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In an exclusive ESPN interview, Darren Sammy said he was optimistic West Indies could bounce back from their failure to qualify directly for the 2019 World Cup, and criticised CWI president Dave Cameron, calling him ‘egotistical’

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Nov-20173:18

Who is being pardoned with amnesty? – Sammy

There is no point offering “amnesty” to West Indies’ freelance T20 stars if the board does not pay them better. This was the opinion expressed by Darren Sammy, the former West Indies captain, during an interview at ESPN’s Bristol headquarters recently.In July, when West Indies faced the growing likelihood – since confirmed – that they would not qualify directly for the 2019 World Cup, Cricket West Indies (CWI) offered to temporarily relax their ODI selection policy of only picking players who featured in the domestic 50-overs tournament. This, they hoped, would pave the way for the likes of Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine to play ODIs and strengthen the team’s chances of getting through the World Cup Qualifier in March 2018.West Indies are left to play just one further ODI series, against New Zealand, before they head to Zimbabwe to feature in the World Cup Qualifiers next March.Sammy was critical of the selection policy, especially when allied to how little money the players stood to make from domestic cricket as against playing in franchise T20 tournaments around the world.”That’s the problem,” Sammy said. “When it all started with the past CEO [Michael Muirhead] and (former) director of cricket Richard Pybus, he said ‘West-Indies-first policy’. But you say West Indies first, but the first thing you do you cut the salaries. That doesn’t work.”You telling guys ‘don’t go and play elsewhere [where] they pay much better, stay at home,’ but the first thing you’re doing is you cut the salaries playing at home.”In this environment, Sammy felt the temporary amnesty would not solve the standoff between the board and the T20 freelancers, and that CWI would need to draw up flexible contracts to allow players to represent West Indies while also featuring in their choice of T20 leagues.”I think if you tell guys you have two or three tournaments a year where you get to choose. We give you a white-ball contract or your red-ball contracts, well the retainer contracts. You come back you play home (domestic cricket). If IPL is playing, those who have the contract to play in IPL you go and play. Those not in the IPL you stay home and play.”Then you have the Pakistan Super League, where the lesser guys tend to filter into that league. So you say ‘okay, you play here, those not playing in that league you have to return.’ And you make the retainer contract something attractive.”Sammy termed the failure to qualify automatically for the 2019 World Cup as West Indies’ lowest point, but said he had not lost hope of a turnaround in their fortunes.”It’s something I spoke about. I was afraid that we would not make into the Champions Trophy, we didn’t, and now to this,” Sammy said. “Hopefully Jason [Holder] and his men can go down to Zimbabwe in March and get to the finals, and assure that there won’t be another ICC event without West Indies.”But the good thing about when you hit rock bottom, you can only go up from there. Every time I hear or see West Indies play I’m always optimistic, I’ve not lost that passion that something will happen. We’ve shown it over the years, the glimpses where – especially the last Test series in England where they called us all sorts of names, and we have a habit when people call us names to bounce back firing.”Associated PressNot for the first time, Sammy was critical of Dave Cameron, the CWI president, on this occasion calling him “egotistical” and accusing him of putting himself above the players.”Although I promised I would not talk about these things anymore, but we have a president who is very egotistical,” Sammy said. “I’ve already said before he thinks he’s the face of West Indies cricket. Youngest president, going around, that’s the type of things you see.”But until you realize that the product is the cricketer – if you look at any sports stadium, all the chairs are facing the field. What’s on the field. Not one chair facing the box. Everybody’s coming to the stadium to watch these guys. So once you understand that if these guys do well, administration, everybody wins.”Sammy also spoke about the downward turn in his relationship with the board – which began with his being perceived as the “golden child” when he was unexpectedly named the West Indies captain in 2010 and soured six years later, when he attacked the administration in his World T20 victory speech. That speech remains Sammy’s last act as a West Indies player.”I was not always like that,” he said. “I absorbed a lot. I wanted to talk for a long time. I think there’s a right place and time for it. After speaking to these guys, because I was once the golden child of WICB. They made me captain against the backlash, threw me in the firing line knowing well that the media and even some of my teammates [didn’t think I deserved it].”So I had to be going to work every day swimming with sharks, but I had to remain true and believe in myself that I’m there for a reason. And I understood that. So when all the critics said ‘Darren shouldn’t be there’, I understood what my purpose was.”One moment I remember in India in [2014], when I said to them [the board] I do not agree with the new MOU they signed, where you cut players’ salaries by 70 percent – which they’re still trying to do now – I don’t agree with that. All of a sudden I became a rebel. I just stood up for what I believe and what we believed in.”

A sensational return could occur at West Ham United as the Irons bid to potentially replace an outgoing star.

