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The teams will have an additional INR 1.5 crore for the auction, which is expected in early December

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Nov-2024

Issy Wong was the only overseas player released by Mumbai Indians•BCCI

Sneh Rana, Poonam Yadav, Heather Knight and Lea Tahuhu are among the prominent players released by their respective Women’s Premier League (WPL) franchises ahead of the next auction in the lead-up to the 2025 season. The auction is likely to be in early December and the purse has been increased from INR 13.5 crore last season to INR 15 crore this year. Here is how the teams stack up currently.Delhi CapitalsThe biggest name released by Delhi Capitals (DC), the losing finalists in both seasons of the WPL so far, was legspinner Poonam. Once a mainstay of the Indian team across formats, Poonam hasn’t played international cricket since March 2022. She didn’t get a game in the last WPL either.Apart from Poonam, DC let go of Laura Harris, the Australian power-hitter, and Aparna Mondal and Ashwani Kumari, the two uncapped Indians who warmed the bench last season.Retained: Meg Lanning, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Shikha Pandey, Taniya Bhatia, Minnu Mani, Sneha Deepthi, Titas Sadhu, Marizanne Kapp, Jess Jonassen, Alice Capsey, Annabel Sutherland
Released: Laura Harris, Poonam Yadav, Aparna Mondal, Ashwini Kumari
Purse remaining: INR 2.5 crore
Slots remaining: 4ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Gujarat GiantsGujarat Giants, who finished bottom of the five-team table in both seasons so far, let go of Rana, the allrounder who led them in the first season after captain Beth Mooney left the tournament with an injury, as well as New Zealand’s Tahuhu and Scotland captain Kathryn Bryce.Rana’ last white-ball game for India was in December 2023, her last T20I in February 2023. She has had a rough time at the WPL, too. In 12 matches across two seasons, she took only six wickets at an economy of 9.02 and scored 47 runs at an average of 6.71.Tahuhu, a veteran of the game, wasn’t one of Giants’ preferred overseas players in 2024, playing just two games in the season for one wicket at an economy of 7.60. Bryce played all eight games, averaged 20.75 with the bat and had an economy rate of 8.66 with the ball.Sneh Rana is one of the big-name players to be released ahead of the auction•BCCI

GG also released Lauren Cheatle, Mannat Kashyap, Veda Krishnamurthy and Tarannum Pathan, and will have the biggest purse (INR 4.40 crore) going into the auction.Retained: Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Bharti Fulmali, Dayalan Hemalatha, Harleen Deol, Kashvee Gautam, Laura Wolvaardt, Mannat Kashyap, Meghna Singh, Phoebe Litchfield, Priya Mishra, Sayali Satghare, Shabnam Shakil,Tanuja Kanwar
Released: Kathryn Bryce, Lauren Cheatle, Lea Tahuhu, Sneh Rana, Tarannum Pathan, Trisha Poojitha, Veda Krishnamurthy
Purse remaining: INR 4.4 crore
Slots remaining: 4Mumbai IndiansMumbai Indians retained their strong core of international stars including captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Amelia Kerr, Hayley Matthews, Chloe Tryon and Shabnim Ismail. The only overseas player they released was England fast bowler Issy Wong. Apart from her, they let go of Fatima Jaffer, Humaira Kazi and Priyanka Bala.Retained: Amandeep Kaur, Amanjot Kaur, Amelia Kerr, Chloe Tryon, Harmanpreet Kaur, Hayley Mathews, Jintimani Kalita, Keerthana Balakrishnan, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Pooja Vastrakar, S Sajana, Saika Ishaq, Shabnim Ismail, Yastika Bhatia
Released: Issy Wong, Fatima Jaffer, Humaira Kazi, Priyanka Bala
Purse remaining: INR 2.65 crore
Slots remaining: 4Heather Knight had pulled out of WPL 2024 due to international duty•BCCI

Royal Challengers BengaluruEngland captain Knight, who had pulled out of the 2024 season due to international duty, was released by defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru. They released six other players, including South Africa allrounder Nadine de Klerk who came in as Knight’s replacement last season. Among Indians, Shubha Satheesh, Disha Kasat, Indrani Roy, Simran Bahadur and Shraddha Pokarkar were let go of.Retained: Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh, Sabbineni Meghana, Shreyanka Patil, Georgia Wareham, Asha Sobhana, Renuka Singh, Sophie Devine, Sophie Molineux, Ekta Bisht, Kanika Ahuja, Kate Cross, Danielle Wyatt-Hodge (traded from UPW)
Released: Heather Knight, Nadine de Klerk, Shubha Satheesh, Disha Kasat, Indrani Roy, Simran Bahadur, Shraddha Pokharkar
Purse remaining: INR 3.25 crore
Slots remaining: 4UP WarriorzUP Warriorz (UPW), who made the playoffs after finishing third on the table in the first season but only finished No. 4 in 2024, released legspinner Parshavi Chopra and wicketkeeper Laxmi Yadav, who was added to the squad as an injury replacement for Uma Chetry, seamer S Yashasri and England fast bowler Lauren Bell. Chetry remains part of the squad. UPW had earlier traded Danni Wyatt-Hodge to RCB.Retained: Alyssa Healy, Kiran Navgire, Shweta Sehrawat, Deepti Sharma, Chamari Athapaththu, Grace Harris, Sophie Ecclestone, Tahlia McGrath, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Saima Thakor, Anjali Sarvani, Gouher Sultana, Poonam Khemnar, Uma Chetry, Vrinda Dinesh
Released: Parshavi Chopra, Laxmi Yadav, S Yashasri, Lauren Bell
Purse remaining: INR 3.90 crore
Slots remaining: 3

While there have been more than a few bumps in the road, Chelsea have built a team stuffed with talented players in recent years.

