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South Africa have already booked their place in the World Test Championship final, but will be looking to keep their impressive record against Pakistan intact

Danyal Rasool02-Jan-2025

South Africa are cheered on by their fans as they seal their spot in the WTC final•AFP/Getty Images

Big pictureThe attempt to give this Test series context may ironically have stripped some from this Test match, especially as far as South Africa are concerned. The hosts have already qualified for the World Test Championship final after beating Pakistan by two wickets in Centurion, and as such, don’t necessarily have a bigger picture to play for. However, they have won eight consecutive Test matches at home against Pakistan, and never not won a home series against them since the turn of the century, and in that bilateral context, there remains plenty to play for.In the days since South Africa qualified, there has been some attention towards the perceived softer nature of their draw en route to the World Test Championship, one that their coach Shukri Conrad made “no apologies” for. But with no Test cricket between this Test and the WTC final, South Africa will want to storm into the final in style, and extend a winning run that already stretches to six games.Pakistan’s WTC hopes had long ago gone up in smoke, but they need to break out of a habit of letting slip winning positions, a habit in this particular cycle. As a result, they have now lost seven of the last nine Tests, and all of the last eight in South Africa. Centurion was the closest they came to breaking that hoodoo, at one stage two wickets away from a stunning win with South Africa still 49 runs away from victory. But, as has been the case with Pakistan too often, they struggled to finish off the tail with the ball, and watched another one slide through their fingers.Newlands arguably plays slightly more to their strengths, lacking the express pace South Africa possess. It is a surface that both captains expect to take a bit more spin than Centurion, and should revert back to its natural characteristics after a freak Test last year against India that ended in a day and a half. Both sides are expected to field a spinner, while Pakistan’s seam and swing bowlers may find more joy, especially in the early stages of the Test before the surface flattens out. With just two Test wins in South Africa across three decades of playing here, a victory here – and a drawn series – will go down as their most impressive away Test series result in years.Related

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Form guide (last five completed matches, most recent first)South Africa: WWWWWPakistan: LWWLLIn the spotlightWith spin likely to play a more significant role at Newlands than it did in Centurion, Keshav Maharaj returns to the side. But for all of Newlands supposed accommodation for slower bowling, the left-arm orthodox spinner has a surprisingly indifferent record in Cape Town, managing just 9 wickets in 6 matches at an average in excess of 52. That’s almost double his average of 30.44 in South Africa in general, and Maharaj is returning from an adductor strain that ruled him out of the ODI series. Whether he can begin to turn his Newlands record around may be an intriguing plot point as the Test develops.It’s not a vintage age for openers in Test cricket, and particularly not Pakistani openers. Until the final Test, they hadn’t produced a partnership over 15 all year, but offered faint glimpses of turning that around with the new pairing of Saim Ayub and Shan Masood, putting up 36 and 49. But neither opener managed to kick on in either innings, something Masood brought up as a point of frustration in Centurion. Against the kind of world-class new ball bowling attack South Africa possess at home, runs for the first wicket are not exactly easy, but Pakistan desperately need them all the same.Pakistan let another game slip through their fingers, during the first Test•AFP/Getty Images

Team newsSouth Africa have rung the changes after the first Test, with Maharaj, Wiaan Mulder and debutant fast bowler Kwena Maphaka coming into the side. Opener Tony de Zorzi has a thigh strain, while fast bowling allrounder Corbin Bosch and Dane Paterson also drop to the bench.South Africa: Ryan Rickleton 2 Aiden Markram, 3 Wiaan Mulder (capt), 4 Tristan Stubbs 5 Temba Bavuma (capt) 6 David Bedingham, 7 Kyle Verreynne (wk), 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Keshav Maharaj 10 Kagiso Rabada 11 Kwena MaphakaPakistan have not yet named an eleven, unsure about playing Noman Ali or simply making do with Salman Ali Agha as lead spinner.Pakistan: 1 Shan Masood (capt) 2 Saim Ayub 3 Babar Azam 4 Kamran Ghulam 5 Saud Shakeel 6 Mohammad Rizwan (wk) 7 Salman Ali Agha 8 Aamer Jamal/Noman Ali 9 Naseem Shah 10 Mohammad Abbas 11 Khurram ShahzadPitch and conditions”I don’t think I’m allowed to speak about the wicket,” Temba Bavuma joked during the press conference following the ultra-short Test here last year. There’s less grass on it than Centurion, though, with spin coming into it later in the Test.Stats and trivia Keshav Maharaj is seven wickets away from becoming the first South African spinner to take 200 Test wickets. Among current batters in the Pakistan side, none have truly imperious records in South Africa. Babar Azam’s 275 at 34.37 makes him the most prolific, while no active Pakistani has a hundred in this country.Quotes”The series is still on the line. So, as much as we’ve ticked off that box of being in the final, we’d still like to be clinical in the series. We’re eyeing two nil. Our focus, our motivation is still there. I think also as a team, as much as we won last week, we accept that we weren’t at our best, betting and bowling. So, in terms of improving in those areas, we’d like to see ourselves being a lot better than we were last week.”
South African captain Temba Bavuma feels there’s still plenty to improve from his side

