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ESPNcricinfo staff07-Nov-2015Tamim Iqbal, who was troubled by Tinashe Panyangara early in his innings, settled down and stitched a useful partnership of 70 with Mushfiqur Rahim•AFPSikandar Raza dismissed both Tamim and Shakib Al Hasan in quick succession to leave Bangladesh shaky•AFPMushfiqur, however, anchored the side, sharing a crucial 119-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Sabbir Rahman•AFPAlthough Bangladesh lost a few quick wickets at the end, Mushfiqur’s fourth ODI hundred set the base for their score of 273 for 9•Associated PressJongwe, promoted to open in place of Richmond Mutumbami, who injured his ankle while keeping, gave the visitors a brisk start•AFPShakib then came into the attack and rattled the chase with subtle variations in length and flight•Associated PressHe went onto claim his maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs while his captain Mashrafe Mortaza passed 200 wickets•Associated PressElton Chigumbura offered some resistance with 41 off 51 balls but it was only a matter of time before Bangladesh surged to a 145-run victory•Associated Press

Such are England’s problems in utilising the first six overs of their batting innings that matches are often decided in that period and the biggest hole they have is at No. 3

George Dobell in Barbados12-Mar-20140:00

Dobell: England top order continues to fail

It remains the subject of some debate just what Ashley Giles scribbles into his notebook as his watches his England side in action.You might think, at first glance, that Giles is jotting down ideas and concerns to share with the team at a later date. But so prolific is Giles, that some suggest he is transcribing the works of Tolkien. Others that he is writing a novel. For all the improvement – or lack of it – in England’s T20 performances in recent times, he might simply have been drawing pictures of cows.But if Giles has been focussing on the Powerplay in the England innings of late, he may have pages filled with the words ‘the horror, the horror.’England’s Powerplay batting continues to let them down. It is not so much that they fail to take advantage of the run-scoring opportunities offered in the first six overs, it is that they repeatedly lose wickets, thereby undermining the remainder of the innings. Rather often, the result is decided within the first 20 minutes of the match.Michael Lumb fell early as England again failed to exploit the first six overs•Getty ImagesCertainly that was the case here. By limping to 30 for 3 from the first six overs – West Indies, by contrast, were 58 for 1 – they put themselves at a disadvantage from which they never recovered. Not the excellent batting of Jos Buttler, the clever bowling of Ravi Bopara – who equalled the most economical performance for England in T20Is – or the fact that some of West Indies’ fielding was wretched could help them.This defeat means England have lost not just this series, but their last five T20I matches. It means they go into the World T20 with their confidence low and their plans seemingly in tatters. After all, with just one game to go before they depart for Bangladesh, they called in two players for debuts, tried a new No. 3, utilised a stand-in captain and used a bowler who had delivered one over in his last five T20Is. To end a two-year cycle blooding new players and attempting new tactics suggests all plans to that point have come to nothing. It is hard to avoid the conclusion that England are in chaos.It is no coincidence that, in those last five defeats, England have lost three wickets in the first six overs on four occasions and two on the other one. Nor is it any coincidence that they last time they won a T20 match, against Australia at Chester-le-Street, they made it through the first six overs without losing a wicket. Taking advantage of those six overs and retaining wickets is not an easy task, but the consistency with which England are getting it wrong suggests there is something fundamentally wrong with the way they are doing things.England neither score fast or retain wickets. They managed only two boundaries – both fours – in those first six overs while losing three wickets, while West Indies hit six sixes and three fours.It is, then, worth reflecting on the make-up of the top three. Alex Hales, who was recently rated the No. 1 T20 batsman in the world, is surely worth perseverance, while Michael Lumb, who has only passed 22 once in seven innings, might be living on borrowed time. Certainly that ODI century in Antigua is starting to feel like a long time ago.

