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The country’s highest wicket-taker has been sidelined since his outburst at the 2015 World Cup. He’s now hoping to make his fortunes in T20 leagues across the world

Jake Perry29-Mar-2016A year has proved to be a long time in the career of Majid Haq. The fallout from the events of the 2015 World Cup has meant his Cricket Scotland contract has not been renewed, leaving the country’s most successful international bowler at a crossroads both on and off the field. Majid was sent back home from the tournament after he alleged on Twitter that his omission from the team for a game had racist undertones.Having just celebrated his 33rd birthday, an age at which a spinner is considered to be in his prime, he goes into the 2016 summer on the back of one of his best seasons in club cricket, his 357 runs, 30 wickets and match-winning returns of 8 for 20 and 7 for 10 leading Clydesdale to the 2015 Western District Cricket Union Championship title, their first in 20 years.”Things are looking good,” Majid said. “There are a lot of very good young players coming through. We’re a strong club but we just need to keep looking to get better and not just rest on what we did last season. We’ve got a great culture at the club and a lot of enthusiasm, so I hope it happens again this year.”But with the discouraging loss of his professional contract and no immediate prospect of a Scotland recall, he is looking to explore new horizons beyond club cricket. He is already putting out feelers to the international T20 leagues.”I was in the draft for the Pakistan Super League and the Caribbean Premier League this winter. I’d like something to happen, and if it’s not happening with Scotland, I need to move on and start afresh. I’ve got an eye on the PSL, the Bangladesh Premier League, maybe the Masters Champions League in the UAE if Scotland is no longer an option.”For today, though, he is happy to take the opportunity to look back as well as forward. As the holder of a raft of national records, a highest international T20 ranking of 16, and a place on All Out Cricket‘s all-time top 50 Associate cricketers list, there is much to reflect on.”It’s funny, you don’t get the chance to think about your career too much when you’re playing. This winter has been the first I have had away from the game in a long time. That’s when you analyse the stuff you have done.

“I remember a fifty in 2003 against Durham, who, at that time, had Shoaib Akhtar. We were 6 for 5 at one stage, I came in at No. 8 and got 55 not out”

And to Majid it is performance on the field that is everything. In this era of fitness advisors, dieticians and sports bra-style GPS performance monitors, there is something refreshingly old-school about a man who lists a fondness for “desserts and chilling” on his Twitter profile.”You get so many players who look amazing in the nets, who look so fit, beautiful body, always in the gym, but at the end of the day it’s what you do in the match, that’s where it counts. What is the point in having a beautiful looking body if you break down all the time?”Throughout my career I’ve had maybe two injuries which have kept me out for a total of about six weeks. I don’t look the fittest, I don’t get amazing fitness results, but I’m proud to have played more games for Scotland than anyone else.”He has done so in the role of an offspinner, of all things. In a country that produces nip-it-around dibby-dobblers by the hatful, how has he managed to be so successful?”It’s hard to say. Obviously I’ve played a lot of cricket. The more you play, the more you break records, but I’ve worked really hard to be consistent in my performance.”Softly spoken, engaging and immensely likeable, Majid’s easy-going air has sometimes been misinterpreted in a sporting world that, as Kevin Pietersen has found, often doesn’t take too kindly to individualism. But he agrees that that side of his personality has been among the keys to his success.”What’s happened over the last year has changed me a little bit, but before that, I was relaxed, just enjoying my cricket. That attitude always helped me do well.”People used to take being laid-back for having a bad attitude, but it’s just the way I am. Even my mum and dad say I’m like a little kid, though I’ve just turned 33!”Whatever his formula, it works. Since making his first-class debut in 2004, Majid has racked up 209 appearances for the national side, scoring over 2000 runs and taking 258 wickets, with a further 177 wickets for the A team. He represented Scotland at the 2007 and 2015 World Cups and at the 2007 and 2009 World T20s. In the four matches at the 2015 World Cup he conceded 4.88 runs an over, which placed him among the top 30 most economical bowlers in a tournament where the bat dominated to an unprecedented degree.”I’ve had some amazing times. Scoring 120 not out in a four-day game against Holland when I was asked to open the batting on the morning of the game by the coach, scoring a fifty against New Zealand A. I remember a fifty in 2003 against Durham, who at the time had Shoaib Akhtar as their overseas player. Along with Shaun Tait, he is the fastest bowler I have faced – seriously rapid. We were 6 for 5 at one stage, I came in at No. 8 and got 55 not out. I was only 20 then and I was very happy with that.”One part of me wants to play cricket for as long as I can, but there’s another part of me saying, maybe park that and move on and look at accounting, what I did my degree in, try and get a job in that”•Getty Images”It was special when I picked up my first international five-wicket haul as well [in the ODI victory over Ireland in Malahide in 2014]. What was important there was that we won the game too – when you play well and the team wins, those are the best moments.”The 2014 World Cup Qualifier in New Zealand, a tournament in which Majid took 11 wickets, stands out as a particular high.”Beating Kenya to qualify for the 2015 World Cup was one of the biggest highlights of my career. If we didn’t qualify, Cricket Scotland would have taken a huge financial hit, so it was a massive win. We lost the first game of the tournament to Hong Kong but we came back and played some superb cricket, some of the best cricket that I can remember being involved in.”But there have been those other ones too when, unfortunately, we haven’t got across the line. I took four wickets against West Indies back in 2007 as we lost a very close game. That was a really gutting loss. Against South Africa in the 2009 T20 World Cup – they scored 211 for 5 and I bowled four overs, 2 for 25 – I went at about six an over but the rest of the guys had a bit of a tough time. I got Jacques Kallis out that day, bowled. Probably my favourite wicket!”Majid’s national record of 88 international wickets also includes big-name scalps like Graeme Smith, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke and Kevin Pietersen.”My approach has definitely changed as I’ve got older. When you’re younger, you just go out and play without fear, but as you gather more experiences, good and bad, you learn to be more patient.”I think my greatest strength has always been control. It is very important to start the over well. If you do that, you put the batsman under pressure. So balls one and two are very important, and then at the end of the over you want to make sure you go for a dot or a one. You don’t want to get hit for a boundary if you’ve just bowled five good balls.