Brendan Doggett’s six-for toppled the visitors before McSweeney was solid for Australia A

Andrew McGlashan31-Oct-20241:00

Bailey: Bancroft’s consistency will count for something

Australia A 99 for 4 trail India A 107 (Doggett 6-15) by eight runsEvents on the first day in Mackay were unlikely to have provided a definitive answer about who opens for Australia in Perth, but the selectors will have been left scratching their heads more than ever after Sam Konstas and Cameron Bancroft collected ducks and Marcus Harris couldn’t convert a start for Australia A with Nathan McSweeney doing most to advance his credentials.When McSweeney inserted India A, thoughts were that the batting contest may have to wait a while, but after Brendan Doggett bagged a career-best 6 for 15 – in conditions that offered some assistance throughout to make life tricky for the batters – contenders to partner Usman Khawaja in the first Test were taking strike before tea. And two of them were out before the interval.Related

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Konstas, the 19-year-old who has been the most talked-about player this season, edged behind in the opening over against Mukesh Kumar as he looked to drive, and Bancroft, after four single-figure Sheffield Shield scores, was given caught down the leg side although replays showed it came off the thigh pad. Bancroft, who couldn’t force his way back into the Test side last season despite prolific domestic form, threw his head back in frustration.Harris reached double figures but was unconvincing. He survived a huge appeal for caught behind and was then dropped on 8 at third slip by Baba Indrajith against a ball that straightened from around the wicket from Kumar. After the let-off he managed a pleasing on-drive but gave his innings away when he flashed at Prasidh Krishna, who is part of India’s Test squad, and was sharply taken at second slip. Prasidh could have had a third late in the day when Cooper Connolly was given a life in the cordon.To add to the intrigue McSweeney, who bats three in the Sheffield Shield but is No. 4 here to accommodate the three openers above him, played as solidly as anyone all day, facing 110 balls for his 29, to give further credence to the talk that he may yet be the solution at the top of the order.Speaking earlier in the day in Melbourne, Australia head coach Andrew McDonald admitted there was more uncertainty around selection than is ideal, but the final decision would not come down to a single innings.Sam Konstas walks off after making a duck•Getty Images

“I think sometimes you’re pushed into a space where you can’t give certainty a long way out,” he said. “There is a balance in that we prefer to be more settled coming for the summer, no doubt. If you have certainly that’s fantastic, but there’ll be moving parts in the summer as well that create discussions and decisions about who’s going to play the next Test. Whilst we want to give clarity and certainty, sometimes that’s not always able to happen.”There’s a lot of context and consideration around body of work for those senior players in Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft. Clearly Sam Konstas hasn’t been able to have that body of work behind him because of the limited Shield cricket that he’s played, and Nathan McSweeney is somewhere in the middle of that.”You take Sam for example, he’s had limited experience in Perth, and then obviously up to the Gabba, so there’s incredible challenges for players who haven’t played in those conditions before, but it’s not to say that he can’t do that either – he’s a fast learner.”The tone for the bowler-dominated day was set in the second over when India A captain Ruturaj Gaikwad was brilliantly caught down the leg side first ball by Josh Philippe. Jordan Buckingham added a second in his first spell with a lovely delivery to find the edge of Abhimanyu Easwaran who is another in India’s full Test group.Sai Sudharsan made a promising start before edging behind against Doggett to begin what would be a memorable day for the South Australia quick who was only in the side as a second reserve having been called up to replace the injured Liam Hatcher, who in turn had replaced Mark Steketee.Doggett hit the perfect full length on a surface offering the quicks encouragement and troubled all the batters. After offspinner Todd Murphy had removed Indrajith on the stroke of lunch – given caught at short leg when it was unclear if bat was involved – Doggett really got to work after the interval as he scythed through the middle order.Ishan Kishan flashed an edge behind looking to counterattack and Devdutt Padikkal, who had provided the most resistance and was the day’s top scorer with 36, edged an attempted drive to give Philippe his fifth catch. Doggett’s fifth came when he trapped Manav Suthar with a yorker and a career-best sixth when he cleaned up Prasidh to leave India A 86 for 9. Navdeep Saini (23) managed to lift the total into three figures.

White-ball captain set to return in Caribbean after watching Australia tour from sidelines

Vithushan Ehantharajah30-Sep-2024Even after Sunday’s fifth ODI had been called off, the rain kept coming. As Australia’s victorious squad gathered in the indoor nets for their trophy presentation, Jos Buttler stood out in the open mingling with fans.In between autographs and selfies were occasional grimaces skywards, wondering how much the dark clouds had left. Plenty, as it happens. Steadily, the crowd diluted and, eventually, Buttler retreated inside for cover.Despite not playing at all during this white-ball finale to the 2024 English season due to a calf injury, he remains the big-ticket draw. And thus, a conundrum still to solve. Though he adopted a similar role to Ben Stokes during the Test series against Sri Lanka – rehabbing a torn left hamstring but on deck for every day of it – this rewarding of hardy punters braving the damp was the most statesman-like duty England’s permanent limited-overs captain has performed.Related

