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Chelsea are expected to remain busy on transfers this summer after clinching the Club World Cup in New Jersey, with the Blues receiving an estimated £87.5 million worth of prize money as a result of their success in the tournament.

£22m player very keen to join Chelsea, talks once held, he's a top target

The west Londoners could still make more signings.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 17, 2025

Their statement 3-0 win over European champions PSG at the MetLife Stadium last Sunday, rounding off six wins from seven CWC matches across the pond, effectively paid for both Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens – who cost Chelsea a total of £85 million to sign earlier this window.

This, combined with the exits of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Basir Humphreys, Noni Madueke, Marcus Bettinelli and Djordje Petrovic, who left for an estimated £96 million, means Chelsea are actually making a profit so far this summer.

Chelsea’s best performers in the Premier League last season	Average match rating
Cole Palmer	7.33
Moises Caicedo	7.02
Enzo Fernández	6.95
Nicolas Jackson	6.88
Noni Madueke	6.82
via WhoScored

That isn’t even including the undisclosed fee they received for Mathis Amougou, who joined sister club Strasbourg in a permanent deal just months after arriving from Ligue 1 side St Etienne.

Chelsea do have more money to spend whilst comfortably keeping in line with PSR, even if they’re under pressure to sell more players by UEFA, or risk not being able to register new signings for their Champions League squad next season (Kaveh Solhekol).

According to reliable journalist Simon Phillips, BlueCo are pondering unofficial swap deals as a solution to this – given it would allow them to both reinforce Enzo Maresca’s ranks and balance out the squad.

Nicolas Jackson is one of the men who could be used as a makeweight, given the uncertainty surrounding his future and interest from Premier League sides, including Aston Villa.

Writing via his Substack, Phillips reports that Villa’s interest in Jackson could open the door for Chelsea to ask about their star winger Morgan Rogers.

Morgan Rogers "very open" to joining Chelsea

It’s already been suggested by other sources that they hold a serious interest in the England international, and Phillips suggests that Rogers is “very open” to joining Chelsea, who’d absolutely “love” to sign him.

“Chelsea would love to sign Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, but they quoted north of £90m for him, so Chelsea haven’t taken it any further yet,” said the journalist.

“If Villa come knocking for Jackson as expected, then Chelsea will mention Rogers. It would have to be a deal that would suit both. Rogers is very open to moving to Chelsea but isn’t actively pursuing a move from Villa, who would also be open to selling Rogers but for the right price.

“They really like Jackson though, so it may well be something that could develop down the line if the deal fits all parties.”

The 22-year-old made a real name for himself at Villa Park last term, bagging 14 goals and 15 assists across 54 appearances in all competitions, including four goals and three assists in the Champions League.

He also fits Chelsea’s usual transfer profile as a young star with bags of potential and plenty of resale value, but Villa will be very wary of green-lighting his exit, considering just how imperative Rogers was for Unai Emery throughout 2024/2025.

Matt Walker will leave Kent at the end of the season after seven years as men’s head coach.Walker, who had a 16-year playing career with the county, was promoted in 2017 to replace Jimmy Adams, having been assistant coach at the club, a position he had held since 2014.During his time in charge, the 50-year-old enjoyed limited-overs success in the form of the 2021 Vitality Blast and the One-Day Cup in 2022. Kent also earned promotion to Division One of the County Championship in 2018.However, they look set for a return for Division Two this summer, languishing bottom having won just one of 11 matches so far. They also propped up the South Group in this season’s T20 Blast and won just three of eight in the Metro Bank, finishing seventh in Group A.Related