The likes of Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandes, and Pedro Neto are all brilliant internationals who could be part of a special project at Stamford Bridge.

However, when it comes to the crown jewel of the Blues’ ambitious project, one name jumps out: Cole Palmer.

Since joining the Pensioners in 2023, the young Englishman has scored 41 goals and provided 28 assists in 96 appearances, and so fans should be delighted about reports linking the club to someone who could be their next Palmer.

Chelsea's summer so far

As they have in years prior, Chelsea have mainly focused on signing younger players this summer.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

For example, Liam Delap is still just 22 years old, Joao Pedro is only 23, and Jamie Gittens turns 21 next month.

Add to those three premier signings the additions of Mamdou Sarr and Dario Essugo, and it’s clear that the West Londoners are still committed to primarily bringing in young talents with high ceilings.

Yet, while the afformentioned players are all incredibly exciting, it would be hard to describe them as the next Palmer, which isn’t the case for Ethan Nwaneri.

Yes, according to a recent report from The Athletic, Chelsea are very much interested in the Arsenal gem.

The report claims that after attempting to sign him in 2023, the Blues are monitoring the teenager as talks over a new deal with the Gunners are currently failing to bear fruit.

Additionally, transfers expert Fabrizio Romano revealed that the West Londoners will move for the Hale End product if he doesn’t agree to a new deal with the Premier League runners-up, and with his current one ending next summer, he’d then be available for nothing at the end of next season.

If BlueCo can mastermind a situation where they can bring the Englishman to the Bridge for free, then that would be incredible, as he’s valued at £64m by Football Transfers, and has the potential to be another Palmer.

Why Nwaneri could be Palmer 2.0

There are a few reasons why Nwaneri could be the next Palmer, and the first is that it would be another example of Chelsea signing a young talent from a ‘big six’ side.

Moreover, as Manchester City must massively regret losing such an incredible player to one of the rivals, we do not doubt that Arsenal would feel just as bad about losing the Hale Ender.

The second reason is that both players occupy similar positions on the pitch.

Since making his way to West London, the former City prospect has primarily played in an attacking midfield role, with his second most played position being on the right wing.

This mirrors the Enfield-born gem’s experience in North London, as since making his debut for Mikel Arteta’s side, he has primarily played in two positions: on the right wing and as an attacking midfielder.

However, the 18-year-old has spent more time on the wing, which is good news for Maresca and Co, as that means he’d likely be happy to play there at the Bridge, with Palmer in the number ten role.

Furthermore, while we haven’t seen as much of the North Londoners’ young phenom, what we have witnessed suggests he could be as dangerous as the Pensioners’ talisman.

Nwaneri’s 24/25
Appearances	37
Minutes	1378′
Goals	9
Assists	2
Goal Involvements per Match	0.29
Minutes per Goal Involvement	125.27′
All Stats via Transfermarkt

For example, in just 1378 minutes, across 37 first-team appearances last season, the dynamic “monster,” as dubbed by podcaster Adam Keys, scored nine goals and provided two assists.

In other words, he produced a goal involvement on average every 125.27 minutes, which for someone of his age is undeniably incredible.

Finally, if you still aren’t convinced that the Arsenal gem could reach the same levels, then just listen to his former coach, Dan Micciche, who boldly placed him in the same “tier” as him, along with some other future superstars.

Ultimately, if Chelsea have the chance to sign Nwaneri for free next summer, they should take it, as, alongside Palmer, they’d have two of the most exciting talents in the country.

Forget Pedro: 8/10 Chelsea star showed why he's Maresca’s "best player"

Chelsea confidently progressed through to the final of the Club World Cup with this star standing out once more.

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Kelan Sarson

Jul 9, 2025

As their goalkeeper search goes on, Manchester United have now reportedly received the green light to sign an impressive shot-stopper in a cut-price deal this summer.

Onana keen to fight for Man Utd place

Amid links to the likes of Emiliano Martinez, it is expected that Andre Onana could face an uphill battle to keep hold of his No.1 spot next season. The former Inter star has been a liability for some time at Old Trafford and whilst they’re in the mood to spend big it looks as though INEOS have set their sights on an upgrade. Onana, however, isn’t keen to give up that easily.

Reportedly under the impression that he will stay put at Old Trafford, Manchester United could yet decide to burst Onana’s bubble by welcoming his replacement in the coming months.

To that end, Martinez would certainly be an impressive arrival. Weakening Premier League rivals Aston Villa in the process, United would be signing a World Cup winner who the Villans may be forced to sell amid their PSR concerns.

The Argentine star isn’t the only name on the Red Devils’ radar, however. The likes of Andriy Lunin have also threatened to steal the headlines in recent weeks. The Real Madrid No.2 could yet decide to leave the Spanish giants in pursuit of a starting role and that would open the door for United to come swooping in.