Powerless plays

England’s scores in last six power-plays and the result of the match:

Aug 31 2013: 61 for 0 Won v Australia

Jan 29: 2014: 46 for 3 Lost v Australia

Jan 31 2014: 48 for 3 Lost v Australia

Feb 2 2014: 31 for 3 Lost v Australia

March 9 2014: 36 for 2 Lost v West Indies

March 11 2014: 30 for 3 Lost v West Indies

But the obvious difference comes at No. 3. When England won the World T20, they had Kevin Pietersen at No. 3. Which begs the question, are England happier losing without Pietersen than they would be winning with him? To deny that his absence here is hurting England would be absurd. The management of the ECB have, by failing to find a solution to the problems that Pietersen presents, put their side at a disadvantage.There were other puzzling decisions in this match. Having called Ian Bell into the squad, it was to be expected that he might be given a chance to find some form in this format before Bangladesh; it is three years since his last T20 game at any level, after all.But Bell was left out with Eoin Morgan, the captain, explaining that they felt he “needed to get some balls under his belt.” If that was so, though, it made the decision of England to rest rather than train on Monday somewhat surprising.Morgan was more culpable than most in this game. With two wickets down after 21 balls, he should have been aware of the need to accumulate at low-risk for several overs. Instead he attempted a slog-sweep against the wind and with the man back on the fence. It was not a clever piece of cricket.There will be those who blame England’s death bowling for this defeat, but that would be unfair. Jade Dernbach, for the second game in succession, bowled pretty well and without fortune, while Tim Bresnan, who saw his last three legitimate deliveries slammed for 16 runs, was the victim more of fine batting than he was poor bowling. The margins for bowlers are so small and England’s required more support from their batsmen if they were to win this.”We lost the game with the bat,” Morgan admitted afterwards. “From the moment we went to 30 for 3 we were on the back foot. We’ve enough power in our side, we’re just failing at the start of the innings. It’s a question of finding a balance between being positive and not losing wickets.”There were glimmers of light in this game. Buttler, in recording his highest T20I score to date, underlined his power, his skill and his ingenuity, while Bopara continues to develop into England’s most reliable limited-overs bowler. James Tredwell, too, enjoyed just about the best of a fascinating battle with Chris Gayle. At one stage, Bopara and Tredwell conceded just eight in three overs to drag their side back into the game.But if they are honest, England might consider themselves somewhat flattered by the margin of defeat. Hales, for example, was reprieved when he should have been given out lbw on 10 and missed in the field on both 15 and 29, while Buttler was missed on 45. West Indies were also without their best bowler, Sunil Narine.And all the while Giles was scribbling away in that notebook. If the run of defeats continues, it might turn out that he was updating his CV.

The absence of a high-quality allrounder from England’s squad has limited their attack options