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Buttler was far more withdrawn than the Test skipper throughout his hands-off brief. Sky’s cameras had to zoom in to find him on the back row of the home viewing balcony at Bristol, wrapped up warm and making merry with players and coaches, as pundits used the rain delay to pontificate over his part in this white-ball regeneration.Sunday’s finale capped off a September that began with one clear objective from on high. Fresh from being announced as a replacement for Matthew Mott after two unsuccessful World Cup defences in nine months, Brendon McCullum identified the key to revitalising the set-up was to cheer up a “miserable” Buttler.Beyond the long-lens smiles, a man who was lucky to keep his job when Mott was relieved of his has by all accounts been buoyed by what has been a promising first stage of this latest “reset”. A drawn T20I series and a 3-2 loss to the defending 50-over champions having been 2-0 down showed there is plenty for him to work with going forward.”Around the group, it’s been a great opportunity for him [Buttler], just to step back and not worry about the pressures of playing, but have the opportunity to work with players and coaches, talking, building relationships, understanding what’s going on. Sit back and watch a little bit sometimes and see how the team is operating,” interim head coach, Marcus Trescothick, said. “When you’re playing, you’re so engrossed in what’s happening so it’s an opportunity to sit back a little bit.”Tresothick has essentially been acting as McCullum’s surrogate before the Kiwi assumes the job at the start of 2025. McCullum has been involved from afar while preparing for the upcoming Test tour of Pakistan. Communication has been regular, ranging from input in selection matters, such as personnel and roles, along with a handful of debriefs after games.

“There’s no reason why Jos won’t fit back into that mould, score millions of runs, captain well and fit back into the team perfectly”Marcus Trescothick on Jos Buttler returning as captain

“We are always planning ahead to when Brendon is coming in and the bigger tournaments,” Trescothick said. “That’s going to be the real judge, isn’t it? Bilateral series are great, but the real pinnacle is the Champions Trophies, the World T20s and the World Cups.”It will be the next bilateral, against West Indies at the end of October, when Buttler will return in a playing brief. And it was instructive that Trescothick felt the need to nip any talk of finding a spot in the XI for him in the bud, while admitting the exact guise of his return is up in the air.”Let’s make it clear, he will come straight back in. At what position, I don’t know. We’ll look at that for the Caribbean.”The proximity to the tour of Pakistan – the third Test is scheduled to finish three days before the first ODI in Antigua on October 31 – is likely to mean Buttler reassumes the wicketkeeping. Jamie Smith is likely to be prescribed a rest ahead of flying out to New Zealand for that three-Test series in November, while Phil Salt’s average of 19.90 against Australia suggests he has still not got to grips with the longer of the shorter formats.Harry Brook, too, is highly unlikely to feature against West Indies, which kicks the conversation around longer-term captaincy down the road. Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the last month, along with Brook’s return to supreme form, was how at ease he looked with as a leader.Set against Salt’s moonlighting for the T20I series, and Ollie Pope deputising for Stokes for the last half of the Test summer – as well as Buttler’s constant wrestling with the captaincy full stop, both tactical elements and the burn of the extra limelight (and scrutiny) – Brook stands out as a leader in waiting. Trescothick praised Brook’s ability to marshal while setting the standard with the bat, finishing as the leading run-scorer across both teams in the ODI portion, with 312 at 78.00.Harry Brook led the ODI side with aplomb in Buttler’s absence•Getty Images”He reads the game very well and the way he captains – the field settings and the decision-making – is very positive. He is quiet and unassuming but just gets the job done on everything he has to do.”Brook said he enjoyed his first taste of international captaincy having led England Under-19s before honing his leadership for Northern Superchargers this summer. He went on to state he looked forward to “taking a seat back and letting Jos do it again”.For how much longer remains to be seen. Brook’s impression has been strong enough to bring that conversation forward, at least among those watching from the outside. But the person to bring it to the table will be Buttler.This is still his patch, and the immediate priority is ensuring he slots back in more comfortably than ever before. Whatever shifts and conversations there have been against Australia, whether around playing roles, off-field bonhomie, or simply broader changes of perspective, they have been as much about emboldening the next generation as creating an environment for Buttler to flourish. As McCullum put it, the goal for however long the 34-year-old has left, “is just to enjoy it”.”I expect him to find it really enjoyable going forward,” Trescothick said. “Having worked with Brendon and the other coaches and the style that Brendon wants to implement into the white-ball stuff, it’s what’s been going on before [with the Test team].”There’s no reason why Jos won’t fit back into that mould, score millions of runs, captain well and fit back into the team perfectly.”There are reasons, however, all of which remain untouched because of his on-field absence over the last month. The next step, for England and Buttler, is working through them.

Tottenham Hotspur will have to balance the books soon by making key player sales, especially with the plethora of non-locally trained players in their squad, which could result in them having to submit a weakened Champions League squad.

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Due to UEFA rules, Spurs require at least eight ‘locally trained’ players to be named in their 25-man list, and if they cannot meet this quota, then their total of A-list players will be reduced to make up the deficit.