He's better than Nkunku: Man Utd make huge offer to sign "sensational" star

Manchester United appear to be moving one step closer to landing a key target this summer.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 24, 2025

A Champions League winner who has experience at the very top level, it’s no surprise that Lunin has found himself in United’s sights this summer. But they may still opt for an alternative option and one who is now reportedly pushing to leave his current club.

Man Utd receive green light from Diogo Costa

According to A Bola, Manchester United have now received the green light from Diogo Costa over a summer move from FC Porto. The goalkeeper is reportedly pushing to leave the Portuguese club and they are now willing to accept a cheaper offer than his €75m (£64m) release clause.

Costa is expected to leave Porto this summer and his desire to experience life outside of Portugal should place Old Trafford high up on his list of options. Given that he’s available at a cut-price too, it’s a deal that INEOS would be wise to pursue in the coming months.

Starts

32

34

Clean Sheets

16

9

Saves P90

1.78

2.59

Save Percentage

74.1%

68.9%

Described as “complete” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Costa would be a clear upgrade on Onana. Whilst the latter maintained a 68.9% save percentage last season, the Porto man thrived with a record of 74.1% to keep 16 clean sheets in 32 league appearances.

For the right price, a move to sign the Portugal international would represent yet more impressive business by INEOS this summer.

While Arsenal have sat idly by for much of the early stages of the transfer window, watching Manchester City and Liverpool strengthen significantly, Andrea Berta is now closing in on his first deal since arriving at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners are frantically trying to agree a move for either Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres, but they have now tied up a move to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad.

It’s one of football’s worst-kept secrets since January that the Spaniard is set to head to London with reports in January suggesting a deal was already being worked on.

Well, this week it was reported that a fee has now been agreed between the two clubs, one that will see Arsenal pay a fraction more than the midfielder’s £51m release clause, so they can manage their payments in instalments.

David Ornstein further revealed on Friday morning that Zubimendi is now in the English capital to meet Arsenal officials and complete the formalities of his move to the Premier League.

So, who’s next? Well, it could be a creative midfielder.

Arsenal move closer to signing another midfielder

Arsenal supporters are simply crying out for a striker to sign this summer, so it may come as a concern that deals for Sesko or Gyokeres don’t look like they’re no closer to completion.

That can’t be said of a move for Zubimendi, nor, according to reports, can it be said for a player who was plying his trade in the Premier League throughout 2024/25.

Back in May, it was reported that the Gunners had lodged a bid worth £30m to sign Leicester City’s creative marvel, Bilal El Khannouss.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Since then, there has not been much of an update on their pursuit of the Morocco international until now.

Indeed, Africa Foot report ahead of the weekend that Arsenal are now ‘close to agreeing a deal’, having already agreed personal terms with El Khannouss’ agents.

A fee is yet to be agreed between the north Londoners and Leicester, with the report concluding that Berta and Co must now meet the Foxes’ financial demands.

El Khannouss could be available for a cut-price fee considering his side were relegated from the top-flight only last month.

Why El Khannouss would be a good signing for Arsenal

Now, we know what you’re thinking. Why sign someone from one of the worst teams we’ve seen in the Premier League across recent years?

Well, if anyone wearing Leicester blue last season could come out of the campaign with their head held high, then it was the Moroccan who caught the eye with his passing ability from midfield.

El Khannouss was certainly one of Leicester’s players of the season – that isn’t hard of course – but he did play well, registering three goals and six assists in all competitions. Those are far from mindblowing numbers, but at the age of 21, there is a lot of potential to work with here.

Indeed, across the season, the attacking midfielder ranked among the top 14% of positionally similar players in the English top-flight for progressive passes and in the best 10% for passes into the final third, underlining his ability to play through the lines and pick out his teammates in promising positions.

That is no doubt his strong point. As outlined by data analyst Ben Mattinson, El Khannouss has a “killer final ball”, while he boasts an “elite weight of pass” and, importantly, “releases runners early.”

This should be music to the ears of the forward players at Arsenal, but particularly for any future striker that Arsenal sign, namely Sesko.

Shots

1.24

1.86

Shot-creating actions

3.16

4.80

Pass completion %

75%

82%

Long pass completion

58%

55%

Key passes

1.72

2.44

Progressive passes

5.36

10

Successful take-ons

1.36

0.97

The Slovenian is a powerhouse striker and as the goal below showcases, he loves to get in behind.

Arsenal may well possess one of the best passers of a ball in the game in Martin Odegaard, but the addition of El Khannouss would no doubt help Sesko settle in even quicker should they both arrive at the Emirates.

At this stage of his career, you could well argue that the Leicester star is like a younger version of Odegaard, setting the tempo and feeding elite balls into the strikers.

Considering the lack of joy Leicester had in 2024/25, playing for a ball-dominant side like Arsenal would be a match made in heaven for the young creative star.

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Celtic are on track to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch this week with a deal for FC Nordsjaelland winger Benjamin Nygren moving closer.

Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph claims that the Hoops are close to agreeing a fee with the Danish side for the Sweden international, in a move that is expected to cost around £2m.

The journalist states that there is a desire from all parties to get a deal over the line and that talks are progressing well, as Brendan Rodgers looks to add another forward to his attacking arsenal.