George Dobell in Mumbai22-Nov-2012It was not Monty Panesar that England missed in Ahmedabad. It was not Steven Finn, either. Not entirely, anyway.It was actually Ian Botham. Or Andrew Flintoff. Or Tony Grieg. It was the absence of a high-quality allrounder who could balance the side.As England prepare for the second Test in Mumbai, it is worth looking at the record books. India have only lost at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai six times, twice to England, the most recent defeat coming in 2006.Talk of that 2006 Test usually evokes memories of Shaun Udal. The offspinner claimed 4 for 14 – including the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar – in the fourth innings to bowl England to a victory that levelled the series. Flintoff, however, made two half-centuries and claimed four wickets and had England not possessed his all-round strength they may well not have risked selecting Udal, the second spinner.England’s only other victory at the Wankhede came in 1980. On that occasion, Botham took 13 wickets and scored a century in one of the most accomplished all-round performances in history. Again, Botham’s all-round skill allowed England to field a five-man attack containing two spinners. It was the same story in 1976-77 – England won that five-Test series 3-1, when they were captained and balanced by Grieg’s offspin in a five-man attack.Even in 1984-85, when they came from behind to win 2-1, they tried to find that same balance. On that occasion, Chris Cowdrey was less effective as an allrounder and England were obliged to rely on a four-man attack split between two seamers and two spinners, with Cowdrey and Mike Gatting filling in as support bowlers.The similarity is that on each occasion England have won, with the exception of 1984-85, they have possessed a Test-quality allrounder capable of balancing the side and allowing them to play five bowlers.That is not an option as they go into the second Test of this series. Perhaps, one day, Ben Stokes might develop into that quality allrounder or perhaps, one day, it will be accepted that Rikki Clarke has matured into the cricketer his talent suggested he might become when he was prematurely selected almost a decade ago. For now, though, England have to decide to go into the game with either a five-man attack and risk exposing a long tail, or a four-man attack lacking either a second spinner or a third seamer. The pretence that Samit Patel should be considered a true allrounder was undermined by Andy Flower, the England coach, describing the bowling in Ahmedabad as a “four-and-a-half” man attack.Neither option is ideal. With the batsmen so unconvincing in the first Test, England are loathe to weaken it further and risk a tail that starts with Graeme Swann at No. 7 or No. 8. But, at the same time, they struggled for penetration and variety in the first Test and have admitted it was an error to omit Panesar from the side. He looks certain to play in Mumbai on a recently used track that will, inevitably, aid spinners.Selection is complicated further by illness to Stuart Broad. His place was far from secure anyway, but the idea of risking a recently sick man with a sore heel in a two-man attack may force a further rethink. Stuart Meaker, by far the most impressive and quickest of England’s seamers in practice, could be on the brink of a Test debut.He could find less sympathetic places to make it. While Meaker, relatively short for a modern fast bowler, is not one to generate steepling bounce, he may enjoy the humidity and the sea fret that sometimes aids swing bowling at the ground. He may surprise a few with his pace and his skill, too.Stuart Meaker is in contention for a Test debut in Mumbai•Getty ImagesHis selection might be regarded as a step into the future. While the current team have achieved unheralded success for England, this has been an awful year for them. Indeed, if they lose in Mumbai they will have equalled the most losses an England team has ever experienced in a Test year: eight.Flower has to learn from history. He has to avoid the error made by one of his predecessors, Duncan Fletcher, and be prepared to renew the team. Fletcher, and England, suffered when he persisted with a team that was clearly past its best for the Ashes tour of 2006-07 on the basis that they had performed so well in 2005. But milk that was good last week may be sour today. Meaker and Finn may just represent the future of England fast bowling. Broad and Tim Bresnan, if they cannot recover the pace they once had, may represent the past.Alastair Cook, the England captain, rejected any notion that the England team had become a little too cosy. “I disagree wholeheartedly with that,” he said. “That’s not true.” But while Cook accepted England had underperformed in Ahmedabad, he also reiterated his belief in his players.”Clearly last week was tough for confidence when you get beaten in such a heavy manner,” he said. “First-innings runs are vital. I spoke about it when we lost the game and we have been speaking about it ever since.”We have to hold our hands up: in these conditions we haven’t played well enough to get the results. There’s no one else who we can blame.”I am confident. The guys have done it in the past. A couple of guys have done it in subcontinental conditions, a couple haven’t done it in subcontinental conditions but we know if we’re going to win this game we’re going to have to score runs.”It is an obvious point but true. If England’s batsmen continue to struggle, technically or temperamentally, against spin, it will make no difference what bowling attack they field.

Tracking the spot-fixing controversy from the sting leading up to the independent tribunal in Doha