“I’ve got an eye on the PSL, the Bangladesh Premier League, maybe the Masters Champions League in the UAE if Scotland is no longer an option”

“In the last ten overs, you’re happy going for six an over. It’s boundaries that kill you. Although having said that, so many of the top players these days can hit your best ball for four or six.”I remember AB de Villiers in the 2009 World T20. I bowled him a perfectly good ball but he’s so quick on his feet, he just came down the track and hit me for six over long-on. All you can say is, ‘Great shot.’ You can’t really do much about it.”And T20? How does he adapt when all a batsman wants to do is get after him?”Yeah, T20 is a totally different game. You have to second-guess the batsman. In four-day cricket you can bowl a consistent area and do well, whereas in T20 the more inconsistent you are, the better. It’s why part-time bowlers do so well – they aren’t consistent in their lines and length.”Take Glenn McGrath. He bowled a perfect line and length all the time. In T20, though, he could get hit about a bit because of that predictability, so he had to work hard on his variations, yorkers, bouncers, slower balls and so on.”Majid too has a few tricks up his sleeve. “As a spinner you can only really bowl two lengths – either a good length or up in the blockhole – so you have to keep working on those variations: your arm ball, or one that just skids through,” he said. “I think about where I’m bowling from in the crease – wider or closer to the stumps, or a bit further back so I bowl a 23-yarder. It’s important to keep varying pace too, pushing it through a bit quicker or bowling a bit slower.”I beat a lot of batsmen in the flight. I’ve had a lot of stumpings in my career, or catches chipped back to me or to midwicket. One of my favourite wickets was in 2007, getting David Hussey stumped at the Grange. He came down the track and it was just perfect – drifted, pitched then turned in. Those are the ones that as a spin bowler you love, when the batsman comes down on the charge and it drifts and spins through the gate. I enjoyed that,” he said, smiling.Listening to Majid it is clear that his enthusiasm and desire to compete at the highest level are as strong as ever. But recent events have undoubtedly taken their toll.”Over the last year I’ve had a very tough time. I’ll play the summer first, give everything I can, but then I’ll have to make a decision in September about where I go from there.”One part of me wants to play cricket for as long as I can, but there’s another part of me saying, maybe park that and move on and look at accounting – what I did my degree in – try and get a job in that. I’ve got a lot of thinking to do over the next few months.”It would be a shame if Majid were to be lost to Scottish cricket. His craft, guile and big-match experience were sorely missed at the World T20 in conditions that would have ideally suited him. At a time when things are going to get tougher for the national side, a player of his pedigree can only enhance Scotland’s chances both on and off the field in the increasingly competitive world of Associate cricket.He can perhaps play a role closer to home, too.”I have a younger cousin, Omer Hussain, who has played more than 20 games for Scotland, but I have three other cousins who want to follow us and play at the highest level as well. One is Hamza Tahir, left-arm spinner, he’s 20. Then there’s Taimoor Ahmad, allrounder, and Haroon Tahir, a good offspinner, similar style to me. They’re both 16. They all have so much potential, it’s really exciting.”And if one of them went on to break his record? Majid breaks into a smile.”I’d be more than happy!”