Nygren scored 15 goals in 30 matches in the Danish Superliga during the 2024/25 campaign, as a left-footed right winger, and could compete with Nicolas Kuhn for a place in the team next season at Parkhead.

The Swedish star may not be the only winger to arrive in Glasgow before the end of the summer transfer window, though, as they are also eyeing up a left-winger.

Celtic have interest in Norwegian forward

According to the Daily Record, Brendan Rodgers wants further attacking signings on top of the pending arrival of Nygren, with a couple of left-sided forwards on the club’s radar.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Expand Collapse

The report claims that Norway U21 international Sondre Orjasaeter is one of the wingers being eyed up by the Scottish giants, as they look to add more quality to their frontline options.

It states that the Sarpsborg star, who is valued at £7m by his club, is a long-term target for the Scottish Premiership champions, alongside Royal Antwerp’s Michel-Ange Balikwisha.

This should be good news for the Hoops faithful because Orjasaeter would be a signing that is just as exciting as Nygren if they can get a deal over the line before the end of the window.

Why Sondre Orjasaeter is as exciting as Benjamin Nygren

Nygren is an exciting addition because of his impressive goal tally of 15 goals in 30 league games, but the 23-year-old has only provided three assists in his last 50 outings in the Superliga.

Orjasaeter may not be a winger who is going to score 15 goals in a season, which is why Nygren is particularly exciting, as he has only scored six league goals since the start of the 2024 Eliteserien campaign.

However, the Norwegian starlet offers creativity as well as a goal threat from the left flank, and is two years younger than the Swedish forward at the age of 21.

Orjasaeter has created seven ‘big chances’ and delivered two assists in seven Eliteserien outings in the 2025 campaign to date, after he caught the eye in last year’s season.

2024 Eliteserien

Sondre Orjasaeter

Percentile rank vs wingers

xG

4.01

Top 26%

Goals

5

Top 18%

Shots on target

30

Top 1%

Assists

5

Top 16%

xA

6.31

Top 11%

Chances created

52

Top 11%

Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, the 21-year-old starlet ranked very highly in the Norwegian top-flight as both a scorer and a creator of goals for his side, and was let down by wasteful finishing from his teammates.

Orjasaeter, who was dubbed a “highly valued player” by Sarpsborg sporting director Hampus Andersson, is a winger who provides a decent goal threat, but also brings the ability to consistently unlock opposition defences with his creativity.

This is why he is as exciting as Nygren, despite the disparity between their respective goal outputs, because they could both offer a lot of quality at the top end of the pitch for the Hoops, albeit in different ways.

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It is now down to the club to ensure that they get transfers over the line for both of these wingers in the coming days and weeks, to give Rodgers plenty to work with next season.

Arsenal are progressing in talks to sign a “deadly” Premier League star, who is now “likely” to leave his current club this summer, according to a report.

Gunners keen on new forwards after injury-ridden 2024/25 campaign

Injuries undoubtedly played a part in the Gunners’ inability to finally win the Premier League title this season, with a number of their key attacking players spending differing amounts of time on the sidelines due to setbacks.

Player

PL matches missed

Gabriel Martinelli

3

Bukayo Saka

13

Kai Havertz

14

Gabriel Jesus

19

As such, it is little wonder that Mikel Arteta is looking to bolster his attacking options this summer, and a new striker is believed to be of particular interest, with talks over a deal for Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres now advancing.

Botafogo’s Igor Jesus and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko have recently been named as potential alternative targets to Gyokeres, while it could also make sense to bring in a versatile forward, capable of filling in if the Gunners suffer similar injury problems next season.

According to a report from TNATS (via The Boot Room), Arsenal are now pursuing a forward who could fit the bill in that regard, with talks over a deal for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo now advancing, although there is widespread interest in his signature.

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The Brentford star has been a long-term target for the Gunners, but a deal may not be cheap, with reports from elsewhere revealing the Bees could look to hold out for a fee of £65m.

One thing that is clear, however, is that the 25-year-old could be heading for the exit door this summer, with Christian Norgaard revealing his teammate is now “likely” to leave.

"Deadly" Mbeumo could be fantastic signing for Arsenal

As mentioned, the France-born forward’s versatility could be a real bonus for Arteta next season, given that he is capable of playing at both striker and out wide, flourishing at right-wing this season, in what has been an impressive campaign for the Bees.

The Cameroon international has 28 goal contributions to his name in all competitions, scoring 19 goals in 37 Premier League games, while catching the eye due to his work-rate.

Having also been lauded as “deadly” by Statman Dave, Mbeumo has earned a move to a top club this summer, and he could be a fantastic signing for Arsenal.

Celtic do a lot of things right on the pitch and that is why they have had so much success in domestic football over the years, with a treble on the cards this season.

The Hoops are set to win the Scottish Premiership title for the fourth season running and made their way to the final of the SFA Cup with a 5-0 win over St. Johnstone at Hampden Park on Sunday.

Brendan Rodgers has built a relentless team that is hungry to win at every opportunity, which is evidenced by their form this season across all competitions.

It took German giants Bayern Munich to narrowly knock the Hoops out of the Champions League, whilst they have already won the League Cup, and are on course to win the Premiership and the SFA Cup.