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“It’s been an incredible honour to be the head coach of my home county for eight years,” Walker said in a statement released by Kent on Friday.”Now is the time for new ideas and new personnel to come in and make their own mark on men’s cricket at Kent, something that I have really enjoyed doing in my time here. The promotion to Division One and trophy successes have been fantastic to be a part of but most of all working with the players and the coaches here has always been the most rewarding.”Winning the Vitality Blast in 2021 will always be up there for me as one of the best days of coaching this great club. The players brought us that success on the field but the knock-on effect that had for everyone, including the staff and of course our loyal members and supporters, was a feeling that people rarely experience.”I’d like to thank everyone involved with Kent Cricket for making this one of the best jobs in the world, and I wish the club, and everyone connected to it, the very best for the future.”Kent’s director of cricket Simon Cook said: “Matt has been an outstanding servant to the club not only as a player but as a coach, too.”He is one of a handful of people to have won trophies as both a player and a coach, and his name will forever be associated with recent successes at Kent Cricket.”On behalf of all of the coaches, players, and staff behind the scenes, I’d like to thank Matt for his extremely hard work as men’s head coach, and we all wish him the very best for the future.”It is understood Walker’s successor will be sourced externally, with Matthew Mott under consideration after stepping down as England’s white-ball coach earlier this summer.Mott has experience in county cricket, having worked at Glamorgan between 2011 and 2013 as head coach before becoming the county’s head of elite performance. He still has residence in Cardiff, but is due to return to Australia next week, having agreed a contract to work as an assistant coach at Sydney Sixers.He also came close to taking over at Kent ahead of Walker’s appointment, before deciding to stay on as Australia Women’s head coach. In 2007, he spent the summer at Canterbury as part of a coaching exchange with New South Wales.

Fast bowler arrives at Chelmsford with county competing for the title

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Jun-2024Essex have signed the South African fast-bowling allrounder Eathan Bosch on a short-term deal, covering four Vitality County Championship matches.Bosch, 26, has claimed 92 wickets in 38 first-class matches since making his debut for KwaZulu-Natal in 2017, and heads for Chelmsford with the club once again challenging for the County Championship title. They are currently two points behind leaders Surrey at the halfway mark of the competition, and face Durham at Chelmsford in their next fixture on Sunday.”I’m super excited to be here,” said Bosch. “It was a pretty easy deal to accept, and I’m looking forward to my time with the Eagles. It will be nice to play outside of South Africa, and to see what my skills can bring to the table.””It will definitely be a learning experience, but I’m looking forward to experiencing a bit more of the country, and especially Chelmsford!”Essex Head Coach, Anthony McGrath, added: “Eathan is a terrific addition for us, and we’re delighted to welcome him to the team.”There’s huge value in a well-stocked seam bowling cupboard, and with his experience of bowling in different conditions, he will add a new dimension to our attack.”He will also be able to push everyone around him to new heights, which will be extremely beneficial as the Championship season heads towards its finale.”Bosch has a burgeoning ability with the bat too, having made a century and seven fifties in making 1,053 first-class runs at 22.89. Though he has yet to make his senior international debut, he represented South Africa at Under-19 level in two Tests and two ODIs, and appeared for Pretoria Capitals in the SA20 in 2023 and 2024.His arrival at Chelmsford comes after fellow seamer Ben Allison was loaned to Worcestershire for two Championship fixtures, a repeat of the short-term move he made at the end of the 2023 season.”This is an excellent opportunity for Ben to get game time while not compromising on the quality of cricket he will play,” McGrath said. “He is still developing as a cricketer, and the most important thing for him now is simply to be playing; as such, this is a great chance for him, and we’re looking forward to seeing how he gets on.”

Celtic missed out on signing an England international who is now picking up £400,000-a-week and has gone on to star away from Parkhead.

Celtic’s record signings

The Hoops have splashed the cash by their standards in recent years, breaking their transfer record last summer by bringing Arne Engels to Celtic Park.

Celtic chiefs enjoyed more success in the 2024/25 Champions League under Brendan Rodgers, and they may look to spend to become even more competitive in Europe.

Arne Engels

2024

£11m

Adam Idah

2024

£9.5m

Odsonne Edouard

2018

£9m

Jota

2025

£8m

Christopher Jullien

2019

£7m

Jota

2022

£6.5m

Auston Trusty

2024

£6m

Cameron Carter-Vickers

2022

£6m

John Hartson

2001

£6m

Chris Sutton

2000

£6m

Three of Celtic’s five most expensive signings of all time have happened since 2024, and asked whether or not the Hoops will be busy ahead of the 25/26 season, Rodgers said: “Yes, I think so.

“Again, we have to look at and adapt to situations as well. We all know fine well, here there’s a player trading model, which means that we will probably get offers for some of our players in the summer. And if that happens, then we have to be flexible and be able to adapt to that.

“If I said that everyone now would be here, then you’d maybe only have a few, two to three players coming in of high quality, but we’ll just have to see.”