What’s the latest West Ham transfer news?

It is understood that Lucas Paqueta has reached an agreement with Manchester City and wants the move.

The reigning European Champions had an opening £70m bid rejected by the Hammers, but City will submit an improved offer.

As a result, the club will be searching for replacements.

According to ExWHUEmployee (via Jacob Steinberg), Jesse Lingard has been training with the Irons and there is a ‘small chance’ that he could be offered a contract at the club.

The Guardian journalist has also revealed that the free agent is training with West Ham to build his fitness, but there is ‘intrigue’ over the 30-year-old, who enjoyed a sensational loan spell with the club in the second half of the 2020/21 season.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

The former Manchester United attacker snubbed the 2023 Europa Conference League winners to join Nottingham Forest last summer, but his time at the City Ground was uninfluential.

Lingard could be an important addition to David Moyes’ squad, in light of Paqueta's potential exit from the London Stadium.

What is Jesse Lingard's style of play?

The playmaker’s 182-game Premier League career has consistently fluctuated between eye-catching brilliance and underwhelming anonymity, but a six-month loan spell at West Ham at the beginning of 2021 was the most fruitful in recent memory.

In 16 top-flight games for the Hammers, Lingard recorded 14 goal contributions and was irrepressible at times.

In a match against Wolves in April 2021, the 32-cap international travelled 52 metres with the ball, before he coolly slotted past Rui Patricio – this goal was the furthest distance a player had carried the ball before scoring in a Premier League game.

His goal tally meant he netted more times (nine) for the east Londoners than he ever managed in a single season for the Red Devils.

Former Man United defender Rio Ferdinand has been a consistent supporter of Lingard, hailing his talent: “I’ve argued with pundit after pundit, on-air, and off-air. He could play in any top team because he’s an intelligent footballer. He can play off one-touch or two-touch. Anyone who knows football surely has to see the kid has a talent.”

However, Lingard’s faltering career has perhaps been defined by two summers in which he failed to join West Ham. He played a key role in the club’s Europa League qualification, but the decision to stay at Old Trafford caused him to regress as he only started two Premier League games across the 2021/22 campaign.

Last year, Lingard opted to join newly-promoted Nottingham Forest, but he failed to have the desired impact, starting just 14 times in all competitions and scoring twice. Now in 2023, the 5 foot 9 livewire is nearing a return to the club and manager who resoundingly unlocked the best form of his career.

Needless to say, the transfer would be somewhat of a risk, considering his poor performances across the last two years, but he is available on a free transfer and can partially cover the inevitable exit of Paqueta.

The former Lyon technician dazzled for West Ham at points last season and is engrained in the club’s folklore when he provided the assist for Jarrod Bowen to clinch a first European trophy since 1965.

Lingard perhaps has the added quality of having appeared across the frontline throughout his career, and on a short-term deal, he could be a key piece of depth for a side that is about to enter a third-consecutive season of European football.

This transfer would be extremely logical if the Hammers added either Mohammed Kudus or Cole Palmer as another reinforcement, alongside Lingard.

Paqueta is undoubtedly a huge loss, but Lingard could be a quick solution and a reunion with Moyes could be the perfect antidote to revive his stuttering career.

Every footballer loves a goal celebration, whether it be last-minute limbs, or an audacious backflip. Some celebrations can take longer than others, however, and there’s nothing worse than seeing the away team perform their choreographed routine after finding the back of the net.Times are changing, though. Now, if Jessie Lingard, or any player for that matter, decides to turn The Emirates into their personal dance floor, the time they have wasted with their performance will be added on at the end of games.This comes following a change to Law 7 – The Duration of the Match, which will see goal celebrations become a separate cause for additional time.With that said, after the statistics were revealed by The Athletic, we’ve taken a look at last season’s longest celebrators in the Premier League.

Who celebrated for the longest in the Premier League last season?

As per The Athletic, it was, in fact, Crystal Palace who celebrated goals for the longest amount of time, averaging 84.8 seconds. Meanwhile, Newcastle celebrated for the least amount of time, averaging 66.6 seconds.

Interestingly, it was last season’s top goal scorers, Manchester City, who averaged the second least amount of time, with 67.5 seconds. The stat arguably sums up just how ruthless Pep Guardiola’s side can be, as they find the back of the net, before almost instantly gunning for more.

Of course, though, due to the number of goals that City scored last season – 94 to be exact – they were up there for the longest overall time celebrating goals. In total, the treble winners spent 105 minutes and 45 seconds celebrating, coming second to Arsenal’s 119 minutes and 32 seconds.

It’s no surprise then that last season’s lowest goal scorers, Wolverhampton Wanderers, spent the least amount of overall time enjoying their goals, hitting just 40 minutes and 30 seconds.