Celtic do not get everything right, though, as no club can be expected to be perfect in all areas, and one aspect of the game that they may want to improve is their pathway from the academy to the first-team.

Callum McGregor, 31, is the only academy graduate to have started more than six league games for the club this season, whilst no academy graduate under the age of 26 has started a single league match, and the Hoops have fumbled exciting prospects from their youth set-up in the past.

How Celtic fumbled Karamoko Dembele

Karamoko Dembele joined the Bhoys at the age of 10 in 2013 and, unbelievably, played for the U20 side at the age of just 13, which led to comparisons to Barcelona legend Lionel Messi.

David Feeney, who coached the forward at youth level, compared him to the Argentine icon, saying: “I think he is very similar to Lionel Messi. If he has the right guidance, then the sky is the limit for him.”

Dembele went on to make his first-team debut in the Premiership at the end of the 2018/19 campaign, playing 45 minutes off the bench against Hearts, but he only played seven times in the following two seasons and then suffered a fractured ankle in the summer of 2021 that stunted his development under Ange Postecoglou.

After just ten appearances and 133 minutes of action on the pitch for the first-team, Celtic and Postecoglou opted to release the young forward in the summer of 2022.

Dembele joined Stade Brest on a free transfer ahead of the 2022/23 campaign and has spent the last two seasons on loan in England, with Blackpool and Queens Park Rangers, respectively.

Starts

29

13

xG

N/A

1.14

Goals

8

2

Big chances created

15

4

Key passes per game

2.0

1.1

Assists

13

4

As you can see in the table above, the 22-year-old attacker has provided quality in both League One and the Championship since the start of last season, scoring ten goals and providing 17 assists.

The left-footed whiz may not have lived up to the Messi comparison yet, but he has still forged a decent career for himself so far and is one that Celtic fumbled before he got the chance to prove himself with regular minutes on the pitch.

Dembele is not the only promising youngster who has been fumbled by the Scottish giants, though. The Hoops had Ben Doak emerge at a similar time and also failed to see the best of his talents at Parkhead.

Why Ben Doak was Karamoko Dembele 2.0

Just like Dembele, Doak came up through the youth ranks in Glasgow and caught the eye enough at academy level to earn a first-team breakthrough at a young age.

The left-footed starlet played 25 minutes over two matches off the bench in the Scottish Premiership at the age of 16 in the 2021/22 campaign under Postecoglou, which meant that he made his senior bow at the end of Dembele’s time at Parkhead.

Unfortunately, however, it was also the end of Doak’s time in Glasgow because he was out of contract at the end of that season and decided to move on to new pastures.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The Scotland youth international decided to join Premier League giants Liverpool for a compensation fee of just £600k, which meant that the Bhoys lost him on the cheap because they could not get him to commit his long-term future to Glasgow.

Celtic may look back on his time at the club with regret and wonder if they could have done more, with extra game time on the pitch, to convince him to stay.

Doak played ten first-team games for the Reds in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns combined before joining Middlesbrough on loan last summer, thriving in the Championship this season.

Starts

21

Goals

3

Big chances created

7

Key passes per game

1.9

Assists

7

Dribbles completed per game

1.5

As you can see in the table above, the 19-year-old star has racked up ten goals and assists combined in 21 starts in the division, whilst Dembele has managed two goals and four assists for QPR in the same league at the age of 22.

These statistics suggest that Doak, who was described as a “generational” Scottish talent by analyst John Walker, could be an even greater prospect than Dembele, whilst playing in a similar position on the flank.

The Middlesbrough loanee has shown great promise in his performances in the Championship and, therefore, will be another Celtic academy graduate who the club may look back on with regret as they failed to extract the maximum out of his talent before his time at the club was up.

Doak only had 25 minutes on the pitch for the Hoops at senior level and his form for Boro in England suggests that the Scottish giants could have had an incredibly exciting wing talent on their hands if they had managed to keep hold of him back in 2022.

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Left-arm spinner, who returned to the England fold earlier this year, gave it “one more shot”, and earned a World Cup ticket for the UAE

Valkerie Baynes04-Oct-2024When Linsey Smith received the call to say she would be heading to another World Cup six years after her last appearance at the tournament, the emotion washed over her. After wondering whether, at the age of 29, the opportunity had passed her by, she had her second chance.”I was just over the moon to be honest – a little bit emotional,” Smith told ESPNcricinfo from England’s pre-tournament training camp in Loughborough last month. “Six years ago was when I got the first call, so it’s been a tough road. But I’m just so happy that I get the chance to represent England at a World Cup again.”Smith fell out of England’s reckoning during the summer of 2019. During her five years in the wilderness, self-doubt abounded, along with thoughts of giving up the sport, and financial struggles, as she came to terms with losing her rookie contract with England, and tried to juggle coaching and playing domestic cricket.Related