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Jan-2011August 28, 2010 The fourth Test between Pakistan and England at Lord’s comes under the police scanner for spot-fixing following a sting alleging that Mazhar Majeed, a player agent, offered money to Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif to bowl no-balls on demand. In the video recording Majeed is clearly heard predicting that Amir would bowl the first over of the England innings, and that he would deliver a no-ball from the first ball of the third over – which as ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball commentary noted: “was an enormous no-ball, good half a metre over the line.” He also appeared to correctly predict a no-ball from the sixth ball of the tenth over, bowled this time by Asif. Majeed is arrested on suspicion of a controversy to defraud bookmakers.August 29, 2010 Police investigations centre around the currency notes handed by to Majeed, and whether they match with those found in the named players’ hotel rooms. Majeed is revealed to be close to many players in the Pakistan team. The ICC reveals that Majeed and “several” Pakistan players had been on their anti-corruption watchlist for some time. Meanwhile, Pakistan insist that the limited-overs leg of the tour will go on.August 30, 2010 ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat assures thorough investigation and appropriate punishment if anyone is found guilty of wrongdoing. Scotland Yard releases Majeed on bail without charge. Ricky Ponting expresses concerns that the allegations could taint his side’s come-back win against Pakistan in Sydney earlier in the year.August 31, 2010 Australia’s Shane Watson reports two approaches by an illegal bookmaker in 2009 in England. UK’s anti-corruption chief says there may be insufficient evidence for police to press charges against Majeed.September 2, 2010 The ICC suspends Butt, Amir and Asif after charging them with “various offences under Article 2 of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code for Players and Player Support Personnel relating to alleged irregular behavior during, and in relation to, the Lord’s Test”. Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK, Wajid Shamsul Hasan, claims that the three players may have been the victims of a “set-up”.September 3, 2010 Lorgat reacts to Hasan’s claims that ICC was “playing to the public gallery”, saying the players had been made aware of their suspensions in advance, and that the body had sufficient evidence to charge the players. The ICC also removes Amir from its list of nominees for the 2009 awards.September 5, 2010 Australia coach Tim Nielsen, and members of the Sri Lankan team report suspicious approaches over the past year.September 8, 2010 In his first statement following the suspension, Ijaz Butt says the PCB wrote to the ICC on behalf of the players, but they wanted individual replies from the players.September 9, 2010 Ijaz Butt reveals that the ICC had sent notices to Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal seeking information, following the 2010 World Twenty20 in the Caribbean.September 10, 2010 The PCB instructs its players that all their agents will have to be approved by the board, failing which the player would be ineligible for selection. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Cricket reveals another ‘suspicious approach’ reported by the seamer Dilhara Fernando.September 11, 2010 Butt, Amir and Asif return from England and land at Lahore airport, and leave through a back exit to avoid the crowds.September 14, 2010 Butt, Amir and Asif file their formal replies to the ICC, through their London-based lawyer. Pakistan seamer Wahab Riaz becomes the fourth player to be questioned over the sting. The ICC begins a review of its existing anti-corruption measures.Ijaz Butt added to the controversy by questioning England’s performance in the Oval ODI•AFPSeptember 18, 2010 After receiving information from a newspaper before the game began, alleging that bookies were aware of certain scoring patterns that occurred during the match, the ICC investigates the Oval ODI which Pakistan won. The ECB confirms that the tour will continue despite the latest investigation.September 19, 2010 Ijaz Butt points a finger at England’s cricketers for their batting collapse in the ODI under investigation, and said his board was investigating a conspiracy involving “august cricket bodies”, to defraud Pakistan and Pakistan cricket.September 29, 2010 Salman Butt becomes the first of the three players to appeal against the suspension. Ijaz Butt issues an apology and withdraws his comments accusing England of fixing the Oval ODI.October 6, 2010 The ICC fixes the hearings against the appeals to be held in end-October, in Doha, Qatar.October 13, 2010 The ICC gives the PCB a hard rap on the knuckles and asks them to clean up their act, while confirming that there was no wrongdoing in the Oval ODI.October 18, 2010 Anti-corruption measures are the emphasis in a revised code of conduct for Pakistan ahead of tour of the UAE.October 22, 2010 Asif, who is barred from entering UAE – where Pakistan’s next tour, and the appeal process are to be held – on a drug-related offence, withdraws his appeal against the provisional suspension.October 31, 2010 Butt and Amir remain provisionally suspended after their appeals are rejected during a two-day hearing in Dubai.November 4, 2010 The PCB suspends the central contracts of Butt, Amir and Asif, following the rejection of the appeals of the first two by the ICC.November 12, 2010 The ICC sets the hearing into the spot-fixing allegations for January 6-11 in Doha, and appoints a three-man tribunal to look into the charges.Mohammad Asif withdrew his appeal against the provisional suspension; Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir filed appeals which were dismissed•AFPNovember 14, 2010 In an unprecedented move, the PCB decides to send a list of potential World Cup probables to the ICC’s Anti-corruption & Security Unit (ACSU) for clearance before selecting their final World Cup squad.November 30, 2010 A Pakistani TV channel broadcasts previously unseen video footage of Majeed, in which he takes the names of four more Pakistani players – Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal, Wahab Riaz and Imran Farhat – who, he claims, work with him.December 11, 2010 Wasim Bari, former wicketkeeper and former chief operating officer of the PCB, is appointed Director of Education and Training, a post created within the PCB as part of their revised anti-corruption measures.December 22, 2010 Michael Beloff QC, ICC’s code of conduct commissioner and member of the three-man tribunal, rejects Butt’s request to postpone the hearing to a date after the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service has dealt with the case at its end.January 1, 2011 The PCB announces that Afridi and Younis will participate in the Doha tribunal, either in person or through teleconference.January 6, 2011 Doha hearing begins.January 11, 2011 Tribunal defers delivering judgement till February 5, says players will remain suspended till then.February 5, 2011 The ICC tribunal announces a sanction of ten years’ ineligibility for Salman Butt (with five years of a suspended sentence); seven years for Mohammad Asif (with two years suspended) and five years’ ineligibility for Mohammad Amir. Amir’s lawyer says the seamer will file an appeal with the Court of Arbitration in Sports (CAS) against his ban.February 26, 2011 Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir file appeals against their bans from the game with the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.March 1, 2011 Mohammad Asif, too, registers a case with the CAS, contesting the ICC ban.March 17, 2011 A British judge at the City of Westminister Magistrates’ Court orders Butt, Asif, Amir and Mazhar Majeed will stand trial from May 20 charges of conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments All three players are granted unconditional bail but Majeed is asked to surrender his passport.May 20, 2011 Southwark Crown court fixes October 4, 2011 as the date of trial in to the corruption charges filed by the Crown Prosecution Service against Butt, Asif, Amir and Majeed.

