League Cricket, impressed and bowled a lively first spell before tea. He was the fastest out of WA’s trio of quicks, reaching speeds of 140kph while also bowling the occasional fiery short-pitched delivery. Couch tired late in the day, but did deliver a stinging delivery that hit Labuschagne in the stomach and had him on his haunches.Queensland still have considerable work ahead to close in on WA’s massive first-innings total of 465. WA’s recovery continued on day two when allrounder Cooper Connolly and Gannon batted for almost the entire first session. Connolly powered to his half-century off 64 balls, and was matched by Gannon, a useful middle-order batter for his local club team. Labuschagne reverted to funky fields for Queensland, but to no avail, as Gannon notched his second half-century in first-class cricket.After making his international debut during Australia’s tour of the UK, Connolly has been earmarked for a big summer, and might be a smokey for the Test tour of Sri Lanka early next year.Justifying his selection ahead of veteran Ashton Turner, Connolly unleashed powerful strokes to reach lunch on 79 not out. Having made 90 in his first-class debut in last season’s Shield final, Connolly’s bid for a maiden ton was cut short when he holed out to Renshaw in the first over after the interval.After a standout performance on day one, fringe Test quick Michael Neser only bowled three overs on day two. He finished with 5 for 68 from 25 overs, and completed a stunning athletic catch on the boundary to wrap WA’s innings up. Part-timers Labuschagne and Renshaw claimed two wickets apiece before having contrasting fortunes with the bat.
Marchant de Lange played a key role with bat and ball as Gloucestershire staged a spirited fightback on the opening day of the Vitality County Championship Second Division match against Glamorgan at Cheltenham.The larger-than-life South African scored 46 not out and shared in a record-breaking stand of 75 with Ajeet Singh Dale as the home side recovered from 88 for 8 at lunch to post 179 in their first innings. He then took 2 for 21 in six overs with the ball as Glamorgan subsided to 133 for 7 by the time bad light brought a premature close with 3.5 overs unused.Timm van der Gugten was the pick of the Glamorgan bowlers, returning season-best figures of 5 for 59 to justify skipper Sam Northeast’s decision to field first. But his efforts were matched by Gloucestershire overseas all-rounder Beau Webster, who produced a startling three-wicket burst in 12 balls on a day when 17 wickets fell.Kiran Carlson top-scored for Glamorgan with 37, but the Welsh county still trail by 46 runs with three first innings wicket remaining.Twice dismissed cheaply when suffering a chastening innings defeat at the hands of Yorkshire in Scarborough earlier in the week, Gloucestershire’s batsmen faced a test of nerve after being inserted on a green-tinged surface beneath cloud-laden skies. Although the pitch was initially low and slow and the new ball moved off the seam, there could be no mitigating circumstances to explain away an abject surrender that saw the home side go into lunch on 88 for 8, a parlous situation characterised by poor shot selection and execution.Cameron Bancroft set the tone in the very first over, edging van der Gugten’s second delivery behind to provide the first of five catches for wicketkeeper Chris Cooke. Ollie Price fell to the same bowler in identical fashion, pushing at a delivery that kept low and being caught at the wicket.Ben Charlesworth and skipper Graeme van Buuren succumbed cheaply to ill-advised leg-side shots as Dan Douthwaite produced an incisive five-over spell of 2 for 7 from the College Lawn end, while James Bracey missed an attempted leg-side glance and was bowled by a ball from Andy Gorvin that deflected off his pad and onto the stumps as Gloucestershire subsided to 49 for 5.Marnus Labuschagne came on to bowl seam up and afford the batsmen a period of respite, Miles Hammond and Webster adding 36 for the sixth wicket and hinting at a recovery. But the return of van der Gugten served to reinforce Welsh superiority, the overseas recruit removing Hammond lbw for 21 and then making a mess of Webster’s stumps when the Australian played down the wrong line to a ball that moved back into him. Labuschagne then had Zaman Akhter caught behind without scoring to give the home side food for thought during the interval.When Matt Taylor was comprehensively bowled by van der Gugten with the score on 104 shortly following the resumption, the end of the innings appeared to be in sight. But de Lange and Singh Dale had other ideas, the last wicket pair opening their shoulders to post a quickfire 50 in 47 balls and force Glamorgan’s seamers onto the back foot for the first time.By the time Singh Dale hoisted Mason Crane’s leg spin to long-on and departed for a 45-ball 32, he and de Lange had surpassed the 73 made by John Mortimore and Jack Davey in 1972, the previous highest last wicket partnership for Gloucestershire in matches against Glamorgan.Gloucestershire were grateful to the spirited de Lange, whose agricultural approach yielded an unbeaten 46 from 37 balls, with a quartet of fours and 2 sixes, and enlivened a