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TalkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor has backed Liverpool to sell Roberto Firmino this summer after the new arrival of Darwin Nunez.

The Lowdown: Nunez signs

It was confirmed earlier this week that the Benfica striker has made the move to the Premier League after putting pen to paper on a six-year deal at Anfield, for what could rise to a club-record fee of £85m.

Firmino has been one of the Reds’ longest-serving players, having joined the Merseyside outfit in 2015, but he, alongside his strike partners Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, are all set to be out of contract with the top-flight giants next year, creating plenty of speculation surrounding their individual futures.

The Latest: Agbonlahor makes Firmino claim

Speaking to Football Insider, Agbonlahor insisted that Liverpool had to sign a new forward as a result of Manchester City securing Erling Haaland, but it leaves Firmino out in the cold:

“They needed to do it. Regardless of whether Mane stays or goes, they needed another attacker.

“Firmino is not good enough. He’s done well for Liverpool over the years but it’s time for him to go.

“You’ve got to keep up with other teams, you can’t stay still. It’s a big statement signing.

“I’m sure Man City were buzzing when they signed Haaland and now they’ve seen Liverpool get Nunez they will think it’s going to be a hard season and it’s hard to call.”

The Verdict: Ideal backup option

Firmino was definitely unlucky when it came injuries last season, having missed a total of 25 matches as a result of sustaining four separate problems, something which contributed to him slightly falling down the pecking order under Jurgen Klopp.

However, the Brazilian still managed to make 20 top-flight appearances and recorded nine goal contributions during that time, as per Transfermarkt, showing that he is still very much capable of producing the goods when given the chance.

There’s no way that the 30-year-old will consistently be chosen to be in the Liverpool starting XI ahead of Nunez or Diogo Jota for that matter, but he’s still a player who is good to have around the building and can make a hugely positive impact from the bench, so there would be no harm in keeping him around for a little bit longer.

In other news… a reliable journalist has dropped a Sadio Mane transfer twist.

Liverpool are willing to trigger Gavi’s €50million (£42.5m) release clause at Barcelona this summer, according to an exciting transfer report from Spain.

The Lowdown: Gavi’s future not yet decided

The 17-year-old is considered one of the most prodigiously gifted young players in world football, having been described as a ‘spectacular’ talent by Xavi.

Gavi is already featuring regularly for both Barcelona and Spain, registering six assists in 46 appearances for the former and winning nine caps for the latter.

The midfielder is yet to sign a new deal at Barca however and his current contract expires next summer, with Liverpool linked with a move in the recent past and Fabrizio Romano revealing on Friday there is still no agreement over a new deal just yet.

The Latest: Liverpool still keen on move

According to Spanish outlet Beteve, the Reds are still interested in signing Gavi this summer and are happy to pay his £42.5million release clause.

It is thought that his preference is still to remain a Barcelona player, but he is yet to be impressed with their contract offers and the Reds would be willing to give him €9m a year, which equates to about £147k-per-week.

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The Verdict: Feels unlikely

While the idea of seeing Liverpool sign Gavi is hugely exciting, it is a move that feels unlikely, given his ties to Barca and the loyalty he will likely show to his boyhood club.

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In Xavi, he has a legendary figure to learn from as manager and he and his representatives will surely feel that it is best for his development to stay put and mature at the Camp Nou.

It is great to see Liverpool even in the conversation for such a special talent, however, further highlighting the force Jurgen Klopp has turned them into.

In other news, one player is set for a Liverpool medical. Find out who it is here.

Leeds United could revive their move for Noa Lang after securing Premier League survival. 

The lowdown

Leeds snatched 17th place and safety from Burnley on the final day of the season as they beat Brentford 2-1 and the Clarets lost 2-1 to Newcastle United.

It emerged last August that Leeds were interested in Lang, but he wound up making his loan from Ajax to Club Brugge permanent instead.