How Andrew Flintoff turned it on for England yet again

On the ball with S Rajesh and Arun Gopalakrishnan11-Sep-2005After managing just two wickets in 78.4 overs, England swept eight more in just 28.3 overs on the fourth day to wrest back the initiative and dampen Australia’s hopes of an unlikely series-levelling win.Not for the first time in the series, England’s hero was Andrew Flintoff, who took his tally for the series to 24 wickets at an average of 27.29. The Australians tackled him quite comfortably earlier in the match, but Flintoff was in irresistible form on the fourth morning, nearly doubling his potential-wicket-taking deliveries – that’s the number of balls which beat the bat, induced an edge, or rapped the pads – from 16.5% to 30.3%. In 89 balls on the fourth morning, he beat the bat 13 times; in 121 deliveries earlier in this match, he had only managed it five times. The result was four wickets for 30 runs in 14.2 overs, all bowled on the trot and interrupted only by the lunch break.Matthew Hoggard improved his stats almost as dramatically, from 21.2% to 32.8%. He beat the bat or induced an edge 11 times in 61 balls on the fourth day, up from seven in 85 on the two previous days. Together, they ensured that, barring a collapse of monumental proportions on the final day, the Ashes should be theirs for the first time since 1986-87.

India have left Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli out of their T20I squad for the upcoming home series against New Zealand. KL Rahul is also not in the squad, and while the BCCI put his absence – and that of Axar Patel, from both the ODI and T20I legs of the series – down to family commitments, it gave no specific reason for Rohit, India’s regular all-format captain, and Kohli missing the series.As a result, India’s first-choice top three from their last two T20 World Cups are now missing successive T20I series.This may not yet have a major bearing on India’s long-term future in the format, however. Ahead of the recently concluded ODI series against Sri Lanka, Rohit said the selectors and team management had made it clear to a number of senior players that they would not be able to play all three formats over the next few months for workload-management reasons, with India building up towards the 50-overs World Cup later this year.Related

• The Kishan dilemma, Kuldeep vs Chahal, Malik's rise: India face tricky calls vs NZ