Vusi Sibanda chose calculation over impulse during his first T20 international half-century – an innings sprinkled with his favourite stroke – and it worked well for him and his team

Karthik Krishnaswamy in Nagpur08-Mar-20161:10

Room for improvement in our fielding – Sibanda

It was the fourth over of Zimbabwe’s innings. Vusi Sibanda had faced five balls till then, and had sent two of them skimming back over the Hong Kong bowlers’ heads. Clean, crisp, effortless lofted drives. Now Haseeb Amjad dropped one slightly short. Out came the pull.It isn’t certain how many of the 182 – approximately – spectators at the VCA Stadium sat up a little more alertly at this moment, for Sibanda has a somewhat uneasy relationship with the pull. He connected crisply with this one, hitting it in the air but safely wide of the man at midwicket.In the commentary box, Pommie Mbangwa definitely got off his seat. “Good shot,” he yelled. “That’s his favourite!”So it is, just as cheesecake is for certain dieters.Sibanda has been out caught 103 times in international cricket. ESPNcricinfo has ball-by-ball descriptions of 80 of those dismissals. Of those 80 lovingly described dismissals, 20 have come about with Sibanda playing the pull. He loves the shot, he can’t help playing it. He scores a lot of runs with it, but it also gets him out a lot. Once, during a home Test-and-ODI series against Bangladesh in 2011, he was out pulling three times off the same bowler – Rubel Hossain.Haseeb Amjad, though, was bowling at around half Rubel’s pace, and on this Nagpur pitch anything remotely short was sitting up, waiting to be swatted into the leg-side gaps. Three balls later he sent down another short ball, and Sibanda swiveled and forced the square leg umpire into an ungainly crouch.Later, in the ninth over of Zimbabwe’s innings, Sibanda picked up another pulled four, this one the best of the lot, his weight still on the front foot while dispatching Aizaz Khan in front of square. Once again, a safe shot, its execution owing far more to calculation than impulse.Calculation over impulse was an overwhelming feature of Sibanda’s 46-ball 59, his first half-century in T20Is. For a batsman with a wide range of shots, against a modest bowling attack, his wagon wheel showed impressive restraint on a slow pitch. He hit five fours and two sixes, and all of them were the result of two shots: the pull against anything short, and the lofted straight drive when it was pitched further up. Otherwise, given the slowness of the surface, he was content letting the ball come on and showing a full face to push the ball down the ground or work it off his pads. Only one of his scoring shots came behind the wicket.The restraint was vital to Zimbabwe, who needed someone to tide them through a difficult period when they lost a heap of wickets, some of them carelessly. It was also surprising, coming in the 16th year of an international career full of promising starts and rash dismissals. While it is utterly premature – and perhaps ill-advised – to think Sibanda may have turned a corner at this stage of his career, it must be noted that he has made three 40-plus scores in five T20 innings since his latest comeback during the tour of Bangladesh in January.”It’s possibly more to do with mindset,” Sibanda said, when asked if he had changed his game in any way. “Also, I just want to achieve a little bit more than I did in the past, and [I’m] just focusing on my game a little bit more than I did before. Hopefully it pays off in the future.”Maybe the more time you play, the more you understand your game, and now I’d like to say I’m getting to know myself a little bit more.

The injured fast bowler has said India’s attempts to sledge Australia were a ‘defensive mechanism’ in response to the fear that they might lose the series

Daniel Brettig22-Mar-20170:25

Steven Smith upbeat after Ranchi draw

Australia’s injured spearhead Mitchell Starc has said India’s verbal confrontations with the tourists were the result of fear over losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after their unexpected defeat in the opening Test of the series in Pune.Starc, who flew home with a foot stress fracture after the second Test in Bengaluru but hopes to be fit in time for the ICC Champions Trophy later in June, stated that a young Australian side had not gone to India looking for fights but found themselves in several stoushes after the dramatic result in Pune.”It’s probably come a lot more from their side than ours,” Starc told . “There’s been a lot made of it before the series, there was so much hype before the series, and I think we’ve gone about the cricket as we have done for a long time now. As a young group, we’re probably still finding our way. We’re still learning about each other’s games and how we’re going as a team probably since the Hobart Test match [last year].”It’s probably showed in how the guys have been playing their cricket, especially the way they batted [in Ranchi]. A couple of young guys performed outstandingly well, [like] Peter Handscomb. It shows who we are as a group and things have come hard, and it’s almost a defensive mechanism for them that we won the first Test match, we’re here for the challenge.”They were scared of us, beating them in India the way they’ve been playing as well. So it was almost a defensive mechanism for them and obviously they come out in the second Test match, performed really well and got back into it.”‘I think we can win. I think we’ve showed throughout the series that we’re definitely up for the challenge’ – Mitchell Starc•Associated PressAustralia’s attitude on the tour has been one of learning and humility, as demonstrated by the way Handscomb and Shaun Marsh played out the final afternoon of the Ranchi Test to secure a draw under concerted Indian pressure. Starc pointed to the eagerness of 20-year old Matt Renshaw to learn about the game – so much that he has tried the patience of some team-mates – as an example.”The more time he spends out in the middle the less time we have to listen to him,” Starc said, laughing. “He’s different but he’s a lovely kid. Loves his cricket, just loves batting – so I think that’s obviously shown in how he’s gone about his cricket in India.”His first trip there, he’s learning – he’s probably not eating the right things, being sick all the time – but he’s performing quite well. He says some strange things, he comes up with some strange theories. He talks a load about [Don] Bradman and whether he scored those runs. He keeps talking about bats these days. He talks like he’s 35.”Starc said his foot fracture was not as serious as the one that kept him out of much of the 2015-16 season. “The foot is okay. It’s not snapped in half like the one 18 months go,” he said. “It’s the same foot, so I did the third metatarsal the last time, this is the fourth. Nice fracture. It’s not displaced though.”I don’t need a boot fortunately. I’m still in the gym getting myself ready for when I do come back whenever that might be. I see the specialist on Thursday and hopefully get a clearer picture then. But the Champions Trophy is clearly not out of the picture.”Looking ahead to the final Test in Dharamsala, Starc said the Australians had demonstrated their ability to defend and attack at the right times. “I think we can win. I think we’ve showed throughout the series that we’re definitely up for the challenge,” he said. “We’re in the fight – we have been for three Test matches. We can knuckle down when we need to but we can attack when we want to and we can.”