Celtic's most expensive sales of all time

Celtic have let some of their finest talents move for big money in the past.

ByCharlie Smith Oct 3, 2025

Before Rodgers returned to Glasgow, though, Celtic missed out on signing a striker who has gone on to become a star.

Celtic missed out on signing Ivan Toney for £5m flop

Before joining Brentford in 2020, Ivan Toney was wanted in Scotland while on the books at Peterborough United.

Toney actually admitted he had talks with Celtic but “wanted to be the main guy”, which was why he moved to the Bees.

It has proven to be a costly mistake for Celtic, who ended up spending £5m on Albian Ajeti instead, with the Swiss striker not living up to the hype in Scotland.

As we know with Toney, he would help get Brentford promoted to the Premier League and star in the top flight, earning England caps along the way.

Ivan Toney’s career in pictures

In 2024, the centre-forward then sealed a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli, where he has continued to score on a regular basis and now collects in excess of £400,000-a-week.

That contract runs until 2028, so Celtic will surely look back on this and wish they offered Toney the main guy role he was after at the time instead of signing Ajeti.

One of the most underrated academies in English football could well be that of West Ham United. The Hammers have produced some exceptional players in the Premier League era, some of them going on to have legendary careers, though sadly away from East London.

Perhaps the most famous example is Frank Lampard, who broke through under Harry Redknapp and eventually joined Chelsea, where he became a key player at Stamford Bridge. Rio Ferdinand is another player who came through the Hammers academy, but he moved to Leeds, and then Manchester United, where he was a vital player under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Of course, there are other examples, including Jermaine Defoe, who broke through the first team at Upton Park. There are more recent talents to have come through West Ham’s academy system, who have now left.

Some of West Ham’s biggest academy losses

When you think of West Ham’s academy in the modern-day era, the one player who might spring to mind immediately is Declan Rice. The England international moved to Arsenal in 2023, but certainly left his mark on the London Stadium.

He made 245 appearances for the club, scoring 15 goals and grabbing 13 assists from defensive midfield in that time. He also helped them to win the UEFA Conference League back in 2023, one of his final acts as a West Ham player.

Another player, who people may not know was once a West Ham academy player, is Ayden Heaven. However, he was poached by Arsenal as a youngster, and is now at Old Trafford like Ferdinand once was. So far, the youngster has made two Premier League appearances.

Heaven is not the only former West Ham academy man now plying his trade in Manchester. Striker Divin Mubama joined Manchester City last summer, and he has gone on to play twice this season, scoring once against Salford City in the FA Cup.

However, perhaps the most frustrating loss of an anace,y player in recent years is someone else poached by Man City.

West Ham’s biggest academy loss

Over on the Blue half of Manchester, they are not short of elite talent. However, Divine Mukasa, formerly of West Ham, is arguably one of the most exciting. He was described as a “serious talent” by football analyst Ben Mattinson.

In fact, Mattinson also says he believes Mukasa “would be playing for West Ham’s first team right now if he had stayed”, which further shows just how talented he is. He has certainly reached an exceptionally high level this season.

Muksas’s numbers for City’s under-18s this term are nothing short of incredible. In 25 games in the Under-18s Premier League and the FA Youth Cup, a competition in which City are in the final, he has managed 17 goals and 21 assists.

To break that down further, he has found the back of the net 16 times and created 15 goals for his teammates in the league, making just 20 appearances. In just five FA Youth Cup games, he’s grabbed a phenomenal six assists.

Mukasa has also stood out in the UEFA Youth League for City, and his underlying numbers via Sofascore show how well he has played. In eight games, he averaged 1.7 key passes per game and completed 0.6 dribbles.

Minutes

54.1

433

Assists

0.6

3

Key passes

1.7

8

Dribbles completed

0.6

3

Tackles and interceptions

1

5

In a West Ham shirt for the under-18s, Mukasa’s record was not as good as it was for City. He managed just one goal and one assist in ten games, playing 610 minutes, the equivalent of 6.7 full 90-minute games.

Based on his sparkling form in the Etihad youth ranks, it might not be long before he earns his chance in Pep Guardiola’s first-team ranks, with the Irons left faced with the prospect of witnessing one of their own go on to shine elsewhere – much like with the case of three-time Premier League winner and all-time top Chelsea goalscorer, Lampard.