hitherto subdued festival audience. It said a good deal about what had gone before, that these two were able to score more runs than the combined efforts of Gloucestershire’s top seven.Buoyed by the antics of their lower order, Gloucestershire kept plugging away with the ball end enjoyed no little success. Taylor had Eddie Byrom held at mid-on in the act of pulling, Akhter claimed the prized wicket of Labuschagne, who pulled to deep mid-wicket for 19, and de Lange induced Billy Root to edge a catch behind and depart for 21 as the visitors slipped to 59-3 in the 23rd over.Gloucestershire then passed up an opportunity to dismiss Carlson on 11, de Lange putting down a chance on the deep fine leg boundary off the bowling of Singh Dale. No matter. Webster more than made amends when removing Northeast and Cooke in the space of three deliveries in the 35th over to reduce the Welsh county to 104 for 5.Northeast contributed 19 in a stand of 45 for the fourth wicket with Carlson, only to then push at a length ball and offer a catch behind. Cooke fell in identical fashion and Douthwaite then succumbed to a leg-side strangle, caught at the wicket as Webster made further inroads to finish with 3 for 16 from eight overs.De Lange then struck a potentially crucial blow shortly before the close, persuading Carlson to send a top-edged hook down the throat of Hammond at deep fine leg and depart for a 62-ball 37 with Glamorgan still 54 behind.
Manchester United have a huge summer ahead of them to right the wrongs of the 2024/25 campaign, which has seen the club register their worst ever Premier League points tally.
The Red Devils ended the season on just 42 points, sitting in a measly 15th place, with Ruben Amorim needing an overhaul of the squad this summer if he’s to be a success at Old Trafford.
He had the opportunity to end the year on a high in the Europa League final, but his side suffered a 1-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur – topping off the dismal campaign for the club.
However, work already appears to be underway for new additions, with Matheus Cunha edging closer to completing his £62.5m switch from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Brazilian certainly won’t be the last addition to join the club during the off-season, potentially being joined in the North West by multiple other talents in the coming months.
In recent weeks, striker Viktor Gyokeres has been linked with a move to join United, linking back up with Amorim after the pair spent time together at Sporting CP.
However, updates have since emerged which have stated that a move for the Swede may now be off the table this summer, with fellow English side Arsenal also in the race for his signature.
It would likely be disappointing for the supporters if he were to move elsewhere, but it has allowed for other deals to advance, including that of Liam Delap, according to ESPN.
The report states that the Red Devils have agreed personal terms with the Ipswich Town striker ahead of a £30m deal after the Tractor Boys suffered relegation to the Championship.
It also claims that United are trying to move the deal quickly to avoid missing out on the 22-year-old given fellow interest from the likes of Chelsea and Everton over the last few days.
Despite the recent activity in the market, United’s transfer business doesn’t appear to be slowing down, after making advances in a deal to sign Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo.
Over the last few days, it’s been reported that the club have held talks with the Cameroonian international, with the Bees demanding a fee in the region of £50m this summer.
The 25-year-old has registered 20 goals and seven assists in his 38 league outings this season, being one of five players to reach such a figure in 2024/25.
Whilst such a deal would likely be another huge investment, it’s one that would massively bolster the options at Amorim’s disposal – potentially moving the side in the right direction next campaign.
Alongside his goal tally, Mbeumo has registered a tally of 1.8 chances created per 90, along with 1.4 successful dribbles per 90 – handing Delap the tools to succeed within the final third.
The talisman, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has that all-round presence at the top end of the pitch that the side have been missing over the last few months.
He’s scored 12 goals this season, whilst registering 1.1 shots on target per 90, offering a clinical edge that could drastically improve the current goalscoring tallies at the club.
|
Most goals scored by U23 STs in Europe’s top-five leagues (2024/25) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Club |
Games |
Goals |
|
Arnaud Kalimuendo |
Stade Rennais |
33 |
17 |
|
Hugo Ekitiké |
Eintracht Frankfurt |
33 |
15 |
|
Emanuel Emegha |
Strasbourg |
27 |
14 |
|
Benjamin Sesko |
RB Leipzig |
33 |
13 |
|
Mika Biereth |
Monaco |
16 |
13 |
|
Liam Delap |
Ipswich Town |
37 |
12 |
|
Thierno Barry |
Villarreal |
35 |
11 |
|
Joao Pedro |
Brighton |
27 |
10 |
|
Stats via Transfermarkt |
|||
The former Manchester City star has also completed 1.4 dribbles per 90, along with two aerials won per 90 – handing the side the focal point to play off in attacking areas.