And Football Insider reported earlier this month that the Whites have held fresh talks over the potential deal.

Lang is predominantly a left winger but he’s showcased some impressive versatility in the early years of his career, featuring as a second striker, attacking midfielder, central midfielder and right winger too.

He has three years left on the contract he signed last summer with the Jupiler Pro League champions, and is valued at £19.8million by Transfermarkt.

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The latest

Speaking to GiveMeSport on Saturday, journalist Pete O’Rourke said Leeds’ fate in the relegation battle would likely determine whether a move for Lang was realistic.

“A lot depends on where Leeds are next season. If they’re in the Premier League they might have a chance of signing Noa Lang, but if they get relegated to the Championship, it’s not going to happen because he will be looking to play at the highest level as possible.”

Now that they are safe, it follows that they may well ‘have a chance’ of landing the Dutchman.

The verdict

If Lang does join Leeds, it will be intriguing to see where he slots into the side.

He’ll certainly be pushing for a starting spot, having combined nine goals with 15 assists this season and making his debut for the Netherlands, a top ten international side.

Analyst Filip Joos has described him as ‘the best player in the [Belgian] league’, while retired Dutch player Pierre van Hooijdonk likened him to Robin van Persie.

Lang could compete with Jack Harrison for a place on the left-hand side, but The Athletic’s Phil Hay has also raised the possibility that he could replace Barcelona-linked Raphinha.

And there’s even a chance Jesse Marsch might seek to utilise him through the middle, as he did with Rodrigo and Dan James.

His versatility opens up a whole host of possibilities.

In other news, read this journalist’s key Laurens De Bock claim. 

Former Premier League midfielder Danny Murphy has criticised Leeds United forward Rodrigo over one moment in the 4-0 defeat against Manchester City. 

The lowdown: Humbling loss for Leeds

The Whites ended up on the wrong side of a mauling at Elland Road despite being competitive in the contest for the most part.

Goals from Rodri, Nathan Ake, Gabriel Jesus and Fernandinho condemned Jess Marsch’s side to a defeat which leaves Leeds 17th in the Premier League, five points clear of Everton, who have two games in hand.

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Despite the heavy scoreline, the hosts were able to carve out opportunities to attack, although one pundit was less than impressed with the quality in the final third.

The latest: Murphy slams Rodrigo

Speaking live on Match of the Day (Saturday, April 30), former Liverpool ace Murphy slammed Rodrigo for his inability to find Raphinha and take advantage of a promising moment.

The 45-year-old fumed: “These are the moments you don’t get very often against the top sides. In the first half, they have quite a few of them. No awareness, don’t even think he knew he was there. Ends up being a poor shot.”

Overall the Spaniard lost possession 14 times (third-most of any Leeds player), misplaced nine of his 32 passes (28%) and was replaced on 83 minutes following a 6.60 rated display from Sofascore.

The verdict: Poor showing

Despite the calibre of opposition, this was a below-par performance from Rodrigo and his team-mates which leaves Marsch’s side fully embroiled in a relegation battle in the run-in.

The 31-year-old remains on six goals and one assist from 30 appearances this season in the frequent absences of Patrick Bamford, a far from fearsome tally from the versatile Spaniard. Indeed, criticisms like the one from Murphy might explain why goals have been so hard to come by for him, if he keeps making the wrong decisions in attack.

With fixtures against Arsenal and Chelsea up next, Leeds and indeed Rodrigo will have to learn from their squandered chances fast and capitalise on each and every one in order to ease their relegation fears.

In other news, find out what ‘phenomenal’ Leeds update has this injury expert wowed

When and where? Who are favourites? Where to watch the game? All the important information about the IPL final

ESPNcricinfo staff26-May-2018

When and where is the IPL final?

Sunday, May 27. The final will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

What time does it start?

The final will begin at 7.00pm IST.

Where can I watch it?