There is no doubt that fumbling Mukasa was a real error by the Hammers. His talent is clear to see, and he could have had an impact in their side this season, if only they had managed to keep hold of him two years ago.

Biggest wonderkid since Rice: West Ham struck gold on "electric" starlet

West Ham have struck gold on their biggest wonderkid since Declan Rice with this “top player”

ByConnor Holden Apr 17, 2025

Premier League rivals Man City and Liverpool are now believed to be targeting a Chelsea “superstar” this summer, with an approach already made for him ahead of the first window which opens on June 1st.

Chelsea's main transfer plans for this summer

As per reliable journalist Simon Phillips, sharing a fresh update on Enzo Maresca and BlueCo’s transfer plans, there are three main positions which they’d like to strengthen before next season.

Chelsea hold internal talks over re-signing star who Mourinho sold for £17m

The ‘special one’ elected to part company.

3 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 23, 2025

Chelsea are thought to be after a new centre-back, winger and striker as their three main priorities, and could even look to reinforce a host of other areas throughout the squad as well, but this will depend on many factors – like Champions League qualification and player sales.

“Chelsea’s priority is a new striker, centre back, and a winger,” said Phillips, via his Substack.

“But not just that. After those three, Chelsea are also discussing signing a new left back (or a defender who can play left back), a second centre back to arrive as well as the priority one (could be a hybrid CB/LB), a new goalkeeper, and a versatile attacker.

Everton (home)

April 26th

Liverpool (home)

May 4th

Newcastle (away)

May 11th

Man United (home)

May 16th

Nottingham Forest (away)

May 25th

“However, some of the latter will be Champions League-dependent as well as player sales-dependent.”

Their Club World Cup campaign may also be a crucial factor, as Maresca’s side are thought to be taking it very seriously with £100 million worth of prize money potentially on the line.

Meanwhile, Chelsea will most likely be looking to offload a host of players when the summer window opens, including the likes of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Alfie Gilchrist, Armando Broja, Raheem Sterling, David Datro Fofana, Renato Veiga, Carney Chukwuemeka, Ben Chilwell, Axel Disasi and João Félix – who are all away from Stamford Bridge on loan and don’t appear to have a long-term future.

Trevoh Chalobah is also likely to leave Chelsea, after initially being allowed to join Crystal Palace on a temporary deal before Maresca and co activated his recall clause, and a few more current squad members could well join him as BlueCo look to raise funds.

Man City and Liverpool eyeing move for Chelsea star Cole Palmer

However, one player who Maresca won’t want to ship out the door is Chelsea forward Cole Palmer.

The England sensation was by some distance their Player of the Season last term, and despite a slight dip in performance level this campaign, Palmer remains one of their most crucial assets and a truly unstoppable force on his day.

His £42.5 million signing from City in 2023 was an absolute snip, but according to Phillips, Pep Guardiola’s side are actually eyeing a move to re-sign their former academy star.

As per the reporter, both Liverpool and City are targeting Palmer from Chelsea, with the latter even making an enquiry recently, even if it is unlikely that the Blues would even entertain letting him go.

The “superstar” forward, according to reports in Spain last year, could even cost as much as £165 million – so it appears Chelsea could price their man out of the market.

Three World Cup semifinals, breaking a streak, a famous farewell and more

Omkar Mankame31-Oct-2025

India won the semi-final after completing the highest chase in Women’s ODI history•Getty Images

India beat New Zealand by 40 runs

2nd semi-final, Potchefstroom, World Cup 2005India stormed into their maiden World Cup final with a convincing 40-run win, knocking out defending champions New Zealand. Asked to bat first, India were rocked by two early wickets before Anjum Chopra and captain Mithali Raj steadied the innings through a 66-run stand. After Chopra’s fall, Raj continued undaunted and led India to 204 for 6 with an unbeaten 91.Mithali Raj’s knock took India into their maiden World Cup final•Getty ImagesNew Zealand’s chase unravelled swiftly. They lost two wickets for just 13 runs before Nooshin Al Khader struck twice in her very first over to deepen the crisis. Despite Maria Fahey’s fighting 73, India’s bowlers kept their discipline to script a historic entry into the final.