He loves to play on the shoulder of the defender, able to make key runs in behind, something that could see him link up with Mbeumo given his own tally of chances created.
Whilst Delap may not be the supporters’ first choice this summer, he would provide a young and talented option that is only going to develop further in the years ahead.
The prospect of the pair combining at Old Trafford is certainly an exciting one, with the pair able to work together under Amorim’s guidance to try and bring the glory days back for the club.
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Dan Emery
May 26, 2025
West Bromwich Albion are now pushing hard to sign a defender, who recently won his side’s Fans’ Player of the Year award, according to a report.
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West Brom are still searching for a permanent replacement for Tony Mowbray, who was dismissed from his post back in April, and a number of different managers have been linked with the vacant job.
Minnesota United boss Eric Ramsay and Stockport County’s Dave Challinor are among the potential options, alongside Tottenham Hotspur coach Ryan Mason, who was identified as the top target in the wake of Mowbray’s sacking.
Tottenham’s involvement in the Europa League meant the Baggies have been forced to wait before making an approach for Mason, but with the north Londoners ending their 17-year trophy drought against Manchester United on Wednesday night, the 33-year-old could now be available.
Any new manager is likely to have a big say in the recruitment this summer, but West Brom have already started to identify targets in the meantime, with a report from EFL Analysis revealing they are now pushing hard to sign Hearts defender James Penrice.
Director of Sport Ian Pearce is determined to win the race for Penrice, but there is set to be competition for his signature from some of the Baggies’ Championship rivals, which could pose a problem, with Watford and Southampton also keen.
Signing a new left-back is a priority for Albion this summer, with Callum Styles potentially moving back into midfield, despite displaying his versatility by slotting into the defence last season.
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The Scottish defender has never played outside his home country, but there are signs he could be ready to take his career to the next level by making the move to a promotion-chasing Championship side, having scooped up the Fans’ Player of the Year award last season.
Throughout the 2024-25 campaign, the 26-year-old remained a vital player for Hearts, making 46 appearances in all competitions, during which time he received plaudits for his no-nonsense nature from Guardian reporter Ewan Murray.
Murray is also correct to point out that the Livingston-born full-back is a threat on the front foot, given that he picked up two goals and seven assists last term, while also ranking in the top 3% for shot-creating actions per 90 over the past year, when compared to other full-backs.
Styles was a key player for the Baggies last season, but with the Hungarian predominantly featuring further forward throughout his career to date, it would make sense to bring in a new left-back, and Penrice could be an excellent signing for West Brom.
Can Manchester City move three points closer to securing Champions League qualification?
Last Sunday’s goalless Manchester derby, described by Richard Jolly of the Independent as ‘one of the worst games in Premier League history’, leaves the Sky Blues sixth in the table, a point below both Chelsea and Newcastle, the current occupants of the final two Champions League spots.
Pep Guardiola’s team have a pretty kind fixture list between now and the end of the season, but one of their toughest remaining games is Saturday’s early kick-off, with in-form Crystal Palace the visitors to the Etihad.
If Man City are to collect three precious points, Guardiola must leave out one of his favourite players and unleash the Citizens’ ‘electric’ attacker.
Phil Foden was substituted after just 57 minutes at Old Trafford last Sunday, having registered only 27 touches, completed a mere 61% of his 18 passes, missing one big chance and creating zero for others; all statistics courtesy of SofaScore.
This, though, is no outlier, as outlined in the table below.
|
Phil Foden season-by-season statistics |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Statistics |
2022/23 |
2023/24 |
2024/25 |
|
Appearances |
48 |
53 |
40 |
|
Minutes |
2,660 |
4,276 |
2,732 |
|
Goals |
15 |
27 |
10 |
|
Assists |
8 |
13 |
6 |
|
Goals – xG |
+5.1 |
+10.5 |
+3.2 |
|
Shots on target % |
52.3% |
42.9% |
32.3% |
|
Chances created |
59 |
93 |
71 |
|
Pass completion % |
81.5% |
85.9% |
84.4% |
|
Shot-creating actions |
119 |
182 |
121 |
|
Progressive passes |
110 |
221 |
142 |
|
Touches per 90 |
69 |
72 |
61 |
|
Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt, FBref.com and Squawka |
|||
As the table above demonstrates, Foden’s form has massively dipped, compared to last season, especially, when he was named PFA Players’ Player of the Year.