While Morgan Gibbs-White’s potential arrival – which has now been delayed due to legal complications – could have a positive impact on this, given he came through the Wolves academy, their recent signing of Mohammed Kudus means that the north Londoners currently boast around 24 non-locally trained players in their current squad, even if this does include the likes of Manor Solomon, Bryan Gil, Yang-min Hyeok, Luka Vuskovic and Kota Takai.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Taking this into account, The Telegraph reports that Tottenham will need to sell at least one player this summer, and there are plenty of candidates.

Gil and Solomon are very likely to be sold after spending 2024/2025 out on loan at Girona and Leeds United respectively, with the former already confirming his intention to leave N17 in the coming weeks.

“That’s something my agent will tell me where things are going, but they [Spurs] told me, and I told them, that the best thing is for us not to continue being linked to Tottenham,” said Gil to Estadio Deportivo in April.

“They bet on me when I was young, and they’ve treated me fairly well, but if I have to go back there, I’ll focus on giving my best as always. I’m calm because no one can have a bad word to say about me not being professional. Without playing, I’ve always trained well, I’ve done what I had to do, so whatever has to happen, will happen. We’ll see where we are next year.”

Son Heung-min has entered the final 12 months of his contract and may be sold by Spurs, according to recent reports, with Yves Bissouma also attracting interest from Turkey.

However, another option could be injury-plagued striker Richarlison.

Richarlison likely to leave Tottenham as Vasco de Gama phone him

They’re very unlikely to make a substantial fee back off the £60 million they paid Everton to sign the Brazil striker in 2022, but Tottenham’s signings of Gibbs-White and Kudus will only push him further down the attacking pecking order.

Spurs are also still interested in signing Brentford star Yoane Wissa, and if they were to sensationally bring in the Bees star too, it would surely draw the curtain on Richarlison’s north London career.

The 28-year-old, barring a fine purple patch under Ange Postecoglou midway through 2023/2024, has found life very difficult at Spurs overall – with journalist Leonardo Lacerda, via Bolavip, sharing that clubs in Brazil could offer him a route back home.

Lacerda is quoted saying that Vasco de Gama president, Pedrinho, has personally phoned Richarlison to gauge the possibility of a transfer, but the ex-Watford man also has admirers in Saudi Arabia.

“It’s happening! President Pedrinho, accompanied by a member of the Vasco leadership, contacted Richarlison directly through a phone call,” said Lacerda.

“The goal was to get a closer look at the striker’s situation, as he’s unlikely to remain at Tottenham next season. In addition to Vasco, the striker is attracting interest from Fluminense, Flamengo, and Palmeiras. Two Saudi Arabian clubs have also entered the fray—Al Ahli and Al Ittihad.”

With Richarlison emerging as a real man in demand, it is now Levy’s task to set a realistic asking price, with reports suggesting Spurs will let him go for around £20 million.

Thomas Frank has a huge task on his hands next season if he is to transform the situation at Tottenham Hotspur after the club’s form in England’s top flight.

The Lilywhites finished the season in 17th place in the Premier League last time around, losing 22 times in the process – leading to Ange Postecoglou’s subsequent dismissal in North London.

However, the side’s Europa League triumph against Manchester United in Bilbao is evidence of the levels they can reach, needing to use such an achievement as a springboard into 2025/26.

Frank will need to be backed by the hierarchy in his quest, needing to make key changes to his squad he desires to push them back towards a top five finish in the near future.

The Dane has showcased at Brentford he’s able to thrive in the Premier League, hoping to do so again across the capital as he wastes no time in making moves in the market.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new attackers this summer

Wingers have been high up on their list in recent weeks, with Spurs strongly linked with a move to land Bryan Mbeumo, securing a return between the player and the manager.

However, he looks set to make a move to Manchester United this window, leading to West Ham United star Mohammed Kudus also emerging as a potential option.

Whilst the aforementioned duo have been on their radar, progress appears to have been made on a deal to land Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, according to one Spanish outlet.

Their report claims that Frank’s side are set to make a £65m bid to land the 25-year-old this window after 11 goals and five assists in the league this campaign.

It also confirms that the Cherries aren’t prepared to lose another one of their star players, but the Lilywhites are confident they can secure a move for his signature this window.

Why Semenyo would be Frank’s next Solanke

Striker Dominic Solanke joined in a £65m deal from the same club last summer, with the English international seen as the heir to Harry Kane after his departure 12 months prior.

The 27-year-old managed to score 16 times in his 45 appearances across all competitions, with five of his efforts coming in Europe and helping the side end their 17-year trophy wait.

Like many players in the current first team squad, he’s had his own injury issues this campaign, restricting him from having the dream first year in North London.

However, he’s still managed to showcase his talents within the final third, ending the year as the club’s second-highest goalscorer in the division for 2024/25.

Frank could be about to land his next version of Solanke this window, with Semenyo following in his footsteps and moving to Spurs to rekindle their impressive partnership.

Whilst the fee touted appears to be an expensive one, the Ghanaian international has showcased his skillset this season, adding a new dimension to Frank’s forward line should he complete a move.

Semenyo, who’s been labelled “incredible” by journalist Owuraku Ampofo, registered 16 combined goals and assists, a figure that would’ve made him the joint-highest contributor in the current squad.