The allrounder batted for more than three hours to make 75 off 159 balls in the tour game against India A, who responded in kind with Shreyas Iyer smacking an unbeaten 85 off 93 balls

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Feb-2017
ScorecardMitchell Marsh followed in his brother Shaun’s footsteps, with a fifty-plus score in the tour game against India A to perhaps bolster his chances of a Test recall. He spent over three hours at the crease in Mumbai, making 75 off 159 balls with 11 fours and a six to help the Australians declare on 469 for 7 on the second day.Australia have been struggling for an allrounder to make the No. 6 spot their own and Marsh had himself enjoyed a considerably long run before he was dropped after the home series loss to South Africa late last year. He averages only 23.18 from 19 Tests so far and bowls seam up, which may go against him considering the conditions in India and the fact Australia already have Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood in their squad to swing the new ball and reverse the old.However, with his 17th first-class half-century, Marsh has done his bit to stay in contention. His nearest competitor appears to be Glenn Maxwell, who has his own issues with regards to playing up to potential in Test cricket. He is not established as a batsman, but on his day can still be explosive and can also chip in with a few overs of part-time offspin.”I’ve certainly batted more than ever over the past few weeks, just trying to get better and trying to learn as much as I can,” Marsh said of the opportunity presented by the need to rest his bowling shoulder. “You never want to get injured but it was nice to get a couple of weeks off, I’m feeling really strong at the moment so hopefully the body can hold up.”Probably the biggest thing for me has just been softening my hands, in my defence and also in my attack as well. The later you hit the ball, the easier it is to hit gaps especially in the subcontinent when it’s turning. If you have a solid defence, you can attack the balls that are there to attack and really back your defence.”That’s something I’ve learnt, playing in the subcontinent a couple of times now through my own experiences. I think I’ve just faced a lot more spin over the time, and I’ve learned that rotating the strike is really important, especially in the subcontinent for getting off strike.”India A’s batsmen too profited on a Brabourne stadium pitch that was quite true. Shreyas Iyer smashed 85 off 93 balls with five sixes and seven fours at No. 3. He was unbeaten at stumps, alongside Rishabh Pant, who was batting on 3.For the Australians, Jackson Bird was highly economical with a spell of 11-7-15-2 while Nathan Lyon provided the first wicket of the innings, dismissing Akhil Herwadkar and later accounted for Priyank Panchal, the top-scorer in India’s premier domestic first-class tournament, the Ranji Trophy, in 2016-17.

Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah among the premier players rested for the series

ESPNcricinfo staff22-May-202211:36

Shastri: On current form, India might just play Malik against SA

Rohit Sharma, the designated all-format captain, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah are among the senior players to be rested for India’s five-match T20I series at home against South Africa next month. KL Rahul has been named the captain of the 18-man side, which welcomes back Hardik Pandya, and has maiden call-ups for Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh.Also missing from the squad are Deepak Chahar, Ravindra Jadeja and Suryakumar Yadav, who are all carrying injuries. Chahar, of Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, has a back injury, and played no part in the tournament. Jadeja, also of Super Kings, left the IPL with a bruised rib that he picked up earlier this month, while Mumbai Indians’ Suryakumar also left the IPL earlier this month because of a left-forearm injury.Related