James Westwood of Goal believes the England international has ‘regressed’ this season, going from talismanic ‘dazzling performances’ to now where his performances range from ‘mediocre to downright poor’.
Speaking on the Guardian Football Weekly podcast, Nooruddean Choudry believes Guardiola has been ‘too loyal’ to out-of-form players who have served him well in the past, so should he bench Foden against Crystal Palace and unleash a fresher face?
Jérémy Doku is certainly an enigmatic player, with Thom Harris of the Athletic describing him as ‘unique’ and a ‘star dribbler’, while adding that his ‘final pass can sometimes be poor’.
The statistics in the table below crystallize why.
|
Jérémy Doku 2024/25 Premier League statistics |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Statistics |
Doku |
Percentile rank vs wingers |
|
Goals |
3 |
79th |
|
Assists |
4 |
48th |
|
Expected assists |
3.5 |
39th |
|
Shot-creating actions |
60 |
73rd |
|
Goal-creating actions |
9 |
47th |
|
Shots on target % |
39.1% |
59th |
|
Progressive carries |
166 |
1st |
|
Take-ons attempted |
166 |
2nd |
|
Take-on success % |
55.4% |
26th |
|
Carries into the final third |
77 |
3rd |
|
Carries into the penalty area |
77 |
1st |
|
All statistics courtesy of FBref.com |
||
The table certainly backs up the claim that Doku is an excellent dribbler, ranked first for progressive carries and carries into the opposition area, while only Mohammed Kudus of West Ham has attempted more take-ons.
However, the fact Doku ranks in the 26th percentile when it comes to take-on success percentage suggests he could still improve.
Meantime, the Belgian has scored just six goals across all competitions this season, two of which came against fourth-tier Salford, ranked significantly lower for goals, assists, expected assists, shooting, and chance creation.
Nevertheless, Guardiola himself named Doku, as well as Savinho, as key figures in the “new look” Manchester City, making it even more curious that both began the derby on the bench.
So, against a Crystal Palace team who will be without the suspended captain Marc Guéhi, as well as, potentially, fellow centre-backs Maxence Lacroix and Chadi Riad too due to injury, Doku’s ‘electric’ pace, as described by David O’Brien, should be unleashed as Man City seek victory on Saturday.
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Ben Gray
Apr 11, 2025
CA’s current model has been in place for a considerable time but it may need to evolve to keep pace with a changing landscape
Alex Malcolm30-Sep-2025Marcus Stoinis was all smiles when he fronted the media at Bay Oval in Tauranga on Monday, proudly back in Australia colours for the first time since last November.His return to the Australian squad, without a national or state contract and having missed the previous two Australia T20I series to play in the Hundred, shines a light on an issue that has been bubbling away within Australian cricket for some time.There is a growing consensus across many of those involved in the game spoken to by ESPNcricinfo that Cricket Australia’s (CA) current men’s contracting system is no longer fit for purpose.Related
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It is a thought that has been discussed at length at various CA meetings around the country over the past 12 months with the current contracting system that was inked in 2023 set to remain in place between CA and the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) until 2028.Stoinis and Tim David, another who will feature this week in the three-match series, are two key examples that have highlighted the limitations of Australia’s current men’s contracting system and why change is being discussed.Stoinis’ absence from the five-match T20I tour of the West Indies in July and the three-match T20I home series against South Africa was notable. He wasn’t injured and there was never any official statement that he had been dropped. All of which was a curiosity given he was one of Australia’s most sought-after players at the IPL auction last year and remains in high demand as a franchise player around the world.Instead, it was later revealed that an agreement had been struck with Australia’s coach Andrew McDonald and chairman of selectors George Bailey to allow him to fulfil a lucrative AUD$409,000 contract to play in the Hundred, despite in Bailey’s words still being “firmly in the mix” for next year’s T20 World Cup.It is not unusual for high profile Australian players to miss white-ball series throughout any calendar year. But it is always three-format players who are given time to rest ahead of Test series that are seen as a higher priority.But for the single format or white-ball only players, the series against West Indies and South Africa were key parts of Australia’s build towards the T20 World Cup as they attempt to bed a new playing style following the retirements of David Warner and Matthew Wade last year.Stoinis’ case is rare in that he is an uncontracted one-format player who does not play domestic state cricket, however he does play in the BBL.The selectors are keen to have Tim David in their ODI set-up towards the 2027 World Cup•Getty ImagesWhile New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has been a global leader in managing casual playing contracts with senior players to allow them to miss international series to take up franchise opportunities, CA is only now starting to dip its toes into a rapidly rising tide.CA contracted 23 male players this financial year, as they did last year. Australia’s men played nine Test matches, 13 ODIs and eight T20Is in the 2024-25 contract period and used 34 players across all formats.The 2025-26 contract list was heavily weighted towards Test-only players but Australia play only seven Tests in the financial year, with two against West Indies (the first of the series came under the previous year) and five against England. They will only play nine ODIs but are