Games played

37

Goals & assists

16

Shots on target

1.2

Successful dribbles

1.9

Chances created

1.3

Touches in opposition box

5.9

Aerials won

1.9

His underlying stats are just as impressive, registering 1.2 shots on target per 90, along with 1.9 successful dribbles – highlighting the threat he poses in attacking areas.

The 25-year-old has also created 1.3 chances per 90, whilst also notching 5.9 touches in the opposition box per 90, having the tools to star alone or even provide players around him in North London.

If he can transfer his skillset over to the Lilywhites next season, it would be a superb deal at £65m, having the potential to improve further with further quality players around him in Frank’s side.

Such a transfer could provide the added cutting edge needed for success, handing the manager the best possible chance of impressing during his first year at the helm.

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Regis Le Bris enjoyed what can only be described as a dream debut season as Sunderland manager.

Many Black Cats bosses have come and gone in quick succession in recent years as promotion to the Premier League has evaded them.

But, in the Frenchman’s case, it was a first-attempt job, with the ex-Lorient head coach now eager to prove himself in England’s elite league after an up-and-down stint in Ligue 1.

He will know that a stern defence will be key if Sunderland stand any chance of beating the punishing drop, with a new defensive brute reportedly now on his shopping list to toughen up the Wearside underdogs.

Sunderland considering move for 6-foot-3 colossus

The Championship playoffs did showcase Sunderland’s excellence in the centre-back department with Daniel Ballard taking his team to Wembley with a last-gasp header versus Coventry City, whilst loan ace Chris Mepham would complete a whopping 12 clearances against Sheffield United in total to shut out the annoyed Blades.

But another centre-back could soon join the building in the form of ex-West Bromwich Albion brute Cedric Kipre. Football outlet Africa Foot states that Le Bris and Co view the Ivorian as a serious option after promotion.

Whilst the 6-foot-3 colossus is well known to EFL fans for his imperious displays with the Baggies, he is just fresh off a season in the French top-flight with Stade De Reims. This venture might well have ended in relegation, but it bodes well for Kipre not finding the Premier League daunting.

How Kipre can be Ballard 2.0 for Sunderland

Regardless of his time out in Ligue 1, his standout showings in the Championship earn enough merit on their own, with his authoritative approach out from the back – matched by his ability to pop up with a crucial header – meaning he could become Ballard 2.0 for Le Bris.

He also shone in spurts for Reims despite relegation, with the headed effort above unfortunately just not enough to keep Samba Diawara’s men afloat.

Away from this unfortunate relegation on his CV, though, Kipre has proven himself in the past as a brave battler in the challenging second tier of English football, with the Baggies left gutted by the 28-year-old’s decision to depart the Hawthorns last summer.

Games played

44

20

Goals scored

2

2

Assists

1

1

Touches*

67.1

47

Accurate passes*

48.9 (87%)

33.2 (88%)

Ball recoveries*

4.3

2.3

Clearances*

3.7

4.0

Total duels won*

4.2

4.6

Clean sheets

14

2

Looking at the table above, Kipre was a rock-solid option for the Carlos Corberan-led Baggies, with a mightily impressive 14 clean sheets notched up from 44 clashes.

Further, the table shows off the similarities between the defensive duo, with both Ballard and Kipre chipping in with three goal contributions each, away from also being able to valiantly battle away with duels, winning a similar number.

Much like Ballard, too, the current Reims number 21 has had to bounce back from plenty of Premier League rejection, with his early career seeing him be let go of by Leicester City.

The Sunderland titan also had to wave goodbye to Arsenal to join the Stadium of Light, but he will now have a shot at top-flight redemption on Wearside next season.

Kipre will also fancy his chances at being a formidable presence for Le Bris’ outsiders, having once been labelled as “one of the best defenders in the division” by the Second Tier podcast when plying his trade in the EFL’s top league.

Now, it’s up to the “fantastic” defender – as he’s also been labelled by football journalist Josh Bunting – to earn his stripes up a league, with Kipre having the potential to be as loved as Ballard if his brick-wall presence allows safety to be secured.

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Heading towards the end of what could yet turn into another season with no silverware, Arsenal have already reportedly set their sights on summer targets and are now willing to table an opening offer to sign a La Liga ace.

Arsenal's alarming form after Bournemouth defeat

Arsenal’s Premier League title ambitions may be officially over, but that doesn’t mean that their chase is over in the battle to secure their Champions League place. Mikel Arteta’s side simply wipe their title tears and go again in the Premier League if they are to avoid the ultimate disaster.

Sat second – three points above Manchester City and four above a Newcastle United side who have a game in hand – there’s still every chance that the Gunners drop to fourth in the coming weeks. It’s also worth noting that, should Nottingham Forest defeat Crystal Palace, Arsenal will only be four points in front of sixth place and dropping out of the Champions League places.

Defeat against Bournemouth was the fourth time that Arteta’s side failed to win in the Premier League in their last five games and alarm bells should finally be ringing over their need to swiftly secure European football and end a season full of frustration.

Arteta had his say after Bournemouth came from behind to shock Arsenal at the Emirates, telling reporters: “We started and we did the most difficult one to score the goal. I think after that we had four or five very open situations to score the second one.