The numbers can still be flipped, too, with some sides more keen to get the game started after conceding than others, with West Ham United taking an average of 90.2 seconds to get back to the centre circle – the most in the league – and Southampton the most willing to get things back underway, averaging 61.2 seconds. It must be said, though, this did nothing to save their top-flight status.

As the Premier League looks to crack down on time-wasting, the numbers are certainly interesting. Perhaps more crucially is the percentage of time that the ball was in play for each team last season. That’s where the majority of time-killing comes from.

Again revealed by The Athletic, Manchester City had the ball in play for the highest percentage of time, with 62.1%, whilst Newcastle had the ball in play for just 51.8% of games in a damning statistic.

Eddie Howe’s side won’t get away with such numbers quite as well this season, it seems, with the Premier League simply adding extra additional minutes than ever before.

What did De Bruyne say about the injury-time rule change?

Some players haven’t been left too pleased with the extension of games, with Raphael Varane making a statement about his concern over player welfare, and Kevin de Bruyne saying after Manchester City’s Community Shield defeat against Arsenal, via Goal: We spoke to the Arsenal players and even the referees [about it] – they don’t even want to do it, but it’s the new rule and it’s what it is.

“A game like today, even the first half with three minutes extra, you can only guess what’s going to happen if you play a lower team who keep time-wasting all the time.

“Today we played 12 to 13 minutes. I can see games going for 20-25 minutes [extra]. I think this will change in one to two months, but this is the first game. I’m thinking if we play Sevilla in Olympiakos [in the Uefa Super Cup] on Wednesday [16 August] and have 15-20 extra minutes and then play on Saturday again [against Newcastle] it’s like two times extra time. We’ll see how it goes, but it doesn’t make any sense.”

Cameron White’s career-best 165 off 154 balls – among the ten highest scores in Australia’s 50-over domestic tournament – underpinned Victoria’s 111-run victory over Tasmania

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Oct-2017
ScorecardCameron White smashed 16 fours and six sixes during his 165•Getty ImagesCameron White’s career-best 165 off 154 balls – among the top ten highest scores in Australia’s 50-over domestic tournament – underpinned Victoria’s 111-run victory over Tasmania at the WACA. White’s 130-run stand for the first wicket with Marcus Harris, who contributed 75, set Victoria on the path to 325 for 6. Seamers Peter Siddle and Chris Tremain then claimed three wickets each to spark a Tasmania collapse and secure Victoria’s first win of the JLT Cup.After choosing to bat, Victoria raced to 124 for 0 in 22 overs. Andrew Fekete made the breakthrough in the next over when he had Harris caught by Charlie Wakim. White then combined with Travis Dean and added 87 in 14.1 overs, driving the side past 200. Dean and Will Pucovski fell in successive overs, but White went onto bring up his century off 120 balls. After reaching the landmark, he kicked into higher gear and smashed five sixes in six overs, before being dismissed off the penultimate ball of the innings. Fekete stood out with figures of 4 for 48 and was complemented by Jackson Bird who ended with 1 for 49. All the other Tasmania bowlers went at over six runs an over.In reply, Tasmania lost Ben Dunk and Alex Doolan to Siddle and fell to 21 for 2 at the start of the seventh over. Opener Ben McDermott (97) and captain George Bailey (52) then fashioned a recovery of sorts, adding 103 for the third wicket. However, from 124 for 2, Tasmania careened to 214 all out. McDermott and Bailey were the only batsmen to pass 20 in the chase. It was White who wrapped up the win when he bowled No. 11 Riley Meredith for 2.

The first-ever September Test at Lord’s served up 14 wickets on the opening day, as West Indies fought back from an Edgbaston-style collapse

The Report by Alan Gardner07-Sep-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details2:22