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“It was pretty tough,” Smith said. “You obviously doubt yourself, and I guess when I was in it, I put a lot of pressure on myself to be a certain way and play a certain way, and it just ate me up, really. I felt like I almost didn’t deserve to be in an England shirt with how I was playing. So coming out of it was tough.”You never want to give something away that you’ve wanted to do since you were a kid, really, but I was in a pretty dark place and I wasn’t enjoying my cricket. There were mornings of games where I’d wake up, check the weather and see, ‘Oh, it’s not raining today, damn it, I’ve got to go and force myself to get out on that pitch’, which is awful to say now.”What kept Smith going was her pure love of the game, so that’s where she went.”I sat down and thought, ‘Is this what I want to be doing anymore?’ The kid in me – all I ever wanted to do was play cricket for England – was finding it really tough,” she said. “So I thought I either give it up now or just try and go back to what made me start cricket in the first place, which was playing with my mates, and having fun and being competitive. So I just came out of that thought.”I’ll just try again here, start from fresh, not put too much pressure on myself and see how it goes. I’ve always loved playing cricket, and I was terrible in school. So I couldn’t go and find an office job. So I thought I’ll just give it one more shot and just try and enjoy myself, [and] not take it too serious. And that’s worked for me quite nicely.”So when Smith was called up to England’s squad for their tour of New Zealand at the start of this year, it marked a fresh start.”I feel in such a better place than what I was when I played for England before,” she said. “So I guess that burning desire was always there, but I’d think: ‘Are they going to go for someone who’s 29 now? Who are they going to look at – someone younger?’ So you always dream that it would happen, but you [are] never quite sure if it really will.”My mindset has completely flipped in terms of what it was six years ago to now. It’s just about having fun, being really clear on what my role is, and doing what I do well, [and] not trying to play like someone else or be someone else. Just getting those competitive juices flowing and backing myself that what I’ve done for the last five years is good enough.”During this year’s Charlotte Edwards Cup T20 domestic competition, Linsey Smith took 13 wickets at 14.76•Getty ImagesSmith joins part of a four-pronged spin attack that also includes fellow left-armer Sophie Ecclestone, legspinner Sarah Glenn, and offspinner Charlie Dean. It’s a formidable trio, but Smith brings something different again. Her strength is her relentlessness in the powerplay, along with a low, skiddy trajectory delivered from her diminutive five-feet-two-inch frame which batters find difficult to get under.”I’m not your traditional spinner that’s going to get dip and turn and nice flight, but that’s not something I’m trying to be,” Smith said. “Just being at peace with what I do and how I bowl. Actually, 29 is really not that old. I feel like I’m in my prime. I feel like I’ve grown a lot mentally more than anything. Being really clear on what my role is and how to take on those challenges of playing for England, I feel in a much better head space to do that.”Jon Lewis, England Women’s head coach, has been impressed by what he has seen of the new version of his old spinner, who he is backing to thrive in conditions in the UAE, despite initially viewing her as a key option for Bangladesh, where the World Cup was originally going to be staged.In Sharjah, where England play their first match of this World Cup on Saturday against Bangladesh, the pitch has revealed itself to be low and slow with good turn on offer. In the first two matches of the tournament there on Thursday, both low-scoring affairs, Bangladesh beat Scotland, and Pakistan’s spinners defended 116 in a 31-run victory over Sri Lanka.”I think the opportunity has reinvigorated her ambition, and she has really loved it,” Lewis said. “When you get someone in an environment they really love and they think, ‘Okay, I really like this, this is good fun, and I feel valued and I feel important’, then funnily enough, they improve.”So Linsey was a selection back in January, [or] February, definitely, with the World Cup in mind in Bangladesh. Her style in those conditions, I think, can be incredibly effective, and similarly in the UAE, I think she could be a really effective bowling force.”

“We’ve got to find a way to potentially get her into the team, but also at the same time, she’d be a really good back-up… We’ve got three really effective spinners, but Linsey in particular could be a really effective opening bowler”England head coach Jon Lewis on Linsey Smith

During this year’s Charlotte Edwards Cup, a T20 domestic competition, Smith took 13 wickets at an average of 14.76, and an economy rate of 4.92, with best figures of 3 for 9. Fitting her into the England attack isn’t necessarily easy, given the quality of their spin stocks, but having been unafraid to play three spinners during the home summer, Lewis sees a place for Smith, particularly in the powerplay.”Linsey has shown in the course of probably quite a long period of time now how effective she is in the powerplay,” he said. “If we look at her numbers in the powerplay in particular, they are outstanding – up there with the best in the world.”So we’ve got to find a way to potentially get her into the team, but also at the same time, she’d be a really good back-up. We’re more than likely going to play three [spinners] – we’ve shown our hand a little bit over the summer. We’ve got three really effective spinners, but Linsey in particular could be a really effective opening bowler.”

The 2019 rugby side led by Kolisi was the first truly representative national side to achieve something great. This cricket team could be the second

Firdose Moonda25-Feb-20234:01

Moonda: A World Cup win for South Africa at home will lift the nation

There’s magic in the air in Cape Town and it’s coming from the cricket stadium.At 11am on Saturday morning, a queue of people wound down Campground Road to buy tickets for the T20 World Cup final. Never before has a senior South African cricket team reached a World Cup final, never mind on home soil. Less than three hours later, ‘sold out’ signs had been stuck on the windows outside the Newlands ticket office windows. Never before has a ground reached capacity for a women’s sporting event in this country.In fact, most of the interest in World Cups is reserved for the Springboks, the national rugby team, who have reached three finals and won them all. Their most recent successful captain, Siya Kolisi, is an ambassador for this Women’s T20 World Cup and was in attendance on Friday, sprinkling his stardust at the semi-final. He’ll be back as supporter No.1 on Sunday and doing his best to stay in the shadows of a South African team who have become superstars in their own right.Related