India: Star Sports and Hotstar (digital)United Kingdom: Sky SportsAustralia: Fox SportsUSA: Willow TV and Hotstar (with a subscription)South Africa: SupersportBangladesh: Channel 9

Who is taking part?

Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Both teams won nine games in the league stage, but Sunrisers topped the points table on account of a superior net run-rate.BCCI

Who is likely to star?

Despite an ageing team, CSK have been lifted by good spirits and by MS Dhoni, who has reached his eighth IPL final. Will he lift CSK to yet another title?BCCIRashid Khan has been Sunrisers’ most valuable asset this season. And not just for his bowling. He led Sunrisers to their second final in three seasons, with a sterling all-round performance in the second qualifier, against KKR.BCCI

What to expect?

With the game starting at 7pm IST, dew could be a significant factor in the second innings. Given the Wankhede Stadium’s short boundaries as well, expect the captain winning the toss to bowl first.

Who starts as favourites?

CSK have had additional rest after winning the first qualifier. Sunrisers, on the other hand, made a trip to Kolkata and went through the emotions of making the IPL final with a scrappy win against KKR. CSK should, therefore, start as slight favourites, especially since they’ve already beaten Sunrisers three out of three times this season.BCCI

The IPL final on Twitter

Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Big game, and @rashidkhan_19 was simply outstanding with both bat and ball. Has been a wonderful journey for us on our way to the finals and I wish the boys give it their everything and enjoy the finals. #KKRVSRH

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) May 25, 2018

Nail biting finish! @faf1307 you beauty! @ChennaiIPL back to where we belong. The finals of the @IPL. Can’t wait for Sunday. #IPL2018 pic.twitter.com/lf0y4xQDCa

— Suresh Raina (@ImRaina) May 22, 2018

Congratulations #OrangeArmy another great fight, huge character shown by all. Here we come Mumbai. #Final #SRH

— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) May 25, 2018

What is the likely outcome?

The chasing side will begin the final with an advantage. If the target is below 160, the most likely result is the chasing side coming away with the IPL title.BCCICSK won their previous game against Sunrisers at the Wankhede chasing 140 in the first qualifier, thanks primarily to Faf du Plessis’ unbeaten 67.

An analytical look at the moments that highlighted vital aspects of the first day of Test cricket in Kolkata