Butcher: Stokes irresistible when he finds his mojo

The first-ever September Test at Lord’s served up 14 wickets on the opening day, as West Indies fought back from an Edgbaston-style collapse to emphasise that they will not give up easily on the pursuit of a first series win in England since 1988. Bowlers on both sides enjoyed the season of “mists and mellow fruitfulness” – though manic fruitfulness might have been more accurate, as England stumbled to 46 for 4 before being saved from further interrogation by bad light.England’s form in Test cricket has been a matter of violent of swings, so it was perhaps appropriate that violent swing initially put them on the front foot. James Anderson produced a typically immaculate display to move to within one wicket of 500 in Tests but it was Ben Stokes who ripped the guts out of West Indies with career-best figures.With only Kieran Powell and Shai Hope able to reach 20, West Indies were dismissed for 123 – almost as easy as ABC – inside 58 overs. Stokes bowled a devastating spell of 14.3-6-22-6 either side of tea, as West Indies capitulated from the relative security of 78 for 2 in mid-afternoon.Anderson was left tantalisingly close to his personal milestone, repeatedly turning Devendra Bishoo inside out in the over before Stokes finished the innings off with two in two balls. West Indies already had plenty to contend with in the series decider, thanks to persistent cloud cover, a rain delay and one of the most prolific fast bowlers in history. Stokes’ mesmeric contribution, on top of all that, was enough to banish the optimism of Headingley.Or was it? Jason Holder’s decision to bat appeared somewhere on the spectrum between brave and foolhardy but West Indies then tore into England beneath leaden clouds. Holder himself claimed the key wicket of Joe Root – his celebratory dash into the covers told of his joy – while Kemar Roach picked up both openers in an exacting spell.England’s reply was only 16 deliveries old when Mark Stoneman was first to walk back to the pavilion, having nicked Roach to the keeper. An even better delivery did for Alastair Cook, with Shane Dowrich again taking the catch, before Holder pinned Tom Westley lbw for his fifth single-figure score in a row. When Powell flew to his left to clutch an outside edge off Root – in contrast to his first-innings drop at Headingley – England were 24 for 4 and rocking in the evening breeze.Stokes’ double honour

8 – Number of players to feature on both the honor boards at Lord’s – century and five-fors. Ben Stokes became the eight to achieve this. He’s the sixth England player to achieve it, including his team-mate Stuart Broad. Stokes had scored century against New Zealand in 2015 before completing the five-for.

6/22 – Stokes’ figures in the first innings – his career-best. This was his third six-for in career.

1984 – Last time England players had taken two six-fors in the same year at Lord’s. This year Moeen Ali (against South Africa) and Stokes have done it. In 1984 Ian Botham had taken two.

Stokes and Dawid Malan had tentatively taken the score on by 22 runs when the umpires decided that the floodlights had taken over and, despite an imploring look from Holder, England’s fifth-wicket pair quickly headed for sanctuary and the promise of fighting another day.It was certainly entertaining, though it prompted the thought that the Long Room needed a revolving door. At an autumnal Lord’s, England’s evergreen attack leader Anderson swiftly moved on to 499 Test wickets before Toby Roland-Jones justified his recall with two of his own, including that of Hope, double-centurion a week ago. Then Stokes took centre stage.While Powell and Hope were together, adding 56 during a phlegmatic third-wicket stand – which turned out to be the best of the day – West Indies could perhaps envision a plentiful afternoon stretching out ahead on the usually fertile batting plain that is Lord’s. With the lights on, however, and conditions remaining conducive to bowling, England were able to induce the jitters that undermined the tourists so badly in the first Test at Edgbaston.Stokes’ introduction provided the warning ripple. Generating lavish swing worthy of big-band accompaniment, Stokes unsettled Powell from the Nursery End, while Roland-Jones probed away with more subtle deviations off the pitch, finally removing Hope with a ball that shimmied and jumped from a length to be taken by Cook at slip. After dropping his third consecutive catch earlier in the morning, it was a moment of relief as well as celebration for Cook.Having progressed to his highest score of the series, Powell then poked a return catch to Stokes as he tried to adjust late to another curving delivery. He had at least made some runs (plural), which could not be said of Jermaine Blackwood, who had a single to his name when he tried to hit Roland-Jones into the pavilion and was bowled by a ball nipping back in.From 87 for 5, West Indies stuttered into three figures before Stokes ripped out two more in an over. Lord’s is a ground partial to a bit of showmanship and Stokes’ delivery to Roston Chase – curling away late to the kiss the top of off stump – was worthy of the high-hat and cymbals. He followed up two balls later with another pearler to have Dowrich scooped up low by Cook, a double-intervention that brought a roar from the crowd reminiscent of when he dismissed Kane Williamson and Brendon McCullum on this ground in 2015.West Indies limped to tea seven-down, with Bishoo riding his luck and Holder dropped at slip by Root on 5, but there was no mercy after the resumption from Stokes. He bent a fearsome inswinger back to hit Holder’s off stump, then had Roach taken in the slips – by the diving Anderson – and Shannon Gabriel castled swinging wildly at his first ball.The captains had been greeted at the toss by a cool morning with plenty of low cloud and Root may not have been too despondent at telling his senior quicks they were bowling. Powell scored the only boundary in the first 50 minutes, before rain swept in, steering a thick edge down and wide of the slips.Stuart Broad was the bowler on that occasion and he also saw a delivery seam in and pass straight over the stumps with Powell playing no stroke. Broad’s search for rhythm (and wickets) has been a theme of the Test summer but he bowled well without reward, only to experience soreness in his left heel and spend part of the afternoon off the field.West Indies’ first obstacle was Anderson, who quickly claimed two of the three wickets he needed to become the sixth man to 500 in Tests. In a searching 12-over spell from England’s new-ball pair, West Indies lost Kraigg Brathwaite, another of the heroes of Headingley, to a catch at the wicket before a downpour sent the teams off for more than half an hour.On a slowish surface, Anderson and Broad regularly beat the outside edge, a trial of patience for which Kyle Hope was ultimately unequipped, as he also tickled behind attempting to leave after the resumption.Anderson should have removed Brathwaite on 3, when he steered a regulation edge to Cook at first slip – only for Cook to drop the simplest of catches. It was a continuation of the malaise that afflicted both sides at Headingley, and where Cook dropped two on the final day. Anderson’s frustration was palpable.He had No. 498 a few overs later, however. Brathwaite was dragged forward and into an area where his decision-making became as cloudy as the skies above – perhaps fearful that the ball would run in at him down the slope – and he only succeeded in feathering through to his new Yorkshire team-mate Jonny Bairstow with an angled bat as the ball straightened off the pitch.That was the first in what turned out to be a procession. Lord’s provided the perfect start for Root’s captaincy when England began their Test summer with a crushing victory over South Africa in July but it could yet end up as another bump on the undulating road to the Ashes.