India beat Australia by 36 runs

2nd semi-final, Derby, World Cup 2017A rain-reduced semi-final. A Harmanpreet Kaur hurricane. A performance that transformed women’s cricket in India. In a 42-over contest, Harmanpreet’s unbeaten 171 off 115 balls was pure theatre – measured at first, monstrous later. She walked in at 35 for 2 and walked out with Australia shell-shocked. Her first fifty took 64 balls, the next two came in just 43 combined. India ended at 281 for 4; Harmanpreet had single-handedly redrawn the boundaries of what was possible.Harmanpreet’s epic 171 not out was studded with 20 four and seven sixes•Getty ImagesAustralia’s response was spirited. Elyse Villani’s fluent 75 gave them hope before a collapse saw them lose 6 for 43. Alex Blackwell’s late charge threatened a miracle, but Deepti Sharma bowled her for 90 off 56. The win sent India into the final at Lord’s and inspired a generation back home.

India beat England by 1 wicket

1st ODI, Nagpur, 2018The first meeting between India and England since their thrilling 2017 World Cup final ended in another nail-biter. England, batting first, slipped from 71 for 0 to 124 for 6 before Fran Wilson (45) and Danielle Hazell (33) took them to 207. Smriti Mandhana’s 86 set up India’s chase beautifully at 166 for 3, but a middle-order collapse left them teetering at 190 for 9.It took an unbroken last-wicket stand of 18 between Ekta Bisht and Poonam Yadav to steer India home with five balls to spare, sealing a thrilling win for the World Cup runners-up over the reigning champions.Jhulan Goswami celebrates the winning hit•Getty Images

India beat Australia by 2 wickets

3rd ODI, MacKay, 2021Big runs, baffling drops, bold catches, missed run-outs, a collapse, a front-foot no-ball ruling out a wicket, and… a record chase. India had come agonisingly close to snapping Australia’s record winning streak in the previous match, but faltered at the finish. This time, they held their nerve.Batting first, Australia rode on half-centuries from Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney, plus a rapid 32-ball 47 from Tahlia McGrath, to post 264 for 9. In reply, Shafali Verma and Yastika Bhatia’s century stand powered India to 160 for 1 inside 30 overs. A fightback from Australia reduced India to 208 for 6, and the tension deepened when the equation came down to four runs off the final over with two wickets in hand. Jhulan Goswami’s lofted drive off Nicola Carey finally broke Australia’s 26-match streak – a moment to savour for the veteran.Deepti Sharma runs out Charlie Dean backing up at the non-striker’s end•Getty Images

India beat England by 16 runs

3rd ODI, Lord’s, 2022India’s first ODI series win in England since 1999 led to tears on both sides – the Indians over the end of Goswami’s exemplary two-decade career and Charlie Dean at the thought of taking her side so close only to be undone in this way. The anticlimactic finish occurred in the 44th over, when running in to bowl the fourth ball, Deepti noticed Dean backing up too far at the non-strikers’ end and ran her out to claim the final wicket.Earlier, fifties from Mandhana and Deepti had taken India to 169 after being reduced to 29 for 4 inside the first hour. In reply, England were four down inside 12 overs and writing was on the wall at 65 for 7. Dean stitched partnerships of 38, 15, and 35 with the remaining batters but she was caught short with England 16 adrift.Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur take a moment off during their big stand•BCCI

India beat South Africa by 4 runs

2nd ODI, Bengaluru, 2024Four centuries – a first in a women’s ODI – and 646 runs in total. The game had everything, and it ended with a last-ball finish that went India’s way. Asked to bat first, India piled up their third-highest ODI total – 325 for 3 – with Mandhana and Harmanpreet smashing 136 and 103 not out respectively. South Africa, reduced to 67 for 3, seemed out of the contest until Laura Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp’s 184-run partnership took the game deep.It was down to ten required off the final over. Pooja Vastrakar conceded five off her first two balls and then struck twice in the next two. With five needed off the last delivery, Wolvaardt, finally back on strike, was deceived by a back-of-the-hand slower one.Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues kept India going•ICC/Getty Images

India beat Australia by 5 wickets

2nd semi-final, DY Patil, World Cup 2025India ended Australia’s latest World Cup juggernaut by producing the highest successful chase in women’s ODI history. Opting to bat, Australia were cruising towards 350, thanks to Phoebe Litchfield’s exuberant maiden World Cup hundred, and half-centuries from Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner. But India’s bowlers struck late, taking 8 for 118 to restrict them to 338.India were 60 for 2 after the powerplay when Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet began a yin-yang partnership that saw the team finding the fence regularly. Once the captain fell, Rodrigues carried on to an epic unbeaten 127, supported by quickfire cameos from Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, and Amanjot Kaur, to help India book their place in another World Cup final.