Aakash Chopra30-Sep-20162:25

Agarkar: Pujara showed respect for the conditions

Different pitch, different captain, different fieldThe pitch in Kolkata is radically different from the one we witnessed in Kanpur. There’s a fair amount of grass cover on the pitch throughout. While Stephen Fleming was slightly concerned about the cracks on the pitch, it is common knowledge that big cracks don’t open up on Indian pitches. It’s the smaller cracks that eventually crumble in Indian conditions. Trent Boult started with three slips and a gully to Shikhar Dhawan. Even though he got appreciable swing and movement away from the left-handed batsman, Ross Taylor had placed a fielder at midwicket. Now, the presence of midwicket was a way to encourage him to stay within the stumps for Dhawan.Pujara’s form prevails against in-form HenryWhat is form? Form does not guarantee that you will always pick the line and length correctly and that you will always have an apt response to every ball, but the fact that you have an uncluttered mind. First ball of the sixth over, from Matt Henry to Cheteshwar Pujara, was perhaps the best ball of the morning on a couple of counts – the line was such that it was not possible for Pujara to leave it alone but still it was not close enough for him to get close or behind the ball. The length was such that he could neither go forward nor go deep inside the crease.The third ball was another good one outside off that deceived Pujara. If you get beaten twice in three balls, doubts tend to find a way into your game and you become more cautious, and therefore you miss out on scoring opportunities too. But in the same over, Henry pitched a couple of balls fuller to which Pujara responded positively. A flick off the pads and drive down the ground displayed that Pujara had not allowed the two deliveries in the first half of the over to influence his thought process.Boundary-laden India start“Take singles and rotate the strike” – the most clichéd line you hear from experts discussing the art of batting, but in reality it’s not as simple. Test matches are often played on pitches that do not allow you to manoeuvre the ball and therefore you either get a boundary or end up playing a dot ball. In addition to the pitch’s behaviour, the bowling team also places the field to ensure that rotating strike is not easy. It was not surprising that 28 out of the first 32 runs India scored came in boundaries.Wagner’s subtle pace variationsThe six balls in the 16th over, from Neil Wagner, were bowled at a fairly different pace. The difference between two consecutive balls was around 5-6 kph. That is a lot. We talk about change of pace only when the bowler slows it down radically but we seldom talk about the change in pace when the bowler cranks it up. On a pitch that is a bit on the slower side, it is imperative to change the pace frequently without compromising on accuracy. Not only did Wagner put extra effort in bowling bouncers but once in a while, he bowled the full and wide ball a little fast too. Indian batsmen handled it well though.Jeetan Patel and Ross Taylor displayed some innovative field placements•BCCIPatel’s twin variationsTwo balls – one went through straight after pitching, Pujara played for the spin but got the outside edge. Taylor at first slip was standing a little too wide. The cardinal rule while fielding in slips to an offspinner is to stay very close to the keeper. In most cases, the straighter one is expected to induce the edge and therefore is likely to go finer.In Patel’s next over, the fourth ball spun and bounced after pitching. Did it hit the crack? You could not feel any moisture on the surface in the morning and hence it is only fair to expect that this one hit one of the cracks.Patel’s shrewd use of an endPatel bowling from the High Court End. Two slips for an offspinner. There is a fielder manning the point boundary but there is no fielder at deep square leg. It is quite an interesting field placement, which is promoted by three factors. First, the ball is skidding and going straight more often. Second, the High Court End assists the ball to drift away from the right-handed batsmen. Third, since Pujara does not play the sweep shot, it makes sense to leave the area unmanned. Rahane is too new at the crease to try the sweep option.One of the better visiting captainsOne over from Mitchell Santner produced five runs, which included a nicely-struck boundary off the back foot by Rahane and that’s all it took for Taylor to replace him with Boult. Throughout the day we saw a similar pattern of captaincy from Taylor, and that allowed New Zealand to retain control despite not taking a wicket in more than a session and a half. Most visiting teams disintegrate when a partnership develops but this New Zealand team showed better planning and execution.Cheteshwar Pujara is an expert at playing spin off the back foot•BCCISame ball, two different Pujara shotsThe highlight of Pujara’s batting in this series were the two shots he played today, both off Patel. He prefers playing most of the scoring shots against spinners off the back foot. It was slightly short with a bit of width and Pujara sliced it behind point for a four. A little later he played the same ball a little earlier to ensure that it went a little squarer to beat the fielder at deep point. The ability to hit the same ball to two different places by choosing to play the shot earlier or delaying it makes Pujara a difficult batsman to bowl at as a spinner.Two different new balls, similar behaviourThe first over of the day saw a couple of balls lifting from a good-length spot and the rest barely reaching the keeper from an almost identical length. The same thing happened when the second new ball was taken. The harder new ball with a more pronounced seam has misbehaved a little irrespective of the time of the day. It will be interesting to see if this continues to happen on the second day too.

As Kumar Sangakkara’s runs tally has grown, his cheekiness on the field has declined. Has the flawless batsman made the flawless man then?