currently scheduled to play 19 T20Is plus the T20 World Cup.Stoinis and David were not centrally or state contracted either last financial year or this one. However, both played the minimum number of white-ball internationals – six – to qualify for a CA upgraded contract which in 2024-25 was AUD$346,641 (not including match payments) and in 2025-26 is AUD$353,574. David has already played six matches this financial year. If Stoinis plays in six of the next eight T20Is against New Zealand and India, or by June 30, 2026, he will qualify again.The upgrade system has been CA’s longstanding way of rewarding those from outside the initial list after they earned selection to play for their country. But it may be past its use-by date for several reasons.Firstly, players can now earn more than the CA minimum contract by playing for one month in a franchise league overseas as Stoinis did in the Hundred. But that requires an NOC from CA, or the players’ state if they are contracted, and as was the case with Adam Zampa recently ahead of the T20 Blast finals in England, contracted players can be denied NOCs for franchise leagues because of domestic cricket commitments in Australia.The MOU only allows a maximum of 24 to be contracted initially but there are no limits on the number of upgrades.Seven players including Stoinis, David, Cooper Connolly, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Spencer Johnson, Nathan McSweeney and Beau Webster all qualified for an upgrade through playing enough games in the 2024-25 cycle. Three Tests, six white-ball matches or a combination of the two are enough to trigger an upgrade. Eight players were upgraded in 2023-24 which was a white-ball World Cup year.If a state contracted player gets upgraded, which five of last year’s seven were, they only get a pro rata pay increase from their original state deal for the remainder of the contract period.The likes of Mitchell Owen won’t be short of franchise offers•MLCThe maximum state deal for this year was AUD$205,153, excluding match payments, although that is usually only given to a player who played both Sheffield Shield and one-day domestic cricket. BBL deals are signed separately outside of both CA and state contracts, but again the maximum BBL deal for an Australian players is only around AUD$200,000 and most are well under that while some overseas players are earning more than twice that much.Stoinis and David have not pursued state deals in recent years. Stepping away from that system comes at a cost in terms of not having access to coaches and training facilities and full-time medical and strength conditioning support. Superannuation and insurance are other serious considerations for those leaving the system.But it also means a player doesn’t have to train on a state team’s schedule and potentially be restricted from playing in overseas franchise leagues either during the pre-season or during the domestic season.Those two players have bet on themselves and there should be no criticism of them for that. They have a set of skills which are highly valued in the franchise open market. But integrating them into longer-term plans for Australia now comes with allowing them to play franchise cricket elsewhere to maximise their income. That is where the limitations of the upgrade model are exposed.There is a desire for David to be part of Australia’s ODI build towards the 2027 World Cup in the finishing role vacated by the retired Glenn Maxwell. But the contracting system doesn’t incentivize David to play domestic one-day cricket or even make himself available for the recent ODI series against South Africa, at the cost of playing in the CPL which banks him more than a state contract or ODI match payments ever would for one month’s work.Lance Morris has remained centrally contracted through injury problems•Getty ImagesIt also doesn’t incentivize him to rest for key white-ball series to get his body right, as he needed to do after the IPL this year. CA uses contracts to pay fast bowlers like Lance Morris and Jhye Richardson as long-term investments despite both having perennial injury issues. But not having a higher number of initial contracts means long-term management can’t apply to someone like Johnson, who is currently sidelined and missed last year’s white-ball tour the UK because he got injured in the lead in while pursuing franchise opportunities.The reality is that even for a board with CA’s wealth, there may come to a point sooner rather than later where they can’t afford to pay all their top players what the market says they are worth. New Zealand has already found this out. Kane Williamson, one of their all-time greats, missed the recent T20 tri-series and Test tour in Zimbabwe to play for Middlesex and the London Spirit instead. He will also miss this series against Australia to rest after a winter in England.There has been a bullishness in Australian cricket down the years that players will always commit to playing for the country above all else and there is still a widely held belief that dynamic won’t shift any time soon.Perhaps the recent example of Quinton de Kock returning to the South Africa fold is a sign that the franchise life isn’t always fulfilling enough, although at the same time they won’t have Heinrich Klaasen for next year’s World Cup after he retired from international cricket to become a full-time freelancer.Australia’s domestic players have always been well looked after by global standards, but they did not miss the eye-watering sums offered in the recent SA20 draft. The timing of the current discussions around privatizing the BBL isn’t a coincidence.More contracts, higher retainers, more flexibility, and different structures are all being discussed. But the money has to come from somewhere. And if it doesn’t, there is a chance, albeit a very small one at the moment, that Australia will join those nations battling to keep their players for international duty.