Tottenham Hotspur are sealing a deal for Rosario Central striker Alejo Veliz with journalist Daniele Longo claiming he will stay at Spurs rather than go back out on loan.

Who will Spurs sign?

Ange Postecoglou's side have officially confirmed the arrivals of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, defender Ashley Phillips, midfielder James Maddison and winger Manor Solomon this summer.

The September 1st deadline is upon us, and as we enter the final phase of the transfer window, a flurry of exciting reports have confirmed that Spurs are closing in on two major singings.

Renowned transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has already given his famous "here we go" line to a deal for Wolfsburg star Micky van de Ven, who is apparently completing his move this weekend.

Meanwhile, Veliz is another player who is set to join Postecoglou, with Romano confirming that Tottenham have indeed agreed a deal for the highly-rated Argentinian forward.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Rosario Central's star had been subject to rumours that he will go back out on loan to Rosario for around six months, but Longo has refuted those claims as he shares an exciting Veliz update on X, formerly Twitter.

Indeed, it is now believed the 19-year-old will join Tottenham without the need of having to temporarily return to his current club, as Postecoglou seals another option for the current season.

"Veliz-Tottenham, a 15 million euro operation (value of the release clause)," wrote Longo.

"The player will go to London immediately (no loan at Rosario Central)."

How good is Alejo Veliz?

Veliz scored 11 goals and bagged a further assist in the Argentinian first division last season, and going by recent plaudits, Spurs supporters can expect an attacker of real potential.

Nottingham Forest were linked with a move for the teenager before Tottenham swooped in, and South American football content creator Nathan Joyes believes he is an "exciting" forward.

"There’s two exciting forwards in the Primera who can make the step up," wrote Joyes.

"River’s Lucas Beltran is one – Veliz is the other. He’s only 19 but one who can go to the very top. For £10-15m, get it done."

Meanwhile, Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig has branded Veliz one of the most interesting young forwards on his continent, even if he isn't quite the finished article yet.

Kulig wrote:

"Still far from being a finished product, but the potential is really high. One of the most interesting young strikers in South America."

South American football expert Tim Vickery, though, has admitted he has his doubts over Veliz.

“Veliz is a 19-year-old, strapping, target-man type of centre-forward," said Vickery on Sky (via The Boot Room).

“Now, we’ve seen quite a few out-and-out goalscorers from Argentina come over to English football in the last few years. Maybe [Luciano] Figueroa at Birmingham, [Facundo] Ferreyra at Newcastle, [Mauro] Boselli at Wigan, [Jonathan] Calleri at West Ham, [Guido] Carijo at Southampton.

“As I ring out this list of names, you’re probably saying ‘Who?’ because none of them made an impact. That type of player who doesn’t offer a great deal apart from goalscoring, coming straight in from South America or Argentina, that type of Argentine centre-forward has consistently struggled in Premier League football."

It appears Manchester United midfielder Casemiro could be to blame after Kobbie Mainoo picked up a serious injury on tour in the United States.

What is the latest on Kobbie Mainoo’s injury?

Following the Red Devils’ recent pre-season friendly match with Real Madrid – which they lost 2-0 – the young midfielder sadly suffered a major fitness setback.

Indeed, the club confirmed the unfortunate situation on their website, noting that he is expected to be ruled out for the first part of the 2023/24 season with this ankle injury sustained during the match against Los Blancos.