Andrew Fidel Fernando19-Aug-20154:17

‘There are two sides to Sangakkara’ – SL players and staff recall their favourite moments

No matter how much he attempts to distance himself from it now, Kumar Sangakkara was once a serial sledger. He has often been asked about his verbal spats in recent interviews and has usually been quick to assert he has “probably mellowed over the years”. It’s true. He has rarely gone looking for trouble this decade, and has only occasionally added his voice to the volleys his team-mates fire at batsmen – rare in themselves. But on the eve of his farewell, a jaunt into his combative past might help us better gauge the man he has become.It’s important to put his sledging in context. Early 2000s Sangakkara was basically a batting limpet. That desire to become the best has always blazed inside him, but his cricket was a little limited. He specialised in looking like he won’t survive the next over, yet was the man oppositions just could not shake off. He batted long and slow. The likes of Sanath Jayasuriya, Aravinda de Silva and Mahela Jayawardene slashed and drove around him.It was while he was this top-order medicine in Sri Lanka’s candy shop of aggressive delights that Sangakkara spent his most garrulous years. Behind the stumps in a famously spicy 2002-03 tour of South Africa, he was a mosquito buzzing around batsmen’s heads, always yapping on about a slip-up in a recent press conference, about an opponent’s poor form, or the pressure they were under. His “weight of all these expectations” rant to Shaun Pollock is the most famous example. Other times he delivered scathing one-liners. “Hey Bhajji,” he was heard saying to Harbhajan Singh when he came out to bat on one occasion, “you look handsome in your short sleeves. Why don’t you wear them when you bowl?” He copped a fine for the minor altercation that followed.In public, he sometimes seemed caught between owning his reputation for being one of the wittier sledgers in the game and playing down his use of words. As a 26-year-old, he spoke professorially on the subject: “The public perception of sledging is to go out there and abuse someone in obscene language, questioning their parentage or sexual preferences. That kind of abuse does not belong on the field of play. Sledging, as coined and pioneered by the Australians, is a measured comment designed to get a reaction out of a player.” Okay, poindexter, but what are you trying to say? That the Australians never made jibes about sexual orientation? That you didn’t either?About eight months later, not only did he say he “would never practise sledging or use it as a tactic” unless heckled first, but that sledging altogether “doesn’t belong on the cricket field” and is “not the way the game should be played”. Words at clear odds with his actions here, he comes off looking a little like Genghis Khan wearing a “make love, not war” t-shirt.The picture of Sangakkara that emerges from these early interactions with opposition and media is of a young man seeking to set himself apart and become noticed, but also of someone a little unsure of himself. The barbs which dug at opposition insecurities seem to have been made sharper, in hindsight, by his own experiences with self-doubt.As the years wore on, Kumar Sangakkara shed his mouthiness and earned the admiration of most•AFPLatter day Sangakkara, though, is a transformed man. He is now more likely to cast aspersions on his own cricket than jab at opponents. Before the last Test match in Galle, he said he did not understand how anyone could find his batting attractive. At other times, when he has been held up alongside other batting greats, he has been self-effacing. “If I’ve matched Brian Lara, I’ve matched him in very little,” he said last year, when he drew level with Lara’s nine 200-plus scores. He would go on to score two more within 10 months.In his latest, most sublime years, Sangakkara has mauled attacks with a creativity and fearlessness that had eluded him in the first half of his career, but his lips have become ever more still (apart from, of course, when he is appealing). Maybe he has learned to save his best lines for when a standing ovation is on offer. More likely, after crossing the 30 Test hundreds and 10,000 runs threshold, he has been at peace with himself. In some innings, like against England at the recent World Cup, a century has seemed almost inevitable since the early moments.The tons now are celebrated with restraint. The bat comes up slowly. The helmet usually stays on. Sometimes he even looks bored. In 2014 he struck more international runs than anyone has managed in a calendar year, but his most animated moment was at the non-striker’s end in Bangladesh, when team-mate Kaushal Silva reached his maiden hundred.As his farewell Test arrives now, it seems like the whole occasion is not really for Sangakkara, just as a funeral is not really for the deceased. Sangakkara has been adamant that no exorbitant fanfare is made of his exit. There were no cutouts on the Galle Fort, as there had been for Muttiah Muralitharan and Jayawardene. The board had offered to move his final Test to his home town of Kandy, but the man himself had wanted no change of plans. It is the fans who need the closure. Sangakkara has been ready to depart for some time now.The island has been divided along its many fault lines this week. The general election on Monday was peaceful, but closely contested. Rural Sri Lanka went one way. The cities went another. The north and east headed in another direction entirely. But so complete has Sangakkara’s metamorphosis as person and cricketer been, that the nation will come together to celebrate him as one. Once a mouthy prick, now the sultan of slick, Sangakkara retires content.