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Take Tazmin Brits. She was due to represent South Africa at the 2012 Olympic Games as a javelin thrower but she thought her sporting career ended when she momentarily glanced at her cell phone while driving, misjudged a bend in the road and rolled her car. She wasn’t wearing a safety belt, which resulted in her being flung out of the vehicle, probably a far better outcome than if she was trapped inside, as it collided into a tree which fell on top of the car. Brits was spared a broken neck but her pelvis was fractured in five places, her bladder burst, her colon was torn and she needed two weeks in ICU and two months in hospital before she could train again. She was 19 years old and never made it to the Games. Instead, she took up cricket.Brits made her debut in May 2018 and though she’d scored three fifties in 17 innings before the 2020 T20 World Cup, she didn’t make the squad. She was a late inclusion into their Commonwealth Games playing group and contemplated changing careers out of sport entirely.

Followers in the US can watch the Women’s T20 World Cup final LIVE on ESPN+

“When people leave you at home more often you kind of think maybe I should save the nation and go to become a teacher or something different,” she said after the semi-final. Lizelle Lee’s retirement has opened up a more permanent spot for her and she’s seized her chance at this tournament, with successive half-centuries in crucial games and four stunning catches in the semi-final – a record for an outfielder and a testament to the athleticism that never went away.Brits has the Olympic Rings tattooed on her right bicep, a reminder of a dream deferred. After her Player-of-the-match performance in the semi-final against England, she joked that she would add the Protea badge to it, if the team won. Maybe even if they don’t. A reminder, regardless of the result, of a dream come true. And she’s not the only one who will already feel that way.This South African women’s team and Siya Kolisi’s Springboks have a lot in common•ICC/Getty ImagesShabnim Ismail, who worked a job as a credit-card machine technician because cricket wasn’t a career choice for her when she started playing, 16 years ago, expressed the same sentiments of achievement. She emerged from what fellow international and neighbour Beuran Hendricks described to ESPNcricinfo as a “fairly rough,” neighbourhood in a suburb called Cravenby, an area in the Cape that is known for its high crime rate. Young adults can easily “go down the wrong path,” Hendricks said.Her mother nurtured her interest in sport and supported her decision to keep playing cricket, which has seen Ismail become the fastest bowler in the women’s game. She was in attendance when Ismail delivered the 128kph fireball that took England’s batters by surprise and played a key role in changing the tempo of a run-chase that was getting away from South Africa. Ismail maintained a calm that South African players in pressure situations are not known for and she passed it on to Nadine de Klerk, whom she mentored through tough middle overs in the semi-final.Ismail is a leader without a title, the oldest and most experienced in the South African side and a key counsel for Sune Luus, who took over the captaincy in temporary capacity in 2019.Almost four years later, Luus was still a stand-in as South Africa continued to wait on Dane van Niekerk’s availability, and started to get restless. She admitted that she had been unable to stamp her own signature on the side because she considered herself a placeholder, rather than the permanent captain. Before this tournament, she was confirmed as what she says is the “official captain,” and is now confident enough to articulate that she believes she is the one who can take this side forward.”The role of captaincy hasn’t been easy over the last couple of years – being a stand-in captain for however long. It was always going to be difficult, filling the shoes of Dane,” she said. “The way the game’s going and with the team we have at the moment – it’s a very young squad and it was very exciting to see talent and players coming in. It’s leading a new generation. Players have come and gone and we’re just looking forward.”Tazmin Brits, Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail thank the fans after the semi-final win•Getty ImagesHilton Moreeng, South Africa’s coach for the last decade, will know that too. From being taught to play cricket by a woman to being at the helm of the national women’s team’s progression from amateur to professional and all the way to a World Cup final, Moreeng has come full circle. Even if South Africa win the World Cup, it’s difficult to see him continuing in this job with nothing left to achieved, but he should be in line for many others as he keeps setting the bar higher.Moreeng is not only South Africa’s most successful limited-overs coach but is also the first black African head coach of a national team. He has also overseen what appears to have been a mostly organic transformation of the national women’s team, something that continues to cause angst among the men. Where the women’s team differs is that they do not source the bulk of their players from the small, elite schools’ pool, like the men do, but from development programs – proof that investment into grassroots sport works.The best example of that is Ayabonga Khaka. She is from the rural village of Middledrift in the Eastern Cape, also home to fast bowler Mfuneko Ngam. Khaka is a product of his academy, established at the University of Fort Hare, where she was also studying Human Movement Sciences. From the same province, but a completely different part of it, is Marizanne Kapp, who went to school at Hoerskool DF Malherbe. She is their most accomplished alumnus.In Kapp, Khaka, and Ismail lies a small part of the story of this South African women’s team. They are diverse in race, class and culture. For a country that has always been divided along those lines, that is a massive inspiration and fosters a sense of hope that only the Springboks have otherwise conjured. The 2019 rugby side led by Kolisi and coached by Rassie Erasmus, was the first truly representative national side to achieve something great. This South African cricket team could be the second.On one hand, it’s an enormous burden to carry; on the other, it’s the only way a South African team can embody the spirit on which its democracy was founded, the spirit of Ubuntu. Explained literally it means “I am because you are,” but the words don’t do justice to the feeling.Ubuntu is the way two South Africans’ eyes meet in an airport hall when one has heard the other saying they are boarding “now-now.” It’s the three-part handshake of grip, swing palm, grip and snap that is effortless to South Africans and impossible for most others. It’s the collective groans and cheers every time a rolling blackout starts and stops and the many times they have “made a plan,” no matter how difficult the situation. Ubuntu is what you experience at a Sunday afternoon braai and this Sunday, it will be what we will experience at what could be the biggest party the country has ever hosted.