They have done it before but will have to do it with a shuffling batting order finding its feet

Karthik Krishnaswamy12-Feb-20241:33

Can the Vizag pitch be replicated in other Indian venues?

R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav.Jack Leach, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Shoaib Bashir, Joe Root.One of these spin attacks began this India-England series with 849 wickets at a combined average of 23.35, and the other with 191 wickets at 36.83.Two Tests into the series, one of them has taken 33 wickets at 33.90, and the other 23 at 38.39.It’s one thing that the averages are as close to each other as they are, given how brutally India’s spinners had outperformed their opposite numbers over their decade of home dominance leading into this series. It’s another thing entirely that those averages are the wrong way round.There’s reason to believe, too, that luck has contributed significantly to England’s returns so far. Where India’s batters have achieved a significantly better control percentage against spin than their England counterparts, their errors have cost them a lot more often. Roughly one in eight false shots from India’s batters has cost them their wicket, while England’s batters have survived 12 false shots per dismissal on average.Luck tends to even out over long series, but so far in this one, it has felt like India have contributed to their own misfortune, failing to turn their control into dominant positions.On day two in Hyderabad, a string of their batters were out to attacking shots against spin, with none of their top five falling to the traditional modes of dismissal: bowled, lbw, caught by keeper, slips or bat-pad. It was a passage of play that Rahul Dravid, India’s head coach, singled out as critical to their failure to convert a dominant position into one from which they could not lose. India’s first-innings lead of 190 was a tall order to overturn, but not one immune to a once-in-a-lifetime innings from Ollie Pope.Related

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“I thought we left probably 70 runs on the board in the first innings,” Dravid said. “You know, I think in our first innings, when conditions were pretty good to bat in on day two, I thought in the kinds of situations we got ourselves into, some good starts and we didn’t really capitalise. We didn’t get a hundred, you know, we didn’t get somebody getting a really big hundred for us. So, in some ways, in India, I just felt we left those 70-80 runs back in the hut in the first innings.”The feeling that India were leaving scorable runs unscored persisted into the second Test in Visakhapatnam. Five of their top six got past 20 in their first innings, and one of them scored a double-hundred, but their total fell just short of 400. In the second innings, India were at one point 354 ahead with six wickets in hand, but the target they set England fell, once again, just short of 400.Both innings were peppered with strange, hard-to-diagnose dismissals. In the first innings, Rohit Sharma glanced an offbreak straight into the lap of leg slip, and Axar and KS Bharat hit uppish square cuts straight to backward point. Shubman Gill gloved a reverse-sweep soon after reaching his hundred in the second innings, and Bharat pulled a long-hop straight into midwicket’s hands. On that Visakhapatnam pitch, spinners occasionally got the ball to stop and bounce awkwardly, so all those shots came with a certain amount of room for things to go wrong. Individually, it was hard to say whether the batters chose the wrong shot or executed the right shot poorly or happened to get that one ball that turned or bounced just that little bit more. Collectively, they added up to a picture of a line-up failing to cash in against a not-particularly-threatening attack, and failing to bat their opposition out of the game, for the second time in a row.1:13

Manjrekar: ‘India can’t expect Bumrah to bail them out’

It cost India a Test match in Hyderabad, and without Jasprit Bumrah doing Jasprit Bumrah things, who knows what could have happened in Visakhapatnam.It can happen when a batting line-up loses experienced heads. Virat Kohli is out of the entire series, and India seem to have moved on fully from Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. They began the series with a top six of whom only three had played more than 30 Tests, and two of these three – KL Rahul and Jadeja – missed the second Test with injuries. Even the more experienced batters who have featured in this series are getting used to new roles: Gill and Rahul are still new to the middle order, and Axar in Visakhapatnam was designated to bat in the top six for the first timeMost of these players, meanwhile, are white-ball regulars, so the only red-ball cricket they have played in recent months is the Test series at the turn of the year in South Africa – a series played on extravagantly seam-friendly pitches where they didn’t face a single ball of spin. It isn’t surprising then, that these batters have seemed a little rusty when it’s come to milking inexperienced spinners for session after session, keeping the runs flowing steadily while keeping certain risks – hitting the ball in the air, sweeping from the line of the stumps – to a minimum.It’s a skill that viewers often take for granted when they watch Indian batters, but it needs constant polishing like every other skill. India are no doubt working assiduously on it in the lead-up to the third Test in Rajkot, hoping that their batters can do their bit to restore the balance of power between the two spin attacks.