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From the squad that took on Sri Lanka in their T20I series, also in India, in February this year, Mohammed Siraj and Sanju Samson have been left out. Kohli, who last played a T20I in February, against West Indies, had been rested for the Sri Lanka series as well. In fact, since stepping down as India’s T20I captain after the 2021 T20 World Cup, Kohli has played only two T20Is.As such, both Kohli and Rohit have been in patchy form at the IPL. Rohit, whose Mumbai Indians finished last on the points table, had a best score of 48 and tallied 268 runs overall from 14 innings, scoring at an average of 19.14 and a strike rate of 120.17. Kohli’s run was arguably even poorer, but he has shown signs of returning to form of late, hitting 73 in 54 balls in Royal Challengers’ last game, against Titans, which gave them an eight-wicket win and helped them stay in contention for the playoffs. Overall, Kohli has 309 runs from 14 innings, at an average of 23.76 and a strike rate of 117.93.IPL form is likely to have played a part in the Hardik and Dinesh Karthik recalls too.ESPNcricinfo LtdKarthik, one of the top finishers in the competition this year, last played a T20I – or a match in any format for India – in 2019, but forced the selectors to turn to him after hitting 287 runs at a strike rate of 191.33 in the IPL 2022 league stage. He has also been the best Indian batter in the death overs this season [min 30 balls faced], striking at 226.37.Hardik, meanwhile, last turned out for India at the 2021 T20 World Cup, but played primarily as a batter, bowling only in a couple of games in the group stage. But he has bowled a lot more in IPL 2022 – 24.3 overs across eight innings – where he has led Titans to the top of the points table. With the bat, he had an excellent start to the tournament, but then tapered off before smashing 62 not out in 47 balls in their last match, against Royal Challengers Bangalore.His international appearances have been sporadic of late, especially since back problems, which necessitated a surgery, cropped up in 2019. But Hardik has always remained a part of India’s plans, which was evident when he was asked by the BCCI to take the fitness tests at NCA days before the IPL began. It is understood that the national selectors wanted to be sure that Hardik can consistently bowl at least a couple of overs in every match.Arshdeep and Malik, meanwhile, have been among the most exciting young Indian quicks at the IPL. Malik has consistently bowled at speeds upwards of 150kph, and has 21 wickets to show for his efforts even while he has, at times, been expensive. Arshdeep has been the go-to bowler for Punjab Kings at the death, his yorkers reaping great rewards for him on most occasions. He hasn’t always been a big wicket-taker, though, with ten strikes in 13 outings, but has an overall economy rate of 7.82 this season, and an impressive death-overs economy of 7.31, the best among all bowlers to have sent down at least 50 balls in that phase.The players to retain their places in the squad were Ruturaj Gaikwad, Deepak Hooda and Shreyas Iyer in the batting line-up, wicketkeeper-batters Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan, allrounder Venkatesh Iyer, spinners Yuzvendra Chahal, the Purple-Cap holder at the IPL at this stage, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Ravi Bishnoi, and seamers Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel and Avesh Khan.But two of the names that had been discussed during IPL 2022 after making big impressions – batter Rahul Tripathi and quick bowler Mohsin Khan – didn’t get a look-in.

A round-up of the second week of matches, which included a very dodgy umpiring decision which is under BCB review

Mohammad Isam28-Mar-2022Key takeawaysPrime Bank Cricket Club and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club continue to lead the Dhaka Premier League points table with four wins each but both clubs also dropped their first points during the second week of the tournament.The main talking point this week, though, was an umpiring decision during the Abahani Limited-Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity match on March 27. Umpire Masudur Rahman gave Khelaghar’s Hasanuzzaman lbw despite the ball clearly hitting the bat. The strangest part was that the bowler Arafat Sunny and wicketkeeper Jaker Ali didn’t appeal for the lbw decision; only Hanuma Vihari at slip made an appeal. The BCB has given a showcause notice to umpire Rahman while the video clip has gone viral on social media.Best battersLegends of Rupganj’s Naeem Islam struck two centuries in the DPL’s second week, after he got out thrice in the nineties in the first week. Naeem struck 124 against Abahani and an unbeaten 114 against Rupganj Tigers.Not too far behind in the top run-getters’ chart is Anamul Haque who made 184 this week against Shinepukur Cricket Club. It is the third highest List A score in Bangladesh, while his side Prime Bank Cricket Club’s 388 for 4 became the second-highest team score in List A matches here.Among the overseas players, Rupganj’s Chirag Jani and Shinepukur’s Sikandar Raza have also been among the big runs.Best bowlersLeft-arm quick Qazi Onik leads the top wicket-takers’ chart with a tally of 13, but there are three left-arm spinners hot on his heels – Sunzamul Islam, Rakibul Hasan and Nazmul Islam.Mohammad Ashraful’s maiden five-wicket haul included him dancing in five different styles to celebrate each wicket. But Shuvagata Hom’s 5 for 25 for Mohammedan Sporting Club beat Ashraful’s Brothers Union in this game.Best matchOnik kept Dhiman Ghosh at bay in the last over to take Gazi Group Cricketers to a six-run win against Brothers Union in a high-scoring thriller at the BKSP-3 ground on March 28. Batting first, Gazi Group reached 297 for 8 with Farhad Hossain making 92 and captain Akbar Ali hitting a 23-ball 42 with four sixes.Imtiaz Hossain struck his sixth List A hundred, but Brothers Union only picked up pace when Dhiman and Sohag Gazi added 40 runs for the seventh wicket. Dhiman struck two fours in the last over, in which they took 12 when they needed 19 to win.Points to ponderCity Club remain bottom with four losses out of four, while Khelaghar beat Prime Bank to bring them their first points. Defending champions Abahani meanwhile are in sixth place with two wins.Players to watchAnamul has been the standout performer this week, particularly with his six-hitting. He has struck 20 big ones, taking a huge lead over Naeem and Raza who have hit 11 sixes each. Anamul could be Bangladesh’s answer for their demand of a six-hitting opener in T20Is.