Stats highlights from Sri Lanka’s World T20 triumph at Mirpur

Shiva Jayaraman06-Apr-2014 Sri Lanka’s six-wicket win was their first triumph in the final of a world event in five attempts since the 1996 World Cup. Since then, Sri Lanka had ended up on the losing side in the finals of the 2007 ODI World Cup, 2009 World T20, 2011 ODI World Cup and the 2012 World T20, before winning this World T20. Sri Lanka have been the most consistent team in the World T20s, having made it to four semi-finals and three finals. They are also the most consistent T20I team since the last World T20, having lost only four of the 18 T20Is they have played since then. Their win-loss ratio of 3.25 is the best in this period. Kumar Sangakkara won the Man-of-the-Match award for his 35-ball 52 – his third such award in T20Is. This was Sangakkara’s eighth fifty in T20Is and his third against India. Sangakkara has scored 235 runs against India at an average of 78.33. His strike-rate of 172.8 against India is significantly better than his overall T20I strike rate of 119.6. Sangakkara finished his T20I career as the fifth-highest run-scorer in the format, having made 1382 runs at 31.40. Mahela Jayawardene became the first batsman to score 1000 runs in the World T20. Mahela finished with 1016 runs at an average of 39.07 and a strike rate of 134.7, including one hundred and six fifties. He is also the second-highest run-scorer in T20Is, with 1493 runs at an average of 31.76 and a strike rate of 133.2, including one hundred and nine fifties. The six-wicket defeat ended what was India’s longest winning streak in T20Is – of seven matches -, only one short of the eight consecutive wins achieved by England and Ireland, which is the longest by any team. India’s batsmen could hit only 12 boundaries (eight fours and four sixes) – with Virat Kohli hitting nine of them – in their innings, which equaled the lowest they have hit in the first innings of a T20I from 20 overs. The other such instance came against Pakistan in Bangalore in 2012, when they hit nine fours and three sixes from 20 overs. Kohli’s 58-ball 77 in this match was his eighth fifty in T20Is and his second-highest score. This was Kohli’s third fifty batting first, in 14 innings. He averages 29.28 when batting first, as opposed to his average of 82.66 while chasing. Kohli scored 319 runs in this World T20 at an average of 106.33 – the highest any batsman has scored in a World T20, and only the third time a batsman has scored 300-plus in the tournament. Tillakaratne Dilshan had scored 317 runs at 52.83 in the 2009 World T20, which was the previous highest aggregate made by any batsman in a World T20. Kohli is also only the second batsman to hit four fifty-plus scores in a World T20. Matthew Hayden – who hit four fifties in the 2007 World Cup – was the other batsman. India’s batsmen struggled to score quickly against Sri Lanka’s bowlers and ended up making only 130 in spite of losing just four wickets. This is the lowest score made by any team for the loss of just four wickets from 20 overs in T20Is. The previous lowest was Pakistan’s 126 against England in 2010. India’s total was also the lowest by a team batting first in a World T20 final. The previous lowest was 137 by West Indies against the same opposition in the last World T20. Sri Lanka bowlers gave away just 19 runs from the last four overs – the second lowest conceded by a team against India in the last four overs of a T20I. The lowest any team has conceded in the last four overs against India is 18 runs – by Pakistan in Bangalore in 2012. Yuvraj Singh’s 21-ball struggle at the crease was the third-slowest T20I innings of 20 balls or more by an India batsman. The two slowest innings by an India batsman have both been played by MS Dhoni, with his 27-ball 9 against Australia at the MCG in 2008 being the slowest. Yuvraj, however, has also played one of the top three fastest innings of 20 balls or more by an India batsman.