“We didn’t kill it and after that, on top of that, you defend the box really poorly, the way we’ve done it in the two set-pieces that we have conceded again. So they’re going to punish you and a team like Bournemouth, they’re going to punish you. And after that the game becomes rushed, very chaotic.

“That’s why they want big spaces. They have more legs than us, especially with sets and plays that were struggling in the final minutes. And we weren’t able to get the result that we wanted, so we’re very disappointed.”

Arsenal willing to table bid to sign Garcia

Already looking to put this season behind them, those in North London have seemingly set their sights on a new shot-stopper. According to reports in Spain, Arsenal are now willing to table an offer worth €30m (£25m) to sign Joan Garcia this summer.

In what would be one of Andrea Berta’s first acts as sporting director, the Gunners could finally get their man a year on from reportedly agreeing personal terms to secure his arrival from Espanyol before a deal collapsed.

At 24 years old, the Spaniard is likely to arrive as a backup for David Raya before one day replacing the 29-year-old Arsenal goalkeeper. Potentially fending off competition from Bournemouth, the North London giants could kick their summer off with the arrival of Garcia.

One of the few takeaways from Sunday’s drab derby was the stark reminder that Manchester United skipper, Bruno Fernandes, is a class above his teammates, with the Portuguese playmaker having again been one of the few bright sparks for Ruben Amorim’s side.

The 30-year-old was at the heart of everything that was good about the hosts at Old Trafford, be it while operating as a number ten or in a deep-lying role, having won eight duels, registered three key passes and recorded a solid 93% pass accuracy rate, as per Sofascore.

Having been the subject of an “offer” last summer – as the midfielder himself admitted – rumours are again rife over the former Sporting CP star’s future, amid claims that Real Madrid are keen on securing a £90m deal ahead of next season.

That would be a sizeable fee considering Fernandes’ age, but can his importance to the Red Devils really be valued at ‘just’ £90m? Is the man who boasts 32 goals and assists this season not arguably ‘priceless’?

Whatever happens in the future, the £300k-per-week talisman has established himself as a rare transfer success story over the last decade or so. The hope will be that such heroics can be replicated with another statement addition this time around.

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Fernandes’ impact has, it must be said, been simply transformational ever since his £46m switch back in January 2020, with the all-action star possessing the character and quality to cement himself as a leading presence at the Theatre of Dreams.

Perhaps such a deal could be repeated this summer with the addition of a ready-made Premier League signing – something that has been few and far between at the club in recent years – with the now injury-prone Mason Mount one of the few to have been directly plucked from within the top flight for a fee.

As reported by talkSPORT, that could be set to change amid United’s apparent interest in Wolverhampton Wanderers star, Matheus Cunha, with the report claiming that Amorim’s side have joined Arsenal in the race for his signature.

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The suggestion is that the Brazilian’s agent is set to fly into England soon for ‘face-to-face talks’ with interested parties, with the Red Devils said to have already made initial contact regarding a potential move.

As the piece also notes, the 25-year-old has a £62.5m release clause in his current contract which could be activated, with it looking increasingly likely that he will depart Molinuex this summer.

Man Utd's biggest deal since Fernandes

As alluded to above, the Old Trafford side have rarely been able to prise the very best that the Premier League has to offer in recent years, instead opting to scour the Dutch market, in particular, during Erik ten Hag’s time in charge.

Since the INEOS regime got underway, the only notable signings from within the top-flight have been that of Chido Obi and Ayden Heaven from Arsenal, albeit with the teenage duo still largely prospects for the future.

Forking out for Cunha – who is the same age as Fernandes was when he made the switch from Sporting – could represent the club’s biggest deal in years as such, with the £60k-per-week menace proving himself to be a “world-class” asset of late, as per journalist George Lakin.

1 goal

1 assist

93 touches

86% pass accuracy

1 key pass

1 big chance created

14 total duels won

20x possession lost

5 fouls won

4/6 successful dribbles

That quality was particularly on show when Amorim’s side met Wolves in the Premier League back in December, with Cunha notably netting directly from a corner to open the scoring, before teeing up Hwang Hee-chan late on to help seal the win for the hosts.

Described as a “special player” by manager Vitor Pereira following that 2-0 win, the former Atletico Madrid man showcased the full array of his talents with his relentless, dominant display in that victory, emulating Fernandes in looking like a real talisman for his side.

Like Fernandes too, Cunha is also invaluably versatile due to his ability to feature as a number ten, a striker or even on the flanks, seemingly making him perfectly suited to one of the attacking roles in Amorim’s 3-4-3.

Indeed, the in-demand marksman has been in red-hot form this season for the Old Gold, having registered 13 goals and four assists in his 26 league outings, with no United player having even reached double figures for goals in the top-flight.

Like Fernandes – who was actually sent off in that meeting with Pereira’s side – Cunha does have a tendency to see red, amid his recent four-game suspension, although that passion and full-blooded approach could help to provide a spark to what is currently a lifeless attacking unit at Old Trafford.

Amorim’s ranks are crying out for another Fernandes-like figure who can grab the game by the scruff of the neck and create something out of nothing, with Cunha – who memorably scored a stunner at Anfield from range – seemingly possessing such traits.