They also added that he has flown home from the US tour to the United Kingdom where further assessment of his fitness issue will take place before a medical decision on the next steps.

This comes as a real blow for Mainoo, who looks to be a real talent and had impressed sufficiently in pre-season to actually start four friendlies in a row before suffering this injury.

In a Tweet relaying the news, the official Man Utd social media account said: “Gutted for you, Kobbie. But setbacks are set-ups for comebacks — we’re all right behind you.”

In light of the incident, however, a video was shared on Twitter and it does appear as though Mainoo’s injury comes as a direct consequence of Casemiro’s needlessly deliberate foul on Real Madrid’s Rodrygo just one minute into the friendly.

i wonder how it happened 🤔 https://t.co/14ZvHXtyeb pic.twitter.com/t3Fi2Cvi9f— !¡ (@m4wiii) July 29, 2023

As you can see in the footage above, the Brazilian midfielder cynically fouls his opponent, who then tumbles into Mainoo and catches him awkwardly.

Here is what some bemused fans have been saying about it all online…

Who is Man Utd midfielder Kobbie Mainoo?

Described as a “creatively outstanding Stockport-born midfielder” on the official Man Utd website, Mainoo is still only 18 years old but appears to have a very bright future within the game.

Despite his tender age, he has already played in three competitive games for the Red Devils at senior level, as well as the aforementioned friendly games he started this summer.

Mainoo has also represented the club at the U18 level and higher but made his Premier League debut last February, playing ten minutes off the bench in a 3-0 home win over Leicester City.

His recent displays had earned praise from his manager, with Erik ten Hag telling the press: “It’s fantastic. Manchester United is famous for always bringing young players up, and it can be done. We have confidence, he is playing with confidence, and I really like his performance.

“But this year, he showed it in spring, then he got injured. We are really happy. There are more youngsters with us now and they’re all doing very good. But I don’t want to raise expectations too high.”

On top of that, United icon Bryan Robson also tipped the teenager to have a big future, telling The Telegraph: “He’s calculated and he’s reading the game, doing things in his own time.

“He closes down really well, receives the ball and changes the pattern of the game, quickens it up when he wants to and he’s using his football brain. I’m quite impressed with him.”

The left-arm wristspinner, who is likely to replace the suspended Ravindra Jadeja, says he is happy to bide his time and learn from India’s frontline spinners

Sidharth Monga in Pallekele09-Aug-2017Test debuts rarely come in envisaged circumstances. Kuldeep Yadav’s came in the decider of an intense series, as replacement for the injured captain, a batsman. Both sides had thrown everything at each other, and Kuldeep was the ace up India’s sleeve. If some reports are to be believed, there had been a tug of war between the captain and coach over when to show the ace, if indeed it was to be shown. However, with the captain resting, Kuldeep was told the day before the fourth Test in Dharamsala that he was playing. He couldn’t sleep that night.On the morning of the Test, Kuldeep was called upon to to pull Australia back when they were running away with the game at a fast pace. Australia went in to lunch at 131 for 1, but when they came back, Kuldeep got David Warner, Peter Handscomb and Glenn Maxwell to make immediate impact on the series. He hasn’t played Test cricket since, but with Ravindra Jadeja suspended for a match, he is all set to try to make further impact on Test cricket as India’s first left-arm wristspinner.Bigger impact, though, has been made, and Kuldeep has seen it himself. “I think there are a lot of chinaman bowlers around now,” Kuldeep said after India’s training session in Pallekele. “When I started out, there were hardly any. You go to any cricket academy, and there are eight-ten chinaman bowlers practising. People have started bowling like this. That’s one thing that has surely changed after my debut, and I think we will see more of such spinners in the future in not only state and Ranji level, but also, hopefully, at international level. It is a happy feeling that people have recognised this skill.”Personally, too, life has taken a turn for Kuldeep. “If you are playing Test cricket and playing for India, life definitely changes,” he said. “There is no more proud feeling than this that you can give to your family. I feel really proud to represent India, feel happy that the hard work from childhood has paid off.”In between his two Tests – he hasn’t yet been told he is playing but he should if he is fit – Kuldeep has played a whole ODI series under the captain he replaced in the side for the Dharamsala Test. And in that ODI series, in the West Indies, the captain seemed impressed with his sorcery.”If the captain believes in you, then you have done half your work,” Kuldeep said. “Captain’s belief is very important, and Virat supports me a lot. He supported me completely in West Indies, and the way he talks to the players on the ground, the way he spoke to me in the ODIs, it felt very nice because the captain’s confidence is the biggest thing for a player.”The efficiency Sri Lanka’s batsmen have shown in sweeping the ball will pose a test for Kuldeep•Lakruwan Wanniarachchi/ AFPIt will help Kuldeep that the current bowling coach of the team has worked with him at junior levels too. “I have been working with Bharat Arun for the past 10 years,” Kuldeep said, “ever since I was playing in Under-16, in Under-19 also. I share a lot of things with him, and he tells me a lot about bowling as well. He has been seeing me ever since I was a junior cricketer, and he knows what to do and what not to do. It is very easy to work with him so I am happy to continue to work with him.”One of the challenges the duo of Kuldeep and Arun will have to overcome is the Sri Lanka batsmen’s strategy to keep sweeping the spinners. Kuldeep recognises the challenge, but also sees an opportunity in it. “[Kusal] Mendis and [Dimuth] Karunaratne batted very well in the last Test, they played the sweep very well,” he said. “It is difficult for spinners if the batsmen are playing the sweep so effectively. It becomes easy for the batsmen and tougher for the spinner, so my plan is to try and control that shot. But playing the sweep also means a lot of chances, so if you plan even a little bit, it can get you wickets.”Three days out, there seemed to be some grass on the Pallekele surface. Three days is a long time for the grass to survive in Asia, but even if it were to, it won’t faze Kuldeep. “For me, the wicket doesn’t matter,” he said. “I don’t see the wicket at all. In childhood, I used to bowl on cement wickets and there can be no better wickets [for batting] than cement wickets. On grassy wickets, some balls can bounce and some can skid through. So there is still some advantage even if there is no turn.”Kuldeep knows how rare chances for spinners are in a squad that has the No. 1 and No. 3 bowlers in the world. He is mindful he will have to make the most of it. “You cannot walk into the team so easily, and you have to wait; that’s the rule of cricket,” he said. “It is good that I have worked with them [R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja], and I have been in the team with them for last six-seven months. So I have got to learn a lot from them, especially playing Test cricket with them. You gain experience like this and it helps in the future. I try to stay with them mostly and keep talking to them; they help me a lot.”