As in 2018, Zimbabwe fell short in the last two games of the Qualifier, leaving a boisterous home crowd in shock
Danyal Rasool04-Jul-2023Hours after the first rumblings in Harare that would result in the coup that removed former President Robert Mugabe from power, a former Zimbabwean cricketer was asked whether unrest had also spread to Bulawayo. He laughed, “It takes time for anything that starts off in Harare to reach Bulawayo.” Even as roadblocks cocooned key government buildings in the capital, armoured vehicles swarmed the streets, and soldiers cordoned off the Zimbabwean Parliament, life in Bulawayo carried on as normal, with almost no additional military presence in the country’s second-largest city. Just because something happened in Harare doesn’t mean it’ll also happen in Bulawayo.That may be a cursed inconvenience most of the time, but just four months after that coup, another event took place in Harare that Bulawayo might have been glad it didn’t have to witness. At the Harare Sports Club, Zimbabwe needed to beat UAE, the weakest side at the 2018 Men’s World Cup Qualifier, to advance to the 50-over World Cup the following year, which was supposed to be an existential lifeline for cricket in the country. UAE scored 235, and Harare geared up for the party that would surely follow the game. Rain hit, and a controversial DLS application turned a comfortable chase into a stiff challenge. A traumatised crowd watched as Zimbabwe fluffed their lines and tumbled out of the race for the 2019 World Cup.Related
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Half a decade on, those haunting scenes snaked their way to Bulawayo. Zimbabwe’s 2023 World Cup qualification was progressing like a dream. They had dispatched Nepal and Netherlands, before upsetting West Indies and mauling USA by a world-record margin. They edged past Oman and they stood on the cusp – needing one win from their last two matches – of a ticket to cricket’s biggest tournament, to be held in the sport’s biggest market.No one dared say it, but this was exactly how Zimbabwe’s last qualification campaign had gone. And so, while Zimbabweans exulted in the triumphs, no one was celebrating just yet. Moments after the win over West Indies, I texted my colleague in Zimbabwe, Firdose Moonda, that I couldn’t wait to see how they would find a way not to qualify even from this position of extreme advantage. I was only half joking then, and it doesn’t seem funny at all now.Zimbabwe beat all their opponents before tumbling in their last two outings•ICC/Getty ImagesThere’s very little as joyful as a younger sibling suddenly afforded a privilege the eldest was denied. And so as Bulawayo geared up for the party Harare never had five years ago, it was determined to exult in its good fortune. The crowds were as packed as they’ve ever been at the Harare Sports Club, and perhaps even more boisterous. There’s nothing quite like playing cricket at a small, packed venue where everyone understands, lives and breathes cricket. In that way, Bulawayo can hold its own against any city in the world.But Scotland are no UAE, and harbour World Cup ambitions of their own. The ICC’s decision, in its infinite wisdom, to keep the World Cup restricted to ten teams for the second successive edition means there’s an invariably macabre air to these Qualifiers, turning them into something like a cricketing Hunger Games with only two survivors left standing and many good candidates slain along the way for no discernible reason. The teams outside the top eight don’t need too much extra motivation to turn up, but as the scraps that fall from the big table shrink further, the fighting becomes ever more frenzied, the consequences of the slightest misstep ever more dire.And boy, have Scotland scrapped. They started the tournament with a barely credible final-ball victory against Ireland. They swept UAE and Oman before giving Sri Lanka a bit of a scare, and following up with a trouncing of West Indies.A Zimbabwe win would have eliminated Scotland, and elimination is an existential crisis. Zimbabwe’s exclusion from the 2019 World Cup saw them enter such financial trouble that they nearly dissolved completely, and were suspended by the ICC the following year.As Zimbabwe won the toss and bowled first, the memories of that hurt and those lost years powered them. They kept Scotland on a leash for 45 of the 50 overs, but the moment they let their discipline