With United’s latest outing marking the 12th time they have failed to score in the league this season, something surely has to change this summer.

INEOS can hit gold by selling Man Utd star who's earned over £55m in wages

Ruben Amorim is hoping to overhaul Manchester United’s struggling squad.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 8, 2025

The likes of Kallis and de Villiers conquered the world in 2012, and all signs suggest the current team, too, is at the very least heading in the right direction

Firdose Moonda30-Nov-20242:56

Takeaways: Coetzee’s injury a real concern for SA

The first job is done. South Africa won the opening match of their four-Test summer in such commanding fashion that it not only suggests some of the ghosts of 2019, when they lost to Sri Lanka at the same venues this series is being played at, are buried; but also that real progression has been made in the last year.Take the simple comparison of their batting numbers. Between the Boxing Day Test of 2019 and the Boxing Day Test of 2023, South Africa played 25 Tests and had eight hundreds between them. Between last year’s Boxing Day Test and the completed Durban Test against Sri Lanka, they have played nine Tests and have nine hundreds in the batting line-up. Eight of those nine hundreds have been scored by different players. A difference as stark as that can be played by a combination of factors, including players gaining experience and confidence and them finding consistency. For Test coach Shukri Conrad the real reason is resilience where runs aren’t coming.”When the conditions are tough, we needed to be better. We can’t just roll over and fold like a pack of cards, like we’ve had the habit of doing,” he said at the post-match press conference. “We saw it in Guyana when it went around around corners there, we were found wanting to a large degree. If it wasn’t for Piedtie (Dane Piedt) and Nandre (Burger’s tenth-wicket partnership of 63) partnership, who knows what that result could have been. For me, the growth is when the conditions are really tough, we’re eliminating whatever potential risks there are and summing up those conditions better and doing the tough graft a lot better.”Related

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The opposite was evidenced in Durban. In muddy weather, with the ball moving around, South Africa were reduced to 117 for 7 in the 35 over after being put in to bat. They could have been 130 all out, and under serious pressure. Instead, South Africa made 191, thanks to Temba Bavuma’s 70 and small but vital contributions from the lower order, and still had enough time to bowl in helpful conditions.Bavuma’s first-innings score will slip into the footnotes of his career, especially after he went to score a second-innings hundred, but it was the one of the performances that had the biggest say on the final outcome. It was quintessential Bavuma with very few flashy shots (apart from that ramp off Lahiru Kumara which is an image Bavuma should frame) and oodles of patience. It was not recognised as the player of the match performance, and Bavuma did not receive the award at all after Marco Jansen took the best figures by a fast bowler in Durban, but he did put a personal best in number and sentiment. He had not crossed fifty twice in the same match before this one, and he has never had such a decisive say in a crucial win.”I thought this was his best Test match that he’s played, given what’s gone before,” Conrad said. “He’s come off a long layoff, and the way he’s battled through stuff, that really epitomises Temba. He was exceptional in this Test match. That 70 went a long way to give us something respectable to build to. Temba was super special this Test.”But he wasn’t the only one. Conrad lavished praise on the injured Wiaan Mulder for “suggesting that he walk in early because he still wants to contribute” on the second day and showing “mental and physical toughness I want to build this team around.” And he showered Tristan Stubbs with superlatives after his second Test hundred in two matches. “He celebrated his hundred the way he celebrates when any bowler takes a wicket as well,” Conrad said, referring to the signature Stubbs’ leap. “And that makes him so special. He just loves playing cricket. He loves playing for South Africa. He’s the heartbeat of this team.”Shukri Conrad on Tristan Stubbs: “He just loves playing cricket. He loves playing for South Africa”•AFP/Getty ImagesThe words being used to describe this South African team are very different to the vocabulary of eras gone by when being tough was a defining characteristic. Before the Test, Bavuma was asked about being “decent,” and said both the players and the coaching staff see that as a quality they were with pride. Afterwards, Conrad called them “an authentic group,” where “nothing is artificial,” and explained their bond beyond the boundary.”We continually encourage guys to be themselves, both on and off the field,” he said. “Winning obviously helps. Let’s not undervalue that. But they’re just a great bunch of guys that get on with it. Just you do you and be you, and we’ll make this whole thing work.”If that sounds more like relationship advice rather than team building, you may be glad to hear there was only a little more. Conrad described Stubbs as a “guy that you want your daughter to bring home,” but then quickly went back to cricket-speak. The coach is under no illusions that sporting success is not judged on the cute and cuddly, but is cut-throat. “At the end of the day, we get judged on cricket results and performances, not the type of characters we are.””We continually encourage guys to be themselves, both on and off the field,” he said. “Winning obviously helps. Let’s not undervalue that. But they’re just a great bunch of guys that get on with it. Just you do you and be you, and we’ll make this whole thing work.”So far, under Conrad, so good. The understrength team in the New Zealand series aside, South Africa have not lost a series under him and though the sample size is small at just four it is a sign that something is working. South Africa are no longer a team of superstars. Apart from Kagiso Rabada, they don’t have any record holders or names that could appear in all-time XIs, and they don’t seem to mind.When Bavuma name-dropped comparisons between AB de Villiers and Stubbs (“He kind of reminds me a little bit of batting with AB, who was always intense, always reminding you what your plans are, making sure that you’re in tune with what you’re doing”) and Jacques Kallis and Mulder (“I’m not saying he’s Jacques Kallis, but I think he has the characteristics. He’s got the skill to be able to emulate a little bit of what Jacques did.”) it sounded more like he was making the point that eras change and things move on than an attempt to equate some of his younger players with the legends they look up to.That team, the de Villiers-Kallis (and Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel) team became No.1 in the world in 2012. This team is trying to do the same thing. They have to win three more matches, with significant injury concerns in the bowling attack, to give themselves a chance. Whatever happens, one thing is clear: they are moving in the right direction.