An intrepid visitor to The Oval was among 1000 people helping trial the return of crowds to sporting events in the UK

Tawhid Qureshi27-Jul-2020Choice of game
A tumultuous few months, when the prospect of watching any kind of live sport seemed distant, gave way to hope and optimism as I happily passed through the Oval’s Alec Stewart Gate. I was there to watch perhaps the most significant friendly game of cricket ever played, ironically between traditional rivals, Surrey and Middlesex. I was one of the fortunate 1000 Surrey members who had patiently dialled and then several more times redialled the ticket office, to be rewarded with a ticket for the first spectator-attended sports event in England for four months. The match in essence was a glorified practice session for both sides, but the occasion itself was of far more importance, a government-endorsed test of how cricket could function as a spectator sport, against the backdrop of Covid-19.Although the surroundings of The Oval were comfortingly familiar, Surrey had clearly gone to huge lengths to make sure that the venue fully complied with new Covid-19 guidelines. The detailed four-page spectator guide emailed in advance was a taste of what to expect, including rather comical instructions to avoid hugs and to take care when celebrating. Hand sanitiser was placed at the entrance and throughout the periphery of the ground, arrows clearly directed a one-way walking system and stewards politely asked that face coverings be used in the enclosed parts of the ground. These measures seemed very sensible and a minor inconvenience in order to experience the normality of hearing leather on willow.Key Performers
The lack of genuine intensity in the game was forgivable, particularly as both teams had agreed to bat for exactly one day regardless of the number of wickets lost, indeed Surrey continued to bat after losing 10 wickets and the unlucky Ryan Patel was out twice in the same innings. Pre-season friendlies are usually a good time to give debuts, and Middlesex’s tall 18-year-old Blake Cullen will certainly remember his first ball in senior cricket, as he claimed the wicket of Will Jacks, caught at slip. His second spell after lunch signalled how much of an exciting prospect he is, as he ran in hard from the pavilion end and picked up a second wicket.Jacks began his innings with dazzling strokeplay, fluently driving the ball towards the boundary, and he looked disappointed to be dismissed after reaching his half-century. Surrey have contributed several players to the current England set up, Jacks will be hoping the season ahead means that he’s next in line. Scott Borthwick shared the most significant partnership of the innings with Jacks and eventually top scored with 87, and some late order hitting from Jordan Clark was also eye-catching.Wow Moments
Allrounder Clark’s clean hit for six over midwicket against a tiring Middlesex attack illustrated his ability to score quickly and his importance as a multi-format cricketer. The other memorable moments of the day involved sharp catching from the Middlesex fielders, despite a long gap from playing the game, most of the fielding didn’t show any sign of rustiness. Captain Stephen Eskinazi and Nick Gubbins both made difficult catches look simple.One Thing I’d Change
The overall organisation of the event was superb, but perhaps so much attention had been placed on ensuring the new social distancing guidelines were followed that communicating the quirky playing conditions was almost forgotten. Basic information about the playing XI wasn’t easily obtained but in the grand scheme of things this was a very minor gripe.Back in business: Will Jack and Scott Borthwick got going out in the middle•Getty ImagesThe Crowd
The bulk of the 1000-strong crowd were seated in a few blocks of the newly named 1845 Stand – beneath the famous gas-holder – albeit with many gaps in between, the idea being to test crowd management and social distancing within a relatively confined space. This meant warm applause greeting each Surrey boundary and subsequent landmarks was satisfyingly amplified, even if the vast empty stands opposite made the ground look lop-sided. The crowd itself was always good natured, even a rain delay and darkened clouds were unable to dampen spirits and the sense of appreciation.One of the pleasures of watching first-class county cricket at The Oval is the chance to regularly change seats and take in different views of the middle, unallocated seating being the norm. Understandably on this occasion the PA system regularly reminded people to remain in their allocated seat. Another new experience took place in the morning; a crisply struck cover drive from Jacks sent the ball speeding towards the boundary rope and then deflecting into the stands; as a spectator went to fetch the ball from under his seat, those around him anxiously told him not to. Instead the ball was kicked towards the bottom of the stand and retrieved by a fielder. The issue of touching the ball, perhaps unhelpfully and confusingly highlighted by Boris Johnson, is another part of the new Covid-19 world that we must adjust to.Marks out of 10
A triumphant 10. The hard work that Surrey had put in behind the scenes meant that the day went as smoothly as possible. Once I was safely seated, it was easy to focus on the contest in the middle and engage in sorely missed conversations about who should open the batting – the value of such seemingly mundane chat now priceless. I can only hope the success of the day results in more cricket for spectators at The Oval and beyond, a safe environment for watching cricket is clearly achievable and hugely desired by countless supporters everywhere.
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