waver, they found their noses bloodied. A priceless Michael Leask cameo – 48 off 34 balls – helped Scotland take 55 runs in the last five overs to set Zimbabwe 235 to win. It was the exact score UAE put up five years ago, but no one was spooked just yet.Chris Sole bowled at high pace to have the Zimbabwe top order reeling•ICC/Getty ImagesThis may have been a home crowd, but even they couldn’t will Bulawayo’s weather into submission. There was a nip in the air and overcast skies. Chris Sole couldn’t have asked for better bowling conditions if this match was taking place in his native Aberdeen, and the menace he posed Zimbabwe became clear from ball one. Joylord Gumbie, who’s had such a difficult tournament that name feels increasingly like a misnomer, nicked off to an awayswinger first up, and Scotland pierced Zimbabwe’s skin for the first time.As Sole hits speeds in excess of 90mph/145kph, a rarity on the Associate circuit, Zimbabwe’s best had few answers. Craig Ervine’s defence was breached by a worldie of an inswinger from around the wicket. Even Sean Williams, whose form this tournament has placed him among the ranks of the divine, was dragged back down to earth as Sole went over the wicket and knocked back his stumps with one that swung away at pace. The dreaded feeling of looming disappointment was beginning to dawn on Bulawayo. There was only greyness; there were no blue skies around the corner.Zimbabwe did what Zimbabwe have done to their fans for a long time now; they dragged them through the torment of hope before pushing them into the arms of devastation. Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl wrested the momentum back briefly, and a lovely little innings from Wessly Madhevere even gave his side the upper hand. Burl at the other end looked impregnable, and as Zimbabwe got to 165 for 5, it looked like the ghosts of 2018 might finally be exorcised. In Zimbabwe, hope is the last thing you lose, and this crowd found it alive and kicking within them.But Scotland broke that partnership and held their nerve as Zimbabwe lost theirs. The pressure was too suffocating, the stakes too high, and, even for a heroic late surge from Burl, the target just too far away. The dying stages of the match played out like those horror films where you realise the demon you thought you’d killed off is still very much around. Spent, Zimbabwe finally collapsed, consigned to another half decade in ODI wilderness, 2023 simply adding to the heap of cricketing heartaches they have endured.Sean Williams’ form in the World Cup Qualifier placed him among the ranks of the divine•ICC via Getty ImagesZimbabwe cricket is in a significantly better place than it was in 2018. The atmosphere in the dressing room is credited by most players as better than they’ve ever experienced. Since Dave Houghton was appointed coach, both the results and the style of cricket Zimbabwe play have reenergised a country that stood on the brink of ruin just a few years ago. This is a far more recoverable setback than 2018, but you’d struggle to convince anyone of that on the night.The Harare game was clearly on Ervine’s mind at the post-match presentations, but he did have the awareness to put this result in perspective, and distinguish it from what happened against the UAE.”It’s always nice to put those demons from 2018 behind us and had we gotten over the line today, nobody would have been asking about that,” he said. “But unfortunately, we didn’t get over the line. Williams has been fantastic and we can take a lot of positives away. I’m extremely proud of the guys, and for the amount of work and effort. We’re really thankful for the crowd that has come and supported us, especially over the last few weeks. I think we are playing a very exciting brand of cricket and that is the reason the crowd are coming out to support us.”Tendai Chatara, the last man to be cleaned up, was also there in 2018, as were four of his team-mates from Tuesday’s match. Most have been open about how much hurt that day caused, and how it’s lingered for so long. It is a pain they will share with millions of Zimbabweans who experienced both 2018 and 2023. Redemption was illusory, and that cusp was only a precipice.Bulawayans might have prepared for a celebration on Tuesday. Instead, they hold Harare in a collective embrace to share a grief both understand so perfectly well. Suddenly, Harare and Bulawayo do not seem that far apart after all.