The Afghanistan spin ace had a bad day, but his team-mates Josh Little and Noor Ahmad covered for him beautifully

Sreshth Shah29-Apr-20232:33

Moody: Little is getting better and better with experience

On most days, Rashid Khan’s performance mirrors the performance of the team he represents. But this time it didn’t. Against Kolkata Knight Riders, he conceded 54 runs in his four overs – 23 in his first spell and 31 in his second. And still ended up on the winning side. There were two reasons for this, and their names are Noor Ahmad and Josh Little.Knight Riders will be hard pressed to explain how it all happened. Rahmanullah Gurbaz had got on top of Rashid early. He was in the form of his life, actually charging towards a hundred. But the problem was, nobody stuck around to help him, and in the end, after being put in to bat, they could only muster up 179 for 7.Titans were thrilled, and once again they had unheralded talents working incredibly well together. Noor and Little bowled eight overs for 46 runs and four wickets. That combined economy rate of 5.75 and the quality of the Knight Riders batters they dismissed effectively bailed Rashid out, and despite his off day, gave Titans the upper hand at the end of their bowling innings. It was an advantage they held on to right till they hit the winning runs 90 minutes later.It started off with Little frustrating Gurbaz by getting length balls to go across the right-hander. While Gurbaz was timing the other Titans bowlers beautifully, he struggled against the Irish left-arm seamer who did well to mix his cutters and stock deliveries. Little gave away only ten runs in his first two overs, and by the time he came onto bowl his third, he had frustrated the Knight Riders batters enough that they began taking a few risks. A couple of them didn’t come off – Venkatesh Iyer lbw attempting the scoop and Nitish Rana finding the fielder at point – and suddenly he had two wickets in four balls.Even though Little conceded 12 in his final over later on, his match haul of 2 for 25 earned him the Player-of-the-Match award.”I just spoke to Hardik [Pandya] before we played and just talked about keeping it as simple as possible on this pitch, just bowling hard lengths,” Little said after the game. “Just smashing it back of a length and let the ball do the talking.”Noor Ahmad goes up in celebration•AFP/Getty ImagesNoor was having an even better day because everyone, including Gurbaz, struggled for fluency against him. He got length balls to fizz across right-handers’ bodies after pitching on leg stump, and teased left-handers with deliveries that tested both edges.One such delivery even picked off Rinku Singh, but the moment of the innings was when Noor ended Gurbaz’s blitz on 81, caught in the deep by a sliding Rashid in what was an all-Afghan affair. Gurbaz was on his knees, having thrown away a great opportunity to continue hitting, while Noor ran across to Rashid to celebrate.”Noor and Rashid have a very good rapport,” Vijay Shankar told reporters after the game. “They communicate very well in their own language.”Rashid had an off day but Rashid was still communicating with Noor today. And Noor was doing it for the team. The communication that Rashid and Noor had actually helped Noor come out and do well on this type of surface. The best thing about our team is that even last game Abhinav [Manohar] came in and batted brilliantly. That’s the biggest plus point we have. Everyone is stepping up when the game is in a difficult situation. Noor and Little did exactly what the team needed.”Shankar’s own 24-ball unbeaten 51 showed that the pitch offered enough rewards for those willing to play good shots. The rest of the Titans batters – plus Gurbaz and Andre Russell for Knight Riders – showed evidence of that too. But when Iyer, Rana and Rinku faced Little and Noor, they struggled. Even Gurbaz struggled when Little and Noor operated, even though his overall strike rate was 207.”I felt Noor and Little… they bowled really good lengths,” Shankar said. “In any format, especially T20s, good length is a good option. That’s why they call it a good length. It was just an off day for Rash. He has been the No. 1 bowler for whichever team he has played for. This is a great learning for us, to know what lengths to bowl on this kind of pitch. It was good to see someone else – Noor and Little today – step up.”Last season when Titans won the IPL title, eight different squad members picked up Player-of-the-Match awards. This season, in six wins, they have five different award winners already, with three of them bowlers. And when Titans cruise to victory with Rashid having one of his worst days, it only spells trouble for the teams they are up against next.”I feel that’s the biggest strength we have,” Shankar said. “We have five-six regular bowlers who are doing it again and again. If someone is going for runs, there is another guy coming in and getting you wickets. In most games, we are taking at least six wickets. That has been our strength.”It is just about finding ways to come out good in every situation. The amount of practice we do is a lot. We actually do it for hours and hours. We find ways to come out good in difficult situations.”