West Ham have shown interest in making a move for Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah this summer.

How much is Trevoh Chalobah worth?

According to the Guardian, David Moyes is in the market for a new centre-back and has shortlisted Chalobah as a possible option.

The 24-year-old is also being targeted by Internazionale, and faces an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge.

It was previously reported the Chelsea hierarchy was open to selling Chalobah, who is now behind teammates Thiago Silva, Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, and Levi Colwill in the pecking order.

New manager Mauricio Pochettino wants to head into the season with four centre-backs in the squad, but this plan has been thrown into question due to Fofana’s long-term injury.

With Badiashile also to miss the start of the season through injury, the Argentine doesn’t want his defensive options further depleted.

Nevertheless, Chalobah remains a target for the Hammers, and he could be available for around £25m.

The £50k-per-week gem could be swayed by a move to the London Stadium as he will be eyeing an England debut ahead of the Euro 2024 tournament next summer.

West Ham also have Harry Maguire and Taylor Harwood-Bellis on their radar this summer, according to the same report.

Who can Chalobah replace at West Ham?

The 6 foot 4 titan has been at Chelsea since 2007 and is one of the very few academy prospects to make a notable breakthrough into the first team.

His career in West London began in emphatic fashion when he netted on his Premier League debut in a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace on the opening day of the season.

In total, he has made 63 appearances across all competitions for the Blues, and although he isn’t a regular starter, he has emerged as a dependable squad option.

Last campaign, Chalobah was Chelsea’s second most-used defender (only behind Silva) and occasionally deputised at right-back for the injured Reece James. On that evidence, he'd provide David Moyes with plenty of versatility, something that could be key as the Irons embark on another voyage in Europe this season.

Former manager Graham Potter is one notable fan of the Englishman’s composure and positional awareness, saying: “I’ve been very impressed from day one. He’s trained really well, very professional, very determined. He’s an impressive character, very focused on his football. He’s a bit of a soldier.”

From a West Ham perspective, someone of this durability and versatility would be the perfect long-term replacement for Angelo Ogbonna.

The Italian is in the twilight years of his career and looks set to struggle with another year of domestic and European football.

The 35-year-old only started 13 Premier League matches last season and Moyes opted for alternative defenders in the crucial, latter stages of the club’s Europa Conference League triumph.

Chalobah can be deemed a certified upgrade due to his superiority in a number of metrics. Defensively, the Chelsea star outranks Ogbonna for tackles per 90 (1.71 vs 0.8), interceptions per 90 (1.28 vs 1.24), and blocks per 90 (0.92 vs 0.8).

Moreover, the former Ipswich loanee is also far more accomplished on the ball, comfortably trumping the veteran for pass completion per 90 (88.1% vs 80%), progressive passes per 90 (3.65 vs 0.8), and progressive carries per 90 (1.01 vs 0.00).