As captain, he is showing the ability to hit out as well as safely play out certain bowlers in the same innings

Sidharth Monga14-Apr-20224:30

Manjrekar: ‘Hardik stayed in the moment this innings and it paid off’

Hardik Pandya scored 50 off 42 in Gujarat Titans’ last match, against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Yash Jha tweeted an insightful stat after the innings. Pandya was the latest in the line of maverick India batters who had started to play “responsibly” the moment he was given captaincy. In their first season as an IPL captain, each of these batters’ strike rates took a big dip from their last two seasons. Pandya’s was the biggest: from 151.67 to 122.6.Of course, it is not just the captaincy. The structure of the Titans squad is such that Pandya is the main middle-order batter. In just four matches this season, Pandya had faced more balls in the first 10 overs than he has in any of the eight IPL seasons he has taken part in. There was a role to be performed, and Pandya was showing he could play that role. But in the process, were we losing what made Pandya special, especially the power-hitting that struck fear in the hearts of the bowlers?Related

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Three days on, though, Pandya showed batting responsibly doesn’t necessarily mean batting slowly. Walking in at 15 for 2 in the third over, Pandya scored an unbeaten 87 off 52 while others scored 86 off 52 when he was at the wicket. ESPNcricinfo’s Smart Stats valued Pandya’s innings at 100.42 smart runs.While Pandya’s earlier role in Mumbai Indians of maximising the 10-15 balls he used to get carried its own challenges, these longer innings ask a wider set of questions. Pandya’s responses were deliberate. He went after Kuldeep Sen but played out the first few exchanges against Yuzvendra Chahal – brought on to bowl the fourth over just for Pandya – and R Ashwin.Pandya came in with a strike rate of 104 and 100 against Chahal and Ashwin, and it didn’t take long to see why. Pandya enjoys a much better strike rate against pace than spin – 160 compared to 129 – but Chahal and Ashwin bowled just the right lines and lengths to Pandya. Neither of them gave him room nor did they pitch it in the slot. Pandya kept respecting them until it came down to the last six overs.”I am not used to batting this long,” Pandya told Star Sports when collecting his Player-of-the-Match award. “It is two games in a row that I have batted 15 and 17 overs. But I like it. It gives me time. I can calculate and take the right risks. I think in the last game it didn’t come off how I wanted but today I made sure that I had a sense of approach where I was ready to take on bowlers.”

“Batting at No. 4 gives me time to rightly calculate and take down certain bowlers and certain overs”Pandya on his new role

The intent, as Pandya said, was much better in this game, which could have to do with realising how difficult it can be for the death-overs specialists if those batting long don’t take the bowling on. Asked of the thought process behind taking on the No. 4 role, Pandya said: “It allows other players to play freely and not take too much pressure. I have been in the situation many times where I have taken on the bigger role which is to come in at the death and hit a 12-ball 30. I find it very difficult but because of that experience, batting at No. 4 gives me time to rightly calculate and take down certain bowlers and certain overs.”Thanks to this innings, Pandya’s numbers are looking much better for the season: an average of 76 at a strike rate of 137. He will still know that the strike rate needs to go further north even if it is at the expense of that lofty average. That balance is not easy to master especially in your first season in this role, but Pandya has made a start to getting back to the shape where he had made a case for himself just as a specialist batter in limited-overs internationals.In a press conference after a team selection, talking about Pandya’s mysterious fitness status, a journalist asked – rather told – the chairman of selectors Chetan Sharma that Pandya doesn’t play any domestic cricket and if he performs half-decently in the IPL, he will be right back in the World Cup side at the expense of other allrounders who are working hard. Chetan’s response was along these lines: do not speak on our behalf and conclude it is so easy for Pandya to get back in.However, if Pandya continues to bat the way he is, showing both the ability to hit out and play out certain bowlers in the same innings, forget Chetan, even the lovers of domestic cricket might have to concede. Plus his bowling fitness is a bonus. And, he confirmed the discomfort on the night was just cramps.