The Perth Test will be the last of Ricky Ponting’s career, and South Africa’s veteran Jacques Kallis is battling to be fit for it

Firdose Moonda in Perth29-Nov-2012Unless something as dramatic as Jacques Kallis calling time on his career happens, the Perth Test will be largely about Ricky Ponting. Whether South Africa win a second consecutive series in Australia and keep their No. 1 Test ranking, or whether Michael Clarke’s team wrests it from them, the cricket world will be captivated by Ponting’s farewell.The South African team was too. They arrived at the WACA ground when Ponting was making his announcement, and although they suspected it was going to happen, they were in some awe at being so close to it. “Shame,” said AB de Villiers in typical South African fashion, while Graeme Smith showed genuine concern when he heard Michael Clarke almost broke down during his press conference.Reporters held back from asking Smith about his record of being around when major opposition players retire but they managed to get some of his thoughts. “Initially it was a bit of a shock,” Smith said, conveying a popular sentiment. “I played a lot against Ricky and he is certainly the most competitive man I think I have ever played against. The way he played the game, and the intensity he played the game in, is a credit to him. He has always represented Australia with a lot of dignity and a lot of skill.”Ponting’s last chance to do that will be against South Africa in a match that will decide the No.1 ranking. Graeme Smith’s team knows the power something like a retirement can have. They used the sudden departure of Mark Boucher, who was badly injured in England before his final Test series began, as added motivation on that tour earlier this year.In victory, South Africa dedicated a large portion of their ascension to No.1 to Boucher. Now that they have the title, they do not want to give it up without a heck of a fight, and one of their most resilient fighters has been their longest serving soldier – Jacques Kallis.Even during the 3.3 overs he bowled before limping off Adelaide Oval, Kallis’ impact was significant: he dismissed Ed Cowan and Ponting. Kallis also batted through pain in both innings because his contribution was needed to save the match. His 58 and 46, innings that used up more than four hours, proved that his career is a long way from needing the same resuscitation. It would not have been surprising had Ponting watched that effort and wondered how a man who walked almost the same road as he did was able to continue walking so confidently.Kallis made his Test debut the week after Ponting did in December 1995. He has played ten fewer Tests than Ponting, has 425 fewer runs but three hundreds more. While Ponting has one more opportunity to add to those numbers, Kallis should have several more. Like Ponting, Kallis said he would remain committed to playing international cricket for as long as his body allows and he can contribute. Unlike Ponting, it is Kallis’ fitness rather his form that threatens his future.For the third time in as many tours in 2012, Kallis is battling injury. His current hamstring strain could deny him his own last – a last Test in Australia. It’s unlikely Kallis will return in 2016, when South Africa are due to tour next, and before this series he said he would treasure being successful for a second time in Australia.Kallis has done everything he can to be able to play in Perth, even if only as a batsman, although he will have to field. “We don’t intend on playing the game with ten men so we won’t take the decision lightly,” Smith said, confirming Kallis will bat at No. 4 if picked. “If he is not fit we will look to have someone playing his role in the game but ideally, if he is fit, we’d like to have him playing.”Kallis knows how important he is to the side and has spent hours with physiotherapist Brandon Jackson to try and recover. He has followed the requirements for rest and if he remains in any pain, he isn’t showing it. He wants to play in Perth almost more than South Africa want him to. “Mentally we know that he is hungry to play and he has shown that in the way that he has gone about his rehab,” Smith said. “He wants to get on the park and perform.”So does Ponting, but he thinks after Tuesday he no longer deserves to. That realisation alone brought tears to grown men’s eyes. And then the air lightened a bit, as it does when these things happen. By the time the Australians had left, South Africa were training in sunshine with a strong wind blowing. In the second net was Kallis.He moved with ease. He got forward to defend with the grace of a construction vehicle and the determination of a whole fleet. He walked without difficulty, he bent down, he got back up, he carried on. He was struck on the hand by a net bowler and casually wrung it out before continuing. He was in the zone.When he finished, Kallis walked to a nearby bench, took his gloves off as though nothing had happened and packed his things. He looked around for a few minutes, he tussled his hair, he saw his team-mates chatting to some reporters and he passed by with smiles for all. In those eyes was the same look Kallis has worn throughout his career. The one that says, “I’m still here and I’m still going to be.”