• Suryakumar and Kishan in India's Test squad to face Australia

• Bumrah to miss SL ODIs, doubtful for Test series against Australia

• Pant undergoes knee ligament surgery in Mumbai hospital

Hardik Pandya, who captained India in the three T20Is against Sri Lanka earlier this month, will continue to lead the side in the T20I series, which will be played in Ranchi, Lucknow and Ahmedabad from January 27 to February 1, with Suryakumar Yadav as his deputy.Rohit and Kohli are part of the squad for the ODI series that will take place before the T20Is, from January 18 to 24 in Hyderabad, Raipur and Indore.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Prithvi Shaw in, Harshal Patel out

The T20I squad is also notable for the return of opener Prithvi Shaw, who last played for India in July 2021, and whose absence from subsequent squads – particularly in the T20 format – has been a constant source of debate, given his rare ability to provide rapid starts in the powerplay. Shaw forced himself into the reckoning earlier this week by scoring 379 off 383 balls – the second-highest first-class score by an Indian batter – for Mumbai against Assam in the Ranji Trophy.Left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav, who took a Player-of-the-Match-winning 3 for 51 in the second ODI against Sri Lanka on Thursday, is also back in the T20I squad, having last featured for India in that format in August 2022. He is one of two wristspinners in the squad along with Yuzvendra Chahal.Sanju Samson, who was ruled out midway through the T20I series against Sri Lanka with a knee injury, remains out of the squad – the BCCI release did not provide an update on his fitness. Jitesh Sharma, who replaced him, remains in the squad as one of two wicketkeeping options alongside Ishan Kishan.Fast bowler Harshal Patel, who played only the first T20I against Sri Lanka, has been left out of the squad.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

KS Bharat called up to ODI squad

With Rahul sitting out the ODIs, India have called up the uncapped KS Bharat as a second wicketkeeper alongside Kishan. Bharat is also part of India’s squad for the first two Tests against Australia in February – he is expected to contest the lead wicketkeeper role with Kishan in the absence of regular keeper Rishabh Pant, who has undergone knee ligament surgery after suffering a serious car crash in late December.In Axar’s absence, meanwhile, the selectors have called on a like-for-like replacement in Shahbaz Ahmed – both are allrounders who bat left-handed and bowl left-arm spin. Shahbaz has been part of the white-ball mix in recent months, and has played three ODIs, most recently in December on the tour of Bangladesh.Also back in the squad is fast-bowling allrounder Shardul Thakur, who was left out of the series against Sri Lanka. Left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh, who was part of the ODI squad against Sri Lanka but didn’t get a chance in the starting XI, misses out – he remains part of the T20I squad, however.Jasprit Bumrah, who was initially named in the ODI squad against Sri Lanka before pulling out before the start of the series – he is on the road to recovery from a long-term back injury – is not part of either white-ball squad or the squad for the first two Tests against Australia.

Barcelona new boy Marcus Rashford has opened up on his decision to leave the Red Devils and what it's like to play alongside wonderkid Lamine Yamal.

• Rashford has moved on season-long loan
• Searching for happiness in Barcelona
• Full of praise for teenage star Yamal

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Rashford has signed for Barcelona from Manchester United on a season-long loan after a difficult spell with the Red Devils. The forward fell out of favour under Ruben Amorim and spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa but failed to earn a permanent transfer to Unai Emery's side. He is now hoping to reignite his career in Catalunya, with Hansi Flick's side having the option to sign him permanently at the end of the season.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Rashford faces a battle for minutes at Barcelona with the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Ferran Torres around but will be hoping he can rise to the challenge. The forward has revealed he moved on in search of happiness and says that Barcelona is the best place in the world to enjoy playing football.

• WHAT RASHFORD SAID

  He told : "I need to be happy to play my best football. For me personally… Football is my life. You know? It's been my life since I was very, very young. Actually, I don't know anything else. So the bond I have, not only with my career but with sport in general, is huge and I don't expect it to go away. But yes, it's always good to be happy when you play football. It's the reason I started in this.

  "You never know for sure, but from the beginning I have felt comfortable. On the pitch, of course I'll learn more with each game. But the starting point is very good. The more matches that come, the more I'll learn. Barça is the easiest place to enjoy and learn football."