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Alex Malcolm26-Oct-2021One of Australia’s incumbent Test openers has scored more runs in first-class cricket since the team last played a Test match than any of his countrymen. He’s made 995 runs in 14 matches, averaging 49.75, with four centuries.It’s not David Warner, who has played just one first-class match since the Gabba Test against India. It’s not Will Pucovski, who has not played a single game of cricket since he dislocated his shoulder in the new year’s Test in Sydney and won’t play in Victoria’s first Sheffield Shield game this season due to another concussion.It’s not Joe Burns, who was dropped for the Sydney Test and has played just six matches since. It’s not Matthew Wade, who opened in the first two Tests of the series despite never opening before in his 14-year 156-game first-class career.And it’s not Usman Khawaja, who is being discussed as an option to open in the first Test of the upcoming Ashes, having opened just three times in his last 28 first-class innings since the 2019 Ashes tour, for scores of 30, 4 and 2.Related
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Marcus Harris hasn’t yet played a game this summer, but his deeds in England this winter for Leicestershire seem not to be at the forefront of minds, and he chuckled when he was reminded that he is in fact one of Australia’s incumbent openers.”It was a difficult summer last year just with the way that the opening position kept rotating so there’s always going to be speculation,” Harris told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s good to talk about from a media point of view. Personally, and privately in speaking to selectors, I know what they think and I know they probably have looked back on my work over the last period of time and I think that will hold me in good stead going forward. I know I’ve been a consistent performer for probably five or six years now in Shield cricket so I’m confident if I get the opportunity I’ll be fine.Marcus Harris enjoyed a very consistent season for Leicestershire•Getty Images”But that’s the tough thing about playing for Australia. The opportunities are limited. You’ve got to take them when you get them so that’s what’s been hard, as I’ve sort of been in and out a little bit. But I think the people and the powers that be understand and they sort of know how hard it can be.”Going to England was a big part of my vision for going forward, being able to play a lot of cricket and putting numbers on the board.”Harris has been in regular contact with coach Justin Langer over the winter but more importantly had a fruitful conversation with Australia’s chairman of selectors George Bailey last Friday. He was reassured by Bailey that despite the annual media rumblings of a “bat-off for places” in the lead-up to the Ashes, that his larger body of work will carry more weight, particularly as Victoria and New South Wales have not played a single match so far this summer due to the Covid lockdowns, while other states have already played two each.”It is really good [to hear that]. I think it’s like with any sport, it’s good for stories and stuff like that,” Harris said. “But you know that at the end of the day the people that are picking the team are looking at the bigger picture rather than a smaller bit of work.”
When you come in and out of a team you can put a lot of pressure on yourself knowing that this might be your only chance so that can be hard to play with that pressure
Harris made 655 runs in eight games for Leicestershire, scoring three centuries including a stunning 185 not out in a successful fourth-innings chase of 378 against Middlesex. Harris loved the experience so much he signed a two-year deal with Gloucestershire to play all three formats over the next two seasons after only playing two with Leicestershire.”The best thing for my development was to go and play over there in the winter and keep playing cricket rather than playing home seasons here then not doing much for a couple of months,” he said. “I think at this stage of my career I’ve got to keep playing all the time so it’s been beneficial no matter which way the season goes here, just for me as a cricketer to be able to play over there in different conditions.”Harris’ experience in the 2019 Ashes in England, where he made just 58 runs in six innings, could have easily scarred him. But he viewed it as a pivotal learning moment.”It wouldn’t have seemed like it at the time, but it was such a good learning experience playing in that series,” he said. “Sort of knowing that you might be able to play one way in Australia but that might not always suit the way you’re going to have to play in England.”I think the good thing as well being in Leicester and being by myself with different coaches, is you work everything out for yourself and you have to work it out on the run a little bit. And equally as the pressure of being the overseas player, you’re expected to do well so you have that pressure on you. But I enjoyed that.Marcus Harris was bounced out in the second innings against India after starting promisingly•Getty Images”County cricket is very different to Shield cricket. The bowlers are different, the batters are different. They’re very good in their conditions and so you’ve got to try and find a way to make your game suit that, which I enjoyed.”The key now is for Harris to convert those experiences at Test level if he can get a consistent run at it. He has shown glimpses, including his second-innings 38 at the Gabba, that he is capable of being Australia’s long-term solution at the top of the order.”When you come in and out of a team you can put a lot of pressure on yourself knowing that this might be your only chance so that can be hard to play with that pressure,” Harris said. “I enjoyed in that second innings that we had to score quite quickly, that sort of suited me a little bit, so I learned from that.”If I get another opportunity, I can try and take that pressure off myself, which is easier said than done, but just go out there and look to score and put runs on the board will probably suit me.”I sort of feel like in first-class cricket it took me a little while, it probably took me 20 or 30 games, probably more, 40, to understand and believe in myself. But as I’ve got older, I sort of know that if I can get a good run, a few games, I feel like I could do the same thing in Test cricket.”That’s all it is really, a bit of self-belief and proving to yourself and proving to people that you can do it.”