Julen Lopetegui and his West Ham side managed to record their fifth win of the campaign on Monday, beating Wolves 2-1, climbing to 18 points in the Premier League, just one point behind Manchester United in 13th.

West Ham held more of the ball against Wolves, with 54% possession, as both teams took 19 shots in the game, the Hammers creating one big chance and Wolves creating two.

Goals from Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen secured the points for the Hammers, and these two goals could prove to be vital for the future of Lopetegui, whose future seems to be riding on each game.

Why the pressure is on Julen Lopetegui at West Ham

The 58-year-old Spaniard has struggled in his first months at the club, aiming to completely change the identity of the Hammers from a counter-attacking outfit under David Moyes to a more control-based side.

West Ham are averaging 46.9% possession (ranking 13th in this metric in the division), taking 15 shots per game (6th most in the league) and scoring 20 goals in 14 games so far. In comparison to last season under Moyes, the Hammers averaged 40.5% possession (4th lowest), taking 11.8 shots per game (5th fewest) and scoring 60 goals in 38 games.

Despite improvements in key metrics, this has left West Ham defensively open, with their press often being pierced open far too easily. This sees the Hammers 14th in the Premier League after 14 games played, conceding 16 shots per game – the fourth-highest total across the top-flight – and conceding 28 goals.

A loss against Wolves could well have been the end for Lopetegui, but a big performance from a defender Lopetegui continues to show faith in may be the one that saved his job.

The West Ham star who just saved Lopetegui

After a performance back in September by Konstantinos Mavropanos, Tom Rennie claimed the defender was “nowhere near Premier League quality”. However, his most recent performance was key to West Ham beating Wolves 2-1, and Lopetegui’s faith in the 27-year-old has paid off.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.

Mavropanos has made 13 appearances for the Hammers this season, contributing to three cleans, and totaling 908 minutes played. Perhaps fortuitous not to give away a penalty late on, he arguably saved one of his best displays in an Irons shirt for ‘El Sackico’ on Monday night.

Minutes

90

Touches

67

Accurate Passes

45/50

Long Balls

6/7

Ground Duels Won

4/4

Aerial Duels Won

1/4

Clearances

3

Blocks

1

Interceptions

3

Tackles

2

The 27-year-old won 100% of his ground duels, making three interceptions and two tackles. Mavropanos was key to stopping in-form Matheus Cunha, working in tandem with Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the right side of defence in order to nullify the threat of the Brazilian Wolves forward.

But the passing quality was also important in order for the Hammers to control the game (averaging 54% possession as stated above), taking 67 touches, making 45/50 accurate passes, whilst also completing six out of seven long balls attempted.

The recent performances of Mavropanos have kept new signing, Jean-Clair Todibo out of the side, as he partners another new signing Max Kilman in central defence. But Lopetegui will need to see more of the same from the defender if they want to continue to gain points and climb their way up the table.

Not Potter: West Ham can get Fullkrug firing by hiring "incredible" coach

West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui is on the brink of being fired after wretched results this season.

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As Manchester City look to use the January transfer window to reinforce a struggling squad, Juventus chief Cristiano Giantoli reportedly met with the Premier League champions to discuss two players.

Man City transfer news

Six games without victory in all competitions, injuries piling up and fresh from conceding a 3-0 lead and drawing 3-3 against Feyenoord in the Champions League, Manchester City’s blip is quickly turning into a crisis. For the first time in his managerial career, Pep Guardiola looks out of solutions, out of energy and perhaps heading towards the ultimate afternoon to forget against runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday.