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  TELL ME MORE…

  Rashford then went on to hail new team-mate Lamine Yamal, who he believes will win the Ballon d'Or. He said: "Yes, definitely. If you don't win it this year, you'll win it in the future. [Ousmane] Dembélé, Raphinha, they all deserve it. It's hard to pick one, but they're all mature and have had a fantastic season. Lamine is so young that he is sure to win it.

  "He's a top talent, a top player. The most surprising thing is how mature he is for his age. How he thinks and plays. He is well above his age. It's exciting to play with him and others as well. I'm adapting to the change of environment, rhythm and football, and the best place to do that is on the pitch. I will make mistakes, but I will also learn a lot and improve. The quality of the players helps a lot."

أشارت تقارير صحفية موثوقة أن ليفربول تلقى دفعة معنوية قوية في سعيه للتعاقد مع المهاجم السويدي ألكسندر إيزاك من صفوف نيوكاسل يونايتد هذا الصيف.

ويرغب ليفربول في التعاقد مع إيزاك لدعم خط هجومه في الساعات الأخيرة قبل إغلاق سوق الانتقالات الصيفية على الرغم من ضمه هوجو إيكتيكي من صفوف آينتراخت فرانكفورت.

ووفقاً لصحفي سكاي سبورت “فابريزيو رومانو” فإن نيوكاسل يونايتد أنهي صفقة التعاقد مع نيك فولتمايد المهاجم الألماني والذي يلعب مع نادي شتوتجارت.

أقرأ أيضاً.. سلوت: القرعة وضعت ليفربول في مواجهات “صعبة ومثيرة”.. وننتظر مباراة ريال مدريد

وتوصل نيوكاسل لاتفاق مع شتوتجارت لضم اللاعب مقابل ما يتجاوز 80 مليون يورو بجانب إضافات وسيخضع فولتمايد للفحوصات الطبية خلال ال24 ساعة القادمة.

وسيوقع فولتمايد لعقد طويل الأمد مع نيوكاسل يونايتد والذي يقوم بترتيبات السفر للاعبه الجديد حالياً.

وأكد رومانو أن ليفربول مستعد في هذه اللحظات لتقديم كل ما لديه والتقدم بعرض جديد لضم ألكسندر إيزاك والذي لم يقم بتغيير موقفه بعد.

ويرغب المهاجم السويدي في ارتداء قميص ليفربول فقط وفي حالة قرر نيوكاسل يونايتد فتح باب الرحيل أمام اللاعب فإن الريدز جاهز للحصول على خدماته.

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>Galvão Bueno festeja derrota de virada da Argentina na Copa do Mundo

Entretanto, o estafe do jogador de 22 anos de idade que está no Inter por empréstimo do Shakhtar Donetsk-UCR afirmou recentemente não ter recebido qualquer tipo de proposta pelo atleta.

Além disso, os responsáveis por agenciar Vitão acrescentaram que existe preferência para o Inter exercer o direito de compra dentro do acordo feito com os ucranianos. Todavia, a efetivação do negócio é algo que foge do alcance do jogador, precisando também o Shakhtar ser convencido da transação. A informação em questão foi veiculada no portal ‘Revista Colorada’ e confirmada pelo Futebol Latino:

-Para a gente aqui, por enquanto, não chegou nada. Não depende só dele (Vitão), né. Tem o contrato com o Shakhtar, mas a preferência é o Inter.

Desde sua chegada ao Internacional, Vitão disputou 38 partidas (todas elas começando como titular) com dois gols marcados.

A lot goes on directly before the start of the regular season.

Pre-season can truly mark the difference between having a successful season and a disappointing campaign.

Fundamentally, pre-season lays the foundation for a number of aspects that can lead towards improving physical fitness, preventing injuries, team bonding, and building strategies, among other factors. In short, it is all about readying up physically and mentally.

It is a time wherein players recondition their bodies, and prepare their muscles and neural pathways; while for clubs and coaches, it accounts for a period to establish a layout for the coming season.