Judging by these statistics and his profile, If West Ham can persuade the Chelsea owners to sanction Chalobah’s departure, it would be an extremely shrewd piece of business.

West Indies captain Carlos Brathwaite and coach Stuart Law have expressed how they were happy to restrict India to under 200, as the 190 total was 20 runs short

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jul-20171:45

Lewis is not conventional – Brathwaite

India’s score of 190 at Sabina Park with short boundaries and a flat pitch was “20 runs short”, according to West Indies T20 captain Carlos Brathwaite, who lauded the efforts of quick bowlers Kesrick Williams and Jerome Taylor. The hosts chased down the total with a blistering 53-ball hundred from Evin Lewis, who hit the winnings runs to seal their nine-wicket win.”It was a very good wicket, but we did very well to keep them to 190, especially after the start they had,” Brathwaite said. “Kesrick [Williams] had two very important strikes in the sixth over and then when Jerome Taylor came back and finished, he brought us back into the game. We all thought that 190 was 20 runs short and then the batters proved their worth.”West Indies head coach Stuart Law was expecting a score of 240-250 from India after seeing a rapid start from their openers. “The way the Indians started their batting innings on a very good wicket with fast outfield and small boundaries, I think we did really well to contain them to 190,” he said. “To be honest, at one stage I was looking at 240-250. We didn’t start very well with the ball but we finished very well. It was very difficult to bowl with the new ball, the spinners weren’t getting much turn with the new ball and it was a very easy-paced pitch. If you slightly missed your line or length, you’d go for four or six. But towards the end of their innings, we saw how well they (West Indies) bowled and managed to contain India. Keeping them under 200 was an outstanding effort.”To only chase 190 on a small ground and flat wicket, it’s going to take some chasing but we saw one of the better innings I’ve ever seen in T20 cricket. Evin Lewis, hats off.”Lewis scored his second T20 hundred against India in only three matches, after he had blasted 100 off 49 balls in Florida last August. His century on Sunday was studded with 12 sixes and six fours, and Brathwaite said Lewis’ unconventional shots make him stand out.”He’s a very positive young man, he hits the ball very very cleanly,” Brathwaite said. “Another good thing about him is once he gets in, he goes all the way. He has two hundreds and a 90, something like that. He doesn’t stop short, he doesn’t make 20s or 30s.”Once he gets in, he’s very difficult to stop and he doesn’t give his wicket away. I don’t know what’s the secret, but looking from the outside, he’s a very unconventional player. There are players who are conventional and hit the ball hard, and he’s the other way around. He hits the ball sweetly and cleanly, he also hits them in some funny areas that fielding teams take a while to get accustomed to. But when they are trying to get accustomed to, he’s already 50-odd and heading to 90 or 100.”1:41

My aim is to perform consistently – Karthik

While Law lauded Lewis’ century too, he also said the batsman – who scored all of 67 runs in four ODIs against India – could have found it easier mentally to play more freely in the T20 format as compared to 50-over cricket.”Just the power hitting – how he picked his targets, he hit with the wind, he played all the right shots, played good cricket shots as well,” Law said. “There wasn’t any mad swings of the bat, they were all controlled and controlled aggression which we know Evin Lewis can do. I’d love to see him do that in the 50-over format, that will be one hell of a way to start a 50-over game as well. But credit to the young man, he hasn’t got a big score yet this summer and to finish it off in style like that was a great achievement.”I try not to talk too much to the players; they know their games. We just try and work out options for them and areas where they are very very strong. Batting for me is all about getting your body in a position to hit the ball in the area you are strong at, and Evin did that today beautifully. It might be [a] mental [shift] to carry that sort of mindset into the T20 game. Also there is pressure if you get out having a big woosh, in a 50-over game, in the first three overs – you look like a fool. I just want him to go out there and play his game and if he does get out in the first five overs, it’s no issue for me because if he gets to a good start he can take the game away.”West Indies, the reigning T20I champions, put behind them a 3-1 ODI series loss and were boosted by the inclusion of star players such as Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine for the one-off T20. Brathwaite said their presence boosted their confidence but they were putting in a lot of hard work in ODIs too, where they are ranked ninth and struggling to gain automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup.”Being able to rub shoulders with them (big players) and being able to ask their opinions, especially in crucial times, even to practice with them is a privilege. It gives the guys a little more confidence but any day with them in the team and not performing, the good thing is they (youngsters) take the mantle upon themselves, be professional – not just off the field but also on it. Whenever we go on the park, we always try to give a 100%.”As a young captain I just want the guys to express themselves. It’s not too many instructions from me; once we have a team plan we go there and try to execute it. The message from me is: always express yourself.”