Whether the blame lies with injuries, the tactical set-up or individual performances, for the first time in what feels like a long time, Manchester City are in desperate need of reinforcements. At the very least, they must find a replacement for the injured Rodri in the January transfer window – something they’ve seemingly discussed.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, via Sport Witness, Juventus director Giuntoli has held talks with Manchester City over potential deals to send Nicolo Fagioli and Douglas Luiz to the Etihad in permanent deals in the January transfer window.

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The Italian giants reportedly value Fagioli at between €20-25m (£17-21m), whilst valuing Luiz at a hefty €50m (£41m) ahead of the winter window. Two midfielders, City could certainly do with signing such a duo, but it remains to be seen whether those at the Etihad will splash the cash in January or wait until the summer.

Luiz, of course, would be a fitting option, given that he’d be seeking Manchester City redemption after failing to break into Guardiola’s side as a young player. Breaking into the spotlight ever since, Luiz worked his way back to the top at Aston Villa only to now face familiar struggles at Juventus. Possibly in need of a fresh start, the Brazilian could go back to where it first began in England.

"Clever" Luiz could make perfect sense

If Manchester City have the opportunity to reunite with a familiar face to solve their midfield problem, then they should take it with both hands. Luiz previously starred in the Premier League – just last season, in fact – and has already worked under Guardiola. And whilst his Juventus spell hasn’t quite gone to plan, a return to a league he excelled in should only result in a return to form.

Guardiola, himself, was full of praise for the former Aston Villa man back in 2021, telling reporters as relayed by The Boot Room: “He’s a guy who plays all of the minutes. He’s an important player for Aston Villa. A guy who’s clever with the ball, so physically strong. He’s a lovely, lovely guy.”

City will have to splash out to secure his signature, but in the current climate, the Premier League champions may be left with no choice as their crown continues to slip.

What are some of the contests that could decide the outcome of the Test series?

Andrew McGlashan02-Mar-2022Shaheen Shah Afridi vs everyoneHasan Ali has an injury. Haris Rauf has Covid. Shaheen Shah Afridi was vital to Pakistan’s chances anyway, but that has only increased in recent days. It is remarkable to think he is still only 21. He was the leading quick bowler in Test cricket during 2021 with 47 wickets at 17.06. Australia had a brief taste of his rapid, late swing during the T20 World Cup – albeit with the white ball – when a stunning opening over removed Aaron Finch and very nearly Mitchell Marsh although they, and more specifically, Matthew Wade had the final say. In these Tests, his early duels with David Warner could be key: Afridi averages 18.34 against left handers. Warner has a phenomenal record against Pakistan (he averages 108.40) and was savage on them during the 2019-2020 series in Australia but Afridi has grown over those intervening two years. The issue for Pakistan will be that it can’t be all on Afridi’s shoulders.Related

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Can the short ball work to Smith?The last time Australia played overseas during the 2019 Ashes, Steven Smith produced one of the finest series of all time with 774 runs at 110.57. Since then, however, he has averaged 36.86 from 14 Tests with just a single century against India. Some of that has been attributed to the sickening blow he took from Jofra Archer at Lord’s, although he made a double century on his return from concussion. There has certainly been a concerted approach to bowl short at the body since then – a tactic well-executed by Neil Wagner in 2019-2020 – which has also kept his scoring rate down. Since October 1, 2019, Smith has fallen 10 times to deliveries logged as short-of-a-good-length or short in ESPNcricinfo’s data. However, there have been other plans that have worked well, too, including R Ashwin’s approach and a heavy leg-side field set by India. Afridi has the pace to potentially trouble Smith with the short delivery, but Pakistan will have to be wary of bowling him into the ground and the likelihood of playing three quicks (more on the balance of the side below) may also limit being able to have operate in lengthy short-ball spells.Mohammad Rizwan could be important against Nathan Lyon•Getty Images/AFPBabar Azam vs Josh HazlewoodBabar Azam is a wonderful batter, but few have troubled him like Josh Hazlewood who has claimed him six times (the next most is three dismissals to the same bowler). It does need noting that four of those came early in Babar’s career on the 2016-17 tour of Australia and on the previous tour in 2019-2020 he left a mark with a century in Brisbane and 97 in Adelaide although Hazlewood removed him twice. Australia always target the opposition captain and if Hazlewood can keep a hold over Babar it could be a major factor in the series. Although Babar has remained a consistent run-scorer in recent times, it is 11 Tests since he has scored a century. Hazlewood is not actually an incumbent in the side after missing most of the Ashes with a side strain but it would be a huge surprise if he did not return.The approach against Nathan LyonOne of the big decisions Australia need to make is around the balance of their attack. It would seem likely that Nathan Lyon will be lone the specialist spinner for the first Test at least and how Pakistan go about playing him could be a key feature. Although Australia now have the benefit of a five-strong attack with Cameron Green, there will likely be occasions when Pat Cummins will want to lock Lyon in from one end. Two important figures in Pakistan’s batting order in this regard will be Fawad Alam and Mohammad Rizwan who are both excellent players of spin. Fawad’s Test career is remarkable in many ways with an 11-year gap shortly after a century on debut and now he has five hundreds in just 15 matches. Rizwan, meanwhile, has only been dismissed once by a spinner in Test cricket.Australia’s all-round advantageThe injury to Faheem Ashraf removes one of the key match-ups, at least for the first Test, with Green and leaves Australia with a much stronger all-round option to balance their side. Pakistan have called up Iftikhar Ahmed, who has played three Tests, and the uncapped Mohammad Wasim jnr, but neither have the pedigree of Ashraf who averages 35.11 with the bat and can both chip in with wickets and take pressure off the specialist bowlers. This is Green’s first international series overseas but he comes off an Ashes where his bowling came to the fore and then he found form with the bat in the latter stages.