Ultimately, a balance between fun and preparation, GOAL discusses the work that goes in before competitive action begins.

• When does pre-season start?

  The start of pre-season for different clubs and across different leagues will not necessarily be the same. So, depending on the start of the season, it is the training period immediately preceding the regular phase of any competition. Typically, this period lasts between four to six weeks, with the specific duration depending on the league and level of competition.

  Most teams are likely to conclude their pre-season camps and/or tours, including playing some club friendlies, about a week or so before coaches begin to tactically prepare for the first competitive game of the season.

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  Pre-season testing – what is a lactate test?

  A lactate test involves players running at increasing speeds while blood samples are taken from their ears to measure lactate levels, indicating their aerobic and anaerobic thresholds. The test provides valuable insights for coaches and sports scientists, helping them understand a player's ability to sustain high-intensity efforts and recover from them.

  The lactate threshold is the point where lactate builds up in the muscles faster than the body can remove it, indicating the transition to anaerobic energy production. Improving a player's lactate threshold can significantly enhance their ability to sustain high-intensity efforts for longer periods, ultimately making them more effective during matches.

  However, the traditional lactate test is increasingly being replaced with a 6-Minute Race Test (6MRT) to evaluate players' maximum aerobic speed. In 6MRT, players run as fast as possible for six minutes on a 400-meter track, aiming to cover the maximum distance. This evaluates maximal aerobic speed and aerobic endurance fitness, which is the body's ability to efficiently use oxygen as an energy source.

  While both tests allow coaches to evaluate performance and make adjustments to training plans based on individual results, 6MRT is not a direct replacement for lactate testing. Some teams may use both tests, leveraging the lactate test for more detailed physiological information and the 6MRT for a practical, field-based assessment of endurance.

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  Overall assessment and data collection

  As players return from their breaks, the focus is on assessing their physical and medical readiness. This involves a comprehensive evaluation, starting with blood tests, ECGs, and a musculoskeletal assessment to understand their movement quality. These assessments are completed before they proceed to physiological tests.

  Additionally, players undergo scans to identify any genetic predispositions, which are then combined with their past injury history. To align with head injury guidelines and proactively manage injuries, a baseline test is conducted for each player. This helps address any injury prevention concerns before players hit the gym and grass.

  Progressive cardiopulmonary exercise tests involve a 15-20 minute session that gradually increases in intensity, culminating in maximal exertion. This test specifically monitors oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production.

  All the data gathered from these assessments is crucial for developing future training plans. For returning players, this data provides a valuable comparison to previous seasons, while for new players, it offers a direct comparison to the existing group. This detailed information on individual strengths and deficits allows for the design of bespoke programs that fully support a club's football program.

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  What pre-season training drills are done?

  While players may engage in physical activity to an extent during the break, returning to full training will still require adjustment. Therefore, attention to the warm-up and cool-down elements of each session is non-negotiable for the purpose of injury prevention.

  Pre-season training drills focus on building a foundation of fitness, agility, and technical skills. They include strength training (like squats and deadlifts), plyometrics for explosive power, agility exercises (ladder and cone drills), dribbling and shooting drills, and ball mastery exercises, gradually increasing intensity.

  Endurance work is also crucial, incorporating various methods like interval training and small-sided games.

  Specific pre-season drills:
  Warm-up:	Dynamic stretching and drills to prepare the body for training.
  Strength Training (lower body):	Squats, lunges, deadlifts, single-leg squats, weighted squat jumps
  Strength Training (upper body):	Shoulder press, dumbbell press, planks, push-ups.
  Plyometrics:	Jump squats, box jumps, hurdle jumps.
  Agility:	Ladder drills, cone drills, shuttle runs.
  Dribbling:	Cone courses, changes of direction, speed dribbling.
  Shooting:	Various shots from different angles and distances, including volleys and half-volleys.
  Ball Mastery:	Drills focusing on close control, first touch, and passing accuracy.
  Endurance:	Interval training (HIIT), Fartlek, intensive small-sided games, full-pitch games.
  Cool-down:	Static stretching to aid recovery.