India seek to improve their appalling recent ODI record in non-bilateral series against a Sri Lankan team whose only chink seems to be a lack of batting depth

Siddarth Ravindran in Dambulla23-Jun-2010Something for the trivia buffs to start. When was the last time India won a multi-team ODI tournament without a headline performance from Sachin Tendulkar in the final? Answer: The Natwest Trophy in 2002, when Mohammad Kaif and Yuvraj Singh, barely out of their teenage years, announced themselves as the next big things in Indian batting.On Thursday, against a Sri Lankan team whose only chink seems to be a lack of batting depth, but whose top five have helped themselves to plenty of runs over the past week, India will also be seeking to improve an appalling recent ODI record in non-bilateral series.MS Dhoni played down India’s performance in finals, saying there was no extra “big-match” pressure on his side. “We won the last time we played a final in Sri Lanka,” he said. “Somehow we have not been able to win [on other occasions], maybe the performance isn’t good, or whatever the reason, but I don’t think there’s too much of pressure on you just because it’s a final.”After six barren years following that famous victory at Lord’s, things appear to have perked up under the leadership of MS Dhoni, with the team winning the final CB series in Australia and then capturing the Compaq Cup in Sri Lanka last year. However, those victories were all inspired by masterly innings from Tendulkar, who is missing from the squad, as are two other match-winning batsmen, Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj. That only adds to the burden on India’s bowling attack, which hasn’t done anything this tournament to fill Sri Lanka’s batting with dread.Zaheer Khan has had expensive first spells before recovering, Praveen Kumar’s bowling has been mostly amiable and questions still swirl about Ashish Nehra’s fitness. The spinners have generally had a better time, with Harbhajan Singh having a good game against Pakistan and Ravindra Jadeja being his steady, economical self.”I am quite happy with the bowling performance,” MS Dhoni said after the loss to Sri Lanka on Tuesday. “We have bowled mostly in the afternoon session when there was not much help for the bowlers. They have done well in patches, but it will really feel good if you can win some games after scoring 230 or 240. You cannot always expect your batsman to score 280 or 300, it’s good if it happens so, but our strength is batting.”The lack of a quality allrounder is also hampering the Indian side. Jadeja is ostensibly filling that slot, but hasn’t inspired confidence with the bat during the Asia Cup, which means India are essentially playing five specialist bowlers. Dhoni backed Jadeja to perform, saying that he had the potential to be a consistent allrounder.”Ravindra Jadeja has done well in the IPL and domestic games. Now he has got fair amount of chances in international level also and we are hoping that he clicks,” Dhoni said. “He has done well in the bowling department, now we hope that he stands out with his batting performance because he is the kind of guy who can give you stability at No. 6 or 7. There are not many players that you can spot right now [as alternatives].”Success for India, though, will likely be based on their batting might. Gautam Gambhir and Dhoni have lent steel to the side, but youngsters like Virat Kohli, who are likely to be squeezed out of the XI when Tendulkar & Co return, haven’t grabbed the opportunities they’ve been provided in Sri Lanka.Kaif and Yuvraj made themselves indispensable to India’s 2003 World Cup plans with their audacious innings eight months before the marquee tournament in South Africa. If one of Kohli, Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma can turn in a similar starring role against a well-oiled Sri Lankan unit, it will push them ahead in the tussle for a permanent middle-order slot. And it will improve India’s abysmal record in tournament finals as well.