Newcastle United resume their Premier League campaign after the international break hesitant about what the near future holds.

Indeed, back-to-back away defeats to West Ham United and Brentford very much exposed Newcastle’s weaknesses, as a lethargic defence was caught out in both games in London, alongside the midfield ranks looking equally as ropey.

In particular, Joelinton has fallen short of his usual high standards in recent defeats, with only three duels won by the midfielder at the London Stadium, who was once referred to as an energetic “machine” by Magpies teammate Kieran Trippier.

He could well be dropped for some fresh blood centrally, therefore, as Manchester City do battle with the Toon to close out November up next.

In an ideal reality, though, Eddie Howe’s men would still have Elliot Anderson to call upon, as the former St James’ Park product continues to excel for both Nottingham Forest and England.

Why Newcastle would love Anderson back at St James' Park

Once upon a time on Tyneside, a far rawer, younger Anderson would be clamouring for more senior minutes at his boyhood club.

Unfortunately, that failed to come to fruition, courtesy of an injury-ravaged final season at the Toon. In total, Anderson would make just a paltry three league starts during this swansong year.

But, the revitalised 23-year-old has never looked back since leaving the Magpies behind, with the Forest number 8 now setting the standard for midfielders in the Premier League this campaign, even as his side loiter towards the bottom of the division.

It was yet another classy display from Anderson last time out in league action before the break interrupted Forest’s flow, winning five duels and making seven ball recoveries, keeping a nervous Leeds largely at bay in a vital 3-1 win. While he excelled again, Joelinton limped off against the Bees scared for what his first-team future holds.

He also shone for England to further pile on the Newcastle misery, as only six of his 136 passes didn’t reach their intended target against Serbia and Albania.

Thomas Tuchel even heralded him as “one of the best midfielders in the Premier League” in the build-up to the Serbia encounter.

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Safe to say, Newcastle desperately wish they still had the much-talked-about 23-year-old on their books, but Howe could start to unearth a new version of Anderson back on Tyneside.

Newcastle's next Anderson

Newcastle will need to ensure they don’t suffer another Anderson-style clanger soon, with Yankuba Minteh also sold prematurely by the Magpies, before he then exploded into life at Brighton and Hove Albion.

If they aren’t careful, they could lose Lewis Miley down the line, with the 19-year-old now ready for some “serious minutes” at his boyhood employers, according to journalist Liam Kennedy, after starring as a combative, yet skilful midfielder in flashes for Howe and Co in recent matches.

Much like Anderson has proven on the big stage countless times now for the Tricky Trees, Miley hasn’t looked fazed at all this season when also being dropped into the deep-end, particularly when he shone against Benfica in Champions League action to receive these rave reviews.

Indeed, the teenage sensation won all of his tackles on the night and also won four duels, while further exiting the field of play with only four passes going astray.

To further back up his similarities to the departed Anderson, the 19-year-old also stood out for the Three Lions at U21 level during the break when facing the Republic of Ireland.

Miley’s numbers for England U21s vs Ireland
Stat	Miley
Minutes played	75
Goals scored	0
Assists	0
Touches	73
Accurate passes	58/61 (95%)
Key passes	1
Tackles won	1/1
Interceptions	1
Clearances	1
Blocked shots	1
Ball recoveries	2
Total duels won	3/6
Stats by Sofascore

Miley has also being tipped for greatness at international level, far beyond his current age bracket, notably hailed as “England’s next superstar” by BBC pundit Pat Nevin.

Again, much like his showing against Benfica, Miley stood out as a calm and assured operator, also capable of getting stuck in, with a 95% pass accuracy, coupled with three tackles and ball recoveries being amassed.

Of course, Newcastle would love to have the finished product of Anderson at their disposal. But, to win him back, it is reported that it could take an eye-watering reported £100m to regain his services.

Therefore, Miley could be their next best bet, having been branded a “mature” performer by Howe this season when used irregularly. That word not only aptly describes the Toon’s budding midfielder but also Anderson.

A Thiaw repeat: Newcastle keen on signing "one of the best RBs in Spain"

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