Everything you need to know about Sadio Mane's salary playing for Saudi side Al Nassr

Ever since his move from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, Sadio Mane has become an important player at the Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr.

The former Liverpool star has developed a lethal partnership playing alongside Real Madrid and Manchester United icon Cristiano Ronaldo and just like the Portuguese attacker, Mane is on incredible wages playing in Saudi.

But exactly how much does the Senegalese earn playing for Al Nassr? Let's find out!

GOAL delved into the numbers from Capology and found out!

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Sadio Mane's salary in numbers

Under the terms of his contract at Al Nassr, Mane earns about £644,987 ($833,033), per week while his annual salary scales over £33 million ($43m).

This makes the Sengelase the second top earner at the club after a certain Portuguese.

Player

Nationality

Weekly wages GBP

Weekly wages USD

Annual wages GBP

Annual wages USD

Sadio Mane

Senegalese

£644,987

$833,033

£33,539,324

$43,331,736

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTop earners at Al Nassr

As it stands, Cristiano Ronaldo sits undisputedly at the top of the Al Nassr wage bill with an astronomical salary, followed by Mane who has also been an important player for the Saudi side.

At number three comes in former Manchester City centre-back Aymeric Laporte, while Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozovic and recent signing Jhon Duran acquire the fourth and fifth spot in the list.

Top 5 highest paid players at Al Nassr

Player

Nationality

Weekly wages GBP

Weekly wages USD

Annual wages GBP

Annual wages USD

Crisitiano Ronaldo

Portuguese

£3,224,935

$4,166,513

£164,696,622

$216,658,680

Sadio Mane

Senegalese

£644,987

$833,303

£33,539,324

$43,331,736

Aymeric Laporte

Spanish

£395,055

$510,398

£20,542,836

$26,540,688

Marcelo Brozovic

Croatian

£390,217

$504,398

£20,291,291

$26,215,700

Jhon Duran

Colombian

£329,105

$504,148

£17,113,440

$22,110,018

Top earners in Saudi Pro League

Just like the Al Nassr wage bill, Ronaldo maintains his position at the top even when it comes to the overall wage bill across the league.

Following him is his former Real Madrid team-mate Karim Benzema.

At third comes Al Ahli's Riyad Mahrez, while Senegal internationals Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly acquire the final two spots respectively.

Top 5 highest paid players in the Saudi Pro League

Player

Club

Weekly wages GBP

Weekly wages USD

Annual wages GBP

Annual wages USD

Cristiano Ronaldo

Al Nassr

£3,224,935

$4,166,513

£167,696,622

$216,658,460

Karim Benzema

Al Ittihad

£1,612,468

$2,083,57

£83,848,311

$108,329,340

Riyad Mahrez

Al Ahli

£841,708

$1,087,460

£43,768,818

$56,547,915

Sadio Mane

Al Nassr

£644,987

$833,303

£433,539,324

$43,331,736

Kalidou Koulibaly

Al Hilal

£559,526

$722,890

£25,095,364

$37,590,281

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Al-NassrHighest paid players in the world

The top earners in Saudi defenitely earn insane sums of money in the league, but how do they fare in the highest-paid players across the world? Well, it turns out that the top five of the Saudi Pro League are also the top earners across the footballing world, even leaving behind some of the best and oldest clubs from Europe.

Top 5 highest paid players in the world

Player

Nationality

Weekly wages in GBP

Weekly wages in USD

Annual wages in GBP

Annual wages in USD

Cristiano Ronaldo

Portuguese

£3,224,935

$4,166,513

£167,696,622

$216,658,680

Karim Benzema

French

£1,612,468

$2,083,257

£83,848,311

$108,329,340

Riyadh Mahrez

Algerian

£841,708

$1,087,460

43,768,818

$56,547,915

Sadio Mane

Senegalese

£644,987

$833,303

£33,539,324

$43,331,736

Kalidou Koulibaly

Senegalese

£559,526

$722,890

£29,095,364

$37,590,281